Back to The 30-Day Shred: Day 1/Level 1

Yes, you read that right, I am starting all over again–yet again!  I’m going to do Jillian Michael’s 30-Day Shred.  But, hopefully this time, I will do all 30 days!

Well, of course I am starting on level one again.  It’s been quite a while since I’ve done this workout, and to be honest, it’s been quite a while since I’ve exercised in general!!

I was a little nervous to start this workout again.  My body has been tight since it’s been on hiatus so I figured I would have a horrendous first workout.  Luckily, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.

I, for the most part, kept up with the cardio–MUCH better than the first time around!  The strength part was good, but I did lower the weight amount and it definitely helped…in a positive way.  The push-ups were still a struggle but I will improve.  My goal is to be able to do a “regular” push-up instead of the “girlie” push-up (using my knee’s).

What spurred me on to finally come back to exercise?  Well, it could be:

1) the fact that my body is so tight that it’s hard to do anything, or

2) my kinda crappy mood lately, or

3) my utter lack of energy…which isn’t like me, usually I have a lot of energy!

OR

4) the fact that I gained back ALL, yes I said all, of the weight I had lost.  I am sad to report I now weigh 174 lbs.  The most I’ve ever weighed is actually 175 lbs.  I’m both embarrassed and saddened by this fact.  OR

5)  I really missed working out

Honestly, it’s all 5 of the above!!  Yes, it’s true.  I bitch and moan, but in reality I always feel better after working out.  And, it also makes me want to improve my eating so I don’t negate the workouts.  My mood has already improved dramatically today.

As for my eating, the past month I have not been eating well.  I went on a– well I can’t really call it a frenzy or a binge– but I really did eat so much more than I normally ever do.  The worst part was that I never felt full.  But whatever it was is over and I am back to eating normally so I have a fridge full of fruits and veggies, turkey meat, and overall healthier choices.

Today so far I’ve had to eat:

breakfast: Shredded Wheat, strawberries, & 1% milk

lunch: Venti sugar-free Cinnamon Dolce Latte (On a side note, I have cut back on these.  I no longer have them every day, but only 2-3 times a week).  My goal is to only have them 1-2 times a week.

Snack: 1 Wasa cracker, 2 Tbsp peanut butter (skippy), 1 tsp apricot jam

for Dinner tonight I plan on having a  turkey burger on rye bread w/mustard and horseradish (just a little of both to wet the bread) turkey meatloaf (well, one slice anyway!), sauteed squash (zucchini, crookneck, pattypan) and a salad w/olive oil & balsamic vinegar dressing.  Then, for Dessert I plan on having watermelon w/ 1/2 cup Ben & Jerry’s Fro-Yo Cherry Garcia.

I tried Ben & Jerry’s Fro-Yo Chocolate Fudge Brownie recently and although it’s a little icier (lighter) than the regular ice cream, I fell in love.  Even better, the calorie’s and fat grams are less.  I don’t feel deprived at all.  Don’t worry, Ben & Jerry’s won’t be an every day thing, just a treat once or twice a week.  I just bought the Cherry Garcia today so I thought I’d try it out.

As usual, I still need to work on my water intake.  I’m nowhere near 8 cups for the day and the headache I’ve had all day is a testament to my dehydration.  Why is this such a problem for me??? Ugh……but, like the push-ups, I will conquer it!!

Wishing everyone a great weekend!!

30 Day Shred-Day 10

Yes I know, I’ve slacked on Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred.  I took the last 2 days off from the workout–too many things going on.  But, I am back on track and have completed Day 10!!  And today is the last day of Level 1.  I’m both excited and nervous to move up to Level 2.  I don’t know why….I just am.

The workout was great as always!! A butt-kicking sweat-fest.  I’ve seen so much improvement in my day-to-day life due to this workout.  I can lift heavier items more easily than before, I have more energy, and I can see a difference in my core.  So far, this tape is amazing!!  Can’t wait to get to level 2 tomorrow!

Breakfast:

1 cup Shredded Wheat

1 cup 1% milk

1 Tbsp Whey protein

Snack:

2 Wasa crackers

1 triangle of Laughing Cow cheese

Lunch:

1 turkey burger (no bun/bread or condiments)

Summer Squash Medley

Snack:

1 Fuji apple

2 Tbsp peanut butter

Dinner:

White Roughy

1 cup steamed broccoli

Still trying to drink enough water.  I’m averaging about 5-6 cups a day now.  I know this isn’t enough for me so I still need to work harder!!

I was planning on running tonight.  The local Fleet Feet store has Wed Ladies Night drop-in but I couldn’t make it in time.  Will have to try again next week!

Tonight at 12:01 am SATC 2 premieres in theaters everywhere!!  Can’t believe it’s finally here!!!  Who’s going??

In the meantime my SFGiants game is on right now and later I will watch the season finale of Criminal Minds and after that Top Chef Masters.

Happy Wednesday!!

30 Day Shred-Day 9

Well, this is day 9 of doing the Shred. I only have 1 more day for Level 1 and then I’m moving on to Level 2.  I’m excited to try a new workout!!

Well, after watching my SFGiants lose, yet again, to the Oakland A’s I was more than ready to do my workout and expend the frustration I was feeling as a SFGiants fan!  I did the routine following the advanced trainer, well except the push-ups–I still use my knees!!!  The only time I had problems today was towards the end doing the arm raises w/weights.  But, like I’ve said before I’ve always had weak arms and I’m doing my best to strengthen them up!

Well, I am off to watch Celebrity Apprentice and eat dinner.  I have wanted to see Bret Michael’s win this thing since the very first episode.  I was so happy to see him make it to the finals…..a few times I wasn’t sure he would make it!

Flip-flop shopping & the 30 Day Shred

Late last night I did Day 7 of the Shred.  It was a great workout, but even after taking a shower I couldn’t sleep.  That wasn’t good because I had to get up early–my mom and I were going to Old Navy for their $1.00 flip-flop sale that started at 7am!!

We got to Old Navy around 6:45 am and there was already a line.  At 7am they only let a certain number of people in at a time so it wasn’t crazy and we could shop without the frenzy of last year.  The limit was 5 pairs of flip-flops again.  We were in and out within 15 minutes.

Then we walked over to Panera to have breakfast.  I had already looked at their website the night before to see what I wanted.  Normally I would get a cinnamon roll and hot chocolate but I am trying to eat better!  I ended up with a blueberry bagel with 2 little packets of butter (I think they were only 1 tsp each) and hot tea.  I wanted green tea but the tea company no longer has green tea (what?? That is beyond belief!)

After a leisurely breakfast we drove across town to the local farmers market.  They just started it back up for the summer so not all of the vendors were there.  It was beautiful weather this morning–clear skies and a slight breeze.  Perfect for a walk through the farmers market.

Well, that weather didn’t last long.  By noon it was black clouds, sprinkling and very windy!!  I’m telling you, this Northern California weather this year so far has really been interesting, to say the very very least!

I watched the SFGiants game and had lunch–a turkey burger and summer squash medley–I made it all last night and portioned it out for meals this upcoming week.  After the game, with the winds howling, the rain coming down and me being exhausted, I took a nap. I never take naps…that means I was really tired!!

When I woke up I did a little housework and then did the 30 Day Shred–Day 8.  I can’t believe I only have 2 more days at Level 1.  I was really tired and didn’t want to work out today.  Like I keep saying, the old me would have just skipped it.  But I got myself up, put my workout outfit on, turned the dvd player on and just did it!!

Now, I feel great and am so glad I decided to stick with my schedule!  It was a butt-kicking sweat-fest as usual.   Can’t wait to do it again tomorrow!!

Ran a new route but boy did I miscalculate the mileage

Just got back from my run.  This morning I decided to map out several different routes because I am getting bored with the one I’ve been using.  Well when I mapped out the route I ended up using today, I calculated it at 3.6 miles.

I have run this route before, but it’s been about 4 yrs.  Today’s temperature was 64*F, humidity was 46% and we had 18 mph winds.  I wish Mother Nature would make up her mind as to what Northern California weather is going to be!! Every day this week has been different.  Please….enough already!  Anyway, it is cool outside and it sprinkled earlier.  Since I still saw some black-ish clouds I decided to dress accordingly.  I wore my long nylon pants with 100% cotton long sleeve shirt with my gray nylon hoodie.

My current schedule is: 2 minutes run/2 minutes walk X 9.  I knew I would probably end up running more than that since I thought I was going to run 3.6 miles.

Well, the run was great.  I felt fantastic throughout and at the end.  I almost ran a little extra but didn’t.  Kinda wish I did after I found out I had calculated it out wrong   When I was done I stopped the timer on my watch and saw that I had only run 8 reps plus 36 seconds extra.  So, when I got home I re-checked the route and I was way off!!  This route is only 2.46 miles.  Don’t ask how I mis-calculated it because I have no idea.

I’m leaving it at this: at least I ran today and regardless of the amount I’m still happy that I got out there and did a different route.  I do want to run more than 3 miles at a time so I need to map out different routes in my area.

I still have to do the Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred later tonight.  It was an awesome workout last night, so I can’t wait!!

30 Day Shred-Day 6

I’m so happy today was a beautiful warm sunny clear skied spring day!! And the best part….no humidity!! I was going to run late this afternoon but my mom invited me to an early dinner and grocery shopping so off I went!

We went to Rubio’s.  I had a chicken burrito.  Yes, it’s huge but I only ate half and took the rest home.  It was so good! I was really thirsty so I ended up drinking a lot of water!!

Afterward we went to Nugget Market.  Bought lot’s of fruits and veggies.  I think I mentioned this grocery store in a previous post.  This store has the best produce dept!! The whole store is fabulous! It’s very clean and the employees are the nicest!!  I know why they are considered one of the best employers in the state (I think the country too?!).

After watching my SFGiants lose again to AZ Diamondbacks I watched Real Housewives of NY and then Watch What’s Happening Live.  Sarah Jessica Parker was on WWHL tonight and I couldn’t miss it!! SJP was fabulous as always!

And, like a good girl, right after WWHL was over I turned on the dvd and did my workout!.  The Shred was awesome tonight! I finished everything even when it burned like crazy!  I can’t believe I’m saying this but the push-ups were great tonight!!  Did I really just write that?  Yep, and I meant it! I only have 4 more days of Level 1.  I am getting a little nervous, but I’ll get over it!

As for my eating….no ice cream for breakfast today! lol  I had a bowl of Shredded Wheat.  But I didn’t have lunch today because I wasn’t hungry.  I did have a Fuji apple w/2 tbsp of peanut butter and then the early dinner.

Still feeling a little dehydrated so I need to drink more water!! What the heck is wrong with me!?!?!?  Goodnight!

30 Day Shred-Day 5 & my eating habits

I just finished day 5 of the Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred.  I am now at the halfway point of Level 1.  I ended up taking yesterday off from The Shred.  I ran earlier that day and was planning on doing the workout after the San Francisco Giants game.  Well, the game went into extra innings and by the time it was over, I could barely keep my eyes open.  On top of that, I noticed a small knot above my left ankle. Yes, that’s the ankle I keep having problems with.  It wasn’t swelling, more like a tight muscle.  Anyway, I guess things happen for a reason?! Thanks SFGiants!!

I have been lethargic most of today.  This weather–right now it’s 63*F and 72% humidity–is terrible.  It’s overcast and seems to get more humid with each passing day.  If I wanted all of this humidity I would move to the other side of the country!!

I felt like a failure because I missed yesterdays workout.  Missing scheduled workouts cannot become a habit because I don’t want to be that person anymore.  Maybe that’s what I needed because even though I was lazy from this crazy weather, I was actually looking forward to doing the Shred today!

I went into today’s workout with enthusiasm and, yes, energy!  It’s the best workout I’ve had to date.  I feel so much stronger….even the push-ups are getting a lot better!!

Normally, I watch the timer on the dvd player and count down how much longer I have (sad but true).  Today was the first time I didn’t look at the timer and was surprised when I heard Jillian say we’re almost done!

Now, if I could only get my eating down I would be in business!!  Seems I always eat a great dinner and snacks, but breakfast and lunch….not so good.  Let’s just say I was so lazy I had ice cream for breakfast!  It was Breyer’s  Snickers flavor.  Oh so good, but oh so bad for me!  I have just been skipping lunch all together, mostly because I haven’t been hungry.  I’m not really sure if that’s so bad!?  If I’m not hungry, do I still have to eat??

My snacks normally consist of either Yoplait Light yogurt fat-free, a Fuji apple with 2 TBSP peanut butter, or Yoplait frozen smoothie.  I love milk and do drink more than the average person…..I  drink 1% milk since I dislike non-fat.  I rarely drink soda…and by rarely I mean maybe twice a year! And that soda consists of either 7-Up or Mugg’s Old-Fashioned rootbeer only!!

Today I went and got 2 big boxes of Shredded Wheat cereal.  This has been my favorite cereal since I was a child.  Yes, really!! All you have to do is ask my brother and sister.  They still bring up the fact when we were kids when my mom asked us what cereal we wanted they always said the popular, sugary ones and I would say Shredded Wheat.  Guess what my mom bought us?  Starting tomorrow, it’s Shredded Wheat for breakfast.

My dinners are always good!  Last night I had a piece of baked fish…white roughy (w/a little lemon juice, pepper, tiniest bit of kosher salt, & 1/2 tsp melted butter) with 1 cup of steamed broccoli w/a dash of “It’s A Dilly” seasoning.  While that was cooking I ate 1 small artichoke (I had steamed a few the other day) with a homemade dip using Best Foods Low Fat mayo with lemon juice, pepper and a tsp of “It’s A Dilly” seasoning.

“It’s A Dilly” seasoning is from McCormick and is salt-free.  It’s a blend of dill, lemon & seasonings.  The actual ingredients are dill weed, lemon peel, onion, garlic, dill seed, & jalapeno pepper.  I read that it’s been discontinued for almost 2 years, but I just bought some at the beginning of this year at the grocery store?!  Anyway it’s a great seasoning to have on hand. I use it a lot!

Well, I’m off to have dinner……fish, broccoli and artichoke.  I make enough for a couple/three days.  Makes my life easier!!

The Shred-Day 4

Well, I don’t know what’s up with the weather but it looks like we are back in January/February what with the overcast skies and rain.   This kind of weather makes me incredibly lazy and normally I will do the bare minimum…..which includes skipping any exercise.

But this is the new me and I now exercise through these obstacles!!  So, even though I tried to find every reason to get out of it (including housework) I finally did the Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred-day 4!!  I’ll be honest, my heart wasn’t totally in it but I focused and got through it.

I see little improvements with each workout so that is incentive enough to keep at it!  However, my knees are still a little sore from running yesterday so I was careful with the jumping jacks, etc…..other than that it was another 22 minute sweat-fest that even though I wanted to skip it…..I am so happy I didn’t!!

The Shred-Day 3 AND Running

Well…..let me start by saying that I probably should have done Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred first!! Let me explain what happened…….

I went for my run today.  It was 74*F and 45% humidity.  I was wearing the wrong top (a 100% cotton L/S shirt) but luckily, at the last minute, I changed my bottoms from long pants to shorts.  I changed my schedule to run 2 minutes/walk 2 minutes X 10.  I planned on doing 3 miles today but cut it short because I became dehydrated and didn’t bring water with me (yes, again!).  I ended up doing 7 of the 10 and 2.1 miles.  I also increased my speed a bit. I could definitely feel it in my legs!! They were sore, but a “good” sore. And, I don’t think I have ever sweat that much from running!!  Thanks humidity!!

However, earlier tonight I did Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred.  Unfortunately, when I planned out my day I didn’t take into consideration the changes I had made to my run and how it may, or may not, affect my other workout.  My knee’s were still sore from my run and it made a slight difference!

I do have to say, though, that there was a slight improvement in my push-ups! Well, at least the first set.  I was able to do decent “beginners” push-ups without stopping the first time around, but then when I did the second set of push-ups I could barely get through them!  But, to me, that’s improvement! Even the first set of arm raises later in the program were a little easier the first set!

I finished feeling exhausted but happy that I was able to get two workouts into one day!! And, yes, I was smiling at the end!! Bring on Day 4!!!

I am troubled by my dehydration.  I used to drink plenty of water, but in the last year or two I know I haven’t consumed enough water daily on most days.  Each day I tell myself I’m going to drink at least 8 cups of water, but normally it’s been more like 4.  I know that if I plan on all this running and working out I need to make sure I drink plenty of water or I’m going to make myself really sick…..or worse!!

The Shred–Day 2

I decided to blog about my workouts in a public forum because writing it in a journal for “my eyes only” hasn’t really been enough of a motivation to stay committed.  I figured that if I put it out there for anyone & everyone to read it would make me stay on track because the alternative, quitting in public, is too darn embarrassing!!  Whatever works, right?!

So, I did do my second day of Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred–Level 1.  I wasn’t sore from yesterday which is a good thing!  I am finding that each time I do this workout parts of it get a little easier so I am doing part of the routine following the “beginners” trainer and part of the routine following the “advanced” trainer.  Hopefully, by day 10 of this level I will be following the advanced trainer throughout.  Fingers crossed!!

The push-ups are still nearly impossible–but I keep trying!  The only part that seemed harder was the dreaded arm raises using the 5 lb weights while doing side lunges.  My arms were burning so bad I could barely stand it!  But Jillian is right there motivating me on……

I again finished this workout with a smile on my face…….very sweaty, but with a smile.  Now, that’s what counts!! If I’m smiling, it means I can’t wait to do it again…..burning arms and all!!!