Low Impact My...

As I mentioned yesterday, I am doing this 31 day fitness challenge. It is from "Thrillist" which sends out daily emails about restaurants and things to do in your city, etc. I'm probably a few years older than their major demographic, but I saw this fitness challenge and it said I didn't need to join a gym or buy any special equipment so I thought I'd give it a try.

Yesterday went well. Today, which is only day 2, was a bit more of a challenge. They called it "low impact lower body work." Well, maybe it's low impact if you are a 20 or 30-something who just happened to drink too much during the holidays and have worked out more recently than in the past 6 months. It was a circuit of 6 exercises that you were supposed to do for 45 seconds each, resting 15 seconds between the exercises and then a full minute after you completed the 6. You did this 4 times and the workout would take about a half an hour. The first exercise was "prisoner squats" where you put your hands behind your head while you squat. While I could do these with relative ease, it certainly got my heart rate going. Next was alternate lunges, which I could also do. Then I was supposed to plank for 45 seconds. Considering I only did it for 20 seconds yesterday, I figured I may skip this one and just double up on one of the other ones. Next one was standing on one leg for 45 seconds with your leg out behind you and your opposite arm stuck out straight. I used to have EXCELLENT balance. This one hurt. Luckily I stood closer to a wall so when I started to teeter, I could hold on and push myself back up. I was embarrassed, but since no one saw me but the cats, I guess it's ok. Next was something called "bird dog" where I was on my hands and knees and lifted opposite arm/leg outstretched ahead or behind me. I don't have carpets in my apartment, or a yoga mat so this one was incredibly painful and hard on my knees. I did it for about 20 seconds and gave up in favor of a stretch until I do it next time with a towel (or three) beneath me. Then was the oblique work. From the picture, I was supposed to sit down with my knees raised, feet on the floor and move back and forth with my elbows bent. Again, this was difficult because apparently I can't sit on the floor with my knees bent slightly and feet on the floor. But I pushed through.  

I made it through the workout. The planking was replaced with a stretch where I am trying to reach my toes (I figure by the end of the 31 days I can do it), and the bird dog was replaced with another stretch, but the other ones I did and completed the circuit 4 times. I was out of breath and a bit discouraged. I glanced at what they have planned for tomorrow and I'm not sure I'll be able to do it. 

I'm not a quitter however, and I will attempt to do my best each day with this challenge. I may have to improvise from time to time or replace ones I can't do with ones I can, but I will do my best. That's all I can ask of myself, especially since I've really not done any exercise for a long time. 

Every journey begins with a small step

I am out of shape. Badly out of shape. I will admit that I'm not as active as should be and without a job to go to, I have become more sedentary than I would like. Not that I moved that much at work, but at least walks to the bathroom or the break room to get more water or getting up to help out a co-worker got me out of my chair.

Yes, when I moved back to Chicago I moved a lot of things and built some furniture from Ikea, and did lots of trips up and down the stairs, all of which are good, but it wasn't consistent. Also I've always enjoyed food and since I love cooking for others during the holidays, the rich meals and many desserts have taken it's toll.

So this morning, as part of my New Year's Resolutions and my goal to get on a horse AND run a 5k, I started a 31 day fitness challenge. I started out with a 20 minute walk. Which was actually probably more like 25 minutes with travel time across the street to the park and back. I was glad we are in the low 40's in Chicago so I could walk outside with relative ease...no ice to slip on and no sub-zero temps to tempt me to stay inside. I walked 1.2 miles in that time. Not bad, at least it's a start.

Then I did the "base" challenges. I did 34 squats in 1 minute. I did 10 (girl) push-ups in 1 minute, and I planked for 20 seconds. Supposedly by the end of the 31 days these numbers will improve.

Then I did 10 minutes of stretching. My muscles are already screaming at me, and my cats think I have gone nuts, but they put a smile on my face. The Shmoo even thought he might help with a couple of stretches.

As Ellie's dad tells her in Contact "Small moves, Ellie, small moves."

OUCH!

I didn't write yesterday...I was too exhausted. I went from just walking around the office and to and from my car to walking almost 3 miles yesterday. We live in a very hilly part of Los Angeles. I thought the major hills were in San Francisco but when you haven't walked in awhile, the last .2 of a mile uphill to get home feels like you're walking up Lombard Street.

So when I got home I was tired and sore, but no where near as sore as I am today. My ankles and my calves are screaming at me. Even the top of my feet hurt.

In the long run though, it was good to get some fresh air and exercise and to let someone else do the driving for a change.

I'm also doing squats and planking to help get in better shape. I did that yesterday as well. Today I got to take a break from squats but still held the plank position for 30 seconds. I just hope that when I get out of bed tomorrow morning that my legs will have forgiven me.