Spinning....terrifying or fun?

BOTH!!

I used my spin app for the first time EVER today!

I did the Aerobic Low Frequency Training session (I really should figure out the lingo for the different training sessions and plan it to work efficiently)

but anyway here's the workout:

Warm up: 10:00
Medium intensity: 3:00
Low intensity: 2:00
High intensity: 6:00

Low intensity: 4:00

High intensity: 6:00

Low intensity: 4:00

High intensity: 6:00

Low intensity: 4:00

High intensity: 6:00

Low intensity: 4:00

Cool Down: 5:00

the first rep of 6min at high had my internal voice SCREAMING at me to quit now! there's more important things to get done!! like mystery manor and other random games on facebook!! heck there's even the payroll to get done!! 

but NO! I'm not going to quit! no No NO! and I didn't!

Whew. I was sweating buckets by the end of the workout. 

54minutes and 34.5km on the stationary bike. I just really wish I was riding my bike,but a bolt broke on the trainer so I can't use it. booooo. 

Then I had a smoothie! I feel awesome! 

Steady is as Steady does...

A very constant few weeks in my world.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday I have 2 hours free. I run the loop and then do some weights.

I've also started riding lots, at least....when its NOT raining. I am not keen on rain these days.

I'm really considering the Piccolo Fondo (shorter than the GRAN) http://www.granfondorockies.ca/

Running is just not holding its allure anymore. I'm not doing as well as I hoped I would by now. I might just start to focus on cycling.

Run Run Run...this is fun.

I'm enjoying this beast called 'running'

I feel fast!

I feel strong!

and boy do I feel awesome when I pass an old acquaintance on the street.

Today's run was good, the ice is melting! the sun was warm! I had to take my mittens off because of sweaty wrists.

and....the pants were sagging around my ankles. I didn't know that compression running pants/tights could sag.

Walking, Running, Lifting....its all in a days work.

Walking - we do it all day every day without conscious thought. Until now, that is how its been. Except of course when I was working up to the WEBC those few years I did it, and after my foot surgery (you really do use your feet I found out). We walked to and from school almost every day - there was a morning and an afternoon we missed because of appointments. But, 3.14km X 4 days is....12.56km. Not bad. We have to go to school every day right? might as well make it a good healthy start for the day.

Victoria barely made it home yesterday. She was so tired. Finally! after 7.5 years of running the kid hard, we've managed to exhaust her. It took 4 days of walking to school, an hour or so of trampoline after dinner every night, and 2 hours of gymnastics. My super active, child of constant motion was WIPED out. But, she did manage to jump a bit on the trampoline after dinner; of course she was thoroughly out bounced by her little sister. Bedtime came and she was out like a light. 

Running - I ran a few times this week, treadmill only because it was still pretty icy on the sidewalks and well...I don't want to slip! 

Lifting - I did a weight routine. Then I shoveled out the little trailer to sell, 3-4 inches of solid ice underneath 5inches and more of snow (we shoveled the snow up around the trailer...oops). it took me an hour. All I could think of when I finally finished was, WOW! if this was last year I wouldn't have been able to do it all in one go! I'd have to stop and start many times over. But this time my endurance held through. 

I also had the dubious honor of helping to lift the topper off the new truck. It slipped (I don't know which one of us lost grip) and rolled over my wrist as I was holding it. Wrist is now a lovely shade of yellow/brown/purple. ow. Today I got to help put the topper back on, guess what I did.....yep. Rolled it across the wrist again. More bruise. 

Its been a good week, an exhausting week, but a good week. We've all gotten sunshine (YAY), all the girls have freckles across their noses, their hair is lighter already, they all have lots more energy, I've got more energy (not much but there's more), and we really can't wait for it to actually GET WARM!

Once its warm....I get to bring my bike out of the garage!! YAY!! Pin broke on the trainer so I couldn't use that, booo.

Walk walk walk....

Walking to school.

I've decided to stop being lazy, its time to walk to school.

So this morning, a bright sunshiny morning we walked! Slippery spots where the snow melted and ran over the sidewalks yesterday, but a nice walk. It took about 20minutes to walk there, factoring in the ice. 15ish to get back home.

Victoria learned that rubber boots have no grip,

Susanne doesn't care,

and Elizabeth....well she rode in the wagon and sang the whole way.

3.14k round trip. Not bad!

So if I do it 2 times a day 5 days a week...that makes 31.4km per week. Plus what I run on the treadmill (or sidewalk - I'm really leery of the ice and running).

Now to take control of the food....

Spring Break! Yaaaay!

So, last week was Spring break for my girls.

I didn't workout once! If you don't count a daily trip to the zoo!

I think each zoo trip we walked about 5k. But it was a meandering kid pace 5k.

We ate well, which is good.

But now its Monday, the kids are back in school and its time for life to get back to the routine.

Dropped 2 off at their school, walked the other one to her school and then ran the loop. 42 minutes - not bad this time! I haven't run outside in a LONG time - ok it was New Years. ha.

Now I'm sitting here with a bowl of oatmeal (yeah I know!) and frozen mixed fruit.

Lets make APRIL a fantastic month!

Ugly feet...

the Dailymile is running a contest. Share your ugly feet! 

http://www.dailymile.com/blog/contest/dailymile-poll-those-are-some-ugly-feet

well, I had ugly feet! they're still funny looking, but not so bad. 

I had a bunion on my right foot. Here's the journey of my new foot! 

The night before surgery, bye bye bunion! bye bye foot pain!

Just got home from! Its really numb! and hasn't swollen up yet. 

Day 2! Here's the swelling! and the freaky colours! Oh my! Still numb!

Have to add some humour, the toes got cold! 

1 week, still swollen, still funky colours. Not much pain (as long as I don't throw a hissy fit over a cupcake and refuse to take the painkillers....) 

Stuck on the couch for 2 weeks.....no one would look good after that! especially since the kid kept taking my ice packs....

6 weeks post surgery! time for the pins and packing to come off! YAY! EWWWWW! and now it feels fragile. 

Wow! cleaned it up and it feels so much better! strange not having all the bandaging on there. Felt mighty naked for a while. There's nothing holding the foot together anymore! no pins, or bandages or padding. 

Cover up the pinholes, don't want anything getting in there. 

6 weeks after surgery, WOW! its so straight! 

8 weeks, finally found a pair of shoes! Still extremely swollen and tender.

A few months later I did the Walk to End breast cancer - slow and steady I managed to finish the 60k (with a couple of rides of course). 

Umm, ok thats not true. I managed to fracture it during the walk. 

Then I learned to run......

Finally DONE!

Yesterday was my final workout for the 9 week challenge.

Oh thank GOD!

I was getting so  bored with it!

It has been all I could do just to focus and do it. Not that the workouts are always the same but, I guess I really do need to have some change. 9 weeks was a bit long to do the same thing over and over and over again. I'm going to take some time from the program and hit the treadmill and the bike a lot more. I've been doing it when I've been motivated to get more than the required workouts on the PS3.

I had to buy new pants last week - the other ones were starting to sag off my behind (and falling apart too). It was a shock, go in to the store and grab a few pairs of pants that are the next size down from what I was wearing (a 14), and then have to go back out and find a smaller size; a size I haven't even considered wearing since long before kids, when I didn't pay attention to my size, shape or weight. So now I have some great new jeans that are a size 10. Holy crap. I knew things had changed, but didn't realize that much. Which is hysterical to me, I have lost......1 pound. Thats right, 1 pound . I can tell the size is changing too, there are muscles under that belly skin (that extra skin that gets all stretched out during pregnancy).

I've got a lot more stamina. I can hold my own in a wrestling match, yay me.

Now today, I believe I'm going to go play on my treadmill.

its a slippery slope...

this 'not getting around to it' thing.

but there is one thing I haven't "slipped on" recently, and thats my workouts. YAY me.

I've been doing the 9 week challenge on my EASports Active. I just completed #26.

they've been getting harder and longer, more intense and just plain SWEATY! I'm loving it.

Some days I don't want to, but I do it. Like yesterday. I really did NOT want to do it. but I pushed myself and told myself everything that I would regret if I didn't. So  I did. I feel so much better for it.

I needed new jeans (isn't it always the way, you find a pair and then buy 3 of them just because you know you won't be finding anymore like those anytime soon...)so off I went to the store. Grabbed a bunch of 12s and 14s. SHOCK ME, SHOCK ME, SHOCK ME! they didn't fit! I had to go back out and find smaller sizes. I'm wearing a 10 now. Its been about 16years since I've worn a 10. YAY me! They are a teensy bit snug, but they fit better than the 12s.

So although the scale says I dropped one pound (yeah...ONE), there's a size difference happening. Along with the endurance and strength.

Yesterday was a sad day for me too. My chiropractor is leaving, going back to Australia. <insert SAD face here>. boo hoo...he's done amazing things with my feet, legs, hips. he's the first dr of any kind to grab my knee and say "this is the spot" and be right on about it. I'm sad about his leaving, but so happy that I have gotten to have this much work done on my body and learned a few new exercises and stuff to keep the body moving. I'll miss him. But there are lots of other dr's at their office that can keep me in shape.

Pop goes the knee....

Ow

This morning while doing my sports active I felt that familiar *pop*. I haven't felt it in a really long time, since before I got my foot done. I grew up with this pain, no one could ever figure it out.

Mention it to our chiropractor this
Morning - so he did some extremely painful things to it. A particular maneuver called 'grip and rip' brought tears. He was the first erosion to ever grab the knee and knowexactly where the pain was and why. It does feel better, despite the bruising.

So tonight I'm hanging on the couch with the ice pack and the hot pack. Might drag put the painkillers too...

On another note, I lost a pound! Yay me! But lost about 6inches. My body's odd, but I'm a heck of a lot more Fit than ever before.

Around and around I go

Where I stop nobody knows.

Especially today, hop on the bike and ordained
My heart out. I have a new spinning app. Well that is just plain FUN!

I went 35k but I lost track of time. Shorty and I hanging out watching cartoons (and the Lincoln logs). Oops.

At least it was fun and relatively easy. *gasp*

On a whim I stepped on the scale too, ha ha ha ... Yeah. Same 'ol, same 'ol.

Well, tomorrow is another sports active day (whimper, sob). Ok, it's not that bad - I sweat buckets and get all out of breath but the workouts are not as hard as previously. Yay me.

Whoops missed a week.

Not the exercise part...but the blog part. Life has been busy, one kid is sick. Miserably, snotty, watery MESSY SICK. thankfully not the barfy sick (although I think that sometimes barf is easier than boogers).

I've been doing the EASports. I have a problem with challenges. I can't let myself slip, I get really darn depressed and cranky when I do. So, I've been kicking my own ass. along with that snotty trainer on the game. She's MEAN! she's NASTY! and doesn't let me slack off. But then thats also partially my fault again.....I just HAD to change it to the medium setting. Smartass.

My back hurt really bad this week, could barely bend down to tie my shoes it hurt so bad. OW.

Of course the chiropractor lectured (with a smirk) me on proper stretching, and the need to work on my core. yeah yeah...I know.

So, I've got an appointment on Monday morning with the exercise therapist at the health centre. she's going to work me through a bunch of workouts (I think) that will help with my core. I'm not exactly sure what she's going to do to me, she seemed nice when Iwas introduced last week. I asked what I need to wear, they said "whatever you workout in at home" hahahahahaha....yeah. THOSE don't go out in public.

We shall see.

Time to go wash the good running bra....

oh yeah! thats what else I didn't share on my 'gear post'. My running bra! I love this thing!

I have the Juno, by Moving Comfort. Got it from the Running Room for $60ish dollars - MUCH more affordable than some that are available for the....bustier girls. extremely comfy, don't put it on with anyone in the same room though as it can cause extreme laughter.

Things that make me go FAST! and keep going!

My gear...

My bike - a huge leap up from my $100 Canadian Tire Special oh so many (I'm not saying how many) years ago.

2011 Trek Lexa SL

http://www.trekbikes.com/ca/en/bikes/road/lexa/lexasl/

My snazzy shoes - Bontrager Race Road

I went for the mens shoe over the womens, the mens are wider, and since I have wonky feet.....it was logical. So much fun to clip them into the pedals (another oh crap will I fall moment), and just ride!

http://www.bontrager.com/model/07891

Awesome pants! Got them for Christmas! I ran in them on New Years in -15ish temps. Not warm but I wasn't frozen either! they hug every little curve and suck it in tight.

Adidas Supernova Running Tights

http://www.footlocker.com/product/model:96237/sku:45024/adidas%20supernova%20long%20tight%20-%20women's/?supercat=home&cm=GLOBAL%20SEARCH%3A%20KEYWORD%20SEARCH

Another Christmas present this year was...

IRONMAN ROAD TRAINER Heart Rate Monitor

http://www.timex.ca/IRONMAN-ROAD-TRAINER-Digital-Heart-Rate-Monitor-Midsize-SK5K214-P875C162.aspx?l=e

so much FUN! Now all I have to do is remember to turn on the receiver on the watch when I'm using the HR band.

I think thats pretty much everything I have that makes me go fast, keep strong, and keep going!

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a day off, and now....Workout 3

insert ominous horror movie music here.

I was scared. After workout#2 - I was terrified! because it doesn't let you slack off! ARGH!

Ok, today was upper body. that shouldn't be so bad - then it starts with these insane split squat jumps - 80??!?! oh dear god. I made it, it wasn't pretty but I made it.

Running, hey I CAN do that! yay!

Lots of sweat, and after a kiss on the forehead from my cheerleader "ew Mommy why are you all watery?"

I'm still extremely sore from workout2. but not as bad as yesterday. the back is giving me grief today, and the foot is cramping a bit. Good thing tomorrow is a chiropractor day. I'll have him tweak it a bit.

I don't like rest days. There's that little voice in the back of the head that's telling you that you're being lazy and need to get moving! But, I know that if I push - bad things can happen. Then I go and do something silly like make an amazing dinner. whoops....at least I didn't have dessert or snack after dinnertime.

My tactic to not snack - brush my teeth. Sometimes it works....sometimes not so much, but it worked last night. Ok...I was asleep on the couch by 9.

Now for a healthy lunch.

Workout 2, OH DEAR GOD...

I did workout #2 of the 9week program on the EA2.0

Yesterday wasn't too bad, I was sweating like crazy by the end. But, it wasn't too bad. I could feel the burn. ha ha.

So, I figured that it would a week or so before they amped up the workout.

NOPE!!!

Today, I was gasping, whining, and sweating like a pig. Of course, the program will NOT let you slack off. If you slump a little, move fast, or fall over it stops and tells you to keep going, now lift/lunge/HOLD it! AAAARGH! NO! I don't want to!

The end could NOT come fast enough today. But I did it! Even with Shorty beside me gasping (as only a 4 year old drama queen can) - Mommy maybe you should just skip this one. No kid, I can't! I promised myself I would keep up and NOT MISS A WORKOUT! I was even planning on doing an altered workout tomorrow - but oh hell no. I do indeed need that rest tomorrow.

Now, I'm sore. I'm tired, I can feel that holy crap you worked out hard today feeling. I wish I had a bathtub in our bath. but no...we've got a shower stall.

After today's session I am terrified about what the next one will be like.

I'm going to go drink some tea, lay on the couch and whine for a while.

Today's adventure...

the Ultimate Fitness show.

I heard about it last night and decided that I'd go. The Mr would be at the motorcycle show, so it was just me and the kids anyway.

Wow...lots of spandex (but not the icky scary spandex, the nice spandex).

We talked to lots of people, saw lots of neat booths - personal trainers, gyms (all very pushy and not willing to take no thanks for an answer), foxy kickboxing, holistic medicine, chiropractors, massage people. and the like....

I was most impressed (and slightly terrified) of the booth for Tri-it. but as we walked by, stopped and talked to them. they were really nice. Starting a beginner triathlon training program next month (I might just take them up on that one...). They also gave me a calendar of the upcoming events happening from now til next December in Alberta. oh dear....I think I'm hooked.

There's a Try this triathlon at the university in May. Could I? Should I? its only 500m swim, 16k bike and 3k run. hmmm....

Then there's a Womens only in Strathmore in August. hmmm....the lady at the booth said it was FANTASTIC!

There was the booth for the CalgaryHerald's Health club at home challenge. hm, so we checked it out (ok I checked, they whined to leave). So, you're looking at a participant in the 2011 at home challenge. I've been weighed and measured, picture taken (eek). The winner will get a trip for 2 to Maui. and 2nd prize is an elliptical. sadly....looking at all the people registering I don't think I have a chance of winning. That is unless, they all drop out. I seemed to be a lot more fit than most there (I really don't want to offend anyone but its true).

Now to go find a conversion chart to convert my measurements that were taken today.
bust: 99cm
waist: 99cm
hips: 115cm
and weight 193

And.....to figure out if I can do a tri by May.

my new toy...PART 2 and a good run!

ticked me off today.

I turned it on, went to get my workout gear on, came back and that same darn page was there. Mocking me with the little e being surrounded by little dots (you know, the 'we're loading' circle of dots). AAAARGH! I only have so much time.

Whatever.

I promised I'd run too, so off I went to run. Wow, thats something I never thought I would hear myself say. I'm going for a run....it just sounds....cool. athletic. motivated.

Flip on my movie (I'm currently watching Brother's Grimm - Heath ledger and Matt Damon). and away I go. whew, I went farther today. My pace is getting better. Yay me!

Then there was only about 30 minutes left of the movie, so I hopped on the stationary bike. Rode 25ish k. I lost track of time, so I don't have a good idea of my pace. but I was sweaty!

Workout done....did my new toy load yet?

NO.

lots of foul words, internet searches, facebook searches (they have a fan page with many grumpy customers). I'm not the only one with glitches! thats a relief!

It is packed to go back to the store. But, I might be persuaded to try it out again if the changes the techs have suggested.

until then...happy running, riding, munching (celery for me....ok I'm having wings too)

I have a new toy....

The EASport Active2.0

Finally got to try it out for size today. Despite a frustrating hour trying to get the darn thing to load, it was great. I had the workout on easy, just to see what it was like. Tomorrow I'll be upping the ante for sure.

My little cheerleader did a bunch of the moves with me too. Just picture a 4 year old attempting cross punch crunches. Yep, CUTE.

I have also been using my new timed triathlon HRM. It would work so much better if I remembered to turn both pieces ON. whoops.

Today was a great day, physically, mentally, pretty much everything. Then something happened this evening, I'm not sure what but I got grumpy. I don't know why, but every little bitty thing is just ticking me off. Maybe it's because I held the nighttime snacker away. I dunno, but it's not a nice feeling.

Run! Run as Fast as you can! you can't.....

oh, who'm I kidding? I can't run fast!

I hit the treadmill today.

Dropped off the shorty at school, the other two were playing on their new love...the PS3.

I left off the C25K program a couple weeks ago (not precisely sure which day I stopped....) at W4D1. So, today that is what I did!

oh dear...the second set of run 5 min nearly did me in. I was gasping and grunting away...but I did it! I didn't get nearly as far as I thought I did (I thought 5k, but no...it was only 3.25) but hey thats a faster pace than my normal!

I just have to figure out how sync my new HRM and I'd know what my ticker was doing.

and then....a wander around the zoo. with a full backpack it was tough going. My back hurts, my hips are killing me. I think its a good night to hug my icepack and my hotpad. do some stretches and just relax.


then tomorrow....I'm thinking about test driving the new EASports Active I got for Christmas.

Did you know that chiropractors work on joints other than your back?

I had NO idea!

But I have this fabulous new chiropractor, who has been working on 'the foot'. Cracking it, popping it, massaging it, active release therapy too. The first while, holy crap it HURT!!

But weeks of work, there is no more cramping, no more giant knot. WOW! it feels......good!

Then he started working farther up, the calf. There has always been a giant knot right in the middle, that awkward spot that you just can't get right and really don't want anyone else to because it hurts so much. Well, there is a small amount of knot left, but not much.

We had our first race on Friday night, on ice in the cold with a LOT of people. My hips hurt. So on Monday we started working in the hip, I did not know you could make a hip go *pop*. Evidently! Hurt like an SOB, but wow the mobility has improved.

Tomorrow I shall run again!

2nd day of the year...

There wasn't any real 'working out' today.

But I did do some lifting, moving, shoving, cursing....

Its the day to put Christmas away.

4 hours later, a layer of dust, a layer of sweat (making all the bins fit under the stairs takes an engineer), and a few scrapes from the tree.

Phew....see you next year Christmas!

Now to focus on the FITNESS.

Talking with the Mr about the triathlon. eek, its a daunting concept. but very exciting. He's excited too....WOW. We have come a LONG way haven't we?

Tomorrow....I shall begin.

Hey its a new year!

Welcome 2011.

I'm going to conquer you!

I'm going to RUN!

I'm going to RIDE!

and most of all, I'm going to have FUN doing it!

Today I'm motivated, I'm sore, I feel like phooey. But I'm ready.


Last night I did what I never thought in a million years I would do, I ran in a race, not a race with timing and stuff, but a Resolution Run. 5k around a loop with sub zero temps, 1500 people, and a dayglo orange jacket (a few layers under that orange jacket).

so today, my legs, hips, and back hurt for a good reason. I did something!
yay me!

here's to a great physical year!

and just for fun....I got the EASport Active for PS3. Haven't used it yet....but once the trio are back in school I will.