Spring is here!

I'm so glad that spring is finally here! I know, it's actually been spring for several weeks, but now it's starting to feel like it. I've been soaking up the sunshine while planting the garden and playing on the swing set with my sisters. It's glorious! Now if only we could get the wind to die down a little...

I love this time of year, because there are so many things you can do outside - and many of them even count as exercise. On a beautiful day, there is no reason to stay inside and sit. Good grief, that's what we did all winter long! Let's get outside and get moving.

My younger sister, Bethany, and I spent time outside before her nap today. I pushed her on the swing, and then she decided that we should go and sing on the stage. "The stage" happens to be on our feed floor between the barns where the concrete is higher on one side than the other, making it a perfect stage. (Right? C'mon - think like a 3 year old!) While jammin' and dancin' to "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt", Bethany started jumping on and off of the stage, and then she grabbed my hand so I could do it with her. Jump up, jump down, jump up, jump down. We did it over and over again. It was simple. It was fun. And it was exercise! That little girl will whip me into shape yet.

But now I remembered, I still haven't posted about last week yet. My week was wonderful in the exercise category. I pushed myself hard and tried to simply do more - more reps or more weight on the weight machines, and more time on the cardio machines. And believe me, my knees and my lower back could feel the difference. =) I didn't pull a muscle, but I did make them sore. I always left the gym feeling exhausted, but also refreshed.

However, in the eating category I believe that overall I consumed too many calories. This would explain why I gained one pound last week. Yes, I was rather disappointed when I saw 176 pop up on the scale. It's hard not to feel like a whole week of exercising was for nothing! Now, I didn't indulge in chocolate cake or have one meal where I blew it, but I think the combination of a few days where my calorie counts were slightly higher than they should be (between 100 and 200 calories over) is to blame. Which is actually me to blame. =) So this week, I'm sticking hard and fast to my calorie limit, no matter how much I'd like an extra helping. When I balance my calories out during the day and eat the correct combo of fuel, (proteins, fats, and carbs) I honestly do not feel hungry until meal times. And that's how it should be! Speaking of which, my tummy is telling me it's almost snack time. =)

Today, I decided to stay home from the gym and do things the old fashioned way. I grabbed a jump rope and my water bottle and set out for the feed floor. I made up a list of several different cardio exercises to do in a circuit and took off. I began by doing the "run and touch the cone and then run back to start" 6 times, followed by jumping rope 50 times. Then 30 seconds of standing mountain climber, (get the picture in your head!) 30 seconds of butt kicks, 30 seconds of double jumping to the side, 20 sumo squat jacks (like jumping jacks only harder), and 30 seconds of shadow-boxing. I completed each part of the circuit as quickly as possible and moved onto the next exercise without a break. I did this whole thing 5 times and then followed it up with some more jogging and step ups. (Remember the concrete that makes a good stage? It also makes a good place to jump and step up.) After I finished outside, I came in and did one 30 minute workout with the DVD. My whole time spent exercising this morning was an hour and 20 minutes, and it felt great.

Okay, now I'm really getting hungry. I'll have to write more later! LOL

Blessings on your week ~
Bekah

Interesting times...

Patience and perserverance does eventually pay off. Sweating, groaning, counting calories, more sweating, drinking water...and doing it every day makes for a successful week. (Well, at least it worked this week.) I lost two pounds! And I'm on my way back to where I used to be. That sentence reminds me of a line from a pathetic country song. LOL



Speaking of pathetic country songs, I had the most amusing and entertaining day at the gym last week. There are multiple TVs for people to watch while working out on the treadmill, bikes, or elliptical machines (while we try to take our minds off of the pain and breathless feelings we frequently experience!). Anyway, I walked into the gym one morning and saw that there was one other person there. And this woman must like country music, because while walking on the treadmill her eyes were glued to the TV. She was watching the "Top 20 Country Music Videos". So, I popped in my earphones and jumped onto and elliptical machine, trying to focus on my workout. I usually bring along an MP3 player to listen to while working out because #1 - Listening to jumpy music makes me feel more energetic #2 - I don't have to listen to all of the other interesting conversations taking place between the other gym members and #3 - If they are watching something inappropriate on the TV, I don't have to. Oh, and #4 - It makes me look cool. LOL!!!!



So, I'm trying to get my brain focused and just be in my "own little world" while plugging away, but my eyes kept getting drawn to the TV. (Am I the only person with this problem?) Where I was positioned on the elliptical, the TV was almost directly in front of me, and I was trying to keep my head up (to keep good posture - important!) but the TV was right in my line of view. Not only did the lady have to channel on, she also had the closed captioning turned on, so there were the words to the Top 20 Songs for me to read. Why she had the closed captioning turned on, I don't know. She had the music playing loud enough as it was. In case you've never been subjected to listening (or reading) country music songs, let me tell you - THEY ARE PATHETIC!!!!! Oh, my goodness. I was trying to stiffle my laughter at how someone could actually listen to that junk. All of the songs seemed to have a few common themes running through them like, "Baby, COME BACK!!! I'm so sorry!!!!! I shouldn't have been so selfish!!!!! How was I supposed to know that you knew that I was cheating on you????? I won't do it again. I've learned my lesson!!!! PLEASE COME BACK!!! I'll do anything! Another theme - Fine! Leave me! I don't need you anyway! I've got my dog and my truck. I'm strong enough on my own! I'm smarter than you! You'll be the sorry one because.......because.......you don't have a dog or a truck!!!! I had to fight the temptation to burst out in song, following the words on the screen while turning to the lady and saying, "Come on! Sing along!". LOL Can you imagine a "country music sing along"? Horror of all horrors!

That's just one example of the interesting times I've had while working out. Keeps me laughing!

Pressing on ~ Bekah