Week Four's Workout is as follows:
Brisk 5 minute warm up walk, then:
- Jog 1/4 mile (3 minutes)
- Walk 1/8 mile (90 seconds)
- Jog 1/2 mile (5 minutes)
- Walk 1/4 mile (2-1/2 minutes)
- Jog 1/4 mile (3 minutes)
- Walk 1/8 mile (90 seconds)
- Jog 1/2 mile (5 minutes)
- Walk 1/8 mile (90 seconds)
- Jog 1/2 mile (5 minutes)
- Walk 1/4 mile (2-1/2 minutes)
- Jog 1/4 mile (3 minutes)
- Walk 1/8 mile (90 seconds)
- Jog 1/2 mile (5 minutes)
Day One: I am very, very nervous and apprehensive about what I'm going to do today. Five minutes of jogging seems like such a long time, and I hope I can do it. We exercised in the lower level of the gym today, and for some reason I feel stronger down there - there aren't as many people so maybe that's why. Anyway, I put on my inspirational song by Seether (Rise Above This) as I'm warming up and it gets me pumped up. As I go into the first stretch, I'm feeling great. My lungs are nice and clear, and my legs feel strong and full of energy. I walk the 1/8 mile, and then it's time for the 5 minutes. I mentally prepare myself and then, like Nike would say, I just did it. Simple as that. I remember thinking, "Well that was easy!"
I continued on through the entire workout with great energy, great focus, and great strength. As I finished that last 5 minute stretch, I couldn't help but grin like an idiot. If any of the other treadmillers caught a glimpse of me, they would have thought I was insane. I felt such an enormous sense of accomplishment at this point. It's like I'm making these giant leaps day by day, physically, mentally, and spiritually. It's a feeling I feel I will never be able to put into words. My results for today: 2.25 miles in 30 minutes.
Day Two: Pretty much the same as day one. I complete the workout with ease - I can feel the strength in my legs intensify with each move and each breath, and I focus on that. I feel that strength radiate into my soul, and it powers me on to accomplish this great task, and also in other aspects of my life. I am gaining confidence in myself and my abilities, and it shows.
Day Three: Then the walls come crashing down. The day is a little overcast today, and I wonder if it's affecting my mood and energy. Nevertheless, I continue on to the trusty treadmill. Today I have a partner with me, who I like to think is inspired by my blog, but she says she has been praying for someone or something to help her live a healthier lifestyle, and maybe this is it. Regardless, I am flattered, and more than willing to be a part of that change. We get to the gym and I once again put on my startup workout song by Seether. It pumps me up on my warmup walk, and I'm feeling good. Then I start the 3 minute segment. It seems harder today than normal, but I push on.
During the first 5 minute segment I feel as if time has slowed down, and even though I'm moving fast, everything else is moving slowly. I try to focus on that strength that powers me, but instead of strength today I feel fatigue - yet I push past it and entice my body to feel stronger. At 3-1/2 minutes, my lungs start to give me trouble, and I know I'm in for a real struggle now. I find myself in that battle with my mind and body, and I find myself begging my lungs to let me continue. I want so badly to be able to continue on to next week, and I can't do that if I can't make it through this workout. Finally I compromise, and at 4 minutes, I slow to my fast walk.
But my lungs are not done with their battle yet. They continue to inflame and I can feel each bronchiole slowly closing off with each step I take. At this point I am so frustrated, and I want to continue on but I start to acknowledge that my body is going to win this one. I know what will happen if I don't stop, and I really don't want to make a scene in the gym, especially since I left my inhaler home today. So I give in and slow my walk even more. I accept that for today, 1.5 miles in 22 minutes will have to be good enough.
As I drive home, I know I have two options. I can choose to be frustrated and upset that I couldn't accomplish my workout today, especially after making so much progress during the week, or I can choose to accept and appreciate the fact that my body told me when it could handle no more. I learned an important lesson in yoga yesterday. I can hate the things in my life that I can't control, expending useless and obscene amounts of energy, or I can merely accept them, acknowledge they are there, and live with them.
Today I have chosen the latter, and it feels good knowing that I listened. It looks like I will have to repeat this workout one more day this week, but it feels good making that decision. I know that I will "Rise Above This" in the words of Seether, and somehow knowing that makes it so much easier.
I continued on through the entire workout with great energy, great focus, and great strength. As I finished that last 5 minute stretch, I couldn't help but grin like an idiot. If any of the other treadmillers caught a glimpse of me, they would have thought I was insane. I felt such an enormous sense of accomplishment at this point. It's like I'm making these giant leaps day by day, physically, mentally, and spiritually. It's a feeling I feel I will never be able to put into words. My results for today: 2.25 miles in 30 minutes.
Day Two: Pretty much the same as day one. I complete the workout with ease - I can feel the strength in my legs intensify with each move and each breath, and I focus on that. I feel that strength radiate into my soul, and it powers me on to accomplish this great task, and also in other aspects of my life. I am gaining confidence in myself and my abilities, and it shows.
Day Three: Then the walls come crashing down. The day is a little overcast today, and I wonder if it's affecting my mood and energy. Nevertheless, I continue on to the trusty treadmill. Today I have a partner with me, who I like to think is inspired by my blog, but she says she has been praying for someone or something to help her live a healthier lifestyle, and maybe this is it. Regardless, I am flattered, and more than willing to be a part of that change. We get to the gym and I once again put on my startup workout song by Seether. It pumps me up on my warmup walk, and I'm feeling good. Then I start the 3 minute segment. It seems harder today than normal, but I push on.
During the first 5 minute segment I feel as if time has slowed down, and even though I'm moving fast, everything else is moving slowly. I try to focus on that strength that powers me, but instead of strength today I feel fatigue - yet I push past it and entice my body to feel stronger. At 3-1/2 minutes, my lungs start to give me trouble, and I know I'm in for a real struggle now. I find myself in that battle with my mind and body, and I find myself begging my lungs to let me continue. I want so badly to be able to continue on to next week, and I can't do that if I can't make it through this workout. Finally I compromise, and at 4 minutes, I slow to my fast walk.
But my lungs are not done with their battle yet. They continue to inflame and I can feel each bronchiole slowly closing off with each step I take. At this point I am so frustrated, and I want to continue on but I start to acknowledge that my body is going to win this one. I know what will happen if I don't stop, and I really don't want to make a scene in the gym, especially since I left my inhaler home today. So I give in and slow my walk even more. I accept that for today, 1.5 miles in 22 minutes will have to be good enough.
As I drive home, I know I have two options. I can choose to be frustrated and upset that I couldn't accomplish my workout today, especially after making so much progress during the week, or I can choose to accept and appreciate the fact that my body told me when it could handle no more. I learned an important lesson in yoga yesterday. I can hate the things in my life that I can't control, expending useless and obscene amounts of energy, or I can merely accept them, acknowledge they are there, and live with them.
Today I have chosen the latter, and it feels good knowing that I listened. It looks like I will have to repeat this workout one more day this week, but it feels good making that decision. I know that I will "Rise Above This" in the words of Seether, and somehow knowing that makes it so much easier.
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