Anne 的个人资料Keep On Keeping On照片日志列表更多  |  工具 帮助 |
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2007/7/4 InaugurationWanted to get a quick run done before dinner and did one of the dog walking routes. This is the route which passes 2 playgrounds. I forgot to key in weight so no calories info.
 Memorable song: Girls of Summer - Aerosmith 10k on 21 Oct '07Just signed up for a 10k run and will have company in the form of my cosmic cousin. 21 October, here we come.
Will be swimming with mom twice a week in the evening. Talked to Victor today and found out he works out 6:30 - 7:45 a.m. at the gym every week day morning. I'll join him from next week on Monday. Good time as any to start a morning routine and do some workout classes or something.
OK, going to pound the pavement now.
2007/7/3 Hot Hot HumidBeen a while since I posted anything and this is first entry back in Singapore. I haven't formally exercised, it was all incidental exercise through loading and unloading boxes which arrived through freight and collected from cargo complex. Other incidental exercise was through re-exploring neighbourhoods near to home, on foot. Mostly it's been trying to get back used to the humidity.
On Sunday I went running at Botanic Gardens with 4 people way fitter and faster than me. It was torture. Pure torture. I wasn't running, I was slow jogging then waddling then just walking. It's one thing to get used to 30+ degrees Celsius from 6 degrees Celsius, it's another to run through the hot syrupy soup called humidity. Couldn't breathe, barely moved, sweated like a hog and was a complete sticky mess. The heat wore me out almost instantly.
That same day, I got a comment about how I looked "bulky" from all the weights training with JoJo and I felt crushed. Since then I've been eating only half of what's on my plate at every meal.
This afternoon I finally got around to calibrating the Nike+ sports kit. Except I couldn't get the receiver to pick up the sensor. After trying for half an hour, I gave up and went to the nearest mall with an Apple store in shorts, singlet and running shoes. The sales stuff checked and checked and nothing was happening for another 15 minutes. In the meantime I was walking around in circles with sensor on shoe to create vibration for sensor and receiver to "talk". The start up screen came on. Phew! The sales stuff asked me where my arm band and sensor holder was from cos the stuff wasn't sold at the store.
Went to the nearest sports stadium and as I walked through the gate I heard a starter gun go off and kids running around the track. So much for trying to calibrate 400m there. Decided to try my luck at the neighbourhood primary school which has a much smaller track. The security guard let me in but didn't know how big the track was so I asked a few primary school kids who were waiting for transport for help. I had almost forgotten the enthusiasm of school kids as I asked the question out loud and 4 kids answered. Thanked them and made my way to the track to calibrate "Run" and "Walk".
I would have liked to have run for longer today but was pressed for time to go to hospital with mom to visit one of mom's friends who just moved out of a more restricted visitor ward to a regular ward.
To cut a long story short, the Nike+ sports kit is now calibrated; ready and I have no more excuses not to run outdoors.
2007/6/14 Bye Bye FFDid last workout at Fitness First with JoJo. Gym membership ends today. Lower body workout this afternoon:
Diagonal Leg Press
- 26 kg - 1 set x 20 reps , 36 kg - 2 sets x 15 reps
Walking Lunges
- one end of the gym to the other and back
Abdominal Crunch Machine
- can't remember...maybe 25 kg? 3 sets - 15 reps, 20 reps, 10 reps
- Plank position after 2nd and 3rd set of machine crunches - 60 seconds, 30 seconds
Crunches on a ball
- 3 sets of 20, 2 sets with arms over chest, last set with arms out and fingers at temples
Memorable workout moments:
- JoJo promising not to cry and he didn't
- The leg press tired me out and when I said the protein shake wasn't working, JoJo quipped "It's protein dear, not steroids"
- Continuing to count after 30 seconds of Plank position and after 1 minute, JoJo went "And how long are you planning to stay there?" and I laughed and got down
- On the ball during crunches for last set with fingers on temples and arms out, JoJo commenting my abs are really flat and asked me to look at the mirror to see the shape of my deltoids
- Wasn't too cold walking to and from gym
Real Food PleaseWas hungry but heading to gym soon so I downed a protein shake. Urghs. Skulled the thing then shuddered at the end with face cringed.
Chocolate or not, the stuff is yucky. I'm supposedly drinking a brand that's the best tasting; according to people I've asked.
I don't think I can do 5 mini-meals a day. I definitely can't do protein shakes.
Still shuddering. 2007/6/12 Evil JoJo Needs A NameIt was so cold walking to the gym today.
Upper body workout today. Lactic acid seemed to build up faster than usual. It's all a blur now. The smith machine. The dumb bells. The cable pulls. The tricep pull downs. The push ups. The usual 45 mins of huffing, puffing and not blowing any house down.
JoJo asked me to help him think of a company name. It occupied me for the entire workout. I suggested Mojo JoJo since all the Men's Health/bodybuilding magazines always have covers about workouts and more sex. JoJo whips people into shape and gives them their Mojo back. So Austin Powers and Powder Puff Girls. I know.
Brisk walked/jogged 3 km.
The farewell meals are piling up around my waist faster than I can work them off.
It was still cold when I walked home.
I still don't have any suggestions for naming Evil JoJo's fitness empire.
2007/6/9 Incidental ExerciseSigned up at Runner Plus and Nike Plus yesterday but have yet to upload any data.
I'm taking a break from packing/sealing/stacking 7 boxes (2 more to go) of personal belongings to send home. Also taking a break from re-arranging furniture back to the furnished apartment's original layout. These activities ought to count as incidental exercise. 2007/6/8 Cold and Lazy MeThe Nike+iPod device needs to be calibrated. 400m means I need to go to the nearest athletics track at the university in the next suburb. Then I saw the weather for the next couple of days:
Whereas this is the kind of temperature I'm more used to:
Looks like it's treadmill at the gym for a few days more then calibrate when I get home. Forgive me, I hate the cold. 2007/6/7 Back In The GrooveMemorable workout moments:
Moment 1:
When this came over the P.A. system: "Attention ridiculously good looking membership consultants, will [name of consultant] please come to Reception, thanks".
Moment 2:
After struggling with the weights for some bicep curls
Me: I wasn't faking that
Joel: [grin and rebuttal] Well, I have no experience with women to know
Me: [laughs]
Joel: You left yourself wide open with that one
Me: I know...I just walked right into that one. I hate you; stop making me laugh
Moment 3:
When a Fantastic Plastic Machine song started on iPod.
Moment 4:
Singing the Transformers cartoon song when the trailer for the movie came on and getting all the words wrong - and getting caught out by Joel.
Apart from that, a relatively difficult 45 min upper body workout then a brisk 35 min walk on 2.0 to 3.0 incline on treadmill, within maximum heart rate training zone. 2007/6/5 The AchesI don't always blog this - every workout is always accompanied by muscle ache the day after. I warm up, work out, warm down but I'll still ache the day after. Sometimes the aches start the night itself.
You'd imagine all this muscle ache would lead to visible muscles but there's no evidence until I'm actually lifting weights.
There's positive thinking and when I try to pep talk my aching muscles, they tell me to piss off. 2007/6/4 ScatteredJust couldn't get my act together today. The stress and fatigue from the last couple of days have left me feeling very flat. Usually I can push and will my body to co-operate. Today I was tired, felt really flat and it showed. Joel shook his head as I struggled with the lightest of weights today during the first exercise - box squats. Not a proud moment. He asked if I wanted to reschedule the workout. After a very uninspiring first set with dumb bells, he switched to having me do exercises using my body weight instead. Lunges from one end of the gym to the other. Push ups. Tried weights again with lat pull downs then assisted dips.
Really struggled at the gym today. I was shaking involuntarily while trying to complete what I can normally do with ease and/or push on for extra reps. Today even the simplest and lightest of tasks had me tired out and breathing very hard. I didn't have any jokes to lighten the moment with and Joel said he was tempted to tickle me. I was really scattered and had trouble focusing.
At the end of the work out he told me to eat something good, climb into bed to rest and do whatever I need to do, tomorrow.
5 Jun edit:
- popped a flu tab and took a 2 hour nap and felt better after 2007/5/31 Last Day of AutumnThe sky was pissing down big time on the way to the gym today. The mind was preoccupied with Thesis deadline next week so I only spent 45 mins at the gym today. Too distracted to remember most of the weights used at today's session. We didn't do any supersets today, just straightforward sets and some drop sets.
It was 3 sets each of:
- deadlift
- skullcrusher
- shoulder fly
- overhead press
- bicep curls with bar bell - starting to see a little definition in delts when in motion
- finished the session with some assisted dips
For overhead press, Joel had me warm up with 2.5 kg dumb bells and I started laughing from the lack of resistance/effort and went "You don't love me anymore!". He protested, "It's just warm up!" before handing me 7.5 kg dumb bells for the next set.
Didn't do any cardio today. A little worried about exams and headed home after weights training.
Been feeling tired the whole day, more after gym workout.
2007/5/28 Punching Them Out45 mins of super sets and drop sets:
Then again, every weights session is always 45 mins.
Plus 30 mins of treadmill:
- incline 0.5
- speed range: 5.7 to 9 km/hour
Memorable work out moments:
- Laughing everytime the trailer for Blades of Glory was on TV while trying not to drop dumb bells
- Asking Joel what a movement was called - incline bent over row - so I can name what I *don't* like
- Watching sky light change through the atrium glass while jogging
- Warming down on treadmill then stretching slowly to Erasure's Rock Me Gently
Weighed myself before shower. Surprised to see I had moved from 69 kg to 67.5 kg.
I lose weight and what do I want? Chocolate. 2007/5/24 Feeling ItWore new Asics shoes to gym today. Better yet, didn't wear ankle guard.
It was all legs today:
- Squats, 12 to 15 reps x 3 sets, barbell only at 20 kg, 20+10 kg, 20+15 kg
- Diagonal leg press, 12 to 15 reps x 3 sets, don't remember what was the weights
- Leg extensions, 12 to 15 reps x 3 sets, don't remember what was the weights
- Leg curls, 12 to 15 reps x 3 sets, don't remember what was the weights
We had some time left towards the end of the session but my legs were burning and I was going a bit flat so Joel pushed me into deep stretches. "Say 'when'", as I was lying down on a mat and he pushed my foot while knee was bent. "Are you even feeling anything?" he asked. "You're crushing my rib cage", I replied. He moved on to other stretches saying I was like a rubberband. I find I can go a little further if I inhale while he pushes me into a stretch. There are some stretches where I can see I'm being stretched but I don't feel stretched. He ended the session with "Everyone should be as flexible as you" and joked about bringing a glass box next time and fold me into the box.
Felt strong enough to try getting on elliptical machine and stayed on for 35 mins. Very happy that ankle did not ache at any time.
Memorable songs during workout:
- Dance Dance by Fall Out Boy
- Lucky You by Lightning Seeds
- Get Down by Groove Armada
If my quads don't kill me tomorrow, I'm going to try running.
2007/5/23 On ExerciseThe old Lucid would love a quote like this:
"Whenever I feel like exercise I lie down until the feeling passes."
Robert Maynard Hutchins (1899-1977)
The current Lucid avoids laughing because her abs hurt from delayed onset muscle soreness. The Running PlanThis is the running plan, from zero to finish line. I'm going to start slow and as Ed says, finish strong.
Based on running plans from here. Dates based on latest start dates and pretty much the critical path on a timeline. I'm trying to start as soon as my ankle is good to go.
Zero to 21.1 km is ambitious for someone like me but I'm not going to think too much about it and just focus on doing my best to prepare and on the day itself - finish.
[Now I remember why I'm back on Spaces - easy to cut and paste spreadsheets] 2007/5/22 New Running ShoesYesterday when I took my shoes off cos both soles were cramping up, Joel commented I was wearing the wrong shoes for my feet and I replied, "You can tell just looking at them?". He pointed to my arches and made a remark about where my ankle was located. He asked if I had any problems running. I find my shins will ache if I run past a certain distance.
He nagged me "When are you getting your feet tested?" for the third time yesterday. Oh well. This afternoon was a good time as any to drag my ass to the sports shoe store to get a good fit for running shoes. Initially I didn't think the mileage I'm currently doing justifies buying a new pair of running shoes but then again, I'm starting to fall apart so might as well take preventative measures to keep my knees and shins for as long as I can.
My left and right foot was measured and I found out for the first time my feet width is "D" and my feet are exactly the same size (neither foot bigger than the other, phew!). I was asked to walk across this pad on the floor twice, once with right foot on the pad and the other direction with the other foot. It was strange to see my footprints on the screen. The friendly Fit Technician (as it said on his name tag) asked what I would be doing mostly and seemed surprised when I said I'm starting to train for a half marathon and went "Excellent!". He went off to get me some shoes to try on and I took the opportunity to get a feel of what price I'd have to pay for the shoes. He re-appeared with 3 boxes - Asics, Brooks and Nike.
- Felt very comfortable and arch support was at exactly the right place
- Not too soft or hard
- Saw the "+" sign and was immediately tempted and asked the Fit Technician if the shoe had a slot for the sensor and he said, "Yes, you have an iPod?"
- Unfortunately the arch suppport on the shoe was further behind, towards my ankle and the shoe was slipping off when I walked
- Slightly softer feel than Asics
- Very nice and comfy shoe but the shoe was also kind of slipping off the back part of foot in heel area; such a pity!
I tried Asics on one foot and the other brands on other foot then tried same brand on both feet. The Fit Technician kept encouraging me to walk around the store to get a feel for the fit.
Which running shoes did I end up with? Check out the photo album "New Running Shoes".
Upper Body AcheIt was more difficult than usual to get out of bed this morning. Pectorals are aching all the way inwards, including chest area below clavicles. Arms are also aching. Upper part of abs are also aching.
I'm not sure if there's supposed to be so much discomfort after every workout.
Trying to avoid painkillers and tired of smearing Deep Heat. Trying out new pain management technique called, grin and bear it.
2007/5/21 Monday BluesWeather has turned cold - starting to use heater and turn on electric blanket for a couple of minutes to warm up bed before I climb in to sleep. Feel hungry all the time and I turn on the lights by 4-ish in the afternoon to make the apartment look more warm and cheery.
Been snacking non-stop from stress of working on thesis, due in 16 days. Feeling so lardy, the kind where I sit at desk and a spare tyre extends from my belly and rests on top of the desk. Urghs. The maintenance guy showed up promptly to replace bathroom light bulb and commented I lost weight. Hilarious. Just don't look at me seated, honey.
Quads finally stopped hurting yesterday and only aching. Managed to walk without hobbling today and went to supermarket.
At the gym Joel put me through upper body training:
- 6 kg dumb bell bench press on bench, 15-20 reps x 3 sets
- 7 kg dumb bell bench press on ball, 15-20 reps, followed immediately by sits ups on the ball with fingertips on temples, 1 minute rest x 3 sets
- about 27.5 lbs stand then bend knees into squat and cable pull, 12 to 15 reps, followed immediately by push ups on the floor, 1 minute rest x 3 sets
- circuit of: mountain climbers|shuttle run|burpees|shuttle run x 2 sets, no rest between sets
My throat felt really dry and my left wrist was starting to ache so it changed from mountain climbers/burpees to squat then jump and Joel held a medicine ball and I had to jump with alternate knee up to touch the medicine ball.
It must be Monday cos I felt so tired and the soles of both feet started cramping up towards the end of the session. Had to remove shoes to stretch feet out. Could barely speak cos throat was so dry from panting. Muscles were burning. I felt like throwing up.
Sigh. I am so unfit today.
2007/5/19 Aching QuadsIt's been more than a week since the fall (read: clumsy). On Thursday I could only go on the treadmill for about 5 minutes before my ankle started aching again.
Joel worked with me on weights to do exercises which wouldn't place stress on the ankle. I ended up pushing way too hard, as usual. This time my quads are aching big time. It's so uncomfortable to get up and sit down and I'm hobbling my way around.
Going to attempt to go to the gym tomorrow and get on the elliptical machine or treadmill and see how long I can go for.
I've decided to work out twice a week with Joel mainly because time with him is drawing to a close. The last 7 appointments have been made and written down in both our diaries. |
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