Eeep! I just realized that I forgot to post this last friday! Sorry ladies! Show me what you got this past week! I’ll post mine tonight!
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From the category archives:
Working out
*Comic courtesy of Questionable Content
Ladies, if you haven’t read this post, please do. In it, I explain that my morning sickness has been out of control lately, leaving me to do exercises such as walking. With my extreme fatigue, it’s a fight to do that 
My strength training has toned down a lot. I have stopped using the heavier 12-15 pound weights and just use the 8, sometimes 10 lbs weights. I also don’t do any ab exercises.
Here’s my week:
Sunday: Nada
Monday: Strength training, Walked 2 miles
Tuesday: Played DDR with my son for about 30 minutes
Wednesday: Walked 3 miles
Thursday: Strength training, yoga
Friday: Nada
Saturday: I’m going to try and get up (before work) and walk a bit
I see the fact that I’m not nearly up to where I was physically as a challenge. Throughout all of this general feeling of yuckiness, I hope to still keep a good baseline of activity going.
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Last one challenge ladies!
I’m running late, so I will update mine when I get home. Show me yours and I’ll show you mine!
Update:
Sunday: Rest, Yoga
Monday: Run 4 miles
Tuesday: Bike 60 minutes
Wednesday: Run 4 miles, Strength training, Swim 10 laps
Thursday: Bike 60 minutes, The Firm Wave 30 minutes
Friday: Strength training, Bike 45 minutes
Saturday: Nada!
It’s almost time to start biking out in the real world again. I can’t wait. And they just built a new trail extension to the one I normally ride on. Fun, fun, fun!
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Much better week for me! No swimming though! I think I’m just slacking off on it so I can freak out at the last minute like last time LOL! My first tri is May 22. It’s a little one, but I still need to kick things into gear for the one in June!
Sunday: 45 minute bike
Monday: 3 mile run, strength training
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: 60 minute bike, strength training
Thursday: 4 mile run, yoga
Friday: 60 minute bike
Saturday: Rest!
Challenge ladies, we have ONE more Friday before our challenge ends, so make em count!
On another note, I’ve purchased the wave from the Firm series. I actually got it second hand from a coworker who bought it last year and never used it. Her loss, my gain!
The Wave in action!
Here’s hoping I don’t break my neck on this thing! I will be reviewing it of course, once I’ve tried it out a few times.
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Ladies, I am very ashamed to report that I have done very little to nothing this week. I’ve had a lingering cold and decided to just take it easy to let myself heal. My cough became terrible and I was still trying to workout. I finally realized that if I didn’t let myself heal, I was going to continue to be worse off.
Tomorrow morning, I will start back, as my cough has significantly lessened since yesterday. My triathlon buddy is in full gear and I don’t want to let her (or myself) down!
Show me yours though and continue to inspire me like you ladies do!
Also, I know I’ve been slacking off on the posting, I’ll do better! I’ve got a lot of ideas and plans!
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I remember when the 8lb weights used to be too much for me. I now use them on a regular basis with light effort. After conquering those, I bought some 10 lbs weight and have been using them pretty consistently. I thought I was getting a good workout from them.
Well, they’ve been my “heavy” weight for months now. The five pound weights were assigned as my “light” weights.
One day, while waiting for DS to finish his tumbling class, I decided to use the last 10 minutes of his class to try out the weight machines (his class in our gym). I’m a free weight type of girl, but I started out on machines, so I thought it would be interesting to see how it went.
Let me tell you, I was sore afterwards! I got home and realized that I am no longer sore after my weight lifting at home. I went out and bought some 12 and 15 pound weights. These are now my “heavy” weights and the 8 and 10 pounds weights are my light. How did I notice realize that things had gotten too easy?
This is a lesson that can be applied in both cardio and strength. If you’re strolling along on the treadmill, leisurely reading your magazine…you might want to ask yourself: Is it enough?
According to this study, people are more likely to pick weights that are too light. Are you working out to your fullest potential?
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Sunday: Rest
Monday: Strength Training, Yoga,
Tuesday: Swim 20 laps
Wednesday: 60 minute bike
Thursday: Strength Training, 45 minute bike
Friday: 60 minute bike
Saturday: 45 minute bike, Strength Training, Yoga
So apparently, this week was biking week.
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Please ignore my ghetto weights...they look terrible, but they're still heavy!
I do belong to a gym, but I have not always. Why have a home gym?
Cost. Money being tight as a stay at home mom, I could not reasonably afford the monthly gym memberships. Especially since all of the gyms in my area required a contract and sign on fee. Signing a contract would leave me worried that I would not always have the extra money every month for the membership.
Convenience. No driving to the gym, especially if it’s a long commute. If you’re working out early in the morning, you can use your own shower afterwards instead of the one in a locker room. I know I hate driving in bad weather, so having workout stuff at home helps during those stormy days.
Comfort level. Let’s face it. When you’re overweight and just starting a workout routine, it can be a little uncomfortable working out in a room of fit people. Even though I firmly believe that this should never be a reason to avoid the gym, working out at home can at least relieve your mind of that worry.
Kids. I know, I know, a lot of gyms have a daycare, but personally I don’t trust them. None of them ever seem to be well organized, and who knows how clean they are? Working out during nap time can be a lifesaver.
I started building my gym slowly. First, I purchased used DVDs from a local consignment shop. Stores like Walmart also have pretty cheap workout DVDs. I tried to make sure to read the back of the cases to make sure they required no extra equipment. You would be surprised at the workout you can get from just using your own body, a television, and a cleared away space in your living room.
Once a little more money came along, I decided to incorporate some weight lifting, and purchased some dumbbells. I also ordered one DVD that required weights. I eventually purchased a step bench and a nice step DVD. I sold the step bench once I bought The Firm TransFirmer system, as it came with 2 benches (pictured in the first picture).
One of the highlights of my home gym was the addition of Yourself Fitness to my DVD library. It’s actually not a DVD, but a game. I know it’s available on the Playstation II, Xbox, and PC. (I will try to do a review on it sometime). I found it used on eBay. I must say, it’s very motivating and has the option to incorporate a stability ball, weights, and a step bench. There is even a yoga option. The workout was never the same, so it helped when I found myself getting bored.
Yourself Fitness
While we’re on the topic of computer games, I’m sure everyone is aware of all of the interactive video games out there. DS and I frequently play Dance Dance Revolution (you can see the pad for it in the first picture, the big black square against the wall). A Wii is also wonderful, for both the Wii Fit and its own dancing game.
Here are some items you might want to consider for your home gym.
- Weights (kettlebells, dumbbells)
- Resistance bands
- Jump rope
- Step bench
- Stability ball
- Pull up bar
- Yoga mat
- Trampoline
- Hula hoop
Of course, the purchase of a treadmill or stationary bike is always great. After looking on craigslist, I was able to find a older, medical grade treadmill for $150 bucks. I figured if it lasted 3 months, that would equal the amount of a gym membership each month. It ended up lasting a year. Sometimes you just have to dig!
My old treadmill. I ended up giving it to the goodwill. It still worked (ok), I just didn't have the room.
I don’t have a treadmill anymore, but I have a trainer for my road bike that lets me ride it inside (pretty much, it turns it into a stationary bike).
Other tips for working out at home:
- Join Netflix or rent some workout DVDs from your local video store. Netflix has a wide selection of DVDs, including some Biggest Loser workouts
- Check out sites like swaptree where you can get rid of DVDs that you’ve grown bored with and get new ones!
- If you don’t have weights, use cans or milk jugs
- Make sure your area is safe and that there is no clutter on the floor for you to trip on
- Keep hydrated!
- Choose workout DVDs that are fun so that you are enjoy your workout
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Ladies I’m writing this from a hotel room, so I don’t have access to my calendar. I’ll update mine when I get home.
Show me yours!
Update:
Sunday: 30 minute bike
Monday: Strength training
Tuesday: Ran 1 mile (I’ve been sick and knew my limit)
Wednesday: 50 minute bike, strength training
Thursday: Snowed in at hotel and sick, did some situp and push ups
Friday: Nada
Saturday: Nada
I’m pitiful!! I’ve been having to stay near the hospital that I work at in order to ensure I could get to work and my family and I have been passing around illness to each other…it’s been an odd week.
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