Pooped Zumba

I am pooped.  But I did an express Zumba workout.  20 minutes.  I got hot, my sides were burning and now I'm even more tired.  I love Zumba.  I don't even watch the clock when I do it.  I dig the whole latin vibe, the music, reminds me of the old me.  My foot was bothering me though.  I do Zumba barefoot because you can't "dance" properly in sneakers.  My foot issue started before the Zumba though.  Anyway, I did my workout...mazel tov to me.  I'm going upstairs to finish my book now.  I hope I don't fall asleep on the couch.  I get crazy cranky when I nap a short time until I hear the footsteps of the child that woke me twice last night....sigh.

Stretch Armstrong

Do you remember that toy called Stretch Armstrong?  It had stretchable arms and legs and kids just pulled the crap out of "him"?  I of course did not have this toy since it would require at least two people to pull it and I was a one and only.  Anyway, I felt like I needed to be pulled and stretched like good ol' Stretch this morning.  My legs were tight and achey and I felt wonderfully sore.  I'm still trying to finish the bottle of water I started yesterday.  I did my "Morning Moves" (which is a cute name I made up for my usual morning exercises and stretches) and I stretched again after I put the kids down for bed.  Too tired for cardio but in need of lots of stretching which feels wonderful on my sore legs.  The good news is I felt sore which means I actually worked some new muscles yesterday.  Progress, progress. 

Hump Day Cardio

Well, I stuck to it and did the Barefoot Cardio dvd today.  I did my usual stretching exercises and 25 jumping jacks in the morning while I waited for my coffee.  Then I put the kids down for naps and put on the Barefoot Cardio.  Love that I didn't need a single thing for it.  Just me in my pjs in the living room.  No socks or shoes. 

It really uses the tried and true exercises we've all learned over the years as well as some basic ballet moves as well.  Plies and relaves (sp??) as well as the long straight arms of the dancers.  I'm sitting here SWEATING.  It was approx. 45 minutes give or take.  I stopped for water 3/4 of the way through and I'm so friggin' thirsty I've got my beautiful bottle of Fiji water sitting in front of me.  I think I'll get the liter of water in earlier today. ;-)  I really loved this dvd.  It's been a long time since I've found something I could enjoy all the way through without skipping sections that either killed my knees or made me get on the floor for anything.  I'd love to combine this with Jackie Warner's standing abs work out.  She kills you with the weights/arms/abs in that workout and it's about 20 minutes but if I had a full hour I'd do it.  Right now I think I'm about dead after a solid 40 minutes but maybe I could try next week.  Off to finish my water....

Gloomy Tuesday

So groggy every morning lately.  This gloomy weather ain't helpin'.  I needed coffee so while the kids were having breakfast I brewed some coffee and did my exercises.  Not a full workout but some weights for my arms, you know, bicep/tricep stuff, some squats, lunges, twists, stretching, etc.  There are about 10 exercises that my dad swears by and it's the exercises they have kids learn in PE.  Arm circles, stretching, jumping jacks, stuff like that.  It works.  People think you need to break a sweat each and every time you exercise but that's just not true.  I used to think yoga wouldn't work but after losing 13 pounds on just straight AM/PM relaxation yoga a few years ago, I was looking good without breaking a sweat. 

So, the stretching and morning exercises done, I sat down with my cup of coffee and just watched the birds on the deck standing in line at the bird feeder.  I also noticed a pig of a squirrel chowing down and a line of ants going up the deck straight to the bird feeder.  "Get it while you can wildlife, cuz when the bird feed is finished Mommy's closing up shop!" lol  I do not wish to clean the mess the squirrels leave and have to deal with ants visiting through the fall. 

I previewed a dvd called Barefoot Cardio.  Perfect for me since I work out in pajamas. lol  I do put on socks and shoes to do cardio and strength training or my circuit training downstairs though.  I need the foot/knee support.  So Barefoot Cardio is a mix between pilates/dance moves and is slow and easy and yet still gets the heart rate up.  Definitely want to give that a try tomorrow.  (I say this and tomorrow of course I may be in a totally different mood.)  Zip on the water intake today.  Tsk, tsk, I know.

An inspiring mom I know is going up to Maine to run a marathon relay there.  I googled Northern VA marathons and this came up. 
http://destination-va.site.raceit.com/race-info.htm

13.1 miles in 3 hours and 30 minutes.  I think I'm out of my mind to even consider it.  It's 8 months away.  It's a goal.  Even if I didn't run it, it would still be something cool to work towards.  I don't know how to even train for something like that.  First thing though would probably to begin running.  I power walk a mile with two children in a double stroller and God only knows how long it takes me.  I've never timed it but there are several rounds of "I'm TIR-ed! Can we go home after this??"  Telling my son that Mommy is fat and needs the exercise doesn't help much.  Time to google "Training for a half marathon" to see what comes up....

Get off the couch!

  Well, I don't really sit on the couch.  The couch is reserved for my son.  My seat is at the kitchen table where I can read, have my coffee and supervise the living room chaos.  We were all up early this morning but breakfast dragged forever, they played and honestly I don't know what I did....probably counted the minutes until nap time.  They are sleeping now..hopefully.  I should probably go check the monitor upstairs in a minute.

I'm ashamed of myself.  I wasn't a very good girl for the last 3 weeks.  I measured myself August 18th and started working out every day during nap time with the exception of weekends.  I'd call my cousin or she'd call me and we'd share our workouts.  She has 5 pounds to lose.  I have about 60.  She's hot and got a few compliments so she's content now.  I, on the other hand, have lost nothing but maybe an inch here or there and still weigh the same I did in August.  Somewhere between going to bed late, my never-ending period and life I lost my mojo these last 3 weeks.  Time to step it up. 

The Firm Wave, Zumba, Turbo Jam, Jillian Michaels, Richard Simmons, Brazil Butt Lift, an insane amount of toning, yoga, balance ball, balance pod, weight lifting and dance dvds to put me on the Beachbody website.  You'd think I'd be ripped by now.  Sigh....you would think, wouldn't ya?  That's okay, I'll get back on the wagon!  Kicking myself in the butt ain't gonna make it smaller. lol  So today I did The Firm Wave's 10 minute intro and then half of the Cardio Express workout.  It's a lot of stepping on the Wave, they go really fast and I'm still slow of course.  I'm moving around with 60 pounds more fat than these women.  I made it through, figured I was a sweaty mess so that's a step in the right direction.  I cooled down with the Malibu Pilates chair (I'm telling you, my excuses are not because of lack of STUFF).  Pilates abs 60 count, the standard chair leg exercises and some arm push-downs to work the arms and stretch my back.  It's amazing how stiff you get in just a couple of weeks.  I'd love to spend the rest of the day watching tv and not talking to anyone. 

I'm pooped and I have a headache.  Ah yes, water.  If I drink SmartWater will it give me Jennifer Aniston's body??  A liter a day is my goal.  I don't care to look up how many actual glasses of water a liter is but who cares.  I go all day and only take a few sips of water so a liter is a hell of a lot better than what I've been doing. 

Tomorrow's workout will be....I dunno.  I do know I don't want to do floor ab work or push ups.  Maybe Zumba's Ab workout with some Jackie Warner standing abs.  Or maybe I'll get some Disco Fever with good ol' Richard.  I tell you...seeing 300lb + men and women lifting their legs and moving and shaking makes me feel like I have zero room to complain.  Strangely motivating.  I'll let you know tomorrow!