I'm back...I just don't know how regularly yet.

My absence has been due to several things, and I will probably post about most of them over the next few weeks. One of which was a shoulder issue I got while working out last year...which made even typing painful at times for the better part of last year. Luckily, I found out I don't need to have surgery for it, so I'm slowly trying to get back to my "normal" routine. The orthopedic surgeon did tell me I'm not to do any weight machines or free weights until I gain full (or mostly full) and fluid range of motion in my shoulder again. HOWEVER, I could return to the dance classes at the Y, and I have been doing the two classes a week for the last five weeks!!! I really miss doing my full schedule of working out, but I am glad to be able to do that.

On New Year's Eve, I received a steroid injection in my shoulder which caused my blood sugar/diabetes to get totally out of control. A few hours after my injection, it spiked up to 436. Yikes! I knew it was going to mess up my control, so I had asked for some 70/30 insulin ahead of time. The new person I saw only prescribed Regular insulin...which was a mess until I could finally get the 70/30 again about nine days later.

One of the other things that has just happened on Sunday is a very close friend of mine passed away. Emotions are all over the place right now.

For now, I'm glad to be back posting. I hope you all had a great 2014.

Fitness Check-In: 3/1/14

Monday: Fitness 101 class
Tuesday: Step
Wednesday: Modified workout in the Fitness Center due to time constraints
Thursday: Dance
Friday: Taught my dance class (Sparse turnout due to flooded streets in our are but still fun)
Saturday: 45 min on the bike and all my machines but the glutes
Tomorrow is my day of rest.
Have a great weekend! Happy March!

Fitness Check-In: 2/24/14

Monday: Fitness 101
Tuesday: Step
Wednesday: 10 min on the bike, most of my weight machines, and about 20 min of the dance class. (FUN!!!)
Thursday: Dance
Friday: My dance class (It was SO fun to see some young girls in my class! We had a blast!)
Nothing this weekend. I really need to get motivated to do more on Saturday.

Fitness Check-In: 2/17/14

Monday: Fitness 101
Tuesday: Step Class...and worked on my own choreography.
Wednesday: Light day in the Fitness Center since I had to take kids to the dentist.
Thursday: Dance...and more choreo work.
Friday: My dance class!!! SO fun!!!
Nothing over the weekend, but I'm hoping to change that this week.

Fitness Check-In: 2/8/14

Monday: Fitness 101
Tuesday: Int/Adv Step
Wednesday: Fitness Center (50 min on the bike and most of my weight machines)
Thursday: Dance
Friday: Dance (Teaching my first dance class!!!)
Nothing this weekend.

Fitness Check-In: Week ending 2/1/14

Last week was an odd week. The instructor who teaches most of the classes I take has been ill all week, so I spent Monday-Thursday in the Fitness Center on the bike and doing my weight machines. (Yes, I do all my weight machines every day I'm in the FC. I like the results better when I do that.) On Friday, I spent about a half hour practicing my class actually in the Group X room, then I did most of my machines. The weekend was a little hectic, so I never made it to work out on Saturday. (Our water was turned off for most of the morning, and, trust me, I need to make sure I can get a shower after I work out. The people around me would really appreciate it.)

Fitness Check-In: 1/25/14

Monday: Fitness 101 again. (One of my favorites!)
Tuesday: Step
Wednesday: No workout...just a ton of driving, errands, and homeschooling.
Thursday: About 20-25 minutes of dance. There was a sub in the class, and the different routines and my other medical issues didn't merge well.
Friday: Fitness Center (50 min on the bike and my weight machines.)
No workouts over the weekend.

Thankfully, that was NOT a normal week! I'm back to tearing it up this week.

Fitness Check-In...a little late. (Supposed to be 1/18/14)

Monday~ Fitness 101 class
Tuesday~ Step class
Wednesday~ Fitness Center (Cardio on the bike and weight machines)
Thursday~ Dance class
Friday~ Fitness Center (Cardio and weight machines)
Saturday~ Fitness Center (Cardio and weight machines)

Weekly Fitness Check-in: 1/11/14

This week I was finally back up to working out six days a week. Oh yeah!!! It felt SO good. (I was sick for about 2.5 weeks in October and another 1.5 weeks the last part of December.) I was just easing back into it. Without further ado, here's what I did:

Monday: Fitness 101...which is beginning step, sculpting with hand weights, and lower body/abs work on the mat.
Tuesday: Intermediate/Advanced Step
Wednesday: 1.5 hours in the Fitness Center doing cardio and weight machines.
Thursday: Another 1.5 hours in the Fitness Center.
Friday: 1.5 hours in Fitness Center in the afternoon because I will be teaching a group exercise class at that hour...once all the ducks are in a row.
Saturday: A little over an hour in the Fitness Center.

What are you doing for your workouts? I'd love to hear.

My Fitness Routine Overview

Working out needs to be a part of your weight-loss journey. I have been a member of my local YMCA since July 2011. At first, I could barely do 15 minutes of cardio on the recumbent bike...which is still my favorite cardio equipment because I have lower back issues. It has a back on it which gives a lot of support for my back. When I go to the Fitness Center, I still use the recumbent bike; I just can last longer on a different type of workout and level. I also use the following weight machines: Seated leg press, glute, hip abductor, hip adductor, pec fly, seated row, tricep press, ab crunch, torso rotation, and back extension.

I do spend more time taking group classes though. Fitness 101, at our Y, is basically beginning step along with using hand weights and mat work for the last 15 minutes of class. I usually wear Velcro wrist weights throughout the class. I also take an intermediate/advanced step class and two dance classes. (Psst...wanna know a secret? I will be taking over one of the dance classes. Shh...that's just between us.)

 I hope this helps to give you a little bit better picture of what it's taken to get the results I've seen the last year.