Last Saturday JA and I participated in a 5k Walk/Run local event. Of course my intention was to begin exercising for the two weeks before the event, when I asked JA if she wanted company. I can honestly admit that I did walk on several occasions leading up to the event, but not nearly as much as I wanted, hoped or desired. I just struggled finding the motivation.
My largest issue seems to be the 0-15 minute phase of any physical activity. The inner battles and demons always seem to prevail and I manage to not exercise. Once I have managed to struggle through the first 15 minutes, I am usually fine and then an endurance switch flips and I usually don't want to stop. While I had to be at the locale at 7:30a.m. to pick up my t-shirt, I remotely considered walking before the event started to warm up. I did have some fear that I couldn't keep up with JA as she walks on her treadmill four miles uphill many times a week.
Needless to say, we completed the walk and I survived. I wouldn't say that I had an adrenaline rush which motivated me. Shame motivated me. Motivated me to want to do better. Motivated me to want to jog. Something about watching a 70 year old man shuffle jog past as we walked. When we started the "race" the peer pressure of everyone jogging/running by had us jog on the track out of the stadium and onto the course. Despite taking my inhaler, I couldn't jog long so we stopped and walked. Quickly I had some intense shin splints but I knew that I could press on for a measly three miles, I didn't have much choice. Although I constantly felt like JA's dead weight and it wasn't a good feeling.
We weren't the last ones to finish, but clearly I think we may have been only a few to set out to complete the event by walking it's entirety. Two high school girls would pass us walking and then we would pass them. Both JA and I felt like we were walking faster but their walk looked so nonchalant and relaxed compared to ours. When we reached the track of the stadium we again jogged to the finish line.
JA sent me a link to our results a few days later. I hadn't bothered to look at what time we started or finished so I really had no idea. I know when I trained for the 3 day I could endurance walk a 13.5 minute mile but tried to slow down to a 15 minute mile for the sanity of my feet, knees and body. Needless to say, I was shocked when I opened up the results and saw that we completed the 5k in 36 minutes.
It almost makes me want to actually train and see if I can push myself to jog a 5k and see if I can physically complete. Then my rational side takes over as I laugh at myself and taunt myself to start with baby steps and see if a mile is even obtainable.
Why is it that fear and ourselves can be our worst demon? What is it that truly holds me back?
Showing posts with label Exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Exercise. Show all posts
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Exercise Update
In searching through my blog, the last link I had about exercise was on February 9, 2011. I browsed it quickly to confirm that I failed my promise to myself to get healthy and lose ten pounds by Spring Break. I attempted the 30 Day Shred and completed about 8 days before I became completely bored with the workout and managed to hit a workout block by not making the time to exercise.
I was doing extremely well taking a multi-vitamin for her for ninety days, although after I finished the first bottle, I have been terrible at taking the vitamins in the second bottle. Why is it I lose interest and focus so quickly? If taking a pill wasn't so difficult, maybe I would consider an ADD pill so that I could focus and not hit the brick wall so quickly! I never did bother with the fish oil pills. I couldn't fathom another pill or the rumor that I would be burping or tasting fish!
Back to the starting block. Do you have any ideas or suggestions to motivate me???
I was doing extremely well taking a multi-vitamin for her for ninety days, although after I finished the first bottle, I have been terrible at taking the vitamins in the second bottle. Why is it I lose interest and focus so quickly? If taking a pill wasn't so difficult, maybe I would consider an ADD pill so that I could focus and not hit the brick wall so quickly! I never did bother with the fish oil pills. I couldn't fathom another pill or the rumor that I would be burping or tasting fish!
Back to the starting block. Do you have any ideas or suggestions to motivate me???
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
FaSt & Fitness
Last week I had to fast for my cholesterol test. Interestingly enough, when I went back to the lab to have my blood drawn I was a little shocked when the lab tech inquired, "To verify you are here for a cholesterol screen and a pregnancy test?"
Ummm...NO. NO. NO. I am NOT pregnant. Then, I realized her confusion and attempts to clarify, see I have two orders for blood work and completely not comprehensible to me, I can't have the tests done together. The pregnancy test is to verify that I am not pregnant before I proceed with my tubal ligation in the near future. That blood to be drawn at a later date.
The results of the cholesterol test: BAD.
For those of you that are unaware, I have the bad gene lottery ticket. My results are significantly worse than two years ago. Granted two years ago was shortly after completing almost 7 months of training for the 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk too.
But I will not deny that exercise and I have gone through irreconcilable differences over the past year. I attempted mediation. I attempted counseling. To no avail. So I did the next best thing...I walked away (of course not far and not fast - afterall that would have been exercise!)
Now with a lot under the rug and extra weight holding the rug down, time is not on my side. The daily vitamins are impacting nothing.
My triglyceride level: 287
The "phone nurse" recommended that I discontinue all "processed, fatty, sugary, fast foods and alcohol." While I could eat better, I don't eat the previous significantly enough to warrant an immediate change of the triglyceride level if I cold turkey.
Fortunately for me, I reacquainted myself (and introduced MS) to Jillian Michaels over the weekend. I'm serious about getting back into shape and the cholesterol results Monday morning only kicked me in the ass a little bit harder!
I have visited with Jillian now four days in a row and NO, that doesn't include watching the Biggest Loser tonight either! I completed Day 3 of the 30 Day Shred, although I much prefer my favorite Kick Boxing video instead. I am bound and determined to complete the 30 Day Shred, get motivated and lose 10 pounds by Spring Break.
I was advised to take Fish Oil to reduce the triglycerides and I haven't purchased them yet. I just can't bring myself to embrace that...yet.
Ummm...NO. NO. NO. I am NOT pregnant. Then, I realized her confusion and attempts to clarify, see I have two orders for blood work and completely not comprehensible to me, I can't have the tests done together. The pregnancy test is to verify that I am not pregnant before I proceed with my tubal ligation in the near future. That blood to be drawn at a later date.
The results of the cholesterol test: BAD.
For those of you that are unaware, I have the bad gene lottery ticket. My results are significantly worse than two years ago. Granted two years ago was shortly after completing almost 7 months of training for the 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk too.
But I will not deny that exercise and I have gone through irreconcilable differences over the past year. I attempted mediation. I attempted counseling. To no avail. So I did the next best thing...I walked away (of course not far and not fast - afterall that would have been exercise!)
Now with a lot under the rug and extra weight holding the rug down, time is not on my side. The daily vitamins are impacting nothing.
My triglyceride level: 287
The "phone nurse" recommended that I discontinue all "processed, fatty, sugary, fast foods and alcohol." While I could eat better, I don't eat the previous significantly enough to warrant an immediate change of the triglyceride level if I cold turkey.
Fortunately for me, I reacquainted myself (and introduced MS) to Jillian Michaels over the weekend. I'm serious about getting back into shape and the cholesterol results Monday morning only kicked me in the ass a little bit harder!
I have visited with Jillian now four days in a row and NO, that doesn't include watching the Biggest Loser tonight either! I completed Day 3 of the 30 Day Shred, although I much prefer my favorite Kick Boxing video instead. I am bound and determined to complete the 30 Day Shred, get motivated and lose 10 pounds by Spring Break.
I was advised to take Fish Oil to reduce the triglycerides and I haven't purchased them yet. I just can't bring myself to embrace that...yet.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Pain or Paranoia
Last night as I laid in bed, I started to feel pain in my left elbow area. Not directly on the elbow, but slightly above on the outside of the arm. I wondered if I had hit it on something but couldn't recall. While I had almost fallen on the ice, I didn't. No reason or justification for the pain.
Granted I had spent 1.5 hours either shoveling or pushing the snow blower repeatedly. Is this tennis elbow?
Earlier this afternoon it appeared that there was bruising, green bruising but an hour later in different lighting, the bruising wasn't visible. The arm looks slightly different and obviously feels (due to pain) different to me. Now, the arm seems almost flaccid and flabby whereas the right arm is firm and muscular. I know that there isn't such a vast difference between my arms, despite my boycotting of physical exercise.
The paranoia stems from my brother's fall incident of an elbow issue. The night before I arrived by plane to help his family drive back to Michigan, his elbow inflamed and the pain was intolerable. He drove himself to the emergency room and almost passed out en route. His elbow area was drained. Test results later confirmed that he had an infection and was put on an anti-biotic.
The pain isn't unbearable. It's a minor inconvenience but I'm concerned about the lack of being able to tighten the arm and make a muscle.
Tomorrow morning I have a scheduled appointment for blood work, mainly to recheck my cholesterol. I will be interested to see what my white blood count levels are as well; however, if the pain continues I may have it looked at during business hours rather than resorting to an ER visit over the weekend.
Sound familiar? Any ideas of what I am experiencing?
Granted I had spent 1.5 hours either shoveling or pushing the snow blower repeatedly. Is this tennis elbow?
Earlier this afternoon it appeared that there was bruising, green bruising but an hour later in different lighting, the bruising wasn't visible. The arm looks slightly different and obviously feels (due to pain) different to me. Now, the arm seems almost flaccid and flabby whereas the right arm is firm and muscular. I know that there isn't such a vast difference between my arms, despite my boycotting of physical exercise.
The paranoia stems from my brother's fall incident of an elbow issue. The night before I arrived by plane to help his family drive back to Michigan, his elbow inflamed and the pain was intolerable. He drove himself to the emergency room and almost passed out en route. His elbow area was drained. Test results later confirmed that he had an infection and was put on an anti-biotic.
The pain isn't unbearable. It's a minor inconvenience but I'm concerned about the lack of being able to tighten the arm and make a muscle.
Tomorrow morning I have a scheduled appointment for blood work, mainly to recheck my cholesterol. I will be interested to see what my white blood count levels are as well; however, if the pain continues I may have it looked at during business hours rather than resorting to an ER visit over the weekend.
Sound familiar? Any ideas of what I am experiencing?
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Seizurecise
Last night in the throes of exhaustion and high humidity, I lethargically committed to myself that I would get back to the gym and participate in one of my favorite group work out classes. Mind you it's been a long time since I went to the gym, not to mention participated in a class. But I knew that if I didn't leave the house, I would torment myself endlessly about wanting to be at JC's race, since that's what I did for many months and I am still dealing with that void.
I walked to the gym and arrived early to wait for the class before ours to finish. Still lacking motivation, I decided not to do anything remotely exercisish in the ten minutes before class started, so I sat on the stool at the nutritional bar at the gym and zoned out thinking about how I could walk out and feel all the better for doing so.
The exercise class is Body Pump which uses a weight bar and weights to do a variety of exercises. I have always found it challenging, especially since I've been having occasional wrist flare up pain - likely induced from participating in the class and adding to much weight!
I have to admit that I was fortunate that only a dozen or so people were in the class that had they not been focused on the teacher and themselves, would have witnessed me. Because had anyone been paying attention to me, they may have thought that I was an epileptic.
Seriously, the one hour class was an agonizing feat of me experiencing Seizurecise. Shaking. Convulsing. Sweating. Oh yeah, it was bad. At one point, I literally thought that my legs were going to give out and I was going to plummet the two feet to the ground thus crashing my head on my lightweight barbell while toppling on top of the exercise step bench. Really, that stuff does go through my head. All the while, I glanced at the teacher who periodically would monitor everyone in the class to make sure we were OK. Did I LOOK OK? I suppose in the scheme of things, that's all that really mattered, right?
When it was time to move down to the bench for tricep work, that must have been awesome to observe. I couldn't steady the bar for anything. As the bar came down to the forehead for three counts and back up for one, I shook, I convulsed, I panted (possibly a slight exaggeration) and hoped that at any one time I wouldn't lose my grip and have the weight bar smash into my forehead. Exactly how would I explain that to others?
I did manage to finish the class. On uneasy wobbly legs, I mustered the short walk home. I have a general feeling of pain and exhaustion today which will likely be exacerbated tomorrow when the true pain sets in of exercise. I can only hope that the more I work out, the less I look like I'm suffering a seizure.
I walked to the gym and arrived early to wait for the class before ours to finish. Still lacking motivation, I decided not to do anything remotely exercisish in the ten minutes before class started, so I sat on the stool at the nutritional bar at the gym and zoned out thinking about how I could walk out and feel all the better for doing so.
The exercise class is Body Pump which uses a weight bar and weights to do a variety of exercises. I have always found it challenging, especially since I've been having occasional wrist flare up pain - likely induced from participating in the class and adding to much weight!
I have to admit that I was fortunate that only a dozen or so people were in the class that had they not been focused on the teacher and themselves, would have witnessed me. Because had anyone been paying attention to me, they may have thought that I was an epileptic.
Seriously, the one hour class was an agonizing feat of me experiencing Seizurecise. Shaking. Convulsing. Sweating. Oh yeah, it was bad. At one point, I literally thought that my legs were going to give out and I was going to plummet the two feet to the ground thus crashing my head on my lightweight barbell while toppling on top of the exercise step bench. Really, that stuff does go through my head. All the while, I glanced at the teacher who periodically would monitor everyone in the class to make sure we were OK. Did I LOOK OK? I suppose in the scheme of things, that's all that really mattered, right?
When it was time to move down to the bench for tricep work, that must have been awesome to observe. I couldn't steady the bar for anything. As the bar came down to the forehead for three counts and back up for one, I shook, I convulsed, I panted (possibly a slight exaggeration) and hoped that at any one time I wouldn't lose my grip and have the weight bar smash into my forehead. Exactly how would I explain that to others?
I did manage to finish the class. On uneasy wobbly legs, I mustered the short walk home. I have a general feeling of pain and exhaustion today which will likely be exacerbated tomorrow when the true pain sets in of exercise. I can only hope that the more I work out, the less I look like I'm suffering a seizure.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday
Overall, Wednesday night quickly became something I wanted to not rehash. I apparently managed to pull my tendon in the back of my foot, causing severe and intense pain. Further increased by walking. However, not walking, wasn't really out of the question until late in the evening. Fortunately for my waistline, this was a good thing as I could have used some comfort foods later in the night if mobility wasn't my latest feat.
I arrived home to find that JC had dropped something off in my mailbox and that he had also called the home phone but didn't leave a message. Feeling that his intention was to be sure I wasn't home, I then began to feel a different pain. The non-physical form of pain.
All of this only compounded by my lack of internet capability didn't bode well for my stress reducing techniques of working out or playing cards online. I iced my foot more and took some pain medication and I had a lot of time to think.
Being alone and unable to distract oneself with personal comforts doesn't bode well when trying to accept and understand my recent relationship dissolution. I had called JC about him stopping by and our quick minute phone call left me even more confused. But maybe confused isn't the right word. Maybe it really offered me clarity. The clarity to understand what I hadn't in the past. That as much as I didn't want to confront and acknowledge, maybe JC and I never did have a friendship (he was right).
If he had difficulty communicating and sharing with me as a girlfriend, why would he when we weren't dating? If we can't talk without fighting, is that something that time will heal? Is our relationship/friendship one that has any basis of continuing? Sure there are friendships that have different meanings and purposes. Some where we can tell all and others where we are clearly guarded and superficial. A friendship that serves a purpose or a friendship of distant acquaintances. What friendship do/would JC and I have? Could we have one?
And the thoughts of spending the past seven months with someone that I fell in love with that I may never see or talk to again bothered me very deeply. That relationships and friendships are hard to come by, the older we become. Is it easy to just walk away? Is there enough reason not to? Is it a matter that only time will tell? Or is it that sometimes we need to understand that it is time to let go. Time to move on, no matter how difficult and painful it may be.
I wish I knew. I wish I had the answers. I wish I could prepare myself to understand and know which direction it is going and to grieve appropriately. But I don't. I do know that JC promised if he had any questions or wanted to talk, he would call. And in hearing that, I thought that was the last time I would hear from him. He did however call yesterday and in the first time in a very long time, we had a good conversation. One in which we communicated and shared and listened. Baby steps, baby steps.
I arrived home to find that JC had dropped something off in my mailbox and that he had also called the home phone but didn't leave a message. Feeling that his intention was to be sure I wasn't home, I then began to feel a different pain. The non-physical form of pain.
All of this only compounded by my lack of internet capability didn't bode well for my stress reducing techniques of working out or playing cards online. I iced my foot more and took some pain medication and I had a lot of time to think.
Being alone and unable to distract oneself with personal comforts doesn't bode well when trying to accept and understand my recent relationship dissolution. I had called JC about him stopping by and our quick minute phone call left me even more confused. But maybe confused isn't the right word. Maybe it really offered me clarity. The clarity to understand what I hadn't in the past. That as much as I didn't want to confront and acknowledge, maybe JC and I never did have a friendship (he was right).
If he had difficulty communicating and sharing with me as a girlfriend, why would he when we weren't dating? If we can't talk without fighting, is that something that time will heal? Is our relationship/friendship one that has any basis of continuing? Sure there are friendships that have different meanings and purposes. Some where we can tell all and others where we are clearly guarded and superficial. A friendship that serves a purpose or a friendship of distant acquaintances. What friendship do/would JC and I have? Could we have one?
And the thoughts of spending the past seven months with someone that I fell in love with that I may never see or talk to again bothered me very deeply. That relationships and friendships are hard to come by, the older we become. Is it easy to just walk away? Is there enough reason not to? Is it a matter that only time will tell? Or is it that sometimes we need to understand that it is time to let go. Time to move on, no matter how difficult and painful it may be.
I wish I knew. I wish I had the answers. I wish I could prepare myself to understand and know which direction it is going and to grieve appropriately. But I don't. I do know that JC promised if he had any questions or wanted to talk, he would call. And in hearing that, I thought that was the last time I would hear from him. He did however call yesterday and in the first time in a very long time, we had a good conversation. One in which we communicated and shared and listened. Baby steps, baby steps.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Exercise
I've really decided that I need to start exercising again. I clearly have missed the emotional and physical benefits from staying physically active. I feel like I'm missing a part of myself - besides muscle! So for the past three days, I've managed to work out every day. I've realized that I am not as strong nor do I have the endurance that I used to.
So the first day it was hiking and walking. The second day it was biking - where I realized I was completely out of shape from the hiking, lack of exercise and heat. Yesterday I opted for rollerblading.
Fear has taken over when it comes to rollerblading. I managed to do fairly well, with the exception of a hill, that I tried to avoid only to find myself in the grass, catching myself with my hands! Then after another hill and to avoid smashing into a wooden gate across the path, I ended up in the weeds. I decided an easier route would be taken from then on, and I managed to leave blading unscathed! Baby steps.
I've managed to lose weight, likely muscle weight. I got on the scale and within a day, it registered that I had lost 10 pounds! Clearly then feeling something was seriously wrong, how could I have reached my Aruba goal weight over night?, I moved the scale and was instaneously ten pounds heavier. While I knew it was too good to be true, the thought of losing that much weight overnight had me scared. I'd rather lose it slowly and healthily any day!
So the first day it was hiking and walking. The second day it was biking - where I realized I was completely out of shape from the hiking, lack of exercise and heat. Yesterday I opted for rollerblading.
Fear has taken over when it comes to rollerblading. I managed to do fairly well, with the exception of a hill, that I tried to avoid only to find myself in the grass, catching myself with my hands! Then after another hill and to avoid smashing into a wooden gate across the path, I ended up in the weeds. I decided an easier route would be taken from then on, and I managed to leave blading unscathed! Baby steps.
I've managed to lose weight, likely muscle weight. I got on the scale and within a day, it registered that I had lost 10 pounds! Clearly then feeling something was seriously wrong, how could I have reached my Aruba goal weight over night?, I moved the scale and was instaneously ten pounds heavier. While I knew it was too good to be true, the thought of losing that much weight overnight had me scared. I'd rather lose it slowly and healthily any day!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Biggest Loser Week #Who Really Cares?
I've completely given up on losing weight. I'm more than beyond frustrated. I'm sick and tired of chicken and veggie omelets. I've managed to either injure my left wrist or accumulate some form of carpal tunnel in the past week or two (I actually plan on going to get it checked out as 5# lifting is becoming unbearable - when I find the time). I've also consistently managed to gain weight. What happened to losing 25 pounds in 2-3 months if I haven't lost anything in a month?
So yeah...bah humbug. I've successfully only managed to gain .6 pounds from last week with only two workouts and a heavy dosage of stress. So considering, it could be worse.
So yeah...bah humbug. I've successfully only managed to gain .6 pounds from last week with only two workouts and a heavy dosage of stress. So considering, it could be worse.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Biggest Loser Week #8
To my surprise, I lost an additional .8 pounds this week. That was even after eating a full cheddar herb bagel and some fruit - completely void of my meal plan - prior to the late-morning weigh in.
I suppose that I shouldn't complain, since afterall it wasn't a weight gain. However, I clearly would like for it to have been a bigger loss considering how much I really am trying to follow the meal plan and workout routine. Although I do admit that I ate more than half of a large vegetarian pizza between Friday and Saturday as well as a huge serving of fried french fries yesterday skiing. So, all in all, I'll take a loss, regardless of how small!
I suppose that I shouldn't complain, since afterall it wasn't a weight gain. However, I clearly would like for it to have been a bigger loss considering how much I really am trying to follow the meal plan and workout routine. Although I do admit that I ate more than half of a large vegetarian pizza between Friday and Saturday as well as a huge serving of fried french fries yesterday skiing. So, all in all, I'll take a loss, regardless of how small!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Biggest Loser Week #7
Weight gain of .8 lbs. Seriously.
I'm really ready to throw any and all scales out the window! I worked out at the gym four days and at home two other days. I've really tried to follow the meal plan.
Despite my strong desire to give up and have a box of smores pop tarts and a pan of brownies, I'm not. Not yet that is.
I'm really ready to throw any and all scales out the window! I worked out at the gym four days and at home two other days. I've really tried to follow the meal plan.
Despite my strong desire to give up and have a box of smores pop tarts and a pan of brownies, I'm not. Not yet that is.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Biggest Loser Week #6
Another Tuesday weigh in - due to the office being closed in observance of President's Day.
The scale was a little faulty when I went to get on it today and after some battery adjustments, it seemed to work. I still am rather hesitant to revel in any weight loss since historically the weight returns, but this week the scales showed a loss of 3 pounds (although the recorder showed 3.2 as the scale added .2 pounds after she wrote down my weight.)
Overall, due to the weight gains over the past weeks, I am officially 2.8 pounds less than the weigh in on 1/5/09. Both my circuit workout and meal plan have kicked off, so see what upcoming weeks bring. But for now, I'm not entirely optimistic, because afterall, I'm a realist.
** On a funnier note - I won the Biggest Loser of the week. I wasn't able to get my prize, but seems rather ironic since I'm gathering I have been the consistent biggest gainer of the week until today. Baby steps...
The scale was a little faulty when I went to get on it today and after some battery adjustments, it seemed to work. I still am rather hesitant to revel in any weight loss since historically the weight returns, but this week the scales showed a loss of 3 pounds (although the recorder showed 3.2 as the scale added .2 pounds after she wrote down my weight.)
Overall, due to the weight gains over the past weeks, I am officially 2.8 pounds less than the weigh in on 1/5/09. Both my circuit workout and meal plan have kicked off, so see what upcoming weeks bring. But for now, I'm not entirely optimistic, because afterall, I'm a realist.
** On a funnier note - I won the Biggest Loser of the week. I wasn't able to get my prize, but seems rather ironic since I'm gathering I have been the consistent biggest gainer of the week until today. Baby steps...
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Workout Update & My Diet Plan
Yesterday I did my first full circuit training workout. It was tough, but not impossible. I wasn't on the verge of puking, but probably shouldn't have had a lean piece of steak before hand. I was able to do the three sets of the circuit in a few minutes over an hour. I did lower the bicep weight as well as the incline on the treadmill during the third set. Additionally, I decided that the circuit shouldn't begin and end with the treadmill as then I would be doing 6 minutes of cardio for the back to back sets. So that took out 9 minutes of cardio that I had initially thought I had to cram into the hour workout. I was pretty sore by last night. Not to mention the 6.5 miles of stationary bike I did in the morning. I finally decided I had had enough after two games of bowling last night and watched the third - the 12# ball wasn't helping my sore muscles and back much.
Today I went to the gym for a 2:00p.m. surprise workout, which was actually Zumba. This was the first Zumba class that I have participated and while it wasn't entirely awful, I doubt that I will go out of my way for another. The instructor didn't talk much, so it was just the philosophy of do what she does. It was a cross between latin dance and aerobics, which doesn't bode well for someone with no rhythm and two left feet. Although I thought I fared pretty well, just wasn't as much of a workout as I prefer. The personal trainer I met with, was participating in the class as well and was working out next to me. She had my meal plan done early - so I picked it up on the way out. I confirmed that the circuit workout shoudl only start with three minutes of cardio.
My Diet:
Meal 1: Veggie Omelet - 5 egg whites and one whole egg. 1 cup oatmeal.
Meal 2: Protein Shake or 1 cup yogurt.
Meal 3: 6 oz chicken sandwich on whole grain pita bread or tuna sandwich.
Meal 4: Fruit of my choice or protein shake.
Meal 5: 6 oz. chicken, fish or lean steak. 2.5 cups salad with low fat dressing. 1 medium potato or sweet potato.
She further added that I could do something different for dinner - a kebob with peppers, onions and mushrooms and that if using butter it must be unsweetened and unsalted. I could also substitute 1 cup of green beans or 1 cup of brown rice for the salad or potato.
And there it is. For the birds if you ask me. I LOVE FOOD. I did ask for clarification as to how long in between meals - 3 hours. I can also "snack" on any vegetable in between meals if I desire. I inquired about milk and dairy and she said that I could use veggie cheese shreds on my omelet or fat free cheese on my sandwich. I didn't even bother to inquire about pizza, pasta, bread, bread and bread. I know better than that.
She said that the diet is high in protein to give me energy for my circuit training and offers about 1400 calories. According to her, IF I follow the diet and circuit training religiously, within 2-3 months I should lose 25 pounds.
While I'm always up for a good challenge, I will use the diet as a guide not my food bible and therefore anticipate that my results will not be as she predicts. I know that I will not make the diet a lifestyle change, so I have no intention of trying to prove that I can do it for 2-3 months to then go back to adding more carbs and other foods I love, only to gain significantly.
Moderation. Moderation. Moderation. That's my philosophy - so with my new guide and workout schedule, I'll see what happens after 8 weeks.
Today I went to the gym for a 2:00p.m. surprise workout, which was actually Zumba. This was the first Zumba class that I have participated and while it wasn't entirely awful, I doubt that I will go out of my way for another. The instructor didn't talk much, so it was just the philosophy of do what she does. It was a cross between latin dance and aerobics, which doesn't bode well for someone with no rhythm and two left feet. Although I thought I fared pretty well, just wasn't as much of a workout as I prefer. The personal trainer I met with, was participating in the class as well and was working out next to me. She had my meal plan done early - so I picked it up on the way out. I confirmed that the circuit workout shoudl only start with three minutes of cardio.
My Diet:
Meal 1: Veggie Omelet - 5 egg whites and one whole egg. 1 cup oatmeal.
Meal 2: Protein Shake or 1 cup yogurt.
Meal 3: 6 oz chicken sandwich on whole grain pita bread or tuna sandwich.
Meal 4: Fruit of my choice or protein shake.
Meal 5: 6 oz. chicken, fish or lean steak. 2.5 cups salad with low fat dressing. 1 medium potato or sweet potato.
She further added that I could do something different for dinner - a kebob with peppers, onions and mushrooms and that if using butter it must be unsweetened and unsalted. I could also substitute 1 cup of green beans or 1 cup of brown rice for the salad or potato.
And there it is. For the birds if you ask me. I LOVE FOOD. I did ask for clarification as to how long in between meals - 3 hours. I can also "snack" on any vegetable in between meals if I desire. I inquired about milk and dairy and she said that I could use veggie cheese shreds on my omelet or fat free cheese on my sandwich. I didn't even bother to inquire about pizza, pasta, bread, bread and bread. I know better than that.
She said that the diet is high in protein to give me energy for my circuit training and offers about 1400 calories. According to her, IF I follow the diet and circuit training religiously, within 2-3 months I should lose 25 pounds.
While I'm always up for a good challenge, I will use the diet as a guide not my food bible and therefore anticipate that my results will not be as she predicts. I know that I will not make the diet a lifestyle change, so I have no intention of trying to prove that I can do it for 2-3 months to then go back to adding more carbs and other foods I love, only to gain significantly.
Moderation. Moderation. Moderation. That's my philosophy - so with my new guide and workout schedule, I'll see what happens after 8 weeks.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Personal Training Plan
I met with the personal trainer. I wish she had nice things to say about me, or my body, but well truth be told, she wouldn't have a job if she did, right?
From first re-introductions she told me to take a seat and then quickly told me to stand to give me my once overs and body feels. I apparently do not stand straight and my upper body leans downward to the right, possibly due to healing incorrectly from my broken collar bone injury. She states she can "slowly fix that". My triceps are weak, very, very weak, but I have good shoulder definition...on my left side ONLY. My legs, oh my legs...need to definitely tone the legs and "raise the butt". Then there is my mid-section, much work to be done. Sigh...That was all in the first TWO minutes.
Then we headed to the locker room for measurements and weight. She told me to take my clothes off, um, NO. I figured the sports bra and shorts were sufficient and she didn't say another word about it. Beyond my left shoulder looking better, both my right arm and right leg are slightly bigger than the left - although in my mind this is muscle size!
She put me on the elliptical although preferred the treadmill but with my knee surgeries the elliptical is better for me, while she mustered out a "circuit workout". She did the circuit with me, while testing my weight limits. She classified me as a "White Fiber" stating that I am strong, not necessarily having the endurance. She did say that she was impressed with my lunge form and my strength, that physically I am strong. So I guess it wasn't all negative.
She also hoped that I would commit to 1-3 sessions with her per week and if I agreed to 30 sessions, the rate would lower $5 to $40 per hour. Gag...My intention was to get a baseline workout, direction and see how I could do. So now I have the plan in place - an 8-week workout that I should do three times per week with the goal of doing the circuit three times in an hour. In between the circuit training, I can do cardio and abs. After Monday she will have my meal plan ready confirming I drink too little water and need vitamins for starters.
My circuit consists of: treadmill (3 minutes), step ups, squats (w/5# dumbbells on shoulders), walking lunges, lat pull down, close grip (rowing), tricep push down, and then free weights of tricep kick back, biceps and side lateral raises (standing flies), then following up with hyperextension (inverted/reverse sit-ups), two variations of ab exercises and another three minutes on the treadmill.
I think the circuit is definitely manageable. There were times that it was slightly difficult, but typically after the increase of weights after I completed one set of 15. With the tricep push down I did 45 as she raised the weights three times. She assured me before we began that her goal was to push me to the point of puking. Yeah, that wasn't close to happening, not today at least. I didn't schedule another session with her as I want to try it on my own for a week or two and then meet with her again to see about progress. Weight wise, she didn't seem all that confident, but she felt that I could get down five pounds lower than my goal weight, which is a total of 23 pounds. I didn't ask her what time frame that was - as I'm positive it won't be in 8 weeks! But, it is good to have goals!
From first re-introductions she told me to take a seat and then quickly told me to stand to give me my once overs and body feels. I apparently do not stand straight and my upper body leans downward to the right, possibly due to healing incorrectly from my broken collar bone injury. She states she can "slowly fix that". My triceps are weak, very, very weak, but I have good shoulder definition...on my left side ONLY. My legs, oh my legs...need to definitely tone the legs and "raise the butt". Then there is my mid-section, much work to be done. Sigh...That was all in the first TWO minutes.
Then we headed to the locker room for measurements and weight. She told me to take my clothes off, um, NO. I figured the sports bra and shorts were sufficient and she didn't say another word about it. Beyond my left shoulder looking better, both my right arm and right leg are slightly bigger than the left - although in my mind this is muscle size!
She put me on the elliptical although preferred the treadmill but with my knee surgeries the elliptical is better for me, while she mustered out a "circuit workout". She did the circuit with me, while testing my weight limits. She classified me as a "White Fiber" stating that I am strong, not necessarily having the endurance. She did say that she was impressed with my lunge form and my strength, that physically I am strong. So I guess it wasn't all negative.
She also hoped that I would commit to 1-3 sessions with her per week and if I agreed to 30 sessions, the rate would lower $5 to $40 per hour. Gag...My intention was to get a baseline workout, direction and see how I could do. So now I have the plan in place - an 8-week workout that I should do three times per week with the goal of doing the circuit three times in an hour. In between the circuit training, I can do cardio and abs. After Monday she will have my meal plan ready confirming I drink too little water and need vitamins for starters.
My circuit consists of: treadmill (3 minutes), step ups, squats (w/5# dumbbells on shoulders), walking lunges, lat pull down, close grip (rowing), tricep push down, and then free weights of tricep kick back, biceps and side lateral raises (standing flies), then following up with hyperextension (inverted/reverse sit-ups), two variations of ab exercises and another three minutes on the treadmill.
I think the circuit is definitely manageable. There were times that it was slightly difficult, but typically after the increase of weights after I completed one set of 15. With the tricep push down I did 45 as she raised the weights three times. She assured me before we began that her goal was to push me to the point of puking. Yeah, that wasn't close to happening, not today at least. I didn't schedule another session with her as I want to try it on my own for a week or two and then meet with her again to see about progress. Weight wise, she didn't seem all that confident, but she felt that I could get down five pounds lower than my goal weight, which is a total of 23 pounds. I didn't ask her what time frame that was - as I'm positive it won't be in 8 weeks! But, it is good to have goals!
Personal Trainer & Weight Analysis
Today is the day. The BIG day. Maybe it will be the BIG of the BIGGEST LOSER competition for me. Or maybe it will lead to BIG weight loss. Regardless, it may lead to BIG changes for me.
Trust me when I say that I feel like over the years I have thought or tried it all, with the exception of dieting. I am not a dieter. When I make changes, I make more lifestyle changes of eating healthy. I've never been to a Weight Watchers meeting. I did purchase Richard Simmons "Food Mover" Program or something many years ago, which I suppose was similar to the WW program. It brought insight into how much I don't eat. But when life takes hold of me, my lack of eating habits kick in quickly.
I'm nervous. It's worse than any possible interview or first date experience, this meeting with the personal trainer. I've wondered what I should wear. Is it too much, not enough. I don't want to have to strip to get a complete body analysis, so I plan on wearing shorts, which is not what I work out in. I also have my list of likes and dislikes for my food plan that she will create. I just don't want to be joke. I did talk to JC last night and finally asked him how much he thought I weighed. He low balled me by almost 20 pounds, but I'm not sure if he was being honest or not and then he emphasized, "Honey, you carry it well."
Nice. Wow, flatter me some more, maybe I'll shed a few pounds under the flattery. Sigh...
I have started thinking more about when the weight came on. Over the past decade or so, since beginning birth control pills and other methods, I've decided that I should stop and see if I could drop the extra pounds. But I'd rather take the pounds than an "oops" nine plus month later seven pound loss!
I've also kicked around several ideas/myths (we all want to believe something, right?): a) Muscle weighs more than fat or b) Eat too few calories.
In regard to muscle weighing more than fat, while this is true, on the Biggest Loser the other night Jillian yelled that this is false - at least in Aubrey's case when she didn't lose much weight in 30 days off the ranch and claimed to be working out hard. So does that apply to me? My clothes are fitting better, but the scale is going up. When I work out, I work out hard, is it too hard?
In regard to eating too few calories, I'm almost beginning to believe this; however, if it were true, I would think that I would be losing weight. Anorexics lose weight, right? So I haven't completely grasped this idea; however, I have begun to notice some side affects that may be attributed to not eating properly. I've noticed that I'm more distracted, more irritable. I am beginning to feel like I have traits of Attention Deficit Disorder that I have never had before. That goes along with feeling bored, but not depressed. I seem to be more aloof. I'm not noticing things that I had once noticed, vision slightly out of focus or just not seeing things. I seem to catch myself in closer calls when driving, so either not seeing them as quickly or having slower reflexes. I seem to be more tired, fatigued. Workouts that were easy for me are becoming increasingly more difficult and I'm becoming more winded and am sweating more. Therefore either being I'm pushing myself harder, improving my technique and intensity or I have too few calories and carbs to support my intensity of cardio.
All these questions...I'm tired of them and the million more running through my mind. By this afternoon I hope to have answers. I hope to have direction. I hope to alleviate the myths and understand the truth. That I'm Wrong, but there is still hope for me to find the right path and get back on track once and for all. Here's hoping...stay tuned for the results of the initial assessment.
Trust me when I say that I feel like over the years I have thought or tried it all, with the exception of dieting. I am not a dieter. When I make changes, I make more lifestyle changes of eating healthy. I've never been to a Weight Watchers meeting. I did purchase Richard Simmons "Food Mover" Program or something many years ago, which I suppose was similar to the WW program. It brought insight into how much I don't eat. But when life takes hold of me, my lack of eating habits kick in quickly.
I'm nervous. It's worse than any possible interview or first date experience, this meeting with the personal trainer. I've wondered what I should wear. Is it too much, not enough. I don't want to have to strip to get a complete body analysis, so I plan on wearing shorts, which is not what I work out in. I also have my list of likes and dislikes for my food plan that she will create. I just don't want to be joke. I did talk to JC last night and finally asked him how much he thought I weighed. He low balled me by almost 20 pounds, but I'm not sure if he was being honest or not and then he emphasized, "Honey, you carry it well."
Nice. Wow, flatter me some more, maybe I'll shed a few pounds under the flattery. Sigh...
I have started thinking more about when the weight came on. Over the past decade or so, since beginning birth control pills and other methods, I've decided that I should stop and see if I could drop the extra pounds. But I'd rather take the pounds than an "oops" nine plus month later seven pound loss!
I've also kicked around several ideas/myths (we all want to believe something, right?): a) Muscle weighs more than fat or b) Eat too few calories.
In regard to muscle weighing more than fat, while this is true, on the Biggest Loser the other night Jillian yelled that this is false - at least in Aubrey's case when she didn't lose much weight in 30 days off the ranch and claimed to be working out hard. So does that apply to me? My clothes are fitting better, but the scale is going up. When I work out, I work out hard, is it too hard?
In regard to eating too few calories, I'm almost beginning to believe this; however, if it were true, I would think that I would be losing weight. Anorexics lose weight, right? So I haven't completely grasped this idea; however, I have begun to notice some side affects that may be attributed to not eating properly. I've noticed that I'm more distracted, more irritable. I am beginning to feel like I have traits of Attention Deficit Disorder that I have never had before. That goes along with feeling bored, but not depressed. I seem to be more aloof. I'm not noticing things that I had once noticed, vision slightly out of focus or just not seeing things. I seem to catch myself in closer calls when driving, so either not seeing them as quickly or having slower reflexes. I seem to be more tired, fatigued. Workouts that were easy for me are becoming increasingly more difficult and I'm becoming more winded and am sweating more. Therefore either being I'm pushing myself harder, improving my technique and intensity or I have too few calories and carbs to support my intensity of cardio.
All these questions...I'm tired of them and the million more running through my mind. By this afternoon I hope to have answers. I hope to have direction. I hope to alleviate the myths and understand the truth. That I'm Wrong, but there is still hope for me to find the right path and get back on track once and for all. Here's hoping...stay tuned for the results of the initial assessment.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Personal Trainer Plunge
It's done. I finally did it. For the second time in my life, I have hired a personal trainer. The first time was significantly different. I was getting back into the gym, recovering from a broken collar bone and wanted to know what I should and shouldn't do. It was a one time appointment. A done deal.
I talked to both personal trainers at my gym today. The first, a male, supports half hour sessions and recommends purchasing them in twelve session blocks at $20 per session. He suggests several sessions per week but has some clients that space it out to monthly. The second, a female (and former body builder), supports hour long sessions and more "circuit training". She discussed work-out plans, meal plans and personal assessments. She charges $45 per hour. The first guy doesn't believe in personal assessments - but will do a weight and body fat assessment if desired.
I clearly favor the second option. One, while I may be more motivated to push myself harder with a male personal trainer, I think a female trainer would be a better fit. One, she should be able to understand the female body and may be able to relate better. Additionally, I think the first session and assessments will be true to my ability rather than put me in a "show-off" or defensive attitude as if I have something to prove not only to myself but to the trainer. It does appear from talking to both that I do entirely way too much cardio and not enough weight training.
So without further ado, I bit the bullet and took the plunge and am meeting with the female personal trainer on Thursday. My homework: make a list of food likes and dislikes so that she can make a meal plan for me for the following week.
Do you think that Swiss Cake Rolls, Pasta and Veggies can be part of the plan?
Seriously though, my thing with food plans is I want them super basic, super easy and super plain. Forget all the condiments and give me the basics. Give me straight out protein and fruits and veggies. Give me my occasional pasta and bread and I will be entirely happy. Don't tell me I need to slave hours cooking up something I will devour in moments and don't make it so that I don't want to look at it or smell it, let alone eat it.
If she can do that, we will get along fabulously that if the pounds start to fall off - I'll end up doing and paying whatever she wants!
I talked to both personal trainers at my gym today. The first, a male, supports half hour sessions and recommends purchasing them in twelve session blocks at $20 per session. He suggests several sessions per week but has some clients that space it out to monthly. The second, a female (and former body builder), supports hour long sessions and more "circuit training". She discussed work-out plans, meal plans and personal assessments. She charges $45 per hour. The first guy doesn't believe in personal assessments - but will do a weight and body fat assessment if desired.
I clearly favor the second option. One, while I may be more motivated to push myself harder with a male personal trainer, I think a female trainer would be a better fit. One, she should be able to understand the female body and may be able to relate better. Additionally, I think the first session and assessments will be true to my ability rather than put me in a "show-off" or defensive attitude as if I have something to prove not only to myself but to the trainer. It does appear from talking to both that I do entirely way too much cardio and not enough weight training.
So without further ado, I bit the bullet and took the plunge and am meeting with the female personal trainer on Thursday. My homework: make a list of food likes and dislikes so that she can make a meal plan for me for the following week.
Do you think that Swiss Cake Rolls, Pasta and Veggies can be part of the plan?
Seriously though, my thing with food plans is I want them super basic, super easy and super plain. Forget all the condiments and give me the basics. Give me straight out protein and fruits and veggies. Give me my occasional pasta and bread and I will be entirely happy. Don't tell me I need to slave hours cooking up something I will devour in moments and don't make it so that I don't want to look at it or smell it, let alone eat it.
If she can do that, we will get along fabulously that if the pounds start to fall off - I'll end up doing and paying whatever she wants!
Biggest Loser Week #5
Adding insult to injury, I've officially added an additional 2.8 pounds from last weeks weigh. If that wasn't enough, I'm now .2 pounds more than the very first kick off weigh in! Sigh...what the...?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Biggest Loser Week #2
The dreaded weigh in...
With Martin Luther King yesterday, today was our official weekly weigh in at the office. I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. Heck, I would have taken average, or nice compared to the downright U....G....L....Y....that glared upwardly at me. Damn scale...
This week brought an official weight gain of 1 pound. Clearly it could have been worse. If I had holed up in the house and ate Ho Ho's and sat on the couch all week long and then wore six layers of clothes to the weigh in. Yeah, then I might have actually gained 2 pounds.
Fear not though. I knew it was inevitable that I would gain weight. Because, that's what I do best. Weight and the scale are not, I repeat NOT friends.
Seeing that the thought of wearing even less clothes was out of the picture after my recent lecture of indecent office exposure for last week's weigh-in, I knew that in the dead of Michigan weather, wear for the worse, I would.
The frustrating thing though - I did eat, and respectively well. I even managed to drink some new vitamin crazy like zero calorie waters throughout the weekend boosting my water intake AND vitamins!
Exercise you say? Besides the endless hours of the Wii and battling the physical ailments of the WiiKnee and WiiShoulder (I had some records to beat!), I actually did some serious working out over the past week. I've worked out EVERY day, minimally with 6 miles of biking on the stationary bike, stairs, elliptical, snow shoeing, sledding, and two gym workouts yesterday which included the brutal Body Pump class after I did a 40 minute arm workout! And I may have even pushed my car mostly out of my garage, one handedly while on the phone and the car in reverse. Poor planning, people, poor planning.
Every muscle on my body aches. EVERY SINGLE ONE.
As much as I was hoping to be strong and independent and capable of doing things on my own, I'm truly going to have to cave in and hire a personal trainer. I'm on the brink of admitting defeat. I hate admitting failure.
My attempts at brutally beating myself to a pulp with workouts isn't working. Friends can't seem to understand what my problems are with gaining weight either with as much as I stay active and workout. Even with as much as I love S'mores Pop Tarts and chocolate, my addiction is not enough to gain weight.
So when I can actually use my fingers without pain, I'm actually going to pick up the phone and dial the gym to schedule an appointment with a personal trainer. Oh yeah, and after I learn of the financial damage I am accruing from my car. Sigh...
With Martin Luther King yesterday, today was our official weekly weigh in at the office. I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. Heck, I would have taken average, or nice compared to the downright U....G....L....Y....that glared upwardly at me. Damn scale...
This week brought an official weight gain of 1 pound. Clearly it could have been worse. If I had holed up in the house and ate Ho Ho's and sat on the couch all week long and then wore six layers of clothes to the weigh in. Yeah, then I might have actually gained 2 pounds.
Fear not though. I knew it was inevitable that I would gain weight. Because, that's what I do best. Weight and the scale are not, I repeat NOT friends.
Seeing that the thought of wearing even less clothes was out of the picture after my recent lecture of indecent office exposure for last week's weigh-in, I knew that in the dead of Michigan weather, wear for the worse, I would.
The frustrating thing though - I did eat, and respectively well. I even managed to drink some new vitamin crazy like zero calorie waters throughout the weekend boosting my water intake AND vitamins!
Exercise you say? Besides the endless hours of the Wii and battling the physical ailments of the WiiKnee and WiiShoulder (I had some records to beat!), I actually did some serious working out over the past week. I've worked out EVERY day, minimally with 6 miles of biking on the stationary bike, stairs, elliptical, snow shoeing, sledding, and two gym workouts yesterday which included the brutal Body Pump class after I did a 40 minute arm workout! And I may have even pushed my car mostly out of my garage, one handedly while on the phone and the car in reverse. Poor planning, people, poor planning.
Every muscle on my body aches. EVERY SINGLE ONE.
As much as I was hoping to be strong and independent and capable of doing things on my own, I'm truly going to have to cave in and hire a personal trainer. I'm on the brink of admitting defeat. I hate admitting failure.
My attempts at brutally beating myself to a pulp with workouts isn't working. Friends can't seem to understand what my problems are with gaining weight either with as much as I stay active and workout. Even with as much as I love S'mores Pop Tarts and chocolate, my addiction is not enough to gain weight.
So when I can actually use my fingers without pain, I'm actually going to pick up the phone and dial the gym to schedule an appointment with a personal trainer. Oh yeah, and after I learn of the financial damage I am accruing from my car. Sigh...
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Biggest Loser
I am a HUGE Biggest Loser fan. I LOVE the Biggest Loser. It is the only show that I religiously watch on television. Well actually, I think it's the only show I watch.
There are other shows that I sit in zombie-like style staring at the television that my son has on, but not watching.
I wish that I could shed the pounds in the same fashion. I wish that I could shed any pounds! I find the background stories completely inspirational. I am in awe by their motivation, drive and determination. I am also envious that they have 24/7 to devote to making themselves better. I also have guilt by eating during the show and not working out. If they can do it, SO CAN I!
I have to say that tonight I was disappointed by Colleen's departure. I think it was poor game play and strategy for Amy to keep Vicky, but I do get it; however, I think that the house would have been much more harmonious with Vicky gone.
Anyway, I do have to express my one issue with BL...enough with the commercials already! Is it really necessary to drag the show out consistently every week to fill two hours? I'm beginning to lose interest, which I never thought possible.
On an exercise note, last year I bought Jillian's 5-DVD collection of workout videos. I even bought a step, since it was necessary to do some of the videos. I can admit that I only used the step once. But, I LOVE her Cardio Kick Boxing video. It's the only video of hers that I like although I have to admit that I haven't really even watched all of them! So with that being said, I decided that I needed to start pushing myself more and try another one of the videos. Tonight I did the Maximize - Full Frontal video and I have to say that I did better than I had anticipated.
Additionally, during the commercials of the first hour (well five commercials that is) I also did the step. I did over a 1000 (since I managed to lose count a few times), 200 during each commercial break.
Too bad the scale won't reflect anything when I drag by large, well anyway, self onto it!
There are other shows that I sit in zombie-like style staring at the television that my son has on, but not watching.
I wish that I could shed the pounds in the same fashion. I wish that I could shed any pounds! I find the background stories completely inspirational. I am in awe by their motivation, drive and determination. I am also envious that they have 24/7 to devote to making themselves better. I also have guilt by eating during the show and not working out. If they can do it, SO CAN I!
I have to say that tonight I was disappointed by Colleen's departure. I think it was poor game play and strategy for Amy to keep Vicky, but I do get it; however, I think that the house would have been much more harmonious with Vicky gone.
Anyway, I do have to express my one issue with BL...enough with the commercials already! Is it really necessary to drag the show out consistently every week to fill two hours? I'm beginning to lose interest, which I never thought possible.
On an exercise note, last year I bought Jillian's 5-DVD collection of workout videos. I even bought a step, since it was necessary to do some of the videos. I can admit that I only used the step once. But, I LOVE her Cardio Kick Boxing video. It's the only video of hers that I like although I have to admit that I haven't really even watched all of them! So with that being said, I decided that I needed to start pushing myself more and try another one of the videos. Tonight I did the Maximize - Full Frontal video and I have to say that I did better than I had anticipated.
Additionally, during the commercials of the first hour (well five commercials that is) I also did the step. I did over a 1000 (since I managed to lose count a few times), 200 during each commercial break.
Too bad the scale won't reflect anything when I drag by large, well anyway, self onto it!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
New Year Challenge
Of course it isn't the New Year so New Years Resolution is far from fitting. It is however, the beginning of my new birth year, so what better time than to start a new challenge for myself?
I've never really been one to diet. I think I know enough about eating healthy (proper nutrition), and exercise to be healthy. But somehow, I seem to always fall short. Short of that weight loss goal.
It could be that I've never fully committed to a program. I can't say that I've ever been on a diet (other than a "see food" diet). I have attempted to do the Richard Simmons Food Mover program many years ago, but even that wasn't really a diet. It was making a conscious effort to record, or move the pieces, your daily food intake . It was acknowledging what you ate, similar to a food journal without the writing/journal part.
I did manage to lose about 30 pounds between exercising and making healthier lifestyle changes. However, now I seem to get into funks. I get to busy with life to exercise or eat right or drink water. I let things slide and it's usually my health and fitness.
On the other side of things, when I do work out, I'm a freak. I push myself extremely hard and want to get the most out of myself and my body. Not to the point of physical exertion, but there are some things in the gym that I could push my self closer to the point of fatigue, but I don't. I'm still having issues with machines not being able to record my pulse or heart rate. I think I've decided that my pulse is too high to record. I'm not sure the highest threshold of machines, but the last recording that mine read was 159 before it couldn't read it any longer.
A couple years ago I set a goal for myself that if I lost 20 pounds I would go to Aruba. I never met that goal. I came within 5 pounds.
Over the past weekend I decided to resurrect my personal goal. I had 18 pounds to lose as of Friday, even Sunday night. As of Tuesday (numb, disconnected and suffering relationship issues) I only have to lose 13 pounds. So since a trip wasn't incentive enough, I incorporated the fact that if Mr. Date and I didn't work out, I wouldn't try the dating thing again until my son was graduated from high school and/or I've decided that I will not meet or date anyone (new) until I've reached my weight loss goal.
The last thing I want to do is to consider dating. I didn't set my goal to be purposely sabotaging to either my weight loss efforts or to my relationship efforts (or lack thereof), it's more just a matter of me focusing on me and making exercise and nutrition a priority, again. I'm clearly not in any position or desire to date.
In my eyes, it's my way of making myself important enough to achieve a goal. Granted this time around, I think I'm going to pursue the help of a personal trainer to actually do it right!
It isn't about another relationship, it's about healing from the hurts and wounds of a relationship and determining how and when to pick up the pieces and what direction to head next. It's about incorporating healthy choices to increase my physical fitness and physique. It's about being the best that I can be. And because right now, I'm still not convinced that maybe I want to turn back around.
I've never really been one to diet. I think I know enough about eating healthy (proper nutrition), and exercise to be healthy. But somehow, I seem to always fall short. Short of that weight loss goal.
It could be that I've never fully committed to a program. I can't say that I've ever been on a diet (other than a "see food" diet). I have attempted to do the Richard Simmons Food Mover program many years ago, but even that wasn't really a diet. It was making a conscious effort to record, or move the pieces, your daily food intake . It was acknowledging what you ate, similar to a food journal without the writing/journal part.
I did manage to lose about 30 pounds between exercising and making healthier lifestyle changes. However, now I seem to get into funks. I get to busy with life to exercise or eat right or drink water. I let things slide and it's usually my health and fitness.
On the other side of things, when I do work out, I'm a freak. I push myself extremely hard and want to get the most out of myself and my body. Not to the point of physical exertion, but there are some things in the gym that I could push my self closer to the point of fatigue, but I don't. I'm still having issues with machines not being able to record my pulse or heart rate. I think I've decided that my pulse is too high to record. I'm not sure the highest threshold of machines, but the last recording that mine read was 159 before it couldn't read it any longer.
A couple years ago I set a goal for myself that if I lost 20 pounds I would go to Aruba. I never met that goal. I came within 5 pounds.
Over the past weekend I decided to resurrect my personal goal. I had 18 pounds to lose as of Friday, even Sunday night. As of Tuesday (numb, disconnected and suffering relationship issues) I only have to lose 13 pounds. So since a trip wasn't incentive enough, I incorporated the fact that if Mr. Date and I didn't work out, I wouldn't try the dating thing again until my son was graduated from high school and/or I've decided that I will not meet or date anyone (new) until I've reached my weight loss goal.
The last thing I want to do is to consider dating. I didn't set my goal to be purposely sabotaging to either my weight loss efforts or to my relationship efforts (or lack thereof), it's more just a matter of me focusing on me and making exercise and nutrition a priority, again. I'm clearly not in any position or desire to date.
In my eyes, it's my way of making myself important enough to achieve a goal. Granted this time around, I think I'm going to pursue the help of a personal trainer to actually do it right!
It isn't about another relationship, it's about healing from the hurts and wounds of a relationship and determining how and when to pick up the pieces and what direction to head next. It's about incorporating healthy choices to increase my physical fitness and physique. It's about being the best that I can be. And because right now, I'm still not convinced that maybe I want to turn back around.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Heart Rate
Some have said that I am cold-hearted. I have to admit that I'm not the most emotional of people. Not to say that I'm emotionless, I just choose to have my emotional meltdowns in my own privacy or in the company of select few. It goes back to my childhood taunting of peers and that I would be weak. (Anyway...digressing...)
I'm not a doctor or a rocket scientist, but I do know that emotional weakness err expression has nothing to do with a heart rate. But I have to wonder if there is some correlation of the two.
See while on vacation in the Riviera Maya last week, I hit the gym several times. I've mentioned before that I can be somewhat freakish (err OCD) about my workouts. I tend to push myself much harder than I should hoping for ultimate results and yet never really attaining any, not by my standards at least. I do manage to perspire (a lot) and I feel better, but I don't look better and the scale doesn't show results either. Anyway...JN and I were at the gym...
I did half an hour on the exercise bike, which reflected that I did over 12 miles during that time. Made me think that really it wasn't miles, but anyway...I wasn't short of breath, but I and my bath towel (it really was a bath towel - were damp). We had done water aerobics in the morning and managed to walk around the resort, a few miles, so I wasn't really interested in much more after the bike. JN on the other hand had bounced around machines and had settled on the treadmill where she wanted to work out another ten minutes or so. Knowing my despise for the treadmill, but inability to stand around another ten minutes, I got on the treadmill next to her. My despise for the treadmill comes from my desire to walk outside or choose other machines that are less demanding on my knees and get a better caloric burn.
Anyway...I decide to do the "Fat Burn" setting for ten minutes. I enter in all of my information (just shy of my social security number) and off I am walking. Within a minute or so I'm asked to check my heart rate. I place my hands on the heart rate monitor grasps and the result...60. The treadmill begins to incline. Another minute or so later, I give my heart rate yet again...60. This continues, I'm now at an incline of 9.8 and a speed of 3.8mph. The machine displays that if I want to lower the incline I should speed up. I speed up to 4.3 and the incline reduces to 9.6. I feel as if I'm trying to walk up a ladder. The incline is absurd. I'm not out of breath, just envisioning flying off the end of the treadmill Biggest Loser style in the middle of the gym in the Riviera Maya. I reduce the speed back to 4.0 and the incline remains.
I refuse to run. I hate running. And I sure as heck am not going to try to run up a 9.0+ incline! About eight minutes in, the machine finally gives up on me as my heart rate never exceeded 61. For the past two test requests, the machine couldn't read my heart rate at all and it switched over to manual. I did actually proceed to run at manual for the final two minutes.
JN didn't have any problem on her machine getting a heart rate. So when I finished, we switched machines. She was able to get 103 heart rate on my machine and I got...nothing. Nothing on her machine either.
At this point, the employee of the gym as well as another treadmill user tried to tell me how to get my heart rate. I attempted to use whole hand. I used thumb only. I used only finger tips. I held on for minutes at a time. Nothing worked. The employee settled on the fact that the machine must be broken.
If the machine is only "broken" for me, what does that say about my heart rate? Does being cold-hearted reduce your heart rate to non-existent at best?
I can only wonder.
*** As an after thought, I just researched heart rates. If in fact my heart rate was accurate, I was performing at 32.5%. Pathetic.
I'm not a doctor or a rocket scientist, but I do know that emotional weakness err expression has nothing to do with a heart rate. But I have to wonder if there is some correlation of the two.
See while on vacation in the Riviera Maya last week, I hit the gym several times. I've mentioned before that I can be somewhat freakish (err OCD) about my workouts. I tend to push myself much harder than I should hoping for ultimate results and yet never really attaining any, not by my standards at least. I do manage to perspire (a lot) and I feel better, but I don't look better and the scale doesn't show results either. Anyway...JN and I were at the gym...
I did half an hour on the exercise bike, which reflected that I did over 12 miles during that time. Made me think that really it wasn't miles, but anyway...I wasn't short of breath, but I and my bath towel (it really was a bath towel - were damp). We had done water aerobics in the morning and managed to walk around the resort, a few miles, so I wasn't really interested in much more after the bike. JN on the other hand had bounced around machines and had settled on the treadmill where she wanted to work out another ten minutes or so. Knowing my despise for the treadmill, but inability to stand around another ten minutes, I got on the treadmill next to her. My despise for the treadmill comes from my desire to walk outside or choose other machines that are less demanding on my knees and get a better caloric burn.
Anyway...I decide to do the "Fat Burn" setting for ten minutes. I enter in all of my information (just shy of my social security number) and off I am walking. Within a minute or so I'm asked to check my heart rate. I place my hands on the heart rate monitor grasps and the result...60. The treadmill begins to incline. Another minute or so later, I give my heart rate yet again...60. This continues, I'm now at an incline of 9.8 and a speed of 3.8mph. The machine displays that if I want to lower the incline I should speed up. I speed up to 4.3 and the incline reduces to 9.6. I feel as if I'm trying to walk up a ladder. The incline is absurd. I'm not out of breath, just envisioning flying off the end of the treadmill Biggest Loser style in the middle of the gym in the Riviera Maya. I reduce the speed back to 4.0 and the incline remains.
I refuse to run. I hate running. And I sure as heck am not going to try to run up a 9.0+ incline! About eight minutes in, the machine finally gives up on me as my heart rate never exceeded 61. For the past two test requests, the machine couldn't read my heart rate at all and it switched over to manual. I did actually proceed to run at manual for the final two minutes.
JN didn't have any problem on her machine getting a heart rate. So when I finished, we switched machines. She was able to get 103 heart rate on my machine and I got...nothing. Nothing on her machine either.
At this point, the employee of the gym as well as another treadmill user tried to tell me how to get my heart rate. I attempted to use whole hand. I used thumb only. I used only finger tips. I held on for minutes at a time. Nothing worked. The employee settled on the fact that the machine must be broken.
If the machine is only "broken" for me, what does that say about my heart rate? Does being cold-hearted reduce your heart rate to non-existent at best?
I can only wonder.
*** As an after thought, I just researched heart rates. If in fact my heart rate was accurate, I was performing at 32.5%. Pathetic.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)