14 Weeks (to my 24th Birthday) and Counting. I’ve got 14 weeks to complete about.com’s 12 week program (or some variation thereof) and lose 20lbs. So here goes:
Day 1, Monday, 7/14/08 || Focus: Cardio (Interval Training)
Since I’ve been on this work out trip for a while, I decided to do the suggested intermediate/advanced cardio work out instead of the “beginners”. I did 35 minutes of interval training on the Elliptical. The resistence/intensity alternated between 0 and 9 every 2 minutes. By the last set, my legs felt like rubber (in a good way though, lol). So I did the cool down stretches suggested in the program. I felt really good afterwards and that is probably why I played brave and decided to go over and beyond! I picked up 8lb weights and started doing squats and walking lunges like it was nobody’s business for another 20 minutes or so, until I couldn’t do it anymore. Then I got down on the mat and did a few ab exercises, until I literally started feeling sick. Then I dragged my pathetic behind to my car and off to WalMart to get groceries and some other stuff. Lugging all that crap upstairs to my 2nd floor apartment was another workout in and of itself.
Yes, Monday was overkill times 10. I will know better next time.
Day 2, Tuesday, 7/15/08 || Focus: Strength Training/Active Rest
This day was painful. I woke up and my thighs were KILLING me. It wasn’t even the regular after workout dull ache. I literally fell out of my bed onto the floor. I will know not to play hero in the future, but today I decided to deviate from the program. The program suggested that I do a lot of what I had done the day before so it wasn’t so bad. It called for squats, lunges, bicep curls, tricep presses, and a few other things. You couldn’t pay me to do anymore leg work today so what I did instead was 30 minutes of ab workouts and tried to have an active day. I went to the library. I parked far away and took the stairs. Then I went to the lake. I could only manage to walk around it once since my thighs were singing a tune I did not know. In the interest of staying active and being out and about I got home and tried to go to the pool at my complex, but it was closed so I spent the rest of my evening inside reading. I tried to remember to get up and pace every hour or so… Sitting wasn’t painful at all, but the process of standing up and sitting down was pretty difficult.
Day 3, Wednesday, 7/16/08 || Focus: REST
My thighs still hurt, but I decided to suck it up. I got out of bed, did some leg stretches (ouch). I still wasn’t ready to get back on the plan. But I did do my 20 minute ab pilates routine, some tricep dips and some push ups. That was about it.
Day 4, Thursday, 7/17/08 || Focus:Â More Cardio (Endurance)
I had to double back and do the stuff I skipped on day 3 of the plan. I spent 35 minutes on the elliptical. I kept an almost constant pace. After the first 5 minutes warming up, I set the resistance to 4 and got down to business. After cooling down, I stretched. Once again, I decided to go over and beyond what the plan dictated, but I was determined not to over do it. So I got in a little bit of ab work and then I did some arm/(chest?) work on the bench press-type machine. Then I did the lat pull down. And then I did some work with the free weights focusing on my biceps, triceps, and shoulders.
Day 5, Friday, 7/18/08Â || Focus:Â Doing whatever the heck I felt like!
Since I did all the upper body strength training I was scheduled to do today, yesterday, I switched it up today. I jumped rope for a bit with my weighted jump rope and just tried to stay active throughout the day instead of just sitting in front of my computer. Before I go to bed in a few minutes, I’m going to do my 20 minute ab pilates routine and possibly work in the bun and thighs routine too since my legs finally feel like they’re back to almost 98%.
Over the weekend, my plan is to go to the gym 2 days in a row and put in some serious work. I’ll keep you posted.
Thanks for your continued support!
