Run run run

I've said in the past that I want to be able to run. I have no crazy aspirations, really. I don't want to run a marathon. Not even a half, really. But I would like to be able to run a 5K in under 30 minutes. That seems reasonable. Back when I was running on the treadmill regularly I actually had a really good day and finished in 30:20. Those darn 20 seconds killed me. I cranked up the speed as fast as I could at the end when I realized I was getting close, but just missed.

I recently saw an article on starting to run. I'm linking it here so I can find it again. I remember when I first started trying, and I realized that I needed to learn how to run -- that you can't just go and put one foot in front of the other. There's a technique to it. Hopefully I'll get back to it soon.

Exercise

We were finally watching last week's Biggest Loser and Bob was wearing a shirt that read "3 days on, 1 off, 365 days a year" -- it's a nice reminder about how easy it really can be to get healthy and active. After The Color Purple wraps up I am going to attempt this. I forgot how good it felt to exercise regularly until Jeni and I started really preparing for our big walk. I'm ready to get back at it, and ready for bike weather.

Milestone day

Today has become a bit of a milestone day for me, unintentionally. A year ago I weighed in on the Wii Fit and peaked at my highest weight -- 209. I shrugged it off from post-holiday, and a large meal, expecting it to vanish pretty quickly. Unfortunately, it did not. Today, a year later, I weighed in at 188. I have been consistently around 186, which is about right for me (even though the BMI says I should be in the 170s -- seriously?). I am happy to be in the 180s, although I would like to be closer to 185 than 190. We just finished working on John & Jen at Workshop Theatre, and every time I work on a show it takes a toll on me.

Jeni has also been doing amazingly well. She is down close to 50 pounds and still going. I can't express how proud of her I am. She really hit it hard this August and hasn't let up at all. She's now biking, doing yoga, and taking a few other classes. She really is a machine.

We found a good facility near our house and that has made all the difference. I know this never would have happened if I depended on getting on my treadmill at home. I'm not posting this looking for praise or acknowledgement. This is really for me to mark my progress. I'm not rushing the time away, but I'm excited to see what the next year of healthy living brings.

Making progress

Jeni and I have found some motivation somewhere and have been going to the gym consistently, eating at home more, and overall being more conscious of what we take in. It is amazing when you start looking at the nutritional guides for restaurants. It's no wonder we're overweight as a society. I'm very proud of both of us. Jeni and I each have lost some weigh. Jeni's going to have to buy some new clothes soon if this keeps up. And I am nearing a goal I set for myself a while back, but wasn't really getting close to until recently. We'll be back at the gym tonight. Anything Goes is getting ready to open at Workshop and although Jeni isn't producing this one, it is still taking some of her time and will probably serve as a bit of a distraction from the gym for a few days. But we're doing better than we were a month ago, and that's all you can ask for. So ::pat pat:: on our backs.

Closing in on a goal

I managed to sneak in to the gym on Tuesday. My evening workshop was canceled so I was able to get out of the office early. David was coming over for dinner and Jeni was cooking so I slipped over for a quick run. I did 1.25 miles in just under 17 minutes. I tried to keep a 6 mph pace as long as I could, but it's much easier on the elliptical.

I weigh in daily on the Wii Fit. I know you're really not supposed to weigh in every day, but I like to keep up with the Wii Fit and having the routine is good for me. My weight peaked over the holidays and the new year at 209. I'm now 1.5 pounds from reaching my Stage 1 weight-loss goal of being back under 200. I've never had to really watch my weight until recently, so this is a good thing for me. I want to get it under control sooner than later.

More later...

Gym update

I made it to the gym the last two days -- 1.57 on the elliptical yesterday in about 20 minutes, then 2 today in 25. I need to see if I can do that pace on the treadmill. Yesterday I also did upper body and shot some baskets (9 of 10 from the free throw line).

Back to the gym Wednesday

Jeni's back is still giving her some trouble, plus she has a grant that is due soon, so we'll be home working on the grant tonight so it can be reviewed tomorrow and cleaned up. So we'll hit the gym again on Wednesday.

Jeni's back was bothering her the other day when we went. We did manage to walk the track for a mile, and I did a random hill (unsatisfying) program on the treadmill, with a few machines thrown in between. So all in all about two miles of walking, treadmill, and elliptical for me. Jeni did about five miles on the bike after we stopped walking. She plans to get back in the pool tomorrow. Hopefully that will help her low back. (Yes, she's getting adjusted -- it's just a longstanding issue with her.)

Thusrday night at the gym

Jeni and I hit the gym last night, and had a good night there. Jeni did laps in the pool. I think she said she did 3/4 mile in the pool. (I would be 3/4 drowned if I tried that.) I did 1.5 miles on the elliptical and then worked arms really heavy (for me). Feeling it this morning. And we finished with 0.77 miles walking the track. We'll probably miss it today since they close at 6 p.m. but hopefully we'll make it Saturday and Sunday. It's supposed to be very nice this weekend so we're looking at a lot of home/yard projects, too.

Back to the gym tomorrow

This past weekend was a little nuts ... we had Tiffany's birthday and Jeni had a grant she was trying to finish for the theatre. We were supposed to go to opening night of Jocelyn's show, but it all just got to be too much. So we were able to get the house cleaned up and lots of amazing desserts prepared (I cleaned, Jeni cooked -- it's just best that way). The party was a lot of fun. Just nice to get everyone together, although we did get in trouble with Gracie for having an adults party and not a party she could come to. We're making that up with a visit soon. Can't have the six-year-old mad at you.

Jeni completed the grant last night after the board meeting. What did you do on Valentine's Day? Board meeting and grant writing, of course. (Just kidding, VD has never been a biggie for us anyway.) We did go to the Cock and Bull afterward for dinner and the second half of trivia -- made a decent effort considering we only played the second half.

But because of all this we haven't been to the gym in the past few days. I'm not really sure we'll make it tonight. I have my new patient workshop which throws off my evening. But we're definitely getting back at it on Wednesday. I've really enjoyed going to the gym. And although my weight is fluctuating back and forth around where I really don't want it to be, I feel better overall when I go. I've set a goal on the Wii Fit, and basically I have to lose three pounds a week to reach it. This is my third or fourth goal I've set on the Wii Fit since we started on it and I have yet to reach a goal. Actually, I've gone in the wrong direction for the most part. But I'm confident that I'll get this one.

Monday and Tuesday at the gym

Just a quick gym update:
Monday I did the elliptical and treadmill. 15 min on elliptical and about 8 or so on the treadmill before I just had to stop. Cooled down shooting baskets.

Tuesday was the treadmill first, for 1.5 miles then upper body and finished with 0.5 miles on the elliptical.

Friday at the gym

We actually made it to the gym on Friday. We did the elliptical, the bike and upper body. I really liked the elliptical. I'll have to do more of that.

At the gym on Wednesday

So we made it back to the gym yesterday after a few days away. I was a little slowed by some nagging sinus congestion, which takes some fun out of it (well, takes some fun out of everything). But we made it. We got there around 7:30 p.m. and it was so vacant that we had access to pretty much whatever we wanted, which is good to remember. Really, it's never happened that there was equipment we couldn't use because of the crowd, but it's also nice to know when the quietest time is. Yesterday Jeni and I walked the track for two miles. It was a good little walk, and longer than I've done since we started. Walking the track is very different for me from walking on the treadmill. I have a harder time with it, mainly, I think, because I have to pace myself instead of the equipment pacing me. But I like walking with Jeni. We use her Nike+ with her iPod and it keeps us on pace pretty good. After we finished walking we hit the weight room for a little bit, doing mostly upper body. This weekend will be a miss for me because I have a continuing ed seminar all weekend, sunrise to sunset, which just stinks, but needs to be done. So back at it Monday for me.

OK, no gym last night

So we didn't make it to the gym last night. It turns out the pool was closed for some reason (poop?), and Jeni really likes to swim laps, so we decided to pass on the gym Monday. Tonight doesn't work for me because of my new patient workshop, but we're on for Wednesday. I had the big idea of getting up early and going in, but I have to be honest with myself and realize that that's not happening right now -- not with this schedule I'm keeping (stupid schedule).

Working on the routine

We had a good first week going to the gym. We were very happy with our progress, and the fact that we could make it to the gym without huge crowds or anything. I know the biggest challenge to getting to the gym consistently is going to be making it a routine. This weekend was a little off I had to run sound for Sealed for Freshness at Workshop Theatre on Friday, so that blew my "go to the gym on Friday" plan. Saturday Jeni had a baby shower and then of course we went to the roller derby so that blew that day. Today has been a slow start because of all the fun we had yesterday, but we'll be heading to the gym this afternoon. Our plan is to get in on the weekends, and try for a day or two during the week. We'll get there ...

Going to the gym

After our first week going to the community center near our house I can honestly say I am so happy we joined. The people are so nice and I've felt much better. A few late meals have challenged my progress a little but that's an easy fix. We'll be back at it in the morning.

Day 3 at gym

Jeni and I made it back to the gym today. So far that's Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. I'm very happy about that. I did 1.65 miles on the treadmill in 22 minutes, then worked arms until they started to feel dead and I realized that I needed to be able to work tomorrow. Jeni did 3/4 mile in the pool. Afterward, we walked the lap track for another 3/4 mile. I'm patting us on the back right now...

Gym, Day Two

Jeni and I made it back the the gym today. She did 50 minutes in the pool. I did 1.59 miles in the treadmill in 22 minutes then did legs. Still able to walk -- barely.

First day at the gym

Today was our first day going to the community center. While Jeni was doing an hour in the pool I did some cardio and weights -- 1.5 miles and upper body today. We'll be back at it tomorrow, then sound at a matinee, and wrapping up with trivia.

Going to the gym

So Jeni and I joined a gym on Sunday. We signed up for a year membership. It's less than three miles from the house, so we really have few excuses. I won't say no excuse, because we didn't even get home last night until about 10:30, so there's always that. But our goal is three times a week. That's Friday, Saturday and Sunday and we're good. Throw in a Tuesday or a Wednesday and that's bonus. We'll go tonight or tomorrow to get our cards and line up our orientation sessions. I'm very excited about this.

Finding time

We've been having great weather ... now I just need to find some time to walk.