It's been a loooong time....

It's been months and months since I have entered a update on this blog...primarily because it's been months and months since I've been exercising in any consistent way. And I'm still NOT, but I am restarting.

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Bard

We will see how far I get, but I am NOT going to rush anything. Starting with walking and swimming...slowly. I will build from there. Yoga/biking and then running...and eventually core/muscles. But one day at a time!

(Walked approx 7km yesterday and swam 250meters...it's a beginning. Weight is stable around 200-205lbs.)

OMG...tempus fugits and muscles wither! But Paelo wins the day!!

It's been over 5-weeks since I published a posting. OY! It's also been 5+weeks that I have NOT been consistently exercising. DOUBLE OY!

I have been continuing to combat low-back pain and it's attendent depression and laziness. Bad habits are so much easier to develop and foster. I have been blaming my so-called 'burn-out' and 'injury' -- both real but the self-victimization is the culprit I am alluding to in the aforementioned reference -- to my lack of motivation and action.

NO MORE!

I have been doing GYROTONICS with a bevy of smart trainers. And I also started swimming again. And doing yoga. Also, this last week I and a friend have jointly resumed a PALEO diet and I am feeling better for it. And although "paleo" or "hunter-gatherer" conjures images in my mind of slaying animals and gorging on meat and fat (although there is some of that), my experience of it has been a massive increase of in-season healthy fruits and vegetables. YUMMMY VEGETABLES. I am eating so much better. It's unbelievable. I am also still buying my foods from mostly big box grocery stores...but that was just for convenience and to get started. Over the next few weeks as I get a handle on the diet and eating and planning...I want to increasingly supplement and/or displace those purchases by shopping at farmer's markets and maybe even local area farms.

SOUNDS EXCITING....

As so too does getting back on my feeting and building lean muscle, strength and endurance. And, oh yeah, losing that extra 20lbs I've picked up along the way.

ARRRRGGGGHHHH....

Starting to feel GOOD

It's still very 'early days' in my recovery and rebuild phase, but I am starting to feel better and stronger and motivated...again!

THANK GOD!

I just talked to a neighbour whose also recovering -- but from cancer :( -- and he's in the rebuilding phase. A "physical fitness" friend of his said that the body's "muscle memory" has a 3-month shelf-life -- after which it's like starting over from ZERO!

Maybe that explains why this has been such an uphill battle...but I am starting to see/feel the LIGHT!

Today (so far) I have done:

- my core morning routine: 3 sets of 15-reps each 1) push-ups; 2) sit-ups and 3) squats
- 30 minutes of run/walk (also getting better/stronger)
- 5 minutes of post-run stretching

I have a swim class tonight that I have not gone to since mid-February...and I am 'thinking' of going. Now that's a change!!!!

:)

Slow running...

Didn't workout this weekend...but I did this morning!

Ran 30-minutes outside (actually ran...walked...ran...walked). But I am going further, faster, harder...slowly!

Did my core workout: push-ups/sit-ups/squats - 3 sets of 10 each.

And later I'm going to the pool to do my 2km....

SO...no big breakthroughs...but I'm staying the course (except for the wknd) and keeping on keeping on!

Building a daily routine...

Building a "good" daily routine or habit seems to be tougher than letting one slide or developing bad ones...or really fun but not so good for you (or your goals) one!

I am having a better time of it lately. This week has been fairly successful!!! I have run almost every day. And I have added some "core" workouts -- push-ups/sit-ups/squats -- really basic stuff. But it has been a slow climb. And today I crested a new plateau: I ran 30-minutes and 10+ more blocks than Wednesday (I didn't run yesterday). And I've added a 3rd set to my "daily core routine" too.

Progress...not perfection!

Out of shape but not out of the running...

OMG...it is sooooo easy to get out of shape and sooooo hard to get in! What's up with that???

Well, not to bemoan the situation, I am determined to do something about it. So I went running again today. Same 20-minutes of run/walk and I am happy to report that, although I was oddly more winded today, the second half of the "run" went a lot easier. I am happy and proud of myself. I am also planning to run daily until I am running the full 7-10km without walking that I was doing in the middle of the winter. I do not want to turn into an Arnie-"after" photo. (What happened to him anyway? Steroids? Old age? Sex scandals?)

:)

PS: I am also adding a daily increasing dose of push-ups/sit-ups/squats (which are also oddly way more difficult than 6-months ago when I could do 10x what I did today! Argh!)

Running sucks!

It's been a while since I've run outside...and I haven't run much at all lately. OMG...running sucks! It is hard and it hurts and it's sweaty! :p

BUT...I did 20-minutes of run/walk and then I stretched. And that is at least a START!