Posts filed under 'exercise'
Reviews: P90X Teaser & 30 Day Shred, Level 2
This weekend was all about fitness, and in a good, healthy way — not an excessive way.
The weather was so-so, and I didn’t want to spend as much time as usual at the gym, so I was super-happy to hit the gym moderately and have home options, too.
When my hubby and I were out shopping Saturday (after he took the second of his three finals — he’s almost done with this semester) I stocked up on lighter (5 lb) weights, a yoga mat and resistance bands (pictured to the left) so I could do my first session of P90X — Core Synergistics.
I’m following the “Lean” plan, which seems to be more suited to women, but we’ll see if I don’t end up switching to the Classic track, or kind of mixing the two — I’m curious about the Plyometrics DVD which isn’t used for the Lean Plan, and I do so much cardio on my own, that I’m not sure I will do the Cardio X DVD very often, though I need to give it a try tomorrow. (more…)
Add comment April 26, 2009
Review: Jillian Michaels’ 30-Day Shred
OK so you ladies (and gents) know I’m a gym-rat and I love fitness and working out. But I gotta say, Jillian Michaels kicked my ASS! And on Level One no less!
I do think I need lighter weights than the 8 lb. ones I have because I was struggling with some exercises and form is more important than the amount of weights being lifted.
I like how Jillian talks to you, and found her encouraging, not annoying like some fitness instructors are. I genuinely felt like I didn’t want to (ha!) let her down.
And what I like best is it’s under 25 minutes so I can do it start-to-finish three times a week without necessarily needing to go to the gym at the crack of dawn. (more…)
14 comments April 22, 2009
NEWS FLASH: Michigan’s Out of Hibernation!
This was the first true spring weekend here in Michigan, and it seems like the whole state was outside.
See, I’m not used to eternal winters. I’m used to four seasons. I grew up on the East Coast (northern N.J.) and went to college/grad school in D.C. In both places, each season is about four months long, and the winters are harsh, but not always terrible; the summers hot, but not always brutal.
Now I live in Michigan, where our first snowfall came in October and we just had our last dusting just two weeks ago — in April. Um, yea. Let me tell you, for as much as I dislike half a year of winter, my Salvadoran husband really doesn’t dig it!)
In our three years of living here, I think it’s safe to say that we have a loooooooooooooooooong winter, a flirt with spring, a hot summer, a rendezvous with fall (bursting colors, quite gorgeous) — and then winter comes … covering the leaves before they’ve all fallen off the trees … And we repeat. (more…)
8 comments April 20, 2009
The Shred/P90X/Etc.
Random post, but has anyone tried Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred? What about P90X, which has taken the infomercial world by storm?
I just ordered the Shred, and it should arrive Monday. Very excited to try it; I hear it’s a killer and I’ve never done a fitness DVD. I’m such a total gym rat, but think it’d be awesome to have the ability to work out from home every now and then.
And, I’ve heard soooo much hype about P90X and was kind of curious about it — it’s a 90 day program, an hour a day, and it’s supposed to be killer. I like the idea of muscle confusion; it sounds logical. And for such a creature of habit, it’d be a good mix-up for me. Some male friends have done it and they post alllllllllllllll about it on Facebook.
So I figured I’d ask if anyone has had first-hand experience with either of these programs? I still have some fitness reimbursement funds I can use, and am considering getting P90X.
Finally, a small request: if anyone’s on Facebook and wants to be my friend 
I need people to confirm my blog. All you have to do is click here. Thanks!!
UPDATE: I ordered P90X — it will be here in 5-7 days! Hope I like it. 
12 comments April 19, 2009
The Party’s Over … or Just Beginning?
Roughly four weeks ago I decided that I was in control of my chewing and spitting behavior and that I could, indeed, CHOOSE not to do it. That I could be proud of my choices, not feel guilty for them.
In the two weeks that followed, I found myself over-eating on foods I used to chew/spit … and over-exercising. (I don’t share a recap of my days here like some bloggers do, but that’s the honest truth).
This past week, my exercise was more normalized, and I didn’t buy quite as many triggers. I also took a rest day (and will tomorrow, a travel day) … but I have been still eating more than I need to (for someone who still wants to lose weight and get back to where I feel my best).
Mostly, it’s been giving in to that-time-of-the-month cravings (which ends today, phew!), not flexing my resistance muscle, and just plain enjoying more than usual … (which isn’t such a bad thing, if I were able to be happy with my figure as it is … some days I am, other days … I’m not … call me Goldilocks, looking for something that’s juuuuuuuuuuuust right).
But as I’ve noted here, I’ve also eaten chocolate in the privacy of my car or at my work cufice that I know I just don’t need — and the secretive, sneaky way I do it … I wouldn’t want my friends, coworkers, husband, family to see. It’s embarassing.
So it is my hope that this coming week, I’ll finally see growth, evidence of that happy medium. (more…)
10 comments April 10, 2009
How Disordered Do You Want to Be?
I ask this because I, like you, have a choice.
The answer for me is … not at all.
We have a choice. We might tell ourselves our disordered minds are in control, but they’re not. We are.
If we punish ourselves with restriction or over-exercising, or if we punish ourselves with a binge, we’re doing it to ourselves.
It’s not about the food or the exercise; it’s always about something else. Food or exercise (lack of it or over-abundance of it) is a coping mechanism.
And I don’t want to use either as my coping mechanisms any longer.
This weekend, during an Honest.Open.Willing. chat with my husband, he asked me point-blank, “When will the obsession end?”
He sees me more than any of my friends and family, and he sees glimmers of hope, some aspects of behavioral change. He knows I want to be better, to be more fun again, to be the happy girl I was when I was heavy … but he (as well as others close to me) have said, ” … but the obsession is still there.”
He’s right, it is.
I want to turn it off. I don’t want to be disordered, or have disordered thoughts, or to make progress only to fall back. (more…)
19 comments April 9, 2009
Melissa’s Strength Training Program
You might recall that about a month ago I met with my trainer, Cristi, for the first time.
We went through one sample “day” each time we met, but because of my trip to Mexico and then being out sick for a week, it literally took us five sessions to get through everything.
Now I’ve completed a little over a week on my own, and I thought I’d share what my regimen looks like.
She isn’t hell-bent on cardio the way I am, but though I’m not stating it explicitly with each session, you can assume I’m doing 45-60 minutes cardio six days a week, in addition to this lifting schedule (with random biking and walking thrown in when the weather cooperates).
Knowing my goals (to slim down again and get toned) she designed my lifting program to be heavily cardio-centric. In fact, I wear my heart rate monitor the whole time and because I’m doing super-sets with limited time to rest, my heart rate really gets up there even while lifting (more…)
5 comments March 31, 2009
Sad Stat
I read a really sad stat in the April issue of Women’s Health at the gym this weekend that I want to share today, at the beginning of a new week. It was buried on the lower left corner of page 22 in one of those By The Numbers sections.
“19: Percentage of women who say they’re happy with their bodies.”–
Source: Survey by the American Dental Association, Crest and Oral-B.
WHOA. This gave me pause. It was a little teensy newsflash that has legs, will travel … if only anyone else picked up on what a telling stat it was.
My first thought: THIS should be an investigative report in and of itself, Women’s Health, not a miniscule blurb! (And mind you, WH is probably my fave of all the fitness/health mags to which I subscribe).
Don’t you think? I mean, I imagined the numbers to be maybe 50, maybe 60 percent … but only a mere 19 percent? of the women sampled were happy with their bodies?!!
We all know surveys are a sampling and not the be-all, end-all… but how does that translate to the general popuplation? Are you saddened or surprised by that stat, or did you think it spoke the truth? (more…)
12 comments March 30, 2009
Feelin’ the Burn & Finding Beauty in the Breakdown
Can we say, precious?!!
Last night, Cristi (my trainer) kicked the hell out of my triceps, chest, back and abs. We did super-sets and I am feeling it today. But I love it. Oooh, I love it.
When I am lifting, I feel strong, lean, in charge. I only think of what my body is capable of when I’m lifting, not what it lacks. I think of the musculature that is developing in time, of the tightening of my figure with each set, each rep. It’s therapeutic in a way. (more…)
12 comments March 3, 2009
Training Session #1
Image credit: FitSugar.com
I’ve been lifiting on and off since freshman year of high school, so I went into this with some knowledge … but it didn’t prepare me for the arse-whooping I got!!
We’re dividing my sessions into body parts, and last night was purely legs. I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard in all my life!! She pushed me, and I felt the burn and loved it. I’ve missed it; that empowering “Yes I can!” sensation.
When I was off-form, she corrected me. Likewise, when I had excellent form, she praised me. It was good for me to have someone pushing me; it reminds me of running with my husband, who always sticks with me, but pushes me along when I’m feeling exhausted. Some people hate the pressure; I thrive off it.
(more…)
9 comments February 24, 2009
