4 month Anniversary Fiesta!!!

Okay, so today it's like 20 C here, hot, sunny waaaay too nice to do cardio in the gym, so we decide to hit the trail and try our hand at outside running...we borrowed the stopwatch from Linden, just so we didn't accidentally run for too long...and I borrowed a water bottle from Lynn, cuz apparently when Mark was looking all over for a water bottle to take on his bike ride, it didn't occur to me that my bottle was in the other vehicle NOT in my gym bag....argh.

So off we head, uphill. Just for the record, I NEVER put any incline on the treadmill, cuz its a lot harder apparently...as we make the corner heading towards the trail, we are in the midst of a high school gym class...can this get any better??? We're doing our walk-runs and it was really hard.  Did I mention that?  One time as we were doing our transition from walk to run, both of us still had the tops off our water and were pouring water all over the place, good grief...I guess we still need to work on the looking-cool-while-we-run-part...

On our way back, we took a little side trip into the Bargain Shop to look at some clothes...FOCUS!!! Okay, back on track, we get to the gym and something happens...all of a sudden the thought of doing the rest of our workout just doesn't seem like an option anymore...next thing ya know, we're saying so long to Linden and heading down to the "Rookies"patio for a 4 months of working out celebratory beer...I still had to get the kids from school which was probably a good thing, cuz I could seriously see a runaway train heading our way!  Too funny!

Can we do anything inconspicuously? Hardly.  As I'm paying with my debit card, Lynn was chatting with the gal there, and talking about entering the radio contest for a trip to Vegas...she goes to grab a pen out of what she thinks is a pen jar, only too bad for her, cuz it's actually a melty wax smelly pot type o' thing and she gets hot wax all over her!!!  We get through that (easier for me cuz I didn't actually burn MY hand...) and we start to leave, but my debit didn't complete...3 more tries, the line is down...good grief.  Lynn says she's got some cash and will come back so we walk the 3 blocks to our cars, blistered from the burn, sore from running but still feeling pretty darn good about the day...

Could this be our NEW routine???  Uh oh.

Oh ya, and I even got a little bit of a tan sitting out there...

Okay, this isn't exactly what I meant by a blog "shake-down" but it was really really ridiculously funny when we were doing it...enjoy! hahaha...yes, i probably DO need professional help.




http-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bhuzj3x2yE

Okay, so I've been getting the gears about how slack I've been on the bloggin' front...so here I am.  I'm gonna blame my lack of enthusiasm on Lynn.  I mean really, does being responsible and getting a job really trump spending quality time with your favourite workout buddy?  I don't think so...time to re-evaluate your priorities I think.  Just kidding.  She's still my inspiration too, well that and my flabby a-double-asterix.  Last week we couldn't really connect so I did my workout at home with Sean T. 2 days and then fanned on Friday in favour of going to Red Deer with my girlfriends for our first annual team 'slammogram'!  Really fun, 'cept for the mammogram part...

So at the gym today, re-united again (I think there's a song about that...) Lynn and I discussed that we need a blog shakedown...ya time to stir things up at the gym so we get some good  new material.  Stay tuned.

Workout today was really good-ish, seems to be getting harder instead of easier, but I think that's cuz we're increasing the weights and stuff too.  We're doing good though.  I did 40 min cardio today, lots of walking cuz my shins are getting a little cranky.  We worked on our arms, alternating with crunches...phew, 300 total, that's a lot of crunching I tell you.  And a bit of leg schtuff in the squisher machine.  Then it was time to go pick up the kids from school...

Oh and hey, most important happy anniversary to us!!!  4 months at the gym!  Ya baby!  We were both very surprised that Rick didn't know that...you'd think he'd have important things like that on his calendar.  He's got a lot to learn.  :o)

Long time no bloggin...

So it looks like it's been since March 15 that I haven't blogged...now that could mean one of two things, a) I've quit working out or b) I just got lazy or forgetful or something like that and haven't been posting...well, the good news is that the answer is b)!!!  I'm proud to say that as of April 11th Lynn & I have been working out for 3 months!!!  Wow, this is really remarkable, I don't know about Lynn, but for me it's pretty darn surprising that I'm still here...and except for a couple days over Easter and a couple of days missed cuz of chaperoning at Camp Caroline, I haven't missed.  Woo hoo! 

So right now I'm sitting in my hotel room in Seattle...another band trip.  I worked out on Wed. morning before we left...and my plan right now, at 12:27 am is to get up and work out tomorrow morning before breakfast.  This is my plan tonight.  I'll let ya know how that goes. 

AND I'm totally counting my decision to take the stairs instead of the elevator up to my room as some serious cardio.  My room # is 1014, which, in some hotels, might mean the first floor, right?  Wrong...maybe I'm the only one who actually would have thought that...well I did, and by the time I figured out it was really ten floors up, I was kind of committed.  Holy schmoly, thought I was gonna have a heart attack...stopped for a little rest at floor 7 and then was able to make it the rest of the way.  I think I packed to much stuff, couldn't be that I'm still out of shape.

Good night.

Oh sunny days...it's finally spring here!  Yahoo!!  Being in the right headspace makes all the difference I'll tell ya.  Our 1/2 hour on the treadmill ONLY took 30 minutes (that's for you Lynn!)  Some important things I've learned...Army Presses are really hard when you're laughing.  It's impossible for Lynn and I to be laughing and talking AND counting our reps at the same time...the leg press machine, was not designed for Hobbits (sorry, couldn't resist)...we will probably NEVER be able to put 130 lbs on the pec dec machine and we're just gonna have to accept that.

We left without doing our core today...had a demo to go to.  Linden called us on leaving so early, I told him we were going to a cellulite demonstration.  He resisted the urge to make a smart ass remark.  I think he thought I was kidding.  I told him, depending on how things went, we may never be back...

Saturday

Slept in till 8:30 this morning, then got moving.  My reason for living was going for a run with a friend so he drove Lynn and I in to the gym at about 9:30 am.  First time we've used the new "card key" system.  The gyms not open to the public on Saturdays...members only...that's us.  We're "members"...pretty elite.  We were the only ones there...kinda quiet, no music, dim lights...eery really.  Oh ya, AND I forgot my gym bag.  Ugh.  Well, 2 months ago that would have been game over for me, pass on the workout today, but not now.  I'm dedicated.  Sooooo I kinda "borrowed" a pair of size nines off the shelf.  This worked great, except for I spent the entire workout scared everytime someone new walked thru the door...I hope I'm not wearing their shoes...that probably kept my heartrate up tho, which just burns more calories.  Ya brotha!

When we were still there by ourselves on the treadmills, heard a weight drop, looked back and there was this girl doing weights...that was kind of bizarre, because there was NO ONE there when we came in...cue Twilight Zone theme song...

Big Bearded Nice Guy came in and started working out.  He looks like a mean biker dude, but he actually is pretty nice and even chuckles a little at our jokes.  Pretty much I like anyone who laughs at me, well not AT  me but who thinks (or pretends to think) that I'm a little funny.  I'm so easy.

Rick came in too, and was SUPER DUPER pleasant and chatty, even asked us how our workout program was going...first time in 2 months!!!  Wow.  I really think we might have been in the Twilight Zone...

Today was "squat til ya drop" day, so I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to move the lower half of my body tomorrow.

My reason for living arrived just as we were finishing up...so we made him do core with us...hahaha!!! Even planks, cuz when you're in the Twilight Zone, it's just better to have more people with you.

Picked up wee Hanna Banana from her friend's house then slipped over to Timmy Ho's for a coffee and a muffin...cuz it's our 2 month anniversary, that's why.

Is it really possible that after 2 short months of working out (yes it's 2 months today!!!) that Lynn and I could be synchronizing our cranky cycles???  Well the good news is that we only have one really stressful grumpy workout per month now instead of dividing it up and having 2! 

Poor Lynn, like it's not bad enough to be in this state, but her "safety" cord on the treadmill kept catching and bringing her to a rapid STOP!!!  Like that won't throw off your groove...

Blasted through our weights today...doing the ones where we lie back on the bench and bring weights over our heads...not sure what it's called, whenever I get out of that one it's pretty awkward and uncoordinated and I end up twisting onto the floor in an embarrassing dismount that results in the weight hitting the floor...kind of like the old disney books on records...when Tinkerbell drops her dumbell on the floor it's time to turn the page...or something like that.

Did lunges with some weights, not bad, definetly tell the difference.  And squats, love those.  Hmmmm what else, did all our core except the planks...Lynn just said straight up, I'm not doing those today.  As a show of solidarity, because that's the kind of great person I am, I said I wouldn't do them either.  I'm a saint.  Really.

Then off to the sauna to solve the world's problems.  I kinda like that part, feels like we're part of an exclusive country club where all the fat guys sit around discussing important issues in their towels...'cept we wear our workout clothes, and sadly, we're the fat guys. 

No more slackin'...

Feels like forever since we worked out...the weekend, then we missed Monday, so went on Tues instead...this regular job thing Lynnie's got goin' is really a drag, I much prefer my super flexible hours, that way we don't have to bend on our workout time...haha. 

Trainer Stacie was at the desk today, she's a refreshing ray of sunshine I tell ya.

Cardio felt good, I moved machines so a mom/daughter team could be beside each other...we know just how important the cardio chat is! 

Onto the shoulder work...I was a little distracted by the young guy working out in the same area, not that he was any great shakes to look at, but he thought he was...between every set he'd do the walk the full length of the mirrors, checkin' himself out, sayin' "I'm lookin' good, uh huh...damn I'm fine"...I guess he's getting better results than me, cuz I'm still not always wanting the mirrored wall lookin' back at me.  Fortunately for me I've got poor distance vision on my side.  Knew that was good for somethin'!

Oh ya, and the mirror guy also doesn't wipe his sweat off the machines.  Eww.

We did our whole core today, we've been skipping the planks for a while now...hate em, but boy are they a good workout.  We're gonna be better at sticking to the program.  That's the plan for now. 

In the sauna we talked with a large man who has to have his knees replaced.  He's in a lot of pain and having to lose a lot of weight before the surgeon will even consider him for the procedure.  Like Lynn said, we really need to be more proactive about health...she was talking about the gov't giving breaks to people who are taking care of themselves, and I agree, but I think that we need to take responsibility for our own health as well, because when it comes down to it, I think most people in that position would say that they wish they hadn't let themselves get to that stage...it's bad. 

My plan is to try and keep my body fit, cuz I'm pretty sure my mind is going to be the first thing to go for me, and I'd like be around a long time, cuz I think I could have some fun with that.

Baby's got back...

Well, worked out today, and my back felt great!  Phew!  It was a leg day, which was probably good.  Rick had revamped our workout, cuz we were whining a bit about the leg exercises he had us doing on the cable machine...I don't think he was too happy about it, because now this day is pretty much a "do-every-kind-of-squat-ever-invented" day.  I think he hates us.  So good news...tomorrow I will probably forget about any back discomfort I might have because I'll be too busy trying to lift my legs with each painful step.  Aahhh, always a silver lining. 

So the squats, aka "Gonch Chompers" are the babies that are gonna make our butts look fine.  Uh huh.

We weren't sure how to do a couple of the exercises, so enlisted the help of cute young Linden...he's so funny, he had a hard time staying focused on what he was saying to us as he had to keep checkin' himself out in the mirror. Personally, I still avoid spending too much mirror time.  Hard on the self-esteem.

old age is a booger...

Worked out on Monday...greeted by Linden, when we came in the door..."hey ladies, good morning, help me out here..." he had a couple of young girls at the counter. "Tell me Ladies, am I an a**hole?", without missing a beat we said, "yes". "See, he said to the other 2, I told you".  Yes, this is what we deal with in out quest for the hard bodies we used to have (not really, but we can pretend right?).

I've come up with a fabulous 2 for 1 plan.  When I do my crunches now, I count in Spanish, if I say the wrong number, I don't count that crunch and have to do another one...soooooo, either I become a fluent counter in Spanish, or get some kick ass abs trying.  Win win.

Sauna's fixed, so I'm pretty darn happy about that situation.

Bad news though...I facepainted for 4 hours on Saturday, and messed up my back pretty bad.  Could barely move when I woke up Wednesday.  Had to take the girls in to school in the morning, and thought I was going to vomit from the pain.  Uh oh.  Called Lynn when I got home.  No workout for me today.  Lynn still went, she rocks man!  So ya, I was contemplating going to sit in the sauna, in my sweater and jeans, but thought better of it.  I called the chiropractor instead.  I have never been to the chiropractor...the reason for this is I'm terrified of the whole idea.  I didn't know what else to do, I couldn't move. 

He asked me if I'd been before, and I told him no, and he asked if I had any concerns or questions about chiropractic...yes I said. He began to explain the science behind it...I said I understood that part, it just creeps me out a bit, well a lot actually. So after the first crunch when I cried out loud...I was much calmer.

I hurt worse in the afternoon after the treatment.  Ugh.  I was supposed to go back again.  Now I was really nervous.  I think I slept in the same position all night, so rigamortis and definetly set in by morning.  Oh, I am feeling really old.  Went to my app't today.  It wasn't as bad, even though I was scared, and I actually felt pretty darn good for the rest of the day. 

Talked to Lynn tonight, she has a part time job now...uh oh.  We must keep the wheels on this bus, we can't stop working out!!!  We can do it.  I know we can.  We are woman hear us roar.  ROOOOOOAAaaaarrrrr...yikes.

Stay tuned.

Best news ever!!!  Sauna's fixed!  Hallejullah & praise the Lord! 

We met super sexy blonde fit girl today...she's there some of the time when we work out and both Lynn and I have noticed that she has a very short work out program, like 1/2 of ours.  Okay maybe she doensn't need as much work so she can spend less time, but really! She looks good.  Like a 20 year old, which I think she is.  Something I've learned is that the only people who look like 20 year olds, ARE 20 year olds.  She hasn't gotten lazy and stopped caring how she looks for just a brief moment, which somehow turns into months and then years and then all of a sudden you're 40 and wondering how overnight your body got like this???  Aaaaahhhhh! 

We're struggling a little bit trying to remember which excercises are which...we're gonna work on renaming them so that we know what the heck we're talkin' about.  Plus, I think it would be kinda fun.  Anything to keep us in the game...

We went for our "reward" massage on Thurs.  I don't think there's such a thing as a "bad" massage, but mine really wasn't great.  Certainly not like my new love, "Kola" can do...we only went to this place because I had a gift certificate.  I think that my gal was trying to do the "sleeper" on me.  OUCH! Seriously, I think she actually paralyzed my jaw momentarily...and no, I wasn't talking non stop either...so it was uncalled for.

okay...back to business.

Been a blog slacker, case you hadn't noticed...

Still been working out, but had a little extra stuff on my plate. Like a presentation about parenting...the lighter side of. I'm not sure how I got that gig. My qualifications? I'm a parent. Guess that counts. Oh, and the home renovations...actually, it appears to be more of a demolition project at this stage. I'm getting nervous. Our oldest daughter, the valedictorian, told me I was a "1/2 project do-er"...what the heck is that supposed to mean? I know it may appear that way to an outsider. Sure we've got a lot of things started and not a lot finished...in fact, we're not even close to being "1/2" finished anything. So OBVIOUSLY she's not THAT smart. Ha.

And as for the working out. Well, you know it's just kinda becoming a regular part of my life. I really look forward to it. And Rick, well let me tell you, that boy needs a sense of humor. I made a joke today, and he seriously did not get it. I don't think he realizes just how funny I am. Or is that how funny I THINK I am. Nevertheless, he still needs quite a bit of work.

Oh, and my serious beef for the day? What is the deal with people hogging the machines at the gym. Seriously. I don't think it's okay for you to be doing 3 excercises at a time, I'm sure it saves time but c'mon. I'm gonna start doing that. I'll be working with the dumbbells and then someone will step onto the treadmill, I'll holler at 'em, "Hey you, excuse me, but I'm not done with that treadmill yet" oh, and the pec dec machine, ya, I'm still using that too, oh and the first shower in the change room, that's mine too. It's kinda like animals in the wild marking their territory with sweat. Ick. I think I'll go take my shower now.

Yay!!! Lynn's Back!!!

Started my morning by meeting my girlfriend at the local Tim's for coffee at 7:30 am...who AM I???? We had a nice visit, then I headed off to meet Lynn. I was running a little late and so feeling like I needed to get busy, only too bad for my cuz I ran into Chatty Cathy in the locker room and she had a lot to talk about...don't get me wrong, she's a very nice lady, but I was was LATE!!

Joined up with my girl, Lynn, on the treadmill. Catchin' up on some of the chit chat from the past few days. The time goes much faster when she's there too. Mind you she did start talking some kinda smack about a 10k run this spring. Huh? She gets 2 workout days off for good behaviour, and THIS is what she comes back with???? What up Dawg?

We're pretty much ready for the army now, if they come lookin' for us, got some nice "army presses" happenin'. Our armies are looking real good, now just a bit more work on our tummies and bummies and we'll be laughin'.

Lawyer, Larry, said something this morning and Rick laughed out loud! Well we couldn't just let that go unnoticed, so made sure to give Larry thumbs up and a "holy cow" to Rick. Soon that boy's gonna be rollin' on the floor laughing. I can't wait.

Linden said he got a little talkin' to about needin' to be more "professional", he was even wearing the "Genesis" uniform shirt today. We told him he seemed to be extra professional. Very impressive.

Well...abadababdaba tttthhhhat's all folks!

Ya Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd...but you can be happy if ya put yer mind to it...

Spent yesterday rounding up and vaccinating most of our buffalo herd...feels like I was working out already.

After what looked like some kind of a comedy gag this morning...as we were trying to leave the house, we'd all 4 of us be in the vehicle, then someone would run in to grab something they forgot...then on the way back to the truck, would pass another member of our family heading back in to get what they forgot...holy gong show! Must be Monday!

So I rode into town with My Reason for Living and the 2 girls this morning, still no Lynn. We dropped the kids at school, then parked at Mark's office. I had to walk 2 blocks to the gym!!! To be fair I took that off my cardio time. Triathlon girl pointed out to me that it IS down hill all the way. Still counts.

Still a struggle with the old ipod. I don't actually have a pocket, so just stick it in my waist band. As I'm running on the treadmill, the darn thing slid right down and hit the ground...there I was fishing it out...looking extremely cool. I'm sure. As I'm doing my core, it jumped right outa my waistband and hit the floor, yanking the headphones out of my ears. Ouch. And exposing the bare wires near the plug, even more...I hope I don't get electricuted. Hmmm...that could be reason #2 for not going to the gym.

Workout was good, except for the guy hogging the cable machine. Seriously. I think if you're away from the maching for 5 min or more, it should be assumed that you're done. Grrrr. Oh well. I guess I'm not that honed of an athlete, that it really matters if I do my workout out of order.


So, finished up, and walked the 2 blocks to catch my ride. UPHILL this time. I think that should definetly be noted.

Solo

Well I'm feeling kinda proud of myself...I made it to the gym on my own today...it took me until 10:30 to get there, but by gum, I did it! And it wasn't actually that bad. I'd say the hardest part was gettin' there. I really was worried that I wasn't going to make it.

Did 30 min on the treadmill, ran about 12 of those, and it went pretty quickly cuz I very cleverly, anticipating my solitary workout, put a whole bunch of AWESOME workout songs on my ipod. By myself! I was very proud of that fact, only too bad for me, because I don't actually know how to make a playlist, so my songs were slapped right on there with all the songs for my clown routines...so pretty much I'd hear one super cool dance tune, then, the theme for the Gong Show or the Dating Game would start up.

Excuse #3 for not going to the gym...my playlist is messed up.

I have to say, I left the gym feeling pretty happy that I'd managed to make it afterall. Hmmm suddenly the theme song to the Mary Tyler Moore Show is going through my head...I'll have to put that on my ipod next week.

Still in the game!

Feeling pretty good today. We decided we'd do 30 min cardio and vary the intensity...when we were getting close to 30 min, Lynn looks at the clock, and says, okay, so if it takes us about 1/2 hour to do this...I couldn't stop laughing. Yes, that's pretty good, if it only takes us 1/2 hour to do 30 minutes of cardio, we're on the right track.

The gym was really busy today. Must be because it's Feb. 3rd.

We finished the rest of our regular workout, Lynn didn't get eaten by the "schmoosher" machine, so that's good.

On to the core...did 3-1:10min planks today! Ya baby!

And too bad for us, sauna was closed today. Still pouting.

Friday I'm on my own, Lynn's gone till Monday afternoon. That's right, I will have to go to the gym alone. I'm kinda scared...what if I don't? I have to. Ya, I can do it. Just do it. Hmmm, that has a nice ring to it. Maybe I'll make a t-shirt that says "Just do it", with a check mark on it, you know, like checking something off your life list. It might just catch on. Who knows?

oh monday, monday...

Well today was HARD! Probably the hardest days since we started...I think it might have had a teensy bit to do with the poisons we ingested on the weekend, so we deserved it. The creepy Dutch guy, walked up to me today, stared me straight in the eye, and said, have you ever done track?...desperately looking for an escape route...I said this is my excercise right now...just getting up in the morning, I tried to engage the other ladies standing in the vicinity, Tracy bit...thank you God...so he repeated, to everyone now, that we should get a track team together in the spring, and we could participate in the masters at the Butterdome in Edmonton...even though not one of us said "ya, that's a good idea" I heard him telling Linden, that that was what "we" were planning for the spring...wth? Oh no, I'm not gonna. He can't boss me. No one can. Not even me. That's why I'm here in the first place...okay, I guess I'm kinda bossin' myself right now, but that's different.

After that, I was afraid for my life as the treadmill was shocking me every few seconds...perhaps it's some kind of governor (spelling) that won't let you fall below a certain speed or it shocks you, or maybe that was just from the friction of my thighs rubbing together...

We struggled through the core, not my favorite. Have I mentioned that before? Got the stopwatch out for the "plankage", we started, it's really hard...shaking...sweating...check the time...only too bad for us, cuz I didn't actually press start. Ugh.

I believe my favorite work out excercise is the sauna. And not surprisingly, I'm quite good at it. Maybe being a super athlete ain't so bad after all.

Friday!!!

Grabbed a smoothie on the run this morning for breakfast...careful...slipping into old bad habits. After 15 minutes of 100 Huntley Street on the TV a nice girl came and saved us, switched the channel. Phew! Our souls are already saved, so we don't need to be subjected to that horrible budget program. Ugh. We did 25 min on the treadmill, felt good. Met a new friend, let's call her TV girl. Very sweet, getting married in Vegas in a few days. When she found out my Reason for Living and I have been married 20 years this June, she said YOU? I thought you were my age...yes I love her. And of course we're the same age, I had an arranged marriage at birth so was married VERY young. This working out hasn't done anything for my a** yet, but my self esteem is feeling pretty good today.

We're thinking we should be videoing this and making a documentary. That'd be interesting. We'll see. I don't have the time or energy to get up and look good enough for a camera first thing in the morning...

We squeaked out 2 1:10 min planks today. Man I hate those suckers. Oh, ya, but "I'm learning to like them" that's our mantra. My whole body shakes and I break into a sweat...it's a total mind game...

Sauna again. I really look forward to this. Lynn and I were talking about how tired we have been feeling since we've been working out, not exhausted, just kind of sleepy. Today she said, what if this is just what relaxed feels like. Nice. I think I can like this new relaxed kind of feeling.

And now, bring on the weekend!

Hump Day!

Well I just gotta love that Lynn...she showed up to pick me up at 8:30 and she'd bought some funny cheery stickers to "decorate" our workout folders. How fun is that? And that little Suzy Sunshine gave one to the nice "I hate Monday" lady too. I think it's cheered her up and made her day a little brighter.

Work out was good. I must say that I do have some scary visions of my little buddy getting squashed in the leg press machine...it's kind of a nasty unit, much potential for squish-action and leg crushin'...which btw, I don't think it's meant to do. Kind of defeats the whole purpose of excercising your legs if you just crush 'em anyhow. Just saying.

Some of the other workin' out type o' folks are starting to talk to us a bit...ya, they must have recognized our hidden (well hidden as it may be) potential for being extreme athletes. Ya baby.

We each managed to do 3 consecutive 1:00 min planks, and neither of us vomitted. So that's pretty awesome.

Hit the sauna again. I really like it alot. This is where we solve all the world's problems and this time we applied our new stickers to the duo-tangs as well.

When we were leaving, Linden told us, "you two definetly bring a little sunshine to this place". Awww. I wish Rick could have been there to hear that. I think I might make him a little balloon dog and take it in on Friday. heh heh. cuz who can resist smilin' at a balloon dog, that's why!

Beginning Week 3!

Excuse for not going to the gym #7 ...I so could have played that card today. Ugh. Lucky for me, my good buddy, Lynn had enough cheery for both of us this morning cuz I was needing to get pulled back over from the dark side. We got to the gym just after 8:30, even young Linden looks tired today, a point that Lynn asked him about...a question not well recieved, I might add, I guess Linden's a little cranky too. In the locker room we run into the older lady who's always there, she's always so friendly. Lynn said have a great Monday...I think the lady did a growl. Oh no, not the nice lady too!!! What's going on???? That's okay, I won't let this "bad luck Schleprock" kinda feeling get to me! Lynn was being very much like we'd like our men to be...very kind and careful, knowing that on this particular day of the month, we're really all just one lucky break away from a murder conviction...she suggested that we just take it a little easier today, maybe even have a sauna instead of doing our core...I knew there was a reason I liked this gal! Anyway, we pushed through our workout, even the core routine. We both managed a minute in the plank 3 times. A victory that won't feel so sweet tomorrow, I'm sure. After we were done, we headed down to the sauna. We weren't sure what the protocol is for sauna-ing...I asked Linden what people do, are they naked, towels...he said whatever you like...helpful. I'm not overly modest, but never want to be the only one in my scivvys...I remember the camping trip about 20 years ago, I was the only female member of this party and we decided to set up one of the native sweat lodges out at Kootenay Plains, all of us but one of the guys were already in the sweat lodge, not naked, but apparently no one mention this to our buddy, J., after we'd been in a few minutes, he climbs in, completely buck naked takes a look around, says, "oh, I thought everyone was naked!" and scampers out again to find his boxers. Funny.

End of Week Two!!!

Uh-huh...that's right...we're dancin'...we're singin'. Woot Woot!

Went to the gym for 8:30 today, we're gonna start going a little earlier. Right down to business, didn't get stumped till the 2nd excercise...neither of us could quite remember how to do it. We're messin' around, trying to figure it out, joking that, "oh well if we do it wrong, we'll just find a muscle that hasn't been invented yet." Fine and dandy, only too bad for us, because we actually said it out loud and made eye contact with another member when we did. CREEPER ALERT!!! Seemed like a nice older Dutch man, always friendly...he came to share his expertise, which involved very little expertise and too many compliments on how good we already looked...ALERT ALERT...we're not stupid, we're at the gym for a reason...might have fallen for that at 20, however...okay, so I can deal with that, BUT the friendly little pat on my a** after he was thru with his demo, was WAY over the top. Note to self. (1)Learn to do the exercises so not to need any assistance from bystanders (2) Never make eye contact. That's right kids, head down and keep working.

On a postive note, though, we DID do our core routine at the end of the workout again, even though Rick said it's "optional". The only excercise we skipped was the plank, but since my sides and ribs feel like some one's hit me with a 2x4 from Wed's side extensions...I'd call that just about even.

Been countin' the caloric intake daily for the past four days too. And just a little tip for all you coffee fans...Starbuck's "Skinny" Latte, has nothing to do with skinny!!! 242 calories in the small size I ingested yesterday in Red Deer. Oops. Who knew?

Oh ya, just thought of excuse #4 for why I can't go to the gym:

4. Scared of Creeper

Forgot to mention, that I calculated out my BMR...if you don't know what that is, I didn't, it's the number of calories that your body requires just to be awake. Kinda cool, eh? So mine is 1414.13/day. That's right, I'm burning away right now. I think I get extra points for typing. So then there's this formula based on your level of activity, so you times your BMR by that number, and voila! The number of calories you need to take in in a day to maintain your weight where you are right now. Mine is 1900/day. So if you reduce by 200-5oo cal/day then you would lose .5-1lb/week. Interesting. So food for thought, since we're talking about eating, all the 12-1500 calories/day diets are crap. You'll lose weight, sure, but your brain gets all freaked out and goes into starvation mode, and as soon as you eat normally, BOOM, you're storing every extra calorie you eat. There's your little lesson for today kids. Now eat smart!

Workout Week 2!! Day 2!!!

As you can see by the date...I have now been put under some crazy CRTC broadcasting law which imposes a one day delay on all my postings for censorship purposes...okay, I just didn't have it in me to write yesterday...this working out stuff is HARD.

Yesterday was our 1st day unsupervised with the new program. As we drove into town, we were discussing what we had to do that day...there were a couple excercises we didn't like, but decided that we had to give them a fair shot and do them anyway. Who are these two so agreeable women? I think together these couple of crazies, actually make one pretty fine sane chick!

Got to the gym, and straight to business. Chatting the whole way thru the cardio makes the time go by in a jiff. All the excercises went really well. I didn't even pull my shoulders outa the sockets on the crazy pec dec fly thing-a-ma-jig. Rick would be proud. Or at least not scolding me.

Added on our core workout today too. Okay, THIS IS NOT FUN at all!!! Wow. Nice little move called the vacuum which we've fondly renamed "mo-fo". Then the side extensions, this time we used the dumbells...NOT the 20lb "cow bells" we used last time. Ahhh, did I mention the plank. That's a real beaut...just hold as long as you can. Felt like one of the final 4 elimination challenges in Survivor. I definelty have to work on holding as long as I can NOT as long as I feel like it. There were a couple more excercises then we were done.

Both Lynn and I agree we wouldn't still be there if it weren't for the other, but man am I ever proud of us. We're doing awesome girlfriend!!! Thanks!

BTW...OUCH! This is my blog afterall, I reserve the right to whine a little...

Program Day!!

Lynn picked me up at 9:15 and we were off. Both a little nervous about starting the new program, and the fitness assessment...how could I have forgotten that? Whose bright idea was it to have a fitness assessment done??? Rick told us to warm up on the treadmill for 5 then he'd come over, he did, and told us to run for 12 minutes. Sounded pretty easy. So the "princesses" he spoke of last week who came to the gym all made up and couldn't sweat, obviously were not us. I was sweating like a little piggy. Next we headed to the little sound proof room, where "no one hears you scream..." and began part 2 of the assessment. First up. Push-ups. As many as you can do in a minute. We did not too bad. Then sit-ups, same drill. Only too bad for us, cuz he actually meant good old fashioned all the way to the floor and all the way up sit-ups. Holy Nelly! I haven't done a real sit up since middle school! We got through the rest of the excercises, then on to the weight and measurement portion of our show...we felt that surely, THIS would make Rick crack a smile. But he was very kind, kinder than his scale, I might add. Lynn decided that we should conduct our own little "assessment"...see how many times we could get Rick to laugh...that was definetly a highlite for me. We worked our way through the 3 days of workouts he'd prepared for us, and discussed our results at the end. I think it went pretty well actually. And hey, we were there. I'm kinda proud of that Lynn & me. We're gonna be just fine.



Oh ya, and while we were doing our 12 minute run, we decided that we should blog a list...top ten excuses why we can't go to the gym...here goes:



10. I don't have proper shoes.

9. I forgot to bring my proper shoes.

8. I forgot my water bottle....that doesn't actually work, cuz Linden just gave me another one.

7. I got my period. (that's pretty much a blanket one that works for any occasion)

6. Rick scares us.

5. I'm too embarrassed after the "posing as a triathlete incedent".

4.

3.

2.

1.

Well I guess things are looking up cuz I can't come up with anymore...I'm sure they'll come to us! (must have been real tired after the workout, because I'm just finishing this post at 11:00 pm on Tuesday!)

Workout day 3

Woohoo! Done our first week! We went in at 12:00 today to meet with the trainer, Rick, to get a program started. Neither Lynn nor myself were all that enthused about going today. BUT we went anyhow, and now I'm glad. Rick wasnt' there when we arrived, so we just started our cardio. First stop the bikes...'cause the treadmills were busy...my "daisy duke" shorts as Lynn referred to them, weren't protecting my poor thighs from rubbing together. Ouch. And just an FYI, sometimes the shorts you use to wear and looked good in, don't anymore. I'll save those for another day...or give them to someone I want to bless, who's in much better shape than me....but of course I'll tell them that the shorts were too big for me. heh heh. Ya, that's a good idea. We did a little on the weights then Rick was ready for us. We went into his office, which kind of had a principal's office feel...maybe because we knew we're in trouble. He had a teeny tiny wooden bench for us to share...Lynn said that's a test, cuz if our butts get so big that we can't both fit on that little cute bench, then we need to step it up a little. We're going to have a fitness assessment done as well...lots of measuring and weighing... I think a harsh reality is just what we need. Rick doesn't really have a sense of humor. I think we'll wear him down. Cuz we're pretty funny. At least we think so.

Workout day 2. Really hard draggin' my sorry butt out of bed this morning, but once I was up I was feeling okay. Really thankful for Lynn, cuz today would have definetly been a "miss" day. Wow, I'm so committed. We got to the gym and headed straight to the eliptical trainers. Not my favorite, I must say, felt a little like I was doing it backwards or something...10 min. then we abandoned ship and hit the treadmill again. Much better. I'm definetly sore. After our cardio (just saying cardio makes me feel fitter) we did the free weights. Actually felt good to stretch out those sore lil muscles that have been complaining for the past 2 days. As we were down on the floor doing some stretching, Lynn commented on how many muscles you don't even realize are there...I said I've become aquainted with quite a few of them lately...she said, "it's kinda like a highschool reunion. There's lots of them there that you haven't seen in long time, some have mustaches now and some have just gotten kind of fat." Wow, is that true or what. The mustache part kind of scared me though...is that possible. Eww. We decided to get "Rick" to make us a program, that way we're not just ramblin' along aimlessly. If we're gonna do this, I'd like to get the best bang for our buck. I still feel like I could bail at any moment. Must. Keep. Going.

Post Workout

It's 8:00 am. Rigormortis has officially set in. It hurts to type. I even told My Reason For Living, yesterday, how lucky it was, that I'd gone to the gym in the past, so if I learned nothing, at least I know not to overdo it. He said you probably did anyway. How did he know? Maybe I'll dig out my "Hip Hop Abs" DVD, that'd be a good way to work out some of the kinks, otherwise I'm not going to be able to get outa bed tomorrow. I think I will call Lynn and ask her to come hold my coffee cup. I'm definetly gonna need coffee today.

Workout. Day 1.

Feeling pretty good about this. Okay, I'm not so original. Along with kajillions of others ready to make a fresh start in the new year, here I am. I've actually been thinking about working out for a long time now. The only problem with that, is that "thinking" about it, doesn't actually do much for my ever growing butt. Luckily for me, last week over a Tim Horton's coffee and a chocolate danish, the deal was made. My buddy Lynn and I would start going to the gym on Monday. I was so excited to have a plan and a workout buddy who could work around the same schedule as me. Woke up today, feeling as though I was coming down with the flu...turns out, it was just a strong physical reaction I was having at the thought of going to the gym. Not a good excuse. Called Lynn and she said she'd pick me up at 9:30 am. No backing out. We get to the gym, met by a handsome young man (young, as in I have shoes older), full of piss and vinegar, ready to dish out twice as much sarcasm as we could dish him. He wouldn't even fill out the paper work for us to join the gym. "Try it first," he said, "that way it doesn't waste my time, or yours." A challenge. Ya, I think I like this. Next we're off to the locker room where I put on my hikers. Seems my running shoes have disappeared since my last time at a gym. We're feeling pretty sassy. Hit the treadmill. It's a lot more complicated than I expected and takes me a few minutes to figure out. I must have set it wrong, or it could read my level of fitness pretty well, because it kept slowing down. Lynn's just going to town burning up the calories, and I'm just figuring out how to get my machine working. Ugh. After about 25 minutes at a brisk walk, we're done. I get off the treadmill. I'm dizzy. Whoa. We head to the machines, time for some serious weight training. Okay, it's not that serious. We're having a little trouble as we can't stop laughing. I think laughing burns calories too. This is gonna be awesome! (BTW we bought a 6 month membership.)