exercise « Something Creative

RSS

Posts Tagged ‘exercise’

A Little Bit of Patting My Own Back

23 Oct

As you may have noticed I don’t have a lot of positive stuff to say lately….tough is my first response to that observation. I’ve never been Ms. Positivity to begin with….the fact that things are craptastic right now hasn’t done anything to improve my outlook. For all you “count your blessings” people out there I say *blows raspberry* Jog On!

There is one small area that is going in the direction I want. I’m not going to look the gift (? really not so much a gift as my damn gallbladder…) horse in the mouth on this one but it seems I’m shrinking. I started out the year with the intent of getting into a better shape…well a more fit shape….I love looking like a girl & don’t want to lose all my nice round parts. However, I did decide that I needed to be more fit & have more stamina if I wanted to continue hike etc. So with a goal in mind & a WiiFit in my living room I embarked on my mission.

I did pretty good for a few months…slowly working up the length & intensity of my workouts until I was doing about an hour of rhythm boxing & step aerobics coupled with yoga. I felt pretty good about it too…coming home after a day in workhell & strapping on my Rykas, stepping on the Fit & off I’d go.

Then as spring progressed I started to feel more fatigued no matter how much sleep I got, stress piled up & my gallbladder bothered me to where I just couldn’t push myself to work out every day. It wasn’t long before the workouts came to a screeching halt. As you know I got a trip to the hospital in early August & that little “vacation” induced 2 weeks of nothing but clear liquids. Let me tell you that’ll make the scale seem friendlier in a hurry.

Anyway, now nearly 3 months later I’m still very careful what I eat (most of the time…if I do indulge in something it’s just a teeny bit ‘cuz the pain if I don’t would fell a hippo (which I’m resembling less all the time) so I avoid that like the plague). As a result I have shrunk a noticeable amount since January…I’m quite happy with the results. The slight downside (yet best indicator of my progress) is that none of my pants fit…I mean seriously it’s a little dangerous ‘cuz one good yank & the pants are at my ankles. Even the pair of jeans I bought that were 2 sizes smaller than my old ones are getting to be on the big side. I’m going to have to win the lottery at some point to get some better fitting attire…even if that means having everything I own altered to a smaller size.

I have a new goal in mind & part of that is to increase my flexibility with more yoga. Once I feel ok about having my picture taken (read NEVER, you can’t pay me enough to do it) I’ll post pics of me in my more compact size…. Overall though in spite of all the difficulties, struggles, depression & generally challenging times right now I feel like I deserve a little pat on the back.

3 Comments

Posted in Clothes Make the Woman, What's in my Head

Updates/Farewell

12 Sep

Well it’s time for me to post some updates on a few things so I’m going to pack it all into one post…this means I’m going to really ramble (like you aren’t used to that anyway).

First I’ll go way back to the spring & my good intentions for working out & getting more fit. I did well with that until late spring/early summer…then my constant battle with my gallbladder took over. The more I battled with not feeling well the less I was able to use my WiiFit. Not only do I not feel well but I’m exhausted. Just making it through a day of work wipes me out. It was disappointing to feel the the strength & stamina I was building slowly slip away. I did participate in & complete the 5k as was my goal. I didn’t finish any faster than the year before where I didn’t train at all however I did feel better & didn’t limp for a week afterward. I won’t be able to participate in the same 5k next year as I have a wedding to attend. However I am thinking about picking another event & trying that. Of course I also wanted to be ready for a night out on the town with Abe & his brother Pete & Pete’s wife Anne. Alas we have not yet had a night out on the town so I needn’t worry about finding a dress to wear.

A brief update on how I’m feeling…I have good & bad days. Mostly I eat as little as possible as bland as possible. Think saltine crackers, applesauce, apple juice & water. Occasionally some toast or Cheerios. That’s about it. Needless to say I’m losing weight but not in the manner I would choose.

Speaking of losing weight it’s getting so that I can barely find clothes to wear since mostly everything is too big. Not HUGE on me yet but definitely tricky to wear pants that only stay up because I’ve got hips (and they are smaller too). It is nice that I’ve been able to buy pants about 4 sizes smaller but frustrating because I can’t really go out & replace my whole wardrobe. For now I’m still hanging onto my dress pants (literally) and contemplating learning how to take the clothes apart, recut them to size & sew them back together.

Also, we have reached a quick end to the kerfuffle with the bank president over payment for the signs. Two bank employees to whom I’m very grateful (they both spoke up rather vigorously on our behalf) have informed me that we should have the check by Monday. This eases a worry as now we shall be able to pay rent even if it is quite late. Fortunately we won’t be penalized for that since it was far beyond our control.

Other than that there isn’t really anything of interest to say. Since I really fail to see the point of writing anymore this is quite possibly my last post. I don’t know if or when I’ll be posting here or anywhere else again. Thanks to those of you who have been reading…I hope you have enjoyed at least some of what I’ve shared. If I ever do decide to write again you shall be the first to know. Adieu.

No Comments

Posted in The Life We Lead, What's in my Head

My 2nd 5k

11 Jul

Today was the big day…for the 2nd Annual Friends of Don Sather 5k Run/Walk. Which I was pre-registered to participate in (along with Hubby this year). First a little backstory on the whole event.

{The inaugural event was July 10th of last year (2008) & was put together to help raise money for medical bills associated with the treatment for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) for a local man. His classmates (Class of ’71) got together & decided to help Don out. It was a great success & we raised a significant sum of money to help him out (along with some of the proceeds going to ALS research). This past spring Don passed away…but his hope was that our little town would keep the 5k alive in his memory & work to help find a cure for ALS…which brings us back to today.}

After last year’s walk (I did it alone…on a whim) I was determined to do it again this year. I did set some specific goals for myself in the meantime. I wanted to be in better shape & prepared to better my time this year. Did that happen?…well not so much. With my always irritating gallbladder & life too I rather lost my way in the “get in shape” plan. I started out pretty good too…was working hard every day, building my stamina and looking forward to a good showing at this year’s race. Then I got sidetracked, run down & my motivation took the last train out of Slugville.

Still I decided to go ahead & walk this year…while I don’t feel so awesome (damn gallbladder) I decided I could still do it. So this evening I laced up my new Ryka’s (not brand new…I’ve been using them in my WiiFit workouts so they’re broken in just not road worn), stretched my body out good,

starting to stretch

before the race
Abe getting ready for the race.

grabbed a water bottle (after I took the shuttle from parking to the starting line…which in this case was a very comfy Lincoln Navigator. Ahh, I love riding in style) & promptly set off at the sound of the air horn.

This year the course was through Savanna State Park rather than on the highway. There were pros & cons to the new course. Being in the park it was much cooler and there was some shade. Of course we were walking on a narrow gravel road rather than a newly paved two-lane highway…this meant some soft places where the runners especially had to watch out. Since we were in the park there was no way to avoid any traffic either…this meant sucking on a giant dust cloud every time someone drove past.

As we walked…I picked a pace I was comfortable with which meant we were quickly left behind…the course wound downhill back toward the park entrance. I was feeling good, enjoying the sunshine filtering through the trees & my mind was alternating between composing the beginning of this post and providing some encouraging thoughts. We wound up & down hill (this was a con—too many hills!!) to the park entrance. As we approached the turn I was feeling great…except for the blister I could feel forming on the outside of my right instep. Our pace was reasonable & we didn’t seem to be too far behind some of the other walkers. The official time announced for the 1st half was 32 minutes. I felt pretty good about that…considering I’m almost completely out of shape (no wait round is a shape right?)

So we began our trek back to the finish line…up hill. The sun was filtering down in longer shadows and the aspen leaves rustled impatiently at our passing. Wanting to keep on pace I pushed myself up the hills (did I mention the hills?) and lengthened my stride on the few downward slopes. Of course I’m starting to breathe hard, my legs are feeling it a bit & my gallbladder is hammering against my right side. Abe in the meantime has had his headphones in, calmly keeping up with me…no accelerated breathing, no sweat pouring down his back. He didn’t even have to lengthen his stride as I chugged up the hills (yep that’s right…it was hilly). {Side note: Of course keeping to my pace Abe’s stride was pretty comfortable so unless for some insane reason I broke into a full on run he wouldn’t have to lengthen his stride very much anyway}

2nd half of the race
Abe making it look easy. I was starting to wear out…my right foot felt like it was on fire (stupid random blister. I even made sure I wore the right socks, my shoes were broken in properly…I did everything like I was supposed to do it.), my side was getting a bit tight & I could feel the strain beginning to show. Yet I kept going…not slowing my stride. When we came to the final hill…yeppers that right, the end of the course was nothing but uphill all the way… I kept my head down & pushed myself the whole way.

After crossing the finish line I headed straight for the most secluded picnic table where I yanked off my right shoe & sock to reveal a 3″ long raw, blistered spot just below my instep. Not pretty…it still hurts like crazy but in sandals it doesn’t rub so that helps. All in all I feel pretty good. I’ve got some sore muscles but nothing like last year! My final time was 1:04 so I did just a little bit better than last year’s time without the feeling of an impending heart attack or stroke. Hmm, maybe I am in better shape….

Abe looking for a bandage for me...no luck

Abe relaxing after the race.

Loon Lake--this is where we sat to recover a bit.

A beautiful back drop to the end of my 5k day.

3 Comments

Posted in Embarrassing stuff I make Abe do to entertain me., Out & About, The Life We Lead

Help! I’m 92 & I Need to Flatten My Stomach

13 May

It’s that time again folks…yup, I’ve got a rant & it’s a doozy. This rant has nothing to do specifically with bras so you can relax. I’m not going to discuss my cleavage today. However, I am going to talk about women, their bodies & what the hell is wrong with people!

Mom called me the other night to relate the following story. She & my younger sister B went to visit my 92 year old grandmother. Grandma J does pretty well by herself although she is more forgetful than she used to be. Grandma still does a little (very little) driving, washes her clothes (at 5 am every Saturday, don’t try to use the machines then…she’ll cut you), and all the various other chores that a woman who lived her life working hard finds to keep herself busy.
(Yes those are stacks of bodice ripper paperbacks in the back closet. No you may not read them as she will be passing them along to the next old lady in her reading circle.) Anyway, Mom & B were visiting Grandma J and they were visiting in the living room. Grandma started to complain about how she feels, her health (remarkably excellent for 92), and her appearance.

Grandma’s specific complaint…Her stomach isn’t flat enough. Yes that’s right ladies…all that insecurity you feel over the flatness of your tummy is being felt by a woman in her 90s. She has lived through WWII, the Great Depression, the 60s, the death of family & friends, financial difficulties, raising kids, working on a farm (I could go on for ages with this) & yet her worry is whether or not her stomach is flat.

Of course I understand the desire to look good…and who doesn’t want one of those impossibly flat stomachs with nary a ripple or spot of unsightly flab. Still it disgusts me that we women are so conditioned by our culture that an elderly woman is trying to find the perfect exercise to achieve this impossible dream. Seriously! We live in a society where women who do not fit a specific ideal are treated like lower class citizens. As a height challenged, non-stick person I’ve learned that I can expect less from the general world than my tall, semi-stick acquaintances. It’s something I struggle with a lot–and yes I should put down this delicious croissant & cup of coffee with cream– but I’m too busy indulging in the sensory delights of fluffy, buttery delight chased with the dark creamy flavor of South American caffiene.

One thing this “ideal” doesn’t even come close to considering is basic genetics. It is impossible for all of us to be a perfect 5’8″, 110 lb stick person. As far as I’m concerned it’s good we aren’t all this “ideal”…(that’s not to say that sometimes I don’t curse my looks) I mean the world would be an awfully dull place if there wasn’t some variety. Can you imagine what it would be like if we only had one kind of tree? Just imagine if the only tree were a 30′ white pine. Or what if there was only 1 flower…only pansies (I love panises by the way. They hold a very special place in my heart & on my body). Creation would indeed be a very dull, dreary place if we determined to make everything fit some “ideal” that was randomly decided upon & then sold to the world at large as the way it should be.

I know so many women who are beautiful in their own unique ways. It really has very little to do with their physical appearance or at least JUST their physical appearance. There is much to be said for character, brains & a wacky sense of humor. I’ve known many women who had the physical ideal down solid…looking at them is breathtaking. It’s almost hard to belive they are real people…and after talking to them for 5 seconds I feel my own IQ plummeting like the stock market on Black Monday.

Back to Grandma J for a bit though…This is a woman who has trouble bending over & can’t touch her toes (it’s ok, she’s elderly & we don’t want her putting a hip out). However, in a bid to attain that flat tummy she will lie down on her living room floor & work on crunches. I’m 60 years younger than she is & I won’t do that. (Yep I don’t have a flat stomach.) It seems ridiculous to me that by the time I reach my 90s there is a distinct possibility that I will feel the need to follow this behaviour.

Kudos to Grandma J for attempting it though, she’s a better woman than I am. Of course she puts up with a lot more than I ever would. She had a colonoscopy not that many years ago ‘cuz they wanted to be sure they caught an cancer “early”. Really?!?!?!?! At 80+ years old she had a colonoscopy. At 91 she had a mammogram (see my post on that here). I’m sure by the time she reaches 95 (if we are lucky enough to have Grandma J around that long) she’ll need a complete face lift, a tummy tuck (‘cuz the crunches aren’t working) & some laser eye surgery.

So tell me what you think….let’s see some comments on this. (I’m going to be avoiding the mirror as I don’t want to think about crunches & I can’t seem find a single thing about me that isn’t in need of a major overhaul. If I don’t look in the mirror I can lie to myself that I’m a cute girl with some kickin’ curves & some awesome cleavage…Now where did that 1 bra that fit me go???)

4 Comments

Posted in Family, Oh WOW!, Patently Ridiculous, The Life We Lead

The Shape I’m In

02 Apr

It’s been a while since I posted my intention to get in shape. Of course at that time I didn’t really say what shape I was going to get into. After a false start in February I worked hard to get into a routine in March. While I didn’t go hard every day I was consistent enough to start feeling good about my efforts. But first let me backtrack to the beginning of February.

I had decided to work on getting more fit. I have some very specific goals in mind and I’m confident that they are fairly realistic. One of the goals is to be stronger, more flexible & have more stamina as I know that will serve me well in all aspects of my life. I won’t bore you with all the other goals…if you really want to know ask me.

What I really want to mention is that February was full of good intentions & little else. By the end of the month I had done little if any exercising to justify the new shoes I had purchased. To be fair to myself (I know, I’m as shocked as you are…being fair to myself is an unusual occurance.) I started strong. I strapped on my brand new Ryka’s, put in my new Wii workout disc & set about getting fit. Of course I barely made it thru the setup process where I was tested on different exercises…let alone the 1/2 hour of aerobics I attempted to complete. This was enough to thoroughly discourage me. I was excited & set my initial goal a bit high. Going from total workout reject to an hour of shredding is insane. One attempt at that & the shoes went back into their box. I was ready to admit defeat before even getting going.

As February ended & March began I could feel the cold fingers of a spring depression creeping in on me. In order to combat what can become a viscious cycle for me (Feel bad, eatsleepread repeat), I got stern with myself & pulled out the new shoes, the workout pants & my WiiFit. Since I’ve been dealing with a lot of stress I decided that sweating & boxing were good choices to start. I’ve also added some yoga poses & aerobics to the routine so that I feel I’m covering the basics to build my stamina, flexibility & strength.

Now after a good, fairly consistent month of exercise I find it has done me some good. I feel more energetic (when I get the appropriate amount of sleep but that’s another story). I have noticed that my posture has improved & I walk more fluidly although I am not (and probably never will be graceful). Some people have even mentioned that I’m starting to look more toned in some areas (I don’t see it but that’s no surprise…I have a blind spot where any of my good qualities may reside). I do feel a teeny bit pleased that my legs seem to be getting more toned, my derriere is starting to show the advantages of all the step work I’ve been doing (I have a long way to go but it’s a start) & my ab area feels much stronger. I don’t pant when I jog across the parking lot to my Jeep at the end of the day. Don’t think I’m really putting a ton of effort into running (This would be sheer insanity on my part if for no other reason than my ankles have been bad since high school track).

Lately I’ve increased the intensity of my workouts as I can tell that I’ve become used to how I started & I need to continue to push myself. I do longer, harder boxing routines, more step aerobics (with standing crunches, toe touchies & leg kicks added in) & more than the basic side stretch & warrior pose yoga. In fact I have come to enjoy doing the downward facing dog, palm tree, sun salutation & bridge moves.

My next goal is to feel okay about how I look in dress clothes as I have a dinner date in 4 months. My sister-in-law Anne & her husband (who is currently in basic training at Ft. Knox) want to go out on a fancy, adults-only, night on the town to celebrate his triumphant return. Since I don’t want to be the only one wearing a burlap sack I must continue in my quest for fitness…I have some great girl clothes hanging in my closet. My hope is that come July I can don my fancy duds, my highest heels & get a great pic before dancing & partying the night away.

2 Comments

Posted in Clothes Make the Woman, I AM, I should be in therapy, The Life We Lead, What's in my Head

my strongs

05 Feb

It’s official…I’ve decided & put money into getting more fit. One reason is I want to lose weight (I’m a woman we always want to lose weight). I know all the medical reasons blah, blah, blah. None of that has made any difference to me up to this point & it really is just a small part of it now.

Mostly I want to be able to do things that I struggle with now. I love to go hiking in the summer (the North Shore is amazing & I don’t think I’ll ever be able to see enough or take enough pictures) and would really like have more stamina for that. I’m also hoping to participate in my 2nd 5k walk/run this July. I walked last year without any training & made it! I also wanted to die for 3 days afterward. I don’t intend to run this year but would like to improve my time & maybe even raise money this year as it is a fundraiser for ALS (that was started in honor of a local man who is suffering from it.) I’d also like to think that a year from now I’ll totally have the stamina to try snowshoeing with my husband. He likes to do it & it would be so awesome to take our dogs out some sunny winter day & hit the trails at one of our many fantastic state parks. Plus I’d be able to take more pictures & spend time with Abe which is always a 1st choice for me.

I also want to be able to keep up with all the nieces & nephews I have. They are a crazy active bunch & getting bigger each day. I don’t want to miss a moment of the fun they have.

Right now my resolve is strong. I really do want to have the strength to do more stuff. The weight loss is an added bonus & hopefully I will be able to stick with this for the long haul…(I’m making Abe join me in this endeavor if for no other reason than to make him ache when I do.) I’m sure I’ll struggle with this but my prayer is that it won’t be too much….