Maybe a Comeback?

Well, I've done it, I've added another 5K to the "Races on My Radar" section. It's not until March of next year, and I haven't paid for it yet. Still, a new race is percolating in my head. I need some motivation. Maybe that's it. Stay tuned!

More Water Aerobics

I did another water aerobics class at Fitness Connection this evening. I'm weary, and I still have some homework to finish up. This is a "good tired" feeling, though, and I'll sleep well once the homework's sent in by email. I feel like my fitness is improving, though my left knee still bothers me some. My weight loss has been stalled for a while, but I think it's getting back on track.

When will I be ready for another 5K? Not sure yet. We'll see!

Water Walking

Pool at Fitness Connection

I had another nice session at the pool today, walked 25 laps. 36 laps is a mile, so I still have a long way to go to hit the one-mile mark. I'll get there, though. Gotta keep moving!

One Milestone Down, Many More to Go

I just finished walking my first continuous mile in AGES, and I'm pretty darn excited about it! I'm  a little tired, but nothing bad, and I'm not in pain, the main thing! Yay! I may be able to get ready for that 5K in June after all!




Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

Morning Workout and DietBet

I made it back to the gym this morning, and one of the front desk people came around to the front of the desk and gave me a big hug! If I had that kind of welcome every time, I'd be at the gym a lot more often! :-)

I did 30 minutes on the recumbent bike and then did a few weight machines and dumbbells. It's not much, but I'm sore this afternoon! Help!

I do hope to keep going back to the gym a couple of mornings during the workweek. I went to the saltwater pool in Raleigh on Tuesday night, straight for work, and didn't get home until 9:00! Too long a day, especially since I ignored homework, housework, AND my significant other to get that pool workout in.  I'm looking for some balance here.

Meanwhile, I've recently discovered the website DietBet, and have signed up for not one, but two weight loss "games!" I started one, and named it Mission Slimpossible. Then I joined another one, which runs concurrently, called From Fat to Fit Challenge. Both start next Monday, February 11, and run for four weeks, ending Sunday, March 10. The challenge is to lose 4% of your starting weight in 4 weeks! Everyone who hits the 4% goal will split the pot of money evenly with the others who reached the 4% loss mark. (I put $10 into the pot for Mission Slimpossible, and $20 into the pot for From Fat to Fit Challenge, via PayPal.) I'm a little nervous (4% is a lot to shoot for in 4 weeks), but I'm pretty excited about it too. Money sure can be a motivating factor! In a way, I feel like I've paid the registration fee for a road race, and now I have to train. I hope that this will help me get ready to return to the running scene. I do miss the road races.



Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

Water Walking in the Pool

I had a good time water walking in the pool today. I stretched myself to walk 18 laps, which is half a mile. Afterward, I did some physical therapy exercises for the water, then sat in the hot tub for a while. I'm plenty tired today, but am happy that I was able to push myself a little and don't feel injured.

 

Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

Back in the Pool

I finally got back in the pool last evening, after overdoing it and injuring myself in a water aerobics class last weekend!

The water aerobics class had been a combination of hard work and fun. The instructor was very nice, introducing herself and asking my name before the class. During the class, we concentrated on cardio, a great workout, really. In the pool, I felt like I could keep up pretty well, and "keep up" or not, I was still part of the group of 20-25 participants. After the 60 minutes was up, most of us got in a big circle, and the instructor tossed 3-4 big, colorful beachballs into the air. We spent the next 30 minutes batting the beachballs around, trying to see how long we could keep them airborne. Lots of laughter, some splashing, a good bit of stretching to reach for the ball, an all-around good addition to the class, I thought.

Well, as we were finishing up, I noticed that the area on the inside of my left kneecap was hurting. I got into the hot tub for a while, but it still hurt! Ice and ibuprofen at home, still quite tender. *sigh* For the past week, it's hurt to walk down the stairs, get out of the driver's side of the car, etc.

So I went back to physical therapy Thursday morning, and when I explained the new injury, I got the hairy eyeball! Just for a second, but I recognized it. "Too much too soon," they said. but of course I figured that out already! *sigh* They encouraged me to continue exercising in the pool, but on my own for now, and doing the exercises they recommend.

I decided to go back to the pool last night, though I got to the gym 6, with only an hour before closing. I decided it was enough time to get an okay workout in and still sit in the hot tub afterward. I really like this pool, which is shallow enough to walk all the way across with my feet on the ground and my chin above the surface. Also, the pool and the hot tub are saltwater, certainly easier on the skin and eyes than pools with a higher concentration of chlorine.

So, I ended up walking 5 laps in the pool, including two laps backwards. Then I did several exercises (leg kicks forward, backward, to the side) holding onto the wall. All in all, a decent workout for me, starting back at Zero.

I wasn't alone either! I chatted a little with one lady (about my size) in the pool who was doing laps too. When she joined me in the hot tub, I learned her name was Grace. Several other people joined us, including a lady named Jacquie, who was about the size of my right arm, whose goal was to eat enough green food that her poop became a constant shade of green. That's when I decided it was time to go! :-) I had to make a quick change, since the gym closed in 10 minutes!

I hope to make it back to that pool today, so I'm going to get started on my homework now. That pool is part of my gym's network, but it's about 30 minutes from my home, too challenging to get to most weekday nights. There's a pool closer to home, but it's not as pleasant (and no indoor hot tub!). Still, I may use it some anyway during the week.

Week Wrap-up

Looking at my exercise log for the past week, I just realized that I had three 30+-minute cardio sessions, as well as some shorter walk breaks and such, in the exercise week ending today. I'm calling this a good exercise week, for sure! School starts this coming week, so I'm hoping I can keep the routine up. It'll be a little trickier, but worth it.

Morning Workout

I made it to the gym before work this morning, first time I've done that in months! I'd forgotten how good it feels to get a workout done before work! I did a little over two miles in 31 minutes on the elliptical, and it felt great to get the blood pumping!



Clipart from Clipartheaven.com 

Watching "The Biggest Loser"

As I write, I'm watching the season premier of the "The Biggest Loser" with a wary eye, but I am watching it. These contestants get to take time of from their jobs and family responsibilities to have all this trainer and nutritional help, so it's not "real life" by a long shot. Still, I'm watching for nuggets of inspiration, ideas for my own workouts and weight loss efforts. Some of the contestants' stories sound familiar, but I also hear the "excuse" factor, big time. Part of me wishes I could take time off to do the Biggest Loser, but then I'm glad I can work on it from home. Their first day workouts seem crazy intense; no wonder some of them are passing out. I'd be surprised if some of them don't get injured in no time.

Still, I like the team support on this show, and I'm looking forward to the Get Moving Challenge at work, which starts next week. I'm team captain of the Bookworms team again. Hope it's a good experience for the group!