As I sit here and write this Isa is home with THE Stomach Virus. I had hoped it would skip our house but I was highly wrong and unfortunate. Not yet sure what is worse, coming down with it myself or watching my child fight through it. As of now I am praying I stay bug free. I also can hear my neighbor's son in the hallway scream and tantrum his way upstairs, and I am thankful that I am not her right now. Is that wrong of me to say...probably... but I'm sure you all would agree. I've been there and hated it and so glad I'm not there at the moment.
I think I spoke about this before but I am in process of changing and expanding this blog and my website... a slow and tedious process which takes more time than it should. I am not a computer or design expert and do not have unlimited funds to hire out so this is a daily DIY project.
In an effort to be more fitness aware (and less judgemental aka Bitchy) of other forms of exercise I have decided to actually take classes around the city. I am starting with all those places I have at one time looked down on. I am honestly walking in with doubt but hoping to be proven wrong so I will begin reporting shortly. I purchased a pass for a month of Bikram yoga, which scares me to death and for now the pass looks just lovely decorating my fridge. I will get there, but not right now. Last week I decided to workout using an intense sculpting DVD I purchased a while back at someone's suggestion Jari Love's Extreme 1000.
Being the overachieving genius I am, I chose to do the complete workout - an hour of intense cardio and weight intervals. The DVD requires a step (which I have not seen or used since its popularity in the 80's) so I used my daughter's step stool. After nearly killing myself I got the hang of it, and after a week I found my ass and arms larger than before. Hmmm not quite what I was after, and yet I somewhat expected this which is why I stayed away from weights for so long. After finding an amazing sweatshirt to tie around my larger parts I decided to try another path. First, let me say that I am aware that weights are healthy and important especially to women who are getting up there in age. Secondly, I am aware that my diet consists of Toddler foods (poptarts, crackers, and peanut butter for protein). I'm stating this mainly because I am sure if I were more nutritionally conscious and ate mainly protein and veggies I would look more like Ms. Love and less like a sweatpants loving Mom. This week I chose to continue with the DVD but in the smaller 1/2 hour workout followed by a mat Pilates DVD from Netlfix. This seems to have helped. My ass is not so large or flabby and my arms look normal and more toned...not manly and huge.
The Pilates studio I work through is near NYU dorms, and a trend I notice a lot is the "college girl who thinks she is working out correctly but not" posture. This would be overly round shoulders and back with large arms. These are girls who go to the gym and workout and think they are doing what they should but get larger instead of toned and small. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I was not born with a long lean body, and while I still believe in my mind that this is attainable my reality has not yet provided it. I think this combination of weights, cardio and Pilates (or yoga) can actually make a difference. Weights are great. They help with bone density and tone, but they also help build and bulk muscles. I tend not to go more than 5 pounds when using weights to build muscle. This is for me, and others may disagree for their body. Pilates and yoga help to elongate and stretch these muscles so they don't get bulky. Pilates also helps create a body awareness and correct posture so that cardio and weight lifting is more beneficial. Seems like a lot of information and time. I think finding an hour a day is possible to workout. It is still hard (believe me I know), but 1/2 hour Pilates/yoga and 1/2 hour cardio and weights.
I am definitely feeling better this week and the sweatshirt is back in the closet, but those cute summer dresses will soon be coming out... let the panic begin.
Lunges with Springs (using the Pilates Tower and Box but this can also be done at home with a step and weights (about 5 pounds)
- With Springs in hands face tower and push back for resistance, place box behind you with ball of right foot in its center
- Bend back knee so that knee is inline with floor
- Front leg is firmly pressed to floor, pushing through heel, bend and straighten front leg
- Use abdominals (of course), and try to keep back straight
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