Getting back on the horse

Special thanks to my dear sister for the encouragement after yesterday's post.  I've just been back to the gym, determined to make a proper effort this time, to make up for my rather token efforts during the week.

I extended my walking time to 30 minutes today. I nudged the heart rate limit back down to 126bpm to make sure I would make it through the time without hurting my back, and sure enough, it worked! So hopefully tomorrow I will come back and do it again with more effort.

I also, at last, added in some of the weights exercises and ab crunches that my trainer gave me a week ago.  I don't know how many times a week I'll be able to do this, because it adds another half an hour onto my workout time.

And finally, I'm still very cross with that iPhone app that won't run any more. It was going to be the perfect way to make my progress visible because I could do the data entry immediately after the session and the graphs could be posted here straight away if they were interesting.  I'm contemplating the possibility of upgrading the iPhone to the latest OS version, but I've heard a few horror stories about the performance post-upgrade, and frankly, it isn't exactly lightning quick as it is.  Maybe I should have got a 3GS instead of going for the older less expensive model.

Slacking off a bit

It hasn't been a good week for exercise this week. I ran short of time on Tuesday and Wednesday so only did short sessions, then yesterday I had a really bad day and didn't go at all. And tonight, well the gym closes early on a Friday so it was another short session. I have promised myself I will go in the weekend and get a good workout.

Battling the blues

I don't know if it's the short winter days, lack of sleep, or just because, but the black dog has been hanging around me a bit for the last couple of weeks. That'll be why I haven't blogged much.  I have been keeping up with the exercise though - it's a good thing to do, as the endorphins help a lot.

When it comes to strategies for dealing with depression, getting enough sleep is high on the list. It's hard enough to overcome that "can't be bothered" feeling without adding the opportunity for the "I'm too tired" excuse.

Another thing that helps no end is turning off news programmes - it's mostly bad anyway - and instead listening to music that cheers you up.  Personally, I like Radio Hauraki for this.

And one last thing - avoid looking directly at the mountain of work ahead of you, whatever it might be, and focus on making progress with little tasks. Give yourself a pat on the back, even for the smallest achievements.

Out into the real world again

Today D and I abandoned our existing plans for the day and went for a
walk in the Sanctuary (now known as Zealandia). It was the first time
we've been there together for about two years, and we were soon asking
ourselves why we had left it so long. It wasn't a long walk, but very
relaxing.

The first week of August

Minus 10 points for modern technology

My handy little iPhone app that I used to generate those graphs
doesn't work any more. An update came out, so I updated it, and now it
crashes when I try to run it. Grrrrrrrr!

It's getting easier

I came to work by bus today. The bus was fairly full so I had to stand
most of the way. If I had not started this walking habit, my lower
back would have been giving me hell - but it was fine. My knees, too,
are feeling the benefit of the exercise. When I first started they
were making themselves known by the end of my ten minutes, but today
they are still okay after twenty. Yay!

It seems to be working!

Tonight I extended my walking session to 20 minutes, and it felt no
harder than the first ten-minute session I did three weeks ago.

I have also noticed a difference in the way I feel about walking
generally. I no longer mind the walk if I have to park further away
from work than usual. It costs more, and takes longer to get to work,
but it's now more a nuisance than a big deal. This feels better.