Daily Check-in
This is another late check-in for me. I am staying on track with my eating and workouts even though I have not been checking in every day! I have not checked in here since Thursday night, so this is my update for the last few days.
Friday was a gentle workout day by design. After my quiet time, I did both stability ball segments on the Total Body Stretching DVD. I love this workout and the way I feel during and after the soothing stretches. The non-equipment segment is my least favorite because there is nothing unique about it. Because Cathe incorporates those stretches in her workouts, I decided to just enjoy my favorite segments. The second segment is my absolute favorite. It is so relaxing. I like the third segment too. I love using my stability ball. It adds a fun factor for me. It is my goal to do at least one long stretch workout every week. This is one area where my rotation has been out of balance in the past. Focused ab and core work is another area, and getting one solid ab and core workout every week in addition to the shorter segments in Cathe’s workouts is another goal for 2007.
Saturday was a restful day. After my morning quiet time, I did Cardio Kicks followed by the planks and abs from Kickbox on the Ab Hits DVD. Cardio Kicks was my first Cathe workout, and it is still a favorite. It is more hi-lo than kickboxing, but I love it. I like all of Cathe’s kickboxing workouts for different reasons. This one makes me sweat even on a cold January day. The CTX Series has some great ab work. The Kickbox planks are super tough. I did my best but had to rest. My core is not as strong as it needs to be, and the extra weight is not helping.
My friend Rebecca called yesterday afternoon to share that she lost 5 pounds this week. She returned to the club and started working out in the cardio room. Both of us desire to shed 100 pounds this year. We are close to the same height and size. I am looking forward to jogging in the pool again soon. My swimsuit is way too tight after my holiday weight gain, so I decided to wait a few weeks. Rebecca is not ready to get in the pool again for the same reason. She shared with me for the first time yesterday afternoon that she has always dreamed of running too. We are hoping to reach our goals together and start running in September after the Texas heat subsides. Hopefully, both of us with be light enough to handle the impact by then. It would be so much fun to run a race with her. I am so thankful that God has provided a friend like Rebecca to enjoy this journey with me. She is really the only friend I have who is actively supporting me (aside from all the precious support I receive here). It is fun to have a friend who is willing to exercise with me.
Today was my planned rest day. I enjoyed a long nap this afternoon. I reviewed my journal and Cathe calendar for the first week of this year. I am pleased with my progress. My game plan of adopting a marathon mentality and learning to pace myself is working for me. It is fun to look at my calendar after a week and see all the workouts and colored dots. I stayed on track last week and accomplished all my workout goals for the week. This calendar is a powerful visual training tool that allows me to see at a glance where my rotation is out of balance. I am using removable stickers to mark my workouts on my calendar so I can plan a week in advance and make adjustments as needed during the week. I use color coding dots to keep track of cardio, weight training, ab and core work, and stretching. It is an easy way to see at a glance that I am getting a good balance of each of these every week. It is my goal to incorporate weight training at least twice a week as well as focused ab and core work and a long stretch segment every week. I am a cardio lover, so I naturally enjoy plenty of cardio in my rotation without planning for it.
I am ready to enjoy a warm bubble bath and wrap up this day.
Blessings,
Heather B.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).
When I wake up, that's it, I'm up at 4 or 5 on workdays so I guess the old body clock is kicking in. 
