OK. I know I have to do it. Getting started is the hard part.

About me: I wasn't always the couch potato I now am. Actually was a card carrying Golds Gym member. One of those "serious" Golds, not the juice bar variety. Got tired of waiting for equipment. Bought a Body Solid Smith Gym. Was doing well. There I was in May of 2000, in the middle of my LBW, writing down my pounds and reps in that little one minute rest between exercises in the BFL program, when I got the call that my son had died. Now I know intellectually that lifting weights and suddenly becoming a childless mother have very little to do with each other. But, emotionally it is a totally different story. I couldn't even go into that room for months. I've moved since then. The smith machine is set up. The elliptical trainer is in there also, (in a fit of stupidity I gave away my treadmill, stepper and semi-recumbant bike). But I still have enough equipment to do this properly. And I need to do it.

I am about 10 pounds from goal weight. Very soft. Need to build some muscle. Need to get myself motivated.

So this will be my accountability page. Please help me here. If I don't start posting workouts, give me a hard time about it.
Thanks in advance!

Atriana, you had a justifiable reason for stopping the fitness routine. Now, you have a justifiable reason for getting back at it. You can do this, you will do this. For you.

I'm not going to promise to nag, but I might be good for a few rah rah's



Doreen

Still having a hard time getting into an organized fitness routine. I have been kayaking twice this week so far, so I guess that counts for something. Today is day 10 of my new non-smoker status. I am already getting increased energy - maybe I can get this exercise thing going soon.

Atriana-
Kayaking definitely counts! I wish you the best of luck with all your exercising. We are all here for support and well wishes!

Linda

Well, I managed to finally take the bike out today. Only 5 miles, but at least it was something. Even though I have weight equipment at home, I'm thinking of joining the gym again. Maybe if I have to shell out some money, I will be more motivated to do it. My weight has been fluctuating about 5 pounds since I quit smoking 15 days ago. Maybe the exercise will help.

OK - I finally get a gold star. I did an upper body workout today, ala BFL. Ouch - can we say triceps? Also did 20 minutes on my eliptical trainer. Off to my drum circle now - oh no, that will be more triceps, won't it?

Hey Atriana!
Just checking out your journal to see how the workouts are going! Hopefully those triceps are well rested!

Back again, trying one more time to get myself motivated enough to workout regularly. I did a BFL upper body workout last week and my muscles were in agony for the rest of the week. I guess I've got to start slower.
For the past two days I have been doing the Firms's 5 day abs, I know it is not much, but it is a start.

Did all 5 days of 5 day abs, for me that is a major accomplishment!

Started another cycle of 5 day Abs. Did Standing Legs today.

Walked for one hour today. I get a gold star.

Wow, is this journal dusty! I haven't posted here in almost a year!
Anyway, I have been working out like crazy for the past week and a half - trying to get rid of some of those quit smoking pounds. Today I did 32 minutes on the recumbant bike. Walked the dog for a mile, was going to go further but the sky opened up and we got drenched.

Hey Atriana,

good cardio today biking and walking

Hi Mischa!
Yesterday I walked on the treadmill at an incline for 90 minutes.
Today, so far, I have done the treadmill thing for 40 minutes and have done maybe a mile or so of outside walking.

Hey Atriana--

Checking out some gym logs today. I just started this week going to our local recreational complex and lifting some weights 2 days a week and swimming or doing another aerobic exercise 3 days a week.

I read your initial post and believe me you do have good reason to have lost your way on the exercise after your son died. How awful for you. I went back to grad school in 1993 and my son became very ill and they had to remove a section of his intestines. 6 weeks later the first surgery blocked off and they took him back into surgery and they weren't sure if he was going to come out of this or not--they removed another 6 feet of intestine. Atriana--I totally lost interest in school--had instructors writing me about coming back and I still to this day have no desire to do so. That incident with my son did something to my soul and I have never snaped back from it totally even though he is still doing ok now. So believe me--if you lost a son--I can understand a bit of what you must have gone through and it must have been horrible for you. I don't think I could have taken it if he had died.

Anyway--I will stop by and root you on. That really does keep me going so far and keeps me really trying to stay in line with what I hope to attain.

Have a great day and weekend Atriana!!