Sometimes ya just gotta get out there and do it. Nuff said.
I feel a little better, anyway! :)
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Seriously Stalled Out
I am struggling pretty heavily this week with wanting to work out. The motivation is lacking. It's the same ol' same ol'. . .. . don't want to work out, but feel crappy if I don't work out. But I'm up against the same wall!!! Working out is good for me, I know, but the changes are SOOOOO slow it's criminal. Absolutely criminal. It almost makes it feel NOT worth it, when it's such a damn insane hideously slow process to see ANY rewards for my efforts.
This is the old way of thinking creeping up on me. It's pretty damn strong, I'm telling you right now. REALLY hard to get around. REALLY. REALLY. REALLY hard.
I'm not a workout fiend. I mean, I feel better for having done it - but my experience with working out hard or faithfully, hoping for results. ... . and then not seeing them is so discouraging as to ruin any good feelings I get from doing it at all. I mean, it's like washing your hair but your hair is still just as dirty as it was before you took the trouble to wash it. What is the use in making the effort for something if NOTHING happens??
Really struggling. I look in the mirror - nothing seems different. I wear the same clothes - nothing fits looser. WTH!!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Hope I feel better about all this soon. In the meantime. . . . . I'll sit here and feel crappy about not wanting to work out and feeling like even if I DO work out, nothing changes.
Bleckk.
This is the old way of thinking creeping up on me. It's pretty damn strong, I'm telling you right now. REALLY hard to get around. REALLY. REALLY. REALLY hard.
I'm not a workout fiend. I mean, I feel better for having done it - but my experience with working out hard or faithfully, hoping for results. ... . and then not seeing them is so discouraging as to ruin any good feelings I get from doing it at all. I mean, it's like washing your hair but your hair is still just as dirty as it was before you took the trouble to wash it. What is the use in making the effort for something if NOTHING happens??
Really struggling. I look in the mirror - nothing seems different. I wear the same clothes - nothing fits looser. WTH!!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Hope I feel better about all this soon. In the meantime. . . . . I'll sit here and feel crappy about not wanting to work out and feeling like even if I DO work out, nothing changes.
Bleckk.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Addition of Extra Cardio
Have decided that perhaps my stubborn metabolism needs a slight boost, so I did some reading on stubborn metabolisms yesterday. I came across an article suggesting the addition of 10 minutes of cardio following strength training, and decided perhaps this was worth a shot. So, after my Shoulders, Arms, Triceps + Ab Ripper X last night, I went out and jogged for 10 minutes. Hmm. Interesting. No worse for the wear (mostly mental, I'm thinking) so from now on I will do this three days a week (weather permitting - once it gets dark at 5 and colder than crap, I will have to substitute another form of indoor cardio - too bad I'm selling the treadmill! Oh well, still have the Nordic Track machine) and see if this won't help me boost a little fat off of the frame.
Replacing fat with muscle is SUCH a sloooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww process. It is maddeningly slow. I do know that slow is BETTER for long-term and lasting changes, but that doesn't make me any less impatient. It's definitely an almost daily challenge, this mental game of 'Don't Give Up - The Alternative is Worse'. ha!
Mentally, though - there is also a definite boost and positive result. I just FEEL better, to know I'm not being lazy and sedentary. When I don't work out or do anything I just feel like I'm wasting away or something. Like I'm missing an opportunity to better myself. I don't like feeling lazy that way!
Now, doing a little reading on a Sunday and dozing off on the couch in the middle of the afternoon. .... that's not lazy, that's just 'taking a mental break' on a rest day! ;) No one (including myself) is going to take that away from me! lol
Bring it!!
Replacing fat with muscle is SUCH a sloooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww process. It is maddeningly slow. I do know that slow is BETTER for long-term and lasting changes, but that doesn't make me any less impatient. It's definitely an almost daily challenge, this mental game of 'Don't Give Up - The Alternative is Worse'. ha!
Mentally, though - there is also a definite boost and positive result. I just FEEL better, to know I'm not being lazy and sedentary. When I don't work out or do anything I just feel like I'm wasting away or something. Like I'm missing an opportunity to better myself. I don't like feeling lazy that way!
Now, doing a little reading on a Sunday and dozing off on the couch in the middle of the afternoon. .... that's not lazy, that's just 'taking a mental break' on a rest day! ;) No one (including myself) is going to take that away from me! lol
Bring it!!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Finishing out the Lean
Well, I've decided to just finish out the lean program with P90X. After my recovery period I'll start up with the classic program. I guess it just makes sense to finish what I've started instead of busting it up with something else. :)
The weather has turned fall-ish and I'm loving it - ESPECIALLY for going running, like I did last Saturday. I absolutely love the warmth of the sun with the coolness in the air (and lack of major humidity helps, also). I think I adore this so much because it reminds me of the mountains in summer - which are my absolute favorite thing ever (besides horses, that is - can't forget my other favorite thing!). The cool, dryer air with the warm sun. . .. . it makes me feel so energized! This being my first run this year in that kind of weather, it was just great all around. I felt strong, even though it's been a good two weeks since my last foray out on the running route. I didn't have a whole day of eating behind me, so I actually tried this little trick: I mixed a 1/4 of the normal amount of recovery drink in water and had that before I went out. My thinking behind this is that the simple carbs in the drink would be instant energy - like endurance athletes have little simple carbohydrate snacks or gels etc. to sustain them during a competition. I think it made a hell of a difference - I had a lot of energy! Feeling great helped me push on, probably harder than I would have normally if I didn't have that extra energy. Some people use caffeine to fuel their workouts. .... well, maybe this is my version of 'caffeine', since I don't actually drink the stuff and haven't for the last year.
Of course I paid the price a bit the day after, feeling the vague soreness in my quads - but it was a good sore! :)
Eating has been going okay. Of course there are still times (birthday dinners/lunches, things of that nature) that can't be avoided, and I just make sure that these don't set me back too far mentally. I don't go crazy with these and pig out, but I do accept that these will happen - and resolve not to beat myself up about it too much. I figure if I'm going to be living and eating clean long-term, then a few minor detours here and there (not often) aren't going to be the death of me.
So speaking of sore (after running) . .. .. I did the chest and back workout this week. Holy mother. I can't remember exactly what they are called at the moment, but those pushups where you go 'under the fence' and then back out the same way - with wide hands wide feet? HOLY MOTHER OF GOD. Those are killer. This is the first time in the lean program that I have encountered this particular workout, so I hadn't tried those yet. ..... but welcome to the jungle for when I do the Classic P90X! That workout is part of the mix, I'm quite sure. I guess it's all about mixing it up - so it's kind of fun to have something 'new' that I haven't done yet, to keep it fresh. Even though they were killing me!!! Eeeeyikes.
Got some pushup stands (clearance, Target!) which I do like a lot. I have to be careful with the wide stance pushups tho - I think my right shoulder could get injured if I try to go too deep on those. .. . so I just did what I could, not going too deep.
Tony says to avoid saying "I CAN'T do.. .. (insert here)", for instance - chin ups. He says to say instead "I currently struggle with. ... ". Okay, I STILL currently struggle with chin ups!! And I'm almost done with the 90 days?! I think my body is just not meant to do these?!? On the reverse close grip ones, my left wrist DOES NOT like this move. It's ok for the first 2 or 3 tries, then starts to feel like it has to snap to feel better (like when you crack a knuckle)? I'll keep at the ol' chin ups - someday I'll get to where I'll be able to do one unassisted!!
Keeping up with working out 6 days a week is still a bit of a challenge at times - it's just alllllll too easy to let life get in the way. But I'm keeping at it. I think once I finish out my first 90 days, it won't seem like such a 'hump' to get over in future, b/c I'll know that I've done it before. I'm trying to lay the proper foundation to make this a lifestyle, not just a temporary 'thing' I'm doing.
People who know I'm doing this program ask how it's going - and some I may not have seen in a while - and when I say it's going good, sometimes I wonder if they think I'm full of crap - because I don't look much different than I used to. They probably think I'm lying about how hard I'm working (or so I think, because I'm disgusted sometimes with the lack of visible, drastic results). Maybe they don't actually think this, who knows. My body is just that incredibly, undeniably, ridiculously stubborn. Seriously. So..... . I have come to the conclusion, that, sadly - I am just going to have to work twice as hard to get half the results that others may get. My metabolism and body is JUST THAT STUBBORN right now. This is the genetic (or whatever) hand that I've been dealt, and I'm just going to have to, well, deal with it. Though it seems to make sense that at some point, when I've (SLOWLY) replaced muscle with fat and am in better shape, that maybe things will kick in and happen faster as far as results. ....... but who knows. I mean, I wouldn't have thought that it would be THIS SLOW to see results for all this hard work (both eating AND working out faithfully). .... so who knows. All I can say about the 'work twice as hard' thing is...... no flippin' fair!! What did I do to deserve this genetic/metabolism bomb??! But, what is the alternative? Get fatter and more out of shape? No thanks.
So stick with it, I will. If I start up the classic after a two week recovery, then I'll be finishing up the end of a 13 week Classic run at the end of the year. .... . so here's hoping to be ripped by Christmas. That's the plan, anyway. ... . :)
The weather has turned fall-ish and I'm loving it - ESPECIALLY for going running, like I did last Saturday. I absolutely love the warmth of the sun with the coolness in the air (and lack of major humidity helps, also). I think I adore this so much because it reminds me of the mountains in summer - which are my absolute favorite thing ever (besides horses, that is - can't forget my other favorite thing!). The cool, dryer air with the warm sun. . .. . it makes me feel so energized! This being my first run this year in that kind of weather, it was just great all around. I felt strong, even though it's been a good two weeks since my last foray out on the running route. I didn't have a whole day of eating behind me, so I actually tried this little trick: I mixed a 1/4 of the normal amount of recovery drink in water and had that before I went out. My thinking behind this is that the simple carbs in the drink would be instant energy - like endurance athletes have little simple carbohydrate snacks or gels etc. to sustain them during a competition. I think it made a hell of a difference - I had a lot of energy! Feeling great helped me push on, probably harder than I would have normally if I didn't have that extra energy. Some people use caffeine to fuel their workouts. .... well, maybe this is my version of 'caffeine', since I don't actually drink the stuff and haven't for the last year.
Of course I paid the price a bit the day after, feeling the vague soreness in my quads - but it was a good sore! :)
Eating has been going okay. Of course there are still times (birthday dinners/lunches, things of that nature) that can't be avoided, and I just make sure that these don't set me back too far mentally. I don't go crazy with these and pig out, but I do accept that these will happen - and resolve not to beat myself up about it too much. I figure if I'm going to be living and eating clean long-term, then a few minor detours here and there (not often) aren't going to be the death of me.
So speaking of sore (after running) . .. .. I did the chest and back workout this week. Holy mother. I can't remember exactly what they are called at the moment, but those pushups where you go 'under the fence' and then back out the same way - with wide hands wide feet? HOLY MOTHER OF GOD. Those are killer. This is the first time in the lean program that I have encountered this particular workout, so I hadn't tried those yet. ..... but welcome to the jungle for when I do the Classic P90X! That workout is part of the mix, I'm quite sure. I guess it's all about mixing it up - so it's kind of fun to have something 'new' that I haven't done yet, to keep it fresh. Even though they were killing me!!! Eeeeyikes.
Got some pushup stands (clearance, Target!) which I do like a lot. I have to be careful with the wide stance pushups tho - I think my right shoulder could get injured if I try to go too deep on those. .. . so I just did what I could, not going too deep.
Tony says to avoid saying "I CAN'T do.. .. (insert here)", for instance - chin ups. He says to say instead "I currently struggle with. ... ". Okay, I STILL currently struggle with chin ups!! And I'm almost done with the 90 days?! I think my body is just not meant to do these?!? On the reverse close grip ones, my left wrist DOES NOT like this move. It's ok for the first 2 or 3 tries, then starts to feel like it has to snap to feel better (like when you crack a knuckle)? I'll keep at the ol' chin ups - someday I'll get to where I'll be able to do one unassisted!!
Keeping up with working out 6 days a week is still a bit of a challenge at times - it's just alllllll too easy to let life get in the way. But I'm keeping at it. I think once I finish out my first 90 days, it won't seem like such a 'hump' to get over in future, b/c I'll know that I've done it before. I'm trying to lay the proper foundation to make this a lifestyle, not just a temporary 'thing' I'm doing.
People who know I'm doing this program ask how it's going - and some I may not have seen in a while - and when I say it's going good, sometimes I wonder if they think I'm full of crap - because I don't look much different than I used to. They probably think I'm lying about how hard I'm working (or so I think, because I'm disgusted sometimes with the lack of visible, drastic results). Maybe they don't actually think this, who knows. My body is just that incredibly, undeniably, ridiculously stubborn. Seriously. So..... . I have come to the conclusion, that, sadly - I am just going to have to work twice as hard to get half the results that others may get. My metabolism and body is JUST THAT STUBBORN right now. This is the genetic (or whatever) hand that I've been dealt, and I'm just going to have to, well, deal with it. Though it seems to make sense that at some point, when I've (SLOWLY) replaced muscle with fat and am in better shape, that maybe things will kick in and happen faster as far as results. ....... but who knows. I mean, I wouldn't have thought that it would be THIS SLOW to see results for all this hard work (both eating AND working out faithfully). .... so who knows. All I can say about the 'work twice as hard' thing is...... no flippin' fair!! What did I do to deserve this genetic/metabolism bomb??! But, what is the alternative? Get fatter and more out of shape? No thanks.
So stick with it, I will. If I start up the classic after a two week recovery, then I'll be finishing up the end of a 13 week Classic run at the end of the year. .... . so here's hoping to be ripped by Christmas. That's the plan, anyway. ... . :)
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Treading Water
Back into the 'swing' of things this week, after a hiatus of about a week. Between preparation for going out of town and actually being out of town, and then recovering from being out of town (ie: coming home to a pig sty). .... it has been a full week since my last work out! I did cardio x last night and either I didn't eat enough yesterday or lost some stamina, b/c it was a bit more challenging than I recall. Could also be a combination of both!
Boy, putting on a swimsuit will sure pull a number on ya. Nothing like bright sunlight and very little clothes to bring out the ol' body insecurities! Eeek. Suffice it to say the lower half was covered 98% of the time unless absolutely necessary to get soaking wet. IE: it was windy and the boat was anchored in chest-deep water, thus having to wade out to it. :)
At this point I can't decide if I want to finish out the last 30 days or so of the Lean program, or switch over to day 1 and start fresh with the Classic program. Classic has one extra strength building per week, so 3 strength and 3 cardio versus 2 strength and 4 cardio. Hmmm. I think maybe I need to build some more lean muscle/strength to kick my metabolism in the jimmie - b/c so far the changes are pretty minimal. Very frustrating for all the hard work. I have the metabolism of an 80 year old, evidently. Lucky me!
For me, it's all about forming habits. To get 'out of the habit' is a danger zone!! The old struggle with 'work out or don't work out but ultimately, what would you be doing if you didn't work out? and would you feel any better about not working out, or feel worse?' Yeah, that thing. I wrestle with it a lot! A lot a lot a LOT. Hmmmph.
So, at this point I am telling myself I'll MAYBE be close to where I'd like to be come Christmas (gauging current rate of progress/changes). I guess if I was actually okay with being in a swimsuit next summer, I'd be a happy gal.
We'll see how that goes.. ....
Boy, putting on a swimsuit will sure pull a number on ya. Nothing like bright sunlight and very little clothes to bring out the ol' body insecurities! Eeek. Suffice it to say the lower half was covered 98% of the time unless absolutely necessary to get soaking wet. IE: it was windy and the boat was anchored in chest-deep water, thus having to wade out to it. :)
At this point I can't decide if I want to finish out the last 30 days or so of the Lean program, or switch over to day 1 and start fresh with the Classic program. Classic has one extra strength building per week, so 3 strength and 3 cardio versus 2 strength and 4 cardio. Hmmm. I think maybe I need to build some more lean muscle/strength to kick my metabolism in the jimmie - b/c so far the changes are pretty minimal. Very frustrating for all the hard work. I have the metabolism of an 80 year old, evidently. Lucky me!
For me, it's all about forming habits. To get 'out of the habit' is a danger zone!! The old struggle with 'work out or don't work out but ultimately, what would you be doing if you didn't work out? and would you feel any better about not working out, or feel worse?' Yeah, that thing. I wrestle with it a lot! A lot a lot a LOT. Hmmmph.
So, at this point I am telling myself I'll MAYBE be close to where I'd like to be come Christmas (gauging current rate of progress/changes). I guess if I was actually okay with being in a swimsuit next summer, I'd be a happy gal.
We'll see how that goes.. ....
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