I am beyond excited. Tomorrow we leave for 7 days at a cottage in Tobermory and it has been far too long since I visited there last. While I am going to seriously miss the gym I am excited to take my fitness on the road. I have packed up several days of running wear and plan to run a minimum of four days while we are away. We have day trips planned for pretty much each day we are away, with loads of hiking so I am certain my legs will be feeling the love on this vacation!!
A couple of the locations we have chosen have caves that we will all enjoy exploring. We learned on our last two camping trips in July that the kids are pretty sturdy hikers. They are equally excited about exploring caves. My daughter is currently big into doing things that are good for her body, so reminding her of how strong hiking makes her muscles and bones is usually enough to help propel her along.
I know many people view their holiday time as a chance to relax and slack off a bit on their fitness, but the last few summers have shown me that this just isn't me. I view each vacation as an opportunity to run in a new environment, to explore the landscape while still keeping up with my health and wellness.
I can't wait to get there and begin exploring. I just hope we have enough bugspray!
Friday, August 7, 2015
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Just my luck
The one time we go away and the hotel actually has exercise facilities that I like and I didn't bring my workout clothes! Grrrr!
Normally when we go away I like to continue my regular exercise schedule. I hate missing a workout. Although we stay in nice hotels, the fitness rooms leave much to be desired. This time I went to the gym this morning before leaving town and decided I would take Wednesday as as rest day since we are having two days wandering around as tourists. I left my fitness clothing and running shoes at home but now regret that decision. The facilities are bright and spacious and over look the pool as well as a view of the lake. Bummer.
Normally when we go away I like to continue my regular exercise schedule. I hate missing a workout. Although we stay in nice hotels, the fitness rooms leave much to be desired. This time I went to the gym this morning before leaving town and decided I would take Wednesday as as rest day since we are having two days wandering around as tourists. I left my fitness clothing and running shoes at home but now regret that decision. The facilities are bright and spacious and over look the pool as well as a view of the lake. Bummer.
 |
| This would have been my view from the treadmill. Sigh. |
Monday, August 3, 2015
I like it hot..
Yoga that is!
This past week involved five early mornings at the gym. Two legs days and two shoulder/bi/tri days, one chest/back day and one run with my sister.
Needless to say, I have been feeling a little tight and sore so I had the brilliant idea to attend hot yoga to get a good stretch.
Let me just say that a person, no matter how much they enjoyed hot yoga two years ago, should jump right back into an intermediate class. Apparently you do lose your "bendy-ness" in that time away. You also lose some of your balance....and your tolerance for sweat dripping into your eyeballs is much much lower.
In spite of all that, I am determined to get back to regular attendance at hot yoga. I do need the stretch, I will get used to the dripping sweat and I do miss how good it feels after. I just need to remember to start back at the beginning and take it slow. I am determined to get back my "bendy"!!
This past week involved five early mornings at the gym. Two legs days and two shoulder/bi/tri days, one chest/back day and one run with my sister.
Needless to say, I have been feeling a little tight and sore so I had the brilliant idea to attend hot yoga to get a good stretch.
Let me just say that a person, no matter how much they enjoyed hot yoga two years ago, should jump right back into an intermediate class. Apparently you do lose your "bendy-ness" in that time away. You also lose some of your balance....and your tolerance for sweat dripping into your eyeballs is much much lower.
In spite of all that, I am determined to get back to regular attendance at hot yoga. I do need the stretch, I will get used to the dripping sweat and I do miss how good it feels after. I just need to remember to start back at the beginning and take it slow. I am determined to get back my "bendy"!!
Loving leg day
I am so excited to have found a way to incorporate barbell squats back into leg-day!
Unfortunately I have been paying for it for days.
Months ago I sustained a lower back injury and although I tried to push through it, I ultimately had to admit defeat and give up on barbell squats. A couple weeks ago I started to incorporate them back into my routine but was disappointed as I could only manage 65 lbs. Before my injury I had been up to 100lbs with 15 reps x3 sets
I felt a little tweak in my back after Mondays squats, which had me super worried. The next day I was chatting about it with a girl at the gym and she suggested that I hold the barbell in front of me, in the crook of my arms close to my chest. When my 2nd leg day last week came around on Thursday I gave it a try. SUCCESS! I had to use a lower weight but I was able to complete ass-to-ankle squats with ease! The only down side is the crazy burn I have experienced in my butt and hamstrings since then.
With lots of foam-rolling, hot yoga and stretching I was good to go for leg day again today. I will wait for Thursday to try the barbell squats again but I was able to increase my weights today on many of the other exercises in my Monday leg routine. I'm so happy!
My hope is that this helps to translate into strong running as a continue to improve.
Unfortunately I have been paying for it for days.
Months ago I sustained a lower back injury and although I tried to push through it, I ultimately had to admit defeat and give up on barbell squats. A couple weeks ago I started to incorporate them back into my routine but was disappointed as I could only manage 65 lbs. Before my injury I had been up to 100lbs with 15 reps x3 sets
I felt a little tweak in my back after Mondays squats, which had me super worried. The next day I was chatting about it with a girl at the gym and she suggested that I hold the barbell in front of me, in the crook of my arms close to my chest. When my 2nd leg day last week came around on Thursday I gave it a try. SUCCESS! I had to use a lower weight but I was able to complete ass-to-ankle squats with ease! The only down side is the crazy burn I have experienced in my butt and hamstrings since then.
With lots of foam-rolling, hot yoga and stretching I was good to go for leg day again today. I will wait for Thursday to try the barbell squats again but I was able to increase my weights today on many of the other exercises in my Monday leg routine. I'm so happy!
My hope is that this helps to translate into strong running as a continue to improve.
Monday, July 27, 2015
I do it to myself really...
I can't believe I did it. And now I am paying dearly.
After being sugar free for a few weeks I went on a crazy sugar binge this weekend while away camping. Maybe it wasnt "crazy" per say...but I did have a donut and a marshmallow. And on the drive home I picked up a coffee which I have not done in ages. I think between the bits of sugar and the caffeine I fell off the wagon hard.
I paying dearly for it.
My head is throbbing and I have felt like utter crap all day. I managed a great legs workout this morning and although I spent the entire workout telling myself I would not have to complete my three 1 min wall-sits, when I got to the end I did them anyway. That is a success. (I'm working on gratitude)
While at work a coworker was offering everyone chocolate. My addiction flew into over drive and I felt my pulse race as she offered me one but I managed to decline. (another success! )
When I got home from work I crawled into my pj's and drank plain peppermint tea while making dinner. Fortunately I was able to get some energy back to head to the park to play after dinner (success!!) but now my head is throbbing again (booo!!)
Who would have thought sugar could do this after a weekend slip up. Withdrawal totally blows.
After being sugar free for a few weeks I went on a crazy sugar binge this weekend while away camping. Maybe it wasnt "crazy" per say...but I did have a donut and a marshmallow. And on the drive home I picked up a coffee which I have not done in ages. I think between the bits of sugar and the caffeine I fell off the wagon hard.
I paying dearly for it.
My head is throbbing and I have felt like utter crap all day. I managed a great legs workout this morning and although I spent the entire workout telling myself I would not have to complete my three 1 min wall-sits, when I got to the end I did them anyway. That is a success. (I'm working on gratitude)
While at work a coworker was offering everyone chocolate. My addiction flew into over drive and I felt my pulse race as she offered me one but I managed to decline. (another success! )
When I got home from work I crawled into my pj's and drank plain peppermint tea while making dinner. Fortunately I was able to get some energy back to head to the park to play after dinner (success!!) but now my head is throbbing again (booo!!)
Who would have thought sugar could do this after a weekend slip up. Withdrawal totally blows.
Self Care
I really have to recommend reading this blog post:
http://stayhealthyfitness.blogspot.ca/2015/07/taking-control-of-right-now.html?m=1
I found it to be very inspiring and kind of just what I needed to read right now.
It is so easy to get bogged down when we experience problems in our lives. It can be hard to find motivation. If we fall backwards after we have made progress it's easy to beat ourselves up about it rather than just accepting what happened and moving on.
One of my goals in life is to respond to adversity rather than react to it. To use it to propel me forward, look for solutions, to grow. Taking a moment to feel the emotions and then taking control of them rather than wallowing and letting them take over me.
One way I do this is through my visits to the gym and running. This is time I take t be on my own and this is how I recharge, taking care of my physical self. I also use my bubble-bath time to relax and contemplate and try to take care of my emotional self.
I refuse to submit to self pity.
I refuse to wallow.
I choose to keep moving.
http://stayhealthyfitness.blogspot.ca/2015/07/taking-control-of-right-now.html?m=1
I found it to be very inspiring and kind of just what I needed to read right now.
It is so easy to get bogged down when we experience problems in our lives. It can be hard to find motivation. If we fall backwards after we have made progress it's easy to beat ourselves up about it rather than just accepting what happened and moving on.
One of my goals in life is to respond to adversity rather than react to it. To use it to propel me forward, look for solutions, to grow. Taking a moment to feel the emotions and then taking control of them rather than wallowing and letting them take over me.
One way I do this is through my visits to the gym and running. This is time I take t be on my own and this is how I recharge, taking care of my physical self. I also use my bubble-bath time to relax and contemplate and try to take care of my emotional self.
I refuse to submit to self pity.
I refuse to wallow.
I choose to keep moving.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Sleep!
I have had my Fitbit for a few months now and I find the sleep monitoring to be fascinating. I have always thought that I slept well. It takes me a while to fall asleep as my brain just keeps going and doesn't shut down easily. In the mornings I fight to wake up because I am not a morning person at all, but I never feel like it is because my sleep is poor. My fitbit is telling me otherwise. Apparently when I go to bed at 10 PM and wake at 4:30 AM I average about 3 hours of non-restless sleep. The other 3.5 hours I am quite restless.
This weekend, however, while sleeping in a tent, on my own air mattress, outdoors, I managed to sleep over 6 hours each night without being "restless". That is amazing. And I actually LOOK well rested. What does that tell you???
That I need my own room!
This weekend, however, while sleeping in a tent, on my own air mattress, outdoors, I managed to sleep over 6 hours each night without being "restless". That is amazing. And I actually LOOK well rested. What does that tell you???
That I need my own room!
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