The pot calling the kettle black

Yesterday I gave two of my fellow Moosers a hard time because it's been days/weeks since they've posted to their blogs. BUT, looking at my OWN blog, it's been 4 days since I've posted either. So that is where the title of this blog is coming from. Sorry ladies, but I've been a bad blogger too.. =( But I'm here now, so here we go:

Friday: Cardio!! The stations were bike, firehose slams (alternating), frog hops, and burpees. Have I mentioned how much the new 30:30:30 kicks my ass?? Um yeah.... kicks the everlovinshit outta me.. every time!! Holy F!!!

Saturday: I honestly wish I could tell you exactly what we did. I don't really remember now. Sorry folks! But we did several stations for a minute each and did like a round robin around the room. It was fun and very tough.. I do remember some of the exercises: jump squats/prisoner squats, single leg hip extension, rows, step ups, kb swings, kb high pull burpee... I think maybe there were some push ups and planks maybe. It was another challenging workout anyway and I loved it!! Afterward, E, M, Ben & I walked from BBC to the DVS (Derby Village Store for those not from around here) and then RAN back.. I think maybe that was the hardest thing I've done so far!! Actually, the hardest thing is getting the breathing down.. I felt like I was gasping for air more than once!! I've been told that that is the hardest thing to running and once I master that I'll be good to go.. Anyway, it was about a mile and I ran nearly the whole thing!!! I haven't had to run a mile since high school and I just ran one!! I really can't believe it. I don't think it actually sunk in that I just went for a run until afterwards when we were stretching/cooling down. I am so freakin proud of myself! Two months ago, there was no way in hell you would've gotten me to go outside and RUN.. to say anything about running a mile!! My life has truly changed, and changed for the better!!

My weekend was good.. we had a couple poker tournaments, but nothing major. Saturday night was the surprise b-day party for my father in law at the East Side Restaurant. Anyone from this area knows that pretty much everything on their menu is fried so it's a tough place to try to eat supportively. I chose to have this as my cheat meal. O-M-G am I glad I did!!!! I had a few meatballs, a few pieces of garlic toast (MMMMMM), a piece of grilled chicken on a stick, a slice or pork roast and THE yummiest (small) twice baked potato I have ever had!! OMG it was SOOO good!! So the meal that I had wasn't too horrible and I seriously ran it off afterwards chasing after my niece and her new friend... We played tag, we ran around... danced.. it was a great time!

Today we had 4 stations: A) KB Swings (44lb kb), 1 arm db snatch (20lb db), push ups B) rows, step ups (15 db each hand), goblet squat (35lb kb) C) rene rows (with 20lb dbs), reverse crunches, kb high pull burpee (35lb kb) D) squat press (2 20lb db), planks, wood chops (1 20lb db). Do each exercise for 50 seconds, 10 second rest in between. Do each set of 3 exercises 3 times then 1 minute rest between stations. HOOOLY F!!!! By the end of this one, we were ALL dripping sweat!!!! Nice one Ben!!! =)

Well, I don't have to be to work until noon today, so I'm going to go for a run.. I'm going to pace out a mile, then do the same I did Saturday, walk a mile, run a mile.. Next run I'll add on a little more. Should be interesting to do by myself, but I'll be fine.. I'll let ya know how it goes tomorrow.. until then blogfans... I'm outtie...

Peace!!


----I had to add this on since I just came back from my run... Instead of walking a mile, then running a mile, I paced out a 1/2 mile. So I ran a full mile.. no walk!! =) The first 1/2 mile was pretty good. I ran the whole thing without stopping. The second 1/2 of it was very hard. I had to stop a few times and walked for maybe 30 feet or so and then ran again. But I feel like I did really well.. except that I can't stop coughing now.. stupid lungs!! LOL.. so glad I gave up smoking all those years ago!!! Later!

Funny things....

Yesterday we did 30:30:30 again.... holy makerel that kicks the shiat outta me!! Seriously not loving the CD man that says: you're half-way through your break congratulations you've completed __ rounds. He honestly says it like that.. there's MAYBE a 5 second pause. You're like WHAT? That was a fast freakin 30 second rest!! My GOD... Slow it down CD man... fer real! LOL... So here are the stations: Bike, Lateral Shuffle (do NOT cross your feet!! Ok ok! Lesson learned!!!) Plate Punches, Firehose Weave, High Knees. Kicked my ace!

Oh, and I forgot to mention in my last blog that after we were done the 4 rounds then 2 rounds thing, we did planks. THEN we did a relay.. just wanted to clear that up.. we did a LOT on Tuesday.. sweated my ace off...

So today we did the following:

KB Swings (kb=kettlebell for those that don't know Missy-ese)
Reverse Lunges
KB High Pull
Goblet Squats
Push ups w/T stabilization (do a push up then put your arm up in the air, like planks w/rotation)
Get Up Sit Ups
KB Swings
Planks

I don't know if I got them all.. seems like I may be missing one.. but I can't remember right now what it is.. Anyway, we did each one for 30 seconds, rest, then through the list again doing each one for 45 seconds, rest, then each one again for 60 seconds, rest, each again for 45 seconds, rest and one last time each one for 30 seconds. That was definately a rough one. The ol' knees were feeling those reverse lunges.. and the goblets.. But, we all got through & did fantastic!! Missy wasn't there this morning because she was sick, but T was able to join us. I think she may be able to join us more often which is very cool!! Then after that we did relays again. This time one person ran down, did 5 burpees & came back. The other person had to do either high knees or jumping jacks. I believe we did this for about 10 minutes. E & I were paired up and C & T were partners. No rest for the wicked!!

Yesterday at bowling I was waiting for my turn to practice and Carol (who does the Saturday class) was walking back from her practice when she literally did a double take!!! She was like "I didn't even recognize you!!" Later she told me that she had seen me go up to bowl and had thought "who is that?!?" She then said "I don't know if it's the different clothes your wearing or what, but you look so different!!! And so GOOD!"...Such a confidence booster!!! =) Especially since I was wearing my new jeans (3 sizes down... I thank you) I also talked to several of the other ladies about my bootcamp experience and how it's going.. all that good stuff. I don't mind talking about it at all. Ask me anything.... One girl said to me "I've read the workouts you do and I don't think I could do it!" I told her she sure could!! Everyone can do this stuff!! Another said she was too old. I'm like, if you set your mind to it, you can do anything! I think everyone should do this program!! Hey Ben... I think I need a sales commission.. LOL.. just kidding!! =) Anyway, so I feel really great (even more than I was) and I can't wait to see what comes next. =)

The Dandelion Run is now officially a month away. I am really nervous about it, but I think I'll be fine. I've been walking (as previously posted) and I've gotten pretty fast so I'm going to try doing a short run on Saturday (1/2 mile). Then I'm going to keep adding on until D-run day.... I should be good to go by then (I hope!). The biggest thing is that no way 2 months ago would I have even THOUGHT about doing something like that and now I'm going to do it!! Just goes to show what this program has done for me!! =) (commision??? LOL)

Well, this chica needs to head off to bed and get rid of this headache.. later...

30:30:30, tire flippin' & the MF comes through again!!

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, but it was a crazy night!! Had some problems at work, so I didn't even get a chance to do my fitday until this morning!! But that's ok.. it's done and I'll be getting my stuff together for the day in just a few.... I wanted to post this morning because I am just feeling SO good and I didn't want to wait until tonight..

Yesterday we started our new cardio time. 30 seconds of work, 30 seconds rest.. and we did 30 rounds instead of 20!! Oh my freeeeekin lord!!!!!!!!! There was a couple times where Erica & I just looked at each other and were like #$*! me this is hard!!! LOL.. The stations were: bike, rene rows, high knees, burpees & hill climbers. Whoo.. definately pumped up the volume!! And the sweat! WOW!

After our workout we were sitting around cooling down and ended up talking about the two big tractor tires that Ben has. It was a nice sunny day, so we (M had left to go to work already) went outside and each gave it a couple tries.. I did the first one on the small one (150lbs) and Ben was like, well that was too easy!! Try the big one! (300lbs) FLIP!! It's not easy by any means, but I can see us doing that in a workout in the near future!! Fun fun fun!! Check out Ben's blog for a video of us each trying it..... oh and me almost smooshing T's adorable dogs.. sorry T!! I did look to make sure they weren't in the way!!

Today was a wicked tough one!!! We did 4 rounds of: push ups x 10, split squats x10 each leg (using 20lb DB), 2pt DB row x 10 each arm (using 20lb DB) & deadlift x 10 (I believe we used 85lbs - I think E used 125). Then we did 2 rounds of: arms elevated push ups x 20, split squats x 20 each leg, deadlift x 20 & ring rows x 20. Once you finish the 4 rounds move right into the 2 rounds. I cruised right along through the 4 rounds (I thought.) and went right into the 2 rounds. But, I was finishing my 2nd round of the 20 reps when everyone else finished.. I was like... what the french? I started doing my 2nd set of split squats and noticed that Missy was doing push ups. I switched to the other leg and paused mid-way through and she said "come on, I'm going with you." That made me smile.. I thought.. you are?!? Then I still had to do the deadlift (everyone cheered me through that!!) and then the rows. Missy came right over and was like, I'll do them with you.. Come on.... So we started doing them and everyone else joined in!! E & C did rows on the rings & Ben did pull ups. When I stopped, Ben hung from the bar.. even more motivation was when he was said "Lisa! Don't leave me hanging!! We're waiting on you!".. I can't believe that they all did that for me.. I was a little irritated that I was, again, the last one to finish, but they all made it better.. I have never in my life had such motivating, supportive people helping me... I could NOT be getting through this journey without any of them. Thank you SO much to my MF.. you guys are absolutely AMAZING people!!! I would definately be lost without each & every one of you. =) And eventhough T didn't work out with us today (she does a class tonight) I know she would've been right there with all of us!!! So thanks to her too.. =)

~L dawg

The Will & the Fire

Lost in the dark, couldn't find my way
Just trying to survive, taking it day by day
Never thought I'd find the happiness I deserve
Not understanding the purpose I serve
A light appeared, a helping hand
A chance to change, make a stand
One of five chosen of 50 that tried
Couldn't believe I was in, sat & cried
The journey has started, now half-way through
Sweating every day, eating right too
Feel my body shrinking, clothes too baggy
And damn if my boobs ain't a lot less saggy!!
My spirit is soaring, the dark is gone
Old ghosts of the past forgotten, so long
Nothing holding me back, from all I desire
I've got the will and the fire
Much more to come in the next 8 weeks
Finally changing my life, and finding what I seek.

--I find that I am much better at expressing myself in writing than I am in person. I've been working on this poem for a few days and now that I finally finished it, I wanted to share it. These last 8 weeks have been amazing and I really can't wait for the next 8. And, for whatever comes after that. I am positive that I will continue to take BBC classes even after The Biggest Mooser is over. And I am extremely excited about that. I've done some changes and I can't wait to make more and become the girl I know has always been inside of me!!

Today was cardio and Ben didn't disappoint. He changed it up yet again. The stations were: Bike, see saw rows, wall sit see saw press and high knees. E & I were paired up for this one and T & M were together. (Missed you all week C!! Can't wait to hear how your week went!!) E & I did the bike & see saw rows and T & M did wall sit see saw press and high knees. So one of the new ones was the see saw rows. We used 2 25lb kettlebells and you put one foot in front, one behind for stability and then lean over and with a bell in each hand pull up towards your chest. HAARD!! Especially for 10 rounds in a row!!! That's right, we did 10 rounds at one, and 10 at another!! HOOLY CRAP!!! The other new one was the wall sit see saw press. So you do a usual wall sit, except you have a db in each hand and alternating arms press (or push) out. This was a very good one.. and very tough!!

Ben gave us a little news today, that was the last time at 30:60. Next week, 30:30 for cardio! I think we're up to the challenge.

Check out Ben's blog for the Mooser standings. Apparently I'm in the lead, but it's darn close!! Well, I am off to poker. Peace!

~L-dawg

Cardio and Day 1 revisited

I think one of the reasons that I'm actually getting addicted to these workouts is that we hardly ever do the same thing.. Love it!!! Even on Cardio day (Wednesday) Ben finds a way to change things just a little to make it more interesting... just more proof that Ben knows what the hell he's doing!!!!

The cardio stations were: bike, firehose slam, high knees and renegade rows (no weight). We still did 30:60, but instead of rotating to the next station during the rest time, we stayed at the same station and did 5 rounds at each one. This definately made things more interesting. I did the rene rows first and by the time the 5th round came around, my shoulders and arms were killing me!!! I was glad to be able to switch to the next station. The firehose slam is also a good one for shoulder/arm killing.. by the end of 5 straight rounds of that you're ready to move on!! Tomorrow is cardio day again and I'm interested to see what we'll be doing.. =)

Today, we did a little revisit to our day 1 workout. The exercises were: Push ups, Squat Press, Rows, Kettlebell Swings. You start where ever you want, and do 30 seconds of work and 30 seconds of rest. Do as many reps as you can in the 30 seconds. Write down your reps. Then do it again. Write down your reps. One last time, and... write down your reps. Total them up. Ben had us use the heavier weights we moved up to this week. So for the squat presses, we used 20lb DB in each hand and kettlebell swings we used the 44lb bell. I think on the first day we were using 10lb DBs for the presses and 25lb bells for the swings.. Just proves how much stronger we've all gotten. For even more proof, Ben told us to bury our 1st day numbers. We all busted it and got it done!!!

For the push ups, on the first day I did 18 total, modified push ups. Today, I did 14 total STANDARD push ups. That's right... on the toes!! Even though I didn't beat my first day score, I'm still very proud that I did that many standard push ups! I couldn't even do 1 before we started and now I can do 14?! Shut UP!! =)

I beat my squat press # by 8 which I am very happy about. Even with sore knees, I cranked it out with heavier weights!! =)

I believe I beat my rows # by like 10.. yeeee haw! Get ready for the gun show!!!

And the swings.... I beat those by like 20!!! After the first 30 seconds, I wrote my # down and flipped back to the day 1 # I had written down and laughed! I had almost beaten my total from the first day in the first round!! OMG!! And with a much heavier weight!

Then, after that you take the total #s that you got for each exercise and do them all again. This time in the quickest time possible. On day 1 I finished in 7:59.... today I finished in 8:08. I'm not upset by that at all. All of the exercises were done with heavier weights and a lot more reps. So I did at least twice as much work in almost the same amount of time...

As promised, here is what went down with the stir fry...... Can I just say O-M-G it was so freakin good!!!!!!!!!!! The couscous was very good and the mix of the onion spice (a premixed VT made blend) with the veggies (that I don't normally eat btw) and the beef was SO good!! num num numnumnum!!! Even Mike liked it!!! I put his beef & veggies over rice, but he gobbled it up like it was going out of style!! That will definately be in my menu once a week!!!

The next thing that I'm going to try is garbonzo beans (chick peas). I like hummus, so I'm told that I should like the beans. I'm thinking so. Just have to gather my courage to try it. But I will!!!

Tonight I went for a 3 mile walk. I'm very proud to say that I busted it and walked at a very fast pace (felt that way to me). There was a couple times where my legs were just buuurning, and I had to push myself to keep going, to keep the same pace. It didn't help that the battery on my ipod died about 1/2 way through the walk (note to self: plug in ipod for about 1/2 hour before embarking on walk!). That was a real bummer because I picked songs that had a good fast beat and kept my pace to that beat. But, I finished it in 55 minutes... 15 minutes faster than my best time. Whoooo hoooo! I'm hoping to do this for like a week and then push myself to cut another 10 minutes (at least) off it.. By the 2nd week in May I'm hoping to be running!! That's the plan. Keep pushing myself to walk faster and then finally start running. I forget if I've mentioned it yet, but there's a local charity run on May 23rd that the other Moosers, Ben, some others from BBC and I are going to run in. It's a 1/2 marathon, so 13 miles. We are doing it as a team so it is a relay. There are 3 legs that are 3 miles and the last leg is 4.1 miles. I'm wicked nervous/scared to be trying to run in this thing. I've never run in my life (except for HS) so I don't know... but I'm doing it.. !! I'm very happy to say that my work is going to sponsor me and donate $25 towards the cause (THANK YOU!!!).. So look for me to be wearing an NGJ t-shirt on the run... oh and it'll be a LARGE.. that's right.. I'm going to be wearing a LARGE!! Hell yeah!! Count on it!!

~L-dawg

4 Rounds -taken out of me

I know I say this a lot, and honestly its a credit to Ben, but today's workout kicked my ass! It was SO hard!!!

We did one called 4 rounds. So we had a few stations, with 2 exercises at each and we had to do 12 reps, switch to the other exercise for 12 reps then back and forth 4 times (get the name now?).. I'm going to try to remember the stations.. I wish that I had time right after the workout so that it's fresh in my mind, but... c'est la vie!!

So the stations were (again all reps are 12 unless specified):

1)Step ups (12 each leg)
Push ups (either variation)

2)Kettlebell High Pull Burpee

Reverse Crunches

3)Deadlift (Missy & I used 100lbs, I think E did 125 - you go girl!)
Assisted Pull Ups

4)One arm DB snatch (12 each arm)
Lunges w/weight (E & I did see saws as our knees were bothering us)

I put these in the order that I did them.. that's the only way I could remember!! Ben gave us until 8am to finish. I saw the step ups on the board and knew instantly that I was going to start there. No way was I going to let the one exercise I hate keep me from finishing a workout again!! It was hard as hell, but I did it!! I got through all those reps of stupid step ups and moved on!! E & M both finished at 8 (actually I think E finished a few minutes early- Good job!!!), but M was right behind her. I finished a few minutes after 8. BUT, I finished!! I am damned proud of myself for that too.. By the time I got to the last station, my knees were on fire, but I pushed through. I was actually relieved when Ben said to do the see saws instead of the lunges. I knew my knees wouldn't be able to take those. For the see saws you have a DB in each hand and alternate pushing them over your head. Not easy by any means!! AND, Ben told us to use heavier weights for our workouts today. SO not only did I do the step ups, but I used 15lb DB in EACH hand instead of 10's. Hell yeah! And I think I used 20's for the DB snatch and see saws.

As everyone who's been following along knows, I am a picky eater. And it's been getting a little harder lately since my calories & %ages were dropped. Now it's hard to find variations to do on the same ol veggies. I know that I need to try new ones, and I have a list posted on my fridge of ones to try. So I will keep trying new ones, but I don't seem to like the ones I try. I know people think that I "just don't like" broccoli & cauliflower, but that's not all true. I HATE them! They seriously make me gag. Ask Mike. He was here when I tried them. He will attest to the fact that I was nearly losing the rest of my dinner trying to just eat them anyway. I know that I will have to just "suck it up and do it" and still eat the veggies I don't like, but it's just making myself do it that's very hard. But, there is hope!! Tomorrow I'm trying something new. Stir fry. I bought onion, green & red peppers and mushrooms. I'm going to use EVOO and an onion spice mix that I have and fry 'em up with my beef that I bought. Then, I'm going to try couscous!! I'm going to put the whole mix over couscous. I think I tried couscous once, but I believe it was plain. I got one that's Chicken & garlic flavored. So I think it'll be pretty tasty with the veggies. I will keep you posted on it!!! =)

I got beat up at bootcamp!!!

And I am NOT kidding!!! LOL.. well, ok, not really... but it was a bit of a rough one!!!


To start off with, we do a new warm-up routine. One of the things we do is jump rope. Everyone knows that lately my feet have not been cooperating with my brain when I do this. Today was no different. We were jumping rope and again my big feet (I wear a size 11!!) got caught. I thought I had pulled the jump rope from under my feet, but apparently I hadn't because I pulled up on the jump rope and it broke, right at the handle!! OY! At first I was trying to put it back together, but Missy was like "Lisa!!" and Ben turned around and was like "what the?!".. Busted!!! Sorry Ben!!!! LOL..


Then we did our workout. It was cardio day and Ben threw a new station in. We did bike, firehose weave, renegade rows (no weight) and lateral shuffle. The lateral shuffe is like this: there are two cones set up about 10 feet apart. You have to "shuffle" from one to the other, touching them each time, as fast as you can. The first couple times I did it fine, but the third time was not my charm. Instead of shuffling my big feet, I crossed them. Big mistake.. I crossed them and the side of my shoe caught on the floor and down I went! I was fine.. I didn't hurt anything, but I leaned back after I fell and bumped my head on the weight that was on the bar we use for deadlifts and push presses. Double duh!! Don't worry, I have a hard head!! I didn't even bump it that hard. Just enough to know what a dumb move that was!!

Oh that's not it!! After we were done, M wanted to try doing the assisted pull ups again. So I went over and pulled the band down so that she could put her foot in. She had her hand on the band as well and for whatever reason it slipped and whacked me right in the cheek!! I was like "look, I'm not going to help you anymore if you're just going to beat me up!" LOL.. It was frickin hilarious!! So yes, I got beat up at bootcamp today!!! LMAO... but it was still a good day!!

Christine wasn't with us, but she did do a workout before we had gotten there. (Yay to you for getting up even earlier!!) Erica was also not at BBC this morning because she was sick. Get better soon E! We missed you!!

So that's about it.. I had bowling tonight as a few people on both teams wouldn't be able to make it on Wednesday.. 2 more weeks and bowling is done.. I can't wait. I like it, but I'm ready for this season to be done.

Until tomorrow!!