No exercise last night either except a brief jaunt with the dogs (like 15 minutes). I am playing badminton tonight for 2 hours, though, so that might make up for it.
Tomorrow morning I am going out of town till Saturday on training and my schedule might not permit exercise but I am going to try to just work out in the hotel room, should be no problem, and watch the amount of bad food I eat.
After a week of missed workouts I figured "why shape up at this point?"
This week was kind of strange. I missed Thursday night, again due crazy fatigue. I think I have had a bug all week because I have been *ahem* spending a lot of time in the room with all the fixtures, if you know what I mean. Now, for a guy with Crohn's to say this it means he's spending like 7 hours a day in there or something.
I seem to be feeling better now, though... Anyway, Friday night I don't normally exercise (it's my "night off") but decided to because I missed Thursday. I was still feeling tired but got in about 30 minutes split between the treadmill and elliptical plus I did some pushups, dips (a few), and bicep curls and shrugs with the dumbbells.
Saturday I again didn't exercise (I did go see Jill and Matt Barber play in Mt. Uniake, which was awesome) and Sunday (today) my exercise consisted of lots of housework and yard work. Not crazy workouts, to be sure, but considering how I've been feeling lately it was better than nothing and I am feeling better.
Continuing the tradition of being too tired to work out on Wednesday nights, I reluctantly abandoned all hope of exercising last night. I was exhausted. I mean bone-tired. Like falling asleep while eating tired. And sore. I think I just needed a quite, relaxing night which is what I got. Tonight will be better.
I just have a second for this. Last night was the first night of a badminton group I signed up for (run by the Recreation department of the city I live in). It was a lot of fun and good exercise. They are 2 hours sessions, very informal. Just find a doubles group that needs someone and rotate in.
That will be my exercise on Tuesdays from now until the class ends (8 weeks, I think).
Exercise today was not super intense. I did three sets of ten minutes rowing and despite saying a week or so ago that I was going to work with my body weight I did some dumbell work (paired, standing bicep curls and lots of shrugs with a few tricep pumps to round things out... I just did a few tricep exercises because I have severely overworked them in the past when getting back into weight lifting and paid the price).
So not much to report, just a good day.
I did research the muscles used when rowing on the Concept 2 (or any decent rower).
The end of my third week went like this: Saturday I did a lot of running around and by the end of the day I felt like I had done enough walking (walked the dogs for about 30 - 40 minutes in the evening as well), Sunday I did a bit of housework and walked fpr a little under 1.5 hours (to and from a short birthday celebration for my friend's daughter). Lots of light activity although Sunday's walking was brisk, especially on the way there (definitely just above the comfort zone for most of it).
This concludes my third week of exercising every day I can besides Fridays. I have missed a couple days or done a light workout a couple times but overall I am happy with my efforts and will continue them.
I feel better. My back issues are still driving me insane but not as much as before and not as much during the day (nights are slightly better too but still an issue). I feel stronger and feel like I am slimming down (really, I haven't actually lost much weight but that is a secondary goal).
The one thing I have finally learned, I hope, is that staying fit is a life-long thing. I can't just slack off for years at a time (and it is easy to do that). I have to exercise now, and forever. :) And eating well is a big part of that. I don't need to be a health food freak but it is definitely harder to get a workout in with a belly full of greasy, salty, low-nutrition food.
Quick post as I need to get back to work.
I did manage a workout last night but it sucked. I got in a little over 15 minutes of rowing on the concept2 and some push-up and easy dips. The highlight was that the push-ups were horizontal on the floor. Until last night I hadn't been able to do "real" push-ups without severe back and shoulder blade pain so the strengthening is already working. I have also been sleeping better although I still resort to the recliner when I get too sore in bed. Still better than roaming the house all hours of the night in search of relief and being exhausted all the time.
OK, I didn't work out yesterday. It was pretty late when I finished work and I wanted to go to bed early. A workout didn't fit.
I was also celebrating the fact that I asked for my girlfriend's hand in marrige and she accepted! So now I am a fiance. That was a good reason to do something other than work out. :)
Wow, Monday was a write off... my back spasmed from Sunday night till I went to bed Monday night. Wasn't easy to deal with. Exercise was out of the question (besides, I was on the go till like 8pm).
Despite the insane back issues I slept well although I had to get up at 5AM. My day just ended with a workout (it is 9PM here, almost). Yeah, long day. But the workout felt good. I didn't want to let another day go by without one.
Did some push-ups, 30 minutes on the elliptical (first time I completed a 30 min program since I started exercising again!), and some time on the inversion table hanging upside down. I got in two sets of 5 crunches.
It still feels funny to do crunches on the inversion table (you'll only know what I mean if you try it... your gut seems to flex the WRONG way).
Anyway, I got my workout in although I am shy of a full 45 minutes. Time to watch The Biggest Loser. :)
Activity log for Sunday:
I feel like I did enough today that a workout is not necessary. So after all this activity I should be surprised my back is sore? I have to remember that while working out makes me feel good most of the time, I still have various problems that can't be fixed with it and those problems are still going to xxx my back up whenever they feel like it. Exercise is really important but it isn't a cure. I think I'll keep at it, though.
Just for fun I got measured today. Let's see how these change over the next few months:
Stepping it up to 45 minutes/day. I got in 15 on the treadmill, 20 on the elliptical, and 12.5 on the rower... Going to do a set of push-ups now and I did some pull-ups under the treadmill before I got started. I also do arm circles for minutes at a time when working the treadmill at low intensities (if you've never done these just circle your arms while they are extended and keep doing it for several minutes reversing direction every so often --- feel the burn).
I had to stop the treadmill before the 15 minute mark as I was getting the pain in the hip joint feeling again (I will stop when this happens and I am hoping that will take a little longer each time).
The rower is good as it seems to be a full body workout including some back mobility and ab conditioning.
Just have a second to blog this...
I didn't get much exercise Wednesday night. Last night I ate a massive meal and drank a few beers (long story, had to be done) so I NEEDED to workout.
Doing 40 minutes on the treadmill and elliptical after drinking a litre or so of homebrewed English Bitter and a Corona is not pretty, especially when you felt like I did (I am talking exhausted). I put my head down and got it done, though. Felt great afterward and slept well. Good think I don't need to drive to a gym to get a workout in . :)
Fatigue and soreness got the better of me last night. I just didn't have a workout in me. I'd like to say I did some Yoga or something but all I did was take one of my dogs for a really nice, leisurely walk (about 30 minutes). The way I look at it, at least I did something active for myself and the dog. Better than nothing. I got lots of rest last night as well and am looking forward to tonight's workout.
I tried to do 40 minutes on the rowing machine (I have a Concept 2). Didn't really make it. I need to work up to that. I did get about 25 minutes in over the course of 30 minutes. I did some (many, for me) push-ups and tried a few crunches (they are still hard because of my back but I'll get there). I also tried a few lunges but the area of my leg (where groin meets thigh) that was aching on the rowing machine didn't like lunges either. I am really tired (long day) and feel like I did enough tonight so I am going to cut this workout off without getting a full 40 minutes. Life goes on. :)
I am two weeks into my new "Exercise every day but Friday" habit-forming adventure. So far I missed one day (a Saturday) but figured that was justifiable because I was 100% on the go (including lots of walking) all day and was exhausted (I have Crohn's which can be tiring but anyone would have been tired after that day).
They say it takes three weeks to really form a habit so I am really trying to not miss a day until that point (and even then I better have a really good excuse).
Here are some general observations:
Finally, I just want to say that if you have been in shape but are out of shape, just get moving and get back in shape! I feels really good and your body will remember all your moves! :) Even if you have health problems, you can do something. Talk to your doctor and see what is safe. Sure, I am in pain after workouts but I am in pain after I set in an easy chair for 20 minutes too! Which option do you think will lessen the severity and frequency of pain in the long run?
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