Archive for the ‘Exercise’ Category

Sunday morning

Posted: June 30, 2013 in 5K, Bariatric surgery, Exercise, Foot issues, Formula 1, Physical activity, Supportive Partner Woman, Team AllEars, Wegman's, Weight loss
0

It’s been a good weekend so far, for the most part. The blister appears to be pretty much healed, I got to do the sanding on my project, and the British Grand Prix was a helluva race.

In the other good news, Supportive Partner Woman (Getting her work in!) has been hitting the gym with regularity. This makes me very happy that she’s been doing this. I know how much of a difference it has mad in my general health and well-being and I hope it has the same effect on her as well.

Yesterday was also a chicken BBQ day at the little Mennonite church on the corner. Pretty tasty stuff and, for me, two meals. 🙂 I ate the leg and thigh yesterday, I still have the breast and wing, so it might actually become a three-meal chicken dinner. I knew there was a plus to this surgery thing.

As for the blister, well, I protected it with moleskin when we went to the gym yesterday and stayed on the arc trainer and lifted weights. That was more for some protection, just in case. After I got home and took a shower, I figured I’d go without, since things seem to be really well-healed. After a few hours running errands and the like, I found that my sock was bone dry and the foot seemed in great shape. It’s a far cry from the last blister. I’m taking that as a positive sign. As for today, I’ll probably put moleskin on for the gym visit, just to be cautious, then I’m going without for the rest of the day. See what happens. I’m hopeful that there will be a Wegman’s trip today, which will be a nice change for the foot.

Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen

Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen

I’d also like to give a shoutout to Nico Rosberg on his win at Silverstone today. Looked like it would be another Vettel runaway, but Nico was there when Vettel’s gearbox went and managed to hold off a charging Mark Webber for the win. Also, mad props to my boy Kimi Raikkonen for scoring his 25th consecutive points finish, setting a new record for consistency in Formula 1.

That about covers it for the day. Hope to post more frequently this week and maybe give a fundraising update. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Check out my Avon Walk fundraising page here!

Song of the Day: Slit Skirts – Pete Townshend

Guess who’s back… back again?

Posted: June 27, 2013 in 5K, Exercise, Foot issues, Inspiration, Physical activity, Team AllEars, Walking
0

The blistering is back… oh, yay.

It was a surprise, too. After a good round of workouts yesterday, I went out for dinner with Supportive Partner Woman (survived that early gym time!) and decided to hit the sack when we got home. Took off my shoes and socks and found a bloody spot in the sock. I looked at my toes… they were fine, but I found a broken blister on the ball of my right foot.

I was crushed. Seriously crushed.

Things had been going really well with my walking… what could have caused the issue this time? I’ve been checking my feet regularly. Near as I can figure, the one thing I did differently yesterday was to not air out my feet as long as usual before putting shoes and socks on. Sigh.

It’s frustrating… I briefly considered chewing my own foot off, but I realized I’m nowhere near flexible enough for that. Plus, it’s messy, unsanitary, and I’m assuming my foot wouldn’t taste very good. After a friend posted that if I tried chewing off my foot, she would spray my foot with bitter apple and make me wear the Cone of Shame, well, I tabled that idea.

I decided to go with the tried and true… I air out the foot when I’m at home and use drying agents to enable the healing process. I’m staying away from walking for a few days, and I just settled for lifting weights today. I just have to do something to keep up my fitness level.

So, as for today’s entry in the “Folks who inspire me” category, we’re going to talk about Melanie.

I first met Mel at a Magic Meets event back in the day. Her and her sister Julie had come all the way to central PA from the Denver area to take part in the festivities and we were introduced by our friend Brad who knew them through Team AllEars. We were all part of a large group that had gone for dinner at a local watering hole.

We didn’t see them again until the Magic Meets cruise in 2010 and, well, in one of our group nights at the champagne bar (and there were a lot of those nights), Mel said I should consider joining TAE. I was a little skeptical at the time, figuring there was no way I’d be able to do that. To her credit, she didn’t give up and told me to think about it.

I never forgot that initial nudge. And I did think about it. And when I joined, I’m not sure who was happier… Mel or myself.

So, me joining TAE is partially her fault and she should get part of the blame. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of such a great group.

Speaking of the team, my fundraising site when live yesterday. I’ve agreed to raise $500 to go toward the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Any donations are tax-deductable, so if you want to contribute to a worthy cause, click the link below:

http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/DIY/General?px=3294847&pg=personal&fr_id=2350

Thanks again for your support as the journey progresses.

Song of the Day: Once in a Lifetime – University of Wisconsin MadHatters

It was a grand day out

Posted: June 26, 2013 in Exercise, family, Physical activity, rights, Supportive Partner Woman, Walking, Weather
0

Today was a good day thus far for a couple of reasons.

1) I woke up (and let’s face it, being alive is better than the alternative)

and 2) Supportive Partner Woman (making the healthy change!) opted to trek along to the Rec with me this morning.

I’m so thrilled that SPW came along… she’s been saying that she needs to do this. It was perfect, as she had been up most of the night (turns out Netflix added The Avengers to the library and she was watching it after only getting home from the office at 2 AM.

So, we went and hit the dreadmill. I got over 2.5 miles in and she did 2 miles on the dreadmill and another mile on the elliptical. All in all, a pretty good workout. I can do 2.5 miles at 3.3-3.5 mph and have my pulse top out at 114. Guess that means my cardio fitness level is getting better. Used to be I’d be up over 130 for a similar workout, mainly trying to hang on because I c ouldn’t move my stumpy legs that fast. I’ve also found that the wifi at the Rec is fast enough to support streaming. I’ve taken to bringing my tablet with me and streaming something on Netflix. It’s big enough to cover the display screen so I don’t have to focus on how much time I have to go or obsess on how far I’ve gone. Tablets FTW!

The short work loop

The short work loop

At work I’ve taken up going for a walk during my break. It’s a nice .75 mile loop that I can easily do in the 15 minutes alloted. Even on a warm day. It’s nice to actually be out in the air and physically move around.

On the project front, most of the cutting is done. I still have to notch out the shelves and cut the back, but after that, it’s only going to require sanding, staining and assembly. Oh, and a good coat of polyurethane. Always helpful.

At any rate, that’s about it for today. More tomorrow, I hope.

Oh, and congrats to SCOTUS for the decision in United States v. Windsor. I’ve long been of the opinion that you should be free to be with the one you love and if two men or two women want to be together, that’s no one’s business but their own. I honestly don’t see any reason why this “threatens the institution of marriage” any more than the sham Hollywood marriages of Kim Kardashian et al. Maybe now some of the best people I know will finally be afforded equal protection under the law. It’s about damn time.

Song of the Day: California Soul – Marlena Shaw

Part Two in a Series

Posted: June 25, 2013 in 5K, Exercise, home improvement, Inspiration, Lego, Weight loss
0

Good evening!

Last post I did, I started my little series of recognizing the folks who have really inspired me to make some life changes. These aren’t exactly folks who have supported me… in many cases, they don’t even know I found their stories or journeys to be inspiring. Now it’s my chance to throw them some recognition.

Today’s honoree is Glenn, also known as Vegan Wayne (long story).

Glenn was a pretty big guy… also a member of the Disney community, I met him through the fine folks at WDW Today. I’ve always told him he’s my favorite Hawaiian attorney (He’s the only Hawaiian attorney I know, so of course he’s my favorite, but don’t tell him that… it’ll spoil the gravitas that goes along with that honor) I say Glenn was a pretty big guy because he’s no longer that big. Some of my fondest memories of Glenn involved chowing down at the Ohana feast , so imagine my surprise when he told me he was going to a vegan, whole foods diet.

I was stunned.

Flabbergasted.

The voice running through my head was that of the aunt in My Big Fat Greek Wedding saying, “Whaddaya mean you don’t eat no meat?”

Of course he took some ribbing about that major dietary change, including when we all went to Ohana and he had  them bring out the vegan platter while the rest of us did our best barbarian impression, eating meat cooked with fire. The gauntlet was thrown, as well, with our friend Jeanine making a snarky remark about “those four months you went vegan”. To Glenn’s credit, he’s stuck with it and has lost well over 100 pounds.

The road isn’t always smooth, but if you stick with it, you can succeed.

photo (8)My current project of a minifig display rack is moving along. I finished cutting the wood for the outer frame. I even used the router table to cut shelf guides. The first attempt wasn’t too successful… I did each side individually and the alignment was WAAAAAY off. So, I had to buy another piece of wood and start over. I managed to rig some scrap wood into a jig, which kept everything nice and aligned. The shelves are going to made from 1/4 inch oak plywood, since there’s no real weight to the figures. I’m going to make the basic design in a cross-hatched pattern so there’s some support to keep the shelves from sagging under their own weight.

So, that’s what’s been going on. The router table has proven to be a most excellent acquisition, so I’m pleased about that.

Oh, one tip… if you’re outside getting exercise on these hot days, remember to hydrate to the best of your ability. You don’t want to get dehydrated, so avoid caffeine and sodas. Instead, stick to water and sports drinks. My sports drink of choice is PowerAde Zero in the orange flavor. Seriously yummy stuff.

More soon.

Song of the Day: Running on Empty – Jackson Browne

Who pwned who?

Posted: June 19, 2013 in Exercise, Gratuitously Naked Guy, home improvement, Inspiration, Physical activity, Walking, Weight loss
0

Today I made the elliptical machine my bitch.

Or was it the other way around?

Jury is still out on that, but I can say that it felt good to do something other than pound the treadmill. While my legs are STILL a little rubbery some 6 hours later, my ankles and feet feel fine.

This week and next week are really booked up at the clinic’s fitness center, so I’m only getting one session each week. I just need to make up the time at the Rec. There are worse fates. I might try to get some weekday swimming in… although the probability of a Gratuitously Naked Guy sighting is much higher during the week. But, dear readers, I’m willing to risk it.

Now, I know I’ve posted about my inspirations for losing some weight and getting healthier, but there’s one that I keep overlooking. So, I’d like to give a shoutout to my friend Matt. I know Matt through the Disney community… he was a fellow Magic Meets volunteer and, like me, was a big guy. Not as big as me, but a bigger guy nonetheless. I hadn’t seen Matt since the last Magic Meets, but would spot him on Facebook from time to time. Then there was one post that blew my mind. Matt was running in last year’s Disney World Half-Marathon.

Wow.

Not only that, but he was deep into martial arts and just really seemed serious about getting healthy and making the lifestyle changes. That was in the back of my mind as I progressed through my program. There’s someone who was doing it. Someone I knew.

I knew that I could do it, too.

The road is long and anything but smooth. I’m getting there, following the footsteps of someone whose success and determination has really been an inspiration. Thanks, Matt, and keep up the awesome work.

From here on in, I’m going to make an effort to recognize those folks who have inspired me to keep going. Who knows, I might even have nice things to say about my jerk co-worker who really got the ball rolling.

I wouldn’t hold my breath, though.

Tomorrow will be more of the same… gym, work, and maybe playing with power tools. We’ll see what the weather is like after work.

Song of the Day: Kashmir – Led Zeppelin
Currently Reading: The King’s Deception – Steve Berry

P.S. I think the elliptical won… word of the day? Ouch.

It was brother versus brother…

Posted: June 13, 2013 in Exercise, Physical activity, Supportive Partner Woman, Walking, Weather
0

So, I woke up this morning at 4:45. I noticed that the other side of the bed was empty, and it was still cool to the touch. I assumed that Supportive Partner Woman (night owl!) had simply just fallen asleep in the Nerd Lair. I got dressed for the gym and ambled downstairs only to see that she was very much awake and engrossed in watching North and South: Book II. Now, I understand a guilty pleasure as much as the next person, but I just looked askance at her and said, “I don’t know you any more.”

Her response?

“The power of Swayze’s mullet compelled me.”

Hard to argue with that level of logic.

So, the gym wasn’t particularly good. My legs felt very heavy today. Maybe they were feeling the lower barometric pressure, but I still managed to get 30 minutes of cardio in. It’s the days like this, where you generally feel lousy, that show a level of commitment. Plus, it feels good to be able to say that you managed to get your work in… even though you pretty much felt like crap. I’m hopeful that tomorrow will be better.

Hope everyone stays safe today with the biblical storms we’re having. And in honor of the rather damp U.S. Open, I give you the following:

Have a great day!

The streak is alive!

Posted: June 11, 2013 in Exercise, Footwear & socks, Lego, Physical activity, Supportive Partner Woman, Walking, Yard sale
0

I am pleased to announce that I haven’t fallen off a treadmill in four days.

That’s not for lack of trying.

snap0082I should clarify and say that I am not, repeat NOT, actively trying to fall off a treadmill. It’s just that my legs have been awfully rubbery of late, so stepping off the treadmill can be an iffy proposition. The funny thing as that while my hip/posterior was where I thought I’d get a bruise, I actually did more damage to my arm.

It’s a good thing, though… if my legs feel rubbery, that means it was a decent workout. Plus, the more I get my work in, the less time the legs stay rubbery. One thing I do know for sure is that the Balega socks are wonderful. They feel good when you put them on, there’s no seam to rub against your toes, and your feet are wonderfully dry when you’re done. I’m in the process of converting to a mostly moisture-wicking sock collection and selling the old cotton socks at the next edition of The Dreaded Yard Sale®. I figure I can get a quarter a pair… after all, most have hardly been worn, and it’s all for charity!

I also am going to pick up a pair of Balegas for Supportive Partner Woman (She of the ouchy back!). While her feet are nowhere near as bad as mine, she would probably benefit from a nice, comfortable pair of socks.

photo (7)In other news, the Lego 10240 X-Wing is complete. It’s sizeable, especially when compared to the standard X-Wing that was released in 2012. The downside is that the new one is not scaled for minifigs… but I’m keeping Porkins, because, well, he’s Porkins. I’ll probably sell the other one… limited display space is a bad thing. This is why I never bought the Super Star Destroyer.

At any rate, that’s about all I have for today. Tomorrow and Friday bring sessions with the boys and hopefully my arm will continue to feel better. Oh, and I plan on continuing my streak of not falling off of treadmills or other objects.

Song of the Day: In Too Deep – Sum 41

Customer service? Yeah, about that…

Posted: June 10, 2013 in Customer service, Digestive issues, Exercise, friends, Lego, Supportive Partner Woman, Wegman's, Weight loss, Yard sale
0

The lowlight of the weekend was getting the inevitable e-mail from AirTran saying that our flights had changed. I booked out of Reagan National in order to save a few bucks and because the times were perfect. Flights were nonstop and avoided the ninth circle of Hell that is Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. Nothing against Atlanta, it’s probably a great city. I’d just never want to fly there because I’m sure my luggage would take a nice, scenic detour through the Kamchatka Peninsula on its way to Hotlanta.

So, the email stated that our new departing flight left DCA at 6:01 AM, then we had to change planes AND airlines in Atlanta on the way to MCO, getting in around 11:30 AM. That doubled the length of travel time, which was less than optimal. Same deal on the return flight… obligatory stop in Atlanta, leaving two hours earlier than desired, etc.

I cooled off for a day (otherwise Ensign Furious might’ve sailed up aboard his garbage scow and that’s never pretty) and opted to call them this morning. What a circus.

First of all, the menu. The Voice gives you precious few options, one of which is NOT “Speak to a live actual person”. God help you if you opt to press 0, because the Voice gets a bit testy almost snarling “Invalid Command!” and then restarting the menu as if to say, “Now, where was I before you interrupted me, you ignorant jackass?”

Eventually, if you say or press nothing, you get a real, live person. Maybe The Voice does not like to be ignored. Whatever the reason, I got a guy who was reasonably helpful. After a few minutes of phone wrangling, he was able to get us on a flight out of BWI (much closer to home) that is non-stop and while it leaves a little later than preferred, it beats the trip through Il Purgatorio.

The fun part was when he was surprised when I wanted to change both trips. Why wouldn’t I want to fly out of BWI and into DCA? I could have a car stashed in both places. Seriously? To make a long story short, they changed the flights and didn’t require a change fee. Gotta like that. See, it’s been my experience that when you actually get a live person, they are pretty eager to help.

In the good news department, I didn’t fall off the treadmill today. That’s always a plus. No real damage from Friday’s misadventures other than a sizable bruise. Could’ve been a lot worse.

The Ultimate Collector's Series X-Wing

The Ultimate Collector’s Series X-Wing

Other things accomplished this weekend was replacing the shocks on Mario the Honda. They were pretty well gone and once Jim and I got the new shocks on, well, it rode and handled like a new car. Had to road test it, so we headed off to King of Prussia and the Lego Store. Through a combination of VIP points, a timely 10% coupon and a few other discounts/credits we came home with the new Ultimate Collectors Series X-Wing. It’s shaping up to be a most excellent build. This was followed by a trip to Wegman’s. Saturday night, Supportive Partner Woman and I went to El Serrano for a charity margarita competition in which our favorite bartender, Frank, was a contestant. All told, I had about an ounce or two of real, actual booze for the first time since last year. I’m happy to report that it stayed down. Frank wound up winning and gets to go to Mexico, so kudos to Frank! After that, our friends came over to the Nerd Lair and a good time was had by all.

So, all in all, it’s a positive start to the week. Let’s hope it continues.

Song of the Day: Not the Same – Ben Folds Five

The word of the day is “Whoops”

Posted: June 7, 2013 in 5K, Cooking, Exercise, Physical activity, Supportive Partner Woman, Walking
0

Anyone remember that time I was at the gym?

That time when I fell off the treadmill?

Didn’t think so, unless you were there this morning.

See, I was actually done with my workout. I had grabbed a cloth to wipe it down because that’s how I roll. I went to step off the treadmill (and you must know that I am always scared I’ll lose my balance, so I grab the rail to steady myself) and I managed to have my steadying hand slip and I collapsed in a heap. It wasn’t as “graceful” as in in the following video, but it was pretty embarrassing.

Ouch.

I’m going to have a pretty colorful bruise on my right hip, I should think… that’s pretty much the extent of my injury, other than the wounded pride.

So, yes… the word of the day is “whoops”.

In the good news, I managed to do my walk (before my tumble) at a 15:45 pace. Now if I could maintain that for 13.1 miles, I could do a Disney half-marathon, staying barely ahead of the sweep van. I’m not seeing that happen any time soon, though. I still have a long way to go yo just worry about the 5K.

I also managed to mix four batches of chocolate chip cookie dough. I’m now praying the weather holds out so the dreaded yard sale goes off as planned. I have cookies, brownies, water and Supportive Partner Woman (Excellent baker in her own right!) is planning on baking cupcakes. All we need is good weather and hungry customers. I would love to raise a nice chunk of change for Team All Ears, so keep your fingers crossed.

Doing work

Posted: June 6, 2013 in Exercise, Foot issues, Footwear & socks, Physical activity, Walking, Weight loss
1

So, after the Boot of Shame came off, I took it easy for a week. I walked a little, did elliptical and arc trainer to get used to moving again.

After a week, I started back to the gym. I’ve been there 9 straight days. It’s my new streak, ya know? I’m trying to get used to the changes in my body… I can actually get the treadmill up to almost 4 mph. It’s a big deal. Used to be that 3.2 was pushing it for me. I also find that the combination of the new shoes, socks and reduced weight has eased the stress on my ankles. Now I’m just a little achy after a good workout instead of not wanting to do anything.

It’s an improvement.

I’ve been trying to get at least two miles a day n my workouts… unless I’m doing something else. For example, on Sunday when I was swimming laps, I didn’t walk two miles. But I got the work in. That’s what it all comes down to. If you don’t do the work, you’re not going to get anything out of it.

I’m going to try to keep this pace up. I know I’ll have some conflicts, but I feel better when I’ve gone to the gym and gotten it done. Will I get there this weekend? I certainly hope so. There are days I just don’t really feel like doing anything, though, and those are the tough days.

Take this morning. The alarm went off at 4:45 and I just really didn’t feel like going to the gym. I just wanted to go back to sleep. That’s when I remember the words of Ryan who told us in an early class that if we don’t feel like doing a full workout, then just do ten minutes, because chances are you’ll change your mind after you get started.

I know I did.

That’s all I have for today.

Song of the Day: The Metal – Tenacious D

Older Entries
Newer Entries