The Shrinkage Diaries: My Version of Working-Out

Dear Figure,

       You have the right to remain silent during this post, because today I'm not talking to you at all (we're not speaking, 'member?) but to the other girls who have been lurking about asking just with what am I battering you into being? In short, what sorts of exercises have I been doing?

Well, there's several levels to this. First off, I'm a firm believer (and have discovered this by trial and error...mostly error.) that fresh air is an important part of feeling fit and fabulous. You can treadmill all day, you can do a Pilates workout, but till you are out in the sunshine and fresh air, you're not gonna feel very energized. So, one of my most common things to do is to take a long, brisk walk outside. Nothing fancy, but I try to keep my buttom tucked and my stomach in. The usual loop I do is about 4 miles. It takes me about an hour...maybe a tidge longer, depending on if my shins are hurting or not. No, don't freak out. I don't have anything wrong with my shins (that I know of) it's just that one of them has been hurting rather a lot and makes it uncomfortable to walk quickly for long distances. (I do it anyway.) One trick I've found to the whole "long walk" thing is this:

When you think you are finished, go a little further.

Passing your house? Take one more quick loop around the neighborhood. I live way out in the country, but there are a few roads that make a triangle, and are each about a quarter of a mile in length. Often I'll add an extra loop around the triangle, adding nearly a mile to my walk just with that little effort. So walking is great for overall health and fitness, but I have major issues with several areas on my body that walking just isn't fixing fast enough for my preference. ;) My bum has shrunk, yes, but other areas I wanted to focus on. (i.e. my non-existant abs and my jiggly arms.)

For a while I was doing some Marine Corps arm exercises that Abigail taught me from her brother's Good ol' days at boot-camp. I couldn't find any instructables for these, so I can't share them here, but they are called "Sungods" and "Chain-breakers" so ask your closest Marine if he knows how to do them. ;) But I was soon rather tired of the monotony of just sitting there, and then my dear friend Julia showed me a series of Youtube videos that I am now a sworn fan of. They are part of a series called "Blogilates" done by a woman named Cassey Ho who is just so peppy and encouraging that you feel as skinny as she is before the workout has even begun. The workouts are balanced, healthy, and fairly easy in a ouch-that-hurts-but-golly-it's-good-for-me kind of way. Some of them are even done to music. :D You can find printouts for lots of her workouts here.

I did some of this one this morning..... Ouch. :D 

My favorite videos (that I've tried) are:

The Official Prom-Dress Workout

(Fairly easy, but watch out for the leg circles. Ouch.)

Call Me Maybe Squat Challenge

(Trying this is just a couple minutes)

That's What Makes You Bootyful workout. 

(Following it up with this if I'm not dead. ;)

I will warn you and say that she wears work-out clothes and some of her outfits (as in the Bootyful workout) are not guy-friendly. I personally don't have a problem working out with these videos as I'm totally dying there on the floor and not even paying attention. But I would advise against doing these while brothers are around. :D  Still, I have found these workouts to be fun, quick, and effective.

Though my arms are still very jiggly, I am already seeing definition between the Marine workouts and these videos. Hurrah! I am adding sit-ups to my routine as well, because I realized yesterday that I honestly have no stomach muscles. Really. It's pitiful. So I am on a roll to change that,  because I consider stomach muscles essential to life as a Mama. (someday)

Another thing Mama does (and that I do rather often as well) are a series by Teresa Tapp called T-Tapp. They are workouts that focus on no-impact strength and core-training, and are really healthy and balanced as well. I love the fact that Teresa Tapp was a physical therapist so she knows what's what and how to align the body correctly and all that. These videos are such stress-relievers, and relatively quick. (Basic Plus takes 15 minutes.)

Basic Plus to Tempo

Step Away

Hit the Floor 

(synonymous with killer pain ;)

You can read up all about T-Tapp at the website....

Anyway, these are some of the things I have been doing and enjoying. We have an elliptical machine as well, but in a lot of cases I'd just rather go on a walk, but it is a great thing to have for rainy days, or the days you don't have enough time to go for an hour walk and have to get it done quickly.

My target-areas to work on in the next while are:

Abs
Arms
Legs

What are yours, and what sorts of exercises do you like to do? Plus, have any of you tried Zumba, and does it actually work besides being fun to do? :D

                     With Definitely Aching Abs and Thighs,

                                                                         Rachel

Feel the burn, people! ;)

My dearest, darlingest friends-and-relations:
      You may have noticed there is a slight strain to my voice as I speak to you. You may realize that my heart is pittering irregularly. You may have noticed, in short, that I am not myself. It is all the fault of my aching muscles which is all the fault of a splendid new exercise regime. It's called T-Tapp and it is extraordinary and I mentally love it, but my body hates me for it. At least right now. I am quite determined to continue on with it--after all, it's easy when I've got three sisters, a cousin, an Aunt, and Mama doing it with me. We are a hilarious bunch--imagine the Bennet girls with Aunt Phillips and Mrs. Bennet doing an exercise class and you'll pretty much have us. We laugh, we nearly cry, we tease each-other, we wollop about in a very strange-looking fashion, and generally wear ourselves out in a good way. During this new regime I have made two important discoveries:

Yes, I can do that. Can't you? ;)

• Discovery One: Rachel has no stomach muscles. Whatsoever.
• Discovery Two: It is quite possible to be sore in your chest and between your shoulders in such a way that your heart feels pinched. :P
• Discovery Three: I go about my exercise in an "Aha!" fashion--Aha! You, Body, thought you were getting away with something? Take that!

So there were three discoveries after all. All I can say is that this is feeling great--in my heart of hearts--and I suspect my body will accustom itself to this unaccustomed activity soon enough. :)