Determination in solving life's frustrations and problems

Today, before my daughter's softball tourney, while the girls were warming up for their game, I went for a jog. I try to get some exercise in while there is "free time". My husband coaches and is there with her. And frankly, she is old enough to know what she should be doing and my presence really is not needed. My leaving the ballpark for 30 to 45 minutes is not detrimental to her playing or her well-being.

 

During these jogging excursions, I take a safe-route near the ball field. The jog is not about the length or speed (my jogs are never about the speed). It is about squeezing some exercise in found free time.

 

Today, I jogged near a subdivision and down a county road. I knew I was in somewhat of disadvantage because much of the early part of the jog was downhill. Of course, on my return to the ball park, I would be jogging (definitely not running) uphill.

 

If I train my mental outlook, during my exercise routines, I can stretch myself, more than if I just go through the motions.

 

As I was jogging downhill--which is not as easy as it seems because downhill is tough on my knees--I kept thinking of my routine jog at home last week. During last Saturday's jog, I seemed to struggle early in the jog. My knees hurt; I wanted to stop before 1 mile in and again around 1.8 miles.

 

At the 2 mile mark, I started up the steepest hill of my jog. I wondered how I could get up the hill without stopping. I thought of my greatest frustration. The hill represented my greatest, current frustration. My defeating the hill meant that I could defeat my greatest, current frustration.

 

I was not going to let the hill (my frustration) defeat me. I needed to beat the hill and keep jogging once I topped it. Because eventually to defeat this real life frustration, I know I cannot only complete the task--work through the problem--but I must also be able to maintain (not just survive) once the problem is solved.

 

The hill last Saturday represented my problem, my frustration. I defeated the hill, accomplished my goal, by hitting the hill with known purpose and outcome, and with confidence. I also kept jogging once I topped the hill and managed to tackle the next hill which is less challenging, but nevertheless harder than straight, flat path.

 

Today, though the hill was long and slow sloping. My method had to be different than last week. The hill represented another type of frustration.This frustration is not a big thing that seems to have an exact solution, but one that will take time to solve, and may not even have known solutions.

 

To defeat this hill, I knew I had to take a different approach--a persistent, yet consistent, determination.

 

As I finished my jog and approached the ballpark, I realized that the methods to meeting the demands in our lives must include both kinds of determination--confidence with purpose and persistent consistency.

 

The confident determination is defined by purpose (of course), but also met with a head-strong determination of wanting to be successful.

 

The persistent consistency means that my consistent actions will eventually help others understand my values. The persistency represents the determination of wanting to stay true to my values. And through consistent behavior and persistent determination, solutions and outcomes eventually become known, maybe less tangible, nevertheless becoming evident.

Why run--well jog

I really enjoy being myself during long slow jogs and getting that "feel good" after a good jog.

 

My knees and joints sometimes bother me afterwards, but tightening the muscles and knowing I have worked my heart and lung muscles make me feel like I have done my body as well.

 

Dr. Bob Keith at Auburn University describes how research shows running can increase life span -- "...run for your life". 

 

The article gives us more reasons to exercise regardless of our age.

 

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Twit2fit updates

I gave the details of this week's exercises on the twit2fit Ning page.

 

Sunday jogged slowly 5 miles and walked 2.5 miles

 

Monday upper body weight lifting.

 

Tuesday jogged very slowly 2.5 miles.

 

Friday lower body and mostly leg weight lifting.

 

Saturday another test day with Operation Boot Camp.

Jog at the ball park

Sometimes we have to take advantage of the time we have to exercise. I am speaking mostly to women who have school age children who are busy with various activities, like playing ball at different ball parks or practicing dance and piano on a regular basis.

 

Four years ago, when I became committed to losing weight and getting in better shape, I would walk around the ball field during warm-ups, rather than setting camp in my folding chair. I also decided to stand during the games. Standing is helpful because it uses more calories than sitting. Also, it becomes a stress-relieving activity. I get nervous when my kids pitch or bat or swim races. I want them to:

• play or swim or bowl well.
• play the game as it was meant to be played. 
• swim her race or bowl his game.
• use the skills that they learned.

 

The more important the game or meet, the more nervous I get for them. I guess because using their skills become even more important during the games where something is at a stake--whether it is pride or a championship.

 

Anyway, I use the ball park as a great place to expend calories.

 

Today, when we first arrived in Millbrook for a tournament, I took a 50 minute jog. I know I can take time to walk or jog during the 1 hour before the game because my girl is busy warming up, she has the essentials, and she is being taken care of because my husband is the coach.

 

This morning I jogged down a street that turned into a county road. It made for an interesting jog. As I jogged "out" of town a bit, the shoulder at times had grass taller than me and patches of briars. Oncoming traffic required me to jump to the shoulder and sometimes straddle the briars.

 

It is always interesting to jog a new route, particular in a town I am unfamiliar. When I do this I learn something about the area. I also find myself not concerned with my speed or the distance, I just jog.

 

The most interesting part of this jog was in the outskirts of town, I found the smell of the country to bring back memories of the smells at home near the creek. Hot, humid , but fresh. It is hard to describe. I am not sure what is blooming that has a fresh and sweet smell that is not overbearing. The moisture in the air near the creek and today in Millbrook because the Alabama River is nearby has feel about that is beyond humid, but an almost refreshing feel.

This morning workout included: 

• I stretched my legs a little.
• I jogged variable speed for 50 minutes.
• I walked about .1 mile.
• I stretched 20 seconds toe-touch hold with feet together.
• I stretched 20 seconds each with one leg crossed over.
• I stretched 20 seconds each for a hamstring stretch.
• I stretched 20 seconds for calf stretch.
• I stood or walked for most of the game.

 

The advantages of this kind of activity during warm-ups are:

• expending calories
• using muscles
• getting a cardio workout
• not using my time with the kids to get my exercise done.

 

The disadvantages are:

• I not available is something were to happen (like my ballplayer getting hurt) which is one reason I take my phone with me.
• Even though I bring an extra set of clothes, I look bad for the rest of the tournament.
• I smell bad for the rest of the tournament.
• I have to drink more water than normal.
• I am usually a little tired (but isn't everybody at an all day tournament?)

Trying something new

Since November, I have been struggling with being motivated to exercise. I have essentially decreased my exercise regiment from 5 or 6 days a week to 3 or 4 days a week. Interestingly, I have been able to not only to maintain my upper body strength but increase my strength. Though I am increasing the length that I jog, I am jogging less frequently. One difference is that I feel like I am not as toned and I can tell a difference in my abdomen.

 

I feel like I need to do something different, but I have not figured out what. I know for sure I need more motivation, and possibly a change in my routine.

 

When a friend invited me for a trial workout with Operation Boot Camp, I thought this would be great. Maybe I could get some motivation and direction in how I can change my workouts. The trial workout was fun--well as fun as a workout can be at 5:30 in the morning. There were lots of people there since it was bring a friend day. I knew several people including two of the instructors. They were friendly and encouraging, but not in the over-enthusiastic cheerleader kind of way. The beginning of the workout was tough--that may have been because it was so early in the morning.

 

We started out with a short jog to our first "station" where we did a few calisthenics and stretched. We jogged to each station. I cannot remember all of the exercises we did, but the hardest was the plank. We held this position for minutes at least twice. We also did one set of sit-ups, squats, tire kick-ups, and several side shuffles. I thought my legs, particularly my inner thighs would be sore, but it was my abs and obliques that were the sorest.

 

I got a great workout and I was able to do the entire workout without resting and it was very effective.

 

In this program, participation is expected – and monitored – for every single session. Instructors are with you the entire time. Although there were lots of people, the instructors were able to watch and gauge our abilities.

 

It seems that the program is a total fitness program that includes nutrition information and log book, as well as intense workouts. This may be the reason that it is so expensive--because of the individual attention.

 

I am going to participate in one of their workouts that is open to the public. But, I don't think I will be able to join this group anytime soon. Expensive is an issue. An even more important reason is that I will be traveling over the next few months that will prevent me from fully participating in the program. In each of the summer months,  I would miss at least 8 days.

 

Overall, Operation Boot Camp is a good program, but someone would have to convince me why what I would get out of it that would warrant the expense. Of course, my travel schedule will be probably be an issue.

 

Thanks Dana for the invite! I really did enjoy it and wonder what the next workout would be like.

Jogging strategy

I often joke at how slow I am at jogging, well,  because I am slow. I also enjoy longer jogs over shorter runs. During some of my slowest jogs I begin to think about the happenings in my home and work life and begin to think about alternative solutions to whatever has my attention.

 

Though I have begun to jog at times longer than 3 miles, I want to jog faster and longer because 1) I need to expend more calories, 2) I feel like the faster pace will help work my legs better, 3) the longer length will give me time to think, 4) I want to prove to myself I can improve, 5) I want to become even more fit (the older I get the more this seems important).

 

A few weeks ago on a Saturday, I jogged a new route. I had no idea how long or how much time I took--I was just jogging. I later learned I jogged between 5.2 and 5.4 miles.

 

Also, I have noticed some differences in how much I jog and I have fast.  Some of things I am beginning to realize. I have a lot of trouble jogging fast early at in the morning (5 AM). I also have trouble jogging past the 4 mile marker, though at times I jog longer.

 

While on a jog at North Carolina William B. Umstead State Park  during the NETC08 Conference, Ray Kimsey told me that if I jog past the 5 and 6 mile marker, then the jog becomes easier--routine like. Floyd Davenport agreed.

 

On two different occasions, I tried Ray's suggestion. It seems at the 4.5 mile point, I want to stop, so instead I forced myself to jog through the mile marker and kept jogging--regardless that it was slow.

 

This worked. By the time I got to the 5 mile marker, I knew I could make it all the home--6 miles. Wow. Did I feel like I accomplished something!

 

On my third attempt, I did not make it to the 4 mile marker. I am not trying to make excuses, but I want to understand the differences when I can stretch myself and when I cant' seem to do it. This time, I seemed to be just tired.

 

This past, Sunday, I jogged 5.8 miles. I was surprised, based on my attempt a few days earlier when I did not make 4 miles. Through observing my abilities and how far I can take my efforts, I have learned that I can break through that tough bump. I will try more often to jog at least 6 miles. Rather than 6 miles being the exception, I want it to be normal cardio workout. I also learned that rest is important.

Saturday morning jog

I started this morning's jog in a faster pace than I have done in a long time. I decided that I would try to jog 3 miles faster than normal. I would not worry about going longer.

I was doing well with the pace. About 2.1 miles, I was a the bottom of a hill, ready to tackle it when a car stopped. After giving a man directions to Pizza Hut, I started up the hill.

Oh, that was hard. I went very slow up that hill. By the time, I got to the plateau, I decided that with my adjusted speed, I would go ahead and try to make it home. With a slower pace, I finished close to 5 miles. It felt great!

Unfortunately, the jog made me more concerned about safety. When the car stopped and the man asked me for directions, I stood back from the car and described where Pizza Hut is. It struck me that it was weird someone would be asking how to get to Pizza Hut at 8:30 in the morning. Also, he did not go in the direction I told.

Then on my way home, I kept seeing police cars. The first and second police car did not worry me because I was jogging near the police station. One particular car circle me a couple of times.  By the time, I was about 1 mile from my house, I decided to stop one of them and ask what they were looking for.

Giving me a description, he said they were looking for a man on a bicycle, I told him about the man in the car. I let it go and he did not seem concerned. These two incidents and last week's slaying of Lauren Burk has made my favorite jogging route less enjoyable.

Technorati Tags: carido,jogging,safety

Trying to get back into exercising

Since Thanksgiving, my exercise regiment has slowed down. I have been very unmotivated to wake up in the mornings to jog and since being sick and having knee problems and eye surgery, I have not had much desired to go back to the regiment I was exercising in the early fall.

This week I have done better, not perfect but better.

My exercise this week:

• Monday morning: benchpress, tricep kickbacks, military press. I lifted heavy Monday---the most I have in a very long time.
• Tuesday morning: I slept in
• Wednesday morning: leg (fairly heavy leg lifts and squat machines) and ab workout. After getting the kids ready for school, and I jogged 2.5 miles at a moderate pace (for me). The temperature was below 32 degrees and the wind was brutal. Maybe that was the reason the pace was decent. Then, I traveled out of town for a meeting.
• Thursday morning (while out of town): I slept in. My apologies to a friend who worked out and I just did not want to get out in the cold weather (I am such a wimp).
• Thursday night (back home): I jogged 2.5 miles at a moderate pace (for me) in 52 degree weather. It was very nice jog.
• Friday (we'll see)
• Saturday morning: I hope to jog
• Sunday morning: I hope to jog

If I jog on Saturday and Sunday, I will have exercised a consistent amount this week. Consistency is key for me. Although I am not suffering in a major way from cutting back on my exercise, I can tell a difference.

I also feel a difference in how my body feels and what I want to eat. It seems that when I exercise consistently and I push myself to lift heavier or go faster or longer when jogging, I eat better.

The weights give my body a tight feeling, while the cardio makes me feel good. Maybe those physical changes and feelings are what I need to remember when I start to lose motivation.

Jog again

My jog today was around 3 miles. I am not sure because the route was one I had not taken before. Because I did not go a long way, I was able to build a few sprints in the jog.

It felt good. However, I am feeling a little pain on the side of my calf. The pain starts at my ankle toward my calf. Hopefully, stretching will help.

A walk--instead of a jog

Today, I decided to take my time and walk the 5.8 mile route. I jogged 5 miles on Monday, 5.5 miles on Tuesday, and 3 + miles on Thursday. Because I had jogged more than normal this week, I was a little worried that the amount of constant jogging might affect my knees.

The weather was very nice --it felt more like an April day, not a December day. The walk went well. I really had the chance to think, but it did get boring. Around the 4 mile mark my legs begin to tighten up a little. I also got tired. I found that interesting, but I think the tiredness came a little from the boredom and a little from being hungry.

One reason I walked the entire route is that I wanted to expend the calories. Generally, a mile walked and a mile jogged equal the same amount of calories spent. The jogging makes the mile go faster and raises the heart rate which has other benefits. So, walking the 5.8 miles took me much longer than jogging it.

Another jog

I jogged 3 miles today. I did not want to jog 5 miles today like I did yesterday. I am afraid of working my knees too much. However, the jogging is helping. My glutes and hamstrings are tight--thankfully.

The jog makes my legs feel good, although they are a little sore--I know that exercise is good for me!

Each step results in a reduction in a calorie or a portion of a calorie--gotta keep moving.

Jogging the day after Christmas

Yeah! I finished 5.5 miles today. My knees began to hurt toward the end of the jog, but too badly.

During the jog, I felt an urge to stop jogging; however, after getting past some benchmarks along the way, I encouraged myself to keep going.

One problem today is that I did not stretch afterwards. Maybe tomorrow, I will spend a great deal of time stretching before and after my workout. I hope to exercise in the morning. I am not sure whether I will jog or work out in the gym. I hope to finish another 5 miles at least one more day this week.


It makes it awfully nice to jog and exercise when I have more time; I am not at the office this week.

Christmas Eve Jog

Around noon, I finally got away for my jog. A few weeks ago my knees were hurting so badly that when I jogged one morning, I could barely finish 3 miles on the track. A few days after that I still have trouble completing 3 miles on the road.

So I have taken it easier during my jogs--not pushing myself. I also lighten up the weights during my squats. I think the heavy squats is what really aggrevates my knees, but I am not sure.

This morning I was able to jog almost 3 miles before I noticed my knees. I jogged another mile before I started to be concerned about stopping. I managed to jog a little over 5 miles without any real pain in my knees, albeit, I did not jog fast.

Over the next couple of weeks, I hope to concentrate on the jogging and not do much weight lifting. Hopefully, I can narrow down the reasons that my knees hurt.

Hope all have a very Merry Christmas...

Check out my version of a online holiday greeting

It's time to go to sleep so Santa will come.

Jog, Benchpress, Jog

This week I was out of town for 3 days. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I did not exercise while I was gone.

Luckily, I tried to mix up my workout on Monday morning. Instead of driving to the gym, I jogged the 2 miles, then I bench pressed, then I jogged 2 miles home.

It took me longer than expected to get to the gym. I think it was because I started jogging only a few minutes after waking up.

My exercise partner was surprised, but the opportunity allowed me to work the jog into the workout period because the kids had the day off school for Veteran's Day.

I was surprised I lifted as well as I did. I thought the jog would have prevented me from lifting my regular amount. I lifted 5 sets, but by the 5th set I was getting very tired. The 5th set is reducing the weight, but extended my legs during the lift. This particular set exerts the abdomen as well as the shoulders, chest, and triceps.

I ran out time and was not able to finish my typical upper body workout. I did not do military dumbbell press, dumbbell kickbacks for triceps , and concentration dumbbell curls (biceps).

I jogged home a little faster than my jog to the gym.

I was totally wiped out by 9 am. I think, though, it was because I ate only a couple of bites before my jog and I did not eat again until 9. Peanut butter crackers seem to give me just enough energy to continue my day.

I want to try this regiment again, but I want to eat a little more and possibly not jog only a few minutes after waking. Jogging while groggy is very slow.

I did not work out again until Friday morning. I had an overall workout in the gym, I mixed up upper body and lower body work. Most of the upper body, I tried lots of repetitions and not such heavy weights.

I used mixed my leg workout with lots of repetitions sometimes and very heavy weights and few repetitions in other situations. I also was able to work in some ab work as well.

It is going to important for me to get in a good jog on Sunday.

Next week also prevents some challenges in trying to work in an exercise regiment because it is Thanksgiving week.

I miss not working out, despite that I have become tired of the early morning routine. I do know that I cannot find a good replacement time for my morning routine right now. However, mixing up the exercise routine even if it is the early morning can help me find a renewed interest.

Sunday jog--tough getting back into the workouts

It's been awhile since I have had a Sunday morning jog. I went today. I've been sick and now recovering and trying to get back into the swing of things.

I jogged between 3 and 3.5 miles. I would have liked to have gone much longer, but I just gave up.

Hopefully, if I can get my 2 jogs in this week, I can go further next weekend.

I really don't like giving up. Though my muscles and body felt pretty good during and after the jog, feeling tired and not being able to continue frustrates me.

I really want to get back to where I was 4 weeks ago.

Why workout?

Research gives us lots of reasons to work out. The important reasons are the ones that are meaningful to you.

The mother of my son's friend came by to pick up her son. She looked absolutely great. I told her so.


She smiled and said she had started working out at a local gym (a national chain) and jogging in the mornings. If you want reason to work out, she is a testament.


1. She looks great. Who does not want to look great? Though it may seem vain, I like it when people I know noticed the change in my physique after I lost weight and started exercising. I don't know anyone who would does not like looking healthy--looking good. We all like to feel good about ourselves. We like it when they know other people notice.


What makes her look great is not only her slimming body, but her stature--the way she holds her shoulders-standing tall, beautiful, and confident. Mind you she does not look skeleton-like, but healthy, glowing.


2. She said she also feels great. She has more energy. She feels good about herself. Who does not want to feel great? We can do so much when we feel good, when we have energy.


Working out is hard work, but the benefits can be great. My friend found the benefits worth the work. She wants to continue working out. She wants to try body pump--a combination of weight training and cardio.


It seems staying with the workout will take some persistence on her part. I hope that she continues to find encouragement and alternatives to keep her workouts interesting.

The cooler weather makes it harder to continue the jogging outside. Boredom is a possibility. She wants her husband to go jogging or walking with her.

I encouraged her to try the bodypump class. It does not require the dance moves that an aerobic dance class may require. The bodypump class gives a great way to get weight lifting and cardio in an efficient. Learn the moves and the proper way to lift, then add more weight. I personally think that women make a huge mistake by not lifting enough. Weight lifting (properly) is a great way to get the body in shape, give better posture, and provide muscles that make the cardio easier.

Football Saturday Jog

I finally got a chance to have a solitary long jog this morning. I jogged faster than my normal slow 5 mile pace, but only jogged 4 miles. It felt great! First, I was surprised that I could keep the slightly faster pace.

This morning was a football Saturday in my Alabama college town home town. I avoided the tailgaters successfully by not jogging on campus. Though the game was a late morning game, jogging at 8 seemed to work well.

My routine for the last few months, particularly for the last few weeks have been slightly out of whack. So it felt good just to get out on my own.

I hope I feel just as well on Tuesday when we jog at the track.

A good long Sunday morning jog

After yesterday's jog, I felt accomplished. I jogged 5.5 miles. This is the longest I have jogged in 20 years. I started my jog at a little faster pace than normal, but slowed to my regular pace around the end of the 1st mile.

It was hot and humid, but I managed to not really tire. My warm-down included walking .2 miles home and sweeping part of the carport. You would understand why I did not sweep the entire carport if you could our collection of stuff that needed to be moved.

I also stretched. I have not talked about stretching, but it is really important to stretch before AND afterwards to ward off injuries.

In addition to finishing the jog in good form, I also had some very good thinking time, including thinking of 3 different blog posts I want to write.

Another Good Jog

Today, like Wednesday we started at a faster pace than our usual start. Jeff dropped back a bit, and I was wondering if maybe we were going too fast for him to last all 12 laps. He, however, caught up easily and on the last sprint of the last lap, he was able to keep it well enough to beat me by a step.

Like a typical August day, it was humid, but we performed well. We made the 3 miles in less than 32 minutes. I think it was a best time and slightly better than Wednesday's time. I hope we can keep it up for next week's early jog. I am hoping, before then, to get in a solo, long, thinking jog in on Sunday morning. The Sunday morning jog will depend on Saturday's activities, though.

Jogged Yesterday

Yesterday, Jeff and I had a very good jog on the track morning, despite the humidity. We started our jog a little faster than normal. Surprisingly, we finished with our second best time ever. Neither of us had been keeping the jogging up to the level we should have been so I was surprised we did as well as we did.

We jogged 12 laps in the middle lanes. The first 4 laps are regular jog (faster pace for us than normal). The long straight ways, we run starting on the 5th lap. Starting on the 11th lap, we sprint (our version) the straight ways.

Our time is usually 34 minutes. Yesterday, we finished in 32 minutes. We want to get our time under 30 minutes. In order to do that, we have to pick up the pace in every part of our jog, particularly in the beginning. If we keep challenging each other, we can do that.

Someone asked me "What are you training for?" I am not training for anything specific. I would like to be able to run in a 5K race--the small community fundraiser where nobody cares what your time is. The reason I want to run in a race is just to say I did.

Reasons to train in sprints or heavy bench press or any other technique are to stay fit, look good, feel good, have endurance, be strong, be challenged, etc. At 65, Harrison Ford can still fit into his Indiana Jones clothes. Wow! Isn't that a goal! To be able to wear the same clothes 20 years from now.

In order to stay fit, I have to be fit and continue to work out in various ways. Eventually, exercise gets boring. So I use challenges and goals in order to keep the boredom away. Jeff and I race during the sprints which makes the run fun. Besides, the jog and the run make me feel good--the after-cardio feeling. Using the time as a measurement, I feel accomplished when we finish in a fast time (for us).