Baby, you're a firework, at least in your workouts during July.

Join us as we get stronger, day by day.

As for me:

Friday, July 1:

9:31 minutes to row 2,000 meters on the Concept 2, another personal record.
Maybe a day of not going to the gym did me good. (I didn't rest, actually, since I worked like a dog.)
60 minutes arms & shoulders
45 minutes elliptical, half backward, resistance at eight.

My goals for the month are to incorporate another P90X routine into my week, swapping out the arm & shoulder P90X routine for this new routine. As I've mentioned before, I'm trying to replace rather than add even more.

July 1: 90 minutes Bikram Yoga

Totals:
1 day
90 minutes

Saturday, July 2:

60 minute spin class with weight intervals
60 minute Pilates class


And my other goal is to incorporate one rest day each month.

Baby steps. It's how I lost the weight. It's not a bad way for making other life changes.

I'm proud of you Saef. You can do it.

July 2: 60 minutes spin class-- when class started I realized one of my clips didn't work and there were no other free bikes. I had to switch to my regular shoes. I'm proud that I worked extra hard anyway.

Totals:
2 days
150 minutes

Add an hour of fast walking in 97 degree weather. I think that counts as more exercise!

Totals:
2 days
210 minutes

Sunday, July 3:

10 minutes rowing on the Concept 2, which got me to 2,014 meters
60 minutes weights
45 minute spin class


My rowing time was slower for the most bizarre reason. I had a stick of peppermint Stride gum in my mouth. In the middle of my efforts, it popped out from my panting & landed on the machine. Eventually I ran the seat over it & immediately felt it as it upped the resistance on the seat. There was a smear of gum on the machine when I was done, which I diligently wiped & picked off.

So if you need a little more resistance on a gym machine just add chewing gum. (No, not really. But that's the McGyver method.)

July 3: 30 min. elliptical
16 min. stairmaster
30 min. walk to and from the gym in 100 degree heat

Totals:
3 days
286 minutes

July 4: 90 minutes Bikram Yoga

Totals:
4 days
376 minutes

Monday, July 4:

60 minutes elliptical, resistance at 8, half backward
30 minute Pilates mat routine


So yesterday I watched the P90X Disc 09 Chest Shoulders & Triceps. Tony Horton leads his crew on countless pushup variations in this routine. I have not tried to do any kind of pushup in like, forever. Let alone popping in the air & clapping my hands between pushups. Or going up in a side plank after pushups. Oh, dear. Well, I have a week off. I can try this in the privacy of my own home where no one will see me collapse in a trembling heap on the hardwood floor. In the meantime, I'm going to watch Disc 10 to see if that is any more doable. I swore I'd swap out one day of my arm & shoulder routine this month. So I'm going to proceed, though I foresee some humiliation in a jarring reminder of my physical limitations.

Saef, good luck with the rest day plan! DH is nearly done with his 90 days of P90X and IMO he has seen good results. He claims he looks the same. I took a photo of him while he was in the kitchen (shirtless) after a workout while he was mixing a protein shake to prove to him that he has a sixpack -- he says, "That's just a trick of the light on my body hair."

Here's my only exercise...

Friday Jul 1:
5 min bike warmup
3x10 squats
3x10 calf raises
3x10 bulgarian split squats
3x10 romanian single leg deadlifts
pilates mat routine

...and then I somehow managed to injure my achilles tendon. It never ends. I felt fine during my workout, but several hours later I got out of my car and realized the back of my right ankle hurt.

Sunday 7/3:
dog walk in the park, plus getting the dog in and out of the car on my own and giving him a bath afterwards since he insisted on climbing into the muddiest part of the lake possible.

Jessica, you are a trouper.

Saef, I wonder whether you're chilling or trying out one-armed pressups.

For myself, I'm at the cricket ground waiting for a friend. We'll go for a brisk hour's walk whilst our sons are in the nets. And I've been to the gymn (rowing & physio exercises) today.

Jessica-- oh no! Hope it is a temporary injury!!

Thanks guys, it's not too bad. Not like I'm limping around or anything, it is just achy, and probably less so than the plantar fasciitis. I will mention it when I go to pick up my orthotics from the podiatrist Thursday. Plus it will of course get mentioned to my rheumatologist who I see in a couple weeks.

July 5:
ZERO energy today but still exercised....
Have now had 2 coffees, a tea, and an energy drink.... feeling slightly more energized.
60 minutes boot camp (weights and cardio)
30 minutes walk to and from the gym

Totals:
5 days
466 minutes