Target Heart Rate

You people have motivated me into getting up right now and doing my stretching exercises.

I stopped for a marvelous variety of flimsy reasons and my conscience really hasn't twanged and panged until now.

It was the description of the bike ride, wasn't it. I know that got me out the door. Nothing like exercise that's fun.

FreeDuck--

"Exercise" and "fun" are two very different words. "Exercise" and "fun" are independent concepts. "Exercise" and "fun" do not inhabit my ecosystem at the same time.

Just because Exercise is good for me, doesn't mean that I can enjoy it.

I hear you. That's why sports are so great -- you're so distracted by the game that you forget you're getting exercise. Until you keel over from lack of oxygen, that is.

... which has happened to me! The thing about pick-up basketball is that it gets all of my competitive juices flowing, and I couldn't stand to leave because I'd either a) won, and wanted to again or b) lost, and didn't want to leave on that note. ~5 hours straight of full-out pick-up b-ball in the middle of the summer caused me to faint once or twice (SO not macho...)

How'd your stretches go, Noddy?

Yep, I'm the same way. Last goal wins it... just one more... this is the last one, really....

The one sport that I can play for hours, get a decent workout, and not keel over while playing, is volleyball. They have pickup at the Y but, unfortunately, it's at 8 pm, which is when we're putting the kids down for bedtime.

I did my stretches and then 20 minutes on the bicycle, pedaling to nowhere. More stretches are indicated.

If in the Hereafter there is a vindictive God, I'll be doomed to team sports. I'd rather be sweaty and miserable all by myself than with teammates, bats and balls.

Well, yoga is nice too.

FreeDuck--

I'm born out of my time. I'm made for a chaise lounge and bon bons.

As soon as I work off the guilt, I'll join you. Pass the margarita.

FreeDuck--

Bring your own thermos. As a gracious hostess, I'll supply sea salt.

Halfway through! Just finished up my fifth week. Feelin' pretty good. I'm now doing the elliptical for an hour at 7 resistance (dunno what the units are), 3 days a week. I think I want to add to that (more times per week, more types of exercise), but that's a pretty good core.

Sozobe--

Congratulations. As a Stay At Home Mom, it isn't easy to fit Personal Improvement into the family schedule.

Wha...?
Well, way back when I was 35 I could do that too!

Yep, that's awesome. I've fallen off the wagon a bit in the last two weeks -- only managing a half hour workout twice a week -- but I did drop the caffeine so I'm blaming that for my lack of motivation. Hopefully, when my body gets used to being decaffeinated, I will get some energy back.

Yeah, that's what got me started on this whole thing, actually. I've had this vague "later" vibe going on for way too long. My doctor's appt. (with possible hypothyroidism diagnosis and shockingly high weight -- about 20 pounds higher than I thought I was) several months ago is what shifted me into "what the hell are you waiting for??" mode. It's not like it's going to get easier the longer I wait.

So far I'm pleasantly surprised at how much my body is taking without complaining. Finally dropped a size, yay!! OK so maybe half a size (stuff that used to ALMOST fit, fits), but it's something. Definitely definitely feeling more fit, energetic, etc. The other day I had an all-out sprint race with sozlet that only ended when SHE slowed, after about a full city block -- that's new, usually I'd tire first. (She's a speedy little kid btw!) My knees complained a bit (concrete is much different from a treadmill ) but it was fine.

I'm only two weeks away from finishing this stint (the 10-week plan), I think I'm going to make a new chart when I'm done, for 4 days a week, maybe a 12-week stint. Not sure if I'll have a reward or not -- the chart is really helpful, itself. It's right here over the computer, helps keep it all at the forefront of my mind, and is great for helping me keep track of how often I've gone to the gym since it's not practical for me to keep a set schedule (like Monday-Wednesday-Friday or whatever).

One of the problems with being a grown-up, away from the primal nest, is that you have no 24/7 guaranteed cheerleader.

Of course "real" grown-ups provide positive reinforcement for themselves and your chart provides both praise and a very objective nag-nag-nag.