Happ New Year's Resolutions!

It's the last day of the year so it's time for those New Year's resolutions. I read somewhere that around 40% of resolutions relate to diet and fitness. Obviously I have some fitness goals for myself in 2012 and here they are:

1. To complete 150 workouts (50 by the end of April, 100 by the end of August and 150 by the end of December).
2. To be able to easily touch my toes while sitting or standing.

I know the first will be the bigger challenge but I also know I can do it. I plan to incorporate more yoga which will be what most helps me improve my flexibility and be able to touch my toes.

I'm excited and motivated (just like we all are at this point each year). I'll be sharing what motivates me throughout the year along with any othe tips I happen upon or come up with :).

XOXO,

Workout 100 of 2011 (30 Day Shred level 2)

OMG!  I did it!  I did it!  I did it!  I worked out 100 times this year!!!!  I reached my goal!!!!  What a huge milestone!  This is the biggest longterm goal I've ever met!  I am so proud of myself.  A little over a month ago, it did not look like it could happen and I was about to give up.    5 minutes later, I made a plan of action and I did it!  It was hard to fit in the last 30 workouts in 32 days but I did it!  I am so glad I didn't take the easy route and give up.  The pain is worth all the pride!

Today, I decided to end with a Jillian Michaels workout since she's the one who showed me that I actually do enjoy working out.  Circuit training, specifically the 30 Day Shred changed my life forever.  It helped me get fit and stay fit.  I did level 2 which I still think is one of her hardest workouts simply because I find all the plank moves difficult.  I was impressed with my strength with the plank moves today, though.  I think all the yoga is really helping my upper body strength.

I can't believe I did it.

Goal reached, ZERO workouts left!  Woohoo!!!!

XOXO,

Workout 99 of 2011 (Power Walking)

I cannot believe I am down to one more workout to reach my goal!  The entire time I was power walking, I was thinking about my hard work lately.  A little over a month ago, it looked like I would not reach my goal for the second year in a row.  Then I decided to make a plan and make it happen.  I kept telling myself, "All the pain will be worth it!  You are worth it!  You CAN do this!  You WILL do this!"  There were moments when I thought about how easy it would be to give up and just start over next year, but I wouldn't let myself.  I am so proud of myself.  I cannot wait to post workout 100!  I'm going to exceed my goal this year!

1 workout left!

XOXO,

Workout 98 of 2011 (Housework)

According to My Fitness Pal app, I burned 246 calories in my 90 minutes of light, moderate cleaning.  I will count that as a workout for sure! :)

I'm glad when things I have to do that are no fun can count for things that are fun!

2 workouts left!

XOXO,

Workout 97 of 2011 (Yoga On-Demand)

Did my favorite yoga workout with Chris Freytag on-demand again.  I just love it and wish it were longer.  I know she has another yoga workout but it's no longer on-demand :(.  I may have to invest in the 10-Pound Slimdown to get it!

3 workouts left!

XOXO,

Workout 96 of 2011 (Shopping)

Yep, some may disagree that it's a true workout, but I literally ran around doing last minute Christmas shopping (as well as trying on a few options for my Christmas outfit) for a total of 3 hours yesterday and I'm counting it as a workout!  I was exhausted by the end and even had some LOVELY low bloodsugar around 11pm last night--further proving that it was a true cardio workout.

4 workouts left!

XOXO,

Workout 95 of 2011 (Ripped in 30 Week 1)

Note to self: it is VERY difficult to have stamina when doing a Jillian workout for your second workout of the day.  By the end, I was seriously huffing and puffing and this is level 1!  CRAZY!

I think the only way to successfully have a 2-a-day is for one workout to be cardio and the other to be yoga.  At least for me!

5 workouts left!  SOOOOO CLOSE!

XOXO,

Workout Plan December 19th-25th

My plans often change but as a planner, I always have my week in mind.  In order to have some accountability, I decided to post this week's workout plan:

Monday
-cardio (done- see workout 94)
-circuit training (Ripped in 30 level 1) (95)

Tuesday
-yoga (96)

Wednesday
-circuit training (No More Trouble Zones circuits 1,2,3,6,7) (97)

Thursday
-yoga (98)

Friday
-cardio (C25K on my elliptical or power-walking if it's warm enough) (99)

Saturday (Christmas Eve)
-circuit training (Shred it with Weights level 1) (100)

Sunday (Christmas)
-off day

XOXO,

Workout #94 of 2011 (Calorie Burn Abs On-Demand)

This morning I decided to do some cardio but was not feeling like getting on the elliptical.  Instead, I tried Calorie Burn Abs with Jennifer Galardi.  It was a fun, tough dance workout that definitely worked your core the ENTIRE time.  I was out of breath from almost the beginning but thankfully was able to keep up with her choreography.  However, the more dance workouts I do, the more I realize how completely uncoordinated I am.  When Brady walked in, I got a little self-conscious but then I thought, "Who cares?  I am working out and having fun and that's all that matters!"

Now off to hydrate before I hopefully workout with Jillian later. :)

6 workouts left!  Planning to finish on the 23rd or 24th :)

XOXO,

Don't quit! Stay motivated!

"How am I to know what I can achieve if I quit?" 

~Jason Bishop

7 more workouts until I reach my 2011 goal.  It will be a very proud moment when I get there!

Workout 93 of 2011 (Yoga Bootcamp Twisting Detox On-Demand)

This afternoon I decided to try another yoga workout on-demand.  Unfortunately with 8-minutes left, Kailee had a night-terror during her nap so I was unable to finish.  In fact, I had to hold her for an hour before she'd allow me to put her down, poor baby!

This workout was quite difficult for me and provided some VERY advanced (crazy) options that I have a feeling I will NEVER be able to do--though I'm okay with that!  I will definitely give it a try again :).

7 workouts!

XOXO,

Workout 92 of 2011 (C25K week 2 Day 1)

Tonight I decided to do some cardio on my elliptical. It was a bit hard tonight but I'm glad I did it! I definitely need to up my water intake. My stamina is not very good without enough water.

8 workouts left!

XOXO,

Workout 91 of 2011 (Ripped in 30 Level 3)

Tonight's workout was TOUGH!  I haven't really been working out with weights lately not to mention the fact that I decided to do week 3.  And let's not forget that I haven't been drinking much water the last few days--I know, I know HORRIBLE!  I have to get back on track with more Jillian workouts because I know one of my dogs is giving me Jillian's latest 2 DVDs for Christmas which promise to be EXTREMELY tough.  I gotta prepare for them :).

9 workouts left and I fully intend to finish before Christmas so that hopefully after Christmas I will end up exceeding my goal :)!

XOXO,

Need some Motivation?

"Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you."

~Ovid

XOXO,

Workout 90 of 2011 (10 Pound Slimdown Yoga)

This is one of my favorite workouts.  It is short (23 minutes) and fun!  It's a constant flow and each time you flow, you add or change something so it doesn't ever get boring.   And when I finish, I feel motivated to exercise some more.  I need to investigate Chris Freytag's other workouts.  I know I've done at least one other, but obviously so far, this one is my fave of hers :).

Stay tuned, I plan to workout on the elliptical in a little bit while watching The Biggest Loser Finale :).

10 workouts left!!!!

XOXO,

Workout 89 of 2011 (Kickbox Booty & Core with Natalie Yco On-Demand)

Remember the day I thought I was going to do a 15 minute workout with Denise Austin but instead it was a 23 minute workout with Natalie Yco?  Well, I found the correct title for that workout also On-Demand.  There's still a Kickboxing workout listed with Denise Austin but it too takes you to this workout with Natlie Yco, though I don't care.  I intentionally chose this workout tonight because it gets the heart rate up, it's tough and it's fun--any workout with this combo is one I will surely do!

I can't believe I only have 11 workouts left until I reach my goal.  So close!

XOXO,

Workout 88 of 2011 (10 Pound Slimdown Yoga)

I'm a little bit under the weather thanks to a not-so-fun head cold but I wanted to get at least one workout in this weekend.  I figured yoga would be a safe bet and it was.  If they truly remove this workout from On-Demand when they say they will, I may have to actually invest in it.  I really enjoy it and will buy it if it disappears off U-Verse.

12 workouts left!

XOXO,

Weekly Motivation

"The mind is the limit.  As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as your really believe 100 percent."

~Arnold Schwarzenegger

XOXO,

Workout 87 of 2011 (Burlesque Beat On Demand)

For my second workout, I decided to investigate some cardio options and happened upon the dance category.  I like to dance so I decided to give Burlesque Beat a try.

It was a lot of fun.  I am not very coordinated but I was able to follow the instructor's directions fairly easily.  She gave 3 different choreographed sets that you practiced and then at the end put all together.  It was not too difficult for someone who has zero dance background and limited coordination.  As the instructor kept saying, it did not feel like a workout but she guaranteed calories burned.  By the end I had worked up a bit of a sweat.  My only complaint is that the workout was too short.  I wish it were about 10 minutes longer.

XOXO,

Workout 86 of 2011 (10 Pound Slimdown: Yoga)

Today I decided to do my favorite Yoga workout again.  It's amazing how good it makes me feel.  I can already feel my body becoming more limber and I love it!  I love how 30 minutes ago I did not feel inspired to workout at all, but after 25 minutes of yoga, I feel like I will get back on schedule by completing another workout today.

Yoga is good for the body and mind!

14 workouts left, woohoo!

XOXO,

Workout 85 of 2011 (C25K week 1 day 3 on the elliptical)

Today I did the couch-2-5K week 1 day 3 workout on my elliptical trainer.  I cut the warmup and cool down short because we needed to head to a late brunch with family, but I plan to do some yoga later.  It was pretty easy and enjoyable because I watched last week's episode of Once upon a Time while completing it :).

15 workouts to go!

Workouts 83 and 84 (House Cleaning)

I did not take a break but I'm counting my 4 straight hours of cleaning my house as 2 separate workouts.  I looked it up and light housework for 4 hours burns 657 calories.

So if anyone has a problem with me counting this as 2 separate workouts, get over it!

Now off to finish cleaning my house! :)

XOXO,