Workout Du Jour: NYC Ballet

This week I did the NYC Ballet workout #2.  Somehow I didn't like it as much as the first one....  Now, mind you, I workout at 5:45 in the AM.  I felt like it was just "trying not to fall down" workout.

On the sweaty scale of 1-5, I give it a 3.  There's a lot of plie's and tandus and it's nice to think that perhaps you're finding more balance and grace.

The whole thing takes about an hour, and it's not til' around 45 minutes when they really get into the jumps and get your heart rate up.  Beyond the hour there are a few more dance routines you can do, but an hour is just about my limit.  Luckily, these dancers are SO amazingly in shape it does make you want to work just THAT much harder.  I ended-up buying both discs from Amazon.  I'm not totally sure that I'm glad I did but it is sure a different workout then my usual and I do kind of enjoy thinking of myself as a graceful ballerina.

In other news, I have come to the sad fact that I think my yumi yogurt at night habit is stalling my weight loss.  Even though it's only 9 calories/ounce and I only have a nibble I just can't seem to lose.  Last night I had about 10 grapes and a few almonds and I lost 3 pounds yesterday.  So, it was either the workout or the loss of Yumi.

But, never fear I am allowing myself a yumi snack after school, it is still so low in calories it's a decent snack and so good.  I don't think I can stop cold turkey.

Yumi addict, it's true.

Weekend Update

Down like .4 -- if that. 

I didn't expect much since the whole finger incident n' all.  Plus, I had to have a uterine biopsy -- no big deal but still, bodies don't like to be wounded.

I didn't expect much... but I did Your Shape all week.  I almost wanted to egg her by the end.  I think I'm just going to focus on 45-60 minute workouts 3 times/week along with some fun cardio twice a week and see how we go from there. 

Do you think there's a disorder where you don't build muscle?  I think I have the slowest metabolism ever and I don't see it getting any better.

Anti-musclemia, that's what I have. :)

Sweaty

I started watching the biggest loser.  I've never realy watched a whole season, but I hope it will inspire me.  I do have a problem with the show.  It's just not the SAME as doing it on your own!  Plus, I'll never be able to lose 7 pounds a week and even the show's X-contestants say that it's SO hard once they get home.

But I'm doing it to be inspired.

And Jillian had a delightful fitness tip saying that you NEED to be SWEATY after you workout.  I'm usually pretty sweaty after a workout, but with my Denise Austin workouts last week it was just insane.  I could've filled a pool.

So, what do you think?  Do you think that the sweatiest workouts are the best?  I know a lot of it depends on outside tempearture.  One of my favorite parts of working out so early is that it's nice and cool at home so it's not making me sweat more.

I think it's a new goal of mine.  I used to take it on how out of breath I was or my pulse, but I do think sweating is a pretty good indicator.

THREE POUNDS

That's right people, that's a 3 pound loss you're reading about right there!

All in one week.

I think part of it was due to my female friend coming the prior week, with no loss.  I also think that the Denise Austin workout had a lot to do with it too. That woman really whooped me into shape.  I'm also really trying to count the points and stay on track.  I am REALLY happy with the loss.  I've even lost so much I'm down a point, only 25 points to eat/day.

So, my goal for this week is three 45 minute workouts, 2 bouts(20-30 minutes) of cardio fun (walking, Just dance, etc.) and 2 rounds of yoga.  I'd like to get a full 60 minutes of yoga in at some point, but I think it's time to be realistic.  Also, just eating my 25 points/day and not using any of the workout points.  BUT, also trying to have at least a 4 point breakfast on the days that I do workout hard.  And that's that. :)

Have any of you had success lately?  Let's roll around it and giggle. :)  Wait, that doesn't sound right....  Laughing does burn calories though.

Workout Du Jour: Denise Austin Burn Fat Fast

What a week to decide to try one workout for all 3 sculpting days.  I-YI-YI, Denise took me through my paces on this one.

It's  52 minute work out, 2 minutes of her blathering on about how great you'll look afterwards, 5 minute warm up, 20 minutes of "cardio dance", 20 minutes of sculpting (and it's not like gentle scultping it's like BANGING YOU WTIH A CHISEL SCULPTING), and 5 minutes of stretching.

Ouch.

It's a toughie.

I should say, in general, me and Denise are bitter mortal enemies.  She's so peppy and perky, blonde and skinny.  I mostly hate everything about her.  BUT.  She does get you through the workout. Somehow her incessant need for you to smile kind of helps and I'm grateful for her telling me to pull my abs in.  For, I found them on the floor a couple of times. :)

I did it again today, it was my third day this week and I literally was sweating from every pore that is mine.  My wrists were wet, I could barely hold onto the weights, and my glasses coudn't stand a chance of staying on, but I was getting better.

The cardio part isn't anything special.  I enjoy the moves, I find it a little bit fun.  It's more fun to make fun of her "back up dancers" and how weird they are... but I digress.  It does get your heart rate up and you're pretty sweaty by the end.

Then comes the sculpting (btw, you can choose to just do cardio or just sculpting, but I'm trying to hit 45 minutes with my workouts right now so this was a good time frame for me).  O. M. G.  She works every part, she works it hard and then she adds legs. :)  I do like how she separates it though.  She'll start with just arms, and do a few reps and then just legs and then she combines them.  Some of the moves are a little bit harder then your average moves, but I made it through intact.  I think. :)

Anyway, I really like it.  It's on its way back to netflicks right now, but I think I may re-add it to my cue (to get in like a year because i have a TON of videos on my cue).  It looks like it's not too expensive, so if you're looking for an overall tough workout, this may be for you.  But, you don't have to take MY word for it. :)

Wednesday Question: Workouts

Ok, being that I'm on the plateau to end all plateaus, I figured I'd ask some questions -- maybe get some ideas from you workout gurus.

Today's question:

Is it better to work out to one DVD, say for a week or longer, to really try and build those particular muscles?

I tend to skip around QUITE a lot but I'm wonding if that's hurting me. 

I'm a rotational gal.  Don't want to chew my popcorn too much on one side...

Some might call that OCD, I call it "rotational" classy, isn't it? :)

Of course, I'd only do the DVD every other day so that I'm not over fatiguing my puny little muscles.  That's right, they're puny.

Tell me what you think oh great readers!

Can't, break, the forcefield

I remained steady last week.  Totally on the wagon, counted EVERY SINGLE POINT and nada.
There may have been a few contributing factors but I am finding it SO hard to get past 180.
At this point I'm trying NOT to focus on the scale, but instead focus on health and just sticking to the plan for the whole year.  I know the numbers will go down eventually.

Do you have something you do when you get to a plateau?  It's not that I've lost enough weight, it just seems like my body really likes it here.

Dang you body.  Move. :)

Back on the Ball: up 0.2

I'm up .2 pounds this week, and it's time to get back on the ball.  That's right, I pulled out an actual weight watchers journal.  I'm going to really focus on eating good food, that is within my points value.  I am tracking all week, even when we go out to eat on Saturday, I will track.  AND I will lose.

Goals for the month: 

• Your Shape at least 3 times/week.  I lost SO many inches when I was doing this program for the month of January.  I think I might die of boredom if i did it alone all month, but I want to try and do it three times a week, two 30 minute sessions and one or two 15 minute sessions (which I'll do yoga afterwards).  I think there's something to doing one routine for a while and really working on those muscles, instead of flitting willy-nilly down the netflicks path of destruction. :)
• Track -- actually COUNT points.  That's not to say when we go out to eat that I might do a little "rough justice" with my points but I'm going to figure it all out.
• Down five pounds by the first Sunday in October
• Down three inches by the first Sunday in October

So, there are my goals.  I need help ladies.  Drew's dropping again like a school girl now that school has started and while I like that we've made goals together I also need some female support.  So please, post on the blog, let me know what your health goals are!

Newsflash: This is hard

I just had a flash of lightening in my brain (I know, electrical activity in MY brain?  WHO KNEW?)... but here's the newsflash.

 Dieting is hard.

There, I said it.

I just thought to myself this is really difficult.  It's hard to be full of self restraint and count those points at EVERY STINKING MEAL.  Booo to dieting.  Boo to weight watchers, but the REALLY sad news is that i still really want to lose weight.  I feel like I'm getting healtheir.  I feel like I look better.  I like that.

So, what has happened to all the support I used to have around these necks of the woods?  Come on ladies, it's fall.  It's time to get that weight off before Christmas!

So, come help me.  Post how you're doing it.  Post that it's hard for you too.
Post that you hate me.
Just SOMETHING!!!! :)
20 pounds by the end of the year.  That's my goal.  Take that cellulite!