Monday, July 30, 2012

The soreness of my dear calves

So I'm still pushing myself as far as Jillian Michaels 30 day shred goes. I strive to do it at least 3x a week if not everyday. And I'm getting better because when I first started I had to stop a few times mid workout. And not just for the recommended 5 seconds naaah more like 45 seconds here and there. So now that I hardly stop anymore and applaud myself for getting better I wake up one morning and my calves were so sore I had a hard time walking right. 


I decided to still do it that night and I was struggling through it but I finished it. I thought may be if I kept doing it the soreness would subside but what do you know it actually got worse. The next morning I had to brace myself to actually get out of bed. I decided to look up calf stretches online and found some pretty good ones. I did the calf stretches and felt much better but I was still sore.


I really like doing the Jillian Michaels workout dvd because I truly feel the impact in all the right places. My main goals are to tone up my stomach area and arms which equals upper body strength for me. And when I do this workout it really impacts the aforementioned areas. So what to do, right!?! I decided starting this week I will alternate between the DVD workout and evening runs. Tonight I went out on a run with the boy. It was so refreshing and guess what? my calves don't feel sore at all. So I figure my idea to alternate can't be too bad.


I will keep you posted. Do your calves ever get overly sore? if yes, what stretches work for you? Please do share. Thank you much.


A good week to all


Xx
OverWeight In Sunny SoCal
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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Versatile Blogger Award



Me a Versatile blogger!?! really? naaaay 

OK seriously I have been nominated for the versatile blogger award by the lovely Trice of High Heels & Good Meals. I recently started reading her blog and I love love her. I couldn't think of a better person to get the award but her. I don't know if I am allowed to break the rules and re-award her? Thank you much for the award, Trice. 

The rules are as follows;

* Nominate 10 fellow bloggers who are relatively new to blogging
* Let them know you have nominated them
* Share 7 random facts about yourself
* Thank the bloggers that have nominated you
* Add the versatile blogger award to your post

Seven Random Facts About Moi
  • I am the only nurse I know who doesn't care much for coffee. I'm a tea girl through and through. I can have up to 10 cuppa teas on any given day. The weird thing is growing up my grandparents had hundreds of acres of coffee plantations which means I started drinking coffee younger than most people. I still enjoy a cup of coffee occasionally
  • I can live on a bowl of cereal. I like my cereal cold with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla. Which means I put my bag of cereal in the freezer for that extra chill and crunchiness
  • When I sleep one of my legs has to be dangling off the bed and be completely uncovered otherwise I will not fall asleep
  • I believe I am absolutely nothing without God
  • My friends think I say thank you way too much
  • I'm a wino. I especially love red wines. 
  • I'm a self-declared shopaholic. I might not shop often but when I do then I really do and enjoy it


My 10 nominees are;
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Monday, July 23, 2012

Pushing Myself

I haven't posted since last week although everyday I mean to other things just kinda overtake me.


So what's new in my neck of the woods? I started doing the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred all over again so am back to Level 1 and am ok with it. The first night it kicked my little non-existent  butt to oblivion. I just wanted to cry from sheer frustration. I wanted to throw in the towel and say forget it. But how did I get here in the first place? first things first, right? sometimes we all need a tough love reality check. I got so out of shape because I stopped working out and now that I'm back at it I can only keep pushing myself or just completely let myself go. And the latter is not an option. So I pushed myself on day 1 of the 30 day shred until it was over.  And after Day 1 its no longer that bad. And I love it.


You wanna know something? I can't do a push up. There I said it!!! I like to blame my tatas they are 40DDD's and I feel like they pull me down. But really even though that might be a factor the biggest issue is lack of upper body strength. I also cannot do a sit up. Again the boobs because I feel like its too much weight to lift. But you know what know though a novice at both I am doing horrible push ups and sit ups and feeling the effect. I gotta start somewhere. So I will keep pushing and pushing and noone can stop me unless I do it myself. All the obstacles we face along this journey to make healthy choices and lead a healthier lifestyle we create ourselves. Noone can get in our way but ourselves. So we have to make the decision to push ourselves no matter what.


I also have cut back on my carb intake. I'm striving to eat more veggiez and fruits and chug water. I'm learning the more colorful my plate is the healthier I eat. If I have more cabbage or mixed vegetables than anything else then am eating healthier. Baby steps :) 


Good week to everybody


Xx
OverWeight In SoCal

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Sunday, July 15, 2012

If you're what you say you are... a SUPERSTAR!!!

We are all our own superstars. And if we truly believe we are that then we are. Therefore we have to act like it in the face of weakness and/or strength. 


So on Wednesday I went to the gym again. This time it wasn't as packed at it was on Monday . I walked in and headed straight for the treadmill for a 15min warm up. It wasn't as bad this time I pushed myself to go as fast as I could without stopping. Of course I was sweating buckets but I didn't give two rat's asses because I believe I go to the gym to challenge myself to a healthier and more fit me. I go to push myself to better and greater heights. I go to get my heart rate revved up and break a sweat. So if breaking a sweat means sweating a bucket then bring it!!! After all sweat is fat leaving the body, right?


I moved from the treadmill to stretches including use of foam rollers, followed by doing three sets of 10 leg presses, then I did the bicep curl exercise for another 3 sets of 10. This was a tad     interesting by my second set I could feel it in my arms so I took a 10 second break and proceeded to the third set and by then I realllly could feel it. It goes to show my upper body strength is crap but that's exactly why am doing this. I cannot wait to build upper body strength and tone up my arms. I followed this by getting on the stair stepper and what a lovely form of exercise this is. I'm not even kidding you I was sweating beads for the ten minutes I was on it. After this I moved onto cycling which by the way was my first time ever. I input my age and weight and my target heart rate was 154. I pushed myself so hard on this but since it was my first time my tennies kept hitting the side of the bike and I'd slide off the pedals and get a good smack in my shins. Ouch. Plus I wouldn't resume the workout fast enough so I'd have to start over each time. This became a little frustrating by minute 10 when my heart rate was at 148 and I slid off again. I finished up by doing an additional 15minutes on the treadmill followed by some stretches before calling it a night.


I'm working on chugging more water. I don't really drink soda I mostly drink cranberry juice but I like a glass of red every now and then. I'm also carefully watching what goes in my mouth. The other day the boy wanted In-N-Out Burger so I opted for the protein style burger and skipped the bun. Its all in the small changes. I'm also doing brown rice instead of white. I made some pretty kick ass coconut brown rice last week.

I hope ya'll had a lovely weekend and that your week is off to an awesome start!!!


Xx
OverWeight In SoCal
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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Stuck In Reverse NOT

So on Monday as planned I left the house at 840pm and drove down to the gym and was there by 845pm. When I got there I could tell from the parking it was crowded. I immediately got uneasy I mean this was only my first day at the gym by myself. What if I didn't remember how any of the equipment worked. I contemplated driving back home but scolded my thoughts and found a parking spot. I walked in and checked in and boy was it crowded. Everything I had planned on using was taken EXCEPT one treadmill in the corner. I walked to it and go on it but the whole time I kept an eye out in case any of the other equipment opened up. I did the treadmill for 15mins before anything opened up. I was sweating like a pig. Naturally, I have a very high intolerance for heat so add a workout and I'm a lost case sweating to oblivion.


Did I mention the full length wall to wall mirrors? that kind of pressure is insurmountable. Working out on the treadmill looking at myself was like a forced reality check. I love myself and know am beautiful. But the one part of my body that takes a hit when I gain weight is my face and oh boy! But I was proud of myself that I was there working the treadmill in all my chub-star glory. I remembered to do my stretches :) Nothing kicked my butt to the point of getting short of breath or heaving. I loved my revved up heart rate. It was really good. I just need to find the perfect time to go. I hate a crowded gym and having to wait around for equipment to open up or staying on the same treadmill to the point I considered leaving the gym altogether. The most amazing thing however was seeing all those people committed to the same thing, a healthy lifestyle. I was so impressed by myself for being there. I pounded that treadmill and worked the leg press and inner thigh machine/adductor. I gave it my all without any apologies to anyone.


Its Wednesday night in my neck of the woods so I will he heading to the gym shortly. I miss hiking but there is no way in the hell I can tolerate hiking in this California summer heat. Its blazing!!! I'm contemplating I should start doing the Jillian Michael's 30 days shred and/or taking evening walks/runs on the days I don't go to the gym. I will keep you posted on how that goes.


Xx
OverWeight In Sunny SoCal
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Monday, July 9, 2012

I'm sexy and I know it

So as planned I went and met my personal trainer, Michael at the 24hr Fitness down my street last week. It was friggin epic!!! Once I got there he had me walk on the treadmill as a warm up for 5 mins then we moved to stretching followed by a bunch of weights. We worked on my legs, thighs, biceps, triceps and back. Whooosh. And wait for it..I absofrigginlutely loved it. He stopped me a few times and asked if I was sure I had never had a gym membership before and if I was certain I had never had a personal trainer. I assured him I hadn't and he was pretty impressed at how good I was and how I did everything he directed me to do with so much ease. It was very motivational hearing this from a trainer. I guess all the hiking and runs I do from time to time really do work. We worked out for a solid 55 minutes and I felt like a new person. So refreshing when those endorphins kick in I tell ya. At the end of the session he had me do the treadmill and some stretching again to wind down my body.


He emphasized on the importance of stretching and warming up to avoid injuries. I made a mental note to remember to do this. Too bad I don't  feel like I need a personal trainer at this point in time but if ever I did Michael would definitely be the guy to go with. He was such a personable trainer. We had great conversations during the whole workout which made it that much more better. He even asked to take me out for a drink lol. I'm sexy and I know it and I own it :) I politely declined the offer and informed him I was happily 'betrothed' to the boy :)


So I was talking to the boy about the best gym schedule and he told me to start out with three times a week. He advised I do a 30min run on the treadmill and alternate between 30mins of  upper or lower body workouts totaling to an hour at the gym. I think that sounds like a plan. I will start today so please pray me perseverance. My worst enemy in working out is boredom. It is the sheer death of me. I will persistently workout even for months on end only to fall off the wagon. I have tried to change it up. Change of scenery e.g. run on the beach, hike trails, street power walks/runs and now the gym. Even the Jillian Michael's 30 days shred. OK I do need divine intervention. So help me God.


Xx
OverWeight In SoCal
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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

First Gym Membership

So I haven't written an update on here in a while. I've been under the weather nothing weight related just not feeling too hot recently. But each day is a little better because I am a fighter and losing/giving up isn't part of my vocabulary. And you know what they say you can't beat someone who doesn't give up right? so yay go me!!!


I've always been an outdoorsy kinda girl. I love to hike, take walks outside, and run the streets. But I've decided I want something different and therefore I got gym membership at the 24hr fitness down my street. I'm excited and scared at the same time. I think the only equipment I can independently use at the gym is the treadmill. Bleh. So the manager was kind enough to give me a free one time 50min session with a personal trainer who will orient me to all the equipment at the gym. So cool. As well as taylor the orientation to suit my goals which are tone up my arms, stomach and thighs and lose some weight. That I'm definitely excitoz about :)


I even went shopping for new sports bras, which is something I have been putting away for a while now. I'm a DDD so I need to at least wear two workout bras at any given time. I was also looking for workout pants but the ones I like best are from  Cult of California going for $70. Isn't that friggin nuts!?! Mind you I do have pretty new workout pants so nevermind. But I'm really eyeing the $70 ones I just don't know that I wanna spend that much on workout pants. Would you spend that much on workout pants? I even cringe at the very thought. Loudest ick heard 'round the world lol I guess that answers my question. Or I could wait until they go on sale *grins*


I hope ya'll had a great 4th of July. The boy and I did. We watched some pretty awesome firework show, bbq'd and had some cocktails/beers. Always nice to have a day off smack in the middle of the week.


Xx
OverWeight In SoCal
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