Another plan vs. actual.

So this was two weeks ago the plan  and I think I remember the actual.
Sunday - Gym, step mill and whatever else - I don't think this happened
Monday- Rest - Stepmill and arc trainer at the gym.  Something else too that I don't remember.
Tuesday - Walk or a class - I may have walked.
Wednesday - Walk or a class - 2 mile walk at Bare Cove Park in Hingham plus around downtown.  I couldn't relax so I took a low key yoga class. 
Thursday - Rest - Working the night shift and could not sleep during the day!  I took a piloxing class to hopefully knock myself out but not so much. 
Friday - Circuit - No circuit.  So tired from work and not sleeping.  I got up and packed before working the night.  I clocked 6.5 miles on the pedometer during my shift. 
Saturday - Something outdoorsy and wonderful - Swimming!  We had races and made fun games to make our own elderly water aerobics session. 

Last week was some what pathetic besides the hike, more swimming, and a walk here and there.  Must get back on track this week!

Sunday - gym with cardio and lower body workout
Monday - gym with cardio and core
Tuesday - Zumba and an upper body workout
Wed & Thurs - rest realistically but will try to throw in a quick at home circuit
Friday - Wildcard
Saturday - I hope it is nice cause I'd like to break out the bike.

In addition to the fitness plan, I'm trying to meal plan a bit more.  Conveinence foods and quick but healthy takeout have become the norm around here.  Too much money going to waste.  I'm in such a cooking funk.  It has been a while since I've done a food post.  That Vet I know recently interviewed (part 1, part 2) Lindsay Nixon, the Happy Herbivore.  How have I not used one of her recipes yet?

Relax….

Last weekend we were fortunate enough to have my schedule and the time share schedule coordinate.  We haven’t been able to get up to the White Mountains  in almost two years.  I am completely content not going up during the winter, despite the beautiful scenery, but turning down a spring, summer, or fall trip is hard to do. 

Although it wasn’t super warm out, the sun was shining so we were able to go hiking.  The last time we went, we hiked up a mountain.  We didn’t think we’d ever reach the top.  Since there was snow still atop some of the mountains and we weren't interested in a never ending journey, we decided to do a hike without much elevation. 
The Pemigewasset River trails we chose were part of an old rail system.  Some remnants of the old tracks still exist.  This area was formerly a huge logging area.  Now, it is a national forest so no Paul Bunyan action out here. 
Typically, the rivers around these parts are full of these smooth stones/rocks/boulders.

But apparently last year’s visit from Irene did a number on some of the trees.  There were places with piles of old trees and their root systems.

The trail itself was safe.  Some areas were closed off but we were still able to get about 6 miles in round trip.  There were plenty of waterfall sites to see too.



As for wildlife, we hardly saw anything!  We heard birds, but couldn’t find them.  Finally at the end of the hike we saw this little guy.  He posed for us for a while too.

Other than the hike we just swam, hot tubbed, and relaxed.  During the off season the pool area is so quiet for a change.  Finally, we were able to play Marco Polo and have races and see who could balance on the kickboard the longest. 

On a food note, we were able to have two nice vegetarian meals… veggie burgers at Woodstock Inn Station & Brewery and veggie sushi for me and a stir fry for him at Chang Thai.  So nice to go places where the menu is clearly marked and the servers are familiar with the lingo.  I don’t mind if servers aren’t familiar, I just feel like a huge pain going through the million questions. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to be on permanent vacation?????????????????

Plan vs. Actual

The week’s workouts…


Sunday – Piloxing and Zumba - Success!  I think I took a walk too.

Monday – Circuit at home, one of these perhaps. Focus on extra abs. - More like a rest day.  My pedometer said I walked 5 miles at work.

Tuesday – Rest - Again, 5 miles at work, but I'm not technically counting these miles as a workout. 

Wednesday – 30 of cardio and yoga - I walked instead.  Hard to go indoors when it is so nice out.

Thursday – Circuit training or rest - Rest day.  Workout after 12 hour shifts=ya right.  Another 5 miles on the pedometer.

Friday – Some type of class and add in some leg training. - Long walk around Plymouth.  My sis and I found a trail we never knew existed!  We can't wait to go back and explore more. 

Saturday – Wildcard! - Zumba class, walk outside, and this circuit training thing-a-ma-bob. 


So planning workouts while it is nice outside is tough.  If I don't get up and do it right away, I just want to go outside. I think that's why I followed through with classes on Sunday and Saturday.

The new plan for a new week...

Sunday - Gym, step mill and whatever else
Monday- Rest
Tuesday - Walk or a class
Wednesday - Walk or a class
Thursday - Rest
Friday - Circuit
Saturday - Something outdoorsy and wonderful

This week brings the challenge of the night shift!  On my days off I usually can pull off a great late night gym session.  24 hour gyms are the best. 

Planning ahead.

This week’s workouts…
Sunday – Piloxing and Zumba
Monday – Circuit at home, one of these perhaps.  Focus on extra abs.
Tuesday – Rest
Wednesday – 30 of cardio and yoga
Thursday – Circuit training or rest
Friday – Some type of class and add in some leg training.
Saturday – Wildcard!

Right now my workouts feel like a giant wildcard.  No order.  No routine.  I’ve been trying to follow a plan and stick with it but I’ve really only been able to stick with being active.  I’ve been picking around Jamie Eason’s LiveFit 12-week trainer.  I’ll run bits and pieces of the couch-to-5k program.  Ultimately, I’m listening to my bod and trying not to strain my achy joints.  This in turn keeps me from getting bored on the step mill. 

On a hilarious and serious note, I was gifted with a shake weight for my birthday.  I don’t know that it will truly tone my arms with the promised “dynamic inertia” but I totally feel a burn while shaking.  The best thing about it is the reflective/mirror tape on the end. 

Jumping.

I don't jump well.  But I'm trying.  I think its mostly my gimp knee. 

Yesterday I did this workout...

It isn't too difficult but I walked/ran 3 miles before hand.  I wasn't jumping very well the first part.  Part two I hated everything and said every curse word in the book.  My sister was coaching me from the couch, "Butt down!  Push it!  Come on! 10 seconds!"  That helped. 

I always feel good when I've completed the workout.  It is hard to get mad at Zuzana, she seems so nice and she is pushing herself through the workout too.  But during the workout, that is another story.

The fresh air yesterday was glorious!!!  My skin felt great and my lungs felt clean and as if they were expanding more.  Maybe it is my choice of profession that makes me particular observant of air reaching the ends of the bronchial tree...

Now I have to figure out which workout to do today. 

Ugh.

Writing it down…

Making it happen?!
I hope so. If I publish some New Year goals/intentions/ideas/resolutions maybe I'll stick to it. I usually do well with resolutions. I gave up french fries for a year and I think after the year of completing that goal, I only indulged in fries if the restaurant was indulging as well, i.e. using peanut oil or truffle oil. I eat fries now, although about once a month. They are never as good as I remember them. Potato chips and I have an unhealthy relationship. Maybe I should find a meeting…
Last year I went vegan. I had quite the cheese hangover on January 1, 2010. No, it wasn't the wine. I had half a glass. It was the cheese. Every course of my meal had cheese as the main attraction. Two weeks into veganism I had withdrawals and wanted the comfort of a grilled cheese sandy. But no. I worked through my cravings! And then, I discovered Daiya. At this time, Daiya was not provided by supermarkets but that soon changed. Hopefully it will be available in all supermarkets one day, not just Whole Foods. I also discovered other foods that did not involve cheese at all and fell in love with being a vegan.
2011 begins a whole new decade. So many exciting things are going to happen in the next ten years. Instead of dreading of the big three-oh, I'll be looking for cheap botox and the newest thigh master to beat the big four-oh. What will be the shake weight of 2020?
I thought maybe I should kick things off with a resolution to be friskier. That was quickly shot down as I don't quite have a handle on appropriate times to be more frisky. Why is it not always appropriate to repeatedly slap your partner's behind?
Here are some goals I will work on this year. These will not get shot down…

1. I want what I have.
   Be present. Although the future is exciting and life would be easier if I was already finished with school and well established in my career, I will focus on enjoying day to day life. This will be especially challenging for a dreamer like me, but it is probably the most important thing I can work on.
2. Bike and run a combined 500 miles.
   I hate running. But I love how I feel after running. I want to run a race this year. At least one race! Originally I thought I'd like to run 500 miles this year but once the warmer weather arrives I'm going to want to spend more time on my bike. I'm excited to see what I'm capable of!
3. Spend 200 hours on my yoga mat.
   I've already spent 1.25 hrs there. 198.75 to go! Yoga is something that helps keep me well and fit. It pushes my physical, mental, and emotional boundaries like nothing else. I've meandered off the mat the past few years and I'm looking forward to getting back on. My spring semester schedd seems to welcome this challenge. J
   
4. Thirty day challenges!
   Last year began with this challenge and it was a unifying event. Andrea did a thirty day yoga challenge. I've already begun one 30-day challenge, but that is for another post. These challenges will range from anything I want to work on from a fitness goal, spiritual goal, and maybe even some fashion goals! I should be on What Not To Wear and hopefully some challenges I put myself through this year will change that. I found a new-to-me fashion blog, Kendi Everyday, and she issued a 30-for-30 remix challenge where a heck of a lot of other bloggers participated and documented. I think I'd just need help getting those 30 pieces.
5. Push boundaries with yoga and spirituality through trying new things and taking classes.
   Group and guided meditations really help me sync into myself. I think it is something about the collective energy in the room. I need to do this more. This past year I took two different yoga workshops and am looking forward to doing more. Maybe I'll finally get my Reiki II! There are many possibilities…

Of course there are the read more, create more, healthy more ideas. I'd like to focus more on classics but I'd really like to find my reading niche. I often get caught up in a series, and then mourn the loss once I've closed the last book. At one point in my life I was really into film. I'd like to rekindle that love. Lack of time and a partner that doesn't quite have your taste in movies kinda put a damper on time with the big screen. When it comes to being healthier, I just want to cook more for myself. I've conquered many bumps, and quite frankly pot holes and boulders, already on the "be-more-healthy" road. Now I just need to find more time and energy in meal prep.
Any ideas for 30-day challenges? Anyone want to run a 5k with me? Who wants to redo my wardrobe?
xoxo