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.



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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.

 

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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!

Removing Temptation

Well, I am now 49 years + 1 day old! I've decided to make this year ahead a year of better health! So what did I do? I removed temptation. Hello, my name is Lesley, and I love pizza! I can now admit that I HAD the apps for both Domino's Pizza AND Papa John's on my iPhone. And guess what! I just deleted them! Will it keep me from ever ordering pizza again? Doubt it, but now it'll be a little bit harder! And some days, it is the little things that help make a difference.







Clipart from Clipartheaven.com.

Rock 'n' Roll Series Coming to Raleigh!

The Raleigh City Council gave approval on Tuesday for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series to do a marathon in Raleigh, starting in 2014. My first reaction was, "Wow! That sounds great!" My second thought was, "Will they have a half marathon too?!"  See, I've always wanted to do a Rock 'n' Roll race, just to see what it's like, but the total cost has been a bit over my budget. The race registration  for Rock 'n' Roll races is a little high, but the "official hotel" rates within close proximity to the start and finish lines are even higher, and sometimes require a 2-3 night stay. (That's the case for the Virginia Beach race, anyway.)

As word as spread through the local running community, I learned that feelings are mixed about a RnR race coming to town. Someone on Facebook compared it to Walmart coming to town, and out-muscling the local marathons. I'm not deep enough into the running scene to know if that will be the case or not. Time will tell.

Here's the story from wral.com.

I'd love to hear opinions from  local runners, as well those who have participated in Rock 'n' Roll races! What do you think?

Great Gym Workout

I made it to the gym yesterday for the first time in a while, and it felt great! I rode on the recumbent bike for 18 minutes, did some hammer and bicep curls and stretched in the weight room, then hopped in the hot tub. After several minutes in the hot tub, I got into the big pool, and stretched some more, then used a noodle to do some light strength training and a little more stretching. Dessert? Time in the steamroom! I felt so much more relaxed afterward, just amazing! My IT bands aren't fussy today, which tells me something! Yay!

Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

2013 Race Schedule

I've been so inspired by the recent and upcoming fall races of many running friends, that even though we're not done with 2012 yet, I've already started plotting my running comeback in 2013. Too soon, you ask? Maybe, but I love the planning, love seeing how races map out on the calendar, love the possibilities!
I've been down and out for a couple of weeks with a collection of -itises that include coughing, congestion, and loss of voice, so both physical therapy and exercise have been put on hold lately. ON the plus side, I haven't felt like eating as much, so my weight is down a bit. While my voice is still gone, the coughing and congestion are better, so I'm finally to the point of THINKING about exercise! Yay!
I'd initially thought about some half marathons for the spring, but after looking at previous races, times, and training, I've decided to assume a slow recovery and build-up, working on 5Ks and 10ks this spring. If training and weight loss go better than expected, great, but I think I'd rather work toward building up slowly than crashing and burning due to overtraining.

My initial plan for the winter and spring is to shoot for the Second Empire Grand Prix Series Spring 2013 lineup, In this series, runners earn points for each race completed, and accumulate points throughout the season. The top 5 overall men and women, and top 3 point-earners in various age groups get prizes. Plus, runners who compete in 6 of the 10 races get invited to the nice Awards Luncheon at Second Empire as well. I'm shooting for the "6 out of 10" option, obviously! ;o)

My fall half marathon schedule will depend on how training goes over the next 10-12 months. Important things for me to work on:

1) Cardio
2) Strength training
3) Weight loss & better nutrition
4) Stretching when warmed up
5) Keeping running shoes pretty current

You may notice a lot of races in my "Races on My Radar" section. Don't worry, I'm not planning on doing all of them! The list is a work in progress, one I'll be updating in the weeks and months ahead.

Meanwhile, if you're planning to do the Second Empire Grand Prix Series this winter/spring, let me know!

Water Aerobics Class

I went to water aerobics class at the gym yesterday morning, and the 60-minute class was wonderful exercise that wore me out! My right IT band is being fussy now too. <sigh> I'll continue my physical therapy stretches and see what I can do about that. It was great to get some good exercise for a change, and nice to be part of a class too. I've missed running with the Raleigh Galloway group.


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Physical Therapy Starts Today!!

I begin  physical therapy for my left leg and right ankle after work today! Yippee! I can't tell you how excited I am about moving forward with treatment. I've already started looking at spring half marathons, which may be overzealous (and I have to be careful about that!), but it's fun to dream.

Physical Therapy Starts Next Week!

On Tuesday, I visited the orthopaedist (sports medicine specialty) about my left leg, and she confirmed the diagnosis of IT Band Syndrome. I made my initial physical therapy appointment for next week. I've had PT before, with a high success rate, so I'm looking forward to that!

This afternoon, I saw a PA (physician's assistant) in a foot & ankle specialty office about my right ankle, which has been giving me problems since my spring Couch-to-5K. (I could've seen a doctor, but the wait was longer, next appointment was sometime in November!) I saw my podiatrist about the ankle in June, and he took x-rays ("clear"), poked and prodded (no tendonitis), and prescribed an expensive topical cream (which I've used sporadically).

I gave today's PA the history of my right ankle, and she looked at the x-rays as well as the bottoms of my running shoes. In hardly any time at all, she diagnosed my problem as "varus hindfoot." Basically, I run on the outside of my heels, and seem to be right-leg dominant at it, hence the right ankle pain. My bottoms of my running shoes revealed more wear/compression on the outside of my heels, too. She prescribed ankle strengthening exercises to my already-scheduled physical therapy, and suggested I stop at a nearby orthotic/prosthetic business, the Center for Orthotic and Prosthetic Care in Durham. I stopped in, and they were able to see me right then! Since I already have custom orthotics, they were able to add wedges to the back of the orthotics to help balance my heels. I could tell a difference (and improvement) immediately! Tomorrow will be my first full day in the adjusted orthotics, so I'll keep my fingers crossed that they still feel good in 24 hours.

I feel a big sense of relief that my leg and ankle will be well enough to start exercising again soon! Maybe I'll be able to do some spring races!

Back to the Doctor

Ouch! IT Band Syndrome is back, definitely in my left leg, and maybe in my right leg too. The ankle pain continues to be pesky too. So I have two appointments next week, one with a sports medicine doctor, and another with a physician's assistant at the foot and ankle place. So, it may be a while before I can exercise-doing cardio, anyway. I bet there will be some physical therapy in my future!

Meanwhile, I had an hour-long phone consultation with a nurse in Duke's DukeWell program this morning. This first health goal I'm going to work on is keeping healthy snacks on hand at work and at home.

September Progress

I'm pleased with my exercise progress in September, which included 14.48 miles of walking and 18.10 miles of stationary biking, in addition to some weightlifting. With the plantar fasciitis returning to my left foot and a fussy right ankle (which the podiatrist says is not tendonitis), I may be looking at other ways of tracking my fitness progress, like cardio and strength training minutes. I've been thinking about taking some group classes at the gym, including water aerobics (no mileage but a great workout!) to vary the exercise and take a load of the foot and ankle. (I've even thought about swimming laps.) Another option might be the cycling classes at the gym. They seem a little intimidating to me, but I'll never know until I try!

More Exercise in My Future

Today's my second at-least-30-min exercise day in a row! :-) As I mentioned in an earlier post, I went in for a physical recently, and my new doctor told me to do at least 15 minutes of walking per day. It's been hit or miss with life being so busy. I finally started tracking my blood sugars this morning (another doctor's order, delayed by a few days), and realized I should step up that exercise! Yikes!

I need to remember not to stress about the numbers (no help at all), but let the numbers bring out my inner geek. Stay tuned!



Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

Hitting the Reset Button

I went to a new-to-me physician yesterday for a physical, my first general "wellness" appointment in forever. Oy. We'll I'll be working on some things for the next month, and will report back in a follow-up appointment the end of September. One of my new doctor's marching orders is to walk/exercise for 15 minutes every day. The fact that 15 minutes of daily exercise sounds like a lot should tell me something--that I need to do it, for starters! I can hardly believe how out of shape I've gotten! I can really tell a difference in my fitness, though, in two days of walking. Work and graduate school are taking so much of my time and energy, but I need to figure out how to take care of my health too.


Clipart from Clipartheaven.com 

Summer's Over

Even though I'm working fulltime now, summer's over now that my fall semester class starts tomorrow night. The calendar may say it's still summer, but the "free time" part of summer is officially over.

While my exercise time may be limited (what's new lately?), I have been working on eating better, especially in the Fruits & Veggies Department. Not matter what I do or don't do, exercise-wise, I aim to work on better nutrition this fall, as well as other things (like sleeping better).

I do miss running, and hope to work my way back to it. The ankle is still bothering me a bit. :-( I have a physical next week, so that's on my list of things to mention.