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