It just goes to show you.

Last night I made what I would consider to be a classic fitness rookie mistake.

At 7.00 I decided to go for an hour's ride. I didn't really feel like it, for some reason, and three minutes into the ride the thought popped into my head, "I shouldn't be doing this". It was surprising how un-able I felt for the exercise. I thought it was just a weak moment, so persevered anyway.

The thing about my bike rides, which I've mentioned before, is that I've got literally one block before the sharp descent begins. Once I've made the descent, I'm committed to going back UP at some point. So I've got one block to change my mind about the whole thing.

I got down to sea level and started the fat-burn portion of the workout. This is an 8-kilometer ride, round-trip, before I start the climb back up to my house. The climb is 1.7 kilometers straight up - I zig zag, however. I end up going a good bit further than 1.7 kilometers, but at least my heart doesn't explode.

Weirdly, I found I was going uncharacteristically slowly. I couldn't seem to get my speed up. I felt heavy and slow and breathless. What's more, walkers and roller-bladers kept straying into my lane, forcing me to slow way down, or stop, many times. After each stop, I had more and more trouble getting my speed back up.

On the way home I mentally chided myself for laziness, and forced myself to step it up. It felt awkward and laborious, though.

I got within sight of the beginning of the end-of-ride climb and realised there was no way I was making it up that first hill with no momentum. I kicked it way up for a couple of hundred meters, figuring I'd get my speed up and hit the hill flying.

Instead, I hit the wall. Just about at the base of the hill, I ran OUT OF GAS. This hasn't happened to me in ages...years, even. I was totally winded, exhausted, and done. I gave it the old college try, but two-thirds of the way up the hill I had to actually get off my bike and walk the rest of the hill.

It was only when I got off and started walking, gasping for breath, sweating, and feeling incredibly faint, that I realised what my problem was.

I had not eaten enough that day.

I had a muffin at 9.30 AM, a few crackers and cheese at 2.30, and a few tablespoons of black bean dip with a handful of baked tortillas at 4.30. I didn't do it on purpose, it was just a busy day full of unexpected guests and untimely phone calls.

I had trouble making it home, my friends. Between the faintness, the muscle tremors, the nausea, and the dehydration, I felt terrible for the entire evening.

Once I got home, I threw some stuff into a blender and gulped it down in an attempt to normalise my blood sugar and get some protein going to repair the damage I might have done. Banana, cottage cheese, yogurt, frozen berries. I would have added some honey or tofu but was out of both.

I think the moral of the story is, if you're running your body hot, you've got to have good fuel going in. All too often we slimmers tend to slash calories relentlessly, while stepping up our output in the form of exercise. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that, when it comes to food, less is better.

When I was 19, 20, 21 years old, rowing for the UVic women's team, I made this mistake: only that time I did it on purpose. I thought "Wow, I am exercising a minimum of four hours a day.....I bet if I eat almost NOTHING, I will get really thin!" Well, yes - I did get really thin, but pretty soon my place on the team was in danger because my performance fell so dramatically. I couldn't keep up the exercise while dieting. I jacked up my calorie intake, gained back all the weight, and earned my "5-seat" back.

I'm beginning to wonder whether my tactics should change. I've stated before, on this blog, that I want to lose 15 pounds by my birthday in October. I think I'm realising that my priorities may need reordering...my weight may not be negotiable. It's possible that I would be better off setting TIME goals - for example, three hours per week of riding, three hours per week of belly dance, three hours per week of heavy gardening or housework. There's no way a person getting that much exercise, and eating healthy food, will be unhealthy.....no matter what the doctor says about my weight.

In any event, next time I feel like I really shouldn't be doing a workout, I think I'll listen to my body and skip it. There's always tomorrow.

Eat, girls, eat!!

The Contest

The weekend was kind of low-exercise, because we were getting ready to get our puppy on Monday and I was busy cleaning and decluttering in preparation for that. But yesterday, Monday, I did the first of the Couch to 5K interval workouts, Week Two. I should have had two more workouts of Week One, but it was a bit too easy so I skipped ahead.

Last week I started to develop shin splints. I used to get these nine or ten years ago, when I was doing 1.5 hours of high-impact aerobics four to five times weekly. (This was before kids, of course. Who has that kind of time nowadays?) It was excruciatingly painful and I remember it well. So, when I started getting some symptoms I jumped on the prevention right away.

First off, I need new shoes. I can't afford them right now, so I will just have to make do with what I have for the time being.

Second, I am (I think) an "underpronator". I have very high arches and I hit the ground with heel, then outer edge of foot, then ball of foot. I have to be careful about my running technique, stride length, and the slant of the surface.

Third, I am heavy. I am pretty close to 190 pounds, and that kind of impact over and over is going to be hard on my body. Good for it - but hard on it. This calls for careful warming up and cooling down, careful choice of surface, attention to form, and cautious increase of running time. Two weeks ago I ran for about 30 minutes, total. Last week I ran for a total of about 60 minutes, spread out over four runs. It was too much, too soon.

I am surprised how much I would miss running if I weren't able to do it. This isn't because I love running - I'd much rather be lifting weights or (bliss of blisses) rowing a boat. But running is shorts + shoes + jacket + out my front door = exercise. It doesn't get much easier or cheaper than that.

In other news:

My sister-in-law is also trying to lose weight this year. She has imposed a Junk Moratorium on herself, and has invited anyone who pleases to join her.

I have joined her, and I have put this prize into the Pot:
the winner's choice of
a) handknit socks; or
b) a lace scarf.

The winner, of course, being the person who holds out longest.

The rules aren't hard and fast yet, but I'm sure they'll be hammered out over time. Amy has ruled out, for herself, chocolate, doughnuts, chips, fries, pop, cakes, cookies. I will be doing the same as she...if I think of anything else I'll add it.

Anyway, if you are interested in joining us, please stop by her blog and sign yourself up. So far there are only three of us, so it's not a huge contest or anything, but the element of competition could be very helpful.

It'll be interesting to see how long we can remain, to quote Jerry Seinfeld, "Master of our domain."

Hee hee.

Quick Check In

Dear Friends,
I confess that I have not exercised this weekend, due to the fact that I have been very busy and had no time. I am hoping that perhaps a long walk around Costco counts. No? Oh! :(

I did buy Leslie Sansome's 5 mile workout DVD at Costco, in a box that includes wrist weights, a stretch band and a tension thing that works the triceps. I had no time to try it, and the week ahead looks so busy that I can't imagine doing it until Thursday, but you never know!

I did go onto Dr. Oz's site, and answered a questionnaire that reveals your biological age. I am 57 and my biological age is 53.4. I would have liked it to be below 50 but I think that perhaps I am kidding myself! :) This is the site, which also has many other interesting places to visit. http://www.realage.com/ct/shape-up-slim-down/you-on-a-diet/

I have a feeling that when I weigh in on Tuesday, I may have gone up. This is because tomorrow I have a lunch to attend, and in the evening I'm going out with some young friends who chose Harvey's for supper. I will try to make healthy choices and resist temptation. Exercise really does make such a difference and I've missed it this weekend.

The Long Haul

Tuesday mornings are the perfect "weigh in" mornings for me. They are one day removed from the weekend and they are the start of "cell group day," which is a day when our home is full of people in the evening, gathering for a meal and conversation about God.

Yesterday I also had breakfast with my friend Irene. Bacon, eggs, toast and home fries! Because of that breakfast, I just had fruit for lunch; not that I needed lunch! Then for supper I had made a pot of delicous chili, with salad and a loaf of crusty bread. Oh, I made apple pie, too, for my friend Ann's neice Samantha, who is coming to the Alpha series we are holding in our home, and had mentioned that she'd come if there was pie.

In spite of many indulgences yesterday, I was only up a pound this morning. I am finding that the same principle holds true for weight loss as the stock market, it's what happens over the long haul that counts, not the odd "blip" up or down!

I had no time to exercise yesterday, or today, but tomorrow I must!

Libby, thank you for the thought of 4 pounds of butter melting off me in a big greasy puddle. So that's why my face is breaking out all of a sudden.

And Shan, I hope the belly dancing is going well. Onward fellow fat fighters!

Happy Thursday!

Well, friends, today was an "administration focus day" at my home. This meant that three of us worked in the blessed quiet of this place, away from some of the distractions we would face if we were in our offices. Of course we could still distract one another, but we did well, I think, at quietly working away. At times it felt like being in an exam at school.

What does this have to do with fitness you might ask. Well, yesterday we had a staff mini retreat and there was left over carrot cake. I brought it home for our lunch dessert today. Oh my!! Pretty well fatal.

I had a piece for dessert and two pieces for supper.

So, after supper I knew that I had to take myself off upstairs and do those Fast Four Miles.

We were looking after our granddaughters, Tiffany-Amber and Victoria, while their parents were out for a bit, so I said, "Would you like to come and do some exercises?"

"Exercises?!" they both cried, with excitement. It was as if I'd suggested that we engage in some delicious adventure.

Up we went, I in my black yoga pants and t shirt and they in their cosy flannel pajamas.

Tiffany-Amber said as she jogged, "This will help me train for track!"

Eyes shining, cheeks pink, hair swinging and much giggling made this four miles the most fun yet. Their parents arrived home after the first mile and they had to go to bed, but the rest went so quickly and I didn't have to modify at all tonight.

It feels good to have undone at least one piece of carrot cake.

I hope that my Slide Friends are doing well too!

Checking in to say that this has been a good, good day.

I had about 6.5 hours sleep and got up at 6.30 ready to roll!

Saturday mornings always involve pancakes here, with family. I considered skipping eating any and sticking to my yummy organic cereal from Costco, but instead I had one large crepe rolled up, and instead of sugar and lemon juice, English style, I ate it plain and enjoyed the simple taste of the home made pancake. I had an orange too. That felt like a great compromise and it was painless.

I exercised tonight and am sitting here sweaty still! You really wanted to know that didn't you. 4 Fast Miles with Leslie Sansome does that to you.

I must say that it's very motivating to lose weight when I look at myself in yoga pants with my hair tied back. There's no hiding the fact that there is work to be done! I had "let myself go" as they used to say years ago! Slowly but surely the pounds crept on, but this morning the scales told a hopeful tale. I wonder how I'll do this Tuesday when I record my weight here for the third time since January 1st!

Anyone joining me on the quest to vibrant health--let me know how you're doing too. It's encouraging to have friends on the journey.

Tonight

Last night I managed to get to bed half an hour earlier than midnight, which, I'm ashamed to say has been my psychological curfew of late! I often find myself lingering at the computer beyond even that--it's not unusual to creep to bed at 12.30 or 12.45.

So last night to be in bed at 11.30 felt good, and I was up at 6.15 when Paul's alarm went off, having shut off my own at 5.00.

Even that half hour made an difference to how I felt. Imagine if I managed to get to bed by 10.30 tonight. What a good start to the weekend that would be. Well, that's my aim, friends. I'll let you know tomorrow how it went.

I didn't exercise tonight because I did last night and tonight I had worship to prepare for Sunday, and Alpha reading to do in preparation for the start of the 12 week course being held in our home.

I had a healthy eating day! Yeay! For supper Paul and I split a Mortimer's English meat pie after I used my WW point calculator and found one pie was 10 points! We had mashed potatoes and vegetables with it and it was plenty for us.

I'm encouraged to be sharing the journey with a friend or two--maybe even three. Let's cheer one another on and let me know how you're doing!