Day 11/12/13 100/100

Day 11
I think I will send my blogs out every 3-4 days. That way I don't feel obligated to publish a blog every day. After all it is the exercise that is paramount. I do find the act of journaling my progress quite cathartic, and I can see the benefits of journaling as a daily practice. Although during this process I am only blogging about 1/10 of my day, it is still an interesting experience to look back and reflect on my exercise.

Today it was a relief to be back at the gym. I love the freedom of deciding what to do from day to day, but I like the familiarity of a place, program and workout partner. Some days it is just a challenge to get moving, and the gym cleans away the clutter, and reminds me that the only reason I am there is to workout. There are usually no distractions and most people there are fairly focused. I am glad we go early, our workout dragged on a little this morning and I noticed that it started to get busier, and my anxiety level went up!

Also on days I workout on my own I tend to do my exercise later in the day, and I love the early workouts that let me get on with my life. I always feel like I have at least accomplished that goal for the day and everything else seems to be easier.

I have a nagging back ache, so I am assuming my core needs work. Usually a back ache signals the fact that I need new shoes, but my shoes are good right now, so maybe just a lot of walking/running. Tommorow I am going to do a hardcore spin at the gym and see how that works, I have a video on my phone.

I am organizing my workout gear a little today, the travelling has left me with gear everywhere. I usually have a kit of workout stuff in my car (yoga pants, tshirt, socks and shoes) and that just stays there. It serves as an emergency "to go" bag if I am stranded in either Jasper or Edmonton which rarely happens, and also gives me an option if I want to work out on the fly.

I am organizing all my running gear in one space (by the front door) and put up a chain of clips that I can put my gloves, bula, hat, running lights, spikes etc.

I have a bag with all my swimming gear, bathing suit, towel, large toothed comb, swim pass hanging in the same area.

I am also going to keep my gym bag in the car. I bought some white towels that are (somewhere?) just for the gym, I have a glass bottle that I fill with tap water, and my inside shoes. I need to bring my ipad in so I can recharge, and I usually come home after so I don't worry about makeup/clothes/or toiletries. I think I'll pack some stuff for the steam room after, might be a nice treat on a day when I'm not so busy!

Day 12
Back to the gym, spin and arms today. Whew! I am exhausted currently supplementing with scads of caffeine.

Day 13
I am fluctuating between feeling tired and bursts of energy. I really think I have to eat better and drink more water! Today was a leg day, doubled our reps for legs, added in some squats and did about 100 crunches in between. Tomorrow I am in the city of Edmonton, so I am wearing my running stuff and get a run in before I leave the city. I just don't want to leave exercise till the end of an already long day. From the New Year I have been sporadically keeping track of my diet, but I will go back to a 1500 calorie eating plan, still allows me as much vegetables, tea, coffee, sugar free jello etc as I want. I think the combination of working out and eating right to be what I need! Oh and for the record I am actually down a couple of pounds......