In terms of health and exercise, August and September were a total bust.  Sick kids, sick husband, husband gone, husband here, husband gone again.  School starts, PTA heats up, prep for Type A Mom and then a week of travel.  I think I made a grand total of three workouts in two months.

October = NO MORE!  I went in last week on the 1st, determined to make this new month my new start.  It was a great workout, I did the elliptical and bike, felt great, my 2yo was a gem in the child watch.

I went back today, ready to make it at least three times this week.  But…if that’s gonna happen, I’m going to reeealllly need to get over a pretty crummy experience today.

First of all, I could not find the headphones to my mp3 (thank you, children), so the 5+ miles on the bike were silent.  Pooh.  Second, I started hurting only 2 or 3 minutes into the ride.  What the…?!  I pushed through, but not without letting out a few reflexive groans.  I actually thought I was going to cry after only 15 minutes.

I finished my dumb workout and was just glad it was over.  This was the first time I ever considered that maybe sitting at home on my laptop, ignoring the housework, would be better than being at the Y.

Good news is that my son was great again, and that is very encouraging.  As crummy as it was, at least my workout was complete – warm up, stretches, aerobic, cool-down, stretches.  One complete, unenjoyable circle.

I guess there are just going to be times where it’s not only hard, but no fun, either.  I need to deal with that.  I’ll wash my workout clothes, clear my schedule, and be prepared to go again either tomorrow or Wednesday.  Let’s just hope it doesn’t leave me feeling like such a sourpuss again!

Not All Workouts Are Created Equal is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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The only action my carefully-considered workout playlist has seen lately was yesterday when I thought a counterful of dishes might be more easily tackled while listening to a raucous soundtrack.  I was mostly right.

It’s been two full weeks since my last workout at the Y.  I’m frustrated, but not resigned.  Things have been crazy busy, my toddler was sick (and I know there are those people who leave their sick kids in childcare, but I’m not one of those people), and I’ve had a hard time finding solid ground.

I miss it so much, though, and I feel – literally FEEL – the backslide into lesser health.

My goal (because I have a very busy day on Monday) is to get there on Tuesday, and then resume regular attendance.  PLEASE get on my case about this!  Comments, wall posts, tweets, emails – all are welcome!

My Silent Playlist is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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Things I’ve Learned from Working Out is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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Y’all (and I can say that now ’cause I live in The South), it’s been hard.  Biggest obstacles:  if I were being totally honest, I say ME.  I’M MY BIGGEST OBSTACLE.  But a little bit of the blame goes to having a toddler who hates the child care at the gym, older kids tired of watching their toddler brother at home, and the fact that my husband has been gone a lot (which translates into me being in a blue, overwhelmed funk).  The irony is that my son will only get used to the child care if I keep bringing him, the kids would be happy to have the break from babysitting, and I’d be able to get out of that funk IF I JUST WENT TO THE GYM!

If anyone is keeping score, I did get to the YMCA once last week.  And even though I had every intention of going this morning, I got caught in the current of my household and skipped it today.  But (holla!) I did go walking for 30 minutes in my neighborhood.  Which in the Houston heat should count for at least an hour, don’t you think?

I’m down, but I’m not out.  In fact, I’m another 1/2 pound lighter on the scale.  My smaller clothes (you have a pile too, don’t you?  the clothes that will fit again “some day”) are still fitting, and I’m generally still feeling WAY healthier than two months ago.

I keep thinking of myself as a dog trying to get traction on the kitchen floor.  I’m going to keep at it; I’m not ready to lie down and give up just yet!

So How is “Working Out” Working Out? is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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Aside from last week’s tour of Pergatory (otherwise known as my volunteer service at Cub Scout Day Camp), during which I simply could not muster the energy to get into the Y, things have been going very well!

I got back in the saddle – or, on the treadmill actually- this week and have been in three times already!  And I’ll be back there tomorrow morning.  It’s even more fun now because my 15yo and 12yo daughters have been through the necessary orientation, and now they can come in and work out with me.  Today I dropped off my 22mo son at the Child Watch, the 8yo and 10yo at the Kids’ Zone, then my oldest two and I worked out for about 45 minutes.  It was so fun!

I have been very, very good with my eating, too.  Fruits, leafy greens, tons of fiber, and water, water, water!  I’m still learning what will keep me satisfied for longer periods of time, and what I actually like when it comes to “healthy” foods.

For specifics on my actual workout routine:  I’ve been sticking mainly to the recumbant bike and treadmill.  15 or 20 minutes of each, with stretching before and after the 30-40 minutes (I found out that the stretch chair I lovelovelove so much is the Precor C240i StretchTrainer).  Though I haven’t been increasing my time much, I have been increasing the intensity of the workouts through resistance or incline and have been steadily bringing my heart rate up.  My daughters got me on an elliptical machine yesterday, and I looked like a total JOKE.  Still, I think I’ll try it again – this next week is going to be about me stepping it up with longer workouts and a wider variety of machines.  In two weeks we’ll add strength training with weights to all the cardio.

I don’t know that I’ve lost any significant weight, which is odd, since my clothes are fitting differently for sure.  The biggest thing is that I’m feeling SO GREAT, and it’s been a relief to have someplace to go away from the house and out of the heat.

I bought myself a little $20 mp3 player – an RCA Pearl, our two older girls have one each and we’ve had great luck with them – and am starting to fill it with good workout songs.  Here now is the list I’m starting with, though I’m sure it will change and grow as time goes by.  It’s an odd little mix – some alternative, some pop, even a touch of country.  If you have any suggestions, I’m happy to take them.

• All American Rejects:  Dirty Little Secret, Move Along
• KT Tunstall:  Black Horse & the Cherry Tree, Suddenly I See
• Bowling for Soup:  Ohio (Come Back to Texas)
• The Academy Is…:  About a Girl
• Corinne Bailey Rae:  Put Your Records On
• Paramore:  That’s What You Get
• John Mayer:  Bigger Than My Body
• Shakira:  Objection (Tango), Whenever, Wherever, Eyes Like Yours (Ojos Asi), Hips Don’t Lie
• Anna Nalick:  In My Head
• Jason Mraz:  Curbside Prophet, Too Much Food
• Taylor Swift:  Our Song
• Counting Crows:  Accidentally in Love
• Train:  All American Girl
• The Village People:  YMCA
• Good Charlotte:  I Don’t Want to Be in Love
• Black Eyed Peas:  Pump It
• Duffy:  Mercy
• Jimmy Eat World:  The Middle
• Joss Stone:  Tell Me ‘Bout It
• Rihanna:  SOS, Pon de Replay
• Evanesence:  Going Under, Bring Me To Life
• Gavin DeGraw:  I Don’t Want to Be
• Green Day:  Holiday
• Eve 6:  Inside Out
• 3 Doors Down:  Kryptonite

With Bated Breath is original, copywritten content (unless otherwise indicated) by Stacey Nerdin for her blog Tree, Root, and Twig. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

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