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.