Day 252 - Two Solid Hours

Short and sweet – an hour on the bike and a great hour at yoga.  Excellent day!

Day 251 - Disappointing Day

OK, this is shaping up to be a rough week.  I was really looking forward to a personal training session today, and that got cancelled at the last minute.  Yes, that’s the second time this week.  I am starting to get a little frustrated.  Then again, it ended up working out OK in the end.

I scheduled a massage for tonight because I realized I was really, really sore after last night’s yoga breakthrough.  My arms, shoulders, and hips are just aching.  So, instead of exercising, I ended up getting a really good massage.  I know it’s not meeting my goals, but today, I don’t feel like it was a bad thing.  I really needed the break, and it wasn’t exactly my fault that everything changed at the last minute!

Day 250 - A Rough Day with a Silver Lining

Today was a really rough day.  Wednesdays aren’t normally office days, but I had a meeting this afternoon.  I had everything planned out so I’d get home and get to the gym in time to exercise and then go to yoga.  But, things didn’t quite work out the way I planned.  The meeting ran really late, and by the time I got home, I barely had time to eat dinner and get to the gym in time for yoga.

But, once I was on my mat, things started to turn around.  The class was really great tonight.  And, because I hadn’t exercised before class, I had a lot more energy than I normally do.  Tonight was the first class where I actually did, and held, all the down dogs that the instructor called for.  Well, with one big exception.  When everyone else was doing a full sun salutation, I did the half series.  Other than that, I was able to keep up really well tonight.  So, I ended the day really proud of myself and feeling like I got a great workout in.

On the way home, I was reflecting on how things didn’t go how I planned, but still managed to work out well.  I think I’m going to not worry so much about getting exactly two hours in every day, but focus on making sure that I get in a great workout every day.  I’m not sure if I’ll be able to let go of my stubborn streak enough to actually do it, but I am going to give it a try.

Day 249 - Rest Day with Crazy Ideas

Today was a rest day, which was nice.  But, I did start back in the hyperbaric chamber with Michael, and I’m heading up to the sauna now.  So, even though I didn’t exercise, I’m still taking good care of myself, and Michael too.

Some friends from the resort are thinking about running in a 5K at the end of June.  I know it’s crazy, but I am thinking of signing up.  It’s in Buffalo, so I wouldn’t be able to bring Michael, and it would definitely be a trip.  But, it would be nice to see everyone again, and just keep myself moving forward on this journey.  The worst that would happen is that I would walk it.  There is no question that I could walk it.  Now, I just need to be able to jog it.  What do you think – crazy or fun?

Day 248 - More Challenges, More Creativity

Today was another challenging day.  Steve took my car out this afternoon to run a few errands.  He called me about 20 miles from home to say the windshield wipers were no longer working.  In the rain, of course.  I don’t know how he got home safe and sound, but he did.  But, he had to take the car to the station down the street to see if they could fix it.  And, of course, they didn’t have the part they needed.  So, I won’t have my car back until tomorrow sometime, if everything goes well.

I could have taken Steve’s car to the gym tonight, but I really don’t like driving it, especially in the rain.  So, I decided to do my regular Monday night routine, but at home.  I started out with a Biggest Loser toning video.  I didn’t use as heavy weights as I normally use at the gym, but I still got a really good workout. 

After the toning video, I went onto youtube and found an hour long beginner yoga video.  It was pretty good.  There weren’t a lot of standing poses, but it was still a fairly good workout.  While I am really happy with the toning video, I’m still looking for the perfect at home yoga DVD.  If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know?

The best part of the day was something I did just for fun though.  When I was at the resort, I wanted to see if I could do 100 crunches.  I did it.  So, today, I wanted to do it again, and I did. I love feeling that my abs are getting stronger.  One of these days, I’ll even be able to do those reverse crunches.

Day 247 - Lemons and Lemonade

Today was a day to make lemons into lemonade.  I had scheduled time with a personal trainer for this afternoon.  As I was getting ready to walk out the door for the gym, he called and cancelled.  He had a good reason, but I was still really disappointed.  So, I figured I would take Michael on a quick errand and then I would do my workouts on my own. 

Michael loves elevators, and I had mentioned that I wanted to stop at the library on the way back from the gym to drop off a book and pick up a new one.  He was disappointed he couldn’t go with me, because he knows there are elevators at the library.  Once my session was cancelled, I decided to take Michael to the library and give him a special treat.  He was so happy, and I felt a little less guilty for leaving him for a week.

When we got home, I did an hour hard on the elliptical.  I incorporated some intervals like we did at the resort, and I think I got a better workout because of it.  I kept hearing Betty’s voice in my ear saying ‘A minute is nothing.  You can do anything for a minute.  No big deal!’  And, she is right.  I did it, and I felt great.  After dinner, I did another hour on the bike.  I set the resistance a little higher and pushed myself for the hour.  It feels really good to know that I can push myself during my workouts and it really is no big deal.

Today I am grateful for that voice in my ear.  I know I can do this on my own, but it is so nice to remember back to all the things I learned at the resort and just replay that in my mind.  I am stronger than I ever realized, and I am going to finish this journey that I’ve started.  No matter what.

 

Day 246 - Unstructured Exercise is FUN

Well, it’s my normal weigh in day and I figured it was time to see if going to the resort really did break my plateau.  I decided the answer is yes.  I am down to 296, which is a total of 52 pounds down.  I have also decided that I am focusing way too much on the numbers, and not enough on how I feel, how my clothes feel, and other more ‘real’ measurements of success.  So, to avoid the paranoia that comes with focusing on the numbers, I’ve decided that going forward, I’m only going to report my weight on picture days.  That way, I will have two weeks between reports, and that should save me the anxiety of daily fluctuations. 

That decision made, this has been a really fun day.  A friend from the resort who lives near me gave me a ride and we went to cheer on a fellow resort friend, and one of the trainers who were running in the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in DC today.  Another TACA friend of mine was also running, but I couldn’t find her.  L  It was amazing to see all the people who ran in the races, and to see how good my friends felt when they finished.  Betty challenged me to do the same race next year.  I will definitely think about that.  I’m not sure if my knees will be up for it, but I can definitely use it as a goal.

After the race we went walking around a little bit in DC and had lunch at a wonderful place called Chop’T.  They have fantastic, organic salads.  I absolutely love the concept of the restaurant, and the food was delicious.  They have a location closer to me in Bethesda, and I will definitely be going there.  Between all the standing/pacing waiting for my friends to finish, and then walking around in DC, and then walking around running errands this afternoon, I am declaring it a great exercise day.  It wasn’t anything structured, but my legs sure feel like they got a workout.  And, since I have a training session tomorrow at the gym, I’m not worried about today.

Today, I am just grateful for making new friends and having new experiences.  I have never had a reason to be anywhere near a marathon before.  It was truly amazing.  And, as insane as it sounds, I’d really like to try one.. one day.