Exercise and diet blah blah
Oct. 6th, 2004 07:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
muck_a_luckIn evidence that I haven't been sleeping enough lately, I completly misunderstood my friend Jules' reaction to my 10 lb handweights last night. She said, "That's more than my pilates instructor uses!"
I am actually NOT doing a straight aerobics routine, where you dance around with a couple of 2 lb weights just to get some tone in your arms. I am doing a tape that it set up in "intervals" - 2 minutes stepping, alternating with 1 minute arms segments that are *intended* to be strength exercises. Total concentration on biceps, triceps, deltoids, etc. There are not really enough reps for it to be "toning." Basically, it is 10 minutes of freeweights for arms. I was finding this kind of pointless with the three pound weights I was using. On the other hand, I *thought* the three pound weights were five pound weights, so moving to 10 lbs in a big jump was probably a little extreme. Could have gone to 8 first. But still, it's doable. Just, ahem, challenging. I have not hurt myself yet, and I assume that as I go along, as long as I am not over-confident, the risk of hurting myself will be lower as I get stronger.
In other weights related news, did try out the 3 lb leg weights this morning, and used them during the warmup and the first three intervals. Biggest leg weight problem - they just plain hurt to wear. They are so uncomfortable, I don't think I will bother with them.
I am amazed at how quickly my body is changing. I have been exercising 4-5 times a week now for a month, and been on 2000 calories a day or less (with *many* days hitting my target of 1500-1800) for a little longer than a month. Honestly, only 4 really diet busting days, and I *belive* only one day of actual backsliding - where I ate more then maintenance calories. I have already said that my tummy has gotten smaller. So, I belive, has my butt. (Husband says if I get too slim, he will just get another [AN: as in, supplemental], plump wife.] I am now back comfortably in my 14 jeans.
And while I expected my cardiovascular endurance to go up, and my arms and abs to get stronger, my biggest surprise is how much stronger and more energized my legs feel. Also weird, I have never in my life really *tried* to get into shape. And it is possible that at this point I am in the best shape I have ever been in during my entire life.
Also, possibly unrelated, my hair and skin have been very happy.
It's too early to tell on this, but it is also possible that my cycle is re-regulating. I think that may be real, becauase when I was hiking all day every day at camp, that part of my health seemed to improve - fewer/much milder cramps in that experience. The regular step aerobics are probably still not the workout that walking around camp could be, but they are probably similar
This whole experiment has been positive, right up to and including getting up at 5am. Just couldn't be more pleased.
< / insane, perky, exercise type person >
I am actually NOT doing a straight aerobics routine, where you dance around with a couple of 2 lb weights just to get some tone in your arms. I am doing a tape that it set up in "intervals" - 2 minutes stepping, alternating with 1 minute arms segments that are *intended* to be strength exercises. Total concentration on biceps, triceps, deltoids, etc. There are not really enough reps for it to be "toning." Basically, it is 10 minutes of freeweights for arms. I was finding this kind of pointless with the three pound weights I was using. On the other hand, I *thought* the three pound weights were five pound weights, so moving to 10 lbs in a big jump was probably a little extreme. Could have gone to 8 first. But still, it's doable. Just, ahem, challenging. I have not hurt myself yet, and I assume that as I go along, as long as I am not over-confident, the risk of hurting myself will be lower as I get stronger.
In other weights related news, did try out the 3 lb leg weights this morning, and used them during the warmup and the first three intervals. Biggest leg weight problem - they just plain hurt to wear. They are so uncomfortable, I don't think I will bother with them.
I am amazed at how quickly my body is changing. I have been exercising 4-5 times a week now for a month, and been on 2000 calories a day or less (with *many* days hitting my target of 1500-1800) for a little longer than a month. Honestly, only 4 really diet busting days, and I *belive* only one day of actual backsliding - where I ate more then maintenance calories. I have already said that my tummy has gotten smaller. So, I belive, has my butt. (Husband says if I get too slim, he will just get another [AN: as in, supplemental], plump wife.] I am now back comfortably in my 14 jeans.
And while I expected my cardiovascular endurance to go up, and my arms and abs to get stronger, my biggest surprise is how much stronger and more energized my legs feel. Also weird, I have never in my life really *tried* to get into shape. And it is possible that at this point I am in the best shape I have ever been in during my entire life.
Also, possibly unrelated, my hair and skin have been very happy.
It's too early to tell on this, but it is also possible that my cycle is re-regulating. I think that may be real, becauase when I was hiking all day every day at camp, that part of my health seemed to improve - fewer/much milder cramps in that experience. The regular step aerobics are probably still not the workout that walking around camp could be, but they are probably similar
This whole experiment has been positive, right up to and including getting up at 5am. Just couldn't be more pleased.
< / insane, perky, exercise type person >
