Hardcore

This morning I had such a difficult time rolling out of bed for 5:30am Zumba but I'm glad that I did. We started off slow, working on very specific areas of our body - first arms with different kinds of push ups, then legs with various squats, and on to core with crunches, bicycle, and scissors. My goal, beyond loosing weight, is to get through the exercises that we do without stopping to take a break and to push myself each and every time. This morning I certainly did that. After working specific areas, we did a few dances (as per usual), final ab workout, and cool down.

The last ab workout, man oh man, was a killer. For at least half the song we did just sit-ups. Now, I never realized that there was a difference between crunches and sit-ups. Maybe you don't either so here it is: crunches are the half up, squeeze your stomach, ones. Sit-ups are the sitting all the way up, pulling up as if there was an imaginary rope, then going back down slowly. This has only been the second time that we've done full sit-ups in Zumba - the first time I maybe did every other one that we were supposed to do. Today? I did every single one. Yup, pretty hardcore, I know :) With that said, I'm going to be crazy sore tomorrow.

I have some tips for ya'll:

Put in at least a little workout every day - I always think that a workout means sweating so I get so discouraged when I know I may have time to workout but not enough to shower. This week, though, I'm going to try to get in a least a little workout (probably crunches or push-ups) so you should join me in this.

Small goals!! - I know I've said this before but I'm a person of repetition. Once again, I get so discouraged when I don't lose weight as fast as I'd like and forget about the other areas that I am improving in (like being able to do all the sit-ups). 

Eat - yup, I said it. In conversations I've had with people and looking at my own misconceptions I've noticed one key thing. That is, we assume that if we eat a little less, that'll start us off on our weight loss or getting healthy. While that's partly true, it's also very wrong. If you don't eat enough and then try to workout, your body holds on to what you just ate so that it has enough energy. So, eat less junky food and more good food.

That's all I have for you today. It's a bit overcast here but the weather report says it won't be raining so perhaps I'll get to ride my bike to class. I encourage you to stretch yourself and take 30minutes to push yourself. Today is a great day to start losing weight/ working out/ getting healthy. Until next time, live long and prosper.

Slacker

There are some weeks that go by where the only thoughts I experience are all the negative ones and I have no motivation whatsoever. Last week... was not one of those weeks. I felt so fantastic and motivated last week! It was great!! For that reason, my time was spent catching up on the homework that I had let slip by. While I was slacking on posting here, I did not slack off on working out. So, while I haven't posted in a little over a week, I'm not going to make this long (I have two exams this week, eeeekkk):

First off, if you have that burst of motivation, take advantage of it!

ZUMBA-ING: I went to Zumba on Monday evening and butt-crack-of-dawn Friday morning - it was all fantastic. I did get up and go to Zumba on Wednesday morning but when I got there, I found out that the instructor was sick so I came back home, did homework for an hour, then took a 3 hour nap :) I'm starting to notice changes in my ability to keep up with the songs and not take breaks in the middle of songs - Yay! However, I'm struggling with bicycle crunches because there's this one spot on my back that hurts when I do it. Suggestions on how to ease the pain and do the crunches?

CYCLYING: I've been riding my bike to and from class more and it is a great feeling. I can't wait for the sun to stay out longer so that I can ride it everywhere else I need (except the store since I do a once a month shopping trip). I also finally got my tax refund check which means that I was able to buy the bike I've been hoping to buy since this time last year (the Dolce Sport Compact Specialized Women's road bike). It'll only be used to my long rides but I'm so stoked to get started on training for those rides. It should be in by Friday so be on the lookout for pictures!

RUNNING: Yeah... that hasn't happened. Since I've been cycling and zumba-ing, I've let running go. Even though I have homework and such, I do hope to get in at least one or two runs this next week. That Run4Love is quickly approaching. Maybe I can even get my boyfriend to join me (since he promised he would also do Run4Love with me).

MOTIVATION: There has been some awesome weather this last week. I love the sunny weather, even if it is a bit chilly still. Just waking up to the beautiful clear sky, motivates me to get outside and workout. In addition to that, on Saturday my youngest brother had a wrestling meet and was talking about Biggest Loser. I used to watch it and eventually stopped because I would get awfully down when the contestants were all weighing in less than me. After hearing him talk about it, I decided to start watching it again so that the thing that used to discourage me would now encourage me to get off my butt and workout. I'm considering coming up with workouts that go along with TV shows I watch (kind of like a drinking game but working out rather than getting drunk).

So with the nice weather comes a chance to get outside more. That means I'll probably be posting more things about camping, hiking, traveling, and the like. Be watching for that so, until next time - live long and prosper!

Jesus Freak

Hey hey hey! Just got back from Zumba and as you may expect, I have a few things to say:

First, there were so many people (around 20) there and this gave me quite a few mixed feelings. For one, I'm a bit introverted and I'm all about small class sizes. Then again, it's great that so many people are wanting to workout. But then again, I experienced a little bit of egocentrism (specifically imaginary audience) and think everyone is staring at and judging me (I was smack dab in the middle of the room today). Then again, if everyone is staring at and watching me then they know I've been here before and are looking at me for guidance (I am so full of myself, apparently). And then... I just decided to not think about it because I was focusing more on everything but working out.

Second, that song that i couldn't remember but I could remember the actual workout (click here for that blog entry) well, it was coupled with a different song today. I was so stoked that it was a song that not only did I recognize but it was the first one I knew the lyrics to. As you may have guessed from the title, the song was Jesus Freak by DC Talk (1995). I'm not sure if it's because I've done this workout a few times before now or because I was paying more attention to singing the song in my head but it seemed so much easier this time.

Third, I recognized another song! That song from Beetlejuice, Jump in Line (Shake, Shake Senora). There are parts of the workout to this song that I remember but it'll probably take another time of doing it before I can post it. I know that it works a lot on legs and jumping and arms and then the occasional posing like you're the star of the room. Yup, that made a lot of sense, I know.

Fourth and lastly, I have tips!!

The song doesn't really matter so long as it's up beat and you can rock out to it

 The workout doesn't have to be over when the class is over, jog or ride your bike home 

(if the weather continues to be nice, I think I'm going to start riding my bike there and back)

Get a partner! Whether it's just somebody you go to class with or maybe a spouse or just someone off the street, even if you don't make an agreement, they become an accountability partner  

(for me it's kind of this blog because I've convinced myself that people actually read it)

Hydrate. 

I've probably said this before but it's so important. Just drink water all day: If you're feeling a bit hungry - drink a bunch of water and then eat 30ish minutes later, can't focus on what you're doing - take a walk to the drinking fountain and back, working out - drink an entire water bottle at least! Just hydrate (with water, preferably)!

Yup, those were my thoughts for the day. I don't have any real plans to workout (physically) for the remainder of the day, though I still have quite a bit of homework (mostly reading) so I will be working out my brain (like that semi-annoying luminosity.com commercial where the girl says it's harder to workout her brain and I just want to scream at her like, "you're too skinny and probably workout all the time. Of course it's harder to workout your brain 'cause you don't have one!"... that's not true. I'm sorry. I love people). Actually, if the clouds hold in their rain a bit longer, I may convince my boyfriend to walk to the coffee shop instead of driving (I figured if we went somewhere to study we wouldn't be distracted by the things in my apartment like my cats and the TV and how I need to water my plants and.. you get the picture). Hmmmm, I'll think about it (I'm not a fan of being cold and wet). Whelp, that's it for now. Until next time (perhaps Monday), live long and prosper!

So much sweat

I did it; another 5:15am morning to be at Zumba at 5:30 (First time I wasn't late, actually). I didn't sleep well last night at all and had to get up several times for various things so actually getting up was more of a challenge then usual. Once I was up and on my way to Zumba, I was glad I had decided to go but I definitely already looking forward to going to bed tonight (I love my 8hours of sleep each night). 

Okay, so Zumba today: Two things I quickly began to notice about this morning: 1. I was incredibly sore (both from the new workouts we did on Monday and riding yesterday) and 2. I was sweating a lot. I mean, both are good signs, right? Anyway, I remembered two workouts this time (but not the song to the first one... sorry) so here they are:

• Song 1
• normal pushups (either full out, on your knees, or on your knees and barely bending your arms - choose your challenge)
• pushups with your fingers pointed in (this works other muscles)
• pushups with your hands making a triangle (this one kills me and, once again, works different muscles)
• Turn over and, remember when you were a kid and did crab races? Yeah, do that pose and pump your body up and down (so crab like then table like)
• normal crunches
• scissors (on your back with your legs up in the air moving up and down)
• Now move back up the list and you're done
• If at any time during the pushups you're like, "nope, not gunna happen" take a second or two and do the "child's pose" (sit back on your knees/ ankles, then lean all the way forward, almost like you're bowing).
• Skyscraper - Demi Lovato (You'll need a chair or something to balance against)
•  Start out with the chair facing away from you, and lean your forearms on the back of the chair), work out begins when the words do
• Lift one leg in a bend (I'll refer to this as 'down') and in four counts (smoothly) do the following (verse 1)
• Off the the side
• all the way stretched out (like you're kicking to the side)
• back in
• down
• Now push that leg straight back and hold it there (chorus)
• Bend your leg up as if trying to push your heel to the ceiling (chorus)
• Straighten that leg out again (chorus)
• Now switch and repeat the above with the other leg (verse 2 and 2nd time of chorus)
• Facing forward, spread your legs as if doing a squat, and get up on those toes (Rest of song)
• 2 counts down, 2 counts up (repeat)
• Occasionally mix it up by moving slowly down for more counts and then back up or by holding it down for 8 counts (perhaps whenever she changes her volume of singing)
• Finish the song on a good note (we usually finish with the holding down but whatever is a challenge for you, go for it)

That first workout is a killer! It was a new one on Monday and we did it again this morning. Skyscraper is also difficult at times, especially if we've already done other leg workouts before. I did also remember another song that, when it plays I can remember parts of the workout.. though I'm not sure how great I would be at explaining them since it's more of a dance. The song is Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) by Shakira ft.Freshlyground. It's a lot of movement with the arms and the legs and little bit of salsa and, yeah, lots. Oh and one more! Work Hard, Play Hard (which I believe I've mentioned before) is all about standing abs. There ya have it, I actually remembered a few things. 

I also found this video and while I prefer working out fully clothed and with my hair pulled back, I think this is pretty close to how we work out to this song. So watch that if ya want to perhaps see what I'm talking about.

I also thought of more advice to share:

Enjoy what you're doing (I'm sure I've shared something along these lines before but I think it's really important) - if you don't, you're not going to stick with it

and

BE POSITIVE (now I know I've said this lots but it's also so stinkin' true. I hate waking up at 5:15am but I do it to laugh at the sun when it finally decides to show up. Seriously, I walk out of the building we meet in just when it's starting to lighten up and I think, "Beat ya again Mr.Sun!")

That's all I have for you right now. I might post tonight after youth group since I'm leading games but we'll have to see and I'll definitely post tomorrow after whatever workout I decide on (I know I said I'd go for a jog but the forecast isn't looking like that'll happen). Until next time, live long and prosper!

Centered

I didn't get a chance to post, though Zumba did happen. It went much different then usual and, well, I liked it! There wasn't very many people there so the leader/ instructor decided that we would do more Pilates and Yoga exercises than actual Zumba. While calming music played in the back ground, we balanced on one leg in a crouched sort of pose, lunged in "warrior pose" and stretched our mid-section doing a move called the swimmer. The last 15minutes or so was entirely spent centering our bodies and relaxing. Now, this may seem a bit unrelated but I am always surprised in the places that I find God. While sitting there in that butterfly pose, deep breathing in and out, in and out, in with peace and out with stress, I was so overcome by the presence of God in that moment. Now this blog is all about working out whether that be physically, mentally, emotionally, or even spiritually. While I went to this Zumba class to simply workout (and because it was really fun), I've been challenged in numerous ways and strengthened not just my leg muscles. All this made me think of a few tips that I want to share with ya'll:

Make your beliefs a part of your workout (whether you do that through prayer, doing a daily devotion, or taking time to center yourself both physically and spiritually).

Surround yourself with common beliefs (that can be as complex as your religion or as simple as wanting to talk positively about others) it makes working out so much more enjoyable.

Know your limits (know how far you can reach down when stretching or that you have to take a quick break from squats) but...

Always push yourself (don't just go through the motions of a workout but really push yourself to make the workout worth it).

Yup, that's what I took away from Zumba yesterday. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow morning (especially since the sun is finally starting to show itself earlier) so I'll let ya'll know how that goes too. Until next time, live long and prosper!

Brain and Body

Hello my dear followers (which I believe is no one at this time). I apologize for not posting for a week but I was rather sick (as I mentioned in my last post) and have finally been well enough to get back to working out. While I didn't do any workouts since last week's Zumba (unless you count giving my obnoxious cat a hair cut), I was sure to keep my portion sizes down and drank lots of water (pretty key to weight loss). This morning however, I successfully woke up on time to go to 5:30am Zumba and, let me tell you, it was great!:

So I was a minute or two late but they hadn't started yet so the introvert in my rejoiced because I wouldn't have to small chat with anyone. However, the first person I meet eyes with is someone I haven't seen there before but, well, lets just say we used to live together and that ended that friendship. At first I was like, "Ugh! Why is she here?" (besides the fact that this class meets at her church). Then I remembered my promise for lent (which starts today with Ash Wednesday; No I'm not Catholic but I think it's a great tradition)- No negativity towards other people (no road rage, no gossiping, no malicious thoughts, no complaining, none of that). So, for the remainder of Zumba I alternated between thinking as many positive thoughts about her as possible and secretly challenging her at the start of each dance. In the end though, I left Zumba feeling quite positively towards her and have decided that while our friendship may not have worked out, I'm a-okay with that, and I hope she is successful in all she does. Truly! It was also kinda great because I ended up working out harder than I have before and I worked out my brain a bit too.

And that was my early morning at Zumba. Here are a few tips/ words of.. wisdom(?) I thought up in addition to my internal battle:

Set realistic, short term goals (e.g. I want to be able to get through an entire song focused on abs without having to rest) and when a long term goal is met, you'll be pleasantly surprised (e.g. Oh my gosh! I have a six pack!)

If you think negative thoughts, you'll be a negative person so think positively

Nothing is more attractive then self-confidence (so just go for it!)

Well, that's all I have for now. Until next time, live long and prosper!