Over 3,000 steps

Three weeks ago, I started a full-time job. Parking is no easy feat; if you want to park in the garage connected to the building, you have to pay a premium, and even then there is no guarantee there will even be a spot available. So I decided to park in lot that was a four-minute walk away. It worked out pretty well, but if I was not gone within eight hours, I had to pay an extra $2. Several days into the job, I found a lot that was $5 a day cheaper and good all day. But the catch was it was a seven- to eight-minute walk going at a brisk pace and covering about/slightly over 270 steps.

As it turns out, this has worked great for me. Working FT and getting home at around 6 means no more afternoon Zumba, swimming, or running (not that I did that last thing too often). But since I can get in these two shortish brisk walks and close to 550 steps a day, I have managed to stay in decent shape and my thighs are even better. Plus about 240 of the steps are down on the way to work, so I can shave off a minute and not be sweaty. At the end of the day, I actually try to jog up the steps. Sure, I am out of breath before I even hit the 200th step, but since I am headed to my car, it is all good. On top of that, at least three days a week, I also take a 10- to 20-minute walk in the afternoon.

I realize that in the heat of the summer and in the dead of the snowy winter, the allure will end, but for now, it is keeping me moving. In fact, when I went swimming today, for the first time in almost 3.5 weeks, my legs were not tired at all. Unfortunately since my arms no longer get a workout, those babies felt exhausted within two laps. Still, I managed to get in 20 laps, over two sets, plus some water treading. I was pleasantly surprised that I could do 18 arm dips and a dozen push ups. Normally I would do about 20 and follow that up with 20 push ups, plus try to throw in another set. But considering my layoff, I will take what I did.

Here is to the next update, which I am betting won't be for awhile, but which hopefully will not be because lack of exercise. 

Doing okay

This week, I missed Zumba thanks to a funeral luncheon. I followed that up by missing my usual Wednesday afternoon swim because I wanted to see who was chosen as pope, live. So Thursday morning, even though I was not feeling it, I dragged myself to the pool for a good swim.

I swam for an hour straight, with no interruptions. I recently read that one can burn over 500 calories by swimming for an hour. It seems to be that one (I) should burn so much more than that. Anyway, I also did some water treading as well as some leg and arm exercises. All in all, a good workout.

Friday I did only a few laps, but I did manage to tread water for 15 minutes and then jog in the deep end (using a noodle) also for about 10 to 15 minutes. I also played with the kid to get in a good workout.

Yesterday we headed back to the pool, where I swam 20 laps and did some water treading, playing with the kid, and a few arm exercises.

I had high hopes to run today, but the weather is so crappy--freezing rain this morning and just rain now, though at 33 degrees, it is quite chilly.

Until next time...