As opposed to just bad.
I was at the gym today so wandered off piste a bit with the Beautiful Badass stuff...however bits of me were worked, I moved some heavy stuff and, despite the fact that I'm still barking like a consumptive seal, the cardio did not kill me. I am feeling incrementally better though, so all good in the end.
Today's workout details:
30 Mins Recumbent Bike
So far, so sweaty, like a sweaty woman from Sweatoville.
10 Reps Leg Raises
Fair to say, I've still a way to go with the old "slice and diced" lower abdominals. I tried for 12 but by the 10th one there was trembling. And now there is light hurting.
3x5 plus 1x12 Tricep Extensions - 80 (lbs - I think)
Quite chuffed with this as I could manage far heavier than I'd anticipated. Limbs still feeling ok, so hopefully I won't be typing this blog with my toes tomorrow.
3x5 plus 1x12 Leg Press - 90 (lbs - I think)
Slightly grumpy knee did not protest so I've got to be getting stronger (Thank you squats).
3x5 plus 1x12 Standing Dumbbell Bicep Curls - 8 (lbs - I think)
I must admit one of the downsides of doing this when I'm overweight is that when you're looking in the mirror to check that your form is right, it's all to easy to fall prey to the thoughts of "Oh joy, physically I'm a dead ringer for the Anti-Aircraft Battery at Blyth Beach". I think they've got a picture of me in the dictionary with the definition of the word "Sturdy" underneath it. Then again it's not exactly like my skeleton can go on a diet. Hey ho.
3x5 plus 1x12 Seated Row - 60 (lbs - I think)
Must keep up the back work to balance up the ab stuff.
15 mins walking on treadmill at 3.5 mph.
I've also decided to set my calorie allowance at 1800, because while I do want to lose weight, I'm going to be better off in the long term ensuring that I'm giving my body enough of the right things to heal. Plus at least this way I won't be hungry (even 1600 doesn't feel enough - no wonder on that popular-weight-loss programme-that-shall-remain nameless, I was going around the bend, and I was trying to run on it too. Oh, the benefits of hindsight). Healing has to take precedence because for a start, because of the back problem, I'm already working at a disadvantage. Plus it's better for the family and me if I don't get hurt or poorly....18 month olds don't go round lifting themselves into bed after all...
It wasn't bloody doing this when I first went out!
Hi! My name is Christine and I had full on wet t-shirt/capilliary action up the jeans leg while out on a short walk at lunchtime. Boo. Irony - also because I had to take a short cut as I was at imminent risk of being washed away, I had to march about like a idiot in the house because Gympact thought I'd only done 28 minutes (that's because I forgot to switch it on)...
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| A bus stop somewhere in Northumberland earlier today. |
29th July 2013 - Start of week 3 - Time to get serious...
This is the start of the third week and after being ill, being on holiday and generally being a bit fluffy, I'm now keen to get some momentum behind a more sustainable exercise and health improvement programme.
I've actually achieved my first set of real results already, after the hideous scar tissue pain in my core after doing 30 second planks that I suffered initially, I no longer get any discomfort, which means I need to up my game. This chuffs me to bits :) I've also lost a bit of pouchiness around the elbows, and as I've never been terribly enamoured with my arms, this is also very good.
Anyhow, in the name of getting serious.....
I've decided to start using several iPhone apps to underpin what I'm doing:
MyFitnessPal (for it's food/exercise diary function)
Runkeeper (for walking and other exercise logging)
GymPact (Incentivising working out)
Sleep Cycle (To make sure I get enough sleep)
I've managed to lose some weight using MyFitnessPal before but I think I've had my calorific requirements set a bit low because I've wandered off piste after a while. To be honest, one thing that has underdone me with traditional diet programmes is the fact that, because I'm small, the allowances were never quite high enough to stop me from feeling hungry, and the slightest "error" would knock my confidence out of the park. Also after partaking in a particular points-based-system-that-shall-remain-nameless when I got married some years ago, I got to my target, but was so sick of being hungry (for 6 months) that I gave up, promptly had a back "crisis", put a load of weight on, and just as I was starting to get running again, had a really bad ankle sprain...and thus was back to square one. Instead of thinking it's just me being weak, I can now say to myself, "Actually Christine, it's not you that's 100% at fault here".
I'm working on the principle advocated at GoKaleo (link to the relevant article here) with regard to the number of calories to consume in order to achieve my weight loss goal (something I intend to do in 2 stages). Basically this principle is to eat the number of calories that will sustain the weight you want to be, but also being aware that as your muscle mass increases, you'll be burning your calories more effectively so not to fall into the trap of restricting your calorific intake more to lose the last bit (I'm paraphrasing but I highly recommend reading Amber's blog).
I think most people with a smartphone will be aware of Runkeeper, but I've added an extra layer of incentive by linking up Gympact. Bascially it works be rewarding hitting a certain exercise target (min 3 times a week for 30 minutes) so that I also do regular cardio. The reasoning behind this is, because like most parents with a full time job, exercise can be the thing that gets shoved out of the schedule, and now, thanks to the fact that you are rewarded for working out, and pledge to pay if you don't, I'm sufficiently tight not to want to have to pay when I don't!
I also know I need to get more sleep so that's where Sleep Cycle comes in....odd that....
I'll let you know how it goes....
(Please note all apps, websites and blogs I mention, I'm using of my own volition and I am not receiving anything from the companies and people concerned).
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| Last week - more croak than Croak Park and The Frog Chorus combined... |
Anyhow, in the name of getting serious.....
I've decided to start using several iPhone apps to underpin what I'm doing:
MyFitnessPal (for it's food/exercise diary function)
Runkeeper (for walking and other exercise logging)
GymPact (Incentivising working out)
Sleep Cycle (To make sure I get enough sleep)
I've managed to lose some weight using MyFitnessPal before but I think I've had my calorific requirements set a bit low because I've wandered off piste after a while. To be honest, one thing that has underdone me with traditional diet programmes is the fact that, because I'm small, the allowances were never quite high enough to stop me from feeling hungry, and the slightest "error" would knock my confidence out of the park. Also after partaking in a particular points-based-system-that-shall-remain-nameless when I got married some years ago, I got to my target, but was so sick of being hungry (for 6 months) that I gave up, promptly had a back "crisis", put a load of weight on, and just as I was starting to get running again, had a really bad ankle sprain...and thus was back to square one. Instead of thinking it's just me being weak, I can now say to myself, "Actually Christine, it's not you that's 100% at fault here".
I'm working on the principle advocated at GoKaleo (link to the relevant article here) with regard to the number of calories to consume in order to achieve my weight loss goal (something I intend to do in 2 stages). Basically this principle is to eat the number of calories that will sustain the weight you want to be, but also being aware that as your muscle mass increases, you'll be burning your calories more effectively so not to fall into the trap of restricting your calorific intake more to lose the last bit (I'm paraphrasing but I highly recommend reading Amber's blog).
I think most people with a smartphone will be aware of Runkeeper, but I've added an extra layer of incentive by linking up Gympact. Bascially it works be rewarding hitting a certain exercise target (min 3 times a week for 30 minutes) so that I also do regular cardio. The reasoning behind this is, because like most parents with a full time job, exercise can be the thing that gets shoved out of the schedule, and now, thanks to the fact that you are rewarded for working out, and pledge to pay if you don't, I'm sufficiently tight not to want to have to pay when I don't!
I also know I need to get more sleep so that's where Sleep Cycle comes in....odd that....
I'll let you know how it goes....
(Please note all apps, websites and blogs I mention, I'm using of my own volition and I am not receiving anything from the companies and people concerned).
25th July 2013 - So what have I been up to???
Sorry for not making it but I've been hella busy with the wee family going up the coast, went to see Amanda Palmer in Edinburgh and at a fabulous wedding at the weekend. All in the best weather the UK has seen since 2003. My golfers tan has come on a treat and my neck and shoulders don't match, but when you get good sun like this as rarely as we do, it's an inevitable hazard of existing.
It's been amazing.
The husband and I have danced, sung (in a very croaky voice - still fighting off this hideous throat scruff), plodged in the sea and made sand castles with the little chap, walked miles, ate, drank and were merry to the point of embarrassing ourselves and those who love us....so it's fair to say I've been pretty tired for the last couple of days. I've been staring at my screen of a night time thinking "come on, woman...blog, blog...ooh telly...".
I had a small confidence dip in the middle when I tried on the dress that I bought for the wedding, which due to period bloat no longer fitted. The thing is, in the past I might have freaked out, instead I shopped for new shoes to go with a roomy LBD that I've got and though I dashed around a bit and cracked on with the festivities, perhaps my mindset is changing after all...
Though, yeah, my focus has been...patchy.
But...what I've been doing is sticking with the programme, just not on a do-it-three times a week sort of way. When I've been busy with the wee man, I've done press ups when he's been eating, done bicep curls when during nap time and focussed on enjoying my life. Doing planks while he's playing on the floor....Just not being so focussed on the "I must do x number of hours per week and to do less or differently is a failure"mentality.
I also had a "Big" period in the middle, so did what I could exercise-wise but didn't injure myself and listened to my body instead of fighting it. I can feel my strength building, but I need to work on getting more sleep and eating better to get the results I want. However I do feel mentally a lot freer.
It's been amazing.
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| Warm? In Northumberland, whatever next? |
I had a small confidence dip in the middle when I tried on the dress that I bought for the wedding, which due to period bloat no longer fitted. The thing is, in the past I might have freaked out, instead I shopped for new shoes to go with a roomy LBD that I've got and though I dashed around a bit and cracked on with the festivities, perhaps my mindset is changing after all...
Though, yeah, my focus has been...patchy.
But...what I've been doing is sticking with the programme, just not on a do-it-three times a week sort of way. When I've been busy with the wee man, I've done press ups when he's been eating, done bicep curls when during nap time and focussed on enjoying my life. Doing planks while he's playing on the floor....Just not being so focussed on the "I must do x number of hours per week and to do less or differently is a failure"mentality.
I also had a "Big" period in the middle, so did what I could exercise-wise but didn't injure myself and listened to my body instead of fighting it. I can feel my strength building, but I need to work on getting more sleep and eating better to get the results I want. However I do feel mentally a lot freer.
15th July 2013 - concluding workout of week 1
Actually went to my regular gym and did some weights surrounded by fellas. Was odd but I (and they) will get used to it.
I do need to make some weight buddies though...
14th July 2013 - More rest...and some words on "Virtue"...
Husband gave me the "Give yourself a break today or you'll break yourself"pep talk today. To be honest, though I'm clawing to crack on, this was a very good idea. It's averaging 28-29 degrees C at the moment, and this thing that is definitely a cold (my sooper dooper hay fever drugs make not a bit of difference) isn't going anywhere, so best to play the long game.
This competes with the part of my brain that is telling me to "go on, work out, not doing it makes you lazy" which is the internal narrative that I've been arguing with for years.
The thing is, fad diets and trendy new exercise regimes, create a mind set where you think to yourself " this is the mother lode, the eternal cure, the solution to my *fat* ass, squiggly middle" and your failure to adhere to it is you being weak. It all boils down to the concept of virtue, which is quite frankly, tripe.
Doing a lot of exercise doesn't make you a better person, it just makes you a person who does a lot of exercise...simple. Avoiding gluten and sugar won't do it either. Do what feels right...for you...and avoid the charlatans...
This competes with the part of my brain that is telling me to "go on, work out, not doing it makes you lazy" which is the internal narrative that I've been arguing with for years.
The thing is, fad diets and trendy new exercise regimes, create a mind set where you think to yourself " this is the mother lode, the eternal cure, the solution to my *fat* ass, squiggly middle" and your failure to adhere to it is you being weak. It all boils down to the concept of virtue, which is quite frankly, tripe.
Doing a lot of exercise doesn't make you a better person, it just makes you a person who does a lot of exercise...simple. Avoiding gluten and sugar won't do it either. Do what feels right...for you...and avoid the charlatans...
A little edifying quote....
"All our Western thought is founded on this repulsive pretence that pain is the proper price of any good thing."
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