SNAILS PACE

This morning I was moving at a snails pace. I felt better but not back to normal. I had a training session at 9:30 and wasn't sure if I would make it. What were my choices ? Blow off the workout and still feel like crap or go and hope that it makes me feel better. I opted for the go and hope it makes me feel better. The workout was lower body and seemed to go fairly well. I did 150 pounds on the seated leg press and could defiantly feel it when I got off. When we were done I was tired but still able to finish up with a light cardio workout.

WORKOUT NUMBER 1

I've been feeling a bit under the weather these last few days. Nothing serious just the usual runny nose and stuffiness. I had not worked out since Wednesday so needed to get to the gym this morning. Today was the 2nd time for Christy and me to use the Jillian cards. It was my turn to pick. I read each card and tried to figure which might be the easiest as I wasn't feeling too great. I finally decided on Workout 1. It had 5 circuits and 15-20 minutes of cardio. I crammed the cards in my gym bag along with plenty of Kleenex and we headed for our place of torture.
The circuit was covering all the muscle groups and also adding some cardio. After circuit 1 and 2 we had to go upstairs to the treadmill and sprint for 1 minute at 7 mph.
These cards give you a great workout. It takes us a few minutes to figure out some of the exercises but we're learning and the more we use the cards the easier they will get. Sometimes I have that visual of Jillian screaming at her biggest losers team and it makes me try harder.

CHANGE

I had a 10:30 training session with Jacob this morning. I got there a little early so I could warm up on the bike. I was thinking that it was probably going to be legs today and really wasn't looking forward to that. Surprise! Shoulders and chest were the exercises selected. He gave me a tough workout and after I went up stairs and did 20 minutes on the treadmill.
On my way back to the car I found a penny, my lucky day!

RELISH

This morning my plan was to drop Allie at school and then go park at Kids Kastle and start my run. The cross country team was out running and they looked a bit hot but there was a slight breeze blowing so I didn't think it would be too bad . I ran the first hill and was beginning to feel the heat and humidity. By the second hill it was getting really hot and by the time I got to the old trail I was relishing any sections of shade I could find. I did 3.29 miles, which was less than what I had planned.

IN A RUT

It seems like lately I have been stuck in a rut as far as cardio is concerned. I've done a lot of it on the bike and today was no exception. Usually this is my choice when I have had a lower body workout but today it was upper body.
I trained with Jacob. He had me doing mostly back and biceps. Showed me a few things with my form that I needed to do. You would think that all the times I have used a trainer this would have been pointed out, but no it wasn't.

BOD IN A BOX

Last week I decided to stop my training sessions and do it on my own. Not exactly on my own, I went to Barnes and Noble and bought Jillian Michaels HOT BOD IN A BOX. I thought Christy and I could use this for training. So today was our first attempt. I'm so glad the gym was not full because we were

not sure on some of the exercises and I know we looked a little crazy.

Christy had selected Workout 5. It had 5 circuits that we were to complete and then finish with 15-20 minutes of cardio. We pulled the cards we needed and then headed up to the gym. Not all of the exercises were hard, I did have a problem with the jump rope.

I felt like I had a fairly good workout. It covered abs, lower back, quads, chest, shoulders, triceps, core, glutes and hamstrings. I wasn't able to complete all the reps but that leaves room for improvement.

WATER GYM RESTAURANT

You want a good work out that will get your heart rate up? Try a game of volley ball in the pool. Not only does it get the old heart rate going but it is also an upper body workout. That was my exercise pick for yesterday and this morning my arms are still sore.

We got invited out to dinner tonight, trying out a new Mexican restaurant. I figured I better do some cardio so I could enjoy a beer and some guacamole. I went to the gym and did 30 minutes on the treadmill.
Bon Appetite!

WOBBLY LEGS

Christy and I rode up to the gym together, she had an 11 am training appointment and I had an 11:30 training appointment. So while she was doing her thing I went upstairs to do cardio. I was feeling tired so I decided I wanted to sit instead of stand. My only choice was the good old bike.
My turn to train, legs was the body part selected. She worked me really hard, lunges, squats, leg press and also threw in some ab exercises. After I finished my legs felt wobbly.

BACK TO SCHOOL

I went to the gym today to do my upper body weights and I swear everyone must have been out buying school supplies because the gym was pretty empty.
It was nice to have the place to myself. Before the workout I warmed up on the bike for 15 minutes.

IS THAT A MONKEY OR A BOY ?

Okay, I didn't go to the gym yesterday to workout. I had coffee with my friend, ran some errands and then came home and stayed inside because it was so hot here. I did make some yummy carrot muffins from Bob Greene's book, The Best Life Diet Cookbook. We all enjoyed them.

Today it was up to the gym for cardio and lower body weights. I did a warm up on the bike for 15 minutes and then my weights. Finished with 20 minutes on the elliptical. After I finished I went and talked to someone about dropping my training sessions. I figured I have enough knowledge to go on my own and I can always call Jenny if I need some help.

NEW HAT

Earlier this year I ordered a new hat for myself. It is the Hiatus cap from www.altrec.com/outdoorresearch. It is very light weight and offers over 30 + sun protection. I thought it would be perfect for running in Texas. Today was the first time I wore it and I loved it ! It did everything they said from keeping the sweat off my face to being able to fold it and put it in a pocket. It is definitely a keeper.
I was out the door by 7 and it was humid and hot. I would have rather been reading the paper but knew I needed the run since I had taken two days off. Finished with 4.92 miles.
Thursday I ran outside on the trails for 4.75 miles.

Total miles for week 9.67

NEW TRAINER

Jenny wanted to go to the gym this morning before we left for Dallas. She offered to let me train with her. She made it sound like an easy program. So I happily agreed. Little did I know what I was in for. That inflict program is hard!
There were some things that I could not complete, but gave it my best shot. I even told some old man that she was trying to kill me and later when I saw him I said " I'm still breathing"

All fun aside it was a great training session, just as hard as what my former trainer has done. I definitely had sweat dripping!

Thanks Jenny for the session.

THINGS I'VE MISSED

It seems like it has been over a month since I have run outside, but today I was up early ( 4:30 ) so I had time for the paper, coffee and a run outside. While I was running I thought about all the things I miss by running inside on the treadmill. Here's my list:

1. Smell of fresh mowed grass

2. humidity

3.sound of the birds

4. humidity

5. hello's from other runners

6. humidity

7. the bunnies chewing on the grass

8. humidity

9. morning sun coming up

10. humidity.

It was an okay run, I managed to get 5 miles in.

CHOICES

Today was one of those busy ones where I had lots of errands and hate doing them in the heat. I got back from the grocery store and I was hot and didn't want to go back out to go to the gym. So I sat around thinking about it It comes down to choices we make and what's the best. I knew with my daughter coming to visit this week it could be hard to get in all my weight training sessions so the best choice was to go to the gym. I made a deal with myself, go to the gym, do weights and cardio and then reward myself with a pedicure. I must say my toes look beautiful!

CROSSWORD

I blew my chance to run outside this morning. It was 80 out with a slight breeze and early enough for a run but the Sunday paper was calling me. And so I gave in to the crossword and a cup of coffee and later some French toast with raspberries, strawberries and blueberries on it!

Later in the day I headed for the gym to do some cardio. My legs were a bit sore from the other day so I opted for the 30 minutes on the bike.

Tomorrow I need to find a new trainer and do weights.

GOT THE WORD

Trans-fer To move from one person or place to another

Christy and I went to the gym this afternoon and got the word that our trainer, Mark, is going to another gym. I know, I can find another but he was really good and will be hard to replace.

I went to do upper body weights and Christy went upstairs to the treadmill. I did the usual, chest, back, biceps, triceps and shoulders. After I finished I went upstairs and did 2 miles on the treadmill and then some stretching.

SWEAT !

If I was rating my workouts by how much I sweat, today's would have been an A+ ! I had a session with Mark and it was lower body plus abs. As I held a plank position I couldn't believe how much was dripping off me. How many of these do I have to do ? After my great workout I went upstairs and did 20 minutes of cardio on the bike.
This has been a busy week but I did manage to get to the gym on Wednesday and do upper body plus 30 minutes of cardio. Also I have been in the pool everyday playing volley ball for at least 30 minutes.