Getting by with a Little Help from My Friends

I was feeling pretty crappy today, not just physically but my mood as well. But I forced myself to go to spin class. When I showed up, Spencer said he was in a pretty crappy mood too. Then Tracey chimed in with the account of her crappy mood. So we were all curmudgeons tonight, but among friends.

It’s funny that they both thought about going to the other gym but decided to go to this one for the company of friends to brighten their day. Little did they know that we were all grumpy. So we just spent the time commiserating together.

I must say, this has truly been the best off season I’ve had, but only my second one really. Last year was great. It was my first year knowing Tracey and we found we got along so well. This year we’ve added Spencer and Patrick into the mix, which has kept the spin classes a bit lively from time to time, much to the chagrin of some of the other cyclists. This only reinforces the fact that I definitely found the best cycling club to join – the members are so great and some of us are becoming quite good friends.

Not only have we had some great camaraderie with between us, but the instructors have been great. One instructor we cycled with a bit last year, which has given us a bit more credibility in his classes. I don’t think he thought we were “serious” cyclists last year. Then there are the two female instructors that are also cyclists. We are working on them to join us for some rides this year. After all we do have the friendliest club around! Then there is the yoga instructor that also fills in during some of the spin classes. She’s come to know us in her yoga classes and we keep it a bit lively with lots of banter and laughter.

So all the training has actually been quite fun this year. It doesn’t seem like such a chore to go to the gym, especially when you know you are going to be greeted by great friends and instructors who might turn into great friends.

Too Busy to Blog?

Gosh, it’s been so long since I posted something on the blog. My recent days have consisted of: work, eat, work out, sleep, repeat. Goodness! What a dull person I’m becoming.

This is what happens to me when I am focused. I become extremely driven when I set my mind to something, and I attribute this to my slight obsessive compulsive personality. For now my mind if focused on losing this weight before the cycling season kicks into high gear.

Thus far I’m only down the few 5 pounds I managed to lose in the first two weeks. This week I can’t seem to budge an ounce, despite my limited caloric intake and my cardio work.

2008: 5 Century Goal

I wrote 5 goals for the upcoming season on my sweat365 blog. The most important is to lose weight. The second one that I’m really going to try to achieve is 5 centuries this season. I think it’s achievable. Last year I completed 2 centuries, a couple metric centuries (approximately 60 miles), a few half centuries, in addition to an 85 mile ride in the White Mountains. Since that was somewhat challenging with the climbs, and early on in the season, I could count that as a century.

I think back to the Memorial Day ride in the White Mountains with the club. I remember thinking towards the end of it, “How many more miles to go?” I was really toasted by the end.

Later in September we rode another hilly century and towards the end rode over the same route as the Memorial Day ride. I handled that ride so much better because it was later in the season and my fitness had improved. I’m confident that this Memorial Day ride I’ll ride much better, with less fatigue and more stamina.

So, weather permitting, I’m planning on the Lobster Ride & Roll (Rockland, Maine) in July, the Mad River Century (Waitsfield, Vermont) in August, and the Loon Echo (Bridgton, Maine) in September. I’ll work in a couple other centuries throughout the summer as well, either on my own or with a couple friends.

It’s good to have goals!

One Week In

 

 

A week into the weight loss contest and I’ve lost 3 pounds. Not bad for the first week.

 

 

I was a bit concerned at first because I seemed to be gaining weight in the beginning few days. How frustrating. But I’m on track now.

 

 

It was especially nice to go to spin class today and have the instructor ask if I’ve lost weight. She said it’s a bit noticeable around my waistline. Yippee!!

 

 

As my friend pointed out, it’s always easier to lose weight in the beginning. It’s the last few pounds that appear to be the hardest to lose. So I’m going to promise myself not to become frustrated as the months wear on.

 

 

Luckily I have not experienced a lack in energy level because of the decrease in calorie consumption, as my friend experienced Saturday morning. That can always be an issue when you are working out so much. Many of you athletes in training can relate. It’s a bit of a vicious cycle: you need to have the calories to sustain your energy level for your training efforts but in order to lose weight you need to decrease the calories and increase your expenditure. This has been my problem over the last two years – I’ve eaten so I can ride well on the bike so my weight hasn’t gone down. It’s time to get it off, which will make me more productive on the bike.

 

 

I suppose if there is any time to focus on weight loss it’s during the off-season. It’s definitely easier for me this time of year. We don’t seem to socialize as much, which is where the bad eating tends to happen. In the summer it’s always barbeques and hanging out in the warmth of the evening with friends, some snacks, and wine.

 

So it’s one week in and 16 more to go; 3 pounds down and 17 more to lose. Doable? Definitely!

Happy New Year to ME!

Ahhh, finally, an actual bike ride!

It was nice to take advantage of the recent January thaw here in the North East to go for a real bike ride. It’s hard to be at work knowing that it was 40-50 degrees, sunny, and you are not able to go for a ride. I had made up my mind that as long as no snow storms hit our are this week, and it was warm enough to melt the roads, I’d be out on them with my bike.

I had a couple club members join me for a 34+ mile ride from Portland to Freeport. It was a bit cloudy when we started off but it didn’t take long for the sun to work its way through. By the time we arrived in Freeport I felt I was way too over dressed. (I had on three layers and probably could have gotten way with two.) But on the way home I was happy for the extra layer. The stop at Starbucks allowed me too cool off a bit to the point where I was cold when we left for the return home, not to mention the head wind all the way back kept us a bit cooler as well.

It was strange to be on the bike at first. I’ve been on a spin bike only for the past two months, which really feels so different. My bike seemed so twitchy. It was my “beater bike”, which is still a really nice bike. Since I haven’t ridden it since August when I got my new bike, I thought perhaps there might be something wrong with it. It just felt really wobbly.

But it was actually me that was wobbly. Whether is was the odd feeling of the bike, or the apprehension of the conditions of the roads, I can’t be quite sure. Perhaps a bit of both.

It took me about 2+ miles to really get my bike balance back. After that I was fine and actually rode better than I have in a long time regarding my balance. I even rode with my hands more on the tops of the handle bars with great comfort. (Normally I’m on the hoods or the curves for stability.) I might attribute this better balance to the yoga classes I’ve been taking. Perhaps it will only get better as my strength improves and my weight decreases.

So Happy New Year to me! The first ride of 2008. It keeps me charged so I can get through the rest of the winter. I’ll be back on the bike permanently before I know it….. I hope!

Dust Collecting Exercise Equipment

Ahhh yes, many of us have dust collecting exercise equipment someplace in our home. Some turn them into clothes hangers. Others turn them into some other sort of storage items. The equipment type varies from home to home, though I’d bet treadmills and stationary bikes are the most popular, the latter might actually have the most amount of dust.

For me, my dust collector is an elliptical trainer that I insisted we buy soon after we purchase our home almost 4 years ago when we left the apartment building that offered a fitness room. I used to use it quite a bit, but not faithfully or consistently.

Then I became hooked on biking. Ever since I bought my first bike, I haven’t even given my elliptical a second thought. I was on the bike, which I loved. Then my friend suggested we sign up at a local gym for spin classes to keep in shape in the off season. So I agreed – it’s all about the bike!

My husband has said on occasion that we should just sell the elliptical, also saying we’d never get what we paid for it. Isn’t that always the way. But I never gave in. Now I’m glad I didn’t.

As I was driving home from work in the pouring rain, my desire to go to the gym for yoga and a run on the treadmill was waining. So I thought about the elliptical and thought, “Yeah, that’s it. I’ll work out on the elliptical and give that another go.”

I did drag around a bit, probably putting it off. But I finally got there. I had forgotten there were three levels of programs to choose from. Each one also has a 20-minute program and a 30-minute program. I’ve always chosen the middle levels in the past, which only go to level 7 within the workout, which was always so torturous. So I figured I’m much more physically and aerobically fit than the last time I stepped on the elliptical so I figured I’d go for the most difficult program the unit had to offer.

When I started off I didn’t think I was even going to get my heart rate up. But eventually I did. I liked the workout a lot. I compared it a lot to many spin classes I’ve done. My heart rate was up there but at a manageable level. I worked the legs hard, both forward and a bit to the reverse. It felt good to sweat. Luckily my husband came along so I could convince him to set up a fan for me, which allowed me to continue. Unfortunately since it was only a 30-minute program I had to do it twice, but that’s okay. Next time I’ll track my performance between the two sets.

I’ll definitely be back for more on the elliptical.  After all, it’s convenient and always available. The dust is gone and I’m going to use it in between my other workouts. You might even dust off the equipment in your home and give it another try.

Blinkers

OMG, does no one use blinkers any more?

I can’t tell you the number of times I’m sitting at an intersection waiting for the car to pass only to realize that they have decided to turn, which meant I could have gone had they signaled their turn.

The worst, however, is following behind a vehicle and they slow to a crawl, or a dead stop. You never really know what they are doing, which only boils my blood in frustration, and then they decide to turn one way or the other. Geez! If they had only put on their blinker I would have known if I could proceed around them or not.

Some people are just oblivious and have formed bad habits over the course of their driving lifetimes. Just because they know what they are doing and where they are going doesn’t mean the rest of us do and using a blinker would be greatly appreciated! I’m not even sure if it’s a law but it’s just plan common sense, not to mention courteous!

A Great Commercial

I’ve seen the “Feed the Warrior” commercials on TV but I found this one on Youtube today:

I’m Motivated

This new scale seems to be doing the trick. I’ve lost 1 1/2 pounds in two days and my BMI and fat percentage has also dropped slightly. I’m more motivated in my weight loss than I’ve ever been since before the wedding 4 1/2 years ago. Yippee! My friend also hopes it helps to motivate her. (She bought the same one when I bought mine.)

The official weigh in is tomorrow and that’s when the contest official starts. I don’t mind getting a jump on it. In fact I’m just getting a little practice and breaking my bad habits, mainly of reaching for chocolate.

My company holiday party is tonight. This will definitely be a challenge. I’m sure I’ll only have a couple glasses of wine, and I’m drinking wine and not my beloved martinis, assuming wine has less calories. (I’ll have to research that one.) Dessert will also be included in the meal so I’m going to try to skip that one. Will power, don’t fail me now!

Girl Talk in the Locker Room

When I was at the gym today I over heard a conversation between two women about Maine Roller Derby. The conversation went on about the team and the events and the practices. I had no idea that Roller Derby was hot here in Maine. Kinda funny what you learn about in the locker room. I wasn’t trying to eaves drop, it was just hard not to hear.

I thought it would make for an interesting link on the blog.