There and Back Again 11/8/11

It has been a few weeks, but J and I went on our walk again. We walked sans doggies, as we met after a meeting that she had to go to early in the morning. We walked for about 45 - 50 minutes and went for two miles. It felt like it was at a better pace then we did last time, though I am not positive on that.

It is probably one of the last walks we will get to do outside before we have to move inside to the mall, but it was AWESOME to be able to be outside for a little while.

72/967 Journey to Lonely Mountain
72/1934 There and Back Again

The Road Goes Ever On and On ...

There and back again - Pool Edition 11/7/11

2nd day at the pool!

I will say that I am beginning to understand why I didn't go back to swimming the few times I was at the pool after my back surgery. I DEFINITELY felt the pain in my shoulder after the last swim. Part of it was probably doing too much on the first day, but part of it is that I have a labrum tear that I haven't dealt with yet. I guess I had forgotten that the tear and the bone spurs in my rotator cuff affect my swimming. I am going to try and not let it stop me, though. I am enjoying the swimming too much.

So today I worked on using a variety of strokes rather than focusing so much on the crawl stroke. I find I can do the back stroke without it causing me too much pain and a lot of kicking. It isn't quite the exercise regimen I would like, but if I work on it and don't over exert my shoulder, I should be ok.

I did have something entertaining happen at the pool today. My swimsuit fits me well pretty much everywhere, but in my chest. It was obviously made by a man, because they didn't think about the fact that a woman who is as big as I am, is going to have a rather large chest. AND for some dumb ass reason, it does not have cross straps in back for better support. I mean who creates a swim suit like that????

But I am digressing here ...

Anyway, the swimsuit is not that supportive and I really should be wearing a sports bra with the suit, but I don't currently have one that is big enough. So though I knew I needed one after Friday's session, I didn't wear one today ... AND ironically, as I am doing the breast stroke ... My right boob comes out of the swim suit! Thankfully I was at the other end of the pool from ... EVERYONE and was able to slip it back in. Needless to say, I didn't do anymore breast stroke today and WILL be better supported on Wednesday!

Mom actually went today, she was really tired and hurting after wards, so we will see if she continues. But I WILL continue, whether she is there or not.

Another .5 mile today!

70/967 Journey to Lonely Mountain
70/1934 There and Back Again

The Road Goes Ever On and On ...

Back in the pool!

From 2001 - 2005, when I was on the weight journey, I lost almost all of it through swimming and weight watchers. I LOVE swimming. I mean I LOVE it, LOVE it, LOVE it! I got to the point that I was swimming for 2 plus hours a day and it was truly a way to just be and escape from everything. It helped me get through the time after the ugly split, it got me through the time in Purgatory, and all sorts of time being unemployed. It was not just exercise but a pleasure.

As I started to go to school for massage, I found that it was difficult for me to find the time to go. At the same time, pain in my shoulder started to increase and as I needed to be able to work, that meant swimming less. Eventually I had back surgery and that took me out of the pool completely and I really never returned. I mean I pretended to return, I went a couple weeks here, a couple of weeks there, but never really returned and lost the love.

Flash forward to the present ... My mother is going to be having knee surgery in January of next year and to prepare for it, she is going to PT twice a week to get stronger and the PT person wants her to go to the pool twice a week and do a movement class for seniors. So to make sure that she went, I agreed to take her and that I would swim laps during her class.

Which means ...

I WENT TO THE POOL TODAY!!!

Ahh the love is back. Man I missed the water.

I didn't think I would do much, since it was my first day back in the pool but I did 1/2 a mile! Woohooo!!!


66.5/967 Journey to Lonely Mountain
66.5/1934 There and Back Again

The Road Goes Ever On and On ...

Ever On ...

I have not been doing anything in about two months. To be honest, I have had a bit of a stumble and it has been hard to pull myself up and move on again. It has been a very very BIG struggle to continue on since my father passed, but the sucker punch was actually finding out that I may not be eligible for the surgery due to a stupid rule of having to have over 5 years of medical records that show I have been obese. I don't have 5 years of medical records, because I worked to lose the weight, but was unable to keep it off and am back up close to where I started. I feel like I am being smacked for trying to do something myself.

So, I felt sorry for myself, I stopped exercising, I stopped watching what I was eating closely, and other than just weighing myself and making comments about "watching what I was eating" and trying to make digs at myself, I really haven't done anything at all. INCLUDING verifying that I am actually screwed by this rule.

So its time to stop the moping, pick myself up by my big girl panties, figure out a plan and go forward.

Can a Phoenix have a rebirth in the middle of their rebirth?

There and Back Again 8/6/11

Stop the presses! I made it to the Gym two days in one week! AND today was at 9 am on a Saturday! I think I need to be committed.

Tink and I had plans to do aquarbics, but she couldn't find her swimsuit, (class ended up being canceled anyway) so we did the treadmill for 30 minutes and covered 1.2 miles. I followed that up with a trip to Costco where I did .75 miles, for a total of 1.95 miles.

45/967 Journey to Lonely Mountain
45/1934 There and Back Again

The Road Goes Ever On and On ...

There and Back Again 8/2/11

I MADE IT BACK TO THE GYM!!!

Ok so it was nearly 3 weeks ago that I said that it was time for me to get back to it on a regular basis. But I did have an incredibly good excuse in that I was very very very sick.

Being sick for three weeks did point out to me the necessity of taking care of myself. I haven't been doing that properly, since all of the family and emotional stuff happened. So, per my agreement with myself, I have gone back to the gym. It hurt. I was upset because it felt like I was leaving Dad behind. But he wouldn't want me to stop everything because of him. So I continued into the Gym and met my friend "Tink".

Tink and I did the treadmill for about 30 minutes and covered about 1.4 miles. Much slower than I would care for, but ... at least it was something and really the best speed for now. So ...

43.05/967 Journey to Lonely Mountain
43.05/1934 There and Back Again

On the Road Again ... And the Road Goes Ever On and On ...

There and Back Again 7/5/11

It has been a few weeks, but we went on our walk again. I need to make this more regular. I have been resisting starting anything regular since my father died. I suppose its the last bit of me that is returning to a normal schedule and it feels totally wrong; like it somehow dishonors him. But it is time that I do just that.

Today's walk was for nearly twice as long as the last time. 4 miles total. No doggies, just lots of talking.

41.65/967 Journey to Lonely Mountain
41.65/1934 There and Back Again