Jen's Journal

[ArtzyJen]

Was out of town this weekend visiting friends so didn't have time to get a proper workout in, but helped my friend who is pregnant and not supposed to lift anything over 10 lbs. We moved and organized two whole closets worth of stuff and I lifted several boxes close to 50 lbs a piece to the highest shelves in the closets and moved them around to organize as well. Several hours worth of moving stuff. I'm sore today!!! Talk about a great core workout.

[Boss Man]

You can be really proud of yourself Jen, for finding an alternative to the issue, so plan B didn't turn out to be do nothing.

You might not have exercised in quite the right way(s), you may have wanted but you did something pretty intensive by the sound of it and that is definitely a big plus.

Your current attitude to your own life is really something, so keep your chin up, keep believing, keep pushing and keep remembering that you've got a little lad, who can have a really superb rolemodel to look up to with you, if you want him to .

[ArtzyJen]

I've been on pain meds all of last week for a medical issue I'll be having surgery for in June. And I was in so much pain that I could barely get off the couch, much less get a workout in. But I did watch my eating... in fact, I decided to go ahead and cut out all refined sugar. (I'm getting sugar from natural sources- fruits, honey, bought some high quality Agave nectar too.)I'm amazed at the difference in how I feel. I have a lot more energy! I'm on day 6 now and I've lost a little over 2 lbs, some of which is definitely water weight, but hey, my clothes are fitting nicer than they were a week and a half ago!

Yesterday I was feeling better finally, so I did 1.85 miles of sprints. 1/4 mile sprints first, then 1/8 mile sprints. Felt pretty good other than trying to breathe really humid air, which is not ever a good thing for me while running. My muscles did well. Burned of course, but no pain. I had to stretch out a tight hamstring at one point, but still... not bad.

Planning on doing a short boot camp style workout today, then some upper body work.

[ArtzyJen]

Needed to break up a little stiffness in my legs and backside from sprints yesterday, so I did this:
50 squats
30 walking lunges
20 jump squats
30 side lunges
50 Bridges

But now my legs feel like jello... LOL

Then did 80 tricep dips, 80 russian twists, 20 pushups, 50 crunches.

[ArtzyJen]

30 Pistols (15 each leg)
40 tricep dips
30 bicep curls holding my wiggly 30 lb 3 year old
50 oblique crunches
30 reverse crunches

Plan on going for a run later this afternoon so I didn't want to overdo it before that. Might do some more calisthenics after that if I'm not dying from soreness. I'm already pretty sore today.

[ArtzyJen]

Didn't get a run in last night. My evening was shot by some unexpected changes. Oh well. Back to it today. It's raining here off and on today, so I'm thinking a nice run in the rain might be in the cards today, even if I do have to take my 3 yr old in the jogging stroller.

Will do some calisthenics today for sure, but I am really feeling the soreness today from the last couple of days. Chest, abs, quads, hamstrings, biceps, triceps, glutes are all sore. My husband was making fun of me last night for all the sound effects just getting in the car to go somewhere!

I finally got a start date for my new boot camp. I start next Monday at 5 a.m.! I'm excited. Should be fun. I just hope it's hard. I've been to a couple of 'boot camps' in the past 6 months that were ridiculously easy. They would be fine for a beginner, but I don't think I'm that any more. I push myself hard when I do work out. The boot camp I had the most success in was incorporating a LOT of crossfit moves. We flipped Semi-tires, had lots of competitions in class, and could push as hard as we wanted. I guess I got spoiled because nothing has held a candle since then. (My boot camp instructor moved to Colorado, otherwise I would be going back to her).

[fitoverforty]

I just hope it's hard. I've been to a couple of 'boot camps' in the past 6 months that were ridiculously easy. They would be fine for a beginner, but I don't think I'm that any more.

Thats a good problem to have!

The boot camp I had the most success in was incorporating a LOT of crossfit moves.

Do you have a crossfit gym near you?

so I did 1.85 miles of sprints. 1/4 mile sprints first, then 1/8 mile sprints

good job on the sprints! love, love sprints

[ArtzyJen]

I do have a crossfit gym nearby, but I'm not willing to pay $250-$300 a month for access. Right now only $85-120 is in my price range per month with all of my son's medical bills and trying to pay off school loans so we can move closer to my son's doctors which are 2 states away.

[fitoverforty]

Wow! Had no idea they were that expensive! That's ridiculous! Yeah, I can't afford that kind of payment either. My gym membership is only $45 a month for full gym assess, pool, racquetball and all of the classes.
Good luck on your bootcamp!

[ArtzyJen]

In so much pain today that I'm not going to be able to get a workout in. Called my doc and got some painkillers to get me through hopefully until surgery in June. This just sucks. I hate being in so much pain I can't stand up straight or get off the sofa without feeling like I'm going to double over.

[ArtzyJen]

I had a total hysterectomy in June and recovery was/is a long process, but it's finally good enough I've been released to go back to exercising! So, I'm baaaack. And so much better. I haven't been able to work out until today, but today's workout was awesome (at least for as good as I feel). I gained about 7 lbs while I was down before and after surgery (about 4 months total), but I've gotten back down to 171 and my previous low was 168 I think, so I'm not too far from being back to my low and I seem to be losing fast! 3 lbs this past week.

Today's workout:
1.2 miles at a 12:15 pace with absolutely no issues at all. Breathing was good. No shin splints, no pain!
20 minutes on recumbent bike at 16mph
15 reverse crunches
15 pushups

I've got a long way to go to get back to normal strength levels, but I feel fantastic after the workout and I think I can easily run a couple of miles without stopping, which is great considering I've got a race in October!

[Athene]

Welcome back!

It's tough coming back to training after a hiatus like that. All the best as you settle back into things

[Boss Man]

Don't give up Jen, becasue you've come so far and set such a wonderful example to your Son.

I can imagine having a Hysterectomy must have been a tough thing to undergo, whether the choice was yours, or nature forced your hand, but I know you can come back strongly and keep persevering.

You are a really lovely, lovely lady and it's great to have you back and we will always be right behind anything you do.

if you need to talk about anything PM me anytime. I'm often available and as a moderator I try to make time for people when I can.

GOOD LUCK.

.

[ArtzyJen]

Yesterday 1.7 miles. Could not get my breathing to cooperate but I'm not surprised really. We've had a rash of wildfires in our area lately and air quality is terrible, so I'm sure asthma was acting up. I was at my Dad's house, which is 150 miles from home... so I'm actually proud of myself that I got up at 7:30 in the morning on a Saturday to go run while I was out of town. Yay me!

Today I've been a little wiped out from dealing with family stuff, so no work out today except for a few calisthenics, but I'll be hitting the gym tomorrow morning for a hard workout. I've got the bug back! Hopefully that translates into numbers of the decreasing kind. LOL

[Boss Man]

I'm sure things will work out and you'll be able to keep your mindset strong and get more of the progress you want.

Chin up, keep believing and GOOD LUCK. You ARE worth it .