30 by 30!

[leahfountain]

Hey Rosetrail! It looks like you are doing great on eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise! Keep up the great work!

[Rosetrail]

Hi, Leah. Thank you very much! I will go to your journal to check in on your latest karate adventures!

Tuesday:
AM - bike to work (1 hour)
PM - bike home from work (1 Hour); Abs on demand

I am feeling really good about my ride home. I've cut off about 10 minutes from my previous ride home time. And, the big hills at the end of my ride are getting easier. But, I still have a long way to go before I am coming uphill strong. I'm killing the 1 short hill mid-ride and passing on my way up, but the ones near my house at the very end of the ride are steep and loooong.

Wednesday:
AM - 40 minutes weight lifting; 30 minutes walk on inclined treadmill at 3.7 mph


Yesterday was a food debacle. Not only did I hit the office candy jar too hard, but I overindulged in the lunch desserts after a meeting. I have lost a little body fat, so I think I was feeling cocky about a little treat. But, yikes! I let that little treat turn into a major diet derailment. My goal for the next three days is to completely abstain from the sugar! Hopefully if I meet my weight loss goal by Friday morning I can have my weekly treat breakfast: plain non-fat yogurt with granola, fresh fruit, and 1 tablespoon of honey!

[leahfountain]

And jealous of your weapons classes. I have taken a lot of stage combat, which i probably the exact opposite of what you are learning to go in your weapons classes. In stage combat you take your swords, staffs, knives, etc. and learn how to make it look like you are kicking another character's butt, while actually you are communicating to make sure the action sequence looks awesome but keeps everyone safe. But, I love handling the weapons, even if I am just learning how to "fake it." It is so empowering to handle them well as a woman.

Hey Rosetrail! Thanks for stopping by! Pretty much all we do is just "stage" combat. We practice by performing katas, which are like a series of movements with/against an "imaginary" opponent. They are real moves designed to really defend oneself, but I don't know that if I REALLY had to use my sai, I would do any good. Probably not. I'd be better off empty-handed. LOL! But it looks really neat! And it is empowering. I love to show off with the sai cause I know I'm pretty much awesome...performing the kata not really kicking someone's butt! Now the bo (staff), I am no good at! We had a Guest Instructor come from Hawaii to teach some new bo katas and I totally sucked and was way behind everyone else in getting it. Oh, well, That's life!

BTW, you are really doing great with your exercise! Keep up the good work and have a wonderful weekend!

[Rosetrail]

Wednesday:
AM - 40 minutes weight lifting; 30 minutes on treadmill, 1.0 incline, 3.7 mph

Thursday:
rest day

Friday:
AM - biked to work - 1 hour

[Rosetrail]

Friday:
PM - Biked home from work - 1 hour; Great hill effort! They are getting easier!

Saturday:
AM - 45 minutes aerobics

[Rosetrail]

Back after a week away from the forum. I got so busy, and I realized that I needed the support and accountability here. I only got slightly off-track, but one of my goals is to make the time to spend about 20 minutes here each day. Finding the time is hard, but it does help me stay focused!

I have joined the August Exercise challenge, which will be great. And here are my goals for the week for that challenge:

1. get to the forum at least 5 days this week
2. try a new recipe
3. no candy at work

I got some new gear for my bike commute - a fancy new rack and bag. I am looking forward to riding without a sweaty backpack on my back!

[Texas Artist]

Hi Rosetrail!, thanks for stopping by. Glad to hear you didn't get too far off track. It definately has helped so far to spend time here each day.

Wow...That's so neat that you can ride a bike to work. I live too far away from where I work and there is no way I could do that. Especially in Houston traffic which you know all about.

That's pretty cool that you have family here and that there's lots of artists amongst the family tree. I bet you'll be glad to see them come Christmas. If you don't mind me asking, what took you to NY?
~H

[Rosetrail]

Today is an "I do NOT heart NY" day! Flooding knocked out EVERY train in Manhattan today. It took me 4 1/2 hours to get to work today, so I completely missed my workout this morning. Boo.

I woke up planning to ride my bike into work, but it was pouring. So, I got dressed for the gym instead and headed to the subway. But, AFTER I was on the subway and in between stops the Transit Authority decided that trains could no longer run. So, I sat in my train car underground for almost 2 hours, with no A/C. Yuck. Of course, by the time I emerged from underground it was sunny, and I was bemoaning my lack of bicycle. But, I was no where near home or work, so it took another 2 1/2 hours to find a bus and take it to work. Since everyone else in the city was having the same nightmare there was not an available cab in sight and many buses had lines 2 blocks long. Many buses were so full they didn't even stop to pick up passengers, because no one would fit!The only upside was that my work clothes were tucked into my shoulder bag, so I only sweated out my gym clothes in the humidity. I felt so badly for the men sweating through their suit coats.

Anyway, we all have these days, and mine is better now that I am finally at work. But, I'm glad to be able to vent through the blow by blow here! I'm just mad that I missed all my opportunities to work out too! I will be working late tonight to make up for missing this morning. I am totally riding my bike tomorrow!!

[cheekymo]

Hey Rosetrail! Just wanted to chime in and also say that it's great that you bike to work - I love "built-in" workouts that fit right into my daily schedule! Also, it's sooo cool that you moved to NYC to pursue your passion for singing and only do legal recruiting as a day job - although I would think your day job could be quite interesting? You must meet a lot of people?

[Rosetrail]

Thanks, Cheeky. I do love my bike commute, and I do love my day job in legal recruiting. I'm so fortunate, because the firm I work for has been extremely accommodating when I must leave for singing work.

Thursday, 8/9:
AM - bike commute - was a FAST one today, not much traffic on the streets or on my bike path - 47 minutes; 15 minute stretch

B1 - 4-6 oz of V-8, three or four bites of cottage cheese with SF strawberry preserves
B2 - Smart Balance Oatmeal Packet

[Texas Artist]

Yay! Glad to hear you got to ride today.

Wow...you sing opera..that's soooo cool. I can only imagine how hard it is to break into that scene up in NY, but I'm sure it's definately a better opportunity there. What language to you sing in?

Lately I've been doing a lot of acrylic paintings, some mixed media pieces, graphite and charcoal sketches and digital art. Here's one of my more abstract paintings, but I do realistic stuff too.

I love just about all mediums and try different things when I'm bored. Luckily I work as a graphic artist/designer so I get to be a little creative.
~H

[Rosetrail]

Look at that gorgeous flower! Thanks, Heather. I think it dresses up my journal so nicely.

Today I missed my AM strength training. I am afraid I might be getting sick. I was so exhausted last night that I fell asleep on the couch before 9 p.m., and I got up and put myself in bed shortly after 9 p.m. Then I slept until almost 8 a.m.! But, I still feel like I've been hit by a bus. Hopefully I can get enough R&R this weekend to kick my exercise routine back into gear. It's hard to work out went you are feeling puny. Thankfully, yesterday was an excellent bike day.

Thursday, 8/9:
PM - bike commute home - 1 hour; 15 minute stretch

[Rosetrail]

Saturday:
2 1/2 hour bike ride; 15 minute stretch

Sunday:
30 cardio, 15 strength, 15 stretch

[Rosetrail]

Week 2 August Challenge Goals:

1. Out of bed by 6:15 a.m. during the week
2. No TV during meals
3. Record everything eaten here weekdays

Monday:
AM - 40 minute strength - new routine, whew it was TOUGH!; 15 minute stretch

tried to walk on the treadmill, but the ball of my foot was hurting quite badly, so I could not.

B: 1 apple
B2: Kashi cereal, 1/3c blueberries and skim milk

[leahfountain]

Hey Rose! Your challenge goals look great! And it seems you are getting plenty of exercise. I tell you...this is the week I am getting out of MY rut! I've got to fins some self-control and focus somewhere! I may go back to Phase 1 for a week or two...Since Phase II isn't as strict, I find my self cheating a lot more often! UGH! But we've come so far! We can do it!