Keeping the momentum going

Jeni!

I may on a roll here.  I've again been active everyday this week. I feel so energized and happy. I'm maintaining my weight loss goals. I feel the transformation happening with my lifestyle and eating habits. Although I have been working out for awhile, I just feel different about it. I respect it more. I feel like it has more purpose.

My week so far:
Monday: weights and bike
Tuesday: bike
Wednesday: snowed in but did a strength and core based workout at home
Thursday: Zumba
Friday: Jungshin and bike

Today I am planning on weight training and some more bike work.

I am amping up my time on the bike to prepare for the upcoming cycling season. I can't wait until the snow stops and I can be outside logging my miles. I am curious to see any improvements from last season.

I hope you have a wonderful time on vacation.

Xoxo
Jenne 

Lucky Number 7

Hey Jeni!

How have you been? It seems like its been forever since I wrote! 

I have been having a great time since I climbed out of my funk a few weeks ago. In fact, I've met one of my challenge goals and I also had a "7 day week" as I like to call it. 

My goal was to be halfway to my goal weight and I did it and held it steady over the week! I was so excited! I feel like the work is paying off and it motivates me to keep on going. 

My 7 day week was awesome! I did something active everyday and I feel great about it! I haven't had a 7 day week since last summer. What is even better is that I feel like I had some diversity in my workout, which is important. 

Here is the breakdown:

Monday- spin class

Tuesday- weights and bike

Wednesday- yoga

Thursday- Zumba

Friday- Jungshin and bike

Saturday- weights and bike

Sunday- skiing

I am so happy with my week. I can't wait to keep working towards my goals :-)

How have you been? An fitness milestones lately? 

Xoxo

Jenne 

Breaks and Brownies

Jeni! 

I've been gone! But I certainly haven't been slacking! This past week has been pretty similar for me with some "listen to your body" frustrations. 

Last year I had a knee strain which really cramped my cycling training for a while. The strain and my ability to ignore it ebbs and flows. My doctors orders are no high impact anything and avoid 90 degree angles in the knees. Welllllllll...

I've been taking Zumba, strength training (jumps, lunges, squats) and some other classes that likely could have some higher impact movements. Some may even have running laps. Oops! Thing is, I really like these classes. So, we've been teetering on a potential no no zone for my knee while also not bracing the knee up. 

Last week I took two days off, I also took off Monday. It irritates me, but I should not ignore what my body tells me. Right now I have been very careful with the knees. I am on the bike alot. I am wearing my most heavy duty knee brace and avoiding high knee impact. Today I modified jumping jacks and was happy that our class had wide squats. I then went on the bike and did a very low key ride (to recover from my endurance ride from yesterday). After this post we are going to pull out the bag of peas from the freezer. 

It's tough! It's frustrating. I wish I could just run and take Zumba classes everyday, but it's not what my body allows me to do. It is hard to accept. I think that all of my additional strength training has made these classes possible lately. I am certainly keeping that up.

This week is my midpoint weigh in for the 90 day challenge. I have some pretty mixed feelings about it, especially considering that I ate a quarter of a pan of brownies and four of my vanilla coconut spice bran muffins on Monday. My body is still feeling the effects of that. In the end, I think it was ok to do that. I don't often eat brownies. It was certainly interesting to see the impact on my body. I am back on track and crossing my fingers for my weigh in on Friday. We'll see how it goes!

Rest is important. For the past few weeks I've been getting at least 8 hours of sleep. The difference is great. I feel much more refreshed! I hope by the time you read this you are feeling better. 

Xoxo

Jenne

Back for the second time

Hey Jeni! 

Oh my, it's been awhile! The past two weeks have been very busy, and I'm happy to report, good from a fitness perspective! 

I went to New York last weekend where I ate lots of food and had some girl time with my friends. I felt a little guilty after but remember that I work hard at the gym and it is not often that I indulge in cake, champagne, food and more food! In the end it was a great weekend! What did you do for your birthday? 

So after I got back I decided to hang out. I took about 3 days off from the gym, even though on Saturday I did some core work while watching Sex in the City! This past Monday I was tired. So I decided to take that day to regroup and think about my week ahead. I think those days are needed sometimes. I try not to beat myself up over it, I think that's something that is hard for us not to do. 

On Monday, I met with a trainer at my gym to go over my diet. I'll cover this in another post. On Tuesday, I was back in the game! Here's what I accomplished this week:

Tuesday: Zumba and Strength training

Wednesday: Inclined power walk and row machine

Thursday: Strength training and my own spin routine

Friday: Tried a new class called cycle and core- half spin, half core work! 

Saturday: off from the gym, worked at the mall

Sunday: Weight training and Zumba

I had a first this week- I went into the weight room at my gym and worked out on the weight machines! This is something I haven't done since high school. I get intimidated in there, but I went in! I also did my own core work, too. I went into Zumba feeling the work that I did. I was so proud of myself! I feel what I am trying to accomplish is the better version of me. The best version is on a bike for sure, but it is also building my arm muscles, trying to get a slightly defined core, and being in the best shape possible. Finally, the best version of me is happy with the results of my hard work. 

Tonight I made soup for the week and muffins, I am on a role! I also cleaned, which helps me keep myself on track through the week. Have you cooked anything healthy this week? 

What are your plans for this week? I hope it is getting some rest! I am getting 8 hours of sleep right now every night, trainers orders! 

Xoxo

Jenne

Sneakers!

Happy Sunday Jeni!

They are essential to the gym. They are a fashion statement. They keep our feet supported and protected. Sneakers! 

I've had a pair of Asics running shoes from my college days. I'd been wearing them to the gym for the past year and had used them for spontaneous exercise and other activities in the year prior. The shoes were dated, they were for running, I was looking for an upgrade. 

First off, shoes make me nervous. I always get the wrong fit. Second, I loved my trusty Asics. The sneakers I had before were also for running. As we all know, I have been forced to retire from running (sad face). I decided to go to a local sports store where I could get more attention and work with knowledgable staff. This store was Fleet Feet. 

I went in armed with my old sneakers and determined to find a good fitting shoe. I also brought my parents so they could stop me from buying a bad fitting shoe. I tried in several different pairs, did lunges and squats and some Zumba movements in the store. I then walked on the treadmill.  I thought I found a pair of Saucony's that fit well, but then they started to feel a bit off after awhile. I was a little stuck and then Bruce, who was helping me, brought me out another pair of Asics! He said that although they were running sneakers, they were still a medium support sneaker that would work for what I wanted to do. Bruce had that extra knowledge of what I was doing because he also happens to be a trainer at Midtown, my gym! 

Not too shabby, right? I cannot wait to test them out! I am on the docket for Zumba and spin today, however, I am still feeling my hamstrings from my strength training workout today, so I may need to cut out Zumba so I don't overdo it. I'll report back on what I decided and how things turned out. What have you been up to this weekend? 

Xoxo

Jenne 

What if it's red velvet?

Dearest Jeni, 

Your post is funny. The problem is, red velvet is my favorite cake. I'm not too sure how I will handle the upcoming eating out and festivities that surround a birthday. It will certainly be a test for me. 

Tomorrow I have a big fitness day! Which is why I took today off. I am concerned about agitating an overuse injury that took months to finally feel better. My shoulders are feeling it today too, cool!

Tomorrow I am doing my second strength training class of the week. I may also pop on a spin bike for a bit of cardio. Last night I did Zumba, it was fun. I even had a mini dance party before to pump myself up. Not sure how I missed the Harlem Shake buzz, but I am having it now. Then I am going to a nutrition seminar as part of the 90 day challenge. Then, I am going sneaker shopping! I am a little nervous because my feet are obnoxious. I cannot ever find a decent shoe. Sneakers make me more nervous. I've been wearing my 5 year old running shoes for all things not running. I'm going to some specialty sneaker stores to see what the options are. I'm pumped! 

What are you plans for the weekend? I'm excited to share my nutrition knowledge with you. I've been trying out some food related changes, but I want to de what happens before I report. 

Xoxo

Jenne