So... I haven't been doing so well with my training as yet. I've been distracted and unable to concentrate lately, and it's been messing with me. Consequently, things have been sporadic. I'm more able to make myself get out on the weekend, which is when I'm not busy. And boy did I get out this weekend! I took my dogs for a 3 1/3 mile walk on Saturday, and then on Sunday I took them out for a walk, and about an hour or so into it I got a call from a friend who wanted to walk with me. So I dropped off the doggies at home and headed back out with her. Almost 8 miles (7.87) total just on Sunday!
I did manage to pull a muscle or something on the top of my foot, which kept me off of it for a couple days. But I will try to make myself get to the gym today and walk. And I'll try to figure out what's been bothering me the past couple of weeks so I can work on it with my therapist next week. Yes, yes, I have a therapist. I'm not ashamed to say it. And it's a testament to how much it's working that I'm even going on the Camino this summer. I never would have even thought of really doing it a year ago.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Monday, January 13, 2014
Week 1 down... 19 more to go!
I made it through my first week of training! It was rough going at first, because I overdid it the first Sunday, with a workout on the elliptical machines, followed by upper body weights, followed by three miles on the treadmill. I was exhausted!
So I didn't make it in to the gym Monday evening, all day Tuesday, and all day Wednesday. But by Thursday I was back in business with a morning elliptical workout and three miles on the treadmill in the evening. And I walked a little over eight miles this weekend! Even my little doggies walked and were able to keep up, though my Shichi (Shih Tzu / Chihuahua mix) slept a lot after. It was so nice being outside, in the woods and grassland, with warmer weather. You just have to watch the melting snow. I slipped trying to go up a steep embankment and ended up with mud all over me! But it's still better than staring at a wall when walking on a treadmill.
One thing I discovered on Monday was that my gym's showers in the women's locker room absolutely STINK! Stink, as in they're horrible, not that they actually smell. The first stall I chose had one of those showerheads that are removable, and one half of the part that holds it up was broken, so it just hangs down. The next stall's showerhead was covered in lime and water sprayed everywhere. So I had to use the third shower, which was itself fine. But the door didn't want to close all the way and I had to stuff my sweatshirt in between the door and the wall so it wouldn't swing open.
Overall, I feel better. I just need to fix my eating habits. I was actually surprised how easy it's been to make going to the gym a habit. It's harder with food, though. I almost think it's an addiction, as I want to eat even if I'm not hungry. Kind of like little kids might suck on their thumb. Except I can't suck on my thumb, and it's not like I can just stop eating. So I'll try to cook more. I think I'll make that my goal for this week: no more than two meals from restaurants, and that needs to be Subway (I get a healthier option there and they have $5 footlongs all January).
And since I'll be cooking more this week, send me some good, healthy recipe ideas!
So I didn't make it in to the gym Monday evening, all day Tuesday, and all day Wednesday. But by Thursday I was back in business with a morning elliptical workout and three miles on the treadmill in the evening. And I walked a little over eight miles this weekend! Even my little doggies walked and were able to keep up, though my Shichi (Shih Tzu / Chihuahua mix) slept a lot after. It was so nice being outside, in the woods and grassland, with warmer weather. You just have to watch the melting snow. I slipped trying to go up a steep embankment and ended up with mud all over me! But it's still better than staring at a wall when walking on a treadmill.
One thing I discovered on Monday was that my gym's showers in the women's locker room absolutely STINK! Stink, as in they're horrible, not that they actually smell. The first stall I chose had one of those showerheads that are removable, and one half of the part that holds it up was broken, so it just hangs down. The next stall's showerhead was covered in lime and water sprayed everywhere. So I had to use the third shower, which was itself fine. But the door didn't want to close all the way and I had to stuff my sweatshirt in between the door and the wall so it wouldn't swing open.
Overall, I feel better. I just need to fix my eating habits. I was actually surprised how easy it's been to make going to the gym a habit. It's harder with food, though. I almost think it's an addiction, as I want to eat even if I'm not hungry. Kind of like little kids might suck on their thumb. Except I can't suck on my thumb, and it's not like I can just stop eating. So I'll try to cook more. I think I'll make that my goal for this week: no more than two meals from restaurants, and that needs to be Subway (I get a healthier option there and they have $5 footlongs all January).
And since I'll be cooking more this week, send me some good, healthy recipe ideas!
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Getting started
If you've never heard of it before, the Way of St. James - known in France as the Chemin de St Jacques - is probably better known as the Camino de Santiago. Or simply the Camino. It's a long-distance trek or pilgrimage that the majority of people either start in in St-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, or Roncesvalles, Spain - a distance of about 500 miles. This route is called the Camino Francés. Some people walk different routes (mostly in Spain) and this is what I'm going to do.
This summer, on May 31st, I will set out from Le Puy-en-Velay, France to begin my Camino. About 1,000 miles total, doubling the typical distance. Why am I doing this? Because I want to. You might call me crazy, but I plan for this to be an adventure of a lifetime.
I have begun my preparations, having received my chosen pack for Christmas. An Osprey Ariel 65 liter hiking backpack. Most Camino pilgrims will tell you this is too much. But not for my trek. I plan to camp as much as possible, so will be toting a tent along with me, cooking supplies, sleeping bag and liner...
Since I'm visiting my sister in the Minneapolis area, I went to REI and got a few more things - a sleeping pad, sleeping bag liner, mess kit and utensils, and a sil-nylon day pack that packs down to a tiny bag smaller than a tennis ball.
My sister is a nurse, so she's helping me get my training in place. It'll include eating better and an exercise schedule. I'm using SparkPeople's app to track my food intake, especially helpful because it has a barcode scanner that will automatically enter all the nutritional info and serving size. So far there's only one item it hasn't found in the system already. I even managed to scan the barcode sticker on a banana!
Anyway, for more information about the Camino in English, you can go to the Confraternity of St. James site for the UK or here. If you read French, you can read about the first part of the journey here.
This summer, on May 31st, I will set out from Le Puy-en-Velay, France to begin my Camino. About 1,000 miles total, doubling the typical distance. Why am I doing this? Because I want to. You might call me crazy, but I plan for this to be an adventure of a lifetime.
I have begun my preparations, having received my chosen pack for Christmas. An Osprey Ariel 65 liter hiking backpack. Most Camino pilgrims will tell you this is too much. But not for my trek. I plan to camp as much as possible, so will be toting a tent along with me, cooking supplies, sleeping bag and liner...
Since I'm visiting my sister in the Minneapolis area, I went to REI and got a few more things - a sleeping pad, sleeping bag liner, mess kit and utensils, and a sil-nylon day pack that packs down to a tiny bag smaller than a tennis ball.
My sister is a nurse, so she's helping me get my training in place. It'll include eating better and an exercise schedule. I'm using SparkPeople's app to track my food intake, especially helpful because it has a barcode scanner that will automatically enter all the nutritional info and serving size. So far there's only one item it hasn't found in the system already. I even managed to scan the barcode sticker on a banana!
Anyway, for more information about the Camino in English, you can go to the Confraternity of St. James site for the UK or here. If you read French, you can read about the first part of the journey here.
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