Remembering that I still have a postpartum body

M- Jillian's yoga meltdown level 2
T- Bob's Pure Strength (60 minute full workout)
W- Nothing
R- Running Club (1.2 miles) Bob's 20 min. workout
F- 10 minute ab video by Prevention 
S- Walk 2 miles with baby Anna
S- Nothing

I have long loved this DVD: http://www.amazon.com/Bob-Harper-Pure-Super-Strength/dp/B003ULW71Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372638569&sr=8-1&keywords=bob+pure+strength
Doing the full 60 minute workout was too much for me. I'm still nursing and carrying my nearly 15lb 2.5 month old around all the time. Next time, I'll try to split it over 2 days. I just got so excited to actually finish such a long workout. My kids were playing nicely and I actually had the time for once.

Running club- we have a little running/walking club in Houston and try to meet every week. We run around a large baseball field with our kids. The field is closed in so that we can control the possible escapees! After 25 laps around the kids earn a running necklace/chain with a little foot that attaches. They keep earning different color feet for every 25 laps they complete. It has been a lot of fun! Last week we brought watermelon to quench our thirst afterwards. It is SO hot here!

Last Week

M: Walk/jog combo on treadmill
T: Incline walk on treadmill
W: P90X back & biceps & Ab Ripper X
Th: nada
F: nada
S: Incline walk/jog combo on treadmill
Su: nada

Exercising is becoming a more natural part of my routine.  Also, WW is going well.  I've lost 9 lbs in 3 weeks and haven't felt horribly deprived in the process.  I like this plan because it hasn't required significant changes in my eating habits, which, in the past, have always been difficult to maintain.  I can eat the foods that I like, in moderation of course, and enjoy the benefits of weight loss.

Week 2

M- Jillian's yoga meltdown level 1
T- Jillian's yoga meltdown level 2
W- Shred level 1
R- Jillian's yoga meltdown level 1
F- rest- my arms were killing me
S- Walk 2 miles, YM level 2
S- Walk 1 mile

Still a good week. Trying to figure out how to get the kids more involved, or something that they could do. It is hot and full of mosquitoes outside.

Yoga Meltdown

Just a quick note :)

Reallly loving level one of this workout! It gives me a good workout without hurting my hips (the whole bursitis thing). I have not ever done traditional yoga. Can I say that? Is there "traditional" yoga? I am pretty sure that Jillian's version is not very authentic, but it fits my style- mostly strength with some cardio. I am not losing any weight, but my arms, back, legs, and core are definitely improving. Feeling stronger has really boosted my morale. :)

Getting into shape after baby!

I am getting back into shape after little Anna Lucille came along :) I am going back to my old favorite (quick and to the point!) 30 day shred. Jillian's yoga meltdown has been something I have wanted to try, so I plan on using that DVD too. No outdoor exercise for now, or I will get eaten alive by mosquitoes or give the baby heat rash. Houston. Summers.

M-
T- Shred level 1
W- walk 1 mile carrying baby
R- Shred level 2
F- Shred level 1, walk 1 mile
S- Began shred level 2... interrupted..
S- Shred level 2, Jillian's yoga meltdown

A good first week! I need to work out to keep my sanity more than anything else :)

Long Time No Post

So the last three weeks are a bit of a blur.  I remember working out two days in each of the past three weeks.  A minimum of three days a week is my goal, so I still have some work to do.

Also, last week, my hubby and I joined Weight Watchers online.  We've both lost 5 lbs so far - definitely more than I expected in the first week!  It seems like the weight loss is slowing a bit this week, which is to be expected.  In any event, we're enjoying the recipes and are working to overcome the occasional junk cravings that everyone experiences.  

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