And in 3rd place....

We have moved up to 3rd place!

Top Small Team

Dream Team $5,050
Howling Herd of Turtles $2,185
1st Century Riders $1,242
WishSpinners $1,100
Team Karma $850
AZ PAK $630
Team Living Water $170
Team Nicholas $110
CMU Physical Therapy $50
Team Sammy $30
Team MECA $25

I do suspect that this bigger teams (with many more than 2 members) will soon surpass us... But.. THANK YOU to our supporters!

We are a top-ten team... WOW!

Thank you SOOOO much to everyone that has participated in our fundraising so far! Combined we have raised $916 already! Check out this top tem small teams list, hot off the Make-A-Wish Foundation webpage.... (there are currently 23 small teams... that is 20 or less riders... many have several riders.. 12/16/18, we have 2.. :)

Top Small Team

Dream Team $5,050
Howling Herd of Turtles $1,985
WishSpinners $1,100
1st Century Riders $916
Team Karma $830
AZ PAK $610
Team Living Water $170
Team Nicholas $110
CMU Physical Therapy $50
Team Sammy $30
Team MECA $25

I think the best thing is to be a part of providing amazing things and experiences for kids with life-threatening medical conditions. You all should be proud to be part of this!

We are trying to put together a fund-raising concert in the Grand Rapids area this coming April. We will keep you all posted. THANK YOU!

You all are amazing with your support, financial for sure, but also the emotional support and encouragement you are giving. When these holidays are over, I am kicking it back into high gear.

Don't pull my leg...

Hey, so I might have gone a little over-board.... (mwah??).....
I was on a treadmill and actually jogged for a little while.
Now the backs of my legs/knees hurt. Well more like hamstring area.
Oops! I am now forced to take a few days off. Oh well - Happy Holidays!

RE: crazy day

So, I tried to do the bike today. I didn't feel like it. I told myself to just try for 10 minutes... I did 15 of the 45 minutes. UGH! I hate when that happens. AT least I tried.. ?? I have been cleaning so much I think that it must count as exercise!

Ouchie

OKay. So today I have been paying a little for that craziness on the trainer. But oddly, I am glad for the little bit of pain. Maybe I finally understand that "no pain, no gain" thing? Today I went to water aerobics and it was good. I want to avoid over-training leg muscles and risking pulling my patela out of alignment. This is why cross-training is so important. I have always had lousy knees, so I don't want to make them worse! I need to make them stronger, not out of balance.

I have always wanted to do some athletic feat, even in high school when I was so emeshed in musical dork-dom I didn't have time to join the swim team, even though I was invited to join! SO here I am 20 years later (holy crap, 20 years!?!?!?!?!) training for a 300 mile bike ride, and likely a sprint-tri as well. I suppose that shows you never give up! Keep trying. I am not there yet, but I feel like I am on the right road.

Thank you NAA and FM, you 2 are inspirations! Also, to my friend Ralph who has always cheered me on and encouraged me to do this. He is the person that I learnd about this WAM from a few years ago. Now I have to work on trying to get him to sign up for the ride too!

Mr. Troy again

Well, did the whole spinervals 1.0 video. I did the whole thing..... did you read that? I did the WHOLE 45 minutes! I guess it isn't as hard as I thought it was.... that and I figured out the gear thing and realized I was making it a LOT harder than I was supposed to... oh well. :) I may be moving up to a more intense one sooner than I would have thought. :)

Wow, been too long Mr. Troy!

So I did that Spinervals 1.0 a few minutes ago. I should be honest and say I did 25 minutes of it, and did approximately 75% of the high intensity stuff of that! This video is a 45 minute work out. I was dying! LMAO.. I have a long way to go, for sure! But at least I am going now. The back tire was kind of hot when I got done. I most definately will have to replace the tires in the spring! I think I should leave this baby on the trainer. If I decide to go for any rides the rest of the year, I will just take Kevin's Mountain bike. That will be soooooooo slow. ugh.

Trainer, up and ready

Well, I have decided that getting out to cycle is just not happening.
I know that having cycle on the type of trainer I have squares out the tire... I need new tires in the spring anyway so I am not too worried about that right now!Here are some tips for anyone considering an indoor cycling plan. My trainer is basic, but it does the job for me, for now! I think that if I stick with this and really do well, next year I may want a more expensive/higher end one. That of course doesn't mean I will GET one, it just means I will WANT one! LOL

I plan on training with this, and perhaps move on to the next one. NOT that I want to do an Ironman (Irongirl??).. But I liked what it has to offer. There are a ton of spinervals to do really. I also want to get myself more structured on the treadmill again, doing this. Eventually maybe moving up to this one. Yes, I own the Runervals 1.0 and Spinervals 1.0 videos already, the Iron Girl ones I do not.. Hmmmmm Maybe Birthday presents... I may have to think about that because by March I may be ready for them. I figure it is good to have a plan. Having a plan and sticking to it are, of course, 2 different things.

I am starting to seriously consider a mini-tri in early spring as a nice spring-board. So NAA - tell me what I am signing up for! You will, of course, kick my @$$ - but that is okay. :) This coming year will be my summer of sweat! (and fitness). I will work REALLY hard to get there, then worry about staying there once I have obtained that.

So, that is my plan... Who is with me!?!?!?

1st Century Riders it is!

Well, I hope FM didn't feel put-upon today! I wanted to get signed up already (there are already several hundred riders signed up, this is day 2 of registration!)
So I was in the process and realized that the team had to be created at the same time as the registration took place.... So we decided on 1st Century Riders for our team name. We are signed up! You can go here to check up on our progress and to donate! :)

On a happy note, I feel all inspired now that I am signed up. Like this is for real, gotta take it seriously! I did the treadill today. I got the wireless headphones that used to be my dads hooked up so that I can listen to the TV while I am on the treadmill without blasting the house. So I hope that this motivation lasts. :) So - is it crazy to consider trying to fit in a mini-tri next year too? Probably....

Sign up for the ride is tomorrow....

.... and we need a team name! Any ideas?

Also, the lady I contract for is considering donating for sponsorship. We can use some sponsors! Maybe this fundraising won't be so bad after all. I am glad we are planning on pooling our money and not saying "I raised....", "I have a sponsor".... we are saying "we raised...." "we have a sponsor". For some reason this makes this task a lot less daunting.. I am sure that each of our fundraisers are good ideas and will work well.

So, I had some ideas for team names..... lets see what you think?

• Wishin' to finish
• first century riders (since 100 miles is called a century in bikespeak... and I think that this may be the first century for me, and maybe for FM as well???)
• flabulous mommies
• (insert cute name here)

I am all outta ideas for now... we need a name before we sign up I think.

It's almost Holiday time.. yikers!

Well, today was interesting to say the least. I have been doing the water aerobics class 1 time a week and stuff with clients that are working on fitness..... Well today I decided to swim a little after my client's session was done since I was already in a suit and wet.... I swam a whopping 4.5 laps. That was all I could do. I stunk today.
I didn't have goggles on, and for some reason I have a harder time coordinating my breathing when I am not wearing them. Lame but true. So I did a length of front crawl and a length of breast stroke... I gotta have goggles... but the rest I did side stroke & back stroke. I always was a swimmer that would often change strokes to delay fatigue. That didn't help today. Oh well. I really want to try to get out of bed at least 1 time a week EARLY in the morning and get in the pool. But every time I decide that I want to do that, a kid stays up all night or something else crazy happens.

ugh.

I have been wanting to get a heart monitor for some time - so I was internet shopping and came across this.. http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2745591
Cool! I think... then I realize this is only made for a/b cup sizes... stinkers... just because I wear something larger than a B cup does not mean I don't exercise... 8-P

re: motivation gone

So... my Uncle (on my Mom's side - her brother) passed away a week ago yesterday in a manner VERY similar to how my Dad passed. The funeral was Saturday. I wasn't all that close to my Uncle - I don't know why... but it has hit me like a ton of bricks. I lost it at the funeral and made an ass out of myself, that was embarassing....

I guess it is just an avalanche - you can only repress for so long before it forces its way out. It isn't something I want to talk about, it just needs to work itself out I think. I vow this though NO MORE FUNERALS for awhile! So NO ONE ELSE DIE... GOT IT?

Anyway.... I have always meant for this to be positive - but I just don't feel positive... about anything.... not right now anyway. I decided to just give myself a break so I can shake it off... suck it up.... rub some dirt in it... whatever and move on. I don't know how long it is going to take. I am doing the water aerobics class once a week. I get some exercise around the house with the kids and when I am out with clients. If I gain some weight back, so be it. The holidays are coming - I'll just have to try to not TOTALLY lose it...

Damn my husband for buying junk food..... DAMN him!

Water

I am challenging myself, at least 8 glasses of water a day. Every day. Before I was living with, and married to, DH (Dear Husband) I never drank pop (Yes, Mr. Soda.. I said POP!) I always drank water, tea, milk, or occasional coffee or cocoa. I am not sure why I drink that crap... Maybe even some Crystal Lite would be better than that? I don't know.. but I am challenging myself to drinking something that is nearly free - water!

Back in the class

Water Aerobics classes started last week, I couldn't go but I went today. I am TIRED. Sometimes I forget how water saps more energy out of you than regular exercise. Isn't it odd? At least I got in my 45 minutes of aerobic activity today. I think that soon I might bring the trainer out for the bike and start this interval training video again. I HATE doing the bike indoors, but this video REALLY gets you in shape for cycling. Something about interval training is just really good. I also have the runervals one. Now I have to say that they work better when you actually use them! :)

For some odd reason, since I have had kids fitness just takes a back seat a lot more often. This is the whole reason that I am forcing myself to do this WAM ride. I think that being able to ride 1 century, let alone 3 back to back to back will be an AMAZING feat. If this doesn't make the post-baby fat melt away nothing will!

I can't wait to see NAA's new bike in person. I will naturally be green with envy. I have considered purchasing Aero bars for my bike - but they are not allowed in these big long rides. It is too bad for comfort reasons, but understandable for safet reasons.

As a side note, I tore out my tomato plants a couple days ago. I had another FULL harvest, plus there were tons of flowers and baby tomatoes on the plant. Never in my life have my tomatoes done so well. Thank you to Garden's Alive I guess!

Sorry for all the links today, I just wanted to give you the links in case you wanted to see these things for yourself.

Slip sliding away......

Well NAA... you KNOW what this post is about. :)
Yesterday NAA and I got in a good ride at Kensington - just a tad under 20 miles. So we decided to say hi to some friends of mine about 1/2 way through the ride. They haven't meet NAA before.. :)

So I am standing there, I have these cleats on my shoes. I have become rather dependent on them. I know that it is psychological - but they are more efficient than just regular shoes. Anyway I sort of forgot that 1 foot was still attached to a pedal. I adjusted my weight and fell over! (how embarassing!) So NAA is saying that this is the reason she doesn't want cleats & prefers the toe cages/toe clips. So she barely gets this out of her mouth.. next thing I know she is lying flat on her back on the ground. Ummmm... OOOOOOOOOOOOOPS!

Okay.. Annette thinks we are both nuts now..... or else that we had something other than water in our camelbaks.

Goodness I am laughing just putting in this post.. thanks for the laugh NAA... :) Also, thanks for the ride. that 20 miles was good! I actually could have gone longer. I am trying to train for endurance, not speed... thank you for your patience and slowing down for me!

Good bye old friends - you served me well.

Oh my dear friends... You were there for me when I first moved to the Detroit area. We spent probably 10-15 hours a week together for a couple of years... Then I ignored your for several years... when we started up again this year - you just couldn't take it anymore! I'll miss you!

As is often the case, there comes a time when things just can't continue and it is time for something new. I guess the same even happens with you, dear gloves! And just so you know, I tried on other brands, but the Pearl Izumi were the best fit with the best padding. Perhaps I am just a Pearl Izumi snob - hard to say! I still can't believe I wore out my old pair. I guess that just tells you how much I used to ride! Okay NAA - I am ready to hang onto my handlesbars for dear life and attempt to keep up with you tomorrow! ;)

another crazy ride

So, perhaps when I got to Hines Park and realized I had no socks I shoulda called it a day.... but I am not that smart! Yes, I rode sock-less today. It was a rough ride and I don't really know why. Where the last one I did well, this time was a struggle nearly the whole time. Perhaps I shouldn't go for a ride when I feel like I really, REALLY need a nap. I still got in 14.4 miles - but it was slow. I only stopped one time for a 2 minute breather - so at least it was a decent ride in that respect.
Hines Park was rather deserted today, perhaps because it was a holiday. I am reading a book about serial killers right now, while it was panned pretty bad on Amazon.com, I am enjoying it. The reason I mention it is that it is making me a little paranoid when I am riding along part of this trail today. Crazy isn't it?

On another note...I think I need to learn more about nutrition - I think I am poorly fueled. If anyone has a good source of information for this please let me know! (Book or website would be helpful I think)

VCR works.... hey wait - got some vids!

So, now that we have a working VCR/DVD combo that does NOT eat video tapes - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=vhs&field-keywords=Leslie%20Sansone/104-2714951-8106330 If you have never heard of these, they are pretty awesome. I learned about them at a RT conference a few years back and naturally had to try them. I did the 2 mile walk featured here at the top of this list. These are nice because you don't need any special equipment or much space. They are so easy a fatso can do them! (I use 2 lb weights but they are not required). Another bonus, I did this with my 3 year old next to me! (sounds weird to say 3 year old!) She was imitating some of the kicking, side-stepping, walking in place... She told Daddy she was exercising! It really was cute. She couldn't do the whole 2 miles obviously - but it was cute.... and I think it may have tired her out right before she went to bed. BONUS!
So it is always nice to have something that I don't have to drag out of the basement, wait for the sun to be up, or use any special equipment.

Woo Hoo!

Nothing like fearing for your life

Well, there is nothing quite like a ride on the road, 2 lane road, 45 MPH speed limit with a left turn lane in the middle, one that has tractor trailers, delivery trucks, and crazy people driving on it to inspire you to pedal faster. I rode about 15.5 miles today, first almost 9 miles were 16-18 MPH steady. When I turned around I was pretty tired and averaged 12-14 mph (mostly sidewalks) back. I think that when a large tractor trailer passes less than 3 feet to your left, it'll scare you into going faster than you think you can go!

So while the distance was less than I had hoped for, it was in barely over an hour! So I'll take that. :) add some work out on the ball and I'm golden for the day.

http://www.internetfitness.com/calculators/calburncalc.htm According to this page I burned like 1200 calories. Hard to say if that is accurate though. Thanks again, to my buddy (you KNOW who you are) for saying - hey you talked me into exercising - you'd better keep doing it too!

Totally nothing to do with exercise

Check out my garden! I had just harvested some peppers and cherry tomatoes. The Roma tomatoes are turning orange, but didn't quite look ready to be harvested yet... The bush is sage - it is a pretty plant so I took a picture

It is raining, so the plants are sagging just a little from the rain...

re: rambling thoughts on your rides?

So I went for an easy 14 mile ride today. I call it easy only in that it was in my neighborhood so there were no climbs. Rides through our neighborhood are still fraught with dangers! Cracked roads/sidewalks, the occasional loose small dog with big-dog thoughts (I am gonna eat me a cyclist!), helmet-less children that can barely ride, drivers NOT paying attention, the usual! I know that I am not supposed to ride on side-walks but I am not riding on the roads that are 2 lanes and 45 MPH with a tiny little shoulder - at least not until I can consistently get my speed up! So for those roads, it is the sidewalk.

Do you ever have random odd thoughts while you are riding? I do....Like.... Hmmm I can feel quite the cool breeze on these shorts - what if they rip open?....... Why does my shadow always have a better shape than I do?.... Did I just hear a cat-call for me? nah - can't be..... how silly do I look on this bike right now?.... why are there so many McHouses in my area for sale (the ones that people were buying up left and right in the $450,000 - $500,000 range a few years ago)... Why do people ride without helmets and worse.... why do they let their children ride without helmets?.... what in the WORLD was I thinking when I decided to do this 300 mile bike ride?

Funny thing

So, it stopped raining for a while and I hopped on the bike. Now I decided to do 2 things that drastically changed this biking experience: 1. I took inhaler just prior to cycling (I could breathe!!!!) 2. I aired up my tires... they are 100 PSI they had between 50 & 60 each... what a HUGE difference tire pressure makes. That got me thinking about air pressure in my van and gas mileage - now I understand the correlation!

I was slow, but I never felt the difficulty breathing this time (imagine that). Oh well 11.45 miles wasn't too bad! I did the 1/2 mile followed up a little latter by the 1/4 mile 22-24 MPH sprint. That is always a leg killer - but WOW. Why does 22 feel FAST on a bike but S L O W in a car? Isn't that strange?

I didn't go further today because the sky was turning an ominous shade of dark gray and it smelled like it was gonna rain soon. That ended up being a wise decision. Hubby couldn't believe that I went out to ride at all. Planks - ugh 20 seconds 2 times was killing me, don't even ask about the crunches. LMAO oh well... Baby steps... Never give up - right?

Registration for the big ride is Nov. 1st I believe. I hope we can raise the funds! That is the thing I am more nervous about, not the actual ride. Isn't that funny??

re: happy rain

Well we need the rain, that is for sure. However, the last 2 times that I have wanted to go ride my bike it has been raining. There is not a lot of weather that will stop me from having a ride - even really hot or cold.... but wet pavement is a bad thing for my skinny road tires. At least yesterday while I was in the pool for work I got in some tough exercises while I waited for my client to get out of the changing room.

I really wish I could find some time to go in the pool on my own. I would love to see how I would do swimming some laps. I used to be a strong swimmer - I was invited to join my high school swim team but I didn't because it conflicted with the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony... funny isn't it?

Anyway last weekend I rode with N-AA.. she just smoked me! LMAO... Although once I took my inhaler and could breathe better I was much less of a wreck! I think in the future I will just use it before I ride no matter how I feel.

re: push ups - gonna pay for that!

So here I am - trying to kill myself apparently. I was working with a client at the gym with the exercise ball... decided to do pushups with him.. UGH! Bright side.. I did 37..... not-so-bright side... gonna HURT tomorrow! oh well... If you have never tried it - do! walk out on the ball to knees (or thighs) and do 10 push-ups... roll back... repeat!

That and crunches.. lately I really can't get time for exercise like I want but I am doing better about fitting it in at work. Exercise is Exercise right?

Non-athletic athlete is my hero

I have to say, I REALLY have wanted to do a sprint distance Triathalon for awhile. She is planning her 3rd this year in August. I can barely get into biking lately - that just blows my mind!

I am signing up for that 300 mile ride as soon as I can so that I am locked in to it though! I have been telling people that I am in training for it - figure if I tell people that I am more stuck into having to do it! :)

Yes Drill Sargeant!

La-Z Me (LM): ugh.... I feel tired and a little sore from that surgery on the 13th. I don't want to ride...

Drill Sargeant me (DM): quit your belly-aching and suck it up! There is no reason you can't go for a bike ride today.

LM: It's hot & I am tired.

DS: SUCK IT UP! No one ever lost weight sitting around and complaining about being fat!

LM: uhhh... ummmm But I really don't want to

DS: get up, move out.. let's go!

It shouldn't take this to get going! oh well.. I was definately the slow & steady tortoise today, not the cute furry hare!... oh well... at least I got on the bike and rode for 40 minutes... so what if it was only like 9 miles and slow as heck.....

Darn heat wave!!

I was going to try to get another ride in today - but it was even hotter today than yesterday! So I baked a cherry pie (yea on the hottest day of the year I fire up the oven - smart aye??) and ate some, and some ice cream... and had a margarita..... How many calories did I eat/drink??
sheesh!

I want to get up and ride the bike before hubby leaves for work in the am - but dang the bed is sooooo comfortable and it is hard to get up at any time starting with a 5.

I am starting to feel a little freaked out about the fundraising - but I think that we can do it. We need a team name so that we can start this fund raising stuff. Any suggestions?? :)

(insert cute name here)
one recommendation from a friend so far....

Dang, it is hot outside!!

Well, 16 miles approximately today in the hot sun. There were a lot of people at Hines Park today, and some nice 'scenery'. :) Today I was actually passing other cyclists and no one passed me until about mile 14. (LOL) I think the big difference is that now a lot more people are out riding, not just the die-hards that ride all year around. I was averaging about 16 MPH until the last 2 miles.... I was DYING on a very gentle hill that felt like it was going on FOREVER......
is 100 miles for 3 consecutive days even possible?? ugh! have a year and a couple weeks to get ready.... on 84 more miles than I did today.. with more hills up north... geez!

Starting to plan for some fundraising for this event. My friend Fred is helping me plan something for perhaps next April, AFTER st. paddy's day or else no musicians! We are thinking of having an open session someplace in GR with suggested donations. Think it can work? Can we raise some $$? I hope so.... it seems like a lot of money to raise I hope we can do it!

Dancin' fools

So, is jumping around for 30 minutes to music (otherwise called dancing sometimes) with the kids considered exercise?? LOL.... I think it also helps wear the kids out. I am trying to find creative ways to exercise when I am home with the kids in the AM... so we can all have fun and exercise together. Sometimes I feel bad when they are stuck in the bike trailer - they can't really do much back there. I know that they can enjoy the scenery in theory - but it is the same scenery in the neighborhoods when we go...

We are looking forward to some time by the big lake this weekend. Should be fun for us all and kids get to hang out with shorties their own ages. :) If I get some pictures from this weekend I'll even maybe post some if my butt doesn't look too big in them. :)

Wake up Call

So, have you ever seen a picture of yourself and thought, WTF happened to me? How did I get like this? Sheesh! Saw some pictures from the wedding we went to last weekend. Yikes! I seriously think I am going to crop out everyone else from one and put it up in the kitchen! (LOL) It can certainly be depressing....

So with that in mind I drug the kids out into the trailer. Made it 4 miles before they kinda started to lose it. I passed another mom out with her kids - she kinda snickered at me... Granted we probably look funny - chubby me with all the bike gear on and my kids strapped into the trailer wearing helmets. I am thrifty with some things but not bike gear or safety equipment. Mind you - no helmets on her or the 2 kids and the trailer she had for her bike - the top wasn't on, the kid was in no way strapped in. It is all I can do to not stop people like that and give them an education... But then I can't imagine she would say "oh, you are right, I should go get us all helmets and put the rest of this cheap-chintzy & unsafe bike trailer together to protect my kids"... HAHAHahahah I hope to get out with them in this thing at least a couple times a week on top of regular biking w/o them. Biking really is something I find fun - it's just hard to get the time to get on the darn thing. I also hope that the chitlins will learn to enjoy the rides as well.

I been redeemed... sort of

OK... today just a few minutes.. I did a 17 minute mile (little bit more than a mile really) in my sub... Walk-jog kinda thing... I forgot how that is harder on the knees etc. than the treadmill.. ouchie.. Time to get new shoes! BUt at least I did it! :) I totally plan on a bike ride Thursday if I get back in town early enough, or else Friday.... I keep trying to push myself - darn kids are an exercise killer! ;)
I am gonna try the boy in the trailer I hope this week to see how it goes. I don't know if I can even consider the 2 of them together in there. ( a lot of that is because I always put a cup of water in there for them, and a book or 2 plus toy(s)... crazy how the weight adds up!

Time to come clean

Okay.. I ...... ... haven't been exercising! I had to skip out of water aerobics last night because I wasn't feeling well and they don't want you in the pool when you have certain conditions! My bike isn't here and the treadmill - ugh! I have no good reason - just lazy. So I have a date with the treadmill later today, or maybe when Hubby gets home with the pavement. Oh well - we all get those lapses - right???

My Bike!! It's gone!

Okay, it isn't stolen... But some dudes have their hands all over it! It is at REI getting a tune up and I miss it! But then it needs the tune-up... derailleur not shifting smoothly, brakes making noise... stuff like that...
So at least I have an excuse for a couple of days. I dropped her off this AM.
Gonna do Hines Park next weekend for sure.... unless I do Kensington :)

Down 1 Size!!!

Woo Hoo!
I went shopping at the Eddie Bauer (I know - old people store!!) store and could it into the next smaller size. Awesome!
I hate how things fit though. Is it just me... or does this happen to you too?? Either my ass is 2 sizes 2 big or my waist is 2 sizes too small becuase the pants always stick out in the back at the waist. Oh well, always been that way.....

I only bought a couple things because I don't plan on staying in this size for long!

Different picture

Hey, you know who you are. Quit complaining about th bike gear pictures! :) here is a picture of me wearing something else. LOL

So today not taking Asthma meds, coughing etc. but gee no fatigue and barely any stiffness. Hmmmm Dr. said no way it was the meds. Real test will be when I start them up again in a few days I guess.

Water Aerobics class at Schoolcraft college really feels like it is great exercise, I think I will sign up for it again next time.

back in the saddle?

Here I am this morning. Kevin decided my head & feet weren't necessary I guess. LOL.

So anyway, 12.2 miles today in the neighborhood. Although I would prefer to live in the country where I could have some horses, at least living in suburbia I can grab my bike and ride in the neighborhood. No 'eye-candy' here, and no hills.... But still exercise! So I think my new Asthma medicine is the reason I am feeling so crudy. But hey - today I worked through it so tere is hope! :)

Here comes the ramble part - I don't expect you to read it - just rambling on......

So Hip flexors/extensors HURT lately, but I am proud to say I worked through the pain and it got a little better - at least until I got off the bike, then returned. So now I have to decide what is worse, the fatigue & pain or the difficulty breathing. Geez! At least I am not stopping because I can't breathe. Hopefully there is a medicine I can take that won't have these side-effects. I am starting to understand why Schizophrenia patients will quit taking their meds - sometimes the benefits do not outweigh the side-effects.

I have lost 10 pounds! I had gained a couple back - but lost it again woo hoo!

Holiday Blues

So this isn't about exercise. Just finding it hard to stay motivated lately. Yesterday was the first 'holiday' since dad's passing (obviously). It wasn't a big holiday. It was just a very sad day, a hard day. Dad always runs the grill, brother wouldn't help (he was't there til food was almost done anyway). Mom has no idea how to grill, I had a hard time getting the friggin' coals hot enough (at home we use matchlight... we are lazy!). Anyway it was just so glaring that he wasn't there, and won't be again. It sucked. Very sad day.
:(
So how do I get motivated again? I was doing really well until about the time he passed. I don't know how to get going again - ugh!

Someone kick me in the butt and get me motivated - please!

Bike Geek Central

Well, I am in touch with the truth - I am a geek. A cycle geek. I don't cheap out with my bike or the gear attached to it. That might be why it has taken me 8 years to get to where I am now with the gear. I started out in 1999 with a heavy and old 10-speed bike. That bike was free, from my brother. It was not my FIRST bike, but it was the first bike that I got only to cycle, not to have as a kid etc. I rode this bike a LOT, 1-2 hours 3-4 times a week. I started getting the right seat, then the right shorts, the jersey, the gloves, the warm up jacket and pants to go over the jersey and shorts - you know how it goes! Just before I got married in 2003 I bought the bike I now have, an Iron Horse Triumph - an entry level road bike with spiffy forks & rims. Working with my friend Ralph, who is waaaay into the gear, I ended up getting a cleat system for the pedals - and of course the shoes to go with it.

Now reader, today I was excited because I found my mini-pump and figured out how to use it for the presta valves, and lets not forget my Mother's day gifts - the awesome bike tool kit that fits in the seat bag, and a small camelbak. You probably don't want to ride with me - I would probably embarass you! LOL

I look like some middle-aged housewife that is trying to be something she isn't. HA! I will get there. Today I did the treadmill and tomorrow (weather willing) cycling at Kensington. please- nice weather! :)

And thank you furs for helping motivate me with your energy and gusto! :)

Come on - let's kick our asses into gear!

Numb Feet

So I have a weird problem. I guess I should do an internet search for a solution. My feet get numb when I am on they bike. I think they swell up while I am exercising. Isn't that strange? I can't understand why that would happen. I will have to see if someone makes compression cycle socks or something. I am used to using my cleats now, they are easy for me to get in and out of, so I can't get super thick or super thin socks cause then I will have to get new shoes. I already had to buy men's shoes because for some reason all women cycle things are made for VERY thin women. Or at least that is what is in the store. Anyone ever heard of feet getting numb while cycling?

My new cleats are in at REI waiting for me to pick them up, I should ask then. The sales people always seem pretty knowledgeable there, I could do some serious damage to our finances at that place!

Yay me!

Thank you to my motivator for getting me going today. (You know who you are!!)
I got my lazy butt on the treadmill and it felt a lot better than on Tuesday.
It is nice to have friends that are getting back in to shape too, even if it is virtual buddies - hey what ever it takes!
Let's all keep it up, we Rock!!
and yes, cardio 1st, strenuous exercises 2nd.... consider that a lesson learned - and a big fat DUH!!!!!!!
-f2f

Ugh... I don't want to exercise today

Well, I need to get moving. I took 2 days off from exercise. Yesterday I decided to drink wine instead of exercising. Oh well...

hit a wall today

Well, today was a crazy day. I didn't sleep well, and I mowed in 83 degree weather. I also decided to do planks, crunches before treadmill.. (and I did aquatics class yesterday, bike day before that). I am thinking that stuff they say about rest days; I think that I should have taken one today. I hit a wall. I was only able to do about 1/2 of what I usually do on there. Oh well.

Tomorrow will be a rest day I guess. Live & learn!

Holy man-candy as motivation

Okay readers... So today I decided to load up my bike, go to Hines Park and go for a ride. If you have never ridden it is a pretty gentle ride except for a few minor hills.... At least they seem minor when you are in the car.... when you are huffing and puffing it back to the car because you were busy looking at the scenery instead of watching the cyclometer.... well suddenly those hills seem killer!

So anyway.. rode 10.33 miles! Pretty good for the 3rd time out! No complaints from me anyway. I of course had on all the dork-gear - even those shoes that attach to the pedals. I am finally feeling comfortable in those shoes and can get in and out of the pedals without falling onto the pavement. I was out for about 45 minutes. I am still slow, but at least I am moving!

So here is the cool part that I wasn't expecting! There were plenty of hot cylists... I am talking about tan, fit, looking GOOD on a bike... And most of them were giving a nod or a wave to me. Big ole' out of shape me. Made me feel good, kinda like part of a club or something. Silly but true. Someone started talking to me a little bit as I was loading up the bike into the minivan (he had an older version of the same one)... neat how that is.

I used to cycle on my own just down roads or whatever, but never some place that is known as a bike path so it was pretty neat!

So there is a new motivator in town, hot eye-candy to keep up with... :)

-f2f

Another week, another pound?

Well, still exercising! All the other stuff happening isn't stopping me.. I might actually make it to the fall and keep exercising and even be able to do a 5K run without walking the whole thing! I am stoked!

The bike ride next year, we will see what happens!

Skipped some days.. now must pay

Well, I went on vacation for a few days and didn't exercise. I meant to. But I didn't not one lick of a work-out. I don't regret it! I had the kids with me, so screw it!

I am still considering my self in training. Looking for a 5K race in the fall to do in the area. I most likely will walk most of it, but what the heck! Got to get in shape for the 300 mile bike ride in July of 2008.

I have already lost about 6 pounds, been exercising for about 4 weeks consistently and really starting to feel pretty good. I am hoping that my motivation stays intact! I don't think my clothes are really starting to fit any differently yet, but hopefully soon. One bad thing about weight loss, it is so slow that it is hard to see the results. So I guess I had better keep up with pictures every so often in the biking gear to see the difference.

re: Ugh

Okay... My body has a sense of humor! I just start getting on a role and of COURSE... the bloating... the tiredness and the cramps.
oh it just isn't funny!

Is Lawn Work exercise?

Okay, so here is the deal. I spent at least 2 hours weeding and pruning today, and another 30 minutes mowing the forest of grass in the front. If it makes your muscles sore/tired and makes you sweat, it must be exercise, right???

1, 2, 3... Here we go!

Here I am on day 1 on the bike! I have not ridden really since before I got married in 2003. 2 babies, months of bedrest/pre-eclampsia x 2 later... well things aren't looking or feeling so good right now. I could blame the 2 small kids, they did this to my body, but really I can't can I? I can blame the stress of my dad dying of cancer - but that isn't fair is it?

So here is my plan.. I am not going to add stress of a diet right now, but instead going to start making small changes and hopefully some big ones too. Eat less and more healthy choices, no eating when I am not hungry! Most importantly - EXERCISE! I have done the treadmill for 2 weeks now, so yesterday was on to the bike.

I used to ride my bike a LOT, that was why I got this new bike just before I got married. It has hardly been ridden - a shame isn't it?

There was plenty of huffing & puffing.. I only did 8.42 miles in 45 minutes, but it is a start!

GOAL: 300 mile, Make-A-Wish bike race July 2008. 100 miles a day for 3 days.