Spinning and Biking

So today - I got up at 4:15 and got on the computer (in the bed -- sad I know). Then headed out to the gym to get a quick ab workout in before spin class. Yesterday I did arms and shoulders- courtesy of Px90. Which by the way, has a some really tough workouts . Even those without weights are pretty challenging.

Anyway, today I did spin - which was only moderately hard (new teacher - she needs to toughen up a bit) , then I came home - got kids ready, then biked to work.

Biking to work is something that I have always thought about, but I've only done it once. The barrier has been my outfits and the possibility of sweating. I've wondered "Do I carry an extra outfit? Wear my bike shoes and bring an extra pair? Do I wear a backpack or use my rack? And what about helmet head hair? "

Well today, I put all that aside , and decided to ride. Truthfully, my car needs to go into the body shop - because I ruined the spoiler . But I digress.... I decided to ride and it wasn't half bad. I wore a pretty casual outfit, with my Cole Haan loafers (No clipping in with my bike shoes) and wore my hair back in a ponytail. I wore a windbreaker - since the weather is so unpredictable. As I made my way up the small monster hill, I realized the jacket was a mistake. As I crested, I started to break a sweat. I made it to work and luckily had enough time to freshen up before my meeting.

I think I may do it again:)

Spark

So there is a new book out called Spark- the revolutionary new science of exercise and the brain. Essentially ,the book proves the strong and direct connection between exercise and mental well being. From my own experience, I've known for a long time, that this connection is very real.

The physical benefits of exercise are pretty well known. Exercise helps prevent diabetes, cardio- vascular disease and many other potentially life threatening illnesses. What is not often discussed, is the positive benefits of exercise on mental illness - depression and anxiety in particular. I'm sure this is because the pharma industry makes billions of dollars from anti depressants or serotonin re uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). If people knew that there a great deal of research that proves that exercise is as effective as medication on depression/anxiety, the pharma industry would suffer -so of course the info is suppressed. The funny thing is that doctors are not certain about how these classes of medications work (SSRI, SNRIs, MAOIs). They are quick to prescribe- and adjust based on trial and error. Vigorous exercise on the other hand, is almost guaranteed to work. It triggers the same chemicals in the brain that many of the medications trigger. Endorphins and Serotonin are both released during exercise , and can have sustained effects.

I feel so strongly about the need to drive awareness and education around this, that I started a non profit organization devoted to driving advocacy, awareness and education around the benefits of exercise on mental health.

I started it because I've had my own journey in this area, and drugs were the first thing pushed my way. No one mentioned exercise or alternative therapy. The first recourse was to try medication. In my journey, I've learned a ton and I'd love to stop the over medication of America. There are so many uniformed conversations occurring in the offices of therapists and psychiatrist - and it is unfortunate that patients feel captive to the advice. Education in this area is key. The data is there... the proof is there. But what incentive does a psychiatrist have to push exercise instead of a drug? NONE. The proof exists and I'm glad this book is out. Hopefully it will help move the needle on awareness and the inclusion of exercise as a therapy (in addition to or instead of drugs).

I plan to do my part.

pain and suffering

What happens when you do a heavy leg workout on one day and then follow it up with a 90 minute super tough spin class the next day? Oh and you are no spring chicken? I'll tell you what happens... Pain and Suffering . For two days I had pain in areas that I did not know existed. i had trouble doing everything, walking sitting , standing... everything.
Ok so - now I know that spinning is not a good recovery for a leg workout.

On the food side - I don't know what is wrong with me. I do well in the day .. but then at night it all goes to pot. Something happens around 9:30 when I NEED to have a cup of tea. Not just any cup of tea, I must have my special lose tea from France, with my special fresh whipped Vanilla Velvet Honey . Well at 200c for 2 teaspoons, this honey comes a quite a price. Oh then, I need cookies to go with it. Not just any cookies but Pepperidge Farm Chessman cookies. So good, but so bad.

Get out of bed!

• 5am - lying in the bed thinking about getting up. Feeling tired and loving the way the bed
  feels
  5:15 - thinking that I need to decide if I am going to the gym or not
  5:45 - Telling myself to GET OUT OF THE BED. Jumping up - thinking that if I
  get to the gym - perhaps I can catch 45 min of spin
  6:15 Hop on bike - but
  decide to listen to my own music instead of music in class. ( kinda rude but I
  was not in the mood for hard rock).
  6:45 - wanting to cry because my legs
  are ON FIRE. Hill climb -heavy seated climb and standing speed. Uggh
  7:15 - Still going
  because class is 90 minutes today ..yay
  7:30 - finish class.. feeling good but a
  little tired.
  8:00 thinking that I will be sore because of my heavy leg
  workout yesterday
  and this long spin class
  
  6pm - wrapping up my day, feeling a little
  soreness in my legs and back.
  8pm - definitely sore - having trouble walking up stairs.

Handle it....one day at a time

Some people are sensitive to caffeine, other to nitrates, some are even sensitive to red dye #14. I am sensitive to endorphin induced serotonin. Working out is like a drug. Spin class in particular, makes me a little high. It is somewhat of a spiritual experience for me. The woman that starts spin is not the same woman that finishes. Some time between minute 15 and minute 20, I transform from a struggling person who would rather be in the bed, to a strong athlete who feels like she can do anything. I begin the class saying give me strength, by the end of class I'm saying bring it on! What I like most about spin class is that you can make it as hard as you can handle. And handle it I do.

One of my favorite spin instructors would always say "It won't be easy...handle it". Growth happens during the toughest part of the class - when you are working the hardest. I repeat that phrase often - during spin class and at other times. The fact is, very few things are easy - and if they are it means there is no growth. Whether it is finishing spin class, staying motivated to finish my book, working through relationship challenges or work related issues.. It is not easy. My task is to handle it.

So I've been thinking about my need to have a big goal. I've decided that I don't want a big goal right now. Staying consistent and on track - one day at a time... is a big enough goal right now.

The Journey Continues

So roughly 2 1/2 years ago , I started on this journey to improve my health by losing weight and getting fit. I knew that I was in a bad place being 50lbs overweight and unfit. I knew that the weight could shorten my life and create the environment for heart disease, diabetes etc. I knew all this , but couldn't get out of it. My mind wasn't in the right place , so I wasn't motivated enough to change my eating. I was using food in all the wrong ways... as comfort , as a stress reliever and overall as an outlet for my emotions.

I have always been someone who likes to set big goals and accomplish them. I get motivated by the challenge of succeeding . On some levels I think I have an addiction to accomplishments. However, when it came to losing weight, I just didn't want it bad enough. When I moved to Washington from NJ, I met a bunch of really fit people and had the support of a company sponsored weight loss program. I decided to get serious about the weight loss and used a triathlon as a motivation. After all , given my fitness level, completing a triathlon would be a humongous accomplishment. So my journey began . What an amazing journey it has been. I've learned so much, experienced the joy of getting fit, completed 4 triathlons, 2 50mile bike rides, lost 58lbs and motivated others to get fit. The problem with my accomplishment addiction is that once I accomplish something, the thrill is gone. It is hard to do it again.

So here I am, in an uncomfortable but sadly familiar place. My motivation is waning, the emotional eating is slowly but steadily resurfacing and my 5 workouts a week often get replaced by other priorities. The downturn started in April and I've not been able to get back on the train since then. Since April, I've gained 11 lbs and only been able to lose 3 . I feel like I am at a turning point . I need to get back on track or be a part of a recidivism statistic- the people that lose weight and then quickly gain it back. If past is prologue, the solution for me is to find big goal to go after. The goal has to be bigger than just losing weight . It has to be something that is more difficult for me than completing another triathlon. Sure I could set a goal of a longer triathlon - say a 1/2 Ironman, but I need to face the reality that my running game is not going to improve by much (given the condition of my knees).

This blog, strangely enough, keeps me motivated and reminds me of what I've accomplished. it is my way of staying accountable to my no limit, no excuses way of living. It is less about the fact that a few people read it (and I am so grateful for the support/love:) , but more about the accountability to myself.

So what is my big goal? What will keep me motivated? How will I not be a statistic? The journey continues.