Another fantastic day!!

Ah Wednesday... Time to wear out my upper body!!  And that's what I did today for sure!! First off I did the Biggest Loser Last Chance Workout DVD w. Jillian Michaels. Normally, I use the BL Cardio Max Weight Loss w. Bob Harper, but Bob REALLY loves squats, and my hip is still really bothering me, so I chose Jillian today.

I found this workout had much more work for my upper body, so maybe I'll continue using it instead. I used my 10# DB for all the upper body stuff except the lat raises and front raises, I used 8s.

After that I went out to the grocery store. I needed cheese since I'm going to be making an eggplant-zucchini lasagna - using those veggies cut in thin strips instead of pasta!  Great idea I stole from a Clean Eating magazine. I bought mozza and feta, also some fresh tomatoes and mushrooms.

When I got home it was time for the hard work... upper body ST with Jackie Warner... boy... that 15-20 minutes really burned my arms out!  Again... 10# DB.

The the Wednesday WOD Instead of tuck jumps, I do jump squats... I just can't get my legs to fold up like that. The push ups were from knees... as I mentioned, my arms were DEAD!!  I could only do 30, so I did the last 20 at the end of the workout.  My time.... 13:40. I think that was on the slow side... I had to stop and slow down at some points... I was already really worn out before I started the WOD, but it was on the schedule, so I didn't want to let myself down. And I DIDN'T!!

Oh, I forgot to mention the sun salutations this morning!  I'm getting much better at keeping a good breathing rhythm, and I'm really enjoying doing them. It helps me shake off the night.  Funny today though... It was sunny, and as soon as I started the sun salutations, it started to rain!!

Stepping it up and a pain remedy!

So, this past Sunday I did the new cardio workout that I described in my previous blog. I pushed really hard and managed it in under 15 minutes. I think I've always been kind of scared to really push in my cardio because of my previous cardiac issues. Since my second surgery in 2005 I'm told I have nothing to fear from pushing past the limit, but...  Anyway, my new goal is to push HARD and get BETTER!
I added high-knee jog and Xcountry ski jump to this workout because they are the toughest for me. Next time I'll also add a set of 5 burpees to every circuit!!

Monday is always my toughest workout day... Boom Boom POW!! Leg Day!! I did three workouts. The third one was a FabFit WOD - Gideon Leg Assault I did it!!  I couldn't believe I finished it!!  Especially after doing 90 minutes of leg intensive stuff already that day. 

Now today?  I'm totally RESTING!!  My hip is really giving me grief... I think it was the wall sits.

I have recently discovered the amazing pain relieving power of Fish Oil Capsules!!  My mom had told me they might help heal muscle pain, but I was skeptical. But my brother discovered they really help with his neck pain.  He has terrible posture and significant pain. [He has been a wheelchair user all his life (40 years)]. I was surprised they could help that much. Then Shannon started taking them and found they helped his workout recovery. So I've been using them for a couple of weeks and I have found that I don't have nearly as much muscle pain as I did. I'm definitely not as stiff in the mornings, AND the side pain I had in my abs from my fall (in May) is all but gone (except when I'm actually working out). Very exciting!!

This blog is getting long, but I have to get this out too.  I've been kind of stressed over my lack of concentration.  I get distracted so easily!!  It would be one thing if I had always been like that, but I find that since I took that medication to get rid of the hepatitis C (It's gone now) I have been hopeless in this regard! I flit from task to task... thought to thought. I can be having a conversation and all of a sudden stop because I forgot what we were talking about!! I don't know if it's a side-effect of that medication (it could very well be... there are other people who have weird lasting side-effects), or a side-effect of something I'm taking now, or maybe it's just what happens after 35?  Maybe I'm crazy?  Anyway, I find it kind of difficult at times. At least my hubby is understanding about it.

Jump-around Challenge

Yesterday on Fabfit I represented the FIERCE (^^^) team in a physical challenge...

A timed 5 sets of 50 jumping jacks + 50 mountain climbers

I entered this challenge for two reasons.

1. This is be pretty much the first "physical competition" I have done since I was an entrant in a city-wide school track meet for shot put at age 9. After that, my medical issues started and I was not allowed to be in any "competitive sports."

2. I wanted to see if I could do it, and how I would do time-wise. My endurance for cardio is not that great, and it's something I really want to work on. I don't think it's because I'm out of shape... I mean, I've been working out like a mad woman for a few years now. I think it could be my legs. My hip is wonky, and it makes my knee wonky too. The physio said running as a steady exercise is not really in the cards for me, so I need to get my cardio in other ways. Shannon and I are hopefully going to get ourselves a stationary bike for Christmas.

Anyway, I set up my timer, laced up my shoes and started jumping. I had originally set myself a goal time of 10 to 12 minutes, but after I finished two rounds  and my time was around 5 minutes, I realized 15 minutes was more realistic. I was REALLY pushing it, but I had to stop and rest for about 10 seconds every set, and I couldn't "run" all 50 (l+r) mountain climbers every time... some were fast walking, but I kept moving.  I was super happy with my final time of 14:10.


I've decided that I am going to change up my workout schedule and do some of these kinds of cardio exercises on alternate Sundays. The other Sundays will be Jillian Michaels' Blast Fat, Boost Metabolism as fast as I can!!  I'm planning a workout that looks like this...

5 circuits timed of
30 jumping jacks
30 mountain climbers
30 Xcountry ski jumps
30 high-knees

New Yoga Experience

Since this is the first entry for Life outside the Litter Box, I wrote a small introduction...

Sitting at my desk with a fresh cup of coffee; I'm all set to let my ideas flow and send them out to the world. I don't know who will read this, or what they will think about it. Since YOU are reading it, I hope you will get something out of it, even if it's just a view into the life of someone other than yourself.

My life is not so terribly exciting, but I love it because it's mine. I've been through a lot to get to this "happy point," and I'm definitely ready to live this amazing life and love with all my heart.

I have been on this Happy Healthy Journey for several years now and I have been embracing new ideas, new challenges and the consequent new personal insights.

Today I tried a new yoga DVD - Rodney Yee's Ultimate Power Yoga

I decided to try this DVD on the suggestion of a friend on FabFit. I have been doing Bob Harper's Yoga for the Warrior on Yoga Day (Thursday) for quite some time and, although I absolutely love it, I wanted to try something new.

So I plugged Rodney into the DVD player... I enjoyed it. It didn't have the dynamism that I'm used to with a Bob workout, but I liked it enough to run it every other week. I did find that because this workout wasn't quite as fast, I was able to concentrate on the form and feeling the movements. Another thing I noticed was that I am much more flexible than I thought. It's interesting that I can attain a Half Moon Pose by moving "down" into it from Triangle Pose (Rodney Yee) and I can't do it moving "up" into it from Standing Splits" (Bob Harper). I wonder if anyone else finds that the sequence used makes that kind of a difference.

 I really liked Rodney Yee's way of explaining moves. His explanation of Warrior I/II actually made them easier for me to stay balanced in. I don't know why though. I was able to manage most of the moves to some extent, except Hero Pose and that backbend bridge one.  I LOVE Camel Pose!!  But you'd better believe my quads were a-twitchin' when I got out of that one!

I was only able to complete four out of five segments. I started the fifth segment, but as soon as he said to go into plank position I was like... You gotta be kidding!  I usually finish what I start, but I was just WIPED!!  I think I could've fallen asleep right there. I think next time I'll do three segments.

Nemaste

Here's me and Lasher... flaking out.