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!!

Goals shmoals

I had such high hopes for 2007. Didn't work out that way.

I didn't achieve any of them! I was doing really well with my training, had a few setbacks, but overall, by November I was fairly consistent and feeling great! I returned to racing, with a lousy time, but I'm thrilled with it. Haven't run since November, but can't wait to get back to it - goal date to return, starting at the very beginning again, is Feb 14, two weeks post op.

I've lost 20 lbs thanks to this gallbladder by cutting out almost all the fat in my diet - to less than 15 g per day (I don't add any fat to anything, and anything packaged for example I won't touch unless it's under 6 g of fat.) I'm also eating way less, and more variety. This inconvenience is a blessing in disguise! I can lose weight :) I just need to get serious about it. I can't wait to see what running feels like with 20 lbs less! I bet it's going to suck, because I'm so out of shape, but it will have to (please!!) feel easier than last January at 20 lbs heavier!

My running goals for the year are to get fit again, uninjured as follows:

May - solid 5k
July - solid 10k
Fall - half marathon

I'd be really happy to get a du in there, but I want my bike fitted first. I feel terribly out of control on Beethoven!

40 new things didn't work out so well. For a good part of the year we were a one car family and our bus service was lousy (we got the second car in March, and bus service improved in Sept) so I just didn't seem to have the opportunity to do everything I wanted to. I also really wanted to do a lot of it with Steve, and he did not have a good year, with opening two stores (never home) and breaking his leg. I hope this year he can achieve his goals without injury, and will be home more!

So that's it. Nothing fancy!

We're back in business!

Treadmill dude was here today. It didn't look good. He said the belt was really rough and probably dirty underneath and in need of lubrication. HUH? We were told when we bought the mill that it was the type that never needed lubing! I was NOT happy. So t-dude says that he can replace the circuit board, but the belt may need replacing too because they ALL need lubrication.

An hour later we're up and running (so to speak). Turns out it wasn't as bad as he thought, though certainly well used. The damage, $320. :( I guess it's better than shopping for a new one.

Since my cold weather running duds are still too small for me, and tomorrow calls for temps in the -30C range again, it's good to know that it's there. No excuses.

Now if the mill lasts another 3 years, I will have considered it having paid for itself. When I bought it my goal was to have it last long enough to cost me 50 cents a day. Before today's investment, I only had one more year to go...

As to my goals, I missed out on most of them. I didn't get in the distance (but I'm expecting that, because I'm not at that yet as I'm starting over). Steve found the bike pump, so now that there are no more treadmill parts all over the place, I can start biking. I didn't do anything 'new' this week, but I'm ok with that as well, as I have 12 weeks for grace there.

While it's not a great week goals wise, I did get all my scheduled walks/runs/strength/crunches 40 minute minimum in. So it is a success.

2007 Goals

Well here it is. Goals day. The last couple of years were a bust, but I'm in a much better head space now than I was then, and I am READY.

I have set some easy goals, which several years ago would put me to shame. However, I'm not where I was then, and frankly, if I had accomplished the following goals in the last two years, I would have aimed higher! But that will have to wait until 2008.
This is the year I reclaim my body. Enough of the whining. Yes some health conditions and resulting prescriptions caused a weight gain of 50k 3 years ago. The other 10k I gained sitting on my butt. Which brings me to this picture. This is my nephew, Joe. He is 6. His hockey card says he's 4'2" and 60 lbs. So every step I take with this extra weight, is as if I'm carrying him on my back. Joe, I love you. But I don't want to carry you around 24/7.

This is also the year I turn 40. I had set some goals for by the time I'm 40, and have accomplished all of them (kayaking, learn to swim were a couple) but one - my first Tri. I have discovered through the 3 years of swim classes that I really don't enjoy swimming. I've learned how to swim, I am very poor at it, though I won't drown, but I just don't enjoy it. So I'm wiping the slate clean, and skipping the tri. It's off the list for good. Instead I've added a new goal for the future, involving the kayak. I'm very excited about the Kayak Triathlon - 5Km Paddle / 20Km Cycle / 5Km Run. But back to this year. I have shamelessly stolen from Nancy's turning 50 goals, but they are nowhere near as grand. :)

Drum roll please....

My goals:

1. Try at least 40 new things (goal is one per week, if I don't get it done, I still have 12 week's grace! If I go over, it's cause for celebration.)
2. Lose 40 lbs - .77 lbs a week, 3.3 lbs per month. This will be tough. My weight loves me. I seem to have gained weight since my Dec 31 weigh in. :(
3. Run a minimum of 400 miles - 640 km - 12.3 km/week 53.33 km/month
4. Run a minimum of 4 races - St. Patrick's Day 5k (my back-to-it race), NCM 10k, Canada Day 10k, Fall Colours Half Marathon
5. Bike a minimum of 400 miles - 640 km - 12.3 km/week 53.33 km/month. Considering my bike only went out twice in 2006, I have to at least get this done.
6. Weights - minimum of 40 hours (not much, but I never could get into this!). Goal is one hour per week. If I go over, my body will thank me. I hope to learn to love weights, because I find it so BORING.
7. Crunches - 400 per week. I've got some catching up to do this week as I'm only at 100. I can do 150 today and 150 tomorrow!
8. 40 minute minimum - do a minimum of 40 minutes of something active every day. If I have a scheduled workout, this counts towards my goal. If I don't, then a walk, swim (yuck), or major housecleaning where I'm sweating buckets, will do.
9. Eat Weight Watchers Zero Point soup or a salad once a day. This is to help get me out of the grey plate zone. I love carbs too much, yes we only eat brown rice and whole wheat pasta, but too much of it :).

That's enough :) Next year, all going well, we ramp up these goals, and add some yoga/pilates/stretching/meditation....