I am Jester. Hear me whimper.

[Sapphire Silk]

Rock on! Sounds like you had a great workout.

[raw456]

Didnt do much on the weekend due to miserable weather and 2 small dog emergencies (one mine, one a friends) but have my trainer tonight so that will be good.

I found out today about the Mothers Day Classic happening on May 8th (Mothers Day here in Oz) You can do 4km or 8km run or walk. I'm planning the 8km walk. I dont think I will be up to a 4km run with only 2.5weeks to train. Yes, I did manage 1km last week, but it hurt

Jester, I have to ask = What is a spin class??

I have visions of you standing with your arms out like a plane and twirling

[Jester]

Tomorrow morning I am doing a spin class at the gym (I've done it once, and it just works your tail off), and then after hurrying home to shower and change, I am taking my new roommate Orchard to the best Sunday brunch on the island for her birthday. I know I'LL be hungry!

That WAS the plan.

Notice that key word: "plan."

Didn't happen so much.

What DID happen was I stayed up way too late the night before (oddly enough, not drinking), and so didn't wake up till 11:15. Pretty much when the spin class was ending. And 45 minutes before our reservation for brunch.

Ah, crap. Well, I figured we'd do brunch, and then later in the day I'd get a workout. Right?

Riiiiiiiiiight.....

Not so much. At brunch, Orchard, myself, and my friend Little Red had a lovely time, especially with the included all-you-can-drink mimosas. We had more than a few. (Mimosas are gooooooodddd.....)

Then I had the bright idea that we should go to a local beer bar for a quick one.

Riiiiiiiiiiight.

Well, I only had one beer. Of course, I convinced the bartender to allow me a few samples of other drafts. (Seriously, just samples. Nothing major.) And of course I saw a friend there I haven't seen in a while, so I bought HER a beer. And, for SOME reason, I ended up buying several different high end beers for home use. After tip, my total tab ended up being $101. This is not including the money I dropped treating my roommate to brunch. (It was her birthday, after all.)

And then, once I finally got home, seeing as it was too late to hit the bike shop to pick up my new bike and drop off Amanda (who needs work on her rear derailleur), I was responsible and went to a local office to take care of some legal/financial paperwork I needed to take care of. And I did.

And then hit the pool bar where my friend Nail works. For a quick Corona. And a chance to drool over girls in bikinis, including two that were wearing t-backs. Lord bless t-backs and showing some booty!

And then came home and passed the hell out, waking up a couple hours ago. At which point I realized I had better start some laundry if I want anything to wear at work tomorrow.

So, yeah. No workout. Had two more beers than I meant to (as I was foregoing beer this week, if you remember). And spent way too much money.

But all in all, a lovely Sunday. I can't really complain all that much. And, despite the two beers I had, was very carb conscious at brunch, and pretty much ignored all the carb-heavy stuff, including the sushi that was calling to me. (I did have tuna poke and tuna tartare, though. Just no sushi. Rice and all.)

Sadly, no workout Monday, as I am going to be going to the Taste of Key West after work. So Tuesday, yes. And perhaps Wednesday, since Sunday and Monday were so blown.

Jester, I have to ask = What is a spin class??

I have visions of you standing with your arms out like a plane and twirling

As amusing as that vision is--and as much as I've probably done that in more than one bar--that is not quite the deal.

Spin classes are basically stationary bikes with a trainer telling you when to adjust the settings, i.e., the resistance, and telling you when to sprint and when to cruise, etc. Basically it's riding a bike without getting anywhere.

Sort of a metaphor for my love life, now that I think about it.

[Cat]

Yesterday was a bit of a pig-out day (and gods, that was fun and tasty)

Today, back to eating well and back to the gym....going to use treadmill and weight machines (if they are free)

Keeping fingers crossed the rain will hold off til late next Saturday...I *need* to get on a trail

[lupo pazzesco]

Yesterday I cleaned house and am mostly done. That was my workout and my shoulders still feel it.

Today, finish cleaning house, and cooking for the week, so my menus are planned out.

I kinda sorta went WAY under my calories yesterday, and if the nausea and headache I have are anything to go by this morning, that was NOT a good plan. My boyfriend was unhappy with me. Very unhappy. >.>

Also, today, I plan on going for a walk. I did my official first weigh-in yesterday, and am starting a 5% challenge through the site I use to track all my stuff in may, in the hopes that I can lose 30 lbs by July 31st, that's the initial small goal, and will move on from there.

Jester, I wasn't focusing on the word "plan" in your statement, I was focusing on the word "was"

Kidding!!

And you resisted sushi?? You've more willpower than I. I'd have gone for the sashimi and just eaten less rice. I love sushi.

Off to scrub the kitchen some more! Muffin tops only belong on muffins!!

[Cat]

Well, finally had time for a lunch walk....and out of the 45 mins I was out.....3 of them were jogged.....it's not much, but more than I normally do.

Since I had that lunchwalk, I spent 45 mins on the treadmill and used some of thw eight machines.

Odd thing regarding diet....I ran outta coffee a few weeks back, and being cheap I didn't buy any more....been drinking tea instead. Well....I finally bought some....and I think I I lost my tolerance....I was jittery all day.

[Jester]

Before I comment on my own silly life, let me say one thing.

KEEP GOING, KIDS! KEEP GRINDING, KEEP PUSHING, KEEP HAULING ASS.
BECAUSE MUFFIN TOPS ONLY BELONG ON MUFFINS!
BECAUSE YOU CAN DO IT!
AND BECAUSE YOU ARE WORTH IT, DAMN IT!

Alrighty, then.....

NEW BIKE UPDATE: So yesterday was supposed to be the first day of my new commuting plan. Notice that key word that has popped up yet again in my life: "was." This is what actually happened:

I left the house on Amanda, with the idea that I would drop her off (she needs some derailleur adjustment) and pick up the new bike, pay for the work they had done so far, and ride the new bike to work. And then, after doing the Taste of Key West, ride the new bike home. And I'd pick Amanda up on Wednesday, as that is a non-bike-commuting day, due to working two magic jobs on opposite sides of the town and having to look somewhat professional for the second one. (Details, details.) So I get to the bike shop. Drop off Amanda. Pick up the new bike. All I have to do is pay the guys and--where the fuck's my wallet?

Motherfucker! I had left my wallet at home! Shit!

Luckily for me, the bike shop guys kinda know me (it does pay to be known), and they told me to just pay for everything when I pick up Amanda later in the week. Cool. But I still needed my wallet. Not for cash, per se I only had fiver in my wallet), but in case I needed my ID (no longer becoming much of an issue), or my bank card, or a hundred other possible reasons. Heck, I just hate being without my wallet. So I hopped on the new bike and headed back home...which is the opposite direction from work. Get home, grab my #$&*@$%@* wallet, realize my time is getting short, so I lock up the new bike and hop in the truck and drive into work. So much for the bike-commuting! TODAY will be Day 1 of that, weather-permitting. And for that, I need to leave early to see how long it takes me to get to work when I am not hauling ass.

Speaking of weather, my mother brought up an interesting point. What if the weather is great when I leave my house in the morning, but when I head home from work, it is raining? As this is the tropics, that is not only a possibility, but a very real likelihood from time to time. But as I told Mom, it doesn't matter what the weather is like when I'm coming home. If I get wet coming home, big deal? I change my clothes when I get home. But if I get soaked going to work, I am stuck in those clothes for up to 9 hours. Big difference.

DIET UPDATE: Yesterday was the Taste of Key West, a lovely food and wine festival (with some beer). Most years I go for the beer and ignore the wine. This year, I figured fuck it, I'm going for the wine. Several reasons:
--I love wine.
--This week I am trying to avoid beer to see if the reduction in carbs helps.
--The odds of them having any beers at this thing that I have not already tried at some point are not very good.
--The odds of them having any wines at this thing that I have not already tried at some point are extremely good.

So I did the wine thing, and even with all the taste treats, managed to be (mostly) carb friendly in my selections. When given sushi, I ate the fish, left the rice. Etc., etc. You get the idea. We'll see if all of this comes out on the scale tonight at the gym.

Confession time. Okay, I did have ONE beer. After the Taste, my friend Little Red wanted to go to one of our favorite beer & wine bars for one drink (and to see a bartender there she's been drooling over), and she offered to treat me. Well, free beer is good beer, so hell yes! Sadly, for the life of me, I can't quite recall which beer I had. (I had had a lot of wine at the Taste, ya know.) I'll have to ask Red about that.

So, no gym yesterday, as planned. No gym Sunday, as not planned. Gym today, per the plan. Tomorrow, perhaps a 5 mile run after my second job, depending on how tired I am after the second job.

23/30, bitches. 23/30.

And you resisted sushi?? You've more willpower than I. I'd have gone for the sashimi and just eaten less rice. I love sushi.

I love sushi, too. But as I said, they had poke and tartare. And I could not have done the sashimi thing, as this was sushi rolls. Besides, there was plenty to eat. (And as I noted above, at the Taste, I did the very thing you suggested with the sushi....)

[Dave1982]

Ugh....I hate it when I forget my wallet. Usually I pat my rear pocket before leacving to make sure it's there, but of course the one time you don't do that is the time you forget.

[Cat]

Woke up in pain today...which is not good since I pulled my thigh muscle last year, so I think it best if I rest today. And grocery shop.

I hate when I forget my wallet, usually happens when I switch bags, and I don't realize it's gone til I get to work.



Keep up the awesome work, everyone!!!!

[Jester]

Ugh....I hate it when I forget my wallet.

Yeah, it sucks. I remember a few years ago I had a lovely sushi dinner at my favorite sushi restaurant here in KW and when I went to pay....aw, crap! Luckily they kinda knew me, too, and had no problem with me racing home to grab the wallet and come back and pay them.

And of course, about a month later, when I came back to dine there, one of the first things they did to greet me was ask, "So....did you bring your wallet this time?" Fuckers.

[Jester]

Fuck me. Bike Commuter Day 1 is going to have to wait till Thursday. I lost track of time reading GK's weekly installment and commenting on it, and now it would be cutting it a bit close to get to work on time via bike. Add to that that I am Out Of Gatorade (a cardinal sin), and need to get some more before work, and it's gonna be another truck day. Fuck a duck.

[Sapphire Silk]

Look at it this way: you may have forgotten your wallet, and had to take the truck to work . . . but you DID get some biking in that day. Just not to the destination you originally planned

I'll be curious to see what my weight does this week. I've gotten a great upper body workout using the crutches

Good news is, the swelling has come way down, and it's getting easier to weight bear. I'm canceling my clinic tonight because I still can't get my foot into a shoe (can't go to work with my toes exposed to open air), but should be able to go tomorrow. I'm going to try switching to a cane today and see how my foot feels with that.

[Squeaksmyalias]

I'm still here! I have been walking just about every day. Yesterday nope, but that was because I was so so very sore and tired. Sunday I spent just about 8 hours on my feet. I'm not kidding, about hour 7 I realize I had not sat down AT ALL the entire time. Oops. Sunday was full of running between stages, climbing and trying to avoid large mud puddles then failing. ( can that be considered swimming?) By Monday I could barely move, I slept way later then planning and my arms hurt from keeping them up all day holding a camera. I also kinda forgot to eat on Sunday...yea...I know that was very bad of me, it's an awful habit I picked up on at the pet sitting job. One of the knights I made friends with (that sounds so cool!) plans on making sure I am looked after, he noticed I was too busy to stop so during the day he plans on dragging me to the staff tent and making sure I eat and rest.
This was just the dress rehearsal so I can only imagine how I will feel doing two- three days of this for the next five weeks. What have I gotten myself into?!

[Jester]

So today, after a week of really low carbs (I think I had maybe 2 beers all week, plus I've been avoiding the obvious carbs in my diet), I got to see the fruits of my labor. I got to weigh myself at the gym.

Total weight loss: zero.

Ah, crap!

I know, I know. It's not supposed to be about the numbers for me. I am only 160, and not fat, just trying to deal with a growing belly. And perhaps I have done some good there, as my belt seems looser. Maybe I am gaining muscle and losing fat, I don't know. But I was trying to cut down on weight and then build up muscle. In reality, 160 would be a good weight for me to be at. I just want to change what that 160 is made of, and where. So, right now, I have no idea if what I am doing is working or not. There is no blatant mirror evidence, and the belt thing may only be the normal fluctuation of the body day to day, or may just be my imagination.

The real question is, can I go another week without beer. And really, is it having that much difference if I continue to ignore other carbs?

We'll see.

Tonight, after a good workout at work, since I was a little busy and had a SHITLOAD of stuff to stock, I went to the gym, and got a decently sweaty workout in: stationary bike for 25 minutes on a ridiculous resistance--I was pedaling as much as I could, it was still moving very slowly, but I was dripping with the effort--and then some time on a little rowing machine I didn't even realize they had. I am sore. I was sweaty. This is good.

A bit on the diet: Discovered a new drink I've been trying. Actually a line of them, called Naked. Basically fruit smoothies made of, well, fruit. Rather than some of the other crap you find in such drinks. The non-protein-enhanced ones are really tasty. The protein-enhanced ones just taste too chalky to me, so I am avoiding them. They are expensive, but they are pretty yummy. And a nice change from the usual.

Look at it this way: you may have forgotten your wallet, and had to take the truck to work . . . but you DID get some biking in that day. Just not to the destination you originally planned.

True, but the commute-by-bike thing was not just for exercise, but also to save money on gas and parking, and to save wear and tear on my truck. Exercise was only one part of it.

Sunday I spent just about 8 hours on my feet. I'm not kidding, about hour 7 I realize I had not sat down AT ALL the entire time.

Welcome to my world. In all 3 of my jobs, I am on my feet constantly. Bartending does not afford one a chance to sit down--today, the last time I sat before I clocked in was in my truck while parking. And the first time I sat after that--was in my truck leaving downtown. 8 hours later.

And while I CAN sit down at the toy shop behind the magic bar, I almost never do. And I can't really perform well while seated. I know some magicians can, but it just doesn't work for me. Not that I CAN'T do it. It just doesn't feel right.
And at the restaurant, well, I do walk-around magic. At people's tables. Kind of tough to sit down when you're walking around.

Actually, that is one aspect of my working life that works well in the vein of this thread, come to think of it.

[Cat]

Was gonna jog this morn, though I an still a bit sore and it's rather raw out. Yah, yah, not the best of excuses, but I'll make up for it at the gym.