Cardio Can Still Be A Challenge

I wasn’t quite sure what cardio I was going to do for this 4 weeks.  I was worried that if I did the ellipitical I would not get as much benefit as I do on the treadmill or stairmaster so I was hesitant to try.  When I got to the gym, lucky for me I didn’t have to get on it.  All the machines were either broken or occupied.

So I set myself up on my old standard fallback….. the treadmill.  Knowing where I was since my last visit to old faithful, I hopped on and increase my intensity one up from the day before. Wow! I finally reached a pace that I couldn’t maintain.  What was I to do? I couldn’t quit and I needed to complete my 20 minutes.

I decided to alternate the new intense running pace with levels of steep hills.  First cycle run, second cycle hill, third cycle run and fourth hill.  When I got to level 10, I ran at the fastest speed I’ve ever tried.  Let me tell you…that was a killer!

Last 4 Weeks!

I’m now in my 9^th week and I can’t believe time is flying so fast. It’s good and it’s bad.  Good because I’m finally starting to see the weight come off and I can really notice the changes.  It’s bad in the sense that I still have a ways to go if I want to hit the targets I’ve set for myself.

Upperbody workout day.  I changed my exercises and I’m now doing the bench press.  I always think of it as the big boy’s exercise and here I am doing it.  Well maybe not as strong as the other guys in the gym but I’ll get there eventually.  It’s hard when you start a new series of weights to determine what the proper levels should be.  Clearly today on the bench I was way over my head.  Way too heavy!

I have to admit I was not looking forward to the scale today.  Although I had gone to brunch on Saturday, I was fairly well behaved but on Sunday, friends and I ended up at the Olive Garden.  Those damn breadsticks!  Yeah I know it was only one day but would it show on the scale?  The good news… I did not gain weight!  I was actually down 2 pounds!

I wasn’t quite sure what cardio I was going to do for this 4 weeks.  I was worried that if I did the ellipitical I would not get as much benefit as I do on the treadmill or stairmaster so I was hesitant to try.  When I got to the gym, lucky for me I didn’t have to get on it.  All the machines were either broken or occupied.

So I set myself up on my old standard fallback….. the treadmill.  Knowing where I was since my last visit to old faithful, I hopped on and increase my intensity one up from the day before. Wow! I finally reached a pace that I couldn’t maintain.  What was I to do? I couldn’t quit and I needed to complete my 20 minutes.

I decided to alternate the new intense running pace with levels of steep hills.  First cycle run, second cycle hill, third cycle run and fourth hill.  When I got to level 10, I ran at the fastest speed I’ve ever tried.  Let me tell you…that was a killer!

Finishing Up My 8th Week

Nearing the end of my 8^th week so last day on the Stairmaster since I still like to have one of my cardio days during the week be on the treadmill.  It didn’t really dawn on me until I was finished.  After my last cardio, I struggled with the increased pace so I was determined to beat the machine today. I won!

On my last lower body workout before I switch up these exercises and I find myself thinking about what’s going to happen in 4 more weeks when I’m finishing up the challenge all together?  Will I just quit or will I want to go on?  I’m leaning to going on.  I see myself pushing even farther and I’m excited for it.  But I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself.  I do still have 4 weeks to go on this challenge.

About two days ago, I’ve started to come down with a cold.  I’m doing everything to fight it.  Every morning my head is saying stay in bed, get better but I’ve made it to the gym everyday this week.  Like I said, I’m determined to complete this challenge.  Surprisingly, I generally feel better while I’m working out.  Let’s hope this this cold goes away soon!

Here I am, on the treadmill once again.  Should I increase my pace?  I really toyed with the idea for about 2-3 minutes.  Then I remembered my goal for the summer was to run a 5k.  I know that doesn’t sound like much but for me it’s a very big deal.  In my spinning class, I have several people training for ½ marathons and century rides and my biggest goal right now is a 5k.  But I’m cool with it.  Just like starting this program……. baby steps!

I put on a pair of jeans this morning that I bought around the same time I started BFL.  Guess what?  They were way too big.  Yeah it’s a problem but one I’ll gladly take.  I’d rather have my clothes be too big than the buttons popping off because they are way to tight or me splitting my pants (which I did a few months ago!)

Later on today, I’m off to brunch.  Let’s see how well I do.

I'm Working on Me

Last set of upperbody workouts before I change my routine for the last 4 weeks. It really is amazing how your body gets comfortable in a routine so I have to constantly remind myself to push for power and hold my form.  I’ve noticed that as I get more accustomed to my routines, I tend to push for completion of the number of reps of set for myself and have to focus more on form.  I guess it’s good that I’ll be switching up next week.  It’s time to shock the body again.

The time has really flown and I’ve gotten really accustomed to morning workouts, eating healthier and just feeling better about myself.  I’m glad I decided to take up the challenge again and wonder why I ever strayed.  This whole process is helping me work on “me”.  I’ve always been a little introverted and kinda shy, especially around new people.  I’ve always been super critical of myself and I think in shows in new situations.  Once I warm up to people I’m much more outgoing but since I’ve gained weight I’m much more reserved.  The challenge is helping me feel better about myself so I’m “almost” ready to take on the world. 

Who knows where I’ll be at the end of the challenge.  All I know is that this new change can only be for the good!

Am I fit yet... at least I fake it well!

Stairmaster! Enough said.  I did it and I beat it. I’ve come to the final conclusion that I dislike the stairmaster as much as I dislike the treadmill.  It’s amazing how 20 minutes can seem so much harder than the 37 – 46 minutes of lifting that I do.  I think, wow, I only have to work 20 minutes but each of those minutes seem like hours.  It’s like being a person who watches the clock at work. 

It’s funny though.  I’ve been watching the “in-shape” people on the cardio machines and I see how hard they are working or how fast they are going and I wonder, “Are any of them watching me?”  Since I’ve been going to the gym regularly, I’m seeing the same people everyday.  I don’t really know any of them but I’ve gotten in the habit of saying good morning to people so I’m sure they recognize me as I have noticed them. 

Now that I’ve lost a few pounds I wonder if people are looking at me like I look at the ones that I’ve crowned as being “superfit” Sure, I’m no way near what they’ve achieved but I’m on my way.  With this thought in mind though, I think that I must keep up my pace and intensity because I want them to believe that I’m working just as hard as they are.  It’s like when you suck in you gut when you think everyone’s watching you but exhale as soon as they look away.  This is exhausting!