Aussie Curves - Activewear

Work out wear!!! I have heaps of activewear - far too many to wear during the week but even then I still have trouble finding them when I need them.

Top - Lane Bryant

Bottom - made by me

Shoes - Mizuno

I made a heap of bottoms a while ago. Some of them are made from water wicking fabric but most are thick Lycra.

I actually need new shoes - I've had these for two years now and the padding is now too thin.

I think that the best sports bra for someone with larger cups is the Shock Absorber.  It still doesn't go up to my cup so I used a larger back size but they still keep the puppies in place for most work outs.  If I really need to jump a lot then I wear two.

They come in different colours and black.  I bought my first couple from Australian online shops but now go on eBay, getting them from overseas is cheaper and seems to take just as long!

The other sports bra that I use is the Elomi Energise bras, but the underwires are placed further back so they can be uncomfortable. I actually use this bra most days for everyday wear.

I hope this post has been helpful!

Legs - I've got them

And I know how to use them,,, to walk to school.

I crack myself up.

I have a workout schedule. Do you want to see it?

Monday - Arms
Tuesday - Voice (choir practice)
Wednesday - Legs
Thursday - Core
Friday - Nothing
Saturday - A DVD of something, Walk Away the Pounds, or Jillian Micheals etc.
Sunday - As per Sunday or Nothing

It's pretty rough really and although I like to stick with it I often don't. During the week the workouts are small - usually 10-15 minute ones from YouTube or my own. After a while I really get sick of listening to the instructor and I try to drown them out with music, but last year I started thinking that it would be pretty easy to put together my own videos and that way I can pick and choose what I like. 

I like low impact (knees and boob issues) and usually standing.

Would you like to see one? They aren't anything fantastic - just timed images telling you what to do, with a bell going off when you need to change.  If you use it - just remember that this for my own personal use and I take no responsibility for any injuries that you may incur. Also - please don't re-post it.

I leave the end image as 'Stretches' so that I can cool down and stretch for however long I want and stretch what I want. I like a good stretch :)


Presenting: Pammy's LEGS Mix

This is the one that I did this morning - holidays really stuff up my schedule. It's nice and easy and beat of the song is what sets the pace.

At the moment I'm listening to this playlist:

Do you hula?

I had a great mail day today. Among other things, my hula hoop.

I have never been able to hula.

I bought an exercise one - I have been umming and ahhing over them for a year or so, and this hoop come on sale - so I bought it.

It's so heavy.  I think I did 10 minutes of it and I am stuffed.

I did get it to stay for a little while.

This week's exercise plan is to try a hoop every day.

Workout wear

Last weekend, I had a bit of what Carolyn from Diary of a Sewing Fanatic calls a "sewcation". I cut out and sewed myself 5 new pairs of 3/4 leggings.

Well, I did need new pairs.

I also just wanted to 'jump' out of bed in the morning and change into workout gear or come home from work and throw myself into some exercise action without having to scrounge for clothe.

I had also bought myself a heap of new tops from Lane Bryant. Most of them where on sale.

So I now have over a week's work of workout gear. Yay for me!

Taking stock - Thigh Sigh

This is a long awaited Thigh Sigh post for me.

For a little over 12 months I used to post to my blog, Thigh Sigh. Every weekend (almost) I would upload my workout for the week, and make posts about my health etc.  At times it really stressed me out, I got worried about my measurements or I would get depressed because I didn't stick to my schedule.

I thought that this year, I would be more relaxed about it all and just keep a diary of my workouts. I also made a resolution that I would still try to exercise every day.

So - with term 1 down I'm evaluating how I went.

My diary
This is actually going okay - the last few weeks have been sporadic with the end of term and my parents coming to visit.  But I think I will actually go back to planning my week, and write in the diary how I feel about each workout.  Besides I have the most awesome amount of stickers that I love to use in my diary 'entries'.

My workouts
All over the place - I haven't gotten back into the groove.  Planning will help this.  What has also let me down is not going to Zumba classes any more.  The lady that ran them went back to teaching full time so she is totally stuffed after work,,, all teachers know how that feels.  But she says now that she's back in the swing of things she might start Zumba up again.

My trainer?

My measurements
It's kind of sad that my weight has gone back up, and so has all of my cms. But overall I don't really care. My butt looks good (husband approval), my thighs and calves are pretty tight (except for the inner thigh grrr) and I'm confident about my arms. Other areas are still flappy but oh well.

My health
I'm feeling fit and happy. I've started to ween myself of medication with the Doctor's approval.

My resolution
Didn't happen - lack of planning.  However there is one thing that I'm quite chuffed about... Do you have an electric toothbrush? I do, and it has a 2 minute timer.  So while I'm brushing my teeth I fit in 2 minutes of squats, or high knees or whatever.  Twice a day.  But sometimes I get half way through brushing my teeth before I remember.

So my goals for this term are:
- plan workouts
- post workout plans
- buy/make more workout gear so I'm not scrounging around in the morning to find clean ones
- exercise everyday
- be happy

Jillian Michaels Week

My aim this year is do something physical everyday. It can be a big workout or even some dumbbell exercises.

Last year I planned out my week and uploaded it but this but this year I'm doing it in a diary.

This week my plan is for a Jillian Michaels challenge. I'm doing a week of her Cardio Kickbox DVD. I've done three days so far. Later in the week, I am going to give myself a rest day if I truly need it though.

I love these challenges, they make me feel strong and I like it when the routine starts to feel easy.

Basic Steps

So you know how I bought a step but a I figured that I would be able to find some exercise dvds or youtube vids that would get me moving but wasn't full of complicated moves. I've been proven wrong. I've tried Kathy Smith - but I get lost. In fact I did her thing morning and by the second combo I didn't get what she was doing. I've tried two Fit for Duty vids - but in one the instructor does something strange and they both did some stretchy things at the start which I don't like. There is one more that I'm going to try tomorrow. To be honest - I'm even thinking about going non-English. Jennifer Hößler has a warm-up vid on youtube that looks pretty good. I might even learn some German - I think that's what she is speaking.

Killed me

So to shake up my routine for the next few days I decided to take on some hard cardio. I went with Jillian Michaels (who else would it have been?) 'Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism.' Holy crap it killed. 50 odd minutes of torture. I didn't make it all the way through every exercise. Tomorrow I will do better. If I do this for the next few days I won't feel so bad because I'll be on holidays and in a hotel room again, eating every single yummy thing that I see. I'll be taking 'Walk Away the Pounds' with me for some gentle action.

It's December? Seriously???

I don't know how that happened. One day it's January and the next it's December. What happened to the year?

At the start of the year I was all gung ho get fit.  I loved feeling fit and that my body was changing. I was full of energy and loving life.

Towards the end the year I was sick and sore. I felt unhappy that I kept missing out on exercise, which made me feel even worse.

Now I don't feel I exercise enough, so I've put on weight. I'm back to walking off the pounds and enjoying it, still Zumba'ing every time there is a lesson although this week killed my sides, I also like using dumbbells so my arms are looking better and better.

During my holiday break I want to pick it up a notch again. I will be traveling around a lot so I don't know what I'll do but I hope to doing something daily.

Yesterday I did this:



I had thought that I was doing okay with my arms lately but this one pushed me again.  I even went down a weight size!

Proof!

Photographic proof I did exercise! My black cat hangs around while I workout and during stretching joins me - demanding attention of course.

Another week down the drain

I can't believe it - it's like the universe is against me at the moment.  This week I've had some serious sore knee issues.  For a few days I had to ice me knee.  So, starting to walk again today.

Oh my!

Still feeling sick - have an awful cough and still feeling it in the bones and muscles. 

But enough was enough - today after crawling back into bed for a bit of extra sleep in (today is a holiday in our town) I decided I really had to do something. 

I weighed myself recently and I had gained back 2kg already.  Plus clothes that I was considering giving away now fit better because I have put the fat back on.

So I started from the beginning again and did a Walk Away the Pounds 1 mile walk. Yes it was easy - I couldn't use the dumbbells though. So I'll need to keep on at it.

Did I mention that my birthday was yesterday?

Confession

My week of no excuses turned into a week of having a cold. Everyone at work is sick too. Luckily tomorrow is the last day of the week - yay for weekends, and then Monday is my birthday and Tuesday is a town holiday :)

So all over this!

So I've just had a play around with creating my own Tabata style video :)

Hopefully this upload will work but this makes it pretty easy for me to workout.

Week 30

What's Motivating Me This Week?
My manly muscles - if only I could rid of the flappy arms

What's Bugging Me This Week?
The flappy arms

What's Puzzling Me This Week?
Why can't I stick to the routine? I make excuses for myself in the morning like,,, 'I've had a bad night's sleep' or 'I just did Zumba last night so I don't really need to workout this morning.' So I've planned two rest days after Zumba nights and not giving myself excuses otherwise. Last week I only ended up doing the Zumba classes - grrr.

What's Encouraging Me This Week? 

Tabata? I tried 'The world's fastest workout video' although I didn't do the first exercise properly - I did my it without the push up and the jump. The problem is that you can't really tell when to stop and start with this video if your concentrating on the exercise.

What's the Plan?

Random stuff

Have you seen this?



And just for a laugh!

Week 29

This seems to be becoming the excuse post! Two weeks ago I went on a conference and ended up getting sick while I was away and then last week while I was still getting over my cold I was entertaining an in-law that came to stay. So I was really looking forward to this week - a week of holidays and a week of no excuses exercise!

What's Motivating Me This Week?
Feeling like I kick arse!

What's Bugging Me This Week?
I look totally fat in my photos

What's Puzzling Me This Week?
Should I keep sharing my photos? It kind of puts me out there.

What's Encouraging Me This Week? 

My husband telling me that I have more muscle than him.

What's the Plan?
Trying a variety of 10 minute workouts.

Week 28

What's Motivating Me This Week?
Complements from people, trying on a pair of shorts I bought last year and laughing because they are so huge.


What's Bugging Me This Week?

I pulled a muscle in my right arm about 3 weeks ago when I had all that muscle soreness. It still is sore when I move my arm in certain directions. My knee has also been a little tricky - at Zumba two weeks ago we did a new set that involved a lot of twisting and lunges so I did hurt myself a little.

What's Puzzling Me This Week?
Why can't I do a lunge successfully?



What's Encouraging Me This Week? 

I tried on a pair of size 14 jeans last week. They were a little tight (and they were plus size 14) but still I'm excited.

What's the Plan?
Last week wasn't so bad - I went to Zumba and I did workout some during the week but I didn't feel I was doing enough. I'm doing some strength this week and leaving the cardio for Zumba.

Week 26 - Yes I'm back!

What's Motivating Me This Week?
 I took some more time off overcoming some crazy flu like thing that wiped me out. Plus I somehow pulled a muscle in my right arm - in my sleep! So anyhow I'm keen to do some exercise this week.


What's Puzzling Me This Week?
Should I try these tops at Virtu?


What's Bugging Me This Week?

Those stupid pins on pinterest that make you think - oh a new fitness blog I could follow, only it turns out its a link to the man trying to sell you his weight loss stuff with a monotone voice.

Also not working out for the last 2 weeks or so means I've put on weight. Oh well.

What's Encouraging Me This Week? 

I have a step coming to me, as well as my next lot of dumbbells, and a foam roller! No more sore calves and shin splints for me.

What's the Plan?
 New step means I want to start doing some step videos - obviously. This 'Fit of Duty - Basic Step Workout' is pretty easy - so I'm pumping it up with weights. The step won't be getting here quickly mind you - but I'm keen anyway.

Hey folks,,, folk,,, anyone?

I've been taking a break from blogging my health stuff. Partly because I've been way too busy and also because I was getting to caught up with hating myself if I did miss a workout or if I didn't do as well as I should have. So I cut it back to just Zumba lessons if I could make it.  

This weekend was my chance to get back on the wagon so to say, but I ended up not feeling well on Saturday. I spent most of the day napping on the couch or sleeping in bed.  Today, I woke up feeling sore all over still, but I still needed to spend most of my morning in front of the computer doing school work and most of the afternoon on the floor marking school work.

So this week I will do Zumba again and probably not much else until the weekend.

In the mean time, did I tell you fitted into a pair of size 16 jeans?