Monday, November 21, 2011

Days 4 & 5

Day 4 was Sunday, so I didn't do much. I ended up taking a vigorous 2 mile walk right before nightfall. Today (Day 5) I knew I wasn't going to make it to zumba class tonight because of an extra-long tutoring session, so I set out to do the entire 30 minute Turbo Fire DVD. Wow, I think it's equal to an hour long zumba class! My heart rate was so high during the fire drills, I wondered if there is a level above high intensity, because I was there. Maybe it's the 'I'm-going-to-pass-out-in-5-seconds-if-we-don't-stop-this' intensity level. I had to back off for a bit so I didn't pass out. I think I'll do this one again tomorrow and see if I can push myself a little harder. I also did the optional 10 minute stretch at the end, and that was very enjoyable.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Day 3

Yay! It's still morning and I've already worked out for today! my neighbor let me borrow a Turbo Fire DVD and I finally got around to trying it. Whew! It's as high intensity as my Zumba class can be. I only did the first half and I am pooped. I think I'll try to do the whole thing tomorrow afternoon. I wasn't prepared for something that rigorous this morning.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Day 2

I did NOT want to work out today. I had a difficult morning/afternoon and was feeling yucky again tonight after dinner, so I kept putting it off. I finally had to ask myself 'do you really want to quit on the second day of a challenge?!' That's my biggest motivational tool--a challenge. So I got up and went for a brisk 15 minute walk with Chica. Not the hardest workout ever, but it counts. I'm planning for an early workout tomorrow.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

A 40 Day Challenge

I have been issued a challenge to work out for 40 consecutive days. It was not directed specifically at me; my aunt is doing it and posted it for all her Facebook friends, but I am picking up that thrown gauntlet nonetheless! The rules are you must work out every day or you start back at day 1. For me, a workout will be at least of moderate intensity and for at least 15 minutes (I figure I can do anything for 15 minutes!) Today I began by going back to zumba class. The results, a 55 minute workout of high intensity :) I don't aim for that every day, but I think it's a good way to start.
In other news, I picked a bunch of green beans from our garden to eat for dinner tonight. Mmmm they were so good: I sautéed them lightly in EVOO, salt, & pepper. And talk about fresh--picked at 5PM, eaten by 6PM. That's the way we were meant to eat!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Yucky Tummy

It's been a hard last few days. I've been sick to my stomach all weekend! It makes getting motivated for workouts that much more difficult. I have managed to keep up on laundry and get some housework done, but that's about it. I even had to skip out on zumba tonight, so sad :( Hopefully this will have passed by next Thursday.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Missed a Day

Yesterday turned into quite a busy day, despite no official work. I had my normal busy Thursday morning and then I was able to go with a friend on her 32 week sonogram in the afternoon. It was so neat to see a developing baby, hear his heartbeat, see him move around inside her. I can't wait to have one of my own. Then, last night, I went back to the zumba class. There were fewer people this time so the instructor had us working with weights. Wow! That was quite a workout! After zumba I spent some time just talking with a friend at Starbucks, so I didn't get home until late. I am super tired this morning. I may end up taking a nap, after I go weed out the vegetable beds.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Blah

Had a down day. Battled a headache all day. Hope tomorrow is batter.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Errand day

After a morning teaching English & a quick lunch, I spent the afternoon grocery shopping. I shopped off my list, but I still didn't do as well as usual. I aim for 50% savings when I shop at Publix but I think I only got 30%. I never do as well when I buy meats: I can never find coupons for them! Oh well, at least I got what I needed and stayed within budget. For dinner tonight I made mushroom soup. I thought my husband would be happy, he loves mushrooms. But he let me know (after I had dinner ready) he did not like mushroom soup! Apparently he doesn't like his mushrooms pureed. Well, I had him try it anyway, and he said it was good. So my first attempt at mushroom soup got a thumbs up from a difficult audience :)

Monday, November 7, 2011

Paperwork

I spent most of this day catching up on my husband's business paperwork. I am his (unpaid) accountant. He gives me handfuls of receipts & I reconcile them all to the bank statements and input them into my spreadsheet for the end of year taxes. It's a lot of work, especially if you haven't done it for 10 months. Then I took another shot at zumba. I thnk I did a little better this time, but I'm still not all there with the coordination. My feet were working a little better and I managed to get my arms to match theirs about half the time, but my hips are still not cooperating. It's gonna take a while to get some Latin blood into this white girl!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Lotta Walkin'

As my Nana would say, I'm tuckered out! We went out to the corn 'maize' in Hilliard this morning and walked throughout the farm. It brought back so many childhood memories! I didn't grow up on a farm, but I grew up in the Florida countryside and this farm reminded me of home. After conquering both sides of the maize, walking through the barns, and shopping in the general store, we headed home to begin our weekend job. We had 3 lawns to do today, but one had already mowed their lawn, so we were able to spend extra time on one ladies yard doing some extra work that she wanted done. I ended up pushing the lawn mower & pulling vines for about an hour, in addition to riding the big lawn mower (which doesn't really count as exercise). So with all the walking and physical activity, I am pooped! Good thing I get and extra hour of sleep tonight :)

Friday, November 4, 2011

Ouch

I am sore! I did manage to work in a walk with Chica tonight. Hopefully that will keep her accident free tomorrow morning. I watched my husband play his first gig with his band tonight. They did pretty good, but they still need to work on the balance between instruments & vocals. I could tell the lead was singing, but I couldn't make out the words! Hopefully their second engagement will have the kinks worked out.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Zumba

Ouch, I hurt! After a busy morning & a full afternoon, I was very tempted to back out of attending the Zumba class my friend had invited me to, but I made myself go. I've attended some dance workout classes before, so I am familiar with some of the steps they did, but I have no dance flair! And I don't know how they get their bodies to shake & shimmy like that! It reminded me of the time I tried a belly dancing class at the YMCA--epic fail. My hips & shoulders have never learned to cooperate. I try to shake the top and the bottom moves; I have a little better success with the hips, but nothing like the girls in this class. It was all I could do to mimic the feet movements. I managed to follow along fairly well, and I tried to keep moving throughout so that it would be a true workout. I am now thoroughly tired and I'm sure I will be sore tomorrow! Hopefully the next time I go I'll be able to add arm movements and (eventually) torso? It's gonna take a lot to teach this white girl new tricks, but I'm up for it :)

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Accidents

I didn't get much exercise today. After staying up late waiting for my husband to get home, I slept later than usual this morning. I went straight to Chica to walk her, but it was too late. Every time I move her bed onto the perch under the window, she does her business on the floor! She loves sleeping up on her perch, but until she stops with the accidents, it's not gonna happen. Anyway, she went into time-out while I cleaned up the mess and we did not walk the block. Hopefully tomorrow will be better, since she is sleeping on the floor.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Day 2

Two days in a row. That's a fair start to beginning to build back habits that were lost.
Even though I had to leave relatively early this morning, I managed to get in a short walk, mostly because that was the only way to make sure Chica did not have an accident while I was gone :) I also worked out in the garden for 30 minutes, weeding out the same old white rooted weeds that I had been fighting before. They just keep coming back! I guess that's what makes them a weed. I do have a nice crop of lettuce growing, along with a few late-blooming tomatoes. I'm hoping it doesn't get to cold, since that's what killed my late bloomers last year. I think the carrots are doing well too, but there is really no way to tell other than to uproot a plant; so I'll wait until it's time to harvest and hope for the best. Oh, and the green beans have flowered. Hopefully that means they'll be developing soon. I can't wait to eat what I've worked so hard to cultivate!