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Posts Tagged ‘gym’

Continuing Journey to Fitness

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged gym, health, losing weight, Mediterranean diet, treadmill, working out on May 8, 2018| 6 Comments »

So, I had lost 19 lbs. as of last October. For the past few months, since my mom has been in the nursing home, I haven’t exercised or eaten the way I should. At first, I didn’t gain any weight. But as I started losing muscle mass from stopping my weight workouts, I felt my clothes get a little tighter (when you have more muscle mass, you burn more calories). I had already gone down a size, and I really didn’t want to have to hang my head in shame and go back to the other size. But I was spending so much time at the nursing home that I was just grabbing whatever food I could and not finding time to exercise. And I could really feel my health declining. Things didn’t feel right with my body anymore. When I fell and injured my right knee and pulled my left hip muscle, I went to the gym and froze my membership. I didn’t stop it completely, but I was considering that. Then I started remembering how much better I felt when I was working out.

My hip injury is barely a twinge now, so I went back to the gym yesterday. I decided to focus on cardio right now and maybe take weights back up later. I have a treadmill at home, but it’s too far to go during lunch, and the gym is just about 10 minutes away from work. So for the last two days, I’ve gone to the gym and walked on the treadmill. I might tackle the elliptical when I have more stamina. And then run on the treadmill.

Also, I’ve been looking at a Mediterranean diet lately. Yesterday, I had stuffed grape leaves, olives, and mozzarella balls. Today for lunch I had half a pita stuffed with hummus, feta cheese, and olives and a stuffed grape leaf on the side. It amazes me how few calories these meals have, and most of it is very good for you. I hate diets that completely eliminate certain foods. Eating at least a partial Mediterranean diet is fairly easy for me because I like the food. I need to add some fish to the mix. Does that mean I won’t eat any pizza or burgers ever? Not this girl! I’m not giving up anything. But I can change the frequency I eat these things that aren’t as good for me.

All these foods I ate for lunch were bought from the grocery store, which means I’m saving money compared to eating out. So that’s another plus! 🙂

Anyway, that’s what’s going on with me health wise. What are YOU doing to take charge of your health? Do tell.

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Sunday Update 5/5/13

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged bike riding, exercise, gym, healthy living, ROW80, treadmill, weight work, word count, writing on May 5, 2013| 10 Comments »

Finally, I wrote one day last week! Saturday, I wrote 2038 words. So I’m breathing a sigh of relief. I was beginning to think I just couldn’t write anymore, but I think it was just all the stress worrying about my husband, worrying about finances, worrying about everything. Well, I shouldn’t use the word “worry”, I guess I should say concerned. Worry shows a lack of faith. But none of us are perfect, right? So, yeah, I guess I was worried. But hubby is feeling SO much better. He’s pretty much back to normal, at least on the surface. I know the clots are still there, but his last chest x-ray was better, and his blood is finally thinning like it should. That was a real concern. The doctor made him do some things like walk briskly up and down the hallway to see if he had shortness of breath, and he passed that test. So he is definitely much better. Yay!

Next week, I plan to get back to the gym for weight work. Then, in the evenings, I’ll either walk on the treadmill at home or ride my bike (if I can find the pump to air the tires!). I want to combine the weight and aerobic exercises and get back to healthy living. And I’m going to try to get back to writing at least three days a week, then go up to four. Hopefully, life will get back on track!

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Changing my Workout Strategy

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged blood pressure, cardio, gym, health, treadmill, weight work, weights, working out, workout strategy on November 5, 2012| 6 Comments »

There are many reasons people work out. Looks, health, strength, etc. For me, it’s about health first, then looks. My original workout strategy was to work out with weights, legs on Monday and Thursday, arms on Tuesday and Friday. Some weeks I did okay, some not. If I had to skip a workout, I would work both arms AND legs the next day. My plan for cardio was to walk on the treadmill at home. Well, there has been no walking on the treadmill. You know how it is…when you’re at home, there are so many other things to do.

So here’s my new plan. I’m going to start doing cardio at the gym. They have state of the art treadmills, better than the ones at the bigger gym where I used to be a member. They actually have COMFORTABLE places to put your hands when you’re walking. The reason I want to focus on cardio for a bit is that my blood pressure has been high and, historically, cardio exercise has brought it back down with no medication. Then I’m going to start adding weight work back. I have a friend who won a month at this gym, so I would have to go in the evenings instead of at lunch if I go with her. Which makes me think…I could do some cardio at lunch and go back for weight work in the evenings. Maybe….

Another thing I’ve started doing is keeping an exercise journal so I’ll know exactly where I’m improving. Longer times and faster speeds on the treadmill. Heavier weights or more sets on weight work. I think this will help me stay on track, too.

So what about you? What are you doing to take care of your health? Do you have health issues that exercise would help with?

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I Joined a Gym!

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged exercise, gym, working out, workout anytime on September 25, 2012| 4 Comments »

I finally did it…again. I really like working out on machines, but the last gym where I was a member just got too crowded. I was having to wait on machines all the time. The employees were SO pushy. And they seemed to think they were too beautiful to bother themselves with the rest of us. Yeah, that’s the feeling I got from them. I was locked in for either 2 or 3 years (don’t remember which), and it was about $40 or $50 a month. And the location wasn’t convenient at all.

So on to this new gym. And it IS new to our town. It’s called Workout Anytime. The hours when they aren’t staffed, you just slide your card to gain access. It’s much smaller than the other place I was going. I went to sign up during my lunch hour yesterday, and it wasn’t crowded at all. And the guy who signed me up wasn’t pushy, just down to earth and friendly. The machines look like good quality, and of course they are new right now. The best thing? There is NO CONTRACT. That’s right, no contract. And only $15 a month!!! Yay! What’s the downside?

So I’m going to try this and see if I can figure out a good time to work out. I was going to go at lunch, but I realized I already have lunch obligations two days a week, which only leaves me three weekdays. So I think I’m going to try going before work. I don’t plan to do my cardio there…I’m perfectly happy with my treadmill at home. So I could work out with weights for 20 minutes. Weight training rarely makes me sweat. So if I leave home about 30 minutes early, I can work out for 20 minutes, then drive 10 more minutes to work. I would probably change clothes at work instead of at the gym. And if everything goes well, I’ll probably eventually leave earlier and workout a little longer. We’ll see how it all works. I’m really excited. *happy dance*

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