Well-Trained Bodies- February

[Soror]

I don't think a thread has been started yet--

Let's go--

This is a fresh start if you need it or time to keep on, keeping on.

 

[Soror]

My goals this month:

Weeks 5-8 Epic Endgame- 4 days a week of lifting/1 day a week HIIT- Free on YouTube- my most favorite workout program/trainer I've every followed ever. Love, love, love. Kicks my ass in the best way. I enjoy the workouts and her personality and much easier to stay motivated than working out on my own (which I either end up pushing too hard or not enough and get bored).

I'm working on pushing hard with the weights and moving up after too long of not making progress -- of course trying to be careful and avoid injury.

Daily walking- 30-70 min+

Keeping up with work around the house

Continue with plenty of sleep--- sleep is everything!

---------------

Today is upper body-- supersets.

My body felt so tired at the end of the day yesterday. I only took a 30 min walk and already I was sore from the killer lower body session. I was sure I wouldn't be able to walk today but I'm doing much better after a full night's sleep.

Today is the last warm day for a bit so I'm washing my car. Might be another short walk depending on how tired I feel after getting everything done.

Edited February 1, 2022 by Soror

[Ali in OR]

I woke up at 4:00 and never fell back asleep, so I got up half an hour early (5:00). I had time to do my bodyweight circuit x2 then Day 22 of yoga. And now I have time to sit with my mocha instead of gulping it down over the sink before I head out the door.

A new month! My goals are probably the same as January--keep working on the healthy eating, try to get weight down, keep up with exercise 6 days/week. Looks like Lent starts late this year--March 2. That will be when I get serious about no sweets (mochas ok though).

[Jenny in Florida]

No new goals for me this month, other that the adjustment to the weekly in-addition-to-walking exercise plan I mentioned in a previous post. I'll continue:

• Walking 4K every morning and a total of 15,000 per day.
• Doing one longer walk each weekend according to the 10K (walk) training schedule so I'm ready for the WDW event in April.
• Working towards my 500K Winter Warmup goal.
• Following a six-day rotation of mat-based strength and stretching (Mondays and Thursdays), standing strength and stretching (Tuesdays and Fridays) and gentle yoga (Wednesdays and Saturdays).
• Using the stationary bike and mini-trampoline when I have time/remember they are there.

Yesterday, in addition to the regular mat-based stuff in the morning, I tried out a gentle, chair-based virtual yoga class offered through my local library. I really liked the class and the instructor, so I signed up for her twice-monthly classes, which I will sub in for the usual exercise on days they happen. She also has some videos on YouTube, and I think I'll switch over to trying those instead of Adriene for a bit, since they seem like a better fit for my needs.

I did my second walk before dinner last night, trying to get outside before it cooled off.

Walked the usual 4K this morning, followed by about 20 minutes of standing strength and stretching work. My right knee is in worse than usual condition, so I'm trying to be careful with it.

 

Winter Warmup 2022 Challenge: 268.4 of 500K
Daily Walking Streak: 3398 Days

Edited February 1, 2022 by Jenny in Florida

[wintermom]

Thanks for starting us out on a new month @Soror

My new winter boots (Keens) just arrived, and I got to test them out on a hike in the quiet woods with dh! The hike was great; I love the new boots, and it was great to share the trail with dh.

My dog's new mutt luk booties just arrived, too. Took the dog for a quick walk and they seem to work really well! 

Overall, it's a good start to the month! 

[Laura Corin]

Thanks for the new thread @Soror.

Aims for the month? Build up rowing slowly. Avoid injury before a planned trip to London at the end of the month. Whilst there, I'll be doing a lot of walking to avoid public transport. 

Today - pj sun salutations,  brisk walk and yoga. The yoga felt good - I'm starting to add back in the slightly more taxing moves that I removed in order to protect my knee. Tomorrow- rowing 7 minutes. 

[wintermom]

I just went for another dog walk in the neighbourhood. This is the ice rink on a pond in the neighbourhood, flooded a few extra places and decked out with lights. It's been too cold to go last week, but I may try it out tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Jenny in Florida]

Finished off yesterday's steps with a short walk at lunchtime and then another while waiting for the sweet potatoes to finish baking for dinner. 

Had a little trouble making myself get out of bed and face the day, but it was a pretty, cool morning and the dog and I walked about 4.2K. Back home, I did a 25-minute relaxing yoga video.

No specific plans for the remainder of the day. I'll walk the rest of my steps at some point.

.

Winter Warmup 2022 Challenge: 277.3of 500K
Daily Walking Streak: 340 Days

[Ali in OR]

Love the skating pond at night, love the rising sun.

Did my Wednesday workout--a Jessica Smith workout video. This is one she did with her mom, and as I identify more with the mom, I think of this as an old lady workout! Anyway, keeps me moving and grooving.

[Harriet Vane]

My goal this month is to focus on more cardio/aerobic capacity. Dh wants to visit the mountains at some point and I’d like to minimize altitude sickness as best I can.

Weights and core yesterday.

[Jenny in Florida]

17 minutes ago, Ali in OR said:

This is one she did with her mom, and as I identify more with the mom, I think of this as an old lady workout! Anyway, keeps me moving and grooving.

One of the reasons I prefer Dana Brady's yoga videos to the Yoga with Adriene series is that Dana appears to be closer to me in age and makes me feel less lumpy and old than cute young Adriene does.

[wintermom]

It's a balmy 32F / 0 C this morning!! I will get out and hike with my new boots, hopefully on a trail in the woods somewhere.

[Harriet Vane]

The Big Storm is coming, though we should just be on the outer bands of it, so I don't expect real disruption. But it's wet outside and clouded over and I don't wanna........

So my plan today is to do my interminable PT stuff as per usual and then watch a show while I keep moving. I'll set it up by the steps and alternate stepping up to get my heart rate up with other movements on the ball and such.

[Laura Corin]

Good walk up hills with a friend. Pj sun salutations.  7 minutes of rowing and then yoga after work.

[wintermom]

I went for a nice long walk in the woods. There were a lot of birds looking for food. I felt so bad that I forgot to bring some seed. 

[wintermom]

We got rain, which turned into wet snow last night. I woke up to a winterwonderland with snow stuck on all the trees. I'm going for a long walk with a friend later this afternoon. I'll try to get in some strength and stretch work on my yoga mat at some point this morning. 

[Soror]

I had to take dd3 to the dentist early yesterday so I didn't have time for my usual workout (since I've been sleeping in lately).

I did finally get it done in the afternoon.

I did get a walk yesterday but it was only a very short one. I meant to go out again later but it was freezing rain with high winds. No fun at all.

Today the weather is looking bad again too. The kids are home from school and dh is home from work (never happens!). We don't have much snow but the roads are covered in ice.

today's plan:

yoga + core (no lifting today)

walk if the weather isn't too bad

 

[Ali in OR]

Thursday dumbbell workout. Very few modifications this time--used my normal weights, just had to cut reps for right arm for a few exercises.

We ended first semester Tuesday, so no kids at school yesterday, today, or tomorrow. Just a bunch of teachers working. Nice to get caught up.

[Jenny in Florida]

We had a semi-emergency with my dog last night/this morning.** (She had a bad landing jumping off the bed to chase the cat a couple of days ago and has been favoring one or both front legs on and off since. Last night, she seemed extremely uncomfortable and just not herself.) She clearly wasn't up to a walk, and I didn't want to leave her behind, so I opted to do a Leslie Sansone video for this morning's steps. I also ran out of time to do my floor-based stuff before we had to leave for the vet appointment. I actually have my own doctor's appointment this afternoon, too, and a ton of work that has been piling up for the last couple of weeks and I managed only about four hours of sleep last night because I stayed on the couch in order to be close to the dog. But I will try to find time to do something later in the day.

 

Winter Warmup 2022 Challenge: 285.5 of 500K
Daily Walking Streak: 341 Days

 

** The dog is okay, by the way. She has chronic joint pain in her hips, so the vet's theory is that she's just extra uncomfortable with a strain in her front legs, because she can't find a way to relieve the pressure. Normally, a dog who had an injured front leg would lift it up/not walk on it, but Tilda can't do that, because her rear legs aren't in good shape, either. She already takes something for the joint pain, and she's at the maximum safe dose of that, but the vet added something different to help her feel better while she rests and heals. She's 12 years old and, although the vet says she's very healthy, I honestly panic a little every time she has an issue. She's my bestie and has been my constant companion since she was a puppy.

[Laura Corin]

Pj sun salutations.  No walk at lunchtime but I walked every stretch of streetlit road in the village after work - just over three miles.

[wintermom]

@Jenny in Florida Your dog is adorable! Glad he's going to be ok.

@Laura Corin I hope your mom is doing well. I saw on another thread that her care home is in lockdown. Big hugs.

My walk with a friend was nice. There is white everywhere - the sky, the ground and on the trees.

 

Edited February 4, 2022 by wintermom

[Slache]

I'm struggling to get my MMA done so I'm back to my dance routine which is getting done, even if it's not as good. Fell off the paleo wagon and I'm bloated. Blah. Back on Sunday.

Not getting enough steps.

[Slache]

My goal this month is to establish a MORNING workout routine. I'm a better mom when I work out first thing.

[Laura Corin]

8 hours ago, wintermom said:

@Jenny in Florida Your dog is adorable! Glad he's going to be ok.

@Laura Corin I hope your mom is doing well. I saw on another thread that her care home is in lockdown. Big hugs.

My walk with a friend was nice. There is while everywhere - the sky, the ground and on the trees.

 

Lovely picture!

Unfortunately, my mum can't talk on the phone and doesn't use any technology.  My brothers and I have sent her letters. I'll call the home again today for an update. 

[wintermom]

5 hours ago, Laura Corin said:

Lovely picture!

Unfortunately, my mum can't talk on the phone and doesn't use any technology.  My brothers and I have sent her letters. I'll call the home again today for an update. 

I live in a black and white world in the winter. I wish we had really colourfully painted houses to jazz things up a bit. I love how coastal towns do this!

All the best for your mom. Is your tennis-playing brother doing well? I hope he's able to get back on the tennis court and golf course soon.

[Jenny in Florida]

@wintermom That is a gorgeous view! Almost makes me nostalgic for snow . . . almost.

I never did get around to making up the exercise I missed yesterday morning. Things have just really piled up this week. Trying to let it be what it is.

The dog is supposed to be resting and not going on any long walks with me for at least a few days. So I left her home last night while I walked the neighborhood to finish off steps. Same thing this morning for the usual 4K walk, followed by a somewhat abbreviated mat-based exercise set. (The dog woke me up at 4:00am desperate to go outside, and it took a while to get both of us back to sleep. I'm just really, really tired and draggy today.)

 

Winter Warmup 2022 Challenge: 294.0 of 500K
Daily Walking Streak: 342 Days

[wintermom]

16 minutes ago, Jenny in Florida said:

@wintermom That is a gorgeous view! Almost makes me nostalgic for snow . . . almost.

 

I'm glad you like it. I'm way past any nostalgic or excited thoughts about the snow. 😄  

[Ali in OR]

30 minutes on the treadmill this morning. Costco run this afternoon. Technically today is an unpaid non-workday, but I'll work this morning at school (as will many others). It relieves stress for me to get ahead on planning out next week.

[wintermom]

I did some good stretching and strength exercises this morning. I'm trying to get these done before I start work. It offers a little energy boost and also delays me getting on the computer and working. Win-win! 😅

I took the dog for a long hike in the quiet woods. It was really nice, and he loved his new booties. I love my new boots, too! 

[Laura Corin]

4 hours ago, wintermom said:

I live in a black and white world in the winter. I wish we had really colourfully painted houses to jazz things up a bit. I love how coastal towns do this!

All the best for your mom. Is your tennis-playing brother doing well? I hope he's able to get back on the tennis court and golf course soon.

He had a game of tennis a couple of weeks ago. He was pretty tired afterwards, but hopeful.

The weather was lovely today- crisp and sunny.  I took photos on the valley where I go most days - wild snowdrops, and a limekiln that was built in 1814 from stone salvaged from a ruined castle. 

[wintermom]

8 minutes ago, Laura Corin said:

He had a game of tennis a couple of weeks ago. He was pretty tired afterwards, but hopeful.

The weather was lovely today- crisp and sunny.  I took photos on the valley where I go most days - wild snowdrops, and a limekiln that was built in 1814 from stone salvaged from a ruined castle. 

Those are gorgeous photos!! Are you sure you're in Scotland? This looks far too spring-like for early Feb that far north. Lucky you!!

That's amazing news about your brother! I expect to be really tired after tennis tomorrow, too. It will be a really GOOD tired, though. 😉 

[Laura Corin]

1 minute ago, wintermom said:

Those are gorgeous photos!! Are you sure you're in Scotland? This looks far too spring-like for early Feb that far north. Lucky you!!

That's amazing news about your brother! I expect to be really tired after tennis tomorrow, too. It will be a really GOOD tired, though. 😉 

The snowdrops are getting earlier each year.  There's still a chill wind, but the temperature is right around freezing. We often get snow in February or March though.

[wintermom]

2 minutes ago, Laura Corin said:

The snowdrops are getting earlier each year.  There's still a chill wind, but the temperature is right around freezing. We often get snow in February or March though.

The snowdrops are so beautiful! Do they grow wild or were they planted at some point?

[wintermom]

Bonus photo of puppies: My stud dog (poodle) just had a litter of labradoodles born last night! 4 boys and 2 girls. I feel a little like the grandma of furry babies. 😄

 

[Soror]

@wintermom those puppies are adorable!!!

@Laura Corin love the flowers, none here yet.

I had a nice romp in the woods with the girls yesterday in the ice/snow. It's only 20F today but sunny without snow/sleet pelting you so it feels pretty good without having to bundle up too awful much.

Did my full body workout today it was a hard one. Lots of grunting and cussing but I made it through and nearly matched Caroline's weights.

[Laura Corin]

2 hours ago, wintermom said:

The snowdrops are so beautiful! Do they grow wild or were they planted at some point?

I thought they were native but apparently they come from mainland Europe.  No one knows how long they have grown here, apparently. They don't cause any trouble, just gradually increase.

Eta gorgeous puppies!

Edited February 4, 2022 by Laura Corin

[wintermom]

I went for another long walk during sunset time. I captured the small streak of sunlight behind the birch trees.

[Harriet Vane]

On 2/3/2022 at 6:46 PM, Slache said:

My goal this month is to establish a MORNING workout routine. I'm a better mom when I work out first thing.

I might need to join you on this. My Tues-Thurs are always in the morning. When I was going regularly to the gym, I was pretty okay-ish about mornings. The thing is now we live fairly locked down and there are no kids in the house. So I am doing all my exercising at home. Easier, right? Nope. I was always more motivated when I had to drive somewhere else and focus on doing it there. The gym is super close to my house, so it worked well. So now I keep saying I'll take a walk a little later, and then later never comes.

So, here's to mornings. I'm going to make it a mission to do what needs doing first, not middle or last. Thinking this through as I type, I'm realizing I should put out my workout clothes the night before and keep a piece of fruit next to my bed so I can wake up, snack while I read the paper, and then hit the ground running, so to speak. Often the first thing to derail me is hunger and a desire for a Really Great Breakfast. But if I've had some fruit I can eat breakfast after I work out.

What do you think will help you hit it in the morning?

[Laura Corin]

7 hours ago, Harriet Vane said:

I might need to join you on this. My Tues-Thurs are always in the morning. When I was going regularly to the gym, I was pretty okay-ish about mornings. The thing is now we live fairly locked down and there are no kids in the house. So I am doing all my exercising at home. Easier, right? Nope. I was always more motivated when I had to drive somewhere else and focus on doing it there. The gym is super close to my house, so it worked well. So now I keep saying I'll take a walk a little later, and then later never comes.

So, here's to mornings. I'm going to make it a mission to do what needs doing first, not middle or last. Thinking this through as I type, I'm realizing I should put out my workout clothes the night before and keep a piece of fruit next to my bed so I can wake up, snack while I read the paper, and then hit the ground running, so to speak. Often the first thing to derail me is hunger and a desire for a Really Great Breakfast. But if I've had some fruit I can eat breakfast after I work out.

What do you think will help you hit it in the morning?

I do some stretching in the morning in preparation for going to my desk.  The two things that help me are - doing it in my pjs so there's no fuss about clothing, and leaving my mat out from yoga the night before as a reminder.

[Laura Corin]

16 hours ago, wintermom said:

 

That's amazing news about your brother! I expect to be really tired after tennis tomorrow, too. It will be a really GOOD tired, though. 😉 

I just heard from my brother. He had a relapse this week and blood tests are showing liver damage. He will test again in a few weeks.

[Ali in OR]

Day 23 of Move yoga this morning with a lot of "help" from the cat. He played with my ponytail, nuzzled me, rubbed his head on my hands for scritches, and took over the top of the mat.

I'm definitely a morning exercise person. I'm just a morning person anyway--that's when I have my energy. Exercise in the evening is a lot harder for me--I just want to be a couch potato. I got in the morning exercise routine about 25 years ago with my first treadmill. I get up and get dressed in workout clothes, feed the pets, maybe get a few dishes put away in the kitchen, and then I'm exercising at 6:00 am on weekdays (a little later on Saturdays). When I had babies, young kids, even today with my disabled kid who still needs care, that early morning window before they were awake was the only guaranteed time I would have for exercise, and the habit just stuck.

[Laura Corin]

22 minutes ago, Ali in OR said:

Day 23 of Move yoga this morning with a lot of "help" from the cat. He played with my ponytail, nuzzled me, rubbed his head on my hands for scritches, and took over the top of the mat.

I'm definitely a morning exercise person. I'm just a morning person anyway--that's when I have my energy. Exercise in the evening is a lot harder for me--I just want to be a couch potato. I got in the morning exercise routine about 25 years ago with my first treadmill. I get up and get dressed in workout clothes, feed the pets, maybe get a few dishes put away in the kitchen, and then I'm exercising at 6:00 am on weekdays (a little later on Saturdays). When I had babies, young kids, even today with my disabled kid who still needs care, that early morning window before they were awake was the only guaranteed time I would have for exercise, and the habit just stuck.

I salute you. If I do more than a bit of stretching first thing, I feel faint and sick. Lunchtime and just after work are good for me  

[Soror]

15 hours ago, Harriet Vane said:

I might need to join you on this. My Tues-Thurs are always in the morning. When I was going regularly to the gym, I was pretty okay-ish about mornings. The thing is now we live fairly locked down and there are no kids in the house. So I am doing all my exercising at home. Easier, right? Nope. I was always more motivated when I had to drive somewhere else and focus on doing it there. The gym is super close to my house, so it worked well. So now I keep saying I'll take a walk a little later, and then later never comes.

So, here's to mornings. I'm going to make it a mission to do what needs doing first, not middle or last. Thinking this through as I type, I'm realizing I should put out my workout clothes the night before and keep a piece of fruit next to my bed so I can wake up, snack while I read the paper, and then hit the ground running, so to speak. Often the first thing to derail me is hunger and a desire for a Really Great Breakfast. But if I've had some fruit I can eat breakfast after I work out.

What do you think will help you hit it in the morning?

I don't think about exercise in the morning. It is a non-negotiable. There is not a question as to whether I do it or not, I just do. I have a snack (I often pre make batches of breakfast foods) and then exercise. I might just wear what I'm sleeping in- tshirt and leggings or change into a tank and shorts (depending on how hot I expect to get). I don't brush my hair before, or my teeth. Just throw my hair back in a ponytail and go. I work out in the living room and everything is kept right there. So much is just getting into the habit. I used to work out in the gym in the evening but I often lack motivation in the evening when I'm at home. Also, when I started working out in the morning I started with a 20 min workout. 

--------------

Today some light yoga and 10 min core. Will walk later. Walked yesterday too- I'm at 15 days.

[wintermom]

5 hours ago, Laura Corin said:

I just heard from my brother. He had a relapse this week and blood tests are showing liver damage. He will test again in a few weeks.

Oh no!! I hope he'll be ok. 

[wintermom]

I went for an early morning snowshoe. The first real snowshoe of the season.  It was lovely! The snow is extremely deep and soft, so you sink down a lot when making fresh trails. I mostly followed someone else's tracks, but did break a few trails for fun. Here's a before and after shot of a trail I made:

 

[Laura Corin]

39 minutes ago, wintermom said:

Oh no!! I hope he'll be ok. 

He's hopeful, as the liver is able to regenerate if it doesn't have a continuing source of damage.

Lovely photos,  @wintermom

Today - the weather was grey, windy and mizzling. The dog and I walked along the burn through the centre of town for 3.5 miles. Only one photo - an old winter-flowering cherry tree in an ancient courtyard. 

[Harriet Vane]

2 minutes ago, Laura Corin said:

He's hopeful, as the liver is able to regenerate if it doesn't have a continuing source of damage.

Lovely photos,  @wintermom

Today - the weather was grey, windy and mizzling. The dog and I walked along the burn through the centre of town for 3.5 miles. Only one photo - an old winter-flowering cherry tree in an ancient courtyard. 

I have to say I am so heartened by your casual use of the word “mizzling.” I ran into it in an older edition of Emma and was disgusted that newer versions edited it out to be “drizzle.” 😁

[Laura Corin]

2 minutes ago, Harriet Vane said:

I have to say I am so heartened by your casual use of the word “mizzling.” I ran into it in an older edition of Emma and was disgusted that newer versions edited it out to be “drizzle.” 😁

That's a shame. It's widely used in southern England. 

[Jenny in Florida]

As others have said, I really need to do the bulk of my exercise in the morning, or it just doesn't happen. I do usually do some walking in the evening, but I don't have the energy or focus at that time to do anything significant.

I didn't have a ton of time to do stuff this morning, because I had to drive our bonus YA to work and then meet up with a friend to do some walking and chatting. Also, since we're still encouraging the dog to rest and she hates being left alone, I figured I'd do some video walking rather than head out the door without her. So, I did a shorter (2K-ish) Leslie Sansone video and then about 20 minutes of gentle yoga. After dropping my bonus YA, I met up with my friend and walked a good 6.5K, albeit at a slower pace than I usually manage when I head out on my own.

I've met my step goal, but I'll likely head out for a short walk at some point this evening, assuming the weather holds.

 

Winter Warmup 2022 Challenge: 307.5 of 500K
Daily Walking Streak: 343 Days

[wintermom]

I got to play tennis for 2 hrs tonight!! It was really fun to run around and hit some balls. I didn't play completely horribly. My fitness held up pretty well, too. 😊