From Here to There

My journey in fitness from here (not so good!) to there (woohooo!!)

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Oh my abs!

Yesterday my legs were feeling pretty stiff after my return to running run on Sunday. Boy that's sad. It is what it is.

Anyway, I had strength training on the schedule, so I did Ray's plan again, but a shorter version, skipping the squats and lunges because of the above leg trashage. Of course I did to the hamstring curls on the ball which led me to...

...postponing today's run to tomorrow. Because my hamstrings are killing me! So was my core, but I wasn't too worried about that.

Today I decided I would do some yoga. I have a tough time with it because I have no flexibility whatsoever, and my big belly gets in the way. Oh, and I have bursitis in both shoulders from yoga several years ago, so need to be very careful that I don't aggravate them. I thought I'd try a yoga dvd that also has belly dancing. I've got the belly so why not make it dance?

Oh.My.God. It's hard! I discovered I not only have no flexibility, but also no fluidity. I closed the curtains and timed it to be over before Steve got home, because him seeing what I was doing I think would be a deal breaker on his side.

While I'm sure I looked rediculous, my abs are screaming so either I got the form down pat, or I got it all wrong ;) Going in with sore abs from yesterday, I can only imagine how I'm going to feel tomorrow. I bet laughing is going to hurt!

Tomorrow we're expecting 15-20 cm of snow. If Steve didn't have his track workout with his coach tomorrow evening I'd try to convince him to go snowshoeing after work. Oh well, I'll run on the treadmill instead and snowshoe on Saturday as originally planned.

The transit strike is still on and I have to go into the office tomorrow. Luckily Steve is off and can drive me in at some point and pick me up. Thursday is going to be more challenging though since he's working until 10PM. I think I have a ride home, but first I'll need to walk west from my office for about 45 mins.... I hope the strike settles soon, it's been a month! All this to say, I have to go iron some clothes!

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Monday, January 05, 2009

Fitness

So that's my goal. Again. Wouldn't it be nice to lose 20 lbs this year? It would still have me overweight, but think of how much better I'd feel? I lost 20 lbs last year, but gained back 6. That loss was as a result of my gallbladder problems though. On the upside, I kept 14 off. Anyway, I'm feeling optimistic that streaking is the way to go. I've said it here before, but any off day really gets me wanting to take another, and another. It's easier for me when there's a routine block of time every day that I exercise. So I commit to doing some form of exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes every day. Unless I'm really really sick. Which I don't plan to be because I spent all Fall sick! I'm done with that.

I was hurting after Ray's workout last week, whenever that was (Jan 1?). My upper body was sore, but I felt nothing from my legs or abs, so need to work those a little harder. I don't want to be in pain longer than a day though, but I'll find the right intensity within the next couple of weeks.

On Saturday Steve and I finally tried out the snowshoes! I was so excited. We went to a popular greenbelt trail, stuck to it for about half the way, and blazed (relative term!) our own the other half. Since these are running snowshoes that's exactly what we did when we could. It was weird at first, but after a while we didn't even notice the snowshoes. What's great is you wear your running shoes with them, with gators. I need to get warmer socks though, since I had ice toes for the first 15 minutes or so. Oh and I fell once. I teetered into a hole and bonked face first. It was funny. At least Steve's expression said it was.


Oh not that expression, though it's funny too. This picture was taken just before I fell down.

And this is me running, but it doesn't look like I'm running. And I'm twice the width of the skier next to me. Now THAT's not good. In my defense these pants have pockets that puff out. And I have an arse that does too. Maybe that skiier is a 6 year old. I'll just tell myself that. Do I really lumber along like an ogre? Yikes.

Yesterday Steve and I went to the canal to run. I brought my new Garmin - oh my lord it's so great! Locks in to the satellites within seconds. It took me some time to get used to it, and I couldn't hear the interval beeps very well (though I was also listening to music, but low) but it fits my wrist so well, something that I had problems with my old one! Back to the run. Since I ran what, twice since October, I thought it best to do as I've done the past several years, and start right over at square 1. Run 2 walk 1. Now last year when I did this I found it too easy, and this was after sitting on my butt for 6 weeks after major surgery. I thought I'd find this 2/1 business so easy that I'd be skipping along to 3 or 4/1.

Um. No.

It was brutal! I couldn't believe how hard it was. Now I was able to do the intervals for the planned 45 minutes, but it was a slog. The path was snowy and there was slip back with every step, but COME ON, I should be fitter than this!! It kicked me. Yes it did. But it's in the books, and I'm proud of it. I'll be running again twice this week at 2/1, most likely on the treadmill though, due to work commitments, lack of parking near run paths (transit is still on strike) and horrible sidewalks near home, because the plows don't seem to consider our neighbourhood streets worthy. Don't get me started. And we're getting snow the next few days, with 15cm on Wed. Snowshoes here we come!!

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Saturday, January 03, 2009

New year more resolutions? Same as last year I guess :)

New Year's Eve Steve and I were in bed at 10:30 LOL. We were so tired we were actually asleep watching TV for two hours before that. Clearly we're hard core!

New Year's Day my brother held a brunch for the family, starring the straight from Vegas Una and Steve, with special guest Fork! At least that's what the email said! I've had some questions about Fork so here's the story...

Several years ago KT came home with a tupperware container and a fork - her friend Heather had brought in something for her to try, KT stuffed the empty container in her bag to bring home to wash. I kept on her for a couple of months to return these items, and she kept forgetting or wasn't seeing Heather, etc. Over these two months I realized that this was the BEST fork... perfect weight, not too big in your mouth, not too small. It became known as my 'eatin' fork' as a joke, and no one in the house used it but me. (considering I have an 'eatin' fork' might be a clue as to why I'm still overweight huh?). Fast forward 5 years and I get re-acquainted with Heather's Mom and her new husband (ok, 5 years now...). The boys hit it off, Kathy and I were laughing our heads off same as always. Then two weeks ago while at dinner I confessed I had her fork. Steve told me not to say anything, but the whole conversation was about theft, and I felt like a thief, especially when I'd hide said fork when they'd come over! It was becoming too strange for me, this fork sickness so I came clean. As we left the restaurant we were at Steve handed me a new fork that Kathy had swiped, so that I could add to my collection of 'stolen forks'. This is when Steve decided that we should take Fork to Vegas with us, and send ransom notes to Kathy. So there you go! She was very surprised when she got the photos and loved it. Oh and at Christmas she gave me the matching knife and spoons, so I could have a complete set :) Good friends, good times.

Anyway, back to new year's resolutions. The same old same old, try to get this body in shape. I did lose 20 lbs last year, but then gained back 6 lbs since September when the training fell apart! So back on the wagon, per se. I started off New Year's Day by pulling out the ball, the free weights, the yoga mat and my old training program from Ray. Two days later my arms are screaming. As are my armpits. My abs don't hurt though, so I need to work them a little harder. Yesterday I got a walk in, but only because I was picking up my paycheque and had to park a few blocks away. I ended up sprinting back though, to catch the meter! I felt like a failure for not having a true power walk in, but after picking up my cheque and going to the bank to open a business account (because I'm now Incorporated!) I had a lot of work to make up and ran out of time. Because I was hungry. It's all about the food. I need to work on that...

I have to work today as I have a deliverable on Monday, and a friend coming over tonight with (eep) take-out, so I just called Steve and asked if he could finish a little early so we can take advantage of the sunshine and finally go snowshoeing! I'm so excited :D

And tomorrow I will go for a run. It's going to hurt.

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