new year, new challenge!

well, i can't be that helpful to people if i am only posting 1-3 times per year.  So new year=new attempt at frequent blogging.  i realize some people are phasing blog posting out, and putting it all on the ig, but i don't like making long posts there, and i have missed this format of sharing/writing and i personally still love my morning coffee time reading blog posts.  

So here we are on jan 1, 2019... i personally don't believe in resolutions for the new year. i feel that if you want to make a change, make it.  don't wait. get on it!!  life is short, why waste time for some random societal date?  But if you are moved to try something new/different/get back on a band wagon around this time of year, great!  This concept of re-surging my blog literally occurred to me about four minutes ago.  So here i am at 11:10 on the first attempting to be better at something! Personally, this year was a fitness mediocre/lackluster blah year.  i ran some races, did some workouts but wasn't totally into it.  We had my nana living with us for 8 months.  It was an amazing time, and she did workouts too, but i felt weird pushing myself with her watching (plus she sometimes got a wild hair and would attempt to follow my lead **TRX pushups, for example!**) And she could only last so long and would attempt to head back to the house (not safe for her faltering frame) so i would go inside with her, and i loved the time we had to visit.  She was only supposed to be around for a week or two, so i felt like out time was precious and the 1-2 weeks turned into a month, then two, then it was almost christmas!  But now that she has headed back east, i have been getting back into my groove and upping the intensity again.  To ease back into it, i have been doing circuits and intervals.  They go by quickly, and keep it interesting.  I also took the time on new years eve to fill out the first two months of my workout planner.  I think this is KEY.  Now again for the people in the back, SCHEDULE YOUR WORKOUTS LIKE APPOINTMENTS.  The whole excuse of not having enough time is bogus. Ten minutes is better than nothing.  Another small way to dip your toe into the water is a daily challenge.  last year my friend, Erin and i partook (is that a word?) in Kira Stokes and Candace Bure's 50 push up per day challenge on instagram.  it was amazing!  you could do it any way you needed to do it, knees, toes, counter, tricep, wide, trx etc.  So we have started our own challenge this year:  1:30 wall sit (break it up if you must--feel yourself get stronger!) and 25 on the toes push ups.  And you can break that up too, 5's, 15/10 etc. JUST DO IT!  baby steps count!  And when performing these two tasks regularly, you will notice the improvement so fast, and maybe that will inspire you to maybe do a plank... or make a circuit with jumping jacks, or jump rope, or tread mill, etc.  IT ALL COUNTS! So if you are wanting to commit to something, try this challenge! Let me know if you are game, and check in and let me know how it is going.

Happy New Year!

NTC Challenge. Get in on this!!

I have preached about the awesomeness of NTC for a while now.  You should SERIOUSLY download this FREE app.  It is so easy to use and the possibilities are endless.  it is for all levels of fitness, and you can do a great workout in as little as fifteen minutes.  There are also several stretching routines, yoga routines among lots of other options.

My challenge to you, shall you (and you better) choose to accept it:  

Complete 45 min of NTC for 7 days straight.  You can break this up however you would like.  You could do 15 min am, 15 min lunch, 15 min dinner.  You could do 30 min, then a 15 min stretch sesh.  Today I did arm, leg and abs, 15 minutes of each.  It felt so good!  (I also rode the bike 5 miles and ran over 2.  I did .5 as part of warm up and then after completing tax prep ran almost 2 more).  

Tweet your completed workouts from the app with the hashtag #NTC7day45
it is just 7 days, you can work out hard for one week--I think you will be so happy with the results it will inspire you to keep it going.  I want to do this since I start training for my halves next week.  Let me know how it is going and GET MOVING!  there is a prize!!!  And you can't make up the minutes on another day--so do this right!

still on the challenge

I did three workouts saturday (day 4) to make up for my not so clean eating friday night.  I loved the barre workout I did, plus it was leg day according to the plan and then after going to the movie, Sunny and I did our cardio.  We alternated treadmill/elliptical every 5 minutes.  it was a lot of fun and broke up the time.  We did sprints, hills, etc.  Yesterday was the full body workout and of course, the 45 minutes of cardio. I did half the time on the treadmill and the other half on the elliptical.  

Today, I did not get the workout done :(.  I worked from 8-8 and i was hoping i would have more energy after work, but I don't.  I will definitely get it done tomorrow.  And i stayed with the clean eating. I will add an extra day to the challenge, too.

What is on your workout schedule this week?  If you are having a hard time staying motivated, try something new.  A new class, dvd, intervals, etc.  

day 3 & 4 of challenge

Oops.  time escaped me yesterday and I didn't have enough time to post.  I did both workouts yesterday: the full body strength training (did it in 1:10 can't seem to break that even though David Kirsch claims it can be done in 45), and 45 minutes on the treadmill.  I broke it up by running 4 min and walking 1 at incline of 8.  It helps the time go by and changes up the working muscles.  I weighed in yesterday and SUCCESS!!  I was down 3 pounds and 1.5% body fat.  aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhuuuuuaaaa  angels singing.  However, last night we had an Opening Ceremonies party at Sunny's and I fell off the clean eating wagon.  i don't feel horribly guilty, however, since today I am back at it and am planning on doing an extra workout.  I am going to do the legs/core strength training on DK plan and treadmill but also am going to do an hour barre workout.  I received a dvd I ordered and can't wait to try it.  Yesterday I could see more definition in my arms/shoulders and that is motivating!!  

Lesson to be learned:  don't beat yourself up too bad for falling off track--just get back on ASAP.  And maybe penance, like doing an extra workout or add more time to your cardio etc. ?!?! 

This challenge is great, because you aren't hungry.  It is a challenge for some to fit in the workouts, but remember it's for two weeks--so if you have to get up early, or stay up a bit later it is only for two weeks.  And I guarantee by the end of two weeks you will have found time in your schedule to make it work.  And you will see how you CAN fit in working out.  And you can be full eating clean.  It is a great re-boot mentally and physically.  And his workouts have unique moves that are easy to learn but, challenging and effective.  i can't say enough good about this!!  

what is on your saturday workout agenda?

day 2 of challenge

Yesterday I did the treadmill for 30 minutes (run 4 walk 1) and then the spinning bike for 15 and the Full body workout from The New York Ultimate Body Plan by David Kirsch.  I can really feel it today in my midsection front and back.  Not in a bad way, mind you, just that I worked muscles that have been neglected for some time.  It doesn't hurt that I have a glorious new studio in which to do my workouts.  Even though it has been ridiculously cold here (negative 31 today with WIND) the studio has great windows that let in the sunlight.  The food part of the challenge is going well so far.  I have spinach salads with tuna or salmon or boiled chicken and broccoli and peppers with my homemade dressing (red wine vinegar and smidge of grey poupon mustard and fresh garlic). After the workout I had a protein shake. And for dinner a spinach salad with veggies and roasted chicken breast, and cole slaw I made with red wine vinegar and pepper.  I felt full and was craving sugar before bed but I had a cup of tea and it passed.  

Today's workout is 45 minutes of cardio and a core  workout.  I am looking forward to it! This strength training workout is only a 15 minute one, so it won't be as time consuming as yesterday.  Tomorrow will be full body again with cardio and then saturday is leg and core (again 15 minutes) with cardio.  So every other day the time frame changes.  I think I am going to make some vegetable soup in the crock pot.  With these temps, it will be perfect.

I also want to try the new NTC yoga workout they released yesterday.  It too is 15 minutes and looks great.  Has anyone done it yet?

Starting a 2 week Challenge

I did this a few years ago and felt great.  Since I have been barely eeking out 30 minute workouts with the final stages of the studio construction, I really want to get back at it.  I am following the David Kirsch New York Body Plan.  It is all about clean eating, 45 minutes of cardio and 45 minutes of strength training.  It is for two weeks. You can do anything for two weeks!!  I love the book because it has delicious recipes and he combats every excuse you could imagine.  This isn't gimmicky; it isn't drastic; it is do-able and very healthy.  Apparently there is a video that goes with the book for the strength training workout, but the book has the entire workout and is very easy to follow.  I have the book on my kindle and it is easy to reference.  I am excited to start this today and will be posting about it for the next two weeks.  

The food plan is NO A B C D E and F's.  no alcohol, no bread, no carbs, no dairy, no extra sweets/fats, no fruits.  You also do two protein shakes per day.  It would be hard to hit your needed caloric intake without them.  It is essentially lean meats and veggies.  You are allowed one tablespoon of olive oil for cooking and making your own salad dressing for the day.  When I did this the last time, i wasn't hungry.  I did miss cream in my coffee but I added a bit of protein powder and it was actually very good.  Day three for whatever reason was tough... but after that it felt GREAT!  I understand it is hard to fit in an hour and a half of activity a day -- but for two weeks and phenomenal results it is worth it.  

Anyone else in?  Has anyone else done this?  Let me know!  My motto is safety in numbers so let's try this together!