I had a really fun birthday. I hoped to start it by cycling, but shockingly, it was raining out. I sure hope it's not raining tomorrow, because I have a lot of calories to burn off.
We went to a great Mexican restaurant in Greenfield called Mesa Verde. I had nachos with salsa in guacamole, a burrito in a bowl, and two margaritas. If that wasn't enough, we went to Herrell's for ice cream for dessert. I feel very full and very sleepy.
As much as I enjoyed it, I feel very clear that I want an evening like this to be a rare exception. Feeling fit is more important to me.
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Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Who'll Stop the Rain
It rained most of the day Friday, Saturday, and this morning. I really need to find alternative exercise for rainy days. I can tell I'm not quite as gung-ho as I was a month ago, because I didn't go out in the cold drizzle this morning. Although I think it's harder to go out when it's 50 degrees after the weather has been in the 90s. I think the thing I've learned this weekend is to eat differently when I am not exercising. I've gotten into a good pattern of eating so I'm not tracking my calories anymore, but that's based on working out 6 times a week. So I need to be conscious of cutting down my calories when I'm not working out.
I'm also really aware of the impact of other people in my life on my eating habits. I've read studies that if you hang out with people who are overweight, you're likely to be overweight, too. And for the week before Dan arrived, I started thinking about how hard it would be if Dan ate (and drank) like most 21 year old college students--particularly men. It's really great that we all have the same goals in terms of fitness and nutrition.
Here's a picture of Dan being a goofball. As you can see, he's buff. And cute.
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I'm also really aware of the impact of other people in my life on my eating habits. I've read studies that if you hang out with people who are overweight, you're likely to be overweight, too. And for the week before Dan arrived, I started thinking about how hard it would be if Dan ate (and drank) like most 21 year old college students--particularly men. It's really great that we all have the same goals in terms of fitness and nutrition.
Here's a picture of Dan being a goofball. As you can see, he's buff. And cute.
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Friday, June 10, 2011
Hip Hip
I had a scare today. I had a great workout at Fitness Together and went to have a Spanish lesson with my friend Julie. When I got up off her couch at the end of the lesson, I had a terrible pain in my left hip. I couldn't walk, I couldn't put any weight on it. I remembered that I still had crutches in my trunk and Julie's husband Jeff went to get them.
When I started trying to walk with the crutches, I realized I couldn't lift my left leg because of the pain. I had to drag it forward on the floor. I wasn't sure what to do, but was afraid something was really wrong. I thought about going to the emergency room, but decided to to home and see what it was like after a couple of hours. I tried calling Liz, but she didn't answer the phone. Julie rode back to my house with me in my car and Jeff followed in theirs. Then when we got to my house, the pain was completely gone.
Weird, huh? At first I was very cautious about moving around, but then I tried going up and down stairs--no problem. I don't know what it was, but I'm really glad it wasn't something that took me out for awhile. I really want to enjoy this summer.
By the way, Liz finished the chicken house today and the chickens are out there now. Here are some pictures. Liz built them a palace!
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When I started trying to walk with the crutches, I realized I couldn't lift my left leg because of the pain. I had to drag it forward on the floor. I wasn't sure what to do, but was afraid something was really wrong. I thought about going to the emergency room, but decided to to home and see what it was like after a couple of hours. I tried calling Liz, but she didn't answer the phone. Julie rode back to my house with me in my car and Jeff followed in theirs. Then when we got to my house, the pain was completely gone.
Weird, huh? At first I was very cautious about moving around, but then I tried going up and down stairs--no problem. I don't know what it was, but I'm really glad it wasn't something that took me out for awhile. I really want to enjoy this summer.
By the way, Liz finished the chicken house today and the chickens are out there now. Here are some pictures. Liz built them a palace!
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Thursday, June 9, 2011
So Tired
This is going to be a short blog, because I'm so tired, I want to go to bed and it's only 7:30. I cut down to 4 days a week about a year ago, and it's really a challenge because I didn't change my job--I'm just stuffing 5 days a week into 4. Thursdays are the real challenge, because everything I committed to having done during the week has got to be done on Thursday. Thinking about everything I did today makes me even more tired.
Liz and I had hoped to go on a long bike ride with Mark tonight, but we got a huge thunderstorm instead. The sky got dark and everyone from work went outside to look at the sky. The clouds were swirling in circles--we were expecting a funnel to descend at any time. It's so weird to be afraid of tornadoes. I grew up in tornado country where we had tornadoes all the time and I wasn't afraid of them. The tornadoes in Springfield last week really caused a lot of damage, though, so I think everyone around here is a bit fearful.
Liz's nephew Daniel is coming to live with us for the summer and intern at Market Street Research. We love having nieces and nephews live with us (although Daniel is the first nephew), so we're very excited. I've been thinking about what impact Daniel will have on our fitness goals, and it sounds like it will be all good. The first good thing--he is lactose intolerant, so we won't be tempted to take him out for ice cream every day. When I asked him what food and beverages he wanted us to stock up on, he said he tries to eat really healthily, and drinks water and orange juice, and doesn't want any snack foods. Excellent--he will be a force for good, not evil.
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Liz and I had hoped to go on a long bike ride with Mark tonight, but we got a huge thunderstorm instead. The sky got dark and everyone from work went outside to look at the sky. The clouds were swirling in circles--we were expecting a funnel to descend at any time. It's so weird to be afraid of tornadoes. I grew up in tornado country where we had tornadoes all the time and I wasn't afraid of them. The tornadoes in Springfield last week really caused a lot of damage, though, so I think everyone around here is a bit fearful.
Liz's nephew Daniel is coming to live with us for the summer and intern at Market Street Research. We love having nieces and nephews live with us (although Daniel is the first nephew), so we're very excited. I've been thinking about what impact Daniel will have on our fitness goals, and it sounds like it will be all good. The first good thing--he is lactose intolerant, so we won't be tempted to take him out for ice cream every day. When I asked him what food and beverages he wanted us to stock up on, he said he tries to eat really healthily, and drinks water and orange juice, and doesn't want any snack foods. Excellent--he will be a force for good, not evil.
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Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Muscle Failure
I have nice, sore muscles today, because of the great workout I had with Mark yesterday. I did 3 sets of chest presses laying on a Swiss ball. I started with 25 pound dumbbells, and was complaining to Mark about the fact that Liz has only been working out at Fitness Together for about 5 months and she is benching with 35 pound weights. That complaining meant that Mark moved me up to 30 pound weights for the second set. I felt like my left pec was going to tear on the last couple of reps. Mark was "helping" me--he provides the minimal amount of help to prevent complete collapse. The third set I went back down to 25 pounds for 12 reps, and then 12 more reps immediately with 12 pounds. That clearly worked those muscles to failure.
I also did 3 sets of 1 armed rows with one hand on the weight bench, one leg forward, lifting a dumbbell with the other arm. I don't remember the weights, but they were heavy. I then did dead lifts with dumbbells, standing straight with a dumbbell in each hand, bending forward to bring the dumbbells below my knees, and standing up again.
I also did some lunges, and some balance work involving standing on a Bosu with my feet close together, and throwing a weighted basketball-sized ball to Mark who as standing to the side, keeping my eyes on the ball the whole time.
I'm forgetting what else I did, but am pretty much sore all over. The thing I love about working with Mark is that he does work my muscles to failure. I'm realizing that I'm not working as hard with Savanah, so I need to talk to her about that.
I biked to work today and Liz biked down to meet me after work. We took the long way home through Williamsburg. We realized that the bike path used to feel like an uphill ride on the way home, but it now feels flat. And the 10 mile ride home felt like a nice, short jaunt.
Tomorrow will be an eating challenge. I am eating out for all 3 meals tomorrow. It's a good thing I'm good for a long ride on Thursday.
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I also did 3 sets of 1 armed rows with one hand on the weight bench, one leg forward, lifting a dumbbell with the other arm. I don't remember the weights, but they were heavy. I then did dead lifts with dumbbells, standing straight with a dumbbell in each hand, bending forward to bring the dumbbells below my knees, and standing up again.
I also did some lunges, and some balance work involving standing on a Bosu with my feet close together, and throwing a weighted basketball-sized ball to Mark who as standing to the side, keeping my eyes on the ball the whole time.
I'm forgetting what else I did, but am pretty much sore all over. The thing I love about working with Mark is that he does work my muscles to failure. I'm realizing that I'm not working as hard with Savanah, so I need to talk to her about that.
I biked to work today and Liz biked down to meet me after work. We took the long way home through Williamsburg. We realized that the bike path used to feel like an uphill ride on the way home, but it now feels flat. And the 10 mile ride home felt like a nice, short jaunt.
Tomorrow will be an eating challenge. I am eating out for all 3 meals tomorrow. It's a good thing I'm good for a long ride on Thursday.
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Sunday, June 5, 2011
Beer!
I have been spending a lot of time contemplating what kind of alcohol and dessert I want for my birthday. Such hard decisions. I really wanted to go to Delaware to visit my favorite brewery--Dogfish Head. But I couldn't get Liz to agree to go. I get her point. She doesn't drink and couldn't drink beer if she wanted to because of her gluten allergy. But really, doesn't that make her the perfect designated driver.
I tried many strategies--the best I thought was the guilt-trip. Remember my 60th birthday? I had to spend it in a wheelchair. I couldn't do anything. Don't you think you should help me to have the birthday I want this year? Besides, I've never been to Delaware, and I'm pretty sure it'll put me ahead of Sara on the state list. She was way behind me until the summer she lived with us and then we took her to a bunch of states she hadn't been to and she moved ahead. Ungrateful kid.
None of my arguments with Liz were persuasive.
Then today, I was whining about this to Gina after our bike ride, and Gina said that she checked online and the brewery is near Rehoboth Beach, which is a fabulous vacation spot. Liz's ears perked up. Then I went to the Dogfish Head website and saw that they're having a festival the weekend of 6/25, with music, artists, great beer, etc., and that it's only a 6 and 1/2 hour drive from here (assuming minimal NYC traffic, so maybe 8 hours). We're going! I bought the tickets and reserved a hotel room. I'm quite excited. The beer tasting is from 11-5. Liz may spend some or most of that time on the beach, but I'm going to be tasting some fabulous beers.
Today, Gina, Liz, and I did the 30 mile route Gina and I did 2 weeks ago. It's amazing how quickly 30 miles has become a fairly easy ride. For the first time, when we got home from a long ride, Liz and I both had a lot of energy, except when it came to climbing up or down stairs.
I'm still debating 50 vs. 100 miles in the fall. My brother says 50, my trainer says 100. They both have good arguments. My trainer said I could do 50 right now, which is true. It wouldn't feel like much of an accomplishment. My brother said that I shouldn't push it so much we're not enjoying it, and he's the third or fourth person to say that you really die after 75 miles. So it wouldn't hurt to have another year of riding under our belts before we go for the 100. I don't think we have to decide until shortly before the weekend, so we'll see how the summer goes.
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I tried many strategies--the best I thought was the guilt-trip. Remember my 60th birthday? I had to spend it in a wheelchair. I couldn't do anything. Don't you think you should help me to have the birthday I want this year? Besides, I've never been to Delaware, and I'm pretty sure it'll put me ahead of Sara on the state list. She was way behind me until the summer she lived with us and then we took her to a bunch of states she hadn't been to and she moved ahead. Ungrateful kid.
None of my arguments with Liz were persuasive.
Then today, I was whining about this to Gina after our bike ride, and Gina said that she checked online and the brewery is near Rehoboth Beach, which is a fabulous vacation spot. Liz's ears perked up. Then I went to the Dogfish Head website and saw that they're having a festival the weekend of 6/25, with music, artists, great beer, etc., and that it's only a 6 and 1/2 hour drive from here (assuming minimal NYC traffic, so maybe 8 hours). We're going! I bought the tickets and reserved a hotel room. I'm quite excited. The beer tasting is from 11-5. Liz may spend some or most of that time on the beach, but I'm going to be tasting some fabulous beers.
Today, Gina, Liz, and I did the 30 mile route Gina and I did 2 weeks ago. It's amazing how quickly 30 miles has become a fairly easy ride. For the first time, when we got home from a long ride, Liz and I both had a lot of energy, except when it came to climbing up or down stairs.
I'm still debating 50 vs. 100 miles in the fall. My brother says 50, my trainer says 100. They both have good arguments. My trainer said I could do 50 right now, which is true. It wouldn't feel like much of an accomplishment. My brother said that I shouldn't push it so much we're not enjoying it, and he's the third or fourth person to say that you really die after 75 miles. So it wouldn't hurt to have another year of riding under our belts before we go for the 100. I don't think we have to decide until shortly before the weekend, so we'll see how the summer goes.
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Thursday, June 2, 2011
Cycling With the Bikers
Mark at Fitness Together is taking groups on bike rides on Thursday evenings. Tonight there were only 3 of us, Mark, a woman named Teddi, and me. Liz was feeling under the weather and didn't come, and the sky looked really threatening, which Mark thought might have kept others away, especially after yesterday's tornadoes.
It was my first time cycling with bikers where I really had to work to keep up. I knew they were real cyclers, cause they were wearing the official clothes. Gina is a real cycler and wears the real clothes, but she bikes behind me.
Mark is the trainer who always works me the hardest, and cycling is his sport, so you know he wasn't going to make it a stroll in the park. We went north on route 5 and 10, which is relatively flat, and he really pushed me. I was going 20 miles on hour on the flats. My heart rate was really up there.
When we got into the hills, I would fall way behind going up the hills and then I would go way ahead on the downhills. My trike really does book going downhill. I'm a speed demon so I love that. We went 16 miles, well I went 16 miles--that was the point we were going past my house. I could have done the last 5 miles downhill and turned around and come home, but there my nice house was calling to me, so down the driveway I went.
I was worried that they might not have enjoyed riding with me because they had to stop a couple of times to let me catch up, but Teddi said she'd ride with me anytime. I hope Liz comes next week, because it was really fun and a different challenge.
Less than 2 weeks till my birthday. I don't think I'm going to make my weight goal, but I am spending a lot of time contemplating what beer I'm going to drink and what dessert I'm going to eat. Hard, hard decisions!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
It was my first time cycling with bikers where I really had to work to keep up. I knew they were real cyclers, cause they were wearing the official clothes. Gina is a real cycler and wears the real clothes, but she bikes behind me.
Mark is the trainer who always works me the hardest, and cycling is his sport, so you know he wasn't going to make it a stroll in the park. We went north on route 5 and 10, which is relatively flat, and he really pushed me. I was going 20 miles on hour on the flats. My heart rate was really up there.
When we got into the hills, I would fall way behind going up the hills and then I would go way ahead on the downhills. My trike really does book going downhill. I'm a speed demon so I love that. We went 16 miles, well I went 16 miles--that was the point we were going past my house. I could have done the last 5 miles downhill and turned around and come home, but there my nice house was calling to me, so down the driveway I went.
I was worried that they might not have enjoyed riding with me because they had to stop a couple of times to let me catch up, but Teddi said she'd ride with me anytime. I hope Liz comes next week, because it was really fun and a different challenge.
Less than 2 weeks till my birthday. I don't think I'm going to make my weight goal, but I am spending a lot of time contemplating what beer I'm going to drink and what dessert I'm going to eat. Hard, hard decisions!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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