The longest 3 minutes....

So, I've done the math, and if I run (jog?) at a pace of 5.3 mph for 3 minutes, I've done a quarter-mile. And that's what I did today, and I do believe it was the longest 3 minutes ever.
Doing the math....if I continue to jog at this pace, I would need to jog for 12 minutes to run a mile. I've NEVER been able to run AT ALL, even when I was skinny. This seems like a very daunting task.
Furthermore, the 5K that I'd like to run is in October, is roughly 6 months away. Continuing at that rate of speed, I'd need to run for 36 minutes to run a 5K.
What does this mean? It means that I've got a lot of work to do. For the month of May, I'll need to increase from 3 minutes to 6 minutes, and for each month thereafter, will need to increase by another six minutes each month (or 1.5 minute increase each week) OUCH!
I think I can...I think I can...

Tuesday/Wednesday bite it/write it

tuesday
breakfast: yogurt with fiber one
midmorning snack: grill chicken wrap from sonic
lunch: cup of potato soup, salad
Dinner: 2 hot dogs with buns (ouch), baked beans, macarroni and cheese
2 chocolate chip cookies

Wednesday:
breakfast: yogurt with fiber one
lunch: chinese take-up (didn't eat the whole thing) shrimp with mixed veggies, fried rice, egg roll, 2 steamed dumplings
dinner: 4 steamed dumplings, small steak

You bite it, you write it!

Back to some old strategy. I'm at a standstill on weight loss, so going to try the "you bite it, you write it" strategy again.
Breakfast:
Yogurt with FiberOne cereal and frozen berries
Lunch:
green salad with a slice of rotisserie chicken, walnuts, and craisins
Dinner:
Baked tilapia, edamame, and leftover fried rice from the Chinese takeout

contemplating eating a brownie tonight :-)

Evaluation with the physical trainer

Thursday night I met with the physical trainer that works at the fitness center. This is meeting #3. A meeting consists of reevaluation of goals, measurements/weights, and reworking the work-out routine in order to reach the goal.
A review of progress since September:
Starting weight: 164 pounds
Current weight: 148 pounds

Measurements:
Chest: 3 inches lost
Upper Arm: 3/4 inches lost
Waist: 2 1/2 inches lost
Upper hips: 1 inch lost
Thigh: 2 inches lost
Calf: 1/2 inch gained (OUCH!)

Body Composition analysis (aka fat rolls) OK not sure what unit this is (millimeter?)

Tricep: down 7 units
Suprailium : down 8 units
Thigh: down 3 units

Let me say this again: DANG THIS HAS BEEN SLOW PROGRESS. But, progress is progress. Hey, I could be gaining weight!

I have graduated to barbells.

First gym session after surgery

So, I spent part of the weekend slinging a sledgehammer and carrying broken concrete. I managed to steal a few minutes at the gym. I was so weak!!!! I gave up on the gravitron as everytime i did a pull up or a dip, it felt like my skin was going to rip. I wonder if they sewed my skin onto my ribs? lol I did do some dumb bell presses... better luck later, I hope....

half-hearted spring cleaning :-)

So, no heavy lifting for me, at least not for awhile. I was going absoblutely stir crazy today, so I decided to do a little spring cleaning. The weather outside was perfect. I attempted to plant some hostas that a neighbor gave me, but discovered that used muscles that were affected by incisions. I then decided to clean a much-neglected shed on my property. I truly detest spiders...and found quite a few of those today. The shed is tidy now, but far from clean. The clutter has been removed, but it is still filthy. Oh well, it's a start :-) At least I can say I did one little thing this weekend that was productive :-)

My reward :-)

So I pondered what to get myself as a reward for dropping down below my prepregnancy weight. I elected to get myself a set of weights/bench so that I could lift at home on the nights that I have my boys. My weights were delivered this weekend, but of course I didn't do any lifting since I'm recovering from surgery. I can't wait til I feel better...I'm excited to have my own :-) Of course, I have a lot of work to do...since my post-surgery weight gain. O-town friends: come on over, I'll share :-)

8# weight gain?

Oh, come on! You've got to be kidding me! I stepped on the scales thi morning---the first time since surgery...and it shows an 8# wt gain!!!!!! Are you serious? That is like 1/2 of what I worked so hard to lose. How depressing. I didn't eat *that* bad during recovery. I didn't realize that 3 days of decreased activity could add up so quickly. Oh, well. Can't do anything about it now :-( Such is life, I guess I'll be burning it up at the gym as soon as I feel up to it, which hopefully is very soon....

Kicking butt (and taking names!)

I think I'm finally getting it. I actualy ran today and did somewhere between a third and 1/2 a mile, I could have probably gone longer, but my mouth was parched, so I quit. Yes, I know, that's an excuse. Before you laugh and say "big deal!", I want you to understand that this chick doesn't run. Those of you who know me on a personal level are probably thinking "Cindy run? ROTFLMBO!". I think each day I'll add a minute until I reach a full 12, which is what I estimate to be a mile. If I can't do a full additional minute, then I'll do 30 seconds. You get the point :-)

Since today is Monday, I upped my weights and decreased the assistance on the Gravitron. I am now @ 40 pounds assist on narrow grip pullup. I could only do 2 sets of 5. I am doing dips @ 50 pounds--3 sets of 15 reps; wide grip @ 60 pounds--I could do 7 reps, 3 sets.

Still want to dumbbell press the 30# dumbbells but am too scared that I'll drop them on my head.

@ 110 pounds on the multi-hip, 122 # on the leg press (one-legged).

I'll probably be really tired tomorrow.

Gallbladder surgery

I am having gallbladder surgery this week. I wonder how this will affect my exercise regime? The doc told me that there is not a lifting restriction, but that I may not FEEL like lifting anything for 2 weeks :-(
I wonder if I will go through exercise-withdrawal? Hopefully I don't gain weight...
I did tell her that I am a weight lifter and that I do cardio for 45 minutes at a stretch 2 to 5 times a week. My hobbies didn't seem to make her flinch. Her reply was that the weight loss is probably what aggrevated the gallstones.
So, I wonder how long it'll be until I'm back at it?
We'll see.

handy woman and more spring cleaning

Today I fixed everything that was broken that needed wood glue. I repaired chairs, boxes, etc. It's amazing what one can do with wood glue and bungee cords. :-)

I also spring cleaned two drawers in my rooml

city-wide clean up

each year our town has a city-wide clean-up. During the month of April, everybody has a pile of junk on the curb that grows each week. I started mine today :-) My oldest child is somewhat of a hoarder. It's genetic, I can trace it back through the generations on the paternal side. He was having a cow when I was trying to throw out junk. I tried to explain that the two junk bikes in the yard weren't doing us any good. Mommy doesn't ride a bike, and if she did, she wouldn't ride these...Mommy can't fix bikes, and bikes are so cheap nowadays that they can be had for less than the parts to fix the existing bikes. I think I'll have to clean up the yard when he is not here...and then keep him out of the junk pile when he is here.

I did it!

I woke up this morning and weighed myself before my shower. I weighed 149.4# That's the first time in a LONG time that I've seen the 140's. My pre-preggers weight was 150. My eldest son was conceived in March of 2003, but prior to that I went in for a "pre-conception check-up", so there should be records of my weight. I will call the clinic today and verify that. So, I need to celebrate. I think I'll get a pedicure :-) and maybe some new summer clothes. I've been painting at the house. The old shorts that I wear while painting are baggy and have a huge front to accomodate a gut. I still have the gut :-) it's just not as big.