So weird...
Why am I all fitness-crazy lately? Josh and I bought running shoes on Friday, and I bought a memory foam butt cushion for my exercise bike - so I can use it for more than 10 minutes.
So let me tell you about my exercise issues...
- I get terrible shin splints. They come and go. They'll disappear for a month or so and then come back with a vengeance. There's lots of info regarding shin splints when running, but the tips don't really apply to skating. And I usually skate several times a week, I don't think my skating motion changes that much. I'm usually okay for a jam, but warmups that last more than 5 minutes - particularly if they involve unusual skating motion - sculling, hip openers, etc will cause a flare-up. SO FRUSTRATING. Nerves seem to contribute as well since they're always there in full force at the bout during warmups. I want to start running, but am really nervous about my knees and the shin splints.
- Since I've started going to the climbing gym I've started working out in their gym. The step machine has a heart rate monitor and within a couple of minutes of exercise I'm red-lining the maximum heart rate (usually well over 180). I'm not in shape enough to be pushing myself that hard, but I end up staying WAY above any kind of 'target' for pretty much the whole workout. How am I maintaining such a high heart rate for the whole workout without feeling like I'm going to keel over? I usually do a 3-5 minute warmup and then workout for 15-30 minutes (depending on the day) with a 5 minute cool down. So I'm not working out for that long. Should I be working out longer and slower?
I know I'm supposed to be keeping a lower heart rate, but I don't feel like I'm pushing myself that hard, and I would have to be barely moving to keep my heart rate in the range I'm supposed to be in. Is it just that I'm so out of shape but pushed hard enough at practice that I don't have a realistic sense of a workout? It's not like practice is totally crazy (most of the time). My resting heart rate is 78 which is also pretty high (I think). It seems like I should be moving at a level that I feel comfortable at and a little bit beyond that to push myself. If anything I feel like I'm easing myself into it and could be pushing harder.
I'm going to have to get to a doctor soon anyway. I've had a 'lump in my throat' feeling for 2 or 3 weeks now, and I need to get it checked out. I'm hoping I find a good GP who can help me with that as well as answer some of the questions I've got about working out and trying to lose weight.
Now that I have better shoes I'm going to try the Couch to 5K program. Ideally I'll be at a point where I'm comfortable jogging by the time it's warm enough to do so. I'm also trying to make a list of some exercises I'd like to do each day. Little things like 50 crunches, 2 30 second planks, some push-ups, leg lifts, etc. I know that if I can keep this up I'll see improvements in skating and climbing since endurance is really key for both. And losing weight will mean less bulk to haul up a wall, and less ass to slow me down on the track. I'm trying. :-/
In climbing news, I've been able to do 2 or 3 5.6s and I've been getting up some of the other routes I'd struggled with. Still straggling behind everyone else I'm climbing with, but at least I can se some improvement.
And derby? I've been feeling like crap at recent practices, and scrimmages have been a clusterfuck. This season will be quite different for the Dolls I think. I've been trying to block as much as possible, I can't seem to get back into a hitting frame of mind.
So let me tell you about my exercise issues...
- I get terrible shin splints. They come and go. They'll disappear for a month or so and then come back with a vengeance. There's lots of info regarding shin splints when running, but the tips don't really apply to skating. And I usually skate several times a week, I don't think my skating motion changes that much. I'm usually okay for a jam, but warmups that last more than 5 minutes - particularly if they involve unusual skating motion - sculling, hip openers, etc will cause a flare-up. SO FRUSTRATING. Nerves seem to contribute as well since they're always there in full force at the bout during warmups. I want to start running, but am really nervous about my knees and the shin splints.
- Since I've started going to the climbing gym I've started working out in their gym. The step machine has a heart rate monitor and within a couple of minutes of exercise I'm red-lining the maximum heart rate (usually well over 180). I'm not in shape enough to be pushing myself that hard, but I end up staying WAY above any kind of 'target' for pretty much the whole workout. How am I maintaining such a high heart rate for the whole workout without feeling like I'm going to keel over? I usually do a 3-5 minute warmup and then workout for 15-30 minutes (depending on the day) with a 5 minute cool down. So I'm not working out for that long. Should I be working out longer and slower?
I know I'm supposed to be keeping a lower heart rate, but I don't feel like I'm pushing myself that hard, and I would have to be barely moving to keep my heart rate in the range I'm supposed to be in. Is it just that I'm so out of shape but pushed hard enough at practice that I don't have a realistic sense of a workout? It's not like practice is totally crazy (most of the time). My resting heart rate is 78 which is also pretty high (I think). It seems like I should be moving at a level that I feel comfortable at and a little bit beyond that to push myself. If anything I feel like I'm easing myself into it and could be pushing harder.
I'm going to have to get to a doctor soon anyway. I've had a 'lump in my throat' feeling for 2 or 3 weeks now, and I need to get it checked out. I'm hoping I find a good GP who can help me with that as well as answer some of the questions I've got about working out and trying to lose weight.
Now that I have better shoes I'm going to try the Couch to 5K program. Ideally I'll be at a point where I'm comfortable jogging by the time it's warm enough to do so. I'm also trying to make a list of some exercises I'd like to do each day. Little things like 50 crunches, 2 30 second planks, some push-ups, leg lifts, etc. I know that if I can keep this up I'll see improvements in skating and climbing since endurance is really key for both. And losing weight will mean less bulk to haul up a wall, and less ass to slow me down on the track. I'm trying. :-/
In climbing news, I've been able to do 2 or 3 5.6s and I've been getting up some of the other routes I'd struggled with. Still straggling behind everyone else I'm climbing with, but at least I can se some improvement.
And derby? I've been feeling like crap at recent practices, and scrimmages have been a clusterfuck. This season will be quite different for the Dolls I think. I've been trying to block as much as possible, I can't seem to get back into a hitting frame of mind.