Workout Stuff and Things 5/7

It's been awhile since I've talked about working out.

I would like to take this Stuff and Things to talk about what I've done for the month of April.

I don't really go to the gym anymore.  It's kind of a fruitless effort.  It used to work for me in other locations but at some point it became more trouble than it's worth.  The gym on base here doesn't have a schedule that fits my schedule and there are no private gyms on my side of town.  In the summer and on extended breaks, I'm able to go to morning kettlebell classes on base or the occasional yoga class.  Which is great.  But it's not a part of my routine.

I've been a fan of Pilates for years and then I started doing more yoga earlier this year, via Youtube. So in an effort to set up consistency for myself (I thrive under consistency), I joined The Balanced Life Sisterhood back in February.  It's provided me with a workout calendar that includes Pilates 5-6 days a week.  Some of the workouts are 5 minutes long, and some are 50 minutes.  It depends on the day.  However rigorous or involved the workout is, this has instilled the idea of consistency back into my day.  In February and March, I used the calendar as a guide and supplemented here and there because I generally know what I feel like working on each day.  However, for April, I followed the calendar exactly and I'm really glad I did.  It gave me a "okay, today I do this.." mentality and put some form and function into a wide-open schedule.  With Scott deployed, I could come home from work and just sit on the couch and waste away the evening. But knowing I have a workout that I'm committed to is enough to make me complete other tasks so I can fit it in.  It's given me a sense of accountability and I really appreciate that.  If you're interested in joining the program, here's the link.  It's $9/month, totally worth it, and this is not a sponsorship of sorts....just my opinion!

I do like that I've been able to supplement my daily Pilates with weekend workouts.  Whether it be a circuit workout, a hike or walk, or a class at the gym.
I do feel the need to add that there are only two weekend classes at the gym here and the one I've opted to go to is usually "Body Sculpt".  Now, it's not as good as it sounds.  It's essentially taught by one of those over-exercisers who just needs to take a break because her injuries affect her ability to teach.  It's really just hundreds of squats, hundreds of lunges, and running laps.  That's not "sculpt"; It's poorly executed circuit training.  With a terrible playlist.

So I really need to stop bothering with that.  It just has made me feel productive on Saturday mornings but the last time I went the instructor didn't show up and the gym didn't even give a reason.  I asked for a refund and they gave my $3 back but offered no explanation.  It was odd.

And while I went to spin class on Saturday mornings once in awhile over the winter, I'm not doing that anymore.  I hate it too much.  It was the only physical activity I could fit in at that point, and now I'm focused on walking with the dogs and outdoor exercise instead.

I'm not a runner and I don't claim to be, but even I can't deny that endorphin-high you get after a cardio workout.  It makes your entire day better.

Case in point: A few weeks ago at school we had a Fund Run.  The entire school was told to run/walk laps.  Six laps equaled a mile and there were teachers keeping track as each of the kids completed every lap.  The P.E. teacher had a giant sound system and music (though Blurred Lines might not have been the best choice and now I have Shake It Off permanently stuck in my head).
I ran with my class and, while I don't usually run much, I enjoy any opportunity I get to wear workout gear because it's much more comfortable than the jeans that are usually stand-issue on Fridays.

While I probably only ran 2-3 miles, including walking breaks, I found it so exhilarating to encourage and motivate the kids.  I typically am pretty confident of my teaching abilities in the classroom, but I found it easier to motivate them as we ran.  I would pick a kid and run with them for half a lap and then find some walkers (ha ha "walkers") and tell them "If I can do it, you can do it!" and they'd start running again.  It was probably the best time I've had at this school thus far.  We ran for 35 minutes and some kids managed to do over 3 miles.

The point is that I felt SO much better for the rest of the day because I got that physical activity.  The kids, whilst feigning exhaustion, also did better for the rest of the day.  They were more focused than they normally are on Fridays. It was a great experience and I realize that cardio IS important, but organized or regimented cardio isn't something I'm currently participating in and that's okay.

Back to Pilates.  I've learned a couple of tricks to make consistency my friend.

+Set aside a time.  Evening is best for me.  I'm more flexible after a day of moving around.

+Set aside a space. Having a space for just working out breeds consistency. I use the guest room, with a mirror to check my form.

+Have a plan.  You can plan out your week of workouts or you can join a program in which the dirty work is done for you.  Robin at The Balanced Life not only sends out a calendar (which I appreciate because I can track progress), but she also sends out a list of links to the videos.  I don't even have to search for them.  Half the work, for me, is choosing a workout.  This eliminates any excuse-making.  And we're all good at making excuses.

+Focus on making gains, not being perfect.  When I first started Pilates classes back in 2012, I was really not flexible.  I couldn't even touch my toes.  After 6 months of once a week classes, I could touch my toes.  Since I've been doing online Pilates/yoga for the last 15 months, flexibility exercises have gotten easier.  Currently, I'm working on the roll-over.

+Sometimes I have to break up a workout.  45 minutes on a Tuesday night is not always ideal, but often I'll do 20 minutes, take dogs for a walk (so they stop glaring at me), come back in and do the rest. Sometimes I'll start dinner in the middle of a workout.  I try not to get so sidetracked with "I need an hour to complete this workout" and nothing else gets done.  I really only have 4-5 usable hours each day after work (an hour of which usually includes prepping for the next day!) and I have to fit a lot into that time.

Do you have any secrets for establishing a consistent routine?

My {current} favorite workout websites

I went to bed at 8pm on Friday night.  Was I tired? Yes.  But after a week of go, go, go, I've found the thing I need to do is go to sleep early.  For the last few months, I've made a special effort to go to the gym on Saturdays before I go to the grocery store.  This week, however, I knew that wasn't going to happen.  It's that time of year where life is catching up to me and sometimes I just need a Saturday morning at home to relax.  Or to grade papers, menu plan, and do some baking.

This is where technology comes in.  There's a lot of ways that a person can incorporate technology into fitness. The Garmin to track runs and the Fitbit to count steps are the two that come to my mind.  I own neither.  I tried Scott's Garmin once and I couldn't really figure out how to work it and it served no purpose and I would've been better off going to a class at the gym.  This is why I go to classes at the gym in the first place, I suppose.  I just show up.  I don't have to think or do any of the mental work or planning of what I'm going to do.

I mentioned that I've spent the last month using the Sarah Beth Yoga Youtube channel to do at least 10 minutes of yoga each day.  Here are two more resources if you're at home and can't get to the gym, but still want to do something beneficial.

+doyogawithme.com  Angi told me about this site and it is 100% free and customizable for a yoga or Pilates workout.  I've used it several times now.  I recommend this one.  I never knew my abs could move in that way.

+The Balanced Life Sisterhood.  I'm particularly excited about this one.  I've followed Robin at The Balanced Life for the last year and, for 2015, she's started a new program that encourages acceptance and balance.  It's $9 a month and I'm not exactly paying for a gym membership these days so…well worth it.  The program kicks off TODAY, so you still have some time to join.

source

In summary, I have no Garmin.  I have no Fitbit.  I don't track anything on MyFitnessPal.  I do use online resources for workouts almost everyday though, and I think life is much easier for it.  Some companies are working harder to help connect a healthy lifestyle with technology as well.  Although I don't personally use this service,  Oscar Insurance provides Misfit bands to members so they can set daily physical activity goals and track them online or through the company's app. I think that could be a useful tool for anyone looking to track their activity. My husband, for example, never leaves for a run without some device to track his distance and pace.

Do you have any online resources for workouts?

Turkey Trot 2014

It's rough when you realize you're not in the best cardiovascular shape that you can be.  It's even harder when you were in better shape a year ago, and better shape still a year before that. Truth be told, it's been a really rough year in that regard.  I've tried to find a balance.  Still a work in progress. However, a post with that much introspection, though well-suited for Selfie Sunday, might have to wait for another day.

Last year, I ran a 10K Turkey Trot in 55 minutes.  This year, I feel like life has caught up to me.  I don't do a whole lot of cardio and I truly hate running.  I don't like anything about it.  Oh, wait.  I like the shaky legs and endorphins rushing through my system a few hours after a run.  I do really like that.  However, I get nothing out of the physical act itself.  It's not a rush, it's not thinking time, it's not graceful movement in my case.  It's torturous.

I don't know why I sign up for these races.  I can't pass up a good "5K!" sign.  If for nothing else, just to prove I can do it.  Plus, this one was free.

So when Scott and I were walking across the parking lot to the starting line yesterday, he mentioned that he hadn't run in a few weeks.  My response was that I hadn't run since July.  And that is the honest to God truth.

I mentioned that the 5K I did in July was tough and this one followed the same route.  I'm now making a mental note to not bother with any more Ft. Carson 5Ks because they are trail runs, up and down hills (more up than down if we're being specific) and yesterday's trail was covered in snow.  Therefore, I can give very little credibility to my time and how I would rate my running ability overall.  And let's add in the fact that the altitude sets my lungs on fire.  Actual searing flames of pain.  Colorado Springs is over 6,000 ft. above sea level. (This is almost 1,000 feet higher than Denver, so I don't know why everyone makes such a big deal about that place.) A quarter mile into the race, I feel it.  No outward physical pain to speak of,  some mental boredom for sure, but the lung pain is what kept me walking for a third of this race yesterday.  Still, I finished in 35 minutes.  Not the worst, right?  Scott told me how hard the race was for him and then I felt a little better about my time.  Though he finished several minutes before I did.

Sometimes I think I could walk a 5K in the same amount of time that I could jog one. After all, I walked an awful lot yesterday.  I'm not a fast runner but I'm definitely one of those fast walkers.  Maybe I should do one more here just to prove my theory…

Linking up with Joey!

#PilatesSummerSeries

Tomorrow, the #PilatesSummerSeries kicks off at The Balanced Life.  I'm all about Pilates and I'm all about *free* and that's exactly what this is!  A free series of Pilates for the month of May…a way to kick the summer off right!

source

I have to say that I am extra excited about this program because I've been in a major workout rut since…August?  If we're being honest, that's when it started, but it was just a few months ago that I took on the idea of, "Eh, oh well…someday I'll get into it again."  Right now just isn't the season of intense exercise for me.  

Truth be told, I miss my old gym in Alaska more than I care to think about, so I won't bore you with details again.  In Missouri, I haven't found my niche. There's very little continuity in classes, instructors, people…it's a completely different crowd than the one I grew accustomed to last summer, when working out was fun.  In Alaska, I fell in love with working out.  Here, I've broken up with it.  

So I just don't go to the gym.  But, I do Pilates almost everyday.  I have a few different workouts I go through, switching it up each day, and I still am a fan of the plank.  

I'm so glad that I'll have a new workout everyday for the rest of the month with this Pilates Summer Series.  I'm hoping this will jumpstart some kind of motivation (hidden deep inside me, obviously) that will kick me into gear for the summer.  Hopefully I find a fun, motivating place to pursue fitness in Colorado.  New state, new state of mind?  Let's hope so!  

It's not too late to get involved with the #PilatesSummerSeries.  The workouts will be posted daily at The Balanced Life.  I hope you give it a try!

*All opinions are my own…I really enjoy these workouts and the Pilates philosophy.*

Healthiness: Exercise

I do like reading exercise updates on blogs. I'd ask, at the end of this post, where you are at with fitness these days, but the truth is, I guess I'm not looking for new things to try right now.  I've got a whole lot of apathy (i.e. burnout) going on.  I do feel like I've talked about exercise an awful lot over the last 2 years, so this is just an update about where I'm at right now.  

It is becoming very apparent to me that there is a fine line when it comes to me and going to the gym.
Right now, I'm in the position where I can't tell if I don't want to go to the gym because I don't find it necessary to go to the gym…

Or, I can't tell if I slipped into a mid-winter lazy depressive state and I just don't WANT to go.  There's a difference between these two.

During the winter of 2011 I fell into lazy-don't-wanna-go depression.

During the winter of 2012, I forced myself to go so that wouldn't happen.

During the winter of 2013, it was me forcing myself because I knew I was just being a whiner.  Also, I had a community there, and knew I'd get an email the next day asking me where I was.  Accountability is always the key.

This winter, I have no idea what category I fall into.

This article about Happy Exercise vs. Stressed Exercise really struck a chord with me:

The moral of this story is not that exercise is bad.  But we need to look at the motivating forces that drive us to exercise.  Healthy habits driven by fear are not so healthy after all.  

So, lately, I've been doing Pilates everyday (10-15 minutes) and going to one 30 minute class a week.  On Monday nights I go to RPM Express or BodyPump Express, depending on my mood.  It's quite a turnaround from 7-8 months ago!  I'm okay with that though.  Somewhere along the line I realized I wasn't getting a whole lot of enjoyment out of the gym.

I do realize it's important to get your heart rate up and I like muscle tone; so I go when I can.  I've found I can commit to a Monday night class.  I could probably do Thursday night too, but there's that whole "I DON'T WANT TO" thing stopping me.

Again, I'll encourage you to try The Balanced Life if you even have the inkling of giving Pilates a try.  I'm a believer in it! For workouts at home (if I'm so inclined and sometimes I am), I like The Nike Training Club.  Also, I'm a fan of just taking the dog for a walk.

Lately, I've found myself stressed out by work, the impending move, and looking into future employment.  Also, since Scott isn't home for dinner every night, I like being home with him and the dog in the evenings when I can.  I usually do some kind of toning workout before bed and call it a day.

So that's where we are.  I have no sage advice or expertise to offer.  I'm kinda over the gym thing right now.   I'm the same weight as I've been for at least a year, my pants still fit the way they did 6 months ago, and I still have muscle tone.  Therefore, I must be doing something right, and I'm not too worried about this fitness dry spell.  Sometimes we just need a break, right?

Scott is, and always will be, a runner.  I went on what was supposed to be a 7 mile run/walk with him last week.  I made it a mile and started walking.  My legs were killing me.  He just looked at me and said, "I thought you ran a 10K a few months ago?"  I did, friends.  Motivation for me is the key.  Unless something is chasing me or there is a finish line up ahead, I have a hard time caring.  Needless to say, it became a 5 mile walk and even Scout was glaring at me.  Apparently I slow the dog down.

I would like to do another 5K.  Maybe this spring?  I can get behind 3.2 miles.  I'm also really excited about hiking in Colorado.  We used to hike in Alaska (mostly pre-blog, back when I would still go outside), and I think it'll be a fun hobby to get back into.  Sometimes authentic exercise is so much better than spinning away to nowhere in a class, right?

Other Healthiness posts:

Everyday Banana Bread

Green Smoothie with Flax

Lunch

Pilates

Dinner

Breakfast

Healthiness in 2014: #28daysofpilates

Going along with the Healthiness theme I have for the beginning of 2014, we have exercise.  Exercise is generally a slippery slope for me…an all or nothing mentality.  I'm working on changing that.

Pilates.  Have you tried it?

While I've never gotten into yoga, I've always had a soft spot for Pilates.  When I was 19, I wandered into the fitness dvd section of Wal-mart and picked up this.

I used it a few times a week for a couple of years.  I don't really know if it did much for me, but I liked it well enough.  In Alaska, I was able to take a Power Pilates class and, when my schedule allowed it, regular Pilates.  I always felt so good after those classes!  Kind of sore, very limber, and like I'd just done something truly beneficial for myself.

I'm a believer in it.

Part of my fitness resolution for the year is to take part in this kind of fitness.  Fitness that's good for the muscles, good for the soul, and good for the mind.

It's the best of both worlds:  you get the breathing and relaxation element of yoga and the toning you'd get from a fitness class.  Plus, you don't sweat a whole lot, if at all.  So there's not a "I need to get a shower after this" time commitment.  After taking Pilates classes, I can say that it works.  The small, focused movements tone muscles and, after a one hour class, I almost always feel it the next day.  Plus, it's dramatically increased my flexibility.  I spent my entire life being unable to reach down and touch my toes, even when I was a kid.  After 6 months of Pilates, I could put my hands almost flat on the floor!

I started February by taking part in #28daysofpilates.

Each day, Robin at The Balanced Life posts a new, quick Pilates workout. They're fun and effective to do.  Not to mention easy.  I set my phone alarm each day so I don't forget.

Also, so I remember to do a plank.  

Are you taking on any fitness challenges this year?  I have a friend who is running a half marathon and I had this nagging feeling that maybe I should do it too.  But then I remember how much I truly hate to run.  I don't think I should taking on a training plan is for me.

Have you missed any Healthiness posts?
I already talked about my favorites for Breakfast and Dinner.

(This post is purely my opinion.)

Stuff and things.

1.  The Host.  Such an awful book.  I never finished it 4 1/2 years ago when Scott bought it.  Scott wanted to watch the movie the other night.  I made it about 3/4 of the way through.  He fell asleep.  I hated myself for being too lazy to get up and turn it off, but I eventually mustered the motivation to get off the couch.  I still, all these years later, don't know how it ends.

2.  Honey butter and Gingerbread.  This is an amazing combination.  Oh, that honey butter.  I could eat it with a spoon.  Keep reminding yourself that it is, in fact, straight butter and not frosting.  Or you probably will end up eating it with a spoon.

4.  The Nike Fitness Center app is amazing.  It's free.  It allows me to strength-train for 15 minutes a day.  My muscles feel it the next day.  I don't have to drive 20 minutes to the gym.  Win, win, win.  You need to try it!

5.  Speaking of fitness, I found this story about a guy who achieved a 6-pack and still wasn't happy.  It sounds really familiar.  I was so close to what we can probably call a 4-pack this past summer.  Did it ultimately make me happy?  NO.

6.  The kids.  We had a question last week, "Write a sentence about a song you would like to sing".  I was writing answers on the board.  I called on someone and the answer I got was, "What does the fox say?" and I was like "I... would... like... to... sing... "What...did...the...fox...say." as I wrote it on the board....they were all, "NO!  What DOES the fox say!!" and I was all, "Oh, what DOES the...fox? say?" and they're like, "Yeah" and I'm like, "Huh...I don't know that one" and they're like, "Oh, we do".  I won't go to the trouble of linking to the ridiculous video.  You can youtube that one on your own time.

7. Some people told me these look like pirate boots.  That's a new one.

Entire outfit: Target // Boots: Report

(What a hideous background.  Sorry about that.)

8.  Speaking of hideous, the Missouri University of Science and Technology has done it again.  They told Scott he owes them $16,000 and on the list of charges for one semester thus far is "Tuition: $5,500" and "Out of state tuition: $8,500".  There's more, obviously, to make it add up to such an obscene amount of money, but I do wonder how they got TWO tuitions factored into the bill for ONE semester.  They, indeed, must be geniuses at that math and science college.  

This is on top of the fact that they haven't let him properly schedule his classes for the last 2 weeks AND no one will return his phone calls.  Friends, not that you were planning on coming to Missouri in the first place but, please avoid this school.  What a headache.  And it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside to know that they are so thoroughly unsupportive of the Army.

9.  (This list is getting long...)

Did The Walking Dead again put anyone to sleep?  I know they're setting up for something big...but man, it's taking awhile to get there...

Why I've given up my dream of becoming an exercise instructor

I've been sitting on this post for a while. I started it months ago.  

Usually, on Saturdays, I get up semi-early, eat breakfast, check email, and go to the gym.  I had every intention of doing that on this past Saturday.  I didn't.  I got up and started baking.  I spent the morning in the kitchen, then I played with the dog, then I sat outside with Scott, then I went to the grocery store, and I didn't go to the gym at all.  It was nice.  Going to the gym lately hasn't brought me any kind of joy.  In fact, I kind of hate it.  So I don't think I'm going to do it. 

Something had been bugging me all summer and, honestly, this post has been a long time coming.  I'm sharing it because I need to get it out.  Also, there might be others out there who feel the same and are struggling.

At first, when we got to Missouri, exercise was FUN.  It was challenging.  I enjoyed that 9am class everyday.  It tasted a lot like freedom.  Hadn't I wanted to go to 9am classes when I was in Alaska? Yes, well: The grass is not always greener on the other side. At some point, it became a chore.  I lost interest.  But I couldn't stop going.  Bad things happen when you stop exercising, right?  As long as I was exercising everyday, I could eat whatever I wanted.  But if I was putting all that effort into exercise, why would I put junk into my body?  It was completely counter-productive.  It became a struggle I dealt with all summer long.

Something had happened to me during deployment last year.  I started exercising to increase my endurance, gain muscle, and take up my time.  I did all of those things.

I very much developed a mentality of, "Oh, I can eat that, because I worked out today" and "Oh, I can't have that...I didn't work out today".  But it was okay, until we got here and I had the chance to “go big or go home” each and every day.  I got nothing but relief out of exercise.  It was sheer, "Whew, I completed that chore for today."

It wasn’t joyful anymore.

At the end of July, after 2 1/2 months of this, I realized it was a problem and I had to stop.  I was feeling defeated, disordered, and like there was no end in sight.  I tried to explain it to Scott.  He knew that going to the gym had previously given me so much enjoyment. 

Most people here communicate through Facebook groups.  I ended up belonging to a couple different of gym-oriented ones through friends/instructors I've met.

A challenge was posted for the gym-goers awhile back.  The challenge was to lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks by “eating clean, working out 3x a day, and no starving!”.

I saw so much wrong with that that it actually hurt to read it.  And it hurt when I watched people jump on board.  I didn't want to lose 10 pounds.  I wanted to maintain and keep whatever tone I had; that's always been my goal.   So where was my place in this class, that I’ve been going to since May, when everyone else was playing Biggest Loser?  What’s my motivation? 

The short answer is that I didn't really have any, so I needed to take a step back.  This was at the beginning of August.  

Dorothy posted about a book shortly after that.  I ordered the book from Amazon as soon as I read what she had to say about it.  The chapter on exercise really spoke to me.  I fit the description pretty well, and that kind of terrifies me.

I've realized that going to classes in which the instructor screams, "More, more!" isn't good for me.  

There was a much healthier approach to fitness at my gyms in Alaska.  I have nothing but good things to say about AT&T Sportscenter and the gyms on JBER.  Gym-goers in Alaska, for the most part, were quite well-rounded.  The gym would be empty on the weekends…because people were out living their lives.  Hiking, hunting, fishing, camping…that’s what people in Alaska did on the weekends.  I felt successful and accomplished there.  Like I was exercising, but I was also living.  I wasn’t just looking toward that next class at the gym (For the record there was a period of time when I was doing 2 classes a day a few days a week in 2012, but that was when I was working toward/practicing for my Turbokick certification.)

I was shocked, flabbergasted, and almost appalled that the gyms here are full on the weekends.  It was so different!  On Memorial Day weekend, I went to a Body Blast class.  There were 40 people there.  It was unbelievable.  The gyms in Alaska shut down on holiday weekends.  People had things to do!  In fact, it was always pretty inconvenient for me...I never had things to do (har har, right?).

At first I thought the people here were just more “into” exercise and fitness.  It was interesting and refreshing in a new way.

But, in some cases, I see it at an unhealthy level now and I don’t want to do that anymore.

I'd predicted that I'd miss my gym in Alaska.  I do.  

I've since removed myself from these gym-oriented Facebook groups.  I'm trying to stay away from the "fitspiration" mentality that has been surrounding me since we moved here.  I don't want someone telling me I need to go to two classes everyday, because that's the message I was getting all summer.

Anyway.  That's what's been on my mind lately.  I just felt like I needed to share.  

Back to the title of this post...I don't think I could ever be a fitness instructor here.  In fact, had we been here when I'd been bitten by the gym bug, I don't know where I'd be right now.  Definitely not in any kind of healthy place.  I'm grateful that I have a good gym/fitness experience to balance out whatever it is that I've run into here.

Yes, guys.  "Grateful" for Alaska.  

[insert unrelated Scout photo here]

Friday 5s.

(There's a Breaking Bad spoiler at the bottom of this post...)

1.  I'm not sure how he's gotten to be so big.  12 weeks today!  

Remember this?

Ugh.  It hurts my heart.

2.  Here's the Banana Republic dress Scott didn't quite capture last month.  

Dress: BR Outlet ($20) // Sweater: LOFT // Sandals: Old Navy 

3.  Including a new purse.

4.  This is a quick 15 minute circuit workout.  I made it up based on a leg series that an instructor did months ago.  I say 15 minutes because it generally takes me a while to drum up the motivation to do physical activity at home.  If you're motivated, it'll take 10 minutes.  I did this in hotel rooms on the way from Alaska to Missouri.  (Okay, one hotel room.  I did it in one hotel room.)

5.   What did you think of Breaking Bad this past week?  It didn't disappoint for us!  Only 7 left...

Did you watch Talking Bad afterward?  I felt very confused the whole time that was on.  It's Talking DEAD.  Not Talking BAD.  I kept waiting for the host to slip up and say "dead" instead.  I get why they're doing it, but it left me feeling very unsettled.  Not a zombie in sight.  Sad.

Sharing at:

Friday 5

High 5 for Friday

5 on Friday

Friday Five (and I'm tired)

1.  Did this freak anyone else out on last week's True Blood?

I thought it was a nice twist.  I'm glad this season is getting interesting.  (I can't really say the same about Dexter right now.)

2.  Speaking of...I'm onto Definitely Dead, the 6th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series.  I am LOVING these books.  The plot is so different from the show...I never really know what's going to happen next.

3.  I don't know why I mentioned yesterday that I'd do a yoga class if I could find one.  This is how I imagine I'd feel during yoga.  I'm not really flexible or graceful.

4.  This gif, that I artfully swiped from Lin, made my day.  

5.  My favorite Scout is a sleepy Scout.  When he's sleepy, he wants to be cuddled and held, and just looks so darn cute. I even hold him like a baby.  He likes it, promise.

When he's not sleepy, he's using my floors as his personal restroom and biting anything he can find.

And then I feel like this:

Which is why I'm tired

Happy Friday!

Fitness lately

I haven't done a fitness post in awhile.  I'm just neurotic enough to keep a calendar on my fridge.  It makes me feel productive.  I circle each class I'm willing to do and, when I actually complete it, I highlight it.  (Side note: I may have some control freak tendencies.)

This is what I've been up to lately..

Monday: SWAT (which is, essentially, Body Blast)
Tuesday: Either Turbokick OR Spin.  They are at the same time so I have to choose.  I like Turbokick better obviously, but I love the Spin instructor and the people in her class.  It's a tough call every week.  I don't know anyone at the Turbokick class (it's off base).  Then, later in the day, there is Cardio and Core, which is so tough that 45 minutes is enough to put me on the couch for the rest of the day.  Once in a blue moon, I've done this class after a morning one, but that doesn't happen often*.
Wednesday: SWAT circuit training.  This is a tough one.  Rumor has it that your muscles work the hardest while circuit training, therefore you burn calories for the rest of the day and your metabolism is boosted.  Much better than regular cardio.
Thursday:  Spin (same instructor/group as Tuesday, so it's bearable) or HIIT.  I doubt I could do both, even though they're at different times, so it's possible. HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) takes a lot out of you.
Friday: SWAT
Saturday: SWAT

*A few weeks ago, I had terrible stomach pains. Scott asked when it started and I said, "Well, right after the second class I took today..." and he just looked at me.  That was the last Cardio and Core I attempted.

S.W.A.T stands for something...Strength, Weights, Agility?, ...uhh..I'm not really sure.  But I can do it multiple times a week because there's two different instructors and they strive to make each class different.

These classes are all in the morning.  I like them because I've met many wonderful army wives.  There's always someone to talk to...a completely different experience than I had in Alaska.  I went to the same Turbokick class on base there for a year and made, maybe, one friend. Wives here, I've noticed, are much friendlier at the gym.

What's missing is a Pilates, stretching, or, heaven forbid, a yoga class.  I haven't done one of those since April.  These people take their cardio seriously and don't "waste" time elsewhere. (One of my favorite instructors is running a 50K this weekend...)  I hear a yoga class may be starting up soon, so I might do that in the evening this fall.  Maybe.

Also:
I haven't made a dessert in weeks.  I don't have the urge.  Maybe because it's so hot out? I just don't crave sugar anymore.  It's an odd experience.

Other fitness posts:
Missouri/new workouts
March
February
January

New workouts!

*Take from this what you will.  I have no job.  It's "summer".  Scott is at work all day.  A hobby is a must.  Also, in the last few years, I've done at least 50% of my socializing at the gym.  It's a built-in common interest.  I'm making new friends already = success.*

You know I had a pretty set routine in Alaska for over a year.  It was...good.  I don't think any one workout routine is doing much for you if you stick with it too long.  Changing things up is good.  In this case, it was clearly what I needed.

I went to my first group exercise class on the base last Monday.  It'd been almost a month since I'd been to a class.  I'd done some treadmill, elliptical, ab, and leg workouts on my own while we were moving/traveling, but I was ready to have someone kick me into gear again.

If I were to sum up this last week in one word, it'd be "sweaty".  I'm not sure if I just wasn't working hard enough in Alaska, or what...but I've been getting my butt kicked.  I haven't dripped with sweat like this since...I don't know when.

I probably just wasn't working hard enough in the last few months.

Some points:

1.  The gym on base charges for classes ($2).

2.  The gym on base offers more quality classes than I thought was possible.

3.  I've toyed with the idea of doing more than one a day (like I did last year) because I've got time to burn.

4.  The classes are tough enough that I don't seem to have the stamina to do more than one a day.

5.  Since this is a training base, there's a lot of wives who really do fill up these classes.  I've never seen such hardcore dedication.

6.  All the classes are of the cardio variety, though they do incorporate a lot of stretching.

What I've been up to...starting with last week:

Monday: Body Blast.  Yes, they have a class here that's also called Body Blast, but it was 10 times tougher than any I'd done before.  I was sucking for breath by the end of that first class.

Tuesday: Tabata Blast (they like their "blasts" apparently)  This was 8 back-to-back Tabata workouts.  Not true-true Tabata, because a true Tabata only lasts 4 minutes.  This went on for an hour.  There was a stretch break between each Tabata.  There were "butt-kickers", sprints, a super-quick step workout, planks, crunches, side-to-side lunges, and a few more things that I can't recall because I'm pretty sure I blocked it all out.  It was a tough workout.  Probably one I need to do more often.
*I thought about also doing a "Cardio and Core" class, but after that Tabata stuff, I couldn't even fathom it.*

Wednesday: Body Blast again.  This time it was set up circuit training style.  Holy heck.  I'd never thought about giving up so much as I did during this EIGHTY minute class.  Were it not for the fact that I had a partner, I would've stopped.  Not kidding.

Thursday: Kickboxing.  Not Turbokick, but it was a great cardio workout.  It was nice not to have to strength-train.  If my muscles wouldn't have been sore already, I would've enjoyed it a lot more.

Friday: 7 miles on a bike (set to "cross-country" so there were a lot of hills).  I had to take a break from the classes.  I couldn't do it anymore.  When you get to a certain point of soreness, your muscles aren't getting anywhere if they don't get a chance to re-build, right?

Saturday: Body Blast

Then, I had Sonic for lunch and a giant strawberry milkshake before dinner.  Milkshakes are becoming my new thing.  Not sure how I feel about that.

Sunday: I did some shopping.  Not a workout, but my feet were really sore by the end of the day.

Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Loft: The 4 major food groups to outlet shopping

Memorial Day: The gym was open!  Body Blast was jam-packed, and I slipped in my own sweat a couple of times.  It was great.  (Well, not really, but you know what I mean.)

Tuesday:  I tried a Turbokick class that was off-base.  Again, slipped in my own sweat.  The gyms here need A/C!  Then I met a friend (I know! A friend!) at a 45 minute Cardio and Core class on base.  It wasn't easy.  I regretted attending it almost immediately.  Afterwards, I went home and ate some cookies.  All about balance.

Today (Wednesday): I went back to that Circuit-style Body Blast.   

I'm pretty sure I hated every second of it.

Good news: My muscles don't hurt anymore.

Bad news: I'm starting to question whether I want to continue with this regime.  

Also: I'm sick of washing gym clothes.

Happenings and funny stuff.

I ran a 5K.  Scott looked shocked and doubtful when I said I'd run it, but I finished in 32:50 and it was a trail-style run, so I've been told that's pretty good.  My goal was really "finish".  I took on the same mentality as I do with group fitness:  If there's people watching, I'm not going to give up, and there were an awful lot of people there.

Scott finished 3 minutes before me, and then there was a BBQ and I didn't have to wear a coat.  

God, I don't miss Alaska at all. 

I went into the gym on base and asked if they were hiring.  The lady at the desk snapped "No." and dashed away all my dreams.  Thanks, lady.  Maybe I'll try the library.

I bought classes at the gym.  Yeah, this is one of those gyms on a base where they make you pay for classes.  10 classes for $18.  Much cheaper than the $70 a month I was paying in good ol' Alaska though :)

I started watching True Blood again from the beginning because #1: my DVDs have been returned to me and, #2: I can.

Also, I started the books.

Maybe I should really get on that job hunt, huh?

Only a few more weeks til season 6...I know I watch a lot of t.v., but I think True Blood will always be my favorite.  Who else is rooting for Sookie and Eric?  I love them together.

And some funny stuff.

Also, that applies to Folgers.

I was getting Lucky Slots invites multiple times a day from one "friend".  Not anymore.

And finally, Happy Monday.  This better make you laugh.

Pins from my Pinterest page.