I did “Gentle Vinyasa Yoga” at 7:00am today with Kate. What a great way to start the day. I actually got my clothes ready last night, and was at the gym by 6:15 this morning. I got to spend 45 minutes relaxing, drinking coffee, and reading Ken Schwaber’s Agile Software Development with Scrum. After yoga I spent 10 quality minutes in the steam room focusing on my breath. By the time I showered and got to work, I was ready to curl up for a nap.
The one issue I’m finding with all this daily exercise is that my appetite seems to be outpacing my workouts. I find I need to eat before I workout, and by the time I’m done I’m completely ravenous. I’ve gained 2lbs in the last week. It’s not horrible, and can come off just as fast as it went on, but I’m concerned that this will be a trend. I would love to know how other people manage their appetites when they are beginning a new workout routine.
Today’s workout was Vinyasa Flow Yoga at The Sporting Club, 10:00am with Sarah.
Most of my experience with yoga has been power yoga, and this is one of the first classes I’ve taken where it’s gentle, stretching yoga. I’m a little conflicted about it. I’m doing this 30 day challenge, but coming to terms with not having to kill myself every workout. The last 2 days of yoga have been really nice, and were much needed. I also found myself much more aware of my posture as I went about my business today. So it leaves me asking, what is this challenge really about for me? Just showing up is a huge part of it. I was really careful in stating that the challenge is about GOING to the gym every day. What I do when I get there is totally up in the air. It’s about making this an integral part of my life. Like walking or breathing, I just do it without thinking. There is no justification or rationalization. I just go.
Today is day 5 of the 30 Day Wellness Challenge. I’m at Cosi across from the gym. My plan is to hit the 10:30 yoga class at the Sporting Club. I’m pretty sore from the last couple days. I just want to take a couple minutes to document my workouts this week:
7/18 Sunday: Ran at Valley Green – 5 miles 7/20 Tuesday: Ran with eCity Run Club – 2.75 miles 7/21 Wednesday: Ran on Treadmill – 3.1 miles
7/22 Thursday:
Giant sets – each group of exercises performed without rest. 90 second rest between Giant set 1 and Giant set 2
4 sets of 8-10 reps
Giant Set 1
Squats: 30lbs x 10 reps
Lunges: 17.5lbs x 8 reps
Upright Row: 30lbs x 10 reps
Giant Set 2
Ballet Squats 16kg x 10
Deadlifts: 8kg x 10
Kettlebell Overhead Press: 8kg x 8
7/23 Friday
Giant Set 1
Wide stance squats: 25lbs x 8
Lunges: 15lbs x 8
2 arm bent over row: 25lbs x 10
Dumbbell Flys: 15lbs x 10
Giant Set 2
Bent over Lateral Raise: 12.5lb x 10
2 Leg Calf Raise: 50lbs x 13
Hammer Curl: 20lb x 10
Lying Tricep Extension: 25lbs x 20
I’ve been pretty curious about the TRX classes at the Sporting Club. My plan is to hit the 30 minute class next Thursday at lunch. Looks like it’s been getting some publicity!
I’ve embarked on a 30 day wellness challenge. I’ve always thought my greatest roadblock in getting (and staying) fit is a lack of consistency. This past year has seen great improvements, but I’m still battling the same issue. 10 or 12 days go by without me partaking in any physical activity. I’ve finally identified that the issue is not consistency, but integrity. If you ask me, I would say that I’m very committed to my fitness, and it’s a top priority. But when the alarm is going off at 5:30, 9 times out of 10 I’m hitting snooze, and going back to sleep.
It’s gotten worse lately. I hit on a solution that seems to be working. I got together with a couple friends and proposed a 30 day wellness challenge. The details are personal to each of us, and my particular challenge is to go to the gym 30 consecutive days. We have a phone call each morning on a free conference line where we call in and declare what we will do that do in the world of health. So far, so good. I’ve been to the gym every day for the past 4 days. I’m really excited about it.
I think this is more than just holding each other accountable. It’s creating something from nothing, then living into that. It’s giving me a chance to be someone I’ve never been. A person that goes to the gym every day.
