Well, my boyfriend came to visit for the weekend, but I am the best girlfriend ever because I bought him a guest membership to my gym! That's right, we went to the gym together! While I zumba-ed, ran, and yoga-ed, he ran and lifted and walked. It was a great time!
Spending time with him, though, is the reason I haven't been posting here! So here's mini-update for today, and I promise that I'll be better about posting this week.
Today, I wasn't sure I was going to go to the gym. I really felt like I needed a rest day, but I don't like to miss a day at the gym.
I ended up not making it to the gym in time for spinning; instead, I decided to run the track. I had planned on 3 miles, but only made it 1.3m (in 11 mins, yay!) before my shins started to hurt very badly. I've been dealing with shin splints for years now, but have persevered. Today, it was just too much. I ended up running just that bit, spent 10 minutes in the sauna, and then went home. I didn't feel like I really worked myself, so I decided to do a little more working out at home. I got home, popped in The FIRM Yoga, and got to work. It's possibly my favorite at home workout video, and it always makes me feel good about life!
It turned around my mood and got me moving. I also realized that my body must be getting stronger and more efficient at working because what used to be a 250+ calorie burn was only a 190 calorie burn today! That made me a little sad because I wanted to eat a lot for dinner. On the other hand, it makes me really happy because my body is getting much better at this!
Tomorrow is my day for a run and lifting. I don't know if I'll get to the gym in the morning or the evening, but I will get there!
And hopefully, my shins won't hurt me. 3+ miles is the goal!
~Court :-)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Feeling Strong!
Today I upped my run. I only upped it by one lap, though. I am a huge wuss--I don't like to run outside in the cold, and anyway I'd probably slip on slush and kill myself (I'm currently living in Northeast Ohio). Therefore, I run in the gym--usually around the indoor track. Treadmills are ok and good when I need a quick work out or an incline, but I prefer the track.
I did my normal warm-up walk lap and then started running! I thought, "Today, you can run 3 and a half miles!" but after my spinning yesterday, I decided that wasn't going to happen (man, my calves were aching!). I focused on the 18 laps that I needed for 3 miles, and actually felt pretty amazing.
Towards the end of the run, probably lap 14 or so, I had a great burst of energy thanks in part to my iPod (Guster with Barrel of a Gun came on). I felt like going faster all of a sudden! I got to lap 18 and said to myself, "Ok, Court, this isn't the last one! You're going to run one more!"
I picked up the pace just a little bit, and half way through that last lap I pushed and went for an all-out sprint. Finished 3.16 miles in 29 minutes and 56 seconds. It felt pretty wonderful!
Then I moved to the abs and stretching area near the track to work on my abs. I'm testing an Oxygen ab routine. They tell me it's "5 weeks to your sexiest abs!" Well, we'll see. This is week 2 (just the start), and I don't think they look sexy yet...I moved to the advanced movements this week. Well, three of them. One is a very difficult move, and I just don't have the balance to pull it off. I did five of them, and then moved back to the "beginner" move for 15 more reps. Not bad. I'm working on it, I promise!
Moved down to the circuit training area. This is my power zone. I don't do the circuits or use the circuit machines, but there are free weights and a few barbells that I use to do my weight training. I incorporated Biking Barry's advice on using negative training today, and my muscles could really feel the burn! I have a pretty basic routine that consists of a slew of exercises. I do this 3x per week and usually spend about 45 minutes on it. Minimal rests in between sets, and I try to change it up just a little bit each time I do it so my muscles don't get tired or bored. I moved up in weights for some of the exercises, but not all. In another week or two, I'll be moving up.
I felt pretty great while lifting, and I felt healthy. At the end of the workout, as I walked out of the gym, I thought about maybe I should have run more or done something else, but I ended up just coming home to do some errands. I have lots of cooking, cleaning, and writing to do today--and am picking a friend up from the airport later tonight--so I'm glad I got in such a fun workout this morning! It put my whole day in perspective, and I burned almost 700 calories!
Great workout, and my muscles aren't sore from spinning last night! I love to keep pushing myself like this, and I hope I stay this healthy for the rest of my life! I feel so lucky that I have been blessed with motivation, hope, and the energy to maintain my healthy lifestyle.
~Court
I did my normal warm-up walk lap and then started running! I thought, "Today, you can run 3 and a half miles!" but after my spinning yesterday, I decided that wasn't going to happen (man, my calves were aching!). I focused on the 18 laps that I needed for 3 miles, and actually felt pretty amazing.
Towards the end of the run, probably lap 14 or so, I had a great burst of energy thanks in part to my iPod (Guster with Barrel of a Gun came on). I felt like going faster all of a sudden! I got to lap 18 and said to myself, "Ok, Court, this isn't the last one! You're going to run one more!"
I picked up the pace just a little bit, and half way through that last lap I pushed and went for an all-out sprint. Finished 3.16 miles in 29 minutes and 56 seconds. It felt pretty wonderful!
Then I moved to the abs and stretching area near the track to work on my abs. I'm testing an Oxygen ab routine. They tell me it's "5 weeks to your sexiest abs!" Well, we'll see. This is week 2 (just the start), and I don't think they look sexy yet...I moved to the advanced movements this week. Well, three of them. One is a very difficult move, and I just don't have the balance to pull it off. I did five of them, and then moved back to the "beginner" move for 15 more reps. Not bad. I'm working on it, I promise!
Moved down to the circuit training area. This is my power zone. I don't do the circuits or use the circuit machines, but there are free weights and a few barbells that I use to do my weight training. I incorporated Biking Barry's advice on using negative training today, and my muscles could really feel the burn! I have a pretty basic routine that consists of a slew of exercises. I do this 3x per week and usually spend about 45 minutes on it. Minimal rests in between sets, and I try to change it up just a little bit each time I do it so my muscles don't get tired or bored. I moved up in weights for some of the exercises, but not all. In another week or two, I'll be moving up.
I felt pretty great while lifting, and I felt healthy. At the end of the workout, as I walked out of the gym, I thought about maybe I should have run more or done something else, but I ended up just coming home to do some errands. I have lots of cooking, cleaning, and writing to do today--and am picking a friend up from the airport later tonight--so I'm glad I got in such a fun workout this morning! It put my whole day in perspective, and I burned almost 700 calories!
Great workout, and my muscles aren't sore from spinning last night! I love to keep pushing myself like this, and I hope I stay this healthy for the rest of my life! I feel so lucky that I have been blessed with motivation, hope, and the energy to maintain my healthy lifestyle.
~Court
Monday, January 24, 2011
Spinning: The Tough Teacher
Last night, a friend asked mine if I would join him for a Monday night spinning class. Typically, we see each other at the Wednesday night spinning class, with my favorite instructor, Kim. I've taken classes with several other instructors (Brenda, Tom, and Bree), and liked them all ok, but I really feel I connect with Kim. She's got my kind of personality.
So my spinning friend gives me this challenge: come to the extra-tough spin class on Monday night with me. If you don't come, you're a chicken!
I show up, and see him waiting for the classroom to be opened: "Hey, you made it!"
"You didn't think I'd back down from a challenge, did you?"
We set our bikes up in the center row, towards the far side of the classroom, and I tell him, "If I die, I'm blaming you. I'm not blaming me!"
We chat for a while as we warm up and wait for the instructor. Then, there he is. The notorious Jerry. I've heard this guy has the spinning logo tattooed somewhere on his body. He looks a little older (awesome white hair!), but he's in great shape. I'm instantly jealous. Then, we get right into it.
There's no warm up. There's jumps. Jump. Jump. Jump. These jumps are fast and not at all the way Kim does jumps, in nice even counts of 8s, 4s, and 2s. These are in-the-saddle-out-of-the-saddle, quick as you can! Not awesome for a chesty lady like myself (hey, I'm pretty fit, but I've got some rockin' curves), but I survive them.
The rest of the class passes in a blur of sprints and climbs--first position, running on the hill, 3rd position climbing, in the saddle sprinting. We sprint for full minutes at a time--I'm not kidding, folks! About one sprint in and I realize, as I'm sweating everywhere, that I forgot to take my makeup off before class. I'm horribly worried I am streaming black and look like a zombie-emo-gym-rat, but I keep pushing.
Jerry turns out to be pretty awesome, though he tricks me on several occasions: "One more gear! Push it! This is it! Ok, now turn it up again! One more! One more!" I start to disbelieve him, and I think, "I know 'one more' is a lie--there are like ten more!"
I have never ever been so drippy during a spin class in all my life. At the end of the day, I cash in a 942 cal. bank check. The last song is tough, but I recover quick enough. My heart rate is ok as I settle into some runner's stretches and a nice pigeon-pose (my favorite yoga pose).
I leave the gym feeling totally awesome, ready to take on the world. I step out into the snow and think about how spinning must be God's gift to Northeast Ohio, seeing as how it's snowing and icy. I'd probably die fairly quickly if I tried to actually bike in this weather, but spinning satisfies the need to be on a bike (for now). As I'm walking through the slowly moving flakes, I think about how much fun it'd be to go ice skating right then and there! The ride has given me lots of energy and a new exuberance for moving.
I'm already ready for my Tuesday morning run and lifting session.
Jerry, though tough, is a teacher I'd like to work with again.
~Court :-)
So my spinning friend gives me this challenge: come to the extra-tough spin class on Monday night with me. If you don't come, you're a chicken!
I show up, and see him waiting for the classroom to be opened: "Hey, you made it!"
"You didn't think I'd back down from a challenge, did you?"
We set our bikes up in the center row, towards the far side of the classroom, and I tell him, "If I die, I'm blaming you. I'm not blaming me!"
We chat for a while as we warm up and wait for the instructor. Then, there he is. The notorious Jerry. I've heard this guy has the spinning logo tattooed somewhere on his body. He looks a little older (awesome white hair!), but he's in great shape. I'm instantly jealous. Then, we get right into it.
There's no warm up. There's jumps. Jump. Jump. Jump. These jumps are fast and not at all the way Kim does jumps, in nice even counts of 8s, 4s, and 2s. These are in-the-saddle-out-of-the-saddle, quick as you can! Not awesome for a chesty lady like myself (hey, I'm pretty fit, but I've got some rockin' curves), but I survive them.
The rest of the class passes in a blur of sprints and climbs--first position, running on the hill, 3rd position climbing, in the saddle sprinting. We sprint for full minutes at a time--I'm not kidding, folks! About one sprint in and I realize, as I'm sweating everywhere, that I forgot to take my makeup off before class. I'm horribly worried I am streaming black and look like a zombie-emo-gym-rat, but I keep pushing.
Jerry turns out to be pretty awesome, though he tricks me on several occasions: "One more gear! Push it! This is it! Ok, now turn it up again! One more! One more!" I start to disbelieve him, and I think, "I know 'one more' is a lie--there are like ten more!"
I have never ever been so drippy during a spin class in all my life. At the end of the day, I cash in a 942 cal. bank check. The last song is tough, but I recover quick enough. My heart rate is ok as I settle into some runner's stretches and a nice pigeon-pose (my favorite yoga pose).
I leave the gym feeling totally awesome, ready to take on the world. I step out into the snow and think about how spinning must be God's gift to Northeast Ohio, seeing as how it's snowing and icy. I'd probably die fairly quickly if I tried to actually bike in this weather, but spinning satisfies the need to be on a bike (for now). As I'm walking through the slowly moving flakes, I think about how much fun it'd be to go ice skating right then and there! The ride has given me lots of energy and a new exuberance for moving.
I'm already ready for my Tuesday morning run and lifting session.
Jerry, though tough, is a teacher I'd like to work with again.
~Court :-)
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