stretching

[Guest guest]

Today was supposed to be Firm Strength but one of my knees has been bothering me and I think a lot of it is because my leg muscles are very tight (every where else is too but that's what I'm really noticing) so I did Cool It Off (Debbie Siebers from the Slim in 6 workout series) instead. I decided yesterday I'd probably do this because I've just been so tired and stressed and not really enjoying my really intense workouts this week and when I got up this morning, facing a long to do list, I decided I really did need a recharge. I thought about doing The Firm Total Body Lite but really wanted the stretching more than anything else. I did Cool It Off one other time, at least a year ago, and didn't remember really liking it a lot so I haven't wanted to invest an hour in something I wasn't sure I liked but then again, I didn't feel like doing yoga and wanted a long stretch so I decided to give this another try. I'm glad I did. It isn't ooooh awesome but it was very good. Debbie is pleasant and has 2 backgrounders. The guy, Michel, is VERY flexible and the girl (don't remember her name) is not. Debbie is in between. Seeing the variety in their positioning was helpful since for some stretches I'm more flexible and for others I wonder if I've moved at all I'm so tight. The music is just there, not distracting but not really adding any obvious effect either. Debbie tells you what you're stretching and where you should feel it. She holds the stretches for quite a while, 20-40 seconds each. It doesn't sound like a lot but tell that to some of my muscles and they'll tell you something else. I still need even more in my hamstrings but didn't add on. I'd done the first workout from 10 Minute Solution Carb Killer ( Dozois) before the stretch to warm up (and did all of it with extra intensity, adding impact to most of the moves, the only way I can do that one now it seems). I had a lot to get done today and didn't want to add more time to the workout. One more thing I liked about this workout (which is now a keeper) is the Beachbody countdown timer. LOVED that when I was holding particularly tough stretches, it helped me hang in there.

After my workout I kept my HRM on (I'd burned about 185 calories between the cardio and the stretch) and immediately started doing housework max. I had my carpets cleaned this afternoon and they asked that I vacuum and move out furniture that I'd want off the carpet so I had to get all that done plus everything else because we're having 's family birthday party here Sunday and I'll be prepping food most of the day tomorrow. About 2 1/2 hours later I'd burned well over 400 calories and now my back feels like it could use a whole 'nother round of stretching! Oh well!

I'm glad I did the stretch video though. My knee does feel better and I noticed that I'm really feeling my abs lately too so it was good to have the break. I have Super Cardio down for tomorrow and might take the day off and finish a few small housework items plus do all the cooking. Another day to "rest" might do me good. I was feeling kind of burnt out from the high intensity workouts I think. I'm making a baked spaghetti casserole for Sunday's dinner and want to have it done enough to pop in the oven Sunday afternoon, my own garlic breadsticks (using my bread machine for the dough) and requested Root Beer Float Cake with Root Beer Frosting for dessert and I have to make all that and a salad too. The more I get done tomorrow, the less I have to cram in Sunday. I have to clean up our outdoor furniture that's been outdoors all winter too. And, I'm doing a reading from the Bible in our town's annual Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery following the parade on Monday so I need time to practice that too. I'm very comfortable with public speaking and am a lay eucharistic minister and lay reader at church so this is nothing new but I'm still really nervous about reading in a formal, outdoor ceremony where usually it is just ordained ministers that do it. The minister that runs it too is a big deal around here and he knows it. He prefers a minister from our church do it with him but our priest is going to be out of town and I was silly enough to volunteer. Good thing it is a small town I guess... (Sara, the cemetery is close to the trail I walk on, we drove past it). Hopefully the nice weather will hold out both days too. I've done a good job of talking myself out of Super Cardio I think! That's one less Buck in my jar but that might be okay too! :-)