Friday, April 28, 2006

My Eyes are Burning

Headed out to the pool again today, and swam for about 2000 meters in about 35 minutes. The chlorine in the pool is really hurting my eyes though. Looks like swim goggles are in my very near future. Now today I be forced to squint at every bright light. Joy.

Paul

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Sore and Sleepy

I am feeling the DOMS from the strength training on Tuesday, as well as being sick yesterday, I didn't exactly spring out of bed this morning. I spent 5 minutes trying to convince myself that I would survive missing this workout. I then got dressed....slowly....and headed out the door to do some cardio. As I am still nursing a sprained ankle, I just did 30 minutes of the stationary bike on an interval setting for 10 miles, and then did a set of lower body strength training.

God I cannot wait until I can start running again.

Paul

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Swimming

I had been planning on going swimming for a couple of days now, and finally got all the necessary parts (swim suit, shower shoes, etc) so today was the day. I woke up feeling sick, however, and nearly talked myself out of it. I drove down to the 24 hour fitness, and hit the swimming pool for about 30 minutes, doing breaststroke laps. My arms are feeling a bit sore from yesterday's strength training, so I kept this round short.

Paul

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Ending the Pity Party

Ok, so I have used the excuse of my ankle injury to stop me from doing all my exercises. Well, today, I stop that trend and go back to work. I cannot run for 2 more weeks, but I damn well better do something else. I wanted to go swimming this morning, so last night I started packing up my gym bag to head out to my local 24 hour fitness, and do some laps in the pool, but I couldn't find my damn shower shoes. I even made a special trip to Fred Meyer to get a pair of swim trunks that fit, and didn't realize that my shower shoes were AWOL. So, that meant swimming is out, as I am not going to walk on that nasty gym floor barefoot.

I ended up heading over to my local fitness center and did a 30 minute stationary bike workout on the Weight Loss setting at level 6 making 10 miles. Then I decided rather than try and push myself too hard starting back, I would do some strength training. I have been wanting to get back into the routine, and try out a new machine. So today I did a light upper body strength training set, working my chest, lats, deltoids, shoulders, triceps and biceps. Nothing too difficult, but enough to matter.

The pity party is over, time to get back to business. I plan on finding my shower shoes after work today, or buying some more. No more excuses!

Paul

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Out and About

Well, as I have been using the excuse of my ankle injury to pretty much slack off all week, I decided to head out and do some stuff with my kids. Nothing too strenuous, but we did end up doing a lot of walking around for a few hours, so I figured I would log it. So, today I did 2.5 hours of walking at a slow-moderate pace, limping occasionally.

I also am still at 197 pounds.

Paul

Friday, April 21, 2006

Stealing Quotes

A fellow blogger posted this on her running blog, and I liked it so much I decided to post it here too. I felt very connected to it.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Marianne Williamson

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Injuries Suck

So, I have been pretty much off my feet for the last few days due to the ankle injury. I am about bouncing off the walls as a result. I need the healing to happen faster. I am so worried about being out of running for the 3 weeks the doc told me that I am really stressing out about it. I know that I will have to back up my capabilities some and take it really easy for at least a month, but I was getting pretty close to the half-marathon goal I have been trying for.

On a positive note, I weighed in at 197 today.

Paul

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Half the Man I used to be.....

It looks as though I met my 1 year goal about a month early. I weighed in this morning at 200 pounds. That means I have lost 200 pounds so far.

Of course with the good also comes some bad. While I was out running today, I twisted my right ankle and sprained it. I am now on crutches and pain medicine. I now have to figure out how not to lose the fitness I have worked so hard to gain without hurting my ankle in the process.

Paul

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Post Aerobic Pain

I awoke this morning to a bit of muscle soreness which I suspect was caused by the aerobic session I did on Wednesday. Suffice it to say, I wasn't about to let a little bit of DOMS stop me from my daily workout. I headed out and did 30 minutes on the elliptical machine at level 6-interval then did 30 minutes of the stationary bike at level 6-weight loss. I did a little extra stretching after this workout too, just to help my sore muscles out a bit.

My weight is still at 203, and I am of course still frustrated. Now most of this frustration isn't about the not losing of weight, but the fact I know why. I haven't exactly been eating the best this last week. I realize that I have been nibbling a bit too much. I am getting back on track again so hopefully I can re-start my losing process.

Wish me luck!
Paul

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Near Miss

I almost didn't work out yesterday. I missed yesterday morning's workout as I needed some additional sleep, but came home last evening and did an hour of aerobics in front of the TV. I twisted my ankle during the routine, and this morning it aches a bit. All I can say is that I am glad my window blinds were closed, as I looked a bit foolish hopping around my living room like I did. If nothing else, it was quite fun though.

This morning, I got up reluctantly, with yet another night of relatively poor sleep thanks to my cat and her midnight antics. I did a 2.75 mile treadmill run in 35 minutes, and did a 30 minute recumbent stationary bike ride at level 6-CV for 10 miles.

Pretty good workout, hopefully I can get to my goal weight soon. I am still weighing in at 202, which is starting to get aggravating.

Paul

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

More Yoga

I did some more Yoga last night. I guess I should watch the video first before I try the postures out, as I tended to have to pause a lot and try and situate myself in the correct starting position for each one. I enjoyed it, however.

I have not yet worked out for today, however. I didn't sleep good and hit the snooze button. I'll do an aerobic video tonight to make up for it though.

Paul

Monday, April 10, 2006

Yoga Yesterday....Run Today

Yesterday, I went out to Borders and bought a beginning yoga DVD, as I have been wanting to try it for some time now. I apparently will need some accessories as well, but I'll just get those from Amazon. I tried out a beginner set for 25 minutes, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I wasn't able to do the poses fully, as I am not all that flexible, but I did many and got a good stretch nonetheless. If it turns out that I start liking it, there is a yoga place down the street I may join.

For today, I did a 35 minute run, hitting 2.75 miles (5 - 5.5 mph). I then did a stationary bike ride for 9.6 miles at level 7 for another 30 minutes. Level 7 seemed to be WAY harder than level 6, so I kept my heart rate near the high end (~155) for most of that interval workout.

Good workout today. Still weighing in at 203 pounds.

Paul

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Saturday Workout

I needed to recover yesterday and didn't work out.

Today, however, I did, and ran for 35 minutes at a 11:30 pace and did 2.75 miles. I then did 10 miles (CV Workout L6) on the stationary bike in another 30 minutes.

Tomorrow is my official rest day. See you on Monday!

Paul

BMI Results

When I started this set of goals to lose weight and get in shape, I weighed in at 400 pounds and had a BMI of about 50, which put me in at the super-morbidly obese category. This morning, I weighed in at 202, making my BMI 29.9, which is just at the high end of the overweight category. Cool huh. I am 2 pounds from my 1 year goal of being half my former weight, and about 20 pounds from my end goal weight.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Recovering from Yesterday

I was pretty wiped out most of yesterday after that workout, and had a little difficulty getting motivated this morning to go work out. I did, of course, and headed out and did 30 minutes on the elliptical machine and 30 minutes on the stationary bike.

I also weighed in at 203 today. Guess yesterday's run made some difference. I must have bragged about my distance all day yesterday.

Paul

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Long Run - Goal Met

I woke up a bit earlier today, after quite a restless night and got up and headed out for a run. I had planned to run 60 minutes, but ended up running 85 minutes instead. I really pushed myself to make my distance goal, which was 10-K. Well, I not only hit 6.2 miles, but went an additional half mile for 6.75 miles total. I did walk a minute per mile, just so I could conserve my energy a bit, but ran faster as a result. My average run was 5.2 miles per hour (or a 11:30 pace). Not too shabby if I do say so myself.

Still weighed in at 204, but it was at the low side of it today.

My next distance goal will be 9.3 miles (or 15-K)

Paul

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Slept in a bit

As I now live about 5 minutes from my work, I decided that I could get up at 6am to do my workout. I headed out and tried the elliptical machine at the new apartments, and although it took a bit of getting used to I did a 30 minute interval workout on it at level 5 for 9 miles. I then did a 30 minute recumbent stationary bike ride at level 6.

Not a bad workout today. I also weighed in at 204 today.

Paul

Monday, April 03, 2006

New Apartment...New Workout

I got to try out the machines at my new apartment complex. After my move this weekend, which was a workout in itself, I have been eager to try the new fitness center. It is much smaller than the last place but has a recumbent bike, treadmill, elliptical, and weight machine. Just enough.

Today, I ran 2.7 miles in 35 minutes then hit the recumbent bike for 9.7 miles in 30 minutes at level 6-7.

Paul