Kickbox Fastfix, Level 1

I really like this workout. It's fast and it's fun. This level supposedly concentrates on arms, but that mostly means there's a couple of sets of flies in the midst of all the kicking and punching.

-Jess

Ripped in 30, Level 3

Possibly the most unpleasant level on this DVD - there's just no breathing room anywhere in it. EVERYTHING is hard.

I'm sure it's good for me. And it's done now HAHAHAHAHA. :P

-Jess

3 for me!

In my first "normal" week in a long time, I was able to hit my target of 3 exercise sessions for the week.

T: run/walk intervals on the treadmill
W: uphill walk on treadmill, brisk pace
Th: the 7 minute scientific exercise, x2 (I definitely need to do more squats - my poor legs were very sore the next day).

Ripped in 30, Level 2

Did this DVD today, and walked on Wed.
-Jess

Ripped in 30, Level 1

This felt really familiar, like I done it sometime recently, but I couldn't find a record of having done it recently here on the blog. Oh well, maybe I just forgot to log it. But! I did it today. :)

-Jess

etc.

Yesterday I did a bit more than a half and hour of walking. You know, running is fine and fun, but I really like walking. I can think. I can plot the next chapter of my book! Walking rocks. I think I've developed an affection for it.

And today I tried this nifty work-out. No equipment, whole-body, very awesome. I went through it twice, and then added on 5 min. of plyometrics for good measure.

-Jess

Weeks 17 & 18

Not much to report.  Allergy symptoms hit hard during the week of finals, and I only managed one exercise session - P90X chest, shoulders & triceps.

The following week (last week), I was back outside again with a jog on Tuesday and a walk on Thursday.  

walking and hiking

Friday I walked for about 35 minutes (in place of running) and today we all went for a hike. I'm not sure how long the hike was - we were hiking for 80 minutes, maybe? but it wasn't very fast. :) Lots of uphill, though!

-Jess

back!

Hey, Jessica--Have you had someone look at your running stance?  Focusing on your running form might help with your knee issue.  For example, a lot of women tend to straighten their legs while running and this is much harder on the knee joint.  Also, their are exercises you can do to build muscles around the knee too.  Just a thought!

Re: me--I've been pretty good at exercising 4-5 days a week (usually 5) for the last few months.  I started alternating running days with strength training late Feb and, lo and behold, within a couple weeks I was back to my pre-preg 6 miles!!!  Very happy about that (though I don't do that often because running 6 miles with a jogging stroller is no fun).

However, whether it is the stress/anxiety from this last term plus the new stress of moving, I don't exactly know, but I've been struggling with boredom/discouragement in my workouts.  I think it is just the inconvenience of having a toddler when it comes to exercise, but I feel like no routine quite works right now.  This week I started getting up a bit earlier to try running before the kids go to school, but that means I am just doing 2 miles (I am NOT a morning person).  And then I try to finish up my workout with pilates/light weight lifting during the morning mayhem of breakfast.  Not the most ideal situation.

Hopefully, I can get used to waking up earlier or a good routine might just have to wait until we move.

running

Went for a 25 minute run tonight - and it felt okay, my knees ached a bit like usual - but afterwards: ow. I think my knee is done being "oh I kind of hate this in the moment" and onto the "I SHALL BURN YOU WITH FIRE YOU TERRIBLE WOMAN WITH DELUSIONS OF RUNNING".  :D  We'll see!

-Jess

Wks 15 & 16

My mind has turned to mush now that the semester is winding to a close.  Exercise has taken a back seat (unfortunately), but a cleared schedule should change that this week.

Here's what I remember of Wks 15 & 16:

2 walks

P90X chest/shoulders/triceps x2

My treadmill and I need to be reaquainted this week so I can shed the couple of pounds I gained sitting around and grading essays.  Ugh . . .

No More Trouble Zones

Did this DVD today. Missed a lot of workouts last week - partly because Adam was sick for part of the week and partly because I was pushing to finish a book project (which I did! one down, one to go!).

Feels nice to be working out again, though.

-Jess

C25K, Week 7, Workouts 2 & 3

Workout 2 was on Friday, and workout 3 today. Both workouts were just running for 25 minutes, but, oh, today's suuuuuuuuuuuuucked.

I think it was the shoes. I was wearing shoes and socks, instead of my Vibrams, and it took me a couple laps to realize why I was feeling so lousy. But my feet were hot, my legs felt like lead, and my knees (both of them!) ached the entire time. And my feet ached. And my toe went numb. Ugh. Not doing that again. Nope. Vibrams for me!

The only thing that kept me going was the thought that I'd completed every workout in this program so far, and I wasn't going to stop now!  Adam told me today, "Hey, guess what? This is the last time we have to run for 25 minutes!" and I said, "'Cause next time we're running for 28 minutes?" and he said, "Yep!" :D

-Jess

Killer Buns and Thighs, Level 1

I'd forgotten that this has some fun martial arts stuff at the end. Love the kicking exercises!

-Jess

Weeks 13 & 14

Both weeks, I did the P90X chest, shoulders & triceps workout.  This one is challenging but fun.  It includes one armed push ups, clap push ups, slow push ups, fast push ups (you get the idea) and weights.

I also got a walk/jog in both weeks.

The end of the semester is almost here, which means that some of the energy that I am currently putting into grading can soon be shifted into exercise. Yay!

C25K: Week 6, Workout 3

Which was a walking warm-up, 22 minutes of running (I think I was doing about a 9.5 min. mile), and then a walking cool-down.

-Jess

Killer Buns and Thighs

Did Level 3 today. I'm getting close to finishing my quest to do every level in all of my circuit training DVD's.

-Jess

C25K: Week 6, Workout 2

This was a repeat, as being sick all Spring Break threw (I almost wrote "through") us off our running schedule.

-Jess

Jillian Michaels' Killer Buns and Thighs

Did Level II of this today. Had forgotten the awful, terrible, no-good star jumps at the very end. Ugh.

But good to be working out again! It's been a crazy week.

-Jess

Yoga for the Warrior

Did the hour-long section of this DVD today.

-Jess