Last week was a very, very rough week. It was one of those weeks, that when it was done, it was like, please lord, never again! I had a pretty packed week planned last week anyway and then some work stuff happened and low and behold before I knew it, it was Friday night, doing a twelve hour shift and realizing that I hadn't made it to the gym once in the week. I plain and simply didn't have the time! It was also a week with a lot of stress and very little sleep. I made it through the end though, I really and truly did.
On Saturday, after getting barely 3 hours sleep all night, I was up and on my way to the gym with my husband. While he went to spin class I hit the elliptical and weights for all that I was worth. I worked out and I worked out hard. I burned almost 2200 calories in that work out and it felt good!
When I first got to the gym, I was dog tired and didn't think I would have the energy to keep moving for the almost hour and a half that I would be there. However, ten minutes into my workout I was like the energizer bunny! There was no stopping me!
Sunday mornign came and off I went to the gym, first thing, got in another solid hour of cardio and then weighed in. I maintained. Hip Hip Horray! I didn't gain and I didn't lose. For me that's a good thing. However, the one thing that it does prove is that I really do have to hit the gym 5-6 days a week to lose weight.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Fitness Goal Decided on.
So, if you've been reading back as far as the beginning of the month, you know that I don't do resolutions. I don't see the point, I would rather set goals for myself. Well, after much consideration, including some pretty wild and wacky out there ideas, I've come up with my fitness goal.
I am going to do the Grouse Grind in July. I have never done it before and I know that it will be quite the challenge to do. I know that the fastest time is under half an hour (yeah, good luck with that one) and that the average time is just over an hour. I'm going to set a time of 1 hour 25 minutes for it.
To start training for "Nature's Stairmaster" I'm going to have to get going on the stair master again. It's been quite a while since I have tackled that beast but here we go. I know that I can do it!
I am going to do the Grouse Grind in July. I have never done it before and I know that it will be quite the challenge to do. I know that the fastest time is under half an hour (yeah, good luck with that one) and that the average time is just over an hour. I'm going to set a time of 1 hour 25 minutes for it.
To start training for "Nature's Stairmaster" I'm going to have to get going on the stair master again. It's been quite a while since I have tackled that beast but here we go. I know that I can do it!
Three weeks in a row...
I have lost weight. This week, I only lost 6oz, but hey, a loss is a loss, is a loss right? Considering my husband took me out to dinner two times this week, and I've really struggled this week with the gym. I'm going to be happy with my loss.
I only went to the gym four times this week and getting no where near the work out I want to get in due to the time restrictions on the cardio equipment and the line up's to use the weight, bosu, balls, the whole kit and kaboodle. I just about threw in the towel the other night, however, I came home, ranted and raved and then just got on with it.
I have discovered the key to a quiet REC centre. Canucks game on Hockey night in Canada, plus 7pm start time = practically an empty gym. I LOVED my workout last night. I was able to do a full hour on the Elliptical because hey, there were six empty ones! I was able to use the Bosu, and Ball, and medicine Ball and free weights! I actually gathered everything I needed and went for it so I wasn't breaking my reps down between changing what I was doing. It was Fantabulous!
Hopefully with some luck I will be able to get in some really good Gym time this week. It's going to be hard getting to the gym this week due to being busy with work stuff and volunteer stuff, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I do have a plan though. I'm going to take my runners to work with me and take my actual break. I'm going to put those runners on and power walk around the mall. It won't be the same as getting to the gym, but at least it will be an hour of activity other than sitting on my behind all day.
Question: How do you get in a work out when you can't make it to the gym?
I only went to the gym four times this week and getting no where near the work out I want to get in due to the time restrictions on the cardio equipment and the line up's to use the weight, bosu, balls, the whole kit and kaboodle. I just about threw in the towel the other night, however, I came home, ranted and raved and then just got on with it.
I have discovered the key to a quiet REC centre. Canucks game on Hockey night in Canada, plus 7pm start time = practically an empty gym. I LOVED my workout last night. I was able to do a full hour on the Elliptical because hey, there were six empty ones! I was able to use the Bosu, and Ball, and medicine Ball and free weights! I actually gathered everything I needed and went for it so I wasn't breaking my reps down between changing what I was doing. It was Fantabulous!
Hopefully with some luck I will be able to get in some really good Gym time this week. It's going to be hard getting to the gym this week due to being busy with work stuff and volunteer stuff, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I do have a plan though. I'm going to take my runners to work with me and take my actual break. I'm going to put those runners on and power walk around the mall. It won't be the same as getting to the gym, but at least it will be an hour of activity other than sitting on my behind all day.
Question: How do you get in a work out when you can't make it to the gym?
Friday, January 21, 2011
Struggling....
with my gym right now. It is SOOO busy there that you can only use a machine fo 30 minutes, if you manage to get on a machine at all. The wait for the weight's last night was 3 people deep on every aparatus. I am SOOO Frustrated. I just wanted to go in and get a good 90 minute work out. Instead I got 30 minutes on the treadmill and some crunches( There was a wait for the floor mats even). Arrrggghhhh! This is super annoying.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
So Far So good...
...I'm here and going strong. I had a super busy few days with work. Friday I worked a 12 hour shift so I did not get any gym time in. By the time I got off work the gym was closing. I also didn't get there on Saturday or Sunday as I was working a bridal fair booth, and honestly after being on my feet for 10 hours each day, I got home around 7pm and just wanted to soak in a hot tub. Standing on my feet, smiling and talking all day are not what I'm used to. I'm used to my nice comfy office chair with my nice comfy desk. It is not the same when your setting up a booth and working a bridal fair, talking to brides and their mother's all weekend. I did get activity in on the weekend by setting up the booth, hauling around all the boxes of brochures, hauling the unhanded brochures at tear down and carrying them into the office one by one. I did that last part intentionally, there's just something about carrying a box of brochures that weigh about 40 pounds, through a store, up the escalator, through the store and into your office that makes you feel good. I could gave used a hand cart but I wanted the activity. YEAH ME!
Monday saw my return to the gym, it was actually fun. The gym was really busy for some reason, my husband couldn't get one of the bikes he likes to ride, and the treadmills were all full. Just as we met up to talk about walking the track, two elliptical machines opened up so over we hustled and we did the elliptical together. We had never done this before and it was fun. In the end my husband racked up more mileage than I did but I'm good with that, he's more than a 100 pounds less than I am, he was hustling and he was just doing the manual program. I was doing my hill climb which ranges the resistance level from 2-15 so it is really hard to keep an even speed all the time.
Tonight saw me back at the gym again. I chose the rolling hills program tonight and upped my resistance level by one it was a great work out. I didn't feel like going to the gym on either of the past two days. I've been really tired as I'm going through my no sleep faze again but I can honestly tell you. When I get there and I get going, I'm so glad that I went!
Monday saw my return to the gym, it was actually fun. The gym was really busy for some reason, my husband couldn't get one of the bikes he likes to ride, and the treadmills were all full. Just as we met up to talk about walking the track, two elliptical machines opened up so over we hustled and we did the elliptical together. We had never done this before and it was fun. In the end my husband racked up more mileage than I did but I'm good with that, he's more than a 100 pounds less than I am, he was hustling and he was just doing the manual program. I was doing my hill climb which ranges the resistance level from 2-15 so it is really hard to keep an even speed all the time.
Tonight saw me back at the gym again. I chose the rolling hills program tonight and upped my resistance level by one it was a great work out. I didn't feel like going to the gym on either of the past two days. I've been really tired as I'm going through my no sleep faze again but I can honestly tell you. When I get there and I get going, I'm so glad that I went!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Oops I did it again...
well, not really oops, but I heard that song today and it stuck in my head. Thursdays are the nights when I work until 7pm. I had a plan, I took my workout gear with me to work, and I was sure that I would make it to the gym, to rock out another work out.
Boy! Did I ever rock out that workout. When I first arrived my beloved elliptical section was full, not a one to be had so I continued over to the Cardio side of the centre. I said "HI" to one of the guys from work who was on a machine and selected the stairclimber. It's been a very long time since I used one but I was confident I could knock out at least a couple of minutes on it Well by minute three I thought my legs were going to fall of and my lungs were on fire, but the guy from work kept looking over at me with that "what the heck are you doing look" so I was determined to stay on the darned thing. I lasted 10 respectable minutes before I moved on, a quick glance showed me that the Ellipticals were all still in use so onto the treadmill I went, rolling hills program at 3mph for 30 minutes.
Then I did it! I went back into the weight section! Wahoo, I walked up to the machines as though I owned them and I worked them hard! I was very proud of myself, I even asked one guy if he was actually going to use the lat pull down or was he taking an extended rest. He actually got up and went over to sit on the floor! WAHOO!
As I was finished my weight program, I noticed two ellipticals were available. I figured if I was meant to do the Elliptical tonight, by the time I got all the way across to the other side and one was still available I would just have to hop on.
Well hop on I did, 40 minutes later, I considered my work out complete!
I LOVE feeling this WAY! It really does feel good! I'm going to miss the gym tomorrow as I'm working a 12 hour shift between my two offices, but I figure that maybe, just maybe, my body will be thankful for the one day break!
Boy! Did I ever rock out that workout. When I first arrived my beloved elliptical section was full, not a one to be had so I continued over to the Cardio side of the centre. I said "HI" to one of the guys from work who was on a machine and selected the stairclimber. It's been a very long time since I used one but I was confident I could knock out at least a couple of minutes on it Well by minute three I thought my legs were going to fall of and my lungs were on fire, but the guy from work kept looking over at me with that "what the heck are you doing look" so I was determined to stay on the darned thing. I lasted 10 respectable minutes before I moved on, a quick glance showed me that the Ellipticals were all still in use so onto the treadmill I went, rolling hills program at 3mph for 30 minutes.
Then I did it! I went back into the weight section! Wahoo, I walked up to the machines as though I owned them and I worked them hard! I was very proud of myself, I even asked one guy if he was actually going to use the lat pull down or was he taking an extended rest. He actually got up and went over to sit on the floor! WAHOO!
As I was finished my weight program, I noticed two ellipticals were available. I figured if I was meant to do the Elliptical tonight, by the time I got all the way across to the other side and one was still available I would just have to hop on.
Well hop on I did, 40 minutes later, I considered my work out complete!
I LOVE feeling this WAY! It really does feel good! I'm going to miss the gym tomorrow as I'm working a 12 hour shift between my two offices, but I figure that maybe, just maybe, my body will be thankful for the one day break!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Going Strong
I hope you have all had a great week. I'm doing good. I didn't get to the gym on Sunday, my husband and I had to head into town for a meeting and by the time we got home I honestly, just didn't feel like it.
Monday I hit the gym and hit it hard, cardio and weights, and my husband even thanked me for making him go with me. I didn't really make him go, I told him after dinner I was going to the gym and asked if he wanted to come along. 50 minutes on the Elliptical, 30 minute weights, 10 minutes of stretching. I was feeling good!
Tuesday night saw me back at the gym, a little worried as they were forcasting major snow for us here. Something we don't get a lot of, and honestly, people here just don't know how to drive in the white fluffy stuff. I only did Cardio as it was starting to snow when I went into the gym, 50 minutes on the Elliptical and back out into our quickly growing winter wonderland I went.
This morning I actually got to shovel some snow. 10 inches of it!!! Dug out the drive way, just as the snow plow came along and cleared a path up to the gate of our complex. I have snow tires so I was pretty confidant I could get going but I was amazed when I got to the top of our slope to see that the plow had lifted his blade at the top of the hill and I had a mound of snow to plow over to get onto the street. This is how little snow we get here! Even the snow plows don't know how to clear the snow properly!
Anyway, I got out of work and the rain had started, the roads were fairly clear so after dinner up to the gym I went again, 55 minutes on the Elliptical tonight. I didn't do weight as it was simply too busy. With the schools closed today, I swear, every school's athletic team was at the Rec centre getting their fitness on. I was happy though, they can run the track, use the free weights and hog the weight machines. I had my elliptical and not a single person approached me to see how long I would be.
Tonight, I had my work out grove on, and it showed. I don't think I've sweated that much in a very long time. My towel was wet, my shirt was clinging but man do I feel good! I can't wait to do it all over again tomorrow!
Monday I hit the gym and hit it hard, cardio and weights, and my husband even thanked me for making him go with me. I didn't really make him go, I told him after dinner I was going to the gym and asked if he wanted to come along. 50 minutes on the Elliptical, 30 minute weights, 10 minutes of stretching. I was feeling good!
Tuesday night saw me back at the gym, a little worried as they were forcasting major snow for us here. Something we don't get a lot of, and honestly, people here just don't know how to drive in the white fluffy stuff. I only did Cardio as it was starting to snow when I went into the gym, 50 minutes on the Elliptical and back out into our quickly growing winter wonderland I went.
This morning I actually got to shovel some snow. 10 inches of it!!! Dug out the drive way, just as the snow plow came along and cleared a path up to the gate of our complex. I have snow tires so I was pretty confidant I could get going but I was amazed when I got to the top of our slope to see that the plow had lifted his blade at the top of the hill and I had a mound of snow to plow over to get onto the street. This is how little snow we get here! Even the snow plows don't know how to clear the snow properly!
Anyway, I got out of work and the rain had started, the roads were fairly clear so after dinner up to the gym I went again, 55 minutes on the Elliptical tonight. I didn't do weight as it was simply too busy. With the schools closed today, I swear, every school's athletic team was at the Rec centre getting their fitness on. I was happy though, they can run the track, use the free weights and hog the weight machines. I had my elliptical and not a single person approached me to see how long I would be.
Tonight, I had my work out grove on, and it showed. I don't think I've sweated that much in a very long time. My towel was wet, my shirt was clinging but man do I feel good! I can't wait to do it all over again tomorrow!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
First weigh in of the new year...
And I am down 6.6 pounds! Wahooo!!! It's great to see such great results after a week of tracking and being back in the gym.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Over coming Fears
I've managed to go to the gym for 6 of the last seven days. I've worked hard, I've sweat and I've overcome some of my fears.
My husband and I used to belong to a gym that had a women's only section upstairs. I pretty much worked out up there exclusively. It wasn't as busy upstairs and when it was, I could put myself in a corner on the elliptical, put on my headphones and just go for it.
This isn't the case any longer. After hurting my knee last year and it progressively getting worse, the doctor suggested that I get into the water. As our gym didn't have a swimming pool and the REC centre down the street does, we switched over. I stayed in the water for a good six months but I wasn't getting the results I needed in the water, so back to the gym I have returned.
I have been very apprehensive about going into the gym of the Rec centre. There are a LOT of people there, not just on the equipment but walking the track, playing basketball or indoor soccer etc. The weight room is usually full of groups of men, grunting, groaning and generally making a lot of noise. I've been very wary of going in there. I need to go in there, I KNOW I need to go in there. I'm a fairly shy person to start with,(all right stop laughing!) I am when it comes to people I don't know, especially when I'm out numbered.
I had an incident happen this week, which almost sent me running with my tail between my legs. My beloved elliptical's were all being used, so I had no choice but to use a treadmill over in the section connected to the weight section. In had just finished my walk, I turned off my ipod but still had my earbuds in. As I was wiping down the machine, I over heard someone say something that almost stopped me in my tracks!
The young man, pushed one of his friends and said "Don't get on that one, the fat lady probably broke it." The small group laughed and went on their way into the weight section. It was all I could do not to run out of the Rec Centre. I was so upset I wanted to throw in the towel.
Last night, my husband and I headed up to the gym. I knew that I wanted to do some weights, I've missed doing them, but I didn't really want to go into the weight section by myself. My loving husband told me that when I was ready to go do my weights, come get him and he would go in with me and ensure that I got to use all of the equipment I wanted to use. I went and did my cardio and then headed over towards my husband at the other end of the rec centre where he was on the bike.
Something came over me though as I walked over to him. I had to do this. I had to get over my fear and just go in there. I told my husband that I would be all right and I plunged into the weight room. I almost walked right back out. One of the men who had been with the group earlier in the week was in there. I steadied myself, walked up to the machine I wanted to use, put on the hand grip I wanted and just got to work. Six reps later, I was ready to use another machine. Two men were leaning up against it talking, I walked up to them and asked them if I could use the machine, to my utter surprise they moved. I could feel the one man from earlier in the week watching me, because yes, I actually do know how to use the machines. When I was done with my the machines and it was time to go over to the free weight section, I turned and smiled at him, from the look on his face, I'm sure he knew that I had heard his friends. With my head held high, I went over and finished my workout.
It's amazing how grabbing the bull by the horns, really does make it possible to conquer your fears.
My husband and I used to belong to a gym that had a women's only section upstairs. I pretty much worked out up there exclusively. It wasn't as busy upstairs and when it was, I could put myself in a corner on the elliptical, put on my headphones and just go for it.
This isn't the case any longer. After hurting my knee last year and it progressively getting worse, the doctor suggested that I get into the water. As our gym didn't have a swimming pool and the REC centre down the street does, we switched over. I stayed in the water for a good six months but I wasn't getting the results I needed in the water, so back to the gym I have returned.
I have been very apprehensive about going into the gym of the Rec centre. There are a LOT of people there, not just on the equipment but walking the track, playing basketball or indoor soccer etc. The weight room is usually full of groups of men, grunting, groaning and generally making a lot of noise. I've been very wary of going in there. I need to go in there, I KNOW I need to go in there. I'm a fairly shy person to start with,(all right stop laughing!) I am when it comes to people I don't know, especially when I'm out numbered.
I had an incident happen this week, which almost sent me running with my tail between my legs. My beloved elliptical's were all being used, so I had no choice but to use a treadmill over in the section connected to the weight section. In had just finished my walk, I turned off my ipod but still had my earbuds in. As I was wiping down the machine, I over heard someone say something that almost stopped me in my tracks!
The young man, pushed one of his friends and said "Don't get on that one, the fat lady probably broke it." The small group laughed and went on their way into the weight section. It was all I could do not to run out of the Rec Centre. I was so upset I wanted to throw in the towel.
Last night, my husband and I headed up to the gym. I knew that I wanted to do some weights, I've missed doing them, but I didn't really want to go into the weight section by myself. My loving husband told me that when I was ready to go do my weights, come get him and he would go in with me and ensure that I got to use all of the equipment I wanted to use. I went and did my cardio and then headed over towards my husband at the other end of the rec centre where he was on the bike.
Something came over me though as I walked over to him. I had to do this. I had to get over my fear and just go in there. I told my husband that I would be all right and I plunged into the weight room. I almost walked right back out. One of the men who had been with the group earlier in the week was in there. I steadied myself, walked up to the machine I wanted to use, put on the hand grip I wanted and just got to work. Six reps later, I was ready to use another machine. Two men were leaning up against it talking, I walked up to them and asked them if I could use the machine, to my utter surprise they moved. I could feel the one man from earlier in the week watching me, because yes, I actually do know how to use the machines. When I was done with my the machines and it was time to go over to the free weight section, I turned and smiled at him, from the look on his face, I'm sure he knew that I had heard his friends. With my head held high, I went over and finished my workout.
It's amazing how grabbing the bull by the horns, really does make it possible to conquer your fears.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Busy week, great workout!
It's been a busy week this week, and I'm glad to say I've gotten four workouts in over 5 days. I skipped going to the gym on Tuesday as both my back and knee were sore from the day before so I just let it rest. I'm trying to follow the doctor's orders, trying is the operative word. Sometimes I'm just too stubborn! The doctor said if the knee starts to hurt than stop....to me that means, finish my work out, go home, shower change and then ice it. Somehow I think he actually means, when it hurts, that's the end of the workout, but I've lost so much ground in the past six months that I need to get it back. Before I started swimming for my cardio, I was up to level 9 on the elliptical workout programs. I've felt frustrated several times this week when I try to push the level on the elliptical upwards but end up having to move it back to level 2 or 3.
I feel that I have taken a big step back with my fitness, but I'm back and I'm on track and I'm ready to rock my workout!
I feel that I have taken a big step back with my fitness, but I'm back and I'm on track and I'm ready to rock my workout!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Goals
Do you set goals? I've never really been a New Years Resolution type person, I don't believe in them and if and when I've ever really made them, I didn't keep them, so really what was the point?
However, I'm a big believer in Goal Setting when it comes to work and fundraising, I make a goal and I work, and work hard towards that goal. I've been thinking long and hard about what type of fitness goal I should set for myself. What sort of goal is going to help keep me focused on the end result? To be perfectly honest, I haven't yet managed to figure that out.
A few years ago, my goal was to walk 60km's in two days. I did it and then repeated it, however the volunteer work I'm doing now is in conflict with the other organization so I'm not participating this year. Should I set walking 60km to be my goal? Should I set some sort of running distance as a goal? Should I set a bike riding distance as a goal? There are so many different fitness goals that I COULD set, but for some reason I just can't seem to make my mind up.
What sort of goals have you set for yourself for the coming year?
However, I'm a big believer in Goal Setting when it comes to work and fundraising, I make a goal and I work, and work hard towards that goal. I've been thinking long and hard about what type of fitness goal I should set for myself. What sort of goal is going to help keep me focused on the end result? To be perfectly honest, I haven't yet managed to figure that out.
A few years ago, my goal was to walk 60km's in two days. I did it and then repeated it, however the volunteer work I'm doing now is in conflict with the other organization so I'm not participating this year. Should I set walking 60km to be my goal? Should I set some sort of running distance as a goal? Should I set a bike riding distance as a goal? There are so many different fitness goals that I COULD set, but for some reason I just can't seem to make my mind up.
What sort of goals have you set for yourself for the coming year?
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year!!!
It is hard to believe that a new year has already begun. Welcome to 2011 and my journey to be forty, fit and fabulous!
If you've followed me over from Katie is Passionate about, please bear with me, that blog is now going to be dedicated to the work that I do to help find a cure for women's cancers.
This new blog will dedicated to my weight loss, fitness and nutrition journey. 2010 in all was a pretty good year for me, despite injury I worked out pretty steadily until October, then I fell off the weight loss, exercise wagon. Boy did I fall. In just two short months, I gained back almost all of the weight that I had lost in the previous 10 months and that has completely devastated me.
I have realized that now is the time that I have to get myself together and get this done for me. I turned 40 in December and with that is the realization that almost half of my life has passed me by. I don't want to be on the sidelines any longer. I don't want to be sitting on the bleachers watching everyone else do things that I can't do. So...here I am...ready to go. I hope you're ready for a heck of a ride, because I know that I am!
If you've followed me over from Katie is Passionate about, please bear with me, that blog is now going to be dedicated to the work that I do to help find a cure for women's cancers.
This new blog will dedicated to my weight loss, fitness and nutrition journey. 2010 in all was a pretty good year for me, despite injury I worked out pretty steadily until October, then I fell off the weight loss, exercise wagon. Boy did I fall. In just two short months, I gained back almost all of the weight that I had lost in the previous 10 months and that has completely devastated me.
I have realized that now is the time that I have to get myself together and get this done for me. I turned 40 in December and with that is the realization that almost half of my life has passed me by. I don't want to be on the sidelines any longer. I don't want to be sitting on the bleachers watching everyone else do things that I can't do. So...here I am...ready to go. I hope you're ready for a heck of a ride, because I know that I am!
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