Variety: The Secret of _______

Couldn't you use that title for about anything? Variety: The Secret of Life! Love! Well, I believe it. Don't get me wrong, I can find comfort in routine. But as far as exercise, there's got to be a healthy dose of variety. Keep your mind & muscles guessing!

So this summer, to alleviate any boredom I'd find in working out, I decided to try "anything" as far as exercise. (Insert doctor's disclaimer here). And what did I find?...I'm having fun doing it! So let's go down the list of exercising I've tried this summer:

First class at the Y--cycling. I did not mean to go to this class. In fact, I was ready to start another one, when a friend poked her head in the room and said, come down to cycling with me. Ok. Now, this was EARLY in getting back to it, so I thought, "Cycling....if it's too hard, I can just sit and act like I'm pedaling". Wrong! This was WAY tougher than I thought it would be! They don't let you just sit and pedal. They want to pretend you are going up hills, and that you want to speed up, or increase resistance. I made it. But wow, it kicked my butt!

Yoga -- another one that I thought I could sit and stretch. How hard could that be? Again, harder than I thought. Can you say Down Dog? What??? I hate down dog! I vowed never to go again, but I gave it another try 2 months later, and found that it depends on the instructor. I love this one named Molly. She's more in to stretching & even meditative breathing. I'm not in to the instructors that want to see how many poses they can make us do in 50 minutes. I'm not giving up on Yoga (oh, I say that b/c Molly was a substitute instructor and doesn't have a regular class - boo). I think it is a great class for your mind & body!

PiYo--"the athletic version" of Yoga because it also mixes in Pilates. This class was ok too. It is harder than just yoga. This was my first summer class, so I thought it was a good way to get in to things.

Power Pump -- my girl Laura's favorite. This class focused on weight lifting, but lower weight and higher reps. The first time I felt my arms shaking, but I actually like this class. Unfortunately, as summer goes on, I oversleep for this class! She continues to go...GOOD JOB! I will continue this as a night class after school starts again.

Step--I've been to this one many times this summer. I can't say I'm fond of it, but what a great way to stay active for 50 minutes. They always ask at the beginning of the class if they have any 1st timers. I raised my hand, sort of. I figure it gives me an excuse to not fully get it. At the end, 2-3 people said they couldn't believe it was my first time. Well folks, I never said I was uncoordinated! I just said I was out of shape!

Latin Hip Hop. Yes, you heard that right. Latin Hip Hop. I liked that class! I'd do it again. My workout partner hated it. The only part I was disappointed in was that the instructor was not Latino. There were some questionable moves, I'll admit. A few pounds lighter and I might embrace those moves *wink. Oh Laura, you're a trooper. I had a great laugh through this class...and that good too!

C25K (Couch to 5K) -- I was on week 3 of that when I pulled something in my foot. Nice. I loved it though while I was doing it. I really felt like I was accomplishing something with this. I hope to get back to it, but this foot injury...yeah, still here 3 weeks later!

Which leads me to the good ole reliables: Elliptical, bike & weights. As Robyn says, the elliptical is a good way to "knock off a couple hundred calories". I think of that every time I want to do some quick cardio. The bike, not so much for burning calories, but a way to stay active and not aggravate that foot. My husband was surprised that I've been lifting weights all summer. Of course I'm lifting weights! In fact, I've increased reps and weights (very measurable :)

So, I've promised to try Cardio Kick-boxing and Boot camp before the end of summer. I think I'll like the kick-boxing, but not sure I'm ready for boot camp. I've watched them...they go outside and run up hills. ugh.

If you're trying to get in to a program, the thing that keeps me going is the simple phrase, "It's better than sitting on the couch". Try something new...you might just like it!

Let's Not Weight...

With two friends (at least) blogging (not bragging) about their weight loss, I figured I would jump on the bandwagon. At least this way, I may stay accountable to my goals.

First I had to start with the goal. Unlike everyone else, I am not setting a pounds goal. That has not proved to be successful or motivating to me. Plus, it just seems so final. Instead, I set a fitness goal. Being an Economics teacher, I knew my goals had to meet the SMART qualifications. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound). So, my initial goal was to improve my cardiovascular health, strength, & flexibility by working out 30-45 min. 4-5 times per week. That was my goal back in April or May, and I was reaching it.

During the summer, I bumped it up to 45-60 min. 5 times per week, and moderate exercise the other 2 days. So how can I measure this? Obviously I can measure the time I spend working out. But I can also measure how long I can do cardio exercise and the intensity level; the increase in weight & reps while lifting; and flexibility, well, I just have to be the judge of that. Although I want to lose weight, I'm hoping for that 'side effect' of working out. Physical fitness really is my goal.

So unlike others, I did not weigh in on my first day working out. I do not weigh in weekly. In fact, I've worked out faithfully all summer, and maybe I'll weigh in at the beginning of the school year. I can tell you that I've worn some clothes that haven't fit for a while. So I guess that will be the measure of weight.

What's keeping me going? I'm building a network of people that like to go to the Y. I'm a wimp about going by myself. Although I will, I don't like to. Robyn got me to sign up, and she's been my weekend warrior partner. I can rely on her for the early morning workouts. She is also great at going later at night. Since I'm free during the day in the summer, Laura has been my daytime partner. She's been great about trying different classes, even sometimes against her will. Although I don't meet up with Lindsey at the Y, she's there all the time and a great inspiration. I admire her will and independence. (I wish I was more like that). So I have to thank these great ladies for being my support!

I'm trying to draw motivation and inspiration from any where I can get it. A week and a half ago, I injured my foot, and it would have been a time to give up. My husband, Jake, encouraged me to try the bike to keep going. So that's what I've had to do the past couple weeks...bike and weights. He's really been my inspiration this week!

For now, that's that. Thanks for all your support! And good luck with your SMART goals!

Let's Get This Party Started!

Here it is, my attempt at blogging...something I've wanted to do for a while. I am such a strange organizer, that it has impeded progress on this. Why? Because I needed the exact title to encompass what I want to say. So for months, I don't write because I couldn't think of a title. Weird, I know. And although I have friends that have been blogging a while, it was a humorous one of an elementary/jr. high friend that gave me the final push to start today.

So, why did I settle on the Quality of Life? Because that's what it's all about for me. I thought about what is important to me, and a title that would describe it all. I think that a certain quality of life is what we are all after...but what that means to each of us is different. For some, that is what defines us. Is it our family life? Career? Lifestyle? Luxuries we enjoy? Health? I suppose it depends on the person, right?

I've become increasingly aware that some lifestyle choices I've made have come between myself and my idea of a quality life. I've been on a quest to regain control of everything. Well, that's a misnomer. Control. I've been on a quest to improve the quality of my life. It's interesting to me that I am an intelligent, goal oriented person, and can achieve what I put my mind to...and yet, I'm not sure I've been putting that effort towards what I needed to. So how can a person reach so much success in one area, and yet fail miserably in another?

So what has changed? Or what am I working on changing? I've been actively working on friendships, my marriage, and now my health. I will devote an entire post to each of these later. And how's it working? I've been happier the last year then I've been in the last 10. I hope that it's just beginning, because I feel I have a lot left to work on. Hopefully continued changes will continue to improve the quality of my life and I'm excited to share the journey with you!

I have so much to share, and maybe will never have a single follower. That's ok. I hear this blogging is therapeutic, and hey, a clear mind improves the quality of my life. So I'm off for tonight, but stay tuned...