Adventures in Attempting to get Healthy - Failure

[KaraBoo]

Day..... - What day am I on?

Ugh! I can't even remember what day it is! I'm so tired and so sore!

On Wednesday, I did the weights again. I actually did them on Monday as well, but nothing spectacular happened on that day (although I did finally figure out where my seat on the leg press is supposed to be - so I no longer looked like a fetus trying to morph my way into the position)......

However, Wednesday is another story. Weights are done, walk on the treadmill is done. Walking out to my car to put the gym bag up, no big deal. Trying to walk into work, uh oh, there's a problem. I notice I cannot carry my lunch bag and purse. They've suddenly become too heavy to bear. It's like they are gaining weight with every step I take! It's all I can do to walk into work without dropping everything!! What an odd feeling to have......that you're no longer in control of your body.....that it's going to do what it wants without any okay from you. It felt like trying to command a duck to do push-ups....it's just not going to happen.

Then Thursday comes along.....

I'm up, I'm dressed, I'm at the Fitness Center?? How did I get here? I'm so sleepy tired, I don't remember driving in. Okay, I do remember, but I'm seriously questioning my sanity this week at this point. I've definitely over committed myself to too many activities this week and it is wearing me down.

Since it's Thursday, I've decided it will be my day to torture myself on the stair-stepper once again. Same drill, pick my level, pick my time and start stepping to nowhere. Last week, I made through 20 minutes of pure torture. This week, I couldn't even make it through 10. I had to get off the machine or I risked falling off. No mocking from the machine today - it just shuts down like my body did.

10 minutes? That's it? That's all I have in me? No way, I'm not buying it. So off to the exercise bikes for me. Maybe sitting down will be better. I program in that I want to do 20 minutes on that machine. Again, I make 10 minutes before my body refuses to go another pedal. What's going on?? ARGH!! I'm only less than 30 minutes into my regular work out day and I'm not getting anywhere - LITERALLY!!

I refuse to give up!! I'm making it through an entire hour even if it kills me! Onward to the treadmill. It took the entire remaining 30 minutes, but I at least completed my goal........

What goal is that you ask? Why, not passing out of course. I only made 1.5 miles on the treadmill during that time frame, but I swear I couldn't have pushed my body any further or faster if I tried at that point.

My only saving grace on Thursday is that I still went, and I still worked out, and I still survived my torture for another day.

What's that? When's my next scheduled torture session? May I please plead the 5th??

(Today being Friday, I did not work out due to my weekend schedule. I will be on my feet for 10-12 hours Saturday working on a volunteer project that has taken up the rest of my free time this week.

HEY!! Give me a break!! I need at least one day to rest you slave drivers you!! )

[azphx1972]

LOL! Reading your posts actually make me want to go to the gym NK! I did my normal workout on Wednesday and then played racquetball for 2 hours, so I was at the gym for 4 hours. Going to try to do it again tonight.

[Artemis Windsong]

Nq, you are brave for not wimping out. Then you worked all day! ! ! ! An hour on those three machines your 2nd or 3rd week in is pretty good. As you now know there is a delayed reaction to weight training. If you can sit and rest a few minutes and fuel your body with high quality food like a banana, that will help carry you through. I have seen people doubled over in the parking lot from being swimmy headed from too intense a workout then rush to the car.

A whole day on your feet is also a workout.

Another idea is do 2 days on and one day off. There are a lot of ways to schedule your week. Body for Life is a 4 day program with 3 days off. Your bod will tell you what it likes and when to vary your intensity.

My weak day was/is Wednesday and is scheduled for other activities or an exercise video at home.

We are cheering for you.

[KaraBoo]

In looking back at the calendar, I’ve suddenly realized that I’ve been going to the gym for 3 weeks and 2 days. No wonder I’m so exhausted!! Into the gym I go and the first thing I notice is how cold the entire building is this morning. I mean freezing cold!! Even the volunteer at the desk is bundled up in long sleeves and pants. I comment to the desk lady how cold it is in there and she just shrugs at me like it’s no big deal. Not quite sure how to respond to that shrug so I get ready to begin my routine……

My experience today was a little disconcerting…..

I’m on the elliptical and I’ve finally figured out how to do the programs in the machine. You know….the part of the machine where you voluntarily torture yourself even more so than normal? I’m beginning to wonder if gym-goers are into S&M as we’re constantly putting ourselves through pain!!

So, I’m off to town on the elliptical. I’m at least to the point on the machine I’m no longer crying in pain after 5 minutes – far from it in fact. Last week, I made it a full 20 minutes without any muscle spasms or face plants into the floor. So, I upped the routine today – 30 minutes with resistance added in for good measure on a random setting.

After the first resistance hit, about 3 minutes into the 4 minute resistance cycle….I notice the edges of my scalp itching…. That’s odd – why would it be itching? I ignore the sensation and it goes away – kind of….it at least becomes bearable. Back to the cool down portion of the cycle, no big deal. 4 minutes of easy going switches back to 4 minutes of resistance and the itching sensation comes back – much more persistent this time and in many more places. Now, it’s not just the edges of my hairline itching, it’s my whole scalp…..feels like bugs crawling all over my head. I can’t stand it anymore!! ARGH!! Scratch…..what’s this??

SWEAT!! OMG!! I’m SWEATING!!

And not just a little! I’ve got a slow trickle of a river going down my backside. EEEWWWW!!

<<Queue the readers of this blog……AAAaaaawwwww….did wittle ol you finally work hard enough for a wittle sweat to pop out??…..ABOUT TIME!! Suck it up pansy and get back to work you slacker!!>>



All right! ALL right!! FINE!! I sweated…not that big a deal….



<<Sniff>> But…..really….it was….for me……it was a big deal….. <<Sniff Sniff>> At least I made it through the whole 30 minute cycle……no face plants either (including another 20 minutes on the rowing machine)!! And….I was very grateful this morning for the gym to be freezing cold after my torture session……

[Deleted]

Good for you for finally sweating! ;D

[azphx1972]

Ditto! Please be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, NK. I carry a 24oz bottle of water and refill it at least once during my workout, but I sweat like a pig (no offense Dr. Pig). ;D

[KaraBoo]

Okay....confession time.....I've been a bad, bad girl.



I've only been to the gym 3 times in the last 3 weeks.

<<GASP!!>> THE HORROR!!

I know, I know.....I'm a slacker, I'm a failure, I'm a fat tub of lard that doesn't deserve to mop the sweat off my own brow.

Defense?? What's my defense of my own slackerhood? <<Hangs head>> Nothing, absolutely nothing. I have no defense....except life is getting in the way. End of school for the kids, home remodels, family members moving, another family member in ICU, stress at work, killer allergies - it's all adding up to not enough time in the day to take care of everything.

Just the thought of getting up as the alarm clock is going off at 4am is enough to make me bury my head under the covers for another 2 hours of blissful, 9 minute intervals of snooze button sleep.

The few times I've been to the gym, I'm proud of myself for going....but that hasn't stopped me from slapping the snooze button the next morning - sometimes without even realizing I am.

Failure.

I can't even seem to keep up with my one dietary change - no Dr Peppers while at work. That too only lasted for all of 2 whole whopping days.

Again - Failure. For now.

However - I'm not going to give up! I will continue my journey! I will be back at the gym again!



Maybe....

[Deleted]

You're not a failure, you're just off track. There is always tomorrow.

[Chocolate Lover]

bury my head under the covers for another 2 hours of blissful, 9 minute intervals of snooze button sleep.

Have you been spying on me??

And what's with 9 minute intervals? 10 was too long?

[cael]

nq, it's all good, we all slide sometimes! I haven't been to the gym (for a class or anything) in a week and a half now and I feel awful about it I skipped my Monday morning class this week because I was exhausted & not feeling well. No time between now and tomorrow to do anything, so I'll be making my return on Friday to pilates class. I need to go for a run soon so I don't backslide, I want to get better at it, not slowly lose the conditioning!

I'm going away this weekend but should be back Sunday with enough time to go for a run.... if not I have class Monday and I AM going this week!!!

[KaraBoo]

May 18, 2011 14:04:31 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

bury my head under the covers for another 2 hours of blissful, 9 minute intervals of snooze button sleep.

Have you been spying on me??

And what's with 9 minute intervals? 10 was too long?

Stupid clock is programmed that way. I haven't been able to figure out how to change it.

Probably a good thing......

[Deleted]

LOL on the alarm clock.

Wait..is that...no, it couldn't be....but it is, the one and only Chocolate Lover! She's here! Whoo hoo!

[azphx1972]

They say it takes 21 days for a habit to stick? Don't give up NK!

[Sum Dum Gai]

I've been slacking in the gym the past few weeks too. I'm getting in three lifting sessions a week, but I'm not really pushing myself and I cut way back on the volume. I was laying off my legs for a few weeks because my right knee was bothering me, but it's been feeling fine for two weeks now and I haven't done a single squat or deadlift since I stopped a month ago or so. I've been trying to get myself psyched up to really hit it hard tonight since I woke up. Of course I did the same thing on Monday, and I still totally half assed it that night. Oh well, I can only do my best going forward I suppose.

[mtntigger]

I know you said that you decided that you could only work out in the morning, but have you tried the evening or even lunch time?

I only say this because I used to be a morning work-out person, but my schedule and attitude has changed so much in the last year and my body refuses to get up and move that early. Right after work, I can't make up as many excuses.

[Artemis Windsong]

There is always room for a few sit ups and push ups in the busiest schedule as well as walking in place while cooking dinner. Those spurts of exercise will keep you thinking about it. Walk up the stairs or down the stairs at work.

BW squats at your desk take less than 30 seconds. Ab and butt squeezes either standing or sitting. Side bends. Almost everything can be adapted to no weight and a quick few reps.

If you cannot do it all, just try a few. The only fail is when you lift weights to failure on that particular set.

You can do it.

[Chocolate Lover]

May 18, 2011 14:15:03 GMT -5 @familycfo said:

LOL on the alarm clock.

Wait..is that...no, it couldn't be....but it is, the one and only Chocolate Lover! She's here! Whoo hoo!

Yeah, I pop in now and then to see how NQ is doing. ;D


So....... how's it going NQ?

Oh and I was complaining about how they program the clock for 9 min intervals on the snooze, that's a lot of math to figure out what time it is by how many times you've hit snooze when you're not awake yet.

[Deleted]

Darn it, I missed you!

Yes, NQ, how about an update?

[Chocolate Lover]

You know where to find me fam........... ;D

Do you think she gave up?

[Deleted]

You know where to find me fam........... Yes, but we want to find you here telling us about your exercise program. ;D

I hope she didn't give up!

[Chocolate Lover]

My fitness program?

Oh, I love your sense of humor.

[Deleted]

;D

I'm not giving up on you!

[Chocolate Lover]

Good luck with that.


Does walking to the fridge count? ;D

[Deleted]

Yes. Picking up the remote, reaching your hand in a bag of chips, unwrapping a candy bar and my personal favorite, salting french fries...it all counts!

[Peace Of Mind]

CL - I'm on the one Fam just posted. It really works!