Susan's Exercise Blog

A good walk around the neighborhood

2009-06-12T21:59:00.000-07:00

We took our walk around the neighborhood this evening and saw a lot of work being done on houses - new drives, new walkways, changes in gardens. It is always nice to see this activity. And added 3000 plus steps in addition to what I had before the walk. With my Pilates at noon I now have over 12K steps for the day.

We are off to Nikiski tomorrow for a playing gig and then on to Homer on Sunday for fun. Back on Tuesday. Our dogs are in for a treat with our housesitter. They LOVE her and are sad when we return. I think our cat has gotten used to her, but it is hard to tell with her. Hope we have good weather tomorrow for the anniversary party we are playing at.

I'm back to writing again

2009-06-11T22:37:00.001-07:00

I turned over a new leaf in June and started keeping up with my steps again, although not quite as diligently as before. But the good news is that I've gotten between 8 and 10 thousand steps a day since June 1. Much better than I have been doing. I'm trying walk as well as do my Pilates four times a week. Thus on the days I do both I do really well on steps.

I need to do this in order to lose the weight I need to lose. I can't fit a lot of my clothes and don't want to have to buy new ones. So the only option is to not eat as much and to exercise more. Drinking water, eating salads and fruit. Cutting down on fatty nuts and cheese. Limiting deserts.

My real downfall is that I am on Facebook and am addicted to Lexulous. Play many games simultaneously and occasionally start and finish a game at a sitting. Too much sitting. And I'm doing some contract work on updating the websites at the institute I worked at so that is also sitting.

Update

2009-04-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

It is almost two months since I last posted. I've been very busy working on the Anchorage Mayoral campaign for Sheila Selkregg. Elections were April 7th and Sheila came in 3rd. There will be a runoff between the top two candidates since Anchorage requires 45% plus 1 vote for a candidate to win and neither got that. I've been attending Pilates 4 times a week but the rest of my exercise program has fallen off. I have not been on the bicycle very often. I have started a salad a day diet (my own designation) and was doing it until this past weekend. My idea is that I have to eat a salad as one of my meals each day. So if I don't have salad at lunch then I have a salad for dinner. And by salad I mean a green salad - not egg, tuna, potato, or other type of salad.

The snow is finally melting and spring is close. We saw geese at the library lawn Monday as well as a gull. The tulip greens are getting taller along the house in the back yard, but no flowers yet. No snow on the driveway and most of the snow is gone from the streets - just the curbs have snow. But I heard rain/snow flurries are predicted for Friday and Saturday. Last year the Heart Run had to be canceled due to a record snow fall of about 2 feet on April 18th or so.

New milestone

2009-02-20T17:54:00.000-08:00

Today I went to the reformer conditioner class and we worked hard on the ab connection. I really felt it in my waist too and talked with the instructor after the class. She said I was connecting more to my transversus and thus had hit a milestone in Pilates. Yeah. I can still feel it four hours later! I like this Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday schedule for Pilates.

Tonight we play with the Alaska Polka Chips at the 3rd Friday Polka Dance at St. Pat's Parish hall. I'll get to dance and add aerobic exercise as well as the upper body workout from playing the accordion. And the sun is wonderful today. Snow is melting which isn't so great and will make for slick driving conditions tonight.

Busy

2009-02-15T23:57:00.000-08:00

I've got my exercise routine down - Pilates on M, T, Th, F (or Sat). I tried to do 5 days in a row but after two days I need a rest. So figured out that I need a mid week break. Stationary bike on the other days! And practice accordion each day hopefully. Did well this past week as we had a gig on Saturday. Fun time too. Meanwhile spending lots of time working (volunteering) on the Selkregg for Mayor campaign. That is quite interesting. And my contract came through to do some work at the institute where I retired from. I'll take it over to the procurement office tomorrow so can start after that. It will be nice to have a little extra income. And I do a lot on Facebook for fun.

Rest Day

2009-01-25T23:35:00.000-08:00

I went to Pilates Wednesday-Saturday this week and on the bike on Monday. So today I vegged out and worked on the Selkregg campaign doing data entry and organizing lists. Tomorrow back to Pilates. I'm still working out my new routine. I play every day with Kate outside, or try to. It is so slippery in the back yard even she doesn't really want to run for the ball. And I'm trying to get back into practicing my accordion daily. Today I missed. We have a gig on the 14th of February and I need to get my two-steps up to speed and memorized. Luckily most are not hard to memorize. Just have to play them over and over!

Lily is talking to me (the cat) so I think it is time for bed. She is throwing around one of her play mice!

I've become addicted to Lexulous on Facebook and have more than one game going at a time. At least it keeps my brain active, if not my body.

President Obama - what a great sound!

2009-01-22T16:38:00.000-08:00

Tuesday we were up by 5:00 AM and tuned in to the Inauguration festivities. A friend and her sister who was visiting from Utah arrived about 6:15 AM. We had breakfast as we watched the pre-inauguration and post-inauguration activities. We all were stoked and had a great time. I am still bubbling up inside each time I hear "President Obama". And am so grateful for his swift repudiation of the Bush policies. And we now have a Secretary of State who I believe in as well as other cabinet members who can speak their piece and be heard.

Meanwhile, due to watching and not exercising I had next a very low step count on Tuesday. Yesterday and today I did go to Pilates and played with Kate in the yard. Tonight is the UAA women's basketball game and more sitting.

I'm also working on Sheila Selkgregg's mayoral campaign doing office-type work and updating the website. Thus more sitting! I walked more at work since I would get up and go talk with someone about a project.

Retirement is great.

Weather Trivia

2009-01-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday it was warmer here than in Tallahassee where my brother and his family live! 22 F in Tallahassee and 45 F in Anchorage.

Flood warnings along Chester Creek and houses being flooded. In January, no less. Last night we came home (at 12:15 AM) to a grader moving snow on our street to open a drain. The main street by our house has been flooded since the melting started. He (or she) uncovered one drain and we no longer have flooding in that area, but another drain on the next corner is still covered with snow and ice and there is some buildup of water. That drain has to be thawed every winter.

What is the prompt to exercise?

2009-01-16T18:52:00.000-08:00

Why is it that when I'm home I don't exercise even though we have a treadmill and a recumbent bike as well as free weights to work out with? I go to Pilates and work hard at it, but on the off days I'm no where near as diligent. There was an interesting article in the ADN this week about this phenomenon. The researchers looked at people who owned exercise equipment vs. those who didn't. Although both exercised, those with the equipment didn't keep it up! Or something like that. I am proof of that. I continue to exercise away from home, but have a hard time carving out the time to go downstairs and get on the treadmill. I would rather fool around on the computer, read or practice my accordion!

I have to admit that when we are doing crunches and other activities in Pilates I am thinking in my head "and WHY am I here? Why am I paying for pain?" It has actually become somewhat of a social event since I got to the same classes and the regulars all know each other now. We don't do anything together, but we often talk after class. And I can see/feel the results. I think that may be why being on the treadmill or bike is so hard for me. I don't see results. Although, I guess from my stress test, that I do have results, just not evident to me.

What does motivate people to exercise? I know Richard (see his blog to the right) does it for health. I technically do, but I'm no where near as motivated as he is. I can barely stand 1/2 hour on the equipment and he does 1 1/2 hours!

Rain - what more can I say in the middle of winter

2009-01-14T09:22:00.000-08:00

From -20 to + 36 in two days. UGH. I would prefer the winter to remain cold. I hate these break-ups in January. I had four appointments today and other errands around them. One has been postponed and one is waiting on a road condition report later in the day. All appointments were re-scheduled! No one wanted to be out on the roads

The paper was soaked when I picked it up from the deck. I hung it on a drying rack in the utility room and is mostly dry now - but all wrinkly.

I guess I'll have time to fool around on websites today. I even got a call about one of the websites - Alaska Native Plant Society and updated it and the community council one. Shoveled the decks and organized stuff for Value Village. Now the decks are drying out - at least where they are not being dripped on.

Shoveling and weight training was my exercise today.

Warming up in Anchorage

2009-01-12T23:32:00.000-08:00

The official high today was 19 F. A nice change from the negative numbers. I walked fast on the treadmill for a change of pace today (instead of the bicycle). Went and did some volunteer work for a mayoral candidate. Felt good to feel as if I'm working. I have a long list of items for tomorrow. Most don't take that long. I just have to remember to do them all!

Bicycle pedaling awareness

2009-01-11T19:34:00.000-08:00

Friday I had a stress test in the AM that I counted as exercise since I ended up running the last few minutes. I passed with flying colors. If I didn't have insurance I would not be able to afford the test. What happens to people who have a family history of heart disease but are unable to afford the tests to see whether they should be on medication? We need to fix our health care system NOW and not tie it to having a job. We need to figure out how to cover all people for preventative care and stop relying on ER visits for crises.

In the afternoon I played with our group at Aurora Elementary School for about 45 minutes which constitutes my upper body exercise! See the photo to the left of some of the group while the rest of us were doing the chicken with the kids.

Right - Ziggy doing the chicken!

Yesterday, January 10th, I did no real exercise. I hit the alarm a few times before deciding to skip Pilates and also ended up taking a three-hour "nap" in the afternoon. I was out and must have needed the sleep. In between I was at a photo shoot, worked on a couple of websites and read.

Today I bicycled for 35 minutes and realized I don't use my left foot properly while biking. I don't push away and pull back with my feet - I just use my leg. So I worked on flexing and pointing my foot while pedaling. The right foot works fine. I really had to concentrate on making my left foot flex and point. More body awareness.

We also went to see Valkyrie this afternoon which is a major accomplishment. We used gift tickets that we were given in 2003! They were still good. Great movie. Tom Cruise is very good as is the general who dithers around. I got some more tickets this past Christmas so we will have to use them sooner. I think we've been to a movie since 2003 but either forget the pass or went to a non-Century theater.

Still cold

2009-01-08T20:11:00.000-08:00

I didn't get up to go to my 7 AM Pilates class, but did have to pick up some photos of our group from someone at 8:30 AM. Since I didn't work out this morning, I did 30 minutes on the bike this afternoon while watching Ellen. Laughed a lot. Not sure if that is really what I should do while working out since I hate to listen to ads I am constantly muting and breaking my rhythm.

My nieces (22 and 24) are now friends on Facebook so I get to find out what they are doing more often. The younger one just said she was watching the game. I who do not watch football had to ask "what game?" - the Florida Oklahoma game OF COURSE! Duh!

More cold weather in the forecast. The original forecast was for it to start warming up today, but that has been pushed back to Sunday. The record is 13 days, and we are no where near that.

20 below at our house

2009-01-07T09:56:00.001-08:00

When I let the dogs out at about 7:30 it was 20 below. Even they don't stay out long and are getting stir crazy. Supposedly only a couple of more days of this cold "snap". I think we've broken a record for continuous cold days. Jackie Purcell reported on the weather the other night we were close to the record, but I'm not sure how many days more we needed to break it.

University Area Community Council meeting tonight. I'm so glad I am no longer president and can just attend and leave at will. Topics include the new recycling program, an update on the park report card and update on a treatment center for adolescents. Tomorrow night the Parks & Rec commission hears testimony on "improvements" to Russian Jack Springs Park. I need to write mine out so I am prepared. I have a lot to say and just 3 minutes to say it in.

And it was 15 below at 9:15 when I got to my Pilates class. It is beautiful sitting here looking out my window at the trees covered in snow and hoarfroast with the sun on them. Looks like a postcard. I've had a good day so far. Pilates, registered products from birthday etc., practiced songs for our Aurora School gig on Friday and now printing off documents for tomorrow's Russian Jack testimony. Local issues are quite interesting here and I really feel we can get heard - at least more so than in a bigger city. I still think that sometimes the Municipality has their own agenda and go through the motions on public input - especially with this project. Some others projects seem to come to the public sooner in the process. I think if people hadn't been on top of this we would have seen trees cut down this past summer. As it is the project has been delayed at least a year. Hopefully the Parks and Rec Commission will see the light that the park has many users not just golfers.

Met with the current president of our community council to go over files. I walked to his house and back. Got sunlight - lots of it and a good brisk walk, but I need mittens not gloves in this weather.

Keeping up the exercise

2009-01-06T12:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I did 30 minutes on the stationary bike and a few bicep and tricep exercises.

Today I went to the early Pilates class and could really tell I had not been to a level 2 in a while. I need to add it into my routine. Teeth clean earlier and off to PT in a few minutes.

Minus 15 on the thermometer in my car. Way too cold, but at least I'm not in the interior of Alaska where it is closer to -50.

Got a little walking in at Costco. Shopping is actually great for step counting.

January 5

2009-01-05T11:27:00.000-08:00

Up late last night picking up a friend at the airport. The plane was scheduled to land at 11:43. I checked the web before heading to the airport, but when I checked at the airport, the plane had been delayed taking off. New arrival time was 1:55 AM. Went home and read for an hour or so then back to the airport. After witnessing a car crash and calling 911 and talking with the driver and other spectators until police and paramedics arrived we finally got to her house about 3:15 AM. Not an activity conducive to sleep so I read again and finally turned the light out about 4:00 AM. Then my niece called me from Florida at 9:00 AM with a question about changing airplane tickets. So I'm up, but not quite awake. No exercise so far except for reading the paper and a book.

Welcome

2009-01-04T23:06:00.000-08:00

I am moving my walking/exercise blog from Susan's Walking Blog to this site since I retired from the University of Alaska Anchorage December 1 2008. I want a place where I can continue writing about my walking and exercise as a way to keep me on track. When I do not write I do not walk as much or exercise. I've also been missing writing, although I don't write any great treatises. Just need to record my activities so it is out where someone MIGHT see it!

January 1 was a lazy day after an active December 31. I got up late and went to a brunch at some friends so mostly stood around munching and chatting.

January 2 I went to a Pilates class I had not tried before - conditioning. I liked it and hope to add it as a regular class.

January 3 I got up and went to Kaladi's for coffee and my favorite Irish soda bread. Sat and read and then went over to some friends to drop of some winter clothing. They are picking up other friends who I took to the airport last week and who will need the down jacket.

January 4 - today I got up and did 30 minutes on the exercise bike. Also practiced my accordion 30 minutes. Didn't go outside at all, but I am picking up yet another friend at the airport in about 1 1/2 hours.