Tired this morning

When I got to the gym this morning, I was feeling the effects of a busy week (including car shopping the past couple of nights), so I did a 35 minute workout on the elliptical. Perhaps I'll be able to get back to the gym this evening for another short workout to round out the hour.

Morning workout and car issues

This morning I got to the gym about 5:20 for my 60-minute elliptical workout, since I had to go by the collision center after getting ready for work but before breakfast and work. At the collision center, I finished cleaning out my belongings and got my tag. Here's what my car looks like now (picture taken with cell phone):

A white trash bag is covering the window that broke away.

Last night I looked at a couple of cars at Carmax, a Civic and an Acura.

Latest workouts

Last night I got another workout in, spending 25 minutes on the elliptical. It gave me 65 minutes total on the elliptical for yesterday. Yay! This morning I did another 65 minutes on the elliptical. I got to the gym earlier this morning, around 5:30, so that helped.

With this morning workout, I hit the Presidential Champions Silver award level, and and now 56% of the way to the gold award. That takes a total of 80,ooo points, with points being awarded for exercising.

A little longer

This morning I spent 40 minutes on the elliptical machine at the gym. I felt stronger and a little more awake than yesterday, but am trying to get to work a little earlier. I don't much like my workouts suffering, so I need to find a balance somehow.

Up and down

Had a pretty busy exercise weekend, including a strength training session Friday evening with George at the gym, and a full hour on the elliptical on Saturday. This morning I only lasted 20 minutes on the elliptical, though. Was tired this morning (still am), so I took it a little easy. Tomorrow I'll be back on track, I bet. I did enjoy getting an earlier start on getting ready for work, out the door to the Rice House, and on to work.

The crowd at the gym is a little different, seeing some new faces. I guess those New Year's Resolutions are kicking in.

On a humorous note, I got a chuckle when I received my daily tips email from HungryGirl.com. They were talking about a new tea-drinking mug out that has a little pocket for the tea bag. One can have the mug personalized with your name. There was a picture of the mug in the email, with MY name on it! Since mine is not the usual spelling, this caught me by surprise.

Shorter workout today

I spent 45 minutes on the elliptical machine this morning, a little shorter than usual. I'm still feeling some residual tiredness that I felt yesterday after getting some extra exercise on Wednesday. I need to remember balance!

Meanwhile, I should find another 5K to shoot for soon. I need some fresh motivation! In the mean time, I'm 95% of the way to the President's Challenge Silver Medal! Every little bit helps.

Steppin' it up a bit

Last night I returned to the gym and did 15 minutes of strength training (upper body this time) and 15 minutes on the elliptical machine. My arms a little sore this morning, but not bad. This morning I returned for my early morning workout and did 60 minutes on the elliptical.

Christina Aguilera hits my favorites list on the iPod playlist again today. It surprises me, partly because I don't keep up with the "latest hits." Anyway, I've heard this one song in Spanish several times that the iPod screen said was an Aguilera song. No idea what it was about, but I've liked the beat a lot each time I've heard it. Well, this morning the English version came up, "Come On Over." You know, I think I like the Spanish version better, eventhough I know very little Spanish. :o)

More on the elliptical

This morning I was back up to 65 minutes on the elliptical machine at the gym. I wasn't sure I'd hold out, but was glad I did after it was all over. I've started craving some strength training, so I might start mixing things up soon.

Yesterday afternoon I took a 15-minute walk around the quad. It was a nice afternoon, so it was a welcome break from my desk. Things are still pretty quiet around campus.

Today's workout

Today it was back to my "normal" routine, as I returned to work today after several days off. I woke up at 5 AM, but it was a little hard to get going again! (I didn't get to bed early enough!) When I finally got to the gym, I only lasted 30 minutes. But it was a start. Perhaps I'll get back to the gym or take a walk this evening. I do plan to take a couple of short walks here at work.

I haven't set a new 5K race as a goal yet. I'll check later and see if I can get one in sometime in the next month or so.

Back to old routine

Today I did an hour on the elliptical machine at the gym. It had been about a week since I spent an hour on the elliptical, so I'm a tad sore, but not bad. Since I'm off work today, I took a Rice Diet class on cooking, which was fun.

Today and Monday are university holidays, so I'm looking forward to a nice, long weekend.

A Different Route

This morning I set out for the gym, but I had a gut feeling that I wouldn't last an hour on the elliptical today, so I turned the other way and headed for the cross-country trail at Duke. It's a 5 km (3.1 mi) trail near Duke Forest, and walking it would take me a little over an hour. Once commited, I knew I'd want to finish the thing, and I did. It was COLD (about 35 degrees), so I walked fast. :-) It felt good to complete the trail. Although most of it is wooded, it also goes around part of the Duke Golf Course. Here is one of the views:

I took my iPod with me, but opted not to suit up today, so I could listen to the sounds of nature and other joggers/walkers.

In other news, there's no news on my car today. I hope to get an estimate on the damage tomorrow.

Off normal routine

I've gotten a little off track with the exercise routine this holiday season, but I've still gotten some in every day except Saturday and Monday (Christmas Day). I was on my way to workout on Saturday when I was in a car accident, and while I wasn't really hurt physically (just a little sore), my car is pretty bad. I had it towed to the body shop today, and hope to know the damage by the end of the week. I hope it's not totaled.

Meanwhile, today I've done 20 minutes on the elliptical and 15 minutes of walking. George wants to go work out tonight, so maybe I'll go with him and get some more exercise.

Today's workout

This morning, I did an hour and 20 minutes on the elliptical. Felt good, but I've been a little tired for the rest of the day. I'll probably take a nap when I get home. :)

Morning at the gym

I spent 75 minutes on the elliptical machine at the gym this morning. Favorites tunes on the iPod this morning included Natalie Cole's "This Will Be (an Everlasting Love)" and Elton John's "Honky Cat."

Morning at the gym

I did 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning, and played a little bit with the resistance and the crossramp to jazz up the workout a little bit. I've come to enjoy my early morning workouts a lot, though sometimes I enjoy the end of the workout most! Love the way I feel when I'm done! I often enjoy the workout itself, especially when I'm feeling strong....or stressed.

I'm thankful to be on the Rice Diet during this holiday season. It's been challenging, as there have been numerous tempations. I've learned a lot about myself, including the fact that I have more willpower than I thought.

Past two days

Yesterday, I spent 65 minutes on the elliptical, this morning I did another 60 minutes. I'm still a little sore from Saturday's 5K, but my leg muscles are feeling a little better.

I just found the official results to Saturday's race, and I finished in 52 minutes, 12 seconds, the last of time officially timed people. (The race also had a recreational division, with no chip timing). *sigh* I need to remember that I did have fun running with Steph and being out on a beautiful morning around all the people (many in reindeer antlers and one person in a Santa suit!)!

Yesterday I started reading the book, No Need for Speed: A Beginner's Guide to the Joy of Running, by John Bingham. Although I bought the book last week while Christmas shopping, yesterday was a good one to start reading it. Although I had a fun time overall running the Reindeer Romp on Saturday, I'm still a little discouraged about running slower than the last 5K. The book has been encouraging so far, though, and has some helpful tips as well.

John Bingham is a columnist for Runner's World magazine who started running at 43 as an overweight couch potato, and he shares his journey and insights now. Through his writing, he tries to encourage people to take it one step at a time, to have fun with it, and not worry about being at the back of the pack. It's helped me a lot in keepin' on with the 5Ks, since I'm seriously in the back of the pack right now.

Sunday morning workout

This morning I did a pretty vigorous 65 minutes on the elliptical machine at the gym. Favorites on the iPod playlist this morning included Electric Light Orchestra's "A Fifth of Beethoven" and Bob Segar's "Old Time Rock & Roll."

At the Rice Diet checkin today, I asked the nurse to check my resting heart rate to see if it's gone down with all the exercise I've been doing. When I last had it checked back in August, it was 70. This morning it was 60.

Reindeer Romp 5K Report

I participated in the Reindeer Romp 5K this morning, and had a great time! My buddy Steph went with me, and was sweet enough to run along with me, eventhough she probably could've run faster. Since proceeds from the race were going to Girls on the Run of the Triangle, a lot of girls were out to run/walk to 5K (3.1 mi) course, and that was fun to see.

We finished the race in about 52 minutes, slower than I'd hoped, but it was still a good feeling. We "jogged" all but 8 minutes of it, which was an accomplishment. I put joggged in quotes because it was different from walking for me, but some people walk faster than I jog at times. One day I want to jog the whole 5K, at whatever pace!

Oh, by the way!

I forgot to mention that I did the treadmill "Fit Test" at the gym a few days ago, and scored a 34, "above average" for this particular rest. Making progress!

Morning workout

I did 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning, with the resistance up a notch. I'm a little sore right now.

When I got home, I realized I was without the new iPod! I rushed back to the gym, and it wasn't there. A lady came over and said she'd turned it in at the front desk. I was thankful and relieved! Favorites on the playlist this morning included "Mockingbird" sung by Carly Simon and James Taylor, and the Pointer Sisters' "Boogie Oogie Oogie," a fun workout song! :-)

Today's workout

This morning I did an hour on the elliptical. Glad to report that theh iPod is working normally again! Yay! Plugged it up to my computer yesterday to recharge, and after I unplugged it, it was working normally again. Go figure!

The weather here is lovely this week, highs in the 60s! I'll be getting some walks around the Quad in during the workday, which will help.

The Reindeer Romp is coming up on Saturday! I've been looking forward to this next 5K!

Back to normal exercise routine

I was back to 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning, felt good to get back on track.

Eventhough I'm doing something important for my health in exercising an hour every day, lately I've been thinking about other things I could be doing with the hour, like cleaning, writing Christmas cards, reading, things that I feel like I'm not having enough time for. It's all about setting priorities though, I guess. The important things will get done, the rest I need to try not to worry about.

Unfortunately, my new iPod is on the blink. It just spans through the songs now without stopping to play, and nothing I push or poke seems to help. Hmmm, any iPod gurus out there with suggestions?

Short workout

I did 15 minutes on the treadmill this morning, and that was it. Feeling tired this morning, so I decided to take it a little easier. I still plan to do some walking on my breaks here at work today.

Weekend workouts

Saturday, Sunday, and today, I did 65 minutes on the elliptical. Favorite workout tunes on the iPod included Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move," and Chicago's "Alive Again."

I had a wonderful manicure and pedicure on Saturday! Only downside was that the lady who worked on my nails asked me when my due date was. No, I'm not expecting a baby. :-/

Morning workout

I did 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning. Favorite songs heard on the new iPod this morning included Chicago's "Make Me Smile," Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move," and the Beach Boy's "Catch a Wave."

Each day this workweek, I've taken two 15 minute walk breaks around the Quad, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Today, I may break the trend. It's COLD outside today! Brrr! The high is supposed to be in the high 30's to maybe 40 degrees. Have I said brrrr yet?! I wish I had some gloves with me. That would help.

Next 5K-the Reindeer Romp!

I'm signed up for my next 5K! Yay! It's the Reindeer Romp in Cary, NC, on December 16. Proceeds will go to Girls on the Run of the Triangle. The description on Active.com says the course is relatively flat, so I've signed up for the competive division. I'll get a timing chip for my shoe. This being said, I know I'll be near the back of the pack finishing, but am hoping to beat 50 minutes.

Putting the elliptical to music

It's been a treat to have my own music to listen to while on the elliptical machine at the gym. The music on the gym's stereo system is rarely what I like, and it's hard to block it out. (I'd often wish they'd turn the music off altogether!) Today's favorites on the new iPod playlist included Cat Stevens' (aka Yusuf Islam) "Morning Has Broken," Paul Simon's "Kodachrome," and Christina Aguilera's "Fighter." I know, I know, I'm as surprised as anyone about the the Christina Aguilera song, but it sounded great on the elliptical machine! :)

I did another 75 minutes on the elliptical this morning. I feel a little less sore, but more tired. I may need to get to bed earlier, or cut down on the minutes temporarily to let my body rest and get used to the increased exercise.

In Rice Diet news, they have a new set of scales at the Rice House today. We have to type in an access code, and the scales send our weight to the computer. Going high tech.

More elliptical

Spent another 75 minutes on the elliptical this morning. I'm still a little sore, but am sure that will change in time. I'd like to work up to 90 minutes of exercise in the mornng before breakfast. It's almost too cold for me to walk outside during work these days.

Favorites on the new iPod playlist this morning included "Disco Inferno," the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun," and "Surfin' Safari" by the Beach Boys.

The morning after

I survived my birthday rather well! I don't feel 43, whatever that's supposed to feel like. I certainly feel stronger and more healthy than I did a year ago!

Thanks to my sister and her family, I'm a proud owner of a new iPod since last night! It's very cute! Thanks for my uncle and brother-in-law, I have a long list of 1700+ tunes already on it, and have had a fun time exploring the list! It's a pretty eclectic roundup, but it's brought me several smiles already!

This morning I spent 75 minutes on the elliptical, and my body is feeling it now. Having the music to listen to really helped keep me going for a little extra! Fun songs of the morning workout included Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and Sheryl Crow's "All I Want to Do."

I'm still learning about the iPod, and look forward to learning more about playlists and such. If you have any advice, I'd love to hear it! (Wondering if there's an iPods for Dummies book out there! :-) )

I've taken a 30 minute walk at work this morning, to help me get on a roll of doing an hour and a half of exercise during the work week. This is something I've just started trying to do in the past week.

Monday morning workout

Did 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning, and 5 minutes on the treadmill. Felt strong this morning, so I put a little extra push on my elliptical workout.

Today is my birthday, and since Mom and Dad are still in town, they're meeting me at the Rice House for dinner. I'm missing going out to dinner, but it's not about the food, right?

Still going

This morning I did another 60 minutes on the elliptical at the gym. Today was the first time I've beat the gym opening employee there in the AM, so it was kinda interesting to see the lights coming on.

Weight Milestone

I've lost 50.2 lbs on the Rice Diet! I'm psyched to have made this mini-goal before my birthday on Monday. :)

I did the cross-country trail before breakfast this morning. I jogged a little more of it then last time, including a half mile stretch without stopping, and a couple of hills. I finished about 3 minutes faster than the last time I did the trail and watched the clock. I've come to appreciate every little bit of progress!

More exercise

I got to the gym a little earlier than usual this morning, and much to my surprise, all 6 of the elliptical machines I like were taken. (The nerve!) I did the treadmill for 5 minutes, then hopped on the elliptical for an hour when one in my line of view opened up.

I'll try my best to walk during my work breaks today. It promises to be rainy at times as the cold front works its way through, but it should still be pretty moderate for part of today, so I'll give it a shot.

More elliptical, and shopping

I did anther 60 minutes on the elliptical this morning. Plan to do some walking today on breaks from work. The temperatures are supposed to be moderate here for one more day, then a cold front starts coming through overnight. Brrr! I've been getting spoiled!

Mom took me shopping at Talbot's last night, and I got two new pairs of pants, both size 22! Woohoo! The jeans that are being replaced were size 28! :-D

Gym

Did 60 minutes on the elliptical this morning.

The early morning crowd at the gym seems to be changing. I miss some of the regulars from before Thanksgiving, and there are some new faces. I guess the holidays do different things to different people.

My A1c is down to 6.1, and my total cholesterol is down to 147. Glad for the improving numbers. :)

Today's workout

I worked out 45 minutes on the eliptical this morning at the gym, and then walked 20 minutes around the West Campus Quad. (Beautiful morning here in Durham, especially for late November!)

Back to my normal schedule

It's back to work today after my Thanksgiving break, so I was back to the gym this morning for a 65 minute workout on the elliptical. George and I decided not to do the Turkey Trot on Saturday, expecially with trying to make the mid-day footbal game between Duke and UNC. (Duke lost by one!)

Morning walk

This morning I needed to shake things up a little, so I walked the trails at Croasdaile Farm area for the first time. It was a great change of paces, and pretty scenic! I did 50 minutes before heading to the Rice House for breakfast. I enjoyed the pond, which included several geese. The only drawback was dodging a landmine field of goose poop in one section! But other than that, it was a lovely walk, and a great way to start the day. The pictures here were taken with my cell phone.


Yesterday, I didn't get to the gym until late afternoon, and only made it for 15 minutes. Late day workouts just don't do it for me anymore. I love being able to get my workout in first thing in the day!

Today's Workout

This morning, I walked once around Duke's East Campus Wall (35 minutes), then did 15 minutes on the elliptical at MetroSport with George. (Afterward, we got in the pool for a while until I had to go to the Rice Diet for lunch.) Not the hour I usually do, but I enjoyed the change of pace and scenery. Tomorrow, George and I are thinking about doing a Turkey Trot 5K over at the Duke cross country trail.

Morning walk

This morning, since the gyms are closed for Thanksgiving, I walked the cross country trail (5K long) near the golf course at Duke. The ground was still wet, and it was cloudy and cool, but it was still a nice morning to be out. The course is fairly hilly, so it was a great workout for me this morning. ( I finished the course in 65 minutes.) There were a few others out and about on the trail too, so it was nice not to be doing it all alone. There was a tree down in the trail from the recent storms, so it lent a woodsy atmosphere to my walk. The mile and kilometer marker signs are also a wonderful touch and helped keep me going. Since I have the rest of the week off, I may go back to the trail again before the week's out.

I missed being able to watch "The Biggest Loser" last night. It was prempted by a Madonna show. I passed on that, as I'm not really a Madonna fan.

Today I'll be eating lunch at the Rice House. George will be eating with me, which is very nice of him! Afterward, we'll be going to visit his family in Cary for a bit. His parents are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at their home this year.


Happy Thanksgiving, all!

More treadmill

Yesterday I did 8 minutes on the treadmill, this morning I did 10 minutes on the treadmill. Feel good about mixing things up a bit, adding more treadmill time. Still did an hour on the elliptical this morning.

Different schedule

Yesterday I didn't work out until the afternoon (an hour on the elliptical), because I had to take my car in yesterday morning, and didn't get done with that until 10:00. I'm at the Rice House for breakfast now, and haven't worked out yet, but will be going to the gym before I get home. It's cold, windy, and cloudy today, and rain is expected. Once I get home, that may well be it. Nice day to read and nap. Ahhh, vacaion!

I'm 50% of the way toward the silver medal now for the President's Challenge. Bit by bit.

Next week I'll have blood work at the Rice House. Good motivation for an extra push!

The Wall

Yesterday I finally met Denise, and she, Tayler, and I went around the East Campus Wall twice! It was a great workout for me, and it took us just under an hour. The two of them were heading around for a third time (wow!) when I left for lunch at the Rice House.

Haven't been to work out yet today, was up late last night with company. I'm tired, but the party was fun!

More elliptical

I did another hour an the elliptical this morning, felt good. Yesterday I walked during both my work breaks, fun to walk around the quad and enjoy the season. I really enjoy fall in North Carolina!

Big exercise day yesterday!

Between my 1-hour cardio, 2 15-minute walks at work, and a run/walk session with Tayler last night, I got in 2 hours of exercise yesterday! Holy Cow! I was a little stiff and sore this morning, so I cut my AM workout to 30 minutes on the elliptical to give my body a rest. I'll continue to walk on my breaks at work today to fill out the hour of exercise I like to get.

Today's workouts

Did an hour on the elliptical this morning. Hoping to run/walk with Tayler this evening, if the rain holds until after we're done. We're talking about doing the Turket Trot 5K in Apex on Saturday. She seems like she'll be a good race buddy, whether or not we run the same pace.

I finished up the President's Challenge Bronze Medal with the morning workout, and with that am 45% of the way toward the Silver Medal. Going to keep on going!

Another hour on the elliptical

Another hour on the elliptical, and it felt pretty strong too. Ended up chatting a little with a "new" lady next to me named Teresa. Not sure if I've seen her there before. Anyway, she works at Duke too, on the medical side of things. She was encouraging about how long I'd been on the elliptical this morning. That was sweet. :) It helped having someone to chat with this morning, as I was a little tired and appreciated the distraction of chatting . I feel more energized now, even without caffeine.

I'm 99% of the way toward the bronze medal for the President's Challenge! Only 129 points to go. If I do my normal thing tomorrow, that should nail the bronze and send me toward the silver.

I ordered the sountrack CD from "The Biggest Loser" from Amazon this afternoon. I'm pretty excited about getting some new "Pump it up!" music to listen to!

Weekend workouts

Saturday morning, I merely did 30 minutes on the elliptical. I was just plain tired, but I felt like I needed to do something in the exercise realm. I'd hoped to get some more exercise after I'd gotten some rest, but it didn't happen. Ah, well, some days are like that!

Yesterday, I felt a little stronger and more determined, and got in a full hour of cardio on the elliptical. This morning, I lasted 65 minutes.

I'm thinking about doing a 5K in Apex this weekend, one of a number of "Turkey Trots" in the area. Hoping Tayler, Denise, and I can do it together.

Friday workouts

I got to the gym a little earlier than usual this morning, and it felt good to get a jump on my workout! There weren't as many people there this morning...a pattern I've noticed on Fridays. Did 65 minutes on the elliptical.

Got my lab results back at the Rice House this morning, and my A1c (a 3-month average of blood sugars) is down to 6.4! (When I was in the hospital, it was 10.9.) My blood pressure has been lower than usual the past couple of days, 88/58.

I walked for 20 minutes around campus today, what a beautiful day to get outside! I love fall weather!

Afternoon Walk

I just got back from a 20-minute walk around the quad here on campus. It's a lovely afternoon here in Durham, a little warmer than usual, and oh, so nice! On my walk, I noticed a HUGE spider and its acompanying web on a bush. Here's a picture of it, using my camera phone!

New happenings

Last night I met with a lady named Tayler, who I met through Craigslist.org for Raleigh/Durham. She'd posted that she was looking to get back into running, and was looking for other women to train with for 5Ks. I responded and we met last evening. She was very nice, and we had a good workout, walking and running in the East Campus area. It was fun to talk with her, since we seem to be on the same page.

Yesterday at work I took a 15-minute walk break, which felt great! Then Tayler and I walked/jogged for about 30 minutes last night. With my 30-minute early morning workout too, I was a little sore this morning. Even so, I was back to 60 minutes on the elliptical this morning. It was good for getting the muscles going, but I'm definitely tired now. It's a good tired, though.

Luckily, the scales were good to me this morning, after all that exercise. :)

I'm 86% of the way towards the Bronze Medal for the President's Challenge. If all goes well, I should complete that within the coming week! Then on to the Silver Medal!

Today's game plan

This morning, I only did 30 minutes on the elliptical, partly because I'm a little tired this morning, and partly because I'm meeting two new running buddies this evening over near East Campus. Nice to shake things up a bit, and meet new people in the process!

Rice Diet Progress

As of this morning, I've lost 42.4 lbs since I've started the Rice Diet. Feeling pretty good about that! I'm thankful to still be able to go to the Rice House for my meals (except for workday lunches, which they pack for me), the daily medical check-ins (weight, fasting blood sugars, blood pressure), and the bi-weekly bloodwork. It's all helping me stay on track!

More elliptical

I did the elliptical for an hour this morning, felt good to accomplish that. Things have gotten busier at the gym during my early morning workouts. Must be the weather (colder) and time change (darker earlier in the evenings).

I went to vote after working out, but before I went home to get ready for the day. Nice having that behind me too!

Tomorrow evening, I'm meeting a couple of new women who seem to be at the same place that I am in terms of running. Tayler is from Chapel Hill and Denise lives in Raleigh. We're planning to run/walk, unless the weather's still icky. Either way, it'll be fun to meet them!

Weekend workouts

Saturday morning, I worked out for a hard 70 minutes, starting with a 5-minute warmup on the treadmill, followed with a hard 65-minute workout on the elliptical. I really pushed myself, and felt it the rest of the weekend! Both yesterday and this morning, I did 30-minute workouts each. I think I'll be back to my normal workout hour in the morning.

Mom and I had a fun shopping spree Saturday afternoon at the Streets at Southpoint, which resulted in two tops and a pair of pants in the next smaller size down! That was exciting!

Saturday night, George and I went to the Duke-NC Central basketball game. Talk about a high level of fitness! Those kids on the court are in great shape! It was fun to see both teams in action.

What a difference a day makes

This morning I changed my exercise routine a bit, starting with 15 minutes on the treadmill, then 45 minutes on the elliptical. It felt good to change things up. I think I'd like to work up to a least 30 minutes on the treadmill and see how that goes. I look forward to running outside more, too!

At breakfast at the Rice House, I thought about sitting by myself this morning after yesterday's inspection of my choices, but I sat down with a group of people out of habit! Well, when my food arrived, one of the ladies nearby said, "I always enjoy seeing what you have for your meals, it gives me ideas!" She even had a good idea for me, mixing pineapple (one of our fruit choices) in with my mixture. I left the Rice House feeling better today. :-)

Last night I went to a meeting where they ordered pizza at the end. I didn't know that was going to happen, but I was strong, and we left soon after. I do miss pizza a lot!

Exercise and diet

Two mornings in a row of 65 minutes on the elliptical, and I can tell I'm getting stronger. Can also tell I need to shake things up a bit with the machines. I like the elliptical a lot, especially the calories I burn while I'm on it, but it's time for a change of pace, at least for a bit.

My meals at the Rice House are a topic of conversation, I was reminded this morning. Typically, I have rice (brown if available, or white) with my standard mix-ins of low-sodium tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, onions, and bran. (Depending on the meal, I have my one or two servings of fruits/vegetables too.) This morning, a lady sitting near me asked what I was doing (and pointing to my rice and add-ons), and as I explained it she rolled her eyes, and the lady across from me reminded her that I was the one they were talking about. She replied, "Oh yes, you were the one we were talking about!" This isn't the first time fellow Ricers have looked at my concoction in some form of disbelief, nor is it the first time I've learned my food options have been talked about, but it still catches me off guard a bit. Everything I'm adding to my rice is ON the Rice Diet, and it's tasty and filling to me! And I try to be discreet and not make a production out of my mixings, but I do sit up tall and hold my head high....nothing to be embarassed about, and I've stuck with the Rice Diet! Okay, so maybe my concoction is a little different looking, but not gross. :) Perhaps this is just more "real world" practice for me, since there will surely be times when I have to eat differently from other people after I'm not eating at the Rice House anymore. I may get odd looks, but as long as I don't make a production out of it and stay positive, my health (present and future) is more important than others' opinions.

Time Change

It's interesting to see the changes in outside light during my morning workouts at the gym. It's nice to see more pretty morning light while I'm at the gym. :) Of course, I miss the light as I'm leaving work, and I find I'm ready for bed earlier. I'll adjust soon.

I received my first Carolina Godiva Track Club newsletter, was interesting to read through it. Learned about some area road races I didn't know about before.

I'm down a little over 41 lbs since starting the Rice Diet. I'm excited about my progress!

Happy Halloween!

A new 5K possibility

I've just found a 5K on December 16 that might be a good possibility, the Reindeer Romp 5K in Cary, NC, not far away from Durham. Perhaps this will give me a litle kick in the tail to keep training, including speed and resistance.

More exercise

This morning I did 65 minutes on the elliptical. Nothing new, really, except that the gym seemed a little more humid this morning. Wonder what was up with that.

Spoke with the doctor at the Rice House this morning, and he was encouraging, told me to keep doing what I'm doing. My blood sugar numbers continue to look good for the most part. The pre-breakfast numbers are the highest, in the 1-teens. The other numbers are in the 80-99 range. The Metformin (oral medication for diabetes) is working well.

Same song, different verse.....

This morning, I spent another hour on the elliptical. I'm trying to work a little more on speed. The "steps per minute" display helps me keep track, as I try to stay above a certain level. I've also upped the resistance a little bit.

At the Rice House, I had blood drawn for labwork this morning. Looking forward to seeing the results tomorrow.

Back on track

This weekend I had shorter workouts, partly due to time and weariness. I knew I'd get back on track today, so I didn't get stressed about it, and got some much needed rest. This morning I was back to my full hour workout. Yay! I still need to work on getting to bed earlier, would like to be in bed around 10:00. It's hard to do, but I can tell my body needs the rest.

I've earned 10,331 points toward the President's Challenge bronze medal, 51% of the way there! I've been working on this since October 3.

Another morning at the gym

It was another hour on the elliptical this morning. I took it a litte easy this morning, as I was feeling tired. I haven't been getting to sleep early enough this week, around 11:00 every night. I can't keep doing that! Sleep is pretty key.

I did "meet" someone at the gym this morning. I actually see her there often, one of the numerous skinny, really, really fit people in there nearly every morning! This morning, as she was getting on the elliptical next to me, she said, "You're doing really well in here with that! You're up to, what, 45 minutes?" I really appreciated her encouragement, and we had a nice little chat about the different machines and stuff. You never know where encouragement will come from. It reminded me to be encouraging too.

Another workout down

I spent another hour on the elliptical this morning. I'm feeling stronger during my workouts, even on the intervals program, which increases the resistance as it changes the focus of various leg muscle groups.

Last evening, I treated myself to a manicure AND a pedicure, in celebration of getting off the insulin. It felt great!

Keep on keepin' on

I'm still getting up in the AM to exercise for an hour. It's almost second nature now. When I'm on the elliptical (which is almost always), it helps me to set little mini-goals with the various numbers on the dashboard. Sometimes I set a mini-goal for time, other times number of strides, miles, or calories. Every little bit helps, especially with an hour of exercise.

I keep thinking I need to get on the treadmill, but a little voice inside me says to stay with the elliptical (for now) since it's fun for me and less jolting to the joints, especially while I still have a lot of weight to lose.

With this morning's workout added in, I'm 42% of the way to the President's Challenge Bronze Medal. Bit by bit!

Updated 5K Results

The Autism Ribbon Run results were posted sometime today. Interesting, they give a chip time, which must be when my shoe (where the timing chip is attached) crosses the start line and later crosses the finish line, and also a gun time. My chip time is 50:09, but my gun time is 50:42 (race starting time to finish line crossing). I'd positioned myself near the back of the starting pack, since I knew I'd be getting to a relatively slow start. The results tell me I had a 16 minute/19 second pace per mile overall. This is something I can work on!

I finished 346th out of 355 people. The winning time was 14 minutes, 48 seconds. The fastest female in my age group finished in 22 minutes, 50 seconds.

Another 5K Completed!

I "ran" in the Autism Ribbon Run in Raleigh on Saturday, and am psyched that I shaved 6 munutes off my time!! My unofficial time was 50:45. They provided timing chips for official timing, but the results haven't been posted on the website yet.

Today, after talking to the doctor at the Rice House, I'm trying oral medications rather than insulin! I'm hopeful that the metformin will be effective, but there's always a chance I'll have to go back on the insulin. Crossing my fingers! This is a pretty big day for me, and I feel a little like I'm on vacation, getting a break from taking the insulin injections.

What's My Pace?

I just discovered a training calculator on the Runner's World Magazine website that will do various calculations based on data you put into the blanks. It's just what I was looking for! I was able to plug in my last 5K race time and it calculated that I averaged 18 minutes and 15 seconds per mile in the Cary Road Race. For where I was in April, fitness-wise, that's good! This will help me with training, especially when I get on the treadmill (which has been hardly ever, but I need to use the treadmill to my advantage!). This may even be motivation to get on the treadmill and work on a faster pace. The elliptical doesn't let me know what my pace per mile is.

In Less Than 24 Hours!

My next 5K is in less than 24 hours! Yippee! Bless his heart, George is going to pre-register me this afternoon when he gets off work. We both have a meeting this evening at ERUUF which prevents me from getting over to Raleigh and back in time for the meeting. I could register before the race in the morning, but being registered ahead of time will help me feel less stressed.

I did another 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning, but went a little more slowly, taking it easy before tomorrow's race.

Countdown

Just 2 more days until my next 5K (the Autism Ribbon Run in Raleigh)! Wow! Part of me can't wait for the finish line, to see how I do compared to last April's Cary Road Race. Part of me is looking forward to the road race experience again, to being in better shape for this one. This will be my first time to use a timing chip.

This morning I did 60 minutes on the elliptical.

Another morning workout

This morning I spent another 65 minutes on the elliptical machine. There are some "new" people getting on the ellipticals in my normal spot, so I've had to relocate to another area of the gym. Today I worked out next to a lady, very fit and skinny, who's in the gym nearly every day that I am. She surprised me today by asking me about my new shoes, if I liked them, and where I bought them. I gave an honest, but good report. I also told her about my falling arches, and the orthotics I'm trying out. She asked if I'd seen a podiatrist, and I told her the doctor had suggested I'd try out the over-the-counter orthotics first, but that he'd refer me to a podiatrist if needed. It was a fun little conversation to have with her, and a welcome distraction from the exercise.

Back on Track

This morning's exercise session went well, back to 65 minutes on the elliptical. Between 20 and 30 minutes down I had to do a little mental coaxing to push through the wall, but my body didn't complain much, and I felt great after I finished.

At the Rice House, I had blood drawn for labwork this morning. I got good news at check-in: the doctor left a message for me in the computer to stop taking my blood pressure medicine, as well as my bedtime insulin dose! Woohoo!

I've decided to do the Autism Ribbon Run 5K on Saturday morning in Raleigh, as George and I are meeting friends at the NC State Fair on Sunday afternoon.

Progress

As I've mentioned in an earlier post, I'm working toward the bronze medal of the President's Challenge. As of this morning, I'm 18% there, with 3719 points. I need 20,000 points in all.

I did two cardio workouts (totalling 1 hour and 45 minutes) on Saturday, and I must admit I'm paying for it a little. Yesterday's workout was only 40 minutes and this morning's workout was 30 minutes. I'm sure I'll get back up to hour-long workouts soon, but feel the need to listen to my body. When I do two workouts in the future, I'll be more careful.

One of the websites I enjoy, Hungry Girl, mentioned an a potentially helpful website in their email blast this morning. The website is Healthy Dining Finder. I did a search for restaurants on their list within 20 miles of my zip code. The only one that came up was Arby's! I wouldn't really consider Arby's to be a healthy restaurant. Sure, some choices will be better than others there, but still, probably not a place I'll "spend" my calories for now. The site is still in its trial version, so I'll check back later.

Another 5K Race

There's another 5K road race I'm thinking about, this one in Durham. It's the Duke DPT (Doctor of PhysicalTherapy) 5K, run around the Duke campus on Sunday afternoon, Octover 15. I'd thought about doing one next Saturday morning, the 14th, in Raleigh. However, I have football tickets to the Duke-Florida State game for Saturday afternoon, and my ERUUF Covenant Group is planning to serve at the soup kitchen for dinner that evening. I'm thinking I might like to spread my weekend activities out a little bit!

Extra workout

Last night I did an extra workout at the Fitness Center, 15 minutes of cardio, then 20 minutes of strength training. It felt good to have the variety. I was back in the gym this morning for another hour of cardio.

It appears that I have falling arches, according to the New Balance shoe salesman, and the Rice Diet doctor tends to agree. The doctor suggests over-the-counter arch supports for now, to see if they work. I had this same problem in college, when I ran a lot.

Even with the extra workout last night, my weight was the same this morning. Three days in a row, it's been the same! I asked the doctor about it, and he said not to fret about it. My blood sugars are looking good, and the doctor even suggested taking my bedtime dose down to 4 units, as well as all three pre-meal doses. (My morning dose had been 5 units for a while, with 4 units before the other meals.) I'll have more bloodwork done next week to see how my A1c and lipids are doing.

New running shoes

Well, I had a good appointment with the dietician yesterday. We talked a lot about reading food labels, and the importance of my needing good tools when I finish going to the Rice House: food scales, measuring cups and spoons, things like that.

Last evening I went to the New Balance store and got a new pair of New Balance running shoes. Of course, they felt great this morning at the gym! I did another 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning. Talking with one of my new gym acquaintances really helped a lot at the end. Unfortunately, the scales didn't reward my efforts this morning, as I weighed the same as yesterday.

After buying the shoes last evening, I was tempted to cheat at a Mexican restaurant called Moe's, next door to the shoe place. I stood firm, though, and went to a nail salon across the parking lot instead. I have pretty, polished fingernails today. :-)

I got an email today from my Junior League committee chair, and our first committee meeting will be next week at a local restaurant called Nana's, which I hear is very good. I don't know that it's very Rice Diet-friendly. :-( I've got the number, and plan to call and inquire about the menu ahead of time, so I don't have to come across as making a fuss in front of the group.

Stretch

This morning, I stretched a little and stayed on the elliptical for 65 minutes. I had a nice loss at weigh-in at the Rice House this morning, so it was nice to get the positive reinforcement. ;-)

Today I have an appointment with a registered dietician. The appointment was made before I started the Rice Diet. I was going to cancel, but decided it could be helpful to go ahead and plug in with a dietician, and have someone to return to later for nutritional advice. I won't be eating at the Rice House for the rest of my life, and I'll need sound advice!

President's Council on Physical Fitness

Okay, I've decided to try something a little "hokey" to help me stay motivated! Remember the President's Council on Physical Fitness? I never participated in that as a kid, though at some point I remember hearing about it. Well, now they have "programs" for adults. I've decided to work on the middle-of-the-road program, Presidential Champions. I'll keep an activity log online, based on my exercise, and earn points along the way. (Of course, it depends on people being honest with their activity log.) The bronze award takes 20,000 points. I just logged this morning's 60 minute workout and earned my first 522 points. We'll see how it goes!

Another reason to keep on keepin' on

Last week, I read an article on the internet about new guideline for exercise and reducing risks of cancer. The lastest research says we shoud do "dedicated" exercise (not just the usual day-to-day activity) for at least 30 minutes, at least 5 days a week. 45-60 minutes is even better, the article says. It also mentions diet and weight. I'm certainly eating the right foods these days, but still have a long way to go with the weight. Here's the article URL.

Today starts my 3rd month on the Rice Diet. Wow. It's amazing how much better I feel!

More weekend exercise

I continue to get up every morning to exercise for an hour. Even with hard workouts, I feel like I get on with my job and other responsibilities okay. It's a great feeling to have that accomplishment under my belt every morning.

Yesterday after supper, I walked on the Duke cross country trail for 3o minutes. It's in Duke Forest, and part of it goes along the Duke golf course. It's quite beautiful, lots of trees and woodland sounds. There were a number of athletes out, mostly runners and bikers whizzing by. I felt a little too bashful to try jogging among the fit company around me, but in time, I will. There are some good hills on this trail, so it's a nice workout. The whole thing is 5K, which is a distance I'm trying to improve on. I would LOVE to be able to jog the whole thing some day. I WILL run the whole thing one day.

Maybe a 5K in my near future?

I was just looking at information on the Autism Ribbon Run in Raleigh on October 14, and I think it might be a good thing to do. I'd decided to wait until I'd lost more weight and could jog for longer periods of time, but I need the proverbial carrot dangling in front of me. This looks like a good one. I think this will help me stay focused with the exercise and stay on course with the weight loss. The only downside is missing the morning check-in at the Rice Diet, but this seems like a good cause.

Meanwhile, I did the elliptical machine for an hour before work this morning. The morning workout seems to be working for me now.

Progress!

I exercised again this morning, the elliptical for 63 minutes. At weigh-in this morning, I found I'd hit the 30 lbs lost mark! I'm psyched to reach that goal!

Last night I got to bed early, in fact I got to bed so early that I forgot to check my blood sugars and take my night-time insulin. Still, my fasting blood glucose this morning was only 107. I was glad for that. I had blood drawn for lab work this morning, am looking forward to seeing what my numbers are.

More exercise

Yesterday, I did the elliptical for 45 minutes before breakfast, and the stationary bike for 30 minutes after supper. This morning, I spent another 45 minutes on the elliptical. I'm hoping the consistency will pay off.

Morning Gym Crowd

Well, I've exercised every morning for a week now, and I must admit it's getting a little easier. It's also been interesting. I'm beginning to notice some early morning regulars there with me. I'm the most overweight person I've seen there in the early morning. Most of the other regulars are very thin and very fit. I wonder if this is a good sign for me. ;-)

Changing Standards

I've been thinking about my next 5K. While the goal of my first race of the year was to finish, I find myself wanting to do much better in the next one. I want to be able to run (okay, jog right now) the whole thing! I can't run a mile yet, much less 3. Yet I want to be able to mark my progress in other ways besides the scales and the Fitness Test mode on the treadmill.

I found a run/walk coming up soon that's a little closer than Raleigh. Only catch is that it's free if you're going to walk, but $20 if you're going to run. What if I know I want to do a combination of running and walking?!

My next 5K?

I've found a 5K race I think I can do next. It's on October 14 in downtown Raleigh, and seems to be a flat course. It's called the Autism Ribbon Run, and it'll be run in the City Market area. I'm going to study the registration info and route a little more tonight.

Twice a day.....

Yesterday, I made it to the gym twice, for cardio in the morning and strength training (upper body) at night. Last night, I did some cardio first, doing the fitness test on the LifeFitness treadmill. I scored a 32, Above Average! An improvement over last time! :-) My upper body isn't as sore as I expected it to be from last night's weight training, so I wonder if I need to take things up a notch. Probably so.

I got my hour of cardio in before breakfast this morning, but have a 2-hour Group meeting tonight, so I don't know it I'll make it back to the gym my my second workout of the day. Would like to.

I enjoyed looking through my new Runner's World issue last night. I was intrigued by the ads for various races (usually marathons). Makes me want to go to become a better runner and go to some of these races!

More exercise!

I exercised for an hour on the elliptical before church this morning, and plan to head back to the gym tonight to do some strength training.

At check-in this morning, the nurse told me that the doctor had left a message for me in the system to double my exercise efforts! Whew! Can I exercise TWO hours a day?! That would be an incredible investment of time, but I bet it would have amazing results. The doctor who left the message is out of town, but will likely be back tomorrow. Perhaps i can talk with him later this week about this.

Meanwhile, I went to Banes and Noble this afternoon, and bought a copy of the magazine Runner's World. I figure the magazine will provide some good tips and help give me some focus for all my exercise!

Morning workout

I exercised a whole hour this morning before breakfast, since George and I have plans tonight to go to a public stargazing put on by the Duke Physics Department. It felt good to complete my workout before breakfast, in case I don't make it back to the gym this evening. I was down another six tenths of a pound this morning, yippee! This afternoon I have a follow-up appointment with my primary care physician, and I'm looking forward to seeing her this time. I think she'll be pleased with my progress. I was down another six tenths of a pound this morning at my daily weigh-in. Sometimes I wish we didn't have to weigh in EVERY day with the Rice Diet, but it's good accountability.

I spent the whole hour on the elliptical, and increased the resistance to make it a more challenging workout. I'm a little sore now, just enough soreness to feel good.

I've been on a mission lately, looking for healthy choices on local restaurant menus online as I look forward to eating away from the Rice House. I hope to be eating at the Rice House for a while longer, and I'll be cooking more at home. However, I miss the convenience and fun of being able to eat out with friends. Asian restaurants like Neo-China look like my best bet so far, as they offer steamed vegetables and steamed rice without sodium-high things like soy sauce and MSG added. At other places, I may have to be a "difficult" customer and special order some things. I do find grilled salmon on a number of menus, and some places have healthy sides. I think the salmon will be a yummy choice as well.

Latest workouts

Last night, I did the elliptical for 15 minutes, all I could take at the time, so I got on the indoor track there at the Duke Fitness Center, and alternated walking and jogging each lap for another 15 minutes. Sometimes I have to give myself permission to change things up! It felt good to jog again, although when I caught myself in the reflection of the windows, I didn't really like the way I looked running. I'll have to block that image out of my head for now, and do it anyway.

Adding some jogging to my workout has me thinking, what's a reasonable goal for being prepared for my next 5K. How prepared do I want to be? For starters, I want to improve last April's 5K time. I would love to be able to jog 3.1 miles on the treadmill to get a better idea of my time. I'll have to work on to that, though. I can do 3.1 miles on the elliptical in less than 45 minutes.

I got up early this morning and did 45 minutes on the elliptical, which felt great. I'm a little tired, but can still function well. I plan to get more exercise this evening.

Short workout last night

Last night, I worked out for 15 minutes and decided to call it a night. It was getting late, and I wanted to get home in time to call a friend on the phone and catch up. As I got off the elliptical machine, I felt a little guilty, but decided that wouldn't do me any good! I deserve and need to keep in touch with friends!

I need to keep working on this whole thing of keeping up with relationships, taking time for cleaning and errands, getting enough rest and even enough waking time for myself. I need to stay focused with the diet and exercise too. This morning, one of the nurses at the Rice House and I were talking about it all, and how I'm the only client there who's working and dealing with more day-to-day issues of being at home and at work. No one else is working, and nearly everyone else is staying in a hotel room, which is cleaned by someone else on a regular basis. Of course, they still have to deal with some things I do, like dirty laundry, and some things I don't, like being away from their home base. That can be stressful, but it can be liberating too. Perhaps I'm getting a head start on dealing with taking better care of myself in my home base environment.

My phone call ended up being a wise choice. The gal I called had run in her first half marathon over Labor Day Weekend, the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach. She said it was really hard, but that she's really proud of herself--as well she should be! It has me wondering if I can do it too. Perhaps this could be part of my newest motivation to keep on keepin' on. I need to find some shorter goals, though. When is my next 5K?

Another fitness test

I did the fitness test on the treadmill again last night at the gym, and posted a score of 31. This is still average, but better than the last time, when I scored 30. I'll take any gain, at least when it comes to becoming better fit! :-)

Payoff

I worked out twice yesterday, and was looking forward to a payoff this morning, but alas, I was up one tenth of a pound. After yesterday's 2.7 lb loss, I can understand that my body may be adjusting, but STILL!

I was pretty tired this morning, so I turned off the alarm and slept in a little rather than heading to the gym for an pre-breakfast workout. after breakfast, I rested some more! I needed some rest. :-> George and I are going to work out this evening, instead.

Week's hard work paying off

After being consistent with my diet and exercise this week, I finally saw a decet weight drop this morning, 2.7 lbs down from yesterday morning! I'd been hovering around a particular weight, up and down a few tenths of a pound, though I knew I was going the right things. It probably helped that I had another pre-check-in workout this morning. Now I'm down 24.2 lbs since August 8.

Another morning workout

This morning, I managed to get up early enough to work out before breakfast! I took less insulin before bed last night, and I think the extra exercise helped. I also worked out last night, but not unitl after I spent about an hour cleaning my apartment.

Can I keep up the exercise pace?

Yesterday I worked before work AND after my Junior League meeting, and while I felt okay at work, I was exhausted by the time I got home from everything last night around 10 PM. I tried to get up early this morning, but I needed SLEEP! :-P I would love to continue exercising twice a day, but the logistics...need to work on that. Perhaps I can shoot for two workouts a few days a week for now, and build up from that.

I'm down 22.4 lbs now, and will try a little less insulin before bedtime at the doctor's suggestion. This morning I had blood drawn for bloodwork at the clinic, can't wait to see the results tomorrow.

Morning workout

I got up early enough to work out for 35 minutes at the gym this morning. I feel a little tired, but not nearly as tired as I felt back in the spring, the first time I tried it. And I feel like I've already accomplished something today!

This morning at check-in, I was back down to 21.5 lbs down, after a gain yesterday. Funny how the body fluctuates. My fasting blood sugar reading was 91 this morning, glad to see that.

I also worked out for 45 minutes last night. I feel like just about all I do is exercise! I wonder how I'll balance things out in time. For starters, I'm not watching nearly the TV I used to. I taped 2 episodes of "Judging Amy" sometime last week, and last night I just finished watching the first one on the tape. I think this is a good sign, especially since I'm so accustomed to eating while I watch TV. Breaking that habit has felt a little awkward, but it's a good one to break.

Busy weekend

The Labor Day weekend was a good one, but busy! I wish I could have today to stay in bed to read, rest, and generally be a bit lazy. But alas, I'm back at work, and will stick with my exercise routine this evening. I worked out twice yesterday, and am a bit sore this morning.

I ended my first month of the Rice Diet down 21.5 lbs! That was fun news. Will be jazzed to be down 25 pounds, hopefully soon! Yesterday I had my first vegetable in a month-steamed broccoli, and it was yummy, eventhough I added pepper only.

I've signed up for an online course through Barnes and Noble's B&N University called Simplify Your Life Now. The course book looks interesting, and assignments start today.

Weekend plans

George and I have had a pretty busy weekend. Last night we went to the Duke-Richmond football game. The evening weather was delightful, but Duke lost 13-0, a dissappointing start.

Today we went to Lake Crabtree in Cary, for Phil's 30th birthday party/cookout. It was a pretty day, and the food looked yummy! I took my Rice Diet lunch, which tasted fine, but I'm still feeling deprived of the hot dogs, hamburgers, and potato salad.

I have managed to exercise this weekend some this weekend, but not as much as usual. I missed working out on Friday altogether, but got in for 30 minutes yesterday. I'll work out more this evening.

On the positive side, my hard work with the Rice Diet is paying off. I've lost 20.9 lbs so far, and the end of my first month is tomorrow. That's very encouraging, but I still have a long way to go.

Back down again

After gaining 7/10 of a lb yesterday, I was down 1.8 lbs this morning. The exciting news is that I'm now down 19.9 lbs in all!

Last night's exercise was a little off, did 16 minutes on the elliptical, 15 minutes on the treadmill, and 2 minutes on this little Cybex machine I'd never done before. I was longing for some time in the hot tub, and since the Duke Fitness Center closes at 9 PM, I decided to cut my workout short and go for "dessert." While calorie burning is key, stress reduction plays a part in healthier living as well. :-)