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!

I think I broke me...

I don't know what the hell I'm doing, thinking I can start running at this point in my life.  I'm pushing 50, I'm still 60+ lbs overweight, I'm NOT athletic, what the hell am I doing!?!

I went for another run yesterday, after taking Wednesday and Thursday off.  And, I mean OFF, as in no running OR gym.  But, I was feeling like a million bucks yesterday.  I got dressed and ready for a run to my parents' house.  Stud was going to leave at the same time, in my truck, and meet me there.  He threw our lawnmower in the truck and was going to cut their lawn while I ran.  Perfect plan. 

Well, things were going great.  I actually was able to up my game a bit.  Instead of doing one and one with the lightpoles, I was running two, then only walking one.  I felt awesome.  I was barely breaking a sweat, I wasn't feeling all that winded, but my left knee was getting sorer and sorer as I ran. 

I was having such a good time, that I wasn't paying attention to where I was running, and ended up running about 4 blocks out of my way.  No biggie, I thought, because now the run would be closer to the actual distance of the 5K.  Unfortunately, when I finally turned around to head to my parents' house, I ran down a street that was basically under construction.  I'm thinking running on that uneven gravely mess was my undoing.

I felt great when I got to my parents'.  Stud was finished with the lawn, and they weren't home, so as soon as I got there, we left.  In the less than 5 minutes it took to drive home, my knee started calling me an asshole.  And, it only got worse from there.

Later, Magnum and I met a friend for dinner.  We hadn't seen each other in a long time, so as soon as he finished eating, Magnum left, and she and I stayed for a while, catching up.  When we finally decided we'd better call it a night, I tried to stand up, and almost fell over.  I had to stand there for seriously almost 5 minutes before I could put any real weight on it.  Truthfully, I was a little scared.  I slowly made my way out of the restaurant (which, of course, included some stairs!) and it got just a little better.  Then, being the ass that I am, I forgot where the hell I parked!  I ended up walking about 3 blocks out of my way before I found my car!  Eesh!

Anyhoodles, my knee was KILLING me by the time I got home (about a 20 minute drive).  This morning, it's only slightly better.  If I keep moving it constantly, it's better than being still.  Lord help me, how the HELL am I going to do this run in a week!?

Just for fun, here are the figures from yesterday:

4,790 steps
2.78 miles
41:06 minutes
344.6 calories

I'm off to go find a knee brace :(  Wish me luck!

So far, so good...

I decided, painful or not, I HAD to go for a run today.

Oo, I downloaded a really cool free app this morning for my iPhone.  It's a pedometer, but also measures calories burned, time, etc.  So as soon as it loaded, I was out the door.

I headed down the driveway, and started with a power walk, just to loosen up my muscles.  After about a block, I decided to try a slow jog.  ARGHHH!!!  My legs were SCREAMING!  I'm embarrassed to say, I abandoned my plan to run to my parents' house.  I went a few blocks, then turned down a side street and headed back toward home.  According to my cool, new pedometer, it was a half-mile in about 10 minutes.  Not bad, considering it was mostly fast walking.

I came in the house, and immediately felt like a turd.  And truthfully, after all that moving, my legs actually felt a little better.  So...I headed right back out the door!  I yelled down to Stud on my way out that he was going to have to come pick me up at his grandparents' house, and I took off.

I was really so afraid of hurting myself, that I took it way easier than I did Saturday.  I just power walked until I was out of my neighborhood.  Once I crossed the street that serves as the border between Chicago and my parents' town, I started running.  I planned to use the same system I used on Saturday, with the street lights.  But, since I hadn't run at all yet, I was able to run two lights down, before walking one.  I kept that up until I was about 3/4 of the way to my parents'.  Then I went back to the one walking, one running. 

I called Stud when I was about 3 blocks away to let him know he should leave our house.   Then I realized I could just have my dad drive me home.  I told Stud I would call him back when I got there. 

When I got there, no one was home!  Eesh!  I called Stud back, and luckily, he didn't listen (as always!) and was already on his way.  I decided that instead of just standing there waiting, I would start running back toward home, and just meet him where I meet him. 

Turns out I only got about 2 blocks before he was there.  AND, the little angel brought me a bottle of cold water!  I love that goofy kid! =)

We stopped at the store on the way home to get a few things.  I actually had Stud snap a photo of me, so I could see if I was presentable enough to be seen in public.

He lied and said I was.  The little wienie! 

After we grabbed a few things and came out, I was still feeling the "high," and told Stud I was just going to run home.  (The store is at the very intersection where I cross over out of the city into my parents' town.)  I started across the parking lot, and then just stopped.  "What the HELL are you thinking?!" is what I screamed in my head.  I was going to do EXACTLY the same thing I did to myself on Saturday.  Thank God I came to my senses. 

I'm just happy I was able to get out at all today.  I was in unbelievable pain on Sunday, and yesterday wasn't so hot, either. 

According to my pedometer, I walk/ran 5,901 steps, 3.179 miles, in 54 minutes.  This thing actually gives a calorie count, as well.  (How the hell does this thing work?!)  It says 349.4 calories.  Not nearly what I burn on the elliptical, but that's ok.  I'm just glad I did it!

Naturally, I spoke too soon...

Wow, am I a big dummy.  I TOTALLY overdid it Saturday, and I've been paying the price ever since.

My brother called me Saturday afternoon to see if I could work at the bar, as one of his bartenders ended up in the hospital overnight with an emergency appendectomy.  I wasn't sure about being on my feet all night, after that run, but I said sure.

My legs were actually ok.  It was my back and hips that were getting progressively more sore as the night wore on.  All that pounding on the cement was probably not the best thing for these old joints.  Plus, I'm still hauling around at least 60 excess pounds.

It was a long, busy night at the bar, and I didn't get home until 6am Sunday morning.  (Ahhh, I miss the good ol' days when that happened EVERY Friday and Saturday!)  I absolutely HAD to be up and out of bed no later than 10 for church, so I tried to go right to sleep.  Well, when the alarm went off, and I tried to get out of bed, I very nearly screamed out loud.  My legs were on FIRE!  That would have been bad enough, but we had a very full schedule of events yesterday, so there was going to be no sitting around and resting.  I spent the rest of the day hobbling around like someone who had both legs run over by a semi.

Today, I'm feeling only slightly better.  It's the worst after I've been still for a bit.  Once I actually get moving, and the muscles loosen up a bit, it gets better.  But, stairs make me literally cry out, and there's NO way to avoid them around here.  Even worse, Buster is now to the point where he can't do the stairs anymore, so I have to carry him down several times a day so he can go out.  I've been terrified that I'm going to fall, and then fall on top of him and kill him.  Thankfully, he can go up the stairs on his own.

I'm really pissed at myself for messing up my "training schedule" so badly.  Like I said, my intention was to at least run to my parents' house every day until the 5K.  Well, now I've already missed yesterday, and I seriously doubt I'll be doing it today.  Ugh!  I'm going to take Mel's advice and take a bath with some epsom salts, and pop some Advil, then see how I feel.

I feel like I let you guys down, which I know is silly, but I can't help it.  I definitely let myself down. 

I did it, and I'm still here to tell about it...

I FINALLY ran outside!!  I've been talking about it for almost a month, but didn't actually do it until today.  I know I should have been doing it for a while now, to get used to it, since the 5K is clearly outside!

My excuse has been that I needed to get running shoes, but you know I did that Wednesday.  Then Thursday, I tried my new shoes out at the gym, and found out they are magical!  So, I took the plunge today and went for a run.  (I skipped the gym yesterday, but still got in lots of aerobic activity.  The fun kind ;-)  Oops, sorry, I know, TMI!)  Well, it was more of a walk/run, but still.  Truthfully, I'm pretty damn proud of myself.  I ended up going literally twice as far as I had intended, and I feel great!

I was only going to walk/run to my parents' house, which is 2 1/2 miles from my house.  I ended up going from there to my Bestest Friend's house, cuz I figured she'd drive me home.  She didn't answer her door!! (Turns out she was in the shower)  So, I had to walk/run home.

As soon as I got home, I jumped in the car, reset my trip odometer, and drove the route I just finished.  It was 5.1 miles!  Woo hoo!!  Again, I didn't run the whole thing, but I ran half of it.  Since that is the first time I've run in 13 years, I'm pretty excited.

I switched back and forth between power walking and jogging.  I used the street lights as my guide.  I walked from one to the next, than would jog to the next, and so on.  About 2/3 of the way to my parents' house, I was starting to wheeze, so I shot Magnum a text asking him to drop my asthma inhaler off at my parents'.  He passed me in the car and beeped when I was about 2 blocks from their house.  He's so cute.  He waited outside their house for me, cheering me on. =)

I had originally thought I would just have my dad drive me back home, but I didn't anticipate feeling as good as I did.  I didn't think I could go all the way back home, but I figured I could go the half-mile to Bestest Friend's house, and SHE could drive me home.  Plus, then it would be almost the exact distance as a 5K.  Well, like I said, she didn't answer her door!  So, I walk/ran home.

The whole trip took me about an hour and 10 minutes.  Not so bad.  I do the elliptical for 65 minutes every day, so this was pretty good.  About half-way home from Bestest Friend's house, my left quad started talking to me, but I think that had more to do with the 7.15 miles on the elliptical Thursday.  And, my left knee started to get "pinchy," so I hope it doesn't kill me later tonight.

So, there you go!!  I survived my first run!  I actually felt like a million bucks when I got home, and was tempted to go back out, but then I smacked myself in the head, and reminded my big butt that this was the FIRST day, and I would probably end up hurting myself if I pushed too hard.  I have 2 weeks before this 5K, so I'm going to just have to get in a run every day til then.  I'm actually a little excited about it.  Who the HELL would believe that I would EVER be excited about running!?!  (M, I know you're so proud!  I thought of you the whole time!)

Maybe I should track my running mileage, huh?  Ok, well for today, I'm giving myself 2.5 miles!  Yay!

Oh, and M, here are my cute new shoes.  They're Asics.

PLEASE click HERE to donate to a great cause.  (I mean, c'mon!  I earned it today! ;-) )