Challenges

I should have posted this the beginning of September, when I started it.  You can probably use this for any month though, there are always health and Fitness challenges out there.
During the Month of September I started seriously working on my butt and thighs.  I cant count the number of lunges and squats that Ive done, and there have been days where it was hard to walk, and especially hot to sit, but I made it through.  I've even got something to help you get through those painful days a little bit easier.

I'm posting a picture of a challenge from a site that I visit a lot on Facebook.  I got this from Health and Fitness Chick.   This lady is a Killer Workout Lady.   She's got some awesome stuff going on.

Okay, I do NOT only do the workout's in this challenge. This is just like a mini workout. (I have done this on several occasions while the kids were eating breakfast and getting ready for school.  I also do an entirely different workout that includes Dead Leg Lifts, more squats and lunges, side lunges, side squats, bridges, donkey kicks, one leg squats, etc.  On top of all this, I am consistently running almost everyday. I normally run at least 3.1 miles, but some days I go 3 1/2.  Of course, there are a few days, where I only make it 2 miles.  -But hey, at least I'm doing it, right.   GOT Young kids?  No problem, put them in a stroller and start walking.. Heck, At the Talladega Half and 5k, I saw people RUNNING pushing their kids in an Umbrella stroller.. As long as its a flat road like surface, this isn't a problem, but if you want to be extra safe and don't want the child to asborb all the shock, check out craigslist and look into buying a used Jogging Stroller.  Or a new one if you have the funds for it!.

Okay, so Earlier I mentioned something that can help you get through those days where you are hurting so bad you can barely walk from your awesome workout the day before.  Well first off, SLEEP, but don't stop working out!  Keep it up. PUSH through the pain. -But this will help cut your sore time down..Nightime Recovery   If you want something to start immediate after your workout, you can try this: Post Workout Recovery.
Also, make sure you are eating foods that will HELP your workout, not hinder your workout. This is one of the hardest parts for me. I love food. I love junk food. I love pizza. I love chocolate. I love .........non healthy foods!  -  I have found that I can still eat all of these, just not on an every day basis like I was.  It really does help.  

Day 3..of partially clean eating.

Day 3


I gave in yesterday and ate some pizza.  I looked it up and the calories really were not all that bad for what I ate. I think my body was craving some serious carbs.  Day one of clean eating went really well, for breakfast, I had 2 hard boiled eggs. For Lunch I had a caesar salad, and for dinner I had a chicken caesar salad.  I had water all day, no coffee, No coke.


We went to the gym not long after we ate, and I even remembered to take my catalyst this time. Oh, I did drink some spark right before we went. This is what my strength workouts include:


Arm Curl
Arm Extension
Back Extension
Chest Presss
Wide Grip Pulldown
Leg Extension
Leg Press
Shoulder Press
Seated Row
Leg Curl
Hip Abduction
Hip Adduction
Roc-it Abdominal
Abdominal Crunch.
The weights I lift vary with each machine, but I always lift the same each time. I change them when I do not feel that they are helping any more.  I lift 2 sets of 12 reps (24 total).  Usually the first 12 on all machines are fairly easy.  Once I get past the 6th rep on the 2nd set, is when I start to feel it starting to burn (not in a bad way though). If I don't feel this after I finish my 2nd rep, I know I need to increase my weight a tiny bit.
The hardest for me is one of the AB machines. Its incredibly hard for me.  My upper body needs a lot more of a workout than my lower body, but I feel better.


I am supposed to do my strength training 4-5 days a week, while i am supposed to do Cardio 6 days a week.
My cardio is supposed to be 50 minutes. I normally do this by running indoor, or outdoor. (check out www.MomsRUNthistown.com) for other great info for Women Runners.  Lately, since I've had some issues with my Achilles Tendon, I have not been able to do Cardio like I wanted.  I thought that walking on the beach last week was Really going to hurt, but it didn't.  The sand didn't bother me at all.  What bothered me the most, was swimming. Each time I go to kick my feet to swim, It feels as though my left foot is being ripped of. (Pain!!)


So I thought I would take a few weeks off.  I can't take off to much time, because the warrior dash is coming up in September and I've made a committment to run in it.I can't back out of it, unless of course the pain gets so unbearable that I can barely walk. I've been looking forward to the Warrior Dash for more than six months. (www.WarriorDash.com) 
So instead of running, I decided to try another form of Cardio, by doing the elliptical and the arc trainer.  The Arc Trainer is more of a "Stride"  Its actually not so hard on my ankle for the most part. By the time 15 minutes was up, I felt like I had run 3 miles.


After my workouts I almost ALWAYS go into the Dry Sauna to relax.  Most people do not like the 200+ degree heat.  I love it.  I take a book or my kindle, and some good tunes and read to my hearts contest.  I usually try to stay in there about 20 minutes, but I have made it longer before.  The Sauna, although very hot, feels great on tired muscles and to me, it seems to help muscle recovery.  It also helps make my ankle feel a lot better after the torture I've just put it through. :-)