Celestialmom Gettin' it Done! - Page 3 - JP Fitness Forums

Bytsi · 05-22-2008, 08:46 AM

Lookit all that red!!!!!

beach_plums · 05-23-2008, 11:05 AM

That sounds like a wonderful night. And great weekend too! We've got nothing planned, but will probably include a bike ride or two. And bbq-ing.

Celestialmom · 06-01-2008, 05:31 PM

Well, I accidentally took my rest week a week early!!! I figure I should think of it that way so I don't get discouraged. I worked out Thursday before Memorial Day, had a great evening with my husband, and then the gym was closed Saturday through Monday!

Grr... We did have a nice long hike Friday night though doing some last minute checks of the downhill mt bike courses--walking UP and DOWN the mountain!!

Anyway, Tuesday I planned on going in but had some sort of stomach bug, so I didn't get back into the routine until Thursday! Oh well, I am going to count it as a rest week. I only had 8A and B to go, plus AMRAPS if I decide to do them.

So here was Thursday's workout:

Yesterday's Workout:
Workout 8A (5-29-08):

Squats: 3x8 @ 40lb DBs (I must have not been doing these well, b/c my knees are still sore on Sunday. I decided to not do 8B over the weekend like I usually do b/c I couldn't even do a bw lunge)

Pushups: 3x12 (One hand on 2kg medicine ball, one hand on floor, alternating hands, one-legged)

Seated Row: 3x8 @ 150#

Stepup onto bench: 1x10 @ 25lb DB

Prone Jackknife on Ball: 1x12 prone pikes

After the first set of stepups/pikes my body wacked out--adrenaline rush, heart beating really hard, I felt HORRIBLE. A few years ago I started getting heart palpitations like this which after tests, yada yada yada, the dr said were harmless. They're brought on by stress, which I currently am swimming in--and I think a week of little exercise combined with the stress made them come back. So I didn't finish this workout I'm ashamed to say...

I think getting back in the mode of working out has helped the whole stress reaction thing though. We've been hiking twice since then and Friday night my daughter and I did intervals UP the hill behind our house! I don't think it was as high intensity as it should have been (I'm a wimpy runner), because we did 1 min run, 2 minutes fast walk, and we managed about 35 minutes. I was really proud of that, but from my elliptical trainer intervals, I was DEAD at 15 minutes. Anyway, it was fun and a good bonding time!

Catch ya'll later...
Celeste

foodfromafar · 06-01-2008, 05:59 PM

Celeste, my heart would have palpitations after taking a week off and coming back to that workout!!! Great workout and great for listening to your body when it was saying, "Time to stop!"

Bytsi · 06-01-2008, 06:42 PM

Stress sucks... hoping your next workout is better and relieves stress instead of adding to it!

Celestialmom · 06-02-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foodfromafar

Celeste, my heart would have palpitations after taking a week off and coming back to that workout!!! Great workout and great for listening to your body when it was saying, "Time to stop!"

Pauline--tee hee!! thanks...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bytsi

Stress sucks... hoping your next workout is better and relieves stress instead of adding to it!

Bytsi--thanks--and I think getting back into working out is getting rid of those palpitations. I've been feeling much better, this quick even.

So today's workout:

Workout 8B (6-2-08):

Deadlifts: 3x8 @ 115#

Shoulder Presses: 3x8 @ 25#

Lateral Pulldown: 3x8 @70#

Lunges: 3x10 @ 30# dbs

Abs: 3x15 reverse crunches, 3x4 astronaut holds

So that was the last stage 1 workout, unless I do the AMRAPS---hmmm, to AMRAP, or not to AMRAP, that is the question...

Any input, anyone? I've seen mostly negative comments on other threads, any reason to do or not to do them? I have to say I'm sort of sick of stage one and want to move on.

Celeste

Bytsi · 06-02-2008, 07:30 PM

I did the AMRAP's, but I don't think you need to do them. I didn't get a lot out of them, to be honest... all they did was remind me how much it SUCKS to do high reps!

Celestialmom · 06-04-2008, 02:11 PM

Well, Bytsi, I had decide to skip the AMRAPS and jump into Stage 2 (Since I already took my rest week), but what with company yesterday and today, and not being prepared for stage 2 (I need to read the directions for the exercises, figure out starting weights, etc), I flip-flopped at the last minute and did A AMRAP today. Yep, I hated it as much as I thought! (I bore easily and the pain is multiplied in my little head!)

So here goes:
Stage 1A AMRAPS (6-4-08):

Squats: 40 @25 lb DBs

T-Pushups w/10 lb hexagonal dumbells: 20 (I expected to be able to do more, but I DEFINITELY couldn't have pulled off even one extra)

Seated Row: 25 @120lb

Stepup onto bench: 30 w/20lb DBs (This was not to failure, but until I started to lose good form)

Prone Jackknife on Ball: 17 yuk! I did 15 of these the first week! My form was better and I did them slower, but still...

So here's my progression for Stage 1 A Workouts:
Squats: Start 2x15 @ 25# DBs,
End 3x8 @ 40#DBs
Pushups: Start T-Pushups w/10# dbs 1x16. 1x14
End (1 legged pushups w/alternating hands on med ball) 3x12
Seated Row: Start 2x15 @ 120#
End 3x8 @ 150#
Stepups onto bench: Start 2x15 @ 20# DBs
End 3x10 @ 25# DBs
Prone Jackknife: Start 2x15 jackknife on shins
End 2x12 pikes 1x12 jackknife on toes

--------------------------------------------
Also on a funny note, I found out I lied about my age in this log!! I'm actually 34, not 33, I just can't remember my age! Gee, you'd think if I was going to lie, I'd do it right and make myself 29 or something!!

Celeste

Celestialmom · 06-04-2008, 02:46 PM

Oh, I forgot, I'm going to steal the "good thing for today" from Beach Plums who stole it from DirtyMartini--great idea especially now when I'm under a lot of stress and it can be easy to focus on the negative things.

Good thing for today--an overnight visit from my dear friends who are missionaries in Guatemala. They and their three kids stayed overnight with us, and we had a GREAT time. All of our children played well together and we grownups got to spend the day catching up and chatting (and troubleshooting parenting techniques!)

Funny thing for today--some guy at the gym came over and asked me if I "came there often," because I looked "really toned!"

I wasn't sure if I should laugh and explain my opinion on toning, say thanks, or run away! Instead, I explained that I was just there at a different time than usual since I had company that morning. LOL!!!

foodfromafar · 06-05-2008, 04:27 PM

I'm glad you had a great visit with your friends! It's so fun to catch up especially when the kids are all getting along together so you can actually carry on a real conversation!

I'm with you on not knowing how to respond to the guy at the gym's comments. I was going to get a swiss ball out of the aerobics room today and a woman asked me if I worked there and I told her no, I was just getting a ball to do planks with. Then she asked me to show her planks and then about her daughter's running training... I tried to help with my limited knowledge but why ask me?

I keep hoping that I'm old enough for guys to steer clear. It works for the most part...

Celestialmom · 06-05-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foodfromafar

I'm with you on not knowing how to respond to the guy at the gym's comments. I was going to get a swiss ball out of the aerobics room today and a woman asked me if I worked there and I told her no, I was just getting a ball to do planks with. Then she asked me to show her planks and then about her daughter's running training... I tried to help with my limited knowledge but why ask me?

I keep hoping that I'm old enough for guys to steer clear. It works for the most part...

Now THAT's a compliment--she probably has seen you work out and assumes you're some sort of professional even if you don't work there. That's pretty cool (although it doesn't help you get on with your workout either). BTW, the plank on the ball thing--HOLY COW!! I was checking out the stage two exercises today and managed a plank for only 30 seconds! I was only playing around, so MAYBE I could have held out for an extra 10 or 15, but I don't think I can do even a floor plank for 30s, not to mention two sets on the ball and bench. Amazing!

foodfromafar · 06-06-2008, 05:29 AM

Thanks, Celeste! I really enjoyed Stage 2 and wished I could have done the FSPP to get the hang of it. I'm glad that the same exercises appear in Stage 4 so I have more time to work on them. They were a good mix. I've decided to just trust Alwyn's plan. He has a reason for listing the exercises he does in the order he does. I'm not smart enough to figure out his reasoning, but I trust his judgment! Overall, I preferred the A workout a little more than the B workout, but that may only have been because it was shorter! For the HIIT, I decided to just make it my own personal challenge and do a little more with each workout without killing myself! I've enjoyed it as a change in pace to the SS cardio I've been doing for so long. I still do the SS cardio, too. I'm addicted - it's my stress reliever!!

Celestialmom · 06-06-2008, 06:50 AM

I meant to post this last night, but ended up not having time. So I decided to NOT do the B AMRAP and head straight into Stage 2--I'm so excited! But anyway, here is my progression for each exercise in Stage 1 Workout B:

Deadlifts: Start 2x15 @ 50#
End 3x8 @ 115#
Overhead Press: Start 2x15 @ 20#
End 3x8 @ 25
Lat Pulldown: Start 2x15 @ 60#
End 3x8 @ 70#
Lunges: Start 2x15 @ 20# DBs
End 3x10 @ 30# DBs
Swiss Ball Crunch: Start 2x25
End V-ups, reverse curls, astronaut holds

Yesterday's exercise: Walked the track w/my friend during soccer practice for about 45 min

Good thing for yesterday: Playing Dance Dance Veggie Tales with my kids!!
Funny thing: My son lost his first tooth and accidentally ate it!

I'll post today's Stage 2 A1 workout later, I have to eat breakfast!

Celestialmom · 06-06-2008, 09:14 AM

Stage 2, Workout 1A

FSPP: 2x10 @ 55# (I need to re-watch videos and re-read descriptions of this as I don't think I was being "explosive" enough) The 55# was very challenging though.

Step-up onto bench: 2x10 @ 25# DB (I'm not moving up on weight w/these b/c I'm working more on improving form and making sure I don't "cheat")

Dumbell 1 pt row: 1x10 @ 20# DB, 1x10 @ 25# DB (Balance was an issue, otherwise I could have gone heavier, but I suppose that's the point)

Static Lunge, Rear Foot Elevated: 2x10 @ 25# DB (First set I didn't get my forward thigh to parallel until the last few, but I made sure of it with the second set and could barely finish!)

Pushup: 2x10 w/toes on Swiss Ball and hands placed closer than shoulder width (I'm trying to figure out a pushup that's hard enough that
I can barely do 10. These I could probably do 15 or so, but the harder variations are too difficult. I can't do even one diamond pushup, and can only do one pushup w/handclap in between. I think that I'll just keep placing my hands closer together each time.)

Plank: 2 @ 60s (I did it with good form, but just barely!!!)

Wood Chop: 2x10 @ 40# (I want to watch a vid on these also. This weight may have been too heavy, not sure.)

WOW! I was dripping sweat during this entire workout--it was really a step up from Stage 1! But I really did like it...we'll see if I'm sore tomorrow.

On another note, ever since my "rest week" I have been really light headed and dizzy during these workouts. It may just be the stress, or maybe not eating very well, I'm trying to figure it out. But I know I haven't been eating right--so bad that I'm not even keeping track of it!! I did start keeping track yesterday again even though I had FOUR choc chip cookies, because when I put it down on paper (or computer) it's a little more convicting. The good news is that my eating badly nowadays means eating healthy (salads, chicken breast, whole grains etc) but with additions of junk (like way too many cookies or a couple glasses of wine on a night that I haven't planned it). So it's a small improvement over the junk food-a-rama days!

foodfromafar · 06-06-2008, 10:36 AM

Welcome to Stage 2!

Celestialmom · 06-06-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foodfromafar

Welcome to Stage 2!

Thanks Pauline! I'm starting to feel those DOMS already...

So I did