After such great, necessary sleep on the weekend, I decided this week I would try to keep up the good habit.
The plan was to try and get to sleep by about 8.30pm at night, giving me enough time to have a solid sleep and still be able to wake up early for a run/walk. I always find that if I manage to exercise first thing in the morning I’m so much happier, productive, and motivated to eat healthy.
If I can combine both good sleep and exercise then generally my eating falls into good habit too.
So far I’m doing ok I guess. I’ve been in bed by 9.30pm, not 8.30pm, but I’m still getting 7 hours instead of 5.5 – 6.5. It’s an improvement, a small one but I’m getting there.
I got up yesterday and did my run (the next one of the “Couch to 10k” app), and I went to the gym at lunch. This morning I woke at 5am and I’m back on the treadmill. Right now I’m writing this blog from the treadmill, but that’s because today is a scheduled walking day.
I actually have super sore legs today so I’m glad it’s a walking day. I pushed myself at the gym yesterday, and my legs prove it. I’m a bit proud of myself yesterday – it’s a bit rare I can push myself to the point of being sore, usually that’s reserved for post-training session with my personal trainer (I see her once a month).
I actually messaged my trainer yesterday telling her I was calling this particular routine “treadmill of death”. Here’s what it entailed.
- Treadmill on max incline, hold a heavy medicine ball above your head and walk for 2mins
- With the treadmill still going (slowly) walk sideway but squat for each step – repeat each side
- Holding the medicine ball, put one foot on the end of the treadmill (stopped, and your foot on the hard plastic bit, not the belt) and do a lunge. Repeat each leg.
Rinse and repeat multiple times. There’s meant to be a row in there too that works your back, but I didn’t bother to go and get the dumbbells for that one. I combined that session above (multiple times) with 110kg deadlifts to work my hamstrings. And yep, my bum and legs can all feel it. It’s sore, but a good sore. In a twisted way I enjoy sore muscles.
Well, time to focus on my walk. Tonight I’ll try and soak in an epsom salt bath and prepare to do it all over again. Although I’ve got some work things going on the next couple of days, so I’m not entirely positive I’m going to meet my goal bed time again.
Day-by-day!