Week 8: Day 2

Instead of doing any work outs today, I took a rest day. Taking a rest day sometimes is ok...maybe I need to learn how to incorporate a once a week thing into my schedule somehow.

I saw a few commercials and one episode of this show called Thintervention with Jackie Warner as the "star" personal trainer. she used to have this docu-drama reality show called "Work Out" on Bravo TV where she owned a gym, was a personal trainer there and had other personal trainers working with clients, but the show got cancelled for various reasons. she made a comback with a new show.

I think I got used to her with her short hair from the old show that I think she's more attractive with short hair than long hair and I'm not gay or anything like that. Also, I like the "Work Out" show better than Thintervention, but probably because it had more drama. I have to get used to her new look and new show, but i think i should watch her new show for work out ideas.

While we're on the topic of weight loss reality shows and work out ideas, I think I missed the first episode of the The Biggest Loser? I liked the show before, but it seems that I don't care about it anymore? I liked watching that show for some work out ideas too, but what is happening to me?

My fascination/interest shifted to "Top Chef" and "Top Chef Just Desserts", mainly because i've come to really enjoy food photography even though these shows don't interfere with Thintervention or The Biggest Loser because they don't air at the same time. Or maybe I'm just overwhelmed with the amount of tv shows that I have some interest in watching? Top Chef just finished the season, so now Top Chef Just Desserts is now airing. The Apprentice, The Biggest Loser, and Thintervention (all of which I have some interest in watching) are all in season now. The Amazing Race (another show I have an interest watching) aired the season premier over the weekend. I'm overwhelmed because I rarely watch more than two or three shows per week. I think I'm getting headeache from all of this...

Week 8: Day 1

strength training:

• yoga (@ 12pm) = 1 hour

cardio:

• karate = 2 hours
• first (beginners) class = 7pm to 8pm
• second (intermediate) class = 8pm to 9pm

It was so warm tonight, I don't know how I managed not to have buckets and gallons of sweat in Karate training. Granted, we did have the AC running, but it didn't feel strong enough. I sweated enough, but it didn't seem a lot compared to the amount of sweat I came up with before in Karate training. And I did drink over one gallon of water. Maybe I just wasn't trying hard enough?

I'm so over with this blast of heat. I think we broke the record temperatures and reached 117 degrees weather in the L.A. suburbs. I can imagine it was worse in the desert if we got 117 degrees.

Week 7: Day 7

cardio:

• trail/road run (@ 7:15am) = 4.2 miles, time = 43:44, pace @ 10:25

Total weekly mileage: 6.73
Total monthly mileage: 49.68
Total shoe mileage: 399.07

I think I should have gone earlier (like at 6:30am) for a run. It got warmer as time went on during my run and I think the weather would have been ok had I finished running by 7:30am because I left earlier. Sunrise is at 6:50am or something like that, but it was actually still nicely lit up at 6:30am so I wouldn't have worried about getting run over in the dark. Luckily, it wasn't humid, but it was just hard to run in 65+ degrees (in which felt like 70+) temperatures.

Even though it was warm during my run this morning, I'm starting to feel normal about running again where I'm not running slower than 10:30 minutes per mile.

Week 7: Day 6

cardio:

• karate = 1 hour

I didn't go to first class of karate training. I was doing some volunteer work and just finished it at 12pm, so I was only able to go the second class.

Man, today is hot! Autumn just started a few days ago, but since we had a delayed season (summer), all the hot weather is popping up now. It's good for swimming in the pool or at the beach, but it's not fun when you have to do something like karate training. I enjoyed the summer we had this year since it was unusually cooler than average, but the heat was a reminder that it wasn't just go away without making an appearance!

Week 7: Day 4

strength training:

• lower body (@ 7:30am)
• forward lunges = 2 sets x 15 reps x 30lbs
• reverse lunges = 2 sets x 15 reps x 30lbs
• wall sits = 2 sets x 1 min hold
• hip aDductions = 2 sets x 15 reps x 160lbs
• hip aBductions = 2 sets x 15 reps x 160lbs
• calf extensions = 2 sets x 15 reps x 140lbs
• (2) leg presses = 1 set x 15 reps x 330lbs
• (1) leg presses = 1 set x 15 reps x 165lbs
• leg curls = 2 sets x 15 reps x 75lbs
• leg extensions = 2 sets x 15 reps x 65lbs

cardio:

• turbo kickboxing = 1 hour

I'm not as sore as I thought I would be, considering how hardcore the work out was from last night, but my shoulders, legs and abs are slightly tired and sore. I can feel the soreness and tiredness when there is a direct involvement and I'm actually using these muscles for something. In the last five minutes of turbo kickboxing, the teacher made us do some abs work out. pppttt! I probably did 1/3 of the exercises because I was sore and tired.

Week 7: Day 3

strength training:

• upper body (@ 7:45am)
• chair dips = 2 sets x 15 reps
• bicep curls on bosu ball = 2 sets x 15 reps x 15lbs
• elevated regular push ups w/feet on bosu ball = 1 set x 10 reps
• wrist curls = 2 sets x 15 reps x 15lbs
• elevated wide push ups w/feet on bosu ball = 1 set x 10 reps
• alternating lateral raises = 2 sets x 15 reps x 45lbs
• alternating reverse curls = 2 sets x 15 reps x 54lbs
• seated rows = 1 set x 15 reps x 117lbs
• seated rows = 1 set x 15 reps x 130lbs
• alternating rear deltoids = 2 sets x 15 reps x 55lbs
• chest flies = 2 sets x 15 reps x 15 reps x 55lbs
• lat pulldowns = 2 sets x 15 reps x 86lbs

cardio:

• karate = 2 hours
• first (beginners) class = 7pm to 8pm
• second (intermediate) class = 8pm to 9pm

Someday, I'll learn to go to sleep "early" (10 to 10:30pm) like a normal person. I like doing morning work outs because I can get it out of the way without making up excuses and I feel most motivated in the morning, but it's hard to wake up early for a morning work out when I go to bed late and it's even harder when it's overcast outside. I also like to feel rested when I work out.

In the second class of karate training, we did a lot of "football drills" and P90x stuff. It wasn't just a portion of the class, it was during the entire hour of the class. To a lot of people who don't train in martial arts, may think it's weird that we're doing something that doesn't look like martial art, but whatever we did, would certainly help. I don't know if I should call that cardio...circuit training maybe? I don't know, but my shoulders will be sore tomorrow. Maybe something else too.

Week 7: Day 2

cardio:

• trail run (@ 7am) = 2.53 miles, time = 26:00, pace @ 10:17

strength training:

• lower body + abs/back @ 8am
• alternating forward lunges = 2 sets x 15 reps x 30lbs
• jack knives on bosu ball = 2 sets x 20 reps
• crunches on bosu ball = 2 sets x 20 reps
• alternating reverse lunges = 2 sets x 15 reps x 30lbs
• wall sits = 2 sets x 1 min hold
• alternating side bends = 2 sets x 15 reps x 30lbs
• hip aDductions = 2 sets x 15 reps x 160lbs
• hip aBductions = 2 sets x 15 reps x 160lbs
• calf extensions = 2 sets x 15 reps x 140lbs
• (2) leg extensions = 1 set x 15 reps x 60lbs
• back extensions = 2 sets x 15 reps x 100lbs
• (1) leg extensions = 1 set x 15 reps x 30lbs
• leg curls = 2 sets x 15 reps x 75lbs
• leg presses = 2 sets x 15 reps x 320lbs
• hanging leg raises = 2 sets x 20 reps

Cold temperatures and sunny/clear skies makes me more motivated to get out for a run. Muggy and humid weathers is unmotivating and uncomfortable for me. Cold temperatures and cloudy skies make me want to sleep in. It was overcast and cloudy this morning. It was hard to get up with that kind of weather, but I managed to make myself get up and get out for a run.