Back on the bike

Spent 30 minutes in the gym this morning.

Bike: 6 minutes @ level 7
Swimmers press: 24@ 10# each l, r
Back scratchers: 12 @ 5# each l, r
Articulated Fly: 12 @ 5# each l, r
Squat: 12 @ 5# each l, r
Gunslingers: 12 @ 5# each l, r
Side Extensions: 12 @ 5# each l, r

Glute kicks: 12 @ 45# l, r
Torso Twists: 12 l, r (forgot the weight setting)

~ o h m ~

I'm really looking forward to picking up yoga in the park again. With all the scheduling changes, it got dropped, but it's long overdue to add it back in, and Friday morning hasn't been the same since I stopped going. I know that it was because Vivian wasn't with me, but I'm looking forward to including her in the Monday evening offering. She has missed it and Bonny has missed having her in class.

I know I wouldn't be able to fit in the health and wellness pieces of my routine if I didn't have such great support from my partner. It really is all about balance.

Sidling Toward Normal

At the gym this morning:

• Walked a mile. Something happens at the half-mile mark: my lizard brain chooses something scary to unpack and throw on the ground for examination. Apparently, walking is my safe zone, and walking with my partner is especially so. This is not always easy or comfortable for either of us, mind you, and there's plenty to go through, and plenty that I have no idea what to do with. Somewhere around the mile mark, the fear recedes and I can become a normal-ish person again, with one less item in my Trunk Of Weird.
• Today I took weights with me to the inversion center. 5# each hand for 32 each twisted inclined sit ups and twisted angels. I might have to up the weight to 7.5#, though I totally felt the difference.
• 10#(l,r) for
• 12 swimmers press
• 12 prone fly 
• 12 skullcrushers
  
• 6 (l,r) back scratchers
• 20# barbell for 12 underhand overhead press and 8 underhand overhead press
  
• 30 minute sauna meditation

And then a stop at the co-op on the way home where we had lunch (egg salad, tomato, horseradish cheddar, smoked salmon) and played cards.

I enrolled in classes for Fall and sent relevant content to my attorney for the upcoming chaos. I offered a sympathetic ear to someone, and scheduled a meeting with the Guardian ad litem as well as one with my advisor, both for next week.

And now, rest time.

Cardio versus Weights

Let's be real: cardio doesn't build shape. Weights do. And if you're working out for any reason, you have an ideal shape in mind. Weights are the ticket to get you there. Yes, processed food and sugar need to go. Yes, running and the elliptical shed calories super fast. But you won't get the body you are after unless and until you work for the shape.

Me? I want to look dead sexy from every angle, to stop traffic coming and going. And then I'm going to change my license plate to &BRAINS2.

Thirteen Days in A Row

Another early morning at the gym. Fifteen minutes at level six (up from level five) on the elliptical. Walked a quarter mile before pulling 100m on the rowing machine in six minutes -- my form is getting better and I'm extending back far enough that it is essentially working in 100 sit ups as well as the other awesomeness that is the rowing machine. Walked another quarter mile, then jogged a quarter mile, then hit the glute extension (12 reps each leg at 70 pounds), the inner and outer thigh machines (2 sets of 12 reps at 70 pounds each) and the back extension machine (24 reps at 70 pounds) and 16 inclined sit ups I simply could not do more than 40 pounds on the tricep machine, so I set the weight at that and did twelve of them. After that, swimming a mile was a respite, and five minutes in the hot tub was golden.

At home, Vivian was a delight as we made breakfast and changed her into her uniform and went to school. I turned the stale bagels into slices and toasted them, and they are delicious, a perfect accompnaiment to some lemon ginger tea.

I'm starting to see definition in the arms and increased firmness in the abs. I can definitely feel the improvement in my back and core. The scale says I've hit 125, and I'm really ok with that. I can feel the weight finally, finally!! coming out of my face, even if only a little. I'm probably going to need new swim shorts by April, since the waist on the ones I have is getting a bit loose. I feel really positive about the way I look for the first time in a decade.

The biggest bonus is the way I feel, which is way better overall from a couple months ago. I definitely have more energy throughout the day, and feel less cranky in general, less discouraged. I am still an emotional wreck about things at times, I grant you, but for actual reasons and not because I didn't have enough energy to feel good. Peace is possible.

Oh, and I just found out about the FitBit Blaze that is coming in March. I totally need one, but that's not important right now.

In other news, today is day nine of not smoking.

An Evening Out

This afternoon after we picked up Vivian, we all went to the gym together. I did a record 13 minutes on the elliptical before hitting the track to run (yes, run. Me!) a quarter mile before doing inclined sit ups, back extension, glute machine and legs workout. Afterwards, we all went into the pool, and Vivian had a ball in the kids area. Dinner at home was ground beef with mushrooms, leeks, rice, garbanzo beans, and cheddar cheese. It was tasty and filling and super comfortable.

Today's life moments included paying on my college tuition, dropping a resume at an office, finding a couple other jobs to apply for (tomorrow), and sorting out the books, knitting supplies, and papers that were stacked in and around the study.

Life is good.

January 2

I broke down and joined a gym, in January, no less. Because it has a heated pool. But I love it. I need a new swimsuit and a new pair of yoga pants. Still love it anyway.

Did the elliptical for three whole minutes - this is new.
Walked a mile, did a minute plank and 30 seconds each side. Side planks are new.
Swam 5 laps (10 lengths)
Spent a couple minutes in the hot tub.

Ate a Huge salad with Romaine lettuce, carrots, garbanzo beans, a parsnip, celery and a tomato-and-a-half. Followed it with 6 ounces roast beef and four slices of Swiss cheese.

1.5 litres of water so far.
Weight: (gym scale) 129.something

A little perspective, if you please

I am not a Stay At Home Mom.
I don't do homeschooling, and my house isn't nearly as neat as I wish it were.

• I work 40+ hours a week in an office in a career.
• I transport three children to three different places every morning.
• I pack lunches and supplies for the toddler every weekday morning.
• I work out (mostly) every weekday morning and once on the weekends.
• I read at least one book a month (sometimes as much as a book a week, even).
• I knit. Right now the average is about one project a month, and by project I mean garment.
• I host friends over at least once a month.
• My son hosts friends over for D&D about once a week.
• I drop the teen and 'tween boys at karate four times a week.
• I play with my daughter one-on-one for an hour while my sons are at karate.
• I cook, mostly organic, usually scary nutritious, often from scratch (less lately than I used to and less than I would like to).
• I do laundry and the dishes.
• I clean bathrooms and floors.
• I take out the trash.
• I send email and keep in touch with my friends, both local and long-distance. Even if the message isn't a long one, it is heartfelt and that much comes through.
• I haven't baked much in the last six weeks, but before that we were making most of our own bread. And soups. And they were amazing.
• I manage the medical and other appointments for us all.
• I pay the bills, mostly on time, even.
• I am working on organizing stuff, and doing a pretty good job of it, but it's not nearly done yet.
• I decorate for the holidays.

So can I stop giving myself crap now for feeling as though I don't do enough?

You promise?

While I was on the bike this morning, I saw a tv news splash page: Last Twilight Movie. It was all I could do not to yell "You promise?"

The Dawn of a New Day

While I am walking to Mount Doom, I have gotten some good advice, not the least of which was that I shouldn't be putting my heart rate above 150 given my recent history. So when I tried the elliptical machine this morning and saw a rate of 147 after only three minutes, I bailed and headed back to my friend, the bike. Alessandra joined me, and we went another 4.5 miles today, still on Stock Road, but into the rolling hills part. A sense of foreboding is peppering the day as we approach the forest.

Also, I am hungry. I mean, ravenous. I don't even like bananas, and I nearly knocked the produce guy down trying to get one after biking this morning. I ate it while the children had their breakfasts and I made Vivian's lunch. I started with orange juice and the banana, and I really haven't stopped yet. I'm having flashbacks to when I was on the swim team back when I was 15.

The children continue to be fantastic. [Although Ethan was a little disappointed that the election results mean we will not be moving to New Zealand, he can live with it.] Ethan and Graeme are continuing to rack up Level One points in the mornings, and by being helpful in the evening. I'm looking into karate classes for them at their request.

I'm taking a walk

It was too cold to watch the Quidditch Finals match, so we met up with friends, ate mightily, drank well, played games, and decided to take a walk. I joined the local Planet Fitness and started tracking my distance on the stationary bike. I met with a personal trainer and told her about my back and heart issues, and she identified safe training goals that would matter, various ways that I can exercise safely while still making Optimus Proud.

I'm being joined along the way by some awesome people, and I'm keeping track of my progress (of course: I am still a nerd, you know!). I'm mapping out challenges and skills, areas of real hiking that are similar to the path the Hobbits followed, and (naturally) some serious reward. In addition, Lizzy and Alessandra are joining me in restarting our Sunday Pilates routine.

Currently I'm not quite at Stock Road, but I can see it from here. I'm looking forward to every step of it.