exercise

Life Without Boot Camp…

“I found every single successful person I’ve ever spoken to had a turning point.

The turning point was when they made a clear, specific unequivocal decision that they were not going to live like this anymore; they were going to achieve success.

Some people make that decision at 15 and some people make it at 50, and most people never make it at all.”

Brian Tracy

haha you know it's true!

In case anyone is wondering (or worried) I am continuing to survive my time without boot camp (just barely 😉 ).  Only one more day to go, and it will take nothing short of an act of God to keep me from class tomorrow night!!!!!  I have been continuing to use my Jackie Extreme Timesaver Workout DVD and adding additional exercise reps to keep myself from completely withdrawing.  Meanwhile, I continue to wait for my Insanity DVDs to arrive (it’s taking FOREVER!!!- or maybe it just feels like it and I’m being dramatic…).

As an added workout, Adam and I hit the climbing gym today.  It was the first time I had been there in a long time, and I was surprised that my harness was really loose when I pulled it on. (I’d say Woohoo for boot camp weight loss, but I have actually gained (stupid muscle weighing more than fat!)…so instead I’ll says Woohoo for inches lost in all the right places!)  Luckily, it still fit once I synched it down.  I was a little nervous about my arms being fatigued after all the upper body work I did in my morning workout; however, once we began climbing I was excited to find that my endurance was dramatically improved.  Unfortunately, my technique was totally off- apparently rock climbing is not like riding a bicycle.  Shocking, I know!

Prior to boot camp, I had to rely primarily on maneuvering my body efficiently to get up to the top.  Now that I have significantly more strength, my initial impulse was just to power up using my new and improved muscles.  Of course, this was not nearly as effective.  Looks like I’ll be needing to brush up on my skills.

Overall, it was still lots of fun. I would definitely recommend rock climbing to anyone looking for a fun, challenging total body workout.  This is definitely the most sore I’ve been in a long time!  Hopefully I can still move tomorrow!

Finally, in case anyone needs a laugh or a little inspiration, I wanted to share a couple links.  The first is a blog called “My Time is Now”  (also now located in my blogroll) which is written by a friend and fellow boot camper.  She is truly a thriver in my book –in addition to being one of the most inspiring, driven, caring, and compassionate people I’ve ever met. She’s risen above circumstances that would have caused others to crumble, and actually has a second blog I’d recommend that chronciles her mother’s battle with stage IV lung cancer.

Then- to help you clear up the tears– all my runner friends out there should check out this post by the Tortoise Runs for a good laugh.

One more funny thing for good measure:

Oh, I would also like to point out that I have added my trainer/boot camp instructor’s blog to my blogroll as well.  He was jealous insulted that I had added Kelly’s first, in spite of the fact that I regularly rave about how awesome he and boot camp are and frequently link to his page in my posts… (You knew I would call you out, right? ;-p I know, extra burpees tomorrow. Bring it on! lol)  Seriously though, his blog has some great advice and recipes.

  That’s all for tonight folks!  I hope you all are enjoying what’s left of your weekend!!!!

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One week with no boot camp…

“The key to successful training is comprised of motivation, determination,

and a healthy fear of your trainer.”

-The Running Thriver 😉

makes me a sad girl. 😦

My work schedule is in complete conflict with boot camp this week, which essentially means two things 1) I need to find a new job that is more accommodating of my boot camp addiction, and 2) I need to seriously kick my own butt this week.

I spent my entire morning running around in circles (on the phone, not literally…unfortunately) between ticket master and the Hartford XL Center trying to track down my missing hockey tickets (it took NINE separate phone calls and multiple emails) before it was finally decided I could pick them up at “will call”.  Keep your fingers crossed for me; I have a feeling it’s not over…

After all that drama, I truly needed a work out!  I popped in my trusty Jackie DVD and sailed through the workout.  Of course, now that I am a hardcore boot camper, I didn’t stop there.  Instead, I did the 1000+ rep ab workout I missed a few weeks ago from class.  I had been wanting to try it, so I was glad to have the perfect opportunity.  Luckily, my fellow boot camp addicts members were kind enough to post the full workout online. I had to look up a few of the exercises on YouTube to figure out how to do them, but that only took a few minutes and I was good to go.

The one part of the workout I didn’t do was the sprints.  I figured shoveling snow this morning and doing the DVD would make up for it.  I did do the rest though!!!  In fact, I am pretty sure I did a couple hundred extra reps because there were several points when I lost count and started over. lol  I also assumed that the flutter kicks were in the typical sets of 4 (counting 1-2-3-1, 1-2-3-2, 1-2-3-3, etc) and did 800+ total, which may or may not have been the intended amount.  There were a couple times I wanted to quit out of boredom with the high number of reps and general disdain for a few of the exercises (SKI ABS- BOOOO!), but impressed myself that I had enough discipline to complete everything without someone standing over my shoulder.  I have to admit though, that I did not get the same warm, fuzzy feeling after finishing that I do after a real boot camp session.  It was certainly better than nothing though!!!! I am going to just have to take what I can get until Monday…

AB workout Maximum Results Boot Camp Style

In related news, I am to breaking up with Jackie.  We had a lot of growth together, but she just doesn’t challenge me the way she used to.  It’s always the same routine with her, and I’m really ready to try something new.  I’ve officially invested in Insanity and am hoping Shaun T. will take me further in my fitness journey.

Joking aside, I really am looking forward to a new challenge; and I am hoping that these workouts will be a good substitute for the days I can’t make boot camp.  Hopefully my new DVDs will arrive soon and help with my withdrawal!!!!

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I am an Addict…
“I do it as a therapy.
I do it as something to keep me alive.
We all need a little discipline.
Exercise is my discipline.”
-Jack LaLanne
I would like to dedicate this post to my boot camp family…
Ladies and Gentleman,
I am addicted to boot camp.  Just in case you are worried you might be an addict to, I have complied a list of signs and symptoms to assist you in recognizing it.
1)  You spend most of your waking hours thinking about boot camp.
2)  You know how many hours it’s been since your last session and how many until your next one.
3)  You find yourself trying to schedule the rest of your life around your workouts.
4)  Everyone you know is aware that you do boot camp, including what days of the week you go.
5)  At least one person has mentioned how much you talk about boot camp and/or asked you to stop bringing it up
6)  You have tried to convince all your Facebook friends and coworkers to join, and have dragged at least one in person.
7)  More than 50% of your status updates involve boot camp, the gym, or working out.
8)  You know all the regulars at the gym…
9)  You find yourself doing boot camp workouts on days when there isn’t one scheduled.
10)  You have begged, badgered, or nagged your trainer to a hold group session because the boot camp sessions were too far apart.
11)  You regularly walk with a limp.
12)  You’re afraid that when you brush your hair in the morning you won’t be able to lift your arms.
13)  You frequently use stairs backwards.
14)  You’ve bribed someone to do your laundry to avoid using stairs all together.
15)  You have a fear of dropping things because your legs are too sore to bend.
16)  Your leisurely hikes turn into rock climbing sessions.
17)  You find yourself having difficulty with simple tasks like opening a car door, getting into the car, or turning the steering wheel after your workouts.
18)  You’ve done back-to-back boot camp sessions.
19)  You are constantly trying to find new ways to add protein to your diet.
20)  You own multiple items of clothing with a boot camp logo.
21)  You got a bunch of exercise equipment/apparel for Christmas- and got really excited about it.
22)  Your workout apparel is more expensive or nicer looking than your regular wardrobe.
23)  You have conversations about the “green monster” that don’t involve baseball.
24)  You think a 10+ mile obstacle race involving freezing water, fire, difficult terrain, obstacles, and electrocution sounds like a good time.
25)  You don’t think one workout in a day is enough.
26)  You spend more time with your boot camp family than you actual family.
27)  Missing a session of boot camp ruins your day.
28)  When you listen to the radio you evaluate each song’s potential for your workout playlist.
29)  Missing long periods of boot camp triggers bouts of depression.
30)  You find yourself evaluating objects for their potential as exercise equipment (examples: furniture movers, window sills, radiator covers, tree stumps, etc)
31)  You get delighted by your ability to lift and carry heavy objects such as firewood, tires, or bags of dog food.
32)  You don’t think puking during a workout is an excuse to stop.
33)  Pushing to the point of feeling light-headed or losing focus is a regular occurrence for you.
34)  You’ve woken up in the middle of the night after a workout in pain because you moved in your sleep, or have had to prop yourself up on your elbows to roll over in bed
35)  You do reps in multiples of 100 instead of 5 or 10.
36)  You refer to “can’t” as “the dirty ‘c’ word” and have removed it from your vocabulary.
37)  You have either done or forced someone else to do burpees as a punishment.
38)  You’ve considered being part of a boot camp flash mob.
39)  You can’t understand why everyone doesn’t find boot camp as awesome as you do.
40)  You finish your boot camp workouts with the feeling that you can conquer anything. (ie. boot camp gets you high)
41)  You’ve referred to your fellow boot campers as your other family.
42)  You don’t think a national holiday is an excuse not to have boot camp.
43)  You are incapable or backing down from a challenge.
44)  You’ve been bitten by a box…
45)  Your first thought of ninja or superman is an exercise and not a person.
46)  You’ve noticed people look at you like you are insane when you share your workouts.
47)  You’ve considered stealing a cane, wheelchair, or scooter from an elderly person after a workout because you thought you needed it more than he/she did.
48)  You’ve “borrowed” your child’s jump rope to practice.
49)  You find yourself  yelling “NO EXCUSES” at people.
50)  You couldn’t imagine life without boot camp.
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It’s Monday

“A day will never be anymore than what you make of it.”
– Josh S. Hinds

Most people hate Mondays, but I love them.  Why? Because Boot Camp is on Monday and I LOVE boot camp!  Looking forward to getting my butt kicked tonight. 🙂  Until then, I think I may spend some way overdue quality time with my awesome mom.

I hope everyone has an amazing day and excellent week!!!!

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Good bye Modesty

“Exercise is nothing short of a miracle.”
Cher

I love to exercise!!!! It is like instant Prozac that makes you look better sexier as a side effect. 🙂  Today I not only did a core work out with Adam in the morning, over 6.5 miles of trail running/hiking (some areas had footing not safe for running), but also a TOUGH boot camp workout (all the “break” time consisted of holding a low plank while your partner did their reps- yikes is right)!  I am so high on endorphins right now. lol  Or maybe I’m just buzzing from all the sugar in my chocolate peanut butter protein shake.  Just for the record, I don’t normally pull this many workouts in one day, BUT I worked the last 3 days in a row with no time for exercise (other than the stairs at the hospital) so I was withdrawing BIG TIME.

As excited as I was to get 3 workouts in this morning, I have to admit that I have created a monster… In what is clearly a direct response to my kicking his butt at boot camp last weekend, Adam has started working out on a daily basis.  He is on a mission to redeem himself and get into better shape than me. (GAME ON!)  Instead of me dragging him to boot camp or begging him to run with me, he is reminding me to go.  Before, I would try to nudge him into working out in an effort to get him out of his funk, but now he’s taking it a little to the extreme. lol (I know, “hello pot, meet kettle” right?)
Anyway, our run today was not my most stellar, but there were a lot of great hills.  As an added bonus, the scenery was nice with views of the reservoir from the trail.  As luck would have it, the second we got there I was painfully aware that my bladder was full.  Of course there were no restrooms!  I didn’t want to call off the run, but there wasn’t anyplace close by to stop.  I don’t camp, and I’ve never relieved myself in the woods.  I’m the type of person who wears pants over my running tights to cover up, so the whole idea of exposing myself in public wasn’t exactly appealing. Adam offered to give me a lesson on how it’s done, and I’m pretty sure I shot him a dirty look in response.  However, as desperate times call for desperate measures, (and I realized I couldn’t run with all the pressure in my bladder on the bumpy, rocky trail)- I finally gave in and took Adam’s advice (once I was sure that he wasn’t looking and no one else was in view- not even a squirrel!).  I have to admit that it wasn’t as bad as I imagined it would be; and I instantly felt better!  It was almost liberating. lol I told Adam that maybe I could handle camping after all. haha
Of course, that wasn’t the end of my running discomfort.  My homemade guacamole from lunch was working on leaving my system for most of the run.  Plus, it turned out to be much warmer than I expected; so I was peeling layers as we went.  It was so hot in the sun, that at one point I considered stripping down completely just to get a break from overheating. lol  I’m sure it would have been a sight!  Luckily, I managed to continue with what modesty I had left. 😉
Overall, it was a great day.  I was SO THRILLED about the the warm weather and sunshine!  Plus, it was nice to finish things out with a boot camp session with our awesome crew.  I feel so lucky to be a part of their group!  It has definitely changed the way I work out, and my life in general!  Tomorrow will probably be a low key day, maybe just a light run- if I can still move. lol
BTW anyone interested in tips on getting fit, some motivational reading, or great recipes for healthier cookies, try checking out my trainer/boot camp instructor’s blog. 🙂
Have a great night everyone!!!!

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You see a radiator cover…

“I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I’m doing.” 

~Marsha Doble

…I see a perfect spot for tricep dips 🙂

This morning I took care of the dogs and jumped straight into a workout before I had a chance to get distracted or make any excuses not to.  I used my trustee Extreme Timesaver Workout DVD and found my legs still burning and fatigued from my last boot camp session.  It probably didn’t help that I didn’t eat before hand (other than a few peanut m&m’s left over from the holiday which were attempting to leave my system with the rigorous exercise).  I made it through the whole whole workout (with my weights) and then did some tricep dips for good measure.  Afterward, I rewarded myself with a chocolate peanut butter protein shake. yum!

The plan for the rest of the day is to go for a long run with Adam at a reservoir in a neighboring town.  I’m pretty excited about testing out a new running location.  As much as I love Hopbrook, I’ve been getting a little bored with running there lately; and the Bridle trail is not nearly as scenic in the winter (plus it’s a little flat for me).

Anyway, that’s all for now. 🙂  I hope everyone has a fantastic day!

Breakfast of Champions!