I am Jester. Hear me whimper.

[Sapphire Silk]

Trying to jump in here. My 10 year high school reunion is in June, and I'm nearly 100 lbs heaver now than I was then. Bleh. Plus, with the wedding in a little over a year, I need to get myself into shape. A while back, Fiance and I bought the EA Active game for the Wii. I finally got it out, chose the easiest workout...and got about 10 minutes through before collapsing. It provides a good workout (obviously), but relying on the technology sucks. Besides, the leg band (designed to keep the controller in place) barely fit around my leg. The workout included a lot of lunges and kicks, which is great for cardio, but not on my knees. So, I'm going to start going to the campus gym regularly to walk/elliptical.

Yeah, part of the reason I've been dodging my high school reunions has been the weight. My 30 year reunion is in two years . . . I'm thinking about actually going this time (there are other reasons why I haven't . . . like I hated most of the people I went to school with, and drifted away from the ones I was friends with). I figure I ought to be able to lose and keep off enough weight by then.

So I used my Fitbit tonight. Turns out 1 hour of TKD burned 707 calories. Compared to 7 hours of teaching today that burned about 743. Wow. What a difference.

[Jester]

Yesterday I did fuck all, but I knew ahead of time that would be the case, as I was running the tailgate party for the bar. (We do one at the beginning of each baseball and football season.) And while I got a little exercise setting up and breaking down, basically all I did all morning was serve beer, drink beer, serve more beer, drink more beer, etc. But as I said, this was an event I knew about ahead of time, so no surprises there....this was a Planned Day Off from Exercise.

Today, after a decent day at work, I went straight to the gym. I've been trying to mix it up at the gym, not just using different machines, but using different levels and different workout programs on said machines. Right now I am concentrating simply on cardio, so am ignoring the weights. Why? Because I want to lose some weight before I start working on adding muscle. Basically, I am trying to kill my tummy and send it packing.

Today I did half an hour on a sit down stationary bike, which I now officially despise, as far more than the other stationary bikes, it makes my ass hurt. And keep in mind, I'll do 20 miles on my real bike, and have no feeling in my ass (or other nether regions), almost no circulation left in my hands, be sore as hell...and still not hate life as much as this particular bike machine made me hate it. It wasn't the workout itself, it was that for some reason the position of the machine or the seat itself just is not comfortable on one's ass. After just a few minutes, before I even worked up a sweat, my ass was hurting. Not muscularly. Just the kind of hurt when you are sitting uncomfortably.

And I ignored all that pain and discomfort and did a hard 30 minutes on the fucker.

Now, as part of mixing it up, I tried something different today (beyond the Painful Bike). Normally when I do the Elliptical, I do it first, then either the treadmill or the bike after. But I figured I get a good sweat going on the Elliptical, so I did 30 minutes on that after the Painful Bike. When I was done, my shirt was soaked. Good. I want to sweat. That's the fucking point.

So, solid day today at the gym. And afterwards, went to the grocery store and picked up a bunch of things, including spinach and cucumbers to pair with my tuna for dinner. I would have picked up tomatoes as well, but the ones they had were craptastical. I DID pick up some Campari tomatoes (basically mini-Jersey beefsteak...just awesome), but to me these are simply to snack on. Also got some of my favorite juice (Juicy Juice), which was on sale, but wouldn't you know it? They were out of my favorite flavor (Berry). So, deciding to branch out, I picked up three other flavors I'll try....Mango, Strawberry Banana, and White Grape. (I've had white grape juice before, and I love it....just haven't had it from this company.)

I haven't had a chance to ride it yet. I wanted to go this afternoon but there have been storms on and off, so I'll probably wait until Wednesday.

Two words: Bring water. If your bike did not come with water bottle cages, go get one or two. And get the water bottles to fill them. And fill the water bottles with water. Smart riders stay hydrated.

Lupo, only problem with that is my bike only fits in hubby's car, not mine...

Solution: don't put your bike in a car to take it somewhere....ride the bike to where you want to go.

"But it's far." Well, seems to me that would make an excellent goal then, huh? And I'm not giving you shit about this to be an asshole. I'm giving you shit about this because you can do it! Now get out there and go about proving me right, damn it!

For anyone intersted i have attached a piccy of the bike I'm buying.(isn't the basket just adorable?) I am trying to think of a suitable name for her.

First thing that popped into my head: Betty.

[trailerparkmedic]

Solution: don't put your bike in a car to take it somewhere....ride the bike to where you want to go.

"But it's far." Well, seems to me that would make an excellent goal then, huh? And I'm not giving you shit about this to be an asshole. I'm giving you shit about this because you can do it! Now get out there and go about proving me right, damn it!

I'm actually less concerned about the distance (which is quite far, a 30 minute drive) and more concerned about the 2 highways between me and Lupo.

It's gorgeous out and I'm looking forward to riding my bike this afternoon. I hope that when I move this summer I'll be a bit closer to school so I can ride my bike to school.

[Squeaksmyalias]

Well I went out and did about a mile and a half of walking yesterday, Lucy came too and did well, took her about half a mile to calm down then she was semi back to her old self, but any time she heard kids on the trail she stopped dead then back running back to me. We will go back this afternoon and do another mile and a half I think, if the weather cooperates.

I'm not working too hard at the moment to find an alternate trail to go on for the weekends, but once I do we aren't going to be walking our normal one. The reason I'm not working too hard on that is I've got 6 weekends of photography "jobs", which are both volunteer but look damn good on the resume and they are helping me sell my photos in one way or another so they are kinda sorta jobs. I'm not a stationary photographer, hell my tripods are covered in dust. So I should get a good work out, one place is pretty much a hill, so running up and down a hill all day to get shots. The rest of the 5 weekends will be on a large fair ground where I will be running between events all day, climbing fences, bending in uncomfortable ways to get shots, sneaking photos, really just proving the nickname of ninja correct. Hopefully I won't only get a work out but I will meet my knight in shining armor. (it's a Renaissance faire. I know corny, but I couldn't help myself.)

[Sapphire Silk]

I'm actually less concerned about the distance (which is quite far, a 30 minute drive) and more concerned about the 2 highways between me and Lupo.

Have you considered getting a bike rack for your car? They make two kinds: one fits into a trailer hitch receiver, and the other straps to the trunk of your car. Both are removable when not in use. I've used both kinds; they work well. You can probably pick up one used on Craigslist fairly cheap.

Which reminds me; I've got to sell mine. It fits into a trailer hitch receiver, but is too small for the one on my new truck Fortunately, I can just strap the bike in the bed of the truck if I want to take it somewhere.

Well I went out and did about a mile and a half of walking yesterday, Lucy came too and did well, took her about half a mile to calm down then she was semi back to her old self, but any time she heard kids on the trail she stopped dead then back running back to me. We will go back this afternoon and do another mile and a half I think, if the weather cooperates.

Glad to hear Lucy is doing better. If you can find some less used trails to take her on, it might build her confidence for those inevitable occasions when you will run across other people.

I'm getting ready to go to work in a few minutes . . . clinic with the students at the hospital. I'm usually fairly busy on my feet for 6 hours; I'll be interested to see just how busy on the pedometer.

Went to the DMV today to renew my tags. The line was moving slowly, so I killed time by doing calf lifts and ankle stretches, and enjoying the funny looks people were giving me

[trailerparkmedic]

Have you considered getting a bike rack for your car? They make two kinds: one fits into a trailer hitch receiver, and the other straps to the trunk of your car. Both are removable when not in use. I've used both kinds; they work well. You can probably pick up one used on Craigslist fairly cheap.

I've thought about it, but I won't have the money until at least the end of May (when I get my next financial aid check). I also am not quite sure how much I would use it so I need to think about that. Thanks for the suggestion to check Craigslist.

I went out for a quick 30 minute bike ride today. Unexpected plans popped up for tonight so I didn't have time for anything longer. Tomorrow morning is another run and if my homework doesn't eat me alive, I want to do another bike ride. My homework has some scary big teeth right now, though. Finals are looming and good grades beat out fun bike rides. I'm still committed to 3 runs a week to get ready for my 5k.

[raw456]

Well I passed another personal milestone last night *self high-five*

My goal this week was to do 4mins flat out running on the treadmill, last night I did 5!!! I was so proud of myself.

Granted the speed wasn't all that fast (about 7.5km/h), but hey, 6 months ago I couldn't run for 30 seconds I was so unfit.

Cant wait to hit the gym again tonight

[Cat]

Well, hurt my knees yesterday, so I took it easier today. Still 1hr on the treadmill, still 3mph, still 15%, less weight in the pack.

Tomorrow will probably be a rest day....or at least a less-time-at-the-gym day

[Cat]

Feel better soon, Patio! Being sick is never fun

[ArcticChicken]

Chicken noodle soup and Gatorade is not my idea of a meal about now, but it's about all I've been managing.

I know people who drink Pedialyte when they're sick for the same reason, if you want a change.

[Jester]

Tonight was both a success and a failure.

Was tired after a long day of work, including putting away a liquor order (as I do most Tuesdays!). Since a friend of mine had given me a beautiful side of blackfin tuna, I just wanted to go home and cook it up. Such temptation!

But I held strong, went home and put the tuna in the fridge, and hit the gym. And it was a success because I did stuff I had never done....and a failure because I didn't finish. First the treadmill...did a cross country program for 30 minutes. First ten walking briskly at 3.8. Second ten jogging at 4.4. Final ten running at 5.0. At least, that was the plan. First ten, no problem. Second ten, struggled a bit, but made it through. Third ten....stopped it twice, both inside two minutes. The second time, I was done on that machine....after only 90 seconds. Sad, sad, sad. But something to look forward to completing.

Notice above I said "didn't" and not "couldn't." That to me was the biggest failure.

Next was the elliptical for 30 minutes, which I only lasted 10 on. But the difference here was I was doing the ell backwards....which is not at all easy to do. Pedaling backwards is tough for most people, but tougher still for a bicyclist. But that being said, the toughest part was the sheer exhaustion on my thighs....and apparently on my mind!

Hopefully I won't only get a work out but I will meet my knight in shining armor. (it's a Renaissance faire. I know corny, but I couldn't help myself.)

Not all knights where armor. Some where tights, pointy shoes, and goofy hats with bells.

Just saying.

Went to the DMV today to renew my tags. The line was moving slowly, so I killed time by doing calf lifts and ankle stretches, and enjoying the funny looks people were giving me

Fuck 'em. Fuck 'em all. Not your fault that they haven't figured out a better way to kill time waiting on line at the DMV than staring blankly into the Abyss of the future that is their dismal, pathetic lives.

[Cat]

LOL..indeed ignore the funny looks! I get em at the gym with my pack. Thanks for the idea about the calf lifts.....I'll have to do that next time I'm in a line.


And agreed, the elliptical is a pain no matter what direction you use...hence why I avoid it

[Jester]

LOL..indeed ignore the funny looks! I get em at the gym with my pack.

Fuck 'em. Ran into my niece Princess at the gym a while back, and she started trying to give me shift about my bandanna that I was wearing. I always wear a bandanna on my head when I work out or go cycling. And I told her that I didn't give a shit what it looked like, as it kept the fucking sweat out of my eyes, and that was far more important than what a bunch of strangers thought about my attire. (Though I phrased it somewhat more politely to Princess.) I also don't care what others think about me when I finish my work out and I am literally dripping in sweat. Yes, this shows that I am out of shape--that is why I am in the fucking gym, damn it!

And agreed, the elliptical is a pain no matter what direction you use...hence why I avoid it

Yes, which is why I hit it so often....gives me a great cardio workout. Cardio is the best way to drop the extra fat weight I am trying to lose (aka my fucking midsection), so I hit the elliptical is great! But going backwards on it is very, very odd.

By the way, to everyone else here that is hitting the gym, the streets, the pool, whatever... KEEP GOING! Not only CAN you do it, but you WILL do it! Next St. Patty's Day, we are all going to ROCK the photos in here, my friends! For once I may be displaying a six-pack that did NOT come from a beer cooler! And I want to see the rest of you kicking ass too!

After all, MUFFIN TOPS ONLY BELONG ON MUFFINS!

[Sapphire Silk]

I also don't care what others think about me when I finish my work out and I am literally dripping in sweat. Yes, this shows that I am out of shape--that is why I am in the fucking gym, damn it!

Good for you. Going to the gym is about getting your body healthy, not a fashion show.

I love it when I am soaked with sweat; it means I've done a good workout.

Yes, which is why I hit it so often....gives me a great cardio workout. Cardio is the best way to drop the extra fat weight I am trying to lose (aka my fucking midsection), so I hit the elliptical is great! But going backwards on it is very, very odd.

By the way, to everyone else here that is hitting the gym, the streets, the pool, whatever... KEEP GOING! Not only CAN you do it, but you WILL do it! Next St. Patty's Day, we are all going to ROCK the photos in here, my friends! For once I may be displaying a six-pack that did NOT come from a beer cooler! And I want to see the rest of you kicking ass too!

After all, MUFFIN TOPS ONLY BELONG ON MUFFINS!

You are quite right, and that is very inspirational. I have a nice elliptical that I've been finding excuses not to use lately because it is so hard. Enough excuses! Gonna hit it today, and every day that I don't have TKD class! I want this weight gone!

[Squeaksmyalias]

Not all knights where armor. Some where tights, pointy shoes, and goofy hats with bells.

Just saying.

I can't help but laugh, cause that's how a one of the bar tenders in the beer tents dressed last year. Are you sure you didn't come up here last year for the faire Jester? Was the lure of many women in corsets too much for you? Want to come this year? We've got two giant beer tents and you and I can cause much trouble.


Anyway, Lucy and I will be back on the trail today. It's sunny out so once I get over my confusion of seeing the sun we will go out. *blinks* It's so bright...