Great job keeping up with the workouts.  It’s nice when you start being conscious of not only what you are eating, but how you are feeling.  I love that feeling I get when I workout in the morning and can say that I’ve accomplished at least one goal before the ‘real’ work starts.

Julie always has the best advise! Thanks Jules!

Day 5:  Quick 30 min. routine before work (20 min legs and abs, then 10 min aerobics). 

I’ve been reading up on fitday.com and realage.com about healthy diets and what to increase/decrease.  I also read somewhere that i should commit 90 min per week to strength training.  As it is, I am pushing for my 30 min per day.  So now I’m wondering if I give up cardio on the strength training days.  I think cardio is really effective for me (it worked well for me after having each of my daughters) so I kind of don’t want to leave it out 3 days per week, but I’m not the expert.

Why not do both and extend your workout time by 15 minutes? Is that possible to do with your schedule?
You are doing fantastic! Keep up the great job!

Hi guys!  Week one is complete and I can’t believe it!!  I really thought I would have a terrible time waking up SO early to work out and sweat while everyone else slept, but every morning I was so empowered to get to it!  Okay, there were a few days where I snoozed for a bit, but I didn’t miss any workouts, or make any excuses so I’m proud of myself today.  I can’t wait to see how I’ll feel after I’ve done this for 2 weeks and even 2 months.

Hi Em, I read up further on my question about including strength training (Realage.com is great by the way!!) and I decided to do 6 days per week, three 30 min cardio sessions and three 30 min strength sessions, sometimes mixing them up a bit.  One of my goals is to become physically stronger so I’m really trying to keep the calisthenics in my workouts. 

Day 6: 20 mins on stepper and 10 mins strength training.
Day 7: 40 min strength training (arm set, ab set, 2 leg sets) and 10 min stretching

Oh, I was also going to mention that one thing I think is helping me stay on track (as a person who has not worked out consistently in over 1 year) is that my workouts are so simple and plain (okay BORING- so my iPod keeps me company)...but I keep asking myself, it’s only 30 minutes right?  So how hard can it be? And before I know it, like Scott says, “I’m done!”

Sounds like you’re doing great! Keep up the good work.

I know what you mean about getting up in the mornings.  When I started I didn’t think I’d be able to drag myself out of bed that early to work out.  Now I look forward to starting the day in our workout room.  It keeps me energized for the rest of the day (most days).

Hi Ck!  Isn’t it surprising that something that seems like such a drag at first becomes something you actually look forward to? I would’ve never believed it if someone had tried to convince me.  It looks like you’re very close to your goal.  Congrats!

Slimteacher - 26 January 2008 03:55 PM

Hi Em, I read up further on my question about including strength training (Realage.com is great by the way!!) and I decided to do 6 days per week, three 30 min cardio sessions and three 30 min strength sessions, sometimes mixing them up a bit.  One of my goals is to become physically stronger so I’m really trying to keep the calisthenics in my workouts.

That looks great! You’re doing super!

So Day 8 was my first official rest day (Sunday)
Day 9: I woke up a little late so I had to squeeze in 20 minutes of cardio before work.

I’m going to bed really late so I hope I have the energy to get up and do a 30 min workout.  I’m taking my students on a fieldtrip tomorrow that could possibly involve some hiking (yeh!! )

Day 10 Prep for the field trip this morning was more hectic than expected...no work out today.
Day 11 30 min of Billy’s Boot Camp.

Day 12- 30 min strength training (10 min arms, 10 min legs, 10 min abs) and 10 min cardio trying to make up for loss of workout time on Tues.  It’s 6:45am. I feel good!

You’re doing great! Keep up the great job you are doing! No wonder you feel so good!

Way to go! All that done before 7? Awesome!

Bree

Thanks guys!  Getting up early gets a little easier everyday.
Day 13 - 20min calisthenics (10 on arms, 10 on legs)

I think I’ll be back home early to try an squeeze in 20 or 30 minutes more.
It’s 6:27am.  Have a great Friday.

Welll....  I didn’t get to add that extra exercise time in on Friday afternoon. Let’s see.. attendance paperwork kept me at work late, I got home and found that I’d received a package that I HAD to open at once, then I had a coffee craving (non-fat latte Mmmmm) So there goes my workout time BUT all is not lost!  Saturday (Day 14) I’ve done 30 minutes of cardio to my favorite iTunes and 10 minutes of stretching.  So as long as I do a 40 minute calisthenic routine in the morning, I will have fulfilled my personal goal to fit in 90 min of cardio and 90 min of strength training per week (whew!).

Oh yes and besides feeling 100% better all the time, I may have dropped a half inch from my waist and hips.  It’s hard to tell because I don’t know if the tape measure is always in the same spot.... and I don’t have a scale so I can’t weigh in.

Welcome to the forum. Your clothes will be a good measure for you to see what’s changing.

As far as the cardio vs. strength training goes, you should be able to find some activities that incorporate both. I don’t know what you’re using for the weight training. . . . . For example, one of the things I do sometimes is to step sideways onto and over an aerobic step platform and do a curl and press with weights while I’m actually on the step. By the time I’ve done ten of them or so my arms are getting tired from the weights and so are my legs from carrying the extra weight and I’m breathing hard and sweating. (I hope that isn’t too descriptive.)

(chuckle ) No it’s not too descriptive Joan.  I need you to clarify though.  Are you saying the cardio and strength kind of go hand & hand with the move you described?

And thanks very much for the welcome, Joan.  I appreciate it.

If I’m correct in my understanding of what I’m doing (I work with a trainer), yes cardio and strength can go hand in hand.

I’m usually wearing a heart monitor and when my heart rate gets over the set range, it beeps at me. Often during my sessions, it beeps.

Step aerobics or a stair-master are cardio. In it’s most basic form, step aerobics can be done going up and down a real step. I’ve been working out for two years now so typically in the move I just described, I carry 10 pounds in each hand. As I step up, the weights are down at my side, going to parallel to the floor when I’m up on the step (the curl) and then being raised straight above my head (the press) and then coming down as I go off the other side of the step (talking about a platform now, not a real step). Lifting 20 pounds above my head something like 20 times in a row without stopping has to do something for my strength just as the constant movement is cardio.

I also do lunges with weights. All the getting up and down has my heart racing and the weights get mighty heavy. . . .

My point is that you can find things to do that will save you time by doing two things at once.

BTW, I’m a retired teacher so I know how busy your day is.

Good luck.