Yup, I Still Hate The Treadmill

For the last few weeks I've been able to pump out one good hour-long workout. I don't really like it (remember, I HATE working out), but  I do it.

At the gym, this consists of a 1-hour treadmill torture session.

Today, I told myself just 45 minutes. I think I lie to myself just to get me in the door.

I hoped on and got up to my baseline (3mph with an incline of 3.0). Much faster than 3mph and I'm nearly jogging or falling off the end. Three seems to be a good number for me for now. It used to be 2-something and then 2.5 (back 40 pounds ago) so I'll take three for now.

There are times when I want to break out in a sprint, but I don't. Not yet. I'm not sure if I just like the workout of the incline, or if I want to go a faster pace. We'll see. I'm saving any attempt at running for when I'm at a lower weight.

I hovered between 3.5 and 5.5, back and forth. Then at the end I go up by one until I hit 8, then back down to 4 for a bit. It was a good workout. I left feeling good, which isn't normal for me.

Exercise Making Me Tired?

Is it possible that exercise makes you tired?
And hungry?

I found an article the other day (I'll have to dig up the link again) that spoke to exercising and hunger, and why some people don't lose because they are ravished, eat more, and stay the same weight.

I know people say that they have more energy when they workout. Maybe they mean stamina? Or do they truly mean energy? I would say I might have more stamina... but not energy. Maybe it's something that will come with time. I find I'm tired, my body is sore, and I'm way more hungry.

But my body craves the movement. I can tell.

Yesterday I was busy cooking dinner, and more than anything would have liked to get down to watching something on Netflix, but I had a strong urge to get going for a nighttime walk with my dog. So I set off, taking the hill straight off, and logged about 43 minutes of walking. I didn't get the distance I get on the treadmill, but then I was wearing boots and avoiding ice at times. But I was at a decent clip and was sweating when I got home.

The air felt... so good. The night breeze, just getting out felt good.

But it was a "rest" day.

Now today I'm supposed to hit the gym after work and I'm still beat.

I'm not a die-hard gym person, and I do enjoy walks, hikes, and biking outdoors.

So I'm contemplating today switching to the bike instead of the treadmill. Just to switch it up a bit, to give different muscles some work, and to give my walking muscles a break. We shall see.

I will still hit the circuit after (works arms and a bit of legs). I don't like to have to lug a separate bag to work and everything, but I could find a million excuses not to go.

I don't have an gym bag - something I'd like. I'm saving that for a month's worth of going consistently  and the hope of getting under 260 at some point in the next decade. I'm not sure what will come first.

Treadmill, Treadmill, Oh How I Hate Thee

Today we went for breakfast. We do that so rarely because it costs money and I'm trying to eat better. I used to be something we did almost every time we had a day together.  I haven't thought about it too much but this morning it sounded  like a nice idea - a breakfast date.

I had pancakes, scrambled eggs and turkey sausage. It was OK. Not great, not horrible. I drank coffee. I knew we would head to the gym after so  I didn't feel too guilty. I didn't over do it or anything, either.

Off to the gym. Dread. I wish I didn't, but I'd be a liar if I said I didn't.

My "routine" for the last few times has been 40 minutes on the treadmill at 3.0 mph with inclines at intervals. I didn't realize I'd been stepping it up until I looked at my calories burned this time:

After that, I moved to the circuit training center and went through those, concentrating on my upper body (about 20 minutes). Then stretch. All in all it takes about an hour or so for total gym time. So far I haven't spent any time on anything else. I used to alternate between the bike and the treadmill, but I also don't want to burn myself out too quickly.

Right now my schedule is 3 times per week (M, W, F). It scares me because I worry that I will get bored, or I will bun out, and then what? Burning off 500 calories at the gym helps me. I allow myself a little more to eat, and I'm getting my system going for a while. Win win.

I notice with regular exercise my skin looks better. 

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Hey, I had some people ask me about losing weight. My father in law and my grandmother. Nice. I'm still waiting for someone to ask me who isn't family, though. 

Even though my pants don't feel as loose as I'd like them too, everything else does. My shirts, jackets. It's my jeans - one particular pair, really, that still feels tight. And then there's two pairs that I swear I worse last time I was this weight, and they are uncomfortable when I put them on. That leads me to believe my fat has further migrated to my midsection (common for women as they age). I don't like the thought of that because it makes me feel old and disgusting. 

I'm sure I have polycystic ovaries, even though my doctor (who I used to think was pretty great) never responded to my questions about it. I know there's not much you can do about it, but to disregard it is pretty stupid. She recommended a nutritionist, which I never went to. If I can't drop another 20 pounds before the year end, maybe I'll consider it. 

Treadmill Workout - 45 Minutes

I don't know why I did it. Honestly, I don't.
I was still dying from the previous day, and bitter over my weight stall.

But I went. I packed up my shoes and my ipod, and told myself to just do the treadmill.

I worry I'm overdoing it. Then I think that is just an excuse.

Working out more days than not, eating right more days than not - is a key to life-long health. Today, tomorrow, next year, five years from now... that won't change. Why feed my head with thoughts that today is different?

I went to the gym, unloaded my anger, bitterness and hatred for working out, put on my shoes, filled my water bottle, stepped on a treadmill - didn't have the right feel for me. Stepped off to the next one. Good.

Set my pace and went at it.

I wanted to sweat, I wanted to feel like I had a workout. I wanted to run, but I'm pacing myself. Pace, pace.

Here's (about) what I did.

For me, it was a decent workout. I was sweaty, I got my heart rate up over 150, I wanted to quit. 

After I was done, I got off and went to get the spray to wipe off the machine, and still had that floaty feeling that treadmills give you, like I'm walking and now I'm moving - before I wasn't.

I went and did one stretch, and decided to finish at home. I just wanted to leave. There's nothing relaxing (to me) about stretching in a tiny area filled with other sweaty people. My germaphobic nature starts to go into overdrive. Maybe I'll get over it. I don't know.

So I came home, did some stretches, made some oatmeal, and came to post this before I forget what I even did on that treadmill. 

This is what it said at the end, although the calories might be off because I didn't punch in my weight until about 10 minutes in. And I was walking when I took the picture. 

This was during my cooldown. 2.26 miles, 340 calories. I don't know what that 4 is, but it was about 48 minutes in. This helps me remember a bit what went on. I need to somehow figure out how to keep better track, but that will come in time. I hope.

Weigh In: I Went To The Gym

Weigh in: 268

No. Change.

As frustrating as that is, I have to let it go. On Monday it said 274. But that was with one of the leg coasters from the Wii missing, and I just couldn't tell what was going on, so I postponed posting it until today.

I will never understand why eating really good and exercising results in a stalled scale for me. I don't get it. I'm afraid to eat normally and exercise, but maybe that's what I should have done for 50 - 60 pounds. Pick one or the other, so not to discourage myself.

'Cause I admit, I'm slightly discouraged.

I stayed within my calories and exercised enough to burn 900 calories... and nothing. Crazy stuff.

Stupid scale. Stupid body.

- - - - -

On another note, I went to the gym. I got on the treadmill. I walked 2 miles at a 20 minute mile pace (40 min. total). I kicked it up to 3.1 at an incline of 1.5 for about 10 of those minutes, then alternated a bit. I was hot and felt horrible. And then some dude decided to come run on the treadmill right next to me in a near empty gym. His friends were five 'mills down the row. I was distracted, mostly wondering what was in his head that he needed to do that.

Probably nothing.

Maybe a chubby chaser.

Maybe liked the 'mills by the mirror.

I was so happy to be in the cool down of my workout, rather than just starting. It took all my strength not to move away to a different one.

Maybe I'm not a gym person.

Because secretly, I feel like I gave in to The Man when I got that membership. Just a little bit.

I know. I'm weird!

- - - - -

This sinus issue is killing me right now. I think that's what is making me drag on every day. Yesterday I tilted my head back at work and just let the stuff drain down the back of my throat. It was disgusting and liberating at the same time. But I just feel rocked right now. Tired, tired, and more tired. Makes it hard to motivate myself.

But I'm thinking of getting in at the gym again today. I don't know if I'll do the treadmill, 'cause my feetsies are a little sore. I might do the bike, or explore the 30-minute stations. We'll see.