Choosing to be happy

Sometimes it's just easier to be grumpy. It takes no effort to NOT smile. If you don't feel like talking to anyone, you just don't.

Sometimes it's just hard to pull myself out of a funk. But it gets old for me.

And I get "funky" for no reasons I can really tell.

Around the new year, I started an exercise program which Handsome bought me for Christmas. It is the EA Active Sports 2 for the Wii. There are 2 programs, a 9 week program and a 3 week program. I jumped right in and chose the 9 week workout plan.

Each workout seemed to get progressively more difficult and longer in time. But I was feeling awesome. Finally, the end of the 9 weeks was here and I was working out for an hour before work 3 times per week and another hour on the weekends.

After the program, I decided to continue but try the 3 week program to assuage any commitment issues. The workouts are much easier, much shorter (20 minutes) and I don't feel like I'm attaining anything.

In other words, I feel like I'm letting myself down.

So, I've decided that after the 3 week program ends, it's another 9 week program for me. It just makes me feel better about the effort I'm making and I feel like I can see results.

Getting out of bed at 5:00 a.m. is the hardest part. But if it makes me happy, why wouldn't I?

Thankful for my good health

Even though I'm not to the point where I crave and love and am blissfully happy when I exercise, I am VERY thankful that I have the ability to get up and move around at my will and leisure.

I have been working out with regularity since January, 2010, and believe that it does wonders for both body and soul. I challenge myself with new classes and test out different machines to see just what my body is capable of.

Generally speaking, I am a very healthy person. My "temple" still has quite a few miles left in it and I'm thankful that I can utilize this body without pain on a regular basis.

Thanks to Mom

Today I am thankful that I have a pretty great relationship with my mom. She was a single mom for most of my life and had to make a lot of sacrifices for me. We struggled, as so many other families do, during my adolescence, but I think she's forgiven me for pushing and stretching and testing all the boundaries.

We always came as a package deal, and it wasn't until the end of my college career and shortly thereafter that I was really able to stand on my own. My mom always has an ear for listening to me and is usually willing to head out for the next small adventure if I call and ask.

She has taught me more about unconditional love than any other human I know, because boy have I given her opportunities to rethink her stance! To this day, I know that I make her proud, and that I have a champion in my corner whenever I need her.

Love you mom!

Thanks to my husband

It's amazing when you realize that someone loves you so much, not because, like your "family" they are expected to, but because they choose to give you that love. Because they think you deserve it!

My husband is such a generous man, and he really adores me. I am thankful that he has such room in his heart for me and all my wacky ways, for our kitties who test his limits multiple times a day, for his family (who are much like the kitties in their testing of his limits), and that he selflessly gives of himself to just about everyone he knows.

I am thankful that he has such humor in his being and he sings to me, to the kitties, to his friends, just because it makes him feel good.

I am thankful that he is so handy and can fix anything, and he has the wherewithall to know what needs fixing!

Finally, I'm thankful that he chose me and this life we lead, and I look forward to all of our tomorrows.

Love you honey!

Ooof, exercise log

I have been battling tendonitis in my achilles. It sucks. What happened was I had been doing my regular workout routines (one day running on the treadmill, another day riding the bike, another day on the elliptical) and I read an article in a magazine which told me specifically how to do a treadmill routine so I could get the maximum benefit in the minimum amount of time.

I had been running at a clip of between 4.5-5.0 mph. I had been using an incline of between 0 - 6.0. This article suggested that I go slower and vary my incline more. It suggested that I do 5 minutes at a warmup of 0 incline and 3.0 mph, then adjust to 5 incline at the same speed for another 5 minutes.

Then 5 minutes at a 10 incline at 3.1 speed, then 5 minutes at a 15 incline at 3.1 mph.
Then 5 minutes at a 10 incline at 3.2 mph, then 5 minutes at 15 incline at 3.2 mph.
Then 5 minutes at a 10 incline at 3.3 mph, then 5 minutes at 15 incline at 3.3 mph.
Then 5 minutes at a 10 incline at 3.4 mph, then 5 minutes at 15 incline at 3.4 mph.
Then 5 minutes at a 10 incline at 3.5 mph, then 5 minutes at 15 incline at 3.5 mph.

Then you cool down and you're done with your workout in 40 minutes (obviously I got something wrong up there because it's not an hour long workout).

Anyhoo... Since I was used to very little incline, bumping it up so much so fast must've bugged my achilles tendon and it began to hurt.

Like when I did downward dog in yoga, I thought I was going to fall over because my achilles/heel screamed at me.

So, I have been trying to take the doctor's orders and take it easy. Ice. Naproxen. Bummer.

Of course, I had just signed up to take a Zumba class at the Rec Center and it's very difficult to stay off your feet, and rest, and ice, when you're dancing like the latin dance star you know you are.

Today, I got to the gym and rode the bike. I got about 6.5 miles in half an hour. No pain in the achilles during or after the workout. Tomorrow is yoga. Modified of course.

I'm searching for a cold laser/low level laser therapist who can help with this achilles thing. I do not do well with an order to "rest". I am not a good patient.

Exercise log

Worked out at lunch today. So much busier at lunch than at 7:00 am! The trainer at the gym gives me a hard time when I work out at lunch, because she never sees me. Obviously, she's not there at 7:00 am!

7.30 miles, 203 calories, 35 minutes on the stationary bike.

Exercise log

Back on the treadmill this morning.

2.39 miles, 238 calories, 35 minutes.

I took it slow so I wouldn't kill myself. I also realized I can't read a magazine while I'm running.

Good to know.