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Posts Tagged ‘treadmill’

Continuing Journey to Fitness

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , 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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Fitness Friday – Still Working Things Out

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on June 14, 2013| 2 Comments »

This week has been so hectic with Vacation Bible School. My usual schedule is to work out during lunch 4 days a week at the gym, alternating arm work and leg work. Today is arm day. I HATE arm day. I feel like such a wimp. I LOVE leg day. I feel more powerful on leg day. Anyway, I usually walk on the treadmill at home in the evenings for about 45 minutes (long enough to watch a show on Netflix). With this hectic week, I’ve skipped two days of walking. By the time I get home, and get stuff done, it’s 9:30, and that’s way too late to walk if I plan on getting any sleep. So I’ve been walking about 10 minutes in the mornings to make up a little of it. I actually RAN for one minute of the 10 this morning. My legs didn’t like it. LOL

I mentioned last week that I had gained 6 lbs. My weight has gone up and down all week long. I learned in my 15 years experience at Weight Watchers, that it’s not good to weigh every day while losing weight. Once a week is best. But I just had to know what was going on with my weight. This morning, I was back down to within 1/2 lb. of my lowest weight, so I’m back on track. I would REALLY like to get down into the 160’s next week. *crosses fingers*

Okay…time to go work out those arms! Ugh.

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Sweat and Supernatural

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on June 8, 2013| 9 Comments »

Ha! I bet that title got your attention. What in the world do sweat and Supernatural have in common? Well, I’m about to tell you.

I always hook up my headphones to my iPad and watch Netflix while walking on my treadmill. I’ve had this show queued up on Netflix for a long time. My daughter-in-law likes it, and we usually have the same taste, so I thought I would give it a try. I’ve seen two episodes, and I am in love with it. It’s my kind of show!

So, the sweat part. It helps to watch Netflix while I’m on the treadmill because my mind always has to be doing something, and walking is kind of mindless. But I can’t help but feel the sweat, even when I’m concentrating on the show I’m watching. I HATE to sweat. And yet, I feel a sense of accomplishment when I do. That means I’m exerting myself enough, because I really don’t sweat that easily (except when I have hot flashes). Some more good news…my homemade deodorant is holding up through all the sweating. All it contains is coconut oil, arrowroot powder, and patchouli essential oil. It’s supposed to have baking soda, too, but it makes me break out, so I had to leave that off. But it’s still working. I smell like patchouli! 🙂

Speaking of homemade. I just dusted the furniture with homemade furniture spray. I’m washing clothes with homemade washing powder. Later, I’ll wash my hair with homemade shampoo and moisturize my face with homemade moisturizer. I’m loving this natural stuff!

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Sunday Update 5/5/13

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , 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 , , , , , , , , 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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