swimming lessons

tonight spencer and i went to the pool, because last week he said (as we're on the treadmill), 'i should swim more.'

so we went. and MAN is swimming tough! I mean, I thought I was getting back in shape, but I was gasping for breath at every turn! Poor spencer could barely see without his contacts, and I think because of that, he strained his neck trying to keep his head up and squint. We both stumbled out after only about thirty minutes and 8 laps of different types.

I doubt I will be getting spencer back in the pool anytime soon, but I like it. I still fit in my water polo suit from jr year of high school! That is nice, but I want to actually look good in it, too. I would love to get to the point where I can swim for an hour consistently and not be dying. It's so easy on your joints and is a great heart workout.

Then we came home and made fish tacos, which spencer declared were "an 8." Woohoo! That made up for the hatred of the water. I think he wanted to like it, but it was just overwhelmingly hard. It's something I take for granted, having been such a swimmer my whole life- just for fun, but still. I would spend all day and however late I could stay up in the pool. One good thing about living in a desert.

Funny that it is mid-October. Oh well. C'est la vie.

monday oct 4th

Last night after writing my goals, spencer and I went to the workout room. We did 30 minutes on the treadmill, me walking at an incline, mostly about 3.5 mph and around 5 incline. Then I did 2 planks for 30 seconds and stretched.

We had a chicken southwest salad for dinner after that and I resisted the urge to eat junk (ok i had one mini snickers) and had a bowl of rice crispies instead.

Today I didn't do much, other than cleaned the bathrooms. But I did one set through this chair strength training workout from self.com: http://www.self.com/fitness/workouts/2009/10/workplace-workout-slideshow?mbid=enws_mow0930#slide=6

it's good. think i will work it into my normal routine.

Go Red for Women

I just signed up for a 12 week program to be healthier through the american heart association. It has goals each week and rewards. Here is the link for my goals: http://www.goredforwomen.org/BetterU/MyJournal.aspx?Week=53277

My goal this week is to add one heart healthy thing to each meal. My reward is 2 glasses of wine.

This last week, I think I worked out about 3 times. I had wine a few times too, but I am doing pretty good at not eating junk. I had carrot cake for Nani's birthday on Friday, and then a hamburger and chips and a tiny piece of cake for isabella's birthday. Birthdays are killer. Today I had two doughnut holes.

My exercise goal this week is to do strength training/pilates twice. I need to start doing more to tone muscle.

Ok, here goes.

The end of week 12 will be CHRISTMAS day! wow- I didn't even know that. That is so cool!

wed sept 22nd

spencer and I went on the treadmills again- not very creative, but at least we're getting better at consistency. half an hour- and we figured out that the best time to go is 6:45-7:15, cash cab and the intro monologue of The Daily Show. 

I am doing pretty good at my sugar/alcohol ban, too. Popcorn once a week, on whatever weekend night we watch a movie. In the last week, I think I've had 2 glasses of wine, small ones, and a couple pumps of pumpkin spice in my americanos at work. Also finished the bag of skittles we had- which was less than a normal sized bag. Now that temptation is gone- I am so bad about skittles. We also had pumpkin pie and one small scoop of homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream in anza- the pie was made from pumpkins they grew- can't say no to that! But I didn't finish the whole thing. I think overall I am feeling better, and hopefully can stay on track this week and next. 

thursday sept 16th

today my mom and I went on a walk for about an hour around the cove. It was hot out, and I think I got a bit burned. It's the middle of september and still hitting 100, this is where my patience is most tried, the ever-lingering summer. Sigh.

I am a bit sore from my arm workout yesterday, but not too bad. I think we walked about 1.5 miles today.

Tomorrow, I think I will take the day off, and then try to talk spencer into going on a walk in anza- maybe tomorrow at sunset. It's not the beach at malibu, but we love anza. our own personal retreat.

wednesday sept 15th

today i went on the treadmill for about 20 minutes, running and walking at intervals while watching tyler florence make pulled pork sandwiches, peach cobbler and coleslaw. yum! then I did some arm weight stuff- bench press with 10lbs each (2x 12 reps), tricep behind the head thingies with one 10lb weight (2x 12 reps), lifts out to side with 5lbs each (2x 12 reps) and my version of a rowing exercise, bent slightly while standing and pulling 5lb weights from straight out in front to elbows bent, arms tucked at sides (2x 12 reps). Maybe I should learn the real names of things, just for my own time-saving sake.

sunday sept 12th

(writing on tuesday the 14th)

I did the pilates download from exercisetv.tv. It was good and on monday I was sore. Good ab workout, but it was my shoulders and upper arms that were sore.

Goal for the week: work out 5 times- including sunday. sunday, tuesday (strength and cardio), wednesday cardio, thursday (S&C), saturday- go on walk in anza.

also, day 1 of my giving up sugar and alcohol, and cutting back on caffeine. the caffeine will be later, but for now, I am cutting out alcohol and sugar for several reasons: to get in shape, to have more energy, to know that I can live without them, and to prepare for maybe trying to get pregnant in the near future. This is also why I am working out more- to get where I want to be physically before I get pregnant, so I am healthier, more active, and hopefully don't gain too much weight.