I was asked to update my exercise progress. First let me say I got a sliver or thorn under my right thumbnail and it hurts like a mo-fo. I think it got a little infected. It’s been more than a week. Typing can hurt and so can playing guitar.
Initial weeks –
Weights – Frustration with weight lifting. I had to throttle it way back. I was sore for 2-3 days each time. It was a bit demoralizing as I had to start at less weight than the start of my chart from 3 years ago. I had to drink more water afterward and stretch more.
Stretching – I love stretching. Initial flexibility shows big back slide. I need to find a way to stretch my calves. I learned this from Nicole. I want to get one of those inclined boards.
Diet seems fine. No great changes there. I feel pretty good about what I eat.
Cardio – using heart rate monitor. It’s partly psychological. I have no restrictions from surgery but when my heart rate goes real high, I worry. I find that I’m under doing it. The consistent walking was good but I probably maxed out the benefit sooner than I thought. I have to work hard to get my heart rate to the prescribed 120-130 range. I can get up to 144 before beginning to get anxious. Running puts it immediately in the sustained 140 range. This is good news and bad news. I’m not as out-of-shape as I thought (good), but sustaining it in the right range is hard (bad). It takes work and it takes awhile to get comfortable sustaining it.
Mid period
Weights – still frustrating but at least the soreness is under control. Going to the gym with Amy is good for us. Time together and mutual support.
Cardio – darkness is making it hard to get 5 days of cardio a week. I’m getting in shape; I can now sustain the 120-130 range for 30 minutes. It’s starting to feel good. I learn that having some food before and water during is a big help.
Stretching – still good but it’s the easiest thing to avoid.
Diet – I get down about a half-inch. My minimum gut measurement is hit during this time. It’s 40 inches at the belly button. I had hoped to hit 37 this year after starting at 46 in January. Thirty eight is supposed to be the magic health number. I avoid the scale as my doctor suggests. I know that I’m not losing weight though, and the lack of progress on the ‘waist’ management (haha) is demoralizing.
In fact I find the whole plan to be a little disappointing at this point. I’m working hard and not getting results.
End (10 weeks today)
Weights – this is finally coming around. I feel stronger and I might even see some change. I feel a little less like a wimp. My weights are low but so what. I’m not trying to get big. I don’t have lengthy soreness. I’m finally feeling good about this.
Cardio – it’s easy for me to do thirty minutes at a stretch, but the darkness and demands at work have made 5 days a week hard. I’ve slipped to four/week for the last three weeks. I like when I do it and I get disappointed when I don’t.
Diet – most disappointing part. I’m back at 41. Work stress has probably affected this. I really have to rethink what I’m doing here. Despite a considerably ramped up exercise program, I have made negative progress.
On the plus side, my goal was to do it for 10 weeks. I more or less met that goal. The rest was an experiment. I’ve got some good data. For one, I’m going to have to revist the diet. And, I’m going to have to be a little more deliberate about how to get the time in during the winter months when there is no daylight.
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