Uphill Battle

Welcome back!

My break in posts has not meant a break in exercise! I've been religiously keeping up - how can I not with two great gym shirts that I received from great friends for Christmas (shout outs to Katie and Heather for my "Damn it feels good to be a hamsta" and "Birdemic" t-shirts, respectively). 

I have also been doing more A.W.W.O's than normal which is very invigorating. I weighed myself and I am at 249.8


So, for Christmas I received some "Eat This Not That" books for Christmas (shout out to Beba!) and in the back it suggests that walking at a 15% incline at 3mph is actually better for you than running on a treadmill for lower impact. For the past two days I have tried it. Let me tell you abut the experience.


First of all, I don't know if you know what it is like to be walking on a 15% incline. Long story short: it's bonkers. You keep rising and rising on the treadmill until you're eye level with Andre the Giant and you're suddenly craving peanuts (shout out to the Princess Bride).


Second of all, walking consistently up that incline is also bonkers. More than bonkers. So much so that it was reminiscent of my first-ever cross country summer team practice. Katie and I started running and I turn to her and say, "What are we? Climbing an f***ing mountain?" I am reminded of this exact moment on because on the treadmill  I feels like I am climbing a f***ing mountain. I should have a sherpa with me, an oxygen tank, some crampons, and a camera man following me with David Attenborough narrating in his wise, british voice:


Few people have ever attempted this feat before. Most who try, fail miserably and end up sliding off the treadmill and wind up slumped at the bottom in a sad little lump, crying while LMFAO blares in their ears. Why this particular climber would have tried to run-dance while climbing this f***ing mountain is beyond me. What a twat.


Until Tomorrow,

J

Ho Ho Ho!

Merry Christmas, everyone! Sadie, Mom, and I went for the same walk we went on yesterday, except this time we got covered in snow! I am so glad we had a white Christmas! Hopefully when I go back to NH tomorrow, there will be more of the same.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas - I can't believe that this time next week will be New Years Eve!


Until Tomorrow,

J

Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!

Today, my mom, Sadie, and I went on a walk in the snow! It was sunny and gorgeous and COLD.


Now to get ready for the festivities! In my house, we actually open our presents on Christmas eve after we go on a tour of Christmas lights in our town. On Christmas day we have a big breakfast, and then go see a movie. I love family traditions.




Until Tomorrow,

J

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland

Today, I woke up to the beauty of VT covered in a light blanket of snow. I absolutely love Vermont in the winter. 


Sadie and I took a long walk in the snow because we both love it: Sadie for the flouncing, and me for images like this:
















(this is not Sadie. It's a less attractive cousin).


I am so glad that we have  snow here and I hope it stays through Christmas :)


Off to eat some lunch, get ready for the day, then decorate the tree and make gingerbread men (and women)


Until Tomorrow,

J

The Run-Dance

Weight: 249.1 (BOOM! Back in the 40's! Also, this is a different scale than I've been using, so it could be a few pounds off ... but I don't care! CELEBRATIONS ABOUND!)


Today, I would like to talk about my favorite part of running - the spontaneous run-dance.

If you have not experienced this phenomenon, you're missing out. For me, it usually happens when an LMFAO song comes up on my playlist. Instead of running like a normal person, I end up dancing with a forward trajectory - again possibly looking like I am having a seizure.

Similar to this, but more break dancing moves:

I love the run-dance. First of all, I end up working out harder than when I was just running. All of a sudden I'm busting a move and running - not an easy feat. Second of all, if people see you, they are completely 100% flabbergasted at what is happening. You're swerving all over the sidewalk or road*, fist pumping, singing loudly, booty shaking - it's quite the sight to see. Third of all - it's AWESOME. I have such a blast run-dancing that I could care less if people can see me much less what they think about what I am doing.

So, here is my advice: If you're caught in a spontaneous run-dance and you happen to catch someone giving you a weird look, just look  them square in the eye and say: Sorry for party rocking but I'm sexy and I know it.

:)

Until Tomorrow,

J

*Run-dancing should be kept to a minimum on treadmills.

The Elliptical from Hell: Part II

Today I got to hop back onto the elliptical.

Now, you all know how I feel about the elliptical - I LOATHE IT.




The thing about the elliptical is not that it's a grueling workout for the intensity. Don't get me wrong, it works up a good sweat, but it's nothing compared to a run or spinning. What I absolutely abhor about the elliptical is that I GET SO BORED. For some reason, using THAT elliptical makes a tear in the time/space continuum, and time stops. 


I hope tomorrow is nicer so I can get outdoors.

Now I am off to Beba's Christmas concert!

Until Tomorrow,

J

The Rules of the Workout

Because it's been getting colder out, I've been using the Y for their gym when I go on my runs.
Between spin class and the gYm, I would like to discuss my rules of the workout.


1) Don't  approach me after my workout. I don't care if my bloated, sweaty, red face reminds you of your Uncle Boris - you leave me alone. Please.


2) Please don't smoke a cigarette right before working out and then try to cover up the smell by bathing in Calgon body spray. It just makes you smell like a hooker that works at the corner of Ames and K-Mart.


3). If there is a row of empty treadmills, don't get on the one right next to me. I don't want to be inches from your sweat and hot breath.

4). If you have broken rule #2, DEFINITELY don't break rule #3. I think I'd have an easier time breathing if I was smoking a cigarette while running than if I was smelling your hooker funk.


More rules to come, but I have to shower, finish a paper, and pack for VT in the next hour and forty-five minutes.

Until Tomorrow,

J

I'm Still Standing!

Dear Blog (and readers),

I am sorry I have neglected you. I want you to know that even though I haven't written in you, I have been VERY good about exercising. From spin class, to long walks, to runs I have been keeping it up!

Tomorrow I go home to Vermont for Christmas (!!!) and I will have MUCH more time to blog. I promise.

Forgive me?

Love,

J

28 Down - 18 To Go!

Weight: 253.4

Wow! I can't believe I've done this for 4 weeks in a row! Now, those who are following know that for 2 of those 28 days, I did not exercise. One day was the Portsmouth day, and the other was this past Sunday after getting back from NYC. I know my goal was to work out every day non-stop but today's post is about small victories.

Small Victory #1 - I have exercised for the past 26 out of 28 days. That is a 93% for those of you  who like math, or an A-. Before this blog, I'd have to give myself an F in exercise consistency. You find me a student that goes from an F to an A- in 4 weeks. Go on, I dare you! :) 

Small Victory #2 - Today, I ran my entire run. Sometimes I have to stop and walk, especially because Concord has a lot of hills that happen to be unavoidable (damn you, topography). Today, I paced myself and ran the entire thing! I felt strong and powerful. Boom!

Small Victory #3 - I realized today how motivated keeping this blog has made me - so I won't stop blogging after46 days, I will stop once I reach my goal weight. I hope you're ready to be in it for the long haul!

Thank you for reading!

Until Tomorrow,

J

California

Today, Judy started spin class by saying that today we were in California. Now, I've been to California only once, so my immediate thought was that she was going to either fill the room with sea lions (San Diego), or blow smoke in my face, promise me stardom, and then try to get me to make adult films (L.A.). Neither of these happened.


No, what Judy meant by "we're in California" is "Today, I am going to murder you with hills."


And that is exactly what Judy did. 


Now it's time for some eggs, and then I get to write a 10 page paper due tonight at midnight. I think I prefer the hills.


Until Tomorrow,

J

PS. Only 4 more spin classes until I get to go home!

Tea for Two!

Today, Charles was FINALLY back in spin class! AND! he didn't hack up a lung like I thought he would (side note: Once, I dreamt I hacked up a lung, and in the dream I coughed up a tiny plastic bag. You're welcome.)


Then the thought occurred to me: There are only 5 more spin classes between me and MY CHRISTMAS VACATION! This is my new mini-countdown.


 Until Tomorrow,

J

The Big Apple

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had an excellent weekend :)

On Friday, once I arrived in my hotel room I went to find the so-called Fitness Center. First off, that's a fairly generous term. This "Fitness Center" was a room smaller than a dorm room, with a bow-flex, treadmill, bike, and elliptical. They were all lined up parallel to the TV (rendering it unwatchable) and perpendicular to a mirror-wall, so I was forced to look at myself while I worked out. Two words: Un. Pleasant. 

Saturday was not so much about cardio as it was about pedi-torture. We walked from Katie and Sara's apartments to the Museum of Natural History (approximately 2 miles). Then we walked around the museum for about 2.5 hours, then walked home. All in all, not too much mileage. Oh wait, did I forget to mention I was wearing shoes that felt like chinese footbinding slippers? Hyberbolic, you say? Well that is probably the dumbest thing anyone has ever saidd in the history of people saying things. EVER. 

I did get some cardio in on Saturday night, when we walked back from dinner after the museum through Central Park. At Night. Dark. Night. Did I mention it was nighttime? Let me tell you, nothing gets your heart rate up and the adrenaline pumping like walking through a tunnel while two sketchball weirdos stare at you and whisper things like "You gon' die" and "Don't get nugged by rapers"*

*These whisperings may or may not have been figments of my overactive imagination. Scientists are still out on that one.

Sunday was a day to let my feet recover. I had blisters and my ankles felt like they had been sawed off and reattached by Dr. Frankenstein. 

Uh Oh

No spin class for me, folks. It's 5:30 am, and I woke up with a really bad sore throat. I am going back to bed for another hour and a half. Wish me well when I wake up. I'll miss spin, but I'm hoping that when I wake up I'll feel better enough for a run.

I CAN'T BE SICK FOR NYC!

The A.W.W.O

Today, I would like to discuss with you the A.W.W.O - also known as, the After Work Work-Out.

The A.W.W.O has always been my Achilles heel. After getting home from work, I usually never get past phase 1. I'm in phase 1 until the next morning where I can choose to break through to phases 2-5 or remain in phase 1 for the rest of the day and the cycle continued. This routine is how I got myself into the shape I am in now.

Today was the first attempted A.W.W.O I have had since I started this blog. Up until this point on a work day I was exercising before I went to work, thus eliminating the A.W.W.O from ever coming into the picture.


Let me tell you something: these past 22 days have CHANGED ME. Today, I had a pretty hefty to-do list for a Thursday night, since I am leaving on a mini-vacation tomorrow morning. Tonight, instead of letting all of the things I had to do get in the way of my workout I found myself thinking: Well, I'll work out first, and if I don't pack tonight, I can always pack after spinning tomorrow.


And that's what I did. I went to the Y, did my running intervals, drove home, and put my laundry in the washing machine. And look, it's 6:30. I've got plenty of time :)


Until Tomorrow,

J

21 Down:25 to go!

Weight: 252.8


Happy Week 3! If the science is true, I have officially formed a habit! I think it's happened because while I was on the couch trying to wake myself out of my cold medicine induced grog leftover from last night, I kept thinking about going for a run. I looked outside - it's raining. I still can't stop thinking about going for a run. 





So, while it certainly was not my prettiest run (half-awake in the pouring rain) I still went!


I forgot that Charles will be in VA/D.C tomorrow, so I will be spinning by myself both Thursday and Friday and then I will hop on a plane to NYC! :)



Maybe my exercise on Saturday can be a run in Central Park! 

Until Tomorrow,

J

Rain Run

I know what you're thinking: "An timely blog post from Jess?" YES. I AM BACK BABY!

I will say this: nothing gets you from phase 1 through 5 faster than stepping on the scale. I admit: This past week (Wed.-yesterday). I did not eat as well as I should have. 


1) I went out to dinner at a diner. 
2) I had enough beer in Portsmouth to calorically count as a meal (which isn't as bad considering all I had to eat that day was breakfast, four saltines, and shared a nacho plate with a bunch of people...okay, it's still bad.) 
3) I had a burrito from Boloco for lunch instead of the soup I brought.


On my run today, I thought a lot about food and my relationship with it. I love food; I really love food. Unfortunately, my food choices may not necessarily reflect that. A true lover of food would put care and effort into what they eat, and not waste calories on things like goldfish crackers, or a pudding cup. 




Especially if I am trying to lose a significant amount of weight - the food I should be putting in my body should be well thought out and DELICIOUS. 


I also tend to eat more than what I need to eat. I think I need to become a grazer. When I lost some weight last summer, I was exercising significantly less than what I am doing now. However, I was eating plain yogurt, berries, almonds, homemade fruit salad, and a salad of cous-cous, edamame, tomato, and cucumber. And that was at work. I was eating oatmeal with blueberries and almonds in the morning. For dinner was a lean protein and veggies. Dinner hasn't changed much, but what I bring to eat at work has. I usually just bring a sandwich. I think I need to get back to grazing throughout the day - what I brought was delicious and nutritious. It also helped keep me full throughout the day.


SO! My game plan in the morning is to now have egg whites and veggies for breakfast. Full of protein, the biggest meal of the day, and littered with vegetation. For work, I will bring some almonds, fruit, and some soup. Next week after I grocery shop, I can plan out better lunches, but I'll do with what I have for this week.

Hopefully this will help - and I'll finally start giving food the respect it deserves :)

Until Tomorrow,

J

Ketchup!

Hello, there! Long time no blog!

I really apologize - this weekend was hectic. First, I left my computer up at Charles' parents which is where I did my last post.

Saturday was crazy - work from 9-3, leave for Portsmouth, NH by 4.

I have a confession: I did not exercise on Saturday. I feel really guilty about it - but at the same time, I'm human, and sometimes we make mistakes! 


Sunday, I took a long walk around White's Park with Charles and the hilly back roads around where we live.

Monday I was back in spin class - alone. The woman at the front desk keeps asking me how Charles is doing: and he's doing fine. We'll be back in spin class Thursday, hopefully!

This morning I woke up at 5:20 with the full intention of going to spin class, but my throat hurts so much, I wasn't sure that an hour of intense Judy would do me any favors. PLUS I am going to NYC on Friday; a trip I very much want to be healthy for.

It's raining today, so I'll probably end up going for a long walk or run - OR I could do an indoor workout from p90x. When I do it this morning - I will blog for sure :)


Sorry for the delay! Again, this weekend has been very hectic.


The blog has certainly made exercising something I think of a lot more than I used to. It's helping me be accountable!

Thank you for reading - blog on!

Until Tomorrow,

J

Late Post!

It's pretty hard to believe that I was done my spin class with The Old Guy today over 12 hours ago. Crazy!

Tomorrow's exercise will be a little harder to fit in: I work until 3 and leave for Portsmouth at 5. I think I can make it happen - it will probably be a run.

Sorry for such a lame post, I am exhausted and in bed, but I just remembered that I hadn't posted for today yet!

Good night!

Until Tomorrow,

J

Thirsty Thursday

This morning when I woke up, I was nauseous. No, I didn't catch Charles' flu - I was terrified of going to spin class by myself. 

I won't lie - I was stuck on Phase 1 of going to spin class (yeah, that's right - there are phases for spin class too. Blog on that to come) for about 5 minutes when I realized something. I haven't done a spin class by myself YET. There were times in previous weeks (before this challenge, mind you) that if Charles was tired, or didn't want to go to spin class, I convinced myself that I  didn't either (in my defense, it's fairly easy to decide to go back to bed at 5:20 in the morning).


NOT TODAY.

Soon, my nausea was replaced by a thirst: A THIRST FOR JUDY'S BLOOD. 





Important side note: I look exactly like this guy when I thirst for blood.


Long story short: I hauled my butt out of bed and Judy KICKED IT HARD. But that's okay - because I did it all by myself! Tomorrow, I face The Old Guy by my lonesome as well. 


:)

Until Tomorrow,

J

14 Down - 32 to go!

Weight: 253.8


Today, I awoke to a sicky-flu-man, so my exercise today was another run, about 1.5 miles. I then made a figurative run to Hannaford to pick up DayQuil, Theraflu, and a thermometer. 


Time for breakfast - looks like I may be facing Judy alone on Thursday...yikes.

Until Tomorrow,

J

My Living Will

After I get out of spin class with Judy, walking down the four flights of stairs to get to the car is almost a near-death experience. My legs feel like Jell-O, as I wobble down each step clinging to the banister for life. After doing this for a while now, I've decided I should start some sort of living will. This way, if I crack my head open after spin class one day, everyone knows who should get what and my things can go to a loving home.




First, my hamster Gus Gus will go to Beba. I'd let Charles have him, but I'm pretty sure the cage top would "accidentally" get left open, and Sadie would have a nutritious snack.


My DVDs of Flight of the Conchords, seasons 1 &2 can also go to Beba: you'll appreciate the humor, the accents, and the music.


Heck: Beba, you get everything. You also get the power to determine who gets the junk of mine you don't want. Cheers.


Until Tomorrow,

J

The Old Guy: part 2

Today's class with The Old Guy was pretty awesome. Not only has he added to his music library (he played U2, Tom Petty, the Travelling Wilbury's, the Counting Crows, and that 'big black horse and a cherry tree' chick) but he is slowly reminding me of Papa, my dad's dad.

When Charles and I get there, we're usually the first to arrive, as the hens come trailing in during the warm-up. The Old Guy is standing by the door with a list of everyone who has signed up for his class. I assume that he's not there to figure out who is coming or not but that he's trying to figure out what time he is allowed to decide that no one is coming to class and he gets to go back to bed.


He is a man of little words: he greets the class, says enough to tell us what to expect next and then is done. He is the character foil of Sparkles.


He also uses a handkerchief and blows his nose during class.




All in all, it's strangely endearing.


Today's class did leave me SO exhausted that I was feeling queasy towards the end of it. I think that's a sign that I need more sleep.

Until Tomorrow,


J

Walk the Walk

Today, Charles and I walked 6 miles round trip to meet up with friends Sara and Sarah for brunch at a local coffee shop/bistro I used to be a barista at.


I had an omelet with avocado, tomato, spinach, and goat cheese and Charles had a Monte Cristo. For those of you who live under a low-cholesterol rock, a Monte Cristo is egg, cheese, ham, and turkey in a french toast-bread sandwich covered in maple syrup and powdered sugar. 



Charles, you're welcome, by the way; it was my suggestion to put that item on the menu 4 years ago :)


This post will end now, because it's 9:41. I have spin class at 6 am tomorrow, and I'm exhausted.

Until Tomorrow,

J

Getting Up

Today, I would like to discuss my major dilemma when it comes to running: getting myself psyched up to actually do it.

Getting ready for a run consists of quite a few phases. Depending on the energy level, the duration of each phase may vary significantly, but the order never changes.

Phase 1: Thinking about running. 
                  Unfortunately, I've been in situations where this stage lasts an entire day. Usually, these days are extreme lazy days, ones where I have ample time to go for a run or even build the 9th world wonder.  On these days, the thought "I should go for a run" constantly enters my mind and may indeed never actually come to fruition.





Phase 2: Changing into running clothes.
                   Most people may think that changing into running clothes might not ever be a long phase, but they would be wrong. I've changed running clothes multiple time over the course of hours before, and unfortunately, if you're having what I like to call a "bad body day" you can revert back to phase one pretty quickly.


Phase 3: Changing into running shoes.
                   Once you have successfully selected your running outfit, it's time for the running shoes. Getting the first one on is fairly simple, but then distractions come into play. All of a sudden, you've turned into an ADHD child and everything is more interesting than that second sneaker. 


Phase 4: Deciding to go for a run.
                  So! You've gotten past phases 1, 2, and 3. Deciding to go for a run should be the easiest phase yet! WRONG. I've spent hours sitting in my apartment, looking like I've got a 5k to get to, but in fact only have the intention of watching Hoarders or Intervention for the day. Deciding to actually leave and go for a run is the hardest phase. It also is the most pivotal. If you can't get past phase 4, you're doomed to be in "phase limbo" for the rest of the day. However, it's not a total loss, because, Hey, at least you're dressed. 


Phase 5: RUNNING!
                  Holy crap! You're in phase 5! And you know what? It's not that bad (except for the fact that you're running and looking like a drunk monkey)! Once you start running, you realize how silly you were for wasting seven hours of your day in preparation for a 20 minute run, but don't let that thought stick around for too long; that's phase 1 kind of talk, and we're phase 5ers now. In fact, now in phase 5 you are DETERMINED to minimize the time in phases 1-4 from now on! You're feeling powerful, awesome, energetic, and maybe even a little sassy!


Enter tomorrow morning, when there is a Boy Meets World marathon on TV, and you spend about 10 episodes stuck in phase 1. Oh well, At least you're IN phase 1. Better that than no phase at all.


Until Tomorrow,

J

The Run

Sorry for the late post! Even though I was done my exercise by 11 am, there was so much to do today that blogging got put on the back burner :)


Today I finally went on a run. 


It's interesting how different types of exercise comes easier to some than to others. I watch some people run and it look effortless; I have decided that those people are cyborgs. These will be the ones to watch out for when the machines take over.




I, unlike these cyborgs, do not have the gift of running gracefully. I imagine that when I run I'm pretty comparable with a drunk monkey, but that's okay.


Until Tomorrow,

J

Thanksgiving Day Sparkles

Today's spin class was not taught by either The Old Guy or Judy, but by a bleach blonde twenty-something I shall call Sparkles. 


I didn't think you could get more type-A than Judy, but apparently Sparkles can. I now ask you to imagine: Reese Witherspoon's character from legally blonde COMBINED with her chihuahua and given a healthy dose of crack. That's Sparkles.




Once we started class, I began to yearn for a torture session from Judy. 


I don't think Sparkles knows what she is doing. First of all, she was having us turn our resistance up SUPER high. and stay in the saddle. If you're still seated on a bike, you should be able to maintain at least 80 rpm, or you could really hurt your knees. If you're in high resistance, you get up out of the saddle. That's what  I ended up doing - because I'm not blowing my knees out unless Sparkles plans on paying for my surgery and PT. 


Instead of getting mad at Sparkles, however, I decided to think of all the wonderful things I want to eat today (and deserve to eat after this class). 


Rolls.
Turkey.
Rolls.
Broccoli Casserole.
Rolls.
Gravy.
Rolls.
Mashed potatoes.
Rolls.
Pumpkin Roll.
Rolls.


I hope this is my last ever encounter with Sparkles. But, I won't let her hyperactivity and ineptitude stop me from reaching my goal, so, Sparkles, the next time we meet: BRING.IT.ON.






Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 


Until Tomorrow,

J

7 Down! 39 to go!

Weight: 253.4 

Charles and I had the pool entirely to ourselves today and it was quiet and peaceful - I couldn't have asked for a  better morning.

The first week is over! I have noticed that I sleep better, I feel less stressed, and I have more energy - even though I'm consistently getting up before 6 am almost every day. 

Sorry that this post isn't as long as it normally is - I have to get to work (I feel as though I am a small percentage of family and friends that does have to work today. Jerks!)

Thank you for reading this past week - tune in tomorrow for my Thanksgiving morning spin class!

Until Tomorrow,

J

Judy the Barbarian

Judy starts today's spin class with an announcement:

"Since it's the holidays, we're going to play a game today!"

My ears perk up: Oh goodie! A game! For once, Judy is going to go easy on us at 6 am. 

"This game is called Town Line. I have picked specific people to yell out 'town line!'. When they do, you sprint for 30 seconds. There are at least six sprints, but there are less than ten. After the sprint, there will be two minutes of recovery time and then we'll resume where we left off."

Uh, Judy, I think you're confused as to what a game is. Candyland is a game. This...is torture. 

And then it begins as a normal Judy spin class with the added bonus of being terrified of when the next person will yell out "TOWN LINE!". I found myself darting my eyes around trying to figure out the pattern of when the next person yells. Is it that Judy takes a swig from her water bottle? Checks her watch? Is it a certain amount of time in between each sprint? I was in survival mode. I was applying logic: We've had 3 sprints and it's been fifteen minutes. That's a sprint every five minutes. We usually spin with Judy for 50 minutes before we cool down, so the last sprint would be at quarter of. NINE. THERE WILL BE NINE SPRINTS. 

And so on, until I was on the brink of madness. Then, like a blink of an eye, we're cooling down. I'm incredulous: We can't have only had six sprints. Judy's going to yell "town line!" sometime during "Hey Jude"...and I will hate her for it.

But she didn't, and we were done! 

Well done, Judy. You figured out how to make spin class fly by: Psychological warfare.

Until Tomorrow,

J

Stitch 'n Bitch

This morning's spin class started off pretty normally, until I hear the clucking of hens in the back. I turn my head to the right and realize the entire back row of spin bikes is occupied by older women. Normally in The Old Guys class there are two women who bike and talk through class, but today word had gotten out. It was like something out of The First Wives Club - the entire 45 minutes they talk loudly (to be heard over Boston of course) and cackle, and I'm quite convinced they are plotting to kill their husbands. 

When the chatter gets to the point of obnoxious, part of me thinks I am going to look over there and see this:

I do find the ladies quite amusing though and I hope when I'm their age I have a bunch of broads I can go spin with too.

Until Tomorrow,

J

I LoVermont!

I really do. I think that Vermonters have a pretty distinct passion towards their home state, one I haven't ever seen matched. It's almost on par with the passion that Red Sox fans have for their team; we become douchebags over it. No matter how great any other state is, you will rarely find a Vermonter that does not have an immense amount of pride towards their home. And that's what Vermont is to a Vermonter: home; no matter how long it's been since you've been there.





Any way, I digress. 


Today, my mom and I took the dogs, Sadie and Scruffy for a walk up Alpine Dr., a fairly steep cul-de-sac that ends up being a 1.75 mile loop. Taking the dogs with us is always an event. Scruffy, 14, has legs so wobbly he can't even lift his leg to pee anymore so he ends up just walking and peeing at the same time. Sadie tends to try and poop every 50 yards or so even when she doesn't have anything left in her. Both try to eat everything they see, regardless of it is edible or not.


I don't want to go back to Concord, but the good thing is I'll be back in Vermont from Thursday - Sunday! :)


Until Tomorrow,

J

The Elliptical from Hell

After arriving at my parent's house in Vermont, I realized that there would not be enough daylight to do any exercise outside. Upon this realization, my heart sinks and I begin to break out in a cold sweat; my only option will be to use my parent's elliptical machine. 


My parent's elliptical machine is not a normal machine. First (and last) of all, my dad put it together (no offense, Dad). The display only stayed on for about three seconds, the fan didn't work, and I couldn't change the resistance. Now, after years of use, not only have those problems prevailed, but now it makes a noise similar to a locomotive...it's unnerving and very bad for my self-esteem.


I'm with this poor bastard. :)




Until Tomorrow,

J

The Old Guy

Happy Friday!

Today was my last spin class of the week, and I love Friday spin class with "The Old Guy". To help you envision what The Old Guy actually looks like, he reminds me of a bald Charles (add 45 years, keep the lanky) with gray tube socks pulled up over his calves. 





His demeanor is very mellow, and after hearing his choices of music, I'm 99% sure that mellowness comes from pot. Whether it be from his earlier Woodstock years or the night before, I'm not sure, but hey I'm not here to judge*


The Old Guy's musical tastes are also superb: Clapton, Pink Floyd, the Dead, Lynard Skynard, the Beatles. However, it's really hard to want to push yourself in a hill climb during a 7 minute Grateful Dead jam session. 


Tomorrow, I leave for VT after I get out of work, so I'm not sure what I'll be doing for my exercise. Maybe I'll join my mom for a walk/jog (she walks, I jog to keep up with her. The woman has gams for miles!)


Have a great weekend! Until tomorrow,


J




*If you believe this, you don't know me well; stop reading my blog.

The Singing Spinner

Today I was back in (and out of) the saddle in my Thursday spin class at the Y. 

My instructor on Tuesdays and Thursdays is a woman I choose to call Judy. I call her this not because I feel like keeping her anonymity, it's because I can't ever remember her name. Judy is clearly a type A personality; she wears her sponsor bike spandex to every class, runs marathons on the weekend, and barks at us to "feel our cadence!", whatever that means. 

I hate Judy. 

However, Judy's music choices are superb. Every class, we listen to some combination of Coldplay, Dave Matthews, Adele, and random oldies like the Eagle's 'Hotel California'. And through no fault of my own, I inadvertently sing (quietly) through each class. I probably look like I'm having some sort of seizure: bright red in the face, head bobbing around, lips flailing. 

Singing through class, though, seems to make the 7o minutes of spinning go by much faster.

Tomorrow, I have the instructor who I affectionately refer to as "The Old Guy".

Until Tomorrow,

J

PS. I put that picture of the monkey as a joke but as I look at it more, it freakishly reminds me of the image I see in the mirror after spin class.

One down!

Weight: 259.


Today I kicked off my mission with a dip in the YMCA pool. Here is my experience with swimming laps:


The first couple of laps are always fun, and I think to myself, "This is so much fun! It's like being on vacation; the water is warm, I'm in a bathing suit...yeppers! This sure is swell!" 


Enter 3rd and 4th and 5th lap, where I start to question my form compared to the other elderly swimmers in the lanes next to me who not only entered the pool after me, but are on their 50th laps and seem to be skimming on top of the water like those Jesus-lizards in the Amazon. 


6th, 7th, and 8th lap come with the realization that goggles are not meant for me to see under water, but keep the highly chlorinated water from being splashed in my eye by all the Jesus-lizards around me.


9th lap - 1/4 mile. WHAT?! How can I possibly be a faster runner than I am a swimmer?? 


The 10th through the 14th lap are more of a introspective time for me. I begin to think of all the fish in the ocean that are faster than me and the list becomes "Almost all of them". If I was stuck in the ocean, I'm pretty sure I'd have to hang out with the manatees and just float around eating kelp and watching out for boat propellers. 







Finally the 15th lap comes! Woohoo! I've done it! Next time I'm in the pool my goal will be to swim an extra three laps to get me to half a mile and maybe try to do that fancy flip that all the real swimmers do. The question is: will they judge me if I plug my nose while doing it?

Until tomorrow,

J

The plan

Welcome to my exercise blog!

This comes inspired by my friend, Abbie, who started doing 30 days of cardio and logging it on Facebook.

Now, while I don't really want everyone I know on 'the Book' to know what I am up to, I really wanted to challenge myself on a similar level. I thought that creating a blog would help hold me accountable!

Research shows that any habit can be formed in 21 days, so my goal is more than double that and make it to the New Year without missing a day of cardio: 46 days.


My reason for doing this is simple: to get into a healthier lifestyle where exercise is just another part of my day. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age, and I should be taking better care of myself to do everything in my power to leave my fate purely up to genetics only. I also have diabetic maternal and paternal grandmothers - another fate I would like avoid. 

As another part of my motivation plan, and after much deliberation, I will put my weight on here as well. My goal is to get back down to 195 pounds - what I weighed after my freshman year of college. This will not happen by New Years, that's for sure, but my goal is to not end this blog at New Years, but make it so that "I will exercise more" does not become another faded resolution that is abandoned by February.

I hope you enjoy following me; It all starts tomorrow!