Category Archives: Exercise

May 16 2013

I’ve Ridden 21 miles on a freaking Bicycle? WTF?!?

Trails

So, on Monday we did it, took the plunge.  Now, we’ve ridden to work not once, but twice!  Each way to and from work is 7.2 miles on our local bike trails (which are over 20 miles in total length).  I thought at first there was no way I could do it, and had a terribly negative attitude about the whole thing.  I’ve changed my attitude accordingly however, and even though it’s kicking my butt, it’s definitely well worth the effort.  The exhaustion that comes at night is well worth the energy I’m now finding during the day.  Monday was 6 miles, Tuesday was 14.3 , today another 7.2 so far and my day’s only half done, and tomorrow is National Ride Your Bike To Work Day.   So that is telling me that there will be riding, even if it is a bit wet (we have a chance of thunderstorms).

The caloric burn each way to and from work is between 300 and 360 calories, so that’s 600 calories PER DAY that I am burning, just by commuting to work on my bicycle, ignoring the fact that I am actually working out and *gasp* enjoying it!  My husband is not challenged by our 13 mph speeds, so he’ll be continuing the stairmaster after our commute, while I’ll be heading home to start dinner.  I plan on adding some gym time after getting into good enough shape to feel like the ride is not challenging me too much (I’m thinking maybe a month of riding to and from work should get me into decent shape).

Next adventure if this takes off?  Longer rides, more adventure, photos of the trails…who knows, maybe I’ll finally successfully lose a pound this way!

What am I riding you ask?  I am riding a Raleigh Misceo 2.0 Urban/Trail bike

This badboy ran me $550.00 (with a $50 rebate) and makes me feel like I can conquer anything.  It is absolutely breathtakingly unbelievable (is that enough adjectives yet?).  It’s a push to get up hills, but once I’m there, there’s no stopping me, and I have to admit, the rider might be slightly at fault for some of the lack of power (OK, I admit it, I’m a wimp!).

Here’s to biking to work, for my fitness and my wallet, and National Ride Your Bike To Work day tomorrow, May 17, 2013.

**Update** 6:22 PM (2 hours later)

It is raining outside, like, raining cats and dogs raining, and of course, in my brilliance of riding TO work, I neglected to have the foresight to think about what it might be doing when it was time to return home.  What started as an “Oh crap it’s sprinking!” Rapidly turned into “I’m singin’ in the rain, just singin’ in the rain! With my clothes dipping raindrops I’m happy again!”  Muddy,  soaked, exhausted and happier than I can remember after any commute coming home, I am now waiting anxiously  for my hot ham sandwich to finish cooking.  Crushing 750 calories today by riding bicycle definitely is being felt in my stomach tonight!

Tomorrow we have a chance of more rain, but I plan on riding to work (nice weather) at least, the crap isn’t supposed to come until later tomorrow night.

About these ads
Apr 30 2013

A Good Day!

Yesterday was the definition of a good day!  I woke up, granted I felt exhausted from my great weekend, but still, I woke up and it felt like the day was mine entirely.  I stayed on track for calories, didn’t let myself sneak any snacks, and broke a tremendous sweat on the stair master after 25 minutes of soul crushing climbing.

I finished the night off with *gasp* Taco John’s, but opted for a lighter version of the epic Grilled Burrito (I got some knock off one that was 550 calories).  I shared my potato ole’s with the dogs, tossed out over half the cheese cup, and mentally patted myself on the back for my success.  Today has been just about as good, if not for the tons of sodium I had during lunch, but hey, that’s lunch, this is life, and I’m moving on!

No gym tonight, but I’m hoping to try out one of those “at home DVD’s” … although the list of available workouts is kind of staggering!  Anyone have any good ideas for the at home workouts?  Anyone?  Buhler?…

Anyways, I’ll be looking at the 30 day shred hopefully tomorrow AM, we’ll see, 6:00 seems to creep up way to quickly for my taste, but it’s either that or the definition of hell after work: car wash, grocery store, home , gym, home, dinner, bed.  I hate nights like that!

Well, I am off to to practice my cardiovascular and pulmonary exercises (aka singing) tonight, so this fat lady is singing “I’m out!”

Mar 11 2013

Yin Yoga and You

Keep Calm and Do Yoga

 

This weekend (Saturday, specifically) I had the opportunity to try a new form of yoga (new to me, not to the world).  This form is called Yin Yoga, and it’s interesting because it’s the opposite of Yang Yoga (yes, like Yin and Yang)

 

So, we focused on ligaments and joints, not on muscles, and each pose is held for 1-20 minutes, which to me is a really REALLY long time to hold a pose (in our class the average length was 3 minutes/pose).  It is a very quiet practice and can be kind of chilly, since the movements are slow and controlled.   Class lasted 75 minutes, roughly 70 of which were in various poses or moving from one pose to another.    We started with Child’s Pose

 

We then moved into a twist for each side, held for 3 minutes, with a child’s pose in between.  We moved through a swan pose and a handful of other seated poses, and I could feel my joints stretching each time.  Getting back to work, I decided to see if there was a way I could incorporate a bit of yoga in my daily life, and sure enough, I discovered Desk Yoga.

Mountain Pose Sit erect, clasp your hands, and extend your arms forward. Turn the palms away from you and raise your arms until the palms face the ceiling. Stretch and feel yourself growing taller as you reduce the stress in your head, neck, and shoulders. This posture lengthens your sides. If you want, add to this posture by bending your arms to each side.

 

Thread the needle Sit in your chair and cross your right leg over your left knee. Flex both feet and lift them off the floor. “Thread the needle” by clasping your hands around your left leg, just under your knee. This posture stretches hip rotators, outer thighs, and relieves tension in the lower back. Be sure to reverse sides.

 

Check out the link above for more Desk Yoga moves!