✨✨ April 2021 ✨✨
Focus: Tonique, Barlates, Bosu + Weights
1 -
Bike ride (30 mins total). Still too busy with work to get much more in. Also, had a session with my physio and he confirmed my shoulder twinges are from overuse - probably all of Caroline's pushups + KB snatches. So I need to take it easy with those exercises for just a bit. It's going to be LB-based cardio and stretching for a week or two!
2 -
Bike ride (1 hour total).
3 -
Cardio Coach vol 4 on elliptical (Challenge 1+2, total 35 mins), Growingannans'
HIIT it Harder Day 25 (1 circuit only). Was excited to revisit Cardio Coach, which I haven't used since my rehab back in Sept/Oct. I was really pleased at how much stronger I was through the intervals, and then disappointed to find the playlist on my phone was missing the 3rd challenge. I shrugged, figuring a shorter workout gave me time to do another add-on, only to discover the one I wanted to do, Heather Robertson's band work, wasn't loaded on my iPad. At that point, I just messed about with one of Anna's, did my own stretching and called it a day.
4 -
Tonique Premier, Sydney Cummings'
Transcend Day 6 20 minute Legs and Glute Stretch. I think I've only attempted Premier once or twice before and could only do one section before I tapped out. Now it's a perfect match for my current level. I did the whole thing, dripping sweat and loving it. I rested my elbows on the step in table position for the final mat work section and it worked well, no shoulder twinges at all.
5 - Barlates
Bosu Total Body Fusion Bosu Cardio,
Bosu Total Body Fusion Bosu Abs. Both workouts were a lot faster-paced than I was expecting and included less instruction. I should have realized Linda's from the DVD generation, so she's probably expecting her audience to repeat the workouts. She doesn't waste time with a lot of setup, and I'll have to try it a few times before I know whether I really click with these. I totally skipped some of the moves in Bosu Abs, which isn't like me. But I was impatient and just couldn't face stopping the workout, figuring it out, and rewinding to try it again. I probably will try it again because it hits a lot of angles, and the moves that I got on the first try were super challenging. I like the 'I'll grow into it' feeling.
6 -
Bike Ride (1 hour total). Carolina Girvan’s
EPIC HEAT Warmup, Sydney Cummings’
Transcend Day 4 Upper Body Pull,
Transcend Day 13 Upper Body & Neck Stretch. Sydney's workout was good straightforward weight work, and she gives enough time between sets to change weights up or down as needed. I especially appreciated that all of Sydney's chatter was about how you can get stronger, choose to enjoy the set, do it for yourself, etc. Tonique Premier had waaayy too many references to how your body will look in a bikini.
7 -
Bike ride (45 mins total). Otherwise, too busy/tired.
8 -
Tonique Mat. I was tired, and when I'd previewed the workout the other day, I saw it was mostly lying down. Dare I say, it wasn't too bad. It wasn't the most fun workout I've ever done, but I'm working my way up in Tonique. Now I know this is do-able, on to the next.
9 -
Bike ride (1 hour total).
10 -
Bike ride (1.5 hours total), Yvette Bachman's
Bosu Cardio with Leg and Back Circuits, Dakota Durant's
8 min Bosu Ab Part 1, Growingannanas'
10 min Neck & Shoulder Stretch HIIT It Harder Day 14. Yvette was a totally fun sweatfest, and a delightful confirmation of my increased fitness level. I started conservatively choosing weights that were around 80% of what she was doing, but by the end, I was matching. When it finished I even had enough gas in the tank to add on some more ab work. Woo hoo!
11 - Mr & Mrs Muscle
5 min WARM UP Workout Lower Body & Glutes, Caroline Girvan’s EPIC Day 37, Bulgarian lunges, Bodyfit by Amy
10 Minute Bosu Core Workout For Strong Abs, Cathe
STS Extended Stretch. I was psyching myself for a whole workout of Bulgarian lunges but surprised myself to find it all quite doable. Of course, she uses 10kg and I use 12.5 lbs. But boy howdy, the bodyweight exercises feel so easy when I put those down. Since I use my Bosu as the support for the back leg, so it seemed to make sense to keep it out and add on a core workout. Bodyfit by Amy's was a good thorough workout that didn't wipe me out.
12 - Rest.
13 -
Tonique 2.1, Mike Donavanik's
Cool Down & Stretch, Heather Robinson's
12 Min Abs Stability Ball Workout. Very proud of myself for doing all of Tonique, mostly at Sylwia's pace. It was a cardiovascular challenge for sure, but the muscle burn only really kicked in during the last 10 mins. When I do it again, I might try slowing my own cadence just a bit so I go deeper into each movement. This was my 2nd time using this abs workout, and I really like it because playing with the ball distracts me from how much my abs are burning. Guess I'll keep relying on toys like the Bosu and stability ball to build a strong core.
14 -
Bike ride (1 hour total),
Ultimate Yogi Cross Train. Today I tried yoga for the first time since I realised I need to rest my shoulder. Took it easy on the vinyasa’s, and skipped a few at the end, choosing to massage ball roll out my shoulder during that sequence instead. On the whole I think it helped.
15 -
Bike ride (1 hour total).
16 -
Bike ride (45 mins total). Wanted to work out when I got home but I was just exhausted from the week.
17 - Rest. Unexpectedly nabbed an appointment to get the COVID vaccine that afternoon, so we rushed over there and got our jabs. Then I felt tired and had a nap. Could be from the vaccine, or I could just be tired. Who can say. Anyway, I'm glad we got it.
18 - Fitness Fusion
Dreambody, Growingannanas
Full Body Stretch Mobility Routine. Yup, the original Dreambody with the popups and the testimonials. I've had it for years and never tried it because it was advanced. But hey, now I do Tonique so why not try it? Of course I did at my own pace, with pauses, and whatever modifications I needed. Boy, it's something, that's for sure. I'm vaguely interested in the style but for sure this isn't going to be heavy in my current rotation. I'll try the Dream body 5 workout set I bought on sale, and look for similar Barlates workouts.
19 - Rest. Juggling a lot of things right now, working out just didn't fit into my day.
20 - Sydney Cummings'
Burn Day 25 Lower Body & Abs. I liked the way she alternated LB and core exercises, it didn't feel like the 'eat your spinach' exercise of willpower that I often need to draw on for 10 minutes of straight core work. But I miss Caroline's intensity. I didn't preview and I felt like it even though I tried to lift heavy, it was upper-intermediate at best. I guess I just really like workouts that are too hard for me and I modify down, not trying to figure out how to make it more intense.
21 - Travis Eliott’s
Beginner Yoga Flow - Yoga Basics #1. The gentlest yoga practice ever. No heat, no sweat. Just moving and breathing.
22 -
Bike ride (1 hour total).
23 - Rest. So very tired from my week.
24 - Fightmaster Yoga
Hatha Yoga for Happiness Day 1. Just discovered this channel and her soothing emphasis on the basics is exactly what I need, emotionally.
25 - Mr & Mrs Muscle
Full Body Warmup 5 Mins, Precision Kettlebells'
Intense Cardio Kettlebells Workout 10.2, Heather Robertson's
Abs & Booty Band workout (1 circuit of Abs only, 10 mins),
Slim & Limber. Finally had time and energy for a full workout. I loved the KB workout, a fun cardio burner. I tried to take it easy on my shoulder by subbing swing-clean-press instead of swing-high pull-snatch. My PT would be horrified at the overhead press, but I hope I got away it. Will try to do my PT exercises & extra shoulder stretches later.
26 Bike ride (1 hour total), Heather Robertson’s [B]Leg Day Warmup[/B,
HIIT Booty Bootcamp,
Brutal HIIT Workout // Legs, Glutes & Thighs, Jan Chuan Fitness
How to Stretch after Leg Day. I was feeling energetic after sleeping a lot over the weekend, so tried 2lazy4gym’s YouTube rotation - day 1 of the Heather Robertson week. Nicely put together and good for my level, think I’ll keep trying her combos.
27- Rest. No formal workout but had a PT session with some exercises. Now I’m cleared for push-ups and overhead weight work. Hooray!!
28 - Rest.
29 -
Bike ride (1 hour total), Heather Robertson’s
40 min Pop Workout, Heather Robertson’s
Inner & Outer Thigh Workout, Funk Roberts’
10 Minute Post Workout Stretch Routine.
30 -
Bike ride (1 hour total).