Week 5 - February 18-24. Well...I somehow managed to gain back TWO POUNDS of the 5 I've lost so far in my Tuesday Weigh-In. A combination of being a bit lazy over the 4-day weekend combined with making poor food choices took its toll. I'm more determined than EVER to stay on track and keep focused this week - MAKE POSITIVE CHOICES FOR MY BODY, MIND AND SOUL!!!

Wednesday - 4-mile jog with Kona @ Ruston. Took a few solid walking breaks to give the joints a rest from the pavement pounding. Definitely like Pt. Defiance better...but this is a perfect 4-mile out-and-back route. Gorgeous weather!!!

Thursday - Muscle Tone, Spin

Friday - Walked/jogged 5-mile loop at Point Defiance with Ken (not to be confused with Y's Guy - hahaha!) and Kona

Saturday - Rest

Sunday - Walk - 60 minutes at Wright Park with Kona. Tried to make the walk as challenging as possible by charging up the hilly section in repeats.

Monday - 40 minute brisk walk with Kona

Tuesday - Muscle Tone, Spin

Okay...it's time for me to get some swimming in this routine, and start to consistently jog a bit more. I'm feeling like a bit of a slacker this past week really only doing 4 "official" workout days out of 7....

Kendra... They are bringing drum's alive in on Wednesdays at 7:15 and Saturday afternoons starting two weeks from now!!!

How is your intensity levels when working out... are you sweating... getting a little out of breath... are you pushing yourself a little outside of your comfort zone?

Hey, Ken!!

That's AWESOME news!! So...just to confirm what you meant by "starting two weeks from now"....would that be Wednesday, March 4, and Saturday, March 7? Or the following Wednesday, March 11 and Saturday, March 14?

OH MY GOODNESS...The Muscle Tone/Spin days, jogging and swimming are extremely vigorous and push my limits every time. The dog walks are where I'm starting to feel like I can absolutely pick up the pace. Right now I'm mostly strolling - which is why I try to get some hills in because that bumps up my heart rate and I can tell that I'm really working harder, but still being mindful of my joints. So...that just means that I need to change my dog "walks" into more "dog-jogs."

PS...I'm down 3 pounds from my last weigh-in (where I'd gained two). So...a net loss of 3 pounds over 2 weeks. Woo-hoo!!! I know that food shouldn't necessarily be a reward, but I'm going to Sunday Brunch at CI Shenanigans once I hit the 10-pound mark.

Okay...so I'm really going to pick up the pace this week - week 6 - and push hard to the half-way point of the 12-week program. That means that days I "stroll" with the dog are going to be made tougher by either doing a REAL workout in addition to the stroll with Kona, or jogging WITH Kona.

Wednesday - Walk and jog with Kona - 45 minutes
Thursday - Muscle Tone and Spin Class at Y
Friday - Rest
Saturday - Woke up Saturday morning and felt like a weird funk had gotten ahold of me. As the day wore on, and my skin began to ache, I realized I was coming down with FLU!!!
Sunday - FLU!!!
Monday - FLU!!! (home from work)
Tuesday - FLU!!! (home from work)

Excellent observations... Look out... you are sounding like a couple of my intermediate participants now... you might have to bump up your workouts to the next level!

The Drum's Alive will be starting March 4th!!!

It is awesome, I sweated profusely and didn't even realize I was drenched with sweat because it was fun!!!

Are you seeing any obstacles coming up in the near future... this is about the time when all the small things start to become bigger... we need to start getting proactive in tackling the motivation killers and time drainers to keep you on top of your game!

Do you see any obstacles, if so, how can we handle them?

I'm SO SORRY I missed the first Drums Alive class, Ken! I was so looking forward to it. I've had the flu since Saturday, Februay 28, and am JUST NOW starting to feel somewhat normal again. I'm going to try for the class on the 11th or 14th...

K

Okay...all this week I was still fighting the flu, and then the exhaustion that lingers on after the fever, chill, and severe achiness subside.

Wednesday - Flu
Thursday - Flu (walked Kona for about 20 minutes, came back home, and slept for 5 hours)
Friday - Business travel to Portland, still fighting the flu...It has been a WEEK since it started.
Saturday - Resting at home; exhausted. Walking the dog is still very tiring.
Sunday - More rest, still exhausted. Able to walk with Kona a bit longer, but it still wipes me out!!!
Monday - 60 minute walk with Kona at Wright Park, managed to get up a couple of the little hills without feeling too bad. We BOTH were glad to be out longer.
Tuesday - Planning on ONE class at the Y today - either Spin or Muscle Tone - NOT BOTH. NOT YET anyhow... AND...YES!!! Did Muscle Tone with Lisa...and made it through just fine. Well...she kicked my BUTT, of course...she ALWAYS does that!!!

recover fully... it is better not to overdo it and let it come back stronger than before!

All of the fun stuff will still be here for you when you get back. Of course a good sweat might help too, just don't overdo it. When I'm sick a nice trip to the steam room is just what the doctor ordered!

Thanks for the encouragement - AND the reminder that classes will still go on, and be there when I'm better. That said...we'll see you tonight at 7:15!!! I'll actually come early to see if someone can give me a crash course.

Okay...the flu is mostly behind me now!!! I successfully made it through one of Lisa's Muscle Tone classes at lunch on Tuesday, and figured if I can do THAT again, I can do just about anything!! Am waiting for this Thursday to "double up" her class with Spin, though...just wanted to make sure I was almost 100% feeling better. I also want to try the new Drums Alive class....

Wednesday - Drums Alive was fun - even for someone like me that's coordination-challenged! The class was a bit "abbreviated" (starting late, ending early), and the instructors are still working out the kinks and sorting out the moves - but all in all, I think it'll get better and even more fun with time. I also appreciate that you can make it as high/low impact as you want. The only downside is that it's an evening and/or Saturday class, and I'm pretty "set" on being a daytime work-week YMCA user (I work only a block away from the Y). Also...my legs were still tired from the Muscle Tone class (both incorporate a good bit of "squat"ting), and so I'll have to see how tomorrow's Muscle Tone class goes - see if I'm recovered enough for that AND Spin tomorrow....

Thursday - Success - Muscle Tone AND Spin!

Friday - 30 minute walk

Saturday - 60 minute walk

Sunday - 30 minute walk

Monday - 45 minute walk

Tuesday - 90 minutes total: Muscle Tone class and Spin

Did you know that I got a new job a couple weeks ago and can only teach part-time at the YMCA now. I am the new fitness coordinator at Judson Park in Des Moines. I will still be teaching my Weight Circuit class Tuesdays and do the Y's Biggest Winners program at the Morgan Y on Thursdays. Hopefully I will get to a couple of those Drum's Alvie classes on Wednesdays... but for right now I'm swamped! Good Luck and tell me how you liked it!!! I trained with the instructors that are teaching the class now... they were fun too!

Oh poooooo! I thought YOU were going to be the instructor last night!! Congrats on the new gig, Ken!!! That's great!!! Sorry you won't be around the downtown Y as much anymore - I'm sure everyone misses you already. You're still going to be a "Healthy Pals" regular, though, right??

Absolutely... I helped create the idea for Healthy Pals. It is my passion to help as many people as I can. This is an avenue I feel like I can accomplish that passion!