Twit2fit updates

I gave the details of this week's exercises on the twit2fit Ning page.

 

Sunday jogged slowly 5 miles and walked 2.5 miles

 

Monday upper body weight lifting.

 

Tuesday jogged very slowly 2.5 miles.

 

Friday lower body and mostly leg weight lifting.

 

Saturday another test day with Operation Boot Camp.

Trying something new

Since November, I have been struggling with being motivated to exercise. I have essentially decreased my exercise regiment from 5 or 6 days a week to 3 or 4 days a week. Interestingly, I have been able to not only to maintain my upper body strength but increase my strength. Though I am increasing the length that I jog, I am jogging less frequently. One difference is that I feel like I am not as toned and I can tell a difference in my abdomen.

 

I feel like I need to do something different, but I have not figured out what. I know for sure I need more motivation, and possibly a change in my routine.

 

When a friend invited me for a trial workout with Operation Boot Camp, I thought this would be great. Maybe I could get some motivation and direction in how I can change my workouts. The trial workout was fun--well as fun as a workout can be at 5:30 in the morning. There were lots of people there since it was bring a friend day. I knew several people including two of the instructors. They were friendly and encouraging, but not in the over-enthusiastic cheerleader kind of way. The beginning of the workout was tough--that may have been because it was so early in the morning.

 

We started out with a short jog to our first "station" where we did a few calisthenics and stretched. We jogged to each station. I cannot remember all of the exercises we did, but the hardest was the plank. We held this position for minutes at least twice. We also did one set of sit-ups, squats, tire kick-ups, and several side shuffles. I thought my legs, particularly my inner thighs would be sore, but it was my abs and obliques that were the sorest.

 

I got a great workout and I was able to do the entire workout without resting and it was very effective.

 

In this program, participation is expected – and monitored – for every single session. Instructors are with you the entire time. Although there were lots of people, the instructors were able to watch and gauge our abilities.

 

It seems that the program is a total fitness program that includes nutrition information and log book, as well as intense workouts. This may be the reason that it is so expensive--because of the individual attention.

 

I am going to participate in one of their workouts that is open to the public. But, I don't think I will be able to join this group anytime soon. Expensive is an issue. An even more important reason is that I will be traveling over the next few months that will prevent me from fully participating in the program. In each of the summer months,  I would miss at least 8 days.

 

Overall, Operation Boot Camp is a good program, but someone would have to convince me why what I would get out of it that would warrant the expense. Of course, my travel schedule will be probably be an issue.

 

Thanks Dana for the invite! I really did enjoy it and wonder what the next workout would be like.

Trying to get back into exercising

Since Thanksgiving, my exercise regiment has slowed down. I have been very unmotivated to wake up in the mornings to jog and since being sick and having knee problems and eye surgery, I have not had much desired to go back to the regiment I was exercising in the early fall.

This week I have done better, not perfect but better.

My exercise this week:

• Monday morning: benchpress, tricep kickbacks, military press. I lifted heavy Monday---the most I have in a very long time.
• Tuesday morning: I slept in
• Wednesday morning: leg (fairly heavy leg lifts and squat machines) and ab workout. After getting the kids ready for school, and I jogged 2.5 miles at a moderate pace (for me). The temperature was below 32 degrees and the wind was brutal. Maybe that was the reason the pace was decent. Then, I traveled out of town for a meeting.
• Thursday morning (while out of town): I slept in. My apologies to a friend who worked out and I just did not want to get out in the cold weather (I am such a wimp).
• Thursday night (back home): I jogged 2.5 miles at a moderate pace (for me) in 52 degree weather. It was very nice jog.
• Friday (we'll see)
• Saturday morning: I hope to jog
• Sunday morning: I hope to jog

If I jog on Saturday and Sunday, I will have exercised a consistent amount this week. Consistency is key for me. Although I am not suffering in a major way from cutting back on my exercise, I can tell a difference.

I also feel a difference in how my body feels and what I want to eat. It seems that when I exercise consistently and I push myself to lift heavier or go faster or longer when jogging, I eat better.

The weights give my body a tight feeling, while the cardio makes me feel good. Maybe those physical changes and feelings are what I need to remember when I start to lose motivation.