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<p>You are way more tolerant than I am. That would have been the end of the class for me (as in walking out in front of her) and the boss of the gym would have heard from me. </p>
<p>What are the teachers’ names these days? When I was doing classes in the late 80s, they were all named Kim.</p>
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<p>I think you need to stick to talking about the burros!</p>
<p>I used to love going to the fitness center connected to the hospital…I’d be on maternity leave, and 6 weeks post partum, I’d have one of the hotter figures there…a lot of ancient folks in cardiac rehab rolling their oxygen tanks behind them…</p>
<p>Yeah, missypie, I would have walked out on that teacher too…I don’t need to pay people to embarrass me, that’s why I have a family!</p>
<p>Well, to be fair to the step teacher, she asked who was new, I raised my hand & she started shouting out a bunch of explanations of the steps. I know my limits – couldn’t auditorily process the instructions and act them out in time with the super-fast beat, so just cheated & looked at the v. coordinated lady in front of me. Somehow the teacher could tell (from across the room) that I wasn’t following her, specifically.</p>
<p>I think there’s a certain level of ego & confidence that you need to get up (in spandex) in front of a group of people at 8 a.m. and exhort them to ‘move it!’</p>
<p>I’ve done a lot of reading on the subject of high intensity exercise in the last month or so with the objective of burning excess (not much) fat. </p>
<p>Most people on this forum have suggested that you should change up your routine a bit from easy/hard/easy/hard. IMO, what is happening is that your body is getting used to your steady walks at a steady elevation. Once you get on a trail, there are many variations in incline. It would be better to adjust your incline from +0 to +1 to +3 and back to 0 during your workout. When you are at +0, do a brisker walk or a slow jog for a minute or two (whatever you are capable of at the time) and then work a little bit harder each week. Never walk at 3.0 at +4 elevation for 45 minutes, after a while it does not do much for your body and will not prepare you for harder challenges such as intense hiking.</p>
<p>You can really cut down your 45 minute walks, into 20 minutes of fast walking (3.5ish on a treadmill) and maybe add some light jogging (4-4.5). I do not think elevation is as important as you are making it sound. I usually aim to get my heart rate at 160, but only near the end of my exercise. Or even better, try to do a couple activities at the gym at a time. Biking is much easier than running and you can set the resistance to whatever is comfortable. </p>
<p>If you focus on doing harder exercise in smaller time intervals, you only really need to exercise 3-4 times a week max. It helps to eat a lot of fruit and veggies (and always have a healthy meal before your work out). Drinking lots of water is important too. Make a point to at least do a little bit of stairs in the morning at your work. Just doing a few staircases is better than none, and will help get your heart rate up a bit.</p>
<p>Thanks. I made it up (and down) 20 flights of stairs right before lunch. The hardest part is doing it in my work shoes!</p>
<p>Can you bring sneaks & sox, if it’s during a break from work?</p>
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<p>Sure, but I never would.</p>
<p>Flats, I hope!</p>
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<p>Woohooo ! Well done ! I may do yoga and lift kettlebells, I can never walk up and down 20 flight of stairs. :o </p>
<p>I’ll say you are well on your way to preparedness to GC.</p>
<p>A group of attnys I worked w/used to don sox & sneaks & go out walking on lunch hour. Then again, it was the gov.</p>
<p>You probably are more fit it’s just hard to see. I"ll bet your cardio fitness as well as your tone in your legs has increased quite a bit but if you are looking for more than do mix it up and your body will respond. </p>
<p>My favorite fitness tricks: Use the instant view Netflix option to access a variety of workouts and Junk the gym and get a Wii fit. My Wii fit (OK mY D’s Wii fit) is amazingly cool. For cardio you have options ranging from hula hoop to Boxing. Plus you get strength and yoga and balance exercises to boot. It rewards you, offers you competition and encouragement.</p>
<p>Just worked out - did intervals. I actually ran (jogged) on the treadmill, three different times for one minute each time. I felt like the biggest dork on the planet (esp since Son was behind me on an elyptical) and ALL I could think about the whole time was George Jetson. But I did sweat a lot more than usual…time to hit the shower. Maybe I’ll do a longer workout tomorrow.</p>
<p>Great job, Missypie. I think this will make a huge difference for you. Trust me, I’m sure you looked fine. Everybody has to start at the beginning. I couldn’t jog for an entire 60 seconds a year ago and run 5-k every day now. Your thread inspired me to push my speed today for the first time in awhile and it felt great.</p>
<p>WTG, MissyPie! Sounds like fun to go with your kid. </p>
<p>Historymom – I love my Wii Fit too! They’ve come out with some new programs…including one by that Jillian (drawing a blank on her last name) trainer person. I’ve also heard that EA will be coming out with an aerobic program sometime in the spring that will use monitors you put on your ankles to respond to the Wii.</p>
<p>This thread is inspiring! I did a more vigorous workout on the treadmill & also pushed it more with weights at they gym yesterday. Will hopefully go this evening, too. </p>
<p>missypie–if you are able, a nice way to feel less self-conscious at the gym is to not go mid-afternoon on the weekends or after work. I went on Sat for the first time & there were so many people there! If you are able to go in the early a.m., there will be a few work folks, but a fraction of the number on the weekends or after work. Just a thought!</p>
<p>Btw, I moved my hand weights up from 15 lbs to 20–inspired by the technical discussion of muscles and physiology – which I translated to: ‘work harder!’</p>
<p>It would probably be a lot quieter in the morning but I already get up at 5:15 - I just couldn’t move it an hour earlier!</p>
<p>I heard a fascinating interview with a woman named Helen Thayer yesterday on Travel with Rick Steves (I got lucky; it coincided with a long drive). At age 63, she and her 74-year-old husband hiked the length of the Gobi Desert. [Amazon.com:</a> Walking the Gobi: 1,600 Mile-trek Across a Desert of Hope and Despair: Helen Thayer: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Gobi-Mile-trek-Across-Despair/dp/159485064X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232930411&sr=8-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Gobi-Mile-trek-Across-Despair/dp/159485064X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232930411&sr=8-1)</p>
<p>They walked twenty miles a day for eighty days, leading two camels carrying their gear. Daytime temps were above 120 degrees. They drank a gallon and a half of water every day to keep hydrated.</p>
<p>She talked a lot about how to plan for the trip; she said the key is to imagine yourself being successful and victorious. </p>
<p>Of course I thought of MissyPie’s planned hike as I listened. Frankly, after listening to Helen Thayer, I felt like I had no more excuses left for not doing anything. My knee hurts… so what? What a lame excuse!</p>
<p>dmd77–that’s inspiring! I’m going to take Helen Thayer’s visualization advice & apply it to my job search, as well! Thanks!</p>
<p>missypie–wow, 5:15–that does seem the limit for early rising!</p>
<p>I get up at 4:45 to work out five mornings a week. 
Unfortunately, when it comes to squeezing in exercise, there is no limit for early rising. It’s strange when sleeping in on the weekends means staying in bed until 6:30. (I am NOT a morning person either.) My H and I do NOT talk to each other at that time of day/night.</p>