Day 221: Starting Where I Left Off

I took a total of 8 days off with a medical excuse and I decided to start back where I left off.  Not only was I sick with a fever, body aches, and all the wonderful things that go along with having some kind of cold/infection, but I had a coughing fit that threw my back out.  So on top of everything I was temporarily crippled. 

I don’t know if you have ever thrown your back out but let me tell you it is painful.  It hurts to sit, hurts to walk, just hurts all the time.  Again the only way to heal is to take it as easy a possible. 

Now, my back is a dull ache and my cold is reduced to sniffles it is time once again to start back up the exercise.  This afternoon we hit the gym and in particular I hit the treadmill.  To ease my body back into the workout routine I did 30 minutes at a medium speed and a 6 incline.  My legs felt good and I only coughed a couple of times. 

In the end I had worked up a nice little sweat.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, we sure did.  Now I need to formulate a workout plan for the New Year.

Daily Recap:

Matt & Kelly: 30 minutes treadmilling at the gym 

Day 220: Have to Pause for Recovery…

Woke up this morning with a fever still at 102 and I could barely move.  I did get a doctor’s appointment for this afternoon and it couldn’t be sooner, I feel awful!

At the doctor’s office I got examined and was still running a temperature of 100.  My blood pressure was great through after being elevated about a year and half ago and that I attribute directly to the exercise I get. 

I got a script for antibiotics and was told to rest for 7 to 10 days and that I would probably be infectious for another three days or so.  I was advised not to do anything except rest and I couldn’t really argue with that since I felt like I had been hit by a bus.

We had to cancel a trip to Denver and I am going to have to pause the Blog to give my body time to recover. 

I will be back when I am healed. I don’t expect it to last more than the 7 to 10 days recommended by my doctor. 

Merry Christmas!

Day 219: Fever

Kelly waited for me to get home to hit the gym.  I was really feeling worn out and jokingly I asked her if I felt like I had a fever.  In reality I did.

I was running a fever of 99.8 degrees and we decided I probably should not head to the gym and spread whatever contagion I have around.  While she went to the gym I broke out the weights and did a light full body workout.  I really wish I hadn’t. 

In a little over 2 hours I felt completely like crud!  My whole body ached and my fever had risen to 101 degrees.  I had the chills and muscle pains, a severe headache, and my hips and thighs were killing me.  By 11pm my fever had risen to over 102 despite taking cold medication and ibuprofen.

Because my fever kept rising Kelly kept taking it every hour or so.  By midnight I had hit 103.3 and we had decided that if it hit 104 I would go to the doctor.  Luckily after another round of cold meds and a lukewarm shower we got it to stabilize at 102. 

It was safe to say I had the funk and needed to make a doctor’s appointment in the morning.

Daily Recap:

Matt: Light full body workout with a fever

Kelly: Treadmill workout at the gym

Day 218: Treadmill Time at the Gym

After work it was again too cold to run outside so I suited up and hit the gym yet again.  I have to be pretty close to getting my free T-Shirt for going 20 times in 60 days. 

As I jogged my throat started getting soar.  It was crazy like I could feel a cold coming on but it was not quite there.  By the end of the run I wasn’t feeling too good at all.  I called it, made my way back out to my car, and went home. 

Soon after I started getting body aches that I attributed to the workout.  Bottom line is I just wasn’t feeling good.  Hopefully after a good night’s sleep I will feel better tomorrow. 

Day 217: The Day After

We got up this morning and hit the gym for some post party workout.  Today’s mission was 30 minutes jogging on the treadmill to burn some of the calories consumed the night before.  I was shocked at how easy it was.

My legs felt good and I didn’t even check the time until I was over 12 minutes in.  Usually I think I have been torturing myself for 20 minutes only to find out it has been 4.  I finished with an average pace of 4.34 miles an hour. 

I had a good sweat and felt pretty good as well. Not bad for the day after a party, I guess that was our reward for leaving early and not drinking ourselves into oblivion like some the people we saw were doing.

Daily Recap:

Matt and Kelly: 30 minutes on the treadmill

Day 216: Christmas Party!

Tonight was my company Christmas Party and we had planned on hitting the gym but with time running short I wound up just lifting in my garage.  I got a full body workout in and then had to go pick Kelly up from her stylist.  After that it was a quick race home to shower, change, and head out for a free dinner and drinks. 

The food is usually bad, but that is okay since the company spends most of it’s money making sure the bars are free flowing all night.  Do you know how to spell happiness?  O P E N B A R!

The theme this year was Casino night and since neither of us gamble (it’s not that we are opposed to it, it’s that it simply doesn’t interest either of us) we were board.  Around 10pm we had had all the party we could take and headed home for an early night cap.

Daily Recap:

Matt: Full body workout free weights in the garage. 

Day 215: Home from Dallas

Kelly came home from Dallas today.  I did a light full body workout and 100 jumping jacks.  Tonight also starts our 12 days of Christmas.  We watch a different Christmas movie nightly until Christmas.  We are big fans of the classics.  If you are interested here are some of the movies we watch:

It’s a Wonderful Life

The Bells of St. Mary’s

White Christmas

Holiday Inn

The Bishop’s Wife

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Story

We sprinkle some new movies like Fred Clause and Elf.  It’s great fun and a great way to put yourself in the Christmas spirit. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Full body workout

Kelly: TBD

Day 214: Colder Than I Thought

It didn’t seem that cold at first so I thought it would be a good idea to hit the pavement for a jog this afternoon. I was wrong.  Half way out of my neighborhood the wind whipped through my sweatshirt and it was freezing. 

As I jogged I pulled my hands into the sleeves to keep them warm.  It was so cold my ears hurt every time the wind blew.  I put up my hood and all it did was catch the wind like a sail and send it down my shirt.  Running faster doesn’t do any good since I am going to time and not distance.  I turned my head with each gust of wind trying to keep it away from my face. 

I have lamented many time my hatrid for jogging in the cold.  It is even worse when the nature keeps hitting you with guts of wind that blow so hard  you can feel them penetrating you shoes.  Needless to say the best part of the jog was when it was over.

Daily Recap:

Matt: Jog outside in the cold

Kelly: TBD

Day 213: Had to Hit the Gym

Rain.  I am not running in freezing rain that just sucks.  I hit the gym hoping it wouldn’t be full again. It wasn’t.  Monday must have been some kind of fluke since it was back to the way it normally is. 

As I jogged on my treadmill I watched a workout class doing their warm up.  They run around the gym from upstairs to down and back up.  Maybe that is what I should do.  It would give me people to talk to that are looking for the same thing, looking to lose weight, eat healthy.  I imagine it could be like a support group for fat people. 

May be they have sponsors like in AA.  I could call up my sponsor and say, “I am parked outside a Krispy Kreme and am thinking about a dozen chocolate covered cream filled donuts.”  They could then talk me off the ledge.  “Don’t eat the donut,” they would say, “it’s never as good as you think it is,” which would be a lie, but I would agree, put my car in drive, and leave with the “Hot” sign flashing in my rearview mirror. 

If only you could have your cake donut and eat it too.

Daily Recap:

Matt: Treadmill at the gym

Kelly: TBD

Day 212: Not Taking Chances

I didn’t want to chance the gym being packed and the temperature wasn’t that bad outside so I decided to take a run out side.  I considered a mile in doing three miles again but I had gotten a late start and the sun had started to set. 

For dinner I went paleo and ate a pound of shrimp with collard greens and tomatoes and okra.  I felt I needed it after all the eating I did in New Orleans made my work pants feel tight.  I also decided that after the first of the year I am going to go back to straight paleo and make a legitimate run at counting calories to see if I can shed some of this weight. 

Daily Recap:

 Matt: Ran outside since it was a nice day

Kelly: TBD

Day 211: Busy at The Gym

Time to lift heavy again.  I hit the gym anticipating that it wouldn’t be that busy and boy, was I wrong.  It was packed.  Packed like I have never seen this new gym before.  There were so many people lifting there was a wait and people sharing machines.  I, for my part, stuck mostly to the machines today since the benches along the free weight area were all taken and there were a lot of missing free weights. 

I only assume that this is because it is the first day back from the weekend.  From shoulder press machine to chest press machine I set them all at my max weight for 12 reps and raised the weight and lowered reps as I went. 

In the end there were two guys on the weighted leg press so I just maxed out the machine again.  415 pounds with the added weight.  Then I got out of there as fast as I could.

Daily Recap:

Matt: Hit the packed gym and did a full body with machines

Kelly: TBD

Day 210: Home Again (Hiking the ATL)

Last night we found another great place to go in New Orleans: Frenchman Street.  It is a great bohemian area that is filled with artists and bars with live music.  We spent some time shopping the local artists and then sat a bar enjoying a local New Orleans band that was pretty good.  

This morning we flew back to the ATL and had lunch in the concourse waiting for Kelly’s other plane to take her to Dallas.  After she boarded I made my way towards baggage claim and though: How fast can I walk it without taking the train. 

From Concourse B to my car in the parking lot all walking with a 10+ pound backpack on and dragging a suite case took me 36 minutes and I was sweaty afterwards too.  I was going to count that as my exercise until I got home and decided to do a light weight workout since it had been a few days since I lifted weights. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: speed walk through the concourse out to the car and then lifting weights

Kelly: Hit the hotel gym in Dallas

Day 209: Cold in the City of Saints

Kelly only had to work until 12:30.  I decided to leave the hotel at a quarter till noon and take the senic route figuring it would take me about 40 minutes to speed walk to the Hilton.  Let me tell you it was cold out.  From a high the day before of 88 to the high today of 58 there is a huge difference.  According to the weather app on my phone when I left the hotel it was 49 degrees out and I believe it.

I started off walking down Decatur Street along the water but the wind was whipping in off the river making it even colder.  I crossed back over and took Chartres Street crossing on the other side of Jackson Square.  I zigzagged through traffic and back out to Decatur until I finally ended up on Poydras Street passing the casino.  I had warmed up from the hurried pace I was setting speed walking.  I though several times about jogging but decided against it. 

The plan was to take a cab back to where we were staying at the back side of the French Quarter but we got caught in a parade and we finally had out cabbie let us out.  Again we hoofed it, got temporarily turned around (lost) and finally after walking around in circles got headed in the right direction. 

The rest of the day was great with no snags.  We had a late lunch then a coffee and beignets at Café Du Monde again and got some shopping done for Christmas.  Tonight we plan on checking out Frenchman Street.

Daily Recap:

Matt: 40 minute speed walk French Quarter

Kelly: Walking around the French Quarter

Day 208: I Love New Orleans!

It was 84 degrees and sunny when we hit the ground in NOLA.  After checking in and getting some work done we set out towards the hotel Kelly will be working at tomorrow.  From door to door is 1.3 miles and we hoofed it.  Speed walking it with traffic and everything it took us about 20 minutes to get there. We were both a sweaty mess.  I even had on a long sleeved shirt. 

After checking it out we hoofed it back for a round trip of 2.6 miles.   We both had some work to do for an hour or so then we set out again for Café Du Monde. After a late breakfast we did some more pavement pounding and got sweaty again.  We hit lunch and headed back to our hotel.

We worked most of the afternoon while surprisingly a cold front moved in.  It went from 88 degrees to 60 in a three hour time period.  We were shocked when we finally headed out for dinner.  We stopped in for a night cap at Pat O’Brien’s before heading back. According to Kelly’s fit bit in total we walked almost 11 miles.

Daily Recap:

Matt and Kelly: Started with an intentional speed walk to and from the Hilton where Kelly is going to work tomorrow.  Then pounding the pavement all over the French Quarter. 

Day 207: It’s a Turn Around Day

Kelly fly’s in tonight from Boston so I decide to keep it light and do full body light weight workout.  I ran through my routine with no problems.  My legs felt a bit sore from the long jog yesterday, but other than that I feel fine.

I am mostly packed for New Orleans and I am pretty excited about going.  Last time I was in NOLA I went to get some beignets from Café Du Monde but they were filming a movie there and the dine inside was packed with  a line wrapping out the door and down the street. 

I hate standing in lines.  I took on look at the line and the filming chaos and everything going on and turned around and headed back to my hotel.  As much as I love Café Du Monde it is not worth an hour wait in line.

It’s not just the beignets that I am looking forward to it is also the Gumbo and BBQed oysters from Red Fish.  New Orleans is a foodie city.  If you like to eat there really isn’t a bad restaurant to be found. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Light weight workout

Kelly: TBD

Day 206: Endurance (3 Miles)

With the legs well rested I decided that today would be more of an endurance test and since it may also be the last decent day I would run outside.  I have noticed that when I run with the stop watch and RunKeeper I have a tendency to try to keep up a pace that I cannot comfortable keep. 

With that in mind I ran without either.  I started the stop watch on my kitchen table and figured I would stop it when I walked back in.  I started my jog.

The sun was warm in the spots where it shone through the trees in the shade it was cool but not cold.  I was sweating pretty good a half mile in.

I did my standard three mile loop and it felt good.  My legs didn’t feel tired and as I walked back into the house I was surprised that I had kept such a hurried pace.  From start to finish took me 47 minutes.  Running while knowing I am constantly being timed and feeling tired must, for the most part, be purely a mental thing. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: 3 miles at around a 4 mile an hour pace.

Kelly: TBD

Day 205: Blowing Steam Heavy Weights

Another traffic was awful day.  I seem to having too many of these lately.  I am sick and tired of it taking an hour and half to two hours to get home.  Especially when I am leaving the office at 4pm.  It was too dark to run outside, even though I could have put on my reflector vest and carried a flash light, it was also drizzling. 

I went to the gym with intentions of running my knees were still bothering me from the elliptical and I decided to rest them.  I hit the weights instead. 

My old gym always seemed to be a little on the chilly side.  Some of the instructors and staff would wear jackets around and there was always someone on the treadmill in long sleeves even in the summer.  My new gym doesn’t suffer from being over air conditioned. 

You can build up quite a sweat from lifting weights.  One thing more: the door at my new gym sticks as sometimes takes a little extra effort to open.  Imagine you just lifted heavy and you struggle opening the door to go to your car. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Heavy workout lifting weights at the gym

Kelly: Back to back training sessions 

Day 204: Freedom to Run

Not being tied to the in doors made me want to run outside today.   It felt good to be outside with the wind blowing and the fresh air. Especially after having to workout in a dark basement the past 4 days. 

I had a good run but my legs got tired towards the end.  I am attributing that to the fact that I am now fatter than I was a mere four days ago.  Even though I was burning it up on the elliptical I was also stuffing my face.  It made me think of that movie where the guy is on a treadmill eating a piece of fried chicken. 

Now I have done it.  I am craving fried chicken. 

Honestly I have been feeling more than a little sick to my stomach for the past few days.  There should a limit to the amount of pasta salad a person can eat and you would have thought I would have found it.  I didn’t. 

Now I am paying for the extra weight on the run.  What do you do when even you sweat pants feel tight.  I am just kidding about that for now.  Seriously I have lose some of these holiday pounds and the holidays are not even over yet. 

Daily recap:

Matt: Ran outside in the fresh air and sunshine

Kelly: 1 hour with personal assistant 

Day 203: One More Day of Elliptical

Seriously, there is one more day left that I have to use this elliptical machine.  I spent most of the day taking all my stuff home and preparing for Kelly and her mom to come home.  My knee was really bothering me this morning but it got better as the day went on. 

I know I have over eaten this Thanksgiving since even my fat pants are getting a little snug.  Thank God I finished the pecan pie today and there is no more.  Luckily the sweet potato pie wasn’t as good as I thought it would be or else I would have eaten more of it too.

I am accepting the fact that I will probably not be watching what I am eating until after the first of the year.  It’s just easier that way during the holidays.  I will instead try (notice I said try) to eat less but still eat what I want. 

Why is it that everything that is super high in calories and sugar has to taste so good?  Well, not everything, like I said, the sweet potato pie was disappointing. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Elliptical workout last day

Kelly: Walk around Paris all morning

Day 202: Go Dawgs! Beat Tech!

I thought elliptical machines were supposed to be good for your knees, however, after yesterday’s long workout my knees are bothering me today. I spoke briefly with Kelly about this and she said her knees bother her as well if she does a long workout using the elliptical. 

For that reason I kept it easy today by doing a fat burning workout rather than a hill climber or endurance.   The pace didn’t really push me and I still broke a good sweat during the workout.  That was not the highlight of the day though.  Yesterday my father-in-laws physical therapist gave us permission to get out and head to my house for some college football.

After being down most of the game UGA made a heck of a come back and won the game in OT.  The perfect ending to any day!

Daily Recap:

Matt: Elliptical workout

Kelly: Over 14 miles in Paris

Day 201: Day After Thanksgiving in Paris

So I am watching my father-in-law after his hip replacement surgery and he can’t be left alone so I find myself back in the basement with the elliptical machine.  Today I decided that with all the food I have been consuming I really need to up the amount of exercise I am doing and really burn some of these calories off. 

I put in a DVD that I found in the basement (anyone remember Excalibur the movie for the 1980s?) and set the elliptical on a 45 minute calorie burning workout.  I figured if the issue I have with my feet got to bother me too bad I would just take a break. 

I started watching the movie and working out.  Ok, I know some people love this movie but it is really bad.  The only good actor in it is Patrick Stewart who acts circles around the other actors. What is up with Merlin’s metal skull cap.  It seems to me that a metal skull cap would be the last thing you would want to wear in cold damp England. 

The movie was so bad it sucked me in.  I found myself watching wondering how much worse it could get and it was a good distraction from the boring workout.  The machine barked at me several times to hurry my pace and that I was falling behind. 

When it was thankfully all over I had burned 750 calories and my legs were shaky from the strain.  The best part was turning Excalibur off!

Daily Recap:

Matt: 45 minutes and 750 calories on the elliptical

Kelly: Walked over 11 miles in Paris

Day 200: Happy Thanksgiving! Turkey and Pie!

I hate turkey.  There I have said it.  I hate it with a passion.  I would rather have ham.  A holiday without ham just isn’t a holiday.  Today is Thanksgiving where we as a people sit down with the deliberate attempt to stuff our faces with as much food as possible.

After our really big lunch I dropped Kelly and her mom off at the airport for their trip to Paris.  That left me and her dad to eat leftovers and fend for ourselves. 

In my in-laws basement is an elliptical machine that we use to have at our house but we ran out of room. After I changed the batteries I hopped on for an afternoon workout.  That is when I remembered something else I hate, I don’t know if anyone else has this trouble but when I use an elliptical my toes go to sleep.  Eventually the bottoms of my feet tingle. 

I pushed through it.  I had chosen the hill climb routine.  It builds in resistance and forces you to keep up a rather hurried pace.  I sweating profusely and my heart rate got up to around 160.  The machine said that I could switch direction to exercise a different muscle group.  Going backwards was pretty dang hard. 

By the end I was feeling worn out.  So I dragged myself up stairs for a shower and then rewarded my hard work with a nice big piece of pecan pie with whipped cream!

Daily Recap:

Matt: Elliptical machine workout

Kelly: TBD

Day 199: I Don't Like TV Screens

I am not kidding with the title.  This week has been an absolute pleasure to drive to and from work.  There has been practically no one on the roads and I barely slowdown in the slow spots.  Since there is not really much going on I headed home early from work. 

It has rained most of the day and this afternoon isn’t much different.  I headed for the gym again this time for the treadmill.  After that there isn’t much to really talk about.  I started slow and at a small incline and increased both until I was at a 3.5 incline and 6 mph. 

I use the treadmills without TV screens.  For some reason I find the TV screened treadmills are distracting and I feel that I am too close to the screen.  I have run with treadmills that have screens before but I am not sure why these bother me.  Staring at the screen makes me a little motion sick   as I bounce up and down.  I tried turning off the TV but then you are looking at your reflection huffing and puffing back at you.  I realized for the first time that I make some scary faces while jogging.

Daily Recap:

Matt: Running at the gym on the treadmills without TV screens.

Kelly: Gym treadmill routine.

Day 198: Old Guys with Weights

Kelly did back to back workouts with her trainer and was too sore to hit the gym with me.  I wanted to hit the weights.  As I have mentioned before we have a new gym and since it closer to suburbia there are more older clientele.  There are a couple of older men I would think in their late 50’s and early 60’s who I have only seen one other time and they are serious about weightlifting. 

It’s intimidating to see a couple of old guys throw down on the pull down machine and then you follow behind them and have to set the weights lower.  Not that I could pull down what they had, I could, rather I could only do it a few times.  I followed them on the Chest Press machine too.  Not good.

I don’t think either one of these two have to worry about falling down and not getting back up.  I am not saying they had Hulk Hogan physics, they did not. They looked mostly normal but they were throwing down some weights for sure. 

I made it through my workout and was pleased to see that there was one place I could beat them.  Neither one maxed out the leg press machine.  I can and I can add weight to it. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Feeling sad at the gym after two old guys show me up

Kelly: 1 hour personal trainer

Day 197: Cold Out There

After work it was jogging time however it was freezing outside. I suited up in two pairs of pants and three shirts and sweat shirt to hit the street.  I had to burn some calories for the upcoming Thanksgiving feast. 

Half way through I warmed up.  Even though I hate running in the cold it wasn’t bad in the areas where I could still get in the sun.  For one stretch of road I was almost hot.  I had my hood up on my sweat shirt and was starting to sweat that was until I turned around.

Coming back the wind was in my face and it was chilly.  My hood directed the cold wind around my head.  I tightened the lace on the hood but the wind was persistent.  In the end I was most glad that it was over. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Run outside in the cold

Kelly: 1 Hour with personal trainer

Day 196: Heavy Yard Work

Was a slow Sunday we slept in some and hung around the house for most of the morning.  Then I remembered I needed to fix the step in the garage.  Recently we moved the fridge and now it won’t open all the way.  It is partially blocked by the step going into our house.

I started mid-morning working on that.  Ever have things momentum build on you.  You start with one simple project and the next thing you know…BAM!  That is how this snowballed.  I started with the step and needing some of my tools.  My battery drill was dead. As it charged I started cleaning out my storage shed that led me to finding my pruners and Kelly and I pruning a jasmine bush on the side of our house. 

That made me break out the rake to clean up the pruning and raking out a flower bed.  From here we weeded the flower beds and began breaking down the garden (including hand turning a quarter of it).  Next thing I know I am cleaning up behind my storage shed while Kelly is breaking down the barrels that we have had for almost a decade (it was time they were looking tired). 

Seven hours later I finished loading our trailer with trash that needed to go to the dump.  I was too tired and achy to do much else.  I thought about trying to hit the gym but I was covered in sweat and hungry. 

Daily Recap:

Matt and Kelly: Heavy Yard Work

Day 195: Just Jog

Alright, another day, another dollar.  I have long ago decided that I am not the most interesting man in the world.  As I have mentioned before I go to work, I come home, I make sure I get in my exercise.  That is it really. 

Today, although it was chilly outside I had to get out and feel the pavement under my feet, breathe some fresh air, and look at something other than walls. 

I laced up my new shoes and hit the pavement.  Although it was getting dark I carried a flashlight with me, but I didn’t  wear my fancy new reflector vest.  I jogged around the neighborhood.  There is a house that is on the market and looking very run down that has been having a lot of work done on it.  It is finally starting to look good.

I did a full round and half of the neighborhood before if hit my goal of 30 minutes.  I then went longer after all Thanksgiving was coming up.

Daily Recap:

Matt: 45 minutes jogging around the neighborhood.  

Day 194: Friday at the Gym

Friday night as you know means game night where we get together and eat food that was bad for us and play board or card games.  As usual it was raining and hateful weather that makes you want to crawl under a blanket and not come out for several days.

After a trying ride home thanks to the wet roads and the idiots that decide to drive on them at top speeds with no regard to those around them I finally made it home.  Kelly was off shopping with the niece so I suited up and hit the gym.

Tonight I only did the treadmill and it was really a test.  I started slow and built up both my speed and incline.  I started at 4.5 miles an hour with a .5 incline and ended at 6 miles and hour with a 3.5 incline. 

That was really it for the day and now I am off to eat some Chinese food and play Phase 10. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Treadmill at the gym

Kellly: Treadmill workout.

Day 193: Caffeine, My Good Friend...

I love caffeine! There I have said it.  I don’t care who knows.  As far as I am concerned caffeine is good for you.  I have believed that for a long time and my belief was reaffirmed some years ago with a National Geographic story on all the good things that caffeine does for you. 

A few of the point that remember off the top of my head:

1.       It helps you think.  Caffeine increased blood flow to the brain enriching your brain cells with oxygen. 

2.       Because of this it is believed that caffeine can help battle Alzheimer’s and other brain disorders. 

3.       It is a stimulate, it can alleviate fatigue, increase your energy, and improve your physical stamina. 

4.       As a result of it being a stimulate it can help you burn fat.

The list went on and on.  It even credited the caffeine as a direct cause of the industrial revolution.  Why am I going on and on about caffeine?  Well, even though I love it and start my every day with and energy drink that is the equivalent of two cups of coffee sometimes I overdo it. 

Today when I got home I was dragging a little so I had a cup of coffee as a pick me up before I went to the gym.  The problem was less than an hour before I had an energy drink that I am so fond of  (it’s a mix that I get from the grocery store that you mix with 16 oz of water and comes in different flavors.)

I felt a little sick by the end of the workout.  I knew that I had over done the caffeine.  Not to worry.  I don’t blame my good friend Caffeine instead I blame myself.  I should have known better.  I can’t say it won’t happen again but I will try not to. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: full body weight workout

Kelly: Treadmill workout routine

Day 192: Fat and Health?

Over the last couple of months I have seen multiple articles on “healthy obese” people and how it is baffling “scientist” as to how and why these people who are overweight can maintain their weight and not fall prey to all the dangers that come with obesity. 

From some accounts it is believed that as much as 1/3 of all obese people can fall into this category.  I find it odd that this should baffle scientist.  Who are these scientists that just accept the normal parameter about health and don’t bother to question anything on nutrition or the human body.  If science should teach us one thing it should be that we don’t know anything. 

Within human DNA the instructions on building the human race can be found.  Take a look around you because these instructions vary greatly from person to person.  There is no one set of instruction set in concrete. 

I find it hard to believe that there isn’t a scientist out there that is not baffled by these findings.  It stands to reason that just as there are people who grow to over seven feet tall there will be people who are designed to weigh 300 pounds.  It seems reasonable to me that if you can grow up you can grow out. 

How many of you have had an overweight friend who lost a lot of weight and now they look terrible?  I have had a few.  Look at Al Roker for goodness sakes.  After losing all his weight he looks terrible and he admitted that while he was overweight he had no real health problems, BUT he knew they were on the way.  Why?  Because one of these baffled buffoon scientist or doctors told him so. 

I lose my mind when I read about scientist being baffled. Have they lost all sense of wonder?  Isn’t science supposed to be about asking questions and finding answers?  Instead I find that sadly today too many scientific endeavors demand that the scientists/doctors find a predetermined outcome that there is no original thought allowed in today scientific community. 

There is my rant. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Jogged around the neighborhood

Kelly: 1 hour personal trainer/jogged around the neighborhood

Day 191: Countdown to Winter

Today was another nice day and I know we don’t have too many more of them left.  The leaves have all changed and so far there have only been a couple of mornings with frost.  I know there are many, many more coming.

Those of you who have already gotten snow have to be saying, “Come on Matt, it can’t be that bad.”

I assure you it is.  See, I live in the south for a reason: I hate cold weather.  Our winters, in particular can be nasty since we live in a swampy region of the world.  Imagine freezing cold and damp all the time.  The wetness penetrates into your bones. 

With that in mind, and the weather in the low 60s I hit the pavement for some outdoor action.  I run the same route over and over again.  Some people may consider this boring for me, however, it allows me to mark my times and memorize my path.  I know what land marks I should be passing in order to make my time.  I know exactly when I have hit a mile and when I have hit two miles.  No questions.  Also on days like to day, running with towering pine trees on both side of you, you can smell the forest. 

All and all it was a good run I kept up a better than 13 minute pace for the first half and slowed for the second to just enjoy being outdoors.

Daily Recap:

Matt: Jogging outside for my exercise

Kelly: 1 hour with her personal trainer

Day 190: Feeling Beat

Today was not one of my finest days.  It started with me getting out the door about 15 minutes later than normal.  There was not one, but two accidents on the way to work. I had a good day at work, but honestly I almost always have a good day at work, I am one of those weirdos who loves his job.  I hate traffic though.  My morning commute usually 45 minutes was an hour and twenty.  Home wasn’t much better. 

Now, I am not feeling well and I just spent more time in the car that usual.  I was feeling run down and just plain tired.   It’s days like this where the Blog makes me workout whether I want to or not.  I suited up and we hit the gym.  By now you know my weight lifting total body routine. 

I slogged through it like it was a prison sentence.  I didn’t want to do it, but had to.  I go to the leg press and kept it light today.  I didn’t see any reason to go much beyond 500lbs.  I stayed slow and steady though out the whole of the routine.  In the end I was just glad to be done. 

Exhaustion plus aggravation equals going to bed early and hoping tomorrow will be much, much better.

Daily Recap:

Matt: Full body weight lifting routine

Kelly: Treadmill workout. 

Day 189: Turn It Up at the Gym

Typical lazy Sunday except it wasn’t lazy.  First we attacked our house giving it a good scrubbing from top to bottom, not that it was dirty we always keep it picked up, but you need to sweep and mop floors, clean ceiling fans, wipe down walls, all stuff you normally don’t do during a regular cleaning. 

It takes a while to knock all that out, we don’t have a massive house but a deeper cleaning and we also rearranged our bedroom, it took some time.  The last thing we do is mop so while the floors were drying we hit the gym. 

I decided to attack the treadmill and really turn it up today.  I started on a one incline and 4.5 mph and only increased from there upping the speed and the incline every 5 minutes until I finished at 6 mph at a 3.5 incline.  My legs were burning. 

I has sweat dripping from my elbows as I ran.  It was a good thing I had a gym towel with me.  After all the lifting / pulling I did I was warmed up for a work out like this. 

Daily Recap:

Matt:  setting a treadmill on FIRE

Kelly: Treadmill workout routine

Day 188: A Stroll around the Lake

It turned out to be a beautiful day.  After a nasty wet Friday we needed one.  We spent most of the day at Kelly’s parent’s house, they had bought a new flat screen and I was hanging it for them.  Off on a tangent…

I have hung a lot of TV’s and have used multiple mounting brackets.  For this TV the particual mount was by US Brown Bear (I am sure it’s a Chinese company) and the box assured me that I was going to “love this mount.”  It was true to a point.  It was the easiest TV mount I have ever hung.  Literally there were two lag screws that hold the thing to the wall. It came with a preferated template that punched out with no problems and that was that.  It took longer to hook all the cables to the TV than it did to hang it. 

Afterwards we were debating on going to the gym but, again, it was so nice out we decied to walk/jog around the lake.   Fall is beautiful along the path with a multitude of trees all with different fall colors there were shades of brown and orange along with several that were almost blood red.  There was on tree whose leaves appeared to have been dipped in gold.  All them reflecting off the surface of the lake. 

We split out time jogging some and walking some. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: hung a TV

Kelly and Matt: walk/jog around the lake (just over 3 miles) 

Day 187: Game Day

As I may have mentioned before, every Friday is game day with the family.  We all get together have dinner of some sort (usually takeout) and play games like cards, board games, etc.  I go to work earlier than usual so I can leave earlier thus making it home in time to work out without impeding the flow of game night.

It was cold, wet, and rainy all day today so when I got home I knew that I wasn’t going to run outside.  I changed and headed to the gym.  Simply enough I hit the treadmill, but that is not what I want to talk about.  I also went with a secondary purpose in mind: To identify the crazy gym people at my new gym. 

I guess because, as I have said before, out new gym is way more family oriented I haven’t really found any of the crazies that were at our last gym.  There doesn’t seem to be that element of psycho that permeated Atlanta Fitness. 

I was discussing it with Kelly and she had a sound theory.  Our last gym was surrounded with several huge apartment complexes.  These complexes attract single people in droves who are out to impress others in their peer group. Bodyplex, on the other hand, is surrounded by upper middle class subdivisions, a different type of people all together.  Makes sense to me. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Running on the Treadmill

Kelly: Treadmill workout

Day 186: Running... Out of Topics...

A cold front is moving in and the temperature is starting to drop.  I suited up with a sweat shirt and hit the pavement.  It was a good day for a jog.

Even though it was cool outside I still worked up a good sweat.  Got past the first mile in just under 13 minutes.  Started feeling tired on the way home and had to slow down some.  Running up the final hill I could feel my hamstring muscles tightening but they didn’t cramp. 

That was it really.  Not much else to talk about since most of my days are automatic like the showtime rotisserie I just set it and forget it. 

I really thought it would be easy to come up with a daily topic to complain about or throw my two cents out there but when it comes to exercise you either do it or don’t .  It is challenging getting the exerecise in every day, believe me but at this point I know it has to be done and mentally although there are days were I really don’t feel like doing a thing I push myself to do something.

By now I am a little over half way through and I have discussed everything from crazy gym people to vitamins to diets.   I am down to just the recaps now so without further ado…

Daily Recap:

Matt: 30 minute jog in the chilly evening air with the sun setting

Kelly: TBD

Day 185: Day 185: Kept the Train a ’Rollin

I realize how I have been slipping in keeping up with the blog.  I have been exercising everyday it’s just that I don’t always have time to type up my blog.  If you are wondering I keep notes of what I do every day and I still force myself some days to bang out my exercise.

Today was a tough slog.  As I have written before there are days where I seem to hit a wall.  I don’t quite understand how it works but it goes like this:  A good night’s sleep, stick to my diet, go to exercise and I have no energy.

Other days I will have maybe 5 hours of sleep, eat like crap, and kill it in a mile like it’s nothing.  I don’t get it.  I wish there was some rhyme or reason to my energy waves, since that is what they are like. 

Today was one of those bottom of the wave type days.  My legs had a hard time getting going.  I tried to increase my speed and was greeted with a side stitch.  Afterwards instead of feeling energized I felt run down and beat up. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Jog outside in decent weather, kinda chilly

Kelly: Gym workout

Day 184: 720lbs Leg Press

Wake, Traffic, Work, Traffic, Workout.

My day in 5 easy words.  They have fixed the leg press machine at the gym.  I went in put on some tunes blasting in my head phones and went heavy. 

There are always twice as many people on the cardio machines than lifting weights.  Some people it seems that is all they go to the gym for.  They drift from one cardio machine to another never bothering to pick up a weight or test out a weight machine.  One of the best things you get from weight lifting is lower blood pressure. 

It’s true.  Lifting weights helps your heart.  See, as you gain muscle mass and muscle fibers you gain strength, meaning it takes less work to make your muscles contract.  This means that your heart doesn’t have to work as hard.  I personally believe that the vast majority of people on blood pressure meds are there because they don’t exercise. 

Everyone I know on some sort of medication couldn’t jog a mile if their life depended on it.  Having to pick up anything over about 20lbs is out of the question.  I know people in active jobs who think that they get plenty of exercise throughout the day.  While they may walk several miles a day and carry things with a hand truck they are not exercising. 

In addition to helping blood pressure in both men and women, lifting weights can help with bone strength.  Especially in women.  Weight lifting has been proven to help increase bone density and can help slow and even reverse the effect of osteoporosis. 

Next time you’re in the gym think about pushing some plates.  I guarantee you that after you have thrown 720lbs on the leg press machine you will feel like you just ran 5 miles.  Trust me.

Daily Recap:

Matt: Hit the weights hard (next I am going to 800lbs on the leg press)

Kelly: Gym workout

Day 183: Monday, Monday, Monday

Winter is creeping in already with the temperatures dropping and the cold wet rain coming in.  It is my least favorite time of year.  When you combine all the leaves falling off the trees, it getting dark at 5PM and constant gray skies what is there to like about winter. 

This winter I may have a secret weapon.  Our new Gym.  It is so close and convenient that it should help those winter blues. 

I ran outside and I can’t say I enjoyed it.  It’s was cold.  Have I mentioned I hate running in cold weather. That is all I have for today.  I must have a case of the Monday’s.

Daily Recap:

Matt: 30 Minute jog outside (Hated it)

Kelly:  Gym routine. 

Day 182: Broken Leg Press Machine

Sunday’s in the our gym are nice there is hardly anyone in there.  Kelly headed upstairs for ye ole’ cardio machines.  I stayed downstairs and hit the weights.

I ran though my usual routine full body, you should know it by now.  Today, though, I made it a light weight day since I didn’t want to hurt as bad as I did last week.  Everything was going great until I got to the leg press machine.  It was out of order.  No problem.  I searched the gym and the only other leg press had an old lady on it. 

I decided to do one of my favorite exercises while I waited for her to finish up.  The Dead Lift.  These are great because they hit every major muscle group in you lower body. I didn’t have a spotter.  When I don’t have a spotter I don’t go over 100lbs unless I am on a machine, it’s just a rule I have. 

Three sets of 10 dead lifts with 100lbs and I was feeling it, especially in my inner thighs and gluts.  The key to a proper dead lift is form.  If you do them wrong you could mess up your back.  You have to keep your back straight and knees shoulder length apart.

After that I was finally able to get to the leg press.  Surprise the machine maxes out at 390lbs.  No problem.  Another three sets and I was spent.  My legs felt like jello in a good way. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Weight Lifting Full Body Work Out

Kelly: 30 Minute Cardio Routine

Day 181: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 14

It has been six months and I would estimate a little over 400 miles since I started in my Asics.  It was time for new shoes.  We set out to explore several stores and see what they have and then check out the review to see what was worth buying. 

After not really finding what we were looking for we ventured into the big shiny new sports store that just opened called Academy Sports.  It’s one of those massive sports stores that carry everything from Kayaks to Shot Guns, Golf Shirts to Running Shoes.

We did a run through of the shoe department and took pictures of the ones we were interested in and went to lunch to compare them.  I had decided on two pairs of shoes: The Saucony Kinvara 4 and the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 14.  Both got good review and both were good looking shoes.

It came down to feel.  The Saucony felt narrower than the Brooks.  Inside the shoe felt like it supported my foot in all the wrong places.  I was disappointed, after all cheap Matt knew buying the Sauconys would save $15. 

The Brooks felt perfect.  It felt softer under foot than my current pare of Asics.  They felt stable but had a little heel slippage which I figured would go away when properly laced and tied.  I got them.  Kelly got a new pair of Asics and I got a reflective vest for night jogging.

After we got home the sun had already gone down.  I laced up my new shoes put on my reflective vest grabbed a small flash light and set out.  Even after securely lacing them there was still a tiny bit of heel slippage.  The cushioning was great giving me a soft ride and stable control running both up and down the steep hill. 

I must say I am very pleased with my new shoes and would recommend the Adrenaline series to any runner. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Jog / Testing out my new shoes

Kelly: TBD 

Day 180: Philly Cheese Steak

Kelly came home from Philly today. 

I left work early so I could get a good jog in before I had to pick her up from the airport.  I guess you could say that driving to work this morning was my first mistake.  Here I am sitting in my new car as I past one of the first exits on my way home when the traffic report comes on the radio and the announcer says, I quote, “I wouldn’t wish what is happening on 285 south bound on my worst enemy right now. All traffic is at a stand still.”  Great. 

A major pot hole opened on 285 and they had to fix it during the day since, one, it was dangerous, and two, they had to do it while it was warm enough for the concrete to cure.  I took the next exit and continued to listen to the traffic report. 

Taking the back way was a nightmare as well but at least traffic was moving, even if it was only at 2 miles an hour. 

Meanwhile in Philly:

Kelly had managed to get on an early flight.  That was her mistake.  They had major problems with the plane’s de-icer and after loading and making everyone wait they finally made the call to unload the plane.  She had to de-plane and find another flight. 

Amazingly we were both delayed trying to get home Friday.  After a two hour ride home I finally made it just in time to go for a run, shower, throw the dogs in the car, and head for the airport.  That is how our day went.

Daily Recap:

Matt:  Run after work from daylight to twilight

Kelly: Exercise routine at the hotel gym

Day 179: Dinner with the In-Laws

This evening I have dinner scheduled with my in-laws.  I had hoped to get a jog in before dinner but ran out of time. There were several things that had to get done and all of them were important. 

Bottom line is I wound up wasting a portion of my evening because Best Buy changed a policy about getting your phone fixed.  We have the service through them that if anything happens to our phones we take it to them and they fix it.  Well now that has changed.  My mother-in-law’s phone keep freezing.  It does it randomly and since the protection plan we have is in my name I needed to take it in. 

After playing with the phone for 30 minutes the kid behind the counter tells me he can’t fix the phone because he can’t get it to freeze.  Okay what am I supposed to do with at phone that works when it wants too.   He actually told me to drop it and bring it back in when his manager wasn’t there that way he could send it all.  Utter nonsense. 

Anyway I had a great dinner and on my way home I remembered I still needed to work out.  Now it is completely dark out and I would prefer not to get hit by a car I decided to lift weights. 

I did my complete body workout with my dumbbells and a medium weight.  Typical three sets with a minimum of 10 reps. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Full body weight workout

Kelly: TBD

Day 178: Jogging in the Dark

Today I went for a walk after lunch at work. Not a long one about 10 minutes but long enough to walk around the “Galleria Gardens” as it is called outside my building.  It was a beautiful day and I was surprised at how quite it is.  Although there is a hotel and a mall right across the street there was only a hand full of people out and half those were maintenance men working on cleaning out the fountain.

The “Galleria Gardens” are a strip between the cluster of 5 building simply called the Galleria where I work.  The company I work for is located in the 300 building so we our 2^nd floor lobby opens out into the middle of the gardens.  It is also where all the food trucks park for “Food Truck Tuesdays.”

After work I wanted to try my legs at jogging again. This time was much better.  Again I wasn’t going to set a speed record but I was able to keep a steady pace.  I was surprised at how fast the sun went down and the last quarter of my jog was spent in almost dark.  I am going to have to get one of those reflecting vests.

Daily Recap:

Matt:  Both a walk and a jog

Kelly: TBD

Day 177: I Did Hurt Myself

As I stated yesterday I set out to hurt myself. I succeeded somewhat.  I am nowhere near as sore as I have been when I have stopped lifting heavy and then went back at it.  I guess some of this can be attributed to the fact that I am making an effort to do some sort of physical activity every day. 

Then again it does hurt to raise my hands above my head but not so bad I can’t stand it.  My legs hurt too.  I was going to jog it out but it hurts to walk at least until I warm up some.  So for exercise and because he can drag me if need be I took Chloe for a speed walk around the neighborhood.  The thing is now with the time change it is getting dark quickly and I hate that.

Why can’t day light savings time be in the winter?  I would vote to make it daylight out side everyday until 7pm.  Think how great it would be to get off work in the winter and still have enough light left in the day to actually do something outside. 

After the walk my legs felt better until I sat down for the night then getting back up was a painful process.

Daily Recap:

Matt: 30 Minute Speed Walk

Day 176: I Plan On Hurting Myself

No, the title is not a plea for help more like an actual statement.  It has been a few weeks since I lifted weights and a little longer than that since I have gone really heavy so I know that I was going to hurt myself when I returned to the gym to push some plates.

Today was the first day evening that I would be going to our new gym.  I was not shocked when I pulled into the parking lot and it was full.  I expected it.  Our last gym was packed from about 4pm to 7pm.  Supposed you wanted to lift free weights during that time, well more often than not you were S.O.L. as every horded various weights to themselves.  You couldn’t find a dumbbell between 10 and 35lbs if your life depended on it.  They disbursed throughout the gym. 

Worse still people would horde the machines as well.  Multiple times at our old gym I would share a machine (not that I am against sharing) with someone else getting in my reps while they rested and vice versa.  This meant having to change out grips and readjust the machines and so on.  No, it’s not the end of the world but it is a pain in the butt. 

Back to the new gym.  So there I was parking in a crowed parking lot already dreading going in and thinking “how bad could it be?”  I was shocked at how empty it looked inside.  Seriously, most people were up stairs on the cardio machines or in the big dance/step class they had going on.  There were no meat heads (you know, guys that are obviously shooting steroids) at the free weights. In fact I counted a total of 5 people in the free weight section.  This I could dig. Plenty of room and no having to share.

I stuck to my full body work out doing a 12, 10,8,6 set/rep workout cycling through the major muscle groups and increasing the weight each set.  I upped my game when I got to the leg press.

When I last left off on the leg press I was at 540lbs and felt that there was room to grow.  Today I jacked that way up.  I put 720 pounds on the press and for the first time I felt like I am starting to hit my max weight.  I could still push 720lbs for 10 reps but that was pushing it.  When I climbed out of the leg press I my legs felt like jelly. 

I finished my work out without having to stop once or share weights at five in the afternoon.  The new gym, I like it. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Full body heavy weight workout.  Shoulders, Chest, Back, Triceps, Biceps, and Legs.

Kelly: TBD

Day 175: Destination: Dallas, Texas

This morning was a bit hectic.  Kelly had an early afternoon flight to Dallas and, as usual, there seemed to be a ton of things that needed to get done and not enough time to get them done in.  After breakfast which consisted of a “Green Monster” (more on that later)  we hit our new gym again.

This time we jumped on the regular treadmills.  I was determined to pick up my speed and burn some calories. I started at a 4.5 mile an hour jog and increased the speed and incline ever few minutes.  Soon I had a pace at 5.8 miles an hour and a 3.5 incline.  This I found challenging.  I dialed down the incline and held 6.1 miles an hour for two minutes before running out of gas.  I consistently held my heart rate way above what the recommended values on the treadmill peaking at 169 beats a minutes and holding it there during the 6 mile and hour run.

I dialed down the speed and ramped up the incline and was able to hold my heart rate to a consistent 148 a minute walking at 3.8 on a 10 incline.  I don’t hold on to the treadmill either. It always cracks me up when you see these people who have a 10 or 12 incline and they are holding on to the side handles for dear life.  You are not getting the benefit of that full incline so what is the point.

Now we move back to the “Green Monster.”  Kelly found a smoothie recipe that includes Spinach, Kale, Coco nut milk, and a frozen banana.  I was shocked at how not bad it tasted as a long time ago I had tried several smoothie recipes that I could not stand.  We sweeten it up a little with some honey and you hardly notice the veggies in it.  However the white coconut milk turns to pale green in the blender.  Thus the name. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: Killed it on the treadmill at our new gym

Kelly: Treadmill work out prescribed by her trainer

Day 174: A New Car, A New Gym

Well, we got up this morning and after breakfast headed to the dealership to get our first look at our new car.  It’s a black Rio 5 hatchback with a tan interior.  I took it for a quick test drive then all we had to do was sign some paperwork and presto like magic we drove away in a new vehicle.

I must say I am looking forward to driving a car with an ability to hook my iPod to the radio.  Previously I had a tape deck and adaptor in the Honda until the tape deck ceased working.  I used the cd changer for audio books from the library but you don’t realize how spoiled you get.  Changing out CDs was a pain especially since the changer was mounted in the trunk. 

Although I got decent gas mileage in the Honda I should get 11+ miles better in the new Kia.  It’s a comfortable ride with no flash.  Hey, it is what it is a purely commuter car.  I have the 4 Runner with moon roof and all power everything as the family vehicle.

This afternoon we hit the new gym for the first time together. It’s not bad either, like I previously said, no pool but then again I never used it.  They did have these machines with preprogrammed running paths that let you choose to jog in several major cities and different countries.

For our workout we chose jogging through northern Italy.  While the screen shows you running through various parts of the North Country it also scrolls facts about where you are running.  You get a work out and an education.  How awesome is that?

Daily Recap:

Matt and Kelly: Bought a new car and jogged through northern Italy.  What a day

Day 173: Every Buy A Car Over The Phone?

My Pops buys cars like this.  He does the research, finds the vehicle, then calls up all the dealerships gives them exactly what he wants and what he wants to pay for it and the first ones that say yes to all his demands he buys from.  I had set an appointment at a dealership when my wife reminded me of this.  I followed his example.

I am looking at the Kia Rio. It’s a small compact car that gets really great gas mileage which is a must for me since I will put over 20,000 + miles on it a year.  It got good owner reviews and has a decent crash test rating.  I put in a call to three dealerships including the one I had made a sales appointment with.  I told them specifically what I was looking for and that I wanted to verify that they had it on the lot before I went since I didn’t want to waste my time.

One called me back and they called back in less than 10 minutes.  After a few minutes of conversation with my salesman, his name is Kelvin, he promised to find what I was looking for and let me know if it was even available.

I was looking for the base line model at MSRP.  Another 10 minutes later he called.  They had found the car and could get it down to the price I wanted to pay for it.  I gave him my information for financing.   After lunch he called me again and confirmed everything was exactly as I had wanted it the car would be in tomorrow morning and I could pick it up then. 

Easy as pie. 

I got home and wouldn’t you know it had another good run clocking in the first mile at a little over 12 minutes and the second at a little over 12 and a half.  Ever feel like things are finally going your way?

Daily recap:

Matt: 30 minute really good jog

Kelly: treadmill routine at our new gym which I still have not visited

Day 172: My Car Fell Apart (Happy Halloween)

Picture this.  I leave work.  I get in my car, a 1996 Honda Accord, I turn the key and nothing happens.   So I try again.  Nothing.  Again, and again, and again.  Nothing happens.  Finally all the lights on my dash come on and my driver side window falls.  That’s right it’s a powered window and with the car not even on the window falls.  It’s now half open.

After a few more tries the car finally starts. When I try to roll up the window all I get is a buzz clicking and the window is not moving.  I believe I get the message, with 260,000 + miles on the road the car is as tired as I felt earlier in the week.  Now, in addition to all the other things wrong with it, the window won’t work and it’s a guessing game as to whether it will start regularly or not. 

After I got home Kelly and I check out several cars and made a decision in literally less than an hour as to what our next car would be.  That is how we do it.  I had made an appointment for a local dealership and then changed and was out the door for my run. 

I had gotten a really good night’s sleep and felt really well.  Usually the day after a hard run I feel tired, but not today.  I killed the first mile in under 12 minutes and I kept going.  It’s Halloween and I know I am going to eat some candy so I need to run off those calories.

Daily Recap:

Matt: My car fell apart, I found another car that I would like to buy, I had a good jog, and I ate some candy.  That is a good day. 

Kelly:  1 hour with her personal trainer

Day 171: A New Gym

As you know I have talked about quitting our old gym.  We originally joined it when I worked on the other side of town and it was convenient.  Now there is no reason to head that way unless we are going to the gym.  It’s a pain to go when I get off at 5, when traffic is so bad it can be up to 50 minutes round trip.

Less than 5 minutes from my house is another gym.  It’s not as big or as nice but it is still less than three years old.  Really, the only two things it doesn’t have is a full sized basketball court and a swimming pool.  Neither of which I used I guess I won’t miss them anyway.

Kelly check it out today and signed us both up.  She took the tour and they explained to me the challenge that they offer every new member.  They call it the Bodyplex Challenge.  That is the name of the place, Bodyplex. 

When you complete the challenge you get a fee t-shirt, and something else I don’t remember off hand at the moment.  I am looking forward to checking the place out.

I ran today.  I really ran.  I turned in two miles in 25 minutes and jogged out the last five minutes pretty slow. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: 30 minutes and this time I ran.

Kelly: Gym routine on the treadmill at our new gym. 

Day 170: Try Again

Ever have those days were you just don’t want to do anything?  Yes, this was one of those days.  I think I am still suffering from some jet lag.  I don’t know. 

I tried to jog again and again was not feeling it.  This time however I forced myself through it and all though I kept a painfully slow pace I kept telling myself to put one foot in front of the other.  According to my stop watch, I didn’t have my phone on me with Run Keeper running because the battery was almost dead when I got home, I had jogged the first half mile in a little over 7 minutes. 

You guessed it my first mile was at 14:48 practically walking only I was walk jogging, jalking I guess you could call it.  It’s like a run walk only slower.  I was tired, really, really tired. 

Hopefully after a good night sleep I will be better tomorrow.

Daily Recap:

Matt: 30 minutes a just over walking

Kelly: TBD

Day 169: Returning To Normal

I got up this morning and went to work. Vacation is officially over.  I battled traffic that backed up due to an accident and debris in the road which was not one, but two rolls of carpet.  One would think that one would realize massive rolls of carpet falling off their truck.  Evidently not. 

I was pleasantly surprised to find only 80 emails in my In Box at work.  Then I sat behind my desk all day and worked.  When I got home I wanted to run.

I suited up and hit the pavement.  My body wasn’t really feeling it though.  I don’t know if I was still feeling the effects of jet lag or just plain tired but my legs were not letting me carry my bulk at any real speed no matter how hard I pushed them.  Then came the painful side stitch and I got the hint.  I finished out my 30 minutes. 

I find jet lag can be like muscle soreness sometimes it is the third day that really gets you.  It is rare that I suffer from jet lag since I usually try to set my mind to the time zone I am traveling to. I have had it really bad twice.

The first time was on our first trip to Ireland.  We were there for 16 days and I had a hard time every morning just waking up.  I felt off the whole trip.  The second time I got messed up from jet lag was my first trip to Hawaii.  It was killer for two days I was just exhausted. 

You would think that it would have been terrible in Australia but I had no problems at all.  I believe that it was due to my super power ability to sleep on planes.  I slept for 10 hours out of the 14 hour plane ride.  I felt fine the whole time. 

Daily Recap:

Matt: 30 jogging and walking

Kelly: 1 hour with personal trainer

Day 168: Slow Down Sunday (After Italy)

After such a hectic, I don’t think I would call it a vacation, maybe a trip to check on our house.  While it was fun it was also exhausting.  We decided to take off and spend it sitting on the couch catching up on all of our favorite TV shows.  We are huge fans of The Walking Dead, The Voice, and Revolution. With Kelly being gone for forever we had a lot to catch up on.

Around 3PM I was starting to feel the need to get out.  Too much vegetating and the sun shining right outside my window was making it hard to just stay in.  We were all feeling it.  So we decided to speed walk our neighborhood and take Chloe with us so she could get out of the house too. 

We burned up the neighborhood including tackling the monster hill that always makes you huff and puff by the time you get to the top. It was a good walk that even had Chloe slowing by the end of our thirty minutes.

That was what I needed.  Feeling good from the movement and soaking up some sun I was able to return to the couch.  I don’t know if you are watching this season of The Walking Dead, if not you need to, that show is fantastic!

Daily Recap

Matt, Kelly, and Chloe 30 Minute Speed Walk.

Day 167: Roaming Around Rome and Atlanta Bound

Once again we were planning on being stuck on a plane for over 10 hours so we needed to get in some real exercise to help aid in the stress caused by such a journey.  We set out to try to see both the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps before returning to our hotel to get ready to leave. 

Not many people are out at 7am in Rome.  The streets were covered in sweepers, both people with brooms and those motorized spray and wash vehicles with the huge circular brushes.  They were doing a good job of cleaning the city. As we walked we also passed shop keepers cleaning windows and preparing to open stores. 

We made it to the Trevi Fountain pretty easily.  The signs, although while there were not enough of them, were adequate in showing the way.  One of my main complaints is when you get to a fork in the path and the last sign you passed said say straight which way is straight?  You have to guess while a simple sign would make it easier.

After the Trevi Fountain we started following the signs to the Spanish Steps but as you can guess these were woefully inadequate.  We got lost and by the time we found out where we were it was time to turn around and hoof it back to the hotel. 

Now I will fast forward just watch…

There we are at the airport…there we are sitting on the plane… there are eating on the plane… there we are watching movies on the plane… there the plane is landing… and…

Now we landed in Atlanta. Here is where I am going to gripe a bit.

The new international terminal is “F” we landed in “E” and had to walk to “F.” That is not short walk.  You have to hoof it through hallway after hallway and corridor after corridor.  It is really ridiculous.  While it wasn’t a big deal for me there were a great many older folks on the plane that took twice as long to make it to immigration.

What I found interesting was how FitBit recorded the whole thing.  Below is the bar chart that FitBit gave me.  The first bars in the green are where we pounded the pavement in Rome.  The second set of orange line is me waking through the airport. 

FitBit Steps Activity Chart

Daily Recap:

Matt and Kelly: Speed Walking Rome