Carmen's Log
 

I've been doing sporadic exercise, but decided that today I'm going to begin a formal log - hope it will motivate me to be more faithful.

Got a new exercise machine (the Gazelle), and hope it will give me motivation and variety. I have an exercise room downstairs with a treadmill, weights, an exercise bike, etc. Also have aerobic tapes, Tae-Bo tapes, and an exercise ball with tapes. Problem is that the t.v. from the exercise room is up north in the camper right now (it'll come home with me this weekend). So, it's too boring! Just staring at the blank wall while walking on the treadmill wasn't much fun. And, the weather's been so strange this summer, that outside wasn't an option a lot of the time. So, I bought the 'Gazelle' because it folds up and I could put it in my bedroom, then bring it out into the living room in the a.m. Directions said 15 min. every other day for beginners. I started today, but if I'm not sore tomorrow, I think I'll go for at least 5 days a week for 1 week, then increase to 20 min. a day next week. Maybe add 5 min. a day until I get to 30 min. Also, with the t.v. back downstairs, I'll rearrange that exercise room, add the Gazelle, and I can rotate between the treadmill and the Gazelle. A lot of variety should help.

Son also started football - has practice for 90 min. from 5:00 to 6:30, 4 days a week. So, I'm keeping my walking shoes in the car and I can go for a walk while I'm waiting for him to get done. That's the plan anyway.

So, here's the actual: So far today, 15 min. on the Gazelle and plan to walk for 30 min. after work (while son's at football practice).

Well, even though it seemed very easy, the Gazelle really did work those muscles - my legs are so SORE today! Needless to say, I did not work out on it this morning - so the every other day directions are probably for good reason. Tomorrow a.m. - plan on 15 min. per directions.

Plan to walk during son's football practice tonight. Should be okay today, but tomorrow it's supposed to reach 87, so it might be too hot to walk outside. Anyway, got my walking shoes in the car ready to go.

It was too hot to walk during football practice, so I swam for 30 min. after I got home. One of the few times we've been able to use the pool this summer. It's been so COLD!!!! Not a single 90 degree day the entire summer. August set several records for cold weather; don't think my tomatoes will ripen this year. Now that school's started, its hot, of course! Poor kids are dying out there in the heat at football.

Leg muscles are still so SORE! So, no Gazelle again today - think I need to heal them up a bit before I do it again. It's too hot today for walking outside, so plan to go home and swim again after football practice.

Wow, been a long time since I posted. But, I have been exercising, just not posting. It got much warmer in September than it was in August, so I've been running in my pool. I love it! Can't remember which days I did what now (reason number 1 for posting daily), but I did run for 30 minutes a day for the past 4 days. Today I did another 15 minutes on the cross trainer - 1st time I've been on it since my muscles healed. I'm sure I'll be sore - can already feel it. But, last time we went out of town for 3 days just as the muscles healed well enough to be able to use it again; then it got nice and I would much rather run in the pool.

While dinner was cooking last night, I ran in the pool again. Pushed myself so I was short of breath, then slowed down a bit, then pushed again - sort of pool running wind sprints. I'm feeling really good today - no sore muscles this time.

Cross trainer instructions say to use it every other day, so I'll need to go home and do some sort of exercise tonight after work - no pool - it's supposed to rain all day, all night, and tomorrow.

I can feel the difference already - more energy, etc. - exercise is good!

Did the recommended 15 min on the cross trainer last night. Next week I'm going to push it up to 20 min.

Walked at lunch today for 35 min. - beautiful day - sunny, cool, crisp with a breeze. Started out in a light jacket, but took it off after about 5 min. warm-up - was hot by the time I was done (even though it's only about 60 degrees and I'm wearing short sleeves).