Wow... Where have the past two weeks gone? I have been so swamped the past couple of weeks that I have neglected to check in.
So... What have I been up to? Nothing too exciting to report. I have pretty much been out of my element where workouts were concerned. Mentally and physically, I have been quite exhausted and my motivation has been put to the test. The mind was willing, but the flesh was weak... I am now feeling like I am bouncing back and I am getting back into the workouts more regularly now. In fact, I think that I am emerging from this slump stronger than before. Of course, I have to watch it and gently get back on track so that I don't relapse back into the slump.
Week of November 30th
Tuesday - I visited the gym and suited up. I wanted to get a run going as the weather was really balmy and I wanted to take advantage of it. After checking in with Lorene, I headed out the door and into the surrounding neighbourhoods to take advantage of the beauty of the full moon and the Christmas lights display. My total distance was just under 9.5K by the time I returned. After doing some light core work, I then prepared to depart from the gym.
Thursday - In an effort to break out of the slump I have been in, I decided to pay a visit to Element Crossfit before running an errand. I basically wanted to shock my body back to normal. For the moment, it worked. I had a really good workout and the endorphin high really felt good at that moment.
After rowing for 500m to warm up, I completed the following workout for time:
While I was grateful for the high, it was only short-lived as the slump continued...
Friday and Saturday were occupied with various Holiday Season festivities. Friday night, I was at the Caledon Hills Bike Shop where they had an open house, complete with a pasta bar. It was great to get together with other like-minded cyclists and chat with them. I even networked with Sven, the superintendent of Albion Hills Conservation Area. He gave me tips on some of the trails there and encouraged me to pay the park a visit for a trail run, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing. I also got goaded into considering some stuff that I have never considered doing by Don and Mike, the owners of the bike shop. Saturday night was the Holiday Celebration at Kula Yoga. Since I am part of the Energy Exchange programme, I was busy assisting with the cleaning, as well as some of the set up along with others at the studio. All in all, the celebration was a huge success with lots of food and entertainment and a great time was had by all.
Sunday, December 7th - Determined to ride out the slump, I visited the gym after spending an entire day in the house looking out at the sunshine but not having enough willpower to get out there and enjoy. I finally summoned the courage to go later on in the afternoon. Just to make it worthwhile, I picked out a great workout routine from the Crossfit site.
I got to the gym and quickly suited up. After warming up with a one kilometre jog around the track, I got to work on this routine:
So... What have I been up to? Nothing too exciting to report. I have pretty much been out of my element where workouts were concerned. Mentally and physically, I have been quite exhausted and my motivation has been put to the test. The mind was willing, but the flesh was weak... I am now feeling like I am bouncing back and I am getting back into the workouts more regularly now. In fact, I think that I am emerging from this slump stronger than before. Of course, I have to watch it and gently get back on track so that I don't relapse back into the slump.
Week of November 30th
Tuesday - I visited the gym and suited up. I wanted to get a run going as the weather was really balmy and I wanted to take advantage of it. After checking in with Lorene, I headed out the door and into the surrounding neighbourhoods to take advantage of the beauty of the full moon and the Christmas lights display. My total distance was just under 9.5K by the time I returned. After doing some light core work, I then prepared to depart from the gym.
Thursday - In an effort to break out of the slump I have been in, I decided to pay a visit to Element Crossfit before running an errand. I basically wanted to shock my body back to normal. For the moment, it worked. I had a really good workout and the endorphin high really felt good at that moment.
After rowing for 500m to warm up, I completed the following workout for time:
10 Dead-lifts 185#/135#The weight I lifted for the dead-lifts was actually 72lbs. 135lbs would have been overkill. My overall time for this workout was 12:32 - a lot faster than I thought. The competitive side of me also noted that I was pretty much the top female for this workout, and was pretty much on par with the guys. I made it a pact to visit Element on a weekly basis for more intense training sessions. The atmosphere and camaraderie was over the top. The people I met there the first time I stepped in the facility with my brother all remembered me and welcomed me back.
20 Lunge Steps
10 Burpees
(5 Rounds)
While I was grateful for the high, it was only short-lived as the slump continued...
Friday and Saturday were occupied with various Holiday Season festivities. Friday night, I was at the Caledon Hills Bike Shop where they had an open house, complete with a pasta bar. It was great to get together with other like-minded cyclists and chat with them. I even networked with Sven, the superintendent of Albion Hills Conservation Area. He gave me tips on some of the trails there and encouraged me to pay the park a visit for a trail run, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing. I also got goaded into considering some stuff that I have never considered doing by Don and Mike, the owners of the bike shop. Saturday night was the Holiday Celebration at Kula Yoga. Since I am part of the Energy Exchange programme, I was busy assisting with the cleaning, as well as some of the set up along with others at the studio. All in all, the celebration was a huge success with lots of food and entertainment and a great time was had by all.
Sunday, December 7th - Determined to ride out the slump, I visited the gym after spending an entire day in the house looking out at the sunshine but not having enough willpower to get out there and enjoy. I finally summoned the courage to go later on in the afternoon. Just to make it worthwhile, I picked out a great workout routine from the Crossfit site.
I got to the gym and quickly suited up. After warming up with a one kilometre jog around the track, I got to work on this routine:
20 Deadlifts
Run 400m
20 KB swings (faux kettlebell with dumbell)
Run 400m
20 Overhead Squats
Run 400m
20 Burpees
Run 400m
20 Pullups (Chest to Bar)
Run 400m
20 Box jumps (24")
Run 400m
20 DB Squat Cleans (can't remember the weight of the dumbells used)
Run 400m
I had fun with this routine. In fact, I did not bother to time it but to just go with the flow. There were times when I felt like puking, but I kept pressing on until it was completed. I completed the workout with a one mile cooldown walk/jog immediately after the final 400 metres. After stretching for a bit, I headed downstairs to the changerooms to prepare to exit the facility. When I got home and reviewed the workout, I learned that this workout was dedicated to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Fort Hood shooting. Apparently, four of those soldiers who died were members of Lumberjack Crossfit - hence the name of the workout.
The rest of the week was basically shot where workouts were concerned - mainly due to the fact that I was both really busy, and tired in the evenings. Other than the walk from the train station to the office and back, I got very little physical activity and was feeling the effects of this inactivity. Perhaps I really needed the rest more than anything else... Who knows...
Oh well, a new week has begun and I'm definitely looking forward to being more like myself...
The rest of the week was basically shot where workouts were concerned - mainly due to the fact that I was both really busy, and tired in the evenings. Other than the walk from the train station to the office and back, I got very little physical activity and was feeling the effects of this inactivity. Perhaps I really needed the rest more than anything else... Who knows...
Oh well, a new week has begun and I'm definitely looking forward to being more like myself...
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