Mileage Monday: Back In The Swing Of Things!

I think I'm finally getting back into the exercise groove! Last week I worked out 5 days, Tuesday through Saturday. Today (Sunday) is going to be an active rest day. Active in that I'll be giving our dog a bath. Luckily he is very cooperative with bath time, but it's still a lower back workout.

What did I do for the last five days for exercise? Well, I bought myself a new walking DVD. This one is by Jessica Smith. She's got a ton of workout videos on YouTube, so check her out there. If that link doesn't work, just go to YouTube and search Jessica Smith TV. I ended up buying the DVD because I had enough Amazon gift cards to buy me a splurge. I think this will kick start me into exercise again. The DVD I bought (which I'll get into more info in another post) is four workouts in two DVDs. Each workout is 30 minutes each, which is the perfect amount of time in my opinion. On the fifth day I did a mile on the elliptical. I'll start up the DVDs again tomorrow (well today since it's Monday).

Needless to say, I have more mileage pictures to share! It is definitely good to get back into exercise! I feel a ton better, and feel like I'm accomplishing something. So, let's get to those pictures. Since my last Mileage Monday post, I've passed through several cities in Kentucky. I've passed through Howardstown, White City, and Buffalo, all of which are in Larue County. I have about 13.6 miles until I reach Sonora, KY.

Mile 889.4 (Leslie for 2.4 miles)

Mile 890.4 (elliptical for 1 mile)

Mile 891.8 (Jessica Smith for 1.5 miles)

Mile 893.6 (Jessica for 1.7 miles)

Mile 894.8 (Jessica for 1.2 miles)

Mile 895.4 (Jessica for .7 mile)

(photo credit - Virtual Walk Site)

I am on the move again, which is good! Hope everyone is doing well. Keep moving!

I Have A Plan

Today's half mile went smoothly. I had no problems, but I think I see a potential for my heel or ankle to have issues. I tend to stretch with my heel stretcher after my workout. I need to use it both before and after. Also I should use it throughout the day. And I should use it for more than 30 seconds. I just do a 30 second stretch on each foot after my workout. That area needs more attention. I can feel my heel cord stretching (not in a good way) on my elliptical too much. I remember my ankle injury in August, and it felt like the muscle or tendon was being ripped off the bone. Don't know if that was what was happening, but that's what it felt like. So, more stretching. I do get a deeper heel cord stretch when I'm in my Five Fingers too.

I'm also getting my butt in gear finally with my walker. I'm a bit hesitant to mention anything about it here, but I suppose I will. Since I have so much better balance in these shoes, I figure it's time to use my walker. I used it a few weeks ago at a doctor's appointment, and once I got the feel for it, I did just fine. I think I'm finally in the right frame of mind to get out of the stinkin' wheelchair I've been using. There will still be instances (for now) where I'll need to use the wheelchair (transporting things), but I have a plan.

Right now, I have a basic walker. Two wheels in front, and two rubber stoppers in back. No basket, no shelf, nothing to put things on. So, when I need to carry something, that's an issue. My plan is this. To get used to using my current walker. I'll use it when I go to the bathroom, since I don't need to carry anything on those trips. Once I use my walker consistently for about a month or two, I'm going to "upgrade". I found a walker on Amazon.com which will do nicely. It's got four wheels, handbrakes, a basket, and a seat. I don't plan on sitting on the seat, I plan on using that as a shelf to carry things.

I don't want to buy it now because I don't want to get it and then not use it. So if I can use my current one consistently for a few months, I'll get it. I need to get used to it first. I already had one trip to the bathroom and back, and I did fine. I was slow, and I hesitated in my steps a few times, but all in all, it went OK for my first time. I'll get used to it more and more as I use it. My husband said I should buy it now, and I’m tempted. We’ll see. I might.

Enough about that for now. I'll keep you all posted on my walker progress. It's sort of what happened when I finally decided to lose weight. A light switch went off, and I'm going to do this.

Elliptical stats for the day:
Distance-0.5 mile
Revolutions-880
Resistance level-1
Endurance-excellent
Injury- No real issues.
Time-18:10

Virtual walk tour stats for the day:
0.5 miles today
192.8 miles since April 28, 2008
7.94 miles to Mechums River, VA, Charlottesville City County

Here's the picture of today's mileage point.

Looks like a nice and sunny day. Open road ahead and blue skies.

I Have A Plan

Today's half mile went smoothly. I had no problems, but I think I see a potential for my heel or ankle to have issues. I tend to stretch with my heel stretcher after my workout. I need to use it both before and after. Also I should use it throughout the day. And I should use it for more than 30 seconds. I just do a 30 second stretch on each foot after my workout. That area needs more attention. I can feel my heel cord stretching (not in a good way) on my elliptical too much. I remember my ankle injury in August, and it felt like the muscle or tendon was being ripped off the bone. Don't know if that was what was happening, but that's what it felt like. So, more stretching. I do get a deeper heel cord stretch when I'm in my Five Fingers too.

I'm also getting my butt in gear finally with my walker. I'm a bit hesitant to mention anything about it here, but I suppose I will. Since I have so much better balance in these shoes, I figure it's time to use my walker. I used it a few weeks ago at a doctor's appointment, and once I got the feel for it, I did just fine. I think I'm finally in the right frame of mind to get out of the stinkin' wheelchair I've been using. There will still be instances (for now) where I'll need to use the wheelchair (transporting things), but I have a plan.

Right now, I have a basic walker. Two wheels in front, and two rubber stoppers in back. No basket, no shelf, nothing to put things on. So, when I need to carry something, that's an issue. My plan is this. To get used to using my current walker. I'll use it when I go to the bathroom, since I don't need to carry anything on those trips. Once I use my walker consistently for about a month or two, I'm going to "upgrade". I found a walker on Amazon.com which will do nicely. It's got four wheels, handbrakes, a basket, and a seat. I don't plan on sitting on the seat, I plan on using that as a shelf to carry things.

I don't want to buy it now because I don't want to get it and then not use it. So if I can use my current one consistently for a few months, I'll get it. I need to get used to it first. I already had one trip to the bathroom and back, and I did fine. I was slow, and I hesitated in my steps a few times, but all in all, it went OK for my first time. I'll get used to it more and more as I use it. My husband said I should buy it now, and I’m tempted. We’ll see. I might.

Enough about that for now. I'll keep you all posted on my walker progress. It's sort of what happened when I finally decided to lose weight. A light switch went off, and I'm going to do this.

Elliptical stats for the day:
Distance-0.5 mile
Revolutions-880
Resistance level-1
Endurance-excellent
Injury- No real issues.
Time-18:10

Virtual walk tour stats for the day:
0.5 miles today
192.8 miles since April 28, 2008
7.94 miles to Mechums River, VA, Charlottesville City County

Here's the picture of today's mileage point.

Copyright 2006 Lawrence Berkeley Lab

Looks like a nice and sunny day. Open road ahead and blue skies.

Update On Tee Land

Things are still plugging along here in Tee Land. I have a few things to update here today. Nothing too spectacular, just little things.

On the fitness front, I'm now using 10 pound weights for my arm routine. I broke down almost a month ago and bought a pair from Amazon, and I'm glad I did.

The first day I used them, there was a big difference. I just did one set of all my arm exercises, and only did 10 reps. I'm now up to one set of 15 reps, except for the lying triceps extensions. I only do 10 reps of them. They're still tough. But I'll get there. I'm not quite ready for two sets, yet. It may be a while, as my arms are pretty much dead after I've done everything. It does feel good to lift more weight though.

My elliptical routine is going well. My left ankle is OK. I've done some more research online, and instead of tendonitis, I have muscle knots. That makes sense, because I can actually feel the knots. Stretching before and after my elliptical workout is helping, plus I use my new gel pack as a heating pad and that helps.




I love this ice pack. It gets freezing , but when you put it in the sleeve, it doesn't seem all that cold. When you take it off 20 minutes later, you realize just how cold it gets. Always use it in the sleeve, you'll get frost bite otherwise I'm sure. You can use it as a heating pack also, which is what I've been doing lately. It gets super hot, and the sleeve is a must or you'll burn yourself. It's definitely been a good buy for me.

Not sure if it actually does anything, but I'm using Icy Hot spray in my lower leg. I was expecting this stuff to go ice cold, and then heat up. It is cold going on, but I don't feel any heat.

I'm back up to .8 mile on my elliptical. I plan on aiming for .9 tomorrow and then a full mile next Friday. I like upping my distance on Fridays, because it gives me the full weekend to recover. I took last week off because I didn't like how my ankle muscle was feeling, and when I got back on it Monday, my endurance was still up there. So, taking time off is definitely a good thing now and then.

Once I get back up to one mile, I plan on doing .5 mile on my “off” days. I'd like to get back to doing a mile six days a week, but we'll see. I'll get there eventually, as long as I have no issues. Need to remember to heat or ice my muscles afterward. I can't tell which helps more, an ice pack or heat. I think heat works best on muscle knots, at least for me anyway.

On the writing front, things are still going well. I still have the person I write for from TextBroker. He sends me about 13 topics every two or three weeks. This is an “off” week right now, and I'm being a lazy bum. There's a lot of writing I could be doing, but I'm not. I did pick up one topic from Demand Studios and I have a week to get it written. I need to write more about that site soon, to give you a better idea of how I came to write there.

For now, I should probably end this, and get a snack. I've been a bottomless pit lately. I think it's because of my elliptical workouts. I seem to be hungrier when I'm more active. I see some sliced peaches in my near future.

Update On Tee Land

Things are still plugging along here in Tee Land. I have a few things to update here today. Nothing too spectacular, just little things.

On the fitness front, I'm now using 10 pound weights for my arm routine. I broke down almost a month ago and bought a pair from Amazon, and I'm glad I did.

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=keemovtee-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000I1BR7Q&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr

The first day I used them, there was a big difference. I just did one set of all my arm exercises, and only did 10 reps. I'm now up to one set of 15 reps, except for the lying triceps extensions. I only do 10 reps of them. They're still tough. But I'll get there. I'm not quite ready for two sets, yet. It may be a while, as my arms are pretty much dead after I've done everything. It does feel good to lift more weight though.

My elliptical routine is going well. My left ankle is OK. I've done some more research online, and instead of tendonitis, I have muscle knots. That makes sense, because I can actually feel the knots. Stretching before and after my elliptical workout is helping, plus I use my new gel pack as a heating pad and that helps.


http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=keemovtee-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0027CU1EY&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr

I love this ice pack. It gets freezing , but when you put it in the sleeve, it doesn't seem all that cold. When you take it off 20 minutes later, you realize just how cold it gets. Always use it in the sleeve, you'll get frost bite otherwise I'm sure. You can use it as a heating pack also, which is what I've been doing lately. It gets super hot, and the sleeve is a must or you'll burn yourself. It's definitely been a good buy for me.

Not sure if it actually does anything, but I'm using Icy Hot spray in my lower leg. I was expecting this stuff to go ice cold, and then heat up. It is cold going on, but I don't feel any heat.

I'm back up to .8 mile on my elliptical. I plan on aiming for .9 tomorrow and then a full mile next Friday. I like upping my distance on Fridays, because it gives me the full weekend to recover. I took last week off because I didn't like how my ankle muscle was feeling, and when I got back on it Monday, my endurance was still up there. So, taking time off is definitely a good thing now and then.

Once I get back up to one mile, I plan on doing .5 mile on my “off” days. I'd like to get back to doing a mile six days a week, but we'll see. I'll get there eventually, as long as I have no issues. Need to remember to heat or ice my muscles afterward. I can't tell which helps more, an ice pack or heat. I think heat works best on muscle knots, at least for me anyway.

On the writing front, things are still going well. I still have the person I write for from TextBroker. He sends me about 13 topics every two or three weeks. This is an “off” week right now, and I'm being a lazy bum. There's a lot of writing I could be doing, but I'm not. I did pick up one topic from Demand Studios and I have a week to get it written. I need to write more about that site soon, to give you a better idea of how I came to write there.

For now, I should probably end this, and get a snack. I've been a bottomless pit lately. I think it's because of my elliptical workouts. I seem to be hungrier when I'm more active. I see some sliced peaches in my near future.