Move What Matters

That's the current Bowflex tag line:  Move what matters to you.  

I sat down at 4pm after spending the day cleaning house and thought "its too early to call it a day.  

So I hopped on my Bowflex treadmill, thinking I would just do a moderately slow walk.  But Gretchen Wilson's song came on "All Jacked Up".   So I upped the speed and set the incline in 9.  Every minute that passed, I lowered the incline but increased the speed by 1 tenth.  My heart was pounding and I just kept going.  

Near the 20 minute mark I decided to slow it down.  Then Government Mule started playing "Beautifully Broken".  While this wasn't one of their biggest hits, its one of my favs.  "Mysterious, Blown in with the night.  All this beauty captured in a frame"

While I have many fav songs with simple lyrics, this one gets to me in a way I can't put in words - and I don't usually lack for words!!  

Perfect slowdown for the end of my walk. 

Move what matters.  A new mantra.

Wishful Goals ?

Week after week, I keep telling myself "it's time to get back on track", and each week goes by with no progress made.  Then I caught a cold, our temps dropped, and another five pounds seemed to jump onto my hips and ass! 

On Wednesday, I dropped into the gym to make some time on the treadmill.  30 minutes @ 3.0 incline = 1.4 miles.  While that's not my best effort, and I vowed to do better, but I didn't seem to be able to force myself to head to the gym on Thurs or Friday. 

One of the issues is they have a new locker room cleaning schedule; there's a male cleaning staff and the hours are 9-Noon.  Makes it impossible to be comfortable changing into gym clothes, and I can't exercise in jeans! 

This week, I get blood drawn for the usual check up, so my commitment needs to be on increasing my water intake, making sure I get 30 minutes of walking, either at the gym, or pushing Sadie in her stroller, and watching what I eat, including keeping my sodium down. 



Back in 2013, I worked very hard and lost 40 pounds -- and over the course of time, it's all come back.  Mostly because I stopped going to the gym. 

There are folks who start with "counting calories", but for me, I don't think all calories are the same.  If they were, the keto diet wouldn't be so successful.  So with the info I've gathered, I think I have two issues (not including my age):  insulin resistance and a hormonal imbalance.  I've tried the Plexus TriPlex but my system doesn't handle all of it in such large doses.  This is the week where I'm going to try to increase some of.  I have been able to get up to taking two ProBio5 each evening; now it's deciding if I can handle the BioCleanse or the Pink Drink.  We'll have to see how Monday goes!

I'm recording all of this here to use it as my accountability. 
And when I'm successful, maybe it will be an inspiration to someone else!!

1..2.. Lights Out!

As always, a busy day at work.  But I've been "sticking to it" and hitting the gym during my lunch hour.  Today, I got there, changed clothes and jumped on the treadmill.  I got my stride going, and was just getting into a real rhythm, completing my first quarter mile when .... ZZZZZZzzz ..... we lost all power.  The dim emergency lights kick on, the folks using weight machines and the ellipticals were OK - they don't require power to run.  And I thought "hmm, I could stick this out, hop on some other machine ...."  BUT without power, there's no AC.  Now, I'm not a wimp - ok, not MUCH of a wimp - but it's 105 outside, and there is no AC and no fans.  And I have to go back to work after this. 

I grabbed my cell phone and found my way into the ladies' changing room (where there are no emergency lights) and by the dim light of my cell phone, I'm trying to dial up the combination on my lock.  I usually leave my glasses in the car when I'm working out, so add in a whole lot of squinting in the dim light and I'm praying "please open please open please open" and click, it did!  Hooray!

Get out of the gym clothes and back into street clothes, hoping I don't leave anything behind, or wear anything inside out!  And the thought occurs to me:  Power may be out in MY store as well, since we're kaddy korner to the local PF.  So I zipped around a major block because street lights are out and not all Arizonans stop for street lights not working!  I didn't want to try and cross 6 lanes of traffic, so I took the scenic route back to my store.  And nope, power wasn't out!   Thank goodness!




Needless to say, I'm feeling a little bit cheated on my workout, but that's ok because with all the heat and being really busy in the store, I've still managed over 14k steps again today!  

I know that whatever I need to do to reach some new goals won't happen overnight, so I'm trying to be patient, and consistent.  And I'm trying new things.  Today's new:  vegetable lasagna

It was pretty good!  I'd buy it again.

Planet Fitness

I'm a member of Planet Fitness.  I chose this gym because it's 2 minutes from work, I can dash over on my lunch hour to get a bit of cardio in.  Today, because I was done with work at 10am, I headed over to the gym and hopped on the treadmill.  I purposefully covered the digital display so I wouldn't be distracted with numbers, or more specifically ... how much time has gone? and is it enough time that I can stop?!!!   I set the parameters for 55 minutes and just let it go.  The first time I got the urge to check the time, I was past 30 minutes.

And that's where the I hit "the exercise high".  I felt like I could keep on going ... and going ... and going.    I added another 5 minutes to make it an even 60, and to make sure I got past the 3 mile mark.   The Beach Boys came over the headset and I cranked up the speed so that my running pace would match the beat of the music.

With a mix of 80s head bangin' stuff, to some country tunes, one of the last ones was Jason Aldean's "The Only Way I Know".   Really strikes a chord with me, because I was raised on country music and that's just how it's always been for me:

"That’s the only way I know

Don’t stop 'til everything’s gone

Straight ahead, never turn round

Don’t back up, don’t back down

Full throttle, wide open

You get tired and you don’t show it

Dig a little deeper when you think you can’t dig no more

That’s the only way I know"

And it spurred me on, finished it out at 65 minutes, 3.25 miles.
Then I hit the machines for some more leg work.
If work hadn't called and interrupted me, I might have done even more!


As I get older, I have come to find that losing weight is a very real struggle.  Because it is, about two weeks ago, I decided that weight loss wasn't going to be my thing, and put it out of my head.  I changed my thoughts toward staying healthy.  And amazingly enough, I've now lost 8 lbs in the past two weeks!   So was I stressing about it so much that I was hindering progress?  Don't know, don't care.  I just keep going so that I'll maintain some muscle, some balance, and some good health.

Start Now!

 

It took me nearly two years to get up

off the couch, so to speak, and join a

gym again.  But I started.

You can't wait for "the right moment"

which for me would have been some

other company taking over the gym

that's next door to work, that closed up,

because having a gym that close made

it easy to slip in during lunch break, left me with no excuses not to dash in for a workout

after work was done.  But it's still an empty building.

Two weeks ago, I joined Planet Fitness.  And I'm happy that I finally did.  Sure, there's all the benefits to working out and such, but I just like how I feel when I've a)  taken control of something and b) when I'm done with a workout, the physiology of whatever chemicals are doing their thing inside my body leaves me with a good feeling.  That sounds wordy and nerdy, but like they used to say "If it feels good, do it!"

Friday's workout was 1/4 mile on the elliptical.  My thighs were beginning to burn with the effort, and since it was lunchtime, and I still had another 3 hours of work to go, I decided not to push things.  After, I still did 1.25 on the treadmill, then slipped into the Hip Adduction machine, working those inner thigh muscles.  Back in the day, I could do 30 with the weight set at 135.  I did 25 @ 110 lbs.  That was enough for me do go "whoa" ... and I am still feeling it on Saturday afternoon!

Saturday morning, up with the birds, and hit the gym at 7am.  Got my 1.5 miles on the treadmill in 26:30.   I'm slowly getting there, but to increase the speed much more, I'll have to lose some of these excess pounds.  Which is why I hopped back on that Hip Adduction machine, set it at 90lbs and did 20 reps.  More of a muscle memory thing that a real workout, but I could feel the stress on my muscles!   Then I hit the Hip Abduction machine, working the outer thighs, 20 reps, 90lbs (Didn't want to overdo anything!)  Found the Tricep machine, 20 reps, 40lbs.  I could have done more, I'm thinking, because there isn't that intense burn from a "new" workout.  But that's ok, there's still time.

The important thing is ... I started.

Eat. Sleep. Gym. Repeat.

Whew!    The week is finally over!

And I've reached a few goals:

• Logged my food and exercise 5 days this week.
• 
  
• Goal of 10k steps per day is within reach.  6 Day total = 64,460
• 
  
• Made it to the gym 5 days this week! 
• 
  
• Cardio over 30 minutes 4 days this week! 
• 
  
• Thursday was "free cake day" at work, and I passed it up!
• 
  
• Friday is "Donut Day" at work, and I passed them up! 

The way I count it up, that's six successes this week!  *tHuMbS uP*

I found myself watching the clock today, wondering if it was close enough to quitting time so I could get to the gym.  Now normally, that hasn't been on my mind in the last few months, so this was a good change!  

As I was driving home, I knew that I needed a salad with protein.  But the thought of getting home and having a salad that was plain, boring, wasn't on the top of my list.  I decided to head through Taco Bell and pick up a salad with some tasty fixin's on it!   Thankfully, I saved room on my "calorie plate" so that I didn't go over my self imposed limits.  And boy did that taste gooooood!!!

I also have to admit failures, but I think the only thing to list is not spending enough time at the gym, I could have pushed harder.   (But a body as old as mine needs rest too! hehehe)

My Mantra for the coming week:

Being Better

When you are struggling 

just look ahead and hold your head up high 

it's not a race to compete with others 

it's a race to compete with yourself!! 

You got this!!!"

If you have ever struggled with weight loss,

or keeping your commitment to the gym,

just remember that the only person

you need to do better than

is yourself.

After yesterday's disappointing weigh in

(yes, expected, but it still 'hurts' ) 

I got myself busy in the gym.

I did elliptical for 20 minutes on lunch

then went back after work 

for another 20 on the treadmill

and a whole lotta arms work.

I just need to remember that I'm 

not competing against any one else,

I cannot expect to be like

"the skinny hot one" at the gym.

I can only do better today

than I did yesterday.

Be a Happy Gym Rat! 

This little sign made me chuckle....

"At the Gym!"

Ready, Set, GO!

I can do this!

Here it is, Tuesday night, thought I'd dash off a post before I hit the sheets.  It was a long rough weekend for me.  I got up Saturday morning and hopped on the scale, thinking all my hard work would have surely paid off!  

But I found myself wondering "How the ^&#$ did I gain 5 Pounds Overnight?"   Talk about depressing!  Grrrrrrr.  Now that it's been 4 days, I was able to be calm and rational while checking some Google info.  I found one website that explained "it's absolutely possible to gain 3, 5 even 10 pounds overnight, but don’t worry! It’s not fat and it’s totally temporary."  Yeah?  Tell that to my panicky brain!   Which caused a huge depression bomb to drop on me.   *sigh*   I fought my way through it without a lot of what I would normally do:  reach for the cookies, the ice cream and the tortilla chips.  (Mainly because I didn't have them in the house!)

Blame it on the Full Moon:  "It has been known since roman times that the moon affects the water content in fruit. Pliny, the Elder, writing in AD 63 stated that it was best to pick fruits on specific days of the month if you wanted them to be plump and juicy.

Modern scientific studies on human urological issues have also backed up this idea showing that our bodies retain different levels of water in relation to the lunar cycle, making us plumper on different days of the month."

Ok, that's a good enough explanation as any, I suppose.  Looking back, I could also blame it on being overtired, lack of sleep  (I was working a few 4am-1pm shifts, putting me completely off schedule).  Maybe there was too much sodium for my body to handle in that extra serving of potato chips.  And just maybe there's an inflammation issue.  My personal trainer is tough and gives me very little slack!  After a workout with him, I'm sore for a few days.  Perhaps there is some inflammation going on that's "behind the scenes" and causing a few issues on my insides.

I just need to keep telling myself these four things:

• Don’t let this temporary gain take you out of your game. 
• Stay focused and positive. 
• Go to the gym to sweat off the extra pounds 
• Drink lots of water to flush out your body.

I can do this!   I did all those things yesterday, and today.  I achieved two goals today:  Broke my current endurance streak and went a full 40 minutes on the ellipitical.  At the same time, I made my 2 miles in 30:32 minutes!   Not as good as I used to be, but much better than I was a month ago!

Progress comes in little steps, when you do them every single day.

Work Outs

Just a pet peeve for today:   I went to the gym, I was working hard, breathing heavy, getting my stuff done.  In walks a woman, hair and makeup all done, and wearing enough perfume I could smell her across the room.  Now, I'm all about feeling pretty -- but it doesn't work in a gym!  People with allergies could be affected.  It's just common sense, in my opinion.

Leave the perfume behind, ladies!

That being said, I felt really good, energized, after my workout!  

If I keep working hard, I will reach my goals!

If you're working toward

a goal of any kind....

keep up the hard work! 

Steppin'

  61,308 steps last week!


I am kickin' butt and takin' names!

Actually, I'm just doing a lot of walking, 40 minutes at the gym, the steps really add up!  But that's ok, I felt awesome after the week was over -- and after I rested all day Saturday. hahahaha

Plan on doing the same thing this week, and I'm working toward some weight loss goals.

Exercise feels good -- did you get yours today??

Stepping Along

Tuesday, and the week is flying by.

I'm committed to making my workouts count.  Headed for the gym to walk during my lunch hour- we're in the middle of an excessive heat warning (anything over 110 degrees) so walking indoors is definitely the way to go.  I tried just walking inside my store, but I tend to get stopped to ask questions or directions.... the gym works out much better.  I made it for my afternoon workout as well.  It helps that I lock up my things at the gym after lunch, which forces me to log back into the gym to retrieve my stuff.  Well.  As long as I'm there... I might as well do something!!

11,432 steps today.  40 steps fewer than yesterday.  But I also lifted some weights.  My goal is 10k steps a day, so hooray for me!  It's a very slow process to lose weight.  But I can put 5 lbs on in just one weekend of bad eating!  Life's SO not fair.  *sigh*

I didn't do much on my afternoon workout, however, as I noticed my ankles were swelled up.  I'm hoping its just the heat; came home early and propped up my feet while watching #OITNB.  Yes, I've already finished all 3 seasons, I started them over, watching an episode a day.  That sure won't last me until the next season is released in June 2016.   ugh.

And, of course, Wedding Fever - working on getting some centerpiece vases painted up and decorated.  It's fun, I like crafty stuff!!  None of them will be identical, even though by accident I bought 4 different duplicates on 3 different shopping trips to Goodwill.  Ha ha, I must really like the shape of those.  *grin*

Make tomorrow your best day ever!
I plan on doing the same :)

Work It!

24-Hour Fitness is where I go after work.  Lucky for me, it's in the same parking lot as my BigBox Store.  That means I can park my car in 24-Hour's parking lot, head into work, do my thing all day, and when day's done, I head to my car where I grab my gym bag and head in to get my workout.

Today it was 30 minutes on the treadmill.  I only made 1.88 miles, but I'm ok with that.  I ran for two one-minute sprints within my workout.  It means my stamina is improving and that makes me happy. It also means that next week, I'll have to kick it up a notch!

Get out there and DO IT!

Gym-tastic!

Tuesday - and it's Day 2 at the gym.
Setting little goals works the best for me.

1. Go to the gym every day this week for 1 mile Elliptical

That's it, the whole goal.

And if I do it right, I can get that mile done in about 15 minutes.

Monday's trek was for 20 minutes.
Today when I reached the 15 minute mile, I told myself I would just 'cool down' for 5 minutes, take it easy but still get some cardio.  Then a good song came on my player.. and I was off and going again!  I ended up with 22 minutes, and am happy with myself for doing it!

Step tracker Monday = 9,500 steps
Step tracker Tuesday = 10,500 steps

My "Daily Challenge" text from work said to write a sentence and replace the word "should".

So I changed "I should go to the gym" to  "I will go to the gym!"

And I did!

How Gym-tastic is that???