Saturday, January 15, 2011

Fitness Mid Month Progress Report: January 2011

I still haven't played around with making a graphic button for this challenge, but I hope to set aside some time before the end of the month to do that.

How is everyone doing with their workouts so far this month?


I hope you've all had a great start to your Fitness Challenge! 

I've been having a seriously kick-ass workout month! :D

If you're also having great workouts so far this month--high five and keep it up!

If you're off to a slow start, DON'T STRESS OVER IT! What's done--or not done in this case-- is done. You can't go back and redo the last two weeks for any part of your life, so there's no sense beating yourself up over it. What you can do is learn from it. Take that disappointment you may have and transform that into motivation. Prove to yourself that you can do this. That you want to do this because it's important to you. Then get out there and move!

So, what has everyone been doing for fitness miles?

I learned in the last year or so that I am definitely a cross trainer. Basically, I thrive physically and mentally when I switch up my workouts on a daily basis. I do this by attending a variety of fitness classes at my gym each week and throwing in a day or two of running or biking outdoors. I've also accepted the fact that I'm fitness class junkie. I love the loud, pumping music, the camaraderie of group instruction and having someone constantly telling me what to do, how to do it, and to do it faster, harder, stronger over the loud speakers. My favorite instructor at the gym, is just about the only person I allow this privilege. I wonder if she realizes how much I let her get away with? LOL ;)

Today is my first non-workout day since December 30, 2010 and a much deserved day of rest. It's also a great day to reflect on all that I accomplished in the last two weeks. I have worked out every day since New Year's Eve, racking up a whopping 64 fitness miles doing my cross training thing-- Zumba, spinning, kickboxing, running, bootcamp, strength training, a yoga-like stretch class and an hour of shoveling snow, plus this three hour spin-a-thon that I participated at my gym last Sunday. For the spin-a-thon, each of the three hours was an hour of spin taught by a different instructor. The instructors had completely different styles of teaching, and also played very different types of music, so that helped mix things up a bit and kept me from getting bored. My hip flexors and knees started to ache a little in the last twenty minutes or so, but I finished strong. I took advantage of a 30 minute stretch class at the end, and boy did that feel good. I was exhausted when I got home, but after a hot shower, some food and a nap, I felt great! Nearly a week later, and I still feel a great sense of accomplishment for it. I imagine I'll feel similarly in September when I do the triathlon! I can't wait! ^_^

Please share your progress so far this month in the comments. We want to hear about your accomplishments and any disappointments or frustrations, too.

We're all here to support each other and provide motivation. :)

11 comments:

  1. I only have 36 fitness miles so far this month. Son being sick and being stuck home due to ice on the roads has let me down. I hope this coming week is much better.
    You're doing great! And WTG on the Spin-a-thon! WOO!

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  2. I think I'm going to have to revise my optimistic estimate. I've gone to the gym 3 times each week, and done stretching and situps at home all the other days, but still am mnot going to make that goal. I think I'm just going to note that I will do some cardio at a minimum 3x/week and strenth exercises at least 2-3 times a week as well. Will that work for you?

    BTW, Yay you - sounds like you're having a blast!

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  3. I started off rather well, despite everything, but then something good happened (got a car! *deliriously happy dancing*) and that was, as they say, that, for bike riding (my 'cold' weather has nothing on yours, but I still hate it :-P so no pleasure biking for now).

    I'm hoping to be able to devote more time to Power90 now, though, so here's hoping to reach my goal (or be close at least!) by the end of the month.

    HUGE congrats on your own accomplishments so far, Christine--you are such an inspiration!

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  4. I still absolutely love this challenge and I really appreciate your words of encouragement! I have not started actually counting my fitness miles by I will try to start doing that this week! Congrats on all of your progress so far and I do agree that switching up workouts is so much better so you don't get bored! I have spent my time walking, jogging, lifting weights and dancing to some Michael Jackson (that Wii game is seriously a workout!) I just have to check back and remember how the miles are figured out again!

    The Spin-a-thon sounds great and the 30 minute strech afterward probably was much needed!

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  6. You're doing awesome, Christine!

    You mentioned Zumba. There is a fitness Zumba game for Devin's Kinect I ought to pick it up one of these days. Then me and D can do a little exercise together. It think it would be fun.

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  7. I haven't started yet. My intentions are to start tomorrow.

    I'm also a fitness class lover. I find it way more motivating, and I push myself much harder when someone is encouraging me to do just that.

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  8. It's been rough! Hubby's been travelling so I've been fitting them in. I've been getting 4 a week as I'd hoped though

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  9. You're doing great Christine! That spinning marathon would have killed me!

    I'm doing about what I expected. I do the Leslie Sansone Walk Away the #s 2 mile high calorie burn walk 2xs on the weekdays. The weekends, I'm lucky if I can do it once a day. Sometimes not at all. My plan is to move on to the 3 mile once a day and the 2 mile once a day. Then the 3 mile 2xs a day. So far I'm at 36 miles for this month. I'm not losing any weight but I'm not gaining so that's something. :)

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  10. Brandy, it's tough getting those workouts in when you have a sick child at home and when you can't be exercising outside, too. I hope this week has been better for you.

    Lori, don't worry about not meeting your goal, especially this month because we all need to see how much we typically do.. and then tack on a few extra miles to challenge ourselves. I was keeping track for all of last year before I was able to determine what would challenge me. No worries. Just keep doing what you're doing, keeping the challenge in the back of your mind and you can re-evaluate. :)

    azteclady, congrats on the car!!! Yay! Makes life so much easier, doesn't it? I hear you with not wanting to bike when it's cold. My last ride was midNovember and I think it was 58 F. That was definitely pushing my comfort level... I won't ride outside until April or so. Interestingly, I'll run outside in the winter in temps as low as 20something. I think it's the wind chill factor of going fast on the bike. LOL!

    Have fun with Power90!

    Deanna, I'm so happy you're enjoying the challenge and how cool that you're working out to the Michael Jackson Wii game! Keep it up!

    Amy, thanks! :) You and Devin should definitely try the Zumba on his Kinect. It's so much fun! :)

    Sarah, did you start? Do you belong to a gym where you take fitness classes? I agree about pushing yourself harder in a class. Today the instructor in kickboxing was really pushing us. I thought it was great, but walking out of class at the end, my friend complained that the teacher was too mean. LOL!

    Leslie, I was SO pleased with myself after the spinathon. I wasn't sure how I was going to do in that last hour, so to finish strong was just such an awesome feeling for me. :)

    That walking workout sounds really great. I love having a specific plan. Then there's no question as to what I'm setting out to do that day. Keep up the good work!


    You guys rock!!!!! Thanks so much for doing this with me!!! :D

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  11. Gina, it's rough finding time for yourself to exercise when your in charge of everything while the hubby's away. It's great that you've still managed to get in 4x a week! Yay!

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