I think I'm getting my mojo back...

I had a great day at the gym today!!  Well, except for a little "gym rage" incident, but I'll hold off on bitching about it just yet.

I wasn't sure how today was gonna go when I walked in because....

...some heifer had the unmitigated GALL to be on MY elliptical machine!!  Can you even believe it?!

I know, it's one of my many OCD-like quirks.  I HAVE to use the same machine every day.  I don't know why, I just do.  So, when I saw someone else on it, I got a little panicky.

Then, I just decided, hell with it!  I'll change things up a bit!  I figured today was as good a day as any to try running on the treadmill.  After all, I DO have some other 5Ks coming up, that I'm not really in top condition for yet.

I  went down to the very last treadmill, next to the windows, so I could look out, and sort of pretend I was running outside.  (I know, lame.)  I started out walking, of course, just to warm up.  I increased my speed every 45 seconds or so, until I was walking along at 4 mph.  I know, not super fast, but I didn't want to push it.  You might remember that when I first joined the gym, I started off on the treadmill, and had LOTS of pain in my shins.

At near the 10 minute mark, I decided it was now or never.  I had to try running.  So, I upped the speed to 4.5 mph, and started a nice, slow jog.  I was doing it!!  AND, even crazier?  I was enjoying it!!  I was able to run for 10 minutes straight.  Now, I know that sounds like nothing to you "real" athletes, but to me, it was huge.  If you remember, the times that I ran outside, getting ready for the 5K, I would run from streetlight to streetlight, which takes what?  Realistically, about 30 seconds?  Then I upped it and went two streetlights, so what's that?  About a minute?  Minute and a half, tops?

I couldn't believe I was still jogging away after 10 minutes.  I couldn't decide if I should keep running, or walk a bit.  I figured since I walked first for 10 minutes, I would just alternate every 10 minutes.  Sounded great.

Well, at some point during my jogging, a different heifer (and trust me, that the NICEST word I could use here!) got on the treadmill two down from me.  Ok, no big deal, who cares, right?  Yeah, well, about 5 minutes into my walking phase, the bitch GETS ON THE PHONE.  Oh no she di-int!!!

Yeah, she did.  It was like this broad thought she was out at a club or something.  Even with my earbuds in, I felt like she was screaming in my ear.  ARGH!!!  I wanted to knock her ass right off that treadmill!!!

I knew there was NO WAY I was going to be able to take another 40 minutes of THAT.  So, instead of walking for 10 minutes, I walked for 5, then jogged for 5, and got the hell out of Dodge.  Ooo, I was SO mad!  There are signs EVERYWHERE in the gym about no cell phone use.  If the call is that important, step outside!!!  (See?  I warned you - gym rage!)

I ended up going back to "my" elliptical, since the other heifer woman was gone now.  I did 35 minutes, so I'd still get 65 minutes of cardio.  It felt really weird to only do half my usual time.  I was SO tempted to just do the regular 65 minutes, but I thought that might be pushing it.  Plus, I figured, if I really felt good after the hour on the machines, I could go back and do another 30 minutes.

I ended up trying a new machine (finally!) today.  I had decided the other day at the gym that I would add this machine on July 1, since I clearly need to step up my game.  But, today just seemed like the right time to do it, since I had already tried something different by running.  Plus, for some reason, the gym was really empty when I was there, so I didn't feel as intimidated.  It's an ab machine that's always scared me a bit, because it looked really hard.  Truthfully, I'm pretty sure I must have done it wrong, because it seemed way too easy.  Maybe I need to add weight to it?  I don't know.  I'll try that tomorrow and see.

Anyway, it's the AbCoaster, which is supposed to work your lower abs.  I need LOTS of work there, so I hope I figure it out soon.

Oo, I just realized, you can find ANYTHING on the internet!!  This is the machine:

 You can add weights to those bars under the seat.  There were already two plates on it when I got on, but I think I may need to add more.  Cuz, seriously, I want to eventually look like HER when I'm on it!

I don't know why I didn't think to look for images before.  Maybe I'll bore you with pictures of all the machines I use.  Hmmmm.....

Anyway, here are the numbers for today.

Treadmill
Walking 15 minutes (avg. 4 mph)
Jogging 15 minutes (4.5 mph)
263 calories
1.96 miles (that warm up cut into my mileage.  poop)
30 minutes

Elliptical
340 calories
3.25 miles
35 minutes

Total calories:  603
Total mileage: 5.21

Ab crunches 2x30@65
Straight Arm Ab 2x30@80
AbCoaster 30 reps forward, 30 on right, 30 on left (I stupidly didn't look to see how much weight was on the machine.)
Inner thigh 2x30@105
Outer thigh 2x30@100
Pull Downs 2x30@50
Shoulder press 30@10, 4x15@10 (WHY does this machine STILL kill me!?!?  I don't get it!)
Obliques 2x30@80

2013 Elliptical Totals
41,108 calories
351.75 miles

Walking/Running Totals
16.12 miles
(I guess I can't really track calories, since I really don't have a clue what I burned those first few times I ran.)

I felt like a million bucks when I left the gym today.  Like I said, I think I'm getting my mojo back!! =)

Slacker here, just checkin' in...

My visits to the gym have been sporadic, at best, lately.  I'm really angry with myself.  I'm letting the "stuff" going on around here get to me, and mess up my program.  I'm really pissed, too, that I seem to be stuck at this weight since March!!!  If I'm going to be completely honest, I've been playing with 5 lbs, back and forth, for the past few weeks.  (Today, I'm +2 from my -70)  Argh!!  Since I ran the 5K, I've been a complete slacker.  I'm making myself sick.

I've committed to doing The Biggest Loser 5K on August 4, not to mention another 5K that I told my SIL I would run with her in July.  (It's too late to officially register for it, but I'm going to run along with her and her friends, just for fun.)  Yet, here I sit, NOT getting to the gym, NOT running inside OR out, not doing ANYTHING.  I'm disgusted with myself, really.

I think I need to print out some of those awful "before" pictures I shared with you, and hang them up all over my house! 

I finally got my big butt back to the gym 15 days after the 5K.  I struggled the whole time. :(  I only did the elliptical, stretched, and left.  NO machines.  I didn't let myself get a massage, either, since I didn't feel I earned it.

6/17/13
Elliptical
621 calories
5.64 miles
65 minutes

Then I didn't go again until the 21st.  Oy!

6/21/13
Elliptical
628 calories
5.92 miles
65 minutes
 Ab crunches 2x30@60 (I couldn't remember what I did last time - this is 5lbs less
 Straight Arm Ab 2x30@70 (Again, couldn't remember, this is TEN pounds less!  No wonder it didn't kill me to do it!)
Inner thigh 2x30@105
Outer thigh 2x30@100
Pull Downs 2x30@50
Shoulder press 30@10, 2x15@10 (I could only do 1 set of 30, and only TWO of 15!)
Obliques 2x30@80

I REALLY needed the two massages after that.  It was the first "real" workout I'd done since the run.


Even though I planned to start the week off with a bang, I didn't get back to the gym until yesterday.  I had Monkey on Monday, which was AWESOME.  However, I didn't get in a workout, despite telling myself I would do it while she slept.  The best laid plans...


6/25/13
Elliptical
630 calories
5.95 miles
65 minutes
Ab crunches 2x30@65 (put it back to my "old" weight)
Straight Arm Ab 2x30@80 (also back to the "old" weight.  It almost killed me!)
Inner thigh 2x30@105
Outer thigh 2x30@100
Pull Downs 2x30@50
Shoulder press 2x30@10, 4x15@10 (I managed to get out 4 sets of 15 today )
Obliques 2x30@80


I felt like a million bucks after this workout.  I earned every minute of the two massages I got.


When I left yesterday, I thought for sure I was back on track, given that I was really on an endorphin high.  And, yet, I never made it there today.  I kept saying, "Right after I ______ I'm going to go."  It stormed for part of the day, which didn't help.  Well, actually it DID help.  It helped me make excuses!!


I KNOW the only way to work past this plateau I've hit is to step it up.  Yet, I've been letting myself slack off.  Why?  Why can't I get past this?  I need to do something drastic, I think, to get past this.  Maybe some kind of "crash" diet/jump start thing?  Juice fast?  I don't know. 


I DO know that as I sit here typing, my plan is to get to the gym bright and early tomorrow.  Part of my problem is that I've fallen into the habit of waiting in the morning, in case my brother or Monkey's mom call me to take Monkey.  Then I start doing other things, and before I know it, the morning is gone, and I find myself just saying, "Screw it!  I'll just go tomorrow!"

In the beginning, when I was getting to the gym by 6ish, that wasn't even an issue, since I don't usually pick Monkey up until 8:30ish.  So, now that I've put it out there in the Blogosphere, I can't use that as an excuse anymore!!  I need to go back to getting to the gym EARLY.  It really is a great way to start my day.

OK, enough whining.  I think I'm going to make myself come here everyday, whether I make it to the gym or not.  Ideally, I'd like to go back to coming here everyday to list my workout!

I thought you guys were going to keep me in check?!?!  Feel free to leave me nasty comments, asking why the hell I haven't been working out.  Come on, folks, help me out!! =)

2013 Elliptical Totals

40,768 calories
348.5 miles

Well, I'm still here to talk about it...

I survived my first 5k!  It was actually kind of awesome.  We already signed up for our next one. =)

My crazy SIL went all out to make this a memorable event for me.  She secretly videotaped me as we crossed the finish line.  (I won't be sharing that since it's the most embarrassing 30 seconds of my life!  I look like I'm being pushed along with a cattle prod!)  She made a secret sign that she passed off to Magnum and Stud to hold up as I crossed the finish line.  AND, she made me a freakin' medal!

I can't believe I'm even letting you see me looking like this.  Can you tell Stud was thrilled to be up and out at 7:15 on a Sunday morning?!  hahaha!

The boys presented me with these after the run.

Sweet, right?  After the run, we had just enough time to get home, shower and head to church.  The pastor had called and left a message on my phone earlier in the week, to let me know he'd be praying for me for the run.  Again, sweet, right?

I wasn't as thrilled with him when he took time during the service to completely embarrass me by having me STAND UP while he told the whole church about how I had just completed my first 5K that morning!  Aye!  They were all very sweet, and most found me after the service to offer their congratulations.  I'm thinking I probably should have told them ahead of time, and maybe I would have been able to bump up the total amount of funds raised for the Ronald McDonald House! :P

Anyhoodles, like I'm said, I survived, and I'm just glad I'm still here to tell you about it. =)

The next one we're going to do is The Biggest Loser 5K.  I believe it's in August.  I'll keep you updated.  You're welcome!