Gym is Open (Marching Monday 6/23)

Let's march those pounds away!  What did you do to move your body today? Kix

I had a busy busy busy fun filled weekend and the scale gods were kind, I was down to my all time low since WLS this morning.  So I decided to keep it up through the week to try for a new all time low.....  All that just to say that I did my "Marching" for 30 mins on the elliptical this morning, LOL

OK, how did you get the scale gods to smile on you?  My scale refuses to cooperate.  Perhaps I need to march on the elliptical as vigorously as you do!  Kix

OMG, Kix, I need to move today!!!  I was a sloth all weekend, and it was fabulous, but I feel very "droopy" for lack of a better description.  But I did enjoy a good book, cover-to-cover, yesterday ("The Green Glass Sea," by Ellen Klages - historical fiction about the scientists who developed the atom bomb, but told from the point-of-view of an 11-year-old girl), which was delightful.  It's been ages since I just sat around and read all day - felt deliciously sinful, without all the calories!!!   Anyway, today I'm back to the gym.  Lifting weights at lunch - think it's lower body strength training and core work, but I'll have to check my tracking sheet when I get down to the gym.  After work one of my gym buddies and I are getting a hands-on orientation session for orienteering!  PJ mentioned orienteering in one of her posts, and it turns out that one of my gym buddies works with the guy who heads up the local orienteering chapter.  Anyway, he's going to give us a "lesson" and we're going to do an orienteering event this coming Sunday.  Something new and different that involves being outdoors - I'm definitely there!!! Kellie

I can't wait to hear if you enjoy the orienteering - great way to get exercise! My weekend meet didn't go as well as I would of liked - I lost the control sheet (which is what you use to prove you were at each checkpoint) and had to back track within the first 30 minutes. I lost an hour because of that and placed 26 out of 31. But it's more great experience to learn from - we'll see how it goes during my race in July and if I'll learn from all my mistakes.

From what I've read, I think I'll really enjoy it.  Plus, I'm trying it with a friend of mine from the gym and she's a hoot, so I think we'll have fun regardless of what happens at the event!  Our event is Sunday at noon, so I'll try to post afterwards about how it goes.  I'll even try to remember to take pictures (I'm very bad at that...). Kellie

Orienteering sounds fun, unfortunately for me, I checked the website that PJ posted and the ones here won't work for me.  I bookmarked the site, though, and plan to check it often.  As for me, no exercise at all today.  My sister's luxury hybrid decided to die yesterday, causing extreme consternation for her (and which she had to distribute throughout the household, even the dogs were on edge).  In her effort to get maximum mileage out of her car, she has avoided the highways and just takes surface streets which, in a hybrid, doesn't allow the small battery that runs the computer to stay charged.  So, the little battery died and thus the car would not start.  Gosh, Toyota, what a stupid design flaw!  Anyway, I spent my whole day accompanying her to the dealer, driving her all over the place and not even getting my errands done, then driving her back to the dealer, all the while absorbing her agita. I don't usually like fiction, but I think I'll read that book, it sounds interesting.  I just finished a biography of Gov. Ralph Carr, who was the governor of Colorado during WWII.  He fought vehemently against Japanese internment camps and, as a result, lost his political career and his law practice. So, no exercise today, which is not good.  I think I will drive nearby tomorrow and just walk my brains out.  I hate not getting any exercise. Kix

After a lazy week out of the gym (excep****er aerobics on saturday), I "marched" back to the gym today. Ohhhh, it was hard to get up this morning, but I forced myself to do it and I am happy that I did. 15 minutes on elliptical ... mt. kilamanjaro at level 10...found a way to keep that heart rate at 80% again... Up the level of effort and that'll do it really quick Then did 30 minutes upper body strength training.  I felt like I had lost some strength in the week that I was out.  I've got 3 days this week to work out because my Carpal tunnel surgery had to be moved to this Thursday.  So no upper body after Wednesay.  I'll have to get creative and it looks like I'll be hitting my lower body pretty hard in the 3-4 weeks recovery.  I hope I don't lose to much strength in my upper body though. As far as the water aerobics, Kix you asked me if it was a good, tough workout.  For the most part, I enjoy the water aerobics for a change of pace.  I feel like it's a good upper body workout and I do get my heart rate going but not as good as when I'm on the elliptical or treadmill.  I know that I'm using muscles that don't necessarily get used on those machines and it's a good trade off.  Lisa is an excellent teacher.  We had Judy and she's not so much...but I have to give her credit, she's in her 70's and looks excellent.  Lisa, I think, studies and keeps in touch with what's happening in that field of training and I don't get that impression from Judy.  Anyway...that's my two cents for the day!

Are you allowed to do any upper body work with your "good" hand, or are they both getting repaired?  If so, I'll bet you could do a modified workout with just one arm. Kix

Nope had the right one done in 1995.  I think I'm just going to take advantage of not being able to do upper body and focus on lower body.  I hate it, I hate it, I hate it and find any excuse not to work lower body, but  I think I'm going to take this opportunity to return to lower body strength training and make it part of my workout again.