Week SEVEN...Challenge Week!!

December 17, 2009 - last day of Phase 1. I missed 2 classes throughout. Challenge week was a challenge, for sure. Monday was reasonably hard. Wednesday was darned near impossible...I really detested it. A little piece of me considered not going today but I decided that was pretty uncommitted of me, so I went. Today was awesome. Challenging, but definately something I felt like I could DO. It involved 1000 reps of 5 sets of exercises, all done in a partner format. We had fun, and broke up the most diffucult exercises. Fortunately, my partner and I have trouble with the same exercises in huge quantities (60 consec pushups are still very tough for me). We blasted through the easy ones, and broke up the pulldowns, etc to make sure we could get it all done. While we didn't go QUITE fast enough to finish it in 20 min, I felt great getting 890 done...and know that with a few more minutes we both cold have finished it and felt quite fine.

Measurements and Testing has been moved to 6AM on Satuday instead of Sunday. Unfortunately, I have gained...I'm QUITE sure, and very disappointed by it. Granted, I can assign all the blame to myself for not doing the cardio diligently and not taking the food as seriously as I (obviously) need to. I hoped switching to Diet soda and Skim Cooladas would be enough to push me in the right direction, but apparently I have to double-up the effort...
M&T on Sat, more results then...and 3 weeks off!
RESULTS 137.5 lbs, I believe....A net gain.

Week SIX....

December 10, 2009 - Hopefully gaining momentum! Feeling more flexible, feeling stronger in little places. I was achy early in the week, but making steady strides toward enjoying the burn (well, I hope to soon, anyway....)

Week FIVE....

December 3 - Gettin' Somewhere: Entering this week, after a week off, felt good. Believe it or not, I missed it! Today's class was tough...the most difficult of the rotation. Overall, I do feel results, albeit slight. Calves are firmer, thighs feel more solid. My back is feeling more flexible, and in my mind, the horseshoe is appearing - though I don't think I'm there yet. I've been walking with a friend a few times a week, but not doing the level of cardio that is a direct reflection of the results I would like to see. Unfortunately, I feel fatter. Today's resolve is to make sure the meds are 100% this week. Seems easy enough, right? I'm still unclear about my goal weight. It makes it tough to attain! Perhaps a small reduction in inches, but not enough for clothes to fit differently. I will not be surprised if I don't have any loss to speak of by Dec 20. That's fine - I just have to commit more in the next round, starting in January.

Week FOUR....The "Recovery" Week

Nov 25 - Recovery - I need to make the time to walk, and eat more responsibly. Still eliminating soda and trying to take meds reliably often. I know the results will come, but I am beginning to think it will NOT be between now and Dec 20th, for the next M&T (Measurements and Testing). Figures...Who cares what you look like in Jan, Feb March??? Whatever...great by April. With some hard work.

Week THREE.....

Nov 19 - Week 3 was good. Feeling a little stronger, and seeing my weakest points resisting and collapsing when worked hard. Though frustrating, I can feel that those are the areas that need the most work, so I have to find a way to do them as well as possible. I hated having to miss Monday...but it was necessary.

Food is my enemy. Changing the habit of grazing, and not thinking - chosing - what I put in is taking a while to break. I find myself craving a lot, and then being frustrated that I gave in. This is a process, and I hate this part. But, I hate the challenges that I require the most effort on - but isn't that the point? It's my body telling me to work-it harder.

Week TWO....

Nov 9, 9AM.
Today was also harder, but I am still not sore outside of class, just have the pesky tight/pulled shin thing. Still, pushups and planks were the killer today. A 10 minute circuit of not putting dumbells down at all did my arms in and finishing was tough, but not impossible....It's a waste of time if it isn't challenging. Goal for tomorrow, 30 minute walk/run.

Week One - Boot Camp (Nov 1 - Nov 8)

November 1 - 8A - 10A: Measurements & Testing with the new Boot Camp that comes highly recommended by Maria. POST TEST is DEC 20th. Fingers crossed for great progress. I feel like it's
winning the lottery" and not something within my control...despite that I should KNOW differently.
Day One. Measurements & Testing: Measurments pending...waiting to get them from Mike.
Testing was not terrible, but a day of playoff games in Norwood would have made my legs and feet sore anyway.
November 2 - 9A-10A: By AM, I was sore throughout, but my legs were pretty tight. Boot camp was a challenge, but with a solid push through each set of exercises, I hung on by a thread and made it through...but was quite obviously the only "first-timer". Dragging by the end. Felt better later, however.
November 3 - GOAL - 30 Minutes walking, jogging 1/3 of it. Minimum of 10 minutes. (No school, GOAL unmet - Damn 5 minute walk/jog at competition)
November 4 - 9A - 10A: Slightly sore before starting, mostly thighs, slightly in calfs, and between shoulderblades when flexed. Started the day by taking Ibuprofen and Synthroid. Good plan. Class was less painful than Monday (On Mon, Wall Squats were biggest challenge, and plank rotating lift), and it was more invigorating. More partner stuff added to the mix. I think I left class less sore than I started! 1.5 after class, feeling pretty fine! Definately a surprise. Class again tomorrow. Let's see how well I do then...the distant rumble of "what if I really CAN'T?" is dissipating. I can. It might suck, but I can. And should.
November 5 - 9A - 10A - MUCH harder day.....the basketball court suicides killed me! Still, the plank thing and the wall hand-stand walk in was also a torture I couldn't endure for the full minute. Made it about 45 seconds.
WEEKEND - 8 hrs in Natick for playoffs, and setting a goal of eliminating all crappy soda from diet, no Dunkies at least 5 days a week, and switching to skim when I do "splurge". Week one comes to a close. I survived, feel better & more confident that this IS something I can do as long as I am not trying to do it all at once!

Countdown To Dec 20th, Post Test

Hoping to earn an excellent Post Test: Dec 20, 2009 with some rockin'results!