Fitness Goal: To Be Able To Breath While Clipping My Toenails

February 18-25, 2020           Well, dang it. I've been down with some kind of flu bug or something since my last post. Sneezing, stuffy head, aching, fever, etc. I haven't been able to work out or really do much of anything. I feel like I'll probably be starting over from scratch by the time I get back to the gym and I'm really bummed out about it. Anyways, just posting so if anyone who is still reading my blog checks, I haven't given up. ☮

February 15-17, 2020                 15 th – I got up early and worked out on the leaning back bicycle machine and the stretching machine and used both massage chairs. I never did use the rowing machine because they were always in use. Kyrsten went with me and it was nice to have someone to compare notes with on which machines or workouts we like or don’t like. I had a hard time staying focused as I was leaving for Washington right after. I met Juan at the Lucky Eagle Casino and of course we went to the buffet. It was a sea food and prime rib with all the fixings buffet. It was reeeeally good. Too good. I had to just walk around for a while after eating. I was so full it hurt.                 16 th - And then the brunch buffet the next morning. Oh, lort. I will definitely not be looking at the number on the scale at my next docto...

February 13&14, 2020                 Yesterday was a rest day but I did go enjoy the Planet Fitness massage and hydro-massage chairs. The staff are starting to recognize me and greet me by name when I come in. I’m there every day so I guess it shouldn’t surprise me. It’s nice though!                 After the pain in my shins and ankles while running, my dad suggested I try a bicycle machine. I found two different types; one where you’re sitting up or even kind of leaning forward while pedaling, and the other where you’re leaned back slightly while pedaling. I tried the sitting up one today. It was a good workout, my heart rate stayed up, and besides some burning muscles, there was no pain. I’ll try the other one tomorrow.                 I really like...

February 12, 2020                 Today’s workout did not go well. I was only able to run for one minute, and my walk on the treadmill was only half of what I’ve been doing. My shins and ankles hurt so bad I was limping – on the treadmill. Maybe I should go back to just walking fast. Plus, I went to a different treadmill section as the area I usually go to was crowded and ended up in front the ESPN and TLC TVs. No Bueno. Being centered between Animal Planet and HDTV is super distracting and entertaining and helps me forget that I’m torturing myself.                  Anyways, I did my six minutes on the rowing machine but I turned it up one click. I don’t know exactly what that click stands for but I assume it means pulling more weight. I was practically doing Lamaze breathing to get through it - but I did get through it.       ...

February 11, 2020                 Instead of taking an hour or two nap when I get home from work, I’ve been going to work out. So, if I don’t take a nap, only drink one cup of coffee as I’m driving to the woods at somewhere around 4 in the morning, workout relatively hard in the late morning, and avoid sugary everything all day, I should be able to fall right to sleep pretty early in the evening. Right? Wrong. Hopefully my body starts appreciating all these healthy choices and hard work I’m putting in, (and forgives me for all the abuse I’ve put it through for years and years,) and will let me start getting some good sleep. It’s hard to stay positive and have energy while under the influence of sleep deprivation. Okay, enough complaining.                 I walked the treadmill for thirty minutes, running for one minute, three times...

February 9&10, 2020    Yesterday was a rest day but I did take advantage of the massage and hydro-massage chairs. I actually had to remind myself a few times that I needed to not go workout. I walked puppies instead. And I spent most of the day working.    So, today. I stopped and got donuts for the guys on my way to the woods this morning and I didn’t eat even one. I had yogurt, a banana, and almonds for breakfast. I don’t know what the deal is, but I am starving. I’m trying to eat less and healthier, but I AM HUNGRY!    My workout was amazing! I was walking along as fast as I could on the treadmill but I couldn’t get my heart rate to go up. How has this happened so fast? I was power walking, pumping my arms, and my heart was cool as a cucumber.     I thought what the heck and cranked up the speed and started running. Running! This was about fifteen minutes into my walk. After a minute and a half, when I was sure death was im...

February 8, 2020    I’ll make this short tonight because I forgot about it and I’m ready for bed. My workout went well today. I’m walking the treadmill as fast as my legs can go now. I’ll probably have to try running for part of it tomorrow and see how that goes. I did six minutes on the rowing machine today. I like this machine even though it’s exhausting. It’s really got my neck sore though but I think I can work through it. There’s also a jungle gym type thing with illustrations of how to stretch every part of your body. I did some stretching on it and it seemed to help my sore neck and back some.    I was conscious of everything I ate and drank today. I’m trying to make healthier choices. Lots of water. By the time evening rolls around, my sweet tooth seems to override my will power. It seriously is a struggle that keeps me awake if I don’t eat something. I tried drinking a bunch of water before bed but that just makes me have to get up sooner to pee in t...

February 7, 2020                 I can definitely feel the affects of the rowing machine. Sheesh. I was only able to do five minutes on it today. (Eight yesterday.) I hope that means it’s working. I was able to keep up the speed, distance and time on the treadmill, but it was a little harder today too. I feel like I’m being hyper-sensitive to every feeling in my body. I’m used to having all kinds of aches and pains just from being out of shape and overweight. These aches and pains are different though. I’m working hard for these. And instead of making me feel depressed and want to go lay down, I feel more positive and energetic. I was told this would happen but I didn’t expect it to happen in a week.                 I want to try some abdominal workouts but I need to lose a lot of belly fat first. So, that means diet. I have never ...

February 5&6, 2020 So, I took two rest days in a row. After seeing the doctor on Tuesday, I started a new medication. Tuesday night was a sleepless night because of restless legs and twitching feet; the first signs of an allergic reaction after only two doses of the new medication. By Wednesday afternoon, I was considering having all of my itchy skin removed. When I started sweating and feeling shaky, I decided to go to the walk-in clinic. They gave me Benadryl and Prednisone and had me sit there for observation for a while in case I needed a shot of epinephrine. Thankfully, my symptoms began to decrease and I was able to go home and go to bed. On Benadryl and Prednisone. I slept really, really hard…five minutes at a time. It was a pretty miserable day and couple of nights. I’m feeling much better now. So much better, in fact, that I decided to go workout today, but kind of take it easy on myself, you know? After all, I had been feely pretty cruddy and I hadn’t worked out...

February 4, 2020 Rest Day I got the go-ahead from the doctor to work out as hard as I want. She said the three days of working out and one day of rest is just right. She said my heart rate was not getting even close to a dangerous number all those times I thought I might be getting close to having a stroke. Apparently, that’s just what an actual workout feels like. I’m a little scared but I’ll be giving it all I’ve got tomorrow. I know my blogs have been getting kind of boring lately, kind of like strolling along on a treadmill. So, this should bring you all some entertainment at my expense. You’re welcome. I finally got my flu shot. I thought I already had but it wasn’t in my records so apparently that was just my wishful thinking. After getting weighed, I decided I’m not ready to share those kinds of numbers with anyone yet. I wish I wouldn’t have looked at that number myself. I really have my work cut out for me. When I’ve made a little progress, maybe I’ll feel a little...

February 3, 2020                 I’m really feeling drained today. I’m not sick or very sore anymore. I’m just extremely sleepy and have zero energy. And my throat still hurts. I always have a fan blowing at night in my room so that might be causing the sore throat, although that would be weird since I’ve been sleeping with a fan on for years. It’s off now so, we’ll see.                 I went to Planet Fitness mid-morning. They were busy today! Probably people trying to burn off the Super Bowl beer and bean dip. While on the treadmill, I sped up a bit but I didn’t push hard enough to let my heart rate get too high. I added another ten minutes from what I’ve been doing, which added quite a bit more to the distance and calories burned. I worked up a pretty good sweat. My knee started hurting when I sped up too much but slowing down ...

February 2, 2020                 Happy Groundhog’s Day! Spring is coming! Please feel free to leave comments and feedback and words of inspiration on here. Also, feel free to share in whatever form you like if you think someone else might be inspired or entertained by my words. Thanks!                 I’m thinking about getting more specific on this blog in the future as far as numbers, i.e. heart rate, weight, inches, age, years of never stepping foot inside a gym, miles walked on the treadmill, reps on different machines, calories consumed and burned, and probably other numbers that I don’t know yet that I need to be concerned with. Not all at once because I don’t want to overwhelm anyone, including myself. But I want to be honest and transparent as far as how the changes I’m making are affecting me and therefor might affect ot...

February 1, 2020      Well, I slept in too late to get to the gym this morning. I was tired and I earned a sleep-in day.      I’m not nearly as sore today. I could tell right after I woke up and was able to sit up, and then stand up, on the first try. With no crying. No, I haven’t actually cried tears, but I’ve made some very pitiful noises. The next test was lowering myself down onto the toilet seat. Zero whimpering. I think I’m on the mend.      By the time I finished everything I needed to finish today, I made it to PF at 8pm. That made me a little nervous because I thought it might be jam packed being a weekend. That was not the case.      I stuck to the treadmill as planned. I’m figuring out how to control my heart rate somewhat. I still don’t know exactly what it should be or what number I shouldn’t exceed. I have a doctor appointment in a few days and I have a list of exercise questions for her. So, on ...