Getting in shape may kill me

I am serious. My legs hurt. My upper back is in so many snarled knots it makes my chiropractor grin from ear to ear. Even my toenails hurt. I should probably back up and explain a bit.

I started training in January. Actually working out one to two times per week with a trainer who is amazing but kicks my a**. We mainly do weight training... something that is BRAND new to me. I guess before I did not care much about muscles. Or at least I did not specifically train them, they just developed as I went about my life. Oh the good old days of being young in my teens or early twenties. So, now, eight plus months later, I have some pretty strong muscles and I know that because my workouts are getting to be a lot more challenging and instead of looking like a little beginner at the gym, I am doing some of the same exercises the other folks are doing. So, I am pretty proud of the muscles I have made and commitment I have made to building them. 

Now I need to start shedding the padding that is hiding the muscles.  Cardio, cardio, cardio.  (Well that and eating better, but that is another blog entry.)  I run from time to time.  I've actually run more this summer than I have in my entire life.  I've also taken up walking.  Between the two, I have finished (with a progressively better time thank you very much) five 5Ks this summer.  I have two more this weekend and maybe another two before the snow comes.  I also try and get in walking or jogging or the elliptical at least three times a week... and yes, my trainer and the American Heart Association require more than three days of cardio.  I'm making progress slowly and every week recommit to doing cardio.  It is an uphill battle, but I am up for the challenge, I guess.  I do have to admit, the weight training has made the cardio a bit easier.  And yes, my trainer reads this blog so now the expectations for daily cardio have going up even higher.

I've also taken up another hobby to help get my heart rate up... I am a server again.  Yup, I wait tables.  I work at a nonprofit, so what do you expect?  A girl needs money!  It is actually not a bad gig.  I get to pick my days and they are very flexible with my "real" job schedule.  Really, I am there to fill in and pick up some extra cash.  But, after my first day, I realized I would gain m

ore than just some extra cash.  The restaurant is a two-level place.  During any given shift you have to run up and down the stairs more than 60 times and that is on a slower night.  By the end of day one, I was sweating and panting and felt like I had been on the treadmill for four hours.  In a way, it was great and then later that night I realized that I was old and almost 30 and every muscle in my body was screaming at me for taking this new job.

In the long run, I think it will be a positive thing - some more exercise built into my day and also some more cash.  I believe that is working toward two things on my list!

This is a picture of my family from the Irish Fest Run and Walk.  I was there, just behind the camera!

Update on Dad:  For those following along, my dad is home now and doing pretty good so far.  He is recovering slowly, but missing a large part of you organs will do that I guess.  We still have not heard anything on the pathology report which dabbles in the back of all of our minds.  Once we hear, we should have a better idea regarding next steps.  For now, I am just glad to see my dad out of the hospital bed and walking around at home.  Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he works toward recovery.