Shay - Day two

I'm writing this from bed.  Just got home from a long ass movie, closed my eyes and remembered that I signed up for this thing voluntarily and it's only day two, so better get my arse in gear.  Best wait till later in the month to shirk my duties.

Today was better than yesterday.  I finally got in a mini upper body work out.  Only about 20 minutes, but I feel good about it.  Can't wait for this ankle to heal so I can get into some cardio.  I'm itching to go for a run or even do some lunges or squats, jump some rope, anything really.  Hoping to get back into yoga next week if I can start putting some pressure on it.

Ate pretty well today, found some split pea, red lentil and ham soup I made a while back in the freezer.  Managed to resist eating it without a bun or any other carbs.  More of the same for tomorrow.  Good thing I like soup.  Skipped dinner and had an apple after work so I could eat some popcorn at the movie.  It was some damn good popcorn too.

Feel like I'm already learning to be more honest with myself.  More accountable for my choices or lack thereof...  And now, to sweet, sweet slumber.

Steph - Day 2 - Much better day!

Despite still feeling like crap, I managed to drag myself to the gym today after work as well as walking on my lunch break! Total of 90 mins of exercise today! YAY!

I've recently started working with a personal trainer at my gym. He set up my program, went through it with me, and at the end, I asked...what am I supposed to do for cardio? I LOVE cardio...I truly do. He tells me he wants me to do the workout we've just done a minimum of 3 times a week and on those days...cardio ONLY if I have enough energy after I'm done. And the other days will be my cardio days. WHAT?!?!?! Really? I've heard this from a few other people, but I really have a hard time believeing this will be effective......... So, today, I figure I'm still a little under the weather, so I'll do this "easy" strength training portion of my new program..and try to fit a good walk on the treadmill in after. Holy smokes was I wrong! Easy? HA! Nope....not at all! Granted, I'm doing step ups on a bench, some knee up lunge things, and more bench step ups, in between sets of weights, which really got my heartrate up...but I did NOT expect to feel like I did! I got on the treadmill following the workout....and the 10 mins I had to spare was MORE than enough! I've been running then strength training...almost a 2 hour workout...and I haven't left the gym as fatigued as I was today! It was a great feeling! Now...if only the inches and pounds will come off...

I'm glad that I forced myself to go....always feel better after a good workout! Eating was much better today also...so all around a good day! :)

*Hugs*

Cher Day 2 - App Review - Nike Boom

Hello Bloggers & Followers!

Needless to say this morning I feel pretty good - soreness in certain areas, but nothing to complain too much about.  Today I get home and am going to do a workout before going to the movies - I want popcorn so bad - no butter?  I will have to see if Myfitnesspal will let me have it!

Have an awesome day - and stay the course - Woohoo Day 2!

So I recently tried a new app I wanted to tell you about. 

Nike Boom (by Nike Inc) is a workout app which encompases a Gymboss timer, coach, cheer team, and hot athletes into one.  I am guessing that they have designed this for men.... but that doesn't mean women can't use it!  Here are the options you get:

1. Workout - it will time a workout for you, cheer you on when you like (this is where the hot male athletes come in), and post your results to Facebook or Twitter (or both)

2.  Intervals - it will time an interval workout for you - whatever interval you set.  You are cued to your next interval with a ref wistle.

3. Get Sparq Rated - unless you are into sports I don't think you will get this, and I don't have time to look into it :P

4. Gear Up - gives you all of the lates Nike Gear info.  I totally want the Nike+ Fuelband !

My Review:

I prefer the Nike Training Club (NTC) App.  It gives me a workout to follow (there are cons to it too which I will share next week).  Nike Boom is simple and quick to get you going.  Trouble is that you have to design your own workouts.  I wouldn't use this running because I prefer my Nike + GPS.  I would use Nike Boom for my at home workouts where I know what I want to do and for how long.  Essentially it is an alternative for when I can't find my GymBoss.

Cher
gingerandcrew.com

Shay - Day uno - Yikes

So today was kind of a bust...  I woke up and got ready for work, as per usual.  Ran out of the house without eating breakfast (strike number one!) and made it there 5 minutes late.  Oh well, figured I'd make up for it during the day.  Made some tea (no sugar, no milk - luckily I like it that way to begin with) and ate my yogurt and got to work.  11:30 rolls around, I'm starving.  Made some more tea to tide me over.  Thank Buddha, lunch time arrives!  Pull out last night's leftovers, tomato/cheese ravioli with rose sauce, prawns and broccoli, and dig in... possibly with a little too much gusto because 15 minutes later I got the mother of all stomach aches that lasted for over an hour (strike two!).

3 o'clock rolls around and my boss asks me to go for a drink.  There's been a lot of change in my life in the past month:  the end of a long term relationship, moving, giving notice at my job to move to Calgary, etc.  So, we meet at a neighbourhood chain restaurant and I order my usual, a whiskey ginger.  My fourth one in, still with no food, I realize tonight be a bit of a write off (strike three!).

So here I am now, writing this in the kitchen, waiting for my dinner to cook.  Lucky for me, around Christmas time, my Mom and I made a bunch of mini tourtieres.  Maybe it's not health food, but it'll fill me up, and it's homemade to boot, so that has to count for something... right?  It's not perfect, but it'll do, is my frame of mind right now.  Plus, while rooting around in the ole deep freeze, I came across some wicked split pea, red lentil and ham soup I made a while back - lunch anyone?

As to why I'm doing this, my goals for this month are difficult to put into words.  I've never really been a long-term-goal, looking-into-the-future kind of person, but here goes nothing!  An easy goal is that I would like to develop better posture. So today, I taped a sign to my monitor saying, "SIT UP STRAIGHT"  Hopefully that reminds me to quit my damn slouching.  A harder goal is that I would like to feel comfortable and proud in my own body again.  I feel like it's been years since I've felt able to wear the clothes I like or feel good about myself naked.  So that definitely involves some weight loss.  But, it also involves some self restraint.  Less chips.  Less hanging out, having a toke and vegging while eating whatever is in reach.  Less self indulgence.  More long walks with my dog.  Having recently sprained ankle might throw a wrench in that, but I'll figure it out.  Should be healed up here soon and then I'd like to get running and biking again.

This first post might seem a little bit rambling and introspective, but isn't that the whole idea of blogging?  It's like one giant, honest conversation with yourself.  Which hopefully ends with me being a hot bitch in a month!

Steph - Day 1 - Lacking self control

Well, here we are....blogging again...and guess what? SICK. Day 1 and I'm sick. Was sick all Christmas, actually for 4 1/2 weeks - bronchitis...and now again. I don't even have words for the frustration that I'm feeling. I decided that tonight, I wasn't going to train...just rest...in hopes that I'll wake up tomorrow all better! Fingers crossed!

My goal for this challenge this time...is to excercise every day. Even if it's my walk at lunch....I challenge myself to do a minimum of 3o minutes of exercise every day. Nothing is going to stand in my way. If I have to go later at night...so be it.

I have been struggling with my food choices more than I ever have lately. And quite honestly, I'm angry with myself. Where the hell did my self control go?

I have managed to get off of my antidepressant, Effexor...which was quite a struggle. It hasn't quite been a full month and I'm hoping that my out of control appetite is a side effect of that. But again, typing that feels like just another excuse. I feel so much better since stopping it and I'm hoping that things will settle out and I'll be back to my old self - FULL of self control!

I hope that this blog is as helpful to others as it is to me. Good luck to everyone!

Hugs and Love

Cher - Day 1 - Oh my this is gonna be painful

Hello Bloggers & Followers!

This is Cher's Day 1 -

I have made some changes to my life/career - I am still doing personal training, just on a smaller scale.  I am also working for a construction company doing admin style work.  Now I can have some more time to focus on ME!  Starting next week I have my mornings free (6am-7:30am) so this is when I am going to train.  Monday - Friday - no excuses.  Even through that schedule starts next week, I had this morning free, so wanted to see where I was at.  Oh My!  This is gonna be painful. 

I have been sick for 2 weeks.  No lie.  I couldn't breathe through my nose, sneezing all the time, it sucked.  Now I am still stuffy, but feel so much better.  I did a quick 20 minute workout - pushups, burpees, rows, curl ups, plank.  Things were SO much harder than they were 2 weeks ago.  I know I have a lot of work to do.  My body feels fatter.  Ewwww.... this needs to stop right here.

So now I will focus on the positive - work, family, and health.  I have all 3, and so workouts will be the icing on the cake.  What am I cutting out for these next 30 days?  Fried foods.  I have a husband who loves to order fried foods, cook fried foods, and eat fried foods.  I have to remember that no matter what - this type of food goes STRAIGHT to my ass, and doesn't fuel me in any way (except to sit on the couch). 

So as you can see, I am in the same boat as a lot of you - this is gonna be painful, but SO worth it!

Hugs!

Cher

30 Day Challenge! Tune in to their progress!

Hello Followers!

We are so excited for ROUND 2 of the blogging challenge!  We hope everyone enjoys reading the posts and following the ups and downs of this awesome group.

As usual I will be posting as well, as I too am starting a 30 day challenge!  Here you will read about their food woes, workouts, soreness, highs and lows of changing their lifestyles.

Support our team by posting comments, suggestions, and advice - we welcome your words of wisdom - we all have some!

Enjoy the next 30 days, take and give some inspiration!

Namaste,

Cher
gingerandcrew.com