Bikram 30 Day Challenge

On Monday, I started a 30-day challenge: Bikram yoga every day for 30 days.* I would like to chronicle the experience here, even if I do so sporadically.

Monday, on the heels of two trips last week, I was not feeling particularly energetic or enthusiastic. Not the best way to begin "Bikram30." As with any class where I go in thinking it's going to be a terrible day, I actually had a really satisfying 90 minutes on the mat. Jaime even told me that I was looking "so bendy stretchy" in Standing Bow Pulling Pose (after which she suggested an adjustment that helped me bend more but also made the pose more challenging...).

All day Tuesday I looked forward to yoga, since I'd had a great practice the day before. And as with any class where I come in with a bit too much confidence and not enough humility, I struggled all 90 minutes. I even fell out of the last Standing Bow Pulling Pose, which reminds me that every day is different. I have to be patient with myself, because improvement is a long game. I might feel great about a pose one day only to struggle with it the next.

Today is Day 3, the 10% mark. I feel exhausted, so I'm trying to treat myself kindly today. I am looking forward to practice this afternoon, but I know it will not be easy because I'm already tired.

In addition to Bikram30, I've also been watching my food and water intake. Fuel is important if I'm going to survive 2700 minutes of hot yoga in the next 4 weeks. My bikini-modeling friend suggested the "if it fits your macros" style of eating, which has been great so far. Within my calories for the day, 40% protein, 35% carbs, and 25% fat is the goal; the MyFitnessPal app has been a really great tool for meal planning and tracking what I eat. I'm also trying to drink a gallon of water each day - and if you know me, you know that is a challenge. So far so good.

Though I have gotten 8+ hours of sleep every night this week, I still feel quite spent. I hope this has more to do with recovering from my two big trips last week and adjusting to back-to-back yoga days. I don't think I'll make it 30 days if I continue to feel this drowsy!

These are my thoughts and observations from the beginning of the journey. Here's hoping I will make it to day 30!


*You are allowed to miss up to 3 days, but to make up for it, you must do 2 classes per day for each day you miss. Yikes.

First Goal Met

Just wanted to let you know that after about 10 weeks of going to the Y 4-5 times a week, mostly doing Bikram and spinning, I am now able to wear the first of my two "threshold" outfits -- a light coffee-colored suit with an orange pinstripe. I have two suits that were previously unwearable, and this is the roomier of the two. It's perfect timing for this orange-flecked ensemble, because the first Auburn game is tomorrow. War Eagle!!!

Now... when I am able to comfortably wear the brown suit with the ecru dashed pinstripe... then I will be to my goal size (notice how weight has nothing to do with the equation).

Hello Out There

So, it's been a while since I have posted (here or at my main blog). Sorry. I have been busy with job and summer weekends at the lake and job. Here's the update:

(1) I'm really excited that LizaJane has reversed her blog suicide and now has a new blog! Hi darling!! I miss you! Facebook stalking is not enough, I need the blog-stalking too! :^)

(2) I decided that P90X was total shit, because there is no way that I can motivate myself to do 60-90 minutes of intense workouts at my house 6 days a week, even with a buddy doing them at her own house, which makes me feel terrible about my lack of motivation and the dire outlook for ever getting back into shape.

(3) I joined the Y in June and immediately signed up for a locker (bonus: each locker comes with a mesh bag into which you can place dirty gym clothes to be washed and returned to your locker by the next day. Huzzah!). Forking over $65 a month is motivating. Plus, there is a branch 2 blocks from my office, and 2 brances within a mile of my house. No excuse not to go!

(4) The Y is good. I have exercised 4-5 per week, ever week since joining. That is because Work Friend is also a Y member, and we make plans to either meet there for the pre-work spin class or walk over together after work. Also, Boss and Work Friend's Boss go to hot yoga at lunch 3 days a week, and we have started going with them.

(5) I am in love with and addicted to Bikram Yoga.

(6) I have pulled out the one brown suit that I have not been able to wear since pre-California bar exam, and I am getting close! That's my target. Not the pounds lost (although that's nice too). Not the muscle tone (although I do really enjoy that). I will know I am there when I can comfortably wear the brown pencil skirt (with kick-pleating in the back) with fitted jacket.

(7) I have also started shopping exclusively at Whole Foods, and I am trying to eradicate all processed, non-organic foods from my diet. This has been a very successful (and tasty) experiment, and one that makes a dramatic difference in the way I feel! Hooray for whole foods (and Whole Foods)!

Night Owl

Sorry I haven't posted an update in a while. It's hard to find time for the workouts, let alone the blogging about the workouts!

So, I did P90X half-heartedly for several weeks, trying to figure out how to fit it into my schedule without killing myself. I am now in the middle of week 2 of earnest P90X dedication, and it's working well. Here's the trick:

I have switched to doing the workouts at night.

It's harder to motivate myself to do them at night, but I am able to do so many more reps without feeling like I might vomit, because I have more energy than in the morning!

So far so good. There are several of us at work doing it, and one of my friends has started an email chain so we can cheer each other on. That's very helpful and keeps me accountable!

Also... ab ripper x is busting my chops! Besides ballet, I have never done anything that worked ALL of my abdominal muscles so fully! Especially those lower and side muscles! Bring on bikini season (well, in a few weeks...) :)

So there's the quick update. Remember, children of Tony, do your best and forget the rest! Bring it!

Day Two Was Actually Fun!

Today we did Plyometrics -- aka, all manner of jumping. I felt like I was shaking my whole house, and I could just hear the echoing below the hardwood floors. But I did keep my heartrate well into the optimal burn zone the whole hour! And I only skipped or watered down a couple of things... one because I just couldn't figure out how to do the move. Practice! I think I'm going to feel all that bouncing in my calves tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow, we will do Arms & Shoulders + Ab Ripper X. Considering that after Monday, my arms and abs are still feeling it (not sore so much as just making their presence known) it could be interesting...

The Ritz with peanut butter was a good fueling option this morning. Just enough to get me going without weighing me down (or making me vomit), so that's good to know.

I'm just going to keep pushing play, doing my best, and forgetting the rest! Cheers!

Well, I Survived Day One

Aw, yay! Turns out I do still have some checker-inners out there in the ether! *waves hello at the TLS ladies!* I've missed y'all!

Day One = Chest & Back + Ab Ripper X

Chest & Back:

Pushups (on the knees, not the toes): 12 of each kind, every time
Pullups (using the resistance band over the door until I can do pullups): 25 of each kind, every time
Weights (10 lbs each hand): 15 reps for everything

Ab Ripper X:

Barely survived, skipped a couple of the exercises to avoid passing out (we all do the same number of reps so not much to report except general impressions)

I think that's everything. A lot of today was just figuring out how to use the new equipment and how to pace myself. I can push harder next week, because I'll know what to expect!

I also learned that getting up in the morning for a 30 minute jog on an empty stomach or with just a cup of juice or granola bar in me = no problem. But getting up in the morning for a 1.5 hour intense weight-lifting (and let's be honest, pretty aerobic) exercise session on the same fuel = not ok! I have to figure out how to sufficiently fuel up (without getting up any earlier than 5 a.m., and without eating bananas 'cause I don't like 'em) so that I won't feel lightheaded by the time ab ripper X comes around! Today I tried a protein-type bar + gatorade. Tomorrow (and more importantly, Wednesday) I will try Ritz with peanut butter + gatorade. Hoping for a miracle food.

I'm not feeling too sore this evening, though I am sure I will feel it tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, in the morning I'll be doing Plyometrics. It's only an hour. Bring on the cardio!

Oh, and Courtney is doing fine too. We are both still trying to get used to the program. And we are both depressed that we can't do a pullup, so we are determined to keep up with this program at least until we have conquered that much! :^)

Starting P90X

Probably nobody visits this blog anymore, and I understand why. I have not been consistently active, much less blogged about it, in a while. But I'm about to take the 90-day P90X challenge, and I need a place to document my progress. Maybe it's ok if nobody is reading anymore. :)

To keep myself accountable, I am starting P90X with a friend of mine from work, Courtney. She is a first year associate at the firm also, and we are both looking to be more fit and toned, and hopefully not too utterly beaten up by the workouts before us! I don't know about her, but my goal is to not feel super self-conscious at our firm retreat in September -- where there is the possibility of boat outings and pool lounging.

With that goal in mind, here are the (rather depressing) results of my pre-P90X fitness test.

Resting Heartrate: 68 bpm

Pullups: 1/4 (pathetic, I know)

Vertical Leap: 9 inches

Pushups: 7 (real, on the toes pushups; but probably not getting down close enough to the ground)

Flexibility: -6 inches (for a former dancer, that's pretty bad)

Wall Squat: 1 minute 7 seconds

Bicep Curls: 15 (10 pounds in each hand)

Ab Test (In & Outs): 28

Heartrate Immediately after Jump & Jacks: 189

Heartrate One Minute Later: 153

Heartrate Two Minutes Later: 136

Heartrate Three Minutes Later: 121

Heartrate Four Minutes Later: 113

Hopefully all of those measurements will improve over the next 90 days!

P90X offers a full diet plan and everything, but I don't know how much of the diet I am going to attempt. My goal is to eat healthier (no sodas, less processed foods, more fresh homecooked meals, more veggies, more water) and just see what happens.

Ready to bring it first thing tomorrow morning! Wish me luck!