burpee

Over the past decade I've invested a lot of time in working out. Too much time. My life now is such, that I cannot invest that same amount of time , and frankly, it's hard to find the energy. To counter this I've been doing smaller, more intense blocks of training. I wouldn't call myself a fitness fanatic, but I'd be lying if I pretended, I could take it or leave it. I must have it. Before you begin to think, "wow she's so disciplined" let me just say it has little to do with discipline, and more to do with the way I feel after the workout. I can tell you now that "runners high" (workout high for that matter) is OH so real. Endorphins are amazing. Plus, it is a sure fire way to relieve stress. My body craves it.  It's to the point where if I'm having a cranky day, the husband says "why don't you go for a run, or go workout?" My practice has been to take a week off a few times a year, but usually by the end of that week (if I make it the whole week) I'm chomping at the bits, and ready to get back in a routine. I think it's such a blessing to be in good health and strength. It would be a shame not to use it. 
Healthy habits does not extend to all areas of my life. I eat like a horse! I love food. Good and bad. I was raised working very hard. People ate fish fried in lard with a huge plate of peas and rice. They had no thought of carbs or fat. And before you get to thinking "what an unhealthy lifestyle," my grandma is well in her 90's.  She rode a bike till she was in her 80's, and she ate that way all the while. I still have much of that island mindset.  There is no thought for what you eat, as long as you work hard. But my life doesn't afford me the opportunity to work that hard, instead I WORKOUT hard, and try to watch what I eat.

I've been doing better. I'm trying to make it more of a practice, in addition to working out, eating healthy.  I want to be fit when I'm older, God willing. I don't want to be struggling with nutrition and weight issues later in life. The time to act on those goals is now. 

I think it's safe to say I've got the workout thing licked, but I'm always up for a new challenge. I recently got one. It came from my youngest brother. Let me just say it here: He's a fitness freak! He enjoys the torture of it. So it comes as no surprise that when I mentioned shaking up my workouts a bit, he'd have a handbook of suggestions. And he threw at me the one I hate the most. Burpees.  Effective? Yes. Torture? Absolutely! His suggestion: I add some to workout my routine a few times a week. That that routine should include (get this) "a few sets" of burpees. And just so you know, a set by his definition is 50!!!!

OK first, as much as love to workout, I HATE burpees!!!!! Secondly I can't do 50 of them. My heart  feels ready to explode at 15-20. If I could make it through 50 of them, I certainly wouldn't be able to include sets of jumping jacks, or jump squats and the other crazy stuff he suggested ( I forgot what all he suggested. I tuned him out after he said the "b"word). And "I certainly wouldn't be able to repeat that cycle more than ONCE!!!!!!!!!!!" Do you know what he said when I mentioned that. He said, very matter-of-factly "well you'll probably feel like you're gonna puke, or you will puke, but it's effective." After mulling it over for a week. I decided to accept his burpee challenge. I had previously challenged myself to do 100 pushups, so I think the two routines will support each other nicely  And that is why I'm sitting here typing such a long post. I'm kinda scared, and I'm stalling....I usually keep the workout talk to myself. I've learned that people get the impression you're a fanatic, if you are exerting energy into any exercise that's more strenuous than walking.  But I had to share this with somebody. I'll let you know how it goes. 

If I can make it through this I'll be pumped, figuratively and literally. And I'll tell you this, if I'm gonna work this hard no way I'm I going to be eating everything in site.  There's gonna have to be more healthy eating going on around these parts.

OK, no more stalling.....wish me luck!

Just so you know what a burpee is, see below. Yes I'm still stalling....