Wednesday, January 15, 2014

100 workouts in 100 days!

I saw a post on facebook on January 8th. it was a video of a lady who had had enough of being overweight and low self esteem. She decided to workout everyday for 100 days. ( http://www.wimp.com/womangym/) I was very inspired by this and thought I could do it to! So here I am on day 6!  I have set myself some rules.  I feel that I should walk at home to a video and try to still go to the gym. This will only count as one workout. I will not beat myself up if something happens I don't get anything in because two workouts some days will take care of it.  BUT not to use that as an excuse or a reason not to workout one day.

SO here is how my days have gone so far
DAY 1  recumbent bike and day one of 30 day squat challenge (I think I actually did 60 squats)
DAY 2  3 mile walking video, squat challenge day 2, and 45 min on the recumbent bike
DAY 3 (this was a little harder--was waiting for grand daughter to be born!)  BUT squat challenge,
             1 mile treadmill and 30 min on recumbent
DAY 4 1 mile walk squat challenge was a rest day!
DAY 5 squat challenge, ab challenge, 3 miles of walking video (mile 2 is a lot of toning band for arms)
            30 minutes on recumbent bike

DAY 6  squat challenge and ab challenge

I am not coordinated enough to walk on the treadmill without holding on. So the recumbent has been my main gym workout. until my hand recovers anyway---- so frustrating. I had to use the treadmill day 3 since someone was on the bike, I stuck it out for a mile but my hand was not happy!  Hope this improves! need to get to the pool!

until I blog again.....

since November 11, 2013

My daughter had her appendix out, I took a trip to the emergency room, then I had carpel tunnel surgery that has been awful, candy making day, grand baby born dec 18th, Christmas, New Year's (no I have no resolutions), and then grand baby born Jan 11th!  She is the new year baby!!!! wahoo!!

Now-let's discuss facing challenges! I go to the gym and they have a universal gym. I fear this beast! I am not sure how to use it, don't want to look stupid trying to learn it, don't want to hurt myself if I use it incorrectly.  Ya there are pictures there but I am not that bright sometimes! So Nov 19th I decide I am going to tackle this beast!!!!! at least do the stuff I DO KNOW. I was pleased to do several exercises and lift more than i thought I could etc.   a couple friends even commented I was out lifting them and they are skinny fit ladies.  WELLLLLLL..... I think the beast still won in the end. sigh. That was the night I ended up in the ER. I had these awful stabbing headaches. Have you ever seen that weapon that looks like a stick and you push the button and a blade comes out both ends? well I felt like someone was in my head pushing that button over and over. The dr said perhaps a small bleed from lifting REALLY!? ugh I was so proud of my efforts! so they ordered an MRI but I had to wait 5 days before the MRI truck was in town again. So I was afraid to work out at all. The headaches stopped that night never to return, the MRI results were fine.  two days after the MRI  I had the carpel tunnel surgery.

The carpel tunnel surgery went well, the incision was beautiful etc. but the recovery has been horrid. with all the surgeries I have had, this was the worst. and I am still struggling.  So my goals and plans to exercise despite the surgery kind of went out the window. I did NOTHING for exercise from Nov 19th until Jan 9th. sigh.   But the hand... after the surgery the dr told me something about my tendon goes a different direction than most peoples and that he was concerned with how my recovery would be in the muscle at the base of my thumb. sigh. at the appointment yesterday, he was still concerned. the muscle is firing but is weak. hoping physical therapy will help. I am not thrilled over the progress or the surgery- I am glad my left hand doesn't need it cause it would take a lot of convincing to get me to do it.

Until I blog again......

Monday, November 11, 2013

My progression.....

Well, I am feeling pretty good about the work I have been putting into my health.

My blood sugars are ranging 88-160 (the 160 was yesterday cause I ate an afternoon snack not very long before dinner so my sugars showed it)  I am thrilled with how many times my sugars have been in the normal range! and even more thrilled that I have been able to eat fruit and other things that would normally shoot my sugars way up!  I feel healthier!

I am working hard on getting my workouts in and training for my number goals - the half marathons. I have been going to the hospital gym 2-3 times a week and the hotel for the pool 2-3 times a week. Saturdays I have gone to the hotel and used the recumbent bike, treadmill, pool, and then hot tub. I am thinking that if I wake up at 4:30 am again (like this morning) that I will go to the pool! =)   I really love the pool!

I had to postpone my mammogram- I was sick. =( but I will reschedule it!

Carpel Tunnel Surgery is the day before thanksgiving. I have been thinking about what to do for exercise once I have the surgery. I am not very graceful or coordinated. I hang on when I walk on the treadmill!  and the elliptical! and I am pretty sure the pool will be a no no for the first little bit! (will confirm this for sure when I see the dr the day before the surgery)  It finally came to me--- I will do walk at home videos!!! these are good workouts! and I won't need to use my hands unless there is a toning band section but I can just do the walking without the bands!  So I feel better! I was actually a little panicked about it!

I see my regular dr on the 22nd and I think he will be pleased with my accomplishments! I think I will be adding a chiropractor and massage visits to my regime.  I am also going to research a buggy for Christopher that is like one of those pull behind a bike toddler buggies but adult sized. It can be used as a push cart over sand and snow, and pulled behind a bike. Thinking it might be lighter weight for the half marathons. My ortho dr said he will help me decide which type of handles will be best for my wrists while pushing Christopher.

I am happy with what I have been doing! I really want to do a 3 day cancer walk one day, and I would love to do a stair climb again.  Would love to do the same one I did a few years ago to see if I can improve my time!  thinking perhaps in 2015.... will worry about that a bit down the road.

until I blog again.......

love yourself

A friend of mine used that theory with me one day. I think I posted something about my work towards my goals and she said "progression not perfection right?"  This is so true!

We are not perfect, we are not going to be perfect, we are not MEANT to be perfect! We are meant to progress.  We strive to much for perfection and that leads to disappointment and other negative feelings.   We spend too much time comparing ourselves to others. 

If we spent more time progressing, and only comparing ourselves to who we were yesterday, we could be a lot happier!  It is important that we love ourselves as we are, but see ourselves as we can be.   We might not weigh what we want to weigh, or be as good at a sport or something that we want to be. Who cares! Love yourself!!!! accept yourself!!!!  THEN make a plan to improve the things you want to improve. be a better you today than you were yesterday.   If you have a bad day- so be it.  If you mess up, no problem!!! just start again in that next MOMENT, not next week, not Monday, not after the holidays.... Start the very next second.  it will be ok!

What happens if you get to the weight you want to be? will you be happy? will you find something else to hate about yourself?  It will all depend on if you have learned to love yourself for who you are TODAY!   That is the key to happiness. LOVE YOURSELF!

Progression- not perfection, love yourself for who you are TODAY!  

Until I blog again...... 

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Let's talk goals

I believe that goals help keep us active. If we don't have a goals we have nothing to strive for so can fall into an inactive state, inactive physically and mentally. I also believe that we should set attainable goals. Why set ourselves up for failure!? There is nothing wrong with pushing ourselves, but we still need to have attainable goals. We shouldn't say "I want to lose 100 pounds in two months"  that is failure waiting to happen. Instead set small short term goals to reach a long term larger goal.

On top of that, I believe in setting two goals. The one I would be happy with and the one I would be THRILLED with! Like my half marathons.... I would say "I want to finish" that is my first goal- my happy goal. "I want to finish in less then 3.5 hours" is second goal... the one that I will be thrilled to achieve.   

Right now- my current goals are that in which I don't have a secondary, I will be thrilled goal =)  The medical ones are just ones that have to be achieved. and so I am happy with any progress towards that.  

So some of my goals are large! Like being ready for half marathons next summer. Taking it one day at a time, one 6 week body make over segment at a time.  with smaller, quick to achieve goals we will have a sense of accomplishment and the larger goals will not seem so hard to reach.

until I blog again.....

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

I am happy to report that I am making progress! My sugars now range from 132-189 - Still not in the normal range but closer! I review my progress with the Dr. tomorrow- or rather I drop off my numbers and he will review as he can. so by the end of the week I should know what the new plan is. I am anticipating an increase in the injection amount and nothing else.  I will get on the scales when I go- just as a calibration of how I am doing. and for the Dr to see that I am making progress that way as well (that is my hope- a lower number)
I have been working out on the gazelle and the total gym on days I haven't been able to get to the gym. And then have been to the gym a couple times as well. I even ran last night! not long or fast but I ran. 2 different times and for a minute each time.

I spent half an hour on the elliptical and an hour and 20 minutes on the treadmill.  Friday I walked an interval program on the treadmill for an hour. I hope to alternate treadmill work outs for variety and so my body doesn't settle into a routine that hinders my progression.  last night I needed to get my legs to relax so didn't do any high powered treadmill work other then the two minutes of running.

My blood pressure- I am not sure how that is doing. I think I will see if Jamie will check that tomorrow as well.  The a1c goal I have--- that is a test done every three months or so. SO will not know progress on that until after the first of the year. But I think it will show improvement at least!  I need to keep working hard on that!

Do I still eat candy- yup. Do I eat birthday cake!? Yup! I have always and will always believe that moderation is more the key than giving up treats.  everything in moderation. a cheese burger here and there isn't the problem. cheeseburgers every day and not living an active life is the problem. We need to be active. I know this- have known this... just don't live up to it. BUT I need to! I want to!  I have one grand son and more grand babies soon to be here! I need to be active and healthy! I am young enough that there is no reason I can't live to see great grandchildren and even great great grand children! BUT i have to take care of me!  It is always so much easier to take care of everyone else. However - what we forget as moms/women is that we can't continue in this work for as long as we would like if we aren't healthy ourselves. For Christopher I need to be healthy- I need to be able to take care of him for years to come. 

I was looking for a hotel room for a training I want to attend for my educational hours for my certified family home license. The first thing I was checking for was a gym and pool!!!  Usually I am like "ha I am going away- I don't need to stress doing anything like exercise!"   I usually check for continental breakfast! LOL and cheap! LOL I am not a hotel snob! (that was for you Tammy!) I usually only ever sleep at the hotel. not hang out or anything.... so I usually just get a cheap place. just need a bed why pay a lot. =)

Anyway- as my friend Beth said... Progression not perfection and I am doing well at progression!  never do I strive for perfection- it just isn't possible. =)

until I blog again......


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

My goals

I am in a group on facebook- there are just a handful of us and it was originally for a six week body makeover- Rules: no talk of weight/weight loss.  the second 6 weeks we have been talking number goals. and I first thought weight but then people talked of numbers like "i want to work out 5 times a week" etc. well I couldn't decide on a number goal until after I was at the soda screamer. As I mentioned in the last post- people were recognizing me and talking about me and missing me at events.  SO my number goals:
1.)  13.1 in 7/2013 (star valley half marathon)
2.)  13.1 in 10/2013 (soda screamer half marathon- the first event we ever did!)

Now- in order to achieve such number goals I need to workout and train. I want to do this knowing I am as healthy as I can be. I know my blood sugars were not any where near where they are suppose to be and I also realized that my blood pressure has been borderline every time I have been to the doctor the last several times I have been there (so probably the last couple years). I decided it was time to face the music and go see the dr.  Love our dr! he asked what I was there for. I told him- I have goals. two big goals.... and told him of the half marathons. I said- I want to start working out and training, however I know my diabetes needs help and my blood pressure probably needs some help too. Told him that I knew I needed meds and planned to use them as my crutch until I can lose weight and get rid of it all (again) and that my focus is not weight loss - I am not going to stress the scales. I know that with everything else- that will be a bonus from it all.   He was very agreeable. No lecture and was pleased with my attitude. He told me he knows that I know what I am doing and that I have all the tools to do it- and that I just need to do it. I agreed and said that was the hardest part--- getting it done!  So he gave me an injection medication for my diabetes to add to my current medication. and some medicine for my blood pressure.  And told me I am good to go to work out.  I check in next wed and then see him again mid November. My medical goals:
1.) blood glucose in the normal range
2.) A1C in the normal range
3.) blood pressure in the normal range

So you might have caught on that I said a 6 week goal yet my goals extend to July 2014 and October 2014. My six week goal is to get everything set and ready to go to make those number goals and to get started!
1.) doctor visit  check
2.) follow dr's orders check
3.) gym membership  check
4.) exercise clothes (needed! my other pants were too thin to be wearing in public) check
5.) got a gazelle exercise machine for free! BONUS check!
6.) blog started for journaling and accountability check
7.) support from family and friends  - those who know about it and care check!
8.) update ipod for good music.... not done yet
9.) follow through with carpel tunnel surgery

Carpel Tunnel surgery? to walk a half marathon!? yup!! I am not suppose to push Christopher any more than necessary due to the carpel tunnel. So in order to push him next year in these events I need to have the surgery. I have carpel tunnel in both wrists but it is mild in the left. not sure the plan there but I have an appointment with that dr on wed.  Hoping to have one surgery right before Thanksgiving since Ty will have a long weekend to help.

Now in addition to these goals. I am strongly considering a 3day cancer walk!! I have all but said yes. I want to! I am scared to! So I will think on this a bit longer.

So there you have it! My goals! My plan!!! Now hopefully I can post lots of success stories and good progress reports!

Until I blog again.....