Last session for 2011

Well today started out with a lot of snow!!! I thought I was going to be late because of the snow and some minor car problems (see Facebook status).

I did 8 minutes on the bike, then walking weighted lunges, and then side steps with the rubber bands.

I then met with Erin and gave her the Christmas present I had for her. We then started with the weighed pull-downs (60 pounds), pull ups at 25 pounds, and one-legged ball squats. Repeat.

Then rows at 60 pounds, 10 pound reverse flies, and 15 pound squats to hammers. Repeat.

I did 25 pound one armed lifts and then obliques on both sides and fronts. Repeat.

I then headed over to the other side and did the glute machine (not sure on the weight), hamstring lifts on the ball, side crunches, and finally the plank. Repeat.

Overall a good workout to end 2011. Erin heads off to Aruba for Christmas so my next scheduled meeting with her is January 3rd.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The Step and I

Yup, it was a night of the step, the Bosu, the ball, the bands......

I got to the gym and did my warm ups, then the walking weighted lunges, and the side steps with the rubber band. Then Erin gave me a Christmas present--I now have weight gloves!!! Woo Hoo. I am excited about those because my hands do hurt after doing lifting so I am looking forward to using them. I also got a couple of protein bars. I will take Erin her gift next week.

Then we started the workout. We started with push ups on the step and then push ups with a arm swing (basically I came up, let go of the step and almost do a clap, and then go down again)--okay I am already groaning and we just started!!! Then I did Bosu squat lifts. Repeat. Then I did one legged shoulder presses while on the step and weighted boxing punches. Then it was one legged step ups with arm moves. Repeat. Bosu squats were next, then triceps. Repeat.

Then we used the rubber band against the pole ("Paula you are going so fast we can add more exercises"--yippee!) I did presses, flies, and then triceps with the rubber band before going over to abs. Stability ball passes and stability ball raises. Repeat all of above and you are done.

My arms are going to be sore this week!!! No heavy lifting please :)

I have a workout next week with Erin, but then she is gone to Aruba between Christmas and New Years with her family.

Have a great week.

Monday's workout

Sorry this is late. Been busy.

Monday's workout went fine. I have not been so sore this week.

It started out with walking weighted lunges and then walking bouncing ball lunges--I hate lunges!!!! Then I did Bosu burpees, squats on the Bosu, and Bosu weighted side to side jumps.

Then we went over to the weight side. I did rope pull-downs and then rope pull-outs on the universal machine. 15 pound bicep curls were next. Then I did 30 pound lifts, squats, and mountain climbers. Of course we repeated everything. Then I sat on the floor near the Universal machine and did some kind of rope pulls. I don't know exactly, but I did need a bunch of help with those.

Then we went over and I did side ball throws while on the ball and ball bounces while sitting on the ball.

Overall it was kind of a nice workout (don't tell Erin--it will probably never happen again wink wink!)

Have a great week.

Thursday about killed me!!!

Well I had my second session of the week and I think Erin was planning on killing me!!! It was a weight session and I am still so sore.

I started out with walking weighted lunges and side steps with the big rubber-band before heading over to the weight area. We did laying down chest presses and I don't know how much weight was on the bar, but wow did it hurt. Then I did step-ups on the bench--Repeat! Then I did inclined chest presses and couldn't make the rep without help. Then step up squats. Repeat and boy I barely made 8 reps before Erin had to help me.

Then we went to the bar where I did push-ups, triceps, and Bosu step up lunges. Repeat. Then we went to do more triceps and pull across the body. For the first time ever, I had to admit to Erin I would not be able to repeat these three exercises. I told her that I thought my arms would fall off. She watched me try and then told me to stop--oh the pain.

I did side crunches on the ball and was done for the day. Went home and mixed up cookie doughs. Last night (Friday) I was in so much pain. Today my arms are still killing me. Hopefully tomorrow is better. I have been busy with Christmas baking so no time to rest :)

Monday's workout

Well if I had written this report last night, I think it would be a completely different report. I did not hurt last night. Tonight I am in pain!!!

When I saw Erin last night she started the appointment by saying "You are really going to hate me after tonight" As I stared at her, I reminded her that I would be back on Thursday night to make up for last week. All I got was "Oooops" So we got started.

I did my walking weighted lunges and then the rubber band sideways walk. Then I did jumping jacks for 30 seconds (why does Erin try to talk to me when I am doing those--question of the century), butt kicks (or in my case running in place), step ups, planks with weighted arm lifts (I knew those were going to get harder), bicep curls, and kickouts to punches. Repeat.

Then we did squats to hammer lifts, inverted flies, weighted squats, seated leg pushes (on a machine), the glute machine, crunches with straight up legs, planks for 30 seconds, and ball crunches. Repeat.

My tummy and legs are in a bit of pain tonight. Guess we will see what happens on Thursday night.

Busy Gym Tonight

Tonight went well, but you can surely tell that the weather has changed. The gym has gotten so busy, that it is sometimes hard to find places to work out. Erin is sometimes changing the workouts on the fly just so we don't have to wade into the mass of humanity.

Tonight I started out with 20 leapfrogs, 30 seconds of squats to shoulder presses on the Bosu, and then planks on the Bosu. Repeat. (Note: I am so proud that I can do the plank without much trouble these days--I am guessing since I made the mistake of saying that to Erin, they are going to get harder or longer for me!)

Then I did crawling push-ups, jumping side to side off the Bosu, and something that has already left my mind :) Repeat.

Then it was to the glute machine (60 pounds--12 reps), then hellish hamstring one legged lifts off the stability ball, regular hamstring lifts off the stability ball, rollouts with the stability ball, and side to side rolls on the stability ball. Repeat.

I finished with crunches on the stability ball.

Overall it went pretty well.

I am out of town next week so watch this space for two posts the week after Thanksgiving. I have Monday and Thursday sessions!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

Went Well

Hi all,

Monday went well even though I was exhausted. I flew back from a weekend at home on Monday and got back about an hour before I had to be at the gym.

Monday was more of a weight workout so it went pretty well. I started out with lat pulls at 60 pounds, then triceps pulls (not sure of the weight), and then 2-legged ball wall squats. Repeat. Then I did rows at 65 pounds, weighted squats, and inverted flies. Repeat. Then I did 10 front lifts, 10 right oblique lifts, and 10 left oblique lifts. Then it was bar lifts and bar bend overs. Repeat.

We then did abs. (I say we, but really, I did abs.) I did fish out of the water (my name for them hee hee) for 30 seconds, then one sided crunches (each side), and then flutter kicks. Repeat.

I am a little sore, but not so bad this week.

The time change and all this darkness has made me very tired. I just need to keep going so I stay in practice. I did make it to the gym this morning, but not yesterday so hopefully I make it tomorrow and the next day.

Have a great week.

Legs, Legs, Legs

Well tonight I am already hurting which means I had a good workout!!

I started out with warm ups on the bike and then my walking weighted lunges. After that I did weighted squats, butt kicks, and then jumping jacks. Then we went over to the weight area.

Erin was so funny because she wanted me to do push-ups on the bar, but there was this guy who would not move. He literally stayed on the bar machine for my whole workout and he was there before we started. Well that totally screwed up her plans for me so she adapted (she adapted!)

I had to do chest presses with 20 pounds in each hand--talk about grunting!!! Then I did over the head triceps, and then one-legged weighted squats. Repeat. Then I did lunge to shoulder press, Bosu squat lateral lifts, front lifts, and Bosu squat kicks. Repeat. Triceps over the head and triceps down (on the weight machine). Repeat.

Then we headed over the exercise area where I did abs. Yeah, heels to heavens are he**!!! Then I held the plank for 30 seconds (barely grunted this time). Repeated the squats, butt kicks, and jumping jacks before repeating the heels to heaven and then the plank (arms almost collapsed).

Overall a good workout. I am definitely tired. Still having trouble getting up in the morning, but hoping to do the treadmill tomorrow morning!

Have a great week everyone.

Not as bad this week

Well tonight was not as bad as last week. I don't think I will be hurting as much tomorrow and Wednesday as I was last week. I actually was still a little sore tonight from last week!!! Erin told me that was normal since I had done the inclined seated lifts and she had me go farther than normal. So I will be sore, but we will see how that goes.

Tonight's workout was more of a mini-boot camp. We started with pendulum lunges, then marching in place, and butt kicks (or run in place--hee hee). Repeat. Then we did abs: ball butt lifts, stability ball passes, roll-outs on the stability ball, and then ball planks--yup ball planks!!!! I held those planks for 20 seconds twice! Yippee. Then glutes on the glute machine and then repeat.

Then since we could not get into the weight area (tonight was apparently everyone's day to go to the gym). We stayed in the stretching area and I did lifts, some other weight lift, and biceps. Then 20 squats. Then curved arm lifts and slow joggers. 20 more squats. Repeat all of the above.

I was tired, but able to grocery shopping afterwords which I was not able to do last week. Will try and get to the gym in the morning and more this week. I made it 4 times last week, but chose to sleep in on Friday :)

Have a great week.

My apologies

I am so sorry I did not update last week. I was not home any night last week and so this did not even cross my mind until Thursday as I landed in Atlanta--weird when you remember things. I had not taken my computer with me on this trip since I thought that the hotel was going to charge me an arm and a leg for Internet access, so I am very sorry there is no update from last week.

From what I remember it was another boot camp, but I did pretty well (held up my planks!!!!) and was able to go to a meeting afterwords--tonight is not the same story!!

I got to the gym and did 10 minutes on the bike and then my walking weighted lunges. Then Erin had me sit on the weight bench and I actually did a weight bar. There was no weight on it, but it was heavy for shoulder presses, I think. After that I had a big rubber-band put around my legs and I walked sideways down and back. Then the shoulder presses again.

Then we did the squat machine and wall squats (for 30 sec). Then I laid down and did chest presses with a bar (I did 16 and then she had me do 5 more!!!) Back to the squat machine, wall squats (did not make the whole 30 without a stand up this time) and then the chest presses again. By now my arms are burning!!!!!

I then did holding lunges for 30 seconds on each side--burn, burn!!! Then it was flies (at 12.5 pounds in each hand) and then back to the lunges and then repeat the flies--OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Then Erin said all we have left is abs--it is only pain. I could barely walk!!! I made it on the ball and did front sit ups, left side, and right side--rest--Repeat.

I was in pain. I had thought to go to the grocery store after the workout tonight, but that did not get done. I barely made it home where I almost collapsed. As I write this my arms and legs are hurting.

I will try and do some of this over the week, but I know I can't do it all without Erin there to spot me (I almost dropped the bar a couple of times).

This was the first week I managed to do at least one wall squat without standing during--working on getting two in a workout like I am doing with the planks.

I can definitely tell I am getting stronger!!!!!

Have a great week everyone.

More pain.....

Hi all,

I told Erin that I had been in pain all weekend from my Friday workout. Sitting was so painful and let's not even talk about bending over with my abs!!! Today was just as bad. I know that I am going to be in pain and she even had me test out some new exercises that she just came up with!!!!

I started out with toe taps on the Bosu, then jumping jacks for 30 seconds, and then superwomen on the rounded side of the Bosu--Repeat.

Then I did push-ups, triceps, and one of the new exercises, backwards squats off of the Bosu with leg lifts. Repeat.

Then I did shoulder presses, another new exercise: ballet squats with leg outreach lifts. Repeat.

Then I did tree huggers, triceps, shoulder pull downs, and squat pulls. Repeat.

My arms and legs are just sore tonight!!! I am guessing I will be more sore on Wednesday!!!

Have a good week.

Abs are in pain

Tonight was my weekly meeting with Erin and I am in some pain!!!

Here is the workout from tonight:
weighted bend overs (30 pounds), used the calve machine for the first time, squat machine and a sitting wall squat--repeat.
Pull downs, bicep lifts (12.5 pounds), and Bosu one-legged squats (holding onto Erin for dear life)--repeat.
Row pulls, hammer lifts (12.5 pounds), and weighted squats--repeat.
Then we got to the abs....lateral lifts, scissor kicks, and flutter kicks. 30 seconds for each one and repeat. I was in so much pain at the end of that. I can only imagine what tomorrow will bring :)

I meet again on Monday so hopefully my update will be earlier.

Have a great weekend!!!!

FYI

To my faithful readers:

My training appointment for next week is not until Friday. Erin is out of town and then with things on my schedule the earliest we can meet is Friday. So I train Friday at 5 pm and then again the following Monday at 5 pm. So if it all works out there will be two posts quickly, but nothing until Friday or Saturday :)

Didn't want you all to worry---HEE HEE

Have a good week.

Been busy

Hi all (my three faithful readers:))

I am sorry I haven't updated, but I wasn't home any night last week and if I don't get this done tonight it won't get done this week either :)

Last week was another mini-bootcamp. I went and went, about 15 exercises at 30 second intervals. I was exhausted afterwords and right now could not tell you any of them except for the step up squats and jumping jacks. About killed me!!!!

Last night was also quite the work out. I started out with incline lifts (20 pounds and she has promised to increase that!), then weighted squats--repeat.

Then Erin decided to shake things up. I got to stand on the Bosu while using a weight machine. I did punches, pull acrosses, and squats to pull ups. Repeat. Then I did two types of triceps exercises before heading over to work on the abs. I got to do step down backward squats off of the step, ball crosses, and then the plank. Repeat.

One of the exciting parts is that I managed to do both planks for the full 30 seconds without kneeling--first week ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited about that as the plank just about kills me.

After the workout (during which I sweated like a pig), I decided to do my grocery shopping! Yup, I shopped for about an hour and managed to come home, put everything away, eat supper, and then collapse :) I was tired and am a little sore today, but overall it was a good workout. I don't know that I will repeat it this week as I was falling off the Bosu all the time so I think it might be dangerous for me :) We will see what I do in the morning.

Have a great day!!!!!!

Pain!! Pain!!!

Today was a painful session in personal training. I got to the gym early so I did 10 minutes on the treadmill, my walking lunges, and then 5 minutes on the bike before Erin was ready for me.

We got started right away with 16 push-ups on the bar, triceps on the bar, and lunge lifts trading both legs. Repeat. Then we did shoulder presses (15 pounds for each arm!), smiley face lifts, and arm lifts. Repeat. Then I did abductor, another leg exercise, and donkey kicks. Repeat. Then it was obliques on the ball and triceps pulls. Repeat.

I have to admit the shoulder presses about killed me as did the arm lifts. Let's talk about the triceps pulls. I was grunting through out. It was very painful and I was so glad to be done and home to shower!!

As for the weight, I stayed the same. At least I stayed the same. The weight loss challenge has ended, but I am going to continue to watch what I eat and will probably still weigh myself in hopes of going down more :)

Have a good week everyone.

Doing okay

Well I was still down, but only one pound this week. At least it was down and not up! I was happy to hear that.

The workout went really well. After the second exercise Erin just started lifting all my weights because I was doing so well. We started out with bar pull-downs (at 55 pounds and then went up to 65 pounds), then bicep curls (started at 10 and went to 12.5), then one legged ball squats. Repeat. Then I did low rows (60 pounds), inverted flies (10 pounds), and then squats to hammers (12.5 pounds). Repeat. Then I did one-armed pull ups (17.5 pounds), obliques on both sides, and then one-legged squat to back kick. Repeat. Then we headed to the Bosu :) I did what I think were planks into back kicks (those were killers!!!), then superwomen on the Bosu, then Bosu crunches. Repeat.

Overall it went really well. Erin was really pleased that I have been coming in on my own since she could tell with upping the weights and my abilities on the Bosu :) I think I will be in some pain this week, but plan to continue on.

Have a great week!

YIPPEE!!!!!!

Yup, I was down 3 pounds from the previous week. Headed back in the right direction and hopefully I can stay there. I am trying to keep better track of the foods I am eating and I will admit that I am kind of sticking more to frozen meals as they are easy to control the portion size. If that is what it takes right now, then I will try. We will see how this week goes.

The workout was more of strength and balance training. We started out with chest presses, then fast squats, and repeat. Then we did shoulder presses and one legged stability ball squats and repeat. Then I did two triceps (over the head and pull-down), pile squats and repeat. We then headed over to work on the Bosu. I did Bosu burpees (I hate those but I know they are a great exercise!), ball bounces while on the Bosu, Bosu crunches, and Bosu plank (hate it hate it hate it)--Repeat all of the above. Then because I was such a quick worker this week we added an exercise (of which I don't know the name). Basically I took a weight from the floor and lifted into the air over my head and back down again. Swing weights?????

Overall it was a good workout and I think tomorrow I will be sore. I am not so bad today which is good. I walked on the treadmill Monday and today also. Tomorrow I will try and repeat yesterday's workout and then Thursday I will do the treadmill again. Friday--we will see, but if the weekend looks good then maybe I can walk on Saturday and Sunday.

Have a good week everyone!!!

No change

Hi all,

No change on the weigh in. I will have to get better at keeping track of what I eat, but it is not happening this week as I get ready for company coming.

The workout was not so bad, but I did three rounds so by the end I was exhausted. Everything listed was for 30 seconds. I did step ups on a step, Bosu jumps, hammer lifts, bicep curls, march in place, butt kicks (for me is more run in place), squats to hammers, pile squats, kicks, hamstrings on the stability ball, stability ball passes and then stability ball rolls.

As I said it was not so bad until I got to the third round. Erin was so excited that I made it through three times :) I was surprised.

Tuesday I went and walked on the treadmill for 40 minutes in the morning and then cleaned most of the house in the evening.

Wednesday I re-did the workout in the morning, and made it through three times again.

This morning was another 40 minutes on the treadmill and finished cleaning the house this evening. My plan for tomorrow is to re-do the workout again.

We will see how I do on the weigh in on Monday, but since I have company coming and have done some baking we will see how things go :)

Have a great weekend.

A little bit of discouragement!

Yup the subject lines sums up today. The scale states that I went up one pound. Not a happy day for me, but I guess I did drink some alcohol over the weekend and allow myself some sweets. Erin really thinks that I am not getting 1200 calories a day since I am just staying in the same weight area. So that is my goal this week to try and figure out the calories better. She also reiterated that muscle weighs more. I am definitely building muscle so I know that my body is changing and clothes are fitting better, but it is just hard when the scale does not reflect these changes. I will just continue to plug along and hopefully something will happen soon.

As to the workout--I HURT!!!!! I started out with 5 minutes on the treadmill (I did go this morning and do 40 minutes), then I did my walking weighted lunges and then it began. Erin did not call it a mini-bootcamp, but I really think that is what I did. Every exercise was for 30 seconds. I did push ups on the exercise ball, then shoulder presses starting at 7 pounds and had to go down to 5 for the second round, then triceps, and then weighted squats. I did those exercises twice. Then I did flies, bent over triceps, and weighted skater dips. Then we got out the big exercise band and I did front pulls, side pulls and triceps pulls. Then hamstrings on the ball, side crunches, slow bicycles, and the glute machine.

I am so sore tonight that lifting my arms to get things out of cupboards is almost impossible!!!!! I am sure I will be sore tomorrow and on through the week. I will say that I was slightly sore before I began the workout from my dancing over the weekend.

My trainer was impressed that I managed to dance the whole night and I told her that I even did squats on the dance floor :)

Hope everyone has a good week!!!!

Not so bad this week!

Hi all,

Well to get the first part out of the way--again, no change on the weight thing. I don't know what is going on, but if it is the same next week no matter where you are you might hear a scream!!!!!!

On to the workout. So far I am not sore and I actually went to the grocery store and baked after training last night so I feel pretty good about myself because I really did a lot!!!

We first walked about doing my weighted lunges. Then in no particular order I did pull downs, triceps pulls, ball wall squats, squats on the machine, holding wall squat, obliques, front ups, ball obliques, bicep rolls, lateral rows, kneeling weight lift, scarecrow lifts and jumps in place.

I definitely felt the pain last night but am so far good today. I also walked on the treadmill for 40 minutes yesterday morning and then again this morning. Tomorrow morning my plan is to go back and do the workout from yesterday. We will see how it goes (as I bet that I won't do the holding wall squat--I always cheat when it is a timed thing by myself!!!).

I am beginning to wonder if I am getting enough calories, but this weekend with the book club babes should help with that--wine anyone :)

Have a great week.

Noodle arms and donkey kicks

Hi all,

Well the first part--no change on the weight and I see that as a victory when you consider my week and weekend. I ate out Tuesday night, Thursday lunch, Friday lunch, Friday dinner, and Saturday dinner. Not to mention 3 cupcakes and birthday cake over the weekend. Hardly any exercise!!!! So the fact that I stayed the same--VICTORY!!!!!

This week I should be in more control on my food and I should be able to get more exercise in. So that will help and hopefully it will be reflected next Monday!

Now onto the torture--did I just say that?--from last night :)

I started out with my warm ups on the treadmill and then my weighted lunge walk through the gym. Then Erin joined me and I did push-ups (between both rounds I did 32!!!!), triceps pushes on the bar, weighted squats, shoulder presses, weighted lunges (yup more of those), tree huggers, donkey kicks, more triceps, chest pulls, crunches on the Bosu, and planks on the Bosu.

I then did 20 minutes on the treadmill before staggering out to my car. My arms were like wet noodles and today I am so so so so sore!!!!!!! I have a feeling tomorrow will be even worse.

I did go to the gym this morning and spent 40 minutes on the treadmill. And I was not the woman who fell off the treadmill this morning. I feel bad for her as she was just running along and then suddenly she was on the floor. Two guys rushed over to help her and she soon left the gym (not sure if she was hurt or just embarrassed, but I am so glad it was not me!!!).

Well I had better figure out dinner (I have tomorrow's in my head, not tonight).

A great week......

because I lost!!! I lost!!!!! Yup, I lost 6 whole pounds!!!!! Now of course Erin expects me to do it every week. I can't make any promises, except that I will try!!! I know that I ate a lot less (a little worried that I did not eat enough, but we will see). I did write down everything I ate, which is a pain, but I know it works. I just need to stay on it.

So after that exciting news from the scale--then we did another mini-boot camp. These just suck. The main point is just to keep moving for the 30 minutes. I started out on the treadmill for 8 minutes then did my lunges and then on the bike for 5 minutes.

Then I did step ups, back lunges with bicep rolls, butt kicks (more of me running in place for 30 sec.), front lunges with lateral lifts, reverse squats with boxing moves, ball bounces, pile squats with the ball, push-up planks (hold for 30 sec.), and shoulder presses. I think I did a couple of other exercises, but I have blanked now. I did each of these 3 times with one 2 minute rest between the big sets.

After that I then rode the bike for another 15 minutes. Then I came home and made a quesadilla for dinner. Overall I am really happy with this week. I do have some challenges this week including book club tomorrow night and a work lunch on Thursday at Olive Garden. I am going to plan ahead and stick with that. I also plan to continue writing down my foods and getting to the gym at least 3 more times this week.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So far not so good

Well as to the challenge--did not lose--went up. Not a happy trainer! or trainee. Hopefully this week will be better. One day at a time, it is all I can do right now.

As to the workout, here is the rundown:
Lunges, rubber-band side steps, step up & kick out, 30 second sit hold, tricep squats, scarecrow lifts, low rows, bicep interrupts, one legged bicep curls, toe touches, ball twists, and planks.

Overall it was kind of rough, but I think that was partly because I had not been to the gym since my last training appointment. So far this week I have already done one more day than training. This week will be a little easier because I am cat sitting and am only taking workout clothes with me at night. I have to get up and go to the gym before coming home to shower and get ready for work.

The big thing I need to work on is writing down what I eat. It is so hard for me to do for some reason. I think it brings back memories of Weight Watchers and how the leader used to drive me nuts. I guess we will see how things go this week. Trying to get in lots of veggies and not so many carbs. Hopefully I can succeed at that, but a pizza just sounds so yummy :)

Have a good week all!!!!

Starting the day out

Hi all,

Had my workout at 10 am this morning and signed up for the weight loss challenge. I will be very honest--today has not been a good food choice day!!!! I am hoping tomorrow will be better and I have already written down what I plan to eat!! Let us see if I can succeed at that.

On to the workout report. I started out the workout with toe taps on the bosu, then squat-bicep-shoulder presses, arm rolls (triceps), back lunges off of the step with bicep curls, squats with weighted arm lifts, three way kicks, three way boxing arms, boxing crunches and oblique bends. Because we finished early I then got to do the glute machine and side by side jumps off of the step.

Then we were done :) So now I am going to try and write down what I eat and keep track of my exercise time. My goal is to do something active every day. Hopefully I will reach that goal. I will try and be accountable not only to my notebook for the gym, but also to the blog. We will see how things go :)

Thanks!

Lunges, lunges, lunges and yup, more lunges :)

I started out with 10 minutes on the treadmill and then did lunges with a stability ball instead of weights. Basically you move the ball back and forth as you make the lunge. After that I did Bosu push-ups, then Bosu shoulder presses (my balance is failing and I will work on that this week), then tricep lifts and then we did Bosu back lunges with a kick and Bosu jumps.

Then it was crawl out push-ups, fast lunges, and another tricep exercise. Of course after finishing all of that--we did it all again for a second time. Which was not so bad other than the lunges :(

Then it was on to abs. You would think with my big stomach I would be better at those, but I am not. I did the ones where you sit on your butt, lift your legs and throw a medicine ball between your hands. Then the second one had Erin throwing me the medicine ball while I was sitting on the stability ball, I then laid down and put the ball over my head before coming up and throwing it back to her. I did both of these twice before being done.

I have agreed to do the Weight Loss Challenge at the gym starting next Monday for 8 weeks. Not really looking forward to writing down all I eat, but I figure for 8 weeks I can do this :) The prize is $500 and who knows what will happen :)

Over and out for this week. Have a happy and safe holiday weekend :)

15-pound ball burpees

Did the subject line catch your eye?

After my lunges on Monday, that was my first exercise. They were not very hard and I caught on quickly to those, of course they were only the first exercise :)

After those I did (not in the correct order), weighted step ups, step up/step downs, ball wall lunges, step back lunge with medicine ball, tricep pulls, the glute machine, back pull downs, ball y's, ball bridges, v-lifts (OMG!!!!), and side scissor kicks.

Overall the workout went really well. Apparently Erin had to much stuff on my list so after making it through everything on the list once, I only got to some of the stuff a second time. I did stay after to finish the three we could not get to for the second time through. I am not that sore after this workout, but haven't been able to make it back to the gym this week. Won't make it tomorrow either.

There are going to be weeks like this and I just need to accept and move on!!!

More next week :)

Monday's workout equals Tuesday's pain!!!

Yup, I am writing this on Tuesday as the pain and stiffness has set in :)

I got to the gym way to early last night and so ended up walking on the treadmill, doing my lunges, and then walking on the treadmill some more. I know more is good, but I like my consistency :)

Erin had me do sideways squats first and then we started in. I did band jumps (she stood on a band while I held the ends and jumped up and down for 30 seconds), then I did plank kicks (OMG), curtsy kicks (again OMG), and then push-ups. I of course did all of those a second time around and while Erin was distracted by Trent, another trainer, I did a lot more the second time around!!!!

Then I did one-legged shoulder presses, tricep rolls, lunges with weighted arms, standing crunches, leg lifts, and some more that I have apparently blanked on now. Today my arms and legs are killing me.

And before the question comes up, a curtsy kick is when you are on all fours. You take one leg and bend it into a curtsy over the other leg and then before returning to all fours, you kick out. Not the easiest thing to do, but of course when Erin does them they look so simple.

Will have to see what next week brings :)

Pole Jumps anyone?

Today Erin told me she might have me in tears. I don't know if that is the best way to start a workout, but that is how we began.

Then she had me do pole jumps, bosu jumps and lifts, calf jumps, bicep curls, around the world lunges, lunges with a elastic band, and presses. Then we went over to the weight side of the gym and I did scarecrow lifts, biceps again, drawer openers and then wall squats with a ball.

Then we did side ball throws and luckily I did not hurt anyone when tossing although I came close.

I am proud to say I did not cry and I feel like I made it through pretty well. Erin wants me to check out a website www.fitday.com so I will be doing that soon.

Have a great evening as I look forward to an early bed time :)

Memorial Day Workout

Well while everyone else was at cookouts and picnics, I drove to the gym for a workout with Erin :)

I started out with 6 minutes on the treadmill, weighted lunges, and 3 minutes on the bike. Then I did push-ups on the bar, triceps on the bar, and weighted squats with 30 pounds! After I did that grouping twice we moved over to the weight wall.

I did weighted superwoman reverse flies, seated chest presses, and leg lifts. We did these twice and then added a machine that works on those glutes :) I also did smiley face lifts (although I had trouble making the smile) and a couple of more that I can't think of right now--must be trying to forget the pain.

Then we did the ab work on a bosu and obliques with weights. It overall was a good workout and I did not feel bad after. Today is a whole 'nother story :) I am very sore today and sitting all day at work did not help. I plan to get up in the morning and at least walk on the treadmill. This morning I just did not have the energy after my weekend!

Hope everyone has a good week.

Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot

Oh my was the gym hot tonight (and I don't mean with guy's bodies!--I go to a cheap gym not many hot guys). The temps were just high and the air was having trouble keeping up. I barely made it through and had to take a lot of water breaks.

We started out with cardio. I started with jumping my feet out while leaning on the Bosu and then lifting the Bosu above my head for 30 seconds, then took a 15 pound weight and swung it up from the floor to above my head, and then jumped on and off the Bosu. I did this round twice and then we went over to the weights.

I did pull downs, bicep curls, and lunges with the ball. We did this twice and then we did back pulls (I don't know the technical name), squats into hammers, and something where I lifted a weight with one arm and then went down to the floor with that arm. This was the point that I started having problems with the heat. I of course did these exercises through twice also. Once I got through these we went and did abs.

Abs were not hard tonight, just I was not doing well. I bounced the medicine ball and lifted it over my head on both sides for 30 seconds. Then I lifted the ball on the left side 10 times and then the right side for 10 times. These were done twice also :)

Then I headed home for food and more water. I am doing much better as I write this, but wow for a bit I wasn't sure. I can not even imagine how this is going to work in July, but I will make it!!!! I know I can!!!!

Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

Hi Everyone,

Monday's workout was pretty good. I did a lot of ball stuff which was a bit different. I was really sore yesterday and today it has gotten better :)

We started out with push-ups on the ball (that can really affect the arms), I also did chest presses and triceps on the ball. We did bridges and some other exercise that had me on my back pulling and pushing the ball in with my feet while lifting my butt. Ok that one hurt. I also did some band work with more chest presses, flies, and triceps. Did flies on the ball also--lots of flies this week! I did some backwards lunges (I really hate lunges).

On the bright side, I was not sick afterwords and managed to walk 15 minutes on the treadmill with no issues.

On the bad side, I haven't been back to the gym since. This cold I have is just killing me and I am not sleeping. Now today I went to the dermatologist and they had to remove a suspicious mole to do a biopsy on it. The wound site really hurts and I think that will affect my sleeping tonight. Hopefully I will get back on the wagon soon :)

Have a great day!!!

Kicked my a**

Well after a pretty easy workout last week, Erin stepped it up. I think it was another mini-bootcamp although she did not call it that.

We started with me doing some sort of kick outs for 30 seconds, then mountain climbers for 30 seconds, then these killer arm moves that I thought were going to be easy, but oh noooooooo. I don't ever want to see those again (which of course means they will show up again). Then I stood on the Bosu and did some band exercises for thirty seconds. Then we went and used two leg machines, wall squats, squat to shoulder presses, flying somethings on the ball, then it was scissor kicks and another kind of scissor kick. Oh yeah, let's not forget the bent over flies, the bicep pulls and one other arm thing that was so very painful.

Yup all of those things for thirty seconds a pop. And when I finished the first go-around, we did it all over again!!!! It was another workout that left me wondering if my lunch was going to re-visit :)

Erin did say at one point (I think while I was doing the reverse flies the second time with 7 pound weights) "Just think how far you have come, you could never have done this your first week!" That is very true, I was lucky to be able to hold a 7 pound weight much less do 30 seconds of exercise with one.

So all is good and I am starting to see some results (working on my food intake is helping there!). My arms are starting to show some definition and I know some of my clothes are getting loose so that is all good.

Have a good week everyone.

Squats, triceps, and abs

Monday was not so bad. Saying that my tummy hurts, my arms hurt, and my legs hurt. They did not hurt on Monday, but today is Wednesday and I am in a bit of pain!

I did lunges, shoulder presses, triceps pulls, squats, more squats, chest presses, squats on the bosu, ball throws on the bosu, sideways sit ups, and ball passes. Then because I finished my workout early (yup did each of those exercises twice and finished before 30 minutes was up), I got to do more triceps using the rubber band jump rope thingy! (don't know it's name--elastic band?)

After the workout I actually made it to Luis' first baseball game of the season and did not feel so bad. Of course today it hits. I coughed and my tummy fought back. But it is a good pain and things will be fine :)

Hope everyone else is having a good week and enjoy the windy weather :)

After a week and a half off--Butt Kicked!!!!!

Well Erin was on vacation last week and I was gone part of the week before so it has been a while for me to write :)

Today I told Erin I was there to have my butt kicked and she did!!!! She had taken an advanced class while on vacation visiting a friend and she incorporated some of that into my workout. I pointed out that no one would call me advanced!!! but that did not stop her.

I am going to be sore over the next couple of days :) We started out with some kind of kick out, jump up and lift weights. Then we did some plank lifts, some squats with side kicks, some bicep rolls, some lunges with shoulder lifts, some tummy hurting ab twists, some oblique lifts, and there was a lot more lunges!!!!! I REALLY HATE LUNGES!!!!! I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD THEY ARE FOR ME :)

So now I am home. I had a wrap for dinner and now am doing okay. I did manage to get on the treadmill for 15 minutes at the end of the workout and I think that is the longest I have made it there after a workout.

We will see how the week plays out :)

Not so bad this week

Hi all,

Today's workout wasn't that bad (but don't tell Erin I said that :)) It started out with my warm ups on the treadmill and the weighted lunges. Then we headed over to the bar where I did push-ups, pull-ups, and triceps pushes. We also did weighted squat lifts. I did each of these twice.

Then we moved over to the open area. It started out with weighted step ups, then the bosu came out and I did squats (much better than last week), ball tosses, and then the one that I call the "flying things" (actual name is one-legged stork bends on a bosu) I like "flying things." My balance is really improving which is great. I was able to get on and off the bosu this week without help (that has never happened before) and did the squats and ball tosses without help. The one-legged stork things--I held on!!! Those were difficult and if I understand things, we will eventually be adding weight to them.

Then we added some arm work using the band around the pole. I did chest presses, triceps pushes (lots of triceps) and flies. Then we did all of the above in the open space once more.

Then punching sit ups and side-ball tosses. The sit ups were painful, but I made it through and the side-ball tosses were okay. Overall I think this week's workout went well and I feel pretty good. Probably on Wednesday when I am getting on the plane will be when the pain hits :)

I hope to go tomorrow morning early for some walking on the treadmill and then we will see about Wednesday before I leave on vacation.

Thanks for reading!!!

This week was better....

but still pretty bad. Although I am feeling better so I consider that a good thing. From what I gathered from Erin, today was another mini-bootcamp but it appeared to be more weights than aerobic tonight. My arms are going to be so sore tomorrow and Wednesday!!!!

I got to the gym about 4:40 pm and did my time on the treadmill and did my walking weighted lunges. After that I headed over to the training area--but no Erin. Finally Trent came out of the office, and I asked him if he had seen her. He gave her a call and she was in the parking lot and coming in. She had been on the phone in her car and was trying to get off a call from a telemarketer!

I then did sort of push-ups (I say that because they were not called push-ups but of course I can't remember the name), then weighted squats, then superwomans (and no I still don't have a picture of those--but they do hurt the belly), then weighted lunges, bicep curls and we ended with ball bounces. I did this part twice.

Then I had to do hammer curls, bent over flies, throwing weight (up from between the legs to the head and back down), then there was two more things, but I can't think of them right now. After doing that a second time--I thought yeah I am done and doing well. Yeah right!!!

Then it was squats on the bosu (my balance is getting better), then passing a weight while balancing on the bosu, and then crunches. Yup, I had to do these twice :)

Then it was on the bike for 11 minutes. I am pretty tired tonight, but not as bad as it could have been :) Things seemed to go pretty well and she said I did good, although I know there were times I did not think I would make it and was tiring out. My arms got quite the workout and are very sore right now!!!!

Have a great week!

Mini Bootcamp is H**L

Yup, that's right I am not a fan of mini-bootcamp!!!! I am still in pain from this workout and here I thought things were getting better. Let me set the stage:
I rode the bike for my warm-up and then did my walking weighted lunges. Met up with Erin and she noticed that one of the machines was open (It is never open in the afternoon) so we went over and I did flying push-ups, pull-ups, and triceps pushes (twice each). Then we did some squats and what I call the fat jiggly moves.

THEN she tells me we are going to do mini-bootcamp. WHAT??????

Here is mini-bootcamp: 4 stations at 30 seconds each with a 1-minute rest between rounds (not stations--rounds). Station one: kick your butt (basically running in place trying to kick your butt with your feet), then it was weighted squats, then jumping jacks and then planks. By the time I was done with kicking my butt, I was ready for the break. We did this round twice and then came round two. This one was step ups, then bend over kick outs, then triceps lifts, and then side twists with weights. By the time I got through the second round of these I was about on the ground sicker than sick!!!

Then I rode the bike for 11 minutes before scuffling out to the car. This was the first workout where when I got home, I actually stood over the toliet wondering if I was going to throw up. I made some soup and had some crackers for supper. I am really hoping that mini bootcamp does not make another appearance anytime soon.
Erin did tell me that this was the best way to lose weight. 30 seconds aerobic exercise and then 30 second weights. So there you go. Get out the stopwatches, start the jumping jacks, lift the weights, repeat. Weight will disappear. Yeah personally I am beginning to think that the treadmill is not looking so bad :)

I did go back yesterday and do the treadmill and the bike. I overslept this morning so missed my workout. I did park further from the stores and walked after work a little bit. Tomorrow I will sleep in since I have a drive after work, but Friday hopefully the boys and I can get out and enjoy the outside.

Happy Easter everyone!!!

Sixth Week

Hi all,
Sorry I did not write last night, but I was just feeling downright yucky when I got home. I actually sat in the car before leaving the gym and before getting out of the car at home until I felt good enough to move. I think part of it was hunger and the other part was doing the abdominal exercises.

Overall it was a pretty good workout. I do really well in the beginning when we are doing the arms and legs (although I really dislike lunges especially weighted lunges!), but once we move on to the abdominals you would think I had been working out for three hours. Wow do they take a lot out of you.

Last night I learned how to sit down and get up on one foot and then sit down again only on one foot. Yeah I know you are all saying that is so easy, well try it a few times and then let me know how it went. I did some bicep curls, glute pulls, lots more arm stuff, step ups, weighted jumping jacks, weighted frog leaps, and leg lifts with scissor movements.

I just look at all the other people working out at the gym and hope that someday it will look as easy and effortless for me, because right now the grunting comes out, the sweat flies (and I do mean it flew all around last night), and the water is guzzled. I walk out feeling very, very old and crippled.

Today I did go back and walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes and then did the bike for 15 minutes. Tomorrow I will try and do some of the weights that I did yesterday, but I can almost guarantee that I won't be hard on myself and that is why I have a trainer!!!!

Have a great night all!!!

You did good.

That is what my trainer said tonight as I finished. She admitted that she had added either two or three exercises because I was not taking as many breaks as I usually do. That is a good thing (or is it--more exercises?).

I felt awful, but it was good to hear that I had done good. We did a lot of stuff for the abs today and boy is my tummy hurting!!! As many of you know, I don't have abs, I have rolls and they rolled a lot tonight! I didn't like the last exercise (don't know the name), but you sit on a mat, lift your legs and then holding a weight move your arms from side to side while twisting for thirty seconds. Yeah--you try it!!!! No surprise, but my legs did not stay up and I was grunting as I did the last round!!!

I also did a lot more stability ball stuff and only fell off the ball twice :) My arms and legs are like noodles right now and the tummy hurts so a pretty normal Monday evening here at home :)

I did stop at Subway for supper (which was a much better choice than McDonald's which was closer) and so now the upset part of the stomach is starting to feel better. I will try to get some more water in myself before bed.

BTW, Jodi--in response to your comment from last week--no way am I having a picture taken while I do the Superwoman. Here is the image to burn on your brain. Me (looking a bit like a small whale), laying on top of a stability ball and raising my left arm and right leg then right arm and left leg for thirty seconds. Imagine that because there will never be a picture of that :)

Sore!!!!

Hi all,

Well I went into the session today with a sore back. I woke up yesterday fine and by the time I got to church my lower back was just sore. I made it through the day and then today was a bit better (the ibuprofen is helping).

I got to the gym and told Erin about my sore back. Good thing I mentioned it since she had planned on working on the back today :) She improvised and I am probably going to be more sore tomorrow than I would have been. Lots of arm and leg stuff. Did do the superwoman again on the ball.

Once again I was ready to puke and we did have to stop a couple of things because of my back. I am going to go to bed early tonight and take some more pills. Probably won't work out tomorrow to give myself another day and then Wednesday do a light workout.

Erin is saving the workout we were supposed to do today so hopefully I will be able to do it a week from today.

Tummy is better now, but I really had to eat when I got home. Hoping that gets better :)

Have a great week.

Sorry this is late--Third session

Hi Faithful Readers,
This week is just getting away from me. I should have done this on Monday, but I was so hot and tired that I showered, ate, and vegged after my session.

Exciting news--I did not feel like throwing up after this workout!!!! I was so excited that for the first time since I started these training sessions, I actually did something after the gym other than coming right home. I went and got the car washed. It was wonderful, but on to the workout.

This one did not feel so bad to me and I actually wasn't really sore so that was nice also. I did a skater's something or other (she has names for all these things and I just go--whatever), I also did some triceps work, some squats (okay lots of squats), some weighted lunges, the yucky thing where I jump around for 30 seconds. On that one, my pants almost fell down twice--in the gym area where the nice looking men are! Not wearing the best panties for that!!!!! I will tie my pants next week.

The worst ones were probably the flying superwoman, the stability ball passes, and the ab rolls on the stability ball. Overall it was not to bad of a workout and as I said I really did not hurt the next day.

I did admit to Erin that I was blogging about this experience, but I haven't given her the address--not sure if I write something about an awful or not so bad workout that I want her to read it :)

Hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful weather outside and looking forward to when we can be out playing all the time.

More soon............

OWWWWWWW!

I went back to the gym this morning and did a lot of what I learned on Tuesday night. I had forgotten at least one (will have to see what that is) and could not get on the machine for the obliques due to two others using that. I did do the crunches and the plank (that one only once versus twice). Then at work today I had to go up and down the stairs twice. Yikers that hurt. Haven't made the trip upstairs here at home yet, but hoping it goes well. My thighs are just killing me right now :)

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Awwwwwwww

In a bit of pain today. It hurts when I am sitting and then getting into a standing position. I am not sure how tomorrow will be, but Erin did tell me that Ibuprofen would be my friend :) We will have to see. I didn't go to the gym this morning since I was to sore to move. Planning on being there in the morning and will try some of the exercises I learned yesterday in combination with some from the week before. Will have to see how it all goes :)

Have a great evening all.

Session Two

Well I have survived another session of personal training. I worked really hard on balance last week and then I didn't do any balance items!!!! It was a totally different workout except for the walking lunges YIKERS. We did discover that I have a pretty strong back and Erin (my trainer) had to increase my weights on two exercises already. She was pretty happy about that--ask me tomorrow how I feel!!!!!

Today I did lats, obliques, biceps, and a bunch of other stuff that I don't remember the names for. Towards the end I did have to ask her if it was normal to have an upset tummy. Last time and this time I got to a point where I felt like I was going to puke. She assures me that it is normal and that it will get better. She did leave out one exercise since she was concerned. I could have done it, but she was worried that I would throw up on the machines.

At the end I did only make an additional ten minutes on the treadmill as I thought I might throw up. Now am home trying to get something on my tummy to see if that will help. I am beginning to think I don't get enough protein since that seems to be what I need when I leave there. I will have to work on that--I am not much of a meat eater much to the shock of my family. I will have to do some experimenting, but right now cottage cheese is going down well :)

Next session is March 1st!!! Erin keeps telling me it will get better, but I don't know, when you look at some of the other people working out they don't look like they are having a fun time. I know this will all work out at the end and next year at this time I will really appreciate what I am doing now!!!!!

First day

Well I had my first session yesterday and boy do my arms hurt today. I managed to almost make it through all the exercises and all the reps. Towards the end my arms were in a lot of pain so those got to be a lot harder. I did manage to do the wall squat thing for two times at 20 seconds a time. I really did not think I would be able to do that!!!

I know that it will get better the more I do it. I really have to work on my balance as I don't seem to have much which becomes a problem for some of the exercises. I will go into the gym tomorrow morning and work on balance and probably try to do some more arm reps, but that will depend on my arms. This morning I could barely move my right arm--not good since I am right-handed :)

Next session is supposed to be Monday, but I might need to switch that one since I forgot I have something Monday. Will call and get that changed tomorrow. I will keep you posted.

Changes in 2010

I know it has been a while since I wrote, but I didn't have a lot to say. This past week though I have decided to make a big personal change and well, I hired a personal trainer! So starting Monday I will be working on getting myself in better physical shape :) I had a practice session (not a full session) on Thursday and I am still in pain from that. A little freaked out about Monday, but know this is something I need to do. I will try and keep this blog up to date with how things are going, but as some of my faithful readers know (Becca :)) I have trouble writing here. Hopefully it will get better!!!

Here is to changes in 2010!!!!