Yipee! I have to state that I worked out three times this week (yes three times!). I did my outdoor boot camp on Monday, then I went to the gym on Thursday after work and once again this afternoon. It's been windy and raining, so outdoors is not all that appealing for exercise. So far, my knee feels OK. I don't know if I found the right workout for me, or maybe my knee is finally healing. Who knows... I'm just glad I can get in some decent exercise. I'm not running, but I'm getting in a small amount of cardio with 10 - 15 minutes cycling or walking, then I complete a circuit of strength training exercises. When outside, I've brought along my resistance band and made use of the benches and fences along the way for arm and leg strengthening. At the gym, I make use of the weights and weight machines. What I've really loved is doing traveling lunges again! Crazy, I know I never thought I would love lunges. When you can't do them for a year and a half, you actually realize how great they are for you. It was my last PT appointment back in December that I learned my knee could take them. Yeah! Lunges are good for SO many things. Quads, glutes, and hamstrings. They even ward off cellulite... nice. I've been sore for days, but a good kind of sore of course. I've also added in some "core" training exercises. It's important to have strong abs and back muscles while I'm getting ready to do more cardio someday soon.
I realize I may still have setbacks with my knee in the future. The goal is to move along gradually, building up to finally running. Knowing me, I will probably get a little too excited along the way. Once my knee can take running, it will be a challenge to hold myself back. I'm sure that's been some of my problem all along. Hopefully, my knee will feel fine tomorrow and the next day, so I can continue with my boot camp and weight training. I just feel so much more healthy this week. It's been SO long since I've been able to feel like I'm making progress and getting stronger again. I hope it continues.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Cheers to 2008!
I'm sitting on my couch watching the Rose Bowl game (boo USC...) on this Tuesday evening. Happy New Year! It's a new year a new look for my blog. Time to freshen things up a bit! Today has been a quiet day for me, but that is exactly what I wanted. I've mostly been taking the final days of my vacation easy, running few errands and meeting up with a few friends.
Yesterday was finally a sunny day in San Francisco. I decided I wanted to get outside for some exercise. I've been trying to be positive about getting to the gym to lift weights, but I miss the outdoors more than anything else. Around 1:30 PM I drove down to Crissy Field, a few miles away from my apartment. Crissy Field is a place where I used to run regularly and participate in the PacWest BootCamp program. It's ideal since it is mainly a flat, dirt path that runs from the Marina Green to Fort Point. It's great for people walking, pushing strollers, cute puppies, and fast runners. I woke up yesterday morning yearning for a walk and some sun. I thought it would be fun to do my own " mini boot camp." I got into my old boot camp clothes, grabbed my blue resistance band, my iPod, and I was good to go. There was a little hiccup when I realized my heart rate monitor watch battery was dead. I learned I couldn't replace it myself since it has a water-tight seal and will have to send it in for repair. Bummer, especially since my other stopwatch battery died several months ago! Oh well, I didn't really need the HRM for my walk and mini boot camp so off I went.
The sun felt great! It was still chilly outside, but such a nice day in comparison with the three previous rainy days. I walked the length of Crissy Field, then hoofed it up Long Drive (a short hill) and started with my resistance band wrapping it through a chain link fence for chest press and triceps exercises. Then, I walked through some eucalyptus trees doing lunges and side steps, which are some of my PT exercises. I headed back down towards to Warming Hut stopping on the stairs for calf raises. Then, it was a brisk walk back to my car near the Marina Green. Overall, I was out for over an hour. I went home and iced my knee.
Last night I met some of my old training friends for dinner and drinks and rang in the New Year. Good friends and yummy sushi, what's better than that? : ) Today, I am laughing at how sore I am! I think my knee is OK, as my muscle soreness is overshadowing anything else. Funny thing, is that my workout was not all that tough! Goes to show how out of shape I am. Hey, it's best to start out slow anyway. I would love to be able to get outside two mornings a week. It will probably take another workout or two to see if my knee can take it or not. This will be a test to see if I can actually participate in a PacWest BootCamp, maybe in the Spring session that will start up again 2 - 3 months from now. My biggest concern about it is that I don't think at this time that I could keep up with the amount of running required to get from place to place for exercises. For now, I'll do my own walking boot camp as I'm just happy to get outside. Yay.
Yesterday was finally a sunny day in San Francisco. I decided I wanted to get outside for some exercise. I've been trying to be positive about getting to the gym to lift weights, but I miss the outdoors more than anything else. Around 1:30 PM I drove down to Crissy Field, a few miles away from my apartment. Crissy Field is a place where I used to run regularly and participate in the PacWest BootCamp program. It's ideal since it is mainly a flat, dirt path that runs from the Marina Green to Fort Point. It's great for people walking, pushing strollers, cute puppies, and fast runners. I woke up yesterday morning yearning for a walk and some sun. I thought it would be fun to do my own " mini boot camp." I got into my old boot camp clothes, grabbed my blue resistance band, my iPod, and I was good to go. There was a little hiccup when I realized my heart rate monitor watch battery was dead. I learned I couldn't replace it myself since it has a water-tight seal and will have to send it in for repair. Bummer, especially since my other stopwatch battery died several months ago! Oh well, I didn't really need the HRM for my walk and mini boot camp so off I went.
The sun felt great! It was still chilly outside, but such a nice day in comparison with the three previous rainy days. I walked the length of Crissy Field, then hoofed it up Long Drive (a short hill) and started with my resistance band wrapping it through a chain link fence for chest press and triceps exercises. Then, I walked through some eucalyptus trees doing lunges and side steps, which are some of my PT exercises. I headed back down towards to Warming Hut stopping on the stairs for calf raises. Then, it was a brisk walk back to my car near the Marina Green. Overall, I was out for over an hour. I went home and iced my knee.
Last night I met some of my old training friends for dinner and drinks and rang in the New Year. Good friends and yummy sushi, what's better than that? : ) Today, I am laughing at how sore I am! I think my knee is OK, as my muscle soreness is overshadowing anything else. Funny thing, is that my workout was not all that tough! Goes to show how out of shape I am. Hey, it's best to start out slow anyway. I would love to be able to get outside two mornings a week. It will probably take another workout or two to see if my knee can take it or not. This will be a test to see if I can actually participate in a PacWest BootCamp, maybe in the Spring session that will start up again 2 - 3 months from now. My biggest concern about it is that I don't think at this time that I could keep up with the amount of running required to get from place to place for exercises. For now, I'll do my own walking boot camp as I'm just happy to get outside. Yay.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas to All!
Hello everyone! I'm writing from cold, snowy Spokane, Washington. It's not snowing today, but since I got here on Saturday there have been a few snow flurries. My Mom has been here for two weeks, helping Meg and David adjust to parenthood. My Dad got here last week so we are all here now in a cozy house braving colder weather than we are used to in California. Spokane is a pretty town and Meg and David have had friends visit to meet Morgan and say Merry Christmas.In our family, this holiday season is revolving around baby Morgan. She's super cute, although still in the mostly sleeping and eating baby stage. She is more alert every day. I've attached a few pictures for you to see how big she's getting, even after a few weeks! Morgan is going to be 3 weeks old tomorrow. She seems to like the baby papasan Aunt Ali gave to her. : )
I hope this day finds you and your loved ones happy and healthy. Here's to a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Burned Out
Hi there! Happy, happy, jolly, jolly time! Well... I haven't been quite feeling that way. I'm trying and I promise I will be more in the holiday spirit soon. I think there are a lot of reasons why I'm feeling this way, but this morning one sticks out to me. I'm so tired! I haven't been working out more than usual, so that is not causing me to be tired. I'm getting around 7-8 hours sleep at night, so lack of sleep is not the cause. I believe I'm burned out. I love my job, I really do, but I have to be focused from 9 AM (sometimes earlier) to 6 PM straight. Rarely any time to surf the Internet or write personal emails to friends. I have maybe a half an hour to eat lunch, often at my desk. I give it my all every day and I still don't get it all done. Normally, fitting in a good run was a way to relieve stress for me, but clearly that is not an option these days. The last two weeks have been even more on-the-go with vendors taking us out for holiday dinners. I've enjoyed them, but spending time in that "on" mode for work from 8 AM to 10 PM is draining.
I woke up this morning with no desire to go to the gym, grab coffee, and barely get out of my apartment. It dawned on me that I'm simply burned out and I need a break. I need more than two days to not think about spring in-store marketing, window cling sizes, and ship dates. I'm looking forward to next Saturday when I jump on a plane to wing my way to Spokane, WA for Christmas with my family. I realize being around my newborn niece Morgan will not necessarily be restful, but at least I'll be away from my desk, computer, and phone calls.
The one good thing about the last few weeks is that I've hit the gym a few times to lift weights. It's been a long time since I've felt sore muscles! Still, I haven't been able to go much. Hopefully, once the holiday gatherings are over, I'll be able to up my workouts to 3-4 times a week.
I woke up this morning with no desire to go to the gym, grab coffee, and barely get out of my apartment. It dawned on me that I'm simply burned out and I need a break. I need more than two days to not think about spring in-store marketing, window cling sizes, and ship dates. I'm looking forward to next Saturday when I jump on a plane to wing my way to Spokane, WA for Christmas with my family. I realize being around my newborn niece Morgan will not necessarily be restful, but at least I'll be away from my desk, computer, and phone calls.
The one good thing about the last few weeks is that I've hit the gym a few times to lift weights. It's been a long time since I've felt sore muscles! Still, I haven't been able to go much. Hopefully, once the holiday gatherings are over, I'll be able to up my workouts to 3-4 times a week.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Baby Morgan
I am thrilled to say, I've become an Aunt! My sister Meg and her husband David are the proud new parents of a healthy baby girl. Morgan Ann-Marie Allendorf
Born December 5, 11:48 PM
7 pounds, 10 ounces - 20 inches
I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with Meg, David, Morgan and my parents (first time grandparents!) in Spokane, WA.
Isn't she a cutie?
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Happy Birthday to Me
OK, I'm a day late. My birthday was yesterday! It was a nice day. I got my hair cut... did some Christmas shopping... then had a nice dinner with my parents. Thanks for the creme brulee Mom and Dad! It's my favorite dessert. Those of you who are not familiar with it, creme brulee is like custard, but with a burnt sugar topping. So yummy. My Mom cracked the topping to put one little candle in it to sing Happy Birthday to me. I think one candle is plenty from here on out! : )
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