Cats, Dogs, Trees & the Mountains; with Nature…..then VROOM!!!

Wow! That yoga workout was amazing, I suddenly realize who I am and I am more in touch with my inner breath, and at one with nature, I felt like I was floating on a cloud and coming out of my body……… ha ha ha ha …….oooookay I’ll cut that crap out now, please tell me that you didn’t fall for that?

I went through the twelve yoga poses that I posted earlier today. Now, I am classed as obese and then when you throw yoga into the mix, well just picture a pig trying to break dance and there you have it. It was anything but graceful, balanced and I was as flexible as brick.

 

I must admit afterwards I did feel very relaxed, refreshed and loose. I wobbled my way through it and I am going to be consistent with it until I can master the poses. I am sure that when I am a little lighter I’ll be like a chicken doing the moonwalk.

…..then VROOM!

I also tackled the interval training. Actually I thought it was going to be a bit soft and not challenging but boy was I wrong! After the 4th set I was like, “water, water!” ::in a groaning voice:: I managed to push through to the 8th set and to my oasis of water, a pint of cold water.

If anyone could advise me I was wondering if this is a good mix; doing yoga and then into intense intervals? Maybe you can leave a comment with your suggestions.

Saturday, Feb 23rd – Dim Sum more please? :)

Breakfast – oatmeal, whey, a pinch of cinnamon powder & hot low-fat milk

Snack 1 – nothing

Lunch – two slices of whole meal bread, 1 breast of chicken, mayo & a thin-cut slice of cheese

Snack 2 – whey shake

CHEAT MEAL – Dim Sum; somey & squid with noodles and chicken

Drink – 3 liters of water & a cup of Chinese tea (jasmine)

Yoga/Intervals Workout Revealed

Here is my Yoga/Interval workout that I have stuck together from various internet sources.  I am going to have a bash at it now and then I’ll post a review.

Yoga

1. Cat Pose
2. Mountain Pose
3. Standing Forward Bend
4. Lunge
5. Tree
6. Standing Side Stretch Pose
7. Downward Facing Stretch Pose
8. Cobra
9. Child’s Pose
10. Seated Spinal Twist
11. Seated Forward Bend
12. Relaxation Pose

Interval Training;

• Exercise Bike: 20 seconds as fast as I can, then 20 seconds pause (this is one set) 8x

February’s Progress Photo & New Cardio Plan (Yet Again!)

I am not that happy with February’s progress photo.  I am happy with the progress that I made but in January’s photo I wore the wrong clothes.  Anyway I have corrected it now.

On the left hand side you’ll see January’s photo along with the new one I took today. I have also taken another photo with a tighter top so progress will be more noticeable in the months ahead.

A New Cardio Plan

As much as I hate cardo I know that it will determine the effectiveness of my whole workout routine.  I have been digging again and looking for something that I will enjoy doing and will help burn fat without disrupting my muscle recovery time too much.

Interval Training; on my exercise bike I will go as fast as I can for 20 seconds, then a 20 second pause (this is one set) 6x

Yoga; yes that’s right you heard (read) me right, I am going to try yoga as part of my in-between-workout sessions.  I am currently scanning the internet and pulling from many resources and will put together (and put into practice) some yoga moves and then post them tomorrow after I have tried them.

Friday, Feb 22nd – No Prob!

Breakfast – oatmeal, whey, peanut butter & hot low-fat milk

Snack 1 – low-fat yogurt & 1 boiled egg

Lunch – egg salad (peppers, lettuce & cucumber) with a tablespoonful of mayo & a handful of nuts

Snack 2 – a handful of nuts & an apple

Dinner – omelet; 3 eggs, handful of mushrooms, 1 chicken breast & a thin-cut slice of cheese

Drink – 3 liters of water

Thursday, 29th Feb – I Love Fish! :-P

Breakfast – oatmeal, whey, peanut butter & hot low-fat milk

Snack 1 – low-fat yogurt & 1 boiled egg

Lunch – prawn salad (peppers, lettuce & cucumber) and a dollop of mayonnaise & a handful of nuts

Snack 2 – a handful of nuts & an apple

Dinner – fish cooked with tomatoes and onion with a vegetable mix fried with olive oil

Drink – 3 liters of water

Wednesday, Feb 20th – Tummy Aching Tonight :(

Breakfast – oatmeal, whey, peanut butter & hot low-fat milk

Snack 1 – low-fat yogurt & 1 boiled egg

Lunch – tuna salad (peppers, lettuce & cucumber) and a dollop of mayonnaise & a handful of nuts

Snack 2 – a handful of nuts & an apple

Dinner – pork cooked in soy sauce with kangkong (a green leafy vegetable)

Drink – 3 liters of water

Workout Adjustments

I have made a few adjustments to my current workout. I need to be careful and not over do it as I have high PB at the moment.

Weighted Crunch (upper abs) 12x
Bent-Knee Pull In (lower abs) 12x
Double Crunch with Cross (oblique) 12x Raised-Leg Obliques Crunch (Obliques) 12x
Two-Point Bridge (transverse abdominis) 5x Back Extension – x12 (lower back
Superman (lower back) 12x
Squat with Side Raise (glutes & shoulders) 12x Squats with Dumbbells (Glutes) 12x
Pile Squat with Bicep Curl (hamstrings & biceps) 12x Pile Squat with Dumbbells (Hamstrings) 12x
Push Up (chest) 12x
Fly (chest)
Bench Press (chest)
Bent Over Flyes (back) 12x Bent-Arm Dumbbell Row (Back) 12x
Side Raises (Shoulders) 12x
Hammer Bicep Curl (Biceps) 12x
Tricep Dip (triceps) 12x

My dumbbell weights are;

one:9kg (19.8lbs)

Both: 18kg (39.6lbs)

Both dumbbells are used for all exercises except the Weighted Crunch and the Pile Squat with Dumbbells were one dumbbell was used.

Cardio Resurrected: Tae Bo, Shadow Boxing & Invisible Skipping Ropes

Ok I have to say that I just finished a cardio workout that I actually enjoyed.  To start off I engaged in some Tae Bo which really got me in a sweat, but I think it would be better as an Abs Workout because it’s 1998 folks and I laughed hard!  This was ok, it got my heart pumping and my only difficulties were trying to do the left side of my body, I couldn’t keep in rhythm; arms and legs doing different things going in the opposite directions.  Have a look for yourself.

Next there was Shadow Boxing………er……… as I was indoors and there was no shadows, I imagined my old science teacher and then did 5 rounds with him.  It was kind of like the invisible man meets celebrity death match…… And I won, of course! Here is a crash corse in shadow boxing for you;

Then comes the invisible skipping rope (A.K.A Jumping on the spot), I felt quit silly and ….. er …. especially when I has holding cans of beans to represent the handles. (Thanks Slosh!). 

This cardio was fun and I need to go back and see the doctor again after seeing Billy Banks in skin tight shorts 😦

Tuesday, Feb 19th – Feeling Full!

Breakfast – oatmeal, whey, peanut butter & hot low-fat milk

Snack 1 – low-fat yogurt & 1 boiled egg

Lunch – chicken salad (peppers, lettuce, cucumber & broccoli) and a dollop of mayonnaise & a handful of nuts

Snack 2 – an apple & a handful of nuts

Dinner – omelet; 3 eggs, prawns, a handful of mushrooms & two thin-cut slices of cheese

Drink – 3 liters of water