Calorie Counter

For those interested in checking calorie counts on foods, this website is neat.

It shows the food in the nutrition label format found on packages. You can also change the measure depending on your needs. For example I was looking up watermelon and I could find counts by '10 watermellon balls' or ' 1 C diced', etc.




Click here to see!

An interview with Billy Blanks...

...of Tae Bo fame. Very interesting.

Lappin' it up at the Pool

Well, Saturday, the pool opened - and we were there to celebrate!

Whooooo hooooooo!

And yesterday, we swam for 2.5 hours - I lost track of the number of laps so I'll just tell you, I slept from 10:00pm last night to 9:00am this morning.

And today, we're hoping to go back.

A glutton for punishment?

I don't think so....more like a glutton for chocolate....

Hence the need to lap it up at the pool!

A new week.

Today it is Monday and I thought I'd do a FIRM workout - probably Cardio Sculpt with Allie from BSS1. Haven't done this one for about two years, been enjoying my old FIRMs on FIRM days. But thought I'd do it for old times sake ( it was the first FIRM I ever did!).

Yesterday, I did Turbo Jam Cardio Party Remix and just had to rewind and do one of the two turbos again - I was having fun. :-0 I also did two segments from the 10 Minute Solution Stability Ball workout with Kimberley Spreen. I did upper body and core.

Eating wise - well, I've been doing a food and exercise journal ( inspired by the Debra Waterhouse books) and also a rough ( very rough) estimation of calories. Aiming for 1600, give or take a few hundred! lol!

Racquetball at the Y

Today I played racquetball with John (dh). Pant, pant, pant!

What a workout! I had my heartrate monitor on and saw I burned 250 calories in 25 minutes! Yeah, a lot of the reason is I need a lot of improvement in strategy and ball placement so I'm not running all over the court.

The few times I found John trapped on one side of the court and could accurately place it on the other side, I knew I had him cooked. This is especailly true for players over 40. If you can make them run, you can beat them.

Well, John made me run much more and he beat me, too. Plus he has this serve that just dies in the back left corner that got by me 5 points in a row. ARGH.

We ran into the instructor the boys took from 2 years ago today, too. Think we will buy a group of 3 lessons and we can share them.

It really is fun to vary the workout routine. Something new to do!

What was the score of the games, I hear you asking? You would.

Game one: John 15, Cindy 12
Game two: John 15, Cindy 4.

Yeah, I know. As I tried to really concentrate the second game I fell apart. It is mental.. and well, that running thing, too. lol

A One Woman Crusade!

Two years ago we moved here. For two years I have struggled with the fact that no one waves. Or even looks at you. You know, when you are walking down the street? We moved from the south where you--well, just do it--and smile. We recently visited our old town and dd(who is 4) commented, "Mommy, why does everyone here raise their hand?" People were waving :)
So, I have been taking my weekend walks and waving and smiling at the cars going by. When the kids and I walk on the road-they now wave and smile, too. People are starting to wave and smile back-especially the older folks. I am starting to recognize people. This is so cool!! We are changing the world-well, our neighborhood-- one wave at a time :)
This week I did well exercise-wise. I did my jog/walk on the treadmill 15-20 minutes, twice. Weights once--only half the workout since I did it with the video and it takes longer. I took Friday off--the push ups on Thursday really did me in. This am went for my "waving" walk down to the river--very pretty. My pup was a little distracted today so it wasn't the most aerobic walk :) I am finding muscles I haven't heard from in years :)
Food-really visited the chocolate this week. Have to review by Bestlife book and get re-inspired.
I am taking notes on everyones exercise videos. I am already dreading winter and keeping up with exercise and staying motivated. Can anyone recommend a good beginner core strength video?
Have a great weekend and keep moving!
Anne

Turbo Jam

Yesterday I did Turbo Jam Kickin Core - I love that the 30 minutes cardio ends on a high note with an anaerobic turbo, then you move on to 15 minutes of work with a stability ball. I use my green bootcamp camoflauge ball, the one that came with the Taebo Ball workout. :-)

Today was Turbo Jam Fatblaster - aerobic and anerobic drills, you do four turbos, twice each - once low impact, next high impact. I attempted all eight at higher impact - felt fantastic! I love the cardio cooldown song and went off to Mass and the the parish council meeting in a happy mood.

I have a presentations ceremony to attend for Kumon (work) this afternoon but might try to slip in some weights before or after - maybe the FIRM 22 minutes or so lower body work from FIRM BSS1 Body Sculpt.

Anne, Maria, Rachel, Faith how are your workouts? Cindy, I loved hearing about all your work at the Y. And about Maria's Dancing With the Stars.

YMCA Workouts, Continued....

Well, I am doing a lot at the Y.... today I did Zumba again and follwed up with a really good (that means hard..lol) class called Power Sculpt. We had all sorts of equipment.. a step bench, medicine ball, tube, heavy bar.... it was fun because she kept changing it up. That was good because just when I thought I could not do anymore she would change.... lol

I am beginning to see/feel some results. I have been working out most days and am trying for 4-5 cardios and 2-3 strength training classes a week. I am beginning to get to know some of the other ladies (and men) and really like all the variety. But I feel firmer and not so floppy.

The other day we were doing squats and the instructor said "Do you feel your rear flapping in the wind?" lol I thought YES! Though many ladies in there did not, I'm sure as some are in really great shape.

How are your workouts going? Loved hearing about your Dancing with the Stars, Maria!

Dancing with Ladybugs

Well, can I just say I'm hooked on the show, Dancing with the Stars?

I have longed to ballroom dance long before this show made it popular, so for Mother's Day, I received this DVD as one of my gifts. We had to order it so I didn't get it till this past Saturday...and yesterday, I did it for the first time.

Heavy breathing....

While I may bike ride, double dutch with the kids, play basketball and take walks, I was shown yesterday how out-of-shape I really am! I only made it through the Paso Doble before I had to slow down - and that was the first dance out of four.

Oh well. At least I can aspire to dance even when I'm panting heavily.

But in all seriousness, it was great doing this because even my children got into it and all five of us were getting our freak on in the living room.

Maybe we'll just call that the Ladybug Boogie!

Intro and a "plan"

Hi Everyone,
I "know" a lot of you from 4Real. I am a 43 year old mom of ds(9), dd(4) and d-puppy(1).
I am restarting my healthy lifestyle. I used to be VERY concerned with nutrition and exercise(my dh and I met at a triathlon!) Then I started my new career, and life has taken over :)
I am motivated again. So here is my plan. I will report back in a week or so. I started the Bestlife diet back in November. I am still in Phase 1. I am trying not to be discouraged. I have a problem with chocolate and sweets. I am going to try to move to Phase 2 in the next 2 weeks. I just need to be consistant.
Exercise--I enjoy my treadmill so will try to get on it for 15 minutes of walk/jog 2 days per week. On the weekends I have been getting out in the early am with the puppy for a 2 mile walk each morning--I want to continue that--it is my only alone time. Monday, Wednesday and Fridays I hope to weight train with the Weight Training for Dummies video--it is like having a trainer there :)
My goals are to lose some inches, get a better mood, and be able to move better and keep up with my kids. It is hard having been so active when younger, to be getting old and not keep moving. You do lose it :)
Thanks for letting me join you all!!
Anne

Taebo - and surgery

I have been doing Taebo workouts these last few days - Fat Blasting Cardio yesterday and Billy's Favourite Moves today. Not super hard workouts but fun . Mind you, I can remember when these felt harder so I must be getting fitter day by day, huh?

On a side note, I have to go in for surgery next week ( June 1), to remove a uterine polyp and for exploratory surgery re possible uterine/ovarian cancer.Prayers and happy thoughts most appreciated. I asked the doctor when I can get back to working out after the surgery - he said when I feel up to it, probably after a week. I can't imagine a week without working out so hope I'll be up and at it a lot sooner! lol!

My kids said - the doctor sure doesn't know you, mum - you can't live without working out! They know me well. :-)

Hip Hop Abs

I got the Hip Hop Abs set from ebay and have ben enjoying those this week - I got the basic set, would also like the Maximum results set. They are fun and Shaun T seems a fun instructor. Not hard workouts but I think I can add weighted gloves to make more impact and I did string two or three of the workouts together.Thursday I did the Total Body Blast, ( cardio and strength work), which uses weights and has some hip hop dance moves, followed by HHA Ab Sculpt - mostly standing ab moves. All in all, I worked out for 60 minutes.

Friday I did HHA Fat Blasting cardio - an easier 30 minute workout, I pumped up the impact and would add the gloves next time. But it was fun! Reminded me of Turbo Jam and Donna Richardson's Old School Dance Party mixed together! lol! Followed this with the 24 minute HHA Hhips/Buns/Thighs workout - very nice unweighted lower body work, standing and floorwork. I felt these two HHA workout days in my abs on Saturday, so that is a good sign!

Saturday I did Taebo Total Body Blast from the Fat Blasting two pack. Love the intervals of Taebo cardio and band work. Billy is very motivating in his talk at the end of this workout.

That's my update for this week. :-)

Cindy, I am re-reading the Debra Waterhouse books this week and they are very good for reminding one of fitness and a healthy body image, regardless of your stage in life. Last night, at a second hand bookstore, I picked up another one by Waterhouse, on mother-daughter relationships and food. Scanning through it this morning, I see that Waterhouse recommends allowing our bodies to find their natural, healthy weight by eating well, eating when hungry, not overeating, working out.

Perhaps pick up one of Waterhouse's books again, even the one for women over the 35?

Mean and Not Lean..:)

That seems to better describe me these days! I think this age-thing is doing a real number on my body.... approcahing 48 (now that DOES sound old..) and it is just harder to do anything... build muscle, keep muscle and I just LOOK at bad food and my weight goes up, (though I don't weigh... I can just feel it.)

Anyway at the Y today after a pilates class I got discussing this with a couple other women in my relative age group. They were saying the same thing. I really have worked out a lot and no, my eating is not perfect, but it is amazing how our bodies hold onto it.

Oh well, I think where I would be if I *didn't* work out!

I think it really is a mind-body thing. That is the most important. Respect and love our bodies as God made them. Keep moving, keep our minds active and eat as best we can. Don't try to be 'thin' and I refuse to diet again. That just is not for me right now.. :)

Well, anyway... I did the Pilates Mat workout and really want to work on my flexibility and strength. It is a different kind of strength than the regular strength training and weight lifting. After that a new gym buddy I met found me looking into the Body Pump class, which had started already.

They use barbells and weights to music... so she and I went in and did the last half of that. Felt good. I think I need the strength training AND the pilates core work and stretch.

So I just worked out my schedule next week to try and find a nice mix. I am enjoying the Y quite a bit now.

How are you all doing? Would love to hear updates. Maybe I will have to change my goal from "Lean but not Mean" to "Sorta not Lean, and not very Mean, usually." :-)

Kickboxing today- plus major floor work...

Today I did the kickboxing class at the Y. I had done it a few years ago and liked it then. It was hard! (Thinking of you the whole time, Leonie!)

She did a great job organizing us- as there were about 40 of us. Part of the time we were all working on moved together, then she had us in three groups. One group would do standing kicks against the weight bags, another would do moves with light weights, the third would do front kicks against the thingies she held in her hand.

Then we were find a partner and 'spar' practicing our jabs and hooks and defenisve pose. Wow I was sweating!

After that I did an hour long Mat Science class. It was nice and dark with quiet music, but boy was it hard. Mix of yoga, pilates, etc. Instructor and many of the students were very advanced. But she helped each of us find our level. Did some new moves I never had before... I will be sore tomorrow.

Too bad my hr monitor was blanking out. Bet I burned about 700 cals.... :)

Today's workout..

...was Billy Blanks Bootcamp Basic Training ( 55 minutes). Haven't done this one for at least six months - maybe a year! - so it was good to pull it out. I go through stages of loving ( and then hating) bootcamp style workouts. Today I loved it!

And I am reading two of Debra Waterhouse's books on fitness and health and eating for women - one for women after age 35, one for after pregnancies. Very helpful!

Map My Run

I woke up this morning with a sore throat so instead of running, the boys and I took a brisk walk. Last week, I ran alone one day and had the boys run together, and on another day the 3 of us did a 2 mile run/walk. I was hoping to increase our distance a bit this week so I took our 2 mile route and added some twists and turns. Thomas had a pedometer on, and after some advanced maths, I found that we had walked less than a mile. Hmmmmm...... I double checked it at MapMyRun.com and it turned out to be 2.67 mi. Very good. Love that site, BTW. I only just map my route and find the distance, but it looks like there's a lot more to do there. I noticed that it does runs in Australia and converts to metric.... :)

For Mother's Day I got black yoga pants with a dark pink stripe running down the leg and a pink hooded sweatshirt. I LOVE the gloves, Leonie! I guess our kids know what we like, huh?

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope you all have a great Mother's Day workout..I just put a pic on my blog of my Mother's Day gift to myself - new kickboxing gloves!!

Check in

Wed I did Taebo Ultimate Upper Body - I keep meaning to try this one with weighted gloves. It is made up of parts from other Taebo Advanced workouts - very good cardio with an upper body focus. Nice to do after the Taebo Ultimate Abs on Tues....

A friend gave me Turbo Jam Kickin Core - about 30 minutes cardio and then, straight after the turbo, you do some core and other work with the stability ball. Finally a stretch using the ball, for 45 minutes in total

Thursday I did this Kickin Core workout and loved it so much that I did it Friday as well - but because I had to leave early for homeschool ice skating, I only did the cardio, ending at 30 minutes and with the turbo - then did my own cool down and stretch. Great fun!

Today I did Taebo Celebrity Fit Sculpt - some cool combinations in that workout.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

It's Always Something.. lol

I saw this in the paper this morning and could not resist! Sounds like me...:)

More Zumba!

Tonight I plan to hit the Y for another Zumba class, then a Mat Science class, which I hear is killer. I assume it is strength training...

I just loved the Zumba I took last week! Picture it:

I am walking the halls of the YMCA, which I am still finding my way around. I hear the Zumba class is in the gym, room 5. I wander in the general direction I think the gym might be. I hear, in the distance Latin music. I get closer, it gets louder. My heart beats faster... it is like in college when you are invited to a party and as you approach you hear the music and it just draws you in.....!

I opened the door and the class is in the ENTIRE big gym, and there must be 75 people all Zumba-ing to Latin salsa music with is blasting on the speakers! There are all ages, shapes and sizes, many elderly, many younger and they are all swiveling their hips and stepping out and I have never seen so many SMILES in an aerobic class!

I hurry to find my place admist the crowd and start trying to follow along.

I have done aerobics for years, and lately a lot of Jazzercise which by nature is dancy. But this was a challenge. You must swivel your hips while you do *everything! lol It was a blast and I got a tremendous workout... my hr was right up there and burned 50 more cal than my regular Jz and this was just in 45 minutes vs an hour of Jz. At the end she did a squat routine that was a killer.

I introduced myself to the teacher after, and she was just so sweet. I felt part of a really big Zumba community!

All this to say, I think they are right on when they say variety is so important. I went to PT yesterday ( which I love) and even enjoyed the Jz after. It is so easy to get burned out on a workout, but when you add variety, it is so nice.

Tomorrow am we are off to Florida so I hope to get a really hard workout in tonight. I also hope to workout there, as well- am checking the local Jz and gyms. We will do a lot of walking, etc, but I do love a throughout workout.

Sorry I haven't posted much lately.. but I am reading. You all are doing great!