Friday, Nov. 18th:

45 minute spin class, a lot of it standing, some of it sprinting, and then my few minutes stretching. I keep trying the pigeon pose afterward, trying to get my hips & quads more limber.

Nov. 15: sick :?::mad:

Nov. 16: still sick :mad::devil::?::dizzy:

Nov. 17: not 100% but went to Bikram Yoga. I think it helped to sweat! The instructor moved me front and center because there was a new student. I was worried I was going to pass out!

90 minutes Bikram Yoga

Totals:
13 days
834 minutes

Nov. 18: 60 minutes Zumba

Totals:
14 days
894 minutes

Nov. 19: 38 minutes elliptical

Totals:
15 days
932 minutes

November 19th:

Nothing, as I got up at 3:30 AM to catch a bus to Manhattan for a day trip, and did not get home till past 1 AM on Sunday. But I walked all day long, such that my shins and feet are still sore this morning. Now, on the day after, it's going to be a low-impact cardio day for me.

November 20:

A little over 10 minutes rowing on the Concept 2, to get past 2,000 meters, feeling it along the front of my legs, I guess in my shins, from all the walking yesterday
Over 60 minutes, arm and shoulders routine, going through the whole thing twice, as I said I'd do one day soon. That second round is pretty tough.
45 minutes recumbent bike, manual setting, resistance at eight.

In the weight section, it's interesting to see how many people go about using weights with intent, and clearly have a routine, and how many seem to drift, picking up things and then getting distracted and doing something else. At this gym, it's a lot more egalitarian and welcoming for women, and there are some powerful women there. At the other gym, not so much.

I'm behind.

11/15: dog walk
11/16: longer dog walk
11/17: dog walk
11/18: dog walk
11/19: 20 min dog wog 4:1 walk:run
11/20: 54 min swim, 2000 yards = 1.14 miles; 1 min faster than last week on the first mile
11/21: 31 mins yoga/pilates
11/22: 20 min dog wog 4:1 walk:run

Monday, Nov. 21:

45 minute spin class, with the tough instructor, who apparently gives boot camp classes in the park on weekends which I would not be able to survive.
60 minute beginning Kripalu yoga, with lots of arm and shoulder exercises. I have felt like the class klutz, but now I know it's because my mat was in front & I couldn't see anyone else & just imagined them all moving through each asana effortlessly. This time I joined them with my mat near the back wall & saw that I am about average for the class, and in fact, am keeping up.

update
last fri 1 mile run
last sat 3.5 mile run
sun very long walk with dog
mon spin

tues--- will likely be long walk with dog. maybe something on exercise tv
planning to update tomorrow

This is such an excellent realisation. In fact, by moving, you 'reframed' the class and - hey presto! - transformed your position in it.

1' 26" on legs, here at home this morning. It's been a long time since I've managed this level of concentration at home.

Tuesday, Nov. 22:

20 minutes on Stairmaster stepper, resistance at six, aerobic intervals. Not the most up-to-date machine, which some guy had commandeered.
60 minutes shoulders and biceps, pushups galore
40 minutes recumbent bike, resistance nearly nil, trying to peddle fast

60 minutes beginner Kripalu yoga class, with one of my favorite teachers at the center thus far, who just came back from the Kripalu center and was energized and full of new ideas.

Nov. 20: traveling

Nov. 21: traveling-- lots of walking

Nov. 22: 60 minutes elliptical

Nov. 23: 95 minutes Bikram Yoga

Totals:
17 days
1087 minutes

Wednesday, Nov. 23:

45 minute spin class, lots of standing and then sitting, though not the constant jumps that my other spin class used to do. Afterward the obligatory stretch, with me trying to do my version of pigeon. I think I sink down a fraction lower than I used to. Not much, though.

Thursday, Nov. 24

After years of hearing about the local Kiwanis Turkey Trot run here in the village, which has been going on for over 30 years now, I always wanted to participate in one. But I always drove Upstate on Thanksgiving Day itself, because the traffic was lighter, getting in around 3 PM.

Today I was finally able to participate. (I've noticed in life that often, I get what I want, but not through the means that I'd have chosen to get it through.)

There was a great turnout, with the most participants ever: The race sponsor announced we'd all contributed $30,000 to charity through our entry fees.

There was a turkey walking around, with whom all the runners wanted their pictures taken, and a Santa, who lost his hat while running. There were people with plush turkey hats. There was a crew wearing Native American head-dresses, braids & face paint. I wasn't so festive, but I did wear fuchsia fingerless gloves from American Apparel.

Inspired by Shannon, I tried some yoga asanas meant to loosen the hips on my mat before heading down the street to the race. Nevertheless, for whatever reason, this was a hard race for me. Mostly the breathing, though also the pounding. Everyone was passing me. I felt as if it would never be over. I thought I was flailing & told myself that I just wanted to finish while running, not walking. I thought my time was going to be horrible. Well, when I glanced up at the Auer timing machine near the finish, it wasn't horrible, but it wasn't what I hoped. We'll see what they officially time me at.

ETA: My time was 31:58.21, not as good as the Race for the Cure just a month ago, where I had a personal best of 31:39. I think I ran too hard in the beginning, feeling I was way back in the pack. And I was. I finished 1087 out of 1798, but 57 out of 112 for my age group.

How I wish my feet and legs could stand up under the pounding of running regularly, so I could be a real runner. As it is, I'm a spin class regular and elliptical user who runs maybe once a month in a 5K.

Nov. 24: I donated blood yesterday morning and they always tell you not to exercise for 24 hours. I ignored that and did yoga yesterday afternoon. I was dizzy and nauseous for a bit so I sat down. Nothing major-- just for a couple minutes. I figured I'd be fine today. There was only one class offered today and there were AT LEAST 60 people there! Usually there are 20-30. It was so packed that I was dripping sweat before it even started. I got extremely dizzy and nauseous and thought I might have to leave. I guess the blood donation was still affecting me. I was happy to finish.

90 minutes Bikram Yoga (plus another 20-30 minutes in the hot room before and after class which may have attributed to the dizziness).

Totals:
18 days
1177 minutes

Friday, Nov. 25:

Sat on the bike this morning in the room where they hold spin class, peddling away as a warmup. The big triathlete guy came in and did the same. After a while, it was clear class had been canceled, but in the meantime, we had a good talk about the advantages and perils of buying from eBay.

10 minutes warmup on the Concept 2, about 10:22 to row 2,000 miles
60 minutes back and biceps workout, with all the lat pulldowns and one try at the Gravitron at the end
45 minutes arc trainer, hill intervals, resistance at eight

When I headed to the gym around 5:15 am there was decidedly more traffic than usual, as the gym is in a strip mall and in an area where strip malls and big box stores are plentiful. It was the Black Friday shoppers indulging in the adult equivalent of trick-or-treating.

Nov. 25: 60 minutes Body Combat, plus 15 minutes walk/jog to/from gym. First time trying Body Combat and I loved it! It was a boxing/cardio class and an amazing workout!!!

Totals:
19 days
1237 minutes

11/23: dog walk
11/24: Drumstick Dash -- I did the 2.3 mile course, mostly walking with some 1 min run intervals, in about 29 minutes. Amazing that I walk now nearly as fast as I could run before. I guess that just goes to show what a slow runner I was.
11/25: 90 min yoga class (gentle/moderate level), two long dog walks in the park

Saturday, Nov. 26:

60 minutes on the Stairmaster stepper, aerobic setting, resistance at six, and oh my, how I wished it was over before it was over. I dripped sweat throughout.

I was sorry to miss yoga, but wanted to get to the antique show early. I walked around there for maybe two hours. Probably worth it, as I got some decent things at decent prices. Still, what a tradeoff. Not for exercise, but for what yoga does to my state of mind.

Jessica, you're also doing yoga? That's great. I look forward to you posting here regularly again. I miss your posts. When I felt low-spirited about my Thanksgiving race time, I reminded myself of what you'd written before and felt somewhat better. Hey, there's nothing at all wrong with speedwalking. I, too, would like to be a faster runner, but then I think, at least I can run the whole way. There was a time when I couldn't do that. Every now & then I need to do a reality check: I was once 247 pounds. I'll say it again: I was once 247 pounds.

Nov. 26: feel like I have a blasted cold:mad::devil:
Went and took spin because I'm hoping to sweat it out. May be allergies. Who knows.

70 minutes spin (60 minutes class plus at least 10 extra minutes warm up)

Totals:
20 days
1297 minutes

Sunday, Nov. 27:

Just over 11 minutes rowing on the Concept 2 to get to 2,000 meters, and I think this was partly due to the machine, because its drive chains seems to be stretched out. My usual setting of "5" had very little tension or resistance.
45 minutes arm & shoulders routine
45 minutes arc trainer, hill interval, resistance at eight
60 minute yoga class, during which I fell over with an audible thud while in a lunge and turning to reach my arm straight upward. Boom. Yoga is so solemn, there was no acknowledgment of it. (Just like no one acknowledges when someone has farted spectacularly.) As with riding, I got back on the asana and kept going. This class is really beyond me and has very little spiritual aspect but I like what the stretching does for me.

"Giddy up!" seems appropriate here, for balance reasons and for horsey reasons. No bruises, I hope, saef? Yoga is so dangerous. I shan't elaborate here but reasons come to mind.

45 minutes of walking along the coast and through the woodland of a country estate. I can't tell you how lovely it was to walk with my knee properly aligned, and at my own pace. But just a few miles away a merchant ship foundered last night with at least one seafarer dead and five others missing. Sobering.

re yoga
 

I generally find the yoga classes at community centres, through the Toronto Parks and Recreation department, to be fun, chatty, and full of laughter. Most participants show up in old t shirts and such. There is no chanting of ommmmm and any farting/falling over is met with gales of sympathetic laughter. Music is generally upbeat and quite energizing. And both genders attend, although the majority are women. Sometimes afterwards, particularly when a session of classes ends, coffee and doughnuts or muffins are served.

Contrast that with the classes I've taken at yoga "studios". Everyone (other than me) shows up in $200 Luluwhatsis outfits with everything matchy matchy. They all bring their own special yoga mats. Everyone whispers and tiptoes around. All are silent during practice and any bodily functions are met with embarrased silence. Almost always all participants are women and they speak in a special yoga jargon. And at the end of the session we are sometimes served herbal tea.

Now I do think there is a place for "serious" yoga but it doesn't have to approach the religious rite these women seem to be performing. I tend to be supressing giggles in most of these classes and want to shout out "whoohoo - great pose" or the like. I do tend to attend more of these as the community run ones are hard to get into. I wish there was a "light-hearted" yoga studio. I would go there. I feel like the court jester at times.

Dagmar :joker:

Saef, yeah, I bought a 10-visit pass when I went to the yoga studio last weekend so I am hoping it motivates me to go more often. I tried taking a yoga class at work, which was cheaper and convenient, but it was far too "beginner" for me. I've been to this studio a few times. The "gentle/moderate" borders on too easy but is okay, the "moderate" is perfect, and the "moderate/vigorous" is a bit too hard for me.

Dagmar, I've found different instructors have different styles. The class I took at work was very laid-back and informal and had lots of laughing. The classes I've taken at the yoga studio vary. One instructor was more formal - no fidgeting allowed, etc. The instructor I had the other day on the other hand was cracking jokes about how we had to do digestive yoga work because we all ate too much for Thanksgiving. :) I think they both have their benefits.

11/26: none
11/27: about 30 mins swim intervals (5 laps warmup, 2 laps drills, 3x1 lap 15s RI, 4 laps kicking, 2x2 lap 30s RI, 1 lap cooldown backstsroke)
11/28: 20 min dog wog 4:1, planning pilates at lunchtime

Monday, Nov. 28:

45 minute spin class, during which one of the new girls jumped off the bike, ran for the garbage can in the corner, and knelt before it. I don't know what happened except the instructor got off her bike & was with the girl, then walked her out of the room, but eventually came back. It's a tough class, with a lot of serious athletes in it, but not that bad.

60 minute beginning Kripalu yoga class, doing a sequence which I'm actually not that bad at, because of working with weights three days a week. That would be the sequence in which we go from downward dog to plank to danda pushup to cobra and back to downward dog. But as for the balance sequence, when we go from tree to crane to flamingo -- that, I have trouble doing. Some days I think my balance is getting better, other days not so much.

Tuesday, Nov. 29

20 minutes warmup on the Stairmaster stepper, aerobic intervals, resistance at six
60 minutes shoulders, triceps and back routine, the one with pushups, with me swapping out some bench presses for some of the pushups.
40 minutes recumbent bike, Pike's Peak, at resistance of eight, and this was a challenge.

11/28 continued, 30 min pilates total body workout
11/29: 20 min stationary bike ride, hill program level 5

I'm grumpy that I haven't worked out since Saturday due to my cold. I feel much better so hopefully I'll work out later today and be able to post something. Not exercising isn't helping my mood or my weight!

Wednesday, Nov. 30:

45 minute spin class, a good, hard workout with a lot of climbs, and a lot of standing at heavy resistance and then dropping and peddling at the same seated resistance

I wanted to go to yoga last night but unexpectedly had two writing assignments shoved at me at 4 PM.

Nov. 27-29: sick:devil::mad::devil::(

Nov. 30: 30 minutes Boot camp and 30 minutes core training

Totals:
21 days
1357 minutes

Not a stellar month. Hoping for a better December but December is always so busy!

tuesday- 4.5 mile run
wednesday- spin class
thursday- 6 mile run

Thursday, Dec. 1st:

Yeah, I know, it's not November, there ought to be a new thread, and you know what? I am just too damn tired today from my workout and an intense deadline-driven day at the office and I have no inspiration to make one.

But I got to the gym, though I wanted to lie down on the sofa.

20 minutes Stairmaster stepper, aerobic intervals, resistance at six
60 minutes back & shoulders routine, with way too many lat pulldowns
40 minutes recumbent bike, random hills, resistance at nine