A Busy Week of Solid Training and Everyday Life Hustle
What a whirlwind of a week! Between training clients and keeping my own movement streak alive, I logged plenty of strength work, core sessions, indoor cycling, and daily walks. In between workouts, home remodel design and shopping for two bathroom projects took center stage—along with a desperately needed 45-minute power nap to keep me going!
Overall it was a busy, productive, and winning week, and I’m happy to report I accomplished everything on my todo list!
Funny AI Disclosure
Full disclosure on Friday’s bike picture: in the original photo, I was wearing a light blue sports bra and so my readers wouldn’t have to see me wearing only it, I asked ChatGPT to swap it for a pink tank top. Well, not only did it give me a fabulous pink tank (that I now need to find and buy in real life!), but it also treated me to a little extra cleavage and even brightened up my lipstick! Too bad it didn’t smooth out a few wrinkles while it was at it! LOL While I originally planned to spare everyone from seeing me in just a sports bra, I now think a side-by-side comparison collage is definitely in order. Next time, I’ll just take the time to put on a tank for my picture!
Overview of the Week
Before getting into each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from this past week. Scroll beyond the infographic for daily details…
Sunday
Walking: 3.06 miles
• Average pace: 15:18 minute/mile
• Surface: paved
• Elevation gain: 115 feet
• Start time: 9:18 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 74° and cloudy with high humidity
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt, and visor
Stretching: Peloton 5-Minute Full Body Stretch with Jermaine Johnson
Even though I stayed busy and on my feet all day, my official workouts were light, keeping things simple with a nice walk and a short stretching class.
Monday
Walking: 3.14 miles
• Average pace: 14:52 minute/mile
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 5:53 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 68° in the basement, 70° and clear outside
• What I wore: shorts and sports bra
Strength training: Peloton 45-Minute Full Body Strength: HiLit W2 D4 with Rebecca Kennedy
Strength training: 20 minutes of core and stability (bicycle crunches, birddogs, Pilates swimmer, bridge pumps, dead bugs, bear plank, forearm plank)
With only three clients scheduled, I fit in a brisk treadmill walk before my first session and knocked out my strength training before seeing my final client. In a perfect world, I’d love to schedule everyone back-to-back, but having those gaps made it easy to prioritize my own movement throughout the morning.
Tuesday
Cycling: 7.19 miles (Peloton 30-Minute Power Zone Endurance Classic Rock with Christian Vande Velde)
• Bike: Peloton+
• Average speed: 14.4 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 7:21 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 68° in the basement, 53° and sunny outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Walking: 3.06 miles
• Average pace: 15:06 minute/mile
• Surface: pavement
• Elevation gain: 152 feet
• Start time: 8:05 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 56° and sunny with low humidity
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt, and visor
Core: Peloton 5-Minute Core Strength with Emma Lovewell
With a packed schedule ahead, I didn’t have time to take my bike outside, so I hopped on my spin bike for a 30-minute indoor cycling class followed by my daily walk. Later in the day, I squeezed in a quick core session before diving into an exhausting afternoon of shopping for our upcoming home projects—browsing tile, vanities, vanity tops, and fixtures for two bathroom remodels—a workout in itself!
Wednesday
Strength training: Peloton 45-Minute Full Body Strength: HiLit W3 D2 with Rebecca Kennedy
Strength training: 15 minutes of core and stability (crunches, oblique crunches, birddogs, Pilates swimmer, dead bugs, straight-arm plank, forearm plank, bear plank)
I made sure to prioritize my workout first thing before things got busy! That set the tone for a packed schedule filled with client sessions, a delightful lunch with friends, and another round of bathroom remodel shopping. Despite the full agenda, I somehow managed to carve out a desperately needed 45-minute nap in the afternoon, which was the ultimate recharge. To cap off the day, my brother called after dinner, so I walked a lap around our neighborhood loop (just over a half-mile at a relaxed 21:31 pace – recorded curtesy of Garmin’s auto start) while catching up with him on the phone.
Thursday
Walking: 4.35 miles
• Average pace: 16:25 minute/mile
• Surface: paved
• Elevation gain: 188 feet
• Start time: 6:03 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 67° and clear
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt, and visor
Core: Peloton 15-Minute Standing Core: HiLit W2 D5 with Rebecca Kennedy
As per usual on Thursday mornings, I started the day with a great outdoor walk while catching up on the phone with Kim, who was stuck inside on her spin bike. Once back home and wrapped up with a client session, I squeezed in a short core class.
My Garmin tracking skills were definitely lacking during my walk, though, partially because I was so distracted by my lively chat with Kim! I totally forgot to pause my watch for a potty break and accidentally left it running while taking my collage picture after getting home. While my watch logged a 17:59 pace, my actual moving pace was closer to 16:20–16:30 based on the pace every time I glanced down during the walk.
To top off the day, I got my hair cut and my nails done. Talk about a busy day!
Friday
Strength training: Peloton 45-Minute Full Body Strength: HiLit W3 D4 with Rebecca Kennedy
Cycling: 26 miles
• Bike: Life Fitness Lifecycle GX Spin
• Average speed: 15.5 MPH
• Surface: N/A
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 5:58 AM
• Location: basement
• Weather: 68° in the basement, 71° and clear outside
• What I wore: bike shorts and sports bra
Walking: 2 miles
• Average pace: 15:10 minute/mile
• Surface: indoor track
• Elevation gain: N/A
• Start time: 10:35 AM
• Location: 55+ clubhouse
• Weather: nice and cool in the clubhouse, hot and humid outside
• What I wore: shorts and s/s shirt
Balance and stretching: 45 minutes
What. A. Day—and I mean that in the ultimate “pat-myself-on-the-back” kind of way! Some moron (pointing directly at myself) managed to schedule both her annual fasting physical and GYN appointment for the same day—one right before teaching my 55+ balance class and one right after.
To fit in work, appointments, and workouts, I was up at 4:30 AM and in my basement gym before 5 AM for a Peloton strength session. With a Garmin Weekend 40K badge on the line, I also pounded out 26 miles on my bike—even training a virtual client while pedaling! I showered, raced to my fasting primary care checkup, and without time to drive home and back to the 55+ community, I drove straight to the senior community. As a result, I arrived earlier than needed at the clubhouse so I squeezed in a 2-mile indoor track walk before teaching class. Fueled by just a 150-calorie protein bar and a emergency mini Clif Bar I found in my bag, after class I high-tailed it to my GYN appointment, stopped by the eye doctor to get my sunglasses adjusted, and finally treated myself to a Chick-fil-A Cobb salad followed by a grocery run. I would’ve loved a nap, but I powered through to a very early bedtime. I really know how to party on a Friday night! LOL
Saturday
Strength training: 18 minutes of core and stability (crunches, oblique crunches, birddogs, Pilates swimmer, dead bugs, side planks, bear plank with knee taps, forearm plank, and bridge pumps)
Walking: 3.03 miles
• Average pace: 14:39 minute/mile
• Surface: paved
• Elevation gain: 156 feet
• Start time: 9:27 AM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 67° and partly cloudy, climbing to 72°
• What I wore: shorts, s/s shirt, and visor
Even with my alarm set for 8 AM to catch up on sleep, I woke up at 5:27 and couldn’t drift back to sleep, so I got up and got going! I do love being up before sunrise—especially when there’s no rush to get ready for clients. I spent that extra morning time working on my blog and piddling in the garden before knocking out a quick core workout and an outdoor walk. The rest of the day was reserved for pure downtime: chilling with the family and watching college football!
Garmin Badges Earned
Three Garmin badges made their way to me this week…
Last Week’s Blog Posts
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…
Questions:
- • Do you use AI in your daily life? ~ I have started using it quite a bit recently. Currently, I’m using Gemini to help me find items (mirrors, lights, etc.) for my two bathroom remodels. It’s been great helping with finding the right gold finish to match the bronze faucets and other hardware.
- • How do you manage to fit your workouts in on super chaotic or busy appointment days? ~ I almost always just get up earlier to fit them in.
- • How was your week in fitness? ~ Excellent!
And that’s my rundown… Have a great week!
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I’m linking up with Deborah at Confessions of a Mother Runner and Kim from Running on the Fly for their Weekly Run Down. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but those of the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!
I also got a lot of done this week but I am not an early riser by any means lol. I use AI for info and project help, vacation planning etc. Are you doing HiLit or HiLit plus? They are a little different
I’m doing HiLit right now. I’ll move to HiLit+ when I finish this one up. How are they different?
Phew, that Friday!! A 4:30am start, strength training and 26 miles on the bike… and all while being in a fasted state! I’d be broken, haha! And then teaching your class and another two appointments… you really know how to make a day count, Debbie!
I might just copy your approach for tomorrow, Monday. I need to catch a plane mid-morning, but I also need to get my hill repeats done and clean the house before I leave. Looks like I’ll be joining the 4:30am club too!
Hope all went well this morning, Catrina! Looking forward to seeing where you’re off to next!
I have used Chat GPT a few times to touch up photos, but the last time I did, it completely changed my face! I tried multiple times, but the finished product didn’t look like me, so I tossed it. Lesson learned, lol. I do use it at work when I’m preparing patient education materials, because it combs the internet for advice. Of course, I vet it for accuracy!!! But it saves me a lot of time in that respect.
I’ve overscheduled myself many times–now I try to move things around. I’m always trying to do all the things..
I tried to use AI to work on a picture of the horses at the beach (trying to change it so a horse’s butt wasn’t pointed straight at me), but ended up with 17 legs on 4 horses so I gave up. LOL And yes, I’ve caught mistakes with AI as well and corrected it.
Phew on your busy day! I will get up early to fit in a workout but usually draw the line at 4:45 am — maybe 4:30 if a flight is involved.
Thanks for sharing your ChatGPT photo-swap. The extra “embellishments” are interesting! I do not use AI in my personal life but do use specific AI tools at work.
I’d like to re-do our main upstairs bathroom, but I don’t think my husband has any interest in all the chaos it would require.
I first used AI (Gemini) to redo my blog banner to the current one and was really impressed with the results. It’s been great with the current remodels, especially with design ideas and locating specific items – saving me a lot of time.
We remodeled out master bath about eight years ago and that was tough. We had to move into one of the guest rooms for a couple of months. It was worth it in the end, though!
I HATE getting up early…but I do it for my own sanity! I set my alarm for 4-something most days so I can get in a run, PT and some strength training before getting in the shower at 6:20ish. I’ve gotten up earlier if I have an early flight or need to do a long run on a weekday, but not much earlier than that! I love the ChatGPT tank top addition! How fun – I need to use it more.
When the choice is getting up a little earlier or not having time to fit in a workout, the decision is easy for me and it sounds like you feel the same way. Heck, you’re already getting up close to that early!
I use Chatgpt a lot. asking questions, making recommendations, fixing photos, making cardsetc.
Your chatgpt photo fix gave me a chuckle.
RAIN all day today… went to the gym and got my nails done…reading blogs! It was supposed to a lake day…
Bummer that you couldn’t get to the lake, especially since your boating days for this season will be coming to an end soon.
That’s some really busy days there, Debbie! You were lucky with the AI image fix! When it regenerates the image it can come up with all sorts of weird things… like Wendy said. You look great though, with or without the pink tank top.
I use AI mostly for search queries I know search engines can’t handle, or for tech help or modifying certain code on my blogging platform. I used to use it for brainstorming ideas but have become so fed up with it since the output is always so same-same and a loop of what you’ve already said, not particularly clever.
Thanks, Susanne! And as I mentioned to Wendy, I tried to use AI to work on a picture of the horses at the beach when one was turned away with his butt pointed straight at me, but ended up with 17 legs on 4 horses. LOL
That was quite a Friday! I have scheduled similar days (that’s a very loose comparison, LOL) when I try to squeeze in doctor/dentist appointments with a trip to my hair stylist AND a club lunch and dinner with my parents or friends while back in Grinnell. Those days usually require an earlier-than-usual wake-up to get the fitness done first.
Oh yeah, I’d do the same thing if I were traveling a ways for an appointment – schedule all the other things for the same day!
Wow that was quite a day on Friday! It must have felt great to get so much done. And lol on the AI enhanced photo. Honestly, the one with just the sports bra would have been completely fine! You look good. I do like that bright pink top though : )
Yes, it felt amazing to get it behind me. And thanks, I figure at my age no one wants to look at my flabby skin.
LOL on the Friday pic. Who doesn’t love a little more cleavage and a slight makeup glowup? 😉 That color pink is actually one of my favorite colors for clothes so I have several pieces in that color. I think it does look quite complimentary on you too, although the sports bra alone would be just fine too. I would absolutely schedule as many appointments together on the same day as I could! I annoyed when I have to go to Dr appointments so let’s get it all taken care of at one time.
AI has been my helper for trip planning. Although… remember our talk of the new Theodore Roosevelt library? It’s going to be closed on the day we are in town. Of course LOL
Thanks, Lisa! I do have shorts in that shade of pink, but definitely think I need a top!
Oh no, that’s such a bummer that the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library will be closed when you’re in town.
Great week! You do look great in pink, but I think you looked amazing in the original photo.
I’m like you: I just get up earlier if I have a busy day.
I really don’t care for AI, and try not to use it a lot. I also try not to feed it much in the line of personal info. I saw too much Terminator and Alien when I was younger, and I just can’t kick that feeling of… what if it all goes too far?
Thanks, Jenn!