I find I don't like going to the gym as much anymore so I've been working out at home. I like it better, but I'm also slightly less motivated at home because there is no one watching me. How weird is that?

At the gym I feel like I'm being watched and judged so I really work hard to 'prove' myself. At home it's more like going through the motions.

I'll have to decide which is more important, having my own space and working harder to stay motivated, or share space and deal with just trying to get there when it's nasty out. Or maybe I just need get some good music to pump me up at home.

Or maybe I just think too much

Just a quick check in. Hi all!!

I have to say I'm so impressed with Crossfit. I decided I wanted to try running again. So this morning, I set out for my 2 mile loop thinking I'd walk/run it. I ran almost all of it, hills and all and I wasn't dying. Not bad for someone who hasn't tried any dedicated running for many, many months. I'm going to try to fit in a couple running days every week as I'd like to be able to run decently.

Great job nelie- this cross fit stuff works!

My last WOD took over a day to recover from. I did nothing yesterday because I felt like something out of the Night of the Living Dead.

I've been completely preoccupied the last few days with the fires in Boulder CO. My mother's house is in the fire zone and they evacuated Monday. We think their house is still there- many of the neighboring homes are gone, but the satellite photos look promising. Will probably find out today for sure one way or the other. If it burned, I will have to fly out and help....

Mel what a terrible worry for both you and your mother. I'm assuming you've been in touch with her and she is in a safe place. But still, all the things that are important to her left behind. I'm so sorry.

That's tough Mel, we always have big issues with fires up here in the summer too. In school we even used to make cards for people who were affected each year.

I hope things get better!

Mel, I'll hope for the best for your mother. Terrible, terrible fires. One of DD's school friends lost her house.

Nelie: Wanted to pop back in real quick to say "AWESOME RUN!!"

I'm surrounded by really nice paved paths, not sidewalks, but paved asphalt with lots of shady trees. I"m entertaining some running goals myself since it such an option here. Every morning on my way to the gym I see many people running along these trails. I feel like such an idiot paying for a gym when I could probably use my equipment at home and run for cardio. Eh, but like Stephanie, I really need to have others around me or else I kind of lose my enthusiasm. (Your not so strange Stephanie, I had to giggle at your post because I am EXACTLY the same way)

Great run Nelie!

Lydia, totally jealous of your running paths. You should definitely use them!

Mel - Fires always suck My parents get fires in their area every year. They've never been evacuated but they have come very close.

Lydia - I think VA tends to be good about paved paths but bad about sidewalks. Or at least that is my experience

Todays workout was killer.
100 Squats
90 Situps
80 Kettlebell Swings (35/25)
70 Pushups (on knees but still thought I was going to die)
60 Walking Lunges
50 Double-Unders (150 single jump ropes)
40 Pullups
30 Wallballs
20 Burpees
10 Handstand Pushups (I did 63 lb push presses)

I knew I'd be slowed by the situps because I always am and I've been doing knee pushups although I'd like to do elevated but I haven't figured the right height that is challenging enough and doable. I wasn't sure I could do 63 lb push presses because the highest I've done is 53. I am going to sleep well tonight.

Lydia, I'm glad I'm not alone! I do suffer from anxiety and I'm never sure when I am over analyzing things more than a normal person should. For once I feel a little normal haha. I'm trying to deal with life on my own instead of with medication and I feel like lifting has given me some structure and I don't want to lose that momentum. I've been exercising regularly since May, normally this lasts only a few weeks. The anxiety of other people seeing me do a pitiful work out has kept me on the treadmill longer and lifting heavier weights.

I couldn't work out today though, randomly my landlord decided he wanted to meet us and just let us know yesterday (his sister lives near us and we've only dealt with her). Plus side is I cleaned for two hours and I worked up a sweat from that so I feel I did work myself. Putting away weights counts, right?

And I saw 158.2 on the scale, which I have not seen the 150's since two weeks ago when I mosied in and ran back out. It's also the lowest number I've seen. On a side note, progress pics are fun; and I suspect my growing muscles and firmer body are going to turn me into a conceited person.

Nelie, reading your work out made my body sore. You are one strong woman! Sometimes I wish we could all meet and do a work out together. I think I would get my butt handed to me out of everyone here, haha.

Mel, I do hope that your mother and her home are safe.

Nelie, what a workout. I think I'd be delighted if i could get through even half of each of the exercises. But, I plod on, going up on either weight or reps each week.

Stephanie, I too enjoy the changes in my body. My family has to put up with me showing off my forearms, bragging about my biceps and carrying on about the leg presses. It's all a lot of fun!

Rhonda

Thanks for all your thoughts. Last night the winds picked up again, the fire shifted, and my brother, SIL and their two girls were also evacuated. they live at the very edge of Boulder, NOT in the mountains. Now we aren't so sure about my mom's house, given the wind shift. It is horrible- over 165 homes were completely destroyed as of yesterday.

On a lighter note, Stephanie, I'd call it pride, not conceit . And the pride is deserved and that feeling will carry you years through maintenance!

Lydia- careful with the hips and legs!! Running looks seductive, but....

Had a good workout yesterday after taking Wednesday off due to total exhaustion.

Mel

Mel: This is going to be a long weekend for you I'm afraid. Hoping for the best for your family.

No worries about becoming an obsessive runner. I've suffered enough injuries to know better. Thanks for reminding me why I have that gym membership. I'll head out a few times a month, but certainly no plans to train for anything.

I the concept that it is PRIDE that makes us try a little harder when we are in public rather than calling it conceit. Much like Meg's belief that it's DEDICATION to ourselves and to our goals that causes us to maintain in the face of what others may refer to as obsession.

Stephanie and Rhonda: Take all the mirror time you want. These changes are so exciting to discover within ourselves inside and out. I remember the first year spending a lot time just staring into mirrors every time I passed one. Its part of the process. Not vain either. Although I certain thought so of myself at the time. As I've watched other people go through this process I realize we must give ourselves time to integrate the changes to develop a more correct mental image. Its the time that is necessary to replace the image we had of ourselves before our new lifestyle began. At least it took me a year if not two.

Mel, "Pride" certainly is a nice way to put it and it explains my feelings better. I can't walk past a mirror without flexing or checking myself out. It's all still new to me and I just can't get over how far I've come! Lydia, I also like the use of the word "Dedication", sometimes I feel as if people think I'm obsessed because I mention working out or eating right almost every day in normal conversation, haha.

Maybe once I hit maintenance I should just give myself a year of guilt-free self-check outs haha.

Thanks Mel and Lydia for the positive language and thoughts. I don't feel guilty or obsessive. I think it's all a hoot, and some of that comes from being 2 weeks away from turning 65, I'm sure. I believe that I haven't felt as good as I do since I was an active teenager and young adult, and now I'm got fewer problems and worries. It's all great.

However, this afternoon, after I do split squats I plan to whine.

And, just for fun, I've started a tap dancing class. I used to dance a lot and was even reasonably good at it. It just came flooding back to me after at least 42 years of not doing it.

Rhonda