Flu and Guilty Feelings

Thursday and Friday I really felt grotty so didn't train

But guilt got the better of me each evening before I climbed into bed.

I would find myself on my bedroom floor in front of the tv doing sit ups, Pilate's and lying legs workout.

Doing that mini 30 mins workout made me cope with the guilt feelings, as I am doing a challenge with my online group were we have to train for at least 30 mins 6x a week and I had already taken Monday as my off day...

So far for January I am on track...and not prepared to fail right at the end.

Today when I woke up to a beautiful blue sky ( but frosty cold ) I decided that today was the day I took my camera and headed out to the forest for a walk...I also needed fresh air as have been indoors since Wednesday.

I put on my HR monitor, got my Ipod ready, camera slung around my neck and out I headed in my warmer running gear up into the forest.

I managed in the beginning but on route the road made a folk and I decided on the spot to take the shorter route as my legs were freezing, my hands wanted to fall off...I was cold. Had I been running it would have been okay, but walking I just never got to warm up. Certain sections of the route I ran slowly as had my camera in my hand....and did feel good...but my HR shot right up so knew that I was not ready to run as yet...

It did feel good to get out a little today, if only for 36 mins...

Let's see what tomorrow ( Sunday ) holds in store for me training wise.

Monday evening I know I am back to teaching my neighbors a class as most cant make it on Wednesday evening this week...my one neighbor is going away on a skiing holiday for a week tomorrow morning early...( Rather her than me, I don't enjoy the cold )

Slower days

I'm trying very hard not to feel guilty about not training yesterday and today

I'm listening to my body and taking time off...

But the guilt keeps creeping in ~x

I woke up yesterday with a sore throat, then started coughing and sneezing.

Today I feel the same, I was hoping to feel better...

If the feeling was in my head I know from research it would be okay for me to train

But the feeling is in my chest...so therefore going to listen!

And REST....

Last night before going to bed the guilt was SO bad that I did 350 sit ups and then legs where I could lie down...for about 30 mins....now is that not crazy.....:)

I keep telling myself that at least I was not doing anything strenuous.

This morning I have been cleaning windows...and doing odds and ends so that I at least don't spend the whole day sitting on my bum in from of the tv or computer...so off I go to clean my bathroom...yes something I do daily, ( toilet, bath and basin ) but today a * Spring Clean * is going to happen...

Thoughts for Feb...

I often walk around my kitchen with my camera...looking for things to photograph...for this blog, for my private blog...just to photograph...so the pics with this entry have no meaning but could be posted on a fitness blog...LOL

I took Monday off and then trained 2x on Tuesday, once in the morning and again last night. Yesterday morning I ran for 35 mins without walking and then to reach one hour I walked for 5 mins and ran for 5 mins......each time upping the incline and speed when I ran...The morning I did 250 abs and when I taught my class the evening I did another 100...so 350 abs were done yesterday....

Tonight I'm going to train the ladies in my area for an hour...am wanting to burn 500 calories and if I dont reach that in the class ( as they are all having to start off slowly ) I will come home and do an indoor cycle till I reach 500 and if I am motivated enough try for 800 calories!!!!

Besides the February challenge I have running with the ladies from my online group I have my own fitness program I am looking into.

I plan I am thinking of is to run on a Tue, Thur, Sat and Sunday

Monday will be a non training day

Tuesday I will run in the morning and teach a class at night

Wednesday morning I will do weight and night time I will train the ladies in my street

Thursday I will run

Friday I will do weight

Sat and Sunday will do longer runs than during the week...

Then its doing 200 abs or more 3x a week

I also need to spend more time after a workout stretching as currently I finish my workout, grab my bag and head out the door...

End of week three

I got a new rug sack for gym and teaching on Saturday.

My other rug sack was all torn and looking very tired....

On Monday night my mobile phone fell out of my rug sack after my lesson and for about an hour hubby and I searched all over trying to retrace my steps trying to find my phone as it was on voicemail so we were not able to call my number to hear from which direction the ringing was coming from...finally found it hidden under my seat, and after we'd both had a look there for it..

So on Saturday Hubby decided no more Mobile scares it was time for me to get a new bag...

And that's what I got...

So this month have gotten a new pair of running shoes and a rug sack

Both with a touch of PINK in them.

I have kept to the Online groups challenge this week of training 6 out of the 7 days.

My eating has been OK...have gone over my daily points allowed every day by about 4, am way into my extra weekly points allowed today.

I do find with clean eating my points are much higher than the low calorie foods I used to eat when I lost my weight nearly two years ago....but Clean Eating is how I chose to eat.

The summery of this week is as follows:

Monday ~ cycled at home for 14.7km ~ 53mins

Tuesday ~ Taught an hours aerobic and toning class

Wednesday ~ Was on off day

Thursday ~ Taught an hours aerobic and toning class

Friday ~ Cycled at home for an hour and did burpies every 10mins for interval training

Saturday ~ Treadmill run ~ 5 mins walk ~ 30 mins run ~ 10 mins walk

Sunday ~ Treadmill run ~ 45 mins run ~ 15 mins walk

Total of 64km

5.51 Hours

3412 Calories

6 Workouts

February's challenge is out for the ladies who are belong to my online group...besides adding a few more tweaks to our training for February we are all going to concentrate not on what we eat, but how we eat... It's going to be a tough one for us all, as everyone I know and myself included eat while on the go...this we are going to change....one meal at a time, one month at a time.

I personally know this is going to be much harder than adding a few more minutes to my workout, or doing 200 sit ups a day etc etc...and quite nervous as I am going to be tested I know...

But a challenge can only be a challenge if it get's you out of your comfort zone...and next months challenge is sure going to do that for myself and all the other ladies.

Start Teaching Today :)

Popping in today to say....I START TEACHING AGAIN THIS WEEK,....

Back to the routine of driving the 30 mins to the other town's sports hall to teach groups of German ladies...In English...

I qualified in Dance during my 18th year...then opened my own studio and taught Modern Dance classes ~ at the age of 27 I was asked if I wanted to qualify as an Aerobic Instructor, a new gym that had just opened, the first of its kind in South Africa and needed Instructors. I jumped at the chance...Did the 6 months course and got myself qualified and started my teaching career...My youngest was 2 when I qualified in Aerobics and she is 24 years old today....so its been 22 years in the fitness industry for me. I qualified in Dance when my eldest was 2 and she is now 34...so thats 32 years that I have been in the teaching profession. How the years add up....scary indeed.

I'm qualified in Dance, Competitive Sports Aerobics, Step Aerobics, High Impact Aerobics, Power Boxing, Pilate's Ball, Spinning, Weights, Power Pump, Dance Aerobics, Low Impact and Pilate's...Now I want to get myself qualified in Zumba and planning on doing the course this year....

Well thats me in a nutshell.

The start of week 3

Week three has began...today wanted to run outdoors to the Castle as thought it would be warmer but it was minus one degrees so decided against running and cycled at home instead. First I did 200 sit ups, then one set ( 10-12 reps ) of burpies, lunges forward, backwards and sideways, triceps dips and push ups. Once that was done I cycled while watching morning TV channel.

Climbing up and down the stairs today I can feel that the muscles in my legs have been worked...been a long time since I did any kind of lunges ~ think October..so guess who is going to be very stiff as this week I start teaching and will be adding lots of toning to my hours class....but have to get going to get myself back to where I was before I went on holiday..fitness wise I can feel a huge improvement...now its getting the muscles back.

While in South Africa I ran out of my usual 5HTP so bought Natural High as it has 5HTP, St John's Wort and a few other things in to lift one's spirit when your feeling down in the dumps. These pills have kicked in as I am feeling so much happier compared to when I arrived back a month ago...taken me a month but now can safely say those down in the dumps feelings are gone and I am filled with the JOY of life again...even this miserable weather cant get to me..summer is around the corner and I look forward to that now.

I cant buy Naturally High in Germany as its a South African product but have ordered my usual 5HTP and this time adding St John's Wort to my list...the combination has been good for me.

I'm reading a book about running that I got before I left for my holiday from my blogger friend who lives in Munich, didn't have the time to read the book when I got it, but now am reading it daily and finding lots of info between the pages for me.

One thing I have seen with reading this book is the following

I run cause I love the feeling it gives me

I run to keep my weight down

I run cause after years and years of telling myself I hated it, I actually have found that I love it...:)

I have no desire to run a race, a marathon, run faster than someone else....

I think its important to know what kind of runner you are as reading other runner's blogs can make you doubt yourself....I have finally seen where I fit in when it comes to running.....and happy with that.

Week Two Of January

Two weeks are now gone off the January online group challenge

We are all going into week no 3 ~ Today also is day 15

So far I have kept to the challenge by doing 30 mins a day, 6x a week

I added an extra 15 mins to my week 2 and 100 abs.

I kept to the extra 15 mins BUT only did abs 3x this week ( bad I know )

The first photo with this entry was taken on Saturday morning when Hubby and I were off to gym..

Proof that I am working out :)

The other two photo's I took to show you the coffee I am loving and managing to drink without sugar..

I have this cappuccino when I wake as it has a sweeter taste

Then I have the brands normal coffee at lunch time

and the decaf coffee late afternoon

I know...too much coffee, I put it down to the weather...

During summer months one cup is all I need...

I am also working on getting in 8 glasses of water daily

Have not managed that once, the most has been 6 glasses, again I put it down to the weather as in summer I can drink a lot more than 8 glasses a day.

An update of my last week...~

Monday did 30 mins on Elliptical and 20 mins on treadmill ~ 12.7km

Tuesday ran on treadmill for 50 mins ~ 7km

Wednesday was my one day off

Thursday I cycled at home for 45 mins ~ 21.5km

Friday I ran outdoors as weather was great for 31 mins ~ 5km

Saturday I did an interval workout on the Predor machine for 30 mins ~5km

Then ran on treadmill for 20 mins ~ 3km

Sunday did the normal Elliptical for 56 mins ~ 19.66km

Total of 74km this week

4hrs46 mins I workout out

3645 calories I burned

Did 6 workouts

I have already got the online groups February challenge ready....waiting till it gets closer to Feb to share it with them and here on my blog...remember its not too late to join the group...most of the members say that knowing they belong to the group and that everyone is making an effort to keep up with the challenge motivates them to as well...it sure does keep me motivated as well...

Road Runner...ME!

Today is the 14th day on my January group's online challenge

I'm so excited being back at daily training after being off all training for a while.

I want to remind myself and all my readers that training helps one when you are feeling down, heart sore or slightly depressed.

I returned to Germany feeling so sad....

I lost the feeling of life

I was terrible to have around...

My family were so worried about me...
I was worried about me.

Getting back into my training again has changed all that for me...

I'm feeling my happy self again...shew...thankfully...

Training and me will never take such a long break again!!

No matter what the Dr says...:)

Today was such a great training day for me...

I got to run outdoors after 4 weeks of not being able to run and two weeks back at gym...

The weather is a lot warmer now compared to the usual January temps so this morning decided to make the most of it...to get out and see how I felt on the road again ...

I did 5km in 32 mins and burned 500 calories..so a great training day..

I have spent the last two weeks working towards running 5km without walking in between and today I did just that..........Victory!!

My fave workout song right now...

Start Of Week Two Of Challenge

Week Two on the January Challenge and All going to plan.

Today I got to gym a little later than usual as I got stuck in front of my computer reading everyone on my groups blog entry after the weekend, and left a comment.

It's really great that everyone is being so dedicated to this challenge, keeps me motivated as well to stick to it...and now planning for February's challenge for the ladies.

Losing weight is the main reason the women have joined my group

Most train but as its the New Year we all needed something to give us that push to get going again and from the response on group its working.

Today I went to gym at minus 3.5 degrees, very icy outdoors.

The gym was once again all smelly and closed up...not one window open which I find so hard when training as I sweat so much it becomes very uncomfortable.

Did 30 mins on the Elliptical as I planned

Then added the extra 15 mins I have set out for myself by running on the treadmill for 15 mins without walking in between like I did last week.

Oh yes, I also did 200 sit ups as this week I intend to do at least 100 daily.

Tomorrow its my treadmill day....

Want to try get out earlier tomorrow morning as the whole day is over if I only get going to gym at 11pm, then shower and have lunch...cant get much done after that and I still have my daughter here with me till Thursday so want to get out and about with her before she leaves.

Tomorrow I plan to run..

Walk One minute, run 5, for 45 mins...

First Week On Challenge

The first photo was taken of me the day before I left Cape Town...Note the summer outfit I am wearing, not possibly could this photo have been taken now in freezing cold Germany!!

I love this photo as I was putting some lip gloss on, my little granddaughter was lying in front of me on the bed while my daughter picked up my camera and captured this shot...I love it!

Okay now back to business :)

First of all...I had my run/stride tested yesterday in Cologne and was told my feet are neutral, so no problems there...I was lead to believe that there might be a problem with my one foot due to the IT band problem I was * meant * to be having, reason I lay off training for so long.

Hubby bought me a new pair of running shoes...a pair that was suggested for me after having my feet/stride tested by the sales consultant who helped us.

And note...the color...not chosen by me but by him and I love it!!

PINK and white...

The first week of my online group's challenge is now behind me...I did find getting back to training a huge struggle, with my fitness level as it has suffered with me not training due to the holiday and then being told to take off...but today I felt good and could feel that I will be back very soon to the level I was before I slowed down. I have decided to add no pressure to myself on reaching this goal, but to do what I feel is the right thing for me right now and that is to stick with doing cardio for the month of January.

My training this week was :

Monday ~ Ran for 6km in 43 mins

Tuesday ~ Elliptical for 10.7km in 30 mins

Wednesday ~ Cycled for 11.7km in 30 mins and did 25o Ab workout

Thursday ~ Ran for 6.72km in 53 mins

Friday ~ Elliptical for 10.5km in 30 mins and 150 Ab workout

Saturday ~ One day a week off ( walked around Koln )

Sunday ~ Interval running for 8km in 55 mins

Total of 54 kilometers for this week.

Stuck to goal of Run, Elliptical and one cycle per week.
This week my goals are as follows.

I am going to continue with the cardio as planned but am going to add 15 extra minutes of cardio to my 30 mins goal this week.

I will do 100 Ab workout daily

I will continue to count my points but now adding the calorie counting as well for the month of January...

I have 29 points a day and 1 400 calories per day....

My goal is to lose 5kg's...in what every length of time it takes me....so making sure I stay accountable from my side and my body has to do the rest.