Monday Monday

Visit to the Cardiologist was fine. See I was all stressed out for nothing. He's going to review the echo in depth and call me if there are any problem. But from the examine today he says he can't foresee any problems.

I did a 3 mile treadmill run this morning. OMG it felt so good. I could have gone on for another 3 miles but I'm sticking to the doctor's orders. I finished the run in 31:52/10:35 pace, I'll take it. My new mantra: Speed will come - Distance will come - be patience.

Full of nerves.....but I will be strong

I haven't mentioned it here but I have a heart condition, congestive heart failure is what they call it. I collect fluid around my heart and the left ventricle doesn't function at the proper rate. I go to the cardiologist twice a year and have an annual echo cardiograph. The last two times I had an echo the function rate has decreased. This is baffling my doctors because nothing in my lifestyle has really changed.

So I'm kind of nervous about the echo scheduled for tomorrow. I have this theory in my head (it's probably wrong) that my running has been the thing that keeps my illness in check. Well for the last month I haven't been running and I feel off. Rationally I know it's all in my head but I can't help thinking -- No Run = Being Sick.

What a piece of work I am. I'm such an alarmist but at least I can come here to vent. I really can't talk to anyone IRL about how I feel because I have to be the strong one. Just wanted to get that off my chest, it helped.

All Clear....sort of

I went to the Orthopedics specialist about my knee and shoulder yesterday.

Rant - I was in the waiting room for an hour and 15 minutes. It was like old home week. these people acted like they knew each other. Talking about everything from work to children to government services. Also everyone in there (and I know this because they said it) was there for a Workmen's Comp cases. Seemed strange. I also waited an additional 30 minutes in the exam room. GRRRRR

The doctor said that my knee cap was bruised from where I landed on it when I jumped off of the bike. He prescribed an anti-inflammatory and physical therapy. He clear me to run but only on the treadmill. I am also to cut my distance in half and increase as it feels comfortable. He felt the pounding on the pavement would aggravate the injury, so no outside running. I'm also supposed to stay away from lunges and squats. Glad I finished the challenge. He didn't say how long I'd be relegated to the treadmill but I see him again on 1/20.

The injury to my shoulder look like a strained rotator cup. He said I was lucky it wasn't torn and prescribed physical therapy for that too. I suppose to limit my lifting weights and use the resistant machines not free weights. I going to have to discuss this with Trainer Larry so I can get a new lifting program.

Well that's where I am. At least I can run. I am happy.

Warrior Princess

I DID IT!!!!!

I completed the warrior challenge at the gym. We started with 27 people and only 4 completed it. Challenge #6 and #1 were the toughest. I made my mistake by missing 2 and making them up at the end, back-to-back. And I did my regular early morning cardio too. I'm not crazy I'm just a little unwell.

The deadline for the challenge is next Monday and there is still 2 people trying to finish. I'm surely cheering them on, misery loves company.....I mean I really want them to join me in the winners circle.

So what does 24 days of warrior torture get me, A DAMN T-SHIRT. Trainer Larry says that it'll be special because only the elite members will have them. Whatever, is it solid gold. I deserve a whole track suit and matching sneakers for what I've been through. LOL

I am truly on cloud nine about this. I really pushed myself, even though I wanted to quit more than a few times. So pat myself on the back and move forward to the next set of challenges. I will be on a relay team for a triathlon in June. Going to do the run segment which is a 5K. I see a lot more races in my future, with clearance from the Dr. By the way the appointment for my knee is tomorrow hopefully he will tell me something good.

Warrior Challenge #6

I survived. First of all I did a treadmill run this morning. I know I haven't seen the doctor about my knee yet but I just could not take it anymore. I kept the pace slowish running 3 miles in 34 minutes which is around a 11:35 pace. It felt good to run and I only had a couple of twinges while I ran, I just adjusted my stride and kept going.

At lunchtime I went to the gym to do Warrior challenge #6. Gym buddy and I decided that we'd do the challenge at 11:30, which since a class was being held in the aerobic room we had to do the workout in the equipment room. IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY! Trainer Larry had 20 program written and you just choose a number and that's your workout. I selected 25 kettlebell jump squats with a 26lb bell and 25 squat/thrust and jumps for 10 rounds.

I tried to go as far in the back of the equipment room as possible but with all the mirrors I was still in full view and they were all watching. I ignored the people around me and just did it. Man by round 6 i felt like I was going to throw up but I kept going. At one point this one guy came up to me and asked if I was being punished for something, because that's the only he could see someone doing those exercises for that long. By time I got to round 8 I had people around me cheering for me and counting down. This was awesome, I got my second wind and knew I could do this. On the last 10 squat/thrust&jumps we all counted out loud. And it was done.

Now I have to look forward to tomorrow. I have a make up challenge #1, my understanding from other is it's pretty tough too but not like #6. I'm so sore now. Sitting at my desk all afternoon did not help. I've tiger balmed my shoulder and I'm icing both knees. Tomorrow morning I spending time with my Arc Trainer.

Up Again.

Oh surprise surprise, I'm up 8 pounds overnight. I know what this is, it happens every month, should have seen this coming I've been craving sweets for the last week. Just about getting sick of TOM causing me a weight gain every month. It's so frustrating to gain and loss the same 10 pounds over and over again. The stupid depression will set in next. I know I shouldn't get sad about this but I do.

I have a really tough workout week coming up. I've been told that the 6th card challenge is a killer and I'm up for that on Monday. I also have two make-up challenges to do and 3 more band levels. This on top of my regular classes at the gym and my strength training should keep me pretty busy.

Okay finished ranting about the weight. I will not be getting on the again to next week when the bloat should be gone. I also need to be mindful of my food intake and not give in to the cravings for sweets. I ready for this week.

The Warrior Card Challenge

For the past couple of weeks I've been participating and a challenge at the work gym. The challenge is for 24 days/every 4 day we play the card game. The trainer pick 4 exercises, one for each suit in a deck of cards and we do the exercise however many times the face value. The Big Joker is 50 burpees and the little joker is 40 explosive pushups. Hold up I have to write this out because it's hard to explain.

Day 1 Jump Rope - 2 minutes, 1 Pullup

Day 2 Jump Rope - 4 minutes Squats - set x 25 reps

Day 3 Jump Rope - 6 minutes, Pushups - 1 set x 25 reps

Day 4 White Band Warrior Card Game #1 (30 min)

Day 5 Run .50 mile, Squats - 1 set x 50 reps

Day 6 Run .75 mile, 3 Pullups

Day 7 Run 1 mile, Pushups - 1 set x 50 reps

Day 8 Yellow Band Warrior Card Game #2 (30 min)

Day 9 Jump Rope - 4 minutes, 5 Pullups

Day 10 Jump Rope - 8 minutes, Squats - 1 set x 75 reps

Day 11 Jump Rope - 12 minutes, Pushups - 1 set x 75 reps

Day 12 Green Band Warrior Card Game #3 (30 min)

Day 13 Run 1.75 miles, Squats - 1 set x 100 reps

Day 14 Run 1.75 miles, Push-ups - 1 set x 100 reps

Day 15 Run 1.75 miles, 7 Pull-ups

Day 16 Orange Band Warrior Card Game #4 (30 min)

Day 17 Jump rope - 8 minutes, Squat, Thrust & Jump - 8 minutes

Day 18 Jump rope - 16 minutes, Squat, Thrust & Jump - 16 minutes

Day 19 Jump rope - 24 minutes, Squat, Thrust & Jump - 24 minutes

Day 20 Blue Band Warrior Card Game #5 (30 min)

Day 21 Run .25 mile & 10 Burpees - 5 sets

Day 22 Run .25 mile, & walking pushups - 5 sets

Day 23 Run .25 mile, rest 1 minute - 10 sets

Day 24 Black Band Warrior Card Game #6 (30 min)

When we started this challenge 20 people signed up, the trainers said that the people that weren't serious would be weeded out. Today we did Card Game #5 there were 4 people there. The reason I wrote the whole thing out is I want to remember this challenge and what I went thru for a damn tshirts. As on of the participates teenage kid told us "you know that sell tshirts at the store, right?" Smart kid.

I suck.....

I suck at taking care of myself. I've been so concerned about my knee and when I will see the doctor so that I can run again. I seem to forget that I have a heart condition and really need to stay on top of medicine. I just remembered that I have an appointment sometime this month. I must call the doctor's office to find out when. Also I've been slacking on taking my medicine. So maybe that's the reason I'm so tired at the end of the day, I've been blaming my workouts.

I also suck because I hurt my gym buddies feelings today. It wasn't intentional see we were joking around as usual and I said something about her not coming to the gym lately. She was just the other day complaining about how she couldn't get out of the office to come to classes. Foot in mouth disease, I saw her whole face drop. Damn I wanted to cry, I try to be super supportive then I turn around and say something stupid. I hope she knows I there for her and I have her back, even though I can be a jerk.

Hopefully the suckitivity will go away and I'll be this really awesome person or at least normal.

How to Act in the Gym or Not

I belong to two gyms. The work gym I've been going to for the past 5 years and the home gym for about 4 months. A few things have happened to me at both gym that make me question what gym etiquette is. Here's some example of the thing I experience:

- I had just finished doing leg raises with the stability ball at the work gym, older guy says something about them being good for my abs. I'm all like yeah I working on it and then he reaches over and touches my stomach. Inappropriate

- In the shower room after my morning workout getting dressed for work. Older lady starts to talk to me about department politics. I'm kind of in a rush but try to be polite, make my excuses and enter the shower. And she keeps talking while I'm trying to take my shower, dry off, get dressed and fix my hair. Arkward

- Going through my strength training workout on the cable machine. Guy has set up all four stations of the machine with his weight needs. When I good to use a station he just finished, he states that he's using it. I go to another station and he says he's using that one too. He suggests that I come back in 20 minutes when he'll be finished with the weights. Rude

- During my boxing I'm informed by a follow student how to perform a move, totally different from the way the instructor has told me. Confused

These are just some of the examples of things that happened to me at the gym. I try so hard practice gym etiquette: don't invade other's personal, no unsolicited advice, don't hog the machines you can only use one at a time and keep your hand to yourself (unless the other person wants you to touch them).

Did I miss anything?

Work It Out

That's what I've been trying to doing for the past couple of weeks/months/years. Where is is getting me, shoulder shrug. The same 10 lbs up and down the scale. Will I ever hit goal? Hell what am I doing wrong.

I tend to go from one extreme to another. I eat too little or I eat too much. I trying to remember how I lost the weight to begin with. Damn I should have been journalling from the beginning. Now I know why people say it's important to document. Hind sight IS 20/20 vision.

Portion control doesn't work if you eat the wrong types of food, I know.

Eating strictly healthy meals don't work if you skip most of them, I know.

Eating an only candy diet doesn't work, I KNOW.

I lucky I'm about to maintain.

So what next? I'm tired but I have to keep fighting the fight. I can't go back to where I was. So I keep pushing on, I'm gonna find my groove, my spot, what works for me. It's out there, I did it before and I'll do it again. Watch!

The Beat Goes On

Been keeping up my workouts. Got the plan down now. Getting use to the arc trainer and trying to make the best of it. What really bothers me is the lack of miles that you get on the trainer. Less bang for you buck. If I run for a half hour I get around 3 miles, 45 minutes on the arc trainer and I barely get 2 miles. What a rip off, I want more mileage.

I waiting anxiously for my doctor's appointment on the 16th. I really hope he clears me to run again. Hopefully this time off hasn't hurt my endurance too much. I've also decided when cleared I going to sign up for races. I want to do a variety of distance up to a half marathon. Forget being scared. Forget people judging me. Forget that the other running are even there. I can do this, at my pace and for me. I want to run like I'm on borrowed time, like tomorrow's not promised and like I have something to prove (to me). So that's my plan. Run race and collect medals like the people that inspire me.

Saturday

Didn't sleep well last night. Either the greens or 2 slices of sweet potato pie took me over the top. The stomach was killing me. I finally dozed off about 4am and was exhausted when I got up at 6. Made excuses not to go to boxing but went anyway.

Glad I did what a great workout. I was teamed with a guy today. He kept correcting my form but his was off. He kept slugging me but I took it and dealt it back. Gained his respect by the end of class. Rock'em! Sock'em!

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Holiday week

Short week at work this week, only had to go in 3 days. I made sure I got my workouts in. On Tuesday since there is no longer a step class I got on the stationary bike for an hour. Won't be doing that again. My knee hurt so bad after. Trainer Larry now says he never told me to get on the bike, well he didn't but he didn't tell me not to either. So I guess the Arc Trainer will be my cardio machine, I hate the arc trainer. I'll shoot for 30 minutes a day.

Thanksgiving was good. I cooked with the help of the daughter some what. My mom, step dad and niece came over and I think they enjoyed the food. At least that's what they said. On the menu: roasted turkey; beef ribs; pork chops; greens; roasted potatoes and carrots; potato salad; stuffing; 2 cakes pie (brownie pumpkin pie/sweet potato pie/apple pie); and ice cream

Also had to do some vegetarian options for the daughter. Lots of leftovers so hopefully no cooking this weekend.

We had a special boxing class at the gym on Thanksgiving day and that 1 1/2 hours kicked my butt. We're still having Saturday's class, somebody's (me) gonna be sore tomorrow.

Rough One

I started this day in a funk. Didn't sleep well last night, was up and down for most of the night. When I finally got up I just couldn't get is together. Seriously getting depressed about not be able to run. I'm not the best runner in the world and I like to say I don't like running. But as soon as I banned from runner it's like I've lost my identity. I cried this morning, then I whined and I was reminded that I am not alone and there are people that have my back.

Today's gym workout was great. Did the Transformation II strength training. It's still taking me 50 minutes to complete it. I Also took a 30 minute Boxing Class and rode the arc trainer for 30 minutes/2 miles. Still don't like the arc trainer that much but I guess it'll grow on me. I felt so much better after I did my workout. I'm thinking is not such a good idea to do nothing on my rest day. Maybe a easy bike ride or a long walk.

The step teacher is gone and no class has been set up to replace it. I'll either take the sports circuit class (not feeling the teacher) or spend some time on the stationary bike. We'll see how it goes. Okay last night is catching up with me and I need to get some sleep.

Quickie

Quick update before I head to sleep. Took the bike in for estimate for the insurance company. They found only the wheel was damaged which is good but still $170 in repairs. This on a $400 bike. Oh well I don't have to pay for it, I'm faxing the estimate to insurance company tomorrow. I was told that the part has to be ordered and will take about 9 days to get in.

In better news I rode the husbands bike to the bank today, it felt wonderful being back on a bike. I haven't been on a ride since the accident. Too bad it gets dark early or I'd take the bike out in the evening after work. I did look at the trainers while we were at the bike shop and hinted that I might like one for Xmas. Hope the husband gets it. Hahaha

Okay about to pass out, Good Night.

Games Women Play

Went to my boxing class this morning. This class is truly a workout, 90 minutes working every part of your body. Today he concentrated a lot on the abs, OWIE. But you know what, I've been taking this class for about 2 months now and I still don't feel comfortable. It's not the workout I loves me a hard workout. I've been exercising for a good 9 years and knew I could handle the challenge of this class for the most part. It's the people in the class, mainly the women that cause this feeling.

The first day of class I felt understandably out of place. I didn't know anybody and they all seem to have their cliques. I could feel the eyes on me from the time I walked in the room, I was being sized up. For what? To see how fit I was? Whether I'd attract more attention? Or was this all in my mind.

Most of the people in the class have warmed up to me, I kind of still have a problem with students telling me how to punch (if the instructors says do this way that's what I'm doing). But one woman always tries to sock the mitt really hard or make a snide comment about my hand placement or something. Does this make her feel better? I thinks she's really mad I can take her punches. Sweetie I grew up in Southeast, fight or get whupped. She also looks at me like I stink, okay I do at the end of the workout but not the beginning. People I've talked to about this tell me to extend the olive branch, start a conversation with her. Hell she shot me down on that a couple of times and left me in the dust. I'm handle this my way, the way that's always worked for me. She is now off my radar, doesn't exist, INVISIBLE.

That subject is now closed. Now on with my weekend, I got some shopping to do. TTYL

So Over This.

Went to the doctor on Tuesday about the pulling in my shoulder and back. It hurt for me to turn in a certain way. I HATE going to my PC they always give you an appointment time and you end up waiting around for at least 2 hours before they see you. Anyway after a two hour wait the doctor told me the shoulder and back pain was probably just muscle strain and should clear up in a week. But she was really concerned about my left knee. It is swollen a bit and has a cracking sounds in it. I'm scheduled to get xrays of both and see a orthopedic specialist. The Big Bad news is NO running until I see the Ortho. What a joke, these people are saying they're booked up until 12/13. Uh, that a month, not going to happen. Call the PC tomorrow for couple of different orthos. Push come to shove I rest a week. No Longer.

I did run on Monday before the doctor's appointment and the knee felt okay but I did have more pain then usual. So I tried the elliptical to see if that was better. Doesn't hurt but I found it to be boring. I also did the strength training program 2 times this week, but had to baby my shoulder and knee. This is really putting me in a funk.

11/12/10

Fell asleep before that post was finished. Going to the work gym to meet up with my gym buddies and get my strength training in. Going to ride the bike for awhile and see if it hurts my knee. Trying to get a plan together I feel like I floating aimlessly, need to get it together. Still no update on the new dr appt. Hopefully this won't take forever. Well I'm off.

Rest Day......Why!

Today is a rest day according to my new schedule, I was sooooo bored. Trainer Larry said I could take a leisurely bike ride but, since my bike was attacked by a car yesterday that's out. I just sat around looking kinda crazy, wishing I could do something active. I'm going to have to plan my rest day better.

About yesterday, I fine okay I guess. I do have a slight pull in my neck and in my right shoulder. I can't say it's from the accident or just normal wear and tear. I guess I'll call my doctor office tomorrow. That's a joke those people are not customer friendly. I will be attempting my 6 mile run in the morning. Maybe on the treadmill in case it doesn't go well. I also have a 30 minute boxing class and strength training tomorrow. Hopefully things will go as planned.

Tomorrow is also the day for the tri sign up. I'm doing the run part for a relay team because I can't swim. The tri takes place in June and Trainers Larry going to work with all the participant for four months before the event. I'm also doing my first 5K in December with some of the girls at the gym. Will have to see how that goes, maybe more races in the spring.

Nothing to See Here

So I get up bright and early this morning, ready to kick some exercise butt. Get dressed and pull out the bike and head to the gym. Today I decide to do the right thing and wear my helmet, my reflected vest and I have new dual headlights for my bike. I head out on my usual route and am making pretty good time. Then about a half mile from my destination BAM. A car stopped at the intersection, I thought she saw me so I started across and didn't quite make it. She broadsided me and down on my butt I went. It all happened in slow motion, I kept saying hey, hey, hey. I was really shaken up but not hurt. The woman that was driving was really shaken up too. I kept saying I'm sorry, I guess I was in shock, what was I sorry for? After about 5 minutes the fire department, police and ambulance showed up. I didn't think I was hurt so I didn't go to the hospital. My bike is messed up but the husband thinks it can be repaired, we'll see. Going to call her insurance company to see what needs to be done. For now I'm going to take a nap. I should be okay since I hit my butt rather then my head. Maybe I can start this day over.

Decisions Have Been Made

For the third day in a row I did the Transformation II (strength training) program. OUCH! I won't advise anyone to do that. I only did because I missed doing the program on Monday and wanted to make up the time.

Sat down with Trainer Larry and went over my workout schedule. I'm down to 25 miles of running a week now and only on MWFS. Absolutely no running on days I have cardio classes. I'll also be doing strength training on run days MWF. Once I get the program down I should be able to get it done in 30 minutes. Will be continuing Yoga on Friday nights and my Saturday morning boxing class. WOW that sure looks like alot but, it is a little less hectic that what I was doing before.

Got some commitments I'm going to make for myself. First a group of us from the gym are planning on doing a 5K in December. I know I been running for about 2 years now but, I've never done a race and am very very nervous. But I need to come out of my shell and stop being a lone wolf runner. I just get so worried about other people's perception of how I run and whether I'm doing something wrong or going really slow. Oh well, this is the start of the new me. Watch and see what happens.

Movin' Forward

It's been a long day but I did have a conversation with Trainer Larry about my workouts and some decisions will be made this week. I'll make a matrix of all the workouts I'd like to do and we will sit down and setup a weekly schedule that works. With that being said today's workout were TOUGH. Well the boxing class wasn't so bad since it only lasted 30 minutes. Then I did my first run through of the new strength training program "Transformation II", it took about 50 minutes but a lot of that time was figuring out the machines and adjusting the weights. Once I get in the groove I should be able to run through the program in under 30 minutes.

Food on the other hand is going to be a problem. I just don't want to eat sometimes. I know that's not healthy. If I don't eat I'm not going to lose. So, I'm going to start tracking my food, which sucks. I also need to try to eat three meals and two (healthy) snacks a day. This can be done and I will do it. My ultimate goal is to get to 160 lbs by my birthday in April.

This is still a work in progress, onward.

Another Day Another Workout

Got a lot of irons in the fitness fire and I've got to do some serious thinking about priorities and goals. There are so many thing going on at the gym, I'm having a hard time trying to choose what I want to do. Trainer Larry came up with two new programs and I want to do both. The first is a strength training program that lasts twelve weeks and is three days a week. The second program is a 24 day program that combines strength and cardio. On top of that I have my running and regular gym classes. I'm torn, I don't want to overdo it but I don't want to be a slacker.

Okay break it down: Running about 6 miles on SMTW and 8-10 miles on F

Lunchtime gym classes 30-60 minutes MTWT

Yoga 60 minutes Fri

Boxing 90 minutes Sat

What to do? Okay lots of thinking to do. Back later.

Day 1

A little about myself. I started this journey 10 years ago, I weighted 275 lbs and decided that finally enough was enough. It's been a tough ten year full of ups and downs. I am today down about 100 lbs but, still not at goal. Now I'm determined to lose the last of this weight. This will be a record for me of what works and doesn't. From this day forward I moving out of my comfort zone and trying new things. My objective to reach my goal weight of 160 by my next birthday in April. Goodluck self.