HBBC Roll-Up Weeks 5-7

HBBC wrapped up this past weekend! While I haven't posted on my progress in a few weeks, that doesn't mean that I didn't continue working towards my goals (and meeting some - hehe). While my average weekly points went down quite a bit in weeks 5-7, I met my number one goal of eating my full servings of fruits and veggies every day during the challenge! So I score that as a SUCCESSFUL CHALLENGE!

My first real Pregnancy Pic:
27 Weeks, Post Challenge!

HBBC Week #5 Roll-Up: 

Miles Run/Walk: 7Strength/Core Workouts: 4Yoga Practice/Stretching: 2Group Cardio Workouts: 1

Total Weekly HBBC Points: 31.5

Swims: 0

Days w/ Complete Freggies Intake: 7

Bonus Points: 8

Week 5 Goal: Pick back up on the overall exercise level. (Since I hadn't met this goal  

This week started off strong, Matt and I got to the gym Monday night after work and knocked out some cardio. But then it went downhill, Well, as we started getting sick and we had a little crud going on throughout weeks 5 and 6. Also, Matt did not get home from work as early as I'd expected for the rest of the week. So, most of my exercise was teaching my classes, walking the dog, and stretching! But still, better than nothing!

Surprise of the week: Basically, the cold surprised me and kept me on the couch for a lot of the week. :(

HBBC Week #6 Roll-Up: 

Miles Run/Walk: 4

Strength/Core Workouts: 2

Yoga Practice/Stretching: 5

Group Cardio Workouts: 1

Swims: 0

Days w/ Complete Freggies Intake: 7

Total Weekly HBBC Points: 25

Bonus Points: 8

Week 6 Goal: Pick back up on the overall exercise level. (Week 5's goal carried over, since I didn't reach it)

Lots of couch time w/ Knight! ;P

Still sick and Matt was even more so. Again, workouts involved the Pump classes that I teach and then I stretched or did some yoga poses while watching tv to just get something in!

Surprise of the week: I was surprised how the pregnancy is affecting my muscles and ligaments, in that I still just feel a little too stretched from the hip opener focused yoga that I'd done a few weeks ago!

HBBC Week #7 Roll-Up: FINAL WEEK!!!

Miles Run/Walk: 5.57

Strength/Core Workouts: 3

Yoga Practice/Stretching: 4

Group Cardio Workouts: 1

Swims: 0

Days w/ Complete Freggies Intake: 7

Total Weekly HBBC Points: 25.57

Bonus Points: 6

Week 7 Goal: Pick back up on the overall exercise level. (Again Weeks 5 and 6 goal carried over, since I didn't reach it...again ;P)

We finally started feeling well again this week (although I had a sleep hangover on New Year's Day from staying up too late and that has thrown my whole sleep schedule off). I was able to get back to the gym for BodyCombat and CXWORX and led a yoga class on Saturday that was packed and the energy was awesome!

Surprise of the week: I was still surprised at how the HBBC and group motivation was encouraging me to get out there even when I didn't want to! Whether it was the lure of points or feeling guilty when I saw all the other participants' activity, the HBBC helped to get me off the couch and out moving!

Veggies on my pizza!

Final wrap up: Huge Thank You you to Amanda @ RunToTheFinish for hosting such an amazing challenge! My overall goal going in was to use the motivation to force me to eat more whole fruits and veggies so that I can give all the needed nutrients to my Little Tuna growing in my belly! This challenge was definitely just what I needed. Whereas I entered my second trimester still not craving fruits and veggies, I am now going into my third craving them again! I can't eat enough berries, apples, and bananas. Even salads, broccoli, and green beans sound pretty tasty these days! I will be participating in the HBBC next year - and will consider the potential Spring challenge (only because it falls around my due date, but that really doesn't matter - still need to be somewhat active, right?)

Did you participate in the HBBC? What was the greatest benefit you gained from participating?

Are you wondering what the HBBC was? Well, check out this page and then plan on joining in on the fun, hopefully in the spring!!!

HBBC Week #3 Recap

Started the week with broccolini
in my ham and eggs.

Another successful HBBC week! I am really happy with how the group and the challenge is motivating me to get out there (mostly out of bed in the morning) when I'd rather stay tucked in!  I blew both my run/walk mileage and my points totals out of the water. Part of that was due to Matt being away on business and so I was encouraged by a wet nose to get out and run and walk more than normal. But, hey whatever it takes, right? Can I keep up the mileage? That's my plan! As far as freggies, I'm doing very well and am so happy about that. I'm still craving fresh fruits, but I also picked up a bag of dried mangos and cherries for when I'm on the go (and maybe to go in my belly in lieu of gummi bears!) Additionally, I've started keeping a bag of spinach in the fridge for my morning eggs. That's just too easy to do, but for the longest time, I just didn't feel like it!

HBBC Week #3 Roll-Up: 
Miles Run/Walk: 13.69
Strength/Core Workouts: 3
Yoga Practice: 7
Group Cardio Workouts: 1

Swims: 1Days w/ Complete Freggies Intake: 7

Total Weekly HBBC Points: 48.79
Bonus Points: 8

Week 3 Goal: Swim!

I got my swim in. I had to overcome a few obstacles...old equipment and then being out of swimming shape. But once I got through that, I got in a 30 minute swim on Friday and am so happy that I did. My back felt great while swimming, but the second I stepped out of the water, gravity kicked in again. (can we live in the water) I intend to continue to get at least one swim in a week, maybe even more!  

Surprise of the week: Yoga practice on Saturday was great in that it was like it was planned for me. Our instructor lead a whole practice on hip openers! Awesome, that's just what I've been working on to help loosen up my back. My buddy and I left feeling awesome; she felt so great that she came over in the evening and took the puppy out for a 4 mile run!

Week 4 Goal: Keep up my run/walk mileage. My goal will be to get in between 10-15 

Tired puppy post run.

miles between runs and walks. 

Have you had to overcome some obstacles to meet your weekly goals? Have you ever felt like a group workout was created with just you in mind?

Jumping back into the pool

Me and Noni, sometime in the 80s.

My goal for the HBBC this week was to get into the water at least once. It's Friday and I met my goal! Whew! It was close! I planned on starting the week off right and swimming on Monday, however, upon pulling out my swimming gear, realized 1. that my goggle straps were dry-rotted and 2. I might not even have a swimsuit that fits! Yikes! Being a swimmer, I should know better, right? I guess, if I really am still a swimmer, I wouldn't have gone a year without swimming and I wouldn't be in this predicament! But, such is life, so I'm not going to beat myself up about it. :) Monday afternoon, I ordered some new goggles, as well as a new swimsuit, and they should be in tomorrow. But, I won't have time to swim tomorrow and I just know me and won't do it on Sunday, so I had to fit it in while I was at the gym today.

I remembered that I had another pair of goggles in my boat bag; they are sunglass goggles, but they'll work. And I figured I could just wear my training two piece that I normally reserve for summer outdoor laps. So, I packed up my stuff before BodyPump class and told my girlfriend that I was going to swim after class so I couldn't back out!

After BodyPump, I headed to the pool. (Thankfully, the top of my swimsuit can still hold me in, even though my chest has grown 4 sizes in the last 5 months!) Once at the pool, a pro-aqua jogger made sure that I knew I had to shower beforehand; she must've read swimmer all over me...'cause, um, we don't shower...that's what the pool is for! But, I didn't want to get kicked out, since I work there, so I showered and then hopped in.

2009 Alumni Meet;
goggles pre-dry rot!

And holy cow, the first 400 yds almost kicked my butt! Long gone are the days of 6,000m workouts. I went in with a goal of 30 minutes and realized early, that wouldn't get me far, but that it would be enough! The next two 400s were much better, once I found my stroke again. I also needed to tweak my flip turn. Apparently I arch my back too much when pushing off the wall and it pulled on my lower abs, which are really tender and stretchy now! So, once I started bracing my core, things felt much better. I finished off with 4x25yd sprints and 100yd cooldown. 1400 yds, but, wow, I was pooped and starving!

Good news, I was happy to be back in the water. During the HBBC, I plan on setting a new goal each week, and adding that to my new baseline. So, the baseline is set, at least one swim per week. I know swimming will come in extremely handy over the next few months, so I'm glad I had the HBBC to push me back into the pool.

What goals is the HBBC helping you to reach? Do you have any goals for the next 4 weeks?

HBBC Week #1 Recap

So, Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge Week #1 is in the books. Bottom line: it was awesome. I was so inspired by everyone's daily workouts that I surely ran and worked out more than I would have had I been left to my own devices! I hope that I can continue to use the amazing motivation and carry this on through the remaining 6 weeks.

There is still time to join. Click Here!

HBBC Week #1 Roll-Up: (I'm going to borrow Jill Conyers method of wrap-up)
Miles Run/Walk: 9.17
Strength/Core Workouts: 6
Yoga Practice: 0
Group Cardio Workouts: 4
Days w/ Complete Freggies Intake: 7

Total Weekly HBBC Points: 41.1




Week 1 Goal: Eat my fruits and veggies

I did very well. I realized that I was actually doing better than I thought I'd been before the challenge, however a lot of that was coming from juice and I'd like more of it to come from whole fruits & veggies. During week #1, I did increase my whole Freggies intake, so that's good. I just want to keep it up.

No, this isn't my workout buddy,
but it's the only pic I took this week! ha!

Surprise of the week: Matt had more free time than we'd expected, so we got in a lot of buddy workouts, which is always awesome. We did BodyCombat together on Wed, BodyCombat and CXWORX on Thanksgiving, and he was able to come to both of my BodyPump classes on Friday and Sat, after which we sweat on the elliptical together and then joined our friend Katrin for more CXWORX. It makes the workouts so much better when my buddy is there. ;) And with his busy schedule, I know he loved having the time to get some quality workouts in as well!

Were you able to stay on track with your goals through the crazy holiday week? Do you have your own method of accountability to keep your workouts and nutrients on track?