Hi everyone! I haven’t been around here in a while. I got sidetracked when school started (I work at a college). I let my gym membership expire, and then I got so busy and just never got around to joining the new gym I was planning to go to. I have to admit, I was also getting discouraged because I was working out a lot, and not losing any weight.

O.k. so fast forward a bit… I did join the new gym and I just went back for the first time today.

I decided to start my journal right now, before I forgot how GOOD I feel after coming home from my workout.

Let me repeat that-- I just finished my workout and I feel SO GOOD.  The back pain which has been plaguing me for weeks is gone. I feel very relaxed and calm. I feel happy knowing I am in the “active” club instead of the “sedentary” club.

Whenever I feel discouraged, I am going to go back and read what I just wrote.

O.k., so here are my goals. Although I haven’t been exercising for several weeks, I have been thinking a lot about why I want to exercise. And it’s not to lose weight, although I would like to--but that’s not really enough to motivate me right now.

1. I want to be strong and flexible.
2. I want to be able to move without getting tired or feeling awkward.
3. I want to get my blood pressure down to a healthier level (it’s “borderline normal” right now.)

There are a couple of things which motivated me to actually get started this week--i.e., the “click”. They both are kind of silly and not what I would have expected, but they worked so I won’t question it. 

One motivator was watching Sabrina Bryan, the “Cheetah Girl”, on Dancing with the Stars. She has a body type very similar to mine, a little heavy around the middle, but wow can she move. She is strong and graceful. Watching her made me realize that I, too, can be a little heavy but still be strong and graceful if I work at it.

Another motivator was seeing a recent photo of an old friend. He was athletic when I knew him (20 years ago). Well, I saw a recent picture of him and I was shocked to see that he looks exactly the same as he did when we were in college--he has not aged one bit. If anything, he’s more fit. Talk about seeing the benefits of a lifetime of exercise. I was impressed and inspired.

O.k., so that’s where I am today.

I decided to do this journal instead of continuing my 100 days thread--I felt a bit too much pressure doing that. So I’ll just pop in here every now & then and talk about how I’m progressing.

Oh, and here’s what I did today:

30-minute interval workout on the treadmill
Weights: 2 sets of 8 on several machines, and some dumbbell curls. I like to keep it simple.

Just got back from my workout today, and I’m feeling FANTASTIC.

I decided to work out to music instead of podcasts, and I’m liking it a lot better--for now, anyway.

I did another 30-minute interval workout on the treadmill, and a couple of upper-body weight machines that I didn’t get to yesterday. And as always, a few minutes of stretching.

I’ve started to do a little jogging on the treadmill and I’m liking it a lot--I just wish it was lower-impact. I’m hoping to switch to the elliptical but right now it’s too hard for me and it makes my heart rate go too high.

I’m really liking the interval workout too--keeps me from getting bored and gets me in the “zone” a lot faster.

Hi and welcome back.

I like the reasons that you want to move.  Don’t worry about your weight, it’s not so much about what you weigh but how you feel. 

You ARE strong and flexible.
You CAN move and feel good when you move
You ARE healthier

I’m with you - the 100 days of exercise forum is great to establish the habits, but once moving is just another part of life, it’s easier to focus on other things here.  Keep focusing on what works for you, how you feel and make sure you are doing what works.  You have some really strong motivation so just keep moving.

Hi Paula, and thanks for your comments.

You ARE strong and flexible.
You CAN move and feel good when you move
You ARE healthier

It’s funny, I was just thinking yesterday, how, for the first time ever, I am able to say affirmations in the present tense and believe them. I’ve never been able to do that before.

I had another great workout yesterday. I just did another 30-minute interval session, then some abs and stretching.

I am really loving the intervals.  Incorporating a little bit of running is making a huge difference in my mood. I’ve always felt good after walking, but after a walk-run workout, my muscles feel a lot stronger and more relaxed than they ever did with a walking-only workout and I guess that is making me feel like I am making progress.

I didn’t work out today, but I will be back at the gym tomorrow. I am reading a book which says you should not wait more than 48 hours between cardio workouts if you want to keep the “good mood” chemicals in your body.

BTW the book is called “The Athlete’s Way” by Chris Bergland and I highly recommend it. Lots of good information about how to build habits and how your brain changes with exercise.

Looks you’re off and running!

Sabrina was great on the show. I’m glad to hear that she was encouraging to you!

Edyta makes me melt though!

Ha ha, I think a lot of women would love to look like Edyta.

Well I just got back from my workout today. It was a good workout but I didn’t have that great mood lift that I get from running, even though I got my heart rate up to the same level.  I had a bit of soreness and I could feel the start of some shin splints, so I took it easy.  I did manage 15 minutes on the elliptical, and another 20 on the treadmill walking. Then I did a really basic full-body workout with weights.

I really like your change in attitude a lot.  I also like your affirimations that you wrote and how Paula edited them for you.  Great job on returning to exercise in joining up the new gym that you wanted to join.  Your new workout schedule sounds really good and it sounds to me like you are really having a great time with it right now.  Great job, keep up the great work. Enjoy and have fun.

Scooby

Good job today!

Yay, it sounds like your workouts are going great! 

My challenge to you is to try the intervals after weight-lifting, it’s really hard the first ten minutes but then the endorphins kick in and nirvana!  It will also improve the weight poundages you are able to lift, as you won’t already be fatigued from the intervals.

I’m so glad you are enjoying the workouts, and were able to get going again with such a positive attitude!!  You ARE healthier (to quote Paula)!

Thanks again Carrie.

Actually, although I wrote that I did the aerobics first, I have been doing the weights first. I just wrote it backwards out of habit. I always used to do the aerobics first, but I have been reading & hearing that it’s best to do weights first as you described.

Just got back from the gym today (Saturday). I wasn’t planning on going; I had plans for the morning, but my plans were postponed until tomorrow so I went to the gym instead. I’m trying not to let 48 hours pass between workouts. Since tomorrow will be a “rest” day, today was a workout day.

I have to be honest and say I am feeling really tired. Yesterday was a very long day at work, and today was a long workout: LSB (1 hour walking on the treadmill), and a bit of stretching.

Now it’s time to do some laundry so I will have clean clothes to wear and a towel for my next workout.

Treat yourself to some rest, a refreshing bath or shower, with some great scented soap, or maybe a massage.  Clean towels, clean clothes, are all part of taking care of the most important person on the planet - you. 

It looks like the workouts are going well so reward yourself.

Hi everyone. I’ve been gone for a while but I’m still on track.

I had some problems with knee/leg pains and had to take a week off from workouts. I think I am going to have to give up the jogging--it’s the only thing I’m doing differently from any other time I exercised before, and this is the only time I’ve ever experienced the pains I had in my legs.

So, my goal for this week is to learn to love the elliptical machine. I think it will be o.k. once I get used to it.

Leg pain, I know those troubles well unfortunately! I hope that improves for you!

My sister in law recently bought an elliptical. I hear it is the ultimate calorie burner!