Day 23 of 5am - Stretching

Today, I did a 10 Minute Solutions video with the Stability Ball which included 10 minutes of Lower Body, 10 minutes of Cardio, and 10 minutes of Stretching.  While the idea of doing 10 minute workouts is nice, what I have heard and read is that to really get the burn you want, it is better to do 30 minutes to an hour.  Otherwise your heart rate is not high enough for a long enough period of time to really get that burn.  Maybe once you reach a time where you are just maintaining it might work, I don't know, but for weight loss it is not optimal.  Anyhow, with these videos I link 3 workouts together to get at least 30 minutes.

Ok, so stretching. I could say that it is important, but I'm starting to realize that everything I am telling you is important. Stretching helps with the elasticity of your muscles.  What you need to know about stretching is that it is not a good idea to stretch your muscles without first working them a little.  In the video I watched this morning, the trainer reminded her audience that the muscles need to be warm before you stretch, otherwise you  can wind up injuring yourself.  Maybe this is why I hurt my ribs so many years ago because I was stretching tightened muscles without first warming them up!  Anyways, so as you are doing your workouts, make sure that you are engaging your muscles first before you start stretching them.  Stretching is good to do a little before your major workout of cardio or strength exercises, but I believe it is most important to stretch after your major workout so that you are lengthening those muscles out and also helping you to feel less sore in the long run.

As I mentioned yesterday, I've had some back problems, but today, I feel sooooo much better.  I think it is because of the exercise (and the fact that I had a lot of protein for lunch and dinner).  So I am happy I made the decision to start working out again yesterday.

Oh yes, as I mentioned also in one of my updates on facebook, I will be reading "Seven Pillars of Health" by Don Colbert if anyone would like to join me.  I will probably be including some things that I learn from that in my blogs for the next several weeks.  Can't wait to read it and share with others as well as hear what others are learning from it as they read with me. Hope you all have a great Friday!

Day 22 of 5am - I'm back!

This week has been a rough week.  Last week I had migraines at the end of the week.  This week I threw out my back over the weekend and have been doing what I can to allow it to heal.  I’m not completely healed, but as I mentioned in a previous blog, when you allow your muscles to get weak in your back, you tend to have more back pain.  So I am doing what I can to get back into the routine. 

I did a different workout video today hoping that it would not cause any further pain or injury.  Today I did a workout with Kathy Smith.  It was a strength workout, but as I mentioned before, the trend today seems to be that you add more cardio into your strength so that you are burning the calories and fat while strengthening your muscles.  I definitely felt the workout today.  I took it easy on some of the exercises that could potentially injure my back.  Good workout today.

Saturday Workout and Day 21 of 5am

Saturday I did the BL Last Chance Workout again and today I did BL Cardio Max.  The workouts are definitely getting easier and pushups are not as difficult as when i started.  I can tell that I am getting stronger and I'm starting to notice changes in the way I look.  I don't really have much to add today.  I missed the last two days because my body needed it, but I plan to workout the next three so I at least get 4 days in this week. Praying that my body will cooperate the rest of the week. :)

Day 20 of 5am - Celebrate!

Today I did strength workout.  I took it a little easier today.  Tuesday I overdid it and I believe I may have caused too much injury.  I went back to 20 min workout for today.  I'm feeling good.  Today I am celebrating because I have done 20 days of 5am workouts.  Woohoo!  Now I'm shooting for another 20 days. :)  Goal setting is something that we should all be doing.  That can be worked into your motivation.  Also, it is good to have long term and short term goals.  My goals have been in the past to lose 1-2 lbs per week (short term) and long term 50 lbs in 6 months.  Sound reasonable?  If you don't make it.  Reevaluate and try again.  Don't give up.  If you are not making your short term, try making some changes to what you are doing so that you can succeed.  Oh, and don't forget to write them down!  It makes it hard to make your goals if you don't know what they are. :)

Day 19 of 5am

Today I did Cardio.  I've been noticing that my shins are starting to hurt.  I think it may be time for me to work on finding other exercises that are not as stressful on my legs.  For now, I will just work harder at moving my arms to get my heart rate up and less jumping.  If anyone has any ideas for cardio that are less strenuous on the legs, please send them my way.  I know biking and swimming, but if you have any other ideas, let me know. :)