Okay, I'm posting this to keep me accountable. Tomorrow morning, I face Fitness Hurdle #2: Early Rising. I plan to rise and shine at 6:00 am, head to the gym, and return before DH heads off to work. I timed my workout Friday, and the actual lifting doesn't take that long (even with those 60 sec breaks in between).
For those of you who already get up at such a crazy hour, please feel free to laugh amongst yourselves....
Cheryl
ummmm.....yep....up at 4:30 am here!!! 6am is sleeping in!
Ugh, 4:30 is in the middle of the night! I'm getting up at 6 tomorrow too, which isn't bad, except I've gotten used to sleeping till 6:45 or even 7:00! I have to pick up my friend though, so I KNOW I can't back out!
Btw, once you post in someone's log (or any thread), you are "subscribed", meaning you will get updates in the "UserCP" area. (Blue ribbon below the jpfitness logo at the top of the page.)
Welcome, Cheryl! Very pretty picture...you look like an actress, but I can't place it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by CherylWriter
Hi Jane and thank you! That's so funny--people tell me that occasionally, but I've never found out who it is. Someone said I look like the woman in I married an axe murderer, but since I haven't seen it, I've never double-checked.
Cheryl (who is going to figure out this whole "sig line" thingy soon....
Nancy Travis. You do look like her in your avi!
Good luck with your goals and yay for getting over your hurdles. And especially, good luck at getting up at 6 a.m. LOL (a 7 a.m. riser here )
Indeed, by posting in someone's log (or a thread) you add it to the userCP and until 2-3 days ago would also get the thread into the email.. so I'd be reading everyone's updates over breakfast and if I get an unresistable urge to respond, click on the link and post in that journal. Saves ooodles of time.. and it's a nice way to keep up with more people than you can keep up with by visiting each log/journal physically.
Now my email box is empty (function got switched off somehow)
If you post in a thread, you are considered subscribed. When you click on your User CP link at the top left, it will show you any threads that you've subscribed to that have new posts.
Welcome to the forum.
Edited to add: Didn't realize Celeste already answered, but I'm subscribed just the same.
__________________
Tom
No "happy hours" makes for a lot of miserable days. - Mahler
I did it! Up and out by 6:10, back to the house by 7:30...which is important, because it means I can work out before my husband has to leave for work. I can handle rising at 6:00. Maybe even 5:45.
4:30? Whoa. Not quite there yet! You're awesome, Jane!
Today's workout:
A: Deadlifts, 60 lb, 2 x 15
B1: Dumbbell shoulder press, 10 lb, 2 x 15
B2: Lat pull-down, 60 lb, 2 x 15
C1: Lunges, 2 5 lb dumbbells, 1 x 11; no dumbells 1 x 12
C2: Crunches on balance ball, 2 x 8
I rested 60 seconds between each set.
Those lunges were surprisingly tough for me--used to be able to do with without trouble, but then, that's when I was working out with a video several times a week. But the good thing is, I'm feeling this workout!
Indeed, by posting in someone's log (or a thread) you add it to the userCP and until 2-3 days ago would also get the thread into the email.. so I'd be reading everyone's updates over breakfast and if I get an unresistable urge to respond, click on the link and post in that journal. Saves ooodles of time.. and it's a nice way to keep up with more people than you can keep up with by visiting each log/journal physically.
Now my email box is empty (function got switched off somehow)
Ah...I hope this function will start working again. It sounds like a great way to keep connected with everyone.
If you post in a thread, you are considered subscribed. When you click on your User CP link at the top left, it will show you any threads that you've subscribed to that have new posts.
Welcome to the forum.
Edited to add: Didn't realize Celeste already answered, but I'm subscribed just the same.
Thank you--and thanks for mentioning that Celeste had answered, because I somehow missed that . (Sorry, sis....) I've found the UserCP button. That makes it much easier to keep up with people's logs!
Yay! Good for you! You made it up before me...I slept in till 6:15 b/c I couldn't go to sleep last night (must have been the pot of coffee I drank earlier in the day to stay awake...), then I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't go back to sleep. Good job on your workout!
hi cheryl - welcome to the forums and the challenge!! congrats at tackling the weight area of the gym - i'm starting back to school next week and will have to suck it up and face all those impossibly young college guys at the fitness center, so i know how you feel!
If you post in a thread, you are considered subscribed. When you click on your User CP link at the top left, it will show you any threads that you've subscribed to that have new posts.
.
or you can turn off that feature in your UserCP so you don't subscribe to every thread you post in - but then you can use the ThreadTools at the top of the page to subscribe to any thread you want. Lot's of ways to do things.
hi cheryl - welcome to the forums and the challenge!! congrats at tackling the weight area of the gym - i'm starting back to school next week and will have to suck it up and face all those impossibly young college guys at the fitness center, so i know how you feel!
Hi and thanks for stopping by !
Yeah--my gym has its share of those, too. When I was first visiting it, deciding whether to join, I told the rep that I'd feel uncomfortable in a fitness class filled with teeny-boppers and she looked at me really weird...but I have these intensely unpleasant memories of joining an aerobics class in college that was absolutely filled with college girls, half of them probably cheerleaders and ALL of them more fit and more coordinated than I was. It was humiliating!
Luckily, my gym now also has its share of "normal" people, too. And when I see those college guys, I remind myself that they're comparing themselves with each other and could care less about someone like me....
hi cheryl - welcome to the forums and the challenge!! congrats at tackling the weight area of the gym - i'm starting back to school next week and will have to suck it up and face all those impossibly young college guys at the fitness center, so i know how you feel!
Quote:
Originally Posted by CherylWriter
Hi and thanks for stopping by !
Yeah--my gym has its share of those, too. When I was first visiting it, deciding whether to join, I told the rep that I'd feel uncomfortable in a fitness class filled with teeny-boppers and she looked at me really weird...but I have these intensely unpleasant memories of joining an aerobics class in college that was absolutely filled with college girls, half of them probably cheerleaders and ALL of them more fit and more coordinated than I was. It was humiliating!
Luckily, my gym now also has its share of "normal" people, too. And when I see those college guys, I remind myself that they're comparing themselves with each other and could care less about someone like me....
Ha! I go to the gym on the Univerisity of Denver campus. The start of each quarter, there are a ton of new young guys who look at me like, "What are you doing in the free weight area?" And, by the end of the first month of the quarter, about 95% of them are gone and it's me and the usual guys again.
Last quarter, one of my boyfriend's classmates said to me that she hates the start of each quarter because the treadmills are always packed with new girls thinking that they're going to workout. But then they rediscover their fake IDs and go to the bar instead. (I guess I should mention that BF goes to DU, not me, but I get a prettty good deal on the gym membership because of him.)
Ha! I go to the gym on the Univerisity of Denver campus. The start of each quarter, there are a ton of new young guys who look at me like, "What are you doing in the free weight area?" And, by the end of the first month of the quarter, about 95% of them are gone and it's me and the usual guys again.
Last quarter, one of my boyfriend's classmates said to me that she hates the start of each quarter because the treadmills are always packed with new girls thinking that they're going to workout. But then they rediscover their fake IDs and go to the bar instead. (I guess I should mention that BF goes to DU, not me, but I get a prettty good deal on the gym membership because of him.)
Hey, we're pretty near each other! I'm up near the University of Colorado in Boulder...came out here to go to grad school and never left . Yeah, working out in a campus gym must be an experience!
Hey, we're pretty near each other! I'm up near the University of Colorado in Boulder...came out here to go to grad school and never left . Yeah, working out in a campus gym must be an experience!
I came out here for my sister's grad school; she asked if I wanted to move to Denver (from Galveston, TX), I thought, OK, and haven't left either. I went to Metro in the meantime and am pretty settled. I really love the area. There's so much to do year-round.
Yeah, the DU gym is, um, well, interesting. But I couldn't beat the price, and once things slow down, it's actually a great facility!
I felt energized almost ALL DAY just because I worked out early in the AM. Very cool! I have to remember this tomorrow morning when it's still dark outside and time to roll out of bed to go to the gym again .
I exercised before eating breakfast, which made me feel a little light-headed partway through. I have to take thyroid meds an hour before eating, tho, so it'll be tricky to get in a meal before working out. I'm going to try the same strategy again tomorrow, but might have to add a protein bar in there or something. I don't get the same intensity workout if I'm feeling sick and dizzy! (Go figure .)
Sleep last night? AWESOME. Nice and tired body. This is terrif, because I often have major trouble getting to sleep.
Muscles: a little sore, but not too bad. (Not like when I followed squats with a day of skiing!)
Food: This is weird. Since it was a workout day, I was trying to get in more calories--and instead, I hit just below the low range of what I'm shooting for. I'm not decreasing calories right now; it didn't seem like a good idea to cut calories at the same time as I'm amping up the exercise. I'm trying to eat when I'm hungry, but consciously choose healthier foods over the less-healthy options (except for that margarita). So why am I having so much trouble getting the "right" number of calories? Maybe the calculations aren't accurately reflecting my metabolic needs?
Here's my food from yesterday (inspired by Celeste) (sorry about all the broken links--not sure how to get rid of them yet; this table is pasted from www.SparkPeople.com, where I'm tracking what I eat):
Reading over everyone's logs has got me thinking about the mental aspect of diet and exercise. It seems that almost everyone has some mental hurdle to cross in their quest for better fitness, whether that's negative self-talk, feelings of deprivation, feeling guilty about taking time for oneself, or emotional eating. I knew that my thinking had a huge role in my personal relationship with food, but I didn't realize that was true for so many other people as well.
I was in a bad place with food stuff about a year ago--had a really stressful series of events and reacted by obsessing about food, etc. My first step in getting back to normal was to stop some of the negative behavior...geez, I'm beating around the bush, and I suppose I should just out with it. I had troubles with binging and purging and I stopped the purging--which was (obviously) a positive step toward improved physical and emotional health. I still ate too much at times; I just didn't let me punish myself for it afterward.
I feel like this entire past year was about convincing my subconscious that I really would feed myself. At the start, I'd eat too much a lot of the time--like something deep within was afraid that the chocolate or pizza or wine would disappear soon, so I'd better eat a lot while I could--but gradually, I could keep chocolate in the house without the fear that it was going to disappear at any moment. As I started to trust myself more (weird--it sounds like I'm two people ), I stopped wanting to eat the whole bag. Now, I keep a bag of Dove dark chocolate on hand all the time. Every few days, I have a few pieces. I eat it really, really slowly and savor every bit and, when I'm finished, I'm satisfied. (If any of this sounds familiar, it's because I'm a big fan of Geneen Roth, who carries a bar of dark chocolate in her purse at all times ).
A year later, I'm less prone to overeating, less obsessive about food, and don't purge. Ever. But--bummer--I've gained almost 40 pounds. (I have to keep reminding myself that I'm much happier, and I'd rather be happy and overweight than unhappy and skinny....)
The cool thing is that, with the purging piece "fixed", I feel like I'm able to take baby steps toward getting my body back into the shape I'd like it to be in. I don't do the diet thing--but tracking food helps me be more aware of what I'm eating. I'm trying to be very aware of hunger and respect it; and I'm trying to move each day toward a healthier lifestyle.
I like being happy . (My family likes it, too.) I like having the energy to do active things. That's my primary motivation every time I think about what to eat and whether to exercise: I want to have the mood and energy to go skiing, mountain biking, hiking, snow shoeing, scuba diving, sailing, and all those other fun things with the people I love.
This forum is the best support group I've ever found for someone who's trying to make positive changes in their life. Thanks again, everyone, for welcoming me to the Challenge and for all your encouragement! Hope I can give back as much as you all are giving to me.
Thoughts on yesterday (workout #2): I felt energized almost ALL DAY just because I worked out early in the AM. Very cool! I have to remember this tomorrow morning when it's still dark outside and time to roll out of bed to go to the gym again .
Yay! Great for you! I have to remind myself that every day also...sometimes it's HARD to get up early--but I love getting my day going and feeling like I accomplished so much so soon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CherylWriter
I exercised before eating breakfast, which made me feel a little light-headed partway through. I have to take thyroid meds an hour before eating, tho, so it'll be tricky to get in a meal before working out. I'm going to try the same strategy again tomorrow, but might have to add a protein bar in there or something. I don't get the same intensity workout if I'm feeling sick and dizzy! (Go figure .)
That's a big deal...hmmm. Could you take your meds as soon as you roll out of bed and then take a pre-workout snack to the gym to eat when you get there? I know I peter out quickly if I don't have food in my tummy while I'm lifting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CherylWriter
Sleep last night? AWESOME. Nice and tired body. This is terrif, because I often have major trouble getting to sleep.
Yay again! That means more time used wisely!
Quote:
Originally Posted by CherylWriter
Food: This is weird. Since it was a workout day, I was trying to get in more calories--and instead, I hit just below the low range of what I'm shooting for. I'm not decreasing calories right now; it didn't seem like a good idea to cut calories at the same time as I'm amping up the exercise. I'm trying to eat when I'm hungry, but consciously choose healthier foods over the less-healthy options (except for that margarita). So why am I having so much trouble getting the "right" number of calories? Maybe the calculations aren't accurately reflecting my metabolic needs?
Mmm...margarita...yummy! I think that it might be that it's harder to eat a lot of calories when you're really eating healthy. I had the same issue yesterday, and only had about 1350 instead of 1500-1600 like I was supposed to. Of course, my mealtimes were off b/c I forgot to eat lunch (not a usual occurence)--but still, I think when our bellies are used to a certain volume of food, we can fill them up more quickly with healthy stuff rather than high calorie foods. Of course, that doesn't take sugar highs/lows and cravings into consideration though...
Quote:
Originally Posted by CherylWriter
Reading over everyone's logs has got me thinking about the mental aspect of diet and exercise. It seems that almost everyone has some mental hurdle to cross in their quest for better fitness, whether that's negative self-talk, feelings of deprivation, feeling guilty about taking time for oneself, or emotional eating. I knew that my thinking had a huge role in my personal relationship with food, but I didn't realize that was true for so many other people as well.
I was in a bad place with food stuff about a year ago--had a really stressful series of events and reacted by obsessing about food, etc. My first step in getting back to normal was to stop some of the negative behavior...geez, I'm beating around the bush, and I suppose I should just out with it. I had troubles with binging and purging and I stopped the purging--which was (obviously) a positive step toward improved physical and emotional health. I still ate too much at times; I just didn't let me punish myself for it afterward.
I feel like this entire past year was about convincing my subconscious that I really would feed myself. At the start, I'd eat too much a lot of the time--like something deep within was afraid that the chocolate or pizza or wine would disappear soon, so I'd better eat a lot while I could--but gradually, I could keep chocolate in the house without the fear that it was going to disappear at any moment. As I started to trust myself more (weird--it sounds like I'm two people ), I stopped wanting to eat the whole bag. Now, I keep a bag of Dove dark chocolate on hand all the time. Every few days, I have a few pieces. I eat it really, really slowly and savor every bit and, when I'm finished, I'm satisfied. (If any of this sounds familiar, it's because I'm a big fan of Geneen Roth, who carries a bar of dark chocolate in her purse at all times ).
A year later, I'm less prone to overeating, less obsessive about food, and don't purge. Ever. But--bummer--I've gained almost 40 pounds. (I have to keep reminding myself that I'm much happier, and I'd rather be happy and overweight than unhappy and skinny....)
The cool thing is that, with the purging piece "fixed", I feel like I'm able to take baby steps toward getting my body back into the shape I'd like it to be in. I don't do the diet thing--but tracking food helps me be more aware of what I'm eating. I'm trying to be very aware of hunger and respect it; and I'm trying to move each day toward a healthier lifestyle.
I like being happy . (My family likes it, too.) I like having the energy to do active things. That's my primary motivation every time I think about what to eat and whether to exercise: I want to have the mood and energy to go skiing, mountain biking, hiking, snow shoeing, scuba diving, sailing, and all those other fun things with the people I love.
This forum is the best support group I've ever found for someone who's trying to make positive changes in their life. Thanks again, everyone, for welcoming me to the Challenge and for all your encouragement! Hope I can give back as much as you all are giving to me.
Srry for the long post......thanks for reading!
So seeing that all in one place is awesome! Of course we've talked about that stuff before, but more disjointedly. You have come a long way, and I love how each of us has a completely different journey re: food, weight, exercise, etc, but we are all supporting each other along the way.
Don't be - that's part of the purpose of the logs I think - public self evaluation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stingo
Along with a healthy dose of letting the thoughts in your head out onto paper/webpage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bytsi
Well if you check my log, I certainly ramble on and let all those thoughts out at quite regular intervals . So, good job diving in!
Thanks--funny how helpful it is! I feel like I'm getting something new from the forum daily...which is a complete reflection of the great people gathered here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Celestialmom
Yay! Great for you! I have to remind myself that every day also...sometimes it's HARD to get up early--but I love getting my day going and feeling like I accomplished so much so soon.
That's a big deal...hmmm. Could you take your meds as soon as you roll out of bed and then take a pre-workout snack to the gym to eat when you get there? I know I peter out quickly if I don't have food in my tummy while I'm lifting.
This morning, I tried something different--took my meds late last night (which I could do, because I hadn't eaten for several hours) and then had a piece of toast and an egg before working out this morning. It definitely helped, altho I still got that light-headed, low blood-sugar thing midway through my workout.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Celestialmom
So seeing that all in one place is awesome! Of course we've talked about that stuff before, but more disjointedly. You have come a long way, and I love how each of us has a completely different journey re: food, weight, exercise, etc, but we are all supporting each other along the way.
EXACTLY. We each have a different journey, but we're facing many of the same stumbling blocks along the way. Connecting with each other helps normalize our experiences.
I did it again! Up at 6:00 AM, at the gym by 6:30, home again by 7:30. Today's workout felt like I'm finding the right weights for each set--I'm definitly struggling when I get to the last rep each time.
Here's my workout (straight from the book):
A: Barbell squats, 10 lb, 2 x 15
B1: Pushups, 45 degree angle, 2 x 15
B2: Seated row, 50 lb, 2 x 15
C1: Step-up, 2 7.5 lb dumbbells, 2 x 15
C2: Jackknife on balance ball, 2 x 8
I rested 60 seconds between each set. (And drank water!!)
Last time I did this workout, I wrote that I needed more weight on the squats--but when I upped the weight to 2 x 15, I could barely do the exercise, so maybe I was a little optimistic. I'm sore after each workout, tho, so I must be accomplishing something!
Reading over everyone's logs has got me thinking about the mental aspect of diet and exercise. It seems that almost everyone has some mental hurdle to cross in their quest for better fitness, whether that's negative self-talk, feelings of deprivation, feeling guilty about taking time for oneself, or emotional eating. I knew that my thinking had a huge role in my personal relationship with food, but I didn't realize that was true for so many other people as well.
I was in a bad place with food stuff about a year ago--had a really stressful series of events and reacted by obsessing about food, etc. My first step in getting back to normal was to stop some of the negative behavior...geez, I'm beating around the bush, and I suppose I should just out with it. I had troubles with binging and purging and I stopped the purging--which was (obviously) a positive step toward improved physical and emotional health. I still ate too much at times; I just didn't let me punish myself for it afterward.
I feel like this entire past year was about convincing my subconscious that I really would feed myself. At the start, I'd eat too much a lot of the time--like something deep within was afraid that the chocolate or pizza or wine would disappear soon, so I'd better eat a lot while I could--but gradually, I could keep chocolate in the house without the fear that it was going to disappear at any moment. As I started to trust myself more (weird--it sounds like I'm two people ), I stopped wanting to eat the whole bag. Now, I keep a bag of Dove dark chocolate on hand all the time. Every few days, I have a few pieces. I eat it really, really slowly and savor every bit and, when I'm finished, I'm satisfied. (If any of this sounds familiar, it's because I'm a big fan of Geneen Roth, who carries a bar of dark chocolate in her purse at all times ).
A year later, I'm less prone to overeating, less obsessive about food, and don't purge. Ever. But--bummer--I've gained almost 40 pounds. (I have to keep reminding myself that I'm much happier, and I'd rather be happy and overweight than unhappy and skinny....)
The cool thing is that, with the purging piece "fixed", I feel like I'm able to take baby steps toward getting my body back into the shape I'd like it to be in. I don't do the diet thing--but tracking food helps me be more aware of what I'm eating. I'm trying to be very aware of hunger and respect it; and I'm trying to move each day toward a healthier lifestyle.
I like being happy . (My family likes it, too.) I like having the energy to do active things. That's my primary motivation every time I think about what to eat and whether to exercise: I want to have the mood and energy to go skiing, mountain biking, hiking, snow shoeing, scuba diving, sailing, and all those other fun things with the people I love.
This forum is the best support group I've ever found for someone who's trying to make positive changes in their life. Thanks again, everyone, for welcoming me to the Challenge and for all your encouragement! Hope I can give back as much as you all are giving to me.
Srry for the long post......thanks for reading!
Cheryl - sounds like you are in a good place!!! Congrats on your success at "fixing" the purging issue!
I did it again! Up at 6:00 AM, at the gym by 6:30, home again by 7:30. Today's workout felt like I'm finding the right weights for each set--I'm definitly struggling when I get to the last rep each time.
Here's my workout (straight from the book):
A: Barbell squats, 10 lb, 2 x 15
B1: Pushups, 45 degree angle, 2 x 15
B2: Seated row, 50 lb, 2 x 15
C1: Step-up, 2 7.5 lb dumbbells, 2 x 15
C2: Jackknife on balance ball, 2 x 8
I rested 60 seconds between each set. (And drank water!!)
Last time I did this workout, I wrote that I needed more weight on the squats--but when I upped the weight to 2 x 15, I could barely do the exercise, so maybe I was a little optimistic. I'm sore after each workout, tho, so I must be accomplishing something!
Cheryl, nice workout! I'm proud of you for getting up early again! I slept in this am (6:30) after going to bed at 9:00 last night because I didn't have to go to the gym. I MAY be caught up on sleep now.
Are you doing the BB Squats with 10# on each side of an olympic sized barbell? If so, you "should" write it as #55. Because, hey, that looks much more impressive anyway... I'm not sure what the other barbells weigh, but if you're using a shorter one, I'm sure someone else could tell you. Also, if you're raising your weights on the various exercises, you can use red font to tell us all that you've just hit a new high (a PR). And one of the benefits of being a relative newbie is that you'll have lots and lots of PR's!!!
I have to pick up my friend though, so I KNOW I can't back out!
)
(function got switched off somehow)
. (Sorry, sis....) I've found the UserCP button. That makes it much easier to keep up with people's logs!
.)
More about me: food
. (My family likes it, too.) I like having the energy to do active things. That's my primary motivation every time I think about what to eat and whether to exercise: I want to have the mood and energy to go skiing, mountain biking, hiking, snow shoeing, scuba diving, sailing, and all those other fun things with the people I love. 
Wednesday Workout
Linear Mode
