Here is my typical cardio routine that I do on the treadmill. The intervals are to Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway album so the pace is perfect and the mood is quite motivating.

walk to the gym- 5 min

Song 1- Warm up to speed 3.7
Song 2- Walk @ 3.7
Song 3- Walk @ 3.7 @ 11 incline
Song 4- Walk @ 3.7
Song 5- Run @ 5.5 or higher
Song 6- Walk @ 3.7 @ 11 incline (Sometimes I keep running through this song)
Song 7- Walk @ 3.7
Song 8- Run @ 5.5 or higher
Song 9- Walk @ 3.7
Song 10- Run @ 5.5 or higher
Next two songs walk and cool down

walk home from gym

All in all it's about 45 minutes round trip lol

Can't wait to hit the gym tomorrow!

Hope you enjoy your workout! :D

Overslept today and am still very upset about it becasue now I won't beable to exercise until Thursday :(

I love that album! Dance Party

That's awesome that you time your workout to songs. It sounds like it would be easier that way becuase you don't really have to count then.

I really love the idea of working out to the songs too! how did you think of that?

Well I love the treadmill becasue it keeps me up to speed and i started out just walking. But then some emotional stuff happened and i really felt it with the music. I was having a hard time dealing with anger...it is one emotion that has always been hard for me to express and in the past i usually just cried. Anyways, so I found the album and realized that certain songs brought different feelings out. When I got angry I ran, when I got sad walked and sometimes even cried right there on the treadmill lol. Eventually I naturally came to a routine. Today I don't cry on the treadmill, but it still seems to be the best way for me to deal with anger. I still use the same album, but i know I will eventually change it...probably when the papers are signed :lol:

Oh yeah...and I hit the gym yesterday morning!

poor gym :( I hope its ok. Lol Ya Im a nerd! :wacko:

I will have to check out that album!

I exercise to music too - I find it really helps keep me going. I haven't listened to that album yet but will check it out sometime. Hmm maybe we should start a thread for exercise music, including cool-down songs? :)

lol Kat!

Ok so I dug this thread out and started exercising again.

I went to my first class at the gym yesterday and man am I out of shape. It was a body pump class, which basically ment we lifted weights for an hour to music. It got my heart pumping and all my muscles were at failure by the end. I thought i started with a low enough weight, but i'm definitly going to go down to 2 lbs thursday when I go back.

I can barely move today which brings mixed emotions. On the high side it means that I worked out hard and am going down the right road. The negative of course is that I have so far to go.

Oh well...one day at a time. Tonight is a step class so we'll see how that goes. If i'm still too sore, I may just go and walk on the treadmill for a bit. I'm not sure if they use weights in this class, but if they do I will not be there as i can barely lift my arms to put my hair back in a ponytail.

Great job jaxx! :danceparty:

Ooo step aerobics, my favorite ! I would definately recommend to only use 1 riser on your step rather then two (if that makes sense). I have been at it for awhile and i never use 2 risers...it just makes it a lower impact workout. If you find it too easy then it is simple enough to add another riser next time. And also, if you get tired then just march in front of your step. Sorry if i sound like i'm lecturing you, just trying to give some helpful hints

:huggs:

Weight lifting is also great, but it definately takes time to build up muscles. I personally think it is a good sign that you are so sore todya...that means you tore your muscles and they are healing! If you really were in alot of pain during the class though, then you should decrease your weight. You want it to be a challenge but not so much that you are feeling as badly as you sound to be.

It also gets easier as time goes on, you get used to the burn and you won't feel totally sore after once you are used to the workout.

but you are doing fantastic! :congratulations:

Thanks Shy! No lecturing is being taken...to me it is all good advice! Keep it coming!

No step today, but I'm planning on doing body step thursday and if up to it body flow afterwards. The body flow class is yoga and pilates.

I am getting in a bit of "movement" cleaning my house today. I cleaned out my fridge, oven, and cupboards in the kitchen and am tackling the bathroom, cupboards and closets after dinner. Not much, but man each and every twist and bend is difficult.

Today I went to the gym a bit early for my class and walked on the mill for 10 minutes to warm up. Then I went to the Body Pump class! It was awesome and I loved it. The trainer was great, and since they change their routine often a lot of people were learning the new routine with me which made me feel more comfortable. I did chose the wrong step though. I guess there are two different ones and i unfortunately chose the higher of the 2 by accident so I spent a bit of time on the floor just learning the steps. I'll know next time though about the different bench and look for the one that lays flat on the floor so I can add risers during the appropriate times. :goodidea:

But other than that YIPEE!!! :happydance:

that's great HappyJaxx. I'm glad you had such a good time in the class.

That is wonderful Jaxx! :)

Sounds great Jaxx...glad you enjoyed it :bouncy:

awesome jaxx!

Nov 7th

40 mins on the mill
20 lifting

1 Hour Body Step class

Great Exercise today Jaxx, how are you enjoying the body step class?

It's going ok. I'm still not comfortable with the step, but they tell me that it will take 4 classes or so before that happens. I love to line dance and that sort of thing and I'm used to being more coordinated than I am in the class. It's kinda frustrating.

i'm sure you'll get used to it jaxx. Alot of the learning curve comes from getting used to the instructor and what they call different moves..once you are familiar with the steps it isn't nearly so bad. Also i try to position myself in the room so that i can see the instructor well...otherwise if i am way off to the side i will tend to get lost. It really depends on how good the instructor is at letting you know what is coming up next. Sometimes i just can't follow what they are doing. :huggs:

If you still are not enjoying it in a few classes then maybe it isn't the right workout for you..i think working out should be doing things you enjoy :D

I'm enjoying it so far. I think once i get the step part down it will be fine. Plus they use the same routine in all step classes for 6 weeks and then change it up again. They also have the basic moves video streamed on their website so that i can learn them before i go.

1 hour body step class!!! I did much much better today. I was stepping great up on the step and didn't get quite as lost. I'm having a hard time with lateral moves up on the step, but I'm sure it will come with time. I felt like i did 100% better today so i'm sure it will just get better and better!

I must rant a bit. Currently i'm around 223 and way out of shape. I know and fully understand this, but still find myself thinking bad thoughts in my head about the 130 pound girls in front of me, leaping gracefully on and off their step with 2-3 risers, barely misted with sweat, as i try my hardest not to break my neck as i struggle to get on and off my step safely, which is laying flat on the ground with no risers mind you, dripping sweat all over me, my step and my neighbors. It's something to look forward to...but man sometimes thinking about sitting on one of those 130 lb girls gets me through the track and on to the next.

disclaimer: if you are a 130 lb girl reading this :congratulations: ! I admire you! Don't worry...I won't think about sitting on you UNLESS you happen to be at my gym and in front of me during my step class of course ;)

Great Job on the exercise Jaxx!

lol jaxx! :lol:

first of all, i'm really happy you enjoyed your step class more today yay! :happydance:

i know it can be frustrating to see people who are more in shape then you seeming to have no trouble with a workout..however if they are leaping gracefully off the step and not sweating...those girls need to work harder! they should be doing the advanced moves...running the steps etc. However i think it takes awhile for a body to metabolize well during a workout, sweating is such a great sign!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

haha don't worry Jaxx, I may be one of those 130lb girls but I'll be right back there with you getting the steps all wrong and sweating! I have the most shocking co-ordination, you would be laughing at me! :lol:

Great job on the exercise Jaxx. I'm glad you are enjoying your class more now.

Those graceful 130 lb girls are one of the reasons I do not go to those classes, they intimidate me like you would not believe. I admore you for going at all so no matter how much you sweat and have difficulty with the steps just remember you are THERE and no matter what that is better than not being there.

Thanks ladies!

no exercise today as today is my day off ;) But I am planning to go to another step class thursday and then to bodyflow class after. So that'll be 2 hours on thursday. I'm sure I'll have more stories for ya after that body flow class. It's yoga, pilates and tai chi (sp?) all in one. can't wait to see that :lol:

Sounds interesting Happyjaxx. I prefer to do the pilates at home where no one can see how un-coordinated I am. :blush:

I'm expecting to fall over a couple of times :lol:

I really want to try this class to see if it relaxes my muscles a bit. i tend to be extremely tense most of the time. My favorite part of the step class is the stretching and stuff at the end, so i figured I'd give it a go.

Hope you enjoy the bodyflow class!

Personally i hate yoga :lol: the positions are just too crazy and i'm not overly flexible so i had trouble with it. Pilates is cool though, i found it very relaxing and if you have a good instructor they will give you different levels to work at...often times i couldn't do the advanced moves so i just stuck with the basic one and got a good workout . I miss going to it...

Tai chi sounds really fun too! Holding poses is much much harder then it sounds.

:lol: My flexibility is good - my balance - not so much...

60 min gym time...cardio and lifting!

I had planned on going to step and body flow tonight but my friend that i have been trying to get in to cut my hair had an opening this evening so i went for it. I figured that the 1 hour bodyflow class that was supposed to help me relax and center myself would be similar to treating myself to a hair cut and some time girltime with a great friend!

hehe i agree!

and you still got in an hour of exercise, good job! :danceparty:

1 hour body step class! :danceparty:

Nice Job, Jaxx. Maybe I will go do some pilates now... can't let my teammate down...

60 minute bodystep class! I really pushed myself to get some of the lateral moves that i have been doing on the floor. I can tell I'm getting more comfortable with the step and also stronger. I can really push myself during certain tracks, however it is leaving me a bit tired later on.

I also don't understand why people don't stay for the cool down :( it is one of my favorite parts. After kicking ass for an hour it is so great to lay on the floor and stretch everything out. It is so peaceful for me that i would never think of leaving early...it's probably the most relaxing part of my day:lol: