Daily Check-in
Good morning! Three months ago, I was enjoying my first live Cathe step class. I am missing Cathe and my Road Trip sisters this morning! Thankfully, the weekend has finally arrived! I am ready for a restful weekend. I started Cathe’s November rotation Sunday morning, and I am wrapping up the first week with a rest day. It will be interesting to see how my body responds to 30 minutes of cardio 5 days a week with a stretch day and a rest day. This rotation feels “just right” for where I am in this journey. The way Cathe added stretch and rest days is making this series even more enjoyable for me. These were my workouts for the week:
11-04-07 Higher Intensity Step
11-05-07 Kickbox
11-06-07 Stretch Max
11-07-07 Lower Intensity Step
11-08-07 Boot Camp
11-09-07 Higher Intensity Step (cardio premix)
11-10-07 rest
I did the weights first premixes the first week I did this series on my own and the premixes for a 3-day split the second week. I decided to do the workouts as produced this month for Cathe’s rotation. I discovered that doing cardio first gives me a better workout overall. I prefer fasted cardio but need fuel before weight workouts. Enjoying the cardio first then taking a quick break for part of a hemp protein smoothie before the weight work is the perfect solution for me. I had more energy for cardio this way and was surprised to discover that I was able to lift heavier weights because I was all filled up with warm fuzzies from the fun cardio! Yippee! Cardio first for me! Boot Camp is the possible exception. It is a tough workout no matter which way I do it! That biceps and triceps work is intense!
These workouts make me so happy (especially the cardio kickboxing and step choreography)! Other than Cathe’s Friday morning step class and the Road Trip, I have not been this excited about my fitness journey in a long time.
I believe I have experienced my “breakthrough” with this series. When all is said and done, I believe I will testify that gaining 10 pounds when I started this series was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Why? Because it convinced me to pack up my scale and start enjoying the journey again instead of stressing over my weight. I feel so free! The pressure is off! Yippee!
I know from flirting with the Slow and Heavy Series for a few weeks last year that heavy weight training makes me tired and hungry. I miss the natural high and feeling of bursting with energy that an intense cardio and circuit training rotation gives me, but I am having so much fun with these workouts. I need to have fun now because it appears that Cathe is going to start cracking the whip in 2008. I am enjoying every minute of these fun and dancy step workouts because the party will be over when the new Shock Training System arrives! I love the thought of having a series planned by Cathe for results!
I enjoyed the chat with Cathe during my lunch hour yesterday. Good news! She has not given up on the boxing series or Rhythmic Step 2! I just need to be patient! It makes me happy to know that she will continue producing the Cathe workouts I know and love in addition to the STS workouts. Yippee!
My eating has been stellar this week. I have been eating 5 times a day in addition to a hemp protein smoothie after my weight workouts. I added a little extra protein to my menus this week in the form of organic air-chilled chicken. I am listening to my body and feel good about my way of eating, so I decided not to make any other changes at this time. I will feel even better next week after my body adjusts to the time change. This time change wipes me out every year even though we gain an hour. I definitely like sunshine and warm weather!
Tammy, enjoy Kickbox! Fun, fun, fun!
Phyllis, you have a tough workout today. Put your game face on! Did you take an extra rest day because I thought we started on the same day?
Blessings,
Heather B.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).