Leaving on a jet plane

Saying goodbye to Florida today.  I won't miss walking in your muggy air.  I have no plans to walk today...since I need to get the rest of my odds and ends put away and I don't know what time we're getting out of here.

Yesterday tho, I walked out to Panera Bread...then realized that it wasn't really going to be the easiest thing to walk and drink coffee...its not like I was out on a stroll of something.  2.6 miles in about 55 minutes.  I started slowing down toward the end because at about 2 miles I started feeling a blister.  I took my regular tennis shoes because my walking shoes wouldn't fit and I found that if I actually tie the laces every time instead of slip them on and off, they didn't give my feet such a hard time...but apparently they have a limit.\

So I guess when I get home, I have to start looking for some new walking shoes...at least until my feet start to lose some of their fat and I can wear the ones I have.

Ok...short and sweet.  I gotta go shower now.

I am not that sore... what the heck?

Sorry I didn't post anything yesterday, I was wrapped up with school work. I have one week to go until I finish this semester. I just did a long walk after school (maybe 2.5 miles) since I had a long day and needed to decompress.  I figure a long walk without the dogs is much better than stuffing my face with extra cheese extra pepperoni extra large pizza like I was sorely tempted to do.  Instead I had a salad with a 6 ounce piece of teriyaki steak. And a glass of scotch, I figured I was allowed one not so great thing for me.

Today I awoke around 8:30, had a sensible breakfast and coffee then went to the gym again. I was as sore as that I was going to be after Wednesday's workout, I am not saying that my legs aren't a little stiff, but not as debilitating as I thought it was going to be.  So I decided to stick with the lower impact machines today.  I did 25 minutes on the bike (including cool down) and 30 minutes on the elliptical machine (also including cool down) You might wonder how I was able to spend that long on the machine, easy... Hit the fat burning program on the bike and it keeps the program at optimum fat burning heart rate.

At 35, that puts it about 125-132 bpm, so I tried to keep my heart rate near that range. Its not extremely difficult to keep it at that level so I figured I will try this level for the next couple of weeks then start working on increasing my heart rate to 140 or so which is at the Cardio level. In 2 weeks I will add circuit training with weights into the mix.  I will start go 4 times a week at first then try to get it to 5 times a week. I will see how it goes.

That reminds me, I need to spend some time fixing up my bike so that I can start taking it around town instead of driving.  Before anyone calls me a tree-hugging liberal (Trees around here would probably break if someone my size was to hug them) I want to being able to bike to school next fall rather than drive so Candace can use the car during the days I go to school and not have to either drop me off or be stuck at home.  Anyone got any good links on DIY bike repairs?

That's all I have for now... Until later...

The most magical place on earth

So there wasn't much for me to post yesterday...Kurt says he walks faster when he doesn't have 3 dogs with him...and that could be said of him having me with him too.  I walked 1.84 miles in about 35 minutes...and tried to eat well, but my dad made is most awesome of ribs and ... you can't deny the ribs.

Today, I couldn't get up...I set the alarm, got up about 30 minutes after it went off, made some coffee and had a granola bar...and just didn't want to go.  But is was okay...because we went to the Magic Kingdom today...and walked a considerable amount...took a ton of pictures...and eventually is started raining so bad that they stopped all the rides.

My eating today was a good as I could make it.  I ordered a turkey bacon wrap for lunch...it came with fries, but I only had about half of them...but I did have chicken parmigiana for dinner, with some garlic mashed potatoes and some really great bread with an oil season mix...gotta love the carbs.

I have the best intentions of going walking in the morning...of course it might be to the Panera Bread, but its 1.33 miles away...so 2.6 for a good cup of coffee isn't too bad.

I am going to be sore tomorrow

Hello all,

Today I went to the Gym after I had a lite breakfast of cereal and coffee.  I have a slight competitive streak in me and when I actually set a goal on fitness I tend to get a little gung-ho about getting fit.  I also forget that I now 35 and not 25, which as much as don't like to admit is quite a big difference.

I did 25 minutes (including my cool down period) and then tried my luck on the StairMaster, as I affectionately call, the zen stairs to hell. I had to set it a what I think is a very slow rate, about 2.2 flights of stairs a minute for 20 minutes plus 5 for a cool down and let me tell you it kicked my butt.  Yeah I supposedly burnt off some 350 calories but my legs were very angry at me as soon as I got off the machine.  I remember being able to do at much higher speed and longer when I was in my 20's, being in my 20's is the phrase to for me to remember.

When I was in my 20's I was going to the gym 4-5 times a week or I was training for a bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Now walking 2 miles tires me out.  I will not be trying the stair master for a few more weeks, or unless by Friday I can reverse the aging process by a decade or so. I need to remember that a reasonable workout is much more effective than an ass-kicking workout. Especially so early in the process.  Damn my ego that wont let me remember that I not as young as I used to be.

I will talk the dogs on a short walk this afternoon to stretch my legs and a moderate walk (if I can walk) thursday. Friday should be an interesting post, so stayed tuned.... Until later

18 flights of stairs

So for those of you keeping count, I did not make it to the fitness center yesterday, but I did walk a fair amount throughout the day, as well as the walk in the morning.

Today I was going to walk this morning before we went to the water park, but I also needed to go to Walgreens, so we (my brother Ryan and I) walked across the street (and by across the street, I mean around the lake, down the resort driveway and across the street), came back and then went with everyone to the water park.

The water park, Aquatica, which is affiliated with Sea World, was very cool and very fun, but most of the rides have 3 flights of stairs...so there was a good deal of stair climbing.  There was also a great amount of walking...too much, I can't even tell you...and I can map it because the park in the aerial shot on www.mapmyrun.com is still being built.

So...we had a long day...10am to about 3pm...came back and hung out on a beautiful evening.  Tomorrow morning, I will try to go for at least 3 laps around the lake and maybe I'll go for a swim afterward.

**Side note: Who could have thought I would attempt to get some exercise on vacation?  It may not be as much as Kurt's workouts...but its better than nothing.

Move along... Nothing to see.

Today has been rather non-descript activity wise.  I guess my last couple of walks has caused poor buttonz to become a little sore because he started favoring his leg last night, but by this morning he seemed to be doing much better. I won't be talking any longer walks with the dogs for the rest of the week so I don't injure my in-laws dog.  That would fall in the "things not to do to your in-laws" category. 

After going to school today and rescuing the dogs from the full bladders, I went on a nice 2 mile walk in the about 35 minutes.  Its amazing how much faster I can walk when I don't have to stop for a smell break every couple of minutes.  It was so beautiful outside today, its about 70 with a light breeze. I swear if Reno/Sparks was like this all the time, I would never ever complain about the weather being bipolar.

I figured since I wasn't doing anything super strenuous that should eat really well today, I had the last of the quiche's from our wedding reception. For those keeping track, that is 7 weeks ago. I had a salad that I brought from home for lunch and I still don't know what I am going to have for dinner, maybe some turkey burgers on lettuce. I figure that I will try removing as much bread from my dinners. I don't need buns with my turkey burgers, why offset the reduction of fat from beef to turkey when you are just replacing it with extra carbo's.

Anyways, its been a slow day so I won't bore everyone any further... Until later...

Activity day

This morning I got up at 7:30 from a text from my lovely wife, that and three crazy dogs all wanting to go outside.  I had a bowl of cereal, some coffee and waited for 30 minutes before talking a nice 2 mile walk in about 40 minutes.  A bit slower than last time but I wasn't going to push myself to much since I had a meeting with the gym trainer today at 12:00.

I can't believe how much the weather keeps changing up here in Sparks.  4 days ago it was freezing and nasty and this morning it was cool but absolutely beautiful and nice.  As I sit here typing its 71, I wonder how long that will last. Hopefully the Manic Depressive weather that we have been experiencing has finally come to an end. I know that I enjoyed our walk half as much as the dogs did.  I have started to notice that its easier to take that walk.  Not only getting up and doing it, but how I feel physically as well. I know that it has only been a week, but I swear that its easier.

 I got home, did some homework then went off to go to my gym appt.  The trainer, Jason was very nice and knowledgable, though I thought some of the comments were a bit over dreamy for me.  He said that I could see my weight loss goal of 60 pounds in 3 - 4 months.  I joked if I lost that kind of weight in that time frame, I need to see a doctor.  Not trying to be a buzzkill, but I just don't see that happening that quickly. I wouldn't mind being proven wrong mind you, but still.  He gave me some great pointers, since it been a while since I worked out with any regularity.  I spent 20 minutes on the bike and 20 minutes on the elliptical machine.  Jason said that I should work to spend 45-60 minutes each work on on cardio. I figured with my walk I did that.

So its back to doing a little more homework then I can rest and relax. Until later...

Breathe in the water vapor

So yesterday I didn't end up making it out for a walk because I didn't get to sleep until late Saturday night.  But yesterday was filled with some walking and some time in the pool...so at least there was some activity.

This morning I did get up fairly early...7am...and by the time I was capable of functioning (which took about half an hour) I went for a walk around the lake.  One lap is about 0.6 mile...and by the end of the second lap, I realized just how hard it is for me to breathe with so much humidity...so... 1.2 miles in 30 minutes...I started slowing down toward the end.  I was good though and took the stairs instead of the elevator (we're on the 5th floor).

 it's a little hard to see because the balconies are screened in for bugs

So we'll be heading out soon to do stuff, but later on today I'm hoping to make it to the fitness center...and I'm making pizza for dinner.  Its a great recipe...I love it.  Try it out:

One pizza crust, either from a bag and add water, or premade dough

1/2 cup of tomato sauce

1 Tbsp of olive oil

4 cloves of garlic, chopped

2 Aidell's Chicken Sausages (Any Flavor)

1-2 cups of mushrooms (or any of your favorite vegitables)

1/4-1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese

Roll out the crust

In a sauce pan, heat olive oil and brown garlic

Add tomato sauce to the sauce pan to heat

When sauce is heated, spread on pizza crust

Sprinkle with half of the cheese

Arrange sausage slices and vegis on the pizza

Sprinkle with remaining cheese

Cook according to time and heat that came with pizza crust or 10-12 mins at 450*

Enjoy