OK, so I went on a canoe trip last weekend. Went a little wild and crazy. Drank too much, ate too much, fell out of the canoe too much and smoked two cigars (which was two too much). Then I went on a short business trip. I really meant to exercise once I got to my hotel on Sunday, but my body (and more importantly my mind) just didn't want to cooperate. Neither did the hotel...their gym was closed for remodeling.
I ended up going three full days without exercising. When I got back to the gym last night, the best I could do was an hour on the treadmill at the breakneck speed of 2.5 mph. And today, knowing I was meeting the trainer, I came thisclose to cancelling because I was feeling so sluggish and gunky. Fortunately, I have friends at the office who work out regularly, and when I told them that I didn't want to go to the gym, they told me to go anyway and I would feel better. I hoped they were right.
From the first routine, my muscles sang for joy and my mind cleared! It was like my body was mad at me for NOT working it all those days. Seriously. I had been slightly afraid that I had lost my momentum and might not get it back. But it was awesome to get right back into it!
The trainer didn't exactly take it easy on me tonight, but I left there knowing that I could have done even more than I did. But now that I've told him about this blog, and he reads what I just wrote, I think I'm in for quite a workout on Saturday.
It's gonna be great!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Results
Got my first new stats today (had to cancel my session last night). I actually gained three pounds by the scale, but my body fat percentage went down an amount equal to five pounds. I'm not sure, but I think that means I gained eight pounds of muscle. Sounds about right.
My trainer reminded me (although he didn't have to) that the important thing is that I have been building a foundation of fitness (stronger muscles and a better-conditioned heart) that will allow me to push harder and go longer, so the weight will start coming off faster. Believe me, I take every visit to the gym, and every inch lost, as a victory. After decades of being a couch potato, I am very happy to be where I am now.
So here are the results after six weeks of pretty regular exercise:
Weight: 309 (gained 3 pounds)
Body Fat: 48% (lost 5 pounds of fat)
Upper Arm: 14-1/4" (down 3/4")
Thigh: 26-1/4" (added 2")
Waist: 50-1/4" (down 2-3/4")
Hips: 58-1/2" (down 1/2")
Chest: 51-3/4" (down 2-1/4")
And my clothing size is now 26 for the bottom and 24 for the top.
I have made some minor changes in my food habits, but now it's time to really step up those changes.
More on that next week. I'm offline for the weekend.
My trainer reminded me (although he didn't have to) that the important thing is that I have been building a foundation of fitness (stronger muscles and a better-conditioned heart) that will allow me to push harder and go longer, so the weight will start coming off faster. Believe me, I take every visit to the gym, and every inch lost, as a victory. After decades of being a couch potato, I am very happy to be where I am now.
So here are the results after six weeks of pretty regular exercise:
Weight: 309 (gained 3 pounds)
Body Fat: 48% (lost 5 pounds of fat)
Upper Arm: 14-1/4" (down 3/4")
Thigh: 26-1/4" (added 2")
Waist: 50-1/4" (down 2-3/4")
Hips: 58-1/2" (down 1/2")
Chest: 51-3/4" (down 2-1/4")
And my clothing size is now 26 for the bottom and 24 for the top.
I have made some minor changes in my food habits, but now it's time to really step up those changes.
More on that next week. I'm offline for the weekend.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Catching up
Wow...it's been a while since I posted. Since last Wednesday I have had three personal training sessions and one cardio session on the treadmill (for an hour again).
That treadmill session was a victory for me, as I had overdone it with pizza earlier in the day, left for the gym at 9:15 PM and had to turn around after a few blocks because I forgot part of my heart rate monitor. With that full stomach I took it easy, but still got an hour in.
On Saturday my trainer introduced this fun new device:
It's a balance trainer. It's like half a ball that you stand on and do exercises. Not as easy as it looks, let me tell you. We used it again tonight. I'm already a little better at keeping my balance.
I'll have my first set of new stats on Wednesday. I don't think I've lost any weight (I might have actually gained). But I know I've lost inches since I'm down a size already.
And I feel fantasic!
That treadmill session was a victory for me, as I had overdone it with pizza earlier in the day, left for the gym at 9:15 PM and had to turn around after a few blocks because I forgot part of my heart rate monitor. With that full stomach I took it easy, but still got an hour in.
On Saturday my trainer introduced this fun new device:
It's a balance trainer. It's like half a ball that you stand on and do exercises. Not as easy as it looks, let me tell you. We used it again tonight. I'm already a little better at keeping my balance.
I'll have my first set of new stats on Wednesday. I don't think I've lost any weight (I might have actually gained). But I know I've lost inches since I'm down a size already.
And I feel fantasic!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
America in the gym
As I walked the treadmill for an hour (new record) last night, I noticed how diverse the clientele and the entertainment is at my gym.
There are men and women of all ages and ethnicity. All shapes and sizes too. This isn't one of those gyms where only the already fit and beautiful people are welcome. The place is always bustling with activity...hundreds of machines on two levels, classes going in two studios. And on each of the bikes, treadmills, stair machines and such...a personal television.
The TV on my treadmill wasn't working, which was OK because I brought my iPod with several walking music collections. I kept catching glances at the TVs on the machines in the row in front of me. And for my hour I had "Larry King" (interviewing Barack Obama at one point) on my left, and "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" on my right.
What a country.
There are men and women of all ages and ethnicity. All shapes and sizes too. This isn't one of those gyms where only the already fit and beautiful people are welcome. The place is always bustling with activity...hundreds of machines on two levels, classes going in two studios. And on each of the bikes, treadmills, stair machines and such...a personal television.
The TV on my treadmill wasn't working, which was OK because I brought my iPod with several walking music collections. I kept catching glances at the TVs on the machines in the row in front of me. And for my hour I had "Larry King" (interviewing Barack Obama at one point) on my left, and "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" on my right.
What a country.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Yoga! Yoga! Yoga!
I took a yoga class tonight. First time. I couldn't do much, but what I could do felt SOOOOO good.
I'm still not getting to the gym as often as I would like.
I'm still not getting to the gym as often as I would like.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Wacky scales
I haven't posted my weight stat yet, because every time I get on a scale I'm either way up or way down. I know I'm building muscle, but still I don't get it. So I'm not going to weigh myself anymore. I'll just do the monthly official weigh-in and measurements with the trainer. I think I'm due for that at the end of next week.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
50/50
I did lots of 50 pound/50 rep exercises tonight. Mostly my arms. I hope I can lift them tomorrow.
It really does feel good to push myself past where I thought I could go. It's a sense of accomplishment every time. How many things can you say that about in a day?
It really does feel good to push myself past where I thought I could go. It's a sense of accomplishment every time. How many things can you say that about in a day?
Monday, July 7, 2008
Inspiration
Here are some wonderful stories of women who have lost 100 pounds or more, through diet and exercise, from the Today Show.
Happy retirement to...
...my size 28 work slacks. Worn today for the very last time because they are TOO BIG!
My biggest pants size ever was 30, and I still have those. They will come in handy during my People Magazine/Oprah interview phase. You know, the classic photo of a woman who has lost half her body weight and her entire body fits into one pants leg?
Someday.
My biggest pants size ever was 30, and I still have those. They will come in handy during my People Magazine/Oprah interview phase. You know, the classic photo of a woman who has lost half her body weight and her entire body fits into one pants leg?
Someday.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Exercise is like laundry
When you think about it, none of us really has to do anything. We are free and can make up our own minds. We don't have to go to work, or pay taxes, or wash the car or do anything we don't want to. We do things we want to do because they give us pleasure. We do things we don't want to do to avoid the consequences of not doing them.
Take the laundry (please). I dislike doing laundry. Always have. It doesn't matter that doing the laundry is a lot easier than it used to be. Growing up, the laundry machines were in the basement, and you had to go outside to walk down there. For many years, we were on the third floor and had to haul it up and down all those stairs in all kinds of weather! It's a lot easier for me now with the elevator. But even when the machines were right in my apartment or house, I still disliked it.
But I do it, because the consequences of not doing it would be quite unpleasant. I sometimes put it off until I have literally nothing left to wear, but I eventually do it. And you know what? It's never as bad as I imagine. It doesn't take long, I can get other things done while the machines do the work, and the feel of clean fresh clothes is very nice. I am constantly surprised at myself and wonder what the big deal was.
And exercise? I don't have to do that either. Until this morning, I had not been to the gym since Tuesday. I cancelled an appointment with my trainer. I didn't go to do the cardio workouts that I am supposed to do on my own between training sessions (which would make the training more effective). I wasn't in the mood, and I wasn't going to do it.
But this morning I realized that, just like the laundry, working out is never as bad as I imagine. As I left the gym after a 30-minute fast walk on the treadmill, I wondered why I was so hesitant to go. I still can't say I particularly like exercising. But I am starting to feel as if the consequences of not doing it are more unpleasant than the exercise itself.
Take the laundry (please). I dislike doing laundry. Always have. It doesn't matter that doing the laundry is a lot easier than it used to be. Growing up, the laundry machines were in the basement, and you had to go outside to walk down there. For many years, we were on the third floor and had to haul it up and down all those stairs in all kinds of weather! It's a lot easier for me now with the elevator. But even when the machines were right in my apartment or house, I still disliked it.
But I do it, because the consequences of not doing it would be quite unpleasant. I sometimes put it off until I have literally nothing left to wear, but I eventually do it. And you know what? It's never as bad as I imagine. It doesn't take long, I can get other things done while the machines do the work, and the feel of clean fresh clothes is very nice. I am constantly surprised at myself and wonder what the big deal was.
And exercise? I don't have to do that either. Until this morning, I had not been to the gym since Tuesday. I cancelled an appointment with my trainer. I didn't go to do the cardio workouts that I am supposed to do on my own between training sessions (which would make the training more effective). I wasn't in the mood, and I wasn't going to do it.
But this morning I realized that, just like the laundry, working out is never as bad as I imagine. As I left the gym after a 30-minute fast walk on the treadmill, I wondered why I was so hesitant to go. I still can't say I particularly like exercising. But I am starting to feel as if the consequences of not doing it are more unpleasant than the exercise itself.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
I get by with a little help from...
...the big red ball.
It's called a "balance ball" or "stabilization ball". My personal trainer has been having me use it a lot for various exercises. And tonight - believe it or not - I did 10 pushups! I can't do them the normal way (on my toes) or the modified way (on my knees). But laying on the balance ball I can do 10! Hey, it's a start!
Here's a site that sells them - the Gaiam company.
They also sell this chair, which I am seriously thinking of purchasing:
The idea behind it is that you have to stay balanced and not slide around, so your muscles have to be working all the time as you sit. Plus I don't think you can slouch and stay on the thing.
Interesting.
It's called a "balance ball" or "stabilization ball". My personal trainer has been having me use it a lot for various exercises. And tonight - believe it or not - I did 10 pushups! I can't do them the normal way (on my toes) or the modified way (on my knees). But laying on the balance ball I can do 10! Hey, it's a start!
Here's a site that sells them - the Gaiam company.
They also sell this chair, which I am seriously thinking of purchasing:
The idea behind it is that you have to stay balanced and not slide around, so your muscles have to be working all the time as you sit. Plus I don't think you can slouch and stay on the thing.
Interesting.
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