I had wanted to start this earlier in the year but, somehow could not get my will together. Christmas weekend is the realisation I needed for me to get this off the ground. Well informed of the inefficiencies of running as a method of cardio for weight loss, I still want to do this running programme because, I want to sign up, complete a 5K run before my 31st and kick ass while I am at it. Never been much of a sports person (shell shocking, I know!) Wally told me about the Couch to 5K running program which she started out with when she wanted to start training for the LA Marathon, and my aspirations are much lower. All I want to do is complete the 5K with a respectable time and without injury (which if you look at my running form, might be quite a challenge) I am a lazy runner which is compounded by the fact that I like to dream when I run and, I lose concentration of form, occasionally fall off the treadmill even or just trip on a rock.

Being the tech geek – I searched for an iPhone app which would help me with my goal. It comes with stretches to follow, you start your playlist, run the app and off you go! I brought along the Nike+ device because, I wanted to see if I can record the running information (stride, distance, speed) but of course, it didn’t work after lying dormant for abit and I was too sleepy to troubleshoot at 7.30am. Back to the C25K app, it runs for 9 weeks and by the end of 9 weeks, you should be able to run 30mins without stopping and effectively 5K. Sounds good to me!

Come Jan, I will be doing this and my regular "mad" gym with EJ. Interested in finding out the progress? Stay tuned!

W1D1 of C25K – It was easier than I had anticipated which amazes me because, I have come so far after working out for 6-7 months (I haven’t been to the gym in more than a month but I will be back in a couple days!) i remember doing a running programme similar to this, it was painful almost. At the end of 30mins with 10mins warm up/cooldown, I did 3K which is um, not great but not horrible either.

I wanted to do the entire stretch of the track but, I started late and I was afraid that it would get dark before I reached the end so I went half way and turned back. Now, I want to actually start my C25K programme.

EJ crack their evil heads and come up with a challenging workout so, the routines (irony!) are hardly um, routine. July’s workout was made of the devil, it left me with aching and had me miss another session because, I simply could not get out of bed. Given that I have been working out consistently for the last 4 months, that says alot!

August’s routine seems compartively easier and since, I aced my Deutsch exams , I can now work out on Wednesdays too!

Enough of the foreplay

WEDNESDAY

A1: Deadlifts (24kg Kettlebell) – 12/12/12/12 with a 4010 count

A2: Back Row (orignally incline chin up) = 12/12/12/10 with a 4010 count

B1: Wide Push Up – 12/12/12/12 with a 4010 count

B2: Wide Squats (16kg Kettlebell) – 12/12/10/12 with a 4012 count

C: Kettlebell Swing (12kg Kettlebell) – 56 swings

I saved myself on the KB swing because, I was close to dead with the wide squats. Inspite of that, my arms hurt and the back of my legs hurt too! Urk!

THURSDAY

A1:

A2: Shoulder Press (5kg x 2) – 12/12/12/12

B1: Back Row (15kg DB) – 12/12/12/12

B2: Push Up (BW) – 12/12/12/12

C: Burpees: 52

SATURDAY

A: Chest Supported Row (16kg x 2) – 5/5/5/5

B: Incline Bench Press (10kg x 2 for first 2, 11kg for last 2) – 5/5/5/5

C: Deadlift (55kg, 55kg, 62.5kg,65kg) – 5/5/5/4

D: Burpees: 50ish (I lost count)

Another revelation, not purchasing something with the sole reason that I disliked it even though I can a) fit into it and b) afford it. It will take me awhile to wrap my head around that one

Not me, image from Google Images

With hope that my scale is not nearing the end of it’s digital life, I weighed in with a 12kg total weight loss since March 16, 2009. That is a lovely 26.4lbs for the metric challenged folks!

Wow.

MONDAY

A1: DB Lunge (5kg x 2) – 8/9/8/9

A2: Staggered Push Up (BW) – 11/11/11/13

B1: Romanian Deadlift (24kg KB) – 14/14/14/12

B2: 2 Arm Back Row (16kg KB/ 15kg DB) – 13/14/14/12

C: Leg Matrix (24 Squats, 24 Lunges, 24 Jump Squats, 24 Jump Lunges) – 2 sets in 4:06mins

I forgot how much I loved the water, swam the 12 laps before lazing about. Okay, so I lazed midway through my laps but I could have done it non stop. Next week! :) Maybe, M & W will be up to it again if not, I might head to my favourite East Coast condo for a swim instead. Absolutely have to remember to pack breakfast and a post work out snack cos’ being supremely hungry was a B%$^H

2. Cycle Cycle and love it. Cycled across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito. Loved it!

3. Tattoo Get the tattoo I’ve always wanted. The tattoo I want is in script and the most ideal place is the side of my torso or in between my back and, I’d have to be absolutely lithe to do it there.

4. Wear Wear a white bikini and look absolutely fabulous. Self explanatory, it will take a while to get there but, one step at a time!

5. Dive As a child, I loved the water. Pursuing my Open Water PADI is something I’ve always wanted to do but never had the opportunity to.

6. Use Finally use the gorgeous and hefty blue horn necklace I was given for my 28th birthday

7. Learn Be fluent in another language

8. Skate Learn to inline skate. Or at least try.

9. Dance Take a proper dance class. I’d like to be able to dance proper. Like wedding dance, type of proper.

10. Climb Rock climb. Or at least try. Tried the Border X Via Ferrata course, it was the single most terrifying and satisfying experience ever.

11. Ride A wake, that is. Wake boarding sounds like it would be insanely exciting. Sign me up!

By week eight, one should feel sufficiently buffer, more energetic but in comparison to two weeks’ before, I fought so much harder to complete my reps and maintain my form. The deadlifts seemed significantly tougher, as with the rows. As much as I would like to, E mentioned that it could be a response from Saturday’s workout which is plausible. Together with the stalemate in the weight loss situation, it just added to the "bleh". Either way, I am still in this for a win so, with E’s advice, I’m adding an extra cardio day tomorrow

I will win.

TUESDAY

320 skips in XX:XX time (It’s XX because the timing was crap) I worked late and, couldn’t cycle as planned so I decided to skip instead just so I could put an extra cardio day in. Certainly glad that I pushed on inspite of the fact that every bean in my body wanted to stop.

THURSDAY

It was a significant difference from Monday. Completed 58 burpees, a teeny improvement. Mostly, I struggle with doing reps from beginning to end without a break, not even a second. That’s my target next week. To continually do it till failure. For awhile now, I had wanted to try out a KB swing because, it looks so fun. Since, I am not able to attend on Wednesday, E let me give it a whirl. Must say, I quite like it. Completed 71 swings in 3mins, and this is after the regular Thursday work out.

SATURDAY 

I need to try harder at squats. Mentally, it is a fear that I am not able to lift the weight that I am squatting. Even though EJZ are there, I still fear. It is not rational. Eventually, I was able to do 25kg with no pause, decent form (for me, at least!). On Sunday, I work up with sore arms which was strange since, my Saturday’s BP is a weight that I’ve been using for two weeks straight. Hmm.