Gone Since November

What's changed? New chiropractor is out of network so buh-bye good chiropractor. Still not pregnant, no biggie. I started a new Jillian workout. This time I'm doing her Six Week Six Pack.

Today was day 11. I do want it to be clear, I began last year...December 31, to be exact. I don't like the New Year vibe. Anyway, the workout is rough but good. There are a few moves that I struggle with, two that I really struggle with being able to actually do (Spider and what she refers to as herkies, sp?) and one that really pushes me to the max-side plank knee lifts. And it's not so much that the move is difficult, my wrists start to really hurt. And then Jillian has to go and stack the wrist moves together, ouch.

I'm still going to yoga. My Thursday night Master's class has moved to Monday for a couple of months which allows me to go to Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday yoga. I had a recent epiphany while stretching. Never before in my life has stretching felt so good. Before it's just been something I tolerate for 8 counts. Now, it feels soooo good.

I'm beginning another adventure this week. Well, I tried to start on Sunday evening and there was a snafu. Some friends from my favorite online community recommended Podcaster Intervals. If you're not familiar it's basically a podcast of a running system--a way to get you running. It starts at week one and alternates walking and running, set to music with a particular beat, to get you to a 5K (there are others, but I'm doing the 5K).

So I downloaded, what I thought was, week 1 and set to the frozen streets. When I looked down at the time it said 47 minutes, instead of the 29 I was expecting. Turns out I snagged the week one challenge instead of the basic week one. So I walked for five minutes to warm up, yogged for 10, and then cooled back down for two minutes.

Tomorrow I'm taking my workout gear to work and I might head to the middle or high school to try this run inside. My lungs were not too happy after I got back in the other night (and I won't get into all the neighbors who have NOT shoveled their walk in days), lots of coughing.

Anyhow, if it all works out I will 6W6P 6 days a week, yog on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, and yoga Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I will be fit. I refuse to be fat.

Did I tell you, I'm no longer shopping at my fat lady store? All done. There's only one shirt remaining that I can actually wear from my fatter days...and it has a tie in the back so I can make it fitted. I'm excited to see what this new workout brings me. I can already feel myself getting stronger. The 6W6P is, obviously, a 6 week program. I'm into my second week. I can do this.

I'll try to write me. It helps keep me on track too.

Happy *snow* everyone!

From 7 to Amazing...to me!

Today was one of those Thursdays. For me that consists of being to school by 7:30 (had a project to organize and a few other odds and ends-school starts at 8:45), an early release day which means the kids are dismissed early but we have a meeting from 2:45-5:00, and then my master's class in which I was to be presenting my final project for this class, it began at 4:30.

So, I slipped out a little early from my school meeting (shhhh, don't tell anyone!) and hopped over to class. Shoulda known it would go awry somehow. The whole class was doing presentations and were encouraged to stick around the 20 minute mark. When I arrived at 4:40 I realized a group was in the midst of their preso. So, I stood in the hallway out of courtesy. For 35 more minutes!

Anyhow, my group's presentation went well and then I just got to sit back and listen...until 7:35. And by George, there was an impromptu meeting for my next class that is getting underway in May. Seeeewwww ("Buttons on your underwear," as my mom always says), I finally left class at 8:00.

Now, I'm still on the good fitness regime so this means I had yet to work out. By the time I changed my clothes and got myself together it was 8:30. Then the hubs came home the moment I was to walk out the door. Of course I said hello and chatted for a few. Speaking of that...

The hubs took my hand and said, "Did you see what I did today?" This usually involves some sort of purchase I may not have originally approved (wood pellet stove, large blue dumpster in the driveway, beat up old truck, I could go on) because that's the way he rolls. Instead, he had cleaned out the huge brush pile from our backyard and filled in a gaping hole from a tree stump removal last year. Sweet. My back yard is no longer a huge embarrassment!

By now it's 8:50 but the iPod and I took to the streets. At approximately 8:55 I picked up my feet and began my yog. And that's when it happened, the amazing thing. Through a cramp on my right side and the first sign of shin splints (don't worry, I stretched them really well when I got back) I kept up my pace until 9:15.

That's right, a whole 20 minute yog for me! I mean, to me that's huge. I more than doubled my time. I'm so excited at the prospect of becoming a jogger. I love the break from the workout videos it offers me.

And with that, and the fuse I just blew cooking, I'm off to eat my dinner. Yes, it's 9:50 now but what's worse? Eating a well-rounded meal at 10 pm or starving myself?

I'm going for the food-especially since it involves asparagus from our garden.

Yogging

Yes, I said yogging. Because you certainly cannot qualify what I do as running, let alone jogging...so I yog. And yog I did tonight. I put in the Last Chance Workout tonight. I got through the warm up and the first circuit and the dvd froze. So I turned it off, turned the tunes up, and took it outside. Again it was only a 7 or 8 minute yog but I have to think that's not too shabby for the second time out.

I'm learning to pay attention to my heart rate and I'm hoping this pays off. Also, I'm hoping to start yogging every other day. This will keep my workout more varied and hopefully keep my body guessing.

In other news, I co-led my final after school professional development session today. I'm certainly glad to cross this off my to-do list. Surveys were handed out, which always worries me. You know there are always some people who are never happy, no matter what you do. But I'm pleased to report the feedback was very encouraging and mostly positive. Doesn't make me want to rush into doing it again but it was a nice end to the sessions.

That's really all I had to say. How was your Tuesday?