Personal Development Community

Sounds like a great time Paula, what’s a “Karen story”?

I understand your comment about not being in as good a shape as you feel. I thought I had decent balance until my evaluation. And I’m really excited that your trainer is a physical therapist. Mine is too and I think it makes a definite difference. I also didn’t want to injure myself more in my quest to gain fitness and at this point residuals of injuries are inevitable. It will be interesting to see what he has you do.

Karen was a friend and fellow paddler who passed away last week.  This was a paddle where we shared memories, and told stories about her wonderful enthusiasm for life and kayaking, had a pot luck lunch at one of her favorite places (and scene of a variety of crimes ) and drank a toast before heading back to the harbor.  I mentioned her passing over on my journal thread.  It was more of a celebration of her life than a sorrowful event.  Life will go on and she will be missed.

Sounds like a great way to be remembered, sorry about your friend Paula.

Sorry about your friend, Paula.  It sounds like you guys threw a very nice bon voyage for her.
Keep us posted on the trainer situation.  It’s good that you’re kinda shopping around.

It’s Monday and I did my homework. 

Yesterday we paddled out the gate (Under the Golden Gate Bridge) and poked around the rocks by the Marin Headlands.  The swell was fairly big, but the wind waves were minimal.  We went in and around the rocks, and rode the swell surge and enjoyed a really beautiful day.  It would have been a better day for Willow than Andromeda though.  Andromeda likes to keep moving and gets a little twitchy when we go slow or sit still, even in small waves - so I got a great hip and waist workout.  Willow would have been much easier to move around the rocks.  It was more laziness than planning - Andromeda was already on top of the truck from Saturday’s paddle. 

Today was a gym day - an hour cardio. 

Plan for tomorrow - my first real training session with Ryan. 

The good news - I’m back at the midpoint of my acceptable weight range.  It didn’t take much, just up the exercise and cut back a little on the food for about 2 weeks.

Good stuff Paula

That’s great Paula.  I’m glad you found a trainer.  Good luck tomorrow.  I hope it works out with Ryan. Pump some iron!

Just found the time to catch up on your thread. I am sorry to hear that you lost your friend Karen. Sure puts priorities and the importance of life in perspective.

I am glad to hear that you found a trainer you can work with. My trainer is worth his weight in gold. There is nothing quite like having someone push you further than you thought you could go. I hope this works well for you.

Ouch!  I had my butt kicked today by Ryan.  He is great and very motivating.  We kept the weights low but pushed the reps.  That is to transition me from my cardio focus to more strength training, and allowing me to keep my ability to walk.  He’s a great kid (finishing his masters in physical therapy, going for a doctorate afterwards - great goals).  And he was great at watching for the tips and exercises I need to deal with some of my old injuries.  We’re starting with a lighter whole body workout twice a week, then we will gradually transition to more intense workouts on specific muscle groups.  He’s a member of the form police - no getting other muscle groups involved to lighten the load.  Only work the targeted muscles.  My next session is Friday and I’m looking forward to training again. 

After my weight session, I did another 30 minutes of cardio on the arc trainer and came home very hungry.  I had a chicken breast thawed, added lots of broccoli, carrots, and sugar snap peas lightly stir-fried with a little ginger soy.  I still have a hot shower and a little more stretching before bed.  Tomorrow, cardio and out to dinner with my BF. 

I’m already planning my weekend.  I hope the weather holds so we log some miles in the kayaks.

Sounds like you had a blast with your PT Paula!

Looks like you found a good one.  The correct form makes all the difference.  Great workout.

Great job...sounds like had a good workout and nailed exactly what needed the work.  Form goes along way to shaping.

Sounds like you found a great trainer. Happy for you.

I’m certainly feeling the results of yesterday’s workout today.  I think Ryan will do a good job beating me into shape. 

Today I did about an hour of cardio at the gym - get those muscles moving and get the blood flowing again.  I had to work much harder to get my heart rate up, even though I took a break from cardio (at least gym cardio, but not life cardio) over the holidays.  I was also very hungry, especially after my workout.  Fortunately, I keep a good supply of fruit and raw snacking veggies around.  I’m going out to dinner with the BF this evening and I don’t want to be so hungry that I order one of everything on the menu - then try to eat it. 

I’m still on track with the SMSM program, so my jump start to the new year is going as planned.  I’ll probably need to back down again on the workouts when my work schedule picks up again, but I’m going to enjoy the time home and the availability of the gym while I can.  Tomorrow I’ll probably skip the gym and just go play in the pool with the kayak for a couple hours.  That can be a good workout too.

Good job Paula, I find the cardio after the weights really gets the knots out.

Just popping in to say “howdy” Paula!  Your new trainer sounds great!

I thought of you when I saw this picture. 

and allowing me to keep my ability to walk.

LOL....that’s a good thing to be able to do after working out!!!!

Sounds like a great training plan....I’ve also been doing more reps, less weights.....and it still kicks my butt!!@

did you ever get a video of your rolls?

I’m glad to read that your first real training session with Ryan went well. I’m sure you’ll gain a lot from the sessions.

Wow, am I behind on posting.  Good thing I’m not behind on the workouts.

Thursday, rest day.  My plan had been to take the kayak to the pool for roll practice.  We found out at the last minute that the pool was not going to open for another week

Friday - another day with Ryan and more muscles that I forgot existed.  After the weight workout, I did another 45 minutes of cardio, 20 minutes aerobic grocery shopping, quick shower, then dinner and movie with BF.  We decided to eat at home so we could get an early start paddling Saturday

Saturday - 18 miles watching wildlife, checking out side channels, and just relaxing outdoors while moving.  It was a beautiful, but cool day.  The sun was warm and the tides were favorable.  Still a good workout.

Sunday - Every muscle in my body hurts, I’m going to sleep like a rock, I was ready to eat one of everything on the menu for dinner, and I’m grateful that my friends and I are all alive and well after today’s paddle.  It pushed me to the wall, and I discovered that my wall has moved out a few feet.  Details are on my journal page and I’m probably going to add more tomorrow after I have a chance to think a bit.  The short version - 19.9 miles in the most challenging conditions (overall sustained conditions, not just momentary moments of panic) I have ever had to deal with.  Our group made some good decisions and some bad decisions and fortunately everything was OK at the end. 

For now - sleep, I may decide to reschedule my training appointment tomorrow, or I may just go and work on stretching.