Workout Songs
I went and worked out on the Precor (tm) trainer on Friday after work. Man, that was fun! I felt great! My goal for this week is to hit the gym three times. Considering I have only been going once per week, that's a big step up, but I think I can do it.

I need to figure out the system of showering at the gym. Because if I can get that down, then I can spend my lunch break at the gym on the Precor (tm) trainer and will really have no excuse for missing a workout. Each Precor (tm) comes with its own television, and all I have to do is plug in my headphones and change the channel and I can go work out when Ellen is on! Or whatever. Reruns of Friends!

I just am not sure how to go about showering at the gym. Normally my shower routine is quite involved. Do I just bring a little travel case with shampoo and stuff? Isn't that a gigantic pain in the ass? I guess I could keep a gym bag at work, if I could figure out what to put in it.

But I loved working out to the music on my beloved iPod and this brings me to my real question (in addition to "what do I put in my gym bag?"): what are your favorite workout songs? I very much enjoyed working out to Duran Duran's "Sunrise." How about you?


- posted by mo @ 10:55 AM

 
Shoop Shoop
I was intending to go to Spinning class on Friday, but I got (as usual) stuck at work. Rather than skip the gym altogether, though, I decided to stop in after work anyway and try the "Precor" machine that I'd heard so much about. Unfortunately the only gym pants I had with me were my new padded bike shorts. I felt like I was wearing an adult diaper. Remind me to plan ahead next time.

At my gym, there is a bank of very fancy elliptical trainers, stationary bikes and stairmasters. They all have built-in cupholders and heart-rate monitors. They have a jack for you to plug headphones into, if you want to watch the big-screen television at the end of the room. Fancy. Which made me feel all the more dumb for not being able to figure out how to shoop shoop on the Precor. I kept falling off!

Eventually I got it. When I first started shooping, my knees ached. And given that I tend to have knee problems, I thought I was going to wake up the next day with knee pain. (I will spare you the suspense: my knees did not hurt the next day! Hooray!) I set the machine for 20 minutes and kept an eye on my heart rate the whole time. (I was in the "Cardio Zone" according to the chart.) It was hard, but every time I started to feel like it was too hard, I just slowed down. My heart rate stayed in the right zone though, so I guess I was pushing myself just the correct amount. I worked out, I sweated, I was like an actual gym-going person.

One thing I noticed was the mirror next to me. And I looked at myself in the mirror and in spite of certain rolls and curves and Flappy, I was happy with my body. I was happy with the movement and the sweating... and even my adult diaper bike shorts.

I think I could get used to that feeling.
- posted by mo @ 9:23 AM

 
Check One Two
Testing yet again. I think something's wrong with Blogger!
- posted by mo @ 9:52 AM

 
Check One Two
I am having some problems with Blogger, but hopefully this will work.

There's nothing much to update. I'm having a very busy week, and I am going to Spinning class tomorrow, but my second training appointment is not until next week. (This week was just too frantic.) This morning I went to the doctor and should get the results of the lab work back soon; mostly I wanted to know what my cholesterol level is, since I haven't had it checked in a while.

Also, I asked her about the gallbladder flush and she rolled her eyes. (She actually rolled her eyes at me a lot. I don't know if I liked her very much.) She said that it hadn't been studied, but "if it worked, we would do it." Presumably by "we" she means "Western medicine." Anyway she suggested doing nothing. So much for that.

Oh, and I almost passed out getting blood drawn. I feel very lightheaded even now, just thinking about it. Augh, needles!

Okay, let's see if this publishes.
- posted by mo @ 1:23 PM

 
Foam Core Workout
In case I can't afford to shell out all that money for a personal trainer, I do want to write down the Form Core Workout she had me do, because it felt so good and my abs are still feeling it the next day. It is a great warmup.

1. Lay on the foam core. (It's essentially a long tube made of foam that runs lengthwise down your spine, and you balance on it.)
2. Mentally connect with your individual vertebrae or some such hippy crap.
3. Let your arms fall back with elbows bent, like you are doing crunches only different. (I can't think of a better way to explain this but the stretch feels great.)
4. Breathe in and out deeply into the stretch.
5. Do two sets of about 12 crunches. Hold the final crunch for 10 nice long seconds. Keep your head about a lemon away from your chest. (As if you were holding a lemon under your chin.)
6. Do two sets of butt crunches. Hold the final crunch (as in ab crunches).
7. Do some weird leg warmup thing by raising each knee in the air and then putting it down again. The closer your arms are to your body, the more challenging this (balancing on the foam core) will be.
8. To dismount, roll off the foam core stupidly.

The end!
- posted by mo @ 1:47 PM

 
Yesterday's Exercise
I was really afraid I would be in severe pain today after overdoing it yesterday. Here was my exercise yesterday:

Walking from house to carpool, from dropoff point to work: 20 minutes
Walking to gym: 15 minutes
Foam core workout and crunches: 15 minutes
Spinning class: 45 minutes
Walking back to work: 15 minutes
Walking from work to bus station, then from bus stop home: 20 minutes

That is over two hours of exercise in one day. And when you are out of shape like me, that is kind of a lot! My abs are a little sore and my thighs were sore by the time I made it up the hill to work today, but nothing bad or painful. The only thing that hurts hurts is my "bathing suit area," from that bike seat. I mean, seriously. Ow.

I remember from my intensive biking days that your bathing suit area gets quickly acclimated to the whole thing. In the meantime, I am sitting very gingerly on my desk chair.

Later...
Ha, ha. I totally spoke too soon. Remember when I said my thighs were sore but nothing painful? I just tried to get up and walk to the printer using my thighs. My poor, poor thighs. I think they have just mutinied.
- posted by mo @ 9:43 AM

 
O, Muscles
I went and met with Laurel the Personal Trainer, who was very nice and enthusiastic and chipper, but not irritatingly cutesy, if you know what I mean. We talked about my goals and hopes and very special dreams, which she seems to think I can accomplish. Her idea is that if I lose these last forty pounds by May then I will be in great shape to do the 16-week training rides for the century.

I'm sorry, did you say FORTY POUNDS? By MAY? Is it just me or is that a CRAZY PERSON talking? Is this how they do it, promise you miracles so you will buy the personal training?

Please note that if I don't fork over the money for a personal trainer, losing all that weight that quickly becomes less likely. However, rapid weight loss is very feasible if I do have my own trainer, because once I give her all of my money, I will have no money left over to buy food. (This is a variation on the Plork Principle.)

Anyway so then she took me through some stretches (which felt AWESOME) on a foam tube, and then some crunches (they felt LESS AWESOME than the stretching) and then some leg whatnot, and then she pointed me to my first spinning class, taught by a very nice guy named Edward who was very encouraging and set me up properly on the bike. Then he put me in the very front row all by myself so every single other person in the class could stare at my ass the whole time. Fortunately, for some reason, I was at peace with the size of my ass today.

Once the "spinning" portion of the festivities began, my first thought was, "Well, this isn't so bad." I was using hardly any resistance and just trying to take it easy and yet still I felt that I was working out. And then he did the "lift your butt from the seat" part and suddenly I was like HOLY FUCK I AM GOING TO PASS OUT IF I HAVE TO DO THIS FOR MORE THAN THIRTY SECONDS.

I did everything at the lowest resistance possible, but you know what? I got through that 45 minute class with my ass off the seat almost every single time my ass was supposed to be off the seat. And when I got done, he said "your form was pretty good for your first time! Plus, I notice you lifted off the seat. Most people don't do that their first class."

Oh, DON'T THEY? Thanks, there, Edward.

The hardest part was walking back to work on the jelly legs. Maybe going to the gym after work is a better bet than going during work, after all. And the weirdest part was having someone watch me exercise and say things like "good!" and "just ten more seconds!" and make me not lazy.

Anyway, so this was it: Day One. My beginning goal is going to be two days per week of working out, and I think I am going to try and do Spinning next week too. It really wasn't horrible; I made it all the way through, and it's only going to get easier from here!

I just wish I had a bathtub so I could soak my "nether regions" in a hot bath. Edward told me they'd be sore tonight. Oh, that Edward!
- posted by mo @ 4:12 PM

 
Box Lunch Comment
I have to say that the new Spa Cuisine boxes from Lean Cuisine are delicious (today I had lemongrass chicken and it has a really wonderful flavor) but if I eat one for lunch, towards the late afternoon I am SO HUNGRY that if someone waved a box of donuts in my face I WOULD EAT SEVEN OF THEM IN APPROXIMATELY FIVE SECONDS.

I already had a bowl of oatmeal and two bananas today, and I am out of snacks. Man, am I hungry. I'm hungry!
- posted by mo @ 4:49 PM

 
Off The Ground
I have my first of two free training sessions on Thursday, with Laurel the Personal Trainer. I don't much know what to expect, but she was very nice on the phone. I am hoping to get a good guideline of where to go from there regarding my cycling training. I'm also going to commit to a gym schedule so that I can follow her recommendations. Wish me luck!

I also need to make a doctor's appointment, because I promised certain concerned people that before I drink a gallon of olive oil or whatever it is, I will talk to a doctor. And frankly, I can tell that my gallbladder is unhappy these days. I haven't had any flat-out attacks, but after eating certain foods, I do experience discomfort and pain. I haven't been able to figure out exactly which foods these are.

I really, really, reallyreallyreally don't want someone to cut me open and take out my gallbladder. Really. Really. So wish me luck on that one, too!
- posted by mo @ 11:37 AM

 
Tidbits
Just have to quote Allison, whom I love: "You can say what you want about the 'low carb craze' but I can also say this, and I can say it as an expert, because I have benefited greatly from it -- some people need to not eat so much of that shit." Heh. True!

Also, Lean Cuisine has new "Spa Cuisine" meals in VERY PRETTY packages that make me want to buy only the new "pretty" packaging and not the old "ugly" packaging. Fortunately, the new packaging with the attractive new typeface contains some really delicious meals. All the pasta and rice is whole wheat (read: Core) and so far I can wholeheartedly recommend the salmon with orzo rice, the lemongrass chicken, and the pasta with peanut sauce. Those are the only ones I've tried. I am kind of excited by the chicken pecan thing.

I am still not on the wagon in terms of eating, nor have I made it to the gym for exercising. But I did vigorously clean my house this weekend, and today my back is sore, my muscles hurt, and I think I pulled a tendon in my foot. Man, I am wimpy.




- posted by mo @ 1:32 PM

 
Hold The Spinning
Unfortunately, those of you waiting to hear how Spinning class was will have to wait a little longer. I got held up at work last night and then again this afternoon (I planned to go today). It's all very irritating. Today I am going to climb up and down some stairs in penance and try again tomorrow! Yesterday I did crunches. Sigh.

Oh but today I am writing down my food and things! That's a good step. And compiling a list of helpful/not helpful things. For instance:

HELPFUL
- Bringing fruit, veggies and Lean Cuisines to eat at work.
- Getting some exercise each day, even if it is just a little bit.
- Planning meals ahead of time.

NOT HELPFUL
- Having cookies of ANY TYPE in the house, even and especially 100-calorie Chips Ahoy packs, because I will eat them all immediately.
- posted by mo @ 3:05 PM

 
Another Question
I kind of want to try this natural flushing gallstones thing for my gallstones. As disgusting as it sounds, it seems like a delightful walk in the park compared to emergency gallbladder surgery. Anyone have any experience with this?
- posted by mo @ 2:18 PM

 
What To Expect When You're Expecting To Go To Spinning Class
I suddenly realized I am scared about the Spinning. Has anyone tried Spinning class? Anyone want to share what it's like?
- posted by mo @ 1:13 PM

 
Point A
I found the gym yesterday. It is almost exactly on the way from my office to the bus terminal, very conveniently located. And the membership is through work, and free, free, free. My plan was to go in and make sure that my membership information was in the system, and see about the free personal training session that they allegedly offer.

The woman who I ended up talking to was one of their sales reps, which became obvious quickly. I told her that I was training for a century, that I wanted to try Spinning class, and that I wanted to talk to a personal trainer. And then she tried to sell me on a personal training package, which would cost $70 per session. I don't even know how long or what a "session" is.

I was all prepared with my usual response to salespeople, which is "I'm going to have to discuss that with my fiancé first." (No, you haven't missed anything, this is just my standard way of shutting down a high-pressure sale. I use "husband" over the phone, but it's less convincing when you don't have a wedding ring, so in person I use "fiancé." My imaginary fiancé and I always make joint financial decisions. It is the secret of our blissful relationship.)

Anyway while I was preparing myself to shoot this personal training idea down, she said "let me just get you my card" and then totally disappeared. She left me sitting there in front of the window, staring at a bunch of people on elliptical trainers, holding the form that I had just filled out about my Fitness Goals or what have you, feeling like a total cliché.

I was wearing three layers of clothing and I felt downright pudgy sitting there--on January third, no less. I felt all the eyes of the exercisers on me, and I saw myself as they must see me, a plump chick coming in to the gym as a new year's resolution. Which is, let's face it, exactly what I was.

So maybe they were judging me ("she'll be gone by February") or feeling superior and I was there in my overcoat with my chubby cheeks and my atrophied muscles. But I wasn't going to let it drive me away. I scribbled a sentence in my notebook: "An overdeveloped sense of irony is not going to keep me away from the gym, even if it is January."

After at least ten minutes of waiting for this sales representative to come back with her business card, I just went up to the desk and asked someone else to pass along my form. She had said that a personal trainer would be calling me, so I can just ask him or her over the phone about the free training session.

I had this bizarre sense of objectivity, seeing myself just then as if I were at the beginning of some inspirational movie montage. Here I am at Point A, and I have this (attainable, concrete, lofty) goal that is Point B. I am at the bottom of a metaphorical hill, and now I have to figure out how to climb it. It's a somewhat intoxicating, somewhat terrifying feeling.

- posted by mo @ 1:32 PM

 
Baby Steps
[I am having some internet issues. My two blogs are set up exactly the same, so I don't understand why Ointy will upload but BFD won't. It's frustrating and also confusing.]

Anyway, I have made some progress vis-a-vis my new fitness regime. I have printed out in my hot little hands the class schedule, hours, and information for my gym. This gym is conveniently located on the way home from work, and I get to meet with a personal trainer for free the first time I go. So that will be exciting.

I tell you, I'm contemplating taking a Spinning class. It's bikey, right? It's the right time of day. I might as well give it a try to see if I like it. My current plan is to stop by there tonight just to make sure my membership is in the system and so forth, and to sign up (if I need to sign up) for the personal training. (Tomorrow?) Then on Wednesday I will try out Spinning.

It's exciting to have a Fitness Goal to work towards. And believe me, as soon as I am ready for it, there will be a ride waiting for me. Maybe a half-century in the spring and then a century in the fall? I don't know if that's realistic. But with hard work, I bet it is.
- posted by mo @ 4:43 PM

 
New Year!
Well I am back together with my beloved internet again. Hi!

My eating over the holiday was one big meal a day, plus Christmas snacks the rest of the time. Not necessarily the healthiest diet, cookies for breakfast and Dutch Christmas cake for dinner. But here I am, in January, ready to make the traditional fresh start. And this year I have a goal in mind, that century bike ride, and I am going to Make It Happen.

I haven't made any firm plans on eating, although I know I should at least start writing everything down. I think the Core plan is going to be the way to go, especially since I'll be able to eat as much as I need to fuel the increased exercise.

The current next step is to figure out which gym is convenient to go to, and also make a training schedule. I may be able to meet with a personal trainer, which would be great, at least to get a professional's blueprint for where to start.

Viva la 2005! I will be writing more soon. Hope you are all well!
- posted by mo @ 10:38 AM