I spent another evening at the gym. I really worked myself. I'm feeling stronger. I'm feeling more energy. I think we're getting somewhere.
It's like you push and push and you don't see anything. But if you keep pushing and keep pushing, the results will come.
I'm not saying this is easy. It certainly is not. In fact, I hardly ever WANT to work-out. I usually just want to see the results. I am getting into the routine. Pushing myself. I'm continuing to do the work, even when it hurts or I'm tired. Even when old men insist on wearing spandex to the gym that just should not be wearing spandex!
Ok. I digress.
I gotta go. It's time to go back to work.
But before I do, let me encourage you ... push yourself. Even if it hurts, push yourself.
Don't give up!
A Size Healthier in 2009 - Even if it Kills Me!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Working out can be fun!
OK. So, if you're like most Americans, you celebrated the Memorial Day Weekend (aka - the unofficial start of summer) having a BBQ with friends and family. For someone like me who is trying to lose weight and keep on a workout schedule - that can be a hard weekend.
But it doesn't have to be.
I spent my weekend with my family in NY. I went running on the track with 2 of my nephews and my niece. We ran 2.5 miles on the track. They had fun "racing" their auntie while I just kept my pace and ran the laps.
When all my family arrived, the young ones like to jump on the trampoline. It is sooooo much fun! They like me to get on so they can be "shot" up into the sky. As much fun as it is jumping on the trampoline - that's a lot of hard work! My calf muscle was burning and I was winded. I had to keep taking "time outs" and getting on and off the trampoline.
"Aunt Mariann - will you take us to the park?? Please!?!?"
So, to get to the park, I have to ride a bicycle. I like riding bicycle, but I haven't done it in like 3 years. I got on the helmet and went for a ride.
Ok - so this is day one!
Second day, I am on the trampoline - again. Again I'm winded and worn out. I was going to go home early, but ended up going to a parade, eating lunch and headed out to the lake. At the lake, I canoed, kayaked and took a short swim (unplanned of course - it was my first time in a kayak - need I say more?!). Caught a perch and huge sunny. Keepers!
It was a fun weekend. I had my fun workout, ate better than I normally would and got to spend time with my family.
Workouts can be fun!
But it doesn't have to be.
I spent my weekend with my family in NY. I went running on the track with 2 of my nephews and my niece. We ran 2.5 miles on the track. They had fun "racing" their auntie while I just kept my pace and ran the laps.
When all my family arrived, the young ones like to jump on the trampoline. It is sooooo much fun! They like me to get on so they can be "shot" up into the sky. As much fun as it is jumping on the trampoline - that's a lot of hard work! My calf muscle was burning and I was winded. I had to keep taking "time outs" and getting on and off the trampoline.
"Aunt Mariann - will you take us to the park?? Please!?!?"
So, to get to the park, I have to ride a bicycle. I like riding bicycle, but I haven't done it in like 3 years. I got on the helmet and went for a ride.
Ok - so this is day one!
Second day, I am on the trampoline - again. Again I'm winded and worn out. I was going to go home early, but ended up going to a parade, eating lunch and headed out to the lake. At the lake, I canoed, kayaked and took a short swim (unplanned of course - it was my first time in a kayak - need I say more?!). Caught a perch and huge sunny. Keepers!
It was a fun weekend. I had my fun workout, ate better than I normally would and got to spend time with my family.
Workouts can be fun!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
A body in motion...stays in motion...
One of Newton's law of motion!
Also a well-needed burst o' momentum for me...Last night, while watching DAVID A. totally sing his way to American Idol Fame, I turned my bedroom into my own personal gym. I did some squats, some lunges, arms, tricep work and got on the ol' treadmill. Felt great.
So, after work today, I'm driving home - torn between wanting to go home and do nothing and going to the gym to work-out - I pull through the shopping center and head to the gym. Good Call!.
I pulled out one of my old workout sheets from the car and headed in, got changed and started sweating my MASS off! I pulled the first workout I ever did. It was great and hard! I know I'll be feeling this one later!
Alright, so tomorrow ... maybe 3 in a row???!!!
Also a well-needed burst o' momentum for me...Last night, while watching DAVID A. totally sing his way to American Idol Fame, I turned my bedroom into my own personal gym. I did some squats, some lunges, arms, tricep work and got on the ol' treadmill. Felt great.
So, after work today, I'm driving home - torn between wanting to go home and do nothing and going to the gym to work-out - I pull through the shopping center and head to the gym. Good Call!.
I pulled out one of my old workout sheets from the car and headed in, got changed and started sweating my MASS off! I pulled the first workout I ever did. It was great and hard! I know I'll be feeling this one later!
Alright, so tomorrow ... maybe 3 in a row???!!!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
I don't wanna...
OK. I'm being real here. I haven't been to the gym and I have not run a single footstep since Friday of last week. That's 3 days (4 if I don't do anything today).
I just don't wanna...
Just stating some fact here. Life is a little busy over these past few days - some late nights, family entertaining, catching up on some well-needed rest...I just have no motivation. No nothing.
But...I'm gonna...
I have to! That's just it. I have noticed a significant difference in my jawline and legs since I've been working out. I remind myself why I do what I'm doing. I don't wanna go back to my old life.
I don't wanna gain any of what I've lost (mind you - it's not much!). I wanna keep moving forward.
So, a paradigm shift is in order.
I'm going from: I don't wanna ... exercise, run or eat well
to: I don't wanna ... lose momentum, gain weight or lose strength!
Let's be real! Forward motion is not easy, but it's the best way to keep from going backwards!
I just don't wanna...
Just stating some fact here. Life is a little busy over these past few days - some late nights, family entertaining, catching up on some well-needed rest...I just have no motivation. No nothing.
But...I'm gonna...
I have to! That's just it. I have noticed a significant difference in my jawline and legs since I've been working out. I remind myself why I do what I'm doing. I don't wanna go back to my old life.
I don't wanna gain any of what I've lost (mind you - it's not much!). I wanna keep moving forward.
So, a paradigm shift is in order.
I'm going from: I don't wanna ... exercise, run or eat well
to: I don't wanna ... lose momentum, gain weight or lose strength!
Let's be real! Forward motion is not easy, but it's the best way to keep from going backwards!
Friday, May 16, 2008
I can't get no ... MOTIVATION!
I wish I could put some sound to this blog. Then I'd play some Mic Jaguar with a voiceover.
I can't get no...motivation!
.
It has been a long week and I'm tired. That's no excuse. I'm too tired to go to the gym. But going to the gym will help me feel energy - it's that ol' Catch 22 thingy...
.
It's raining, so I'm definitely not feeling that desire to go running. So, I just make myself go. That's it. I can't wait fo rthe motivation. So I go to the gym after work and just do some general weight training and ab work.
.
There's a lot of really BUILT people there in the evening. Here I am doing my free weights (12/15 lbs each). But the guy next to me is curling dumbbells bigger than my car! I'm wiping a slight condensation from my forehead, he's got a beach towel wiping the dripping sweat - maybe I should move into the other room where the machines are. None of the big guys are in there. In fact, that room is kinda fun. You get into the big cushy seats and put your legs up on the posts - sort of like an exercise recliner. You have to push some weight and then lift some weight, but you get to set back and relax while you're doing it.
.
Last stop - stretching room for abs and stretching. I actually love doing ab work. My stomach doesn't feel like all the muscles are ripping everytime I do them anymore. It actually is enjoyable (which leads me to believe they are not working, but I do them anyway). Then, stretch. Hammies, quads, gluts, arms...
.
Ahhhh. I may not have any motivation, but I feel like this was time well spent.
Good for me!
.
Going to the gym again this afternoon during lunch. I think I'll jump on the elliptical for 30 minutes or so and then do some more abs...Maybe I'll see you there!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Conditioning...or Torture!
So, I show up to the trainer on Tuesday morning (remember - 5:00 a.m.). She pulls out this rope ladder and lays it on the floor. First thought, "This looks like fun" :) No cynicism or sarcasm, I thought it looked like fun.
She says,"We're going to do something different today. Lifting weights and strength training are good, but sometimes you got to mix it up a little. So today, we're going to do some conditioning."
Fun.
First activity, hop on both feet all the way through the ladder and back. Ok.
Second activity, hop one foot first, then the next in the same square and use that same starter foot all the way down. Ok. Not so simple at 5:00 a.m., but we do alright. Now, do it again - FASTER!
Third activity, do a diagonal cross-over back and forth down the entire length of the ladder and back. Repeat. HOLY SMOKES - I felt like dancing with the Stars and all the hip action and twisting and stepping on MY feet! I had to laugh because it's morning and I had a tiny bit of flactuation I was trying to hold in but that's really difficult when your hopping and jumping....need I say more...good thing the floor was a bit squeeky!
Fourth activity (ok - we're not even close to being done yet!), hop on both feet as fast as you can. Start on the right of the square, hop into the square and then hop to the left of the next square, into the square and then to the right of the next square, etc... Go faster! It simulates the action one might take while skiing. I felt like I was skiing down the Alps, but because my balance was a little off, I kept getting faster and faster trying to catch myself and then hit the center square. (My trainer must have just thought this was too easy for me and upped the speed on me!)
Ok. We're done with the ladder. Phew! I have sweat pouring down my legs and arms and forehead! My deodorant already lost it's fighting battle (not a morning deodorant - needs more sleep!)
Let's move out to the main room with all the "serious" weight lifters. (You got to be serious if you're in at 5:00 a.m. - just for fun!). She picks up this huge round ball and shows me how to do a squat and then throw the ball on the wall and catch it and go into a squat and throw the ball...she usually demonstrates in slow motion so I can catch the motion. So I'm thinking the reason the ball didn't bounce back too hard was because she "lightly" tossed it against the wall at 10 feet off the ground. Yeah right! She "tosses" the ball at me - no kidding - it's a 12lb medicine ball! I almost dropped it.
Ok - one set (15) of those monstrous squat/toss and then she puts me on the climbing machine. 1 minute. How hard could that be? YOU TRY DOING A CLIMBING MACHINE AFTER THE ROPE OF TERROR AND THE MEDICINE BALL OF DEATH. My arms were like linguini and my legs were just being obedient to my brain. That's about all I have to say about that!
Well, I won't go into the rest of the routine (yeah there's more...), but It was a long morning. My body hurt so bad. Even today, 2 days later, my pecs and deltoids are sore! My legs are still a bit weak. Then, we go to the gym today - REPEAT!
She says,"We're going to do something different today. Lifting weights and strength training are good, but sometimes you got to mix it up a little. So today, we're going to do some conditioning."
Fun.
First activity, hop on both feet all the way through the ladder and back. Ok.
Second activity, hop one foot first, then the next in the same square and use that same starter foot all the way down. Ok. Not so simple at 5:00 a.m., but we do alright. Now, do it again - FASTER!
Third activity, do a diagonal cross-over back and forth down the entire length of the ladder and back. Repeat. HOLY SMOKES - I felt like dancing with the Stars and all the hip action and twisting and stepping on MY feet! I had to laugh because it's morning and I had a tiny bit of flactuation I was trying to hold in but that's really difficult when your hopping and jumping....need I say more...good thing the floor was a bit squeeky!
Fourth activity (ok - we're not even close to being done yet!), hop on both feet as fast as you can. Start on the right of the square, hop into the square and then hop to the left of the next square, into the square and then to the right of the next square, etc... Go faster! It simulates the action one might take while skiing. I felt like I was skiing down the Alps, but because my balance was a little off, I kept getting faster and faster trying to catch myself and then hit the center square. (My trainer must have just thought this was too easy for me and upped the speed on me!)
Ok. We're done with the ladder. Phew! I have sweat pouring down my legs and arms and forehead! My deodorant already lost it's fighting battle (not a morning deodorant - needs more sleep!)
Let's move out to the main room with all the "serious" weight lifters. (You got to be serious if you're in at 5:00 a.m. - just for fun!). She picks up this huge round ball and shows me how to do a squat and then throw the ball on the wall and catch it and go into a squat and throw the ball...she usually demonstrates in slow motion so I can catch the motion. So I'm thinking the reason the ball didn't bounce back too hard was because she "lightly" tossed it against the wall at 10 feet off the ground. Yeah right! She "tosses" the ball at me - no kidding - it's a 12lb medicine ball! I almost dropped it.
Ok - one set (15) of those monstrous squat/toss and then she puts me on the climbing machine. 1 minute. How hard could that be? YOU TRY DOING A CLIMBING MACHINE AFTER THE ROPE OF TERROR AND THE MEDICINE BALL OF DEATH. My arms were like linguini and my legs were just being obedient to my brain. That's about all I have to say about that!
Well, I won't go into the rest of the routine (yeah there's more...), but It was a long morning. My body hurt so bad. Even today, 2 days later, my pecs and deltoids are sore! My legs are still a bit weak. Then, we go to the gym today - REPEAT!
Friday, May 9, 2008
High Maintenance
Almost everything needs some sort of maintenance. For Example, you can't just buy a computer virus software, you have to get regular updates to keep it working at it's best. In the same way, you can't just run a half marathon and keep that level of fitness. You have to keep running and keep exercising and keep lifting. I think that's the mistake we make.
I, for one, would love the exercise, diet and lose the weight ...and then be able to stop exercising, eat what I want and still maintain that weight. Nope. Not going to happen.
So I ran the half marathon. Check.
Now what? Go running, go to the gym, eat better, go running, go to the gym, eat better, go running, go to the gym, ... You catch me!
I've been doing pretty good getting into a routine. Go to the trainer on Tuesday morning. Run on Wednesday. Go to the gym on Thursday at lunchtime. Friday, go for a run. Saturday, do both. Sunday or Monday we can go running - taking off on the other day. I'm sore 5 out of 7 days a week. I'm not doing bad on the diet part, only drinking Coke 1-2 days a week instead of everyday. Cutting the carbs and after dinner snacks.
HIGH MAINTENANCE! That's what I am. If I want this machine to run smoothly for a very long time, I'm going to need long-term maintenance. Let's go. It's time to feed the core!
I, for one, would love the exercise, diet and lose the weight ...and then be able to stop exercising, eat what I want and still maintain that weight. Nope. Not going to happen.
So I ran the half marathon. Check.
Now what? Go running, go to the gym, eat better, go running, go to the gym, eat better, go running, go to the gym, ... You catch me!
I've been doing pretty good getting into a routine. Go to the trainer on Tuesday morning. Run on Wednesday. Go to the gym on Thursday at lunchtime. Friday, go for a run. Saturday, do both. Sunday or Monday we can go running - taking off on the other day. I'm sore 5 out of 7 days a week. I'm not doing bad on the diet part, only drinking Coke 1-2 days a week instead of everyday. Cutting the carbs and after dinner snacks.
HIGH MAINTENANCE! That's what I am. If I want this machine to run smoothly for a very long time, I'm going to need long-term maintenance. Let's go. It's time to feed the core!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Training...
5:00 a.m. comes mighty early!
Yet, no matter what time I go to bed the night before, I never can sleep. I don't know if it's all the excitement of going to the gym and seeing my lovely trainer or the dread of hearing the alarm clock go off at 4:00 a.m. I just can't sleep!
I get up. Watch an episode of Cosby (Cosby re-runs at 4:00 a.m. - oh yeah). Have my quiet time. Eat my blueberry waffle and turkey sausage. Brush my teeth. Get dressed in my gym clothes and drive across town to the gym to sit in the parking lot waiting for the desk person to unlock the door so I can run in, scan my membership card, run downstairs, put all my stuff in the locker room, grab my water bottle and hit the treadmill while passing by the downstairs desk to let my trainer know I'm in.
A few minutes later, I'm off.
The trainer must also be up all night. How else does she come up with all these exercises? I mean, how many possible ways is there to do a lunge? Lunge while walking. Lunge / squats with a dumbbell. Lunge while using the Tricep pulls. Lunge with a barbell on your neck. Or how about ab work? Now come on, I could write a book "101 ways to work your Abs". Try crunches on a workout ball, laying on a bench and lifting your legs over your head, bicycle crunches, reverse leg crunches, A-B-C Crunches, planks...
I certainly am NOT complaining. It makes going to the gym more interesting than just doing a few sit-up and push-ups and a few minutes on the treadmill...
I actually like my trips to the gym at 5:00 a.m. The die-hards are there. They make you feel like the "in" crowd. Plus, it's like one of those special passes at Disney where you don't have to wait in line for anything. You just step up and get on the ride. Only at the gym, the trainer walks up and commandeers the piece of equipment you use next - at no extra charge! And no one questions her! Wow - I want to be a trainer!
And the best part about training, it's the stretching at the end. You just lie down on the bench and the trainer stretches your poor, tired, abused muscles for the last 5 minutes. First the hammies, then the glutes, then the back and arms. Aaahhhhhhhhh...Now doesn't that just make you wanna go join a gym?
If you do, head over to Hatfield and tell them Mervy sent ya. I'll get a discount and you'll get flat abs!
Yet, no matter what time I go to bed the night before, I never can sleep. I don't know if it's all the excitement of going to the gym and seeing my lovely trainer or the dread of hearing the alarm clock go off at 4:00 a.m. I just can't sleep!
I get up. Watch an episode of Cosby (Cosby re-runs at 4:00 a.m. - oh yeah). Have my quiet time. Eat my blueberry waffle and turkey sausage. Brush my teeth. Get dressed in my gym clothes and drive across town to the gym to sit in the parking lot waiting for the desk person to unlock the door so I can run in, scan my membership card, run downstairs, put all my stuff in the locker room, grab my water bottle and hit the treadmill while passing by the downstairs desk to let my trainer know I'm in.
A few minutes later, I'm off.
The trainer must also be up all night. How else does she come up with all these exercises? I mean, how many possible ways is there to do a lunge? Lunge while walking. Lunge / squats with a dumbbell. Lunge while using the Tricep pulls. Lunge with a barbell on your neck. Or how about ab work? Now come on, I could write a book "101 ways to work your Abs". Try crunches on a workout ball, laying on a bench and lifting your legs over your head, bicycle crunches, reverse leg crunches, A-B-C Crunches, planks...
I certainly am NOT complaining. It makes going to the gym more interesting than just doing a few sit-up and push-ups and a few minutes on the treadmill...
I actually like my trips to the gym at 5:00 a.m. The die-hards are there. They make you feel like the "in" crowd. Plus, it's like one of those special passes at Disney where you don't have to wait in line for anything. You just step up and get on the ride. Only at the gym, the trainer walks up and commandeers the piece of equipment you use next - at no extra charge! And no one questions her! Wow - I want to be a trainer!
And the best part about training, it's the stretching at the end. You just lie down on the bench and the trainer stretches your poor, tired, abused muscles for the last 5 minutes. First the hammies, then the glutes, then the back and arms. Aaahhhhhhhhh...Now doesn't that just make you wanna go join a gym?
If you do, head over to Hatfield and tell them Mervy sent ya. I'll get a discount and you'll get flat abs!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Race Hangover...
I guess you could say, I have a race hangover. It's been 8 days since those 13.1 miles, but I am feeling the weariness. I have wanted to do nothing more than sleep. And sleep some more. I am sneaking in naps over the weekends, and late afternoons after work. I have everything I can do to motivate to move.
I have been running 2 times already. I've been to the gym once. I'm going again tonight and tomorrow, but I'm just really tired!
Sitting at a desk all day long doesn't help. When I stand up or walk, I feel like 80 years old! I have to drag my legs and encourage my body to move. I'm doing my best not to drink a lot of Coke (which is what I would usually do) and go for healthy alternatives like water (or iced tea, unsweetened). The iced tea at least has caffeine in it!
Due to the fact that I am feeling sluggish, I must sign-off this blog at once to go find a caffeinated source that doesn't involve sugar - where's the coffee!!!???
I have been running 2 times already. I've been to the gym once. I'm going again tonight and tomorrow, but I'm just really tired!
Sitting at a desk all day long doesn't help. When I stand up or walk, I feel like 80 years old! I have to drag my legs and encourage my body to move. I'm doing my best not to drink a lot of Coke (which is what I would usually do) and go for healthy alternatives like water (or iced tea, unsweetened). The iced tea at least has caffeine in it!
Due to the fact that I am feeling sluggish, I must sign-off this blog at once to go find a caffeinated source that doesn't involve sugar - where's the coffee!!!???
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