<p>Nice cable column, idad. Looks like you’ll have plenty of options for exercising a lot of muscle groups. Good luck with the assembly!</p>
<p>It was raining this morning, so I made a trip to buy new shoes. I ended up with Asics again, the gel-nimbus 14’s in bright purple and lime green. I believe this color scheme will effectively keep me from wearing these shoes for any purpose other than fitness activity. Because the manufacturer has lightened the shoe by cutting out some of the gel, these are firmer than my comfy old shoes (also Asics), but the foam inside the heel walls was beginning to crumble, so it was time. </p>
<p>Week 8, day 1 of C25K with 28 minutes of running, in the new shoes. Today I worked on breathing from the belly and relaxing my shoulders and hands. I still am very, very slow, and yet breathing pretty hard. I would not want to converse with me. After I finish this, I may revert to my earlier status as a shuffle run walker. Will running ever be as effortless for me as I think it should be???</p>
<p>PlantMom, you’re doing great. 5K = 45+ times around the baseball diamond. So think, it’s no sweat for you to run around the diamond 10 times in a row now, right? Helps put it in perspective.</p>
<p>I think folks on this thread should really give themselves a pat on the back. Sometimes you forget what a fantastic job you’re doing. When I go to the gym, get on that treadmill, and run for more than 1/2 hr, rarely is there more than one or two people who may outlast me there during that space of time (running on one of the treadmills that is). Yeah, I’ll see a young gal who looks to be 18 or so (there are several of these that come in at different times) hop on and zoom at an ungodly pace, but you know what? Usually she hops right back off after a mile or a mile and a half. Occasionally there’s one of the women with a marathon t-shirt who will be running for who knows how long. Some of the guys stay on a while, it’s true, and book pretty quick, but not many. I couldn’t evaluate what’s going on with the ellipticals. I think some of those gals set it to hills and work hard! Weights, well somebody who does that more would have to tell me what’s really the scoop. Some of those 20 yo guys do crack me up, though, 'cause they like to be seen as much as lift. Anyhow, this is just to say, you <em>are</em> doing great! We have ladies here walking 4 to 7 miles and more regularly, guys who are speed runners and going for 7-10 miles for a workout, MOWC (who is in a class of her own!), etc. Seriously, realize there’s some awesome stuff going on here.</p>
<p>Walked 5 miles today. Averaged 14:56/mile
For the first time since the leg injury I tried a few very tiny jogging steps. Still not ready to run but the pain wasn’t excruciating. I’m encouraged.</p>
<p>Very, very true Deborah - my fitness center is at the university/medical university I work at. While there are people of all ages (staff) there are also plenty of 18-25 year olds. I have no qualms anymore about jumping on a treadmill next to one of them . I can hold my own to MY satisfaction. :)</p>
<p>Plantmom, my breathing did improve and it wasn’t till end of c25k or after. Since finishing the program at the end of 2012 I kept up a regime of running most every other day, anywhere from 1.5 to 3 miles. My only goal was endurance and getting more comfortable with my breathing. I find my breathing less labored now, less "gasping ", etc. Not perfect, but at least through the 5k I could talk, (not a conversation, but get out some words!). Singing would have been more difficult! Sounds like you always run outdoors?? That is definitely harder for me so supplementing with some treadmill helped me to gain control of my breathing.</p>
<p>Got my new toy assembled, pushed into its resting spot, and functional. That was a serious assembly project, but I used every single nut, bolt, and washer and didn’t have a single piece left over, so that was a success! It’ll take a little while to figure out what weight plates to use. Pallof presses with 15 pounds are tough. Most of the stuff I’m doing uses pretty light weights and needs small adjustments. I ordered a couple of 1.25 pound plates, so I’ll be able to go anywhere from zero on up in 1.25 pound increments.</p>
<p>The thing is solid. Nicely made. Works smoothly. I would like about 6 more inches of travel for the chops and lifts, but there’s enough. Plenty for the rows.</p>
<p>From my limited run at Planet Fitness, I would say that the people in the weight area who get a good workout are the people who come in with a little printed list or notebook and run down the list of exercises. They are also usually the most fit looking people. I actually saw a surprising number of people doing good workouts.</p>
<p>The ol’ fat guys all do old school fitness magazine body builder workouts. A set of bicep curls. Rest for 3 minutes. Another set of bicep curls. Rest for 3 minutes. Another set of bicep curls. Rest for 3 minutes. A set of bench press. Rest for 3 minutes. And so on and so forth. They are there for 2 hours and get about 15 minutes of actual exercise.</p>
<p>The best I saw on the treadmills was an older lady who was there every day. Set the treadmill at the highest incline and walked at a pace that would have had me hanging over the railing in no time flat. Very impressive. She looked quite fit.</p>
<p>Most of the jackets in that article were really not intended for to be rain jackets. I didn’t check every one, but most were wind breakers with a DWR finish that will repel a little moisture before they soak through. Not a heavy rain or prolonged exposure.</p>
<p>I don’t think I’ve ever seen a true water proof jacket without a hood.</p>
<p>I just got my daughter one of the [LL</a> Bean Trail Model Rain Jackets](<a href=“L.L.Bean: Page Not Available”>L.L.Bean: Page Not Available) for trucking around D.C. I know that a good lightweight rain jacket is not something she would probably buy for herself, but would be very handy to have on a nasty wet day waiting for a bus.</p>
<p>“Kids” these days insist on wearing cotton hoodys or wool jackets in the pouring rain. That stuff is like a sponge. So much more pleasant in an appropriate jacket!</p>
<p>30 minutes swim.
Boooring, but everything felt good, and I just kept focusing on how the water temperature was great, I had a lane all to myself, how pleasant it all was. Still boring.</p>
<p>Rest day for me today–I hosted my book group tonight and gave away a plate of cookies and brownies, which I would have eaten. Pleased with myself for doing that.</p>
<p>Deb T–your words of encouragement were helpful. Got me thinking about my gym, which is suburban mom heaven, at least from 7am to noon. I looked around the room in spinning class last week and with the exception of two or three women, I was clearly one of the oldest in the class. At first, I was depressed, and then I thought about it and felt pleased that I was challenging myself and doing something (spinning) that most people my age weren’t doing.</p>
<p>Hard to say. I spent so long crawling around on the floor with big heavy parts and tools and stuff that I’m pretty much stiff and sore all over!</p>
<p>My calf never really felt like much of an injury. Just enough soreness to leave it alone for a few days.</p>
<p>I have to share this. Usually I do the grocery shopping, but this evening my husband went out and picked up a couple of items we needed. He bought me my very own little filet mignon! (we had a discussion a day or two ago about steak, and I was trying to remember if I’d ever had filet mignon – usually it would be top sirloin or else chuck or something of the sort for a pot roast – you can guess how the topic arose, lol)</p>
<p>DebT, that’s so sweet! I will have to retrain on my filet-prep with our new household calorie consciousness because my two favorite versions involve a wickedly rich Gorgonzola sauce or a merlot porcini reduction that features a full stick of butter ;)</p>
<p>Blank mind, thanks for the lovely “medusa” hat! The wildlife in the woods may be traumatized but at least the hunters won’t mistake me for deer. (Not season right now, but this is actually an issue where I live. But this year I posted lots of “no hunting” signs on my portion of the woods and believe it or not, it dramatically reduced the activity. So I’m hopeful that next November, with an orange vest, I can keep up my hill trekking!)</p>
<p>This morning my sedentary but losing-weight-by-attrition (my present cooking, I mean) mcH meets with a dietician for pre diabetes/fatty liver counseling. I am going along in hopes of furthering my low-glyceimic-index knowledge. Yesterday, he compared labels on two brands of protein shake (over sodium, which is also an issue) so maybe this will all catch ;)</p>
<p>While he says he’s on board with losing weight, I’ve explained that he needs to be his own knowledge base on nutrition, because I don’t really want to be mothering him about it or the only one who knows the whys or wherefores of what we’re eating. </p>
<p>My trainer friend (who is also a client) stopped by our office yesterday after a two-week vacation and gave him a big hug to congratulate him on his weight loss so far. There are many men both young and old, who would kill for a hug from her (she’s hot) so perhaps this can be leveraged as extra motivation (Loose another 20 lbs, you get another hug from hot chick!)</p>
<p>It attaches to your googles or bathing suit strap. Holds at least 500 songs. Makes the laps go by unbelievably quickly! I don’t use an ipod for walking or hiking, because I like to pay attention to my surroundingss outside. But in the pool? Its perfect. Easy to use. If you purchase it, note you have to buy the special short earphones separately. I recommend this to everyone who does lap swimming or other water activities and would like some tunes!</p>
(we had a discussion a day or two ago about steak, and I was trying to remember if I’d ever had filet mignon – usually it would be top sirloin or else chuck or something of the sort for a pot roast – you can guess how the topic arose, lol)</p>
(Loose another 20 lbs, you get another hug from hot chick!)</p>