Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Made it through.... what's next?

Where does time go?

I feel like I just started this program - but I am now in my last 2 days of the 8 week program.


8 weeks!  Gone!
WHAT?

Some times it feels like these workout plans are forever long because I'm struggling to get through them. This one, for some reason, has flown by.

I also can't believe I'm seeing pumpkins & fall decorations in Hobby Lobby so maybe just time in general is flying by.

Anyways...

This has been a whole new ball game for me - focusing on weight training & reps & muscles instead of heart pumping cardio.


I have to say, its still not something I'm fully 100% comfortable with.
I have really enjoyed seeing the changes in my strength, but man, I love cardio.
It's just what makes me excited to work out - getting that heart pumping.

Not to say that this doesn't get your heart pumping too.  Lifting heavy weights on a repeat - or holding weights jumping up & down off of a weight bench will DEFINITELY get your heart pumping - I've had sweat running down my face & back to prove it
... but this is just a different plan than a constant 30-45 minutes of running, jumping, moving.

I have to say though, I am happy about a few things doing this plan:

Push ups! ... my push up game is getting STRONG. I used to struggle to get in 1 or 2 GOOD push-ups - now I can knock out a good dozen before I get shaky.  That impresses me.

Not quite to this level though... yet! ;)

Weights! ... I had to go to the store the other night because weights were on sale for Father's Day & I needed another 15 lb weight.  I actually have a rack now with my own weights on it. Me. My personal weights.  Who would have thought?  I like knowing when I go to do certain moves now, the same ones I used to MAYBE use 5 lb'ers, I'm picking up at least 10 lbs or sometimes 12 or 15... its empowering to know you're building strength.

Goals! ... I honestly have said I'll never be able to do a pull up. Not with my upper body strength & especially with this bum shoulder.  & while I still question it, I don't DOUBT it 100% now. I want to make it a goal.  To be able to do a chin up.  I want that on my Before 50 Bucket List. Seriously.  I want to buy the bar assist to help get me started, but I really want to give it a go.  Why not?  The worst that can happen is I can't do it - which is where I'm at now.  So why not try to get stronger & give it a go?


6 Days a week! ... I found out I can work out 6 days a week instead of 5. I usually took Friday & Sunday as rest days & with this, I did work out on Sunday's - & was OK with it.  A good way to wind down my weekend actually.  Friday ended up being my best rest day because after getting home from work & working out, its usually around 7 or 8pm - but then I'd work out early on Saturday. I didn't like having the workouts so close to each other, so I ended up using Friday as my "rest day" - though I don't mind using Friday as a stretch or yoga day as well.  Make that 7 days a week! BAM!... it was good to be pushed out of my usual schedule & to see I CAN work out on days I'm not used to.

My official end of the program will be Thursday...I'll do my measuring then.

As for the weight, I do that on a weekly basis so I can tell I'm not going to see some huge drop.

That's the thing about this program.  I'm probably going to be right at the same exact weight. I actually just looked back at my starting weight & as of last week's weigh in, I'm only down 0.2 lbs - & that's not including all the ups & downs I've had over the past 2 months.  For someone who still has a goal of loosing another 25 lbs, that doesn't settle well with me.
(***I actually weighed right before this posted... I have GAINED ...like more than a few pounds... I am not a happy camper this morning)

It's been a real brain challenge for me - to remember that weight on the scale is different when muscle is added onto the body.  I'm anxious to see what the measurements end up at.  If that hasn't changed much? Oh gosh - steer clear - I'm going to be in a bad mood.

What lays ahead?  Well - I actually have 2 more programs I've already purchased.

One is the 22 Minute Hard Corp - which is a Tony Horton program & is focused on basic military training & simple moves. More weight training - which I like, especially since I have all these weights now - but I think it has a little bit of cardio?

The other is Turbo Fire - this is supposedly ALL cardio - which makes me super duper happy to think about.

But I've mentioned before I've been doing this program with my buddy Nathalie (My #chiseledknitters partner) & she also wants to do the 22 Minute Hard Corp as our next plan.... after she does another round of Hammer & Chisel.

Here's her Blog Post about her experience so far with the program

So I've been debating on doing another round myself...

But I think I may change it up a little bit - finding something that works better for me - & then recently, I think I've found a good combo on Pinterest!
A plan that has the Chisel workouts AND includes Autumn's 21 Day Fix & 21 Day Fix Extreme programs mixed in for 8 weeks.  So I still will be getting weight training because all of these programs revolve around strength but Autumn is more of the cardio side of the Hammer & Chisel program .... & with 3 programs involved in one workout schedule, that's a lot of variety.


http://www.megintime.com/2016/01/all-autumn-all-time-8-week-workout-plan.html


I don't want to give up the muscle I've built... I can tell a difference & want to continue building that strength.  But I also can tell I'm loosing my endurance of cardio not running or pumping the heart like I normally do... I gotta find a blend of both worlds.


On a side note - I think I'm going to break down & go see my Orthopedic about my knee soon. Its almost unbearable anymore.  Even without running. I just can't bend it without pain. It hurts in one spot.  Its not like the normal runners knee - it's totally a meniscus thing.  DANG IT!

Yeahhhh - I cant do this with my knee anymore
It hurts right on the inside of my knee when I get it to this position

I want to run again.  I need races laid out in front of me to keep me going.  I miss it.

But the good thing about all of this?  I have a lot of options ahead & all of it will keep me healthy & on the road to make a stronger me - the BEST ME I CAN BE!!!



What do you prefer?  Cardio or weight training?

What are you currently doing for exercise?

Any future workout plans /races ahead?



12 comments:

  1. when you do a program like that, you will either gain or maintain your weight but you'll definitely be slimmer/leaner. you're essentially losing the weight from fat and replacing with weight of muscle which is why the scale won't move much. when i was doing p90x, i only lost 5-8lbs but i was way leaner and lost a good few inches everywhere

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  2. Wow - has it been that long? Seems like you just posted a couple weeks ago that you were starting this program. Whether the scale moves up or down, you're stronger than you were 8 weeks ago, right? So that's good! Don't wait too much longer on your knee - hopefully the repair won't keep you down for long.

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  3. What, you've seen pumpkins out?....N00000!!! I swear society is trying to rush our lives. And for what? Just crazy!

    I am so impressed with your dedication to all these fitness programs. I could never find one that held my attention. I'm honestly surprised I got through marathon training..lol

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  4. Weight training any day. I hate cardio. I have to trick myself into it, like beach walking or bike riding.

    Kudos for finishing another awesome program!

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  5. I love a mix of cardio & weights, because it keeps me engaged & interested. So, I think the plan you found on Pinterest would be a great mix of it all. I've found that it doesn't take as much strength training to keep my strength as it does to build more strength.

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  6. Good for you! I admit it, I lack motivation when I work out at home. I need to go to a workout class to hold me accountable!

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  7. Congratulations on completing your program! That's really awesome. Despite the scale's number, I'm glad you're feeling stronger and more fit. That's a serious accomplishment. I need you to channel some of that love-for-exercising my way. Haha!

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  8. Look at you with your push ups and 15 lbs weights girl!!! Get it!!!! Me personally, I love weight training and it is always incorporated in with whatever routine I do. I am like you and move from program to program to change things up. I think it creates a good balance and helps you see what you like and dont like.

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  9. Like many above have said, you won't lose weight while gaining muscle but you will be leaner and stronger so don't get bummed out about it!! Congratulations and YOU ARE AMAZING!!

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  10. Great job on building muscle and having to go to the store to pick up more weights - thats awesome! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  11. Congrats on finishing! I hope your measurements show you something good. I prefer cardio, because I have really light upper body strength. Every pt test for the military, the push ups are the hardest for me. I'd always rather run/jog, although we have to do both. I remember feeling the same way about my weight after basic. It didn't change at all! But my measurements were a huge difference.

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  12. Ya for completing 8 weeks! I'm sure your measurments will show improvement even if the scale does not. I like both cardio and weight training. I currently do R.I.P.P.E.D to the Core and LOVE it! You get the best of both worlds, cardio stuff mixed with some strength training stuff, you should look into the DVD's. :)

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