Getting Back on the Horse

I can't believe it's been over 3 months since I regularly exercised. I was getting so stressed out with my thesis writing and other responsibilities. Usually, exercising helps reduce my stress, but my perfectionism and dedication draws can sometimes create more stress. When I realized that my dedication to exercising began to cross the line of reducing stress to increasing stress, I stopped.

Now, my thesis is done! And the holiday is over, which means that I am feeling really out of shape! My New Year's resolution?: Whatever habits I attempt to make this year, I am conscious and careful not to become obsessive about them. What this means for exercising is that if I'm limited on time, or really do not feel like exercising on a given day, or injured(!), then I don't exercise. That second qualification is difficult, because what non-athlete ever gets up in the morning and says, "Gee whiz, I can't wait to exercise this morning!"

This morning, I started out the New Year with my 3-mile circuit run in St. Paul. Baxter came with me, and although it's been over 3 months since I've run with him, he remembered the route exactly, and really had a great time (after getting the hang of running in his little snow slippers). On New Year's Eve, I'll remind/inform you that it began to rain, and as the countdown drew closer, it began to snow, meaning that roads would be covered in frozen rain. So although it was icy during my run, I saw this as a good thing. I was forced to run at a slower pace, or run on snow-covered grass rather than running paths and roads. Knowing myself, I could have easily pushed myself too far on the run if it weren't for this icy physical limitation.

It was freezing too! So, the next time I run, I think it will be on a treadmill!


Pain Tracker:

• The bottoms of my feet hurt during and after the run. My old friend, plantar fasciitis. I need to take it easy, and try running more on the balls of my feet.
  
  
  

P90x: Shoulders, Arms, and Abs

So, we didn't work out this morning. And instead of working out during lunch, we grabbed lunch with our friend Chris. So, we ended up working out this evening, which, is fine, but not ideal for the long term.

I took this routine easy, because I think this was the one last week that made my shoulders and neck a bit stiff and out of whack. I like my chiropractor, but I'd rather go without seeing him :) Anyway, as a result, I used less resistant resistance bands, and completed fewer repetitions if I felt I was straining my neck or back.

What I didn't foresee is all of the strain I would suffer in my feet. During the ab exercises, my left foot started to cramp. Foot cramps are painful! And how do they come about? Maybe I didn't drink enough water before exercising...?

P90x: Plyometrics

I have been looking forward to this routine! Mostly, because it isn't weight lifting, like we have to do every other day. It certainly isn't any easier, in fact, Plyometrics is arguably the most difficult P90X routine. Not to mention the most difficult routine to pronounce...every once in awhile "pyrometrics" slips out, or "plyrometrics." Luke sometimes says "pylometrics." At times, we just give up and say "the jumping one." By the end of 90 days, I will not only be fit, I will have also conquered the pronunciation of this routine!

We did the routine during lunch today. It just felt way too good to sleep in.

Later today, I convinced Luke we needed to go and get him some new shoes. The pair of tennis shoes he owns right now are literally just that: tennis shoes. The kind you wear to play tennis; the ones with the boxy toe and are way too heavy to successfully perform endurance exercises and other forms of cardio. The P90X instructor is always saying to land softly on your toes. Well, with Luke's tennis shoes, it's impossible, and as a result, Luke's feet started to hurt during the plyometrics routine today.

Luke bought some all-purpose, light-weight exercise shoes from REI. I love REI, because (at least if you are a member there, not sure about non-members), you can return whatever whenever for basically whatever reason. The shoes Luke bought aren't ideal for the plyometrics routine, but they are leaps and bounds (pun absolutely intended) above what he was using, and he can see himself wearing these shoes (that don't even look like your standard gym shoe) around casually. Which, if you know Luke, is saying a lot, because this guy likes to look snazzy!

P90x: Chest, Back, and Abs

So, Luke and I did not make time for P90X on Sunday. Usually, working out with at least one other person helps keep you accountable and keeps you going. But occasionally, both of you might get the same excuse in your head, and skipping a workout becomes justified.

When it became clear that we weren't going to actually workout on Sunday, Luke suggested we just pick up where we left off on Monday, rather than skip a workout.

So, today, we did the chest, back, and abs routine. Although, because we woke up late, and because I didn't want to be late for work, I suggested we wait and do the abs during lunch. It all worked out (and so did we). Lame joke, I know... :)