Tabata Bootcamp

This week, I've begun an eight week program called Tabata Bootcamp at Positively Fit Lake Highlands. The instructors are Mallory Dubuclet and Ann Marie Sager. These two women are so inspiring and dedicated to helping their clients make healthy choices. I love them.

Basically this eight week program is about helping me tone my body, re-energize my life and drop some weight.  At the very least, it's a lot of fun. If you aren't familiar with the term "tabata", here is some quick info:

A Tabata is the name of a particular type of workout program that provides similar health benefits to that of cardio workouts, but Tabata has a bit more kick to it. Instead of hours upon hours of exercise, a Tabata can be completed in 4 minutes. Tabata falls under the category of high intensity training or high intensity interval training.

The basic outline of the Tabata training method are as follows:
• 4 minutes long (whole Tabata Session)
• 20 seconds of intense training
• 10 seconds of rest
• Total of 8 sessions or rounds

There is a great article at Shape.com about Tabata workouts if you'd like more information. (Read it HERE.)

The program that I am participating in is called Tabata Bootcamp. It's an all inclusive eight week jump start that involves live classes with the instructors at Positively Fit Lake Highlands, online workout videos and motivational videos, as well as a website that keeps track of my progress, my workouts, my food, my stats and my success. This website can be accessed by me and also by the instructors who can interact with me throughout my day and help me stay on track.  It's kind of awesome.

So this is what I'm doing in addition to my whole foods diet to feel better and get fit this fall. All of this will help me get in shape for my first ever half marathon in February. It will also help me combat the holiday food season, which usually involves me eating enough food to feed Libya. It's going to be a great eight weeks and I'll of course keep you posted about the pitfalls and progress!

Taking the Cure

My whole body is revolting against me. I carry a 31 pound kid around for hours and hours during the day.  He can't walk or crawl and when I put him down he gets frustrated with his immobility and screams at me. The result is that my body is horribly misaligned and it feels like my hips and shoulders are becoming unhinged.

Today I went to boot camp. The first class of the month is always a physical assessment, which involves running a mile for time.  With my body in a state of rebellion, I was sure that running was going to do me in.  At first I was in a lot of pain - my joints and ligaments were all out of tune.  But after the first few minutes, they began to loosen and even glide. By the half mile mark I was in a rhythm and the pain dissipated. Tonight my jangled bits of body are aching again, but my hour at boot camp afforded me a little break.

A reader (Amber) recently asked me about my game plan for yanking my tired butt out of the "doldrums".  She wanted to know how I was going to "kick it up a notch".  Great question, Amber, and THANK YOU for keeping my on track.  I've got a few ideas and here they are:

1) Reread some of the health literature that got me started on the raw foods in the first place. This includes "The Raw Detox Diet" by Ms. Rose.

2) Get back in a 3 day a week boot camp rhythm.  The key is to just show up.

3) I've joined a "Biggest Loser" competition through my local mom's group. A group of us have pitched in 5 bucks each and the woman who loses the largest percentage of body weight (Sept. 11 - Dec. 4) wins the pool.  I did it in the Spring (and won) and it was a huge motivator.

4) Start every day with green juice again - not just 3 or 4 days a week.  Every. Day. Of. The. Week.  Green juice always makes me feel amazing!  And it curbs my appetite all morning long.

5)  I'd also like to plan a 10-day juice fast again - possibly in October.

6) And finally, this is the first time in a year that I have not been signed up for a 5K.  I think I need to find a race and register.  I tend to better adhere to my running schedule when I've got a race coming up.

So, there are my thoughts.
Now let's hear yours!

Positively Fit

As most of you know, I attend boot camp classes at Positively Fit Lake Highlands in Dallas, TX.  Its a back yard style boot camp taught by Mallory Mansour Doubuclet. As you can tell from my previous posts, I love attending these classes and count Mallory's amazing work-outs as one of the key factors in my recent weight loss.

Mallory just sent her clients the new summer schedule with some exciting new additions.  Since so many of you Dallas-area readers have inquired about my exercise routine, I thought I'd post Mallory's note and her new schedule. PFLH is a fantastic investment and with the free child care co-op and variety of class times, there are no more excuses. Come join me as I endeavour to work off my last 25 pounds!

Note from Mallory:

Hi Friends!
 
I’m excited to announce the addition of three new instructors bringing their classes to Positively Fit Lake Highlands: 

You asked for an early morning boot camp, and you’ve got it! LHAECPTA mom Ann Marie Sager will begin teaching boot camp as an intern on July 2.  Her classes will be from 5:45-6:40 AM Mondays and Wednesdays. Your workouts will be a collaborative effort between the two of us as she trains to be a group exercise and Pilates instructor. 

Lake Highlands mom, trainer, and yoga instructor Christi Jiannino will begin teaching Power Yoga in the studio every Tuesday and Thursday from 6-7 AM beginning July 3. 

Lake Highlands mom and yoga instructor Julie Upton will teach Yoga Flow every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 AM – 12 PM beginning THIS Tuesday, June 19. This Tuesday’s class is FREE, and I have a parent volunteer in the childcare co-op who can watch your kids, also for free.  If you’ve never tried a class with me, come for boot camp at 10 for a FREE trial class and stay for yoga! 

Please fill out the informed consent forms from my website at www.positivelyfitlakehighlands.com, shoot me an email if you get the chance to let me know you are coming (optional), and show up with yoga mat and water, ready to burn some calories! 

Men and Women and Young Adults over the age of 14 with parental consent are welcome! 

Positively Fit Lake Highlands Summer Schedule

For more information 

visit Positively Fit Lake Highlands on Facebook.

Don't Forget to Smile

I've learned a few small lessons since beginning my walking regimen.  They're not revolutionary - they're just little tid-bits about the nature of exercise.  Initially, I thought that waking up in the morning and going for a power walk would get easier as the days wore on.  Which brings me to my first drop of knowledge: 

1.  It doesn't get easier.  You just get better.


I also thought that while on this journey, I'd be doing battle with my conflicting desires.  Namely these two desires: "I don't feel like going out for exercise" and "I want to stay home and eat something sweet".  This is what I've learned:

2. I almost always regret eating something sweet.  I never regret going for a power-walk.


The other thing that I've discovered (yogis have known this for centuries) is that smiling makes everything seem better and easier.  When I'm feeling a little burnt out or exhausted, the simple act of smiling releases endorphins and relaxes my muscles so that I can push through the tough spots.

3. Don't forget to smile.

P.S.  Today's play list was Journey.  I've been having trouble with my ear buds staying in my ears.  They keep wriggling out and I am constantly adjusting them.  I feel so silly, like a 13 year old girl who always messes with her hair. This came to a head today when I ran a half mile of my walk.  The running exacerbated the issue and made me realize, I need to invest in some proper sized ear buds.