Trying something new

I know you've all been anxiously awaiting my follow-up to Thursday's cliff hanger.  Just WHAT did she do the other day when she was so stressed out she thought she was about to jump out the window?

Welllllll..... in case you haven't figured it out yet, after an entire night of not sleeping, I dragged myself out of bed before the sun came up and I... drum roll please... RAN. Yes, that's right.  I, who never ever runs, went running.  I've done this little running kick before as I was training for a 5K last year (which I never even got to friggin' run- I've mentioned that before, right?) Anyway, I haven't actually gone running in about a year.  And the other day, I did.  I ran 2 miles in exactly 19 minutes. Which, by the way, is the fastest I've ever done that.  What's that term that runners use? PR? :)

I recently read somewhere that a great way to stay motivated during a run is to chant something positive to yourself as your feet hit the pavement.  (Stay.Strong. Go. Long. Stay. Strong. Go. Long...) I don't know whether it was that, or the perfect weather, or the ridiculous stress I'm feeling; but my feet never stopped.  I might actually do it again tomorrow! 

6 AM (ok, it was closer to 6:30) is brutally early, but I had company out there. I passed dog walkers, shopping cart pushers, and teenagers moving slowly to bus stops. And every time I approached someone, I felt like shouting, "Look at me! I'm running!!" Don't worry- I didn't. I just smiled and kept to myself. But I did return the quick wave from the fellow runner. Ha, I was a fellow runner!

 I'm not a runner. I'm a very slow jogger at best. And I certainly don't do it consistently.   But I ran (well, jogged).  I actually kindof liked it.  So there it is.  This is so WEIRD.

And on that note...

Have a healthy day,

J

The good hurt

Have you ever been so tired and sore that when you sit down on the couch you actually FEEL relief?  Ha! That was totally me last night.  I actually didn't even realize how tired and sore I was until I sat down! After my brutally early treadmill/free weight workout, I spent the rest of the gorgeous day all hopped up on energy.  We were running errands, going on walks, and playing outside for most of it.  By the time I sat down at 8:00, my feet and legs were already sore.  And as soon as I said it out loud, Husband looked at me and said, "Are you bragging or are you complaining?"  Hmmm.  I had to think about it for a second, but then realized that I was actually bragging!  "Well, then good for you.  You must've done something right."  Wow, that early morning jumpstart to my day was actually worth it!!

Today, my calves are tight.  My hamstrings are tight, and my obliques actually hurt.  Going up the stairs was actually a chore.  I haven't felt like this after a workout in the longest time, and I've missed it!  You see, I tend to THINK I'm working hard in the moment, but sometimes by the time I get home, I feel like I could go do it again.  And I'm usually sore at night OR the next day, but hardly ever both.  That's definitly proof that I need to work harder!!! 

It's painful, it's time consuming, and it's frustrating sometimes.  But you know what?  IT'S ALL WORTH IT. It's the Good Hurt, and I want it every time!! 

And there's no rest for the weary.  Zumba tonight.  Yeah! I hope your workout is good today, too!  Do it till it hurts!!! 

Have a healthy day,

J

Early morning warrior

Hi!  Sorry I didn't post yesterday. (You missed me, didn't you?!) I actually had a really busy day: work, lunch meeting about some different stuff, and back to work for another meeting.  I know that a lot of people work those kind of hours every single day (I used to, too), but ugh, I was so tired by the time the boys went to bed last night! It reminded me how lucky I am to have such amazing hours this year. (Even though the job itself leaves a lot to be desired... but that's for a different time...)  And it really sucked cuz I wanted to get to the gym, but felt really bad about packing the boys up the second I got home, only to leave them again.  So my Mama Guilt got the best of me, and I played about 14 rounds of Superhero Memory instead.

Anyway, I did something this morning that I haven't done in SOOOO long... I went to the gym for an early morning workout.  My alarm went off at the blissful hour of 5:15, and I was out the door by 5:25.  I used to think that people who did this were insane, but then working full time last year pretty much left me no choice.  By the time I got home at 4, actually saw my children for 5 seconds and started dinner, it was practically time to start the whole bedtime routine.  I was freakin' exhausted! After really thinking about what was important to me, I realized that I wasn't willing to sacrifice working out.  So I started doing it before work.  Yes my days felt never- ending a lot of times, but I started them filled with energy.  And once it became part of my routine, I actually enjoyed it! 

Now that I'm only working part-time, I've switched it up again.  It's working out just fine, but I'm usually at the mercy of someone else's availability to watch the boys.  (My gym has a very annoying daycare policy.  Sometimes it works out for me, and sometimes it doesn't).  But anyway, after looking at today's to-do list, I wasn't sure when I was going to have time.  So I made time.  This morning.  And I ROCKED it! I was home before 7 with tons of energy.  And I could already cross something off of today's list!  How great is that?!

So what are you going to do today?  When are you going to do it?  It's up to you to decide what's important.  And for all of those things, you'll find time. 

Have a healthy day,

J





Fusion Workouts

 

Remember how I told you I had to hit it hard last night at the gym?  Well, I did, and it actually felt really good!  I've mentioned "my class" in a few posts now, but haven't really explained it very well.  I teach a Fusion class, and it's AWESOME!  It's kind of a combination of pilates, low impact cardio, and yoga.  We do tons of strength building exercises, but mainly without weights. (Or if we do pick up weights, they're usually no heavier than 3 pounds).  It's amazing how powerful your own body can be when it's tested.  The concept of this class is totally fresh.  We get our heart-rates up, feel the burn, and leave class as sweaty messes who feel strong and ready to take on the world.

I totally have what I've self-diagnosed as Exercise ADD.  I get completely bored with doing the same workouts over and over. I'm pretty sure that's why I hate running so much. (Well, that, and I have built up such a mental block that I now feel like I'm gonna die the second I break in to a jog). But anyway, that's why I love Fusion workouts so much.  You can't ever get bored because it's always something different.  Like, in my class, we'll do some low impact, strength building cardio followed by some planks followed by some yoga stretching. Before we know it, 30 minutes has passed and it's time to get down on our mats for some traditional Pilates stuff.  It goes by so quickly!

I go to a great Step class sometimes too.  It's not a Fusion class, but it's a Circuit class. So, instead of a bunch of styles being all mashed together, we'll do step circuits followed by weight circuits. Cardio and weight-training together = maximum fat burning!!  Yes Please!! 

Mix it up, do it all, fuse it all together... just do something!

So last night it was some fusion for strength and flexibility and tonight it will be some heart pumping Zumba.  What will your workout look like today?  Whatever it is, I hope you get the most out of it that you possibly can! Like I always say to my class members: that hour of time at the gym is probably one of the only hours in the day that is just for YOU. So make the most of it! 

Have a healthy day,

J