Hmm… Throw some noodles in the quesadilla soup? 
Not saying this will happen to you, but be aware of your core for several months after surgery. I didn’t realize it, but I was guarding my core (mostly my abs) when I finally returned to my workouts, and about 6-8 months post-surgery, my lower back finally began to have issues that were starting to spread to one of my hips. So I mentioned my lower back issues to my internist when I saw him for my annual and he wrote me a script for PT. When I went to PT and she did the assessment at that very first appt., I realized how horribly weak my abs were… which was causing my back to overcompensate for lots of every day activities (including exercising). Even when I’d do core work, I’d guard, so my back was doing more of the work - I didn’t even realize it until she assessed me. It really didn’t take long to get me back on track, but it was incredibly helpful for her to start me with the very rudimentary basics of ab work and have me progress each week - really, within a week of daily exercises, my back was feeling better, and has been fine since then. I think it’s really common when you’re recovering from abdominal surgery to guard in your daily activities and exercise, but no one told me!
@teriwtt , great point! I am very aware of my abs and feeling nervous using them. I thought I was making progress on Sunday by doing the sit-ups in yoga. But when I got home my back was unusually sore. Now I realize I was doing exactly what you said. I’m going to pay attention to that now.
Good morning everyone!
I meant to ask , math mom, do you read or do something when on the elliptical? Seems that no matter what I choose to do, I find that piece of equipment hard to spend time on. I’d rather use the treadmill or the bike than the elliptical. Looking for anything to help make the elliptical more interesting.
Good point about guarding, teriwtt.
Drinking protein fruit smoothie while waiting for fit bit charge to charge! Weight stuck again but have been exercising so it is what it is. Running late, though. Have a good one, ladies.
@jym626 thanks for the encouragement! Re: the elliptical…I saw an app to use with the elliptical. It’s from lolo. No idea how it is, but maybe worth a look? Also, how about audiobooks?
I find audiobooks to be helpful whatever kind of cardio is “on” for the day. Right now I don’t belong to a gym, so my options are treadmill or outdoors. Since I’m still getting over this danged cold, exercise these days is mostly coughing, but as soon as I can I’ll be ramping up the walking miles. I keep trying to decide whether to try some classes at a new fitness studio that opened near me, but it’s across the street from the JCC and past experience tells me that the morning classes (my preference) will be populated by the early 30-something pre-school LuLu mom crowd which, to be honest, intimidates the hell out of almost 60-year-old me.
If I read while on the elliptical, I tend to go too slowly. I try to do fast/slow intervals with differing resistance using music with varying speed. After a few intervals, I might read for 5 or 10 minutes and then some more intervals. I use my husband’s pulse-ox to see how fast my heart rate is. Now, I gotta be honest–I haven’t done my elliptical routine since last winter but now that I have written it out and looked up my music (Savior by Rise Against has a great beat for intervals so I stole it from my son), I am going to get back on schedule. I work with a trainer two hours a week and I want to get at least an hour more, mostly cardio at home.
Son is “graduating” from grad school in June. He says that they have a big ceremony either at the theater where they do Oscars or another theater that does big award shows even though very few actually get diplomas at that time. If I am going to pretend to walk the red carpet, I want to lose that 20 pounds that has crept up on me.
I do what lotsofquests does read with faster intervals in between. Mostly I try to catch up on the New York Times magazine articles so nothing too exciting and it’s easy to put down. I still probably go slower than I should. We’ve got a bike at home and my kid watches stuff on the computer.
Following dietitian plan has been going well - weighed myself again and in a couple of days lost another .5 lb - that is very good for me 
Congrats on the graduation, lotsofquests. I have the elliptical in front of the tv. Its.Just. b.o.r.i.n.g. to me, no matter what. Dunno why. It just is. I have tried reading too, mathmom, but the elliptical has a little bit of a vibrate to it and it gives me a headache (yes we have tried different things underneath to stabilize it. DH just put something new under it last night. Will have to see if it helped).
Way to go, SOSConcern!! Congrats!!
I forgot to mention, as an aside, that when I was at the trainers yesterday, he told me some wild story that another client supposedly told him, about that guy’s daughter, who is, IIRC, maybe middle eastern but a bit dark complected and was with a light skinned AA friend at a small college fair at their international school. Supposedly one of the colleges, a well known, very competitive school often talked about here, thought the M.E. girl was AA and supposedly promised her admission with 100K scholarship and when they found out she wasn’t AA, maybe on her application or something (I dont recall) they rescinded their admission offer and scholarship offer. Of course that whole scenario was so ridiculous I think the trainer got tired of my giving him a million reasons why that whole story was not believable.
Change of subject again. DH and I will be looking into a more motivating trainer when we get back from the slopes. Any thoughts on questions to ask as we interview some new possibilities?
As for the elliptical…I listen to my playlist on my ipod and read on my Paperwhite Kindle. It helps a little bit, LOL. I actually like the elliptical better than the treadmill and it was recommended for me for my knees as it’s non weight-bearing.
I would let them know what your goals are and ask if they could give you an example of what a typical workout might look like. I want to spend all my time doing strength training; I do cardio on my own. And I want a different workout every time. Both my trainers have been women in their fifties; they can inspire me in a way no 30 year old could.
I always listen to music when I run. It helps me keep my pace and when I want to push myself I can crank up the beats per minute. (When I’m outside I turn the volume way down.)
The elliptical is probably better for my knees, but I also have osteopenia so am supposed to do some weight-bearing.
Thanks for the feedback, 1moremom. Good ideas.
I figure all the weight work I do is load bearing. Squats, pullups and pushups, kettleballs swings and lifting heavy things over my head are all a regular part of my routine.
Just got back from the gym and had an awesome session with my trainer and some biking. I am feeling that “glow”. However, I also feel nauseous. I hate when that happens after an intense workout.
Great job, VaBluebird. And mathmom-- that sounds like what I should also inquire about from a new trainer.
30 minutes on the bike and then some arm stuff to even things out.
Roasted eggplant is in the oven.
3 bean chili slow cooker chili from Cooking Light. On sautéed spinach and 1/2 baked potato.
Have packed healthy lunches every day. And tracked on myfitnesspal.
Still need work on my exercise goal.