Workout Wednesday...

Note To Self: When Trainer Jeremy says, "Today we're going to skip jump roping, we're going to do something fun!" It's not actually fun... at all!  In fact it really sucks and I would have rather did the jump rope!

Today instead of the jump rope we did these...

I'm not quite sure what the exact term for this exercise, but I do know it sucks!  What you do is you place your hands on the bench and jump side to side over the bench.  It might not sound that hard but you should try it sometime!  After each set we would lay on the bench and do reverse crunches like this guy...

... And if that wasn't enough we sat on the bench and did flutter kicks!  I believe we did this round of exercises 3 times.  Next time he says that he has something fun planned I'm outta there!

On a side note.. The past two weeks had me really down.  My scale didn't move at all!  It's so frustrating because the first two weeks I lost 7 pounds... 7 pounds... Then nothing!  It's hard for me to not get down on myself.  I play the, "Why am I working so hard when nothings working" game!  In reality I know what we're doing is working... I feel like I'm slimming... My clothes are not quite as tight as they were 4 weeks ago... So why is the number on the scale so darn important?!?  Finally today I was down another 2 pounds!  I felt like I had just won the lottery!  In the end I know it's not going to happen over night, and I keep reminding myself of that!  Little by little I'll get there!

Motivation Monday

Spinning Wheels...

I've been spending the slow days at work creeping catching up on blogs, and the more I read the more my wheels start spinning... and I'm not talking bike wheels here folks!

I've been spending time with her and her and her and her over the past few weeks and if you took the time to click on the links you've found one common thread between all of them...

Obstacle Course Races

That got my wheels spinning... I'm itching to do one, well another one!  I did the Dirty Girl in June with a bunch of my girls...

... and it was a lot of fun but it wasn't much of a challenge.  It was mostly hurry up and wait.  The race wasn't timed so there was no rush on the course or at any of the obstacles... which was fun but sometimes a gal needs a chip in her bib!

That's why after reading all of the posts about adventures in OCR's (that's what the 'insiders' call 'em) I really... really... really want to do one (or more) this year.  My first thought was Warrior Dash, but then I started doing a little more research and found this little gem...

The Tough Mudder

Holy hell... So after checking out their website I immediately sent Trainer Jeremy a text that said, "Google 'Tough Mudder!'" A few minutes later I still hadn't heard anything so I texted him again and got this response, "Looks pretty awesome!"   And that was it, folks my fate is sealed!  With Trainer Jeremy's approval we're signing up for a Tough Mudder!

I'm torn between being super pumped to be doing this and wanting to puke... mostly it's wanting to puke!  I am, however, really excited to have something big to work towards.  Training for a road race only requires you to run... run... run, but training for a OCR requires way more out of you!  They don't call it a Tough Mudder for nothin'!  So my friends here's to new adventures and mud running!

Workout Wednesday... The Treadmill

We've talked about the elliptical now let's talk the treadmill.  If there is one piece of equipment in the gym that I find the most boring, it's the treadmill.  I think it's safe to say that I actually hate the treadmill... Actually, this isn't the first time I've said this, remember?

Let's face it the treadmill can be, or should I say, is BORING!  I think this pretty much sums it up...

So, to try and make those minutes go by a little faster we like to change things up a bit!  One of the exercises we've been doing is.... what else but... Sprints!  This week before getting on the elliptical we've been hopping on the treadmill and doing our warm-ups there.  It's 10 minutes with 1 minute sprints between minutes 3 & 4, and another between minutes 7 & 8.  The hardest part of this exercise for me is to continue to run at my regular pace and not stop and walk after each sprint.  The more I do it, the better I get though.

Another exercise we do on the treadmill is to walk at a slower pace but raise the incline waaaaaaaaay up... Like to 12 or 15! This is killer... fer realz yo!  If I had to choose between the two I think I'd rather do the running with the sprints!  I wish I could skip the treadmill all together, but alas, I can't!  I hate to admit it but I need the treadmill, I need the cardio workout it gives me, the different muscle groups it works for me, and mostly because there is no way you're going to find me on a road running outside in Northern Illinois in the middle of January... Holla! 

Anyone else out there have any fun (said sarcastically) treadmill exercises that help the time go by faster?

Tasty Tuesday

Jeremy and I are Mexican food junkies so you can only imagine our heartbreak at knowing that it's not the best food for us to be eating now.  So to cure our craving I made homemade tortilla chips to dip in salsa...

The recipe is easy.  Take regular corn tortillas and cut them in half and then cut each half into thirds.  Place them on a baking sheet (it works better if you use one that doesn't let the air circulate through it) and bake at 400 degrees for about 5-10 minutes.  You'll really have to watch them though because my first batch took the full 10 minutes but the second only took 5 minutes!  Sprinkle with a little salt and you have a healthier version of tortilla chips!



Motivation Monday

Three Things Thursday...

1.  Yesterday I had the day off from work, but still got my rear end out of bed early to get to the gym with Trainer Jeremy.  I decided to utilize my day off time wisely by going grocery shopping. I hate grocery shopping... like HATE it!  I think I hate it so much because I split my shopping up between two different stores, Aldi & Walmart. My little town has a Walmart but doesn't have an Aldi so that leaves me no other option than to drive to the next town over about 20 minutes away... Boo hoo, poor me... I know!  The only good thing about having to drive to the next town to get my groceries on my day off is that I got to have lunch with Jeremy.  Don't worry, we stayed healthy and got Subway!  Also, my shopping was made a lot easier due to the fact that I'm trying to manage my time better by planning meals so I actually had a complete list!  I saved my Walmart trip for after dinner in hopes that Jeremy would be able to come with me but he ended up staying home.  Which brings me to my next topic...

2.  My washer died... Done... Kaput.... End of Story.  When I got home from Walmart it was already sitting in my garage.  I guess it's time was coming, we've had it as long as we've been married... over 12 years.  It was a good little washer... She lived a good life!  So Jeremy took a day off today to head out and get our new washer and dryer.

3.  I'm tired... really tired... today.  I went to bed a a decent time last night, but boy am I really feeling the effects of the hard work I'm putting in at the gym.  This morning I had a hard time during our workout, but I still pushed past the tired and the hurt for a kick ass workout.  Speaking of hurt, I don't believe there is a muscle in my body that isn't on fire!  I keep telling myself that it's a good hurt but every time I sneeze my abs tell me otherwise!  I sent Trainer Jeremy a love text that said this, "I hate you... It all hurts!"  Do you want to know what I got back as a response?  " :) "  Yep... a smiley face!  Whatever... It's paying off so far so I guess I shouldn't complain... Right?!?