Thursday, January 21, 2010
Everything Hurts
Ok, so you knew this has to happen. I am sore, stiff, tired, and I am wondering what in the world makes me think I can go 140.6 miles. Every once in a while I have doubts about my ability to finish. Last night at bootcamp I have everything I could do to pull a 45 pound weight off the ground and up 8 feet ten times, tonight I rode in our cycling class for 2 hours and I was shot, no run after just wanted to go home and crawl into bed. As I try and look at my defeatist attitude right now it probably has something to do with a long work week and the self doubts that I get when I am tired. It is easy for me to forget all of the successes that I have had to this point and all of the support, but I still have to wonder what is driving me. What is it that will drive me back and push me to work harder. Tomorrow is another day and I guess that I will find out then.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Finnaly Friday
Well thankfully the work week is over and I have a long weekend ahead. I have done well nutritionally but I can not say that I workout as well or as often as I would have liked. While my work week was trying to say the least, I was able to replace my totaled vehicle and I think the insurance and paperwork is complete.
I found it odd that I have had this guilt complex everytime I miss a workout. Right now my planned workouts are BodyFlow and swim on Sunday, 3 hours of biking on Mondays, Tuesday off (made that happen this week no problem:))Wednesday swim and G Force X bootcamp Thursday is BodyFlow and 2 hours of bike then Friday is a swim and G Force again and Saturday is an hour long bike. This may seem a little extreem but I feel that with my goals I need to be committed to the effort to get there. While mentally I feel committed sometimes the stuff that happens in life during the week doesn't work in my fitness schedule. I think this will be the biggest challenge in the comming months.
I found it odd that I have had this guilt complex everytime I miss a workout. Right now my planned workouts are BodyFlow and swim on Sunday, 3 hours of biking on Mondays, Tuesday off (made that happen this week no problem:))Wednesday swim and G Force X bootcamp Thursday is BodyFlow and 2 hours of bike then Friday is a swim and G Force again and Saturday is an hour long bike. This may seem a little extreem but I feel that with my goals I need to be committed to the effort to get there. While mentally I feel committed sometimes the stuff that happens in life during the week doesn't work in my fitness schedule. I think this will be the biggest challenge in the comming months.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Before and After
This is the moment I have been dreading the before and after picture event. At the moment I sit drinking a near perfect cup of coffee while surfing the internet and watching football. I did a the BodyFlow class this morning and the plan is to do a long swim this afternoon after the Packer game.
Yesterday I cycled and was really tuckered when I was done but it felt like I might have been getting some form. I'll need to talk with Kevin about how my form looks. He had us focus on increasing and dropping our watts rather than focusing on gear. I really liked this according to the cycle computer (I think this is how the computer works at the end) my average watts for the hourlong class was 226 not sure if this is good or bad or even accurate but it will give me one more thing to track.
I have also figured out how to do a determine my Lactic Threshold for swimming and running. There are charts in the The Triathlete's Training Bible by Joe Friel that help determing LT. I will be posting those number soon also.
Ok so I have procrastinated long enough on this picture thing. What is important to remember here is that 1: I should never have allowed myself to get that big. I was not unhappy when I was heavier but I am in a much better place physically and mentally now. 2: What you see in the mirror is not important it's what is in your heart. That is where happiness lies.
Ok so here goes......
One last warning .....
Yesterday I cycled and was really tuckered when I was done but it felt like I might have been getting some form. I'll need to talk with Kevin about how my form looks. He had us focus on increasing and dropping our watts rather than focusing on gear. I really liked this according to the cycle computer (I think this is how the computer works at the end) my average watts for the hourlong class was 226 not sure if this is good or bad or even accurate but it will give me one more thing to track.
I have also figured out how to do a determine my Lactic Threshold for swimming and running. There are charts in the The Triathlete's Training Bible by Joe Friel that help determing LT. I will be posting those number soon also.
Ok so I have procrastinated long enough on this picture thing. What is important to remember here is that 1: I should never have allowed myself to get that big. I was not unhappy when I was heavier but I am in a much better place physically and mentally now. 2: What you see in the mirror is not important it's what is in your heart. That is where happiness lies.
Ok so here goes......
One last warning .....
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The saddest day of the year!
Ok, I am a big college football fan and with the National Championship this means that the college football season comes to a close. I just learned today that the Badgers open their home season next fall against San Jose St. Sept. 12, the day before Ironman. Anyone interested in tickets, I think I will pass on sitting in the hot sun that day.
So far this has been an ok week for workouts. Sunday I was able to do a strides workout on the track at Harbor and then a swim. Monday was biking at 5:30 am, Tuesday was more cycling, Wednesday I did the B-force boot camp that pretty much kicked my ass and Thursday was BodyFlow. Monday I had planned to cycle for three hours on Monday but with everyone resolving to get fit by cycling I decided to car shopping instead. I was supposed to cycle Thursday also but guess what ……it snowed so instead of cycling I chose to shovel snow.
It has been kinda fun at the gym because there are parking attendants at night to help us find places to park. Watching folk work their butts for 15 minutes then taking a break for 10. I was probably the same way last year but Kevin encouraged me to not spend more than 15 seconds on break between exercises. That philosophy has something to do with getting more benefit from the workout between sets. I will ask Kevin to help me better clarify this and report back. Anyway that has stuck with me and I really try and follow it as I work out.
I am going to post my workout schedule this weekend and we can see together how well I do at following it. I am also starting to work on a nutrition plan and I am anxious to see how well I stick to that.
More soon.....
So far this has been an ok week for workouts. Sunday I was able to do a strides workout on the track at Harbor and then a swim. Monday was biking at 5:30 am, Tuesday was more cycling, Wednesday I did the B-force boot camp that pretty much kicked my ass and Thursday was BodyFlow. Monday I had planned to cycle for three hours on Monday but with everyone resolving to get fit by cycling I decided to car shopping instead. I was supposed to cycle Thursday also but guess what ……it snowed so instead of cycling I chose to shovel snow.
It has been kinda fun at the gym because there are parking attendants at night to help us find places to park. Watching folk work their butts for 15 minutes then taking a break for 10. I was probably the same way last year but Kevin encouraged me to not spend more than 15 seconds on break between exercises. That philosophy has something to do with getting more benefit from the workout between sets. I will ask Kevin to help me better clarify this and report back. Anyway that has stuck with me and I really try and follow it as I work out.
I am going to post my workout schedule this weekend and we can see together how well I do at following it. I am also starting to work on a nutrition plan and I am anxious to see how well I stick to that.
More soon.....
Sunday, January 3, 2010
New Year Goals
Thought a lot about my New Years goals, seems that finishing the Ironman would be a pretty big goal especially considering where I started this time last year.
Last years goal was to:
2009 Live each day as if it was my last.
To accomplish this I will:
1. Eat better by tracking what I eat.
2. Exercise at least daily.
3. Challenge myself each day.
4. Have fun.
5. Make new friends that will support my efforts.
This year I intend to continue with this goal just modifying how I get there
2010 Live each day as if it is my last.
To accomplish this I will:
1. Focus on improving overall fitness, through diet, exercise and
spiritual wellness.
2. Challenge myself every day.
3. Work to improve relationships with family and friends.
4. Work to maintain a positive attitude and self image.
5. Have fun. Smile
These were and are my personal goals for the past and present year. I go through an exercise each year where I review goals in various aspects of my life. I think it is a nice way for me to road map where I am and where I am going.
As I made these life changes last year I was not prepared for some of the resistance that I got from some friends and family. Reflecting on that, I think now that it was unfortunate, and part of my problem is that I was not able to articulate why I found it necessary to change my whole life style at 48 years old. I changed many aspects from diet to regular exercise. While I consider these changes an improvement I still don’t know for sure what possessed me to get started on the adventure. I really cannot say that I was unhappy before my weight loss, twelve months later I can only say that I feel physically and emotionally better than I ever have before.
So my advise to anyone who is listening is focus on your goal. When you’re so tired and sore go ten minutes more. When you have a little left on your plate rather than eat it toss it. You won’t need to wait long to see results (give it eight weeks), if the numbers go in the wrong direction one day evaluate what you have been doing and ignore the numbers.
I have two mantras that have served me well:
Be fearless in the face of fear.
Courage does not alway roar, sometimes it's the voice that says I will try again tomorrow.
Last years goal was to:
2009 Live each day as if it was my last.
To accomplish this I will:
1. Eat better by tracking what I eat.
2. Exercise at least daily.
3. Challenge myself each day.
4. Have fun.
5. Make new friends that will support my efforts.
This year I intend to continue with this goal just modifying how I get there
2010 Live each day as if it is my last.
To accomplish this I will:
1. Focus on improving overall fitness, through diet, exercise and
spiritual wellness.
2. Challenge myself every day.
3. Work to improve relationships with family and friends.
4. Work to maintain a positive attitude and self image.
5. Have fun. Smile
These were and are my personal goals for the past and present year. I go through an exercise each year where I review goals in various aspects of my life. I think it is a nice way for me to road map where I am and where I am going.
As I made these life changes last year I was not prepared for some of the resistance that I got from some friends and family. Reflecting on that, I think now that it was unfortunate, and part of my problem is that I was not able to articulate why I found it necessary to change my whole life style at 48 years old. I changed many aspects from diet to regular exercise. While I consider these changes an improvement I still don’t know for sure what possessed me to get started on the adventure. I really cannot say that I was unhappy before my weight loss, twelve months later I can only say that I feel physically and emotionally better than I ever have before.
So my advise to anyone who is listening is focus on your goal. When you’re so tired and sore go ten minutes more. When you have a little left on your plate rather than eat it toss it. You won’t need to wait long to see results (give it eight weeks), if the numbers go in the wrong direction one day evaluate what you have been doing and ignore the numbers.
I have two mantras that have served me well:
Be fearless in the face of fear.
Courage does not alway roar, sometimes it's the voice that says I will try again tomorrow.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy 2010!!!
The New Year is underway and already I have broken my first resolution; Not eat any more Christmas cookies until next Christmas. It’s hard with the masses of Christmas cookies we have left over. During the past couple of days I have gotten back to the gym. I went to the gym for a cycling class and did a short stride and strength workout beforehand. Yesterday I an happy to report that I did my first BodyFlow class with Jennifer. BodyFlow was pretty cool it’s combination of Yoga, Tai-chi and Pilates followed up at the end with a short mindfulness session. My friend Laurie described it as ‘workout dessert’ and think I will try and do it again, I like dessert. Getting back into excercise is hard (and it hurts) after a few day layoff, but it feels so good to be back at it.
Laurie and I were considering a New Years day fun run yesterday, as I write this it is 5 degrees above 0 with a -4 wind chill. I think we will save this 'fun run' for a warmer day.
Laurie and I were considering a New Years day fun run yesterday, as I write this it is 5 degrees above 0 with a -4 wind chill. I think we will save this 'fun run' for a warmer day.
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