December 31st, 2009
What? It’s New Year’s Eve and it’s practically required that a blog posted today should revolve around reflections and resolutions.
Reflections for 2009:
- I stuck with an exercise program for an entire year for the first time in my life! I began in November 2008, stuck with it through 2009 and even worked out this morning.
- I found traces of my calf and tricep muscles! No kidding! Who knew?!
- I started the Couch to 5k running program and have stayed on schedule. I’ll finish week 3 on New Year’s Day at the first race of the year in Phoenix.
- I made significant strides at work and was rewarded for my efforts with a promotion!
- We went on two trips back East to visit my family. We saw my Grandmother for the first time in 6 years.
- I communicated more often with some of the people I love and fostered deepened relationships with them. I need to keep this up because it’s just awesome to get to know these people better.
- I went on my first yoga retreat!
Reflections for the decade:
- I got engaged! (and married!) (and my in-laws are AWESOME!!)
- I left my first “real” job and learned how to get another one. And another one. And another … ahem, well …
- I graduated with my BA
- We lost my Dad in 2003. This was completely devastating at the time, but almost 7 years later, I think of him often and smile at the man he was and the woman he continues to inspire me to be.
- We lost the first cat I “owned” (she totally owned me) 2 months after Dad. This was also earth shattering, but I have lots of good memories of her. We have 4 kitties who keep us plenty busy.
- I became an expert at several things I previously hadn’t even had a cursory understanding of.
- I began and successfully completed my MA
- I stayed mostly in my chosen industry for work, but moved around a bit and finally feel like I’m “home”
- Hubby got a fabulous new job and left his not fabulous job to move us to Phoenix!
- I walked over 800 miles and raised over $25,000 for breast cancer causes. I met hundreds of incredible people along the way, many of whom are still friends.
- I made a commitment to myself, my friends, and everyone who loves me to really take care of myself. This “healthy living” thing is contagious with those around me and THAT is exciting.
Resolutions:
I don’t do well with resolutions. I do better with goals. Maybe it’s just semantics …
- to finish Couch to 5k and run the entirety of at least one 5k before the end of March 2010.
- to continue practicing yoga once a week
- to try at least 3 new recipes per week between now and the end of February
- beef up that savings account
- frame and hang photos we’ve taken around our home. We love to travel and have been to some amazing places. Now it’s time to put those memories somewhere easier to access than the depths of our hard drive.
- date my husband more often. Less of the “do you just want to go get something to eat?” and more of the “let’s spend an evening/afternoon/weekend being actually together,” not just doing our own thing in the same room.
Best wishes to all for a fabulous New Year’s Eve, weekend, 2010, and coming decade!!
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December 17th, 2009
My final update of this challenge:
Day 1, Wed 11/18 - boot camp
Day 2, Thu 11/19 - off
Day 3, Fri 11/20 - boot camp
Day 4, Sat 11/21 - Zumba & yoga
Day 5, Sun 11/22 - Zumba
Day 6, Mon 11/23 - boot camp
Day 7, Tue 11/24 - off
Day 8, Wed 11/25 - boot camp
Day 9, Thu 11/26 - Zumba & yoga
Day 10, Fri 11/27 - my own version of boot camp because my trainer was out of town.
Day 11, Sat 11/28 - Zumba
Day 12, Sun 11/29 - 2 hr, 15 min bike ride
Day 13, Mon 11/30 - week 1, day 1 of Couch to 5k
Day 14, Tue 12/1 - Zumba
Day 15, Wed 12/2 - boot camp
Day 16, Thu 12/3 - week 1, day 2 of Couch to 5k
Day 17, Fri 12/4 - boot camp
Day 18, Sat 12/5 - rest day!
Day 19, Sun 12/6 - week 1, day 3 of Couch to 5k
Day 20, Mon 12/7 - boot camp
Day 21, Tue 12/8 - week 2, day 1 of Couch to 5k
Day 22, Wed 12/9 - boot camp
Day 23, Thu 12/10 - rest
Day 24, Fri 12/11 - boot camp
Day 25, Sat 12/12 - off after a panicked run to the vet
Day 26, Sun 12/13 - sick
Day 27, Mon 12/14 - sick
Day 28, Tue 12/15 - off
Day 29, Wed 12/16 - boot camp
Day 30, Thu 12/17 - week 2, day 2 of Couch to 5k and yoga.
That’s 8 days off. Blarg. Dang being sick anyway. Oh well. 22/30 days still isn’t bad and it’s better than last month’s 21. I’ll do even better next month!
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December 4th, 2009
In our last episode, our lunatic had just entered the first 15 days of her challenge. We now present days 16-19.
Day 16, Thu 12/3 - Couch to 5k, week 1, day 2 in the morning. In the afternoon, I took a yoga class that was moderately intense on ab and upper body work, then a class called Body Rock that involved ab work on a stability ball. Notice all this ab work?
Day 17, Fri 12/4 - boot camp testing day, which included the following drills:
- Maximum time in modified plank (on forearms and toes)
- Maximum reps of incline push-ups (on a park bench) in 2 minutes.
- Timed 2 laps around field.
- Maximum reps kettlebell swings in 3 minutes
- Timed shuttle runs (run from a baseline out to a point 1/3 way across field, touch the ground, back to the baseline, out to a point 2/3 way across field, touch, back to baseline, out to point on other side of field, touch, back to baseline. I think it takes longer to type it out than it does to do!)
Note: Don’t do a moderately intense upper body and ab workout the night before boot camp testing. And if you’re brand new to running, don’t do a training run the day before boot camp testing.
I managed all the tasks and I did better on a couple of the drills than the last time I tested, but I was completely wiped out and didn’t do as well on several drills. It’s quite possible part of the degradation in my performance is due to the fact that it was 39 degrees this morning, but I’m willing to bet most of it was I was just exhausted.
Day 18, Sat 12/5 - I will take at least Saturday off from intense exercise and I may take Sunday off too. I plan to do a yoga class Saturday and maybe a leisurely bike ride, but I won’t be doing any intense cardio or upper body work. And I plan to sleep until I wake up. No alarm!
Mostly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to O’Kerri on 12/5!!
Have a fabulous weekend!
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December 2nd, 2009
Here is an update on my challenge progress.
- Day 1, Wed 11/18 - boot camp
- Day 2, Thu 11/19 - off
- Day 3, Fri 11/20 - boot camp
- Day 4, Sat 11/21 - Zumba & yoga
- Day 5, Sun 11/22 - Zumba
- Day 6, Mon 11/23 - boot camp
- Day 7, Tue 11/24 - off
- Day 8, Wed 11/25 - boot camp
- Day 9, Thu 11/26 - Zumba & yoga
- Day 10, Fri 11/27 - my own version of boot camp because my trainer’s out of town.
- Day 11, Sat 11/28 - Zumba
- Day 12, Sun 11/29 - 2 hr, 15 min bike ride
- Day 13, Mon 11/30 - week 1, day 1 of Couch to 5k (wait. what? Margi’s RUNNING? Sort of. Stop laughing.
- Day 14, Tue 12/1 - Zumba
- Day 15, Wed 12/2 - boot camp
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November 29th, 2009
I’ve been pretty busy the past few days. Here is my complete list of workouts since 11/18/09.
Day 1, Wed 11/18 - boot camp
Day 2, Thu 11/19 - off
Day 3, Fri 11/20 - boot camp
Day 4, Sat 11/21 - Zumba & yoga
Day 5, Sun 11/22 - Zumba
Day 6, Mon 11/23 - boot camp
Day 7, Tue 11/24 - off
Day 8, Wed 11/25 - boot camp
Day 9, Thu 11/26 - Zumba & yoga
Day 10, Fri 11/27 - my own version of boot camp because Troy’s out of town.
Day 11, Sat 11/28 - Zumba
Day 12, Sun 11/29 - 2 hr, 15 min bike ride
At almost halfway through my 30-day challenge, I’m doing pretty good. I feel great, though I’ve been taking naps almost every day. Our bike ride today was fun, though not easy for me. It gave me all new respect for Jon riding his bike to and from work.
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