Let it Begin!

Posted on public transit on a cell phone... please forgive the errors and typos.

Day 1.
Last week was prep... failed prep... Sometimes it sucks being a girl and I have to say that if you’re going to cut out sugar and deal with the cravings and side effects do NOT choose the week you start your period to begin this change. Also, avoid the week where weather ruins your field trip plans forcing you to reschedule and shuffle all your lessons for two weeks. Especially don’t choose the week where those two are combined. But now I know what I need to help me out so today is Day 1!

No processed sugar. (Except the dark chocolate chips in my trail mix snacks this week.) and workout at least 3 days a week. Ideally include walking or 30 min elliptical or something on the off days. I did the exercise thing last week with success so that seems easier this week. Even went twice in one day! Although the second time was to coach the hubby on how to do stuff.

He wanted to learn how to do some lifts so I said I would teach him a few. I always thought he was strong and although he has endurance (runs and swims distances with ease) he isn’t as strong as I thought. Plus uses the weight machines a lot so he doesn’t have all the fine muscles needed for support as much. I also thought he knew more than he does (or he just wants to learn into the way I teach it?) but oh well. I taught him hang cleans last week. Took a bit but he was getting the hang of them. (No pun intended) Then he did the workout I did in the morning and had to go down in weight (from 20’s to 15’s) and laid on the mat for a bit after. He also finished it in half the time I took! [21-15-9 burpees, dumbbell front squats, push presses) He was still sore last night.

The other day I was discussing cleans with a friend who said “I don’t really see the point of them.” That got me thinking about them and what the purpose was if you always use a weight rack. They build up your traps nicely but otherwise they don’t have a point... until this morning. On the to do list was find the one rep max for a clean and jerk and although I didn’t go for the max but more just practice (55# was tough for multiple sets) I remembered they do have a purpose!

Dude, if you do the entire clean and jerk sequence it is WAY more than just lifting is going to get you.  First, the WHOLE clean itself, including the squat, works practically EVERY muscle in your body. In ONE move! I think to work the same muscles I’d have to do some rows, deadlifts, AND squats. Do you know how long that takes?! I don’t have that kind of time and prefer to be efficient in the time I do have. Then to add a jerk part too? Yeah, I think I’ll stick with cleans when they are called for.

Also, speaking of efficiency... was reading up on HIIT workouts and how you get so much more out of them because you max your system out almost immediately. I have to say that breaking a sweat enough to need a towel while you’re just lifting seems weird when everyone around you looks perfectly dry. And... when I’m laying on my mat after my 10 min workout and it is gross with sweat, I think about how every time something gets hard for those around me they stop and take a rest. THAT used to be me. That is what wasn’t working for me. Maybe it works for them, that’s cool, but for me, I have to kick my own butt and sweat like a pig till I can’t move to get results. Or at least results in a time frame I would like, not waiting for months to see anything. I always felt like I did more in under 20 min with Crossfit  than most do in their whole workout and after watching others at the normal “globo” gym, I think that’s pretty accurate.

I needed that!

Oh man did I need that break!

Spring Break as a week spent puppy sitting, gardening, enjoying the sun and warmth, enjoying the snow, (it is Colorado...) enjoying the grill, food prepping breakfasts (made 11 doz? egg muffins of different sorts), baking all sorts of rye bread experiments, and quality time in pj’s watching nothing on tv! It was a vacation well spent doing as little as possible and that’s what I needed.

Today I started April off to a good start. I decided for now and the next 7 1/2 weeks (I mean who is really keeping track that I only have 36 more student contact days left?! Lol) to set weekly goals and if I accomplish them I earn a star for the day. Not sure what I want to bribe myself with just yet but just giving yourself a star is sometimes enough to drive you!

This week’s stars are earned by 1) limiting myself to one sweet snack a day, 2) getting at least 30 min of dedicated exercise time, and 3) meeting my 8,000 step goal. Seems like 2&3 should go together and that’s ok. Eventually I’ll probably up the steps to 10,000 but for now 8,000 is a good goal.

Today I got my butt out of bed and rolled into the gym locker room at 4:45 in the morning! Going to try to do it again tomorrow to do some treadmill or elliptical for “active recovery” since I also read a few books about exercising and HIIT in particular over break. (Not sure when I became a super reader but I can FLY through books if I’m interested.) Then rose the transit to school. After that I went to do the SAT Prep course and now am on my way home. I should get there about 9:00pm. Sixteen hour day isn’t too bad... one more tomorrow then the prep course is done for the year!

I didn’t get to the gym as much as I wanted to over break but I’m starting these last couple months of school with a good attitude. I can do this! I just need to master the diet and exercise making it a priority and my mood should stay better making everything better. I like being a positive person and I hate it when I backslide into feeling so down.