Coffee Induced Ramblings: feeling lighter, maybe, or just tired?!

I can tell in my clothes that maybe I am a little lighter. Maybe I’m down a little more than I had thought on Monday. Who knows… I haven’t weighed since Sat morning. I will try to go up & weigh before spin class tomorrow morning if I think of it. They don’t have a scale downstairs that I’m aware of or at least I haven’t seen one. I don’t own one & really don’t care to buy one.

Tuesday’s workout included 1 hr of spin in the am, a 50 min slow walk on the treadmill, some weight machines, free weights, & ab work in the pm. Harvey’s was slammed with women waiting on Zumba class to start as usual. I overhead the mgr say that next week, he’s limiting attendance in there. I heard some women in the locker room talking about how they should offer 2 classes back to back. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? They like Zumba like I love spin class. Hey, if this “craze” is bringing in women who wouldn’t normally get off the couch then “whoo ahhh!” Bring them in & get them moving.

This morning, I drug myself out of bed to the pool to aqua jog for 30 mins. Once I got there & got in the pool I did wake up. It was pretty dead in there so getting in the pool that early is perfect! I may even try to do this on Friday’s too. So, instead of two days a week up at 4:30am, I may try 3 or 4 days a week. (Keep in mind, I’m in bed by 9pm almost every night anyway because I love my sleep.)

I watched maybe 30 mins of Obama’s speech to Congress & went to bed. I got tired of all the clapping in between sentences. They have done that with every President, though, to show their excitement, I guess… I just want to yell, “Wait till the end so he can finish the speech already!” I keep wondering to myself, “How are you going to do this, how are you going to do that?” Did he say “How?” If he did, will someone please give me the specifics on how he’s going to save us, please? I just don’t have time to look for the specifics of his plan online. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the Prez knows exactly what he’s doing.

After reviewing the artists that are coming for Bonnaroo, I may be a “no show” again this year. I am a music fan but I just can’t justify paying that much money to see this line up. What would draw me in? Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Matchbox 20, Cold Play, or some other BIG name band! Nine Inch Nails, Snoop Dog, Merle Haggard, & Willie Nelson just don’t do it for me. I can sit around, drink for less money, & listen to what I like somewhere else. So, again…the Ocoee may be calling my name AGAIN that weekend. Incidentally, last year that very same weekend, Chattanooga had their big jam event on the river. (much cheaper too)

Catching Up...

The rest of last week was pretty much the usual for me. The soreness in my shin was pretty much gone by the end of the week. (I stayed away from heels/boots all week.) Wednesday, I walked about 40-45 mins SLOW & did weights. Thursday was the 45 min spin class in the am & I walked 1 hour that afternoon, (along with some ab work). Friday, was more of the same. Saturday was a slow 30 min walk, 1 hr spin class, & 30 mins aqua jogging. I was seriously hungry when I left so I ate a quick lunch at the Coffee Café before heading to Nashville. I noticed some stiffness/soreness in my calves Sunday. (Not a bad feeling because it felt as though I had been running long.)

I decided to weigh Sat morning & I’m about 1.5-2 lbs down from about 1 ½ wks ago. I’m not one to get on the scales every day but I need to stop weighing in the afternoons at Harvey’s. I need to weigh in the mornings at the Rec Ctr. My only bad indulgence for the weekend was movie theater popcorn. We saw “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” with the kids this weekend. It was funnier than I thought it would be actually. I’d like to see “Slum Dog Millionaire” & the Benjamin Button movie.

I finally finished “Once a Runner” & I simply loved it. It really got interesting once Quenton Cassidy moved out of the dorm. I don’t want to give any of it away but the last 2 chapters sort of left me a little empty, wanting more. The last chapter picks up somewhere in his life well after the next to the last chapter. I was thinking to myself, “How did he get to this point?!” So, I’m going to immediately start “Again to Carthage” this week. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked the way it ended but I want the blanks filled in between the next to the last chapter & the very last chapter. I just wonder if the 2nd book will do that. We shall see… I can certainly see why it has a cult following among runners. It literally touches on every single little aspect of running. I had to smile when he was looking at his shoes & going over in his head what he had done in each & every pair when he was moving them. If I learned anything at all from this book, it’s that I need to run more soft trails. (Not heavily rooted, dangerous trails, but some soft gravel, grassy, dirt trails) So, once I’m healed enough to run, I’m going to be on the base trails a lot more than I used to be… The only thing that has ever scared me with this is snakes in the summer! Plus I did get in trouble with base security once last Spring if you recall. :P

This week will be an abbreviated version of what I normally do since I’m taking Friday off for two doctor’s appts. I also need to make a quick trip to FF in Murfreesboro since Krista has special ordered some sports bras in my size. (My size is VERY popular, apparently) I did manage a quick stop Sat afternoon at Pro-Cycling where Alex let me buy a used front tire stabilizer at 1/2 price. (to stabilize my front tire when on the trainer). I had no luck at all finding a Pilates DVD at Walmart this weekend but I did buy a core workout DVD which I need to try out this coming weekend. (Left it at Joe’s.) I need to make a mental note to check amazon & ask Carla.

I can’t believe March is knocking at our door. Wow!

Confessions from a big thighed injured runner

In January I started taking note of the thigh area. I've never had small thighs to begin with & even in High School they were probably the biggest part of my body. All this spinning has done something to blow them up. Yes, I'm blaming spinning, plus the 5 lbs from the holidays that I can't seem to shake off right now COMPLETELY. Yes, my weight goes up & down by a few lbs from week to week but right now, I am having a hard time getting my thighs into my size 6 pants. They fit into the 8s but the waist in most of my 8s are a little big. (A LOT BIG Before the holidays!) Frankly, I'm way too short to be wearing a size 8 in anything. Yes, size is all relative & all this is trivial but it's making me want to buy new pants.

What to do?
1. I'm going to buy a Pilates video this weekend. My core & me love it!
2. I'm also going to cut down on the spinning some, maybe use a little less tension in class, too. (After all, I do have a stubborn stress fracture.)
3. I also need to be more aware of what I'm eating. Yes, I keep a food log & it does help. I don't keep a lot of sweets around at the house or in my desk at work. I do need to eat more protein. My body craves it really bad right after spin class. I zip home as fast as I can to make a peanut butter n' jelly sandwich for dinner almost every night I spin! (My jar isn't contaminated or I would have been dead a month ago.)
4. I need to get back in the pool for more aqua jogging for sure.

I can't really think of anything else to do because too much elliptical & too much walking aggravates the shin. Oh well, move over Travis Henry & Mary Lou Retton, Lisa's coming through to crush you with her thighs. :P

Yesterday, I got my early 1 hr spin in & in the afternoon, I hit the weights & a slow 30 min walk at Harveys. I got a sample of a protein smoothie while working out on the floor. It was yummy!
Terri approached me & told me how much she hurt on Sunday in her sides from "Carlates". I told her I had hurt, too. So, eventually we want to take Carla out on a long ride & make her stay with us (revenge!). She's barely been on her new bike so this will be fun. ha!

Just a little Monday whining...

Saturday morning, I felt like a truck had hit me. I did NOT want to get up & drive to the Rec Ctr, pray that I get a bike, & then drive back. I'm only 20 mins from there but I'm less than 10 mins from Harvey's. So, Harvey's won. I did 45 mins of Carlates Pilates. (another description would be Carla's Mean Stretch class) My abs were feeling it on Sunday afternoon/evening. I wish there were more hours in the day because I sure would do pilates all the time. It's one heck of a workout even in our 45 min class. I also did an hour on the elliptical keeping it at low impact. The shin was sore from standing on it for 3 hrs in casual work shoes friday night. (I guess my high heeled winter boots are to blame too.) I did get some leg weights in before I left. We stayed local for Valentine's day. There was no waiting at Jack's but the Drive In was packed. "Confessions of a Shopoholic" was ok. No where near as good as "He's just not that into you."

Sunday, I chose to do nothing. We decided to head to the Bell Buckle Cafe for lunch. I got the veggie plate. The broccoli salad & blueberry salad are wonderful. (Everything there is wonderful!)

Tonight will be the usual Monday night stuff. (Abs & Spin)
Tuesday, I will be up early for spin class. I'm heading to Harvey's on Tues nights for a while. I need more cardio without being on a spin bike all the time. So, I'm going to walk, do some pilates on my own, & a few weights on Tuesdays for now. I need to find time to get back to the aqua jogging. Umm, wonder what time the pool opens on Wednesday mornings.......

I have an appt to see a different doc about the shin. I just want to hear someone else's input for a change. So, Feb 27th I'll get a different X-ray with some different eyes, & hopefully a more positive opinion. :)

Small Town Chili Supper Benefit

All of you know I live in Tullahoma & I've said many times I could probably live anywhere. Heck, I've lived overseas, in TX, & KY. I may move again one day, who knows but I've always said that if I lived out the rest of my life here that would be A OK with me, too. Yes, there are many good things about this small town that I do like.... :)

Today was a rest day. (I did get in my regular Thursday stuff, though.) I promised Fara I would help with the Clark family benefit. Who are they? Well, Fara & I used to help out at an afterschool program together. We worked out at the community center before Harvey's ever opened & Yolanda Cunningham worked out there too. Yolanda's married to a Tullahoma Policeman, Billy Clark. She is mid-30s & has two little ones under the age of 5. I won't go into all that she's been through in the past few years with their health issues because I don't have ALL the details & I'd probably start crying anyway. I will say that her husband was diagnosed with brain cancer recently & from what I learned tonight he has 12-18 months to live. Officer Clark is around my age. I met him initially through the gym, too, but he did come fill out a burglary report at my last house once. Some teenagers who are now in a Nashville detention center threw a huge rock through my kitchen window. Of all times for me to be out on a long run. :P Seriously, that was the fall of '06, Wayne S. & I had run 20 miles that morning. If memory serves me correct it was a COLD morning, too. I came home to a window with a hole in it & my back door wide open. They didn't take much because I'm not a fan of expensive electronics, my REAL jewelry is well hidden, & my computer was really old then...

So, anyway, getting back to my evening with Fara & the benefit. It was a chili benefit supper, silent auction, karokee, face painting, & door prizes. ($5.00 got you in the door) If I had to guess, probably close to 1,000 people came. I saw everyone from my insurance guy to some facebook buddies. It was a hoot! Even when I spilled chili on both Fara & me, we didn't care. It was for a good cause & as usual anything I've ever done with Fara is fun. (Below is Fara before I spilled chili on her.)So, here we are handing out bowls of chili & cupcakes. We had blown the outlets in the wall trying to keep everything heated. It was a mess but who cares... We ran out of spoons about half way through the evening but nobody cared. They waited. Not one person complained but you know it only takes one to try to ruin everything. It was at the beginning of the evening when we still had plenty of EVERYTHING. A lady came up to me & asked if it was all you can eat for $5.00. I looked at Fara for instructions. Fara told her that we were to tell folks that it was an extra $1 for extra bowls. The lady got furious with us & tried to tell us that the gal in charge had told her on the phone otherwise. As she walked away, several people stared at her. The lady on the other side of me told her, "It is for charity, ya know!" It is so very sad that this woman was more concerned about getting their bellies full than she was about the Clarks. This idiot woman had the nerve to tell us that at all the spaghetti suppers she'd been to it was always all you could eat. I guess there's some people who stake out the charity events for as much food as possible for very little money. Who knows... They didn't look starved or poor to me. I know the economy is bad but people should stay home if they don't want to give to a fund raiser or charity event. Give me a freaking break!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that out of ALL those people that showed up to support this family there was only one person that should have stayed home. I was pretty satisfied with myself for holding my tongue but if I ever see that couple again, they may not be so lucky again. :)

Fara just text me as I typed this...$12,000 was raised. Well worth our time! Oh, and if you're wondering if I sang, "NO!" I was too busy picking up trash. I did win a door prize which I gave back to Yolanda. The last thing I need is another pair of shoes anyway.

Not sure what I'll do tomorrow as far as exercise but I know hanging with Fara tonight was fun. I just wish it were under better circumstances. It really made me appreciate my health, my friends, & this small town. Tonight was the best "rest" night I've had in a very long time. :)

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.
My Valentine will be here tomorrow in this small town.

My less than 100% soapbox

My usual Tuesday workout was a bust. Monday after spin class, I noticed some tightness/soreness in my neck. EARLY Monday morning, I woke up feeling like a sinus infection was coming on…sure enough, I was right. This is 2 sinus infections in just over 2 months. Oh well, life goes on…I didn’t do squat on my normally HIGH cardio Tuesday. Today, I’m off to Harvey’s for some weights & the elliptical machine. I feel ok today, not great but ok. Whether I make it to spin in the early morning, who knows…I know I’ll set the alarm.

Ummm, I’ve been trying to avoid making comments on all the hoopla regarding Michael Phelps, Alex Rodriquez, & Chris Brown. I’ve got a few short comments to say here.

*They are all three adults in the public eye.
*Lots of children look up to them.
*All three of them have brains, where was their good judgment?
*Breaking records, having a hit record, making lots of money, & winning Gold medals doesn’t set you above the law whether it’s hitting women, smoking an illegal substance or doping to be better than you think you can be…just sad.

Hangin'

Sunday was a rest day for me. I did some hangin' out with Joe & the kids Sat night & Sunday. NO WIND, of course, because I wasn't on my bike, ya know.... :P
After a quick trip to Opry Mills on Sunday, we went to the Bicentennial Park downtown Nashville. People were on bikes, running, & some were just sprawled out on blankets & it was February 8th! The channel 5 news station showed 75 degrees on their digital sign around 3:30pm. I'm now afraid everything will bloom & then freeze but what can ya say, this is middle TN. I did my usual Monday night stuff, abs & spin. I had no luck getting one of the new spin bikes even though I was there 45 mins early. No big hairy deal. I was just glad to get my usual bike. Tomorrow, I'm up early for Leslie's 1 hr class & then later, hopefully, I'll get into Don's 5:30pm class. (Just 2 hrs of spinning tomorrow, nothing else. :P)

I got in a fight today...

...with the wind. I don't know who won but I know I never fell. I even locked up my gears once & didn't fall. :) After a 45 min pilates class this morning, I took the bike out in & around the industrial park & the base. Don't get me wrong, I really needed to stretch some things that needed to be stretched but wow, when I got on the bike....yooo sheee mamma...it took a while not only to get some rhythm going but the wind was terrible. The temp is fabulous, the sun is fabulous, but me on a bike trudging through an open Air Force base road in the wind was not so fabulous, but I survived. I enjoyed myself because I wasn't starving either. :P

The gears, the pedals, & me...are now starting to jive a little...maybe there's hope for our relationship because I think "the bike just might be into me."

Seriously...

I absolutely loved "He's just not that into you." It could have been easily titled, "She's just not that into you." Seriously...I think guys would get a kick out of it too. :P I could get all deep on ya and everything about the movie because I've been there, done that but I put that trash out in the can to be picked up by someone else. So, I'll keep it short. The book made me laugh my butt off & the movie did, too. It makes you think about ALL relationships and honestly I've had women friends who actually acted like they were just not that into me. Heck, I may have some relatives that aren't into me come to think of it. ha!

Winding down...

So, the ever popular shin report first...it feels a tinsy bit sore but nothing to really be harping about. The 3 hrs of spinning on Tuesday wasn't that bad, afterall, but I won't be doing it again anytime soon. I will save that for my trainer or when I take my bike outside. (Time to build endurance & confidence on the road!)

When I got on the elliptical Wed evening, I could definitely tell I did something out of the ordinary on Tuesday. It was slow going but I did an hour, plus some ab work & free weights. Harvey's hasn't slowed down at all yet, but it's not real bad either. They've started selling smoothies in there, added another kick boxing class, & the Zumba is still packing them in two days a week. Everybody who's anybody is there, I swear...the who's who of Tullahoma. ha!

As always, (today) I did the 5:30am spin class, along with the elliptical for 45 mins, & some weight machines. I'm thinking of getting on the trainer while "Grey's Anatomy" is on tonight just to mess around with the pedals a while. Tomorrow will be more ab work & elliptical. Saturday, I will definitely hit Carla's pilates class & then take the bike out with a full stomach. I will not be caught with an empty stomach & no food in me again this weekend. :P

Nothing planned for Sunday, other than some activities in the "village". I may go see "He's just not that into you" this weekend. The book was interesting & so full of truths that I can't resist seeing the movie. If that doesn't pan out, I may head to the "village" early for a slumber party. ha!

Valentine's Day was easy this year for me, especially since I bought for a former Northerner who likes hockey. I could take it or leave it myself but the last time I went to see the Preds, Hannah & I stalked (I mean ran into) Jeff Fisher. We're all going to the Red Wings - Preds game Feb 28th. I'm looking forward to it!

I'm struggling to find time to read lately. I will tell you that I'm starting to really like "Once a Runner". I'll probably go straight into "Again to Carthage" as soon as I'm done. Then something insanely funny & crazy again....

Have a fabulous weekend everybody. No snow & probably no rain!!!! Yippee!!!!

1 + 2 = 3 hrs of spin class today

I currently admit I have two addictions, coffee & spin class. So, "Hyper as heck me" decided 15 minutes into Don's 5:30pm class that I'd stay for his 2nd one starting at 6:30pm. I got into it no problem. If you're wondering about my effort for both, it was about the same for both. I don't even want to know what I looked like at 7:35pm when Don finally let us go... As for the shin, it feels ok right now. Who knows what it will feel like tomorrow. If it's still cracked too much to run come Feb 19th, I'll take the tongue lashing from the doc because honestly, I'm at a point where I just don't care that much anymore. I'm a grown up & if it takes from now until I'm dead for it to heal then I'll know I went out of this world doing whatever the heck I wanted despite the stupid bone in my leg. :P

Today's workout:
5:30am spin class: 1 hr
5:30pm spin class: 1 hr
6:30pm spin class: 1 hr

Tomorrow:
Weights & elliptical for an hour at Harvey's.

I'm tired.

Too little sleep & an early morning drive into work made me sleepy today. I can make it from Lenox Village to work in just under an hour even in the rain.

As for the Super Bowl, I sure wish the Cardinals defense had stepped it up a bit the last few mins of the 4th quarter!! Oh well....it's over & usually it's this time of the year when I actually start training for the CMM. Oh I'll be there but I'll be going slow enough to grab those mimosas that are around the first few miles of the course. ha! I will not be pushing my shin on speed this Spring I assure you even if I do get a good X-ray & an okay to run. If I do, then summer time will be the time to ease back into it & I'm ok with that. The milk spilled a long time ago & I'm tired of crying over it.

Friday, I played around on the trainer for about 30-45 mins. Saturday morning, was a very cold bike ride. Sunday, I did some crunches on the yoga ball, 35 mins elliptical, & a stroll with Joe in his neighborhood. Tonight it's back to spin & depending on how much the water freezes tonight on the roads, I may get up for early spin tomorrow.

I'm already dreaming about white water rafting & some early, cool Spring time hiking...
Hello February! :)

"Who's idea was this anyway?!"

Ok, we got in a very cold 17+ mile bike ride around 11am Sat morning. I don't think it was even 40 yet but we did it. My toes were blue when I got home & jumped in the shower. What's worse is that I started feeling the weights that I did with Terri J. on Thurs about halfway through the ride, plus my 7am cereal & banana wore off by noon. I was starving when I finally put my bike in the car. ha! I can laugh about it now but if a stranger had stopped, offered me food, & a ride back to my car I might have considered it. At one point I thought about calling Joe to come get me but that would have been useless since he was test driving a friggin' Cadillac. (I have yet to convert him over to the best cars on the road, Hondas!) Anyway, I did take the time to play with my gears & pedals quite a bit but I know that just takes more time on the bike OUTSIDE. (Maybe next weekend will be warmer, who knows...)
When we were leaving UTSI, I snapped a quick photo of Jessie & Paul S. in front of me.
Later in the afternoon, we saw "New In Town" with Harry Connick Jr. (who is just plain dreamy) & Renee Zellweger. It was predictable but cute. I plan to put back on some cardinal red that I wore to work on friday today. We're headed to Nashville for some Super Bowl festivities after I spend some time on an elliptical. (Finger's crossed!)