Workout #2 oooo (in my Pleasure P voice)

So I had to get another workout in today because I didn't want to come home and just sit. And I think my body is REALLY going to hate me in the morning. Of all things I wanted to run bleachers...why I have no clue. I hated doing bleachers in college, why in the world would I want to do them now? For the simple fact that they were calling me. I heard them beckoning, calling my name, and I oblige lol What was I thinking...who knows. But I do know this, tomorrow's run is not going to be pretty. Probably another tear streaked face type deal...but I can say I did conquer the beast today :o) Hoorah lol

With tears streaming down my face.....

I finished my first run since April this morning. My body fought me the whole way, but I only stopped 3 times to walk for a couple of feet. Which isn't too bad, kind of excited about the new starting point. I know I will keep progressing. And I've also decided I like running in the morning :-) Oh yeah, the best motivation is my brother. He's my new running partner!!

Cleared to run!!!

I am cleared to run!!! Peak flow is good ( I can breath yay!!) and the doctor encouraged running to help move the rest of the gunk in my lungs. So....today I am going to run!!! Oh yeah and for all those who like to complain that black women don't like to workout ........

Starting over!!!

Today I worked out!!! I've finally started. I am still a little winded from the bronchitis but I was determined to finish my workout for the day. So here it is:

Warm-up
5 rounds: 20 military squats, 20 crunches, 15 walking lunges, 20 crunches, 20 standing calf raises, and 20 crunches.
Cool down stretching

I feel really shaky but that's normal for the first day back. Tomorrow I plan to do arms and next week I can hopefully incorporate some cardio. Not going to start running just yet but probably the bike or elliptical.

No Bueno....UPDATES about the non working out

Okay so to all my readers....I really want to apologize for the lack of posts. It has not been on purpose. Since the last post my workout regime has been cut to ZERO!!! The past month I have suffered from bronchitis TWICE as well as a long and successful track season for my athletes, and just a crazy end of a school year. Hopefully I can get cleared by the doctor to start some type of physical activity next week, but I really doubt it. At least I can finally walk from my bedroom to my living room without becoming winded (yes, it's really like that smh). So until then I wish you guys the best in your workouts, stay motivated and keep up the good work .

No workouts this week unfortunately

This week and part of next week there will be no workouts. I have to focus on getting my athletes through the district track meet.

Blogs will continue on April 14, sorry guys :-(

Retraction: I can still get a workout in during track meets

So last well I wrote a post about how track meets were bad for my health because I couldn't get a workout in on those days to save my life.

Well I was wrong. Yesterday I had the best cardio since I've been working out. I got in about four miles in one day!! Want to hear about, well here it goes:

The walk from the van to the stadium is about a mile, and there are hills. So the first mile came walking to the stadium. The second and third mile came when I had to RUN to the van and back (hills and all) because one of my athletes left her uniform in her bag in the van. Then the forth mile came with the walk back to the van to leave.

So I have to retract that blog. Lord I got a workout yesterday. And today I don't want to move, but it's finals day and I have to get a little pep in my step. Not only do I have to motivate myself but I have athletes who depend on me to MAKE them believe in their own abilities and themselves. Here we go!!

Not quite a runner's high...almost but not really

I HIT TWO MILES TODAY!!!! As you can see I'm very excited about that. Remember at the beginning I said was going to base my progress on how I feel....and I'm starting to feel really good. I know I have a ways to go but I truthfully feel great. The stress I used to feel isn't as nagging as it was before. I can almost run at top speed (emphasis on the word ALMOST). I'm not as tired and have a lot of energy (well except when it's zapped by the sun and track meets). I didn't do anything else after I hit the two mile mark, did a quick cool down and started getting some house work done. I'm happy and I'm really feeling an obligation to continue being active. Notice I didn't say a world class athlete (been there, done that), I don't want to be super woman anymore. I just want to be able to walk up three flights of stairs without being winded or keeping up with my 4x4 team as they run in the finals and I have to cheer them on at each corner (coaches know what I'm talking about). I from this day plan to keep moving!!! No matter how hard the day or how I feel, I'm going to keep it moving :o)

Running...how I miss thee

Today was a great run!!! I did a mile and a half in less time I ran my mile yesterday. I'm getting back slowly but surely. I have to rush today's posting because I have to go to bible study, so here goes:


Workout: Today I ran a mile and a half in 13:27, which I haven't done, outside, in a very long time. I added a couple of abs and pushups because I'm kind of in a rush.

Reaction: I think I'm getting my running legs back, not up to sprinting yet but I do feel great running again. Still working in the pushups though, my upper body strength isn't what it used to be. I also have to remember I'm not trying to be what I used to be *coughworldclassathletecough* lol I just want to feel good physically.


I'm proud of myself and the progress I'm making. Staying motivated and not letting the little things throw me off. I can also say my stress level is reducing which makes a high school teacher (this girl right here) very happy lol. Hoping you are still motivated and keeping up your work as well :o)

Mondays......the devil's most evil workout day

Mondays.......that's all that needs to be said. I already despise Mondays, because I'm never really ready for them. But you add a workout to it and I'm done. Mondays have never been a great workout day for me, even in college. I just never really feel prepared for it. It's like I know it's coming but I just can't get myself ready for it lol. My attitude is all wrong, my body really hasn't recovered from the track marathon week, and I guess the feelings of my athletes kinda rubbed off on me as well. Needless to say you can imagine how my workout went.....so here it goes:

Workout: 1 mile around the neighborhood in 14:30 (so terrible) I haven't ran this slow since I was recovering from my achilles reconstruction. I was winded and just overall not enthused to run. I followed it up with a bunch of plyos (that I don't feel obligated to name) that kind of made up for the poor running.

Reaction: I'm just tired and stressed but tomorrow is another day and another workout. I am going to try to bring a better attitude and press forward :o) I guess I just have to encourage and motivate myself to keep it going.

TRACK MEETS GET IN THE WAY OF MY HEALTH !!!!

Kind of frustrated today. I didn't get a true workout in this weekend because I had a marathon track meet weekend. The last good workout I got in was Thursday :o( Track season is killing my workout schedule!!! I can't make excuses, I just have to make time to get it done. Friday and Saturday I probably walked a total of 4 miles from the bus and I got some stair work in on the bleachers at Rice. Not much, but I still have to consider it as some type of physical activity just to help me keep a mind to move. Today is my rest day and tomorrow we get back to hitting it pretty hard. Hopefully I run on track meet days this week (keeping my fingers crossed). But for right, at this moment, I'm frustrated and tired. Motivation is no where in the mix right now....I need help people!! Any suggestions?

Day 6 still going strong!!!

It doesn't seem like it's been five days, but it has and my motivation is coming back slowly. After Tuesdays beasty workout I started to find my inner athlete again. I'm pretty excited. So excited that I made sure I woke up and ran this morning!!! Shocker right?!? I haven't had the desire to do that in a very long time. I figured since this is my ultimate track week (four nights of track in a row...hooray...) I should try to get some kinda of physical activity in so that I won't lose momentum. So after only hitting the snooze button once I got up and ran.  It was only 20 minutes but I got it done and I got it in.


Today's workout: 20 min. run on the treadmill all up hill and 5 minutes of an ab circuit

Reaction: I got it done, I only rested twice this time but I'm getting better. The abs sucked but I need to get those in as well. Not my best workout day, but also not my worse. I'll be doing a workout call "Drop and Give Me 20" tomorrow morning....that's not going to be fun at all.


Remember if you have any questions about my workout or anything about my experience, please don't hesitate to email me at jstrickland82@gmail.com. Keep moving and stay motivated :o)

I finally BEASTED a workout!!!!

TODAY WAS THE BEST WORKOUT EVER!!! I finally had a great day of working out that I am proud of. I didn't punk out, I just grinded and got it done. I have missed this feeling!!! I used to get it when I was competing, that one workout day when I would either beast a weight (max out) or just kill a horrible circuit workout that our evil coach (sorry Halter) would make up in order to kill us. Today's workout left me with that feeling and it hopefully it will be like this from here on out.

Today's workout:

Cardio: 20 min. on the treadmill for 1.8 miles and it was a really hard interval program with hills for the majority of the run.

Workout: 3 rounds of 20 seconds of an exercise with 10 sec rest. The exercises all used dumbbells: bent over rows, lunges, front raises, pushups, side lunges, sumo squats, and tricep raises.


Reaction: FREAKIN BEAST MODE!! (sorry) That's how I felt about the whole workout. I did only use 5 lb. dumbbells for the exercises but they did get heavy around the third round. This workout is going to help me get back into the groove. Yesterday was such a let down and today was just what I needed. So if you guys are praying, I guess God is hearing all of us together (THANK YOU JESUS!!). Remember if you have any questions please let me know and I will send you my workouts or just an encouraging word. I promise to continue my post and stay positive through out all of this. I WILL GET MY ACTIVE LIFESTYLE BACK!!!

Sunday workout...whoomp whoomp

Okay I finally made myself move today. Nothing big, just a little yoga to get the juices flowing. I'm still not over the whole break-in thing. I'm not scared, just really annoyed and frustrated. Going to try to get a hard workout in tomorrow and use some weights. This should release this built up aggression I have (hopefully).

Hope you guys are keeping active. I know it gets tough, but keep moving. Just persevering through the tough times can make working out easier and easier as the days go on. Good luck and stay motivated.

Unexpected rest day caused by an unexpected violation

Well no working out for me today. Some unforseen circumstances have caused me to take a day off. Okay I'm just going to tell it, I was robbed yesterday while I was at work. Not really fair because I was in the groove but I will resume tomorrow morning before church. Until then y'all please pray for me, because I really can't stand a thief. Especially those who steal from you while you're working hard.....oh well we shall resume tomorrow.

Third Day Blues

Okay today was my third day of working out and I did not want to do it. My legs and booty are crazy sore and my feet hurt. I think that's the worst pain in the world...foot pain!!! No matter how many ibuprofen you take it still sucks because it's the part that holds all your weight.

Back to the workout, okay today's workout took about 16 minutes. I didn't add the running today because I have to get ready for a track meet, but a lot of the exercises required cardio and strength.

Here's the workout of the day:

8 rounds of: Jumping jacks, walking lunges, froggy jumps (butt was screaming by this time), and     mountain climbers (the things my athletes complain about)


Timing intervals: each exercise was done for 20 seconds with a 10 second rest in between.

Reaction: I can do this but since I'm sore from the other workouts I complained a lot to myself. My calves and hamstrings really didn't like me after this one, but I plan to do it again. I really like the interval stuff because it keeps me moving and working without me losing concentration. Usually when I run for long distance I get totally side tracked and lose focus during the run, even though I'm listening to music. So I think interval training is definitely for me, plus it reminds me of college track days. My goal is to hopefully get in good enough shape so I can start INSANITY without dying on the first day.


Please remember leave a comment in the comment section and have your friends join in!! Once again I need all the help I can get because this is going to be tough. If you have any questions about how to do a certain exercise, please feel free to send me an email jstrickland82@gmail.com, I'll be happy to send you pictures and explanations. Have a great day and let's keep moving :o)

Let the Battle Begin

Okay new blog to keep me committed.

In an unfortunate turn of events, I have come to hate working out. I don't know exactly when this happened, but I can equate the change in my work schedule with the lack of motivation to workout. I used to get so much joy out of the burn, sweat, pain and payout. Now I'm lucky if I can make it through a simple 20 minute workout. So hopefully those of you who are reading this can help me stay on point. I know how to back away from the table, but know it's time to learn to love the burn again.

So I have decided to post my different workouts on this blog to keep me motivated. It will be tough, I'm not going to lie. This is the time in track season when we begin to travel and it's hard to get a workout in while staying in a hotel and having to get to a track meet at the butt crack of dawn. But I have to try. Physically I am in great shape. No high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood sugar. But I don't want to give my body a chance to even try to get to that point. So......here's today's workout:

Power  ups and downs- a combination of plyometrics, abs and push ups (this crap hurt)
Each exercise took 50 secs without a break in between. The exercises were as followed (2 rounds of each) squat jacks, squats with raised arms, side lunges, supermans, jumping lunges, v-sit crunches, squat jumps, dolphin pushups (from hell) single leg squats, squat thrust (another evil thing), flutter kicks, jog on spot, then a yoga type cool down.

Reaction: I made it through both rounds but only did about 40 seconds of each exercise (I am so out of shape) I'm hoping when I do this again next week I can actually do all 50 seconds of each exercise. It was hard and I'm not happy with my cardio level at the moment. SO...next week I'll be punishing myself with some good old running to get this heavy breathing under control. I'm hoping 2 weeks from now my body gets used to moving again. If not I'm in for a long hard summer :o(

Please feel free to join in my challenge, and don't be afraid to comment. I need all the encouragement I can get right now.