A while back, as in last year, I wanted to knit a fabulous, big shawl with a lovely gradient set I'd purchased from Sundara Yarn. I found a lovely pattern called Verum, by Jana Huck, that I innocuously thought would be an easy knit.
Well, it is. But let me tell you this - I will never, ever knit anything as big as a shawl that has the term "short rows" anywhere in the pattern. This entire pattern is short rows - well, 85% of it is, to be fair. But the short rows are never ending. They are a time suck. Just when you think, "only a few more," days go by until you finish them. They are horrible. They were created by the devil. And I'll be happy if I never see one again - except in socks, of course (they need a heel, after all!).
Sigh. That being said, the pattern is nice. It's good, mindless knitting but also very clever. I had to ask Jana a question on Ravelry and she was mostly nice - and a tiny bit snarky. But then, I did question her instructions.
I'll be glad to have this project over. I was almost halfway done when I picked it up again at the beginning of August. I wanted to finish it for my August FO. We'll see....it's going to be close!
This week, my Cathe focus shifts to XTrain. This is a tough series and the strength work is really good!
I wish my eating was going to be better....but it will be - soon enough!
Monday: Cathe's XTrain: Chest, Back, and Shoulders + walk
I actually meant to do the Burn Sets for this muscle group and accidentally clicked on this workout instead. Ack! Oh, well. I like that this one moves through each muscle group before repeating a group. That way, your muscles don't tire as quickly. At lunch, I walked at the rec center, needing steps and activity after so much weekend eating. Life interfered with yoga - again. Sigh.
Tuesday: Cathe's XTrain: Burn Sets - Bi's and Tri's + walk + YWA
More weights this morning - and I did the correct workout, finally! This was a great, effective, and reasonably timed workout! It last just under 40 minutes, which was perfect because I could do it all! And my arms were burning, for sure! Wow! At lunch, I walked again at the rec center, determined to get my steps this week! I also did my planking. After work, this YWA was light and refreshing.
Wednesday: Cathe's XTrain: All Out Low Impact HIIT
I was ready for cardio this morning - and low impact is always a treat. This one works you hard, especially at the beginning. But this morning, my heart rate did not want to climb. Maybe my FitBit wasn't awake yet. I felt like I got a great workout, and that's what matters in the long run. I was super happy to not have to walk at lunch today. I get so tired of sweating on my lunch break!
Thursday: YWA + Icy Core 1
For my rest day, I probably should have done something just a bit more active....but I really wanted some yoga. My body was craving it. And I got to do a longer session from Adriene's Revolution! Nice! I then did this core workout - not the easiest, but not the hardest. A good morning!
Friday: Cathe's ICE: Chiseled Lower Body Blast
A new workout! I love trying new-to-me Cathe workouts! And I haven't found an ICE workout that I didn't like. This Lower Body Blast is definitely a blast but Cathe veterans will be able to tell that it's an intermediate workout. My heart didn't seem to know that, however, because it pounded away like crazy! Whew! What a good way to start a Friday!
Saturday: Cathe's Bootcamp with Step Live + Nordin's Butt Bible 2
Today started with a new live workout from Cathe - one from 2015 that is still good. This bootcamp contains circuits that include a step cardio move, a lower body strength move, and then upper body. It was good - not my favorite, but still good. I always like the variety of these bootcamp workouts. After 30 minutes of that, I tuned into the next level of Butt Bible, which is 30 minutes long. And dang!!! I used a 12-pound weight for the weighted exercises, squeezed my bum like crazy, and was in constant pain. Fun! After that, I stretched out the legs really well!
Sunday: Cathe's XTrain: Tabatacise + Icy Core 2
I wasn't really looking forward to Tabatacise but at least I don't dread it like Crossfire. And I did pretty well with it, this time through. Sure, I thought I was going to die a few times, but that's normal. Ha! My heart rate was through the roof, which always makes me happy. After that 45 minutes, I did my second core workout of the week and stretched. A good day!
Calorie Counts:
I was really good on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The rest of the days were bad. Only one more week of bad eating and then it's time to buckle down!
One of my favorite low impact workouts is Cathe's All Out Low Impact HIIT. She proves that low impact can, indeed, be high intensity.
Cathe's XTrain series is phenomenal. All Out Low Impact HIIT is the only low impact cardio workout in the series - but it's the only one you need. After a very good warm-up, lasting about fives minutes, you're off!
This workout has three sections. This first section uses no equipment, except light weights - Cathe uses 5 pound dumbells (I used 6 lb). You do a lot of work that taxes your legs, and, therefore, raises the heart rate, i.e. sprint shooters, squats, squats to lunges.
The second section requires a step, though I did not use one, and the same dumbbells. This part seemed a bit easier to me, though you still have some moves that really work the legs. Ouch!
The third and shortest section uses sliding disks, which I did not use. Cathe takes you through jacks, mountain climbers, scissors, and swimming lunges. Obviously, you can modify all this based on your needs and equipment. All of this lasts for about 35 minutes, after which Cathe gives you a short stretch.
I love this workout. In fact, it maybe my favorite of Cathe's low impact workouts. It's effective and there is no boredom with these moves. There are some oldies and some new moves.
Bottom Line: This is a tough, advanced, high intensity workout. An intermediate or advanced exerciser will do best with this format.
This week, I'm focusing on Cathe's Low Impact Series, for something different. I haven't done a lot of these workouts since last fall/winter, so it's fun to do them again.
And after all of my Michelle Dozois workouts recently, it's nice to give my joints a break with some low impact work.
Monday: Cathe's Low Impact Series: Total Body Trisets (Upper ) + walk + YWA
My chest was still hurting from Friday's Gym Style torture session. And yet, here I was doing weights again this morning. This is not my favorite upper body strength video, but it's definitely effective - and my chest most definitely objected! At lunch, I walked at the rec center since I had no steps for the day so far. After work, I did this YWA on a whim - but it was so much better than I remembered. It really helped open up my sore chest and shoulders. Very nice!
Tuesday: Cathe's Low Impact Series: Cardio Supersets + Icy Core 1
All I remembered before today about Cardio Supersets was that I didn't like it as much as Afterburn. But today, I enjoyed it because it was different. I skipped a lot of the push-ups, deciding to give my upper body a break. I made up for it with standing cardio. But this was a great workout that kept my hear rate up there. After that, I did some core work, because I had some extra time. I had forgotten how tough this Icy Core is!
Wednesday: Cathe's Low Impact Series: Total Body Trisets (Lower) + walk
I didn't really remember this workout but it turned out to be really good. My heart rate quickly went up and had a hard time coming down! This workout does contain one of the hardest balancing challenges in all of Cathe's DVDs: a one-legged squat where you bend to the floor to release and then pick up weights. I can't do it; I do one-legged squats instead. At lunch, I walked at the rec center to get steps.
Thursday: Cathe's LIS: Afterburn + Icy Core 2
Whew! This workout always surprises me - it's always tougher than I expect. I was off Thursday and Friday so I had more time. I did all of this workout, so about 50 minutes of work. I then did my second core workout for the week. Ouch! I stretched really well - since my legs still hurt from Wednesday. Wow.
Friday: Cathe's Travel Fit
Since I was out of town today, but needed another strength workout, this seemed the perfect opportunity to try a new-to-me Cathe workout, Travel Fit. It uses bands instead of weights. I don't think bands are as effective as weights but I've found that they recruit different muscles - in a very good way. I did all of this workout, including the abs. My legs still hurt from Wednesday so that was a bit unpleasant. But a good workout!! It lasted 50 minutes.
Saturday: Cathe's MMA Boxing + Nordin's Butt Bible 1
I was still out of town today so I did 30 minutes of MMA Boxing - and really enjoyed it. I forget about these MMA - and they're very good! I love the cardio blasts within the boxing. After doing 30 minutes of that, I tuned into Nordin's Butt Bible - and this is my last time around with level 1. I used no weights today, since I wasn't home. But it still hurt. Almost immediately. Sigh.
Sunday: REST
Travel and catch up day.
Calorie Counts:
This week was so bad, I can't even tell you. Ugh.
Our little outside furry friend, Zeus, is still hanging around. And he's adorable. He shows up every night between 7 and 8 and stays until about 7am. We have no idea where he spends his days but I'm so glad he's with us every night. He's a sweetie.
This week, I'm back to Cathe! And I'm going back to a seriously difficult strength series: Gym Style!
Let's see just how painful this is going to be...
Monday: Cathe's High Intensity Cardio Step
I wasn't really excited about more cardio this morning but I had high hopes for this Cathe Live workout. And it did not disappoint. There was no crazy complex step choreography in this step workout! Yes! It was easy to follow, intense, and effective! I really enjoyed the steady cardio - which Cathe doesn't do often. There were a few blasts thrown in but most of it was steady. I stopped it before she got to weights and cooled down a bit. Nice!
Tuesday: Cathe's Gym Style: Back, Shoulders, and Biceps + walk + YWA
These Gym Style workouts are incredible. I've been wanting to revisit them, as the last time I did them was in the fall. And I need muscles for my bikini in 11 weeks. Ha! This is not an easy workout - I lifted as heavy as I could. And I did concentration curls, which I abhor. At lunch, I walked at the rec center since I needed steps. I also did my sit-ups. There are not going to be many opportunities for yoga this week, so I did one today, when I knew I had time. And this was a good one!
Wednesday: Cathe's Gym Style: Legs + walk
I knew I was in for some pain today - and I was right. This leg workout is intense! I love it! Ha! Squats, pulsing lunges, more low pulsing lunges, leg presses, and floor work...wow! Every inch of your legs suffer - er, grow stronger! - with this workout. My heart was pounding for most of the standing work. At lunch, I walked at the rec center - so that, afterwards, I could stretch out my tired legs. I also planked!
Thursday: Michelle's BodyFit 360 Vol. 4: Energize + abs
Rest day! And this was the perfect opportunity to try Michelle Dozois' new BodyFit workout, which was just released. I didn't get to do it all but what I did do was a lot of fun! The dance sequences were creative and energizing - go figure! I didn't do the sculpt but I did some of the stretch, which was also very good. This is a great addition to this 360 series! I added on some abs - Cathe's Crossfire abs.
Friday: Cathe's Gym Style: Chest and Triceps
OMG. So I remembered this one being painful; I definitely remembered the 72 push-ups that begin the workout. But I did not remember just how painful it is. I couldn't press as much weight as usual after all those push-ups. And then, after all the chest work, the tricep exercises were traumatic. At one point, my entire chest - boobs and all - were visibly shaking from the effort it took my triceps to lift 8 pounds. EIGHT POUNDS. Ouch.
Saturday: Dozois' Peak 10 Cardio Strength + abs
This morning, I went back to Michelle Dozois' original Cardio Strength. What a workout! This one is really good and straight-forward because the choreography isn't all that complicated. The strength moves are simple and the cardio is tough - and not overly dance-y. I did 4 rounds for a total of 45 minutes - and it was not easy! Dang! After that, I did about 8 minutes of abs from a live Cathe workout. Then, a stretch!
Sunday: Cathe's Hi-Lo HIIT Live + Nordin's Butt Bible 1
HIIT today! Cathe's Hi-Lo HIIT is short and sweet, with cardio that runs for 30 minutes. It wasn't easy, but it was fun! Cathe alternates a high impact HIIT move with a low impact HIIT move. Sometimes the low impact HIIT feels easy, but not generally - so your heart rate stays up the entire time. After that, it was time for my lower body torture session with Pauline Nordin. I added some weights to the squats and bridges, making those especially fun. After that 25 minutes, a stretch!
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1812
Tuesday - 1277
Wednesday - 1277
Thursday - 1233
Friday - 1737
Saturday - 1588
Sunday - BAD
Not a great week.... But I'll be on the straight and narrow come September, so I'd better enjoy this time!
As students return to campus, hauling precious possessions across campus and into compact dorm rooms, I'm reminded of just how young these adults truly are. I'm surrounded by them whenever I wander outside my building - and we have some who work for us - but they always appear older than their 18-22 years. Sometimes.
I work out with them at the rec center and cringe at their obvious insecurities - or minimal amounts of clothes. It's so painfully obvious that each and every one of them wants acceptance. And does that feeling, that need, ever truly go away?
If I could give them a few pieces of advice, it would sound something like this....
1. When faced with the horrific question of "What do I want to be?," think instead, "What would I enjoy doing everyday?" Ask any adult you know - going to work is not fun. But, hopefully, with some guidance, you can find something you can tolerate doing every single day. Go to work with your parents, with your grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors.... See what the real world is like.
2. Don't change for anyone in order to gain acceptance. Don't wear revealing clothes because a guy likes it. Don't change your hair to please a guy. If they - guys, girls, friends - don't like the natural you, then they will never make you happy because you will never feel accepted.
3. Don't wear workout clothes for any reason other than working out. Have some pride in yourself. No one wants to see your butt hanging out of your shorts. And anyone who wants to see that, doesn't care about anything that matters. Common decency and dignity are no longer in style....but they're the only things that will get you to a good place in life.
4. Don't fee rushed. There's no hurry to date, to drink, to lose your virginity.... These years will pass in a blur. Work hard and have fun - but don't rush anything. There's time enough for everything you want to do.
5. Start a retirement account at age 18 and put $20 into it every month. You will thank me. Compounding interest is an amazing thing.
There you go. Now, go and have fun. But study hard!
I'm back from a short trip out of town. While my muscles and feet may have rested, I came back tired from all the driving and late nights with friends.
Life is never perfect, eh?
Monday: Kelly Coffey-Meyer's Muscle Definition (#2) + walk
These Kelly Coffey-Meyer Muscle Definition workouts are great! There are some very different exercises that really make me hurt the next day! Ha! KCM is no Cathe or Michelle Dozois but she creates an effective workout. And I like her 30 minute workouts (which are really closer to 40 with warm-up and stretch). At lunch, I walked at the rec center and did my sit-ups. I was happy to know that four days off don't make sit-ups more difficult!
Tuesday: Cathe's Compound HIIT
Wow! Talk about a crazy good, fast workout! This Compound HIIT clocks in at 37 minutes - but you work hard for those 37 minutes! Cathe takes you through a HIIT move, a compound weighted move, a HIIT move, a compound weighted move... There are no "easy" moves in this workout but at least it's over quickly!
Wednesday: Cathe's Vertical Loading + walk
I've been curious about this workout since Cathe posted it. Vertical loading refers to strength training that starts at the top of the body and works its way down. So, shoulders, biceps, chest, triceps, back, legs. That order may be incorrect but it's something like that. There are 3 sets of 6 exercises that are repeated twice. Whew! This was a good, sweaty strength workout!! At lunch, I walked at the rec center to get some steps. I'm coming down with a cold, it seems, and everything has been snowballing after our trip...meaning I'm really worn out. Oy.
Thursday: Dozois' Peak 10 Cardio Interval Burn
This morning, I woke up early, thanks to the beginnings of a head cold. Sigh. While I wasn't incapacitated by it, I decided to do this CIB. It's not easy but I did the best I could and got through 4 peaks before having to stop. It felt good to work hard but 4 peaks is about all I can do before my feet start hurting. Thank you, plantar fasciitis. I managed 50 minutes of work, including a warm-up and cool down - so that was great!
Friday: YWA + Dozois' On the Go Workouts (abs)
For my rest day, I had every intention of doing a Body Fit 360... But my head cold (thank you, travel stress) has slowed me down a bit. I decided to do a YWA instead, to help my body rest a bit. And this one is really nice - a good flow without being too intense. It felt so good to do yoga after a 1.5 week hiatus. I tacked on ten minutes of abs as well, to feel a bit more productive.
Saturday: Dozois' PeakFit: Anytime Anywhere + YWA
I hate this workout. I love Michelle but I hate this workout. In my defense, this one is unlike anything else Michelle has choreographed - and she pretty much admits it was her husband's creation in the video. So, there you go. I worked hard and was happy I got through as much as I did - all of it - but the last two HIITS almost did me in. This one always feels like an accomplishment. I rewarded myself with a short YWA to cool down. Then, a stretch.
Sunday: Dozis' Peak 10 More Cardio Strength + Nordin's Butt Bible 1 + Dozois' On the Go Workouts (abs)
This morning, I was feeling a bit better so I attempted a harder workout. And almost died. LOL....oy. This CS is one of the toughest - and it is the toughest in many ways. You go up and down from the floor so much, it really wears me down. I got through 30 minutes, barely, which was my goal. I then tuned into Pauline Nordin's first Butt Bible video, which is 20 minutes long. Ouch! I'm going to feel that one. Then, my second round of abs for the week, followed by a stretch. Whew!
Calorie Counts:
This week was all messed up. I was good when I could be but some days were not at all good. Sigh.
Dooku is wishing everyone a very happy Friday. He doesn't usually differentiate his days but today was a living room napping day. LOL!
Ah, the life of a cat.
