Besides, working I've been taking it pretty easy I've caught some kind of viral chest infection that my doctor is watching closely since they have seen others that the infection has turned into pheamonia (sp?) or micro plasma.

About the only true excercise I've gotten is marching with our town. Small towns are nice sometimes. We welcomed one of our own home from Iraq. Had a huge parade and the entire town walked behind the fire truck bringing him home to show that we are behind him. It was something strange to experiance. The emotions were very mixed and selfish. My nephew gets home from his special training tonight (fixing 18 wheelers and driving) the unit he's been ordered to report to will be shipping out sometime after Christmas (doesn't mean he'll go but it's a good chance). At first I couldn't think of anything else but have decided not to go borrowing trouble.

Two weeks left and Jess will be home. She was allowed to call me after de-tox and had a lot to say...Someone admires me *shy smile* it feels really strange, I've never thought of myself as someone worth admiring but she says that she got help cause she wants to be ME. She wants peace and hope and she wants to lover herself. *grins* admiring me is a good start rotflmbo. I didn't have the words so I just spoke from my heart and told her that I still see her in the sameway I always have "She's Jess" and that is all she should worry about being and I told her that she never let me down, she let herself down and she thanked me. Right or wrong I have no clue but if my feelings have changed any it's that I admire her courage and strength now more then ever it would have been so easy to just pick up another bottle than to call and admit she had a problem. That's something special in my eyes.

I'm doing what I can the best I know how and it's enough for me.

Futs it's certainly enough for Jess! Nice work. You take your exercise where ever you need to. Caring for yourself sometimes means less rather than more. Hugs to you in a big way. You shoulders are broad and I'm looking at mine and wanting them to be more like yours.

Three days now I've felt my left knee. Last night it objected to some positions in bed so I don't know what's up with that. After I ran today it felt a bit spongy but no pain except a couple of times during the night.

Ran my last 3's & 3's today. Monday it's 5's & 2.5's and repeating 4 times. I hope I'm up for it. Today the run was pretty easy. I ran before I ate and I wore less cloths although it was probably colder this morning than it was yesterday. Solid warm up and a light after stretch.

I updated my running journal too as it had been neglected since the 9th.

My weight is still climbing so today I've taken measures to whack back the calories. I was expecting the increased load to allow me more wiggle room but I guess the Remeron is taking it's toll.
On and On.. ian

I wrote a post earlier tonight and in one false move, it was gone.... :mad:

Ah well, I'll chalk it up to an ADD moment. Forgive me if I seem abrupt, it's just that I've said this all before.... :rolleyes:

I didn't set a goal last week, which is good, because I wouldn't have met it which might have left me feeling mad at myself. I think I only exercised three times....

This week I'll aim for 5 days of exercise. I'll have to remember to go out on Thursday *before* we eat turkey!!!

Ian, you *are* a goof! you have started out beautifully, pacing yourself, getting the right equipment, encouraging others along the way. then, in two back to back paragraphs you write about 1) a wonky knee *and* 2) increasing your miles.

Is there any reason you *have* to increase your miles next week? Why not wait until you *know* you are ready for it? (((hugs)))

Cherity, I had to double check it was you posting when I read, "...I've been taking it pretty easy." Should I surmise that you are also taking your Doctor's advice? (a first, I'm sure!) :D

Seriously though, I'm glad to hear that you are taking care of yourself. I mean it!!! And when I read this, "I'm doing what I can the best I know how and it's enough for me." I did a happy dance! :D and, at the risk of sounding patronizing, I'm proud of you.

Thanks for the update on Jess. I know she means a lot to you.

Eating after I came back yesterday morning was a good thing and turkey would be out of the question! I'll try and remember that, but some mornings I'll just have to wait until the stomach empties because I'm ravenous when I'm first up!

wheezie the knee is nothing big. At least I don't think so. This is day four where I have been able to feel a difference in my left knee but Jim was right in an earlier post I think when he reminded me that there will be aches and pains as I go along. This ain't Kansas anymore and I'm not 18 years old! :D It appears to be getting better quickly so I'll just carry on as is. I may have been flying a little too close to the sun and not taking the time to more carefully choose my words. I was short on sleep and running on adrenaline yesterday it seems.

I'm sensitive to almost any pain so often times I blow it out of proportion. I don't think I'm hurting myself and it wasn't any trouble last night. On top of that, I slept like a brick which is a good sign. I just wanted to say it out loud that the knee was responding differently so I could have a record of when it began. The knee is not serious enough to avoid an increase in the weekly load. If it becomes a problem I'll drop one day a week.

I've been looking at my heart rate and my pace. Yesterday I finally clocked my distance that I was covering in my 3 minutes to see if it was within reason. I was surprised to see it sitting at 16km/hour. This seems fast but I have no perspective. If anyone has any bench marks that might shed some light on my pace please speak up.

The middle of my back is tight so I'll do some stretching today then it's on to something more family oriented I think!
goofus dorkius

Well, I'm having trouble keeping track of how many days I've worked already and how many left to go I've found it's easier to not look and just keep working and hope that one of these nights they will send me home cause I'm not supposed to be there ahhh wouldn't that be nice. Excercise *laughs* right, sure, gettin right up on that one NOT!!! I work, pick up the baby, clean house and crash when Doug gets home. *thinks of the paychecks and smiles* So, I have nothing to report.

My thoughts are with you Futs.

Please disregard those numbers for distance and heart rate. I must have been dreaming. I must have miss measured the distance and my pulse should have been monitored over a longer period. The duh factor.

I slowed things a way way down today so that I was sure to pass the talk test. I was going out way too fast. It wasn't even close so now maybe I'll begin in earnest to lay down and aerobic base that I can build on. I'm amazed at how quickly it got away on me and how difficult it is to restrain from running harder than is wise.

Anyway I know I had it licked this morning because I ran and ran and ran all the while wondering when my timer was going to go off only to discover I had inadvertently turned it off somehow. I was not worried about getting enough air or even ready to stop when I finally discovered I'd stopped the darn thing and was likely twice the time running that I should have been.

So I'll brush the egg off my face yet again and start paying closer attention to regulating my intensity by talking periodically to the dog to ensure I'm in my target range. I obviously find it really tough to not go too fast.

I've changed my crunches to be an elbow past the knee type where I'm lifting my knee to pass my elbow on opposite sides. I'm doing them slowly with a slight hold on the crunch. These are tough and hit a larger area for me. The push-ups I'll increase at one per week on each set of two or three depending on how I feel.

I must be carrying some tension because my middle back is quite tight. It's fine when I'm running but last night it was a bother in bed. Sleep was lame again but I was calm when I awoke this morning.

Cheers! Ian.

Ian,
I would not worry about your little errors we all make them. I know I too have a very hard time not riding hard. I think it is part of our nature to want to go hard. Glad to here from you Wheezie. Hope you have a good week! Futs I think just making it is the key right now. That is a brutal schedule you are in the middle of.

I was riding home at a descent pace when a rider flew past me on the hill. I tried to keep up but could not. I let him go when I noticed that after he got about a 100 yards a head of me he had stoped gaining on me. I cranked it up again and realized I was gaining on him. I caught him on the flat after the hill. That felt good.

I did not ride on Saturday. I rode 18 miles yesterday. I finally did just ride an easy pace. It felt really nice. I just rode in the 2nd chain ring. It did take me longer, but I felt very good when I was done. I too am just checking by how I talk right now. I hope to get my HR monitor working soon.

I took today off and then will ride tues and weds. I did end up with 72 miles last week.
Keep up the good work!

still plugging away - i think i'll meet my goal for this week.

i'd like to get swimming back into my routine. so, next weeks goal will include one day at the pool.

72 miles. Great job, Jim! sounds like you've got a great thing going. i hope the winter months don't keep you off your bike for too long....

tomorrow is thanksgiving. i've got a turkey to get ready, so, i better get going. i'm trying to be all organized so tomorrow i'll know what i have to do and when. my list tomorrow will include times! when to put the turkey in the oven, when to peel the potatoes, how long to boil them, when the doorbell will start ringing, etc.

normally i'd just wing it (maybe we'd eat an hour later than planned, but, no one would stress. after all, times are always approximate.... :D ), but, tomorrow i'll be able to relax if i can refer to a list. it's my family and not my friends, we'll need to stick to a schedule. they are "schedule-people!" :eek:

i've got everything that i need in the house, and all i have to cook is the turkey, potatoes and gravy. i think i have even remembered to buy all the odds and ends, so, i won't lose any time running out to the store for something i forgot.

gobble gobble, wheezie

Do a little dance, make a little love get down tonight, get down tonight. Let's do a little dance, make a little love....Guess what!!!!! Can ya guess, can ya, can ya, huh, huh, huh!!!

I got a day off well not actually a day off but 3 yes siree count em 1-2-3 days off all to myself well kinda still had the house and Christmas junk to catch up but 3 days off!!!! *grins*

Oooo no excercising yet just cleaning and shopping *bigger grin* but I'll get back to it. See what happens when you march yourself into the Admins office and have a complete and total mental melt down? She said if it was too much you should have told me now go home, I'm totally serious sent me home on the spot and told me to rest I deserved it.






























**** straight I do!!!!

I took the week off to consider my options. I'll try again this week only this time it'll be only three days a week and all aerobic time will be constantly "talk" tested. The sets of crunches and push ups seem to be good for me.

Good news Futs. Enjoy your time.
ian

i'm going a bit gonzo actually. i think exercising is one of the things keeping me sane. a bit of a life-line really....

i hope i'm not pushing too hard, but, as i've said, it's almost a driving force right now.

did i write about going to the asthma doc? he gave me the green light to train for a marathon, but that i should train inside because the cold makes the wheezing worse. he also said that 10-15% of marathoners have asthma. i wonder where he pulled that stat from, interesting nonetheless. i'm going to look into doing a half marathon sometime in early summer. i thought about running the local 17 mile walk that i've done in the past, but, i'm afraid that it will be too cold to do the long distance running outside in march/april. i feel like a gerbil already running just 20 - 30 minutes on a treadmill. so, doing a training run of 1+ hours is probably not a sane option.

i've been going to a gym. actually, trying out to different places at the moment. we have a "curves for women" in town, it's an interesting routine, i can see the appeal, but, i don't think it'll be aerobic enough. i've got 3 days left on my guest pass, so, i'll find out on monday.

i'm babbling. thanks for checking in cherity. glad to see you're making wise use of your time off. i imagine you were power shopping, so, i'd count that as exercise!!!

ian, jim, bueller, bueller, bueller? ;), what *is* the difference between anaerobic and aerobic? i want to build up cardiovascular - so, i'll want to be working out in my aerobic zone. is that right? numbers do *not* stick in my brain, so, if you could give me a physical description (like the talk test thing) that'd help tons!

i want to build up cardiovascular - so, I'll want to be working out in my aerobic zone. is that right? numbers do *not* stick in my brain, so, if you could give me a physical description (like the talk test thing) that'd help tons!


First you have to find out your maximum heart rate. That's a little dodgy without a proper stress test. It can vary wildly between individuals so temper your results with the "talk" test. The talk test is that you should be able to talk a few words without gasping for breath. If you can carry on talking non stop you probably aren't working hard enough. If you gasp for breath when trying to carry on a bit of a conversation you're propably working too hard. I was working way too hard.

http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/maxhr.htm I thought this was a useful link about target heart rate zones and a good system of determining your max HR without a stress test.

I'm aiming at aerobic activity to be 75% of my max HR. This works out to be 145 bpm or so. I have failed to get down to this level as my testosterone seems to always get in the way. Hopefully my lay off last week with keep this habit in check now!


http://www.fitzones.com/members/Fitness/heartrate_zones.asp

Here is a neat little calculator for this stuff.
Cheers! Ian.

Great job guys and smart choices.

NO power shopping for me uh uh. I just wandered around aimlessly in my jammies (that's right in my jammies) *laughs* but it was fun and I wouldn't have been forced out of my warm home on the first snow if those stupid new lights had worked right, it took 3 two hour trips to get them to work right cause those were the light's the kids wanted.

Hey everyone! Hope you had a great holiday for those of you celebrating or having a holiday! Glad you got some time off Futs! Sounds like a great goal wheezie. Ian I know what you mean about the heart beat. It is very hard for me to keep mine low also.

I did manage to ride 4 days last week. I did 18 miles on Friday. It felt really good. I did not push hard early and was able to ride at a comfortable pace the whole ride. I felt strong at the end and picked it up a little.

I did do lots of lifting and walking up and down Sat/Sun. It was for most of both days. I took today off. I caught a weird bug Sat night. I ached all over and fet very sick to my stomach. I went to bed very early. The next day I was much better. Still a little sick to the stomach, but I am able to eat. Good job all!

ian, jim, bueller, bueller, bueller? , what *is* the difference between anaerobic and aerobic?

Sorry wheezie I neglected to answer this. Aerobic is with air and anaerobic is without basically.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913] .. not that Webster is any great authority..

Anaerobic \An*a`["e]*rob"ic\, a. [Pref. an-not + a["e]robic.]
(Biol.)
Not requiring air or oxygen for life; -- applied especially
to those microbes to which free oxygen is unnecessary;
ana["e]robiotic; -- opposed to a["e]robic.


Anaerobic \An*a`["e]*rob"ic\, a. (Biol.)
Relating to, or like, ana["e]robies; ana["e]robiotic.

WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]
anaerobic
adj 1: living or active in the absence of free oxygen; "anaerobic
bacteria" [syn: anaerobiotic] [ant: aerobic]
2: not aerobic; "isometric exercises are anaerobic" [ant: aerobic]


Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]
Aerobic \A`["e]r*o"bic\, a. (Biol.)
Growing or thriving only in the presence of oxygen; also,
pertaining to, or induced by, a["e]robies; as, a["e]robic
fermentation. -- A`["e]r*o"bic*al*ly, adv.

WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]
aerobic
adj 1: depending on free oxygen or air; "aerobic fermentation"
[syn: aerophilic, aerophilous] [ant: anaerobic]
2: based on or using the principles of aerobics; enhancing
respiratory and circulatory efficiency; "aerobic dance";
"running is very aerobic" [ant: anaerobic]

Cheers! Ian.

Hope everyone is well. I am back on the bike again. I have ridden the last 2days. I am trying not to push to much. The colder it gets the easier that is to do. I have it easy as far as the cold goes compared to some of you. Cold here is in the upper 30s. I do not think I would or will be riding much if it gets below 20 degrees.

There are a lot less riders out all though there are some.

So Jim, what's your alternative form of excercise during the winter months? Anything in particular or do you stuff yourself with food and then hybernate?

*-grunt, groan- eeeeehhhhhh!* "ONE! REWARD PLEASE!"

yoga last night. cookie dough today.

Ok, on the bright encouraging side, my face looks a bit thinner and I'm eating smaller portions. And in case I don't come back to this particular section for a while, have a wonderful holiday season and may your days be merry and bright!

Chel,
I am hoping to ride all winter this year. I normally take most of December and January off. So far I am doing just what I want. I am still pushing a little harder than I should, but last week was my lowest ride days in a long time. I rode 3 days last week. I did eat big time on Thursday, but am back on my sort of diet. I have salad with chicken in it for lunch and then for dinner I eat regular. I am watching salt intake. My cholesterol dropped 14 points.

I rode in again today. I did ride a good pace and then took it easy the last mile. Hope all of you are well.

OTAY first off great job guys and gals. I've started back up walking but had to take a small break due to ice I did try but my bottom declaired a default after the second landing *grins* but was back at it today. After my long tour at work and my three day break I started over and have four days left BUT *yeah!!!* my boss gave me four days a week and found a way to do it without killing me, we're talking work a day off two and once during the middle of the week I"m off even 5 days in a row and not missing any hours *jumps up and down and claps*. HOld your breath and send good thoughts word on the wind is one of the girls is getting fired hope for January cause I want this easy month lol. Jess came into the home to see me last night and she ran down the hall and jumped into my arms and I was bawling like a baby, everyone was staring and I declared PTSD from the last month of combat duty at work and we all had a laugh *laughs* we're dorks and we LOVE IT!!!!

OOO yea forgot to declare my naughty for the year. Thanksgiving had to deal with the inlaws all day long and then go to work. I kinda ate half a chocolate pie the next morning when I got home. Almost broke Doug's arm when he tried to take it away. lmbo

pie.. ya that works!

I just got in from clearing an entire cattle pond of snow so we could have a big old rink to skate on. Now it's been a while since I was on skates. I did not lace them up at all last year or maybe the year before. I might have had them on once in the couple of years before that so apparently I haven't used some of those muscles in a while.

If for some reason you notice I'm missing from the board tomorrow you'll all know I tumbled down the stairs and never made it back up to post. I'll be lucky to walk. At least my tootsies are thawed out now. It was -24C this morning, but it's headed up toward a melt tomorrow.

Dang Futs now I have to make a pie!!!
Cheers! Ian.

well, wish me luck. before my daughter got her winsor pilates dvd's, I promised her I would do them with her. Yesterday was my first session. Let's see how my commitment holds up....

Yowser.. you'll need to ease into that stuff pembroke. That will take you right to the meat of the issue. Take it slowly enough that it feels good. I've made that mistake enough to know how that one works. :(

The greatest thing in starting something like that is the magnitude of the advance in the first six weeks. It's like becoming someone else and we all know a change is as good as a rest... eheh

I'm high as a kite this morning. I'm much fitter than I thought. I've a generalised fatigue but nothing is sore and I could likely skate again today. Amazing.

Consistency is so beneficial. I've always overestimated the importance of intensity. I've always put tremendous emphasis on intensity and I've been missing the boat the whole time. It isn't even a factor until an aerobic base has been established.

I've not run in nearly two weeks. I was suffering from running too intensely. Go figure! I don't have a heart rate monitor and thought I was running so little that I didn't have time to stop and take a proper pulse but I was wrong as usual. What a thick skull I have. I've been around and around on this one and I thought I had my head around this so well but no.

I'll start again this week-end with 7's and 3's repeated three times. My knees do feel this work. I'll have to be very patient with my knees. I could afford to lose 15 pounds or so but so far have made no headway toward that goal. I'm sure it would impact favourably on my knees. I should get onto that.

Good luck pembroke and the rest of the crew.
Cheers! Ian.

Great news Ian, I'm so glad that you don't have to deal with all the aches and pains that go along with starting a new regime.

pem you let me know how the pilates go. I've heard people get great results with little soreness. Let me know and I'll consider it lol. I hate being sore so I have a hard time moving to the next level. No pain no gain...give me a break.

I've been working overtime at work and on my house. I have until the 19th to get everything in order since everyone including Doug's "lovely" family will be here for Garrett's first birthday ( I know it doesn't sound right but yes he will soon be 1 *frowns*). Then my family will be here the next day for Christmas we're frying turkey's and I invented a new potatoe recipe I'll let you know how it turns out (my family is my favorite victims). Walked a mile today, hurried home and started taking blinds down to wash and only broke two but in my defence they should have come down on the first try.

I can't imagine where you find the energy to do the things you do Futs. I would hope you are taking care of yourself. I'd love to have your drive!

I ran today for the first time in a couple of weeks. I think some of the stretches I was doing for my quads were messing with my knees. Regardless, I'll know in a week or so I suppose.

I did 7's and 3's (x3) today. I took my pulse at the end of the second seven minute run and was very pleased to see it bang on my target. I felt great afterward.

I'll be cutting out one run a week until I know what's up with the knees. I can't imagine that I've run enough to impact them negatively but no doubt more will be revealed.

It was snowing gently as I ran up the soft road centre. It was an amazing time to be outside. The sounds were all muted by the falling snow and the temperature was warm enough I was soon without mitts and toque.
Cheers! Ian

I have a migraine aura going on which sucks! I haven't had one in ages so it was a bit of a surprise to find my vision going away on my just now. I have to look around the mess to see the writting. Fortunately any pain won't be felt until tomorrow and then only if I create pressure in my head by sneezing or putting my head down or something along those lines. Grr.. I thought I'd seen the last of these.

I ran this morning before I ate and didn't get away until 8:30 or so and had a big chocolate hit last night so maybe that has something to do with the head troubles now.

I think I'm on the right path for the knee trouble. I ran again doing 7's and 3's (x3) this morning and it's all good!

I'm also very proud to say that I worked BELOW my target heart rate! I think this must be a first for me! I'm not prone to working less intensely than I can that's for sure! I calculated I was a full ten beats per minute below my target after the third segment of seven minutes running. Outstanding! There may be hope for me yet.

I've been avoiding the forums at night if I can so I can get a bit more sleep. I'm feeling better but my sleep patterns aren't much better so the rest is not building up to battle the fatigue. This is disappointing but I'm trying to back off and let go of as much as I can identify.

I'm looking to introduce some "core" exercises. Has anyone got three basic core exercises that I might begin with?
Cheers! Ian.

Sorry to hear about your migraine Ian. I am lucky in that I have never gotten one. I know what you mean about running in the snow. The quiet with the snow falling is a great experience. I grew up in Northren NM and it snowed a fair amount.

I have got my heart rate monitor up and running. I have rode all this week so far. I too have been bad about riding outside my target range. I did slow it down this am and was within the lower part of the range. Last night I got to competive and kept up with a rider going very hard up the hill. I was able to keep up but my heart rate was up around 175. I felt it the rest of the way home. I was not much below 150 even though I did slow some. I am going to work at keeping it below 145 the rest of my rides. It will go up on the hills no matter what, but I can keep it with in reason. I did pass 2 people on the hill in, but I did not push like I said. I need to work on trying to ride my own ride. Hang in there all of you!

Your MHR might be higher than you think. You might want to actually do a test to see what your max actually is. The formula that is common can be off by quite a bit. I'm going to wait six weeks before putting myself through that though.

It looks like the knees are going to be fine which is the best news I can think of! I'm jacked to know that I've over come the first hurdle at least. I'm going back to running four days a week. I see no reason not to now. Especially in light of this aerobic thing. It's a completely different way to work, at least for me. Below are some links regarding the process.

I've got a line of some peoples favourite core exercises too which I'll post when I get a chance.
Cheers! Ian.

http://www.ffh.us/cn/hadd.htm

http://www.duathlon.com/articles/1460

http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1973.html

http://www.athletictrainingservices.com/MHR.htm

http://www.ffh.us/cn/part1.htm

http://vnews.ironmanlive.com/vnews/markallen/1011626750/

http://www.rrca.org/publicat/slowdown.html

http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2001/07_01/jul01news.htm

http://www.athletictrainingservices.com/MHR.htm

http://www.runningnetworkarchives.com/runwashington/tips/hrm.html

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NHF/is_2_18/ai_86706815

http://blackbox.cs.fit.edu/blog/pat/archives/000169.html

http://www.bodyresults.com/E2maxheartrate.asp

http://www.covertbailey.com/zone.asp

http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1973.html

http://www.howtobefit.com/determine-maximum-heart-rate.htm

Thanks for all the info Ian it was very helpful. I am going to try and train at a lower level for a while. I did feel it inside when it was high. It is harder to do riding in the city because of the stoping and starting. I will get more of a benifit on weekends doing rides where I do not stop. If it does not change over time then mine is a little higher. I did a stress test in college and was able to get my HR up to 212 for over 2 minutes. I did find a couple of days when I was at 140-150 and felt out of breath.

I am really glad to here your knees are not an issue and that you are back on track. I rode home yesterday in the pouring rain. I did take it easy and my average HR was 125. I did not ride in today. It is really to wet to be real safe and also I needed a day off. I will ride 4-5 days a week including a 1-2 hour ride on the weekend. I have been able to maintain my wieght at 155-158. For me this is a good weight. Take care all!

I've been rising unusually early and getting busy way before my usual time. Some of it is due to waking an hour before I get up to take my Dexedrine then climbing back into bed but some of it is choice. There is much to be done apparently! eheh

I feel great. I ran today before dinner after a long day in the city. It was nice to be home but running in the dark was not my cup of tea. I'll run tomorrow if I feel good.

I nailed my heart rate tonight or it was close. I don't know what my real maximum heart rate is but after my third 7 minute segment I was working at about 148/150 beats per minute or so. I was breathing but could still converse. Even if it was with myself!

My shins are fine, my knees are perfect and although I'm tired I've got my head around my target heart rate. I'll go for a max heart rate test at the end of January sometime if I can keep running through until then.

I got my pulmonary test done today and all looked fine. I showed an 8% gain in the first second with the dilators in effect so that's half of what would be indicating medical intervention. That leaves allergies I suppose. I hate having my skin pierced so it might take me a while to get around to doing those ones.

Early to bed tonight. I'm pooped. I worked hard all week again. That's two in a row. I did some laundry and some clean up around the house too just to try and lighten the load for some others. PU is burnt out and looking forward to the break over the holiday.

I'm seeing life in my work again and the phone keeps ringing so I must be doing something right. I haven't felt this strong in a long time. I used to always say "Stay Hungry" and made up a shirt to say it. It seems I've been missing that hunger for a long while. It's coming back in waves. I'm welcoming it back with open arms. It's very good to find myself alive again.

Ian

Why do work outs work.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/10dec_muscles.htm?list533189

I just say this on the NASA newsletter.

Hey Everyone,

Sorry I have been among the missing. I am still working out but I have a hard time posting it. I forget or feel like it is "something I have to do" and you all know what it is like having add and feeling like you "have" to do something. Makes me procrastinate and then the next thing you know it has been weeks. So I am just plugging away doing my thing and I will check in and post ocasionally. I am starting to do some laps in the pool which feels great. The streets are now icy so it is harder to run outside. You all sound like you are doing great. Keep up the good work.

Debs

Great job everyone!!!!

I just started my 5 days in a row off and I refuse to answer the phone lmbo just let the answering machine pick it up and if it's someone I want to talk with they'll keep talking till I pick it up. When you have trouble saying NO you have to get creative.

I don't have a lot of "actual excercise" to report. But, think that getting my house ready for the upcoming events qualifies. I'm ahead of schedule since I stayed up until 4 am this morning and was back at it by 6 am. I've cleaned the house including ceilings, walls, carpets, windows and curtains. Now I have to finish the bedrooms and fish tanks. Then I'll go clean the garage, yard and maybe the vehicles.

It took my sister and I about 6 hours to finally re-string the Christmas lights and they work!!! finally. I thought I had a problem with OCD...I haven't seen my sister in a war against Christmas lights before, I just wanted to finally go buy new ones and she's screaming "NO these will work, they don't have a choice" :( it was kinda scarry.

Well, three more nights sleeping by my husband and four more days off :D Life is great!!!!

Well, it could be a little better...like days off during the week while the kids are at school...NOW THAT WOULD ROCK!!!!

Glad to have you back Futs and Deb. Great work Ian! Glad to hear the running continues to go well. I did not ride this weekend. I did do some good lifting and moving of boxes for a couple hours. I also went up and down a ladder for a couple hours also puting up x-mas lights,

I had a good ride in today and a nice ride home tonight. I did not push hard at all. I kept my HR around 140. It did go up to about 160 on a hill and I slowed down. Keep up the good work.

Good work all.

I ran today again. This week is 8 minute runs with 2 minutes walking. I ran on Saturday in a howling gale. It was brutal when I was running into the wind. I was well above my target when I got finished that half.

Today was good though and I kept myself in check. I read about lactic acid most of the morning. The more I understand how this all works the more willing I seem to be in holding myself to the percentages I've calculated for my heart rate. It's all pretty cool really.
Have fun.
ian

hey all,

I joined a gym the promptly stopped going for a week, but, was back at it tonight and plan on going regularly again throughout the holiday season.

I ran today, 3 miles! I didn't push it really hard since my goal was to run the distance. I can't believe how difficult it is for me to keep simple numbers in my head, but, I think my heart rate is in the aerobic range. I did increase my speed a couple times just to push myself a bit, but, mostly ran slow and steady. I did a nice stretch afterwards and cooled down by walking outside - it's about 20 F with a brisk 10 mph wind.

I can feel the workout, especially in my quads, but, overall feel suprisingly good.

Now if only I could get to sleep.... :rolleyes:

Good to see all your messages -- it's a nice, quick way to keep up-to-date.

g'night (wishful thinking)

w.

p.s. Cherity, from how I imagine you get your holiday preparations done, I think you could double the estimates they provide in this article. ;)

Burning Holiday Calories (http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/activity/holicals.htm)

Wheezie, Wheezie, Wheezie I've been missing you and was about to pm you to see what the heck was up with you. I worry when I shouldn't I know but surely worrying burns calories doesn't it? lol Thanks for the article it was interesting and got me counting. Christmas is my favorite time of the year well except for maybe Easter and Halloween and maybe New years well I"m sure you get the picture lol. We've been members to a gym now for over a month and I've gone twice but plan to go more once they start the Dodge ball league...isn't that the coolest a dodge ball league? I can't wait!!!! Anyways my point is you gotta ease into it all cool like ya know?!!! lol don't beat yourself up your one tough momma and I love ya.

Jim, I know I broke out into a mean sweat when I put our lights up going up and down the ladder and up and down the ladder, that's right you heard me I went up up up and up even more hard to believe since I'm so afraid of heights but I just couldn't wait for Doug to help me and he was helping a recently widowed lady down the street put her lights up--he's a good one I tell ya.

Ian your doing so great!!! *does a little cheer*

Anyways for me as you can see I"m a bundle of energy since I've relaxed and decided that if my house is good enough for the strangers from work who will be spending Christmas with us cause they can't go home then it's good enough for my mother in law who is supposed to love us. Shopping shopping shopping, baking, baking, baking the nice thing about baking all day is your never hungry you can only look at food for so long before it loses it's appeal. Jess and I have started our walks back up, I can't believe how much I've missed that little pain in the rump. Koda's grades dropped in math so I've been chasing him down on a daily basis and forcing him to do his redo work to get his grades back up, he hates me right now so I just love him this much more <___> then he hates me and it'll all come out in the wash. Besides when I hear strong emotion I know he's learning his lesson and I've done my job!!! *smiles*

Well like a butterfly I'm off to flit around.
Hugs everyone and keep up the great work

I want a hug!!!! Of course, I've been on a work out hiatus.... BUT I STILL WANT A HUG!

*hugs* Dan

I've had the worst day in the best way or maybe it was the best day in the worst way. How do you put having a really crappy day but still being able to hold on to your sense of humor?

I went back to work last night and found out for every one of the four nights I was off I lost two residents. 'Tis the season I suppose; you lose some and gain new ones. It's a feeling that is so hard to explain while your sad and heartbroken, you've also watched this person's body suffer incredible pain and indignity so your relieved they finally have peace. While your dealing with these feelings your admitting a new patient. But, we're down 8 beds so they don't want us overlapping our shifts *grins* I have never gotten out of work early...it's kinda nice, grinned all the way home like a kid who just got away with playing hooky from school. Don't think me crass but when you see a grown man disolve into tears and beg *** to just let him rest you know in your heart somethings are far worse then death.

We worked short because we convinced Jess to go home. She's a mess people, snapped at residents left and right, lost her beloved cat (thank goodness her mom found the cat an hour after she got to work), money problems and losing her grandmother last night did not do any good for an already off balance mentality. Needless to say she was very, very prickly. We talked a little about her going to an Oxford house (half way house) for alcoholics and I asked her how she felt about going and she started making excuses about money. I reminded her that she is one of the best employees we have and could get a job there and that it was cheaper then maintaining her apartment which is going to be sold next month anyways perhaps her landlady would let her out of her lease a little early. And that everything she was feeling was a normal reaction to a death in her family and she could cry no one would point or stare and she just started screaming at me loud enough to bring the other aides. "I can't be like you, I don't know why you expect me to be like you" Well, I'm a little ashamed and confused to admit that I lost it with her and screamed back "You think I'm never scared? you think I don't lose it? What the hell gives you the right to put me on a pedastal anyways I'm a mom I live every single day in fear" were I become confused is that seems to be what she needed to hear. Tough love? I don't know, she has a lot of hard decisions to make right now and I felt like she was asking me to make them for her and if I've learned anything from my friendship with Ian it's I can't help her in that arena of her life. She called me just a little while ago and said she'd made it to Denver and is with her family, helping to set her grandmother's funeral up and ended with an I love you so she can't have too many hard feelings...I hope. Give the knowledge to change what I can and the ability to accept the things I can't...Right? Right!!!!

I had a really horrible no good very bad day but I"m still in a good mood. Strange even for me I know lmbo. I got a new toy...Doug bought me a pedometer (I think that's what it's called) I walked over 7.26 miles at work but it's stop and go so not really a work out and it wasn't an even number so I walked non-stop when I got home for 3 miles to even it out to 10 then another few steps to even it out to 11 how's that for OCD? *laughs at self* I hate odd numbers, they irritate me like a fly buzzing my ears, nothing major just something that I get rid of if I can. Best odd numbers are found in cookies you can always eat the offender.

Well I'm off to wrap doug's tool box...or at least try and figure out a way to wrap it.

Ian, you asked some time ago about core strengthening exercises so when I came upon this article I thought of you. The slide show is great for a visual learner like me. I hope you get something you can use from the article.

Core strengthening: More than just a crunch by Mayo Clinic Staff (http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=2CEDAD10-1A8A-42F5-8A629A8DD15444FC)

w.

Well looks like we'll be working short for quite a long time...Jess made the call, when she checks into the Oxford house is up to them but she's already decided to go and I've never known her to back out at the last minute. *grins* working short isn't so bad you know?!!!!!

I have recently got back into my exercise regimen again and it amazes me how quickly it improves my whole outlook. Pretty simple routine, 35 minutes on a Life Fitness cross trainer 5 days a week with a weight training session every other day. I even finally started using my Ab roller again instead of using it for a tie rack!! :D

YEAH!!! I get to be the first....WELCOME PHIL!!!!!!!

I worked for Jess last night. Got off early again, isn't life great!!! Walked my two miles already and am now ready to hit the sack since I have to be up in two hours.

*grins and waves* nighty night everyone

Thanks wheezie. I looked into lots of the core exercises and I'll check out your link too. It will help that it's a slide show. I don't think there is any doubt about the merit of doing these core exercises.

I spent some energy working my oblique's and abdominal yesterday. I hadn't done anything other than experiment and learn until yesterday. I'm so impressed at how simple and effective the basics are. I'll continue with some of the basic core exercises. It seems like a great idea.

I've been doing my 8 minutes run with 2 minutes walk and repeating three times this week. I feel like I'm fighting a flu or something but so far I'm ahead of the count. I'll be crossing my fingers that I can ward it on. I'm holding my own pretty well given how many of our family have been or are sick now.

I'm struggling with food but that may be due to the meds. I'm going to talk to my coach/therapist today about dropping all my meds gradually. I can't seem to muster the same vigour for meditation with the drugs in my system.

I know I'm making progress in my running when I realise that even one coffee in the morning is interfering with my sleep at night. I've slowly become addicted to running again. I love it.

I've read a lot of information recently about training. I was quite amazed at the degree to which "aerobic" training has evolved since I last ran. The emphasis on keeping my heart rate down into my target range is very tough for me to accomplish. I'm always prone to letting my heart rate creep upward. It is so difficult for me to accept that "not" working as hard as I can is essential to the process.

Yesterday I set out to keep it low and I had no environmental factors to inhibit my efforts but still managed to get distracted (really! :*} ) so at the finish I was still up to 158 where I should be 144 or so. Morning coffee and Dexedrine may not be how I want to start my day.. heh I really do notice the coffee interfering here. I make a big hit of espresso first thing in the day so if I can muster it, I'd like to get beyond that addiction. Cutting down hasn't seemed to yield all the results I now want. Running has become quite a high priority.

The basic selling point of the process seems to me to be one of cultivating your system to burn fat and not sugars. If I work at a level where conversation is still possible (yes I talk now all the time to my dog! eheh) it always feels like I'm doing no good. Of course I am doing a lot of good but somehow I'm quite deeply programed to work harder than I should and then keep myself from getting ahead as fast as I might.

It's been just like I imagined though. It's provided me with a patient and steady bone to chew that isn't killing me to maintain. I feel like I'm laying the ground work for a life time of satisfaction and deeply held pride in overcoming so many of my stumbling blocks. Running has already become a metaphor for many of my dreams. I know many people now that have managed to either learn from their mistakes and recover to run again or migrated to other activities like biking to continue to advance and develop.

I can't say how much I appreciate you all posting back here to egg us all on. Fut's you've continued to confound me with your energy and gumption! I'd love to be at your house early Christmas morning to watch your face as your kids rise. You are like the supreme nut..hehe with a hard durable shell housing the sweetest insides. Thanks for your input.

Jim you have obviously been reading and believing too! I'm hoping a heart monitor is under the tree for me but likely not so I'll buy one shortly after the holiday giving is over. Taking my pulse manually is fraught with error for an inattentive type like me.

Wheezie your three mile run must have felt wonderful. Watch your heart rate though. It's self defeating to run hard without a mess of time building an aerobic foundation. 207 x .7 of your age gives you an approximate maximum heart rate. Then you want to be at about 70-75 percent of that when you train. It takes about six weeks of steady work at that easy pace to establish the desired conversions. After that it's up to you to watch your times improve at this pace. As I understand it more speed isn't desireable until one stops showing time improvements at the 70-75% range. I'm fascinated at the whole process, you of course can do what you like but I'd love to hear you on board with this, I need a buddy.. :)

Deb your needs come first obviously and I'm happy to hear you are so entrenched in what works for you. I'm down right envious in reality. ;^)

Cheers! Ian

yoga this morning...interrupted at regular intervals so the whole "finding center/relaxing" part was thwarted. I'm having a terrible time sleeping, I wake up with a very dry mouth and parched lips, and everything is stiff and sore.

I am old before my time. (sigh)

'tis the season, Chel. cold and dark and germs everywhere. what you are describing sounds suspiciously like a virus....

whenever i'm gettin' a cold or something "pluggy" i end up mouth-breathing at night and wake up exactly as you described - "v. dry mouth and parched lips" the stiff and sore part might be the effects of a virus too. but *maybe* the exercising will keep you healthy enough to keep from being overwhelmed by the whatever-it-is.

(((hugs)))

feel better!

w.

I ran again today. That makes four days a week two weeks in a row without any knee grief. Some days are sweeter than others!

I managed to finish my run today at 140/bpm which is the best I've done yet at keeping my numbers low. The more I read the more I like this idea of low targets.

I was very restless in the quads this morning in bed though. I'm crying to stretch them. I might try later to find a way to work out some of the tension.

Chel yoga is great stuff. It's the consistency that will pay the big dividends so try not to worry too much about getting interupted and breaking the rhythm of the moment. When the kids were younger I was sitting in meditation every morning and they would often want to have some contact. I suggested that they could come and sit quietly for a while in my lap if they were gentle with me. They often came too once they learnt they were allowed. It was some of the most intimate moments of parenting for me. Rolling with it is better than losing it.

I hope you can get beyond your breathing trouble at night. I use a product called nonevent to help. I have a great big narrow honker that has more than it's share of restrictions. It's a little appliance that spreads your nose open. You can also buy the ones that stick to the outside of your nose and do the same thing. Many athletes use those kind to ensure they are getting all the breath they can during sports activities.

Jim I'm hungry for a review of your thoughts regarding lactate tolerance levels. Did you read anything regarding the association of lactate levels and training styles? The whole conversation about mitochondria blew my over active imagination away. Symbiotic organisms negotiating what fuels are burnt? Fun facts for the curious!

Chel are you interested in weight loss? I see that training in at ever lower levels than I'm trying to stick to are really super at ripping off the pounds. The 50%-60% of max heart rate is what I've read can help lots. So working at that level for a half hour four or five times a week while restricting carbs might yield the best results. Worth a try for those interested in losing some holiday extra. I'm still battling to keep my weight within reason. I'm tapering off the Remeron and today seem to be able to better control the intake.
Chore time.
Cheers! Ian.

It was -25C with a 30km wind blowing out of the north west when I went out for my last of the 8's and 2's this afternoon. You can see by my new avatar that I'm a bit frosty. No wonder I was a bit on the cold side heading off up the road.

The new shoes were pretty cold going out but everything had a hard time making too much heat going out. On the way home I was warm to the point I didn't have to cover my nose which was close to dropping off when I first headed out. hehe

The polypropylene under shirt just about rubbed my left nipple right off. I'll not be repeating that mistake!
ian

IAN! :eek: YOU HAVE ICICLES ON YOUR MUSTACHE!!!!! ICICLES!!!

I'm not terribly appreciative of weather here because it goes from 50 to 20 to 50 in two days and that gives my baby with asthma a hard time. However, if there's icicles on my face...that's too cold. Reminds me of the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon "Don't you hate it when your boogers freeze?"

I digress (who me? tangent?). Yes you guys are right. I have a cold. I'm a total wuss about it, too.

I was trying to lose weight, but now my main focus is holistic health. Any weight loss (which could occur) is a fringe benefit. Because I handle stress so poorly (and the social anxiety has been really been tough lately) I'm aging before my time. Mike's so worried he thinks I'll die young.

Thanks for the encouragement (I count on it) and you're right, consistency is the key.

Hope your nipple is better soon. (I breastfed three kids so I actually know the feeling you speak of. moo.)

Chel those are not frozen boogies! Although I must admit I did clean up a bit
before I took the shot. hehe

It's bitter today. Windchill this morning was -39C. The good news is that by tomorrow morning it will be close to the freezing mark. The rest of the week looks cold though.

Don't forget that working out in an aerobic manner creates a deep sense of well
being. I find this especially true when I'm working at the correct intensity
for my goals.

At the lower levels of work that maximize fat burning you might get a bigger hit
than you might think possible.

Obviously a holistic approach is best but I'm hoping you can find your way to
include something for your heart and lungs in the mix of things. We all must
start at our beginnings.

Your courage and dedication to continue to find a way into a healthy lifestyle
is commendable.
Cheers! Ian.

I know they aren't frozen boogies!!! I was kidding!!!

Hey all back and checking in. Glad things are going well running Ian. I think my latic acid was how hard I was trying to ride. As I have slowed some it seems to have disapeared. I am lucky here. It has not been below freezing yet. I did ride 4 days last week. I hope to do the same this week or more. It will be a busy week so I will see what I can get in. I have been able to keep my heart rate around 145. It goes up on the hills, but I did keep it under 160 the last couple of days.

Chel Ian is right I think aerobic activity will make you feel better in the long run. Of course I am biased. Hope you feel better soon.

I bought some running shoes so if the weather is to yucky I can go run.

Chel I'm sorry you couldn't have seen my smile when I posted about the snot in my beard. It's my whacked sense of humour rearing it's
ugly head again. :a

I ran this morning at a good pace. It's 9's and 2's this week I think. I have a heck of a time remembering stuff like that! And I'm
thinking my changes may be just part of a time of life where men mellow out a little. But that would be off topic.

It's roared back up to about -1C today. It was nice to be out with a bare head and carrying my mitts. Saturday remains vivid. I sat
at 160/bpm by the time I had a stiff head wind for a quarter mile to finish. I was hoping for lower but I'm still perky so I'm not too
worried.

Work is sailing along. Yard work today while the temp is civil. I'll put sixty or so flax bales around the foundation and a dozen
fluffed up over the septic tank.

It's glorious to be outside when the air is this good a quality and dry. It's like breathing liquid sunshine. Especially when it's
clear. We'll be getting "clear" tonight as the temperature is supposed to plummet 15 degrees this afternoon. I guess I don't have
forever... bye... :)
Ian

Way to keep going Ian! Again I feel how lucky I am weather wise. Just rain and a mild cold compared to you. Probably more like a heat wave. Just as I said I was doing better watching my HR I raced to catch someone going home and shot it way high. I did calm it back down the last mile or so. I did not ride today, but walked a real good pace up a mile hill to work. I will ride tomorrow. Work is very busy these days.

I love the the seasons roll. I wouldn't trade winter for anything. The qualities are there if one has need to look for them.

Now that I've spouted off about my love of winter I'll just mention that the wind chill tomorrow is being forecast to be -44C. I wonder how running will go.. hmmm ehheh
Cheers! Ian.

I do miss the winter, but the temp with wind chill sounds down right ugly. I did not ride today. I will walk though after work to the bus. It is only a mile, but it is something. I will ride tomorrow. I hope to still get 4 days in this week. Time will tell.

You may have my winter biker dude I have no need or love for the cold weather. Jess and I have been up to walking 3 miles a day now, soon we'll be going to 4 like in July lmbo. OK OK OK but it's so cold out there, at least our heart rates are increasing lol 5 degrees can almost give you the urge and the will to run.

Yesterday, I walked with Jess, then came home showered and was off shopping before sun up with the hubby and we didn't stop until sun down. We had so much fun!!!!! He's such a cute little strange man *grins*.

OK I"m off to wrap presents and rock a screaming baby

hugs all

I'll take you up on the winter bike Futs! eheh It would be good to cross train some. Actually with the chores and wood I probably get more than enough cross training for my current fitness.

Do you like my new avatar Chel? Not nearly the booger content as before.. :D
Cheers! Ian.

I ran the last of the 9's and 2's today. I finished the week strongly but the food is a little rich this time of year! eheh

I've come back from my runs this week feeling refreshed and strong. My legs feel great and my mood is light. Today I was so relaxed people commented.

Next week is 9's and 1's. I covered about 12 miles this week. The core exercises were stronger today.
Cheers! Ian.

WEll, I was all up for a walk but since I've seen Ian's avator I've decided to sit here by the fire. lmbo NO NO NO COLD for me thank you. Actually, wish me sane I'm off to the in laws *sniff, sniff*

Hey all!! Hope you had a good holiday. I managed to walk on thursday up the mile hill. Friday I rode 17 miles. It was cold for here, but nothing compared to what you guys have to endure or enjoy :D Saturday was a day off and lots of eating.

Yesterday I rode 32 miles. It was nice again. Probably mid to lower 40s. My HR monitor does not work with my wireless computer on my bike. It read 235 for most of the first half of the ride. I just shut it off the second half of the ride. I tried to spin and ride a good pace. I did not want to push to hard. I tried just making sure I could talk. I also worked on making sure I was drinking a lot. It is something I have had probelms with in the past so I am tring to make it a good habit. I felt great at the end of the ride. I still averaged a good pace considering it is winter. I did end up only riding 3 days last week, but I still got in 63 miles. I also ended up walking 4 miles or close to it.

I did jog about a half mile yesterday from the car to a store. It felt good, but it was a short jaunt. I may try to run a little so I can do some cross training. I need to do some core exercises. I have stoped my crunches and push ups.

I rode into work today. It was very nice. I had a tailwind all the way in so that made it easy. I am just trying to maintain riding wise. I will take tomorrow off. I hope to do like last weekend. Ride an hour or so and then a 2hour ride.

Good job Ian!! I am going to enjoy another week of eating rich and then get back into things next year. It is neat to hear your progress. If it was that cold here I am sure I would be sitting by the fire too. I have added about 3 lbs. I do not want to add to much more.

Jim you sound like you are really making some good progress. Do I detect the smell of new running shoes in here? :)

Keeping it fun is new for me. Keeping the intensity down to hit my target heart rate has been inspiring. I'm loving the work load and now hate to miss one. I'm after a heart rate monitor now too.

The core exercises are comming along wonderfully. I've not been able to figure out how to hit my upper back though but the rest is coming right along.

I ran again today with the first of my 9 minute runs and 1 minute walks. Running is so weird in that it takes so long for the body to adapt to the impact. I could run much farther but I don't want to be injured.

Today was a banner day to run. I had very low expectations though. I'd slept in the city last night at the father in-law's and it was sweltering in the basement. I shut the light out at 3:30am but tossed and sweat-ed until it was time to rise. By eating well through the holiday and not over doing the workload I got home and felt like I could enjoy a run.

I went out as I usually do, very very slowly. I figure I'm doing about a ten minute mile pace when I head out. Today though was quite mild and the running was easy. The first leg always sees a bust of fatigue but by the second leg I am usually hitting my stride.

On my last and final leg of 9 minutes running I was checking my ability to talk without gasping and thought I could use some more speed. I ended up covering about two minutes more ground on the way back through that segment when compared to the first segment. My pulse at the end was 150 which I thought reasonable in combination with being able to talk quite freely at that level.

It's all looking very good to me. I got John Stanton's book for a gift and read most of it last night. I'm flirting with the 10km training now. I'm not sure what I'll use for "hills" in this flat land!

You go Futs!

Cheers! Ian

You do detect the smell Ian! I picked some up last week. It is what made the jog from the car feel good. There is a huge difference between cross training shoes and running shoes. I may dabble in some running again. I will be riding more, but running is easier to get out and do if I do not have as much time.

Good job on the running. It sounds like you are doing exactly as you planned! It does feel great when you get into a groove exercising. I had a nice ride home last night. I am finding I can spin and still ride a good pace and I do not use up near as much energy. I did not take the day off today. I had a good ride in. I was bundled up pretty heavy. It was righ around freezing this morning. I know it is not that cold, but the wind you create riding does make it colder. I wanted to just spin and not push. I followed a mountain bike for about a mile. I was in no hurry to pass. I did finally pass him on the hill. I was well rested and he had slowed down more than I wanted too. I am just going by the talking right now until I can get my HR monitor to work without going nuts. It was way off on Sunday!

I will take Thurs off. I will also probably take one more day off also. Probably Sat or Sunday. Keep up the good work!

So did you buy trainers or runners? Great to hear you will be branching out. I'm torn between spending money on an off road bike, fixing my old road bike or buying a horse. One thing for sure is that running is going to be tough once the bugs hatch in the spring. I'll have to ask the local crew what they do to cope in the spring and summer.

Running is like no other in that it takes so much longer for the ligaments, tendons and bones to adapt than it does for the heart and lungs. That's the place injuries come from in the vast majority of situations. I see this so clearly in my old running journal and conversely I'm not seeing it now although I am beginning to accumulate some mileage that might have shown some stresses.

I'm taking it all so patiently. I am delirious about how easy I'm beginning to find all this new found "ease" with patience.

I've done some homework on stretching and have found that by putting a small rolled up towel behind my knee I can stretch my quads without hurting my knee. Some nights my legs are so restless to be stretched I can hardly settle in to sleep.

You too seem to be becoming very deliberate in you efforts. The cold on the coast kills me. It's so moist I need a lot of wool around me to ward off the chill. I prefer the lower temperatures to the humidity now but it wasn't always like that. Be careful out on those cold roads Jim. Stay upright! :)
Ian.

Imagine the worst and everything that comes after is a cake walk, I figured surviving my inlaws with any form of sanity would be about 25% and was shocked that I came out of it with all of sanity intacted or what I had to begin with lol. My neice and her husband were back from Guam were he is stationed with the Air Force and they brought their 5 month old daughter nobody had ever met so we had a lot to be thankful for instead of a lot of bickering and complaining.

My mother in law did inspect my house but I knew she would and was ready so she had nothing to complain about, it's kinda like raining on her parade *naughty grin*.

I've been extremely busy and am hoping things will slowly settle back down for us. I'm looking forward to getting back to work on our bathroom especially since Santa brought me brand new toys that have never been used by anyone else...I got a jigsaw, router, Firestorm cordless power pack that has a drill and a stud finder and a whole mess of tools I've never used before ARRR ARRR ARRR I was so excited I started crying (it's a girl thing)...OOO yea a tool box and a digital camera but I haven't looked at that yet I've been busy picking my next project it's gonna be great to build something without having to wait until my equipment cools down or having to get it fixed and it's cordless!!!! Color me very very pleased.

Jess is gone so I've been doing my walking alone...I don't walk near work alone it's not exactly the safest area so I wait until I get home but by then I'm relaxed and tired from the drive so I haven't been walking as far. Garrett got a wagon for Christmas so I've been pulling him along with me instead of lugging him...so, I need to get more motivated because I'm not getting my pulse rate up right now I"m not even losing my breath so it's time to step it up I know but I'm letting myself recover from the last month lol I'll try not to have a new excuse next month.

Ian and Jim your both doing great at staying with it and taking the next step I really do wish I had your OOMPH!!! But, then I would have missed out on a lot of play time with the kids. OK OK excuses, excuses, excuses...I'm gonna get busy I promise.

Futs I think you are doing fine! Time with the family is much more important than working out. I am horrible with power tools and it sounds like you are the queen of construction. I am sure that will give you a good workout.

Ian, I bought the runners. They are very comfortable. I may run some, but my main focus will be on the riding.

Well I did not do what I planed to again. I rode today and yesterday also. I rode to work and back. I may not ride as much next week. It is supposed to get quite cold for here. Down into the 20's. I have really enjoyed the rides. My spinning has really improved. I can almost ride as fast in the lower gears and with much less effort. I have continued to go by how I feel and make sure I can speak. It has really felt good. I also have a reserve energy when I finish the ride. When I am riding I feel like I can take off at a faster pace anytime. I have done it here and there, but not much. Now is the time to just work on form and stay in shape. This is the 1st holiday season in sometime that I have not stopped riding. I feel very good about my fitness level.

I am hoping to ride tomorrow and then Saturday. That way I get a ride on the last day of the year and the first day of the next year. Of course now that I am planning to do that it won't happen. Either way it has been a good year of riding! Thanks to everyone here for your support. I hope I have been able to do the same for you guys. Have a great New Year!!!!

I had not slept much in the past few nights before yesterday and my legs were a little heavy and my throat was a little sore. I could tell that all the signs were there to warn me to take a day off.

I'm amazed at how much energy I get from all this though. I'm being quite anal about sticking to a heart rate that keeps me strictly within an aerobic work load and that is no doubt where I'm getting my strength from.

I ran yesterday and had company over until late last night but today I'm not concerned about my throat and my legs are fatigued but not spent. I'll try and take some time to stretch today in preparation for my Friday, Saturday two in a row days.

Again yesterday I finished with a heart rate of 150/bpm which is ok. As I pass through the half way mark of this latest scheme I'm at a loss as to what to do after I finish this latest 10 week plan. Next week will be 13's and 2's and week eight.

If anyone has any thoughts I'd love to hear them. I'm still working a bit hard so I may just take some time to back off to three runs of a half hour on the week following then just tack on 10% of distance weekly and let my heart and lungs come along as they may.

Every run now I experience periods where I have more speed available. I don't have to go as slow as I can in order to keep my heart in check. It's so dang tough to not over do it. My legs are strong and my foot fall and stride seem to feel confident if that makes any sense. I'm wearing more clothes than I was so I'm a bit hot on the way back but overall I think it's better to be a little warm, especially on the legs. I'm often running without a toque or mitts and end up carrying them instead of wearing them.

A big winter storm is headed our way. I hope I get a break in the weather to get my run in tomorrow.

I'm with Jim on your priorities Futs. You are carrying a heavy load. Stress is stress no matter if it's not working out like you might like it's taking it's toll. It won't always be like this. Having older children is better in that way and more stressful in others but overall it's easier when they aren't quite so needy. You do have our omph.. and maybe more. You are spending energy in places we are not. Go easy on yourself. You have full days with much to be proud of just the way you are!

My resting pulse is still hanging just at or above 60/bpm. I'm quite please that my daily active pulse has dropped from the high seventies to the mid sixties. I'm still heavier than I want to be but the Mirtazapine is done tonight and then I'll start in on the fat bits again.

13's and 2's twice next week. I can't believe I'm getting to the end of this phase.
Cheers all.

Futs I think you are doing fine! Time with the family is much more important than working out. I am horrible with power tools and it sounds like you are the queen of construction. I am sure that will give you a good workout.NO No No I'm the queen of did I do that? I'm constantly jumping the gun and making cuts too short which is not an easy remedy to fix. But, I like it and have managed to stick with it, I'm working on paying attention and not jumping ahead. I've started alternating days I swim on odd days and walk on even days...prefer walking lol across the pool and back and I'm wiped out for the day. lmbo

I really admire those of you who run...while I like the idea the practice is a whole other story. But, the bike riding still sounds like a lot of fun...In Kearney they built a new bike track type thing that circles the entire town with a very nice view...it's our goal to get me a bike and to get Lexi taught how to stop without running into an unmovable object so we can ride together as a family. Won't that be fun!!!!! :D

Thanks for the pep talk guys. I'm applying at jobs that will allow me to work the morning shift so that I can be away when my family is away and home and awake when they are...I miss them a lot during the week so when I have them all together it's hard to think of anything else.

Ian I just found the best thing for a good nights sleep. A friend bought me a book for Christmas on Aromatherapy and it kicks ***!!! to be blunt. And Draga sent me a heavy black mask for my eyes that not only blocks all light but is really soothing and it has 7 different nature sounds that shut off after 30 minutes of play time. So, here's what I do...I take a long soak with a good relaxing book in Lavendar which helps to soothe and relax me, then I apply Healing Garden's zzztheraphy (silk pajamas body lotion with chamomile) and spritz my bed with Healing Garden's zzztheraphy (sleep well body mist). By the tme I hit the bed I'm so relaxed that I have a hard time remembering to put my mask on. There is a lot more to aromatherpy then people are willing to give it credit for...during the days I use more citrusy scents to energize me.

A big storm yesterday left me pooped after getting the snow blower up to speed for a good long while yesterday. I was up late after that too. Combine the lack of sleep and the rich food of late and it's no wonder I was sluggish heading out today.

The visibility was the pits. High winds and blowing snow made for tough going. I warmed up well enough but ended up pretty winded by the end of the first segment into the wind. By the third segment I was fine and breathing easily and my legs once again felt strong.

Only three runs this week. I don't think that's going to hurt me much. I expect it will help me if anything. Next week will see a jump from 9's and 1's to 13's and 2's repeated twice.

I anticipate the new weeks work with a big smile. It remains a bit surreal to think about what I'm doing. It's been so long since I ran that I still look in my minds eye at where I'm headed and find it odd to think that I'm off running to "Rosie's" corner and back.

Today the snow was soft underfoot and the wind kept me focused.

I'm doing more stretching now and my knees are ok with what I'm doing. I'm stretching my butt, calves, Achilles tendon, hamstrings and quads.

My calves have swollen enough to notice if I have to pull my pant leg up to yank on some heavy socks. My legs are becoming defined.

The core exercises have eliminated my lower back sensitivities. Now I'd like to find something to hit my upper back with.

What's that smell.. ? Is that you Futs? What is that stuff? hehe xox
Cheers! Ian.

First of all great work at meeting Rosie's corner finally. So, what comes after? Tom's barn? lmbo just teasing it just sounds so much like how we give directions here in town...Go to the old market, turn left at the light and go past Joe's house, turn right when you get to Jane's and it will be the blue house with the green truck and red car, their both home I've just driven by. HICKS HICKS HICKS you have to love us.

Today, I smell like Cotton Blossom it's a really delicate scent that relaxes me but doug hates it with a passion (states it smells too sweet) *grin* I've been very determined to get my Christmas decorations down and back in the attic this week, my house is clean and in order except of course our bedroom. Yep, aromatherphy has a purpose if nothing else then keeping hubbies mind clearly set on task at hand. *sticks tongue out*

We're supposed to be getting hit sometime tonight or tommorrow with a big storm so my walks have only been a mile due to the extreme cold (you can call me chicken, I call me warm) what starts as a walk usually ends with running lol.

Futs a mile in the cold walking is nothing to sneeze at! Nice work. I sometimes wonder what it would be like trying to keep up with you through a day! Breathe deeply and smell that aroma lift your spirits to the sky girl!

I had a tough run yesterday apparently. Two days off and lots of rich food combined with some snow removal and my legs are heavy today.
Cheers! Ian

Futs a mile in the cold walking is nothing to sneeze at! Nice work. I sometimes wonder what it would be like trying to keep up with you through a day! Breathe deeply and smell that aroma lift your spirits to the sky girl!I don't think that it would be a hard task for another ADD'er with multi-tasking skills, just don't get me talking or we'd never get done. Today I'm a little wore out so I used Lemon /Lime soap a friend of mine makes and lotion...if it works I don't ask why I just abuse it. lol

I had a tough run yesterday apparently. Two days off and lots of rich food combined with some snow removal and my legs are heavy today.
Cheers! IanYou know one of the main characteristics I admire about you is that your persistant...if it had been me I would have taken a very short run due to the fact that I actually had to break a sweat I mean my goodness me break a sweat? lol Your legs are heavy today but knowing you it will not be long before your back into the swing of things.

I wonder were everyone is? I miss the ladies who don't make me feel so bad. Aww well I'm sure they are just as busy as anyone else with the holidays, I just worry when someone hasn't been around for awhile that something has happened to them...I worry too much you don't have to tell me I already know that. :p

I'm exhausted today. We're four employees down on the graveyard shift to make matters worse Tina is on light duty and cannot lift, pull or push. So, that left poor Leticia with the Main floor of a 100 clients and me in the unit with 20 Alzheimers clients so I would do my rounds and then Tina would come watch my floor while I went and helped Leticia with her rounds. I love nights like that because they fly by but I do leave work feeling like I haven't gotten anything accomplished because I didn't do any cleaning. :rolleyes:

We have a new charge nurse and she's great with the residents and really good to us. When she heard that Jess and I used to walk after work and that I've slowed down and started going downhill she offered to walk with me after work. I really like her mmmm I don't know what to call it but she is very put together mentally, physically and she doesn't let the morning shift dish us any ****. How could you not like that in a charge nurse.

Since it was spur of the moment we didn't bring the proper winter outside excercise gear so we only managed about a mile and then made plans for tommorrow morning.

I've been a work horse today that's the nice thing about leaving work feeling as though I haven't accomplished anything. I've deep cleaned the kitchen, stove, frig and microwave, shelves and cupboards, the living room, fish tank, entertainment center, bathroom, laundry, Garrett's room and I'm now working on our room (not getting much done...you could tell couldn't you?) lmbo

I got to see Jess and she seems to be really thriving in her new community within the community. She looks great and I haven't seen her really smile that much in a very long time. She calls me less now which to me is a good sign that she is finding the support she needs among her peers. When she does call it's so strange to not have to listent to problems but to just BS. :D

Futs how good is that to have another walking partner! Can't have too many of those I'm sure. Company is a good thing. I'm reluctant to even consider a running partner because I'm so distractable. I don't think I could keep my pace well with someone else around. I'm running the same route too but I don't find it boring yet. Actually I have two routes depending on which way the arctic wind is blowing! Neither are boring yet and I hope it stays that way.

I agree that Jess calling less is a good sign. What a relief to know she's got a bit of a reprieve.

I'm sure others have drifted off to pursue other interests. I was enjoying the female input too. It's a big investment mentally to get in the groove with this but once in I can't imagine it's going to easy to drop. I'm getting quite addicted and I don't mind.

Running enters my mind frequently. I'm thinking about what I'm doing. Isn't that just the bee's knees! :D I love Dexedrine.. I love Dexedrine.. heh
Cheers! Ian.

I've got to get medicated for some reason my day's with high focus are getting less and less. And my OCD seems to be getting worse maybe there is some merrit in what people are saying about hormones affecting your add I don't know lol I'm just reaching really, really far right now.

They'll miss us and come back and if not there will be new members who want to join us. It's the circle of life keep on moving, keep on believing.

I know that I am joining in on page 39 but it is a new year and I told myself--it is time to get out of bed in the am, feed my puppy, get on my sneakers and get out and walk.

I will not think, or attempt to solve any problems. (I just can't do that anymore.) I will just walk. It is a new year, and it is just time. I will start slowly and maybe go around the block...I guess for about ten minutes and just listen to the ocean. It is really about time...

and I will post. I have been starting to put my life together: I now got to the grocery store on Fridays with a list in hand, bring the stuff home put it away, eat and clean up.

My next goal is to look at my current realationship....I just don't know. I think that I will get into the private group because I really need to talk about him (the fisherman...)

Enough! I will post each day after I have returned from my walk...no more talk about why I won't do it, no more procrastination. Oh, and I am gonna start taking vitamins..that's good, too. See ya tomorrow.

I got out there and walked..not too far, but far enough to know that it sure felt good. My legs began to loosen up. And I can't help but wonder why I have not been able to keep it up (in the past)

I guess that I spend most of my time trying to get away from being with my body; feeling it, right there at the very moment. I just spend so much time avoiding the feelings... from my experience, exercise forces me to be there. no reading no listening to music; no just blotting it all out. I am just there. Not sure that i am clear...but I know. I just can't continue to "run"

I walked around the block...the roads at the beach are not black (compacted sand) and so the walk is soft and gentle. The day is overcast and cool and refreshing. I walked out to the beach and found that the ocean is so cleansing...

I wish that I could go for a swim...I love the waves.

Deeperblue you resignation reminds me of my state of mine at the beginning of December. It's helped me to have a calm resignation to commit to something I know is right intellectually but didn't have an positive emotional connection with. If this wasn't the case for you and I've misread your tone please just disregard and know I mean well.. :)

My acceptance revolved around work hours. I've been self employed for many years and have until recently let my freak flag fly a bit long on the pole periodically. I've accepted some structure that's leading to much better ways at work and ultimately for my self esteem.

Oh.. and now I see you have already been out walking! It's -32C here today and I'm procrastinating! ehhe

Anyway it's a warm welcome to you! I'm grateful for the company as I'm sure others will be. This habit of posting here has helped make my current success with exercise possible. I hate doing things alone and yet my life prior to this board was more isolated than it needed to be.

The fact that you went far enough today to have it feel good is the ticket. Feeling good is what it's all about for me. If I didn't feel great I'd give it up for one reason or another quite quickly I think.

As it is now, I'm getting quite deeply addicted to the running. I'm thinking about it more and more through the day. Not to unhealthy levels but I'm problem solving and visualising which feels good too. It's such a huge help for me to be getting fitter. My sleep is so much improved and my sense of self worth is taking good things away from this activity. I'm quite proud of what I'm doing and in particular, how long I've been doing it! It will be a year in February that I took up with Jim and Dan and the crew to make some commitments in this direction. My life is much different because of it and it's all good as far as I can see.

I've yet to run so I best get things rolling. Welcome Deeperblue, I love it when your cheeks are pink! eheh
Cheers! Ian.

Welcome DB,

It doesn't matter were or when you join in just as long as you do, we are more then happy to have you here and cheer you on. It's easy to understand why you haven't been able to keep it up for long periods of time...it's hard to be selfish and say this is my hour to be by myself and for some reason life just keeps getting in our way. Just remind yourself that to get anything accomplished you need your time to be mentally balanced or none of life's tasks will get done an hour a day to yourself is not going to destroy your world.

I too walk more for the mental aspect of it then the physical. I have a hard time taking time for myself with a husband and three kids it's hard to just up and walk away for even a few minutes of blissful peace and quiet. I do walk with someone from work most days but only because I do not work in a safe area many women have been attacked when alone and I have a 45 minute drive home, by the time I get home I'm so exhausted that the thought of a walk is just more then I can bear.

My favorite walks are the ones I take for mental stimulation more then physical aspects. I go to the school track were it's safe to let my mind go without worrying about drifting into the traffic lanes, put my headphones on and think of absolutly nothing. It's after those walks that I get the most accomplished and I alway's return in a peaceful state of mind.

Now for my walk lol...It's colder then heck outside today so I had Doug drive me two miles out of town and leave me. Freeze or get walking was my motto. It took me about 15 minutes to make the walk/run back to town and the only thought going thru my head was...it's cold, cold,cold,cold,cold. A nice hot shower and I'm ready to attack my duties for the day. Unfortunatly, I'm not going to get much cleaning done with 2 very ill kids one being the baby more of my time will be spent cuddling then anything else but then this is were my strengths lay I find myself more motivated and stronger mentally when I have someone relying on me for their comfort.

Good luck everyone and once again a big huge screaming WELCOME DB!!!!!!!
Cherity

Painting. It's a big room and I started with the ceiling so having a crick in my neck needs to count for something...up and down the ladder...breathe bad fumes in, bad air out.

I'd sleep better if I was consistent with my yoga...but like DB taking that quiet time just for me is hard to do...I always want to feel like I'm accomplishing something (housework, schoolwork, catch up on e-mails, etc). If I sit down my kids find ten requests. However they will let me sleep in sometimes...probably because they've been barked at one too many times.

went for my walk. fast and brisk because of the strong, cold "nor-east wind" and drizzle. sea gulls crowding around and making their loud sound..not sure how to describe their sound (lol)

wind feels good but still making strides requires more energy--that's good cause i'll just work harder. it's gonna rain tomorrow; a storm hitting jersey but no snow at the shore. i love snow.

I took a "quick detour" --i'm so lucky-- to the beach. the salt smell was worth a deep inhale...so good. said hi to the sea and it waved back--magine that.

well, it was nice chatting with you my fellow walkers, workers and lurkers (:) ) come on and join in.

Chel--Painting is good...I've been known to be the number 1 wall painter in my family. I have a reputation for painting and repainting (over and over) My kids had to be very patient. but they survived

thanks for the warm welcome, futs. hope that you are better soon.

Being from California originally you don't have to describe their sounds to me...worst movie ever to see when you live near the ocean...Albert Hitchcocks THE BIRDS lol even as an adult I bet I would freak if I saw a bunch of seagulls coming my way. Two walks in a row that's a good start towards persistance. Keep up the good work and give the ocean a wave for me.

Chel painting is hard work and if your anything like me, your up and down that ladder like your in a marathon. Your using your stair stepper and getting something accomplished. How I wish I could get started on my house. I have 5 different splashes of color in the living room because I just can't decide, two in the bathroom and 3 in Koda's room. Once we decide we can start lol.

No walk for me today besides still being sick which is a miracle in itself...I have been allowed to be sick now for well over 30 hours. Doug has even taken care of the kids, made me soup (which I didn't eat), brought me 7-up (which I don't drink...it all reminds me of sick people lol), taken my temp I don't know how many times and kept up with the housework...Now that means 2 things either my doctor has called and I'm dying or he's lost his mind. I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth so I've been sucking up all the attention *smiles*. He'll be home tommorrow as well since that storm has hit with some real kick butt force, we are expected to get up to 13+ inches of snow and have gotten about 5" already containing freezing ice and rain. It's one cold motha in the Futs house.

Hope you all had a good new year!! Welcome DB and good job! Painting is hard work Chel! My wife and I have painted both the outside and inside of our house. Not all at once :D Hope you feel better soon! Enjoy the attention while you can. We have had a cold spell for here. Nothing compared to you Ian and Futs! It has been in the mid 20s. It may snow this weekend. Good job running in the cold Ian!

I had a good week of riding last week. I did not ride on Friday, but ended up hualing dirt and spliting wood for a couple of hours. I rode 18.5 miles on both Sat and Sunday. I rode the exact same pace both days. There was a head wind coming home so that slowed me some. I am still just working on getting the ride in and spinning. It is cold enough that about and hour to an hour and a half is about all you want to do. I sweat a lot so once I go into the wind it can get a little chilly. I rode into work and back home on Monday. It was really cold riding in, but felt okay riding home. There was actually about 5 us at the light before the hill. I rode well and ended up passing everyone. I did not push to hard, but rode faster than I have. It was nice to know I can still push if I need to.

I am from the school that you ride or run as fast as you can for the majority of the workouts. The not working as hard as made it more fun, but is very challengeing for me when I see other riders out there.

I have taken it easy the last couple of days. I have done a lot of walking at work, but that is about it. I hope to ride tomorrow. The rest of the week I will play by ear. I do not ride when it snows. I may try to do some running. Good job all!

Switchen your routine up I hear is really good for your system. Gives muscles not normally used a workout and let's those you use often take a break. I don't know I'm still a walker lol. I'll probably ride into traffic the first time I get the chance to ride my bike. Luckily, traffic in my town consists of one or two vehicles moving at a slow pace so they can see what everyone is up to. It's a miracle I'm better, still a little achy but I held my breakfast down. Tried to help the big guy scoop snow but he forcibly shoved me back into the house laughing as he called me a little idiot...now how's that for ungrateful behaviour lmbo. Nah he just doesn't want to take care of me again. Anyways, we've gotten 9 1/2" inches with another storm moving in quickly so I may not be able to make it to work...Gees you think I might lose my job? *wicked grin*

snow...where is it? all over jersey but noooo-- not at the shore..just rain. Now don't get me wrong, I love the stuff but.

So I keep putting the walk off today. My other option is to dig out my trampoline (under my clothes and suitcase--where else would it be and no---no vacation...yet) I really think that it's gonna be easier to go for that walk...so ill wear a raincoat. Ill let you know what the ocean says to me futs--as I send it your wave ;)

I keep looking at a beach type bike in the local hardware. Maybe.

and sweating is a good thing...but i have not worked up to that yet with my walks. the trampoline gives a good workout, though, especially when I do a running jog. cant not love the feeling.

bye all and keep up the good attitude...it spreads. thanks

I have yet to use my new Christmas present...I will take some great picture's of people in the ditch and scooping their walks lmbo you will no longer be looking for snow. Actually, some of the most beautiful Nebraska days are right after a good snow storm everything looks new and exciting. If you give me enough time I can romanticize cleaning the toilet and make that even sound like a wonderful adventure.

It sounds to me like your doing a good job DB...walking in the rain here usually means watching your back for approaching tornadoe's or getting pelted with icy rain. How I miss getting to play in a warm rain...A couple of years ago we visited my sisters in Cali and the first thing I got to do was walk in the rain while everyone else was wearing winter coats I'm walking around outside in circles with a tank top and shorts on lmbo I'm sure people thought I was nuts.

I can't walk, Doug won't let me outside so I found my excercise bike and rode for 20 minutes until my stomach got a little sore...I think maybe I'm not quite ready yet...but, the cool thing is I found the bike I forgot I had one and yes I'm serious. lmbo

took the walk and whoa...it is cold and a real strong wind maybe bout 20 or 30 miles or so. great walking out of it but into it...hold your hats. ears and face hurt but it feels great. Now at the wave line--that's another story. but I did it.

gulls are having a feast on my neighbors garbage...ugh and it is blowing all over the beach.

I know about that cold weather--spent a couple or years with babies and hubby on a job relo on lake champlain; cold but dry...visiting jersey was great since I too would shed my winteries and stuff. the jersey weather/climate tends to be damper and so you seem to feel colder because it goes through you. smile.

Good on you ladies!

Ran with Bonnie today. It was fun. We ran really really slowly. The pace was about 11:45 per mile. It was quite fun. We yakked and yakked. There were justifiable windchill warnings out today and by the time we got back there was some evidence that we'd come up against some cold weather!

Bonnie was cute in her bright toque and frosted lashes. It was as cold as I've ever run in today I think but we had a glorious pace going and the fading long rays of a crystal clear winter day made it all very pleasant.
Cheers! Ian.

I don't know Ian sounds like taking a slower pace once in awhile has big benefits. *smiles happily*

Good job DB and Futs!! Sounds like a great run Ian. We are facing a possible chance of snow here and everyone is freaking out. I grew up in snow so it is not a big deal. I did not ride because of the snow possibility. I did walk a mile or so plus a lot at work. I am hoping to ride at least a couple of days here. There is a chance of snow all weekend. So we will see. I had a really good week last week so it should not hurt to have an easier one this week. Good job all!!

Do you people hear that?

































Blessed silence...that's what that noise is...nothing, nothing, nothing. It's a baby down for a nap and two screaming, fighting, conjoled, begged and threatened children off to their first day back to school...*sniff, sniff* isn't it beautiful? :D

It's so cold and I couldn't get my car out of the snow pile the city man left behind it so I walked/ran/dragged two very un-willing children off to school. Now, my vacation starts lol.

Jim, I hope you get a little snow your way...I don't like suffering alone. :p

and so I am reminded. It is not raining, it is not snowing and here I sit with fingers pressed against the keys (do you guys look at the key board when you type--) and I am reminded: get out there you have no excuse look at all of those other strong folks(hope ya don't mind being called folks---do ya?) and I am also thinking---good go for it just keep this sentence running on...so my words are getting exercise--at least ( not to mention my fingers) 0 ooo and yeah...i am looking at my fingers otherwise how would you be able to read this. Now out the door...later

DB I had to excercise to get my children out of the house to save what is left of my sanity...do you know what it is like to be stuck in a house with three children plus my husband? NO PEACE none at all.

DB I had to excercise to get my children out of the house to save what is left of my sanity...do you know what it is like to be stuck in a house with three children plus my husband? NO PEACE none at all. :p ;) :eek: oh do i remember...and *sigh* nostalgic. go for it and get some time for you....okay i am off.

Futs the slower pace has put the fun into everything! Not just the run but throughout my days. Bonnie now want to run in the morning before school! OUCH!!! that means that we'd have to be warming up at 6:00am or shortly before.

Maybe that whole thing would be good for me. She's sore today from the core exercises so I said we'd run again on Saturday together and try the early morning thing on the Monday. I'm losing my mind! But it was so nice to have company. She's a good time that one and she kept exclaiming how good it felt all the way back. Ian's doing it riiiight.. !! ya hooo!

Jim your work load always seems quite high enough. Your drive is amazing but what most impresses me is your vision in slowing it up to gain later! I'm just loving this new found energy.

Kids were kept out of school on their first day back due to cold. My vacation has not begun just yet but they have stacked wood and washed the kitchen floor this morning all on their own! Yikes.. is this my house?

I never look at the keyboard when I type DB. I took typing in grade nine and hated the teacher, hated the subject and have been deeply grateful ever after that I stuck it out. Or more to the point that the teacher didn't kick me out for being an agent of insubordination.

Ian = folk :D

oh...me too itschaotic, me too. I know the key board but i am not confident...now if we had spell check *hint-hint*, I would just let my fingers fly and my eyes go wild %-) (hehe)
And do I remember my personal typing teacher.

okay..about the walk. It is another one of those days; one which is leading toward the making of a new habit. Not too interesting, in fact, I am thinking about the Count of Monte Cristo. I can't imagine what it is like to just sit there in prison for 13 years with nothing more to occupy him/our/my mind. Walking can be so boring. And so this idea comes to mind: I have problems with exercise because I am required to silence my brain; there is no other activity other than being right there in that absolute moment. And I really don't want to occupy my mind with anything else, really, because I want to savor the surroundings...it's just so d###m hard to do.

Question: how do you deal with this?

I don't silence my brain...I let it fly!!!! just werever it's happy little heart wants to go.
And if all else fails, I drag myself to the door, force myself to open it and walk out and then I pretend like a horrible monster is on my tail and walk like the wind lmbo. I have a great imagination...when I was a kid I used to refuse to use the toilet without someone there to save me in case Jaws decided to take a chunk outta my hiney.

i'll keep that "hiney" idea in mind... :eek:

and off I go with my tail behind...hehehe

okay...the walk: good, brisk not too boring...

(cause I could't help but wonder what a plumber must be thinking about when he (that gawd it's not me) does his plumbing.)

(and kept looking back at the old butt and wishing it would just walk away, yeah well, I have no illusions (maybe delusions from x 2 x--- :eek: ) )

again tomorrow along the road well worn.

Okay, my two month hiatus from running is over. This is a good thing because I started putting on weight again. LOL! Of course, the weight was a good thing too, because I've been running underweight again, and I needed to replace some of the upper body mass I lost (push ups and sit ups, long neglected because I found them easy, got unexpectedly hard with all the running. Methinks some muscle moved southwards).

The break shows though. After my resistance training, warm up stretches, etc... I managed a sedate two miles. About three miles short of my normal run. It felt incredible though and I am still feeling far better than normal. Amazing what a little physical activity can do. :-) This time around I am working on adding a bit more muscle, and doing a bit less running. My significant other will soon be here and the fact that a little more muscle might make me all the more attractive to her is not lost on me. ;-) Wish me luck, it's a lot harder to get a washboard in your mid thirties than it was when I was a 20 something. LOL!

Great job Dan, what I couldn't do with your body...I'd be the most intimidating woman in town...*grins* OOOo wait I already am *smiles happily to self*. Keep up the hard work!!!

DB I couldn't ask for a funnier walking partner got me laughing so hard that I just had to try thinking of the plumber and wishing my butt would take a left when I took a right.

I'm still not really motivated. I can't believe what staying in bed for 3 days does to a person. But, I did get my walk in for today but did it last night lmbo I can really freak myself out at night and get my butt hauling like it's supposed to. 2 miles very brisk pace. We have 22 residents with the stomach bug and two staff members were out with it so it was busy, busy, busy when I got home I dropped and just now got up...LOOK it's 2pm I've slept for 6 hours can you believe it 6 hours and all in a row too. *smiles*

yeah and, Futs, what if the plumber is *sigh & wink * cute and he does toilets...we got it made. we could walk morning, noon and nite! ;)

lmbo

hey look at my boy!!! Note his tongue is sticking out *sniff, sniff* I've taught him well he makes his momma proud.

and your babe is what love is all about betcha ya get a good workout from this little sweetie...

omg yes...today I ran over there and said NO then cuddled a broken hearted sobbing little monster in angel disguise and then I ran over here and said NO then... you get the picture. Finally he's done for a nap and it's mommy time. lol

boy, you are quick, Futs, you just seem to fly across these pages at the forum: one minute im posting and the next minute you have responded. howyadothat? (sounds like a game show) yeah but this is real life stuff. lol

It's a skill...called multi tasking, while I'm flying the pages of the forum, I'm learning that my sister in law is in labor and the baby will be here soon YEAH!!!!!!, Doug is looking for his new toy and setting papers on my head (un-organized desk) and talking to him. Well, time to play in the real world.

hugs see ya later
have a good walk tommorrow girl

Today, has been hell on wheels pardon the expression.

My brother's wife decided to deep clean her house, taking everything out and down to dust and re-arrange, has moved all the furniture to one end of the house so she could more easily clean carpets and windows and decided that the babies room was not painted the right shade of blue and then she decides in the middle of it to go into labor. I tell you some people's timing. lmbo

My sister and I have been taking care of their daughter RyeAnn who just turned 1 Dec. 29th. We have dusted and cleaned her house. My sister got crafty and we arranged her furniture for maximum space usage and took picture's that my other brother drove to the hospital to show Cassie, we did have to move a few pieces but did a pretty darn good job if I do say so myself. We are waiting for the first coat of new paint to dry and will finish the second coat and trim later tonight and then will move the babies belongings back into the room later this week since the baby will be sleeping it's first few months in his parent's room. My sister in law Lyssa, my sister, mom and myself have made a lot of pre-made freeze and heat meals for them so they can have their baby in peace. I've been busy but it's been fun, that's the nice thing about having your family close by. Don't panic everyth