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!! =)