Mileage Monday: Last Pictures From The Site

I skipped last Monday's post because I was out of town celebrating my parent's 50th wedding anniversary in Whistler, BC. I will be doing a recap of the vacation (this time I mean it, unlike last year's trip to Miami), in the week or so.

Sadly these are the last pictures I have saved from the old virtual walk site. Next Monday's post will be a bit different, and with no pictures. Since being back from vacation I haven't exerciesed at all because I came down with a nasty chest cold. I didn't think it was wise to try to exert myself while coughing up a lung or two. Feeling better now, so we'll see if I can start back up tomorrow.

Mile 910 (Jessica Smith for 3.3 miles)

Mile 913.2 (Jessica Smith for 3.3 miles)

Mile 914.2 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 919 (Jessica Smith for 4.8 miles)

Mile 920 (elliptical for 1 mile)

That 4.8 miles I did using Jessica Smith's Walk On: 21 Day Weight Loss Plan DVD was FitBit's step challenge day. FitBit gave everyone the challenge of beating their best step day. My berst day prior to the challeng was around 13,000 steps. For the challenge I made it just over 15,000. However, on vacation I beat that step goal. Stay tuned to see how many steps I racked up each day.

I will be aiming for 10,000 steps a day once I get over this cold. I figure if I can do this kind of stepping on vacation, I can do it here also. It will be good for me. I tend to workout and then sit for the rest of the day. No more of that.

Keep moving!

Catch Up Post: Mileage Mondays

First off, let me apologize for being a really bad blogger. I have a habit of posting for a little while, and then dropping off the face of the earth for months. So it is time for some catch up posts. There's a bunch of things that have happened in the last several months that I need to get you all (all 5 or so of you who read) caught up on.

On deck first...Mileage Mondays. Some sad news. The virtual walk site that I've been using since April 2008 is no more. It shut down in the first week of May, and I am sad to see it go. No warning, no email, nothing. I found out from a fellow SparkPeople member (one of the co-leaders of the virtual walk/run team I help lead) posted about it. At the time, I wasn't working out out consistently, so I had no idea it was gone until I saw her post. So what does this mean for my Mileage Monday posts? I'll still be posting on Mondays, but there will be no pictures. I still have a back log of photos that will last me a few weeks (like I said, bad, bad blogger), and then after that, I'll just post how many miles I completed for the week and what I did to get them.

On the plus side, a former co-leader of the SparkPeople virtual walk/run team, Monty (sadly he passed away from lung cancer almost three years ago), made up a post showing the mileage points for each state border on the route. So, I will continue on the walk using those points of reference. Here is an old image of the walk across America route.

I was in Kentucky when the site shut down, and am still currently in Kentucky according to Monty's mileage points post. Since my last Mileage Monday post, I've passed through Sonora, KY in Larue county, Eastview, KY in Hardin county, and Hardin Springs, KY, also in Hardin county. I have 143.5 miles to go until I reach the Illinois border on the walking route.

And now on to the back log of pictures for this week.

Mile 896.4 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 898 (Jessica Smith for 1.5 miles)

Mile 901 (Jessica Smith for 3 miles)

Mile 902.4 (Jessica Smith for 1.4 miles)

Mile 903.4 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 906.6 (Jessica Smith for 3.3 miles)

While it is sad that the virtual walk site is no more, that won't stop me from continuing on. It was a very big motivator to keep going, as the photos along the route were so pretty. Ah well. Life goes on. Find another source of motivation, or make adaptations to an old source, but make sure you keep moving!

Milelage Monday

Been dealing with allergies for the past week, but not sure if it was that or some strange cold. Everyone in the house seemed to have a different version of the same thing. I've had a headache for the past who knows how long (a month?) off and on, and the last week and a half my sinuses have been aching and giving me a hassle. My husband had a bad headache for the better part of last week, and my mother in-law had the same sinus thing and a nasty cough. We all seem to be on the mend though. My sinuses still feel a little strange, but not as bad as they were.

I didn't do much in the way of exercise last week, but by Thursday or Friday, I had enough of feeling blah. The elliptical actually made me feel a bit better. Sweat it out of me, we'll see if that works.As long as my chest is clear, I should be fine to exercise.

I'm all caught up on my back log of virtual walk pictures. Which means I need to get my butt moving so I can get more pictures for next Monday. That's a good motivator right there. Since my last Mileage Monday post, I've passed through Howardstown, KY in Nelson county and I'm currently passing through White City, KY in Larue county. Let's get to the last of my saved pictures!

Mile 877.8 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 878.2 (elliptical for 1/2 mile)

Mile 880.6 (Leslie Sansone for 2.4 miles)

Mile 883.6 (elliptical for 1/2 mile and Leslie Sansone for 2.4 miles)

Mile 886 (Leslie Sansone for 2.4 miles)

Mile 887 (elliptical for 1 mile)

(photo credit - Virtual Walk Site)

I just came upon my 8 year Sparkaversary. I joined SparkPeople.com 8 years ago because I finally was fed up with the yo-yo exercise/diet circle. The website is still extremley popular even with other free weight loss sites and apps out there. I've been tempted to try out other apps (such as MyFitnessPal), but I'm a loyal Sparker. I do use the FitBit site, but FitBit and SparkPeople can be linked together so that's a bonus. I still would recommend SparkPeople to anyone who wanted to lose weight or become more active. It still has one of the best online communities I've come across.

Keep moving!!!

Mileage Monday: Short And Quick

Here are some more of the pictures I have saved from the virtual walk site from the last several weeks. I mentioned in my last Mileage Monday post that I've been dealing with anxiety and avoidance issues. I'm getting a hold of it though, at least to some degree. I do intend to write about it, but it is a touchy subject. It's personal and hard to talk about sometimes because it makes me feel uncomfortable. But I figure there are other people with cerebral palsy who are dealing with the same set backs and fears, so why not share my experience? That's what this whole blog is for right? To share my journey and how I deal with my situation. I won't be "cured" of anxiety, but I can learn to deal with it and keep moving forward. It's no fun to go through, and is downright scary sometimes.

Onward and upward. Here are some more pictures from the cross country walk.

Mile 868 (Leslie Sansone for 2.4 miles)

Mile 869 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 872 (elliptical for 1 mile and Leslie Sansone for 2.4 miles)

Mile 872.4 (marched in place watching The Biggest Loser for .5 mile)

Mile 874.8 (Leslie Sansone for 2.4 miles)

Mile 877.2 (Leslie Sansone for 2.4 miles)

(photo credit - Virtual Walk Site)

I'm almost current with the pictures. I have three left. Now if I can just get my butt up and moving I can add to those pictures. It seems I've lost my mojo. I'm nowhere near as consistent with exercise as I once was. I'll get there again, I just need to focus and DO IT. Keep moving!

Mileage Monday: Slacking Again

I've missed several weeks again for my Mileage Monday posts. I won't appologize, I won't make promises to do better, but they will still be posted. I may miss a week here or there, but oh well. As Roni and Carla would say...WYCWYC.

My workouts have been hit and miss lately also. I'll get into the why of that at a later time, but long story short, it has to do with avoidance of a certain issue. If you guessed fear of falling as a cause for this avoidance, you're spot on. Like I said, a story for another time. But it's time to deal with it.

On to the virtual walk progress report. I'm still going, although like I said, it's hit and miss. I got back on the wagon this morning though. Only did 1/2 mile on the elliptical, but it's something. I still have a few weeks of pictures to get caught up on, so let's get started.

Mile 858.6 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 861 (Leslie Sansone for 2.4 miles)

Mile 861.4 (elliptical for .5 mile)

Mile 862.2 (Jessica Smith for .8 mile)

Mile 864.6 (Leslie Sansone for 2.4 miles)

Mile 865.5 (elliptical for 1 mile)

(photo credit - Virtual Walk)

Onward and upward. Hope everyone who is dealing with the tons and tons of snow is safe and staying warm. Wish I could send you our 90 degree weather. How about I send you 30 degrees of warmth? I'll give you all 30 degrees from our temps. I miss the 70s and 60s. Too soon to be getting into the 90s. Bah. Oh well. Keep moving!

Mileage Monday

Hope everyone is having a great Martin Luther King day! I got my mile on the elliptical done first thing. I actually drank my coffee during my breaks. Probably not the best idea to drink coffee to rehydrate, but oh well. At least I got it done. And yes, I did drink water when I was finished.

I'm still working on my exercise consistency. I seem to start out the week strong, lag in the middle, and end strong. Let's see if I can get some type of exercise five days this week. Here are some more pictures I have saved up from the virtual walk site.

Mile 852.6 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 853.6 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 854.6 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 855.6 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 856.6 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 867.6 (elliptical for 1 mile)

(photo credit - Virtual Walk site)

Onward and upward. Keep moving!

Mileage Monday: Hard Habit To Break

I realize now that I sometimes don't post a Mileage Monday entry because I have nothing to say. Well, today is one of those days. However instead of not posting anything at all (like usual), I am still posting the pictures and a short update. This is my first success at beating my procrastination and deadline issue too. It's almost 4 PM here on the west coast, and I am in fact posting. Woohoo for me!

Since my last Mileage Monday entry, I've passed through Maud, KY (Washington county) and Bardstown, KY (Nelson County). I have 20.5 miles to go until I reach Howardstown, KY.

Here are the pictures from the virtual walk site I still have from a long time back.

Mile 838.4 (walk down the street for .2 mile)

Mile 839 (elliptical for .6 mile)

Mile 839.6 (elliptical for .6 mile)

Mile 841 (elliptical for 1.4 miles)

Mile 842 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 843 (elliptical for 1)
(photo credit - virtual walk site)

It has in fact been way too many times that I skipped a Mileage Monday post. The .2 mile walk down the street (first picture) was back in October when I screwed up my upper back by startling. No more waiting until I have "something to say".

Keep Moving!!

Mileage Monday: Let's Try Again

First of all, this post's title now has two meanings. The first reason for the post's title is the fact that this post is a day late. My computer lost Internet connection as I was writing this post. I kid you not. I was in the process on inserting the pictures from the virtual walk site, when I got an error message saying I lost connection. Everyone here lost the Internet, but when the router rebooted, mine didn't come up. Turned out to be a loose cable connection (outside somewhere) to my machine. All fixed now though. Just annoying to yet again have a plan of mine disrupted. Seems like every time I make a plan, something always pops up to disrupt it.

The second reason for the title of this post is exercise related. I was all gung ho about my new workout plan. Get up every hour and get on the elliptical. I should have waited until my upper back was 100%. I did get on the elliptical every hour for about 6 minutes (did two tenths of a mile in that time), and by 2 PM that afternoon, my shoulders were screaming at me. So, I needed a little patience.

I am back into my routine now though. Only just. I did a mile yesterday (Sunday) and a mile today (Monday), and I feel pretty good. Upper back is all better. I am also very pleased that my stamina didn't go down the toilet after my exercise hiatus. It's been, what, three weeks or so since my back went wacko, and I am still able to do 1/2 straight. Big smile at that.

So, my plan is to do at least 1/2 mile on the elliptical most days of the week (saying every day is unrealistic), and then maybe another 1/2 later that morning or one of my Leslie Sansone DVDs. Other than that, I will be getting up every hour. Not on the elliptical, but just marching in place. I think that will be easier. We'll see though.

I'm still going strong on the virtual walk site. The last few weeks I've not entered any mileage, but I still have a back log of pictures to share. So let's get to it!

Mile 831.8 (3.1 miles as I marched in place while watching Biggest Loser)

Mile 832.8 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 833.8 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 836.2 (Leslie for 2.4)

Mile 837.2 (elliptical for 1)

Mile 838.2 (elliptical)

(photo credit - Virtual Walk site)

There ya have it! A day late, but it's up. I am very very very happy that Google's Blogger platform saves drafts frequently so I didn't have to write all of this twice. Normally, I write my posts on Evernote's desktop software (I love Evernote!!!!) and then copy and paste it to Blogger, but decided not to this time. Lesson learned, but Google's Blogger is awesome.

Mileage Monday: New Workout System

In my last post, I mentioned that I needed to move more during the day. I work out yes, but that's only for 45 minutes to an hour. The rest of the day I spend sitting. That's not healthy. For the last few days, mainly today, I've been getting up every hour and I do two tenths of a mile on my elliptical. That takes me about 6 and a half minutes to complete.

Today was my first full day of doing that, and I really like that strategy. I think it's going to work well for me. I have one muscle in my back right under my left shoulder blade on the outer side that is threatening to cramp up or spasm, so the last two tenths of a mile that I did, I did not use the arm poles. That seemed to be OK. Time to break out the heating pad soon. That one muscle has been giving me problems since last week's upper back strain.

Two problems I guess. Problem one, if I don't move frequently, my upper back muscles between my shoulder blades get really stiff and they ache. So I move every hour. Problem two, if I move every hour that one muscle is going to get ticked off and cramp up. I'm doing my best to drink more water. That's one thing my chiropractor asks me frequently. He said drinking more water should help ease up with the muscle cramps. So, once again, I'm trying. So far, I've had about four cups. Not bad, but not terrific either. I just downed another cup right now after reading that, hehehe. So, I'm up to five cups.

So, that's my new strategy. I've gone a total of 1.2 miles so far today. I'm about to get up and get another .2 mile in. I'm not going to use the arm poles this time either.

I've been slacking with my Mileage Monday posts. So here's some pictures from that site. I've got a few week's worth of pictures to get caught up on.

Mile 819.4 (Leslie for 2.3 miles)

Mile 820.4 (Elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 822.8 (Leslie for 2.4 miles)

Mile 823.8 (Elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 826.4 (Leslie for 2.4 miles)

Mile 828.6 (Leslie for 2.4 miles)

Oh, I forgot to mention. Since my last Mileage Monday post, I've passed through Springfield, KY and Mackville, KY, both in Washington county. I have about 6.5 miles to go until I get to Maud, KY also in Washington county.

Get up and move every so often if you're able. Take a five minute walking break and just go! That's what I'm going to do right now!

Keep moving!