My last week of workouts before our cruise!!
I'm ecstatic about my progress. Who knew how much of a difference five pounds could make, especially while you're gaining muscle!?! Amazing!
Pray I can keep eating healthy this week, since I'm so ready for vacation!
Monday: Cathe's Flex Train + walk + YWA
After a lot of cardio on Sunday, I was ready for something less...jumpy today. Flex Train is a great metabolic workout. Though my FitBit didn't agree, my heart felt like it was going to burst from my chest, it was pounding so hard. Whew! And I even had trouble lifting 8 pounds in these exercises since it's all about endurance. That's one good workout! At lunch, I walked at the rec center and then did some planks. After work, this YWA was perfect because I really, really needed to stretch.
Tuesday: Cathe's Kick Max + YWA
Another night of very little sleep meant this workout was very, very difficult. I like the combinations but the cardio blast is brutal when you're exhausted. I made it through by modifying a few moves and by marching while in recovery mode instead of running or jacking. It's truly awful sleeping this horribly. Yucky weather kept me from going to the rec and meant a horrible drive home. This short YWA was all I could manage.
Wednesday: Cathe's Butts and Guts + walk + YWA
I was so dreading this workout. And it came after another night of bad sleep. But I did it! This is such a torturous weighted routine - I guess because of the reps. You do everything two times through so even though you finish it once, you know it'll come again. At lunch, I walked at the rec center, getting out in the cold and wet to trek over there. And after work, I did Adriene's newest practice, which was really good.
Thursday: Cathe's Intensity + YWA
With more sleep, I felt a bit more energized this morning. Intensity isn't my favorite but it was one of my first Cathe workouts so at least I know it. After all these years, it's still not the easiest workout but It's more enjoyable than some of hers. After work, I did this YWA to stretch out my legs. I really wish I could get more flexible - this aspect of my wellness has stagnated. I'll keep working on it!
Friday: Cathe's Metabolic Mashup + RWH Abs 2
I didn't remember having done this workout before. It was good - all compound weighted exercises to get that metabolic benefit. It wasn't easy but I got through it, mainly with 8 pound weights. My workouts after the cruise will be mostly metabolic so I'd better get used to this format! After work, I got in a good ab workout with Cathe's Ripped with HIIT Abs 2. Dang, this one is tough - but good!
Saturday: Cathe's RWH Lift It HIIT It Legs + arms + RWH Abs 1
My last workout before the cruise - and it's leg work, of course! This is similar to XTrain Cardio Legs - you alternate a cardio move and a weighted move. The difference is that with RWH, you lift heavier. I did 17lb with a lot of the moves and that really spiked my heart rate. It was a great workout. After that, I did about 18 minutes of arms - because I hadn't focused on them too much this week. And finally, the other RWH Abs workout. This one was a tiny bit easier than the other one - but still challenging. And finally, I stretched.
Sunday: VACATION!
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1194
Tuesday - 1193
Wednesday - 1200
Thursday - 1410
Friday - bad
Saturday - 1266
I didn't lose any additional weight but I'm fine with that. Wearing my pants this week - that have sat, unused for moths - was wonderful.
Monday, February 26, 2018
Friday, February 23, 2018
A Few More Days....
...until I'm here....
I can't wait to get back to St. John and see how the island is doing after the hurricanes. It's one of our favorite places and it'll be great to have a day there on our cruise.
Monday, February 19, 2018
Butt and Plateau Buster Months: Week 7
Still buoyed from my four pound weight loss, I'm glad to finally see changes in my body, even if I'm a bit hungry. Only two more weeks and I can eat!
....and hopefully lose weight afterward now that I've found the secret of protein. Ha!
Monday: Cathe's XTrain Legs + BBW + walk + YWA
Another night of no sleep meant this workout was torturous. And my legs were already hurting.... By the end of this workout, I was in serious pain. The BBW did not help. Then the floor work was excruciating. Sigh. But I think these leg workouts are paying off. At lunch, I walked outside - very briskly - for 20 minutes. I just couldn't get to the rec center. After work, this YWA was not what I remembered and didn't really help my legs. I think it made me more sore. Ugh!
Tuesday: Cathe's MMA Boxing + YWA
I finally slept! And it felt....wonderful! So I was actually energized this morning for boxing! This workout is fun but has some challenging cardio bits. It definitely works the arms like crazy....and mine were surprisingly sore from Sunday. WTH?! But it felt lovely to move and feel good! After work, I did this YWA because my hamstrings have been so tight and painful since yesterday's leg workout. It really seemed to help!
Wednesday: Cathe's Pyramid Upper Body + walk
When I first did this arm workout, a few weeks ago, I was a bit traumatized at how soon my arms gave out. So this time, I lowered my weights on a few exercises, just a bit, in order to be able to get through the entirety of the pyramid sets. I was able, however, to increase my weight for a few exercises, which was nice! But this workout is the real deal. My arms were shaking for hours afterward. At lunch, I walked at the rec center to get steps - and then I stretched.
Thursday: YWA + walk
Rest days are the best days! This yoga was really good - not too crazy but challenging enough for 5:30 am. Adriene does a great job getting you to eagle pose - something I do very rarely. At lunch, I walked, despite my rest day status. I ate just a few too many treats for Valentine's Day yesterday (ugh!) so I felt the need to burn some calories, few though they may be.
Friday: Cathe's To the Max
I can never seem to remember To the Max but then, after I start it, I realize how tough it's going to be. You start out with a step routine and then move into tabatas....and then HIIT. It's non-stop! I didn't make it any further than this. I did some more of my own cardio to fill my time and then to cool off. Whew! This one is intense! There was supposed be a YWA today but work was really, really bad and I had no energy for anything afterward.
Saturday: Cathe's 4 Day Split - Kickbox + BBW + YWA
On the rotation for today was a workout from Cathe's 4 Day Split series, which I did for four weeks after STS last fall. It contains kickboxing and weighted leg work. The kickboxing is fun and high impact, which meant my heart rate was up there. I then did my BBW for the week before the weighted leg work started. And I didn't remember so many reps in these leg exercises! Dang! Squats, lunges, deadlifts, presses....many more with many reps! After that I even did the core work that is on the video. Ouch! I then stretched and did a short YWA to finish off the morning. Whew!
Sunday: Cathe's X10 + 300 lunges + Icy Core 2
I can't say I look forward to X10 because it is so intense....but I like that it works me and my legs so hard. Today I did these sections: low impact, cardio blast, and fat-burning. Wow. In between them, I did my 300 lunges. My heart was pounding like nothing else! X10 is insane. But it was amazing, doing my last round of BBW and 300 lunges this weekend. Yes!!! Afterward, I did Icy Core 2, which lasted a little over 11 minutes. And then I was finally able to stretch. Ahh....
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1189
Tuesday - 1183
Wednesday - bad!
Thursday - 1141
Friday - 1413
Saturday - 1445
Sunday - 1334
I'm down 4.4 pounds. And.....my pants fit! All my pants that didn't fit before all this now fit!! And I measured: my hips and thighs are now smaller than they were when I weighed 10 pounds less. My arms are even skinnier! I think this protein + weights thing is working! Hallelujah!
Seriously, I'm happy. If I can maintain this, I'm 100% ecstatic!
....and hopefully lose weight afterward now that I've found the secret of protein. Ha!
Monday: Cathe's XTrain Legs + BBW + walk + YWA
Another night of no sleep meant this workout was torturous. And my legs were already hurting.... By the end of this workout, I was in serious pain. The BBW did not help. Then the floor work was excruciating. Sigh. But I think these leg workouts are paying off. At lunch, I walked outside - very briskly - for 20 minutes. I just couldn't get to the rec center. After work, this YWA was not what I remembered and didn't really help my legs. I think it made me more sore. Ugh!
Tuesday: Cathe's MMA Boxing + YWA
I finally slept! And it felt....wonderful! So I was actually energized this morning for boxing! This workout is fun but has some challenging cardio bits. It definitely works the arms like crazy....and mine were surprisingly sore from Sunday. WTH?! But it felt lovely to move and feel good! After work, I did this YWA because my hamstrings have been so tight and painful since yesterday's leg workout. It really seemed to help!
Wednesday: Cathe's Pyramid Upper Body + walk
When I first did this arm workout, a few weeks ago, I was a bit traumatized at how soon my arms gave out. So this time, I lowered my weights on a few exercises, just a bit, in order to be able to get through the entirety of the pyramid sets. I was able, however, to increase my weight for a few exercises, which was nice! But this workout is the real deal. My arms were shaking for hours afterward. At lunch, I walked at the rec center to get steps - and then I stretched.
Thursday: YWA + walk
Rest days are the best days! This yoga was really good - not too crazy but challenging enough for 5:30 am. Adriene does a great job getting you to eagle pose - something I do very rarely. At lunch, I walked, despite my rest day status. I ate just a few too many treats for Valentine's Day yesterday (ugh!) so I felt the need to burn some calories, few though they may be.
Friday: Cathe's To the Max
I can never seem to remember To the Max but then, after I start it, I realize how tough it's going to be. You start out with a step routine and then move into tabatas....and then HIIT. It's non-stop! I didn't make it any further than this. I did some more of my own cardio to fill my time and then to cool off. Whew! This one is intense! There was supposed be a YWA today but work was really, really bad and I had no energy for anything afterward.
Saturday: Cathe's 4 Day Split - Kickbox + BBW + YWA
On the rotation for today was a workout from Cathe's 4 Day Split series, which I did for four weeks after STS last fall. It contains kickboxing and weighted leg work. The kickboxing is fun and high impact, which meant my heart rate was up there. I then did my BBW for the week before the weighted leg work started. And I didn't remember so many reps in these leg exercises! Dang! Squats, lunges, deadlifts, presses....many more with many reps! After that I even did the core work that is on the video. Ouch! I then stretched and did a short YWA to finish off the morning. Whew!
Sunday: Cathe's X10 + 300 lunges + Icy Core 2
I can't say I look forward to X10 because it is so intense....but I like that it works me and my legs so hard. Today I did these sections: low impact, cardio blast, and fat-burning. Wow. In between them, I did my 300 lunges. My heart was pounding like nothing else! X10 is insane. But it was amazing, doing my last round of BBW and 300 lunges this weekend. Yes!!! Afterward, I did Icy Core 2, which lasted a little over 11 minutes. And then I was finally able to stretch. Ahh....
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1189
Tuesday - 1183
Wednesday - bad!
Thursday - 1141
Friday - 1413
Saturday - 1445
Sunday - 1334
I'm down 4.4 pounds. And.....my pants fit! All my pants that didn't fit before all this now fit!! And I measured: my hips and thighs are now smaller than they were when I weighed 10 pounds less. My arms are even skinnier! I think this protein + weights thing is working! Hallelujah!
Seriously, I'm happy. If I can maintain this, I'm 100% ecstatic!
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Me Too, You Too?
It seems that every single day, when I read the news, there are new sexual assault/abuse allegations against someone. This week: Michael Fassbender and Shaun White. The more I read, the more appalled I become - and I know I'm not the only one.
Have you been the victim of a sexual assault? I have not. But I have been sexually discriminated against. Honestly: what woman has not? And even more honestly, I've heard almost every male in my life say things that are so inherently anti-female that I'm aghast. I personally know people - not at my workplace - who will not hire women of child-bearing age for fear that, once they have a child (which they apparently all do, except me!), they will quit.
In graduate school, in my male-dominated field, I sat through classes where professors made misogynistic remarks and told me to "cover my ears" when talking about the perversions of Roman emperors. My male classmates, I hope, did not agree, but none confronted the professor; one merely made a sarcastic remark in response. I was passed over for departmental jobs and other perks because I wasn't "one of the guys" in the so-called "boys club" of the department. When I complained about this to the department chair (a man), his only response was the I really needed to change my pronouns from boys/girls to men/women.
These are tiny, tiny things in relation to all the horrible crimes we're seeing in the news. But my point is that there is an underlying problem in all of society that is anti-female. Women are catty. Women are shallow. Women always cheat. Women are just paranoid. They worry too much. Women only care about money and clothes. And on and on. Do I hear women talking this way about men? No. I hear things like, "men are fixers" or "men need to feel needed." I hear discussions about how to better get along with men. I do not hear the opposite.
I could also be very, very sheltered. Maybe this dialogue in not as one-sided as I've witnessed. Either way... Maybe if this dialogue didn't happen and if children didn't hear it, they would have more respect for women.
That's my two cents.
Have you been the victim of a sexual assault? I have not. But I have been sexually discriminated against. Honestly: what woman has not? And even more honestly, I've heard almost every male in my life say things that are so inherently anti-female that I'm aghast. I personally know people - not at my workplace - who will not hire women of child-bearing age for fear that, once they have a child (which they apparently all do, except me!), they will quit.
In graduate school, in my male-dominated field, I sat through classes where professors made misogynistic remarks and told me to "cover my ears" when talking about the perversions of Roman emperors. My male classmates, I hope, did not agree, but none confronted the professor; one merely made a sarcastic remark in response. I was passed over for departmental jobs and other perks because I wasn't "one of the guys" in the so-called "boys club" of the department. When I complained about this to the department chair (a man), his only response was the I really needed to change my pronouns from boys/girls to men/women.
These are tiny, tiny things in relation to all the horrible crimes we're seeing in the news. But my point is that there is an underlying problem in all of society that is anti-female. Women are catty. Women are shallow. Women always cheat. Women are just paranoid. They worry too much. Women only care about money and clothes. And on and on. Do I hear women talking this way about men? No. I hear things like, "men are fixers" or "men need to feel needed." I hear discussions about how to better get along with men. I do not hear the opposite.
I could also be very, very sheltered. Maybe this dialogue in not as one-sided as I've witnessed. Either way... Maybe if this dialogue didn't happen and if children didn't hear it, they would have more respect for women.
That's my two cents.
Monday, February 12, 2018
Butt and Plateau Buster Months: Week 6
After last week's weight loss (!), I'm super-duper motivated to keep up the good work. I had a short bad spell last weekend, due to a family birthday and the Super Bowl, but I'm back on track this week!
With only three more weeks until the cruise, I need to make steady progress!
Monday: Cathe's Rock'm Sock'm + Icy Core 1
This workout happened at the end of the day, since I didn't feel well in the morning. And I'm glad I waited because I did 55 minutes of fun kickboxing! This is such a good workout and, after it was done, I added on the Blizzard Blast to get those extra minutes. It was difficult but fun! When that finished, I did the full 11 minutes of Icy Core 1. Whew! Intermediate ab work is still super difficult! My stretch was awesome after all this!
Tuesday: Cathe's Lower Body Blast + walk + YWA
Yet another new-to-me Cathe workout. This one is tough! Lower Body Blast is all strength, with a few cardio bursts interspersed throughout to give your legs a "break." I was really feeling all the weighted work. Dang! At lunch, I walked at the rec center and then stretched really well, hoping my legs wouldn't be too sore. My shoulders were sore from Monday's workout - really, really weird. This YWA was perfect today - because it was rainy!
Wednesday: Cathe's XTrain Low Impact HIIT + YWA
It had been a while since I'd done this HIIT....and it was a nice change. Low impact is always appreciated and today it was perfect. My heart rate stayed up, which always amazes me. Moving fast - not jumping - is enough to burn major calories. Awesome! After work, this YWA from the Revolution series was just great.
Thursday: YWA + abs
My new rest day may be Thursdays. And after not sleeping last night, it was perfect for today. This YWA wasn't my first choice but it was good in that it was easy. I needed that - ha! After it ended, I did about 10 minutes of Cathe's abs....never easy. And my abs still hurt from Monday!
Friday: Cathe's Great Glutes + walk + YWA
These leg workouts come around so, so often! Ha! But that's the point, right? This one is especially painful but I got through it. Somehow. I did the floor work instead of the optional standing chair work and it buuuurned. Ouch! At lunch, I walked at the rec center and then did some good leg stretches...since my legs were already hurting from the morning. This YWA was good - and not easy!
Saturday: Cathe's XTrain Tabatacise + 300 lunges + legs
Serious cardio today. Tabatacise is intense. It's crazy! It's Cathe's most difficult cardio workout, in my opinion. And, to make it even more fun, I did my 300 lunges throughout, in 100 increments. I was exhausted after this. My legs hurt, because Cathe's cardio is so leg intense (jumping squats, lunges). Instead of doing the BBW, I did floor work from both Lower Leg Blast and XTrain Legs. So, 55 minutes of cardio and lunges, then 20 minutes of leg work. And, finally, a well-deserved stretch. I'll do the BBW on Monday- oy.
Sunday: Cathe's XTrain SuperCuts + arms + YWA
Metabolic conditioning today! This is a great workout and is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It's a great mix of weighted and non-weighted moves so your heart rate stays elevated - with no impact! It's tough and never slows done but that's the point. After it finished - about 40 minutes - I did 15 minutes of arm work. Then, a stretch and a short YWA. Whew!
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1159
Tuesday - 1183
Wednesday - 1315
Thursday - 1248
Friday - 1353
Saturday - 1314
Sunday - 1357
When I weighed on Thursday, I was still down 4 pounds from my original weight. That's great. Not perfect, but great. I just need to keep up the good work. Two more weeks.
With only three more weeks until the cruise, I need to make steady progress!
Monday: Cathe's Rock'm Sock'm + Icy Core 1
This workout happened at the end of the day, since I didn't feel well in the morning. And I'm glad I waited because I did 55 minutes of fun kickboxing! This is such a good workout and, after it was done, I added on the Blizzard Blast to get those extra minutes. It was difficult but fun! When that finished, I did the full 11 minutes of Icy Core 1. Whew! Intermediate ab work is still super difficult! My stretch was awesome after all this!
Tuesday: Cathe's Lower Body Blast + walk + YWA
Yet another new-to-me Cathe workout. This one is tough! Lower Body Blast is all strength, with a few cardio bursts interspersed throughout to give your legs a "break." I was really feeling all the weighted work. Dang! At lunch, I walked at the rec center and then stretched really well, hoping my legs wouldn't be too sore. My shoulders were sore from Monday's workout - really, really weird. This YWA was perfect today - because it was rainy!
Wednesday: Cathe's XTrain Low Impact HIIT + YWA
It had been a while since I'd done this HIIT....and it was a nice change. Low impact is always appreciated and today it was perfect. My heart rate stayed up, which always amazes me. Moving fast - not jumping - is enough to burn major calories. Awesome! After work, this YWA from the Revolution series was just great.
Thursday: YWA + abs
My new rest day may be Thursdays. And after not sleeping last night, it was perfect for today. This YWA wasn't my first choice but it was good in that it was easy. I needed that - ha! After it ended, I did about 10 minutes of Cathe's abs....never easy. And my abs still hurt from Monday!
Friday: Cathe's Great Glutes + walk + YWA
These leg workouts come around so, so often! Ha! But that's the point, right? This one is especially painful but I got through it. Somehow. I did the floor work instead of the optional standing chair work and it buuuurned. Ouch! At lunch, I walked at the rec center and then did some good leg stretches...since my legs were already hurting from the morning. This YWA was good - and not easy!
Saturday: Cathe's XTrain Tabatacise + 300 lunges + legs
Serious cardio today. Tabatacise is intense. It's crazy! It's Cathe's most difficult cardio workout, in my opinion. And, to make it even more fun, I did my 300 lunges throughout, in 100 increments. I was exhausted after this. My legs hurt, because Cathe's cardio is so leg intense (jumping squats, lunges). Instead of doing the BBW, I did floor work from both Lower Leg Blast and XTrain Legs. So, 55 minutes of cardio and lunges, then 20 minutes of leg work. And, finally, a well-deserved stretch. I'll do the BBW on Monday- oy.
Sunday: Cathe's XTrain SuperCuts + arms + YWA
Metabolic conditioning today! This is a great workout and is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It's a great mix of weighted and non-weighted moves so your heart rate stays elevated - with no impact! It's tough and never slows done but that's the point. After it finished - about 40 minutes - I did 15 minutes of arm work. Then, a stretch and a short YWA. Whew!
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1159
Tuesday - 1183
Wednesday - 1315
Thursday - 1248
Friday - 1353
Saturday - 1314
Sunday - 1357
When I weighed on Thursday, I was still down 4 pounds from my original weight. That's great. Not perfect, but great. I just need to keep up the good work. Two more weeks.
Friday, February 9, 2018
Cathe Friedrich: Great Glutes (Review)
I'm digging deeper into Cathe's huge repertoire of workouts. The latest I'm liking is Great Glutes.
As it says, Great Glutes is all about legs. It is not, however, a heavy lifting program. Cathe relies on body weight, lighter weights, bands, and repetition to work your legs to exhaustion. Your heart rate definitely goes up in the beginning with the intent of burning fat. And your heart rate will stay up - because you're in agony!
After a 7 minute warm-up, Cathe leads you through 16 minutes of compound exercises. These are a lot of squats and lunges, with and without weights. Interspersed throughout are hammer down lunges to keep your heart rate up. These also use the legs like crazy and you quickly get tired of them! You then do work with sliding disks - side lunges, back lunges, and curtsy lunges. Ouch!
Next up: work with the stability ball to really work your bum and inner thighs. I don't have a ball so I always find a way to improvise. You then move to floor work where you will experience horrible pain doing leg raises of several variations. Oooouuuch. If you're not completely incapacitated after all that, there's a bonus section, using a chair, doing legs lifts. There is then a 7 minute stretch.
This workout is 55 minutes in length. It works every portion of your lower body. Cathe uses 8-pound weights but I use 12s regularly to get more out of it. Lift as heavy as you can to get more from these exercises. Equipment needed: dumbbells, sliding disks, stability ball, chair, firewalker band (loop), and a mat.
Bottom Line: This is not Cathe's most advanced lower body workout but it's a great intermediate video.
As it says, Great Glutes is all about legs. It is not, however, a heavy lifting program. Cathe relies on body weight, lighter weights, bands, and repetition to work your legs to exhaustion. Your heart rate definitely goes up in the beginning with the intent of burning fat. And your heart rate will stay up - because you're in agony!
After a 7 minute warm-up, Cathe leads you through 16 minutes of compound exercises. These are a lot of squats and lunges, with and without weights. Interspersed throughout are hammer down lunges to keep your heart rate up. These also use the legs like crazy and you quickly get tired of them! You then do work with sliding disks - side lunges, back lunges, and curtsy lunges. Ouch!
Next up: work with the stability ball to really work your bum and inner thighs. I don't have a ball so I always find a way to improvise. You then move to floor work where you will experience horrible pain doing leg raises of several variations. Oooouuuch. If you're not completely incapacitated after all that, there's a bonus section, using a chair, doing legs lifts. There is then a 7 minute stretch.
This workout is 55 minutes in length. It works every portion of your lower body. Cathe uses 8-pound weights but I use 12s regularly to get more out of it. Lift as heavy as you can to get more from these exercises. Equipment needed: dumbbells, sliding disks, stability ball, chair, firewalker band (loop), and a mat.
Bottom Line: This is not Cathe's most advanced lower body workout but it's a great intermediate video.
Monday, February 5, 2018
Butt and Plateau Buster Months: Week 5
Four more weeks until the cruise!
Regarding my goals last week... I definitely ate more protein, thanks to the protein powder. I was able to eat between 70 and 85 grams a day - much more than usual! As to steps.... I still had one day too many without 10,000 steps. The problem is doing weights on the weekend, when I just don't walk as much. Sigh.
This week is going to be loooong because my rest day must be Sunday. It'll also be sad - the end of YWA: True. I've loved this series and will be sad to see it end. But at least I have it downloaded!
Monday: Cathe's Jabs and Kicks + YWA
Kickboxing is my favorite Monday morning workout. There's no dread factor and Cathe usually makes them so much fun. This one was amazing. Cathe went 30 minutes without regurgitating moves from her other kickboxing routines. It was incredible and different! And fun! What a nice surprise! After work, it was time for True, day 28. Dang! This one got me sweating a bit! It was a nice, challenging surprise!
Tuesday: Cathe's STS Total Body (upper + core) + walk
So glad today was arms because I didn't sleep well. But. This workout is no joke. It's trisets, which you repeat twice: 16 reps, then 12 reps. If you lift heavy, 16 reps is difficult. Going back and doing another 12 reps feels impossible. I did the full upper body workout and then the core - 9 minutes of torture. Ha! At lunch, I walked at the rec center. Due to my evening book group, I missed YWA. So sad. I did 27 consecutive days of yoga up until today.
Wednesday: Cathe's For the Love of Cardio Live + YWA
Cardio today! Thankfully I was a bit more rested today. I'd forgotten it....but I love this workout! Cathe gives you such a good mix of steady cardio and then cardio blasts - or HIIT. It's a great workout. It wore me out! And just look at Cathe's legs - she so rarely wears shorts. I want legs like that! After work, finally, day 29 of YWA: True! It was another good one!
Thursday: Cathe's Lean Legs and Abs + walk
I'm learning that I like Lean Legs much more than Great Glutes....probably because it's a bit easier. Ha! I did only the legs this morning and they were burning by the end of it! Dang! Finishing off with the barre was especially painful....er, effective. At lunch, I walked at the rec center and did some ab work along with some good leg stretches. I had to postpone, again, the last day of YWA: True because of family stuff.
Friday: Cathe's Afterburn + YWA
I miss my Friday rest days. But at least today was low impact! Afterburn, however, is not easy. It's low-impact but high intensity. The squats really got to me today; after yesterday's workout they were tired! But this is a great workout and one I should keep in the rotation. After work, I finally finished YWA: True! Only two days late.... It was great, a culmination of the past 30 days.
Saturday: Cathe's STS Plyo Legs + BBW
Cathe's rotation calls for one Plyo Legs workout and I was so happy to do it, after so many run-throughs with XTrain Cardio Leg Blast. Different is always good! This workout is no laughing matter, however. My heart was pounding throughout. I did my 300 walking lunges - barely. They hurt! After all that (almost 60 minutes of work), it was time for the Bonus Butt Workout. All I can say is....ouch. It was a relief to stretch, finally.
Sunday: REST
I was out of town on Sunday, hence my rest day getting pushed to Sunday.
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1167
Tuesday -1284
Wednesday - 1271
Thursday - 1188
Friday - 1187
Saturday - 1889
Sunday - BAD
Before my bad weekend, I weighed. I'm now down an additional 3 pounds.....4 total since New Year's. I can't tell you how ecstatic I am. All I can think is the extra protein is actually working. Earlier in the week, I was so depressed....this made my week...my month.
Regarding my goals last week... I definitely ate more protein, thanks to the protein powder. I was able to eat between 70 and 85 grams a day - much more than usual! As to steps.... I still had one day too many without 10,000 steps. The problem is doing weights on the weekend, when I just don't walk as much. Sigh.
This week is going to be loooong because my rest day must be Sunday. It'll also be sad - the end of YWA: True. I've loved this series and will be sad to see it end. But at least I have it downloaded!
Monday: Cathe's Jabs and Kicks + YWA
Kickboxing is my favorite Monday morning workout. There's no dread factor and Cathe usually makes them so much fun. This one was amazing. Cathe went 30 minutes without regurgitating moves from her other kickboxing routines. It was incredible and different! And fun! What a nice surprise! After work, it was time for True, day 28. Dang! This one got me sweating a bit! It was a nice, challenging surprise!
Tuesday: Cathe's STS Total Body (upper + core) + walk
So glad today was arms because I didn't sleep well. But. This workout is no joke. It's trisets, which you repeat twice: 16 reps, then 12 reps. If you lift heavy, 16 reps is difficult. Going back and doing another 12 reps feels impossible. I did the full upper body workout and then the core - 9 minutes of torture. Ha! At lunch, I walked at the rec center. Due to my evening book group, I missed YWA. So sad. I did 27 consecutive days of yoga up until today.
Wednesday: Cathe's For the Love of Cardio Live + YWA
Cardio today! Thankfully I was a bit more rested today. I'd forgotten it....but I love this workout! Cathe gives you such a good mix of steady cardio and then cardio blasts - or HIIT. It's a great workout. It wore me out! And just look at Cathe's legs - she so rarely wears shorts. I want legs like that! After work, finally, day 29 of YWA: True! It was another good one!
Thursday: Cathe's Lean Legs and Abs + walk
I'm learning that I like Lean Legs much more than Great Glutes....probably because it's a bit easier. Ha! I did only the legs this morning and they were burning by the end of it! Dang! Finishing off with the barre was especially painful....er, effective. At lunch, I walked at the rec center and did some ab work along with some good leg stretches. I had to postpone, again, the last day of YWA: True because of family stuff.
Friday: Cathe's Afterburn + YWA
I miss my Friday rest days. But at least today was low impact! Afterburn, however, is not easy. It's low-impact but high intensity. The squats really got to me today; after yesterday's workout they were tired! But this is a great workout and one I should keep in the rotation. After work, I finally finished YWA: True! Only two days late.... It was great, a culmination of the past 30 days.
Saturday: Cathe's STS Plyo Legs + BBW
Cathe's rotation calls for one Plyo Legs workout and I was so happy to do it, after so many run-throughs with XTrain Cardio Leg Blast. Different is always good! This workout is no laughing matter, however. My heart was pounding throughout. I did my 300 walking lunges - barely. They hurt! After all that (almost 60 minutes of work), it was time for the Bonus Butt Workout. All I can say is....ouch. It was a relief to stretch, finally.
Sunday: REST
I was out of town on Sunday, hence my rest day getting pushed to Sunday.
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1167
Tuesday -1284
Wednesday - 1271
Thursday - 1188
Friday - 1187
Saturday - 1889
Sunday - BAD
Before my bad weekend, I weighed. I'm now down an additional 3 pounds.....4 total since New Year's. I can't tell you how ecstatic I am. All I can think is the extra protein is actually working. Earlier in the week, I was so depressed....this made my week...my month.
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Fingerless Gloves
After 6.5 years of marriage, I've finally knitted something for Mr. Higgins! It was his Christmas present, though I was a bit late and finished them in January - Fingerless Gloves! Mr. Higgins is always cold in the house so I wanted something that would keep him warm without hindering his mobility (for computer-ing and gaming). These are perfect!
Pattern: Happily Ever After Mitts by Susan B. Anderson
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi - Calumet (purple/brown/grey)
Needles: US 1.5 (2.5mm)
Made for: Mr. H
Time to completion: 3 weeks, though I started, frogged, and restarted several times in October and November
I made a few adjustments to the pattern.... For one thing, the arms are shorter than the pattern's 14 (!) or so inches. I added on some stitches - total of 58 - since his hands are a bit wider. And I also made the thumb hole a bit bigger (16 row). The end edging is a bit wider so he could tell which end was the bottom or top more easily.
About 6 years ago, Mr. H picked out this yarn for socks at one my favorite yarn stores of all time. But he has his favorite super-warm socks that never seem to die and I know I couldn't compete with those. So this was the perfect way to use the yarn he liked. I'm so happy with these and the pattern was so easy....I'll have to make more!
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