WOW!!!!

YES, YES, YES--my Tanita Calorie Jump skipping rope was delivered just as I was getting ready to go out to the park to start my routine. Since it has started to rain I decided to skip up and down the little back road that we live on (park too muddy). Today I managed to amuse 4 junior high school boys who were giggling and laughing as I elegantly skipped to and fro on the road. First they goaded each other into clapping as I went by, but none of them was brave enough--it was all talk. On the 3rd leg past them one of them got a skipping rope out of his school bag (I guess everyone carries one around??!!!) and as I went past he proceeded to do a very short series of fast jumps. And then went back under shelter until the next time I came by. When I smiled at them you would have thought they were a gaggle of geese. Very cute.

But, I don't think that was the reason that this particular session WHIZZED by. With my new counter skipping rope I just went up and down the road and before I knew it I had done 750! I now see what Tracey means. It was so unbelievably good I can't wait until to morrow to skip again. I think I was tiring myself out counting, and not enjoying the movement. I also think that the longer rope was better. Maybe that is why I have been tripping up--my rope was too short perhaps. Today was just a revelation.

Then of course we swiftly moved on to the other exercises. All OK. Lots of burn. Focus on form. Changed the way I do lunges for better form. I was alternating legs each time and found that I was all over the place. So I did 13 on one leg, then 13 on the other etc. etc. MUCH, MUCH better form. No pain in my knees, LOTS of pain in my muscles. Not sure if that is OK but it works for me and gone is the excruciating pain in my knees.

The rest of the exercises all went OK. Lots of sweat, and lots of muscle failure.  I apologise for turning the aircon on, but it is very humid with the rain. Turned it off immediately after I had finished working out. I'll just turn more lights off in the house to compensate.

For once I am excited about doing it all again tomorrow. Eating all good too. Feel great. Hope that doesn't mean I am doing something wrong!

Maybe incline pull ups would be easier if I weighed less

The number "800" managed to freak me out a bit, especially when I looked at the forthcoming workouts and "1,000" came up. Not sure that we won't be doing "2,000" jumps very soon in the future. So, the thought of 800 PLUS the workout was daunting enough to send me back to bed this morning. Decided I needed to take the only opportunity I will have in the next 2 weeks to rest. Felt better for it.  But also managed to catch up on eating everything I needed to eat today.

I also made some muffins with coconut flour which were d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s.

After putting off the exercise sessions I actually found it relatively OK to do the 800 and then start the rest. It is all in the mind. Only worry though is that I skip in a nearby park which has hard packed dirt on the ground as I figure this is better than concrete or stone. However, it takes me about 2-3 minutes to walk home from the park and not sure if this is too much of a break in the exercise routine before I start the other exercises. Other option is skipping on the road and amusing the neighbours. But that may be too hard on the knees for the long term.

Push ups were hard though. I am also looking forward to the time when my arms will be pulling up less weight in the incline pull ups (due to miraculous weight loss on my part) with the vain hope that that will make them easier. They were tough. Lots of moaning going on. Nothing louder than that as I didn't have the energy. But...... once it was all over I was bouncing around, so that is good.

What a GREAT day!

Did my weekly training session with my personal trainer this morning and then immediately did my 800 skips. It was one of the best skipping experiences I have had to date...... I was down at our local sports club and the grass at the side of the astroturf pitch was just being mown. What I discovered today... it is FABULOUS to skip with the smell of freshly mown grass. I kept taking deep, deep breathes. However, I also found out it is not easy to skip on freshly mown grass, so I moved to the astroturf. Best of everything--good skipping, freshly cut grass smell, nice breeze off the ocean. What a fabulous day.

And then to top it all off I got a delivery of a huge bouquet of flowers from my husband to congratulate me on achieving 14 days of PCP. I am in heaven!

I feel good! But hate lunges

Tried skipping in the garage but it was the most excruciating 100 jumps that I have ever done. Got fed up and went up and down the road outside our house. Still find moving forward whilst I skip much easier. Up the road 100 skips, then back 100. My neighbour was a bit surprised to see me.

Food going really well. Have been steaming up a storm and have plenty of choice each meal.

Only problem I have had the past couple of days is not enough time in the day to eat all 3 snacks, so have only been able to manage two out of three.

Feeling good and looking a lot better, or at least so people around me are telling me. No cravings for alcohol at all. Did have a pang of regret last Friday when I bought naan bread for the kids on the way home and they were eating it in the car.... oh my that smelt yummy. No gluten sucks.

Other than that all OK! Apart from the fact that I loathe lunges and they make my knees hurt.

Getting ready to have some fruit and then an early night.

Tough Day

Tough day today with regards lethargy and basic wimpiness. Once I started the workout it wasn't so bad, but took 50 minutes to complete. Tried a new park for it. Kids caught crayfish whilst I skipped up and down the path. Rocks and leaves a bit of a pain. Even did my push ups on a large sliced granite rock. Had to leave the inclines for home as nothing available to pull myself up on where it wasn't really, really muddy. General feeling of exhaustion and lack of energy to do anything. But when you have active kids and need to get their food as well as yours and keep the busy it all gets a bit more difficult than the weekdays as other people have also mentioned. Everyone in the family had my diet for dinner tonight. But they were great and asked if they eating really healthy food and seemed to get a kick out of that. I've actually also noticed that I am eating more like the children. Very plain, no sauces. Grilled, steamed etc. Bring on Monday!

Will be eating at home before I go to a dinner party tonight

Another day of being tired. Weather in Tokyo this morning not good with lots of rain.... spent the morning debating where I was going to skip. Luckily rain stopped so the whole family was in the park. Once we got back (only a 2 min walk) my youngest daughter helped by counting my reps and timing my rests. Made it all worth it. Still tired. Out tonight but dinner won't be served until 9pm so will eat before we go. For one thing, it is too late, but also I can't chew yet and can't really ask if I can liquidise the Priya tandoori chicken. Also can't guarantee there will be enough veg. Gutted that I will be sitting there watching everyone eat their Priya curries, but will take my fruit snack with me....... Not sure how this is all going to go. Will drive the car so I am not even tempted by alcohol. Strongly questioning now why I said I could go out.

Skipping with kids is GREAT!!!

Had a tough start to the day. Not only tired, but after dental treatment yesterday couldn't chew. So breakfast of liquidized food including carrots and celery just not good. Plus if it is liquidized, seems to make you hungry more quickly. Snack and lunch was also reminiscent of baby food. So was not in a good mood. The kids both said they would come to the park with me and skip this evening. So they skipped and played with airplanes whilst I skipped away. I discovered 1) it just whizzes by when you have distractions, and 2) if I keep moving forward in something between a light jog to a slow pace I am much more fluid and don't trip up as often. For the first time ever I managed to get to 100 without tripping up! Kept going round and round the park. Result! The rest of the workout was a breeze as a result. But I did nearly tip over the drinks on the coffee table when I tried to do my pull-ups. Need a child to sit on it, and no drinks! Aim for tomorrow: take husband AND kids to the park to skip.......