The getting back in shape thread

[BookstoreEscapee]

I had to buy a new belt today.

Last night I was flipping channels and happened on a show called "I Want to Save Your Life" (or something like that) on WE TV. Basic premise: this guy works with the subject's family and friends to secretly observe their eating habits for a week or two and then surprises them (sort of like What Not to Wear). He spends a week with them, going through their kitchen cabinets and fridge and tossing all the junk. They go grocery shopping and he shows them what to look for and they restock the kitchen, he gives them some cooking tips, they set up an exercise program, and then he leaves them on their own for 4 months before he comes back to see how they're doing (though he is evidently available by phone/email if they have questions/need help; you don't see that part). I watched two episodes...the guy on the second lost 100 pounds (he started at just under 400) and he shows the several extra inches on the belt he's wearing. He says he's going to keep the belt because the grommets go all the way around, so no matter how much he loses he can still wear it and see his progress.

The first episode had a woman who lost 40 pounds. The first or second day, they went to a bakery and he told her it would take 2 1/2 hours of walking to burn off a slice of chocolate cake...then they bought a slice of cake, and walked for 2 1/2 hours...while she held the cake box the whole time.

God treadmills are BORING! I could have lasted longer but I was just bored, really.).

Music and magazines keep me going (then again, I don't run...yet; I think reading and running would be difficult). (There are also 3 TVs in the gym but they don't have the sound on, and the one in front of the treadmill I like is tuned to CNN in Spanish.) The magazine covers the display so I have no idea how long I've been going. I'm usually surprised when I look. (Words of wisdom: paperback books are OK but hardcovers make for very sore wrists.)

I would like to be able to get up and go for a walk/run before work. I normally get up at 6:30 (I have to leave by 7:30 at the absolute latest). I am sooo not a morning person and it's hard to even get up then. Any suggestions would be welcome...

[crazylegs]

Hit the treadmill for a 10k yesterday. God treadmills are BORING!

MP3 player? Just be aware of the headphone cords.

[BookstoreEscapee]

MP3 player? Just be aware of the headphone cords.

You can get armband iPod holders and thread the cord up your sleeve so it stays out of your way. I can't use my earbuds if I'm going to run at all, though. They always fall out. I have another pair of headphones for that; they're basically earbuds with an adjustable band that goes around behind my neck.

[One-Fang]

Oh I have a mp3 player. Trust me, wouldn't have lasted anywhere near an hour without that!

There's a video player on order, should arrive tomorrow. However, I find running without music to be very much harder. So I'm not sure how I'll use it. And the screen is pretty tiny and I'm not sure it's going to be much of a running aid (more of a portable "something to watch while waiting around" general purpose aid).

Probably wouldn't be quite so bad if they didn't have the mirrors right in front! Okay, so it was at the end of the room, but still ... there's me ... sweating my way out ... right in front of me.

I just prefer it when the scenery changes. Also, if I know I have to ambulate 3k back to the car, it's easier to convince myself to run - it's going to take so much longer if I walk. But if the car is four steps out that door the entire time - not so easy to do that 3k more.

Better weather is predicted this week, so hopefully I'll get out in the real world again.

[Rapscallion]

Four times on the hill, pushed myself harder and hit 176 pulse maximum. 757 calories in 58 minutes - didn't shave much time off, but added a few calories to the shooting range.

Rapscallion

[Kiwi]

Just finished 747 in 60 minutes - 18 days until the medical

[lupo pazzesco]

It's too flipping hot and humid outside to go for a walk or bike ride. I know I need to get up and do some sort of exercise, even if it is just 20 minutes of yoga, but I'm tired, and the motivation is nonexistent. Someone help! Convince me or someting, because I just want to crawl into bed, and I know if I do that, I'll start backsliding again!

[Talon]

I agree, treadmills suck. They're boring, and don't seem to provide much benefit. Of course that could just mean I have a crappy treadmill.

Sadly I have no advice as far as motivation. When my friend introduced me to the idea of jogging at the crack of dawn every day, I thought he was nuts. I also didn't think I would be able to manage it. But it worked. I don't know, I just... did it. Like the Nike slogan

[Rapscallion]

There was a certain 17st 4lbness this morning and yesterday, and I'll be hitting the hill later. Hopefully this is another permanent drop.

Those cookies smell good. May bake some more.

Rapscallion

[Rapscallion]

Five times on the hill, 878 calories, one hour fourteen minutes. Max pulse 170.

Rapscallion

[One-Fang]

10.7km run tonight.

I seem to have trouble getting much above that. Not so much out of tiredness as finding time! That was an hour 20 (pretty slow for under 11k, although I did get lost a few times and have to stop to check my map). It's virtually impossible to find a route that I can fit into the day, AND remember! A 5k route or so you can plot out and remember the way. I'm finding that 10k or so requires maps. I haven't tried for 15 or more yet, but that's going to be interesting!

One method - the local city park is 9km around it in a figure 8 pattern, so I will aim for twice round that way in the weekend = 18km and easy to remember the route!

[crazylegs]

Well, today was the first time in probably two weeks that I went to the gym properly, I've been having some problems with my left knee and spent the majority of the last week with it strapped up (and learning a lot about the quality of crepe bandages in the process).

I eased myself back into it with a 3k run (untimed, but run at 11k/hr) and an upper body workout and my knee feels fine! I won't be doing anything tomorrow, and will alternate rest/workout days for a while to see how it goes, but at the moment it all seems tickity boo!

[draggar]

We officially signed up for the gym this past weekend. $600 for us to get two year memberships at 24 hour fitness (any of their location).

My cardio workout:

20 minutes on the elliptical
20 minutes on the stationary bike (intense)
20 minutes either on the treadmill or elliptical stairmaster thinamajig.

Mon-Wed-Fri

I may start Tues and Thurs toning specific body parts (guy, chest, arms, back, etc..)

[Reyneth]

Completely fell off the healthy eating wagon. potato chips galore!! Salty goodness.

That and I ended up doing a remote location deal with work and spent pretty much all day outside. I drank a lot of water, yes, but also bunches of sugar loaded beverages provided. Since I did that, I decided hell with it, and had deep fried food for dinner.

Don't regret it!

Much...

Beh...

Ok, so one or two days - no biggie! Get back on track with your next meal. Don't beat yourself up about it, that's the key.

We had a mini health fair today at work. Several different tests - and while my BMI is just barely into the "overweight" category, the body fat% and glucose and cholesterol were all really good.

AND I had major motivation for my workout tonight! I was pulling into the parking lot talking to my mom and who do I see pulling in behind me, but the hottie at work I've been lusting over for the past year or so.

When I teased him about sharing control of the tv, he said he wasn't able to go during the day like normal and thought going then would be a good warmup for the softball game he had later (dude's insane).

He was on one of the two ellipticals so I of course ended up next to him on the other (which I would have anyway). Yeah, my average strides per minute was about 15 strides higher than most workouts. He did some floor work after and then I stayed longer than he did to do more machines.

But.... while I did get a couple of nice glimpses of his rear, he was wearing a long sleeve tshirt! I've never seen him in short sleeves that I can remember. So if he's out this weekend when there are some work people going, I might ask him what he's hiding - a tatoo of a naked lady or something? Because I'm sure his arms are amazing, the rest of him is!

Ok, this was more about him than my workout, but that was such amazing motivation, I wish he'd be there at least once a week.

[lupo pazzesco]

Got back on the exercise wagon. I figured out how to work my HRM. Apparently there are 3 settings: WALK, JOG, and RUN. I was setting run for my evening walks which is why my calorie count was so low. Oops. Set correctly, apparently I burn 325 calories for a 40 minute walk. This is MUCH better than 100 for a 30...me likey.

But yes, 40 minute walk, 325 calories, max heart rate 154. Stretched afterwards. Felt good!