Exercising after being sick

My last month of exercising has been:
December 22 through Dec 28, I jogged almost every day 3 to 6 miles each day. I did not lift any weights during this time.

December 29 I stopped jogging because the pain in my left leg above my ankle began to ache during my jogging and afterwards. The pain was much like the pain in my right ankle 3 years ago when I developed a stress fracture. I thought it was best to stop jogging for awhile.

January 7, I started back lifting weights and jogging, but I missed a few days for a couple weeks.

January 14, I got sick (stomach kind of thing) that wiped my out. I bench pressed once that week and tried to jog only once. It was slow.

January 20, I felt a little better so I jogged only 2 miles and it was very slow.

January 21, I managed to go to gym and did a variety of weights. During the week, I was so tired, I did not go to the gym, I just did not have the energy to get up early.

January 25, I jogged 2.5 miles at a decent (not great) time.

January 27, I jogged a very slow 3 miles. That is today. I have felt very tired every since.
This morning before getting started, I really did not want to go. I forced myself to get out of the house. It was colder than it looked. The sky was a clear blue and there was no wind. The air was crisp.

I walked for .3 miles and was not sure I had the energy to jog. When I first started jogging, I was in slow motion. My feet felt heavy.

I jogged for more than .5 miles before the stride felt easy. The jogging was similar to when I first starting jogging. Each step seem to be a struggle. I had to talk myself into continuing. I did not think I could even finish the 1st mile. But, I kept my slow pace and set up mini-goals. I kept telling myself, just make it to the 1 mile marker, then make it to the 1.5 mile marker. In my early days of jogging, I would tell myself that the .5 mile in the hardest. the next .5 miles is next to the hardest, and the next 1 mile in the third hardest. I would tell myself, "Go to the next marker, get to it before you stop".

Even at the 2 mile marker, I was not sure I could finish 3 miles. If I could get into a rhythm I could finish. My body was so tired, I just could not keep going.

One marker passed led to the next marker. I finished the jog with 3.1 miles and walked a total 1.2 miles.

I am still tired, but I think I am tired because of lacking of eating. I have lost 4 pounds in the last weeks and I am determined to keep it off so I have reduced the number of calories. What I need to do is to even my eating out throughout the day. I am eating too little before lunch and too much after lunch.

Hopefully, I can get back into the groove and even out my eating habits and get back into lifting weights and jogging.

I want to keep the weight off, but I also want to keep muscle. I have to keep working at it.

Positives List #4

Even though I have felt ill for several days, I am thankful that I have been in good fitness shape. Recovering from this bug I think is easier because I am fit.

Today was one of those extremely busy days, jumping from one responsibility to another. I am glad that our staff are independent and professional staff and they don't need close supervision.

I am thankful for the influence I seem to have at times. I have to admit there are times when I get frustrated with not being able to convince and influence decisions. Then when someone specifically gives me credit that makes my day. I know that this particular individual had been thinking of ways to express herself, to provide her opinions, to write a journal (but not a paper journal), but it was after hearing about blogging that she knew that is what she wanted to do.

She thanked me for bringing knowledge of this opportunity to her. You see I think she knew she had a problem/need, but she did not know the solution. After hearing of blogging, she knew she found a solution. Though she gave me much credit, I think that the knowledge of the solution had much to do about timing as anything. She could have very well learned about blogging from someone else.

Anyway, I am thankful for the situation and having the ability to make a difference. This I cannot overestimate. The relationships with the professional colleagues make an incredible difference.

Positives List #3

Today, I took my daughter to her 4th gymnastics meet. I am very proud of how she has progressed and how she handles herself in competition. When she does not perform or score as well as she thinks she should, she continues the meet, handling the next part of the competition.

I am also thankful she asked questions. Hopefully, she will continue to ask questions as she grows up.

I am also thankful that my older daughter is helping a friend tonight. Her friend has been very sick, and my daughter and other friends have been helping all day.

I am thankful I was able to walk 30 + minutes today while waiting on warm ups at the gymnastics meet. Next time, I will walk more.

I am ready for Monday.

Is there a definition of a workout?

What is a workout? JB defines a workout as:

Brief periods of self induced physical and mental anguish followed by a couple days of muscle soreness.

Well, that is definitely one way to define a workout. I think of a workout as an incremental step in building muscles, building strength, developing endurance, strengthening the heart, and expending calories. (I probably should add becoming more flexible and creating an ability to have balance. I don't work on those aspects too much for the exception of stretching after a workout).

A buddy of mine is exercising in functional ways--using an ax, toting limbs, clearing rubbish is his way of expending calories and building muscles.

When the workout causes the muscles to be sore, I know I have stretched the muscles so that they will tighten and strengthen. Let's admit it. After a leg workout or a run, the tightness in the legs feels great! Don't you think?

It really doesn't matter how you exercise or what your workout is. Expending calories and building endurance can happen almost at anytime. It does not have to be at gym or on the track. Stand instead of sit; walk instead of ride, jog instead of walk, run instead of jog. Do crunches on the couch while watching TV, dance with kids. Move, move move.

Saturday morning jogs

My Saturday morning jogs are never the same. Jogging different routes make the jogging interesting. The only problem is that I never really know how long I jog.

I am thinking that I jogged less than 3 miles (wanting go a little further). Maybe next time I can go further.

Of course, during my week morning jogs, I will go at least 3 miles. Next weekend maybe I can go 5 miles. We'll see.

Positives List #2

I thankful for the time when I find inspiration in blog topics to be discussed. The most important thoughts about these inspiration times is the topics, not how I think of presented them.

Thankful that my daughter is able to contribute to the team that served her all these years.

Thankful she is the responsible type.

Thankful my job gives me interesting things to work on and interesting people to work with.

Positive Thinking

A friend of mine Mitch Owen talks often about thinking positives during times of stress and disasters. He has found Alex Pattakos' book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts guide these thoughts.

I decided to start a positive list. On a regular basis, I will list positives as they happen. By practicing listing the positives during non stressful times, I will become better at thinking of the positives during the stressful times.

1) Today, we have a marvelously fun time talking among my husband's family today during our Christmas gathering.

2) In emails referring to three different meetings.

...your presentation was informative and very helpful, as always. If only the rest had been as upbeat and helpful!

Your meeting with Charles and me was inspiring, to say the least. ... I really would like for us to start working on some of your creative ideas.

This is a great idea (from 4 individuals).

I would not use the adjectives, upbeat, inspiring or creative to describe myself. Nevertheless, I am very much appreciative of these emails and they serve as encouragement to keep working on these "new areas".

3) My youngest helped me for hours yesterday, preparing food for today's family gathering. It was great to see her endurance and great fun to be with her.

4) My oldest and I had a "conversation" yesterday that we needed to.

5) I was reminded as long as I am doing the right thing, then I can't worry about things that go on around me.

6) My husband's family in 2007 had 4 decade birthday's: 80, 60, 50, 40. So very grateful that they all came to our house today.