I made it to the gym last night, and had a great little workout. I also noticed something recently -- I can actually walk up stairs a little easier than before. So even 4 days in to the new year, I can feel that my legs are a tad stronger.
Now walking down the stairs is a little risky still! Thank goodness for handrails :)
Back when I was training for my first half marathon, I worked in a 20 story office building. Almost every day I would walk the stairs at lunch or at some point in the afternoon. At first, I could only make it up 2 flights without huffing and puffing. But every week, I added a flight, and eventually I could do all 20! But what was interesting, was that walking down was a lot harder on my muscles. Going up was harder for my cardio, of course.
So, I've done 4 days of the gym out of the 200 that's my #Fitness2013 goal. Only 196 more days to go!!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
The Parking Lot
I had a great workout on Saturday at the gym. So I thought I would be all excited and motivated to go on Sunday. Annnnnnnnd I made it to the parking lot. Yep.
Had my stuff, all set, all I had to do was get out of the car. And I didn't. Just wasn't into it.
So I skipped. But that's okay. It takes me a while to reach the point where I love working out and look forward to going. So I'm not going to stress or worry about it. And I will go tonight -- and I probably will make it into the building this time!
And speaking of parking lots, the Mickey Miles Podcast tweeted some pics of the Epcot parking lot being prepared for race weekend. Empty bleachers, potties and tents are all there, waiting for the deluge of runners. It was neat to see the preparations.
I know there are runners who are excited or scared or worried about the weekend. There are so many stories that could be told. It's truly an amazing event!
Had my stuff, all set, all I had to do was get out of the car. And I didn't. Just wasn't into it.
So I skipped. But that's okay. It takes me a while to reach the point where I love working out and look forward to going. So I'm not going to stress or worry about it. And I will go tonight -- and I probably will make it into the building this time!
And speaking of parking lots, the Mickey Miles Podcast tweeted some pics of the Epcot parking lot being prepared for race weekend. Empty bleachers, potties and tents are all there, waiting for the deluge of runners. It was neat to see the preparations.
I know there are runners who are excited or scared or worried about the weekend. There are so many stories that could be told. It's truly an amazing event!
Friday, January 4, 2013
Happy Friday !
Whew! I've been back at work three whole days and I am ready for a break! (Our university shuts down between Christmas and New Years, so I had a nice long visit with family in NC, and then six more days at home chilling out.)
On my lunch time walk today, me and the work friend who's joining in my goal of 150 lunch walks this year were talking, and she said she needs a new challenge that she can work toward -- like a charity walk or run. That kind of goal is what she needs to stay on track.
But as you can see from my goals for this year (150 lunch walks, 200 gym days), goals can also be simple or unique. I'd love to run another Disney race someday, but that may not be realistic with my pinched nerve and age. So my goals this year need to be focused on improving my fitness, not so much on a race. A race would just be icing on the cake .... um, I mean sugar-free caramel on sugar-free ice cream?
#Fitness2013
On my lunch time walk today, me and the work friend who's joining in my goal of 150 lunch walks this year were talking, and she said she needs a new challenge that she can work toward -- like a charity walk or run. That kind of goal is what she needs to stay on track.
But as you can see from my goals for this year (150 lunch walks, 200 gym days), goals can also be simple or unique. I'd love to run another Disney race someday, but that may not be realistic with my pinched nerve and age. So my goals this year need to be focused on improving my fitness, not so much on a race. A race would just be icing on the cake .... um, I mean sugar-free caramel on sugar-free ice cream?
#Fitness2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
1 and 1 Baby :)
I had a successful first day of Fitness 2013 yesterday. One lunch time walk, and one visit to the gym after work. I'm on my way!
Just had one little problem -- I bonked for the last 2 minutes of my elliptical session. I totally ran out of gas. I felt like I was plodding through mud, but I stayed with it. I had reached my distance goal for the session, so I just decided to keep moving no matter how slow I was.
My most memorable bonk was when I was training for my first Disney Half. It was September, and I was doing my weekend long run at the park. I was supposed to reach 12 miles that day -- a pretty big milestone. I made it to 11.85 and I literally could not walk another .15 to reach 12. And it wasn't that I was at the end of my rope physically -- although I was pretty tired -- it was that I hit the wall mentally. I mean, c'mon, all I had to do was walk around the parking lot once or twice.
Nope, it was not happening, and I didn't care!! Part of me was disappointed that day, but the other part of me really didn't care. I did make it to 12 miles the next weekend, but I'll never forget that .15 miles and that bonk.
Lesson to be learned? I need more than half a Luna bar before heading to the gym. So today, I'll eat a full one along with a yogurt. Current favorite flavors of Luna bars, you ask? Peppermint Chocolate, Lemon Zest, and Chocolate Coconut. They are quite yummy.
Gym days: 1
Lunch walks: 1
Woo hoo!
Just had one little problem -- I bonked for the last 2 minutes of my elliptical session. I totally ran out of gas. I felt like I was plodding through mud, but I stayed with it. I had reached my distance goal for the session, so I just decided to keep moving no matter how slow I was.
My most memorable bonk was when I was training for my first Disney Half. It was September, and I was doing my weekend long run at the park. I was supposed to reach 12 miles that day -- a pretty big milestone. I made it to 11.85 and I literally could not walk another .15 to reach 12. And it wasn't that I was at the end of my rope physically -- although I was pretty tired -- it was that I hit the wall mentally. I mean, c'mon, all I had to do was walk around the parking lot once or twice.
Nope, it was not happening, and I didn't care!! Part of me was disappointed that day, but the other part of me really didn't care. I did make it to 12 miles the next weekend, but I'll never forget that .15 miles and that bonk.
Lesson to be learned? I need more than half a Luna bar before heading to the gym. So today, I'll eat a full one along with a yogurt. Current favorite flavors of Luna bars, you ask? Peppermint Chocolate, Lemon Zest, and Chocolate Coconut. They are quite yummy.
Gym days: 1
Lunch walks: 1
Woo hoo!
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Fitness 2013
Hi everybody! Long time, no blog :)
So it's 2013, and I think it's a good time to focus on fitness again. And I'm looking forward to it! I don't know if I'll manage to run a half marathon again, since I'm old and creaky. But if so, that will be icing on the cake .... uh ..... I mean, sugarfree caramel on an apple?
In 2011 and 2012, I was focused on my new job at a University, and taking courses on the side to finish my degree. The most important thing I learned from running the Disney half marathon was that if I really, really want to accomplish something, I can. But it has to be something I really want.
Once I started taking courses again -- one a semester -- the lesson I learned about consistency and focus really helped me with my courses. But I also learned that I can only do three things at a time in my life -- work, school, home -- or -- work, exercise, home.
Now you super-heroes, hush up! You might can manage four things!! But I can only manage three things!!! The time that I would normally spend at the gym -- weeknights and weekends -- I had to devote toward homework.
So this semester, I'm not taking a course so that I can focus on fitness again! Obviously I don't like that I've gained the weight back that I lost when training for the Disney half. But what I really don't like is the lack of strength, lack of flexibility, and general decline in my health.
So, here's the plan. I'll get back into my gym routine -- will stop by most weeknights and both days on the weekends. It will take me a while before I look forward to the gym, but the blog will help me stay accountable. I have a goal of hitting the gym or doing a walk/run for 200 days in 2013! That seems reasonable and reachable.
Second tactic will be to do a short walk most weekdays before I eat lunch. I have a work friend who walks with me. In spring 2012 we were doing stairs in one of our science buildings, and that was really, really, really good for us :) My goal for lunch walks will be 150 days!! That's an average of 3 times a week, so it should be easy, in theory.
And lastly, a trainer. I think most of you remember that I worked out with a great trainer before my first Disney half. He really helped me strengthen my legs and core and stamina, so I was ready for the race. He pushed me waaaaaay more than I would have pushed myself. But since I changed jobs, we're on opposite sides of town, and I could only manage to get there occasionally.
But my massage therapist moved to a new place, and I am going to try out the owner/trainer there, hopefully in two weeks. Now I don't think I'll make a goal for the trainer, just in case she doesn't work out. But my fingers are crossed.
So that's my story and my plan for now. I know it sounds like just another New Year's resolution. But my mindset is good, and I am looking forward to Fitness 2013!!
So it's 2013, and I think it's a good time to focus on fitness again. And I'm looking forward to it! I don't know if I'll manage to run a half marathon again, since I'm old and creaky. But if so, that will be icing on the cake .... uh ..... I mean, sugarfree caramel on an apple?
In 2011 and 2012, I was focused on my new job at a University, and taking courses on the side to finish my degree. The most important thing I learned from running the Disney half marathon was that if I really, really want to accomplish something, I can. But it has to be something I really want.
Once I started taking courses again -- one a semester -- the lesson I learned about consistency and focus really helped me with my courses. But I also learned that I can only do three things at a time in my life -- work, school, home -- or -- work, exercise, home.
Now you super-heroes, hush up! You might can manage four things!! But I can only manage three things!!! The time that I would normally spend at the gym -- weeknights and weekends -- I had to devote toward homework.
So this semester, I'm not taking a course so that I can focus on fitness again! Obviously I don't like that I've gained the weight back that I lost when training for the Disney half. But what I really don't like is the lack of strength, lack of flexibility, and general decline in my health.
So, here's the plan. I'll get back into my gym routine -- will stop by most weeknights and both days on the weekends. It will take me a while before I look forward to the gym, but the blog will help me stay accountable. I have a goal of hitting the gym or doing a walk/run for 200 days in 2013! That seems reasonable and reachable.
Second tactic will be to do a short walk most weekdays before I eat lunch. I have a work friend who walks with me. In spring 2012 we were doing stairs in one of our science buildings, and that was really, really, really good for us :) My goal for lunch walks will be 150 days!! That's an average of 3 times a week, so it should be easy, in theory.
And lastly, a trainer. I think most of you remember that I worked out with a great trainer before my first Disney half. He really helped me strengthen my legs and core and stamina, so I was ready for the race. He pushed me waaaaaay more than I would have pushed myself. But since I changed jobs, we're on opposite sides of town, and I could only manage to get there occasionally.
But my massage therapist moved to a new place, and I am going to try out the owner/trainer there, hopefully in two weeks. Now I don't think I'll make a goal for the trainer, just in case she doesn't work out. But my fingers are crossed.
So that's my story and my plan for now. I know it sounds like just another New Year's resolution. But my mindset is good, and I am looking forward to Fitness 2013!!
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