fitn40

Gymming it again

I love fresh starts… and I’m about to embark on yet another one. yet again, I struggle to find the ever-so elusive self discipline but again I will try.

Why bother? I will try again not only because it is an example to my children to try, try, try again but also because I know how good I was feeling before my knee injury. I want to get back there again!

I have weighed in this morning and whilst it isn’t that good that I’m going to reveal the numbers on my blog (are you crazy?) I will say that it isn’t the heaviest I have been in the last 12 months nor is it as depressing as it could be.

Last year before my knee injury I was really getting somewhere. I was getting fit and strong and having a lot more energy. I was really feeling the benefits! So I’ve done it once… I will do it again!

I have joined the gym again.

Now before some of you (like Jacqui) will feel a compulsion to slap me I have to tell you why I have rejoined Contours. Yes, I know I did say it was soft and I wanted to go to a ‘real gym’. Girls, if I offended you then all I can do is to ask for your forgiveness. And yes, you can cyber slap me, just not too hard. :struggle: So I am back at Contours and really enjoying it. I am aiming to go to the gym 4 days a week, possibly on Monday & Tuesday and then again on Thursday & Friday. I will continue to work on the rowing machine after the circuit. I do wish that at some point, I will be getting one of those rowing machines for home, then I’ll be the best shape of my life. They even do Zumba classes now but seeing as how that is an extra fee I won’t be rushing off to wiggle my jiggly bits just yet. They also offer a weekly kickboxing class which I am really keen for but I just want to strengthen my knee a little more before doing that.

But back to my point… why did I go back to Contours after being at a ‘real gym’? Have you ever noticed that each gym seems to have its own emphasis or culture? Well, they do! Contours feels feminine but the emphasis isn’t about getting to the point where you can strut your stuff in lycra. It’s more about being strong and toned and healthy. I’ve been to two gyms in the last 12 months and well, suffice it to say that I haven’t seen silicone where it shouldn’t be whilst at Contours. The other emphasis that Contours has that many other gyms don’t have is that of stretching. We all know that stretching is really important but many gyms don’t breathe this as a culture. In fact, you can feel like a real noob if you want to stretch after a workout. Not so at Contours because it is part of the circuit routine. As women, this is vitally important and a component of my workout that I did miss when I went to a ‘normal’ gym.

I had my biological age testing done. Well, you all know that I’m 40, turning 41 in a few months. I didn’t expect to have a biological age of anything under 45 (due to my health issues) but imagine my disappointment when my bio age came back at 48. Oi voi! I can and will reduce this. I will. (Although I’m not doing the 6 week challenge)

So there you go. I’m back on my Fit n 40 Quest although I am now 40 so will change it to ‘the 40’s’. I want to be fit throughout my 40’s.

Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

Try, try, try again

April 29th 2009 was when I started my Fit n 40 quest. How did I go? Well, I gained strength and fitness so I definitely gained some health. I even managed to play softball again. I went from doing circuit training to lifting heavy weights… and then somehow, somewhere, I managed to do a knee injury. I delayed going to the doctor’s which was really quite silly as my health and fitness started to decline. I went in and had my knee operation and then the long recovery and re- strengthening process began.

True Confession

I’ve not been real well lately – physically and mentally. I’m headed to a dark place where I do not want to go. I’ve been there before and I’m headed there again. Yes, my iron and B12 stores are very low. My cardio fitness is near zero. I have no strength and no motivation for anything. I do not want to go back to that place again. I’ve been very tired lately (iron and B12 deficiency kicking in) and not pleasurable company. I’ve been stressing over every thing yet not able to be proactive about the things causing me stress.I do not want to go back to that place again.

I’ve been planning to do a fitness program at home but it’s getting cold and we don’t have room and… and … and … well, you get the idea. It’s all too hard. Finances have prevented me from going back to the gym. But I know that my mental state is connected to my physical state. I can work on the mental state but unless I also work on my physical state I am fighting an uphill battle. This, I have learned through experience. Another thing I know about myself is that I am not likely to feel more positive and better as the next few months roll on. I hate cold weather and I feel the cold starting to bite at me and it’s only May. Cold is just another reason for me to stay inside, hibernate and go further down that hill.

Today I made a decision. And I acted upon it. No more procrastinating or reasoning.

I joined the gym again!

I start tomorrow. I know I’ll have to manage my knee properly and I realise that I can’t just pick up where I left off (speaking as to the state of my fitness) but I am going to start at the beginning again. I have to. For me. For my man. For my children. For my home. For God, so that I can serve others to His glory.

It’s a long road back again… B12 injections, iron supplements, vitamin/mineral tablets, water intake and food intake but I am determined to get healthy, fit and strong again. Hey, I did it once I can do it again. Right?

How hard am I working?

Heart rate monitor for under $50

Working too hard. Yup, that was me. I felt like I have been putting in so much hard work and effort and was yielding nothing in the form of increased fitness or weight loss. Well, after doing a little more reading I think I have discovered why. Simply put, I was overworking! See I think that I have to put in maximum effort in order to get a result. Problem is, this maximum effort usually sees me very tired for the rest of the week- which is counter productive. Whilst re-reading Crunch Time I read about the use of a heart rate monitor. Well, on the weekend John bought me one and we sat down to figure out my Maximum Heart Rate and what I need to be working at in order to burn fat.

My MaximumHeartRate (MHR) is 180. My minimum fat burning rate rate is approx 117 and my highest/best heart rate during exercise is 158. I had been heading up into the very high 100’s…as in 180 – 190. This does in fact burn calories but not fat stores. So in all my work I was working against my goals.

Today I did a Billy Blanks Bootcamp session (DVD) and was surprised to know that I did in fact reach my MHR. It was tiring and sore but I was not at the same point that I had been previously. TaeBo is a form of HIIT as well as strength training so it’s a good workout.

Do you use a heart rate monitor? How do you use it?

The other thing I’m trying to develop is my thinking. Yes, I certainly am free to eat that one (but really, who can stop at just one?) delicious Subway cookie but I need to be prepared to workout for a good 30min just to burn off the cookie! So if I workout I won’t even be burning fat, just the cookie. Is it worth it? Sure I am free to eat it…but is it worth it? This is the kind of thinking I’m trying to develop. It should come easy to me for teaching my own children about making wise choices and choosing consequnces is what we spend quite some time on- so why am I finding it so hard?

Exercising my Options

OPTION: noun
1) The power of choosing; the right of choice or election.
2) The power of wishing.
3) Choice; election; preference.

Exercising my options…if only that it what I had been doing… really. We all make choices in life. We all live with the consequences of those choices. It’s a principle that I try to teach my children and I thought I lived by.

Wrong! Or rather it’s true…but only with some things. Not with the hard things.

I have two boys at home. Master J is currently 14 and Master C is 11yo, nearly 12. I tell you, it’s tough being a homeschool mum to these two rambunctious fellows. And I thought it was tough with girls…but this is stretching me in other ways- previously untouched by homeschooling the girls. Doing the hard things, going the extra mile, giving a little bit more, perseverance, diligence…these are all traits that all people do well to practice but the way I need to teach it to my girls is quite different to the way I teach it to the boys. Homeschooling is like getting a mirror and holding it up to see myself. I see all the bumps, cracks and crevices, the warts, the pimples, laughter lines and worry lines. I don’t believe any parent can embrace the homeschooling lifestyle and remain untouched or unchallenged!

I love my cup of tea in the morning. It isn’t an option for me. It is what I do. Always. I have 2 cups of tea and then a milk coffee. It has been non negotiable. I didn’t even really think about it…just did it.

I love my daily computer time. It isn’t an option. It’s just what I do. It’s non negotiable…I just do it.

There are some things in life that I do which are not healthy…the fruits of which are not strength, life, joy, peace. So why do I do them? Why have I made them non negotiable?

I don’t like exercise. I don’t like to sweat. I do not like to drink water. These were all options. I could exercise but I choose not to. I can drink water but I prefer not to. Why? Where will these choices or options get me? Why or when did I make exercise an option, that I could choose to do or choose not to? Why was it not a priority for me?

It was easy for me, as a homeschooler, to let go of my athletic nature. Many years ago, I attended a beautiful homeschool fellowship evening, where mums shared and encouraged each other. It was lovely. The leader of the group was quite academic with a strong focus on literature, the humanities and the arts. Nothing wrong with that though. She stated that she considered it more important for a child to be able to recite poetry than to compete in a sport or be athletic. Ackkkk! Our family was the complete opposite- driven by our sport and fuelled by our love of exercise, this comment stuck with me. I’m embarrassed to admit that it stayed with me and I allowed it to shape my own view for many years. Sadly, I allowed an imbalance to take place in our family and in my own life. And I was reaping the fruit of it- bitter, sharp and biting in the form of thrombophlebitis.

I would make excuses like, I don’t have time. I have to teach 4 children, prepare meals, do laundry, etc but the truth is we all have 1,440 minutes in a day. We choose how to spend that time. My sons were a mirror that allowed me to see what I had become and what modelling for them. And I was not pleased with my reflection! I saw a woman who did not like to do hard things…who preferred to take tasks or activities that I knew would be natural or easy for me. I showed no guts, no determination and very little perseverance. How can I teach these growing young men these traits when my life modelled the exact opposite? Ugh what a reality check!

Was I lazy? No, I wouldn’t say that. I simply didn’t understand how it is possible to find the time to build a healthy and strong body. I wasn’t looking ahead to see where my inactivity would lead me. Thrombophlebitis put a little bit of healthy fear in me. When I look at it I only need about 4 hours per week to build a healthy body! How hard is that? Well, in reality it is a little more than 4 hours simply because I need lots of time to focus. Focusing and researching assists me in making something a priority– whether it be homeschooling, website building, gardening, writing, softball, nutrition or fitness. However, 4 hours would be a better start than no hours at all! Hmm, where would I find those 4 hours? Less TV, less computer, less coffee drinking…the list goes on.

First, I had to make the quest (my Fit n 40 quest) a priority. This means that exercise is now not an option! it’s non negotiable. It’s not an option now. It’s just something that I do. Only this non-option is actually good for me! Do I feel like sitting down to check my emails this morning or do I feel like working out? I DON”T FEEL LIKE WORKING OUT! Not one bit! But, I do want the benefit of it. So, I have a plan, which helps me not to get too bogged down with indecision or procrastination, which will invariably lead to me doing nothing. (Remember the 6 P’s: Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Poor Performance)

Make the decision.
Prioritise and make exercise non negotiable.
Plan my exercise and nutrition to avoid procrastination.

This is only week 4 for me…so I hope I don’t sound like I’m preachy. I’m not. But I am excited about the changes that I’ve seen happen in my own body and life…and in the life of my children! Whoohoo, talk about positive! we are all learning more about self control, self discipline, dying to the flesh and more! I also realised that this concept of options and choices can relate to any area of our life. We all make choices. We all have things which are optional and non option in our daily lives.

What are some of your non optional activities? Why do you have them and how do they work for you? I’d love to hear more.

Exercise Week: Mon 18th – Sun 24th

Monday
AM – Hard HIIT session on bike for 20 min
PM – Upper Body workout with free weights

Tuesday
Rest (Funeral)

Wednesday
AM – 20min HIIT treadmill I HATE that machine! 2.0km in 20min pftttt! LOL
PM – Lower Body & Abs Workout

Thursday
Rest: Busy day out and about. Went to the theatre (Phantom of the Opera) at night. Didn’t eat enough nor drink any water.

Friday
Upper Body Workout, including 5 min cardio warmup

Saturday Free Day
Out and about with hubby…getting new tyres, etc. Also prepared clothes for his trip. Cooked huge meal (Spaghetti Bolognese) and had a house full. Today was my Free Day.
Sunday
Saw hubby off for 2 weeks. Cleaned the house.

Notes
Exercise was harder in intensity this week but also scattered, due to life situations. Ideally I don’t want to do two workouts per day on day one and then nothing on day two…but I’m a work in progress. SO long as I’m doing something it is better than nothing!

Hmm, have noticed that I drink at least 1.2 litres of water on the days that I train. There’s something in that eh?

Whoohoo! 5 workouts done. 1 workout past target.

My Epiphany on Non Negotiables

I am buzzing!

Monday morning I was feeling down after jumping on the scales. I know I don’t like the scales and I don’t even do a weigh in on Monday so why did I even jump on them? That was dumb. Since then, I’ve had an epiphany of sorts, sparked by online conversations with a friend. I enable myself to fail. I allow myself to treat me badly. For some reason, I accept that this way is okay.

Even working out I have been way too soft on myself. If I do what I’ve always done, then I’ll get what I’ve always got. Exercising half heartedly is not going to get me where I want to be, is it?

Too often I make excuses for myself- in the physical and the emotional, which crosses over to real life:

Oh, I can’t coach softball this year
I’m a homeschool mum with a prodigal child- it is too much stress!
I never ‘came back’ from the knee reconstruction so I have to be careful.
I had an altering surgery 10 years ago which totally affected me…therefore I can’t exercise???
I don’t like to sweat
I don’t like to drink water
I don’t like to get puffed

Well, frankly there must be a pay-off for me somewhere. Somewhere, somehow, I must like the way I am. If I didn’t I would do something about it! What is my payoff?

I allow myself to make and live in excuses to win.

I changed that this week. When? Well, I weighed in on Monday and got real grumpy. REAL grumpy. But I decided that I can choose to be a victim or not. I can choose to allow scales or tape measures or clothes dictate how I should feel…or not! I decided to hit the bike, HARD. It felt good. Tuesday I had the funeral and it was a hard day in many ways….I got up yesterday morning and decided to hit the treadmill HARD. Nothing soft. I did. I pushed. I was pooped. But afterward I was pumped. I actually pushed myself. Wahoo! Then yesterday afternoon, I did my Lower Body Workout and pushed it. Whoohoo! I was just pumped.

Good news? Yeah I’ve got that too. We’ve decided as a family (minus one) to enter the City to Bay run! I have been trying to encourage my son’s (Master J) fitness for 12 months…but all he’s interested in is looking buff and muscly. But he just doesn’t seem to listen when I talk about cardio fitness. Well, he went to Cadets on Tuesday night and he has volunteered to run in the Fun Run for charity!!! (He’s funny like that- he wants to experience as much as he can so he tends to volunteer for anything and everything) So, we had the most educational day yesterday, talking and planning and learning AND doing. He is now committed to it. This makes me happy because I know how beneficial training of any kind can be. I believe in the power of sport and training. I don’t like much of what I see in sports today but I’m not about to throw it all out. I know that training for softball has been THE best life coach and trainer for both Miss A and myself. Now Master C wants to do the walk so it looks like John, myself, Miss A, Master J and Master C will all be doing it, God willing.

We’ve talked about goal setting and mini goals and one step at a time, etc and planning and all those things. I don’t know what has happened but I feel as though a switch has been turned on, in me.

For some reason now I am not hoping that I will achieve success in this area. I know I will. But it won’t happen just by my wishing it. I have to make it work. Which means getting up off my butt and working it. It isn’t easy. It won’t be easy but do I want it?

High Intensity Interval Training for Homeschool Mums

If you have read any of my Fitn40 posts you would have seen the acronym HIIT. You may have wondered what on earth it is all about. Quite simply, it is short for High Intensity Interval Training– a method of working out. You can see my initial thoughts on it in a previous post.

What is it?
HIIT or High Intensity Interval Training is a form of cardio that involves intervals of varying intensities, with some of those intensities quite high. A typical HIIT session will involve some bursts of “give-it-all-I’ve-got” training followed by periods of lower intensity that allow for active recovery (this means my body can recover somewhat even though I haven’t completely stopped exercising).

Where can I do it?
Anywhere! I can use a machine as in a treadmill, bike, rower, elliptical trainer or other such things or you can do it while walking around the oval, swimming or jogging. I usually use the exercise bike or the treadmill.

When can I/should I do it?
Anytime is a good time! However, some enthusiasts like to do their HIIT workout before breakfast. I can see how beneficial this might be but it’s usually not viable for me at this time. My daughter loves to do a hard HIIT workout after tea. She says she sleeps like a baby that night.

Why should I do it?

The advantages of HIIT training are that I burn more calories in a shorter period of time.
It trains my cardiovascular system to work under a heavier stress load. Strengthening my heart is a good thing!
HIIT boosts my metabolism for up to 18 hours after the session. Whoohoo! This has to be good! So I can lose weight/burn fat while I sit at the computer.
The disadvantage of HIIT is that it is high intensity and therefore requires time to recover. I (along with most other people) can only manage a few (three or four) HIIT sessions per week. HIIT is not beneficial for everyone- especially for those who are on a very restricted calorie intake, which I’m not. It depends upon your needs.
It doesn’t take me too long. I can’t stand the thought of working out for hours (boring!) nor am a delighted at the prospect of training to get fit only to spend hours more time working out. HIIT gives me a solid cardio workout in a short amount of time. In a word: Efficiency.
I’m able to customise my cardio workout to suit my needs. It can be adapted to suit any fitness level according to the individual’s needs and goals. (Um, why wouldn’t a homeschooler go in for that philosophy? 😉 )
It’s about working smarter- not longer.
To be a good role model for my children. This not only encourages them to be fit and healthy but also encourages me and my family members to push through – to not give up.

How do I do it?
The HIIT method that I use is detailed in Body for Life by Bill Phillips. It involves a few minutes of warm-up, followed by intervals that last a minute. For example, on the treadmill or bike I might do a minute at 5 miles per hour (mph), then a minute at 6mph, a minute at 7mph, a minute at 8mph, then you drop back down to 5mph and repeat.

Body for Life has some information on it, including a handy chart.

Choose a form of aerobic exercise – walking or running on a treadmill or elliptical machine or biking inside or outside. On a scale of 1 -10, 1 being the easiest and 10 the hardest, start exercising at a level 5 intensity (Your level 5 will be different to my level 5).

1. Minute 1 – warm up at Intensity Level 5
2. Minute 2 -3 – move from Intensity Level 5 to 6
3. Minute 3 – Level 7
4. Minute 4 – Level 8
5. Minute 5 – Level 9 – Give It Everything Minute
6. Minute 6 – Back to Level 6
7. Minute 7 – Level 7
8. Minute 8 – Level 8
9. Minute 9- Level 9 – Give It Everything Minute
10. Minute 10 – Level 6
11. Minute 11 – Level 7
12. Minute 12 – Level 8
13. Minute 13 – Level 9 – Give It Everything Minute
14. Minute 14 – Level 6
15. Minute 15 – Level 7
16. Minute 16 – Level 8
17. Minute 17 – Level 9 – Give It Everything Minute
18. Minute 18 – Level 10 – C’mon, Give me Just One More Minute
19. Minute 19 – Back to Level 5 – Cool down
20. Walk gently while stretching out.

Alternate weight-training and cardio workouts for six consecutive days and rest on the seventh day.

I have a printout which is pinned to the wall, right above the tready and bike- so I can easily keep track of where I need to be. You can download it here, (pdf) from my download section.

Exercise for wk3

Exercise Journal from4th – 9th May

Exercise
Mon: Attempted Billy Blanks Basic Bootcamp. Ain’t nothing basic about it. Good, hard fun. (Didn’t use resistance bands)
Tues:
Wed: Basic Bootcamp.
Thur:
Fri: 20min High Intensity Interval Workout on bike
Sat:

Notes:
Ugh, felt good on Monday…a little stiff on Tuesday but I was feeling ridiculously stiff by Wednesday. I really needed to do some basic treadmill/bike/stretching on the Tuesday.

Wednesday was good- Bill Blanks (BB) is tough but very good for the WHOLE body. of course, I look like a frog in a blender but no one sees me so it’s all good.

Friday was ok. didn’t feel like doing anything but pushed myself to do the bike. Bike is good but not as total body as BB.

This is Wk 3 of my Fit n 40 Quest. In Wk 5 I might go back to aiming for 4 workouts a week- even if it is just walking or bike.

All in all, a good week. Haven’t weighed in- not going to. Too negative. But my body has felt good and John commented that I even seem to be carrying my self better- better posture.

Fitn40 weekly record

Exercise record from Tuesday 28th until Sunday 3rd April

Tues 28th

EXERCISE:
10 min HIIT on bike
10 HIIT treadmill
*HIIT= High Intensity Interval Training
20 x Tricep curls
20 x Bicep thingys
Abs:
Back-friendly crunches 3 styles @ 20 each
Flexibility:
Stretching routine
Notes
Good day- felt great.

Wednesday 29th

EXERCISE:
5 min warmup on bike
5min warmup on treadmill
Lower body
Steps up 10@ each leg
15x Body weight Squats
15x Medball Squats
5 raised lunges
Abs:
20x Reverse crunches
10x leg extensions
Flexibility:
Stretching routine
Notes
Actually felt like doing something first thing this morning!

Thursday 30th
EXERCISE:
5 min warmup on bike
5min warmup on treadmill
Lower body

Abs: Abi put me through some paces

Flexibility:
Stretching routine

Friday
EXERCISE:
5 min warmup on bike
5min warmup on treadmill
Lower body

Flexibility:
Stretching routine

Fit and 40- yes!

My Mini Goal is to lose 4.5kg. I just get overwhelmed if I don’t set mini goals so that’s my starting point. However, the real goal is to get fit and be strong…to have strong muscles and bones and be able to keep up with my children and be a good role model.

The key for me is not food…it is exercise. There is a lot of food that my body cannot tolerate so my food choices are fairly limited. I tend to eat the things I can freely eat- I can’t help it if it is cheese, milk and chocolate! Yes, I’m laughing but I’m also serious. I can’t deny myself any more food as I don’t eat that much (people who know me IRL will know what I mean) but I need to move. I can feel my joints stiffening up – ankle pain, knee pain, back pain, hip pain, etc. I know a lot of it is from overuse as an ex softball player (softball pitchers use knees and hips a lot) but if those joints and muscles were more mobile, I wouldn’t be in half as much trouble. I suffer from very low B12 levels and am severely iron deficient so good, healthy, real food is important to me. I need to eat more real food. I don’t eat enough of the good stuff. However calorie restriction is not my issue so I won’t focus on it.

After recently suffering a bout of thrombophlebitis, I really need to get moving and get strong again. I want to be be a fit and 40year old mama! I had always been fit, even when I was overweight. I’ve been fit through pregnancies, miscarriages, ankle surgery and casts, etc. But 5 years ago I did my knee in and had a total knee reconstruction and I’ve never gotten on top of things since then. It has taken me 5 years to get to this ridiculously low point but I am tired of being unfit. For goodness sake, I am a level 2 softball coach, an ex player- someone who liked to be fit and strong…where has that part of me gone? A homeschool mum needs all the energy she can get- I can’t afford to be unfit.

About 18 months ago I was ready and raring to go – to do something about it. Then, we moved. It took me awhile to get back into the swing of things. Then one year ago I was ready and raring to go again. Nothing happened…for me. Some fellow homeschool friends lost weight but I just kept making excuses for myself. Well, I’m ready to try again. Slow but steady steps…

With exercise I usually fall into the trap of *if a little is good, then a lot must be better* but the problem is I can’t stick to it. Miss A is studying her Cert 3 in Fitness and she is helping me- rather supervising/regulating me so I don’t crash and burn.

Thing is, I want a guarantee! I want to know that if I apply myself to this that I will reap the rewards (feeling better) but with my body type and the [health] condition that I live with I have doubts. Of course my dear husband and daughter say pish posh to that and that I’m trying to excuse myself. 😉

Maybe it’s part of different season’s in one’s life but I’m feeling like a bear who has just woken up from hibernation- it’s time to groggily start moving and greet the world again! 😉

I have used every excuse known to man. I used to say I couldn’t exercise regularly as the children were little and I couldn’t afford to be away from them too much (let’s just totally leave out how they’d entertain themselves if I was on the computer) but aside from that, my children are now older and I can have lots of time to myself if I need it.

I have to want it enough. I have the equipment to exercise rain, hail or shine. It is my self discipline- the mental determination to just do it and stick with it. I do feel that if I can stick with it for awhile I WILL feel some results and I know that will spur me on- it’s the initial kick-start I need.

What is my plan of attack?
A combination of fitness routines. I simply can’t follow just one. Most plans/books/methods I’ve researched have valid points and are very good but for various reasons they just don’t fit my lifestyle. But I have enough knowledge on the topic to make it work for me- with tweaking and tailoring to suit. I like Body for Life by Bill Phillips, Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle by Tom Venuto, Crunch Time by Michelle Bridges but being a softball coach I also have knowledge in the area so will apply that.

I’m in such a bad way that I’m aiming for 20min 4 times a week to start with. Yes, it’s pathetic but it’s where I need to start. Why am I writing here on my blog for all to see? Why not? I know I’m not the only homeschool mum who struggles in this area…so if I can encourage others in any small way then it’s worth blogging about. So, I’ll post in the Health & Fitness category of my blog.

Working out, Intensity, high points…a way of life.

Bill Phillips talks about how we should strive to hit a ‘high point’ in our workouts. That it is the intensity in which we train, not the duration. He mentions how some fitness people suggest upping your workout routines from 30min to 40 and then to 50 min and so on, as to be more effective, as in More is Better, etc.

He asks, “Why?” He then says “What is that? What’s the objective? To work out all day???” To which he responds that he hoped he could get fit, stay fit AND have a life!!!!! My thoughts exactly!

He talks about hitting high points and efficient workouts, etc. Gee, this sounds a bit like my homeschool- instead of wanting to do lessons and booky stuff all day every day, I want to do our lessons efficiently, hit some high points AND have a life!!!

It all has to be achievable and maintainable eh? It has to become our lifestyle.