Do you ever feel like the motivation boosters that worked for you in the past are no longer enough? I’m still struggling with a lack of inspiration to stay active. That’s part of the reason I’m sharing my workouts on this blog. I’m hoping that being forced to share what I’ve done will give me the kick in the pants I need. Overall, I am proud of myself for at least maintaining my running base mileage.
This week, I decided to include my daily steps in the weekly recaps to show that I’m not a liar about actually getting 10,000 steps in a day and to keep me accountable.
Monday: 1.5 miles and 75 crunches, five pushups, 30 seconds of plank. I really want to do more mileage, but again this groin/hip pain bothered me. Steps: 10,969.
Tuesday: 75 minutes of yoga. I worried I would slack on getting exercise this day because this was my first time working in one of my company’s Chicago offices since I moved here. I didn’t have the option to go for a run on my lunch break or to bust out random exercises throughout the workday like I normally do. This also meant I actually had to wear normal office attire for the first time since May. No yoga pants and race shirts for me. I even put some makeup on and attempted to do something with my hair! This day was first day of Living in Yellow’s #1800MinuteChallenge, which I am joining to keep me motivated. Plus, I wouldn’t mind winning some cash for working out. Steps: 10,469.
I practiced forearm stand at home and noticed my feet always go to the left. I had a yoga teacher tell me the same thing. What’s up with that?
Wednesday: 3-mile run plus leg lifts, bicycle crunches, forearm plank (bringing my leg to my elbow on each side several times), and downward-facing dog to plank to pushup to downward-facing dog (five times). The run was one of the sweatiest of my life — thanks, humidity! Steps: 12,854.
Thursday: 30 minutes of yoga at home. I just did whatever I felt I needed.
I started with reclined twists to each side. Then I rocked forward and back, grabbing the back of my thighs. I moved into a seat and then inhaled arms front and back as if in a cat/cow motion. I inhaled my hands forward for a fold. Then I moved into a tabletop and stretched my opposing arm/leg. I exhaled to crunch the knee to the opposite elbow on each side a few times. Then puppy pose, bear pose and downward-facing dog. From here I did a downdog twist and then walked forward into a forward fold. I let my arms sway side to side and shook my head yes and no. Then I ragdolled up tadasana and did a few rounds of sun salutations. From downward-facing dog, I stepped my foot forward for anjanesayana, then a half split, then chaturanga dandasana, upward-facing dog and downward-facing dog. I repeated on the other leg. My main sequence was a high lunge to warrior C to a half moon to a full moon to dancer pose to a round of vinyasa. I repeated on the other side. My next sequence was warrior A to a back bend with hands interlaced behind me. I repeated on the other side. Next I did some forearm balance practice, a wide-legged fold in headstand, handstand practice against a wall, and side crow on each side. I added boat pose and some bicycle crunches as always. I also lifted my legs, flexed my feet and interlaced my fingers except my pointer fingers. I lifted my torso, pointing the fingers to the right, center and left. I did this about 10 times. I added other poses here and there, including happy baby, pigeon on each side, and side plank. Steps: 6.020. I didn’t make my step goal because I didn’t run and I hardly left the apartment on a busy day.
Friday: 2.4-mile run. I worked on speed intervals at a neighborhood track. It wasn’t that exciting, except the weather was a bit cooler. Steps: 14,294.
Saturday: 60 minutes of rooftop yoga at the Godfrey Hotel. My first rooftop yoga class in Chicago was an all-levels flow taught by an instructor named Mandy. I felt like it was enough of a workout for a busy Saturday. Steps: 14,660.
Sunday: I pushed my long run back to Monday because a whirlwind holiday weekend exhausted me. Steps: 10,073.
#1800MinuteChallenge: 236.
Marette Flora is the founder of Floradise blog and personalized gift shop. Marette is a passionate storyteller and creator. She attended the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication.
She is passionate about creating helpful and meaningful things.