Cardio Kick Boxing Kicked My Butt

I haven't been doing quite as well on my "getting back to the gym" goal as I'd like. I've managed 2 times a week. I'd ideally like 4-5. Tonight, I tried a new class. When I first did Zumba and interval cardio press, they were hard, but manageable without killing myself. Cardio kick boxing kicked my tush. All my other classes have a 30 second or so down time in between songs so you can breathe. Gail is just mean and her first "song" lasted 45 minute. That's 45 minutes of non-stop punching, kicking and basically bouncing around boxer style. Oh, and I can't forget the 2 million jumping jacks she made us do. It was crazy, but I did make it and that's the important thing!

My Work-outs This Week

My goal, for several weeks now, has been to get back into a routine at the gym. This is the week I'm going to meet that goal. I started out the week right with cardio and weight training yesterday. The kids, Caden especially, did great in the child care. We went back this morning and I did cardio and just enough weight training and stretching to stop the soreness from yesterday.

As if that weren't enough, we came home and took the training wheels off Jaelyn's bike. I spent 30 minutes in the morning and afternoon pushing/balancing/running behind Jaelyn's bike helping her to learn how to ride it in the blazing, hot sun. She did really well and even made it 15 feet or so without me. I think we'll just need a few more sessions of me running behind her and she'll be zipping up and down the sidewalk. Allie had a go at it once and even though she's gung ho enough to try, I don't think she's anywhere near ready balance wise.

Here's Jaelyn after her first ride. I love her rosy red cheeks.

Success at the Gym

I feel good. Caden pouted about going to the gym this morning, but I continued to be positive about it. I reassured him I wasn't leaving the building and that Jaelyn and Allie would be there with him. I reminded him of the lollipop buckets and made sure he had shorts with pockets so we could pick his lollipop out when we got there. He got to keep it in his pocket while he played and got to eat it when I got back! No tears when I dropped him off. He went right in and kissed me bye when I left. I didn't want to push him so I spent about 15 minutes with weights and 15 minutes on the treadmill. If we had gotten there sooner, I might have taken a zoomba class because my favorite sub was there. She adds a lot of jazz and hip hop moves in with the latin moves. Her class is always a lot of fun. I've stayed away from all the classes since I twisted my ankle. I'm afraid if I start cha cha-ing, I'll twist it again.

So, hopefully, I can get back in the swing of things for the next two weeks before we leave for Florida. Then my parents have a treadmill and home gym in the bedroom I'll be sleeping in. I plan on using that - or maybe I'll decide I'm on vacation and rest!

Success at the Gym

We spent an hour at the gym this morning. Caden did great. I talked his ear off on the way about playing and having fun and mommy being right outside the door. I reassured him over and over that I was coming back to get him. He did great. Allie was with him, but I never saw him playing with her (I peeked in quite a bit).

My ankle is feeling better. It's only sore if I turn or rotate my ankle - like sitting indian style on the floor still hurts. Walking in a straight line doesn't hurt. I did 20 minutes of cardio on the treatmill and even jogged 1 mile with only a 1 minute break in the middle. It wasn't a fast mile (just 8-9 minute miles), but still, I'm happy. I'm itching to have one of the trainers do the measurements again, especially the body fat percentage, but I'm giving myself a couple more weeks.

Mama's Boy and the Price of Exercise

Thursday was the first day I was able to get back to the gym last week. I was concerned about Caden wanting to go into the childcare after our trip and leaving him with a babysitter Wednesday night (Anna did great again, btw). And I was right. He was a little sad when I left him, but was holding it together. I got Allie settled in her Ballet class and managed about 8 minutes on the treadmill before Lisa came and got me. My poor little man. He was trying his best not to cry, but he just couldn't help it. The sobs were coming from deep down. Tears were streaming down his face and his bottom lip was quivering. I calmed him down and showed him where I was, but it didn't work. I ended up spending Allie's ballet hour with Caden in the playroom chatting with the workers. I'll try again next week when Allie can be with him.

Friday, Dan was off so I went to te gym by myself. I love my Friday morning class, but it's a little scary. It's an interval class - switching between free weights and step. I'm fine with the weights, but the teacher moves so fast through the step moves. It's not just step on, step off. Every move is very complicated. I actually asked Janine a few weeks ago about a basic step class so I can learn the steps more slowly. So anyway, in the middle of "around the world lunges" I stepped onto the edge of the step instead of the middle. My ankle rolled and popped and I fell flat on my bottom. How embarrassing! I know it happens all the time, but to have everyone's attention - not fun. My ankle didn't swell or bruise immediately, but I noticed it was a little swollen last night. I'm taking advil 3 times a day and hopefully, it'll be okay by Tuesday so I can get back to the gym with Allie in the playroom with Caden.

One Inch

It's not a lot when you think about it (One inch...2.54 centimeters), but it feels like a lot to me. I've been working my bum off, literally, at the gym several days a week. I'm just finishing up my 4th weeks. I got out my measuring tape to see if there really is a difference. I feel like there is, but I need analytical confirmation, not just guesses. I love my tape measure...one less inch in my waist. When you do the math, 4 work-outs a week for 4 weeks, that's 1/16th of an inch per session, but I'm not complaining. I feel really good. This week, I Zumba'ed twice, did an hour long entire body weight lifting class (KILLER) and did Butts N' Gutts. I've developed quite a love/hate relationship with my butts n' gutts class, but I'm going to keep going. I'll update again in another 4 weeks!