exercise and training
This week was a fairly good week in the gym. Sunday I got on the bike for 20 minutes (<4mile) and tackled the 'big' hill (which is a lot bigger on a bike then in a car but still not something a Yankee would call a hill). Monday and Friday was 20 minutes on the treadmill and Routine 2009.02x2. Wednesday I got to the pool and swam around 30 laps in 40 minutes. All in all 2h40m this week. Pretty good for the last week of the quarter which is usually insane.
I'm trying to get myself into running. I used to love running as a girl but have found that it just takes too much energy as a mildly overweight adult. I'm hitting the treadmill for 20 minutes in a 5min walk, 5min run pattern. Definately getting my pulse up, and as long as I don't end up throwing out a knee I think it will be very good!
I believe I've hit a plateau as far weight loss goes. I've been around 182 for the past few weeks for my Friday weigh-in with some dips down to 180 and peaks at 184 during the week. Girth measurements are starting to level off as well. I always said I wasn't doing this for the weight loss or similar shallow vein reasons like that but really would have been nice! So what is my motivation? Well I'm finding that working out so that I don't get migraines is all well and good but that it's hard to use a lack of something as a motivator.
I think the bike might save me. My trip on Sunday reminded me of how much I LOVE riding. Long term I'm starting to save for a Big Trip. Not sure where that will be :) but having a trip on the planning board will help me stay motivated. On a more immediate level I'm going to try to up the cycling I've been doing. The 3.8 mile loop around campus is a good start and I may take two laps during the week for my cardio option. There is also a friend who is about 35 miles away, 35 miles of lovely beach/bike trails I might add. I have spring brake in a week so that would be an excellent trip. I just have to make sure next week that 35 miles won't kill me!
The current major benefit I've noticed is mental. I haven't had a "bad body image" day since I started exercising. I doubt that there has been a major shift in my physical body since most of my girth measurements aren't that differently. I'm just appreciating my body and what it can do more. Definitely not something I expected but I'll take it.