Workouts

Well, I must confess.  I used to be the one at the gym with my clipboard writing down sets, weights, and reps.  Anal City!  There was a great satisfaction I felt when I went up in weight.  I counted my protein grams and calculated my time on the cardio machines.  Don't roll your eyes!  Okay go ahead!  I have come a long way.  I am learning to tone down the anal tendencies and open myself up to mixing it up.  I no longer count protein grams or time on the cardio machines. FREEDOM REIGNS!  

So here is a typical week for me.:
 I try to hit each body part once a week with intense weights.  I mix up the exercises each week so my muscles don't have time to acclimate.  If I am not able to make it to the gym each day I double up the next time I'm in, (legs and shoulders).  I try to get in around 30 minutes of cardio about 4-5 times a week.  Just long enough to work up a sweat and truth be told catch up on a few TV shows (we don't have TV at home...built in incentive).  The last few weeks, if I can't make it into the gym, I do what my friends call Burst Training.  It is a fun quick workout that has left me glowing with sweat and sore the next day.  I  love to feel the burn!  I know!  You set a timer for 20 - 40 sec. and you do an easy exercise like crunches for 30 sec. as fast as you can while still maintaining good form.  You then take 30 sec. off to rest.  You do each exercise 3 times.  So I might do:  

1.  Jumping jacks
2.  Mountain climbers
3.  Squats
4.  Bicep curls
5.  Tricep extensions
6.  Overhead press
7.  Crunches
8.  Plank
9.  Push ups
10.  Burpees

My kiddos did the burst training with me last night and we put on some kick butt music and had a blast!  Every once in a while I try to go to hot yoga as a special treat and to mix things up a bit.  Exercise is "my time."  I listen to "my music."  I watch "my TV shows."  I chose what feels good to me. 

 I do miss classes.  The gym I am a member of doesn't have group classes and I really miss this component.  But for this season, I embrace the flexibility of whatever I want to do, when and how I want to do it.  Classes will always be there for another season.  Grateful for the ability to just work out. Now go out there and glow people!