"I forgot to bring my rope"

So, I'm back in the swing of things knowing that at any moment life will throw me a curve ball and mess up my schedules and routines, but that's life.

I've been working 1 on 1 with Erika as our group has sadly disintegrated. I hate change. Tammy felt that Erika was not violent enough and started taking up krav maga where she boasts "I learned how to break a dude's thumb last night."

Kazeem has opted to spend his freer time with his kids... lame. :)

And then there was me. Which is FINE, except Erika has nothing else to look at but MY struggling face in pain which leaves me feeling VERY self-conscious. I'm working on learning how to not care :)

Never trust a girl who starts off a session with "I forgot to bring my rope". She improvised and used her jacket... which could have used a stretch, and got one.

She wrapped the sweatshirt around my waist and told me to run as fast as I could... while she held me back with her own straight and friction from the rug! It was really to witness. Thankfully... no one was there to witness.

Day...

YAY!

Got my workout clothes with me! Ready to go! Tonight is re-start!

The interesting twist of this evening, is the inclusion of my high boss to the group. Gonna be interesting!

Day 50

Holy Radio Silence Batman!

I'm not exactly sure when the universe open its mouth and swallowed me up, but I think it was sometime around Saturday after my 1 on 1 with Erika. It was a butt/hamstring/abs day. I worked hard, and its really hard for me NOT to complain during a working cause, well, I hate to work out. I did some convoluted sprinting/jogging/walking routine for the cardio portion, but worked with bars and balls and cones OH MY! Seriously, I think I did about 968 1/2 lunges.

When I staggered through the door at home, I took off my socks, shoes and pants and passed out on the couch for a nap...

a 2 hour nap!

All of the energy I ever found after that was to watch HGTV all afternoon, but it was probably because I had like, zero protein all day after. Crazy, I know. I need to be more conscientious. In the past when i'd "work out" I'd do some cardio and when it hurt, stop. The same went for the weights. But that's not an option with Erika and I'm really truly working out. So I need to make sure I'm fueling up! (note to self, Doritos are not proper "fuel")

My obsessive brain picked up a new toy yesterday...

Its called a Gorillapod.

Its not meant to replace a more traditional tripod, just act as a different type of tripod. I'm going to the beach for a week with just my thoughts, a book and my camera, so I'm hoping to get a lot of play time and inspiration in with my camera. Got to practice practice practice shooting so after I climb 8 miles, I'm don't waste my time taking crap photos!

Here is a search link for many ways in which people used their Gorillapod.

Gorillapod Demos

Day 44

Is everyone sitting? Ok, here we go... I couldn't WAIT to workout last night! I know, crazy, right! ME! (an investigation will begin today as to the whereabouts of the REAL Petunia)

I don't know, I guess maybe because the last time I worked out was LAST Tuesday (have been a bit of a bum) and that plan to take the stairs more and increasing the set each week... hasn't quite happened just yet. But I still think its a great plan. Just need to put it more in motion.

Last night kicked my butt! Instead of running up the steps of the parking garage, no, we jogged up the parking garage! It was pretty intense, but I was happy to say that I made it all the way to the roof without stopping once! Then after a 3-4 minute water break, we jogged down the shorter side of the garage.

I think the most exciting part of yesterday for me, was that Tamara brought a long a really cool looking hula hoop! It was colorful, detachable and made me feel like a kid again. Click on the HULA link for a better idea.

And the best part is, I was able to actually, HULA! For the first time EVER in my life I kept that thing around my waist. And it was more than fat keeping it up, but the centrifugal force of my hips! WOO HOO!!!!

This hula hoop has cool grooves and the pieces are colorful and detach for easy transport. But I would love to walk onto a subway holding this... I bet I would get loads of stares and attention. Tamara said that she'd keep it at work. I think it would be fun to have a couple goes on my lunch break :) Tamara is a pro though. Watching her... you could only imagine her moves on the dance floor. She reminded me of a mixture of Shakira and Beyonce in the music video "Baby Boy."

So, in the meantime, I'll practice practice practice!

Day 37

Well, today we had an extra friend working out with us! Kinda like when your neighbor's niece spends a week during the summer and there is a new kid on the block to play with! Bryan's own trainer is away this week so he joined our little "play" group.

As we were dragging our feet to the stairs, we attracted the attention of our Russian producer Sebastian who thought we were the funniest things, getting ready to run up and down 5 flights of stairs 7 times.

Now, Sebastian, is... the tallest man in the world. I'm convinced of it! He towers over me, and would make my 6'2 husband Brian look like a munchkin who belongs in Oz. Sebastian wanted to play too! So he put down the bag of bananas he was holding (which I could only imagine was his little afterwork snack, cause when you're THAT tall, I'm thinking just one banana won't do!) and started running up and down the stairs with us having fun as boys do when they compete.

His legs are so long that he would put a daddy long leg spider to shame. He was taking the steps 3-4 at a time. He eventually passed Byran and Kazeem.

When we were done with the steps he shouts "That was a fun warm up. Now, we run?" HA! someone should have kicked him in the shins.

I couldn't help but stand next to him to measure just how tall he is. His waist comes up right under my boobs. Below is a sketch of the highlights of the "warm up."

Sebastian went on home, and we continued on to our upper body circuit training. I HATE upper body exercises... pretty much cause I have ZERO upper body strength! But little by slowly, I'm seeing the tiniest of changes!

It was fun to have 3 people working out, but the perfectionist in me struggles to keep up with "the boys" who can lift more, run more, and withstand more. I kinda felt like the inside of an Oreo cookie.

Erika told me "Petunia, you can't compare yourself and your progress to other people. You can only compare it to yourself..." She doesn't know how true this rings and far beyond just exercising! I have a tendency of being hard on myself, but Erika always re-assures me that I'm doing great.

Day 32

WOW! What a work out. Last night, I had the pleasure of working out with Kazeem which made me be on my best behavior! Nothing like making horrible painful grunting ugly face pains in front of a boy co-worker!

Erika explained how we were gonna be "warming up" today, which was the stairs to the parking garage here at the lot... 5 flights of stairs...

#1 Walk up all the stairs and back down.

#2 Walk up every other step and back down.

#3 Run up every step and back down.

#4 Run up every other step and back down.

#5 Run up every step and back down.

#6 Walk up every other step and back down.

#7 Walk up all the stairs and back down.

I tried to draw a picture, but, it was really terrible! I really thought Erika had lost her mind thinking that I was gonna be able to do this, but I really surprised myself! I, not to give myself too much credit, rocked that exercise!

And we did tons of arm exercises last night too, definitely my weakness, and that's when I really tried to keep my facial expressions at may when the burning in your arms makes ya wanna collapse!

Next... abs... I still get disappointed at how strong my stomach used to be (alas, never skinny enough to rock a bikini) but I had the strength. I year post ab surgery, I'm still trying reclaim said strength.

Erika THOUGHT that she made up the following routine, but Kazeem said he did them before... it was a funny moment. She calls it "climbing the rope." Notice my amazing drawing. And we did 25 of them!

Day 30 1/2

My lunch break goes as follows:

2 sets of stairs, gasping for breath. (15 minutes)

Writing in my journal while trying to catch my breath. (15 minutes)

Reading a chapter from my book. (15 minutes)

2 MORE sets of stairs, returning to my desk gasping for breathe, red in the face, with beads of sweat beginning to fall down my forehead...

Only to find this...

... from Chipotle... CHIPOTLE!

Its getting a lot easier to resister delicious treats like chips and salsa when you legs are still aching from your workout 2 days ago!

Erika just told me to take it easy cause we'll be doing stairs tomorrow... oh decisions, decisions.

Day 25 update

Ok, just finished my 6 flights.

I have been keeping Erika abreast of the situation for no real good reason other than to complain and look for pats on the head... which she is AWESOME at giving me. See below my last chat message with her:

Me: (just did #6) don't know why but NOW I broke a sweat.

Erika: b/c u were beasting it

Did you hear that ??? I'm BEASTING IT!

Everytime I have doubts, I am re-assured and horrified with videos like this next one.

And I am amazed that I have acquired another public Follower in just under 24 hours!

Thanks #7!!!

Day 24

oh my god... I don't know where to start...

I think Erika must have heard my inner complaints that my thighs are too big and are rubbing together... I'm convinced we ran all the way to Vegas...

We did a new running routine called "Xs" See the diagram below, and please note the drawing to the right where after just 1/2 of the first leg of the repetition, I slipped in the mud and fell on my face...

Then, after each circuit rep, we ended with a jog across the field and back. That was 4 times (if I'm counting correctly, I think my body is trying to block it out).

The field was so wet and muddy that when we were done with the ab portion (thus, finishing up the actual hour of working out) it looked like i had just finished up with a mud wrestling match.

If EVER I had a reason to stay away from the fatty foods that I love ie. chili rellenos, pretzel/peanut m&ms or Doritoes, let this morning of running remind me that... they are JUST NOT WORTH IT!

Accomplished

I vowed 6 sets, I did 6 sets.

That's 42 flights of stairs! I hope to feel the burn tomorrow. But I wonder...

(insert DEEP THOUGHT HERE)

...if I'm huffing and puffing and my heart race is screaming, I imagine I'm burning calories. If I make it up to the top of the 6th floor and I'm ok, I guess that means that I'm progressing, but not burning calories? Today, my legs feel strong. I'll take my accomplishments where I can get them!

Above is a map of Housekeeping Camp. The red circled area is the "near the river" section that I am told where my tent and my addition tent will be located. I think. I'm very excited for the coming year of activities and training, and then week long relaxation that Yosemite has to offer!

Day 19

DOMS

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), also called muscle fever, is the pain and stiffness felt in muscles about 24 to 72 hours after unaccustomed and/or strenuous exercise then subsides and disappears after about five to seven days after exercise... according to wikipedia... and Erika.

But it actually feels GOOD to feel some of these muscles that I never knew existed... Or to see how holding a cup one way or another uses different back muscle!

Tuesday, while working out, there were a bunch of flying bugs that like to hover around. They are quite annoying. Very pesty. So I used this memory to dissuade myself of getting more pretzel filled M&Ms. It worked like a charm! Desire gone. Too bad that trick didn't work on Brian's left over tiramisu birthday cake.

Day 17

Suicide, defined by Wikipedia, ("to kill oneself") is the term used for the deliberate self-destruction of a living being, by causing their body to cease life function.

Such actions are typically characterised as being made out of despair, or attributed to some underlying mental disorder which includes depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism and drug abuse. Financial difficulties, interpersonal relationships and other undesirable situations play a significant role. OR... when training for Half Dome.

Erika decided to bust out some cones this morning and scatter them all over the field like bread crumbs for the squirrels... ok, they were regimentally placed in a line, but when all the blood was rushing all over my body, who can keep track.

Below is an illustration of my experience... you run from the first cone to the second, then back to the first. Then from the first to the third and back to the first and continue til you get to cone 8 and then run back to one, only to run THIS time to cone 7, and back down to one. This routine, is also known as "Suicides."

Day 11

Today, was yet again another gloomy morning. And as my alarm clock went off for the 2nd time, alerting me to the 5:45 am hour, I rolled over to see the sleeping husband, and boy, was I jealous!

Another great workout with great company! We started off with a jog around the dirt path... 2 times this times. This is how I choose to start my day? Me? Who refuses to run unless food or weaponry are involved? But at least Erika said I did a good job. A pat on the head like a good doggy, and I was ready for the next task...

Circuit training. Besides the fact that these simple looking exercises take quite a toll on ya after just a few reps, I told Erika, who was so politely trying to fix my pose to get the positioning right, "Just man handle me" cause I could not (especially without the aid of coffee) take direction on the correct form my back and legs were supposed to be in. Ms. Erika is a lot stronger than she looks. She also yelled at me when I started to walk when I was supposed to be running. And when I say she yelled at me, she just asked me "Hey, what are you doing?", but it felt more forceful LOL.

Oh, and I pet a puppy who passed by too! Probably the highlight of my morning.

It was rainy all throughout the workout which was kinda nice cause it kept the little flying bugs from buzzing around... which did happen when it stopped... and one flew up my nose. Bugger!

Stairs later on today, when I get some feeling in my limbs from the AM workout. Managed 4 sets yesterday.

Coffee... NOW.

Day 6

If you saw someone this morning on the 101 with their head on the steering wheel swerving... that was probably me.

I made it to the group training session this morning with my co-workers Tammy and Heather.

I did lovely things like "prisoner squats" and was tortured by having rubber bands tied around my ankles and was instructed to walk around like a crab.

I almost started to cry by my 3rd set of 8 reps of push ups. I'm so lame. I jogged around the field 1 time and thought I saw my own life pass in front of my eyes. Next time, I think I should attached a bag of Doritos to my head, just out of reach like so. I might be able to go for days with that trick.

I was on my best behavior, so I complained very little... that will probably change.

While I was driving home, I was trying to figure out again why people put themselves through this time of pain... oh yeah, to be fit. And Half Dome. I'm visualizing my "skinny jeans" being loose on me :)

Day 5

Below is a conversation I had with a friend/coworker named Erika who spends her lunch hours riding her speed bike up and down the parking garage floors. She works out with 2 other girls that I know 3 days a week at a local park for an hour starting at 6:30 am.

I think Erika closely resembles Angela Bassett from How Stella Got Her Groove Back both physically and physique-ly

Erika: so Petunia, u are more than welcome to join us in our workout tomorrow morning

Me: HEHEHE
Erika: no pressure though, seriously
Me: oh, that's not far at all. i'm gonna try. I don't feel pressured, just terrified :)
Erika: hahaha do u have any physical issues that I should know about?
Me: yes... I HATE TO EXERCISE
Erika: lol nice!
Me: heheh, otherwise, not really. pretty good back, pretty OK knees. i have more flexibility and leg strength than i look like i have
Erika: what about arm strength?
Me: none
Erika: fair enough
Me: like when you make a muscle and the muscle fulls under the arm like in the commercials... yup that's me
Erika: lol ur silly. so i mean what is would u say ur goal is?
Me: overall?
Erika: si
Me: ummm. I guess, to be realistic in what i am capable doing. I want to knock out the 18 mile hike. i want a flatter stomach. I want SOME upper body strength. 135 lbs would be amazing and be a size 6 (i'm a tight 8 now) but really be fit and ready for the hike
Erika: very doable
Me: i'm going to post this conversation in my blog :)
Erika: yay!

-- I'm not sure Erika knows whats in store from her... I should put her in contact with my old high school gym teacher Mr. Rogo... boy, that man was a saint. On second thought, maybe I won't.

Day 2

When I left work yesterday... my legs where like Jello! All from 12 flights of stairs! It was so pathetic, I had to laugh. But the victory will be that much sweeter when I make it to the top with energy to spare.

Last night, I was talking to a friend about swimming. She encouraged me up and down that swimming was such GREAT exercise for women who want lean toned muscles, to burn fat (That's ME!) all the while being gentle on myself. I was so happy to hear swimming and not, RUNNING. I only run for 2 reasons. A) If someone is chasing me with a knife or 2) the buffet line's about to close! She also said that running isn't really that good for women cause of all the bouncing around of boobs and uterus. She didn't have to explain anymore. I'm not a runner and its OK that I'm not!

So this morning, at 5:30am when my all-of-a-sudden natural alarm clock went off, I looked out at the cloudy overcast cold sky and said... "you've got to be kidding me," and I rolled over and went back to bed. At 6:17 I woke up again, and thought, I'm just gonna put on my bathing suit and walk down to the pool. If I never make it in, I made baby steps to getting there.

The cold June air hit my body and I curled the blanket around me tighter until I decided to stop being a wimp. I was surprised just how NOT cold the water was. Very manageable. So with big steps, I walked into the pool and quickly got under.

I bounced around for a good 22 minutes before I was done, making sure that I was really trying to move my arms and legs. It was really awesome way to start my morning, and had plenty of time to get ready.

So today's swimming challenge was a success!

Workout Day 1

So,

I sit here out of breath. I was hoping to devote the 2nd half of my lunch hour to doing the stairs at work. We have a set of stairs that are 6 stories high... I was only able to do it 2 times. But I'm not too surprised. It has been a while since my heart has been for a good pump. It just gives me a better idea of how hard I will have to train... HARD!