Day 2..just barely following through

So I reluctantly worked out today. I had so much to do and so many errands to run that I just felt exhausted. i dont have a car. We walk here..so yes I kinda felt like I had my workout already!

But no..I motivated myself to go workout for at least  a half hour. I did not do any lifting like I wanted to originally…but I did cardio again. I’m actually able to really envision myself hitting the weights tomorrow though..and think perhaps that works out nicely. Visualization is key and it’s been awhile since I ever felt motivated enough to actually see myself doing a a whole routine of exercises. I will just lift and strength train tomorrow and resume cardio the next day.

Another of Today’s highlights has been revisiting my diet..(as in what I am eating).

Breakfast: 1 poched egg, 1 slice of whole wheat tost adn 2 pieces of turkey bacon. (I had switched to turkey bacon awhile back but I still love me some pork bacon. Incidentaly the turkey bacon is actually more affordable anyways so…) about 320-350 calores
Snack: Banana
Lunch: Tuna sandwich with carrots
Dinner:(circa 6pm) Fresh Broccoli. stir fried steak tips. (super lean sirloin tips..also very affordable) with onions and peppers. Garbonzo Beans (chic peas)
Snack 8pm Low cal, snack size popcorn – 100 calorie version
Late Snack: An apple with a little bit of almond milk

I actually tend to stay up late..a habit I have had since my smoking ciggarette days. This will have to change..and that late snack will have to go. BUT until then. I cannot go to sleep hungry and from what I have read it is worse to do so…(your body will store more fat).

I went shopping today..I was only able to get some essentials but good for a few days. Got some nice fresh Fruits/Veggies from the market and picked up some chicken breast and even some sardines and plenty of low sodium beans/legumes. I buy GOYA brand myself. Just simple and good.

I hope that I can integrate a 6 “smaller meals” a day plan. I have never done so..and I think it will help kick start my metabolism. But I struggle with it. So we will see. Today, was the closest i have been to doing so. usually i just do 3 big meals a day..sometimes just two..so..yeah.

Anyways..looking forward to some shut eye after I ‘decompress’ .I should be able to go to bed before midnight..as I feel tired. But that’s pretty rare for me usually..we’ll see.

Day 1: A little cardio to get started

Day 1: A little cardio to get started

heart and lungs pic

cardio does it good

Day 1 of work out for 2012!

The Workout:

I did an easy going cardio workout today. About 30 minuted worth on the Elliptical at the gym I go to. I maintained a minn. heart rate of 130bpm while doing it, occasionally more and alternated intensity at various times. Ellipticals in general are not my favorite. There are some great ones out there, I wish my gym had them but they have pretty standard ones. I like the machines that actually feel like your running not striding all weird..anyways,  I really need to get on the treadmill though..

The Elliptical is great for me right now though. It’s easy on my knees and I currently don”t have adequate running shoes for a treadmill. Yes, I know I dont, I used to run track and field a lot back in high school (many years ago now) and I know running shoes. I also loathe treadmills because of the “gerbil effect”, I hate running in place. But…I know there is nothing as intense as running to get the calorie burning furnace started.

However, since it’s winter now. And given that I live in a city whose air is none the great to be inhaling outside anyways..I do plan on getting on the treadmill and hope to get some worthy shoes soon.

Diet Day 1:
Ok Im not dense I know that diet plays an important role in losing weight. I am also aware of the insane amount of diet fads and other ridiculousness out there. I know I need to eat more sensibly..I sort of did that today. But tomorrow will be even better.

Breakfast: Bowl of oatmeal
Lunch: left over Chicken Enchiladas…with cheese..and uh sour cream LOL (at least this was after my workout though and a small portion)
Dinner: cous cous, and boiled kale (yummy actually) with chicken thigh. Yes, chicken breast is infinitely better. But we are a little broke right now and that’s all I had in the freezer..some thighs..that I usually use for making stock or flavoring soup.

So …almost a good diet..not quite good, I know it needs improvement.

Oh and I did finish the last of our holiday cupcakes. yup I know.I refuse to feel guilty about this. It was the last one..I will continue working out tomorrow and will eat more healthy as well.

Hopefully the mail will resume regular service tomorrow. I’m expecting some pay from work and would love to be able to do some grocery shopping…and pay Rent.

It feels good to let out stress during a work out though. Im going to need it. Stressful times, but I’m optimistic.

 

Well that didn’t work too well!

Ok, so A week or so before Christmas I worked out full blast for an entire week!

Having learned that cardio alone just doesn’t suit me (last summer I worked out for a bout a month doing just cardio..I got bored pretty quickly and eventually stopped). I decided to throw in some strength training. Very specific movements intense workout AND with cardio as a finish or start (depending on my mood).

Now this workout suited me well actually. I was feeling good. Pumped and ready to go. BUT I must have worked out too hard and lowered my immune system just enough to catch a cold, border line flu really from either someone in the gym or the transit. So the Next week..all the way up to xmas eve I was practically out of it. Swollen glands, head cold, you know the typical winter sick stuff.But I was very aggressive in fighting it and it never progressed to a flu.

The next week I could have, SHOULD have started working out again. BUT I did not. I was just too tired and unmotivated to do it. I resolved to begin again at the start of the new year. and just a short 30 minutes I will do my first work out of 2012!

I currently weight just over 190..my ideal weight for someone my height and frame is probably between 155-160. The annoying part is that about 25 pounds of that is probablky the bulge that is my belly. It’s uncomfortable, unflattering and most importantly among the dangerous kind of fat to have. There is a history of cardio trouble in my family. I am also an ex-smoker myself (4 years now thank you very much) so my main focus is to get rid of this gut. And phase one starts in about 25 minutes! (ill post how it goes later tonight).

This time I will start off a little more moderately, stopping just before I want to so that I am not too sore for tomorrow and don’t burn out too soon. Wish me luck!

Change begins now.

Ciao ~