Shredheads

Back From Vacation, Catching Up

Bill — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:45:18 +0000

Wow, the last week and a half sucked as far as doing good things for my body go.

I managed to Shred only once on vacation, and my eating turned completely disastrous. And while I got back to Shred on Sunday, the eating is still disastrous. Of course I could have posted about it sooner, but that would mean being honest with myself and, well.

Yuck.

Anyway, it looks like my 30 days are going a bit long to catch up with the 4 days missed (I have 1 day left to make it to 30 days)…and then I’m going to figure something out to continue throughout August to help my eating get back on track. I hate how hard this is. This morning and lunchtime were pretty bad, but rather than do the usual “I’m starting tomorrow morning” I’m going to go ahead and restart right now.

I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Days 24, 25, and 26, the Traveling is Hard

Bill — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 10:05:07 +0000

So day 24 was normal (Level 3 she is a killer), but after driving for 9 hours I couldn’t bring myself to do it on day 25. And day 26 was very awkward, trying to fit it in while we’re staying in a tiny beach house with some friends. I did it, but the next few days are going to be spotty.

Tomorrow is going to be extra hard because there are even more people visiting during the day. So…I’ll do what I can and make up for what I miss when I get back.

How is everyone else doing? IS anyone else still going?

Days 21, 22, 23: Level 3, Holy Ow!

Bill — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:50:46 +0000

Well, I guess you could say Level 3 isn’t easier than Level 2. Simply looking at the exercises wouldn’t make you think it’s that hard, but really, the whole way through I’m suffering. And that’s even with modifying some of the moves for my knees! I don’t necessarily feel sore anywhere, it’s just all plain hard.

Interestingly, I don’t have a least favorite exercise here. Each of the three days I had a different one that was the worst. Side plank, walking pushups, and travelling pushups. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

(Days 22 and 23 I also rode 22.2 and 23.8 miles, and will take a week off from riding)

Day 20: Last Day of Level 2!

Bill — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 11:00:03 +0000

Another early workout so I could get in a ride (28.5 miles) later on. I seriously Seriously SERIOUSLY must have been in a different place back when I thought this was kind of a gimme level. The walkout pushups are easy (mostly because there are so few of them), but everything else is so dang hard! I haven’t noticed as much improvement during Level 2 as I did in Level 1, but the past couple of days my shoulders have been really sore for most of the day. I’m hoping that means there’s some muscle growing in there.

I’m looking forward to moving on to Level 3. I can’t remember most of it, so it’s going to be interesting. I need to write it down, too, because we’re going on vacation next week and I’ll have to do it without a TV. We’re staying at a friend’s beach house (with them) and there’s NO WAY I’m going to let her see me working out, so I may have to get creative about how to fit it in the schedule.

But that’s in a few days. For now, it’s time to enjoy my blissful ignorance of what awaits!

Day 19: You’ll Never Regret Working Out

Bill — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:15:33 +0000

So that’s the old saying, right? ”I’ve never regretted doing a workout once I’ve finished,” or something like that.

Well that doesn’t mean I don’t hate every minute of actually doing it. LOL I’m switching to morning (pre-6) Shred now just to get it done, and man does it suck. I feel like I’m 81 instead of 41 in the mornings – everything is stiff (heh), it’s twice as hard (the workout, you perv), and even stretching is more difficult.

BUT, once I’m done at least I’ve got the rest of the day. The only problem is the eating. I sort of feel like I’ve earned eating, and once I get going the snacking sort of snowballs. Gotta watch that.

ONE MORE DAY OF LEVEL 2!

Day 18: Early or late

Bill — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 11:00:15 +0000

This morning’s Shred was early (before 6) so I could get a ride in later (30 miles). It was super hard, and I didn’t feel like I was pushing myself as much as I could have. It wasn’t like I was phoning it in, but it was just kind of blah.

Maybe I was thinking ahead, saving energy for the ride. Or maybe if I did ALL my Shred in the morning first thing I’d get used to it. I might try it for a few days to see if it gets better. It sure was nice to get it OUT OF THE WAY. :)

When do you do your Shred? Is it the ideal time, or are you squeezing it in when you can?

Day 17: More Results

Bill — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:38:26 +0000

It dawned on me while I was stretching after Shred that I can now sit up straight during the stretch where you put both arms behind your back. It sounds dumb, but before I had to either pull my knees together and up, or kind of lean back and let my hands push against the ground. But for the past couple of days I’ve been able to sit straight up and do the stretch like they do (well, sort of).

I also noticed in the grocery store yesterday that it feels like I’m standing up straighter. You wouldn’t really know it from how difficult the ab work remains, but I’m assuming that both of those things are because my abs are getting stronger.

YEEHAW!

Days 14, 15, and 16: What Was I Thinking?

Bill — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:34:17 +0000

Boy, I don’t know what I was thinking before. You know, that whole “Level 2 is easier than Level 1″ thing.

I must have been cheating.

I know I’ve added cycling to my workouts (about 23 miles on both day 14 and 16), but with the exception of the walkout pushups this level is crazy hard. But at least it gives results, right?

I’m feeling stronger, and I think my clothes are fitting a tiny bit better. And for the most part the consistent routine is helping me eat better too. We can just forget the couple of issues I had over the weekend.

Day 13 – Wishing and Wanting

Bill — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:00:03 +0000

While I was doing Shred today, I let my mind wander. Or maybe I was hypnotized by Jillian’s boobs-a-bouncing, I’m not sure. But I was wondering about the switch that got switched. You know, the one that got me back on track both eating- and exercise-wise?

I don’t know what triggered it…I never do. Yet another thing that would make me a billionaire if I could figure it out. I know people say you have to fix underlying issues and all of that, but I really don’t feel like I have anything major to fix. Or maybe it’s EVERYTHING that I need to fix, since anything that comes up – stress, anger, happiness, love, hate – makes me want to eat. I don’t know.

I guess I just get tired of being out of control, and wishing I could eat right, see results, and all that. So I changed my wishes into wants. Don’t wish for something, want it. Does that makes sense? I don’t wish I could eat right, I want to eat right. I don’t wish I could see results, I want to see results.

And somehow that’s making a difference.

But I still hate those dang v-fly things.

—

Note, I wrote this just before Julia left her comment in yesterday’s post and it’s a little weird how related it is. If you have a minute, head on over and give her some encouragement…she could use some.

Day 12 – Try Not to Look at Jillian’s Boobs

Bill — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 11:50:01 +0000

Holy moly, I’d forgotten how much Jillian’s boobs like to dance around in Level 2!

Those distractions aside, I’m enjoying this level more than I did way back when. And by “enjoying,” I mean it’s working me harder, way harder, than I remember. I’m having to modify the v-fly things by doing a few reps single-armed, and the squats and lunges are also really difficult.

And yes, I feel like I’m gargling my heart during the twisty jump things.

It’s not helping (or it IS helping, I guess) that I did it after a 22.6 mile ride that was really hilly. Results, baby, I want results!