Where has the time gone?

The time has flown by so fast and I have had less time to post now that I am exercising 5 days a week. Yes, the couch potato lost her throne and moved on to a more active life style. Driving to the gym, changing, warming up, working out, cooling down and stretching and meeting with the trainers and then driving home takes up about 2 to 2.5 hours per day. After I get home we still need to have supper. Somethings just don't get done. Things do fall behind.

I am now in week 22 and can't believe that I have almost reached the 6 month mark and my 6 month tests to see what improvements I have made. It is really difficult to see where you are when it is happening to you. The improvements are slow and they are hard for me to notice however I would say that I think I have more stamina. I have met many amazing other women on this journey to help others by contributing to this study.

I have a couple of pieces of equipment that I tend to focus on. One that I use at least once a week is the stair-master that I affectionate call the swear-master. If you have ever used or been on this machine you can understand my comments. Early in the study I observed people on that equipment and gave it a go but really couldn't manage however I was not to be outdone by a machine. I kept at it and slowly built up my stamina and today I can warm up on it and do a full 30 minutes within my heart range. Lets just say it's a VERY good and pretty hard workout - for me anyhow. It is also not one of the most popular machines at they gym and is often easy to get on even though there are only 3 of them at the gym. Most people don't give them a try.

The other piece of equipment that I will use is the elliptical but I save that for my lazy days as I now find it pretty easy and it is hard to get my heart rate up on it now so can get frustrating. I also have started jogging on the indoor track and also jog on the days when I don't need to go to the gym to meet with the trainers. Jogging really requires no equipment and can be done pretty well anywhere and it is much cooler outside than at they gym. I can go out in the early morning or after it has cooled off after the hot day.

The new piece of equipment that I have been using this past 2 weeks is called the Espresso which is a type of stationary bike that has a computer screen monitor hooked up to it and it appears that you are riding on a trail depending on which view you take. It cuts the boredom while doing your work out and has a variety of inclines so have to work harder to maintain your heart rate.

I am starting to look for other pieces of equipment to use so that I don't get to bored with using the same ones all of the time.

I'm out of the office to a conference in Austin, Texas next week and am a bit concerned with not being here to get to the gym. I can do two workouts before I leave but will have to make up 2 to 3 while I am way. There is a gym at the hotel so I am hoping that it will accommodate my required fitness level. The other option is of course to jog however I have been told that Austin is very very very hot at this time of the year so that may not be possible. I will also be going on vacation right after I get back from conference and this time will not have access to any gym equipment so am VERY concerned. I know I will have to rely on jogging entirely to meet my commitment so I am hoping the weather and the mosquitoes cooperate. I don't want to lose my momentum now that I have come this far and besides I have my 6 month tests to do as soon as I get back. Bad timing for sure!


Lessons Learned from the Gym and Beta program

1. Exercise and fitness improvement is a slow process however does work but it takes much longer than we would all like.
2. Fitness improvement is much like maintenance on anything else that you own. No maintenance and the item deteriorates. My body now has improved but my house has deteriorated but in the grand scheme of things I know what is more important!
3. Fitness requires a commitment of time and some things in your life will have to be sacrificed to allow the time commitment to fitness.
4. There are only 24 hours in the day and 8 of them are for sleeping and about 8 for work and that leaves 8 for eating, grooming, housework, family etc. Fitness must be scheduled in this time or it WILL not happen.
5. You must put yourself 1st or you will put off fitness. No one will tell you to do fitness 1st and then your other activities.
6. Start your fitness week on Sunday and do as much as you can for 5 days and take Friday and Saturday off if you can. That way if you miss a day or two you still can get your workouts done because you still have Friday and Saturday to do them.
7. Fitness becomes easier as you go along and it is not a chore so much as part of your life but you need to keep a positive attitude about it and how it is a benefit to you and the study.
8. Fitness is easier when you have a commitment to a common goal – like the Beta Study
9. The Fitness trainers are the best and always happy to see you and treat you with respect, kindness and encouragement. Thank you staff!