I swam laps for an hour, then soaked in the hot tub like a steamed Brussels sprout. Could it be I'm starting to crave exercise every day??

I have to miss my sprint intervals tonight-parenting duties call. But I'll put in extra rowing time this afternoon and a walk with the 100 lb dog for an extra arm workout.

Did a circuit at the gym: it's a minute of stepping up and down on a platform, followed by a minute of reps on a series of 10 machines. The entire workout takes 30 minutes (with rest stops in between steps and machines). Then I did my Activetrax workout: this is a daily customized workout with dumbbells, machines and mat work. I also tried the stairstepper, which was a massive FAIL.
I think I am going to work up to a 20 minute mile on the treadmill first before trying that machine again.

I'm trying to get into the pattern of swimming three times a week, and on the other days doing circuit and Activetrax, or a class. On Sundays I plan to take the day off or just play in the pool with the kids.

Just the usual again tonight.

I'm starting to recognize people at my gym, which feels good. The staff knows me, and there is one boy in particular with curly hair that I always say Hi to when I come in.

I've never been to a gym where people were as encouraging to each other as in this one. The men hang out in little groups and so do the women—I've never seen that in a gym before.

A lot of the men are very developed in their upper bodies, and very tattooed. They do a lot of stuff on the mats, old-school pushups and other configurations that look self-taught.

When I smile at the women, they smile back, and lately, they've started initiating interaction with me, which I like. I'm white, and I'm alone, which kind of makes me stand out, but now that I've been going there a few months, I'm starting to feel like I blend in and belong.

I used to be more shy there but now I'm not afraid to say, "Are you gonna do another set?" (in a nice way), when some young guy has been sitting there a long time messing with his phone. And they're always extremely respectful. When I'm waiting for one of them to get off a machine, if he was really trying I sometimes say, "Good work!" like a teacher, and they beam.

The older women are sort of that way with me, which is nice. They sometimes comment on the amount of weight I use, in a complimenting way. Sometimes I will join in with another woman to encourage someone else to use more weight.

I'm older, but among the most fit of the women, and I'm naturally competitive and always feel proud when I get on a machine and move the weight up to my level. On the other hand when I get on a machine after one of the men (most of them are really good about spritzing and wiping down the machine and I always reinforce it with a Thank you!), I sometimes comment with admiration on the unfuckingbelievable amount of weight they use.

I'm getting stronger, and I like how my heart pounds on each machine. Tonight I did an extra machine—so that was 14 machines, three sets of 15 reps on each one.

Walked home from work. Brooklyn to NYC. It took over three hours. I love walking home and not being on the subway for an hour. The one negative is the traffic and pollution at certain points. But that is life. The best part is when I walk uptown by the water right after coming off the Brooklyn Bridge. Wow, the sun shining, sailboats, the breeze, heavenly...

It finally cooled off enought to get in my five mile run... cleared my head... refocused... Then I walked in the door to my little puggies...running back and forth to thier leashes and just had to take them for a walk...:)

i lifted my coffee cup from the desk to my mouth several times before walking across the room for a refil

Moving comfortably back in the swing....

45 minutes eliptical, always at hilly, high intensity. Upper body probably same amount of time. The typical planks and core work out, too.

I love the fact that the gym is pretty empty and the fact that I am doing this along with two coworkers/friends. We have a good time.

I hiked my ass off today! I even got some uphill hiking in. Felt great to really expand my lungs and feel them work...now I really have to compensate with some upper body and core stuff at the gym... :)

I did about an hour total of cardio, 30 on the elliptical and 30 on the treadmill with a heavy incline...it's hiking season! This amounted to nearly 5 miles....

Then did a circuit of mostly arms, and back, but also did calves and the abductor/adductor and some core...which I need to find something interesting to do for, since I'm not a lay down and do crunches type... :| I heard Zumba is good for abs...we shall see...

NOW

I'm gonna go do some work in the veggie garden.....that's gotta count for something...lol

My doc will only allow me to walk so my daily regimen is just that. BUT i can walk. I walk on average about 5 miles a day. When I get angry I walk. I walked 20 miles total last Tues. (very bad day) This place I live has steep hills tooI walked for hunger 20 miles 2 weeeks ago. I am ouch .I am walking tomorrow for the homeless. I will be starting swiming soon. My doc will be releasing me for that I have to have lower back fusion surgery which iam trying to do EVERYTHNG in my power not to have. But I have always loved high diving since I was younger. I want to do that too. And I still want to skydrive. sooo bad I can taste it. lol I have lost a total of 60 pds and where fat once was there is now muscle. I still am not where i want to be. I am 5'7 was 260 now iam 200 and still at full throttle ahead. o.

Great time at the gym today. 1 Hour on the Arc Trainer next to Jill (the gym obsessive who looks like she stepped out of a Nike ad) watching old episodes of Amy Sedaris' short-lived sit-come, Strangers With Candy. I wasn't crazy about the movie Strangers Wtih Candy but the shows are hitting my subversive sweet spot. It's about a 46-year-old woman who is back in high school. Amy Sedaris, of course, is the sister of the famous, gay author, David Sedaris, who I also love (He has a new book out!).

I said hi to Jill and she gave me a tiny "hi" with a tiny "smile." She was wearing perfume which is not my favorite thing to be next to, given that perfume sweats itself off the skin at the gym (Ewww!). I fantasized about telling her "No more perfume, Jill!" but I knew then that would put our relationship right in the toilet so I sucked it up, literally.

After the Arc Trainer, I did weight lifting, yoga, abs, and stretching for an hour. Jill switched to the stair master. Then, as I got up from the mat to leave, I noticed Jill had left. I walked to the real stairs to go home, and what-do-you-know, I saw Jill had actually switched back to the Arc Trainer and was still going full force! On a Saturday night.