Movements

It's been over a week since I've written, but it feels like only a couple days. Over the past week I've had sore muscles, bruises, a minor cough, and one pulled muscle. All in all, not a bad week considering how many people are dealing with the flu and other issues.

I added a new set of exercises to my routine and I think I'm starting to see a difference. These exercises focus on the lower abdominal region and I'm a little surprised at the soreness they created. It only adds a couple minutes to the strength-training portion of my workout, but added a significant amount of ache. That's a good thing, right?

I've also been hooping since that doesn't have any impact on my legs (but it does make my hips and stomach a bit sore). I figure any movement is good movement.

The bruise on my lower leg is finally starting to dissipate. This one has kept me off the treadmill and bike. Each time I'd run there was a jarring pain along the front of my shin. Each forward pedal there was a pulling pain in the same place. I took that to mean that using the machines wasn't a good idea for now. There isn't any extra pain while doing squats or lunges (makes no sense to me), so that is what I've focused on. Next week I will try the treadmill for walking for a day or two and see what happens.

For now, I'm doing what I can to make sure I heal quickly and without further injury. And I'm looking forward to spring.

879.2 Miles

(1.7 treadmill)

Since I'd gotten on the treadmill Tuesday evening and I knew I'd be sore by the next evening, I decided to get on the treadmill again early in the day. Lo and behold, I made it through the whole 30 minutes without keeling over. Okay, that's a little dramatic, but there have been days when it felt like that.

I'm thinking that the fact that I got on the treadmill before the weary muscles set in may prevent me from feeling it too much tonight. I have a school function to go to this evening and I don't want to be limping in. We'll see.

I also did about 20 minutes of hooping, which helped relax my lower back a little. I think the belly dancing would have been even better for that, but I really didn't have the 45 minutes to devote to the short version (the long version is about 2 hours and the full version is nearly 4.)

I'm still trying to work out how I'll be working out while the daycare kids are here. (yeah, funny pun wasn't intended.) I really don't like getting on the treadmill at the end of the day, but it just might be necessary for the summer (the kids are generally here until after 6pm). Regardless, I am determined.

Other movements

What happened to this day?! I was tracking along well, thinking I'd have plenty of time this evening to get some blogging done, knitting, enjoyed, an audiobook listened to... but the time has caught up with me and it's time for bed.

So, a very brief update: 20 minutes of hooping this morning, and only 20 minutes of walking before the kids arrived. They left early today and I headed out with outgoing orders and a grocery list. When I got home I focused on some strength stuff before continuing with yarn work. Then, before I thought it was possible, it was past time for a shower and nearly time for bed.

Tomorrow will be better with more focus.

Other Movements

I got in 20 minutes of hooping before the kids arrived then, after they went back to sleep, I started on the strength training. Upper & lower chains, and 50 squats. I don't know what variation they are, but they are similar to a braced squat, only when I stand up, I pull in the muscles of my stomach inward (pelvic thrust?) and pull the barbells toward my body. After that I decided that it wouldn't quite be enough, so I repeated the squats. By the time the kids were gone, I was pretty much done for the day. I know that might sound lazy, but I do stay busy with them (crafts, cooking, etc.).

Let's talk about food for a little bit. I know I don't really get enough protein and I"m still on the hunt for a decent, non-sweetened powder that is affordable. I have found a whey powder that is mostly smooth, but it's a lot more expensive than the rice protein. The rice has a pleasant taste, but is very gritty. I'll keep trying.

One thing I miss is a cookie. Yes, that sounds silly, but it's true. With the elimination of nearly all grains, cookies went first. However, I have been trying out a couple recipes for raw cookies that are made with almond flour (no wheat). These are simple and pretty good and I'll be playing with the recipe a bit until I'm happy with it. I'd also like to try out some shortbread cookies without flour. We'll see how that goes.

When all is said and done, when my blood sugar is under complete control, when the weight has been shed, I want to be able to maintain it all without missing out on the things I like most (like ginger snaps on a winter night). Many things I've found awesome replacements for (hot cocoa with stevia instead of sugar), and many things I'm still trying out (I have come to the conclusion that I don't like turkey bacon).

I am choosing to have a strong and healthy body for the rest of my years.

Other movements

I'm going to need to rethink the next 2 weeks somehow. Brianna is out of school this week and the daycare kids are out next week. This week is a lot easier to get the biking time in, but next week will be a challenge. So...

Today was all about strength & hooping. Chains, squats, etc. and tons of yarn-lifting. If I had a hanging scale I could figure out how much a wet skein weighs when I first pull it out of the pot... I just know it seems heavier after I've lifted 20 of them.

I have a small dilemma which may seem pretty insignificant to many folks, but I'm still dithering about it. We kind of need a lawnmower. I would really like to have a treadmill. I'm beginning to lean toward the treadmill, though. After all, once the grass is cut short (and I can sometimes borrow a lawnmower for that) it's easier to maintain with the reel mower we have. The treadmill would get used several times a week by Brianna and me. For now, I'm going to put the thoughts on hold and focus on how to get my biking time during next week.

836.6 Miles

(8.8 biking)

We left the guardroom early and have been traveling along huge curving pathways.

The weather feels colder lately and I'm thinking it's simply because there were several warm days. I only spent 30 minutes on the bike today. Since I didn't go walking I did more hooping. The chains are getting easier and my time of recovery is lower and lower. I know that I will need to alter the routine a little to keep my body strengthening and I'll add a different set of squats tomorrow.

I started the potholder over again since I didn't like the way the stripes were going. Not that I need them to be even, I just like the look of stockinette better.

805.5 Miles

(10.6 biking)

So much in such a short distance! We reached the West-door of Moria. The description of the beauty of this magic is breath-taking. There are symbols of dwarves and elves wrought in the ithildin, which is visible only in starlight and moonlight. Gandalf spoke many different words and spells to no avail. Finally, in frustration, Borimir through a rock into the water, causing unease in Frodo. After another moment, Galdalf shouted, "Mellon" and the door opened. Suddeny there was a huge commotion! The Watcher in the Water had Frodo and Sam jumped to help. We all began running inside the doors and made it just before the Watcher slammed the doors and we were left in darkness.

I didn't walk today, but I did pedal faster during the biking (only 30 minutes). I also chose to do 20 minutes of hooping and the complete chains (not breaking it down to upper and lower). How do I feel? Not as sore as I thought, that's for sure. I'm not quite ready to go up to the 10lb weights yet, but I know it won't be that long.

I'm pleased with the amount of knitting I got done, even though I had to set it aside a couple times since my hands were sweaty.

777.3 Miles (Walking)

(2.9)

We stopped to eat and were able to have a small fire. There was some debate about which path to take and Aragorn said that he can hear wargs on the wind!

The journey is much slower when I walk, of course, but I can certainly feel the different muscle groups in my legs. The biking seems more to get my heart pumping, but the walking makes my legs throb. The weather is just too nice to stay inside. The hooping I still do inside, but there may be a time when that changes. Perhaps the belly dancing, too. For now (especially with a work crew in the house next door) I will keep that part of my workouts indoors.

With the walking I'm not knitting much. Partly because I really need to pay attention to the sidewalks around here. That's okay, I'm nearly done with my Magick Number sweater and a pair of socks.

774.4 Miles

(2.8)

We've turned southwest and are rounding the foothills of Silvertine.

I decided to walk again today. The weather is simply too nice not to. I followed the same path as I did on February 27th and enjoyed the fresh breeze and the sight of robins everywhere. When I got home I did my hooping and my upper body chains. I'm feeling pretty good about being able to finish them without too much trembling. I'm holding the thought that I'm building a stronger body, one that will carry me through the rest of my days.

The thought occurred to me that, if I get a treadmill, my journey will be much slower. Of course, it would also build my leg muscles better for the Appalachian Trail.

759.9 Miles

(13.2)

The going has been hard. At one point we were trying to shelter on a slim stone shelf while the snow piled up around us. It is only the miruvor that kept the Hobbits from freezing to death, I'm certain. 

The hooping today was a little challenging. Since my legs are sore from yesterday's chains, it felt like I wasn't as fluid as I'd have liked. Still, I finished up. After I was finished with the upper body chains, I was certain I wouldn't be able to lift my glass of water. I'm not kidding. That stuff really takes the strength out of your muscles! Still, I know that it will add strength with a little more time. In the meantime, I will just keep in mind that I will be loving all this hard work before much longer.

A few more rows on these socks. I'm thinking that, even if I only worked on them on the bike, I will have them finished by the end of the month.

746.7 Miles

(13.2)


Gandalf and Aragorn discussed the possible direction to take and it seemed as though they had a disagreement over something. For whatever reason we will be taking the Redhorn Pass. The weather will become our enemy. We've all begun carrying wood and the snow that has begun falling is much heavier than the norm for this time of the year. (pretty close to the end of chapter 3)

Four songs of hooping, 45 minutes of biking, and lower body chains. In order to avoid the dizziness from last week, I had a breakfast of leftover chicken, veggies, and some juice. Between the biking and the chains I also took a 10 minute break and had some of the protein drink I make. And, of course, plenty of water in between everything.

I bought a new set of weights this weekend. The grips are a little larger and they are covered with a foam (I don't remember what it's called). Much more comfortable! That didn't change the fact that they felt like a ton by the end of the chains, but at least there will be less strain on my hands.

This week's knitting is a pair of socks that I started at Kevin's. These are with a DK weight yarn and shouldn't take very long to finish.

691.6 Miles

(12.4)

As Sam was keeping watch with Strider, a cloud of something took shape in the distance. Before long a flock of crebain flew overhead and we knew the danger was even greater.  With the full moon overhead we continued onward.

Today I wasn't able to get on the bike until after 7:30. Why? Well, there was a snow day, which meant there were kids in the house most of the day. I will say that I do not like exercising in the evening and nearly didn't do it. The thought crossed my mind that "one more day" wouldn't make that much of a difference. But it would. Perhaps not to my body, but it would have made a difference in my head and in my heart. So, I finished my 45 minutes of biking, and my 6 songs of hooping. I haven't done the chains today. There really isn't time since I will be in bed shortly. So that will have to be done tomorrow.

I'm glad I got on the bike, especially since it helped work off some of the irritation I'd felt most of the day. I'm hoping it will help my sleep be more restful.

I finished a slouchy hat while I was biking and I'll be turning it in for one of the HPKCHC classes some time tomorrow. Then it will go into a basket of gifts that will be sent out as soon as I have another one done. You see, I put out word that I would hand-craft 5 gifts for people as long as they passed it along to 5 more people. One of the coolest "chain letters" there are, don't you think?

643.2 Miles

(6.1)

At this point, I'm further in the book than I am on the bike. So, I have set the book aside until I can get caught up. Today was a very short ride, only 23 minutes. My knee is still in pain, but it is diminishing. Until it's completely better I will keep things mild. Some might think I'm being overly cautious, but the funds for doctor visits is empty right now and if I cause more damage, there really won't be much I can do about it. So, I take things slow.

One awesome thing about today is that I started a new strength training routine. My trainer (who seems to think I am ready for anything) started me on an upper body "chain" routine. I'm using 8lb weights and the starting number is 10. I do 10 reps of each of the 6 movements, then start over again with 8 reps. Each repeat of the routine is the next even number lower. After next week, though I will be moving to a full session with 10, 9, 8, etc.

I honestly wasn't sure I was going to make the complete set once I got to 4. Seriously. And the weights no longer felt like they were only 8lbs, maybe closer to 80 or something. Yes, that's slightly exaggerated but... We'll see how my arms feel tomorrow.

I also did a bit of hooping today and it didn't seem to stress my knee at all. That is good since I like hooping to the music.

For the knitting I only finished 3 rows, but that's okay. After I see how my knee is affected by today's ride, I will decide about pedaling even longer. At least, that is what I'm sending out to the Universe.

515.9 Miles

(17.9)

We've crested a hill and can now see snowy mountains to the east. The weather is so cold and snowy and I'm glad for the warm wool cloaks and clothing. I don't know how the Hobbits can stand having bare feet here. The Shire seems like such a warm and gentle place.

I've changed my routine a little, even though I didn't follow that change yesterday. More strength training (not a lot) has been added as well as the hooping. It's an interesting kind of fun, hooping is. There is that part of me that remembers the bright sunshine and hot breezes and the grass beneath my bare feet. That part wants to smile with the thought of a grown up twirling a hula hoop. That part misses that sound that the hoops would make from the BBs inside. That part of me wants to run around the yard using the hoop as a jumprope. And I can't help but grin. Another part of me thinks of how cool it is that a grown up is hula-hooping in the living room. I would have never gotten away with that as a kid. Now, it's more effort, more focus. It doesn't come as easily as it did back then, but it's still fun. Now, instead of the sound of the Phoenix summers, I listen to the sound of my music and smile.

I'm still working on those socks. Since I'm only working on them while I'm on the bike, they may be delayed a little. But there is a baby on the way so the blanket gets my full attention while I'm not cardio-knitting.

Other bits of movement

No miles today, partly because I didn't keep track and partly because they weren't on my bike. I walked outdoors today. The weather wasn't as warm as it was yesterday, but it was pleasant. I walked to the library, then over to the pier. It was a nice change from the biking and it led me to think that, when the weather gets even more spring-like, I will move the bike outside. I think it would be lovely to ride out in the back yard under the shade of the maple tree.

I also realized this morning that my stomach was a bit sore. After trying to figure out what it was from it dawned on me that it was from the hooping. I'd given that up since starting on the bike. Why? Because I didn't want to fail this time. In the past I've been great at starting things with a great amount of passion, loading my schedule with dozens of things, then getting frustrated because I can't juggle it all. When I started the biking I let go of nearly every other form of exercise (dancing when good songs come over Pandora doesn't really count). Now that I've gotten through 2 months of biking, I have slowly started including more variety to my routine.

And, yes, slinging a hoop around your waist & hip can really make them sore. But in a really good way.

Tomorrow it will be back on the bike and I look forward to listening to The Fellowship of the Ring while I pedal away.