Circuits and Carbs

Consistency is the goal, and I'm doing well this week.

With exercise, that is. Eating is another story. I'm doing better, but I am having major bread cravings. It didn't help that I made banana bread. The recipe I've been using is amazing, but I want to eat the whole loaf.

Exercise has been going well. My run on Sunday started the week off right. Monday was a rest day. Tuesday I did a great circuit workout. Yesterday was a treadmill day, and this morning I did another circuit workout.

I'm really enjoying circuits right now. Today's was a mix of bodyweight cardio (mt.climbers, plank jacks, etc), TKD kicks (another 200 kicks!), and core. It took 30 minutes, and I was pouring sweat. In between circuits I practiced Do-San. It's getting a little smoother. Slow progress.

Goals for today - salad for lunch, lots of water, and yoga tonight.

Hugs For My Legs

On Sunday, I tried compression socks for the first time.

I bought them right after Christmas with a gift card (thanks, Sis!). I've always wanted to try them, but I have to admit I wasn't sure how much they would help.

The first three miles of my run were brutal. My shins burned, and my calves ached. My feet were cramping. It did eventually go away, but the first half of my run was not fun.

I didn't think of the compression socks immediately after my run. I didn't put them on until a few hours later. They were really tight (obviously) and hard to put on, but once I got them on they felt great. It was like a hug for my lower legs. They stopped aching, and my foot cramps went away.

I wore them for a few hours. I took them off before bed, and when I woke up my lower legs felt good. My quads were sore all day, but my lower legs and feet felt great. I'm definitely going to use them after long runs, and I'll probably invest in more pairs.

Love them.

Yesterday ended up being an unintentional rest day. I was busy all day, and there was no TKD class.

Today, I did circuits that incorporated strength, abs, and Taekwondo kicks. I also practiced Do-San in between sets. It ended up being a great workout. Feeling great!

Circuits and Plyos and Yoga...Oh My!

Two posts in one day!? Anything's possible if you start the day at 4am!

Today, I actually took a little time for myself before diving into the non-stop activities of the day. I saw a free moment and embraced it 100%. It was pouring rain this morning, so I decided not to run. I will run in the rain, but I don't enjoy it. It was too wet today, so I decided to do a circuit workout.

I need to add more circuits to my life. I used to do them all the time, and they're one of my favorite ways to train (after lifting, of course). I decided to do a mix of plyometrics and cardio. Not my favorite things, but ones that are necessary if I am ever going to get back in shape and get faster at TKD. So, I did some Plyos, some jump rope, some TKD moves, and threw in some weights for a bit of a break.

Proof!!

It was one of the best workouts I've done on my own in a long time. It was hard, but I felt good when it was over. I worked on this one move that we did in class on Monday that I was struggling with, and I saw a little improvement. I tend to have a difficult time getting up quickly from the floor. It was one of those moves, and it was hard. Still, I started to see improvement, and if I keep working on it, I think it will get much easier over time.

I followed my circuits with a half hour of yoga. Yoga is a necessity in my life, and I haven't been making time for it. Everything has been really tight, and I know I need to stretch more. It was great to really take the time to stretch and focus on my problem spots. Plus, it's great for my mental well being. This week has been a challenge, and when I am stressed it all seems to pile up. I felt better about everything after just a half an hour of breathing and stretching. Note to self: start making time for yoga!

I've also managed to stay on track with my eating. Considering that this has been one of the most stressful weeks I've had in the last 6 months, this is a huge victory. I'm feeling so much better after a week of eating healthy and controlled portions. Of course, now it's the weekend, but if I plan I should be okay. This is my mini goal - get through the weekend healthfully. I know I'm going out to dinner tomorrow night, but if I plan around it, I should still be able to stick to my plan.