One Week In

So, I am one week into my Fitness February and what have I learned?

Flossing is going great.  I have flossed my teeth every night. Yay, me.

The fitness is going pretty good, too.  I am getting to spin class three times I week. I went to one Body Pump class, but have to take a break because of my Tennis Elbow.  Yes, it does sound like a lame excuse, but I have the doctor's note to prove it.

The Fitbit has been a good investment.  If nothing else it has shown me how sedentary my life has become.  I have hit the goal of 10,000 steps on a couple of days.  One day was  17,000 steps.  The others, I haven't even been close.  So now, my intent is to hit that magic number every day. Starting tomorrow.

Food.  Food. Food.  Food is my downfall because I love it so much.  So Step One is to stop eating out.  Step Two is to really focus on what I am using to fuel my body.  Cut out the sugars, most carbs, and overly processed food.

I will check in again next with with 70,000 steps behind me.

It Hurts.

Today's spin class was pure torture.  A good torture?  If you say so, but mostly just pain and trying to stay on the bike for the entire class.  

This was today's long climb:  

I did it. And I don't have get to go back until Monday.

Body Pump

Last night, I went back to Body Pump.  I haven't been since last year in Rhode Island.  The Y added the classes here on January 1st.

So it took me a month to get there, but now I am figuring out how to add the classes to my schedule. 

Unfortunately, it looks like the evening classes are the only ones that will fit.  Not the best time of day for me, but who knows?  At least I will be taking a class I like.  And doing exercise you enjoy is one of the keys to sticking with it.

UPDATE:  I have just returned from the doctor/physical therapist.  I am barred from lifting for at least two weeks to treat an ongoing case of tennis elbow.

I have mixed feelings about this.  My first feeling was Yay! because I have been hobbling all over town today.  My quads are killing me.  My second thought was Damn! because now I will have to go through this "first class" soreness all over again in a few weeks.

It's Early, but So Far, So Good

On any other morning, I probably would have stayed in my pajamas and discovered what had turned up on my DVR.  It still sounds like a good idea.  Instead, I dressed in my gym clothes and made the cold, icy drive to the nearby YMCA.  I had dedicated myself to 28 days of fitness.  Today was spin day.  And my new Fitbit would be keeping track.  

I went.  I sweated. I suffered.  I felt like I accomplished something. 

Now, I need to figure out how to get my remaining steps in for the day.  Taking a walk outside is off the table.  I may end up doing laps in my house.

How do you get out the door to exercise, when you would really rather stay home?

The Mountain in My Mind

From my bike in Spin Class, I can see this mountain.  It is across a roomful of people working out.  I can't get that picture because of the bright sunlight coming in the windows, but it is a spectacular view.

As the spin instructor urges us on during the class, I try to take my mind off my lack of oxygen and my trembling legs by picturing myself biking up this mountain.

The hope, of course, is that if I were riding outside, I would actually make it to the top.  In reality, I am fairly certain I would only make it to the base of the mountain.

That is the penalty for staying off the bike so long; starting back on the flat road, and suffering through the hills.

28 Days in February

What's Next?

Today's Morning Fuel.  I got bumped up from #2 on the cycle class wait list.  This required me to fuel up and get out of my pajamas and to the gym.  A morning gym class really called for a healthy green smoothie and a spoonful of peanut butter.  The coffee had been flowing all morning and the banana was for my post ride snack.

Now that I had all my fuel bases covered, I was ready to go -- once I found a lid to match the water bottle that would fit in the bike cup holder.

Today's class was a long tempo, uphill ride.  It was supposed to  build strength and endurance.  As I was riding, I was looking at the mountain outside the window and imagining that I was making my way up that hill.  In reality, I was probably only on a gentle incline.  But, I will take it.  I stayed on the bike.  I had a small problem when we were out of the saddle.  The seat kept attacking my backside.  A post-class seat adjustment consultation with the instructor should ensure that I don't have that problem again.

So that takes care of "the old."  I'm definitely getting back to spin.  I have reservations for my next three classes and think I have figured out the system, so no more wait list for me.

What's Next?  

Well, as you can tell.  I am still not running.  I'm just not there.  I miss it.  I am a bit envious when I see all of the runners here, but I know it's not time. Yet.

No running = No upcoming races.  Still, I need some extra motivation.  I think I found it.

This is InDependent.  

"A health and wellness project, InDependent’s mission is to create a thriving community of military spouses that support preventative wellness by inspiring each other to make health and fitness a priority." 

So I have signed up to be a Community Ambassador.  Yep, I will be leading and encouraging other area military spouses to make health and fitness a priority.  And in the process, ensure that it is a priority in my life, as well.  

That's the plan, anyway.

***I also promised my dental hygienist that I would floss everyday until I see her again in six months.***

2015 Inaugural Ride

All evidence to the contrary, I enjoy working out.  I like the physical effects of the exercise.  I feel energized.  I feel like I have accomplished something.  I enjoy the camaraderie that you find at the gym and on the running trail. 

So why do I have such a love-hate relationship with exercise?  Because before, during, and after a workout I have one thought going through my mind:  Will I get a migraine?

I am currently trying to combat this by changing my diet.  Other than that I have two options.  I either workout or I don't.  I don't like the second option, so I am tentatively pushing forward.  

I have had good luck in the past not getting migraines after a cycling class.  So my first day back to exercise, I opted for an indoor cycling class.

It turns out my local YMCA replaced their bikes when they remodeled the facility.  Yep.  The Real Ryder moves side to side as you ride.  It's supposed to work your core more.  I can see the benefit of the realism. Today, it just made me feel off kilter. 

Today's ride was an hour long work out.  My goals were to stay on the bike for the entire class and to (fingers crossed) not get a migraine.  I wasn't going all out during the ride, but I stayed on the bike. As for the second part, so far, so good.

Day Two of no carb/no sugar is going well.  Egg salad lettuce wraps for lunch. Yum.

Now What?

I was feeling really good about starting a healthier 2015.  On January 1st we participated in the state parks' First Day Hikes.  We took a 4 mile hike through the snow at Chatfield State Park.  Then from January 2nd to January 4th we spent our time at Snow Mountain Ranch where we went tubing, ice skating, and cross-country skiing.  I was feeling a bit smug.  That's a lot of activity without a migraine.  I came home from our trip and added all of the BodyPump and Indoor Cycling classes from the Y that could fit into my schedule.  I figured it they showed up on my calendar (in bright yellow), I would be less likely to schedule over them and more likely to get to a few of the classes every week.  I spent yesterday, January 5th, running a few errands, getting a manicure/pedicure, and getting set for the kids to go back to school on the 6th.

January 5th, 3:17 pm:  Migraine Aura.  Are you kidding me?  What brought this one on? Six hours later, I started to be able to function again, but I just ate some chicken noodle soup and went to bed.

Now what?  Well, today I am dealing with my migraine hangover.  If you get migraines, you know what I am talking about.  If you don't, it's just like it sounds.

I am also not removing the bright yellow squares from my calendar.  I just won't be making the yoga class tonight.

On a more proactive front, I have to change my diet.  Diet and trigger foods have long been linked to migraines.  I did a lot of reading about the connection last year. Here's what I have concluded:

1.  According to books such as, The Migraine Miracle, Grain Brain, and Against All Grain, there is a link between carbs, sugar, and migraines.  There is a lot of evidence to support these claims.  I am especially referring to how it was laid out in The Migraine Miracle.
2. From my own experience (looking back over this training blog) I have found the link to be true as well.  When I was running frequently with out headaches, I was also following the South Beach Diet.  This diet cuts out carbs and sugars.  I was running without migraines.  As I added more and more of the grains and sugars back into my diet (also known as quitting), I continued to run.  Bam! Migraines! I attributed them to a lot of different factors.  I didn't make the connection to the carbs and sugars.  Now, I can clearly see the link.

So.  Yeah.  Good-bye carbs and sugars. Hello, Gym.

I will be chronicling how this all plays out here on The Sometimes Runner.  

Who knows?  I might even get back to running.  Surprisingly, I miss it.