It's finally here: The month when people tend to escape the daily grind and go away on vacations.

On your vacation, are you going to be able to keep up? Keep your energy level high? Do all those activities that you want to do? Do things you thought you'd never do when you were heavier?

Of course you will. Because you've been moving all year round.

And there's no reason to stop in August.

In August, everyone should run on a beach.
At least once.
At least for ten steps.

Even if you can't look like this while doing it. This is genetics. And a great photographer.
(This woman may never have been in the same room with a carb. Maybe not even in the same building.)
Hey, we can dream, right?

Monday, August 1:

60 minutes arc trainer, hill intervals, resistance at nine
60 minutes circuit training class


I'm trying to decide if it is motivating or demotivating to have my personal TV on the cardio machine tuned to one of the "Real Housewives" series. Those women look like aliens. It's because of what they do to their faces, surgically & with shots & with contoured makeup. Their legs are uniformly great, though. Occasionally you see one working out, but not often. That's not as interesting as when they're getting angry with one another or ganging up on one of the others. There has to be a Real Housewives workout video out there someplace. I think it would be fabulously campy and funny. I need to Google that and possibly buy it.

Monday August 1: 60 minutes Body Pump

Totals:
1 day
60 minutes

Monday Aug. 1: 25 min. arc trainer (100 resistance, 10 incline) + 5 min. rowing machine. Weights -- lower body and abs. Played tennis with my son, walked the dog too.

Tuesday, Aug. 2:

10 minute warmup on Stairmaster, resistance at nine, aerobic intervals
60 minute back and biceps routine
45 spin class with weights


The instructor cracked her hour-long CD so we had a 45-minute class, which thus felt short. I was glad to get out tonight as my ankles and legs were puffy with retained fluid. I think this happens when I sit at my desk a long time. Also I had some hummus at lunch, which was probably high in sodium.

Tuesday Aug. 2:
30 min. elliptical
15 min. weights
30 min. walked the big shaggy dog
20 min. tennis with my son (just hitting ball against the wall)
Did tons of housework today.....

August 2: 60 minutes Boot Camp class

Totals:
2 days
120 minutes

Wednesday, Aug. 3:

45 minute spin class with weights
30 minutes Pilates mat routine on my own


Cool delightful weather this morning and I feel comfortably abreast of my work & with the morning cardio to work off the tension of another day. This could be a good day if I handle it carefully.

August 1:
nothing

August 2:
20 min pilates "butt blaster" routine
8 min pilates ab routine

August 3:
30 min + 5 min cooldown on the stationary bike "aerobics" program level 6

Wed. Aug. 3
Ultimate Burn class (1 hour) at my gym....I has to hold back the vomit with this one. It created a new definition for pain. Can't wait to do it again next week, as it's only offered once a week.

Thursday Aug. 4: 1 hour Zumba. Will walk the dog n play some tennis w my son later.

Thursday, Aug. 4:

45 minutes elliptical, resistance at 8, random intervals, half backward
60 minutes Pilates class


Feeling, well, swollen tonight, even after working out and sweating. I think I may be ovulating. I do not foresee a good weigh-in tomorrow morning. I will try to be kind to myself afterward, and practical.

LuckyMommy, you took a class that left you close to vomiting?! Oh my goodness.

I sometimes feel existential despair during my exercise classes, and wonder if I can hold out even a second longer, but I haven't yet felt nauseous.

I used to wonder when I would, though, after seeing so many exercise sessions on TV in which people puked. Puking was a repeated "Biggest Loser" motif. I think Jillian yelled out the word at least a couple times. I think in that show it was a desirable sign of having put in a great deal of effort.

I don't understand working out until you puke. It has to be some kind of macho thing. And I really don't understand going back and doing it again.

I once got sick in a martial arts class because I ate too soon before class. We weren't even doing anything particularly strenuous physically, but we were employing a great deal of chi, essentially standing in horse posture. Wup! Off to the restroom...

I watched what I did before class after that.

Jay

August 3: 90 minutes Bikram Yoga

August 4: 60 minutes Hip Hop class

Totals:
4 days
270 minutes