My New Gym Membership

I was on the phone with Kerry on Saturday talking about everything under the sun. We were on the phone for 3 hours. 3 hours!!!!! In this conversation I was complaining about not being able to exercise. The podiatrist suggested swimming but I don't have a pool and I was telling her this when she said "Mom, why don't you just join the pool like we did when I was a kid?" Well, a light went off and I said "now, that's a great idea".

I went over to our local aquatic center and asked about a membership. There were a few different memberships available and one included a membership to the fitness center at the aquatic center. It was inexpensive and there was no sign up fee like there is at a 24 Hour Fitness or Bally's. I joined up on the spot.

I got up early this morning and I went over for my first workout. The fitness center has treadmills, elipticals, recumbent bikes, stairclimbers and every kind of weight machine in the world. There were quite a few that I have never seen before and I've been in a lot of gyms in my life. They even have a steam room!! There is a free weight room and even a "Curves" room. I told the person giving me the tour that the "Curves" room is the one room I was going to say out of. Not only did I work at Curves for a year and a half but I tore my Plantar Fascia there. Nope, not going in there.

My podiatrist had told me that I was allowed 15 minutes on a treadmill so I did that. Then I went over to the recumbent bikes for another 15 minutes. It's been quite some time since I worked out that hard. It felt great. When I finished my cardio I went over to the weight machines. I worked my back, shoulders and triceps. I felt really great when I was done. I was hot and sweaty but happy that I had worked out so hard.

When I was done in the gym I changed into my swim suit and hit the pool. OMG!!! It was so great to be in the water again. It's been years since I've been swimming. It was such a freeing feeling. I swam about 20 laps before I pooped out. I am going to love this new gym and pool.

I have to say that I am definitely feeling my foot at the moment. I'm hoping that it goes away soon. Maybe I did too much. I don't know but even if I have to cut back a bit I can still go there and just lift weights and swim.

My food was better today. I guess it's all connected just like Richard says. I think I'm on the right track.

Wednesday Check In

I kept my promise to Laura and called my podiatrist Dr Tanner for an appointment. My heel pain is back in a big way and it's getting in the way of my life again. I can't walk, run or do one of Richard's videos because the pain is too much to bear. It's frustrating and depressing. I'll never lose the 15 pounds if I can't exercise. I have enough trouble losing weight when I'm feeling well and not in pain. I will welcome the cortisone shot that is probably coming. Anything that will allow me to get back to the track and back ON track is on my list of things to love.

Today I am starting my day with Joy's Hatha class at the Yoga Source. I can do most asanas without foot pain. Note I said most. Pushing back into down dog is painful as is plank and some others. I'm hoping most of the class will be laying down or sitting. That I can do. I can aways do yoga.

Downward facing dog in Juliana's studio

I'm off from work today so after yogaI think I will crank up my Ipod and do some strength training. I can sit and lift weights. Yeah, I can do that. Maybe a good weight lifting session will help me with my motivation which has left the builiding now that I can't exercise. If nothing else it will give my metabolism a needed boost. I'm busy needing boosts and kicks in the butt. Please... feel free to take aim....rear back....and kick me in the butt.

Hey Ang, thanks for making me your blogger of the week. I am honored that you feel I actually have something to give to the world. That helps. You are the best.

Easy Come, Easy Go

Thanksgiving was great. Kerry was home and Cousin Stevie came over for dinner. He and Pat played golf in the afternoon while Kerry and I did the cooking. The kid has turned into this amazing cook! She made a spinach and cheese quiche that was just fantastic. I'm sure the calorie count was way up there but I ate it anyway. After all, the kid made it!! It was a nice low keyed dinner which worked for me because I did most or all of the work. We didn't get to eat the birthday cake. Everyone was too full from dinner. I guess that's a good thing.

Black Friday was soooo much fun. Kerry woke me up at 6:00AM and we were at the Town Center Mall by 8:00. We totally shopped our brains out getting some really great deals at Bloomingdales, Lucky Jeans, Clarks Shoes, Anthropologie and Coach. Most of the stuff was for Kerry with one or two things for me. Anyone who knows me knows which store was the one that I bought myself something at. Yeah, I spent most of the money that I won at the casino but what the hell. Easy come, easy go.

My heel is still giving me some trouble but I think it's getting better slowly. I was able to workout to a video yesterday so that was good. Today I think I will stick to some weight training. It will be much easier on my heel and I also have to work tonight which puts me up on my feet for hours.

Food could have been better but on the other hand it could have been a lot worse too. I was down to 152 yesterday which shocked the crap out of me. I figured I was totally out of the 150's and into the 160's but I'm happy to say not even close. Now if I could just get rid of the extra few pounds as easily as I was able to get rid of my winnings I'd be happy. C'mon extra weight!!! Easy come, easy go.

Struggling with my weight.....again

Here I go again. Struggling with my weight again. I stepped on the scale the day before yesterday and there it was. The number that I feel strikes the alarm. 150. It's a good 10 pounds out of my "acceptable weight range" and screams at me that the time is now to get a grip on myself.

I knew it when I stepped on the scale. I knew it before I weighed in. I really do not live in some dream world where I really think I am doing well and keeping the weight off. I know when my food is out of control and my exercise nonexistent. That little voice inside me tells me. Is that little voice me or Richard Simmons? I guess the answer to that question doesn't really matter. That fact that the voice is speaking to me is the issue and do I listen to it? God forbid.

OK. It's time to get a grip before I wake up one day in the future with 50 or 100 extra pounds to lose. The first step is to get back to daily exercise. I went to the track on Monday and power walked 4 miles. I also lifted weights that focused on my legs, shoulders and biceps. Yesterday I went to the track and power walked 4 more miles. Today is vinyasa yoga day and if you think yoga is easy try a vinyasa flow class. It will change your mind. I also plan to lift weights later on today and focus on my chest, back and triceps. Tomorrow will be double yoga day which means 3 hours of yoga and I have plans to meet my friend Sandy at the track to power walk on Friday. It looks like, as usual, exercise is the easy part. The hard part is the food.

I think I'll tackle that tomorrow.

Back in the saddle again

Lately I have not been going to the track as often as I should. I have used the excuse that I don't have to go because I work at Curves and get a lot of exercise there. While it is true that I work at Curves it is not true that I get that much real aerobic exercise while I am working. Usually, I am standing in the circle and moving but not enough to get my heart rate up and certainly not for the 50-60 minutes that I need to keep my weight under control. I have finally come to the realization that I need to go back to my old exercise habits and go to the track every day or at least 6 days a week. I started back on Wednesday and walked 3-4 miles every day so far.

My favorite place to exercise-"The Track"

I also have to start weight training in my home again. Yep, I stopped doing that too. I always found it easier to stick to my walking regiment than to the weekly weight lifting sessions. I know that yoga definitely helps with toning but it is not a substitute for 3 good, solid, hard, weight training sessions every week and I need to get back to that as well.

So.......I am here to say that I am getting back in the exercise saddle again. I have already started going to the track again and it feels great to be back. My attitude has improved and the scale is already moving in the downward direction albeit very slowly.

My weight training sessions will be starting today. I will be working my shoulders, chest and triceps with free weights while watching the Grey's Anatomy DVDs that the kid bought for me on my birthday. Oh yeah, I am totally addicted to Grey's but that's a subject for another blog. LOL

The cast of Grey's Anatomy

It feels great to be back in the saddle again. I guess I never should have gotten off the horse but we all have to learn our life lessons in our own way. I'll let you know how it goes.