Ending 2013 the Right Way

Today was supposed to be a rest day, but I really wanted to get some exercise in.  I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, and 30 minutes on the bike.  The first was fairly intense, the second, more gentle.  But, between the two, I got in an hour of exercise and feel like I am ending the year on a positive note.  Tomorrow, I will welcome 2014 and hope for a great year ahead.

Quick update

I did my regular Monday night double workout tonight.  It was a really good, intense workout but now I'm dead.   I'm going to sit in the sauna, try to get warm, and hope that things stop hurting.   Tomorrow will be a better day.

Another walking day - with a speed boost

When I turned on my walk it out game this afternoon, it remembered my music selection from yesterday.  I like that!  And, it meant that I did the entire hour of walking to uptempo music.  I think the minimum was 130 bpm.  The time went fast, and it said that I did almost 4 miles in my hour.  I can't remember if it was 3.7 or 3.9.  Either way, I'm really happy!

It looks like I will be able to raise enough money to our reunion at Biggest Loser Resort Chicago at the end of February.  With thanks to several good friends and anonymous donors.  Now, I am excited and extra motivated to get in as much exercise as I possibly can before I go.  Every ounce I can lose before the trip is an once I won't have to carry with me when I'm there.  I know that you can make it work at whatever fitness level you are at.  However, I want to be as prepared as I can possibly be. 

It's late in the year and I should be thinking about New Year's Resolutions.  But, I haven't given it too much thought this year.  I know I am going to continue this journey, and will tighten up some aspects that have lapsed.  But, mostly I want to appreciate everything I've done so far, and keep going with it.  But, I still have two more days, maybe I'll come up with something creative.

Just Keep Moving

I woke up tired this morning.  And sore.  I think I definitely pushed too hard yesterday.  But, I have a big deadline coming up, so I have extra motivation to keep up with the exercise.  So, I decided it was a great day for walk it out.  I ended up walking for just about an hour.  Toward the end, I kicked it into fast songs only.  It really makes you sweat to keep up with the faster music.  So, it was a good workout.  But, I'm still feeling pretty beat up.  Tonight, I'm going to ask Steve to rub some arnica into my shoulders, after I get out of the sauna.  Between the two, I'm hoping to feel more myself by morning.  Let's just hope my plan works.

Very Exhausting Day

I guess when I jump into things, I jump with two feet.  Today I did twenty minutes on the elliptical, a very intense hour of personal training, 1 mile and a half playing walk it out, and my regular Friday night yoga class.  I'm just exhausted remembering it all! I'm really proud of myself for having such a great day.  Now, I'm ready to get in the HBOT with Michael and then sleep really well tonight.  Happy Friday!

I'm back!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!  Mine was really good - lots of time spent with family, a little bit of sleep, and way too many presents.  Unfortunately, I didn't stick to my diet very well.  But, I will get back to it first thing tomorrow.  Overall, it really was a great holiday.  But, now I'm back, and I am getting back into my routine.

I wanted to start out fun and easy today, so I decided to play walk it out on the wii.  It is a really fun, addictive game.  Before I knew it, 90 minutes had gone by and I'd walked 4 miles.  Not bad!  Tomorrow will be a rude awakening, but for now, I'm enjoying the vacation and the fact that I can have fun and exercise at the same time. 

Merry Christmas!!!

I just wanted to check in before the holidays.  For the next week or so my life is going to be really crazy.  We'll be traveling, visiting with family, and I just won't be in control of my schedule.  I figure now is a great time to take a short break, give myself a chance to rest, and then get right back to my schedule the minute I get home.

Of course, while I am away, I will try to sneak in as much activity as I can.  I just won't be posting about it.  For today, I just went to yoga tonight.  I had a really stressful day, and class tonight was just what I needed.  A lot of stretching, some really active poses, and a great savasanah at the end.  Talk about a perfect way to end the day.  Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!!

Frozen Monday

I think I might have pushed a little too hard tonight.  The first class was pretty tough.  She started out with shoulder exercises during the warm up.  By the time we got to the 'regular' part of class, I thought my arms would fall off.  By the end of class I was surprised they hadn't.

Then, she started yoga off with more shoulder exercises. In the time we are normally doing gentle twists, my arms and shoulders were just burning.  Not fair!  But, it was definitely a great workout.  Although, now that I've been home for a while, I really do think I pushed too hard.  My arms are shaking and I am having trouble maintaining temperature.  Something tells me I'll be putting an extra blanket on the bed very quickly.  I'm so glad tomorrow is a rest day!

Walking Fun

I was really sore from my workout yesterday, but wanted to get my exercise in.  And, I wanted to open the rest of the island on walk it out.  So, I spent about an hour opening the rest of the island and collecting songs.  I love how quickly the time goes and how much fun it is to walk to the music.  It wasn't the most intense workout ever, but it made me feel better. 

Another ouch day!

I'm sitting here in my chair with a heating pad on my stomach. I had a personal training session today that was so strongly focused on abs that I am in serious pain.  Normally, when I get muscle soreness after a workout, it's the next day and the day after.  This started about 7 hours after the workout.  I have a feeling I'm in serious trouble.  On the other hand, it means my abs got a serious workout today.

On the plus side, I also went to the Friday night yoga class.  It was just what I needed.  Even though I stretched pretty well after the session this morning, it still felt so good to get a good stretch tonight.  By the time we got to final relaxation, I was ready to nap.  When I left, I was completely relaxed and feeling great.  Of course, now, I'm still in pain, but I'm quite relaxed about it!

Tired

Today was a hard day.  I was in the office all day, and it just seemed like everything was piling on today.  Some days are just more stressful than others.  But, I got home and figured that the best thing I could do would be to exercise.  I turned on the wii and put the Walk It Out game on. 

I ended up walking for about 50 minutes.  I had developed a cramp in my leg and it just wasn't going away. I tried to push for the full hour, but it just wasn't happening.  But, that's OK.  Fifty minutes of walking on a stress filled office day, I'll take it!

Wonderful Wednesday

The day started with a text message from my trainer with instructions to do two 90 second planks, a minute of push ups, and an hour on the elliptical with 20 minutes of high incline.  So, the day definitely started out scary!

I did the planks pretty much first thing, just to get them over with. I wasn't able to hold them for the full 90 seconds, but I'm definitely getting better.  The first session on the elliptical went pretty well with 484 calories burned.  I took a few hours off, did the push ups, and then did the second elliptical session - 502 more calories burned.  I don't think I've ever burned so many calories in an hour!

Of course, after I got off the elliptical, I was exhausted.  I thought I'd recover in time to get to yoga tonight.  I really wanted to make it three days in a row of 2 hours of exercise.  But, then I realized that it wasn't what I really needed.  Tonight, I was tired and needed a break.  So I made the choice to listen to my body and stay home.  I'm glad I did.  I am still learning this balance between pushing hard and respecting my limits.  Today, I had the best of both worlds.  Overall, a great day!

Remembering Fun

Today was supposed to be a rest day, but since I took Sunday off, I wanted to do something.  I wanted a low impact activity, but that was still fun.  I used to play a game on the wii called Walk It Out.  It's basically an island where you walk to music.  Each step earns you coins you can spend building up your island, and you can also use them to get more songs for your playlist.

I spent an hour and a half at lunch time walking.  I wasn't supposed to spend that long, but I was just having too much fun.  It was like visiting with an old friend, and getting a walk in at the same time.  And, the game tricks you.  It's so easy to 'just get the next item', or 'just clear this area'.  But, before you know it, you've spend another thirty minutes walking.

Then, after work, I wanted to check on something, so I did another 45 minutes.  I have a feeling my legs are going to be pretty sore tomorrow.  But, it was for a good cause, and I enjoyed it.  As much as I like the games on wii Fit, this is better.  It's just addicting.  And, anything that can trick me into over two hours of exercise, that's a good thing!

Magnificent Monday Workouts

I definitely made up for yesterday with today's back to back workouts.  The muscle challenge class was especially challenging tonight.  We did a routine of one arm rows followed by concentration curls, followed by dips.  I used a twenty pound weight and thought I would die.  Then, she did an ab routine which was a set of three exercises using the yoga balls.  I am fully expecting to hear from my abs tomorrow!

What I loved was when a couple people noticed that I stay for both classes and think it's a lot of work.  It is!  But, it's worth it.  And, I am not shy about taking child pose if I need it.  After the first class, there are times my arms are like jelly.  Balancing down dog is just not going to happen.  So, I catch my breath and prepare for the next pose.  It works for me.  And, one day I'll be able to do all the poses... or not.  I'm just proud of myself for doing my best.  Not a cop out, real, actual pride!

Rough Day

Friday and Saturday were great exercise days.  Today, not so much. Michael was up pretty much all night, and then was in meltdown most of the day.  Needless to say, I wasn't in great shape today.  I decided it would definitely be a rest day.  And, an early to bed night!

Something new!

For as long as I've been doing the elliptical, I've only played with the resistance, never the incline.  So, today I finally worked up the courage to play with the incline!  I did two thirty minute sessions, and in teach of those I had two five minute blocks on an incline level of 10.  I was so proud of myself!  I burned over 900 calories and conquered a fear.  Go me!

And, I did my regular Friday night yoga class.  It felt so good tonight.  It's been a really rough week here, so it was nice to just focus on breath and movement for a change.  And, the relaxation at the end was absolutely heavenly.  Overall, a great day!

Ouch and ouch!

OK, so Monday night I just did the muscle challenge class.  Then yesterday was a rest day.  Today, my arms are still killing me.  To the point that I can barely lift my arms over shoulder level without major pain.  I know it's good that I'm working my triceps, but does it have to hurt so much??

Today was a great exercise day, though.  I did an hour on the elliptical, and kept a steady, challenging pace.  According to the machine, I burned 848 calories in the hour.  Now, I know it's not accurate, but when I use it as a benchmark, it's really, really good.  It was hard to push to keep the pace for the whole time, but I was so proud of myself when I finished!

Then, I did yoga tonight.  It was a challenging class, but not impossible.  In fact, there weren't any poses I couldn't do.  I really like that.  So, two good workouts, one great day!

Beyond Happy

Some days are just really, really good days.  Yesterday and today have been spent decorating the house for Christmas.  I didn't get any official exercise yesterday, but I did get half an hour on the elliptical today.  So, why am I so happy?  I had the energy to do so much more than I have in the last several years. 

Instead of waiting for Steve to bring in the boxes and unpack them, I went out to the garage, found what I wanted, and carted everything in.  Before he even knew what I was doing, I had almost everything in and set up.  I was so proud of myself!

Of course, the tree itself was a big deal to decorate, and Steve did all the outdoor decorations.  But, overall, this was a really 'energetic' year for me.  So, even though it wasn't a lot of 'exercise', I was more active this weekend than I have been in a while.  And, I am thrilled about it!

And, now that Thanksgiving is over, and the house is decorated, I can focus on enjoying the holiday season, and make sure I get my exercise in.  There is nothing like the feeling of knowing my house is mostly clean, the decorations are up, the shopping is mostly done, and I can enjoy the holidays.  I am just so happy and peaceful.  I need this to last!

Starting to feel the holiday pressure

I'm starting to feel the pressure from the holidays.  It was so nice to have family in for Thanksgiving, and now I have a nice, clean house, just waiting to be decorated.  I definitely got a ton of exercise getting everything ready, and I know I'll get plenty doing the actual decoration.  But, it's harder and harder to squeeze in my exercise time.

I only got in 30 minutes today.  I was having such a good time having family here, and then, when they left, I had to catch up on a bit of stuff, and before I knew it, the day was over.  But, at least I did get in half an hour on the bike.  Tomorrow will be better!

Ready for Thanksgiving!

I had two intense workouts today.  First, a personal training session that kicked my butt, and then a yoga class that was anything but relaxing.  So, I figure that I deserve a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow.  I'm not planning on going overboard, but it will be nice to spend time with family, and just take a day to appreciate everything I have.  And, to appreciate how far I have come in this last year.  That is definitely worth being thankful for!

Uh oh, and good news!

I just realized that I haven't been posting on this site as regularly as I should.  I've been really good about keeping the facebook site updated, though. I will try my best to do better.

The good news is that I actually held a pose in yoga tonight that I've never been able to do before.  It's a balancing pose called swan, and for me, it's really, really difficult.  I was so proud of myself!!  Other than that, it was a good night.  I did both my regular Monday classes, and am feeling really tired, but good.

I'm not sure what the rest of the week will hold.  I am going to have to make adjustments because of the holiday and visiting family.  I will do my best.  I won't drive myself crazy striving to be perfect, but I will do my best!

Monday, as usual

Tonight I really had to force myself to go to the gym.  I'm not sure why.  It was such a beautiful day, my book was calling me, I was feeling lazy, and on and on.  But, I won the argument and off I went to the gym.  I did my two classes - muscle challenge, and yoga.  The great thing was that I was able to go up a little on some of my weights.  Not a huge deal, but it did make me smile.

After the first class, I was really tired, but forced myself to stay for yoga.  It was hard, but I did it.  And, I was able to keep up a little better tonight.  That has to count for something.  So, overall, I was proud of my performance, but even more proud that I pushed and made myself go.  Sometimes, getting out the door really is the hardest part!

Sunday, Funday!

After the walk yesterday, I wasn't sure what I'd be up for today.  But, I was pleasantly surprised when I work up this morning and was feeling pretty good.  So, I decided to do two thirty minute sessions on the elliptical.  I wanted to break it up and get two good hits on my metabolism for the day.  And, it just felt 'right' today.  So, it was a good exercise day, and a great weekend.  I'm looking forward to the coming week.

Another 5K!

I did another 5K today, the last one for the year.  This one was special because it supported an organization near and dear to my heart, the Howard County ASA.  It was even more special because I did it with my husband and son.  In fact, it was their first 5K.  I know it was absolutely nothing for Steve, but for Michael it was a big deal.  He's always struggled with poor stamina, so for him to go the whole 5K was truly amazing.  I am so proud of him!

Once we got home, I didn't do a whole lot for the rest of the day.  My legs have really been aching, but my heart is happy.  I think tomorrow is going to be either a very light day, or a rest day.  It will depend on how I feel in the morning.

Friday and Progress

I had my last water PT session today.  It was a really good session, but I am so glad that my pain has decreased enough that I can manage on my own.  And, the PT gave me written exercises so I can definitely continue on my own.  That is a good plan!

Then, tonight was Friday night yoga.  I love that class, but I also love the women in it.  Tonight, after class, I was talking about the problem with my ankle.  I probably haven't written about this, but it seems that my ankle doesn't flex properly, which throws off my gait, and then leaves my knee vulnerable to injury.  While I was talking with the women after class, I got several really good suggestions for things I might be able to do to increase the range of motion in my ankle.  I am excited to try them.

So, I got in two hours of exercise today, and got some great advice.  Overall, a wonderful day!

I love personal training

As much as it kills me to admit this, I really love my personal training days.  Today was even more perfect because it didn't conflict with anything else.  So, I did half an hour on the elliptical as a warm up, and then an hour session.  When it was over, I was tired, but not exhausted.  That was a good feeling.

I love that in the sessions, I can focus on form, and strength.  What I mean by that is this - if I have any questions on how to do something right, I can ask immediately.  If I'm doing something wrong, I'll be told immediately.  It's just nice to know that I'm getting the most out of each exercise.  For example, in the deadlift I noticed that my knees move together, and I knew that had to be wrong.  She told me an easy way to fix it, and now I have great form.  Perfect!

The other great thing is having a spotter.  Today I was able to use twenty pound weights where I had only been able to handle fifteen before - for both shoulder presses and chest flys.  Because she was right with me, I knew I couldn't hurt myself if the weights got away from me.  That extra feeling of confidence is priceless.  And because of it, I'll be able to handle the heavier weights independantly soon.  I like that!

So, even though I feel that it's a big splurge to do the personal training, it is beyond worth it.  And, the feeling of pride when a session is over.. that is worth almost anything!

Long, Exhausting Day

I had a day long training class in Baltimore today.  That meant I had to get up extra early, drive to Baltimore, and then sit for an entire day.  And learn.  I was exhausted walking out of the building.

Of course, I had to go directly from training to the gym for my Monday night classes.  I had let the teacher know I might be late, and she was kind enough to set up a station for me.  I only missed the first couple of minutes of class, and was so grateful.  Of course, going into class tired and hungry probably wasn't the best idea I ever had.

By the time the second class was done, I was shaking I was so tired.  And my stomach was growling during savasanah.  Embarassing!  But, I did it.  Some days it gets ugly, but at least it got done!

Some simple advice

My legs were still really sore when I woke up this morning, so I decided to take the day as an unofficial rest day.  I'm really glad I did.  Whenever I got up today, I would still realize how much my legs were hurting.  I'm hoping by tomorrow they will be recovered enough to do my normal Monday routine.

But, I wanted to pass along some advice that I really love.  Once the weather starts to get cold, it's really easy to stay home, sit in front of the TV, and eat without thinking about it.  Of course, I would always encourage exercise, but no one can exercise all the time.  So, if you find yourself sitting in front of the tv, I have some advice that will keep you from eating, just like magic.

My big advice?  Find a hobby that requires two hands and can't get dirty.  I have started to crochet an afghan for my son.  I'm not the worlds greatest with a crochet needle, and to be honest, I don't know how to make anything other than afghans and hanger covers.  But, it serves the purpose.  It keeps me busy and keeps me from snacking.  So, if you can find something to occupy your hands, you might just find that your mouth stays empty!

Sweet Saturday

Today was a busy day.  I had a bunch of running around to do, and some chores around the house.  But, I was really depressed at how hard it was to do the elliptical intervals the other day.  So, I wanted to try again and see if I did better.

The good news is that the elliptical intervals were definitely easier today, and I was able to work harder.  In thirty minutes, I burned more calories, and kept my hands on the poles the whole time.  I guess it will take a while to get back to where I was, but there is definitely hope!

The rest of my exercise time was on the wii fit.  I really enjoy biking around the island.  I've been going back and forth between some of the different levels, but I am thinking the expert level is my favorite.  I only lasted 25 minutes tonight, but I still got a great workout.

Now, since I've had a while to rest, I'm pretty glad I quit when I did. My legs are tired, and I am tired, too.  I don't think I overdid it, but I am going to take it a little more slowly tomorrow.

Good Friday

I found something new in the wii fit today.  Apparently, if you need to give up on a long actvity, there is a way to exit and still get credit for what you have already done.  I like that!  I did 70 minutes of biking on the wii today.  It was a lot of fun.  But, toward the end, I was running out of time and energy.  So, it was really nice to be able to stop when I needed to.

Then, I went to my Friday night yoga class.  It was wonderful as always.  I still have a hard time believing that there is a form of exercise that I consistently enjoy.  No matter what, I always walk out of the class feeling better than I went in.  (Well, the night I hurt my knee doesn't count)  As usual, I went in tired and came out feeling relaxed yet energized.  If I could do this one class every day, I would!

So, a total of 2 hours ten minutes today.  Not bad at all!

Short but sweaty

On my way home from work today, I had every intention of getting in an hour of exercise.  But then, when I got home, I realized how tired I was.  So, I decided to start off with thirty minutes of intervals on the elliptical.  It was so hard to force myself to do it, but I did.  There were several times I just wanted to give up and call it a night, but I pushed myself until I finished the workout.  In the process I burned over 400 calories and was really, really proud of myself.

Once I finished the workout, I was exhausted.  In the interest of not pushing past exhaustion, I decided that a good thirty minutes of intervals was enough.  Some days are going to be better than others, and some days I have to listen to my body.  I'm proud of myself for pushing through the workout, but also proud of myself for deciding that it was enough.  Maybe I really am making progress after all!

Another Day, More than 3 hours of exercise

I did more than three hours of exercise again today.  First, I did about 75 minutes of wii fit U.  It was a little frustrating today.  I had unlocked the expert bike path, and I spent about 45 minutes trying to find all the flags, but ended up giving up and shutting the game down.  And, it didn't give me credit for the time I put in!  But, my leg was starting to ache from all the walking in place, and I just couldn't figure out how to find the last flags.  Oh well, there is always tomorrow.

Then Iwent to yoga.  It was an 'up' night tonight, which means it's more hard than a 'down' night.  By the time class was over, my hair was drenched and I was pretty tired.  But, it was a great class and I felt pretty well stretched.

Normally, when I get to PT I start out with a five minute warm up on the bike.  Tonight, he wanted me to do a five minute cool down.  It's just semantics, but it was funny.  The PT session was really good, but the exercises are getting harder.  By the time I left, all I wanted to do was come home and go to sleep.  But, I have a few things that I need to do first.

The nice thing is, it all adds up to a lot of exercise for the day.  And, unlike Monday, I don't feel totally dead.  Nicely ready for sleep, but not dead.  Is that a real difference?

Pure Exhaustion

I'm beyond exhausted.  I did three hours of exercise today - water pt, muscle challenge, and yoga.  And, they were all intense.  I asked for a harder noodle in the pool, so that was beyond intense.  I didn't realize how intense it was until I got to the second class and was starting out tired.  By the time I got to yoga I had almost nothing left.  Now, I'm home.  I'm drinking a hot cup of tea and going to bed.  I don't care that it's not even 9:00 yet.  Good night!

Wii Fit U Day 2

OK, I think I must like this game.  I spent just over two hours today doing light cardio!  And, by light, I mean I worked up a good sweat, but wasn't panting.  Since I'm still getting over my adrenal issues, that sounds about perfect.

In fact, I did two sessions.  The first session was about 70 minutes.  Then, I watched football for a couple hours. After the game was over, I felt so good, I wanted to play some more.  That seldom happens!  Also, I wanted to see if it continued to track my time and calories even if I shut down the game for a while.  It did!

So, what did I do for my two hours?  I tried several new games.  The ones I didn't really care for:  the boxing one (too uncoordinated), hula hooping (too boring/uncoordinated), and the water hose (not enough activity).  But, at least I tried them and figured I could come back to them another time.  I also tried orienteering (loved it) and rowing (I stank). 

The orienteering game is basically a hide and seek game all over the island.  Depending on the level of the game, you have a set number of characters and time to find them.  I think the first level was four characters in five minutes, and then 8 in ten minutes for the next level.  It's hard!  When you go up hill, you have to walk more to make progress.  Going downhill is pretty easy.  And, depending on where the characters are, you can end up going back and forth all over the place.  It really makes it easy to burn calories!

The rowing game requires coordination and timing. I will give it a chance again at some point.  But, for right now, I'm having so much fun with the other games, it will probably wait.

Oh yeah, I unlocked more biking and running options.  The biking is similar to the orienterring in that you have to bike to certain points on the island, but they are marked on your map.  So, it's just a matter of getting to them all in the fastest time.  Again, you have to work harder to go uphill, and can coast downhill.  The game definitely demands enough of your attention that you are suprised at how much time you are putting in, and how many calories you are burning.

The running isn't very exciting.  You are basically just following a guide around the island and trying to keep a steady pace.  But, there is an option for free running where you put the wiimote in your pocket and can do something else with the TV.  That definitely can make it more interesting!

So, that's my review of the game and my exercise for the day.  This will definitely be a winner in my exercise routine!

Wii Fit U Day!

I am really excited.  Steve downloaded the new Wii Fit U for me last night, and I got to play with it today. After waiting for so long for it to come out, I was worried I would be disappointed.  But, so far, I'm actually pretty happy.

I have only played with it for a couple hours, with a total of just over an hour of exercise time.  But, I was able to set up a yoga routine that I can do whenever I want.  It's right at half an hour and pretty intense.  Then, I can set up two other routines to include aerobics, balance, and strength. 

I have tried several of the aerobic activities, and they are pretty good.  All of the 'old' games from the last version are still there, and have been added to.  I loved the free run, which let me just jog around the island for ten minutes.  It also has a feature that lets you watch something else on the TV and get prompts from the wiimote.  It was a nice option.  There is also a basic step class that was both quick and easy.  It was fun, too.   I'm really looking forward to exploring the rest of the aerobic choices.

I haven't done any of the strength or balance activities yet.  I probably won't do much with the strength ones, just because I'm happy with my program there.  But, I'm always looking to improve my balance, so I am looking forward to seeing what's there.  So, I got my hour of activity, had fun, and am just getting started.  Something tells me this game is going to be a keeper!

Busy Friday

Today was a really, really busy day.  I had a personal training session at lunch time.  I've been trying to slowly up the intensity of my exercise, and I might have just passed that edge today.  I try to judge how successful I am at the 'challenged but not exhausted' by how I feel an hour after the workout.  Today I just wasn't sure where to rank it.  I certainly wasn't energized by the workout, but I didn't think I was exhausted either.  So, somewhere on the tired side.  Given all that, I think I pushed just a little too hard.  Not end of the world, but a lesson learned.

Then, tonight, I went to my Friday night yoga class.  I must have been more tired than I realized because it wasn't my best session ever.  I felt tired through the whole class, where I normally get more relaxed, and even a little energized by the end.  Not tonight.  Tonight I feel pretty exhausted.  So, I am going to get to bed early and take it slow tomorrow.  I will still get my exercise in, but plan on pulling back a little and letting myself recover from today.  It's not much of a plan, but it's all I have.

Lots of Exercise

Today was a really good exercise day.  I wanted to get back on the elliptical and do some intervals.  But, I didn't want to take any chances with my knee.  So, I did 20 minutes of program 1 intervals - enough to work up a good sweat, increase my heart rate, but (hopefully) not stress my knees.  It felt really good to move, and to push.

Then, I went to yoga tonight, and followed it up with PT.  It's definitely been a strenuous day!  Even though I felt good after the elliptical, by the time I got home from PT I was really worn out.  I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring, but tonight I am hoping for a good night's sleep!

Ouch!

I did my standard Monday night routine tonight - muscle challenge class followed by yoga.  It's really sad how quickly I seem to have lost stamina over the last two weeks.  I am fully determined to get it back though.  So, tonight was full steam ahead.  And now, it's an early bedtime because I am beyond exhausted!

Therapeutic Tuesday

Today was supposed to be my rest day.  But, I wanted to get in the therapy pool and work on my knee exercises.  So, I spent an hour in the therapy pool doing knee exercises and general cardio.  Even though it was gentle, it was definitely a workout!

Back on the Elliptical

After two full weeks of being in pain, I was finally able to get in a real workout today.  Yes, I've been exercising, but it hasn't felt the same.  I haven't been able to do a full, intense workout.  Today, I spent an hour on the elliptical machine.  It was exhausting, but I was so proud of myself.  It felt amazing to be back, to not be in pain.  I am hoping this is the start of a reboot, and no more pain!

Feeling optomistic

I had a doctor's appointment today, and it went really well.  First, she prescribed physical therapy for my knee. I go for an evaulation on Wednesday.  She said that if the pt doesn't help, then we'll consider an MRI.  I'm really hoping the PT helps!

And, she tested my reflexes.  She actually found one achiles reflex.  For the longest time, I have had no response in either foot.  Today, the right foot had a very weak response, but it was there.  Still nothing in the left, but it's progress.  She says that it probably means the switch in thyroid medication is working.  But, that I need to be patient since it can take up to three months to fully see results.  But, this is progress and I'm happy!

I got home toolate togo to the muscle challenge class, but did make it to yoga.  I wore my knee brace and was very careful.  It felt so good to move.  And, when I left, my knee was feeling OK.  Still pain in some positions, but not nearly as tight as it's been feeling.  It's such a balance between rest and movement to get it feeling good.  I do hope the PT works!

Weekend Update

Just a quick update on the weekend.  Yesterday I did 30 minutes on the bike, today I did two 30 minute sessions.  I'm noticing that when my knee gets really stiff, just riding the bike really seems to help.  I'm not sure what's going on, but if it's helping, I'm happy.

Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment.  I am hoping she will have some good advice for me, for both my knee and my weight.  Wish me luck?

Good Day, Good Plan, Good Workouts

Today was a double exercise day.  When my adrenal issues were really bad, I had suspended my personal training sessions.  And, with my knee problems lately, I was extra concerned.  But, I sat down with the trainer and talked about my concerns, and she really listened.  An additional concern was that I didn't have enough time between workouts - on Wednesdays (when we typically had our session) I was still sore from Monday.

So, we decided to switch our sessions to Fridays, which would give me two and three days between intense workouts.  That makes me feel a lot better, and gives me time to fully recover. And, today, she really paid attention to all my movements to see if we could pinpoint where I was hurting my knee.  We did a yoga based warm up, since that seems to be where I'm hurting it the most consistently.

I think we narrowed it down to a few standing positions where I really need to pay attention to my alignment and leg placement.  And, when I went to yoga tonight, I definitely followed her advice.  And, no additional knee pain.  Yeah!

So, the workout today was not quite as intense as some others, but that actually suited me really well.  I'm really trying hard to work to challenge, not exhaustion.  That needs to apply to all my workouts.  So, this was a great day.  I got in two workouts, and my knee is feeling OK.  The injury is still there, but it's not so bad I can't work through it.  That makes me happy!

Amazing Yoga Tonight

This afternoon I wasn't sure if I was going to make it to yoga tonight.  I was so sore, my knee hurt, and I felt stiff all over.  I guess my knee is still not fully better, and the classes on Monday left me hurting, all over.  But, I'm stubborn and decided to go anway.

I am so glad I went!  Class tonight was challenging, but relaxing.  We did full sun salutations, which we don't normally do on 'down' nights.  And, I am getting better at stepping one foot back at a time from forward fold into down dog.  It's not perfect, but getting better.  I was so proud of myself.  And, by the time I walked out after class, I felt so much better.  My knee wasn't hurting and most of my aches and pains had melted away.  Not all of them, and my knee is still injued, but overall, I feel a thousand times better.

I was thinking on the drive home how amazing it was to feel better leaving the gym than when I walked in.  Then, I started to really think about that.  Isn't the whole point to feel better?  To move better?  If I'm constantly pushing myself to exhaustion, no wonder my body revolted.  Now that I'm really listening to my body, and working to challenge, not exhaustion, I'm feeling great.  I still have a long way to go, but I am confident I will get there!

A Good Day

After being so excited on Friday and really ready to jump start my program all over again, I had to sit out over the weekend because my knee was hurting so bad.  But, the good news is, I'm back.  I found a knee brace that gave me really good support, and used that.

The good news is that my knee was well supported, and I didn't cause it any further injury.  The bad news is that it's really, really uncomfortable for kneeling.  I will definitely have to use something different for yoga. 

But, I feel so much better when I get to the gym and burn off all the stress in my life.  I know that there are lots of benefits to exercise.  For me, it just keeps me sane.  I love being able to work out all my frustrations and then just relax at the end.  It has got to be the best stress management program in the world.

I am feeling good, energized, and ready to face the rest of the week!

TGIF

Sometimes you have to take a chance.  I've decided to put down the deposit on the reunion trip to the Biggest Loser Resort in Chicago.  A friend of mine put up a fundraising site for me, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to raise enough money to go.  But, I'm hoping.  And, who knows, maybe something will happen and our finances will loosen up a bit.  I can only hope.

But, I've never regretted doing something special.  And, I have plenty of regrets about things I didn't do.  If I lost the chance to go, I'd be really disappointed.  So, as of today, I am going.  I don't know how it will happen, but it has to.

And, I told a friend of mine about it tonight at yoga.  She said she'll think about going to.  That would be really nice.  There is just something special about this journey.  You meet all kinds of people, all with their own stories, their own dreams.  I love it when the dreams can run parallel.  And, finding new sources of strength, hope, and courage, is always a good thing.

The yoga class itself was great, as usual.  Before class, she showed us how to roll a tennis ball under your feet (one at a time) to loosen the fascia.  I was skeptical, but it really did work.  I will have to see if I can find some old tennis balls lying around!

Happy Day

I had to take today off because we had a meeting scheduled in the middle of the day.  Since we can't just take a couple hours off, I took the day.  It was so nice to have a relaxing morning, go to the meeting, and then have lunch with my husband.  As much as the topic of the meeting was depressing, it needed to be taken care of.  And, it gave me a pretty easy morning.

Once we got home, I did something I haven't done in a while - a four mile Walk Away the Pounds DVD.  It was like connecting with an old friend.  I didn't really know what to expect, but I was surprised that the DVD was pretty easy.  Even though it was a full hour, my stamina has improved dramatically.  I enjoyed the workout, but it didn't exhaust me.  This is real progress!

Rest and Hope

Today is a rest day for me, and I don't normally post on Tuesdays, but I have something I wanted to share.  A bunch of us who were at Biggest Loser Resort Niagara are having a reunion in Chicago at the end of February.  I really, really want to go.  I miss everyone so much, and I really want to see what the resort in Chicago is like.  And, of course, it would be a wonderful source of exercise to keep me moving on this journey.

But, it's expensive, and I am not sure how much I'll be able to save for the trip.  And, I feel guilty if every penny doesn't go toward Michael and his therapies.  So, a really good friend set up a fundraising site for me.  I hate asking for contributions, but if you are so inclined, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you!

Monday fun

I was a little nervous going back to my muscle challenge class tonight.  I've always pushed myself so hard in that class, and I have a feeling it was a big contributor to my adrenal issues.  There were many, many nights when I would come home and go from a sweaty mess to absolutely freezing, a big sign of adrenal problems.

So, I made a deal with myself that I would go tonight, but make a conscious effort to not over-stress myself.  I still did challenging weights, but I didn't push to use the heaviest weights I could manage.  I did all the exercises, but made sure I was confident in them.  And, when class was over, I felt tired, but not completely wiped out. 

Tonight, I couldn't do the yoga class because I had a conflict with another meeting.  But, I have a feeling if I follow the same rules, I'll be able to do the yoga class as well.  I'm thinking it's not the length of the session, or even the intensity, as much as how I respect my body and understand my limits.  It's OK for me to work hard, without pushing myself to the very edge.  I still got a great workout and my body is happier because of it.  This is definitely a journey of self discovery!

Starting to feel better

I think the changes I've been making lately have been helping.  I have been struggling with symptoms of adrenal fatigue for a while now, but I just didn't realize how bad it had gotten.  Two weeks ago, I decided to start taking the advice to heal the damage.  So, for the past two weeks, I've been limiting my caffiene to one dose in the morning, and have been keeping my exercise to the light-moderate level.  I've also been making an effort to get more sleep, and to relax whenever possible.  I think I'm finally starting to see some results.

I noticed this weekend that I'm waking up easier, and in a better mood.  And, I'm not constantly exhausted.  It's not a complete recovery yet, but it's definitely a start.  One of the ways I know it's working is that I did an hour of intervals on the elliptical today, and I wasn't completely exhausted afterwards.  What I did was a five minute warmup, then one minute of high effort followed by four minutes of light intensity.  I finished it up with a five minute cool down.  The nice thing is, I recovered fairly quickly and didn't experience the complete shutdown that I would have expected just a couple weeks ago.  This is definite progress.

The one thing I haven't been very good about lately is my diet.  I have to admit that more sugar has found it's way into my diet in the last few weeks, and that needs to change.  So, starting right now, I'm back on the straight and narrow.  I'm hoping with my slight increase in energy, I'll have the will power and stamina to keep fully low carb again.  Wish me luck!

Feeling Better

After hurting my knee last night, I was really worried about how I would feel this morning. Thankfully, I woke up this morning and it was mostly back to normal. I was able to go to the local Octoberfest and walk around on uneven ground, and then I came home and rode the bike for an hour. I was definitely being careful, but it felt good. Thank you for all the advice last night, it worked!

Great yoga, bad knee

I can't believe I hurt my knee tonight.  Normally, my knee will get sore during yoga, or other activity, but tonight I think I really hurt it.  I was trying to keep my leg straight during a hamstring stretch, and I think I hyperextended it.  I haven't been able to fully straighten it all night.  I am hoping that if I take an ibuprofen and go to bed early, it will heal overnight.  I'm not sure if it's possible, but I am hopeful.  Cross your fingers for me?

Wednesday already?

Wow, I didn't realize I hadn't posted here in so long.  I've been posting updates to facebook, but I guess I haven't written any longer posts.  So, just to have something here, I'm doing a short post tonight. But, I'm tired, so it will be short.

I did get to yoga tonight, and I really, thoroughly enjoyed it.  It felt so good to get on my mat and stretch, and work hard.  It had been a few days since the ASD yoga class with Michael, and I really missed it.  I think I'd be happy to practice yoga every single day.

Fridays are Happy Days

I think I can feel myself getting better already.  I've been making a huge effort this week to get more sleep, to exercise lightly, and to destress however possible.  I've also limited myself to one dose of coffee in the morning, and nothing but water afterwards. 

I don't want to jinx it, but I think it's working.  I've had more periods of energy and fewer times of exhaustion.  I'm still tired more than I should be, but there is definitely an improvement.  I'll take that!

Today, at lunch time, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical.  I made sure to keep it light and easy.  And, I found that I actually enjoyed it.  I wasn't counting down the minutes until it was over.  Afterwards, I didn't feel completely worn out, just a little tired.  And, that passed quickly.

This evening, I went to my favorite Friday night yoga class.  It was a great class, as usual.  I was really paying attention to my body tonight and realized that I am a lot stronger than I realize.  But, I also noticed that as soon as I closed my eyes and started to breathe deeply, I started to yawn.  I asked the instructor about it, and she said it was fairly common, but indicated I needed more oxygen.  I'll definitely try to breathe deeply much more often.

All in all, it was a great day.  I am starting to find a balance between exercise and exhaustion. Between listening to my head and listening to my body.  It seems strange to be learning this at this late point in my journey, but better late than never!

Thursday and a test

I noticed this afternoon that my right knee was hurting.  The hard core part of me said that I could still go for a walk. The side of me that's actively trying to listen to my body decided that I'd stay in today.  I think I made the right choice.  It's hard, though.  I have spent so long conditioning myself to not make excuses.  Now, I have to really decide if something is an excuse, or if I am listening to what I need.  I am sure I'll make mistakes along the way, but I'm learning!

Wednesday Yoga and Peace

Tonight I went to my yoga practice with the sole intention of enjoying it.  I had no expectations of doing every pose, holding down dog for long periods of time, or doing the perfect plank.  I just wanted to go and move my body.  It turned out to be one of my best yoga sessions ever!

I think sometimes we place so many expectations on ourselves that we forget to enjoy what we're doing.  As much as I hate the whole idea of adrenal fatigue and needing to slow down, I'm actually thinking it can be a good thing.  I'm forcing myself to pay more attention, to really listen to what my body is saying.  I've heard the words for so long, but now I understand what they mean.

So, tonight's practice wasn't my best ever in terms of poses, but it was truly refreshing.  I enjoyed the movement, the stretch, the challenge.  When I felt I was pushing too hard, I found child pose.  When I was ready for a challenge, I pushed a bit.  I think that's the way practice is supposed to be.  It's so easy to get caught up in competition with yourself that you miss that point. 

By the time we got to savasanah I was ready.  I surprised myself at how fully relaxed I was able to get, and how refreshed I felt when it was done.  I think this is what it's supposed to be like.  I wonder what other surprises I will find in this side street on my journey.

Changes!

OK, this weekend I gave myself a major reality check.  I haven't lost any weight for eight months now.  Even though I upped my exercise, upped the intensity, and eliminated carbs.  Nothing I have tried has worked.  I'm officially tired of failing.

So, when everything you've tried has failed, what do you do?  I talked with my husband and a couple close, trusted friends.  I was reminded that I had been diagnosed with adrenal fatigue, and that intense exercise is contra-indicated.  OK, Steve hit me upside the head with it.  So, I did a lot of reading, and research and decided that I've listened to everyone but the one person who loves me the most.  Who wants nothing more than for me to be happy and healthy.  Guess what?  It's time to listen to my husband.

For the next month I'm going to try a new experiment.  I'm going to cut back on my exercise and let my adrenals heal.  I'm going to walk, do yoga, meditate, and use the sauna.  In short, I'm going to be gentle to my system and let it heal. 

And, it's not as crazy as it sounds.  The two times recently that I've taken a few days off, the scale has dropped.  As soon as I went back to my normal routine, it went back up. So, maybe it's trying to tell me something.

I'm going to go back to the paleo diet I started out with.  I was really successful with it at first, and I felt good on it.  I'll still limit my fruit, but really get back to things I enjoy, and things that made me feel good.

What do you think?  Am I nuts?  Am I crazy for waiting so long to figure this out?  Any suggestions?  I'm really hopeful that this can work.  If you're curious, google adrenal fatigue.  You might just find my picture next to the definition.

I love weekends!

Today had to be a pretty much perfect day.  I got to sleep in, cuddle with Michael, and then go downstairs and have coffee.  When a day starts that good, you know it's going to be a great day. 

After brunch, we played Monopoly for a while.  I never realized how much math is involved in the game.  And, Michael is really improving his math skills with it.  Every time we play, I am amazed at how much better he is.  We generally break the game up into multiple sessions so he doesn't get overly tired.  But, each game is getting better and better.

After the game, it was time for me to exercise.  I did twenty minutes of intervals on the elliptical.  I know it's not a very long time, but it was very intense.  I was surprised at how quickly I was out of breath, and how much I was sweating.  But, to me, that means I got a great workout in, very quickly.

After the elliptical, I did some of my strength training homework.  I did dips on the bench, ball pull overs, wall squats, planks, and push ups.  I feel like I'm forgetting something, but probably not.  Either way, it was about half an hour of strength work.  And, I was completely exhasuted when I was done.

Other than that, it was a hang out with the family kind of day.  We even watched a movie together, Rise of the Guardians.  Of course, we found out later that Michael had already seen it at school.  But, at least he didn't fuss about watching.  Bring on tomorrow!

Finally Friday!

This has been a long, long week for me.  I'm guessing the early part of the week I was still dealing with jetlag, and that just made everything worse.  But, tomorrow I can sleep in, and hopefully catch up a little bit.

My Friday night yoga class is changing a little bit in that she's having more emphasis on the core.  The moves are the same, but the focus is different.  It's a good thing, but when I leave, my abs are always sore!  I guess that means I'm working hard.  It's really funny how focusing on correct form and using your core to hold the position really works them.

I had thought about doing some time on the elliptical at lunch today, but then things got really busy.  Being nibbled alive by ducks, as a friend of mine says.  So, I will save the elliptical until tomorrow.  But, at least I got in a great yoga class, and I'm definitely feeling it!

What a day!

Today was intense!  I had a personal training session this morning, and then I went to yoga tonight.  For a total of about 2.5 hours of exercise. I'm exhausted, but so proud of myself.

Before the training session started, I did twenty minutes of intervals on the elliptical.  Then, we went straight into the work.  I did one arm rows with 35 pounds!  I was so proud of myself.  One thing I noticed - after taking last week off from pure strength work, I was much stronger this week.  All my weights are up.  It was amazing, and very empowering.  So, next time I feel like I am fraying at the edges, I will remember this.  But, all that said, I am just thrilled that I got such a great workout in!  And, my thighs are still feeling it!

Yoga tonight was more of a relaxation class, but all that means is that we start on the floor.  The workout is as intense as you put into it.  I definitely worked up a sweat and got a great workout.  And, it was fun.  What I love most about yoga is that you don't leave all worked up. You calm down and relax at the end, so when you leave, you are in a relaxed frame of mind.  I love that!

The rest of the day was just work.  It was a busy day, but I got everything done I needed to.  That always feels good.  And, we're in the back half of the week.  Happy!

Monday Ouch

I went back to my two classes tonight.  Ouch!  I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't lose any strength in my time away.  I was able to use the same weights that I normally do, and had a really good muscle challenge class.  Of course, by the end, I was exhasuted and wondering how I'd manage to get through yoga.

Fortunately, I did make it through yoga.  My arms were so tired from the first class that I couldn't hold a down dog very long.  But, I did try almost all of the poses.  One day I'll be able to do a half moon pose, but definitely not tonight.  But, I think my triangle was better than it has been.  Maybe yesterday's alignment class helped.

The rest of the day was fairly uneventful.  It was my first day back at work so I had a ton of email to get through.  And, one of my projects is starting to get more active.  So, that's a good thing.  Tomorrow is an office day, so hopefully it will be a good one.

Gratitude for the day is that I didn't have to change my weights in the first class.  I didn't realize I was worried about it until I was getting ready for class.  So, I'm relieved and thankful!

Sunday Funday

Today was a pretty low key type of day.  I got to sleep in a bit,and then did some things around the house.  After a really depressing football game, I did a new alignment yoga video.  It was harder than I expected!  I guess I wasn't really sure what to expect.  It was good though, and I'll probably do it again sometime.

We also started another HBOT session with Michael tonight.  So, after the yoga, I spent another hour lying on the floor in the chamber.  By the time we got out, I was really stiff.  A few more stretches definitely helped.

Tomorrow will be a double class night at the gym.  I can't wait.  Hopefully, it will be good.

My gratitude for the day is just that I got to have one last easy day of vacation.  Tomorrow is back to work, and back to stress.  I wish I could have a longer vacation, but I don't want to be overly greedy. And, it was definitely fun while it lasted!

I'm back from Vacation!

I'm sorry I haven't posted here this last week.  The internet connection at the hotel was really weak, and then when I got home, our internet was out completely.  But, I'm home, and the internet is working again.  So, back to normal.  Or, whatever passes for normal around here.

Last night I went to my Friday night yoga class that I love so much.  It was great.  And, today, Michael and I started back to his ASD yoga class.  He was so excited he was bouncing off the walls.  That just makes me smile, inside and out.  So, I'm definitely back into my routine.  Now, I just need to figure out what I'm going to do about my diet.

I've been so frustrated that going completely ketogenic didn't do anything for me.  So, when I was on vacation, I ate 'normally'.  Mostly low carb, but with a few (too many) treats thrown in.  Now that I'm home, I'm re-evaluating what I want to do with my diet.  At this point, I have no clue.  I think tomorrow I'll be doing some research and maybe some shopping.

So, the ride might get interesting, but I'm still committed to the journey.

Vacation is Fun

It's been such a long time since we had a real vacation, I almost don't know how to act.  Of course, it's still a working trip for Steve.  But, for me, I'm having fun!

I went to the gym this morning and did two back to back yoga classes.  The first one was a gentle/restorative class, and the second was a flow class.  Both were really fun.  I think the instructor was surprised that I could do so much, given my size.  But, that made it even more fun.  I will definitely be back tomorrow!

The rest of the day was just spent shopping, playing tourist, and hanging out with Steve.  I could definitely get used to this.  And, Steve introduced me to In N Out Burger today.  They have a really yummy 'protein style' burger that is wrapped in lettuce.  Yummmm.  (It wasn't the best food day, but I am trying)

Food:  Not so great
Exercise:  2 Hours of Yoga, lots of walking
Gratitude:  Being able to relax and have fun

Viva Las Vegas

I know I just got back from spending Labor Day with my parents, and now I'm off again.  Steve had a business conference in Las Vegas, and I decided to tag along.  Now, that's not nearly as easy as it sounds, but we managed to make it happen.  My wonderful brother in law is watching Michael while we're gone, and taking care of everything for us.  Hopefully, the house will still be standing when we get back!

I didn't do any official exercise today, but I've been running all day.  If I had a pedometer, I'm sure I would have racked up several miles between the airports, the hotel, the getting settled, and everything else.  We decided to call it a night pretty early, and I'm pooped.

Tomorrow should be a great day, though.  The resort has a full gym, and yoga classes.  I'm planning on taking advantage of them tomorrow.  And, maybe swimming, too.  So, the trip should work out to get me plenty of exercise, but hopefully some rest, as well.  I need it!

Food:  Not so great
Exercise:  Lots of walking, nothing measured
Gratitude:  Being able to get away for a break!

I'm Back, to the Extreme!

After taking several days off to recover my muscles and my energy, I was back to the exercise today.  First, I have to say, it felt really good to wake up in the morning and not have anything hurt.  I even got out of bed in the morning without groaning.  That was definitely a good thing.

But, today, I had a personal training session, and back into my routine I went.  First, I did forty minutes of intervals on the elliptical.  Just as I got off the elliptical, the doorbell rang.  The next hour was so many exercises I can't even think to name them all.  By the time she left, my muscles were shaking.  I did make sure to get a good stretch in.  Hopefully that will help.

And, just because I really love it, I went to yoga tonight.  It was a slower class tonight, and I really wanted a good stretch.  So, that part felt good.  There were several sequences that were challenging, but that was good, too.  Overall, it was a great class, and I'm glad I went.

But, after going for several days with no exercise, my body definitely feels like it's in shock.  But, it's a good exhaustion.  And, I am grateful for the fact that I could do it all.

Diet:  Great
Exercise:  2 hours, 40 minutes between elliptical, training, and yoga
Gratitude:  Being able to get back to exercise

Long Weekend

I'm going away for the long weekend, so I won't be posting much, if at all. I think I'm going to take an exercise break, too. I'm still feeling completely beat up, and I don't think a few days off will kill me. Hopefully, I'll be back better and stronger next week!

Ahhhhhh

My heel is finally starting to feel a little bit better.  It's still really tender, but I was able to go to yoga tonight and do all the poses I normally do.  That made me really happy.  Also, it was a more strenuous class tonight, so I definitely got a great workout.  In fact, what I really love about yoga is that you work really, really hard.  Then, you get to relax and collect yourself before you move back into life.  It's just so nice to have that chance to breathe and transition.

Other than yoga, it was a quiet day.  I still don't want to wear shoes with back to them, since any rubbing really hurts.  I'm not sure what I will do tomorrow, but I will worry about that tomorrow.  Right now, I'm just really thankful that I had a great class tonight, and I feel wonderful.

Diet:  Great
Exercise:  Yoga
Gratitude:  Enjoying yoga tonight

More ouches

I decided to be brave and go to my Monday night classes tonight.  I put a tegaderm strip over the blister, and then added a bandage to that.  I couldn't find a blister bandage big enough to cover it!  Walking in a shoe still hurt, but I decided to tough it out, as long as I was careful.

The first class was pretty good.  There were a few things I couldn't do, especially backward lunges.  I'm thinking anything that really extended the heel was suspect, but I was suprised that I was able to get through the class with only minor modifications.  And, it was a good class, too.

The problem started when I took off my sock and shoe for yoga.  The bandages wanted to come off right away.  Fortunately, I was able to find some scotch tape and tape it back in place.  It held OK for most of the class.  But, I found out pretty quickly that I just couldn't do down dog.  It put too much pressure on the heel, and I couldn't make it work.  But, that's OK.  I made the class work, and I'm proud of myself for sticking to it.

When I came home, I put a new tegaderm strip on it, and it feels so much better.  I'm definitely going to have to get another box so I don't worry about running out!  But, to be completely honest, I'm really glad tomorrow is a rest day.

Diet: Great
Exercise:  Muscle Challenge and Yoga
Gratitude:  Being able to modify and keep going with my classes

Ouch Ouch and Ouch

I wasn't feeling really well yesterday, so I decided to take the day off.  And, my legs were still sore today, so I wanted to do something a little more gentle than the elliptical machine.  So, I thought I'd go for a nice walk this afternoon.  I had a new pair of walking shoes, so I thought I was pampering myself when I headed out the door.

Boy was I wrong! About fifteen minutes into the walk I realized my right heel was lifting in the new shoes, and was rubbing.  I stopped and tied the shoe tighter thinking that would help.  Again, I was wrong.  A few minutes later I decided to call Steve and ask him to pick me up.  I've never had to do that before.  When I got home, I had a huge, open blister on the back of my heel.  So much for a gentle walk!

I was lucky in that we had some tegaderm bandages, and I was able to get the whole thing covered really quickly.  But, it's still been hurting for most of the afternoon.  But, the good news is that I got almost half an hour of walking, at a 3.1 pace.  For me, that's a pretty good pace.  I would have been happier with an hour at pace, but you live and learn.

Diet:  Perfect
Exercise:  30 minute walk
Gratitude:  Having Steve come get me when I realized I was hurting.

Up and Down Friday

I'm not sure what to make of today.  I was really sad most of the morning.  And, still having a lot of muscle soreness from Wednesday.  I talked with Steve, and we both decided I've been putting a lot of pressure on myself, and that something had to give.  Otherwise, I will end up depressed, sore, and frustrated.  So, I am going to give myself a bit of a break.  If I'm honestly too tired to work out, I won't.  If I'm still sore from my last strength workout, I'll wait until I've recovered.  Maybe if I'm not so stressed, just maybe the scale will decide to move again. 

So, tonight I went to my favorite Friday night yoga class.  That's all I did today, but it really did feel good.  I love the flow of the poses, the feeling of pushing myself, and the relaxation at the end.  It was a great workout, but seemed rejuvinating at the same time.  That's exactly what I need right now.

For the next few weeks, I'm going to be listening to my body more carefully, and trying to give it what it needs.  I'll still keep a close eye on my weight.  If it starts to creep up, I'll re-evaulate, again.  If it starts to creep down, I'll celebrate!

Diet:  Great
Exercise:  Yoga
Gratitude:  Having a husband who loves me and wants me to be healthy and happy

Wow! What a day!

When I woke up this morning, I didn't know what kind of day to expect.  If I had known, maybe I would have crawled back in bed, maybe I would have said 'bring it on'!

I had a personal training session at lunch time.  We started out with 20 minutes of hard intervals on the elliptical machine.  Then, we went into the full session.  It was crazy.  But, I was able to do a new weight for my one arm rows.  Thirty pounds!  And, I was able to go lower in my lunges than I have ever been able to before.  Definite progress!

As she was leaving, she gave me homework.  We ran out of time to do my side planks, so that was no biggie.  But then, she wanted me to get back on the elliptical for twenty more minutes of hard intervals.  I waited until the end of the work day, but I did it.  I was so proud of myself!

And, if that wasn't enough, I went to yoga tonight, too.  Mostly, I wanted a really good stretch after everything I had done during the day.  I definitely got that, and more.  It was a great class though.  So, I had three separate workouts through the day, and I'm still smiling.  This is a very, very good thing!

Diet:  Great
Exercise:  Personal Training, Homework, and Yoga
Gratitude:  Being able to do all my exercise, and still be able to smile

Monday Pain and Appreciation

Today was a good day.  I had a lot of energy and did some chores on my lunch break.  So, I thought I was in great shape going into my two classes tonight.  I might have been over confident.

Muscle challenge class was definitely challenging tonight!  We spent the first half of the class doing exercises with the yoga balls.  There was one exercise where we had our feet on the ball, hips in the air, and then brought the ball in to our butt.  I don't think my hamstrings have stopped shaking yet!  Then, there were pushups, sit ups, wall squats with arm raises, anterior raises on the ball, you get the idea.  It was a hard, hard class. I will definitely be feeling this one tomorrow!

The second class was yoga.  I did notice that I'm able to hang in for more and more of the class each week.  There are still poses I can't do, but there are fewer of them.  I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to flip the dog, but I do have hope for the balancing half moon.  I'll get there.  It might take another year or two, but I will get there.

I was talking with Steve today about why I keep going, even though the scale is just not cooperating.  So, I figured I'd list out the non weight accomplishments again, just to prove to myself that the number on the scale is just a number.  The gains I have made outside the scale are what really matter in my life:

I don't need my CPAP!!  (That's the biggest one)
I can walk up the stairs without holding the railing, or getting out of breath
I don't need blood pressure medication anymore
I don't need blood sugar medication anymore
I have more energy than I used to (It's still not great, but getting better)
I can carry Michael
My balance is so much better
I am stronger
I can walk 4 miles

I'm sure there are more things to be grateful for, but that's a pretty good list.  So, no matter what the scale says, I will keep going.  I like the benefits I'm getting for all this hard work!

Weight: 298
Diet:  Great
Exercise:  2 hour long classes
Gratitude:  See list above!

Sunday Funday

Today was another great day.  I spent the day hanging out with Steve and Michael, and getting some things done around the house.  There are times when things are so busy that 'stuff' just piles up and my to-do list seems a mile long.  Today I was able to cross a few items off that list, and it felt really good.  And, I got in an hour on the exercise bike.  It's nice to feel like you accomplished something at the end of the day!

Food:  Great
Exercise:  An hour on the bike
Gratitude:  Being able to get some things done, finally!

Peaceful Day

Normally, I like to sleep in as late as possible on Saturdays.  Dan normally gets Michael so it's actually possible.  But, this morning, I knew that Kathie was subbing two classes at the gym.  So, I dragged my butt out of bed early and got to the gym for stretch and intervals classes.  So, even though I hated getting up early, I really loved having 90 minutes of exercise done by 10:30 in the morning.  That was a great thing!

The other great thing was that we tried Michael at a special needs karate class this morning.  He did really well during the class, but it seemed to tire him out, a lot.  In fact, he's been acting completely exhausted all day.  An eleven year old with his level of energy should definitely have more stamina.  I'm not sure what we can do to help that, but we have to do something.  He shouldn't be exhausted just from one class.

The rest of the day was nice and peaceful.  I started some projects that I've been putting off for a while.  So, right now, things are a little chaotic, but going in a good direction.  I can live with that!

Diet:  Perfect
Exercise:  Stretch and Intervals classes
Gratitude:  Getting my exercise done early!

Fabulous Friday

Just a quick post tonight.  Michael and I went for a quick walk this afternoon, and that was really nice.  I love walking by myself for exercise, but it's so much nicer to have his company.  And, I want to build up his stamina so that he'll be ready to go on a longer walk when we do the Pathfinders for Autism 5K coming up at the end of September.

Of course, I also went to my regular Friday night yoga class.  It was really good tonight, as usual.  I love feeling like I work hard during the class, and then stretch and relax completely at the end.  It's such a perfect way to end the week.

Food:  Great
Exercise:  Short walk, yoga class
Gratitude:  Walking with Michael

Surfers Healing and a Long Day

Today was a great day, but exhausting.  Michael was up early and really excited about the hotel, the pool, and surfing.  So, we played a bit, went to the pool, an then got ready for his surf time.  I ended up standing and walking a lot more than I am used to.  And I am really not used to walking and standing in the sand.  By the time the day was over, my legs were like jelly.

Of course, Michael had a great time.  I was a little disappointed that he spent most of the time just floating on the surf board.  He only actually caught one wave, the one that he came in on.  So, I was really jealous of the other kids who did a lot more actual surfing.  But, Michael had a great time, and that's all that matters.

My trainer sent me a text message with some cardio instructions as well as a few exercises to do.  I was able to do all the exercises when we got home, but I just wasn't up to the cardio.  Like I said, my legs were really tired from the day, and the long drive home.  So, I feel like a little bit of a wimp, but not completely.  Tomorrow is another day!

Food:  Great
Exercise:  Dips, Squats, Ball Passes, Side Planks, and a regular Plank
Gratitude:  Thank you, Surfers Healing for a great day!

Wednesday that's really Friday!

I just wanted to post really quickly before life gets crazy.  Yesterday I took a rest day, and I really, really needed it.  Today, I woke up rested and full of energy.  It's one of those days that comes once in a while where I feel fantastic.  I wish I could feel like this every single day.  Who knows, maybe I'll figure out the secret and get there.  For now, I am just super grateful for today!

At lunch time, I did the Jillian Beginner for Frontside workout.  I really love this workout.  In about 45 minutes I worked my arms, chest, shoulders, abs and quads.  I was tired when it was over, but even more energized once I recovered.  Life is good!

This afternoon we are taking Michael to Ocean City for Surfer's Healing.  We are all really excited!  So, I'm not sure if I'll post tomorrow or not, but it's going to be an incredible day!

Diet:  Great, so far!
Exercise:  45 minute Front Side DVD
Gratitude:  Energy and Happiness!

Reassuring Monday

The scale hasn't been moving much the last couple weeks.  And, I've been really, really frustreated.  But, tonight, when I went to my regular classes at the gym, three separate people told me I looked smaller.  That really made me happy.  The only thing I can think of is that with all the strength training I've been focusing on, maybe I have put on a little bit of muscle.  Either way, I'm happy for positive comments! And, it counts for my daily gratitude.

Both my classes tonight were great.  The muscle challenge class was definitely challenging, but I think I held my own.  By the time I got to yoga, I was really, really tired.  But, I was able to hang in for most of the class.  For a few of the more complicated poses, I did go into child pose, but that's OK.  I had a great class, and got the week off to a wonderful start.

Weight:  297
Diet:  Great
Exercise:  Muscle Challenge, Yoga
Gratitude:  People noticing me getting smaller!

Happy Milestone

Today was unusual in that I hadn't planned my exercise ahead of time, and I hadn't gotten any text messages with suggestions.  I played around with the idea of taking the day off since I didn't get one last week.  But, I was feeling a little energetic, and didn't want to waste the energy.  So, I decided to go for a walk.

It was a little warmer than my ideal walking temperature, and the sun was hot, but I was ready for a walk.  And, as soon as I got going, I decided that I wanted to focus on pace today, and not really how long or how far I ended up walking.  So, I just walked as fast I could without panting.  I was mildly out of breath, but not panic breathing.  And, it felt good to be moving, and pushing my comfort zone.

What I wasn't counting on was the last hill before the end.  It was pretty steep, but I was determined to make it.  All in all, I walked 2.34 miles in 43:22.  That ends up being an average pace of 3.24 miles per hour and my fastest pace ever.  Not bad!  In fact, I'm really, really proud of myself.  I had been hoping to average around 3 miles an hour, so I was able to push past that.  Now, if I could just do a whole three miles at that pace, I'd be on top of the world.  Of course, then I'll want to go even faster, but for now, I'm just happy.

For my gratitude of the day, it was a nice family dinner with my Mother-in-Law.  Her birthday is later this week, and we wanted to have a birthday dinner for her.  She came over and spent the afternoon playing with Michael and we had a steak dinner.  It was nice.  We don't have celebration meals all that often, and it was definitely a nice change.

Meals:  Great
Exercise:  Fast paced (for me) walk
Gratitude:  Spending time with family

Happy Saturday

As bad of a mood as I was in last night, I'm feeling so much better tonight.  I woke up early this morning, had a cup of coffee and a small breakfast, and went straight to the gym.  I went to a 9am stretch class followed by a 9:30 intervals class.  Between the two classes, it was 90 minutes of exercise.  And, the same instructor that teaches the muscle challenge class was subbing for both classes, so it definitely counted as a strength class.  I definitely met my goal of three strength sessions this week.  Happy!

The rest of the day was just hanging out with Michael and Steve.  It felt so good to get the exercise out of the way first thing, and then be able to enjoy the rest of the day with family.  And, the best part is, I'll get to do it all again next Saturday.  I wish it could be every week, but then I'd be getting greedy.

Food:  Perfect
Exercise:  30 minutes stretch class, 60 minutes intervals class
Gratitude:  Being able to have the classes this morning.  Bonus!

Lousy Mood

I'm in a really lousy mood tonight, so I'll just post quickly.  I managed to do 40 minutes of hard intervals on the elliptical today.  It was really ugly, but I finished.  Then, tonight I went to my Friday night yoga class.  A very good exercise day.  Hopefully, I will feel better tomorrow.

Diet:  Great
Exercise:  Elliptcal and Yoga
Gratitude:  Knowing when to call it a day

Good Day, Good News

Today was a pretty laid back day.  It was an office day, and I had a meeting first thing this morning that took most of the morning.  The rest of the day was fairly low key.  Except, of course, when I got a text message telling me I should do 45 minutes of easy cardio when I got home.  My first thought was that I didn't want to.  My second thought was that I should. 

When I got home, I was actually feeling pretty good, and it was easy to get on the elliptical for 45 minutes.  When I know it's just a slow, easy pace, it's much more managable.  So, even though I was definitely sore from yesterday, I still got in some decent cardio today.

Then, when I got home, I found even better news.  The lady who teaches the Muscle Challenge class on Mondays is going to be subbing for both the stretch and interval classes on Saturday.  When she teaches intervals, it ends up being very similar to the muscle challenge class.  So that means I'll get three great strength sessions this week.  I am really looking forward to this!

Diet:  Great
Exercise:  45 minutes easy elliptical
Gratitude:  Bonus Strength Session on Saturday

So Tired

Today was a session with my personal trainer.  Frankly, after Monday night's class, I was scared.  But, I am fully committed to this path.  So, when I was on the elliptical at a 1400 calorie/hour burn, she said that the whole point was to break me out of this plateau.  At that moment, I was afraid of spontaneous combusion.  If this plan doesn't work, nothing will.

After the 'warm up' on the cardio machines, it was time for the real workout.  Today seemed to be 70% upper body.  And it was intense.  I don't think I've ever done so many arm and shoulder exercises in a single session.  Plus abs.  Plus hamstrings and glutes.  When she left, my arms were literally shaking.  I guess it was a good workout!

So, tomorrow has to be a rest day.  I don't think my body has anything left to give.  But, it is definitely worth it. And my gratitude of the day is for being able to do this.  There are a lot of people who want to work out, who just can't, for whatever reason.  I have so many people in my life making this possible, I am full of gratitude.

Food:  Perfect
Exercise:  One monster personal training session
Gratitude:  Being able to do this journey

Not a Rest Day!

I don't normally post on Tuesdays because it's supposed to be my rest day.  But, unfortunately, my trainer had other ideas.  She sent me a text message with instructions for the day.  And yes, I could have said no, this is my rest day.  But, the scale is starting to move again, I don't want to mess with my weight loss karma.  So, I did the workout.

The first part of the text message was to do 45 minutes of easy cardio.  But, because today was an office day, I didn't have access to my cardio equipment.  So, at lunch time, I decided to go for a walk.  It would have been a really good idea, except for the fact that the humidity was close to 100%.  I ended up walking for an hour, covering 2.77 miles, and getting back to the office a sweaty mess.  Thankfully, my coworker took pity on me and brought me a huge glass of cold water.  Thank you, Tatiana!

When I came home, I was in a hurry to knock out the rest of the instructions.  I did fifteen bench dips and then started on the ball passes.  I was supposed to do 20 of them, but needed to stop and rest a few times.  But,  did all twenty of them.  And, writing this post hours later, my abs HURT. 

Finally, all I had left was my 90 second plank.  As soon as I started, I realized that my feet were burning inside my shoes and there was no way I was going to be able to hold the whole time.  So, I asked Steve to let me know when I got to 45 seconds, took off my shoes, and then did the remaining 45 seconds barefoot.  It felt so much better.  Then again, I doubt if I could have made it one extra second.  But, at least I fininished.

So, it was not a rest day by any stretch of the imagination, but it turned out to be a really good day anyway.  Of course, I'm not sure my legs or abs are going to forgive me any time soon.

Food:  Perfect
Exercise:  2.77 mile walk, dips, ball passes, and plank
Gratitude:  Tatiana and the water

Challenging Evening

Tonight was hard!  I went to my normal Monday Muscle Challenge class.  I don't know if I was just weak tonight, or the class was twice as hard as normal.  But, either way, I thought I was going to die.  There were actually a few exercises I had to sit out and just catch my breath.  That hasn't happened in a long, long time.  I'm choosing to believe the class was extra hard tonight.  I wasn't the only one who couldn't keep up.

After class,  I had to skip yoga and head to my parent support group.  It's once a month, but it really is a lifeline for me.  Sometimes it just helps to know that other parents have the same issues, struggles, etc. that you do.  That you aren't alone.  So, as much as I hated missing yoga, I needed to go to my group.  In fact, just having the group is my gratitude for today.  I have made friends there that I cherish, and that's important!

Weight:  298
Food:  Excellent
Exercise:  Muscle Challenge Class
Gratitude:  My Parent Support Group.

Easy Day

After the last several days being so strenuous, I decided to take things a little slow today.  For cardio I vacuumed and steam cleaned the downstairs.  It took about thirty minutes, and I definitely worked up a sweat doing it.  So, that counts.  Then, I did an hour yin yoga class, mostly for relaxation.  It's really different from the more active classes I am used to, but felt really, really good.

My gratitude for the day is just for being able to sleep in.  My brother in law took care of Michael this morning so Steve and I could sleep in.  That extra time to sleep really does make a difference.  When I woke up this morning, I felt rested and relaxed.  And, I had the energy to take on cleaning.  That never happens!

Diet:  Great
Exercise:  Cleaning and Yin Yoga
Gratitude:  Sleeping In

Loving Jillian for Beginners

Today was a busy day and I didn't get to start exercise until 7pm.  Well, I did do my 90 second plank this morning, but that doesn't count for a lot.  But, I had promised myself that I would do the second Jillian Michael's Beginner DVD, so I dug deep into my stubborness and forced myself to put the DVD in.

I am so glad I did! Within minutes I was dripping sweat and really feeling the workout.  Fifty minutes later I was soaking wet, exhausted, and beaming with pride.  I love that I can do this, and I can use real weights.  I also like that all of the exercises are adjustable.  Even though I am starting out at the beginner version of most exercises, I know that I will be able to get to the more advanced versions eventually.  That makes me happy.

The point of gratitude today was that I got to spend some time with Steve's other brother, niece and nephew.  I don't get to see them very often, so that was nice.  And, while I was exercising, Steve went with them to Chopt and brought me back a salad for dinner.  Very nice!

Exercise:  90 Second Plank, Back Side DVD
Food:  Perfect
Gratitude: Spending time with extended family

Back to Tired

Today wasn't as good as yesterday, but still a pretty good day.  I had a lot less energy today, but did get a lot done.  I am planning on going to bed early tonight, and hoping for lots more energy tomorrow.

I was planning on just going to yoga tonight, but then I got a challenge from my trainer.  So, at lunch time I did 45 minutes on the elliptical, 20 ball passes (from legs to hands over head) and 15 bench dips.  A little later, I did another 90 second plank. I had to wait until I cooled down some, so I wasn't so slippery!  I was exhausted!  But, also really proud of myself.  It felt good to get an exercise challenge, and then do it. 

Then, tonight I went to my regular Friday night yoga class.  When I remember back to my first few classes, and that I couldn't even get into down dog, I am so excited.  I still can't hold the pose for a really long time, but I am so much better than I was.  And, when I first started, I dreaded pigeon pose.  It hurt so bad!  Now, I actually enjoy it.  The hip stretch feels good.  So, it's defiitely nice to reflect back on the progress I have made.

The best part of the day was a simple back rub from Steve.  It's amazing how just a few minutes can relax me and make me feel completely loved.  Definitely something to be thankful for!

Food:  Perfect
Exercise:  45 Minutes Elliptical, Dips, Ball Passes, and Yoga
Gratitude:  Steve's back rub

Finally Energetic and Happy

For the last few weeks, it's felt like I have been moving through sludge.  Every day I've been so tired, physically and mentally.  Today, for the first day in ages, I felt like myself again.  I didn't have to force myself to get up, exercise, get through the day.  Today, I felt happy, and ready to attack my workouts, and my life.

I started the day with a quick 30 minutes on the elliptical.  After the check in with my trainer yesterday, I really wanted to get it over with.  So, first thing this morning, even before breakfast, I got it in.  I chose the easier set of intervals, with 30 seconds hard and 60 seconds of recovery.  But still, it was a heck of a workout!

Then, at lunch time, I did the other Jillian Michael's DVD - front side for beginners.  It was really tough, but so doable.  I am finally getting excited about my program again.  I love that I have a plan and I can stick to it.  And, I will be able to get strength training three times a week.  That is an awesome thing.

And, to make things even better, I did another plank tonight.  After the DVD this afternoon, it was definitely a challenge, but I made it the full 90 seconds.  My plan is to do 90 seconds a day for a while and see when I can up it to 105 and then two minutes.  Eventually, I'd love to get to three minutes.  But, that's a ways away right now.

So, for gratitude, I am just so thankful for today.  I needed to know that I was still capable of being happy, feeling rested, and having energy.  I know that we all go through ups and downs, but I really needed this up day.  I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I am hoping for a repeat!

Food:  Perfect
Exercise:  30 Minutes Elliptical, 45 Minute DVD, 90 Second Plank
Gratitude:  Feeling good!

Sigh!

I was so proud of myself.  I held a full plank for 90 seconds this afternoon.  Then, I went to yoga class.  And, I parked all the way at the far end of the parking lot.  I thought I was doing pretty well.  Then, I got a text message from my trainer.  Apparently, yoga doesn't count as cardio.  So, tomorrow I'll be doing cardio.  And the DVD I was planning on doing.  It might kill me.  Then again, I really need to see some movement on the scale!

For gratitude, I am really thankful that she cares enough to check in, and make sure I am following my program.  And making suggestions to make it better.  So, even though it means more work, I really am grateful.

Food:  Perfect
Exercise:  Yoga and the plank
Gratitude:  Friends and trainers who care about me and my program.

Loving My Monday Evening Routine

This was a really rough day.  The scale was mean to me.  Michael started out really grumpy.  I was the only one on my team working today.  Our air conditioner broke.  Steve was unhappy.  It just seemed like the world was piling on.  A little voice in the back of my head said that I was allowed to feel sorry for myself and skip my workout.  Not an option.  So, bad day or not, off to the gym I went.

The muscle challenge class was intense, challenging, and rewarding.  It was hard, really, really hard, but I love when I can push my body and feel it respond.  I am definitely getting stronger.  My balance is better.  I was able to hold a forearm plank for a full minute.  It just made me so happy to be able to do things I haven't been able to do before.

Then, yoga started.  I know it's going to be a good night when we start on the floor.  It gives me a chance to catch my breath after the first class, and really focus for the second.  She did some stretches that really open the hips and stretch the quad.  Those are my absolute favorite.  Of course, it was a hard class, and there were poses that I couldn't do.  But, I am feeling more confident, and more flexible.

The most important thing is that when I left the gym I was happy.  I felt relaxed.  It seemed like every drop of sweat washed away my stress.  So, as hard as the evening was, it was a gift as well.  So, thank you Kathie for a great evening!

Weight:  299
Diet:  Great
Exercise:  Muscle Challenge & Yoga
Gratitude:  Stress Relief from Exercise

Update for the last few days

Sorry I've been MIA for a few days.  I went away for the weekend and just didn't have time or energy to post to the blog.  But, I'll give you a quick summary of the last several days.

Friday:  I went to my Friday night yoga class.  I reallylove this class.  It's challenging, but relaxing.  For example, we're working on balancing half moon pose.  It's really, really hard.  But, each week I feel like I do a little bit better, and my legs get a little bit stronger.  And, I always leave happy.  There are few classes that are challenging, and make me happy.  This class really is a reward for making it through the week!

Saturday:  I had intended to take Michael swimming when we got to my parent's place.  But, he was having a rough day, and it just didn't happen.  Plus, it started to rain, and I decided to just take the day off.  Not the greatest decision in the world, but it worked.

Today:  I made up for yesterday.  This morning, I went for a walk that was 4.18 miles.  And, it took me about 90 minutes to do the walk.  The good news is that it wasn't nearly as hot as the 5K, and I did a lot better.  The bad news is that I was still exhausted and sore when I finished.  I will have to keep practicing until long walks are easy!

Tomorrow is the start of a new week, and I am looking forward to it.  Hopefully, I'll be better about keeping up the blog this week.  If not, send me a note and keep me honest!

Total Exhaustion = Inner Calm

I had another personal training session at the house this afternoon.  Before she even got here, she had me do 30 minutes of intervals on the elliptical.  Then, things really got fun.  I am not sure I will be able to move tomorrow.  And that's after we stretched everything we worked!

What I love about personal training is that she knows just how far to push to get my absolute best performance, but never pushes beyond my ability.  Way, way beyond my comfort zone, but never my ability.  Today we did ab work on the ball, lots of leg work, lat pull downs, chest presses, chest flys, calf raises.. I can't even remember it all.  But, what I do know is that I  worked every muscle I own.  And then some.

The rest of the day was fairly uneventful.  When Michael got home from school, I took him in the chamber, and then I took him to the library.  I had some books to return, and he's really good about limiting the elevator rides.  So, we both won.  Some days are really good days, even if you finish exhausted.

The other thing I noticed was that I was pretty depressed this morning.  I had been hoping for faster results from the diet changes, and they just haven't been coming.  And, with Steve out of town, I get lonely.  But, after the workout, even though I was totally exhausted, I felt much more calm, less stressed, and less depressed.   I guess it's true - exercise is great therapy!

But, what I am thankful today is just Michael.  No matter what kind of day I'm having, his smile, or a hug can make all the stress melt away.  At least for a few minutes.  And, he's still small enough that if I ask for a cuddle, I get one.  Now, they are much shorter than they used to be, but they still melt my heart, and they still make everything better.  Thank you Michael!

Diet:  Great
Exercise:  30 minutes on the elliptical, Hour of Personal Training
Gratitude:  Michael