This time was better than the last. Part of it is that it was a different teacher, whose style meshed with mine better with mine. And, as always, part of the inmprovement was that doing something a second time is almost always easier and less stressful. I knew more what to expect.
I liked this class – it certainly works my muscles hard in ways that I don’t always do in my other workouts. And I like the focus on the core for a whole host of reasons – it has done wonders for my posture, my clothes fit better without a loss of weight. More importantly it t is truly amazing how much strength in the abs and back supports any other athletic effort. Or daily life pursuits like carrying groceries or pushing doors open, for that matter.
I will say that I don’t push myself as hard as when I’m working one on one with Sally The Trainer. There were a couple of moves where I just eased off when the muscle burn got to be too much, or the muscle shake got too pronounced.
I still managed a good workout, though, so I’ll go back!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Thing #11 Both Times Magazine Workout
I don’t write much in here about running. I have been running since the mid-nineties, and it is genuinely one of my favorite things in the world to do. You know how comedians always joke about never seeing runners smiling, and why would someone want to do something like that? Ha ha and all, but when was the last time you, or someone you’ve seen, pushed themselves hard in *any* activity while smiling? It isn’t like Jessie, the lady in accounting, has a grin on the whole time while she works on her the budget report, or Dan the woodworker is all smiley while he focuses on fitting the dovetail joints together just right. I’m just saying, just because I’m not smiling doesn’t mean I’m not happy, content, or satisfied. Even so, on easy runs on the summer when it’s warm and sunny around the lake I often do have a smile on. I just love running.
But I’ve run a lot, so I don’t write about it here too much. Until now! This weekend I used a treadmill to do workouts suggested to me by Fitness magazine. On Saturday I spent about 35 minutes doing an acceleration run, meaning I started at a moderate level and every five minutes I upped the speed. On Sunday I did ladder intervals, meaning I ran pretty hard for five, rested for two, harder for four, rested for two, even harder for three, rested for two, etc. I faithfully did whatever the magazine told me to do.
It was great! I worked way, way harder than I would have without the suggested routines, and they were useful training runs for the upcoming running season as well as solid indoor workouts. They also kept the interest factor higher than running at my own discretion does. And while it felt a little weird to consult a piece of paper while I was running, overall the jackass factor was pretty low.
I will definitely do magazine workouts again. And not just running! Stationary bike, jumping rope, or strength workouts, too. There are a lot of good options other than just slapping on my headphones and running at a moderate pace for thirty or forty minutes. That gets really old, really quick.
But I’ve run a lot, so I don’t write about it here too much. Until now! This weekend I used a treadmill to do workouts suggested to me by Fitness magazine. On Saturday I spent about 35 minutes doing an acceleration run, meaning I started at a moderate level and every five minutes I upped the speed. On Sunday I did ladder intervals, meaning I ran pretty hard for five, rested for two, harder for four, rested for two, even harder for three, rested for two, etc. I faithfully did whatever the magazine told me to do.
It was great! I worked way, way harder than I would have without the suggested routines, and they were useful training runs for the upcoming running season as well as solid indoor workouts. They also kept the interest factor higher than running at my own discretion does. And while it felt a little weird to consult a piece of paper while I was running, overall the jackass factor was pretty low.
I will definitely do magazine workouts again. And not just running! Stationary bike, jumping rope, or strength workouts, too. There are a lot of good options other than just slapping on my headphones and running at a moderate pace for thirty or forty minutes. That gets really old, really quick.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Thing #10 Video at Home Again. And Again.
That’s right. I have thrice used my television and Comcast DVR to record and do workout programs – twice since I last wrote about it.
First, I did the Namaste Yoga show again. I liked it, but shamefully I think I like it because it isn’t all that hard. Or, at least, doing it myself in the privacy of my living room means I don’t push it all that much. Regardless, I like it on a morning when I have a 7:30 meeting and can’t both get enough sleep and wake up in time to go to the gym, but dread the way I’ll feel if I don’t do *something*. The woman’s voice is soothing. So soothing, in fact, that I barely get irritated when she veers away from telling me how to do the new position and starts telling me that my breath is the foundation of everything I do. Or mysterious things about the air and my spirit. Lady, I do not know what that means for my everyday living. But I do like your complacent confidence in my capacity to maintain crane.
Second, I did a one-two punch combo of a stretching show and, of all things, a bellydancing show. I had recorded a bunch of different options, and these were the fresh ones I could do given the equipment I have added to the reality of having a downstairs neighbor who probably doesn’t want me thumping on her ceiling at five in the morning.
The stretching was sort of like yoga, but more… prosaic. Cathe the Stretch Max instructor was in a fitness room studio setting with a bunch of ladies in matching-eqsue outfits (like when Destiny’s Child or The Supremes wear outfits from the same materials but in different designs. Like that). With yoga the ladies are in nature somewhere, or dimly lit wood-floored rooms in nice but non-matching-esque outfits. I liked the stretches a lot – they woke me up, and seemed to target some muscles I use for running in a way that yoga hasn’t yet.
I don’t even know what to say about the belly-dancing. Even in my very own be-shaded living room I felt a little like a jackass, but also a little like a twelve-year-old girl trying on a secreted lipstick and nylons. Also a little curious-yet-uncomfortable about the intense Westernization and assimilation of this centuries old North African dance form. I mean, the show is called “Shimmy”.
Final analysis, though, is that these are a good option for me on light workout days, or days when the gym or an outdoor run aren’t an option. Or, frankly, when I want to do twenty minutes of easy yoga.
First, I did the Namaste Yoga show again. I liked it, but shamefully I think I like it because it isn’t all that hard. Or, at least, doing it myself in the privacy of my living room means I don’t push it all that much. Regardless, I like it on a morning when I have a 7:30 meeting and can’t both get enough sleep and wake up in time to go to the gym, but dread the way I’ll feel if I don’t do *something*. The woman’s voice is soothing. So soothing, in fact, that I barely get irritated when she veers away from telling me how to do the new position and starts telling me that my breath is the foundation of everything I do. Or mysterious things about the air and my spirit. Lady, I do not know what that means for my everyday living. But I do like your complacent confidence in my capacity to maintain crane.
Second, I did a one-two punch combo of a stretching show and, of all things, a bellydancing show. I had recorded a bunch of different options, and these were the fresh ones I could do given the equipment I have added to the reality of having a downstairs neighbor who probably doesn’t want me thumping on her ceiling at five in the morning.
The stretching was sort of like yoga, but more… prosaic. Cathe the Stretch Max instructor was in a fitness room studio setting with a bunch of ladies in matching-eqsue outfits (like when Destiny’s Child or The Supremes wear outfits from the same materials but in different designs. Like that). With yoga the ladies are in nature somewhere, or dimly lit wood-floored rooms in nice but non-matching-esque outfits. I liked the stretches a lot – they woke me up, and seemed to target some muscles I use for running in a way that yoga hasn’t yet.
I don’t even know what to say about the belly-dancing. Even in my very own be-shaded living room I felt a little like a jackass, but also a little like a twelve-year-old girl trying on a secreted lipstick and nylons. Also a little curious-yet-uncomfortable about the intense Westernization and assimilation of this centuries old North African dance form. I mean, the show is called “Shimmy”.
Final analysis, though, is that these are a good option for me on light workout days, or days when the gym or an outdoor run aren’t an option. Or, frankly, when I want to do twenty minutes of easy yoga.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Random Entry #4 Women, Hearts and Sports
Tomorrow, February 6th, is the 22nd Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day. I think it's a day worth celebrating and promoting -- I am sporty now, in my own way, and like to encourage that for all of us.
This week is also National Women's Heart Week, another worthy, worthy celebration! The Get Fit Challenge is *all about* our fitness and health, and our hearts are at the center of that (well, usually a little left of center, but you get the idea).
A couple more reasons to Get Fit this week!
This week is also National Women's Heart Week, another worthy, worthy celebration! The Get Fit Challenge is *all about* our fitness and health, and our hearts are at the center of that (well, usually a little left of center, but you get the idea).
A couple more reasons to Get Fit this week!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Random Entry #3 The Cold
One thing I’ve noticed about this challenge – the most communicative people are those who like yoga, and those who like cross-country skiing. I promise my attitude about the former is quickly clearing up (I mean, hey, I did yoga *at home* today! See the previous entry).
My feelings about skiing are mixed, however. I know it’s great exercise, and it would be a great entry on this blog. I like to imagine myself hearty, rosy-cheeked, cruising smartly down well-groomed trails, puffs of well-earned steam floating from my hale, healthy lungs as I think virtuous thoughts about the benefits of outdoor activity.
But, honestly, the true picture is far less romantic. Rosy cheeks give way to a runny nose, and my virtuous thoughts give way to fervent prayers for a speedy release from the vice-grip of cold that won’t shake loose no matter how hard I am working. No matter how many times I tell myself I am supposed to warm up once I get going…I don’t. Not enough to make the first horrible freezing half hour worth it, and not enough to overcome the hours of relentless self-talk I have to endure to make myself go outside in the winter to be active. And when all is said and done, my loved ones are forced to endure my whiny, crabby attitude about the whole endeavor.
So God bless and God speed, cross country skiers! And outdoor winter runners! And snow-shoers! I admire and envy your fortitude! For my part, I salute you from my running track, my spin class, my yoga pose, and my swimming pool! I salute you from the warmth of my space heater, the warmth of the sauna, the warmth of an extra pair of slipper socks! I salute you from the bottom of my warm, warm heart!
My feelings about skiing are mixed, however. I know it’s great exercise, and it would be a great entry on this blog. I like to imagine myself hearty, rosy-cheeked, cruising smartly down well-groomed trails, puffs of well-earned steam floating from my hale, healthy lungs as I think virtuous thoughts about the benefits of outdoor activity.
But, honestly, the true picture is far less romantic. Rosy cheeks give way to a runny nose, and my virtuous thoughts give way to fervent prayers for a speedy release from the vice-grip of cold that won’t shake loose no matter how hard I am working. No matter how many times I tell myself I am supposed to warm up once I get going…I don’t. Not enough to make the first horrible freezing half hour worth it, and not enough to overcome the hours of relentless self-talk I have to endure to make myself go outside in the winter to be active. And when all is said and done, my loved ones are forced to endure my whiny, crabby attitude about the whole endeavor.
So God bless and God speed, cross country skiers! And outdoor winter runners! And snow-shoers! I admire and envy your fortitude! For my part, I salute you from my running track, my spin class, my yoga pose, and my swimming pool! I salute you from the warmth of my space heater, the warmth of the sauna, the warmth of an extra pair of slipper socks! I salute you from the bottom of my warm, warm heart!
Thing #10 A Video At Home
This one was on the list for a long time – do a workout at home with some sort of helpful person on the TV guiding me through. It languished on the list, in spite of its obvious convenience, because I couldn’t figure out which workout to do. Should I buy a DVD? If so, which one? Better yet, should I go to the library and pick out a few, or look online and put them on hold and go pick them up? A great theory I have yet to put to practice.
No, dear reader, laziness won the day here. Turns out the cable I pay a lot of money for has a health channel, which in turn has many hours of workout programming. I just set ye olde DVR, recorded a bunch, and picked one that looked do-able (which means didn’t involve equipment I don’t have at home, and wouldn’t bug my downstairs neighbor at 6 in the morning).
Here’s the kicker – I did yoga. In my own home. Of my own free will. It felt pretty good! I added a brisk walk downtown today since once I fast forwarded through the commercials it was only about a 25 minute workout. Still and all, if felt good to do the poses – even in spite of the breathy, encouraging tone of the invisible instructor and the super-human flexibility of the ladies actually doing the “practice” on-screen.
No, dear reader, laziness won the day here. Turns out the cable I pay a lot of money for has a health channel, which in turn has many hours of workout programming. I just set ye olde DVR, recorded a bunch, and picked one that looked do-able (which means didn’t involve equipment I don’t have at home, and wouldn’t bug my downstairs neighbor at 6 in the morning).
Here’s the kicker – I did yoga. In my own home. Of my own free will. It felt pretty good! I added a brisk walk downtown today since once I fast forwarded through the commercials it was only about a 25 minute workout. Still and all, if felt good to do the poses – even in spite of the breathy, encouraging tone of the invisible instructor and the super-human flexibility of the ladies actually doing the “practice” on-screen.
Thing #9 Swimming Again
Swimming went better this time – it was a better workout, and less stressful.
Helpful things I learned from doing it the first time (or got helpful tips from faithful readers):
1) Wet my hair before I put on the swim cap. It helps protect the hair. I also continued the fine tradition of putting in a leave-in conditioner the night before.
2) Lots of lotion after lots of soap helps cut the chlorine smell.
3) The goggle marks disappear after about an hour, with no permanent damage.
4) If I don’t push off so hard from the side of the pool, I force myself to work harder *and* my goggles don’t fill with water.
It was a good workout. I definitely felt more of a rhythm, and there’s something really great about water. It was especially good because I did it on a morning where I couldn’t make a full hour class, had an early meeting, and still wanted to work out. If I continue, I might consider hiring a coach for an hour or two to give me some basic pointers so I’m not reinforcing bad habits.
Helpful things I learned from doing it the first time (or got helpful tips from faithful readers):
1) Wet my hair before I put on the swim cap. It helps protect the hair. I also continued the fine tradition of putting in a leave-in conditioner the night before.
2) Lots of lotion after lots of soap helps cut the chlorine smell.
3) The goggle marks disappear after about an hour, with no permanent damage.
4) If I don’t push off so hard from the side of the pool, I force myself to work harder *and* my goggles don’t fill with water.
It was a good workout. I definitely felt more of a rhythm, and there’s something really great about water. It was especially good because I did it on a morning where I couldn’t make a full hour class, had an early meeting, and still wanted to work out. If I continue, I might consider hiring a coach for an hour or two to give me some basic pointers so I’m not reinforcing bad habits.
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