Friday, November 16, 2012

I'm Waning


Before I get into my "rant" I just have to say – "Breaking Dawn Part 2" was great!! That ending really blew me away. That's all I have to say. That, and I'll be seeing it again (with my daughter – again) this morning!!
 
Now, where was I? Oh yes. Since I lost my job, I've been doing a decent job at exercising. Hit the gym on M-W-F, walk outside on T-Th. Then the weather turned cold and put a wrench into things.

My motivation is waning.

I still go to the gym on M-W-F (well, except for those days, like today), but the walking isn't happening. First, it became too dark and I didn't have anything light colored to wear so I could be seen (since part of my course doesn't have sidewalks). Then it became too cold, so I resorted to the treadmill.

I'm finding I really, really, REALLY hate the treadmill in the basement. Ah heck, I just hate the treadmill. I don't mind using it for 20 minutes at the gym (as warm-up to weight-training), but for an hour, it's just too much.

I love walking outside. There's no quitting in the middle because I still have to walk back. But on a treadmill?

Yeah, I can step off that thing any damn time I want. And I am.

30 minutes into my walk outside, and I have a 30 minute walk home. 30 minutes into my walk on the treadmill, and I'm done. That's if I make it that far.

Why oh why is it so hard for me? My willpower SUCKS, that's for sure.

I sure hope I survive the winter. I'd hate to have to start all over again, because that's even worse.

Any tips on how I can stay on the stupid thing? Reading apparently isn't working (and I LOVE to read!!). Or should I just be glad I'm at least walking 30 minutes on the sucker?

Happy Friday!

11 comments:

Maria Zannini said...

My friend mounted a little tv on her wall in front of her treadmill. She watches a movie or pre-recorded tv show every day.

The Happy Whisk said...

I love my treadmill. I use music, but Maria's idea might work better for you. You could watch Vampire stuff while you exercise.

Jennifer Shirk said...

i was going to suggest putting a tv in front too!

Jennette Marie Powell said...

A lot of people watch TV on the treadmill, but that didn't work for me. You said you're reading on it? Because that's what I do - and it totally works for me!! (And believe me, nothing else has). But it didn't work with paper books. Too hard to turn pages, and the book rack is positioned for someone much taller than me. Solution: ebooks on my netbook. It fits perfectly in the book rack and is just the right height, and all I have to do is hit page down. So maybe that would work? Good luck!

Stacy McKitrick said...

Maria, Ivy, & Jennifer: We do have a TV in front of the treadmill (it's how my husband can walk on one). Unfortunately, I don't wear my glasses when I exercise (when I sweat, they're annoying). I can read without my glasses, but watching TV is pretty much out. And yeah, I don't wear them when I walk outside, either. I can tell if a car is coming at me easy enough!

Jennette - You're just trying to get me to buy an e-book reader, aren't you??? :)

Erin Kane Spock said...

I can't help you, sorry.
Good for you, though, in getting into exercise.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Thanks, Erin! It was hard to get started, so I don't want to lose that momentum!

James Garcia Jr said...

Ooh! A treadmill discussion! Hi, Stacy. I used to run. There's a perfect 2-mile rectangle around my neighborhood from my door and back, but I didn't dare risk running with my video iPod, so I eventually quit.
Last spring we bought a treadmill and put it in the garage. It's not a lot of fun running when the weather is 108, but I did it. I worked my 11 hrs and then hit the treadmill for an hour, 3-5 days a week. I powerwalk at a full incline for 2 miles, then run for another 2-3 miles at no incline, slowly raising the speed from 5 to 5.5 to 6.0 and sometimes a bit faster.
I just want to encourage you to keep going. I went from 192 lbs to 179 lbs and feel so much better.
I powerwalk with my Kindle sometimes, and the rest of the time I crank my music and just keep running.
I hope you will, too.

-Jimmy

Stacy McKitrick said...

Hi Jimmy! I doubt I'll ever run. I hated running when I was in the Army, and that hate has never diminished! But I do love to walk. Just not on the treadmill. But I'll keep trying (at least 30 minutes is 30 minutes longer than nothing!). I put a fan down in the basement to help keep me cool, and it helped a little. Maybe it'll grow on me, but I'd really rather walk outside, as long as it's warmer than 40 degrees! That won't be for awhile, I'm afraid. :(

Michael Seese said...

Since you read my blog, I can include a "commercial," aka, a link to it. I can't speak for all authors, but when I'm focused on my characters and a specific scene, I can "write" dialog in my head SO easily. (Scenery and exposition are harder.) So I got a USB digital voice recorder, and Dragon voice recognition software. I walk. I talk. Then I plug it in to my PC and let technology do its magic.

If you want to read a little more, try this:

http://michaelseese.blogspot.com/2011/12/i-love-my-brain.html

or this:

http://michaelseese.blogspot.com/2012/01/im-walking-yes-indeed-and-im-talkin.html

Stacy McKitrick said...

Michael - I'll have to check those out. Thanks. I got lucky this morning. It was 42 degrees and NOT raining (shocker!). I got my outside walk in and relished it, figuring it will be the last for quite a while!