Getting Back To Exercise

I hit the gym last Tuesday for the first time in months, and I have to say I felt so happy doing it!  Even better--the first person I saw was my former trainer, Wendy.  We talked for quite awhile about the gym, classes, and this great program the Y has called ActiveTrax.  It's a workout program that spits out a workout for you to follow that changes every time.  You just print it out, do the exercises, then record your workout either at the Y or at home on your computer.  Wendy got me set up in the program, and since I was short of time I returned two days later (at 5 AM!) to do my workout.  

Can I say I really really really love being up at 5 AM working out?  I really do.  But it's hard for me to WAKE UP.  Once I can get out of bed I'm usually ok.  And the gym is very quiet, so I can get to the machines without waiting.  And I'm a huge advocate of working out first thing in the morning.  If I wait I won't do it.  The day gets in the way, I'm tired after work, and I just want to go home. And I don't like working out in a crowded gym.   It's a big check off my list every day if I do a workout first.  It will be a challenge once the weather cools off and I want to stay under the covers.  I'm figuring out how to bribe myself to keep getting up early--maybe a new workout top or shorts every week I workout early?  Or a good smelly bath product.

I peeked in on a Zumba class, too.  Not too many people, but enough that I wouldn't stick out.  It looked like fun, and there's a class on Tuesdays (my usual day off) in the morning.  I'm going to give it a try and see how I like it.  

So now I've printed out my second workout, and I'm heading to the gym this morning.  Hoping to run a bit outside afterwards, since it's sunny and cool--a perfect September morning.  

I'm more happy than ever that I went back to the Y.  And I've been recording on my calendar when I work out and making sure I am taking my vitamins every day.  Baby steps, but I'm doing them.  

Food wise, I made 2 dozen pumpkin muffins last Tuesday, portioned them into freezer bags, and have been eating them for breakfast.  They are so darn good!  And they're keeping me away from buying a pumpkin muffin in my bookstore cafe every day I work.  I'm now looking at other muffin recipes (cranberry and apple for sure) to make again this Tuesday.  Soon my freezer will be full of muffins.  I'm being selfish and not sharing them with Bud.  Makes life easier if I have breakfast already planned--keeps me eating breakfast and not overeating later.  And if I can continue to get up at least 2 times a week to workout at 5AM before hitting my job, well--grab'n go breakfast is perfect.  Now to find a good eggy breakfast recipe.  The world will end for me if I eat so much pumpkin that I become pumpkin'd out.  That cannot happen.

I've been thinking about not running this time of year, and I have had a few moments of boo-hoo.  I do miss it, but don't miss the stress of trying to get into shape for a race.  Focusing on next year, and being ready to have some fun.  I've never been in such good shape that running was ever easy for me, so I'm hoping a winter full of 3x weekly strength training will make a difference, stop my feet from hurting, and lighten the load on my body.  Working on making exercise fun and important to my health and well being.  

Do you exercise?  What programs, if any, do you do?

I Confess: I Am A Total Ding-Dong

Last week I decided I was going to try Kosama.  But after watching an episode of Suze Orman Saturday night, it hit home that I need to think about what I am spending money on, and where it's best to get more bang for my buck.

I rejoined the YMCA this morning.  It's half the price of Kosama; basically around $10.50 a week for me to hit the Y every week, take whatever classes I fancy, use the pool, play racquetball, or use the equipment.  The only problem I foresee is me being lazy and not being motivated enough to hit the gym.  

I'm attempting to turn over a new leaf, however.  My friend C-Joy has been faithfully working out the past few months to help with her fibromyalgia, and she's made me step back and realize that if she can work through the fatigue and pain, surely I can do it.  I'm lucky to be fairly healthy, though a tad overweight.  That will be remedied if I just get off my ass and work out!  I have no excuse.  None at all.  Shame on me.

So I'm back at the Y after a month of dithering, exploring options, and being decidedly undecided.  The clincher was thinking about wanting to run on the treadmill in the cold winter months.  I couldn't do that if I didn't have the Y.  After mostly a year of not running much at all, I'm going to work on that this winter--nothing major, just short little runs on the treadmill.  It's all about losing some fat and putting on some muscle and building my legs up again so I'm ready for a few 5Ks this Spring.  But!  More importantly, trying a few new things.  I've got the class schedule in my bag and I'm going to try a few new things--and revisit my nemesis, the cycling class.  

It feels good to make the commitment.  Quite frankly, I've felt a little lost this past month with no "gym" anchor.  My mental game feels much better now.

This May Be A Good Thing...

Wondered just when the YMCA was going to take this month's membership out of my account.  Checked my membership, and found it "inactive".  Oops.  It expired last month.  I had no idea.  I guess I thought they would keep taking money out of my account until I told them to stop.  

So I find myself suddenly without a gym for the first time in 8 years.  I don't know how I feel about this.  Granted, I have been very lax in going to the gym for the past few months, but it was a bit like a comfort blanket.  I always knew I could run to the Y and ride a bike, lift some weights, or run on the treadmill.  Or even get the class schedule and try a class or two.  

But it was always there.  I always kept up that membership.

The universe always works in funny ways, and a few things have popped up to remind me that sometimes change is a good thing, and sometimes we need change to take a leap forward.  I have been thinking of trying Crossfit.  It's a program that involves group workouts--but it's tailored to your fitness level.  It's different every time you go, and it kicks your ass.  My niece does Crossfit, and tells me it's addictive, but very hard.  I've seen her and she looks amazing!

 I have discovered that in order for me to feel like I have done any kind of workout, I need to feel like I want to throw up, pass out, and hurt all over.  Then I know I've given it my all, my muscles are rebuilding themselves, and my lungs are getting stronger.  I don't feel like I did a half-ass job working out.  

I also just read a great post from Amanda at Runninghood.  She's got such a great outlook on life, family, and running.  Another gentle nudge from the universe to "feel the fear and do it anyway."  I like change, but quite frankly it does scare the hell out of me sometimes.  And while changing my work out routine may seem rather unimportant to some, to me it's a big deal because it means the difference between finding a potential new passion, or staying the same and slowly succumbing to that self-loathing that is sure to follow.

I think Crossfit may do that for me.  I have heard so many positive things about Crossfit, and I'm so lucky to have one here in my city--and only a few miles from work and home.  

I have a decision to make:  rejoin the Y, try Crossfit for 6 months, or do neither and do my own thing at home with workout videos and run/bike outside until the weather keeps me from it. What should I do??!!

In the meantime, I will keep up that running log and enjoy the cooler weather  before the snow flies and the clock changes.

Me And The Treadmill--I Remembered What I Forgot!

It was an earth-shattering moment today--I'm sure you felt the earth shift just a bit around 1:30 Central Time:  I went to the gym.  I had to confess to one of the personal trainers, (Wendy) that no, I hadn't been going early in the morning, I just hadn't been going at all.  Guilt times ten!

I've realized a few things from my visit to the gym today:

1.  I am pathetically out of shape.  Really bad.

2.  I can run again!  But, referring to the above statement, I can't run very far without wimping out.  I can't believe I ever trained and ran a marathon.  It seems like eons ago.  I have much work to do!

3.  The spinning classes, as explained by Wendy, are fun and not packed with people,  so I should go. 

4.  There's a mini-YMCA that opened near my house that has super cool new bikes that have screens so you can program a bike ride on paths around the world.  Sweet!  And the handles move, so you feel like you're really riding an actual bike.  I will be checking out this new mini-Y before everyone knows about it and it gets crowded.

5.  I inexplicably crave McDonald's after working out.  Have no clue why.  Just do.

6.  I don't enjoy running on a treadmill.  It's like parsley to me:  I think if I try it enough, I'll like it.  But no, I don't.  But I'll run on the treadmill through the winter months anyway.  However, no parsley, thank you.

7.  At home, the pumpkin bread I made had a huge hole in the middle, and wasn't baked all the way through. Now I know that adding a tablespoon of baking soda, instead of a teaspoon, will result in bread with no middle.  Into the trash after a taste--will try again later this week.  It tasted really good, just looked like someone put their fist in the middle of it.

So I feel good after hitting the gym, but my performance was sub-par.  Just getting down there, and putting on my work out clothes made me feel less sluggish and happier.  Will I get down to the gym before Christmas?  Who knows.  If I plan it, I will certainly not do it.  I will be one of those people in January who make a huge effort to kick start the year by setting a new habit--and that habit will not be eating my weight in food!  Spin classes will be on my list for sure.  My only hope is that I don't fall off the bike.  

YMCA Yearly Challenge Over; Another One Begun

I belong to the YMCA and every year, from August 1st to July 31st of the next year, they have a challenge for members.  You submit your miles that you've run, walked, biked, or cardio machined your way through and they keep track for you and let you know how many miles you've accumulated.  It also works for swimming and any exercise classes you do.  You can do  any of these activities at the Y, or on your own.  The point is to keep you moving and motivated.  At the end of the year, if you've reached the miles required, you get either a T-shirt of a certificate of accomplishment.

I kept track of my running, biking, and some classes I started after January of this year.  My total biking miles were 130.5 and my total running miles were 230.6.  Unfortunately, to get a t-shirt I have to run at least 500 miles; it's more than that for the biking.  But, I made the first tier of mileage, so I get a certificate.  I took 26 classes before one was canceled for the summer, and work hours changed so I couldn't make the two other classes I took after work.  I may take up a class again; I'd like to try kick-boxing.

Anyway, I'm happy to see the miles added up.  I'm starting fresh with my mileage tracking today for the Y, so we'll see where I'm at this time next year.  I'm shooting for that darn t-shirt!  I got one in 2008; that was the year of the flood.  The Y was completely engulfed by flood waters; destroying the main floor, the pool,  locker rooms, the basketball and racquetball courts.  It was closed for 3 months.  So the Y graciously gave anyone who was close to the miles a t-shirt as a thanks for being patient and keeping up the exercise where ever we could.

Today I ran my 4 mile "tempo" run.  It sounds easy:  you run your first and last miles at your regular pace, and the two in between at a slower pace.  Well, since I run slow anyway, it was kinda hard to run any slower!  But  my friend Mr. Muggy was present, so that had me stopping and walking a few times--I'll take that as my slower pace!  I'm noticing my breathing is finally getting back to where it needs to be, so I'm not even noticing it.  I'm also seeing myself running longer distances between pooping out and walking.  This is good!