My Own Home Gym

I've never been a fan of gyms. Not because I am lazy, but because they are full of people.... Call me anti-social, but I like to do my workouts without an audience. I don't like people looking at me and judging me. Sure, if I need some tips about technique I will seek out the help I need.

I am a member of a gym, and I go rarely, but generally when I want to try something new and need some advice. Thankfully my gym membership costs next to nothing and it's within my place of work. It's there if I need it.

I prefer to exercise in the comfort and privacy of my own home. To do this I need some equipment. The items I keep at all times are:

Skipping Rope - difficult to use on carpet though
Kettlebell - 8kg, named Brutus (yes, he can be brutal)
Push Up Handles - I have a dodgy wrist and hands on the floor often hurt
Medicine Ball - Great for crunches
Yoga Mat - I love my yoga and stretches
Gymboss Timer - Great for timing my intervals
Pull Up Bar - Sadly it damaged the door frame so I had to take it down. So I am in the market for a new one.

And you don't need to pay a fortune for any of this equipment. It's cheaper to buy items you will use, than to join a gym you may never go to. Especially considering how expensive a gym membership can be these days. I got a lot of my stuff on eBay.

Working out at home is preferable for me. I don't have to plan it. I can do it RIGHT NOW! As long as you've got the room and the motivation, a home workout is the way to go!

Starting From Scratch! Yet Again.......

Ok, here I am, willing and raring to go!

It's been weeks since I've done anything physical due to illness. There were times when I thought I was recovering and started working out, only to have a relapse and find myself back in bed feeling very sorry for myself.

This time, I took more time to recover after finishing my medication and I feel so much better for it. The cough is almost gone (I still have the occasional nasty attack) My energy levels are getting up there again, I'm ready to make a start!

I have to say though, that I am a bit scared of having another relapse, but I think if I take it easy to start with, I should be ok. The problem is, I'm not one to take things easy. Sure, I can be lazy at times, but when I set my mind to something, I take it on 200%, which has often been my downfall. Injury and illness usually the main factors.

So today I started. I'm between shifts (tonight on night shift) so had a fair bit of time to kill. I had a good nights sleep and I also knew that being a weekday, there should be no one in the gym down stairs. The gym here is tiny. It has effective equipment but not a lot of room! Any more than one person in there and you are banging elbows!

I didn't really use the equipment, but I did use my skipping rope. The carpet in the apartment makes using a skipping rope next to impossible. So I did a Tabata style workout with skipping between each exercise and I was pretty buggered at the end.

But so far, I'm feeling great, I have more energy and feel better for having done some physical activity. Here's hoping things will continue in the same way......

Finally, Coming Out The Other Side.....

I finally feel like I've made some progress in getting well. I have been sick for about 3 months and this time off from my fitness regime has really taken its toll! I have taken far too many days off work, in fact I've used up all my sick leave and even had to dip into my Annual Leave. This is not good as I didn't have too much of that available either :(

I've been on four rounds of antibiotics, I've suffered from allergic reactions, kidney infection and loss of appetite. My last dosage of my current antibiotics is today, thank god coz this round made everything taste like crap! And gave me horrible tummy ache.

I'm still coughing up a lung but at least I never suffered from a sore throat. But the loss of energy and motivation is a huge factor. How do I get back into it? Where do I start without having some kind of relapse?

Just the thought of walking to the corner shop makes me break out into a cold sweat. For the past few weeks I've been having to go back to bed in the afternoons for a nana nap. I never expected to feel that weak!

So I am finally having some happy thoughts. Even though I also took today off work, I think I have finally come out the other side. I am feeling a little more energised and even found the motivation to shave my legs :)

My poor fella has seen the absolute worst of me and I am so thankful that he has been there every step of the way with Vix in hand, and a box of tissues and a hug for my weepy moments. He is the BEST!

Back Into It, But Still Needing Motivation..... Help Me!

So I figured the only way I can be accountable for my workouts is to Blog about them. I may not blog on a daily basis but I will attempt to Blog about each workout every few days!

As you may realise, I've been ill for a significant amount of time. I HATE being sick, it SHITS me no end...... Yes, I feel like crap, but I really hate that I have no energy.... I find myself eating crap and just can't get motivated to get back into the fitness thing!

So I made a start a few days back and I felt that I should document it, more for myself really..... But I welcome your comments!

Day 1 Fri 18th
Brutus Workout....

Brutus is my Kettlebell, who I do love and hate at the same time! I did a Tabata style workout with Brutus. 20 seconds intensity followed by 10 seconds of rest for 5 minutes. This was about all I could handle.....

1. Kettlebell Swings
2. Squat with One Arm Press (Left Arm)
3. Squat with One Arm Press (Right Arm)
4. Kettlebell Swings
5. Lunge (Left Leg)
6. Lunge (Right Leg)
7. Left Arm Kettlebell Swings
8. Right Arm Kettlebell Swings
9. Kettlebell Crunches with Overhead
10.Kettlebell Swings.

I gotta say, I was in a sweat at the end of all this...... and had a bit of trouble walking the next day!

Day 2, Sat 19th
Jogged to the Post Office and Back. Just a gentle jog, but still managed to get a sweat up. Felt great. The went back to bed to prepare for my next 2 night shits!

Day 3, Sun 20th was a rest day as I'd done a 12 hour shift (night shift) followed by another 12 hour night shift.......

Day 4, Mon 21st
Another Tabata workout incorporating skipping rope with other body weight workouts! 20 seconds high intensity with 10 seconds rest.

Round 1 (5 Minutes)
Jump Rope
Push Ups/Reverse Pushups

Round 2 (5 Minutes)
Jump Rope
Single Leg Squats with Jump Up (Alternating Legs)

Round 3 (5 Minutes)
Jump Rope
Side Tricep Raise (Alternating Sides)

Day 5 Tues 22nd
Tabata workout incorporating Jumping rope and Body Weight Workouts.....

Round 1 (5 Minutes)
Jump Rope
Lunge with 5kg weight (Alternating Sides)

Round 2 (5 Minutes)
Jump Rope
Side Raises (Alternating Sides)

Round 3
Jump Rope
Crunches or Plank

So far, so good. I still need some motivation. Thankfully my fella came to the gym with me the last two days. Just the motivation I needed was someone to give me a kick up the butt to get me out there!

Motivation: Where Do You Find Yours?

If you've been keeping up to date with my Blogs you might realise that I've been ill for about 2 months! Needless to say I've not exercised for that amount of time.

I'm now actually feeling ok. I've started working out again, but, let me tell you, finding the motivation to get back on that bandwagon has been particularly difficult.

I blame a number of reasons:

I HATE Winter like you could never even understand. I have never been a cold weather person. Then I worked on the cruise ships for 4 years, followed by living in the Caribbean for 2 more years. So needless to say, I lived in the tropics for 6 years and loved every damn well moment of it and miss it like you cannot possibly understand; unless you've lived a similar lifestyle!

My motivation is sunshine and heat....... How about you?

Plus my motivation right now is seeing that I can no longer fit into my jeans or my work clothes and that depresses me! I have seriously wanted to workout but as I've been ill I've simply had no energy, felt like shit (excuse the language) and all I've wanted to do is sleep!

I wanted to go to the Post Office the other day and decided I would walk it. More exercise than I've done in ages. In actual fact, I jogged most of the way there and most of the way back. There was no coughing/vomiting, so I took that as a step forward! I felt amazing!

Yesterday was my first real day of working out. I am a HUGE fan of the website Bodyrock.tv I've been following Zuzana and Frederick for more than 6 months now. I was pleasantly surprised with the results I was getting. Then, of course I got sick!

So, I am now back into it! Mind you, I will "try" and take it slowly. Those of you who know me will know that I don't do things by halves....... so I am trying to ease myself in slowly.......

Starting From Scratch

I've been ill for far too long. I have zero energy and every time my heart rate increases I have a nasty attack of the coughs to the point of throwing up! Not nice to hear, I know.

I am literally climbing the walls! As much as I can be as lazy as the next person when it comes to my health and fitness, I know that I always feel better after a workout, whether it be a jog, jumping rope or a body weight workout. Without my workouts, I get severely grumpy. Can you even imagine what I've been like to live with the last few weeks?

So I decided TODAY I was going to get back into it. I am starting to feel better physically. My clothes have gotten considerably tighter in the last six weeks, I know I HAVE to start working out again and taking care of my diet.

I was up early, I had things to do! First off some coffee, then a workout. Sadly it didn't turn out as expected :(

My coffee gave me the kick start I needed, as I was getting changed into my workout clothes and eying off "Brutus" (my kettlebell) I had another coughing attack. Now let me tell you, these are no normal coughing attacks, these ones leave me on my knees from practically passing out. I feel like I'm suffocating. They are so severe that I usually end up vomiting!

My stomach muscles are always sore, sometimes I think it's hunger pains but really, it feels like I've done about a million crunches! Painful.

So needless to say, the rest of the day has been spent feeling weak and sorry for myself (again)

Maybe tomorrow ......

Getting Back Into It After Illness

I've been sick with a chest infection for almost 3 weeks now. I finally went to the Doctor yesterday and he basically said "rest, NO exercise and lots of sleep". Duh!



In the lead up to getting sick I rarely went a night without waking up multiple times. I wasn't sleeping much more than 3 hours most nights. I was exhausted and very grumpy! Since being sick I've been sleeping day and night. Maybe my body is trying to catch up. The only problem was that I would wake myself up with my coughing, often very painful coughing. The kind where I could not take a breath between. Ugh!

As I haven't done a workout in so long I am feeling really crap. I can't wait to get back into it but how do I do that without overdoing it? I've never been someone who can take it easy when working out, probably why I often injure myself.

I suppose the only thing I can do is start off with some yoga, stretching and so forth until I feel stronger. God knows how long that will take. :(