Day 30 (day 2 / week 5)

When you decided to do something everyday for an entire year, you kind of have a picture in your mind how to do it. I decided to exercise, so I figured that everyday sometime in the morning before Logan woke up, or in the afternoon when Logan is taking his nap, I would put my video in, and exercise that way. Today I didn't. My "plan" sort of fell apart I guess.

I was super cold today and fell asleep on the couch while Logan took his nap. By the time I woke up Jason was home from work and it was pretty late (in my eyes) to do a video.

A few days ago MizFit posted a video in her blog that demonstrated some basic resistance band exercises. The exercises I do with Slim in 6 are very similar, but remembering her blog, inspired me to do resistance band exercises today.

I am trying to build endurance in my muscles so I did a lot of repetitions in each set and rotated everything w/out stopping for a little over 20 minutes. My heart rate elevated and I started to breathe heavily, so I guess that's a good thing. I guess this would be like circuit training (??).

I rotated these exercises:
squats, bicep curls (band), tricep extensions (band), lat pull backs (band), overhead extensions (band) and 2 things I don't know the name for (one for the hamstring and the other for the front part of the deltoid with the band).

Oh! I noticed something different today. It's totally silly, but makes me happy. Before I got fat, I used to love Love LOVE my feet. Totally ridiculous, but they are cute, and my mom always teased me because I wanted to be a "foot model" (I really do have cute toes). Anyway, when I got fat, my feet turned into plump sausages with chubby stumps for toes (a lot probably due to the pregnancy). Since the weather turned, I don't think I have seen my feet without socks on at all (expect in the shower but I'm blind so cant see them anyway). Today I had them off because I spilled some of Logan's juice on my foot (wet socks are a pet peeve of mine) and noticed that my feet have gotten A LOT slimmer. I have ankles again and my toes look longer again--not like little sausages. I will be super excited if I can fit into my cute shoes again :). I'm sure I will be able to by the end of the year. Yaay!

It's funny how we lose weight in the strangest areas--places we would never even think to lose weight! :)

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend and a great weekend workout!

I can do this. I am a star. (with cute feet)

Day 16 (day 2 / week 3)

I woke up really early today. My hubby leaves for work at 5:30am and lately I have been asking him to set my alarm clock (aka my cell phone) and bring it to me. Today, he couldn't find it. He tried calling it, and didn't hear it ring, so we assumed that I left it in my car. I did. Knowing that it was in my car, I couldn't fall back asleep. I put my husbands robe on, a pair of pants and my slip on shoes (without socks) and ran out to my car to get the phone. It didn't feel like it was below 20F, but it was--it's 22 now as I type this and it's 8am! I came back inside and tried to go back to sleep, but that wasn't going to happen. I went online and poked around SparkPeople again.

Every 30 minutes I would try to pump myself into doing, "Ramp It Up!" I did this for 2 hours and finally decided (at 7:30) to get up and move. I put the video on and then punked out. I just don't want to do Ramp It Up this early...can you blame me? Right now, I just don't enjoy this kind of intensity first thing in the morning. I will work up to that because I have read somewhere (in school and I think Oprah's Bob Greene said it too), that you benefit more when you exercise early--although if you can't, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't exercise at all. Some exercise is better than no exercise at all :).

Punking out on RIP didn't mean I was punking out all together today. I decided I really wanted to do some resistance training, and did...with my resistance band. I guess it was about 20-30 minutes--I don't know exactly how long as I was watching the news about the plane crash in the Hudson River yesterday (can you believe that???). I focused mainly on upper body...well arms and shoulders. I worked on my shoulders (overhead shoulder press), biceps (standing bicep curl) and triceps (overhead tricep extension<--I step on the band instead of holding it behind my back like this example). I did 3 sets of 15, for each muscle group. This afternoon after I put Logan down for a nap, I plan to do "Ramp It Up!" I know that I will benefit most from the cardiovascular exercises that I do, so that is why I am going to do it. Also, it would be lame of me to do a 6 week program, and not do it! lol. I have had this series for a long time, and never fully completed it (same with The Biggest Loser workout). My goal for this year (inside of my resolution), is to complete them...in full--all at 1 time, not start and come back to it like I always do. I will post about my additional exercise that I do this afternoon on tomorrow's blog, unless any of you would prefer that I post it today, in a 2nd parter. I am happy to do either...whatever helps to motivate and encourage just 1 of you to exercise, since you guys are doing an incredible job of motivating and encouraging me :). Thank you again and happy exercising! We can do this because we are stars!