Sunday, Week 32 (with Progress Update)

So, here's my first progress update in a while. Like I said, I did have some back-sliding, but mostly I'm still within my maintenance ranges.

Stats:
Weight: 116.2lbs (goal weight 110-115)
Waist: 26.75 inches (goal 24 - 27)
Below Waist: 28.75 inches (goal 26 - 29)

Today my muscles are a tad sore - the first time in a while. So, that's a good thing. I need to start re-conditioning my body if I'm going to re-join the trapeze class. Perhaps that will really motivate me to get back into things.

I suppose there have been a few stumbling blocks for fitness lately. Obviously, the surgery is one. Exercise had been my main hobby and stress-relief. Cutting that out has been difficult mentally. Couple that with physical pain from surgery recovery, and it was a huge hit.

A second one is that work has become pretty crazy lately. I feel like I'm behind. I have 2 major projects, one of which is truly starting up this week. But, even the one that hasn't really started yet is behind in a sense. So, I've been putting in lots of extra hours. Also, with impending layoffs by the end of March at my company, I need to do everything possible to ensure that I can keep my job.

And, a third one is that I keep falling victim to comfort food for stress-relief. Now that I can start exercising a little again, though, perhaps this will be easier for me.

Today will be a decently active day. I have to go to PetSmart to buy food for my dogs. Also, I have to go to the grocery store to buy food for myself. So, that will be some walking around. I'll also get some other exercising in, too.

Exercise:
Stretching - comprehensive, also did splits
Treadmill: 2.5 miles, 28:45 (.5 mi warm-up, 1.5 mi running at 6mph, .5 mi cooldown)

Strategy for 2009

I'll post my progress update tomorrow morning. I've had a bit of a back-slide since my trapeze performance, which I expected, but it's time to get back into health again.

I e-mailed my trapeze instructor, so I'll see if I can rejoin the trapeze class in March like she said I would be able to. That gives me an extra week over and above the 4 weeks, but I figured it was better to give myself the week, since otherwise I'd be at trapeze class at the exact 4 week mark. I want to make sure my ear is completely cleared.

Other goals for 2009 - I'd like to train for another 5K run in the Spring. This time I want to make it under the 30 minute mark. After that, maybe I can try a 10K run perhaps by mid-summer. So, running will be a big focus for my exercising. Since the weather is getting better, I'll start taking my dogs for runs outside to gain some outdoor running experience, too.

So, my training schedule will be weights, running on the treadmill, running outside, trapeze, stretching, and some exercise dvds (like Tae Bo and perhaps yoga). I'll have to come up with a training schedule once I've figured out when I'm going to do my 5K race.

Saturday, Week 31

It's been a difficult week for me. My surgery recovery is going well, I suppose, but it's hard not being at 100%. Plus, work has been very demanding. I've been putting in a lot of extra hours, which has been tiring. My nutrition has been so-so. I've had a fair amount of fast food and far too many desserts. But, I've had some good nutrition moments, too - fruit, grilled chicken, yogurt, etc.

But, it's time to get back into things. This is my 3rd week since the surgery, so I'm easing back into exercising. I'm still restricted from lifting heavy weights and hard running. So, I'm starting back slowly.

Food:
Breakfast: Salmon burger (130/22) and wheat bun (80/4)
Lunch:
Snack:
Dinner:
Snack:
Total: Calories: , Protein:

Exercise:
For my exercise, I had 2 treadmill sessions, with some stretching and very light strength training in between. I also did stretching after the exercise session and throughout the day.
Treadmill: 26 minutes/2 miles total
Weights: 5 lb dumbells - Bicep Curls, Shoulder Work, 20 lb Chest Press and 20 lb Leg Extensions.

Saturday, Week 30

It's been a busy week. My life has essentially become work and recovery rest. I have 2 projects at work, one of which is extremely demanding. Hopefully, the other won't hit full steam for a while so that I can finish up the first one.

But, that's not really fitness related. Regarding fitness, I'm still not allowed to exercise yet. I'll have my follow-up with my ear doctor on Tuesday, so that will be interesting. I'm not recovered yet. I have a continual ringing in my ear. And, then pain is better or worse, fluctuating throughout the day.

I've been doing decently with my diet - not perfect by any means, but not too horrible. I weighed in at 115.4 lbs this morning, which is not bad. Hopefully, I'm not losing too much muscle mass, though.

Overall, though, I'm just pretty fatigued, physically and mentally. But, it's good that I have a lot to do at work. My company is going to be doing another round of layoffs in April, which I should be safe from.

Sunday, Week 30

I made it through the surgery alright. The doctor didn't find a cholesteatoma, which is good. He did find a lot of scar tissue, which he was able to remove. He thinks that was causing the pain. Hopefully, it will fix me.

I worked from home 1/2 days on Wed and Thurs and then went into the office on Friday. I've been working this weekend from home, too. There's a lot of work to catch up on. I'd rather be resting, as my head is killing me sometimes.

As for food, I've eaten mostly soups and cabbage this past week. Also, yogurt, clementines, and Kashi Lean Cereal. All easy to fix things. And, Eddy's Light ice cream. I've put on a little weight, but not too bad. I'll be glad when I'm finished recovering.