Hey Catherine...I wish you the best of luck finding a new job.  Change is always good for the soul! Helps us grow stronger!!  You’re doing fantastic on your workouts.  Putting me to shame!  Looking forward to seeing you on the challenge! Maybe after you get your sensor figured out and this challenge ends, we can start another one so we can all start at the same time!

Catherine, looks like you have a great attitude about the job loss. As my cousin said about something like this, consider this a fertile opportunity. Good for you for continuing to work out despite the knee issues.

Catherine, looks like you have a great attitude about the job loss. As my cousin said about something like this, consider this a fertile opportunity. Good for you for continuing to work out despite the knee issues.

Tammy and Candy - I just got myself signed up on the nikeplus site and signed up for the challenge - my screen name is KatB. I’m thinking of trying my first real walk tomorrow. I just discovered you could draw a map of your route and it would calculate the distance. Cool!!

Today’s workout - Day 69 - CCT. Today I did my training at the gym and Bev (the teacher who got me started on this road to fitness - read the beginning of my thread for details) was there too. She was very impressed with what I am doing and the changes in my body. She was talking with me when I was doing the leg press and pointed out how much definition I have in my medialis!! I so appreciate what she did for me. She got me started but I am doing the work and I will take credit for that.

Before my workout I had another appointment with my chiropractor to treat my knees. They are coming along well and not hurting so much - just a bit after cardio sessions on the elliptical. I developed a kink in my left trap on Sunday before my workout with my trainer Mike (I haven’t written about it though). It really bothered me, but hoped it would relax by now. It hasn’t really limited my movement except when checking my blind spot over my left shoulder when driving.  I’ve had to turn my body a bit more rather than my neck. I have been taking robax to help the muscles relax, but 3 days later the muscle still has quite a knot in it. So Dr. A. included an adjustment today. Although my back has been doing much better he commented on how tight it was. I’m not sure if it is from my session with Mike or more from stress. When he adjusted my neck I was shocked at the severity and number of cracks - I find that a bit alarming when he does that but it always feels good. Then he worked on the trap muscle and O U C H ! @#%^&!!! Basically he stood behind me (sitting) and dug his elbow into the muscle. I was whimpering in pain. But I did come out with more neck mobility. He showed me a few stretches (some that I had already tried). There is still a pinch when I move my head a certain way. If it is still bothering me on Thursday I may see if I can book some time with a massage therapist at Friday’s appointment.

Hey Catherine, I am so excited your joining our challenge.  Even though we started a little while, get on in there.  I’ll start a new challenge in a few weeks for us too!

I thought Docs where supposed to help not torture you!

Thanks Shawn - I was being tortured, but the outcome was good. It was actually a bit funny at the time. Dr. A thought that my half whimper, half laugh meant that he could apply more force.  I don’t have the sharp pain anymore with certain movements (only a bit if I tilt my head backwards to the left - which isn’t a common move!), but it is still a bit stiff.  This is the 3rd time this had happened this year, this time is the worst.  I don’t know why it is happening.  I don’t consider it an injury like my knees, it is just a newsence (sp?).  Once the knot is worked out it will be fine.

Today I took the day off work. I had to get my taxes done. Not a hard job, but didn’t do it on the weekend like I was supposed to. Got a nice surprise. I knew I’d be getting a refund since I was a student last year and didn’t make that much $$, but I’m getting a lot more back than expected. That will help me get through until I land a job for next fall.

Day 70 - Despite being able to sleep in this morning I was still feeling quite tired. I decided not to go to the gym and do my CCT session after all my forms were completed. I wanted to take a nap before dinner, but opted to go out for a walk around the neighbourhood instead. Tried my nike sensor out again, but it didn’t work. It said I only walked 0.03 mi in the first 25 minutes. That can’t be right.  I’ll have to map my route and see just how much ground I actually covered in the hour.  So until my pouch for the sensor arrives I don’t think I’ll be able to add my walks to the nike site Candy and Tammy.  Then I will try it again.

This is the 3rd time this had happened this year, this time is the worst.  I don’t know why it is happening.  I don’t consider it an injury like my knees, it is just a newsence (sp?).  Once the knot is worked out it will be fine.

Catherine, I have this problem periodically as well. When I went to the Doc to have it checked out it turned out that I had bulging disks in my neck. I went to a physical therapist for a bit and he gave me some exercises to do to help urge the bulges back in place. Usually this happens to me when I’m under a lot of stress and at my desk more than normal hunching over my computer. Now I stretch every 15 minutes and really try to watch my posture as much as possible. I don’t know if this is what is happening to you but I hope you feel better soon.

Hey Catherine, I have this problem about once or twice a year too.  I have found that a deep tissue massage at the spa really gets everything out.  I have tried a chiropractor for it too, but the massage works better for me.  Can’t wait till you get the Nike pouch!

Thanks for the advice Emmi and Candy. Today I actually booked a 1/2 hour massage for Saturday. I just did my workout (day 71) and now the shoulder is feeling a bit off too and in a way that has me a bit more conserned. I think a few days of rest are needed. I have been feeling pretty tired this week, but I have not been sleeping well. I dragged myself through my workout today and it took longer than it should have. My average HR was 130 for the hour and 20 minutes and I burned 690 calories. It was one of those days that when I finished my last exercise of bicycles (for abs) I was quite happy to stay on the mat on the floor for quite a while. Since I was all alone in the school weight room I had a nice long stretching session after. I enjoyed that much more than the workout itself.

Tammy and Candy - my nike sensor shoe pouch arrived today. I will attempt to recalibrate my sensor tomorrow or over the weekend and hopefully be able to add some miles to the challenge soon!!

Today my (on-line) course started so I now have a bit more work to squeeze into my week. So if I am MIA for a bit here and there it is likely because I have an assignment due. I am taking Reading - Part 1. It is an Additional Qualification to add to my Teaching resume. So tonight I have to see what has to be done and start my calandar to keep myself organized. Then start on my first assigned reading.

Congrats on the windfall Cathrine,where you taking us for lunch???

I know of a great little place to get swormas!!

Yeah! The pouch is here!  Don’t worry too much about calibration, unless you already tried and moved things around.  I never calibrated mine.  When I get on the treadmill, it’s right on.

Hi all

Yesterday - Day 72 - short morning swim. 1.5 Km - stretch. Was happy with that for the day. Wanted to take it easy and let my body recover a bit. Had another appointment with my chiro to treat my knees after work and he adjusted my neck again. Still had a bit of a knot in my left trap muscle. Got home - had dinner and went to bed.... at 7:30 - except for a call about 9 and up to kick the cats out at 12 (and a quick peek at MTM) I slept through till almost 8am this morning.

Today - day 73 - Wanted to get my workout in before my massage appointment so I was at the gym by 10:15.  Good CCT workout - wished I’d given myself time to do cardio, stretch and cooldown but had to get cleaned up for my appointment. (Just to get oiled - it always ends up in my hair - consider it a hair treatment too - helps with the dryness from the pool) I could only get an appointment with the girl I had tried before… but didn’t really like as a massage therapist. She is nice and in another context she would be a great friend, but I find she wants to chat to much for a massage. While I am going to treat muscle tension not for relaxation I’m still not in the mood to have an elaborate discussion when I am placing myself in such a vulnerable position. She gets talking and gets a bit distracted from what she is doing. I figure I am paying good money and I want her to focus on the task. But on the upside for me - I paid for 1/2 an hour and I think she gave me 45 min.

I am now babysitting my nephew. He is usually a happy little guy but today he is much more temperamental. Had a hard time getting him down for a nap. Not sure how long it will last. He has recently found out I will give him rides. Basically I get a several extra sets of leg extensions in with him around. He comes and sits on my feet (better when he faces away from me!) and I knock out as many reps as I can until either my muscles fatigue or he sees something else to go do!! He must have come back 1/2 a dozen time for a ride!.. I can’t do nephew tossing anymore. I tossed him up in the air several times on Tuesday and my back was a bit sore after. My chiro said the max I should be doing that with is 20lbs. My nephew is closer to 30. But you should see the smile on his face!! So cute!!

Hope you can get all the kinks out. I certainly can relate.

Another fan of child tossing! It’s so fun, and good for you, hope you’re able to resume that treat soon!

Bree

Good job on the child tossing Cathrine!

Day 74 - went to the gym for some cardio.  15 min on the recumbant bike (no data) 35 min on the elliptical (Ave HR 155, Cal 470).  Headed home and did some more time on the treadmill attempting to get my nike sensor set up.  Works much better now that I have the sensor pouch.  Getting closer to loging walks on the nike site… still have a bit of a problem.  Now that my workouts are being uploaded to my nike account, how do I get them to register in the challenge? (Question is for Tammy or Candy).  I’m still in the testing phase so nothing spectacular to report - still less than 1 km logged.

Good Job Catherine, your rocking!

Go Cathrine!