The getting back in shape thread

[Kiwi]

third workout day in a row today, Im averaging just over 450 calories everyday over 40 minutes

Im also doing 30 sit ups, 30 press ups (still against the wall) 60 pank rows and 20 piles now - up from the other day three times a week

I want to yet up to an hour cardio and the push ups routine every single day.

[Reyneth]

Blech. I missed tonight's workout. I was a little sore from Monday but the issue was the amount of snow NE Ohio has been pounded with in the past 24 hours. Driving into work this morning was miserable and when I heard that the roads tonight were also horrible, I decided it was better to go home. Only took me about 25% longer to get home than normal but better safe than sorry.

Provided tomorrow is ok, I'll just have to settle w/going twice this week. I am watching what I eat very closely though. I'm hungry!

[Kiwi]

Just finished 4th day in a row, I got up earlier today and had the 4 ten minute sessions, a shower, breakfast and coffee made by 11am....

now I have nothing to do!

[Kiwi]

phew I finally made the 5 workout day in a row

Ive been trying for that since November!!!!

[Kiwi]

I upped my workout to 50 minutes today

next week im going to try for 60 minutes, then hold on that for 6 months

Im down EIGHT of the 40 pounds I want to loose!!!!

[Cat]

Ugh I was terrible about the gym last week (only went once) but at least I did walk all around Keene on Saturday and did a 3hr hike on Sunday (up a small "mountain" and in the snow...it was so fun!!!!)


I *will* be ready for Mt Washington in May, I *will* eat healthier ( so hard...curse u vending machine!)

[Jester]

Better late than never.

I haven't really paid much attention to this thread, even though I've been meaning to get back in shape for a while now.

Notice that phrase. "Been meaning to." As in "hasn't lifted a bloody finger to do it." Remember, I am the Patron Saint of Procrastination.

A little history: I am not a large person. Never have been, in any direction. (We are not talking about personality or mouth, mind you, just physically.) I stand an unimposing (to non-midgets) 5'8" tall. For most of my adult life, I tipped the scales at 130 pounds. Actually, I was within a few pounds of that weight from age 16 to 32. I was thin, yes, but somewhat athletically built from the waist down (see below for why). When I hit 32, I started expanding my horizons...specifically my waist. It wasn't anything horrible...I now weigh about 160. I don't look as skinny as I used to, but then, it's really not all in the right places...unless my waist qualifies as all the right places. The reason this is cause for concern is my father.

Now, there are many ways I aspire to be like my father. Physically is not one of them. Because, while he also was not a tall man, the last few years of his life, he was a rather thick man. Specifically, he had one hell of a belly. He wasn't fat...he just had a huge belly. You've seen the type. The walking pears. He wasn't always that way....he only started to thicken when he was about 41 or so.

I'm 38. And over the last few years, a belly has begun. Nothing huge, nothing drastic, nothing you would really even notice. But *I* notice it, and more importantly, I remember precisely what my father looked like near the end of his life. (He died at 48.) I am NOT going to look like that. True, I have a very physically active job (bartender/waiter) while he had a mostly sedentary job (advertising/sales), and this kind of stuff is not always genetic...but I am NOT taking chances with this shit.

Now, since the day I learned how to ride a bike without training wheels, in one way or another, I have almost always had a bike in my life. At one point in college, I had four. I took in stray bikes the way some people take in stray pets or people. "You're moving back to Oregon and you don't need your bike? You only want how much for it? No problem!" Eventually my love of bikes brought me to the love of my life, Amanda. I have commented on Amanda in other posts in the past. Amanda is a Softride Norwester, and simply the greatest bike I have ever ridden. Ever. (That picture is not Amanda herself, merely a Norwester....Amanda has just black tape on the handle bars, and has red lettering. I believe the one in the picture does as well, but everyone tells me it looks pink.) And yes, I named my bike. So?

But over the last few years, I didn't ride as much. Hell, I didn't even get on my bike once for the last year and a half, until a few days ago. Which, when you have a bike like Amanda, is bordering on criminal. But now I am riding again. Finally. I have not ridden more than 15 miles at a stretch so far, but I realize I am shaking off a lot of rust and my body is not used to this abuse. It feels almost the same as when I first started track in high school. Of course, I was 15 back then, but still. It hurts, I know it will hurt, I know eventually it won't hurt as bad, but it PISSES ME OFF that I am so slow and out of (bicycle) shape. My body is not responding the way it should. Sure, part of it could be age, but most of it, I am convinced, is just lack of cycling.

I rode a few days here, a day there, and not so much the rest. But I have ridden the last three days, 10-15 miles each day, and I am determined to ride further faster as the days go by.

In my favor, I live just off a major street in Key West that, in connection with the main beach road, forms a giant "D" that happens to be a perfect 5 mile loop. (I clocked it in my truck one day.) And each day I go out, I go clockwise or counterclockwise, alternating each day, and each direction has its ups and downs.

One thing I really hate when riding is wind. Key West has a lot of wind.
I really hate headwinds. When you are riding in a loop, half the time you are going to get headwind.
Good. Works me that much harder.
The wind is especially bad on the beach road, where there is nothing to block it. FUN!

Well, that is my getting back in shape post. I didn't really post about my diet because, frankly, my diet is in pretty good shape. I don't put much junk in my body in general, and love fish, chicken, fruits, and veggies. Hell, I could name in one breath the fruits and veggies I DON'T like. So, other than beer and the occasional soda, there is very little junk in my daily diet. And I am not looking to lose a certain number in pounds, merely get into better shape than I am in (yes, round is a shape, but not the one I am gunning for) and better cycling shape. Hell, I would look great at my current weight if it were distributed better! (It's not the amount of weight, it's what kind of weight it is, and where it is.)

Any support or suggestions of any cyclists out there would be most appreciated and most welcome, by the way. Even from Cannondale riders.

[Jester]

Shit. Even when I'm "getting back in shape" I type a fucking novel. I wonder how many calories I burn just from entering my marathon posts in this site?

[BookstoreEscapee]

Self Challenge alert:

OK, I don't know if it was a typo in the magazine or if I just read it wrong, but apparently the Self Challenge sign-up doesn't start until the 19th. They do, however, have a Challenge Countdown with a tip for each day to get ready for the Challenge. So.

Oh, and if you're not familiar with the magazine, it is a women's health/fitness magazine, so obviously it is aimed at us girls. I don't see any reason they guys can't get in on the action, too, though. And you can still get the workouts (either from the website or by picking up the magazine - March, April and May issues) and follow along even if you don't want to officially sign up. Of course, then you won't be eligible for the fabulous prizes.

[iradney]

Woohoo!! I did 2 sets of 12 reps on 55 pounds yesterday!! (Benchpressing)
*flex flex*

[Jester]

Well, I knew that the big test for me would be Tuesdays-Fridays. On these days, I head in to work at 10, and since I am not going to ride after dark (which is what it would be after I get off work), I need to wake up early to ride. I figure I have to wake up at 7 to get a good ride in.

Well, today I got an EPIC FAIL in that endeavor. I did wake up at 7, but then apparently fell right back to sleep, waking up about an hour later. And that just didn't leave me enough time to get a ride in, get home, showered, changed, and to work.

So, 3 days in a row I got a ride in. Today: FAIL!

[Cat]

Well, I did an hour on the treamill.....at at 15% incline (wouldnt go higher)


The only prob, Im so bored at work I snack.....gotta stop that

[BookstoreEscapee]

Yesterday I did an hour on the treadmill, and today I did 70 minutes. Fastest I go is about 3.5 mph.

[Cat]

I got up to 3.5 at one time....I think I'll try to do 1.5 hours tomorrow (have to be sure I have good vid on my ipod, lol)

[BookstoreEscapee]

I got up to 3.5 at one time....I think I'll try to do 1.5 hours tomorrow (have to be sure I have good vid on my ipod, lol)

I read magazines while I walk.

I also listen to my iPod and watch CNN in Espanol with no sound.