Days 1 & 2: 7x7 Challenge

7,000 steps in a day? Oi. That target used to be effortless for me. Back when I would wake up at 4:30 am to run, I'd already garner 6,000 steps by the time I'd enter the office at 8 am.

Now that I'm sick of running, I'm going to have to think of creative ways to reach that number on my pedometer.

Oh, I'm not going to cheat. I'm too nice for that (believe me!). Yesterday, as I went through circut training (Jillian Michaels again, since I'm too lazy to memorize the 5-4-3-2-1 sequence), I clasped my pedometer in my hands with my dumbbells when doing the strength exercises. I also clasped it while doing the cardio exercises, like jumping jacks and (ropeless) jump rope. And I kept it between my knees while doing reverse crunches.

Before you claim that that is cheating, let me point out that circuit training burns a hell of a lot more calories than plain, boring walking. Don't fault me for trying to put some fun in an otherwise tedious chore.

Anyway. Other tactics for me this week include parking 2 blocks away from the office, at the mall. One way between the office and the mall already gets me 1,000+ steps. Also, I'm going to have to wear flats this week.

Here are my Day 1 results. Just above the bare minimum, which isn't bad, considering I'd previously average at just about 4,000 steps a day.

I'd also like to share my personal best for a single day. This was reached when I was in New York with my dear friend Therese a couple of years ago; we walked and ate our way through Manhattan from morning to midnight. The calories we burned could have been more impressive if we probably didn't count all the calories we consumed in our nine meals. =)

Monday's meals:

Breakfast: Forest ham and Emmenthal cheese roll and tall coffee with whole milk from Starbucks
Lunch: Deli sandwich from Starbucks
Snack: Cranberry-blueberry crunch
Dinner: Broiled pork liempo, turkey noodle soup, brown rice, rum and coke

Monday's workout:

Warm-up: Jumping jacks, windmills, hip circles, knee circles
Circuit 1:
3 mins: Push-ups, squats and presses
2 mins: Jumping jacks and jump rope
1 min: Crunches and reverse crunches
Circuit 2:
3 mins: Dumbbell rows, static lunges with bicep curls
2 mins: Butt kicks, punches
1 min: Oblique twists
Circuit 3:
3 mins: Chest flies, side lunges with dumbbell raises
2 mins: Jumping jacks, jump rope, butt kicks, punches
1 min: Bicycle crunches
Cool-down stretching