Tag: #doyogawithme

Body Boss

Cycle 3 – week 7…. the wall!!

Su Melville7 Comments

Ok I knew this day would come… 

Whether it’s because we’ve come back from our marvelous mini break and courtesy of some amazing food and drink I’m feel I’ve put on a vast quantity of weight (I don’t possess scales, quite deliberately!) or whether we did so much walking – at least 5 miles a day! On balance I’m sure it’s the later… maybe… 

Monday – legs and booty, normally my favourite day… normally…

Anyway I look at Monday and realise we’ve stepped up a gear and my legs don’t appear to be co-operating!

I mean seriously look at this! – 


8 minutes!!!! Three times!!! 

And have you seen the height of that box!! I’m over forty, I’m a lot stronger than I used to be but still overweight and jumping has always been a struggle. 

As I don’t have a box I take a look at my bench… it looks about the same height as the box in the picture… I try to jump on it just to see… it’s not pretty, I hit my head on the low ceiling and nearly fall off, I decide that I can probably step up and down in reasonable safety but I’m not 100% convinced… 

Ok, health and safety checks complete I start… 

Walking lunges (with knee lifts) are brutal, followed by glute lunges and my legs are having none of it! 

I manage 30 reverse butterfly kicks and by now I’m dripping with sweat, Plank leg lifts are ok – by now ok means ‘omg my legs are on fire!’ I swap the running step ups for high knees due to the lack of a step… I manage 30.

Side kicks – done, but I think I may throw up.

I try the step ups onto the bench instead of box jumps but I’m so unsteady I do 10 before fearing for my life (aka face planting the wall) and moving to skipping… I’m so pleased my brother bought me a skipping rope for my birthday, not! 

I rest for three minutes and attempt it all again… the wall is hit, my legs don’t work, I don’t do the final set… I’m so glad tomorrow’s Tuesday!

Tuesday – yoga day, yey!!!! 

My husband wants to try a ‘do yoga with me’ video focusing on backs – my husband has a bad back and his chiropractor has said yoga can help.

I think I may have broken my wonderful husband… the intermediate class may be too much… don’t worry he’s fine, at least he is now! 

We’ve agreed to focus on balance next week! 

Wednesday – arms, abs and core.

Ok, other than it’s 3 lots of 8 minutes it doesn’t look too bad… ish…

Wrong again!!

Bench hops are ok although I don’t jump as high as the picture, I do jump though.

Leg lifts – the only way I can do these without my back arching is to put my hands under my bottom… I’m assuming this is ok, I check – it is. Chuffing hard still!

Point planks, I can do two in a plank the other four I’m on my knees, my balance really does need improving…

Push ups – I do the requisite number but they’re more dip downs than push ups!

And now another wall moment…

Side planks… I mean really how on earth do these work!! I can’t seem to get my body to do these, I struggle to do 10 out of the 40 and that’s a miracle! 

Butterfly kicks – sounds good so far – add a clap under the leg, yep there it is upping the ante… good grief they’re hard!!!

Bent over reverse flys, I do them with 1lb weights – they suggest 2-4 thankfully I don’t possess anything heavier and I have no intention of rectifying the situation! Squat cross jumps… I literally have zero energy… the 8 minutes has taken 9.5…

Repeat, twice… errr nope – I manage one more repeat.

Thursday – cardio

I now think this is my second favourite day after this week! 40 minutes of fast walking with the occasional run on Satan listening to my book – it’s getting quite good! It certainly takes my mind off the actual exercise!! 

Power Up Friday!

Box jumps, leg lifts, squat cross jumps and push ups… 6 minutes, twice…

Thank goodness this week is over, I have more than struggled, it’s the first time I’ve thought of giving up.

The exercises have stepped up considerably and I’m not sure how I can cope, I can do a cut down version and I’m certainly working I just don’t seem to be able to push myself enough to complete the sets in the time available…

I’m going to continue but I may need to go back a few weeks and I’m certainly coming to the conclusion that things would be easier if I dropped a few pounds… 

let’s see what next week brings…

Body Boss

Bodyboss – cycle 2, week 5!!

Su Melville7 Comments

Well this is a mixed week, my gorgeous son has returned home to the U.K. which always makes me a little sad as I miss my kids loads out here… but the summer flights are booked for my son, daughter and adopted daughter (well not in reality but she’s treated as a daughter so that counts in my book!) which gives me loads to look forward to and to plan, they have a one week overlap when there’re all here at the same time and I’ve always wanted to visit Dollywood – not sure how they will feel about this, they’ll never read this so I won’t know till we get there! Yes I know, but they would never go if I told them and I’m 100% sure once we get there they’ll love it!

There are also other exciting things happening, it helps that I’m the sort of person that gets excited over the littlest of things, we had a HelloFresh box delivered – now the idea behind this is to eat healthier and to take the planning out of meal times – it’s also getting us out of a meal time rut (you know what I mean here, you have about seven recipes that you just keep doing because after work and workouts the last thing you want to do is think what to have for tea).

I have to say we’re both very impressed, especially my husband as he does most of the cooking – he’s very good and so I’m quite happy being in charge of baking bread etc. 

The food is delicious and the recipe cards are ace too and each day is in a convenient box that you can pull straight out of the fridge!


So on with the week!

Monday – legs and booty followed by Spanish style Cod with chickpeas!
I still dislike Mondays hugely, but I know it’s just until I get going – so I get going!

Today could be worse… I don’t know why but I do struggle with the jumping exercises, Ski Moguls should be quite easy – nope, but I do them!

Mountain Climbers are also tricky due to there still being more ‘me’ in the way, preventing my knee getting near my elbow… I’m hoping with the heathy eating (note Not dieting) this should improve!

We also have a breakthrough…. I feel there should be a drumroll here… I hold the two point plank for 10 seconds!!!!!!! I am mega happy with that – I’m also mega shaking! But I did it! 

Tea is five star delicious, I wouldn’t have put chickpeas as a main carbohydrate in a meal, I will now though – yummy!

Tuesday – yoga day, with YogaClub outfit! 

My husband has kept to his word and set up the TV in the basement so that I can watch the ‘doyogawithme’ class on a big screen – I have to say it’s better than squinting at the iPad, it’s very difficult to do yoga and wear glasses – one head down dog and they’ve fallen off!

He has also joined me for class – apparently this is not so that he has a good view of my improving booty but so that he can learn to stretch – I’m not so sure… I’m just happy that he enjoyed it 😊 

I do love my yoga outfit – just saying as I’ve had the same workout gear for over seven years and have always thought that as long as it served the purpose then it would do. However it does make you feel so much better when you look nice! 

Creamy chicken pasta for tea – yum!!!!!

Wednesday – arms, abs and core….

Oh these are still the worst… push-ups – I’m still doing them on my knees rather than toes and I simply just don’t get them, I try but I just don’t. I’ve asked my husband to show me how he does them, this doesn’t help – mind you that may be due to our fluff ball dog proceeding to jump on him which was highly amusing! Upshot is I can still only dip down about three inches, however it’s still better than nothing – I ‘press’ on (sorry!!).

What I also don’t get is why you would follow tricep dips (I can now do these – hurrah) with Plank Rotations? I mean my arms are just, well, ooooowwwww!!!!! I delicately decend to the floor! 40, 20 each side… I manage 10.

Turkey Burgers for tea – totes delish, I do love turkey burgers anyway but these were really good and the chips were really nice too!

Thursday – cardio

Thirty minutes of dedicated me and Satan time… is it weird that I think I prefer the circuits? Circuits are much harder! 

I am enjoying my audio book which makes the time go faster and I am now in a walk four minutes run one minute cycle, which is a massive improvement from when I started!

Soy marinated steak for tea – along with a sneaky glass of red…. simply heaven!

Power-up Friday!!!! = another week complete!

I had to pop to the doctors today, don’t panic – totally routine, but while I was there I asked them to weigh me… 174lbs fully clothed which means that without dieting, (and trust me I have a ‘healthy’ appetite!) I have lost seven pounds! 

However we have Ski Moguls and Plank Rotations on the power-up circuit… but, check this video out… I can do Plank Rotations!! (It may have something to do with not doing tricep dips beforehand…).

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Right I now have ten minutes to make myself look like I’m not about to have a heart atack and head to the cinema – we’re seeing the latest Pirates of the Caribbean – you can’t beat a good dose of swashbuckling fun to start your weekend!

Body boss – week three!
Body Boss

Body boss – week three!

Su Melville2 Comments

Wow week three!! That means I have now been exercising five days a week for seven weeks – to say that’s an achievement is an understatement!!

Do I have a super fit body? No.

Am I fitting into my old clothes? No.

Do I feel fitter? Yes!

Will I keep going? Absolutely!!

This week is the next photo check point. I’m dreading this one as although I feel loads better and my shape is changing (the overhang on my lower tummy is very noticeably less – possibly more information than you need…) I do think that if I want to fit into my old clothes I may actually have to bite the bullet and diet… I know, I know, I have always vowed not to diet but I’m starting to think that I need to kick start me into the right place and that looks like it may involve a form of diet.

Naturally I don’t mean starve myself, I need plenty of energy to cope with these exercises! But more of an ‘eating healthier’ plan, cut out the pitta chips and avoid the office doughnuts sort of thing… or actually following the Body Boss instructions and avoid processed food – I’m not going down the avoid alcohol road though, these health things need to be done in moderation and a glass of wine on a Friday and Saturday (ok and maybe Thursday) are the things that keep me marginally sane.

My son is home at the end of this week, did he notice a difference? No – but then he is a boy and they’re not exactly known for their observational skills. 

So week three – bring it on!!

Monday:

Totally love the leg and glute days! Apart from frog jumps, I’m not keen on frog jumps… my basement is six frog jumps long however the low ceiling may become an issue when I get better at them!

Tuesday:

Please be yoga, please be yoga…. yes it’s not a challenge day, yoga it is!!

I’ve discovered a really cool looking yoga site that I want to try out called ‘do yoga with me’ it’s got a beginners video called ‘better balance’ with Melissa Krieger – after last week I figure I need this…

Oh my that was really difficult – half moons need some serious balance – but so good! 

I love the way the program flows and the half hour went so quickly! I feel balanced, calm and genuinely really good 😊 I will do that one again, I may even persuade my husband to join me next week.

Wednesday:

Oh dear Arms, Abs and Core day…

Push ups on an incline – still not good with these, I don’t think I’ve improved since the last time, only three inch dips… better than one though and I still have a horrid cough thanks to tree allergies so once that goes I may get better?

Butterfly kicks – can totally do these!

V sit-ups – not balancing in between the sit-ups but I can do v sit-ups! Ok not 25 of them but I’m up to 15!!! 

Down Dog V Press – hmmm I’m not totally sure I’m doing these right… help required – please! 

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Mountain Climbers – I like these, even though my knee doesn’t get near my elbow due to my tummy getting in the way!

Shoulder Fly – these should be easy, I’ve only got one pound weights! However thanks to all the previous exercises my goodness these hurt!!!!!

Sumo Squats – compared to the previous exercises these are positively nice…

Thursday:

Cardio day! I’m liking cardio days, fast walking and the occasional jog (I know this is getting to be a habit!) while listening to my latest book on audible, at the moment it’s ‘The Elementals’ by Michael McDowell, I like reading lots of different novels in all genres, this is a really slow moving book which fits in with the southern setting and well written, I’m intrigued to know where it’s heading… subsequently twenty minutes fly by!

Power Up Friday!:

Yes I’ve made it to the end of another week! Oh no, Down Dog V Press and Frog Jumps… I have a feeling I’m not going to manage too many reps… I needn’t have worried – this week we have to do it twice!! Eeek!

Picture times – more of the reckoning.

Ok these are from week zero, week four of pre-training and this week. In that order. Lets see how this goes – fingers crossed…

  

  

  
Well I’ll be! I really don’t notice the difference on a day to day basis but the photos do seem to prove that it’s working! 

I’m really, really chuffed – I couldn’t see the change until I posted the pictures side by side on here… it’s certainly an incentive to keep going!

Inches result: hmmmm no inch change in the last three weeks but then I do think I’m changing in other areas so let’s see what happens if I watch what I eat for the next few weeks…

Cycle Two – Step Up next… not sure about the step up bit but bring it on!