Time to make a plan

AND STICK TO IT!!!

You've read me moan/whine/complain about all the ailments I have had over this past year and, while they were all legitimate, I lost the strength of my mind and allowed it to defeat me.  I am working out bits here and there but I am eating poorly so one counteracts against the other. 

WHY IS THIS SO HARD?

My friend Katie, who has been on a fitness journey of her own for the last (almost) year and a half and been very successful and amazes me.  She has lost 72 lbs and, as of today, can now run 17.6 kms - wowza!  Her midset is so strong, so realistic and, what is even more encouraging is that her whole family is doing it.  She and her hubby run marathons today and her two young girls even play gym at home.  Cute.  What's more impressive about Katie is that she is one step away from becoming a personal trainer.  In her 30's and no where near being a 'juice monkey' like so many PT's are, she sat through the training with a goal in mind.  To help others like her .... and me.  So, here is the general plan:

Every other Monday, Katie and I have a long standing date to get together, talk about what I am doing and the progress I am making ... or not making.  Katie gets to practice different things on my as she works towards fine tuning her PT skills and I get the benefit of having my very own personal trainer who will make me accountable.  I have even given her the go-ahead to get all 'Jillian Michaels" on my ass if she needs to.  One other perk about our bi-weekly date is that it will be a workout date.  YAY!  I love working out with Katie.  Between her and my bestest, who is a member at my gym and is great to work out with too, this could be a fun journey.  Okay .... more enjoyable journey.  Thats sounds realisitic. lol

Along with out bi-weekly meetings, I am going to start keeping a food journal to track what I am eating.  If I want a treat, I will have a treat but this will keep me in check.  Also, I have decided that, after I lose 50 lbs, I will treat myself to something wonderful and will continue to do so at 25 pound increments after that.  It will be alot of hard work but I think I will be deserving, no?  haha.  I think my first reward will be a day spent here.  Definitely something to look forward to.

So, where will this week take me?  It's a busy one BUT there is room for it to become a little busier.  I will reevaluate my swim times tomorrow or Monday and I will also search out plus sized bike shorts with mega padding so I can jump on a bike.  I would love to cycle more ... especially outdoors.  (maybe a goal for the spring?  Get my very first real bike and start biking outdoors.  That would definitely be better than stationary biking, that is for sure.    Hmm --- here is a question that just popped in my head with regards to biking:

• if a person is going to ride a bike for the purpose of weight loss as well as wanting to get to the point where she can bike long distances out doors, what is the best type of stationary bike to use? 

At my gym with have three types of stationary bikes.  Regular, recumbant and spin bikes.  I will have to research this one out since I really don't know anyone in this position.  Maybe I will pop over to the Midlife Swimmer's blog and ask her.  (she that's an inspirational lady, let me tell you!).  I always find it so helpful to learn from others.  I am just really not much of a book learner.  Do and see.  That's my way.  All I know is that I want to get fit all around and be able to do alot of things.  I don't even need to do them well ... I just want to be able.  Biking might be a fun goal too.  Something to think about.

** Just keep Swimming * Just keep Swimming **

Recognize that?  It sits in my mind with stroke I take and each flutter I kick.  I even try to think it to myself in Ellen DeGeneres' voice.  (Finding Nemo is one of my faves ... as is Dory.)  Now if only I had a character to relate to for walking and weights. 

With regards to walking, one thing is clear ... it becomes rather boring when you are doing it on the treadmill.  Walking to music is defnitely reserved for the great outdoors but, when inside, an hour long show does the trick. 

With regards to weights, I think I want to get those cute lil gloves.  Becauses of the excess weight, and the over-sized breastsesess, a good grip takes some maneuvering at times.  I also wonder if it will allow me to lift more reps or heavier weights. 

Lots to wonder, I know.  All I know is that I need to STOP wondering and START doing.  My weight is creeping up.  I havent been eating regularly or properly.  I have no routine.  Come September, and my return to work and routine, I will be back on track and revvying to go. 

Tonight, I walk 5km with some weights to follow and a leisure swim to finish.  Gotta get me in the water .. no ands, if's or buts.  Tomorrow will hopefully see me swimming as far as I can in an hour at the local outdoor pool.  Finally ... a Tuesday where the weather is good enough to take advantage or that I am not busy.

Last night,  I swam 1.44 kms in 40 minutes.  It was not what I had intended for a workout but it is what my body was calling me to do.  I was actually in the gym doing other things but my head just wasn't in it so I listened to what it wanted.  I actually thought I was doing poorly for time because my arms were very tired after tubing on Saturday .... but I was wrong.  I also would've kept going for more laps but my workout buddy had finished her gym time and was joining me for some leisure laps.  I can feel myself getting stronger in this department.  Now I just need continue to improve in the pool and apply it to the gym with hopes of getting back where I was in the very early spring.

Stay healthy

Back in the saddle?

HELLO KATIE!!!!!!  (since I think  you are the only one who reads this, I can say a personal greeting to you.  If by chance there are others here ... yay.  please comment so I know you are around! haha)

It's been 4 months since my last post (i know, i know) and while there is no real good reason for it, I have plenty of excuses.  My main one being that I have been struggling since getting those chest infections only to lose out on a vehicle for 3 weeks which meant no gym time.  It completely and totally broke my mojo.  Going to the gym became a chore and workouts didn't give me the high I once had.  Followed by an extremely busy June, I was lucky if I made it to the gym twice a week and, lets face it, at that point it wasn't hard to twist my arm to keep me away from there.  Because of it, I not only lost my mojo ... by I found 15 of those pounds that I had lost.  SO disgruntled.  No routine.  No meal planning.  No activity.  No good.  I began forcing myself to get to the gym at least twice a week.  This was a few weeks ago.  Now I am ailed with something that causes me to become very discombobulated when I get hot and/or exert myself.  (because this doesnt happen when I do laps or aquafit, I tend to lean more towards the body temperature and not the exertion).  Needless to say it has affected my workouts but I am doing the best I can with what I can do. 

Because of my mindset, lane swims were a chore and it near killed me to do it for 30 minutes straight.  My stress has also been high and, because lane swimming leaves you with only the thoughts in your head to occuppy the time, I often felt like I was drowing in my problems.  Fortunately, all of that changed today when I received something that I had been waiting five weeks for.  Thanks to the best fitness purchase I have ever made, I am excited to do lanes again.  Today I swam for a total of 1.5 hours and did 3 kms -- and all because I had music to drown away my stresses and get lost in the beat of my favourite songs.  I purchased a (generic) waterproof mp3 player from one of the online, Asian based stores.  For one third (or less) of the price of a Finis, Swimp3 or speedo, I now have a 4gb piece of workout heaven to clip on to my goggles and swim along to.  Justin never sounded so good and lane swims were never more enjoyable.  I cant wait to get into the water again!

A few months ago I expressed an interest in signing up for the Army Run 5km marathon.  I had began the training process and, just after week three, got sick with my chest colds which stopped that dead in it's tracks.  My lack of mojo took over and the goal of running my first 5k in September went out the window.  That being said ... I still plan on entering the run ... only walk it instead.  I have to make sure my head no longer gets discombobulated but, once cleared by the doctor, I will be ready and revvying to go.  Even better ... I'm going to use my waterproof mp3 player again!  Why not?  It's smaller than my iPhone, which I currently also use as an iPod to work out to, and can clip right to my sunglasses so I am hands free.  And, if it rains, I will have ZERO worries about protecting and/or ruining my phone.  Brilliant!

So ... there is an update.  Hopefully my regime and mental state will return to the point where I do things I can feel proud enough to blog about (even if it is only with you, Katie) and my Daily Mile will start getting a workout of it's own as I return to the activities I long to become addicted to again.  In the meantime, here is what my mp3 player looks like.  The one I have is black what I wanted to also show what it looks like clipped on.  It really is a great little contraption!

okay ... how cool is this?  when looking for an image to share with you, i came across this gadget.  Again ... brilliant!

Stay Healthy!