Anyone want to shape up in 2018? A continuing journey.......

Took a month off of the weights and have been hitting a steady cardio routine instead. Weights resume next week. Looking forward to having the summer off to continue my gains.

markymark550 said:

I seem to be maintaining where I'm at, which is ok even though I'd still like to lose some more fat. I've been steadily increasing my cardio the last couple of weeks, so I should soon start to see better results. I'm sure that it's going to be a constant back and forth though since I hate cardio. I'd much rather just devote all my exercise time to lifting.

I did a really intense shoulder and traps workout yesterday. I hardly ever get sore from a shoulder workout, but it's got me today. Hurts so good lol. Today is leg day

I'm maintaining, too. On one hand, I really don't have much weight to lose (body fat < 18%). On the other hand, I work out for 2+ hours/ day, consume 1600- 1800 calories (no appetite), and I am losing at a rate of half a pound of fat per month. I should be ravenous and eating everything that isn't nailed down -- the joys of being a woman of a certain age with thyroid disease, I guess.

My trainer put me through a lower body workout last Monday that wiped me out for the rest of the week. I guess I was due for some rest days, but that was the first time I was sore from lifting legs in many years.

Today: eight+ miles on the beach, decompressing from weekend travel.

I run for my mental health at least as much as I run for my physical well-being. Half a mile into today's run, depression snuck up on me and punched me in the stomach; the sudden flood of negative emotions was literally breathtaking, and I wanted to just curl up in a ball on the ground and wait for someone to find me and take me home and put me in bed.

But I made myself stay on my feet and keep going -- helped, I'll admit, by Courtney Love screaming "Gutless" on my iPod at a really opportune moment. I ended up running another fourteen miles and having the best long run I've had in recent memory.

I was reminded of a few important, non- depression-related things on today's run; maybe they will help one of you, too. First: Like the magnet on my car says, running is a mental sport (and we are all insane). I managed to talk myself into continuing with my run instead of giving up after half a mile; later, ten miles or so in, I kept telling myself I was doing great -- cheering myself on, as it were (all inside my head, I promise!). I tend to feel awkward when I do that, as if I'm channeling Stuart Smalley, but the truth is, those positive messages make a difference; those positive messages got me up the nasty hil that's at mile 23 or so of the National Marathon in DC.

Second: Fueling. I have had pretty negative experiences with large dinners the night before a long run. I'll spare you the details, but google "runner's tummy" or look for stories about people who decided to fuel up with chili dogs or a bacon cheeseburger the night before a race; it's not pretty. This time, the big meal was Friday night (half a pizza, a few glasses of wine, etc) and I ate as I pleased yesterday morning and afternoon, followed by a very light evening meal. Maybe it was just coincidence, but I had more energy for today's run than I've had in ages, and without the queasy, icky feeling that I usually have when I try to run the morning after a dinner out. 

Re-reading this thread a couple of days ago reminded me that I had intended to try a pull up to see if I could do one. I stopped at a playground yesterday while I was out on my bike (because I don't have a pull up bar at home and don't go to the gym) and lo and behold I was able to do 5 pull ups without too much trouble. I'm  pretty pleased by that. 

No running for me on Global Running Day; instead, I awoke with a crushing migraine, of the "do I need to call 911?" variety. That really sucked. :-(

Once the meds did their thing, I worked three walks and a light (thank you, trainer!) leg workout into what was left of my day. I knew my run would suck, so I didn't even try. But I was pleased to find that the just-strenuous-enough lift helped me get rid of the residual ickiness from the migraine.

I ran 8,5 on the treadmill this morning while listening to Comey's testimony.

I've convinced my husband to work with my trainer; a nice benefit, for me, is that they're both busy telling each other how hard I work, LOL. My next goal will be to get them to address me as "Beast Mode."  

rgambs said:

Going for a nice 5 hour rock climb next week.
Wife is cold, no exercise besides life, so she did 200 squats yesterday evening to get "in shape" quick.
She's going to fall into the toilet when she gets home after a half hour in the car lol

Just wait until she tries to get out of bed tomorrow morning. Oh my.

oftenreading said:

rgambs said:

Going for a nice 5 hour rock climb next week.
Wife is cold, no exercise besides life, so she did 200 squats yesterday evening to get "in shape" quick.
She's going to fall into the toilet when she gets home after a half hour in the car lol

Where are you climbing, gambs? I really want to get some outdoor climbing in this summer. I love my climbing gym but I want the real thing. 

https://www.nrocks.com

Non-technical climbing with all the exposure and none of the hassle.  

I also use exercise to help me deal with anxiety, stress, and sadness. When things are bad, nothing else helps as much as going climbing, though riding my bike is a close second.