Exercise: Pilates
Pounds lost: -2... a gain? What?
Water: Working on it
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Well, I stepped on the scales this morning only to discover that I have put on two pounds! I am hoping it is part of that "muscle weighs more than fat" scam. I'm not terribly bothered by how much I weigh -- seriously, I'm not -- but I thought I could use it as a useful proxy of my progress. Now that I have gained weight, in the spirit of Duckie (i.e. Jon Cryer) in last night's Emmy's, I am now convinced that weight is completely irrelevant to my quest to become more healthy. :D
The sign of TRUE progress is that the band of flesh around my waist, which I had previously written off as Keira-induced excess skin and most definitely not fat, seems to be disappearing. Whereas before there was an actual roll in a seated position, now there is just a little bulge, but no official roll. (This is very technical, you see?)
As I am not aware of any nighttime subconscious tummy tuck surgery, the only conclusion I can draw is that it actually was fat. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I mean, it's disappearing, so I must be doing something right. On the other hand, I've been operating under a delusion for the last 8 months that I was dealing with something completely irreparable so it wasn't my fault: if she stretched all my skin out, what could I do? I guess I take progress over self-delusion, but it doesn't feel quite like a happy triumph!
Anyway, in other news, I ran my first mile, non-stop, and on an incline, yesterday afternoon. Then I topped it off with another mile of rapid walk hill-climbing. (At the speeds I run, walking actually burns more calories because you don't have the momentum of running to assist you. I know, it is sad. But true.) Tomorrow I get to repeat it. For those of you interested in similarly stupidly trying to get ready for a 10-K in 4 weeks, here's the training program I'm following from Plucky's fitness blog: http://www.fitconnect.com/blogs/plucky/From-0-to-10k-in-4-weeks
I'm hoping my legs decide to come back before tomorrow. I don't know if it was the running yesterday or the butt-buster pilates segment this morning, but my hip flexors aren't quite sure what hit them. I would also like the use of my shoulders and upper arms back, as drying my hair this morning was quite the adventure. If anyone has any ideas on how to stretch 'em, please, PLEASE let me know. My poor hair could use the help. Plucky wasn't lying when he said from 0 to 10-K in 4 weeks would be "ouch potato"!
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i'm super impressed! get it!
ReplyDeletei'm sure you are familiar with the standard stretehes for arms but i'll review them and some others
tricep; raise right arm above head and fold at the elbow as if you are giving yourself an odd pat on the back. with left hand, lightly press down/back on the right elbow. you can also bring the left arm behind your back as though you are trying to hold hands. then switch arms.
shoulders: extend right arm across the body. it almost helps if you push your right arm away from your body on the right side and then bring it around as if reaching for something. keep bringing it across until it rests on your chest and is 'facing' left. with your left forearm/hand press on your right arm (either upper or lower arm but not the elbow). slightly push your right shoulder back--very slightly. switch arms.
another shoulder: lie in child's pose. extend your right arm under your body and return to child's pose with left arm extended in front and right arm to the left. turn your head to the left. sink into the pose.
it's almost like i directed this video: http://www.ehow.com/video_2359353_cool-down-stretches-triceps-exercises.html
there are some awesome stretches for hip flexors. look up pidgeon pose if it's not on your yoga dvd.