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It was a real challenge for me to get through this week. I missed our calls almost every day, and my energy levels were way down as I adjusted to the workouts and early mornings.

Day 7 (7/28): Short weight workout – 90 reps
Day 8: 1 hour yoga
Day 9: 25 pushups
day 10: 35 pushups
Day 11: 1 hour yoga
Day 12: 15 minutes yoga
Day 13: 25 pushups
Day 14: 1 hour yoga, weights – 174 reps, ran 3.77 miles

Total:
3:15 hours of yoga
Ran: 3.77 miles
349 reps

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What an incredible week. That 20 minute weight workout was a real departure from the past for a couple reasons -

1.) I didn’t have the “right” attire. I left my sneakers at home, so I just worked out in my flip-flops. Guess what? I still got a good workout!

2.) It was completely spontaneous. The yoga instructor yesterday was a no-show. It didn’t bug me that I got up for the 7:00am class and they didn’t show up. I would be there anyway. It just threw off my workout. I had a nice breakfast date instead with my SO. By late afternoon it was nagging at me that I hadn’t worked out, and had no plans to. QA needed another build and I had to hang out to verify it, so I decided the time would be best spent at the gym.

Here’s the 20 minute workout:

Dumbbell Squats: 15 x 20lb (2 sets)
Lunges: 12 x 12lb (2 sets)

Glute Machine: 15 x 50lb
Leg Extension: 15 x 50lb

Upright Row on cable machine: 15 at setting 6
Tricep Pressdown: 15 at setting 5

I ended the night having dinner at Zorba’s with 2 dear friends, followed by a phone call catching up with my brother and his wife.

This weekend 2 members of my family are reuniting after not speaking or seeing each for 5 or 6 years. I can’t believe it! I’m so happy to be a part of it.

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Today: Got to the gym at 6:40am and did a quick focused weight workout, followed by an hour of yoga

Day 9: Wasn’t feeling too good, and only completed half my weight workout

Days 10 & 11: Traveled up and back to NY for training, which meant getting up at 5:30am, and getting home at 8:00pm. I did pushups each day as my workout. It wasn’t crazy or intense, but was enough that I still felt engaged in the 30 day challenge.

Day 12: Morning yoga at the Sporting Club. Ahhhh. It felt really good and helped recuperate from sitting on my butt for 15 straight hours the past 2 days.

Day 13: Soooo sleepy. Really just unmotivated Sunday. I did 15 minutes of yoga at home in front of the TV. No, it wasn’t a yoga show I was watching. I just did a few sun salutations while Jim slept on the sofa next to me, watching a movie.

Day 14: More pushups. I got to work early to catch up on what I missed last week, and to prepare for sprint review – which meant no morning workout. I ended up doing pushups again at home! Oh no, where has my commitment to the challenge gone? Luckily, last night was Refresh Philly, and I had an opportunity to plug the eCity Running Club, along with my wellness challenge companion, Phil Thomas.

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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.

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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.

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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

Total Running Mileage: 10.85 miles

Total Reps: 468

Yoga: 1 hour

Miles Biked: 24

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