Wednesday, April 8, 2009

30 Day Shred, Day 5

Just a quick update. I did levels 1 & 2 today, back-to-back - it was a great workout!

Taking 40 minutes was hard to do, and I'm not sure how to fit 40 minutes into my regular schedule, but I'd really like to continue to do two levels back-to-back instead of the way I did it yesterday (a couple hours apart). Keeping the kids occupied and out of my hair was the hard part- 20 minutes is much easier than 40!

Hoping to do 40 tomorrow during naptime... but will still likely have the Princess to deal with, because she doesn't nap (only ThirdKid naps). We'll see how it goes!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

30 Day Shred, Day 4, Round 2

Just got done with a second round of shredding for today. This round I did Level 1, and I'm glad I did... I'm feeling it way more than I was a few hours ago. (And I have a feeling that I'll be a bit sore tomorrow, too!)

I followed my workout with 5 minutes of hula-hooping for a few extra calories burned.

I know that twice today doesn't make up for skipping the shred three times over the weekend, but it sure helps!

30 Day Shred, Day 4

Day 3 was Friday and I only 'shredded' once. Totally ran out of time to do even the 10 additional minutes that I'd planned.

BUT.

I'm a bartender! It was a FRIDAY! I worked HARD on Friday, for hours (I worked for 8 hours, probably burned pretty decent calories during at least 4 of them!). So I figure that I met my 30 minute workout goal on Friday. And again on Saturday, even though I didn't manage to shred at all- I still worked pretty hard behind the bar.

Sunday was a quieter day, along with Monday. I didn't shred either day, nor did I do any kind of physical activity worthy of calorie-burning praise. I spent several hours over the past two days sewing, catching up on 3 quilt blocks that I was very tardy in completing for the virtual quilting bee that I participate in. Not great weight-loss-wise, but VERY great "weight off my shoulders"-wise.

I have already completed the shred today, Level 2. Thank goodness for my TiVo and sitcom reruns... you wouldn't believe how much faster the workout seems to go when you're paying attention to the activity on the tv instead of listening to Jillian yell on the computer! (Even when we do get the DVD player hooked up again, I think I'm going to keep watching it on my computer- it helps that much!) I'm sure you're wondering if I'm really working as hard as I should if I'm paying attention to the TV instead of the Shred. I have done the shred the "right" way, on the TV, listening to Jillian's motivation... eh. I'm keeping up with Natalie and making sure to squeeze all that can be squeezed. I watch the computer screen just as much as I watch the TV screen, but my method seems to take away some of the ugh of the workout- and makes it go quicker!

I'm all set to head in and shred again today. Workout clothes still on, I haven't showered yet because I knew that I'd be doing it again... honestly planned on doing it twice today. (Even if I stink, it's only been about 1.5 hours since I finished; and I haven't left the house. I'll shower after this!) I'm just trying to decide which workout to do this time...

Friday, April 3, 2009

30 Day Shred, Day 3

I didn't have tons of time this morning (and wasn't feeling sore at all), so I did Level 2 today. Hoping to do at least 10 minutes of something later, so I can fulfill my 30 minute commitment to Bodies in Motion.

I am feeling my abs now, after the workout. It's a good sore- so I'm not complaining.

I work late at night, coming home between midnight and 1 usually. Last night I seriously considered doing the Shred again after work. I might just do it tonight, especially since I'm not sure when else I'll have time to do it tomorrow.

What do you think about doing the Shred twice in one day- like 12 hours apart?

Thursday, April 2, 2009

30 Day Shred, Day 2

I got up and did Day 2 this morning, all of Level 1, followed by half of Level 2.

We've recently added a new component to our TV room and need to buy another cord to make the DVD player work again, so I've done the past 2 days by playing the Shred DVD on my computer (a laptop, set up on a tv table right next to the tv).

Last night I did my workout the same way, but I wasn't paying much attention to Jillian- just following along with the exercises. My attention was on the series finale of Life on Mars... I highly suggest this method! I was so focused on what was happening on the big screen that the workout sailed by quickly. Now I need to remember to set it up the tivo so I can watch something interesting every day during my workout. I tried it with Word World and Caillou this morning and trust me when I say that it didn't work! LOL

I feel pretty good so far. I felt a bit wobbly during the first 5-10 minutes this morning, but really not too bad. I read through all of Kristen and Bill's posts last night, and tried to follow their suggestions about being careful with my form; and making sure to squeeze what could be squeezed.

My motivation here is to get back to being free at qeiht watchers (140 lbs is within 'free' range!) and to fit into my summer clothes again. They didn't fit last summer and I ended up buying others. I don't want to wear those clothes again this summer. Also, I'll have more choices for work clothes available, because more things in my closet will fit again.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Day 1 Final Check-In

Forgot to mention.

I'm tracking my caloric intake and making sure that I don't eat much crap. I'm also trying to drink extra water... I usually only drink water, coffee, or Diet Coke (but I don't keep that at home, so just drink it at work or out to eat). I really enjoy eating healthy foods, but at work it gets boring and/or difficult (I work at a restaurant that doesn't have much in the way of healthy foods). Motivation to eat well there is nonexistent, so this blog and the Team Jillian approach will hopefully help encourage me to eat well.

I found an iPhone app called LoseIt, which helps track calories spent and earned (through exercise). Looks like it might be a good app, so I'm going to give it a shot.

Also, weighed myself tonight on the not-so-accurate scale. Completely empty, it should have read zero, right? It read about -7. With that info, I weighed about 155 tonight- not too bad, I don't think.

Did about 35 minutes of the Shred today- 15 minutes this afternoon (Level 1), then all of Level 2 tonight. I'm not nearly as worn out as I was when I tried this a few weeks ago- nor do I hurt. I'm optimistic about trying levels 1 & 2 back-to-back tomorrow. We'll see how it goes!

30 Day Shred, Day 1

I'm joining Team Jillian and am GOING to do the 30 Day Shred! I'm going to add an extra 10 minutes every day so I can also do the Bodies in Motion- Thirty Initiative...

These pictures aren't the greatest, (and OMG I can't believe I'm posting them!!!), but here are my before stats and pictures.

waist- 37

hips- 39.5

thigh- 21.75

chest- 39
(Not sure that these are accurate. Looking back at the past month or so of measurements, they seem to fluctuate quite a bit. Maybe I measure in slightly different places each time?)

Not weighing myself due to lack of an accurate scale and lack of desire to purchase such an item. On Ash Wednesday I did use an accurate scale and I weighed 156, so that will be my starting point. I think I weigh about the same now as I did 5 weeks ago.