Recovery week and reminiscing

My husband joined me for a workout last night - it's still core cardio and balance AKA not recovery!!!

My calves already felt like hot pokers from running 6 miles the night before, but I carried on and now feel good today. 

I'm not 100% sure I can notice a difference in my body yet - I was looking at my skinny pics from when I went to Barbados a couple of years ago and my problem is i'm small boned and my fat collects around my middle so even half a stone of fat looks like more than it is, even though i'm tall. I didn't manage to keep off the excess 10lb of fat because I kept feeling faint, but I looked bloody good! Well, health is more important!

I'd rather eat carbs and be able to exercise though - a definite balancing act!!! In fact I also looked at photos from 6 years ago and I was about a stone heavier than now, so i'm one of those people who has to watch it. You wouldn't believe the difference in my face from then and now - I look so much better compared to my old puffy face!!! The cause: full fat mayo!!!! I used to layer it on everything, makes me feel sick now!! 

I definitely couldn't run even 2 miles back then.

Run Forest Run!

It was 2 degrees last night and I ran 6.13 miles in an hour! Not Insanity related, but just had to shout about it!

Going to do the Insanity recovery DVD today - my legs were dying last night but now i'm not even aching :)

Considering i'd never run before last May, this is a real achievement for me!! 

Perhaps a half marathon is on the cards...eek!

Core Cardio & Balance - Recovery Week

It took far longer than i'd hoped to shift my cold and so I eased back into exercise last week with 2 swims, an outside run - 4 miles, and a long gym sesh. The great thing is that I haven't put on any weight - still 9 stone 9 as of last check 2 days ago.

This week, i'm running and gyming plus supplementing this with the Insanity core cardio and balance workout.

I'll be honest, I thought this was going to be half an hour of stretches. It's 90% of a normal workout! Shaun T keeps saying don't overdo it throughout, but then gets you to do some flipping hard moves! Maybe it's because I haven't done it for 3 weeks.

I re-read the food booklet that came with the DVD's and I generally eat all of that anyway. This weekend we had a christening, so that slightly went out of the window. But I think if you don't have the odd treat then you suddenly binge, so everything in moderation. I don't usually have a sweet tooth but the pudding was amazing - a meringue and fererro rocher tower! Our neighbour, the baby's grandmother, made it and brought us more round afterwards which I couldn't resist. 

Lots of study done, big run tonight and healthy week ahead.

If you're about to go into recovery week let me know and if you're already there, tell me what you think of the workout - are you finding it easy?

Last run of 2013!

My last run of 2013 went so well! Especially considering that I only started running outside in May - when i'd only ever run about 3 miles at school once a year between the ages of 8 and 13. I was a fat child and always came last in the annual cross country race. The PE teacher would run the last leg with me and the rest of my class would watch me finish. HORRENDOUS! Ever since, I never wanted to run. I would do about 5 minutes on the treadmill in the gym. But now, I love it! 

When I started in May, I was always behind my friend C. I had to stop and walk and felt totally out of breath and would get stitches. Last night I literally whizzed through 4 miles in under 40 minutes. I didn't stop once and kept pace with C's husband who is super fit. I'm sure all of this Insanity is doing something!! 

I was really surprised that I was fine in just a tshirt in the cold too - I definitely ran easier in the cold compared to a hot summer's day. Oh and minor error - I was crossing a road and almost got hit by a van but C's husband saved me :-O I think I need to invest in a reflective top!

So 2014 is definitely going to involve a 10k race - there's one near us which I didn't do this year, but C did, which i'm going to do. It's in August along a really pretty coastline so should be very nice!

The run was my night of Insanity recovery so tonight is cardio power and resistance and tomorrow is the plyometric cardio circuit to finish Insanity Week 3 (technically taken me 5 weeks with other workouts and time away but who's counting!?)...at least I have the next 10 days off to do a workout each morning. I can't wait!!!!

Midweek recovery

Like I said a week ago when I did cardio recovery, it's not recovery, it's just not cardio! Again, not aching this morning after the numerous squats and lunges yesterday. 

This week did feel easier though. I also love the time ticker that counts down along the bottom of the screen. There's nothing worse than hammering a workout and then realising you still have 30 minutes to go. I do find myself getting to 20 mins, about halfway, then looking again and the time has flown down to 5 minutes left! Not a bad thing!

I managed to go to a pizzeria last night and have king prawns in tomato sauce with rice. Husband had a calzone the length of the table and managed to eat everything except the end bit, which is now for his breakfast (!)...

So about to get ready for my sister-in-law's wedding :) exciting!!! Skipping today's workout to do tomorrow. Will let you know how many champagnes I get through today (uh oh!)...

Have a great weekend!