EmH posted recently about how she doesn't really enjoy running, but whilst injured and not able to do it - she misses it. I'm exactly the same.
With my recent calf injury I've had to had a very slow and careful return to running. Just 20 secs at time, then 60 secs, then 60 sec repeats, then two minutes - you get the picture - a very slow return. I did running intervals on the weekend with cardio coach and by the end of it was feeling fairly confident and even did a little bit of speed work. Ran 12kms/hr for 1 minute - which I was really pleased about. Just before my injury I was really pleased with my speed work - feeling like I had entered a new phase - I seem to have learnt how to stride differently when running faster- I even hit 14km/hr at one stage. So getting back to running 12km/hr - even for a little bit felt good.
And then last night I decided to try slow but long. By long I mean longer than 2 mins at a time!
I ran 5 mins, then 10, 10 and then 15 and it felt FANTASTIC. I loved it . I felt like I could have run forever - but as soon as I felt my right leg working harder than my left to protect it, I stopped and walked for a while. I was only running at 8km/hr because I am terrified of re-injuring - but it felt very easy. I wish I had worn my heart rate monitor. Breathing was so easy I could almost do it with my mouth closed, (a sign I wasn't working hard enough!) and whilst the legs felt it - it was quite manageable. It was lovely to run on the treadmill again and feel the body pumping - and I'm really pleased with how I've maintained my fitness. If nothing else my aim for the City to Bay (post injury target) is just to do a slow jog and complete it. And it looks like I might manage it if I stay sensible.
Oh and by the way - i now have a chance at beating hubby - he has injured HIS calf on a run whilst in Sydney - so I'm hoping i will be better recovered than him - and finish ahead of him. What - a bit rich I hear you say? Hey - I'm never going to beat him any other way - gotta take the opportunities as they come up!!!!
PS - why so many posts lately? - I'm home looking after my sick daughter - so extra time on my hands...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tour Down Under - Stage 4
151 days to go....
Andrew and I decided a few weeks back (ok I decided and he eventually agreed) that we would do Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under this year.
Now I'm not much of a cyclist, but we did buy the nice road racing bikes for triathlons - so why not. The choices of distance were really either 32kms or 97kms. We have been contemplating riding from home into Port Pirie (where we work) for some time now on the weekends, and this is 32kms, so the shorter distance didnt seem like enough of a challenge. So 97kms it is.
I started training for it this week - particularly as with the calf injury its another form of exercise that's low impact.
Given the weather I'm doing this at the gym. Did 5 mins on the bike and could start to feel it already - yikes - thats not good. But 5 mins on this and then 5 on the recumbent - which is much more comfortable - and then every day adding by 5 mins. The last few days I've been doing half an hour at 90 - 100 rpms - and covering 12 kms quite comfortably. I know the recumbent isn't the same as riding my bike - but at the moment I just want to get my legs used to spinning at speed over time. (An interesting side note - I'm not putting on any resistance - but I didn't think it would have such a low impact on my heart rate - it rarely goes over 100 - generally sitting at about 95). Then on Sunday - I hopped on the real thing and went for a ride.
I did 14 kms in 37mins, which is about an average of 23kms/hr. I was much faster in the first half - seeing 28/30kms/hr quite often - but in the second half I had a head wind and I was much slower. I don't know how much this had to do with the head wind - or just me tiring. At the 10 km mark I thought - gee only need to do this 10 times over on the day..... At the moment that seems quite impossible - but as you know I love a challenge
I know nothing about cycling training - but I'm just going to treat it as an endurance event, and use the same principles. I think I will train in the gym during the week at the moment due to the short days/bad weather, and then do one long ride each weekend, increasing by 3 - 5 kms each time. If I increase by 5, I can probably afford to have a maintenance week once/month to give my body some time to recuperate. I might try and put up a weekly log/table of my training distances, but I've forgotten how to do this - so if any knows - can you drop me a line?
And on the gadget front - I've decided to buy the foot pod for my Garmin -so I can measure my running indoors. I then plan to buy the cadence sensor for my bike and eventually the quick release wrist strap for quickly changing it from my bike to my wrist - but I don't really need this yet until I set another date for a triathlon. Oooh I loooove gadgets!
Andrew and I decided a few weeks back (ok I decided and he eventually agreed) that we would do Stage 4 of the Tour Down Under this year.
Now I'm not much of a cyclist, but we did buy the nice road racing bikes for triathlons - so why not. The choices of distance were really either 32kms or 97kms. We have been contemplating riding from home into Port Pirie (where we work) for some time now on the weekends, and this is 32kms, so the shorter distance didnt seem like enough of a challenge. So 97kms it is.
I started training for it this week - particularly as with the calf injury its another form of exercise that's low impact.
Given the weather I'm doing this at the gym. Did 5 mins on the bike and could start to feel it already - yikes - thats not good. But 5 mins on this and then 5 on the recumbent - which is much more comfortable - and then every day adding by 5 mins. The last few days I've been doing half an hour at 90 - 100 rpms - and covering 12 kms quite comfortably. I know the recumbent isn't the same as riding my bike - but at the moment I just want to get my legs used to spinning at speed over time. (An interesting side note - I'm not putting on any resistance - but I didn't think it would have such a low impact on my heart rate - it rarely goes over 100 - generally sitting at about 95). Then on Sunday - I hopped on the real thing and went for a ride.
I did 14 kms in 37mins, which is about an average of 23kms/hr. I was much faster in the first half - seeing 28/30kms/hr quite often - but in the second half I had a head wind and I was much slower. I don't know how much this had to do with the head wind - or just me tiring. At the 10 km mark I thought - gee only need to do this 10 times over on the day..... At the moment that seems quite impossible - but as you know I love a challenge
I know nothing about cycling training - but I'm just going to treat it as an endurance event, and use the same principles. I think I will train in the gym during the week at the moment due to the short days/bad weather, and then do one long ride each weekend, increasing by 3 - 5 kms each time. If I increase by 5, I can probably afford to have a maintenance week once/month to give my body some time to recuperate. I might try and put up a weekly log/table of my training distances, but I've forgotten how to do this - so if any knows - can you drop me a line?
And on the gadget front - I've decided to buy the foot pod for my Garmin -so I can measure my running indoors. I then plan to buy the cadence sensor for my bike and eventually the quick release wrist strap for quickly changing it from my bike to my wrist - but I don't really need this yet until I set another date for a triathlon. Oooh I loooove gadgets!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Thin People Are Naturally Thin – or Maybe Not
I’ve always thought there were two categories of people. Those who struggled with their weight – and those who don’t. You know the ones I mean – the ones who are naturally thin and don’t seem to worry about what they eat or drink. Most of them don’t exercise either. I’ve always envied them and wondered what life would be like to be like that.
But since losing weight, I sometimes think I’ve gained entry into a new club. A club where secrets are shared. A club of thin people who I’ve discovered actually secretly pride themselves on maintaining their weight and actually monitor it very carefully.
Here are a few stories
Friend One on a sporting weekend shared late one night, how she loves to be thin, and loves the way clothes look, and is terrified of gaining weight. She weighs herself every day, sometimes more than once, and carefully makes sure she never eats too much. She only has fruit for breakfast, then nothing till lunch, a healthy salad role, and a what ever the family are having for tea – but only a very small serve. Nothing after tea, no treats during the day. Oh - and of course she doesn’t eat things like pizza or other takeaway if that’s what the family are having– she cooks herself up some veggies instead. And she exercises (on a moderate level) daily. She says if she eats any more she gains weight. She is worried about passing on her eating obsessiveness to her daughter. She is my age, and has always been a size 8. I’ve never really noticed what she ate, apart from knowing that she liked to make healthy choices. And I’ve always assumed she was naturally this way.
Friend Two – always been a size 8, and very petite. We were at a BBQ one night and I noticed she was eating soup that she had brought with her. Why I asked? It turned out that whilst on an overseas holiday she had gained 4 kgs, and on her return, she set about losing it as quickly as possible. Of course, those around scoffed – because you couldn’t see it, but she whispered to me that she knew she had, because her jeans felt tight. And as soon as this happens – she cuts back on her eating until they fit well again. She doesn’t weigh herself all the time – but she always wears fitted clothes and uses the fit as a guide to modify her eating. I always knew she went to the gym regularly – but I thought it was for her bad hip. I’m not so sure now.
Friend Three – always been a size 8 (I seem to have a lot of these don’t I?) In talking about how much weight I had lost and how fabulous I looked (in her opinion). We got to talking about what she eats. “Oh I never eat much more than a vegemite roll during the day – and then I can afford quite a bit of wine at night”. Interesting that at the same height, she didn’t think that I needed to lose any more weight – despite being about 10 kgs heavier than her!
Friend Four – yes, another size 8 (well in my head anyway) Turned to me in a meeting the other day when we stopped for the catered lunch and said – “oh I really can’t have any of the sweets today – I’ve put on weight this week” “This week?” I puzzled to her. “yes” she whispered, “I normally gain weight on the weekend, and then lose it again during the work week” but last week I didn’t lose it like I normally do.” So she obviously weighs herself regularly to stay within some sort of limit, and then changes her eating accordingly.
These friends are all over 40 and I have known them for many years. They have ‘successfully” maintained their weight all their lives, and I have never noticed any gain. But I always assumed it was easy for them. I never realized that they were secretly – well at least not openly – checking their weight regularly and restricting their eating when necessary. And I didn’t realize that they actively worked at eating small quantities. Not all their behaviors are healthy, are some are bordering on obsessive, but I never realized that perhaps thin people (or at least some) enact some sort of control over their behaviour, that those who gain large amounts of weight perhaps don’t. I know for me there were probably years when I refused to step on the scales, and I always wore elasticized trousers so I didn’t have the same bench marks to monitor my gains. All I noticed over the years was that my clothing sizes kept creeping up and up.
Maybe there are still two groups of people, but rather than the naturally thin and not so naturally – maybe its about those who monitor and react to the checks and balances, and those who don’t. And maybe our disillusioned view of how much easier we thought maintenance would be, is based on not realizing this.
But since losing weight, I sometimes think I’ve gained entry into a new club. A club where secrets are shared. A club of thin people who I’ve discovered actually secretly pride themselves on maintaining their weight and actually monitor it very carefully.
Here are a few stories
Friend One on a sporting weekend shared late one night, how she loves to be thin, and loves the way clothes look, and is terrified of gaining weight. She weighs herself every day, sometimes more than once, and carefully makes sure she never eats too much. She only has fruit for breakfast, then nothing till lunch, a healthy salad role, and a what ever the family are having for tea – but only a very small serve. Nothing after tea, no treats during the day. Oh - and of course she doesn’t eat things like pizza or other takeaway if that’s what the family are having– she cooks herself up some veggies instead. And she exercises (on a moderate level) daily. She says if she eats any more she gains weight. She is worried about passing on her eating obsessiveness to her daughter. She is my age, and has always been a size 8. I’ve never really noticed what she ate, apart from knowing that she liked to make healthy choices. And I’ve always assumed she was naturally this way.
Friend Two – always been a size 8, and very petite. We were at a BBQ one night and I noticed she was eating soup that she had brought with her. Why I asked? It turned out that whilst on an overseas holiday she had gained 4 kgs, and on her return, she set about losing it as quickly as possible. Of course, those around scoffed – because you couldn’t see it, but she whispered to me that she knew she had, because her jeans felt tight. And as soon as this happens – she cuts back on her eating until they fit well again. She doesn’t weigh herself all the time – but she always wears fitted clothes and uses the fit as a guide to modify her eating. I always knew she went to the gym regularly – but I thought it was for her bad hip. I’m not so sure now.
Friend Three – always been a size 8 (I seem to have a lot of these don’t I?) In talking about how much weight I had lost and how fabulous I looked (in her opinion). We got to talking about what she eats. “Oh I never eat much more than a vegemite roll during the day – and then I can afford quite a bit of wine at night”. Interesting that at the same height, she didn’t think that I needed to lose any more weight – despite being about 10 kgs heavier than her!
Friend Four – yes, another size 8 (well in my head anyway) Turned to me in a meeting the other day when we stopped for the catered lunch and said – “oh I really can’t have any of the sweets today – I’ve put on weight this week” “This week?” I puzzled to her. “yes” she whispered, “I normally gain weight on the weekend, and then lose it again during the work week” but last week I didn’t lose it like I normally do.” So she obviously weighs herself regularly to stay within some sort of limit, and then changes her eating accordingly.
These friends are all over 40 and I have known them for many years. They have ‘successfully” maintained their weight all their lives, and I have never noticed any gain. But I always assumed it was easy for them. I never realized that they were secretly – well at least not openly – checking their weight regularly and restricting their eating when necessary. And I didn’t realize that they actively worked at eating small quantities. Not all their behaviors are healthy, are some are bordering on obsessive, but I never realized that perhaps thin people (or at least some) enact some sort of control over their behaviour, that those who gain large amounts of weight perhaps don’t. I know for me there were probably years when I refused to step on the scales, and I always wore elasticized trousers so I didn’t have the same bench marks to monitor my gains. All I noticed over the years was that my clothing sizes kept creeping up and up.
Maybe there are still two groups of people, but rather than the naturally thin and not so naturally – maybe its about those who monitor and react to the checks and balances, and those who don’t. And maybe our disillusioned view of how much easier we thought maintenance would be, is based on not realizing this.
Pushups equal Pain
I never thought pushups could cause so much pain.
I’ve just finished Week 3 of the 6 week program but it is taking me longer than its meant to as I’m having to have 3 days between each session as I haven’t recovered sufficiently.
Today I did a total of 113 pushups over 5 sets (30, 22, 22, 20, 25) oh – yes – that should add up to 114 shouldn’t it.
But I didn’t quite make it.
Each session I look at the figures ahead of me and shake my head. I don’t think I can do it. And then I remember that I think that every time and somehow just manage to make it.
So today was no different. Except I had to increase my rest time between sets from 2 mins to 3 mins, and on the last set, I collapsed at number 24. Wooss – I told myself, get back up there and do the last one. So I got back up to the full plank, lowered myself to the ground and could not for the life of me push myself more than half way back up again. Collapsed again.
You know the test kids do – where you stand in a doorway and push your arms outwards on the door frame and hold for one minute – and when you let go your arms feel like they are floating upwards? Well that’s how my arms feel – for hours afterwards. They ached and throbbed so much that I had to take nurofen at lunch time just to get over myself! And I’ve noticed at work that my hand shakes if I try and write something rather than type – because the fatigue is so intense. Who would have thought that a little old pushup could reek such havoc!
But I wont give up.
I will be a 100 pushup girl!
I’ve just finished Week 3 of the 6 week program but it is taking me longer than its meant to as I’m having to have 3 days between each session as I haven’t recovered sufficiently.
Today I did a total of 113 pushups over 5 sets (30, 22, 22, 20, 25) oh – yes – that should add up to 114 shouldn’t it.
But I didn’t quite make it.
Each session I look at the figures ahead of me and shake my head. I don’t think I can do it. And then I remember that I think that every time and somehow just manage to make it.
So today was no different. Except I had to increase my rest time between sets from 2 mins to 3 mins, and on the last set, I collapsed at number 24. Wooss – I told myself, get back up there and do the last one. So I got back up to the full plank, lowered myself to the ground and could not for the life of me push myself more than half way back up again. Collapsed again.
You know the test kids do – where you stand in a doorway and push your arms outwards on the door frame and hold for one minute – and when you let go your arms feel like they are floating upwards? Well that’s how my arms feel – for hours afterwards. They ached and throbbed so much that I had to take nurofen at lunch time just to get over myself! And I’ve noticed at work that my hand shakes if I try and write something rather than type – because the fatigue is so intense. Who would have thought that a little old pushup could reek such havoc!
But I wont give up.
I will be a 100 pushup girl!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
August Fitness Update
Nutrition
As I mentioned on my previous post- I've had a weeks leave of absence from clean eating - and its been lovely. I'm a bit scared to step on the scales tomorrow - but I don't really care. Its only one week out of normal routine -and whatever the damage I know I can turn it around - and it was worth it. Interestingly I noted that I seemed to want to eat more and more as time went on, and it wasn't until the long drive home that I finally realised that I wasn't eating because I was hungry- in fact my body seemed to have stopped responding to hunger - I was eating out of interest (hey that looks good) and boredom/fatigue (i'm tired - lets stop and eat/I'm bored with all this driving - what can I eat next). I wasn't experiencing any hunger and and I hadn't realised it. I guess thats how I used to feel all the time and thats why its so easy to overeat when you don't eat well. I'm looking forward to returning to good eating, and really enjoying all types of food, rather than just the indulgent ones that become blander and blander over time.
Exercise
Well - although I've been eating a lot - and I've had no normal exercise routine - we've had a very active week, walking or hiking all day every day. I'm hoping this will help me with the scales, as apart from sitting down watching 3 movies, and meal times, I've spent every other waking minute walking in hilly areas - which is much more active than my normal days at work, although minus the high intensity exercise routine.
Injury update: I went back to Combat last week to try out my calf muscle. Told myself I'd stick to low impact - but some things you just cant do...... By the end of track 2, I had pulled the calf again (but not nearly as badly) but of course I couldn't just chuck it in - could I? Good thing I am pretty fit and strong as I realised I could do just about everything - as long as I did it on one leg - and I have a good strong right one to fit the bill. So I finished the class - still doing a lot of the high impact stuff, although rather frustrated. And the next day I was back to limping around.....
It was only a minor set back though - and I had discovered in the class that I could do practically anything as long as I only placed the ball of my left foot on the ground. So when climbing stairs in the blue mountains I "toe stepped" them, and when I went up steep inclines, as long as I only took weight through the toes of my left foot - no worries. And of course for the bridge climb where you have to declare injuries - what injury???? Needn't have worried - I could have done that one legged too if needed(LOL). Running is still an issue though. I tried Thursday morning - and last 20 secs before feeling the strain - so I'm not sure if I will be able to run the City 2 Bay - I think its only about 6 weeks away....If nothing else - I will at least be able to walk it, or maybe run/walk - but I won't be able to focus on a PB like I had hoped. Ahh well.
100 pushups - had great intentions of keeping up with this whilst away - but left the caravan the minute we awoke each day (ok we did get dressed first) and only returned in time to climb into bed late at night. And sizing up the caravan - I couldn't really see how I was going to do it without pushing Andrew out the door - so I did NONE. Will start again tomorrow - am up to week 3 I think - maybe my week off has given me time for great muscle growth! (wishful thinking I know)
Oh - and I'm going to try Combat again tomorrow night - trust me the calf feels much much better, even better than it did last time I tried!
As I mentioned on my previous post- I've had a weeks leave of absence from clean eating - and its been lovely. I'm a bit scared to step on the scales tomorrow - but I don't really care. Its only one week out of normal routine -and whatever the damage I know I can turn it around - and it was worth it. Interestingly I noted that I seemed to want to eat more and more as time went on, and it wasn't until the long drive home that I finally realised that I wasn't eating because I was hungry- in fact my body seemed to have stopped responding to hunger - I was eating out of interest (hey that looks good) and boredom/fatigue (i'm tired - lets stop and eat/I'm bored with all this driving - what can I eat next). I wasn't experiencing any hunger and and I hadn't realised it. I guess thats how I used to feel all the time and thats why its so easy to overeat when you don't eat well. I'm looking forward to returning to good eating, and really enjoying all types of food, rather than just the indulgent ones that become blander and blander over time.
Exercise
Well - although I've been eating a lot - and I've had no normal exercise routine - we've had a very active week, walking or hiking all day every day. I'm hoping this will help me with the scales, as apart from sitting down watching 3 movies, and meal times, I've spent every other waking minute walking in hilly areas - which is much more active than my normal days at work, although minus the high intensity exercise routine.
Injury update: I went back to Combat last week to try out my calf muscle. Told myself I'd stick to low impact - but some things you just cant do...... By the end of track 2, I had pulled the calf again (but not nearly as badly) but of course I couldn't just chuck it in - could I? Good thing I am pretty fit and strong as I realised I could do just about everything - as long as I did it on one leg - and I have a good strong right one to fit the bill. So I finished the class - still doing a lot of the high impact stuff, although rather frustrated. And the next day I was back to limping around.....
It was only a minor set back though - and I had discovered in the class that I could do practically anything as long as I only placed the ball of my left foot on the ground. So when climbing stairs in the blue mountains I "toe stepped" them, and when I went up steep inclines, as long as I only took weight through the toes of my left foot - no worries. And of course for the bridge climb where you have to declare injuries - what injury???? Needn't have worried - I could have done that one legged too if needed(LOL). Running is still an issue though. I tried Thursday morning - and last 20 secs before feeling the strain - so I'm not sure if I will be able to run the City 2 Bay - I think its only about 6 weeks away....If nothing else - I will at least be able to walk it, or maybe run/walk - but I won't be able to focus on a PB like I had hoped. Ahh well.
100 pushups - had great intentions of keeping up with this whilst away - but left the caravan the minute we awoke each day (ok we did get dressed first) and only returned in time to climb into bed late at night. And sizing up the caravan - I couldn't really see how I was going to do it without pushing Andrew out the door - so I did NONE. Will start again tomorrow - am up to week 3 I think - maybe my week off has given me time for great muscle growth! (wishful thinking I know)
Oh - and I'm going to try Combat again tomorrow night - trust me the calf feels much much better, even better than it did last time I tried!
All Things NSW
This must be the year of NSW for me. I've just returned from my third trip there in about 5 months, but this time it was all pleasure, no work. Andrew and I were invited to a wedding in Katoomba so we decided to take a week off work, leave the kids behind and have our first holiday on our own after 23 yrs of marriage! We decided to drive and take the van, as it would work out a lot cheaper - and allow us to put the money saved to much better use -which we certainly did - I hate to think how much money we spent!
The wedding in Katoomba was lovely although very cold, as it was outdoors in about 5 deg! but with a beautiful backdrop of the misty Blue Mountains. The next day we went to Scenic World and did the whole tourist thing seeing the 3 sisters etc. Wednesday we had planned on a couple of big hikes, however it was pouring with rain, about 0 degrees (well at least thats how it felt) and blowing a gale. Not really good or safe hiking whether, so we decided to give it a miss and head to Sydney a day earlier. We had a lovely time in Sydney, doing lots of shopping, going to the movies (saw The Bank Job, The Square, and Mamma Mia), eating anything I felt like (had a holiday from clean eating too) We enjoyed Darling Harbour, walked around the Opera House and surrounding areas at night - and did the big Bridge climb - twice. well almost.
We booked in to do it on Thursday - and after an hour of "gearing up", and brief walk and climb, and then 30 mins of sheltering at the mezzanine level of the bridge whilst 3 electrical storms made their way overhead, our climb was eventually aborted and we returned to base to "de-gear" and rebook. Well that wasted 3 hrs- and we still had to return the next day to do it all again. This time we went up no probs. Whilst I am thrilled to have done it - to be honest it was a bit frustrating. There is all the hype about it being challenging - but it really wasn't - I would describe it more as a walk in the park. Apart from one section of ladder climbs which takes you up past the road level to the arch - and wouldn't take more than 5 mins to climb - the rest is gentle stairs. and the really frustrating part was that the group stopped about every 5 mins for tourist info about the bridge and Sydney. As Andrew reminded me - most people were probably very interested - but for me it was all about the climb - and I think I could have done it in half an hour, rather than the one and a half hours that they dragged it into. In fact - I reckon I could have run most of it - now that would have been fun! Of interest to us fitness fanatics - the first guide said you burn approx 900 cals on the climb - and the second said 600-800. My take on it - I would have been lucky to burn 300! Not once did I breathe hard, and I spent more time standing resting, than climbing. If I compare it to a combat class - I would be lucky to burn 500 cals in an hour of this high impact aerobics - can't see how the effort required for the "climb" came anywhere close to this! Anyway - it was great to do it, and I have a Tshirt to prove it!
Here we are - looking particularly glamorous! It was so cold that all I cared about was dressing warmly!
Two other lovely things whilst we were away - Friday night we went on a Salsa - dinner cruise which was a lovely night with lots of dancing - and Andrew decided it was time to buy me an eternity ring - since we were practically on a second honeymoon. He bought me a lovely white gold ring with a pink saphire and diamonds. Luckily we found a shop that was closing down and was selling everything half price. Even at half price it was a little above our price range any way!
HEREs where the photo of my ring should be - but someone's taken the batteries from the camera - so I can't put one in GRRRH! Maybe next post.
Monday, July 28, 2008
The End of Week One
Well I survived week one of the pushup challenge - well no problems really. But week two looks a little harder, and I think the real challenge will come in week three. This is when it is really stepped up. I have had to change my push up days to match my weight training days – as I found that my chest and shoulders were not getting any rest. So I will “push up” first, then following through with my weights all in one session.
I have just finished reading The Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl, and although part of me is well past the whole dieting thing – I did really relate to a whole range of things in this. Like the need to ditch weight watchers at some stage and stop relying on this sort of external crutch, the transition in focus from numbers on a scale to achievements in fitness, the joy in seeing your body adapt to all sorts of new challenges, the struggle in learning to run, but the enormous sense of achievement from it, and the awakening of inner self and learning what I am all about/who I am! Shauna did a wonderful job of writing it – I’m not much of a non-fiction reader, but I read the whole thing in about 4 or 5 days as it was written in a wonderfully entertaining way. I would thoroughly recommend it.
I’ve had two sessions on the elliptical now – using cardiocoach. I’m once again reminded of what a fab program this is and how good the elliptical is when you are injured. My calf is recovering well, and Wednesday I plan a return to combat – but low impact options only. Once I came up with this option, I thought to invite a friend who has recently joined the gym. Classes are very daunting at first, but if you have someone who will go with you, and more importantly is willing to do the low level stuff with you so that you are not worried about looking out of place – it must be easier. Right? Anyway – she said yes, so that’s good.
The “threat thing” has raised some interesting comments, which I may expand again on later, but I am also planning another thought provoking blurb about another aspect of the impact of weight loss – so stay tuned.
I have just finished reading The Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl, and although part of me is well past the whole dieting thing – I did really relate to a whole range of things in this. Like the need to ditch weight watchers at some stage and stop relying on this sort of external crutch, the transition in focus from numbers on a scale to achievements in fitness, the joy in seeing your body adapt to all sorts of new challenges, the struggle in learning to run, but the enormous sense of achievement from it, and the awakening of inner self and learning what I am all about/who I am! Shauna did a wonderful job of writing it – I’m not much of a non-fiction reader, but I read the whole thing in about 4 or 5 days as it was written in a wonderfully entertaining way. I would thoroughly recommend it.
I’ve had two sessions on the elliptical now – using cardiocoach. I’m once again reminded of what a fab program this is and how good the elliptical is when you are injured. My calf is recovering well, and Wednesday I plan a return to combat – but low impact options only. Once I came up with this option, I thought to invite a friend who has recently joined the gym. Classes are very daunting at first, but if you have someone who will go with you, and more importantly is willing to do the low level stuff with you so that you are not worried about looking out of place – it must be easier. Right? Anyway – she said yes, so that’s good.
The “threat thing” has raised some interesting comments, which I may expand again on later, but I am also planning another thought provoking blurb about another aspect of the impact of weight loss – so stay tuned.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Week One Day Two
Well - my next effort on the push up challenge was fine - although my arms are quite sore - and I can't ever imagine doing all these pushups consecutively
Todays effort
Scheduled: 5 sets of 12, 12, 10, 10, max reps (min of 10) with 60secs rest
I achieved - 12, 12, 10, 10 and 21 - total pushups for the day - 65
I've also been "playing" at the gym - don't know that I could actually call it exercise.
As I am know able to walk pain free - I tried the treadmill tonight - managed to walk at 4.5kms/hr for all of 10 mins - feeling like an absolute fraud - you know, one of those people who go to the gym but don't really exercise!
Anyway - also managed to spend some time on the elliptical (Level 1 - no resistance) and checked my HR every now and then - but couldn't get it over 100.
So the only exercise I've been able to do that gets me huffing and puffing is rowing. An interesting cardio activity because I find it really hard to do over any length of time. So I have been racing myself. How fast can I row 1 km? I've only had 3 time trials - and so far my best effort is 3mins 58secs. This is probably a woeful effort - but I have nothing to compare it to, but myself. What I do know is that I am going all out/as fast as I can, and am extremely puffed at the end. Hey, if I intersperce (cant spell that tonight) it with lazy lumbering on the treadmill - I could almost be interval training - LOL I do love watching the metres fall away as I race as hard as a I can, and watching my 250 m splits to see if I'm going to "win". Oh have I ever mentioned I'm somewhat competitive???
Todays effort
Scheduled: 5 sets of 12, 12, 10, 10, max reps (min of 10) with 60secs rest
I achieved - 12, 12, 10, 10 and 21 - total pushups for the day - 65
I've also been "playing" at the gym - don't know that I could actually call it exercise.
As I am know able to walk pain free - I tried the treadmill tonight - managed to walk at 4.5kms/hr for all of 10 mins - feeling like an absolute fraud - you know, one of those people who go to the gym but don't really exercise!
Anyway - also managed to spend some time on the elliptical (Level 1 - no resistance) and checked my HR every now and then - but couldn't get it over 100.
So the only exercise I've been able to do that gets me huffing and puffing is rowing. An interesting cardio activity because I find it really hard to do over any length of time. So I have been racing myself. How fast can I row 1 km? I've only had 3 time trials - and so far my best effort is 3mins 58secs. This is probably a woeful effort - but I have nothing to compare it to, but myself. What I do know is that I am going all out/as fast as I can, and am extremely puffed at the end. Hey, if I intersperce (cant spell that tonight) it with lazy lumbering on the treadmill - I could almost be interval training - LOL I do love watching the metres fall away as I race as hard as a I can, and watching my 250 m splits to see if I'm going to "win". Oh have I ever mentioned I'm somewhat competitive???
Monday, July 21, 2008
"The Threat" thing
Thanks Em for raising the concept of "the threat" after reading my last post.
Yes, yes, yes - I know exactly what you mean. This is a new issue to contend with. Actually for me its the remembering of an old issue - I experienced this when I was younger (and thinner) but had forgotten that it existed. Men seem more happy to talk to me these days - and women less so than they used to. Of course, with my new found confidence I am proud to wear clothes that show off my figure, and this doesn't always go down so well with my female counterparts. I'm always careful to do a"trash check" ie - am I showing too much (in my case any) cleavage, is my skirt too short, is my clothing too suggestive etc, but even with all of that in mind - I still get that sort of reaction from some women. The other thing is that jealousy has raised its head in our relationship - I was very surprised by this at first - thinking it had never been a problem for us - except that I eventually remembered that it was an issue before we were married - once again when I was thinner.
So what does this say about how society views relationships with overweight people vs normal weight people? Does it say that the potential for relationships are shallowly judged by appearance, with no regard for the personality of the individual? Or - to stretch the thinking - how much of this is influenced by how confidently people act and how confident they are with their shape and fitness and body image - could this be projected enough to others that it wouldn't actually matter what shape you are, but its your comfort level with it that conveys a level of attractiveness??? I dont know. Are there are aspects that contribute to this? Lots of food for thought...
Yes, yes, yes - I know exactly what you mean. This is a new issue to contend with. Actually for me its the remembering of an old issue - I experienced this when I was younger (and thinner) but had forgotten that it existed. Men seem more happy to talk to me these days - and women less so than they used to. Of course, with my new found confidence I am proud to wear clothes that show off my figure, and this doesn't always go down so well with my female counterparts. I'm always careful to do a"trash check" ie - am I showing too much (in my case any) cleavage, is my skirt too short, is my clothing too suggestive etc, but even with all of that in mind - I still get that sort of reaction from some women. The other thing is that jealousy has raised its head in our relationship - I was very surprised by this at first - thinking it had never been a problem for us - except that I eventually remembered that it was an issue before we were married - once again when I was thinner.
So what does this say about how society views relationships with overweight people vs normal weight people? Does it say that the potential for relationships are shallowly judged by appearance, with no regard for the personality of the individual? Or - to stretch the thinking - how much of this is influenced by how confidently people act and how confident they are with their shape and fitness and body image - could this be projected enough to others that it wouldn't actually matter what shape you are, but its your comfort level with it that conveys a level of attractiveness??? I dont know. Are there are aspects that contribute to this? Lots of food for thought...
Week One, Day One
Here's the update on my first day of the hundred pushup challenge.
My baseline test was a maximum of 21 consecutive pushups, so my sets/reps for today were as follows
1 - 10 pushups
2- 10 pushups
3 - 8 pushups
4 - 6 pushups
5 - max pushups able (minimum of 7)
with 60 secs rest between sets
I achieved sets 1 - 4 ok although I was feeling a little sore from my weight training the day before. Not sure how I'd go with set 5. However yesterday obviously really wasn't my maximum as I managed to push out another 22 pushups in a row - after doing 34 over the previous 4 sets! (Thats a total of 56 pushups for those who are mathematically challenged!)
Bring on the rest of the challenge! (Although I am a little sore - don't know whether its the pushups or the workout from yesterday)
My baseline test was a maximum of 21 consecutive pushups, so my sets/reps for today were as follows
1 - 10 pushups
2- 10 pushups
3 - 8 pushups
4 - 6 pushups
5 - max pushups able (minimum of 7)
with 60 secs rest between sets
I achieved sets 1 - 4 ok although I was feeling a little sore from my weight training the day before. Not sure how I'd go with set 5. However yesterday obviously really wasn't my maximum as I managed to push out another 22 pushups in a row - after doing 34 over the previous 4 sets! (Thats a total of 56 pushups for those who are mathematically challenged!)
Bring on the rest of the challenge! (Although I am a little sore - don't know whether its the pushups or the workout from yesterday)
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Now I'm Fit and Fab...
I know I know - 3 posts from me in one day is enough to make your head spin....
I've been thinking for some time about writing about the impact losing weight and becoming fit has had on a range of aspects of my life - and they are not all positive.
Many people will relate I'm sure, when I talk about the fact that after my "transformation" I not only look different, but I act differently. I eat differently, I exercise regularly, I have different interests and some would say - obsessions. I am possibly more confident and outgoing - and because of my increased energy - engage in a lot more outdoory types of things. I also have more interest in clothes, gym and fitness gear, makeup and going out. My husband however, finds some of this a bit difficult. Whilst he appreciates "the improvements", he is having to learn to live with someone who has changed in many ways. I feel like I'm still the same old person (just released from some of my hindrances), but he sees many of my actions as new. (Actually I'm pretty similar to how we were when we got married - but that was a long time ago to remember). He also finds that he is more insecure about our relationship - worried that I will want to "trade him up" for a newer and better model.
I'm interested to know if others have had similar experiences, where the positive changes they have made in their health and fitness - have had negative affects on their relationships. So how has it affected you?
I've been thinking for some time about writing about the impact losing weight and becoming fit has had on a range of aspects of my life - and they are not all positive.
Many people will relate I'm sure, when I talk about the fact that after my "transformation" I not only look different, but I act differently. I eat differently, I exercise regularly, I have different interests and some would say - obsessions. I am possibly more confident and outgoing - and because of my increased energy - engage in a lot more outdoory types of things. I also have more interest in clothes, gym and fitness gear, makeup and going out. My husband however, finds some of this a bit difficult. Whilst he appreciates "the improvements", he is having to learn to live with someone who has changed in many ways. I feel like I'm still the same old person (just released from some of my hindrances), but he sees many of my actions as new. (Actually I'm pretty similar to how we were when we got married - but that was a long time ago to remember). He also finds that he is more insecure about our relationship - worried that I will want to "trade him up" for a newer and better model.
I'm interested to know if others have had similar experiences, where the positive changes they have made in their health and fitness - have had negative affects on their relationships. So how has it affected you?
The 100 Push Up Challenge
I've come across this little/great challenge which I am going to start tomorrow.
Its a 6 week program that will see you being able to do 100 consecutive pushups.
I did the pretest - 21 consecutive pushups with good form was my max.
I've even decided to be a little crazy and buy the Tshirt that says I'm doing the challenge! I like this sort of challenge because its easy to add into your routine - and there is a sense of real achievement at the end.
Do you wanna join me? Details can be found here
Its a 6 week program that will see you being able to do 100 consecutive pushups.
I did the pretest - 21 consecutive pushups with good form was my max.
I've even decided to be a little crazy and buy the Tshirt that says I'm doing the challenge! I like this sort of challenge because its easy to add into your routine - and there is a sense of real achievement at the end.
Do you wanna join me? Details can be found here
Is Fickle Foe or Friend?
I think I've posted a few times about the scales being fickle.
I've had a few weeks of not eating so well - I've been away a lot and have just relaxed by eating and drinking and had a few extra treats - like a Ham and Cheese Croissant for breakfast (no I don't want to know how many thousand calories are in this!) and I've discovered Subways white chocolate and macadamia nut cookies (at 200 cals a pop (i've only just checked this out) and you buy them 3 for $2) this is half my daily cals in one hit! Exercise has been a little limited because of all the travelling. I knew I might have gained a little, but was ok with this, because I truly believe that eating healthily is now the norm not the exception, and a return to routine sees a return to good healthy eating habits. Of course the day I returned to "normal" I did my calf muscle in - so that's made cardio a challenge.
Anyway - earlier in the week I made myself face the music and stepped on the scales - 60.6kgs - eek - ok - how quickly can I get back to 58? Can I do it before the wedding at the beginning of August?
Well - goal achieved. I "stepped" on the scales on Friday to see 58.6, and Saturday 58.3. I've highlighted "stepped" because this is what made the scales fickle. You see earlier in the week when I stepped on - I leaned heavily to the right because of my calf injury. Friday - I realised I could weight bear much more evenly - and hey presto - 2 kg weight loss! If only we could always have the fickle scales work in our favour!
I've had a few weeks of not eating so well - I've been away a lot and have just relaxed by eating and drinking and had a few extra treats - like a Ham and Cheese Croissant for breakfast (no I don't want to know how many thousand calories are in this!) and I've discovered Subways white chocolate and macadamia nut cookies (at 200 cals a pop (i've only just checked this out) and you buy them 3 for $2) this is half my daily cals in one hit! Exercise has been a little limited because of all the travelling. I knew I might have gained a little, but was ok with this, because I truly believe that eating healthily is now the norm not the exception, and a return to routine sees a return to good healthy eating habits. Of course the day I returned to "normal" I did my calf muscle in - so that's made cardio a challenge.
Anyway - earlier in the week I made myself face the music and stepped on the scales - 60.6kgs - eek - ok - how quickly can I get back to 58? Can I do it before the wedding at the beginning of August?
Well - goal achieved. I "stepped" on the scales on Friday to see 58.6, and Saturday 58.3. I've highlighted "stepped" because this is what made the scales fickle. You see earlier in the week when I stepped on - I leaned heavily to the right because of my calf injury. Friday - I realised I could weight bear much more evenly - and hey presto - 2 kg weight loss! If only we could always have the fickle scales work in our favour!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The will to look fab
Well life's been a little grand - that is of course until Combat on Monday night when my calf went "ping" and I couldn't stand up any more! Nothing like a dramatic exit in front of lots of people...
I put ice on it immediately and have spent the last two days resting it - I can now bear weight and am concentrating on trying to get the heel back on the ground. Of course its these few days that my husband is away....
It has been somewhat frustrating exercise wise as I'd had a fairly lax couple of weeks both on the exercise and the nutrition week - and was making a concerted effort to get back on track when this happened - and being laid up and miserable is not a good recipe for great nutrition either. Nevertheless I have persevered in cleaning up my diet again. I'm going to a wedding in the Blue Mountains in three weeks and have bought a lovely slim fitting dress that I want to look fabulous in - so I need to focus on reducing any temporary bloating and being in the best shape I can.
On another note - I've been looking at Katie and LizN's new team..... and I've looked at their inspirational photos for today. They do look good - but hell - I can match that... (LOL - I've been drinking too Katie) I might do it on the quiet and see how I go (its very quiet when you publicly announce it on the internet isn't it? - well not many people actually read my blog - so I might be quite safe) Anyway - lets see who ends up the biggest....
And I may be injured - but there is always something you can do exercise wise....I've been doing bench pressing, incline abs work, seated quads work, pull ups and even one legged deadlifts.
Cardio is a real challenge at the moment - I was able to use the elliptical when I did my hamstring - but I tried this tonight and its definitely a no-go at the moment -the only thing I think I could do would be rowing (and not push with my left left calf) but I don't have a rower at home Could this be an opportunity to convince my hubby to lift the 12month ban on buying anymore fitness equipment??? - after all - I have served 7 months of my sentence.... I think I might be pushing it - but I can always ask. I spied in the sports store a few months ago a recumbent bike that converts to a rower - I don't have either of these - any one know what they are like?
I put ice on it immediately and have spent the last two days resting it - I can now bear weight and am concentrating on trying to get the heel back on the ground. Of course its these few days that my husband is away....
It has been somewhat frustrating exercise wise as I'd had a fairly lax couple of weeks both on the exercise and the nutrition week - and was making a concerted effort to get back on track when this happened - and being laid up and miserable is not a good recipe for great nutrition either. Nevertheless I have persevered in cleaning up my diet again. I'm going to a wedding in the Blue Mountains in three weeks and have bought a lovely slim fitting dress that I want to look fabulous in - so I need to focus on reducing any temporary bloating and being in the best shape I can.
On another note - I've been looking at Katie and LizN's new team..... and I've looked at their inspirational photos for today. They do look good - but hell - I can match that... (LOL - I've been drinking too Katie) I might do it on the quiet and see how I go (its very quiet when you publicly announce it on the internet isn't it? - well not many people actually read my blog - so I might be quite safe) Anyway - lets see who ends up the biggest....
And I may be injured - but there is always something you can do exercise wise....I've been doing bench pressing, incline abs work, seated quads work, pull ups and even one legged deadlifts.
Cardio is a real challenge at the moment - I was able to use the elliptical when I did my hamstring - but I tried this tonight and its definitely a no-go at the moment -the only thing I think I could do would be rowing (and not push with my left left calf) but I don't have a rower at home Could this be an opportunity to convince my hubby to lift the 12month ban on buying anymore fitness equipment??? - after all - I have served 7 months of my sentence.... I think I might be pushing it - but I can always ask. I spied in the sports store a few months ago a recumbent bike that converts to a rower - I don't have either of these - any one know what they are like?
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Motoring Along
Weight: 57.7 kgs
Waist: 72 cm
I know what you're thinking - she hasn't blogged for a while - must have fallen off the wagon....
Wrong - things have been going fine - I've just been so busy working and DOING the exercise that I haven't had time to write about it.
As you can see from my weight - it is still dropping, and so are my waist measurements, which I am really pleased about. I am back in a healthy weight range for my height (yes I'm very short) - and pretty much at the lowest weight I have been at in 20yrs. This was my initial goal weight back in 2005 and I achieved it Christmas 2006. It remained fleetingly and then I slowly returned to the low 60's where I have basically been ever since. The really exciting thing is that I have been weight training for approx 2 yrs now, and whilst I am at the same weight as I was 18 months ago - my waist is 6 cms smaller! I good sign of how I have changed shape. I have new track pants on today (black shiny, no stretch fabric) and they are a little too loose in the waist and a fraction tight over my right thigh - just how they should be if I've been doing everything right! (well symmetry of the thighs would be better)
Weight loss challenge
The weight loss challenge has finished - and I lost 6.5 kgs over the 12 weeks. Its not a rapid loss but exactly what I think it should have been - anything more than 500gms/week suggests I would be losing muscle as well as fat - and I certainly don't want that. The team lost about 45 kgs overall, and we came second in the competition. I really did want the first prize of a trip to Queensland, but oh well, I guess 6 months free membership to the gym will have to do. As you know the challenge wasn't really about me losing weight - but encouraging my workmates to do so, and two of them are so close to goal weight now that its not worth worrying about the remaining few kilos. One of the interesting things is that they are both around the same height (6'1") and whilst about 8 kgs apart in weight - both look as skinny as the other. Interesting.
Running
Running is going well, I am basically running three sessions a week, a normal/tempo run on Tuesdays, speed intervals on Thursdays, and a long run on Sundays. I have found my running legs again and running reasonably well. The speed sessions are a killer - I am sore and exhausted afterwards but always have two running free days afterwards before I tackle the long run. The speed sessions also seem to be working - the speed is getting easier and I am finding that I keep finding new "all time fastest" speeds. At the moment I am running a 400m lap (on the tready of course) the first quarter at 11 kms/hr, the next 1/2 at 11.5 and the last quarter at 12 kms/hr. Its all reasonably manageable until I hit 12, and this is quite an effort. Times this by 20 laps (1/2 laps of walking in between) and I can barely walk afterwards! Anyway - on a 10 sec speed interval with cardio coach the other day - I found I can sprint at 14kms - so I'm suitably encouraged.
Other Exercise
Don't be fooled into thinking I'm only running 3 days/week. I am continuing my other interests with 2 combat classes and 3 weight training sessions - giving me a total of 8 workouts/week. By the way - has anyone tried the new release of combat? There is a track in there to a Rogue Traders song (split room power track) that I've found really challenging with high knee running and jumping lunges. In fact its the first track in ages to really push me - all the others I have to add extras (jumps etc) to keep my heart rate up - but this one really pushes me. Of course I make sure I'm jumping through all the punches so I don't take it easy but....
Waist: 72 cm
I know what you're thinking - she hasn't blogged for a while - must have fallen off the wagon....
Wrong - things have been going fine - I've just been so busy working and DOING the exercise that I haven't had time to write about it.
As you can see from my weight - it is still dropping, and so are my waist measurements, which I am really pleased about. I am back in a healthy weight range for my height (yes I'm very short) - and pretty much at the lowest weight I have been at in 20yrs. This was my initial goal weight back in 2005 and I achieved it Christmas 2006. It remained fleetingly and then I slowly returned to the low 60's where I have basically been ever since. The really exciting thing is that I have been weight training for approx 2 yrs now, and whilst I am at the same weight as I was 18 months ago - my waist is 6 cms smaller! I good sign of how I have changed shape. I have new track pants on today (black shiny, no stretch fabric) and they are a little too loose in the waist and a fraction tight over my right thigh - just how they should be if I've been doing everything right! (well symmetry of the thighs would be better)
Weight loss challenge
The weight loss challenge has finished - and I lost 6.5 kgs over the 12 weeks. Its not a rapid loss but exactly what I think it should have been - anything more than 500gms/week suggests I would be losing muscle as well as fat - and I certainly don't want that. The team lost about 45 kgs overall, and we came second in the competition. I really did want the first prize of a trip to Queensland, but oh well, I guess 6 months free membership to the gym will have to do. As you know the challenge wasn't really about me losing weight - but encouraging my workmates to do so, and two of them are so close to goal weight now that its not worth worrying about the remaining few kilos. One of the interesting things is that they are both around the same height (6'1") and whilst about 8 kgs apart in weight - both look as skinny as the other. Interesting.
Running
Running is going well, I am basically running three sessions a week, a normal/tempo run on Tuesdays, speed intervals on Thursdays, and a long run on Sundays. I have found my running legs again and running reasonably well. The speed sessions are a killer - I am sore and exhausted afterwards but always have two running free days afterwards before I tackle the long run. The speed sessions also seem to be working - the speed is getting easier and I am finding that I keep finding new "all time fastest" speeds. At the moment I am running a 400m lap (on the tready of course) the first quarter at 11 kms/hr, the next 1/2 at 11.5 and the last quarter at 12 kms/hr. Its all reasonably manageable until I hit 12, and this is quite an effort. Times this by 20 laps (1/2 laps of walking in between) and I can barely walk afterwards! Anyway - on a 10 sec speed interval with cardio coach the other day - I found I can sprint at 14kms - so I'm suitably encouraged.
Other Exercise
Don't be fooled into thinking I'm only running 3 days/week. I am continuing my other interests with 2 combat classes and 3 weight training sessions - giving me a total of 8 workouts/week. By the way - has anyone tried the new release of combat? There is a track in there to a Rogue Traders song (split room power track) that I've found really challenging with high knee running and jumping lunges. In fact its the first track in ages to really push me - all the others I have to add extras (jumps etc) to keep my heart rate up - but this one really pushes me. Of course I make sure I'm jumping through all the punches so I don't take it easy but....
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Still Here
Weight: 59.8
Waist: 75
Exercise: 45 mins weights, 35 mins cardio coach yesterday, 10 km hill run today and 5 km walk
Well - I had psyched myself up to expect a return to the 60's today - but was ecstatic to see I'm still in the 50's - even 100gms down from yesterday.
I've started David Greenwalts Leanness Lifestyle program (well just whilst I read it first to see if it offers anything different to what I am doing already), but the book is 494 pages long and I haven't really got to the guts of it yet. So really all I've changed is the daily calories - I am following his plans for zigzagging them. This has me a little worried as today I have to eat 1578 - (which I wont make -but I'll probably get within 150 cals), and I'm worried about what impact it will have on the scales tomorrow - I sooo want to stay in the fifties. But its the only day in the week that I have to eat so high and the rest are a little lower than what I'm used to. It actually averages out to the same over the week as what I am used to - so I guess the risk is fairly small - and the opportunity for different results higher - Right? Actually I nearly didn't follow it at all as the original calculations only had me eating about 900 cals/day which I think is way too low, but once I added my exercise level in - it boosted up the cals to a level that I'm comfortable with. I'll give you more updates as I work my way through the book.
Waist: 75
Exercise: 45 mins weights, 35 mins cardio coach yesterday, 10 km hill run today and 5 km walk
Well - I had psyched myself up to expect a return to the 60's today - but was ecstatic to see I'm still in the 50's - even 100gms down from yesterday.
I've started David Greenwalts Leanness Lifestyle program (well just whilst I read it first to see if it offers anything different to what I am doing already), but the book is 494 pages long and I haven't really got to the guts of it yet. So really all I've changed is the daily calories - I am following his plans for zigzagging them. This has me a little worried as today I have to eat 1578 - (which I wont make -but I'll probably get within 150 cals), and I'm worried about what impact it will have on the scales tomorrow - I sooo want to stay in the fifties. But its the only day in the week that I have to eat so high and the rest are a little lower than what I'm used to. It actually averages out to the same over the week as what I am used to - so I guess the risk is fairly small - and the opportunity for different results higher - Right? Actually I nearly didn't follow it at all as the original calculations only had me eating about 900 cals/day which I think is way too low, but once I added my exercise level in - it boosted up the cals to a level that I'm comfortable with. I'll give you more updates as I work my way through the book.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Back to the Fifties!
Weight: 59.9 !!!!!!
Waist: 75cm
Exercise - not much - read on
Well - I'm back in the fifties where I think I really belong - don't know if it will last till tomorrow - but considering my weight has had a considerable downwards trend over the last few months - I should see it again. I think KatieP's Whoosh Fairie visited me, as after about 3 weeks of being in the low 61's - yesterday the scales showed me 60.6, and then this morning the magical 59.9. Despite this not being my lowest ever weight - I am at my smallest by waist measurements, which I think reflects a change in body composition. I am also now about 1 - 2 cm's away from fitting into the waistband of my wedding dress that I wore when I was 20. And when I fit into this in the next few weeks (lol) I'm going to take a photo!
Yesterday I also started something new. I am trialling taking Hydroxycut (supplement aimed at increasing metabolism and fat burning). I've been thinking about this on and off over the last two years, and with just 3 weeks left in the weight loss challenge, I thought, well if I was ever going to try it, might as well do it now. Will let you know how it goes.
Exercise wise - I have had seven full days of no exercise, apart from some attempts at walking. Wednesday night I just about thumped the treadmill in disgust. I walked for 5 mins, then started adding some inclines in, but after a measly 17 mins the pain in my back was intense and I had to stop and go home. The frustration levels were huge and I was going stir crazy! I was still taking pain killers on day seven (Thursday) and finding getting in and out of the MG quite painful, so I thought I might have to actually seek some treatment. But low and behold, Friday i woke up pain free, and Friday night managed to walk, walk inclines, run and then even run at an incline of 12! It was like a miracle! It ached a little afterwards but it was short lived. This morning I managed my weights session - and I'm back in happy land. Oh - and you remember I said chin ups were something I can't do and keep trying? This morning, I managed to get up to the bar and move up and down miniscule amounts - so miniscule that probably noone else could tell I was moving - but I could! At last - I have something to work with and actually improve on! Between the magic weight this morning and the chin-ups - I'm one happy gal!
Waist: 75cm
Exercise - not much - read on
Well - I'm back in the fifties where I think I really belong - don't know if it will last till tomorrow - but considering my weight has had a considerable downwards trend over the last few months - I should see it again. I think KatieP's Whoosh Fairie visited me, as after about 3 weeks of being in the low 61's - yesterday the scales showed me 60.6, and then this morning the magical 59.9. Despite this not being my lowest ever weight - I am at my smallest by waist measurements, which I think reflects a change in body composition. I am also now about 1 - 2 cm's away from fitting into the waistband of my wedding dress that I wore when I was 20. And when I fit into this in the next few weeks (lol) I'm going to take a photo!
Yesterday I also started something new. I am trialling taking Hydroxycut (supplement aimed at increasing metabolism and fat burning). I've been thinking about this on and off over the last two years, and with just 3 weeks left in the weight loss challenge, I thought, well if I was ever going to try it, might as well do it now. Will let you know how it goes.
Exercise wise - I have had seven full days of no exercise, apart from some attempts at walking. Wednesday night I just about thumped the treadmill in disgust. I walked for 5 mins, then started adding some inclines in, but after a measly 17 mins the pain in my back was intense and I had to stop and go home. The frustration levels were huge and I was going stir crazy! I was still taking pain killers on day seven (Thursday) and finding getting in and out of the MG quite painful, so I thought I might have to actually seek some treatment. But low and behold, Friday i woke up pain free, and Friday night managed to walk, walk inclines, run and then even run at an incline of 12! It was like a miracle! It ached a little afterwards but it was short lived. This morning I managed my weights session - and I'm back in happy land. Oh - and you remember I said chin ups were something I can't do and keep trying? This morning, I managed to get up to the bar and move up and down miniscule amounts - so miniscule that probably noone else could tell I was moving - but I could! At last - I have something to work with and actually improve on! Between the magic weight this morning and the chin-ups - I'm one happy gal!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Week 1 of Training Plan
Weight 61.1
Waist 75.5
Exercise - Read on...
Well the training has not gone according to schedule. This week I have suffered from fatigue, shin pain, hamstring pain, nausea and this weekend - back pain.
Monday's Combat class was fine, and I had done my weights in the morning, and then followed the class with hill climbs as our weight loss team has a pact to burn 1000 cals per day. Mission accomplished Day 1
Tuesday however - I had a tempo run planned for the evening - but I really struggled and had to put some breaks in. I was feeling sick and exhausted, I had left shin pain that wouldn't ease, and my right hamstring felt swollen, and eventually left the gym thinking I would have to rest and then do some more after tea. But I didn't really recover enough - so let myself have a night off, both exercise and nutrition wise. I didn't overeat , but I had some BBQ chicken, pasta salad and peanut M&M's. I actually felt better for it, and the weight was still good in the morning
Wed morning I got up and did my weights - no probs there, and my Combat class in the evening, but after that I struggled to do too much more - the leg pain was getting to me
Thursday I decided I needed to have a low impact day to rest my legs. The speedwork session I had planned would have to wait. Have you ever tried to contemplate how you can burn 1000 cals on all low impact exercise? The night before I had cycled on the recumbent bike to increase my total - cycled for about 15 mins to see that I had burnt 30 cals! Thursday night seemed like a daunting night of training. I did some hill climbs for half an hour, and then rowed a Km (cal total so far - 200cals) and then hit on the idea of doing Cardiocoach on the elliptical. I have all 7 cardiocoach workouts on my ipod - and just go through them in turn. Unfortunately for me, I was up to Workout #6 - which is quite hard and goes for an hour (For those who don't know cardiocoach it is basically interval training). So I killed the elliptical for 60 mins with high resistance sprints, and by the time I got off I felt quite ill. I stumbled off to my daughters drama performance, and grabbed a banana on the way.
Friday was a scheduled rest day which I readily embraced. I also got my new sandshoes off layby to see if this would reduce the shin pain. (although I did walk for an hour in the morning -that's not really exercise - right?)
But Friday night when I got home from work, as I got out the car i noticed a sharp pain down the left side of my back and radiating into my leg. I don't know what I have done, but I have been in quite acute back pain ever since. It seems to be nerve related, and so I have avoided any exercise this weekend, as I am worried about exacerbating it. This has meant ditching my weight session, and Sunday's long run.
So I have done no real exercise for three days. I've focussed on making sure I eat well, as I don't want to let the team down. There is only 4 weeks left in the challenge, and we are in there with a chance to win 1st prize - which is I think a trip to Queensland! Of course I'm not exactly their star weight loser -only averaging about 500gms a week - but I need to at least do that to support them!
The legs are feeling much better, and my energy may be returning. I'm wondering if I may be a little overtrained, and the rest with the back might not be a bad thing. But what I really want is to see the scales move downwards again - I keep seeing low 61's and no dipping below this. For the weight loss challenge, I have committed to the team to be in the 50's by the end, but if I don't see some movement on the scale soon I might not make it!
Waist 75.5
Exercise - Read on...
Well the training has not gone according to schedule. This week I have suffered from fatigue, shin pain, hamstring pain, nausea and this weekend - back pain.
Monday's Combat class was fine, and I had done my weights in the morning, and then followed the class with hill climbs as our weight loss team has a pact to burn 1000 cals per day. Mission accomplished Day 1
Tuesday however - I had a tempo run planned for the evening - but I really struggled and had to put some breaks in. I was feeling sick and exhausted, I had left shin pain that wouldn't ease, and my right hamstring felt swollen, and eventually left the gym thinking I would have to rest and then do some more after tea. But I didn't really recover enough - so let myself have a night off, both exercise and nutrition wise. I didn't overeat , but I had some BBQ chicken, pasta salad and peanut M&M's. I actually felt better for it, and the weight was still good in the morning
Wed morning I got up and did my weights - no probs there, and my Combat class in the evening, but after that I struggled to do too much more - the leg pain was getting to me
Thursday I decided I needed to have a low impact day to rest my legs. The speedwork session I had planned would have to wait. Have you ever tried to contemplate how you can burn 1000 cals on all low impact exercise? The night before I had cycled on the recumbent bike to increase my total - cycled for about 15 mins to see that I had burnt 30 cals! Thursday night seemed like a daunting night of training. I did some hill climbs for half an hour, and then rowed a Km (cal total so far - 200cals) and then hit on the idea of doing Cardiocoach on the elliptical. I have all 7 cardiocoach workouts on my ipod - and just go through them in turn. Unfortunately for me, I was up to Workout #6 - which is quite hard and goes for an hour (For those who don't know cardiocoach it is basically interval training). So I killed the elliptical for 60 mins with high resistance sprints, and by the time I got off I felt quite ill. I stumbled off to my daughters drama performance, and grabbed a banana on the way.
Friday was a scheduled rest day which I readily embraced. I also got my new sandshoes off layby to see if this would reduce the shin pain. (although I did walk for an hour in the morning -that's not really exercise - right?)
But Friday night when I got home from work, as I got out the car i noticed a sharp pain down the left side of my back and radiating into my leg. I don't know what I have done, but I have been in quite acute back pain ever since. It seems to be nerve related, and so I have avoided any exercise this weekend, as I am worried about exacerbating it. This has meant ditching my weight session, and Sunday's long run.
So I have done no real exercise for three days. I've focussed on making sure I eat well, as I don't want to let the team down. There is only 4 weeks left in the challenge, and we are in there with a chance to win 1st prize - which is I think a trip to Queensland! Of course I'm not exactly their star weight loser -only averaging about 500gms a week - but I need to at least do that to support them!
The legs are feeling much better, and my energy may be returning. I'm wondering if I may be a little overtrained, and the rest with the back might not be a bad thing. But what I really want is to see the scales move downwards again - I keep seeing low 61's and no dipping below this. For the weight loss challenge, I have committed to the team to be in the 50's by the end, but if I don't see some movement on the scale soon I might not make it!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Mother's Day Classic 2008
Weight - ??? No scales available in hotel room!
Waist - as above
Exercise - 7.2 km Mothers Day Classic
Well the run was both good and bad. As I've been easing back into running lately - I've been taking regular walk breaks - hence my woefully slow time from last week. This week - being a shorter run, I wanted to at least run it all. I went out a bit fast though with this one, probably more out of frustration as there were so many people on the path that I couldn't even choose my pace - but was spurred into running around them. By about the half way mark, there was a steep hill (one of many little hills) and so I decided to walk half of it as I was breathing hard, and not sure about my pace. Started to run again and then saw the drink station. Walked a few metres whilst having a drink then started again in earnest. The break had really helped and before long I had hit my stride and was running quite comfortably. I really wanted to stop at times but forced myself to continue - slowing my pace if I felt I needed to. With 1 km to go I picked up the pace again, then increased my efforts at the 400 m and 200 m, managing to sprint to the finish line - with Garmy telling me I hit 13.6km/hr. Total time - about 46 mins, a good 3 mins slower than I would have liked. But I did run the majority of it, and my legs now tell the tale. I guess if I hadn't walked the bit in the middle I might have come closer to usual running pace.
Talking to my husband later (who also ran it in about 36 mins) I asked him how I looked coming down the finish line. He told me that I looked strong and fast, and that in fact, he wonders why then, I'm finishing 2/3 way in the pack. He also reflected that knowing how fit I am, and looking around at "the fairly average looking competition" that I should be able to run rings around them. I have to admit, its something I've wondered about too. Between me and my fellow bloggers, I think I am pretty fit, and frankly - I don't know why I am so slow. It could be that I over think the race, and pace myself too slowly - after all I can always sprint to the end. My average heart rate was only 80% so maybe i'm not pushing myself. But the other major thought is that I simply don't run enough and don't have the strength/endurance in my legs. I don't really think that my aerobic fitness is holding me back (after all I can maintain high HR levels for several hours), but I probably always take my runs too slowly in training, and don't expect myself to run fast. From todays run I have one heck of a lot of work to do to even get close to the goals I described yesterday. But maybe its time I really went for it - and really pushed myself to my limits. Heck I dont even know what my limits are!
Nutritionally today I made some good decisions out of not so helpful alternatives, although I didn't eat enough. With the race in the morning (and I don't eat before exercise) and by the time we got back to the hotel, showered changed and packed up - it was lunchtime before my first meal. The family wanted Barnacle Bills (aka deep fried seafood), so I compromised by also buying a fresh vegie salad. I had a couple of calamari rings and prawns (deep fried I know but kept to a minimum), skipped the chips and had salad. Unfortunately I was still hungry afterwards. Afternoon tea and cheesecake was on the menu. Luckily I had thought ahead, and when I bought the salad, also bought a yummy greek style yoghurt. Now these things are relatively high in calories compared to normal yoghurt, but I knew if I could eat this when everyone else had cheesecake, I would feel like I was having a treat too, and not so deprived. It worked. Tea was whilst travelling again, so I stopped at the one servo I know that sells chicken kebabs (skewers) and had two of these. Not a very balanced meal , but I think the better of any of my alternatives from other service stations as everything else is fried . Haven't counted the cals, but I'm pretty sure I have too many left. Ah well, hopefully I will still see a nice number on the scales tomorrow.
Well - I'm off to bed as I'm tired and sore, and tomorrow morning start my new training program. Weights in the am before work, and combat in the evening. I hope I'm up for it!
Waist - as above
Exercise - 7.2 km Mothers Day Classic
Well the run was both good and bad. As I've been easing back into running lately - I've been taking regular walk breaks - hence my woefully slow time from last week. This week - being a shorter run, I wanted to at least run it all. I went out a bit fast though with this one, probably more out of frustration as there were so many people on the path that I couldn't even choose my pace - but was spurred into running around them. By about the half way mark, there was a steep hill (one of many little hills) and so I decided to walk half of it as I was breathing hard, and not sure about my pace. Started to run again and then saw the drink station. Walked a few metres whilst having a drink then started again in earnest. The break had really helped and before long I had hit my stride and was running quite comfortably. I really wanted to stop at times but forced myself to continue - slowing my pace if I felt I needed to. With 1 km to go I picked up the pace again, then increased my efforts at the 400 m and 200 m, managing to sprint to the finish line - with Garmy telling me I hit 13.6km/hr. Total time - about 46 mins, a good 3 mins slower than I would have liked. But I did run the majority of it, and my legs now tell the tale. I guess if I hadn't walked the bit in the middle I might have come closer to usual running pace.
Talking to my husband later (who also ran it in about 36 mins) I asked him how I looked coming down the finish line. He told me that I looked strong and fast, and that in fact, he wonders why then, I'm finishing 2/3 way in the pack. He also reflected that knowing how fit I am, and looking around at "the fairly average looking competition" that I should be able to run rings around them. I have to admit, its something I've wondered about too. Between me and my fellow bloggers, I think I am pretty fit, and frankly - I don't know why I am so slow. It could be that I over think the race, and pace myself too slowly - after all I can always sprint to the end. My average heart rate was only 80% so maybe i'm not pushing myself. But the other major thought is that I simply don't run enough and don't have the strength/endurance in my legs. I don't really think that my aerobic fitness is holding me back (after all I can maintain high HR levels for several hours), but I probably always take my runs too slowly in training, and don't expect myself to run fast. From todays run I have one heck of a lot of work to do to even get close to the goals I described yesterday. But maybe its time I really went for it - and really pushed myself to my limits. Heck I dont even know what my limits are!
Nutritionally today I made some good decisions out of not so helpful alternatives, although I didn't eat enough. With the race in the morning (and I don't eat before exercise) and by the time we got back to the hotel, showered changed and packed up - it was lunchtime before my first meal. The family wanted Barnacle Bills (aka deep fried seafood), so I compromised by also buying a fresh vegie salad. I had a couple of calamari rings and prawns (deep fried I know but kept to a minimum), skipped the chips and had salad. Unfortunately I was still hungry afterwards. Afternoon tea and cheesecake was on the menu. Luckily I had thought ahead, and when I bought the salad, also bought a yummy greek style yoghurt. Now these things are relatively high in calories compared to normal yoghurt, but I knew if I could eat this when everyone else had cheesecake, I would feel like I was having a treat too, and not so deprived. It worked. Tea was whilst travelling again, so I stopped at the one servo I know that sells chicken kebabs (skewers) and had two of these. Not a very balanced meal , but I think the better of any of my alternatives from other service stations as everything else is fried . Haven't counted the cals, but I'm pretty sure I have too many left. Ah well, hopefully I will still see a nice number on the scales tomorrow.
Well - I'm off to bed as I'm tired and sore, and tomorrow morning start my new training program. Weights in the am before work, and combat in the evening. I hope I'm up for it!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
I have a new plan....
Weight - 61.8
Exercise - 2 x 1/2hr hill climbs and 45 mins weights
Waist- 76cm
I was talking to the manager at my local gym about my plans for the City 2 Bay in September. Although I'm doing the Mother's Day Classic tomorrow, I'm really just seeing it as a training run, and the C2B is my next real challenge. I had previously planned to work hard and try and improve my time from 72 mins last year (a 6 min/km pace) to 66 mins (a 5.5min/km pace). But when talking to him he planted the idea that if I really wanted a sub 60 (which is my ultimate goal and a 5km/min pace), why not go for it now. His view was that being this far out from the race (19 weeks - I've counted) - I might juuuust be able to make it.
So - I've spent about an hour and a half devising my training schedule for the next 19 weeks, being careful to ensure I still get to do combat twice a week (my fave) and 3 weight training sessions, along with a speedwork day, a tempo run and a long run. It took a lot of juggling to make sure that the timing of each session ensured enough rest of relevant muscle groups between different types of training. I think I've come up with a sound plan. Of course as I worked out what speed sessions I would need to achieve a 5 min pace over 12 kms - it became quite scary. The speed sessions I've designed on this plan would be totally UNachievable if I attempted them tomorrow - I simply am not fast enough. However I have to remember that the ones in September for example, don't need to be done until September, and by then I will have hopefully done a lot of other sessions that will have me ready for them.
There is a reasonable chance that this program is too ambitious for me. But I guess I can only try it, and if I can't keep up with the speed sessions, I will just need to be prepared to readjust my goals and my schedule to my original plans. Nothing ventured, nothing gained I guess.
So the big plans start Monday........
I will have to try and workout how I link it to my blog so you can read it and laugh at how ambitious I am!
Exercise - 2 x 1/2hr hill climbs and 45 mins weights
Waist- 76cm
I was talking to the manager at my local gym about my plans for the City 2 Bay in September. Although I'm doing the Mother's Day Classic tomorrow, I'm really just seeing it as a training run, and the C2B is my next real challenge. I had previously planned to work hard and try and improve my time from 72 mins last year (a 6 min/km pace) to 66 mins (a 5.5min/km pace). But when talking to him he planted the idea that if I really wanted a sub 60 (which is my ultimate goal and a 5km/min pace), why not go for it now. His view was that being this far out from the race (19 weeks - I've counted) - I might juuuust be able to make it.
So - I've spent about an hour and a half devising my training schedule for the next 19 weeks, being careful to ensure I still get to do combat twice a week (my fave) and 3 weight training sessions, along with a speedwork day, a tempo run and a long run. It took a lot of juggling to make sure that the timing of each session ensured enough rest of relevant muscle groups between different types of training. I think I've come up with a sound plan. Of course as I worked out what speed sessions I would need to achieve a 5 min pace over 12 kms - it became quite scary. The speed sessions I've designed on this plan would be totally UNachievable if I attempted them tomorrow - I simply am not fast enough. However I have to remember that the ones in September for example, don't need to be done until September, and by then I will have hopefully done a lot of other sessions that will have me ready for them.
There is a reasonable chance that this program is too ambitious for me. But I guess I can only try it, and if I can't keep up with the speed sessions, I will just need to be prepared to readjust my goals and my schedule to my original plans. Nothing ventured, nothing gained I guess.
So the big plans start Monday........
I will have to try and workout how I link it to my blog so you can read it and laugh at how ambitious I am!
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