Monday, May 11, 2009

Beach-Ready Plan May 2009 Shape Magazine D1, W1

May won the vote, so this morning I started the program.

How it works:
I have to....
* do this routine 2 or 3 days a week (not on consecutive days) (I will be doing it 3)
* Do 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps with heavier weights on days 1 & 3.  On Day 2 I use lighter weights but double the reps (aim for 16 to 20)
* Do the moves in order resting in between sets for 45 seconds
* Aim to do cardio 5 or 6 days a week with increasing intensity intervals

This morning was my first go at the program, so I chose what I thought were appropriate weights and away I went.  I will have some adjustments to do for the next workout as I think I chose too light for a couple of the moves.

The moves and thoughts on them are as follows (I did 12 reps of each):

1.  Grapevine Lunge - I used a 10 lb weight for this - I could easily have gone up to 15 or 20.  This move is not intuitive, and I actually had trouble figuring out where to put my foot next.  I will be practicing this (without the weight) tomorrow so that I can be more effective on Wednesday.

2.  Sumo Squat - I used a 10 lb weight for this - again, I could easily have gone up to 15 or 20.  I have never done a Sumo Squat like this before, and I could feel it in my inner thigh immediately.  I think this move will tone my upper leg nicely.

3.  Bench Row - I used a 10 lb weight for this.  While I can row with a larger weight, this move requires quite a bit of balance, and until I work that out - I'm sticking with 10 lbs.  I realize now that I'm looking at the photo of the move again to type up this review that I did the move incorrectly.  Perhaps when I do it properly on Wednesday I will see that I can in fact move up my weight.

4.  Triceps Push-up - Oy!  I did this modified, as I have seriously poor upper body strength.  I am so awful at push-ups (I'm really afraid of my arms giving out and breaking my nose!).  I would really like to be able to do this move un-modified by the end of this review.

5.  Curl to Press - I did this with 7.5 lb weights.  I can curl maybe 10 lbs, but I can't do that yet on a shoulder press.  I felt this move immediately in my shoulders and I think it will go a long way to making my upper body look very sleek!

6.  Ball Circle - this move requires no weights.  I thought this would be an easy-peasy move to do and wondered what good it could possibly do.  Holy shit!  It was a killer arm/ab move that I have no doubt will be VERY effective in toning up my midriff.  I was also shocked at how hard it was.

7.  Ball Pike - this move requires no weights.  I had to modify this move, and put the ball under my knees and pike from there.  The move as shown in the magazine is VERY advanced and I didn't have the core strength (yet) to do even one.  

8.  Leg Lift - this move also requires no weights.  This move was fun, and easy.  You have to be careful with these moves, as it is easy to slack off on your form.  I enjoyed this move and was glad it was last - felt like a treat!!

This routine took me 50 minutes.  I think it will go faster once I get to know the program a bit better.  When I was done that, I did a weight loss pre-set program on the elliptical for 33 minutes (including 5 minute cool down)

I will go over two moves a week, detailing how they are done and I may also get my daughter to film me doing the move.  We'll see.  

I weighed myself this morning and I was 159.9 (yikes!).  I will do my measurements tomorrow.

I ordered more fitbooks this morning.  I'm happy to report I'm almost finished my 2nd one!  (www.getfitbook.com)  I ordered a set of 4 of them and Shape magazine has a promo code, so I got a screaming deal!!

Oh, I've been using www.nutrimirror.com to figure out my net calorie for my exercising.... and can you believe they don't have the elliptical on there?  Seriously, I can calculate how many calories I burn during sex on there, but not the elliptical.  Silly site.

Have a healthy day bloggers!

2 comments:

  1. Is this something you are doing at home, or at the gym?

    P.S. This is fun to read about.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Can't wait to see how this goes. You should totally get your daughter to film it!!

    ReplyDelete