Blogger Notes

Biking: 5.72 miles

Abs @home:

	Sit-Up	#1		12
	sets	#2		12
		#3		12
	Crunches	#1		12
	sets	#2		12
		#3		12
	Reverse Crunch	#1		12
	sets	#2		12
	Dumbbell Side Bend	#1	2	12
	sets	#2	2 lbs	12
		#3	2	12
Couldn't find our heavier weights at home so only used 2 lbs

Well folks I did it! I biked from to Baseline! Total 9.1 km / 5.7 miles in 35 minutes!
It was hard, but it was beautiful on the Woodroffe bike path! And I can't believe it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would. I was so early for work even with showering there. The second part of this goal is to bike home, but now that I've done it once I don't think that will be a problem.

Thursday I worked 12-8 so I didn't go to bed at a decent time and couldn't get up early. Friday night my daughter ended up with the flu, so I didn't get to do my Walk the Micah Road Walk-a-thon. In fact I didn't do much of anything, except yell and scream all weekend due to lack of sleep. Sunday night I was packing my gym bag and getting everything all set. It was later than usual, but I was still going to get up early. My daughter got sick again and I ended up on the couch with her most of the night.

This morning I procrastinated so much. I hit snooze a bunch of times. When I did finally get up I ended up poking around Facebook looking at pictures. I finally left and went to the gym. I got there at 6:30 and worked out for 30 minutes.

I walked to work and showered there, which I'm going to start doing from now on. I'll miss the sauna, but at least I won't have to fight for the shower. And it gives me some extra time since I'm already at the office.

Biking: 4 miles

Elliptical: 0.45 miles / 73 cal / 5 min / L8

Seated Row: 70 lbs x 8 reps I thought I could do it...instead I did...55 lbs x 4 sets

Elliptical: 0.23 miles / 32 cal / 2 min / L8

Lateral Pull Down: 70 lbs x 3 sets (I felt it in my back while working out and set 3 killed!)

Chest Press: 55 lbs x 3 sets

I now have a goal. A real, tangible goal with a date. My little sister's birthday is June 30th. She is trying to lose weight and tone up. Meeting a goal is easier when you have someone else striving to reach the same/similar goal.

Goal Date:
- June 26th

Objectives:
- To workout 5-6 times/week with at least 3 of those as heavy workouts at the gym

Goal Weight:
- To be in the 230 lb range I'm aiming for somewhere between 230-235

I am contemplating biking to Baseline bus station to catch the bus in the morning. It's a 5.7 miles trek one way. I'm scared! It's a long trek at least for me. I know I can do it. So, here is the idea for my new workout schedule for the next 7 weeks:

Day 1: Upper Body
Day 2: Biking 11.4 miles
Day 3: Abs
Day 4: Biking 11.4 miles
Day 5: Lower Body

Tomorrow is trial day. I'll let you know how the biking goes.

Good Morning. I did it again. I got up at 4:45 am. I biked to Fallowfield, caught the early bus and was at the gym by 6. Today was upper body. I think I've got to revamp this workout, it just doesn't seem like it's enough. I feel like I'm missing something. Maybe it's just because I'm so used to doing triceps and biceps.

Sunday I made dinner for my husband's grandmother and two great aunts. April 20th was his aunts birthday, she's 97! I know how much she likes curry so I made her a nice dinner. Well she tells me I've lost weight. She also tells me I'm wonderful and have nice hair and a nice face! LOL the stuff elderly say! It was a nice ego boost and brings me to another discussion...

I've lost about 10 lbs since New Years. I know I was up close to 250 lbs. On March 23 I weighed 247. Today I weigh 240. I don't feel like I've lost anything. I'm not proud or happy about it. When people tell me I've lost weight I argue and tell them I haven't. I figure because after I gave birth to Riley I weighed 235 that anything before that isn't losing weight. It's taking off what shouldn't have been there. But really none of it "should" be on my body and weight lost is still weight lost. I did gain all that weight I should be proud when it comes off regardless of how many lbs or what my current weight is.

Biking: 4 miles

Treadmill: 0.70 miles / 1.14 km / 13 minutes / 93 cal

Seated Row:
55 lbs x 12
70 x 10
85 x 8
100 x 6
70 x 12

Elliptical: 0.25 miles / 0.40 km / 2 min / L8 / 33 cal (one minute in reverse)

Lateral Pull Down:
55 lbs x 12
70 x 10
85 x 8
100 x 6
70 x 12

Elliptical: 0.23 miles / 0.37 km / 2 min / L8 / 33 cal

Shoulder Press:
40 lbs x 12
55 x 10
70 x 8
85 x 6
55 x 12

Elliptical: 0.20 miles / 0.32 km / 2 min / L8 / 30 cal

Abdominal Crunch:
20 lbs x 12
30 x 10
40 x 8
50 x 6
30 x 12

Elliptical: 0.20 miles / 0.32 km / 2 min / L8 / 30 cal

Obliques: 2 sets x 12 x 25 lbs

Reverse Abs: 2 sets x 12

This morning was so hard to get up and out of bed. I managed, barely. I wanted so badly to crawl back into bed. I biked to Fallowfield. I even got their earlier than usual, next week I'll be getting up at 4:45 so I can leave by 5.

I found out Wednesday night that my thyroid checked out okay. I do not have any thyroid problems. I'm not going back to the clinic again. I have been feeling okay lately, but if things get worse again I will go back to the clinic and ask them to test everything they can. For now I'll just leave well enough alone.

Next week my goals are to get up at 4:45 every morning and to start really paying close attention to what I'm eating.

I also plan on putting in some workout time this weekend too.

Biking: 4 miles
Cross Ramp: 0.40 miles / 0.64 km / 5:24 / 70.1 cal

LOWER BODY

Back Ext:
155 lbs x 12
170 x10
185 x 8
200 x 6
170 x 12

Leg Ext:
55 lbs x 12
70 x 10
85 x 8
100 x 6
70 x 12

Leg Curl:
55 lbs x 12
70 x 10
85 x 8
100 x 6
70 x 12

Leg Press:
210 lbs x 2 sets of x 12 reps

Hip Adduction:
145 lbs x 12

Hip Abduction:
145 lbs x 12

Ab Machine:
20 lbs x 12
30 x 10
40 x 8
50 x 6
30 x 12

Reverse Crunches:
2 sets x 12 reps and 1 set x 6 reps

Obliques:
25 lbs x 2 sets x 12 reps

Not much to say today so I'll get right to it.

Biking: 4 miles
Elliptical: 0.58 miles / 0.93 km / 78 calories / 6 minutes
This morning's personal goal was to hit .5 miles in under 5 minutes. I did it in 4:56!

UPPER BODY - 1 set of 12 reps each machine
Chest Press: 70 lbs
Lateral Pull Down: 85 x 2, 100 x 12
Shoulder Press: 20
Seated Row: 70
Triceps: 65
Biceps: 65

AB EXERCISES
Crunches: 12 x 3
Reverse: 12 x 2
Obliques: 12 x1

With the arrival of spring brings Spring Cleaning and Tunes Ups. I did a very basic tune up on my bike yesterday but will do a more complete one this week.

Here is a bicycle tune up check list that I found:

So, after 3 weeks of not going to the gym and really not exercising I'm trying to get back to it. Yesterday I put air in my bike tires and WD-40 on my bike chain. I biked a total of 5.2 miles (8.36 km).

I had to pay $1 to put air in my tires! I shared with the next guy who needed air in his car tires. My bike chain fell off, but I'm pretty sure that's because my pants kept catching in the chain. I will never again laugh at another person who tucks their one pant leg into their sock, who knew?

If any of you have ever done any real biking you'll know what happens when you haven't biked in a long time and start out fresh. Your posterior hurts an awful lot, but I'm pushing through the pain. =)

This morning was a challenge in many respects. First was waking up, I desperately wanted to just go back to bed. It's easy to fall into a routine of NOT going to the gym. I finished packing my bag and the next challenge was my gym bag. It's too heavy and awkward, what I need is a large back pack. If my gym bag slips the wrong way I almost topple over. The other issue of course was sitting down on my bike seat, I had to make sure I lifted off the seat when going over large bumps. The important thing is I DID IT!

At the gym, I only worked out for about 30 minutes. Since, I'd already done my cardio with the biking I opted for just a 6 minute warm up on the Elliptical. I didn't want to over do it so I just did 1 set on the machines. I did have moments of feeling dizzy, but I pushed through it. I'll find out Wednesday evening if the problem is my thyroid or if I have to keep looking.

Biking: 4 miles / 6.42 km
Elliptical: 0.54 miles / 0.86 km / 6 minutes / 70 cal

LOWER BODY - 1 set of 12 reps

Back Ext: 175 lbs
Leg Press: 210
Leg Curls: 85
Leg Ext: 85
Hip Adduction: 100
Hip Abduction: 115
Ab Machine: 30 (x2)

Good day. Well, as you probably noticed I took some time off from the gym. I'm completely weak, exhausted and lightheaded.

We moved to our new place March 29th and we've been setting up ever since. My husband has had to take the brunt of most of the work. I've barely been able to get out of bed in the mornings, let alone make it to the gym.

I've gone to the clinic twice now trying to find out what is wrong with me. At first I thought it was my iron, but that test came back fine. Tuesday I'll be going in for blood work to test my thyroid. It's been so hard to go from having so much energy to none at all. Simple things like carrying my daughter upstairs is a challenge. Standing on the bus when it's full is a challenge.

I did make it to the gym on Tuesday morning. I did not do nearly as much as I would have liked. I even tried to get in more cardio after my weights, but felt like i was going to pass out, so I didn't push it.

Treadmill: 1.03 miles /1.62 km / 11 minutes 43 seconds

FitFix Circuit
Back Extension: 190 lbs
Leg Extension: 85
Leg Curls: 85
Leg Press: 210
Hip Adduction: 100
Hip Abduction: 100
Seated Row: 70
Lateral Pull Down: 100
Chest Press: 70
Shoulder Press: 30
Biceps: 50
Triceps: 50

I am so tired! I've been noticing my iron seems low again. I've got big nasty very dark bruises and I'm tired. Now I've got a bad cough, which I caught from my son, Joey. Add to all of this it's that time of the month.

It's days like today I wish they'd done a hysterectomy instead of just a tubaligation. I don't say that to make anyone feel like I think it's an easy procedure. I know it's not, but days like today make life very difficult. I'm at work and all I want to do is go home. I can't do that because we're only allowed 6 sick days per year. How does one call in sick or go home sick when they have their period? Seriously? First off, it's embarrassing and secondly, it seems like a cop out. I'm in serious pain and Advil only helps so much. Enough of my complaining.

I woke at 4:45 am again and made it to the gym by 6. I think this will work out nicely, once I get used to it. Monday I started keeping track of my calories. I entered my information to figure out how many calories/day I should be eating from this site. I've included the my calories per day below:

Maintenance - 2657
Fat Loss - 2126
Extreme Fat Loss - 1976

So, I'm working with a new schedule now. I'm working 8-4 which means I've got to get up and go to the gym even earlier. This morning I was up and out of the house by 5:10. I still ended up on the bus I usually take because one of the buses broke down. Tomorrow I'll be getting up at ten to 5. I refuse to say the actual time as it's just too darn early!

UPPER BODY

Walking: 1.18 miles / 1.9 km
Elliptical: 0.55 / 84 calories / 6 minutes 41 seconds

Seated Row:
40 lbs x 12 reps
55 x 10
70 x 8
85 x 6
55 x 12

Chest Press:
40 lbs x 12 reps
55 x 10
70 x 12
85 x 6
70 x 12

Shoulder Press: Why is it so hard to do this machine? Shoulder Press is my Nemesis!
20 lbs x 12 reps
30 x 10
40 x 8
50 x 6
30 x 12

Lateral Pull Down:
40 lbs x 12 reps
70 x 10
85 x 8
100 x 6
70 x 12

Biceps Curl:
30 lbs x 12 reps
40 x 10
50 x 8
65 x 6
40 x 12

Triceps Extension:
30 lbs x 12 reps
40 x 12
50 x 10
65 x 6
40 x 12

I've received a lot of response from my last post. It's amazing when you put yourself out there and others respond positively. Thank you all for your support. I can't thank you all enough!

I made some healthy muffins last night. There isn't even any chocolate in them! I took a recipe for fruit and oatmeal muffins and kinda made it my own. They're pretty tasty. Plus I added flax and wheat germ so they're high in fiber.

I've had quite the eventful morning. I woke up at 5:15, got ready and had a couple minutes left before the bus arrived. Only it arrived a couple of minutes early so I missed it. I started walking to Fallowfield and saw the most amazing thing...an owl! Okay so, maybe not so amazing to most of you, but I've never seen an owl outside of the zoo. He was magnificent, his wing span must have been 5 feet. He was huge and so beautiful. I would have missed it if I had caught the bus on time.

I took the bus downtown and walked the couple of blocks to the gym. As I rounded the corner from Bank St to Queen St there was a crowd of people outside the gym. Apparently, the guy who has the key never showed and was unreachable! The gym normally opens at 5:30. I got there at 6:30, I only waited around fro 15 minutes and decided to drop my stuff off at work and take a walk.

The plan was to do my 5 km anyway. I did not make my 5 km, but I managed 4.2 in 45 minutes. Plus I walked to the bus station, so I've walked a lot today. Who knows I may end up walking home from the bus station again. I've walked either to or from the bus station 3 times so far this week!

Walking: 1.18 miles / 1.9 km
Walking: 2.6 miles / 4.2 km
Total Walking: 3.78 miles / 6.1 km

LOWER BODY

Back Extension: Easy, I'll add weights next time
145 lbs x 12 reps
160 x 10
175 x 8
190 x 6
205 x 12

Leg Extension: Difficult
70 lbs x 12 reps
85 x 10
100 x 8
115 x 6
85 x 12

Leg Curl: Difficult
70 lbs x 12 reps
85 x 10
100 x 8
115 x 6
85 x 12

Leg Press: This was only semi-difficult because of the strain with the previous two machines
110 lbs x 12 reps
130 x 10
150 x 8
170 x 12

Hip Adduction:I think the weights on these two machines are good for now, not east, but it's not too hard either.
85 lbs x 12 reps
100 x 10
115 x 8
130 x 6
100 x 12

Hip Abduction:
85 lbs x 12 reps
100 x 10
115 x 8
130 x 6
100 x 12

Buenos días mis amigos! The weather is warmer today. It would be nice if the sun was out too, but I'll take what I can get.

Last night I didn't eat after 8 pm, BUT I did eat chocolate. I have a weakness for dark chocolate and mint. I finished the box. So, that didn't go very well, but I didn't have anything else. Usually I have a big snack at night like nachos or a bag of popcorn. Tonight will be better, there's no more mint chocolates left.

Last night I fell asleep on my husband before 9:30. He kept waking me up telling me to go to bed. Finally, I got up, packed my gym bag and made my lunch. All I wanted to do was crawl into bed, but I knew if I did I wouldn't go to the gym. I'm so glad I took the time last night. It made this morning was so much easier to get up and go.

At the gym, I did a whole hour on the treadmill! I even managed some running. I must say I'm starting to understand why people do it. There is such a wonderful feeling you get from running! I walked most of the hour but really pushed it the last 15 minutes. It's easier to run after walking for so long.

Last Friday I was introduced to belly dancing. I really love it! I'm looking into joining a class. I'm hoping to find one starting in the summer when GEMS is over. That way I'll still only have something that takes me out of the house once a week.

Tomorrow is upper body day!

CARDIO

Treadmill: 3.16 miles (5.08 km) / 60 minutes 34 seconds / 449 calories

This morning I brought a book with me to the treadmill and I walked for 38 minutes!!! I've never gone more than 20 minutes. I'm usually bored out of my tree and ready to move on to something else. y goal here is to be able to walk the 5 km and then start adding running to it and gradually build up until I can run the whole 5 km. After the treadmill I did lower body exercises. I weighed this morning and I'm down 3 lbs!

Weight: 244.4

Treadmill: 1.94 miles (3.13 km) for 37:27 minutes

Back Extension:
130 lbs x 12 reps
145 x 10
160 x 8
175 x 6
145 x 12

Leg Extension:
40 lbs x 12 reps
55 x 10
70 x 8
85 x 6
55 x 12

Seated Leg Curls:
40 lbs x 12 reps
55 x 10
70 x 8
85 x 6
55 x 12

Leg Press:
110 lbs x 12 reps
130 x 10
150 x 8
170 x 6
130 x 12

Abs:
20 lbs x 12
30 x 10
40 x 8
50 x 6
30 x 12