During a Thunderstorm

Exercise 2/6: Abs workout-Taebo
Time: 27 min

Got to work-out during a thunderstorm. Had visions of being zapped thru the tv! ;-)
It was overcast all day and I was actually chilled at work in my short sleeve t-shirt!

I think it is funny that Japanese people think that because I am wearing short sleeves in the fall, I should be cold. It doesn't matter that I have fleece jogging pants on and they are wearing a miniskirt BUT long sleeves. (lol)

Karate

Exercise: Karate
Time: 1:30

Hurt my hand again in about the same place, doing the same block, except this time it was against Sensei! He is solid!
...still didn't break it. (not that I am trying too!...even tho it is starting to look like it...;-) )

I can't think of any pithy titles right now...

Sunday, Nov 5th, 2006

Exercise 6/6: Tae Bo/Misson 2
Time: 40 min

My shoulders are tired...but I met the deadline.

I once again submit that this blog has been the best thing in accountability for me! I just can't make excuses! :-)

Family Bike Ride

Saturday, Nov 4th, 2006

Exercise 5/6: Biking
Time: 1:30

Beautiful day for a family ride. We returned our videos via the bike path route.
It is Nov. 4th and the forcasted highs have not dipped below 20˚C yet. Even the Japanese are saying it is too hot for this time of year! I guess that makes up for last winter when they had the most snow in 50 years.

A Taste of Commuting

Thursday 3/6: Biking
Time: 35-40 min

Had a conference to attend yesterday with all Assistant Language Teachers from my prefecture. Lucky for me, it was within biking distance. I first biked all the way to a "nearby" train station to meet first year ALT's and walk them to the venue. (When you are essentially illiterate, getting to a place for the first time is always a challenge).
I am guessing it was about a 12-13 km ride.
Colin's Dad mailed us the bike paniers from Canada...it is SO nice to have those...I carted a change of clothes, a bunch of books (for a book exchange) and my purse etc without a second thought. It made the idea of going car-free in Canada much more plausible to me. (My husband and I have been exploring this idea for many reasons. You can check out our
"cultural vertigo" blog for more on that...)

Exercise 4/6: walk
Time: about 2 hours

Some of the ALTs from my region wanted to hang out after the conference and didn't particularly want to go to the nomihoudai.
(A nomihoudai is a "drinking party" in Japan. One price covers a 7-10 course meal and all-you -can-drink within a time limit of 2 hours for about the equivilant of $30.00.)
Anyhow, none of us had cars there, and I had my bike which eliminated the train as a possibililty. I offered to cook supper...but that meant we walked that same distance home to my place. They were game, so we walked! :-) It has been a long time since I have walked that far. We don't slow down that much very often or consider walking that distance as a possible option. But we had a great time! We had a great chance to just chat, enjoy the sunset and get some exercise.
When we got home, everyone pitched in, and we made bruchetta, yakisoba and then enjoyed a couple of well-earned creampuffs for dessert (kinda like the Costco ones...).

As for the walk, (and I say this like my English students in their journals) I think want walk next time.

More Tae Bo

Exercise 2/6: Mission 2
Time: 40 min

Not much to say...I am going to bed. :-)

Karate

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

We had to do sit-ups in class tonight. I kicked Colin's butt in ab-endurance...Only done the AB work-out from Tae-bo a couple of times and I already notice a difference! (Not in looks, but in ability) ;-)

Walking in my son's shoes

By that title, I don't mean that I am experiencing what it is like to be him...I mean I am literally walking in his shoes! I borrowed his sandals to go to work this week! His feet are as big as mine...and he is only 9!

Friday 5/6: Walk/jog
Time: 25 min


Saturday 6/6: Tae Bo, Mission 3
Time: 30 min

Karate

Thursday, Oct. 26th, 2006

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

I was remembering yesterday that I forgot to mention that I had weighed in on Saturday.
I'm holding steady. (yea?)
I often get to this point. (how many of you out there can identify with me, let me hear an AMEN!)
I have lost a few pounds, I have worked hard (and for longer than 30 days, so it SHOULD be a habit). But now the schedule has changed, the days are shorter, the type of my workouts have changed due to those things, and my weight steadies out. This season has heavier food, Christmas and all its culinary wonders is just around the corner, and then a long, cold, boring winter. My weight starts to curve up again. Then in the spring, when the weather gets nice, I start this cycle all over again.
SO
I am at a cross roads now. I have a blog (accountability). Will I break the cycle? That is what I am aiming for. My one dilema is how to increase my times of "high heart-rate cardio" during my week. (It would seem that this is what most helps in losing weight over time, though it is what I least enjoy in exercise).

It is that time of year...

...to be indoors. Not that it is overly chilly here. The high today was 26˚C and it was sunny....beautiful! But it gets dark before 5:30, and there is not time to BE outside in an exercise manner due to childminding (I know, I have lamented this before...).
But that feel is also in the air now. Tonight we had homemade cream of potato/veggie soup with biscuits. MMMMMM warm \autumny feel. I LOVE that! :-)

...2 months from today is CHRISTMAS! Yatta! (Japanese for "Yippee!")

Exercise 3/6: Tae Bo and Tug-O'-War
Time: 40min and 1 hour

Yep, I said Tug-O'-War. November 3rd is a national holiday in Japan. It is Labour Thanksgiving Day. Our kids have signed on to a neighbourhood team to compete in a city-wide Tug-O'-War Competition on that day. It is being held to promote city-wide unity and "togetherness" since 3 small towns joined Ogaki city this year. (our town being one of them)
Tonight was the team practice. How can you practice for Tug-O'-War, you ask? Well, let me tell you, it is a precision sport, don't you know! There is technique that requires body, mind and spirit (and blisters!). And, the judges are using English!

1. "Pick up the rope!" (we can/must pick up the rope-a big thick old-fashioned rope-...at this point we grip in such a way as to pull the rope "apart", put it under our elbow, stand perpendicular with feet planted.

2. "Steady the reins" - we must pull it taut so the middle mark is in line with the boundary and becomes still.

3. "Pull!" - now we must lean straight back, look at the ceiling, and take baby-steps backwards.

The rope must go 4 meters one-way, within one minute, in order for a team to win.
I have no idea how many teams will be competing...I'll let you know. It could be a LONG afternoon! ;-)

The kids had a blast...so it will be worth it.

Mission 3

Exercise 2/6: Tae Bo
Time: 30 min

So I pulled out another of the Billy Blanks DVD's, Mission 3: Rock Solid Abs.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

My first Karate injury...almost

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

So, because all my "senpai" (seniors) have gone up a level (as ruefully mentioned in a previous post ;-) the sparring has also gone up a level. FUN!
And as also previously mentioned, I really like sparring with my husband! He is the one in the class (besides sensei) that I can actually let it loose with, and not worry about hurting. But last night, I didn't move fast enough. I brought my hand down to block his front kick and my hand met his shin. His shin won! (No, tears though...sensei doesn't allow crying in class. ;-)
I have a beautiful bruise on the side of my hand below my pinky finger. :-) Don't worry, I am not complaining! In fact, I was kind of hoping it was fractured! How cool would that be! I have never had a broken bone, and this would certainly be a great way to earn one.
I continued sparring...and I moved a lot quicker! And I do not have a fracture. :(

I think my parents named me aptly: Kelly = maiden warrior
(lol)

5 & 6

Exercise 5/6: 8 minute Cardio blaster thingy for Tae Bo
Time: uuuuh....8 minutes.

Exercise 6/6: Bike Ride
Time: 1 hour

Tried to get the kids to go for a family bike ride...but by the time we had made them finish their chores the doorbell was ringing and friends were wanting to play. They were chomping at the bit...and they had done their chores well (after slight coercion ;-), so we let them go.
AND that meant Colin and I could ride together! We so rarely get time alone in Japan, so we jumped at the chance. (we haven't been on a "date" since we left Canada)
It was great. It is a beautiful day (if a bit windy) so we soaked up the sun and each other's company. (no iPod today ;-)

The Competitor in me takes a hit.

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

Tonight was hard on my competitive side. ;-)
I missed the most recent Karate test because of being sick last week. Colin (and my 2 other Japanese friends) did not. They passed. (Congratulations!) I did not even take the test.
SO, at Karate, we line up by rank/seniority. I had to shift down tonight...by three. That was hard to swallow. I know it sounds SO silly that this bothered me...and it is. I am glad I can laugh at myself...and that I can catch up at the end of the month! ;-) (lol)
Ganbarimashou!

Misson 2 Accomplished

Wednesday, October 18th, 2006
Exercise 3/6: Tae-Bo
Time: 42 min

Aaaaaaaah.

Feeling Good

Teusday, October 17th, 2006

Exercise 2/6: Mission 1...again
Time: 40 min

It is feeling too easy again! WooHoo!
Tomorrow, Mission 2

It is my Birthday today (did I post, yesterday, that it would be?).
Wow, I AM getting old....my memory is going.
Anyway, we went to a little "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant in Gifu City called El Paso. That's right...a Mexican restaurant in the middle of Japan (this is NOT Tokyo, baby). And it was literally a hole in the wall! There was room for 3 "groups. You walked in the door and the bar was on your left with about 6 bar stools. You could just squeeze down this like a hallway (the bath room door on your right...which opened into your path if someone was coming out at the time....). At the back were tables enough for 3 small groups. It was smaller than my kitchen here in Japan! The food was authentic though! I think the owner was half Japanese, half Mexican. The food was AMAZING! (And we paid for it!!! there was a 400yen charge per person, just for walking in the door...that is about $4 Can.). The best part was the TV up in the corner showing Johnny Cash and the Carter Family about 30 years ago doing a country gospel concert! After that was Loretta Lynn crooning Inspirational Hymns!
We listened to How Great Thou Art and The Old Rugged Cross, eating authentic Mexican food in the heart of Japan. Sometimes Japan is very surreal! (This belongs on our Cultural Vertigo Blog!)
Also of mention...My hubby gave me the new Dixie Chicks album, "Taking the Long Way". I have decided that the title track is my theme song for my 34th year! :-) It will also be a great riding tune.
btw contrary to this BLOG entry...I am NOT a country music fan!
(If I am, I am still denying it. ;-)

Like Rach said...

...Back at 'er!

Exercise 1/6: Mission 1 - Tae-bo
Time: 42 min

Nice 'n easy. Only my throat was soar at the end of this. I am definitely almost better. What a wierd virus I had. Getting better has come in waves. I would have a shower, or visit with someone (I am a people person) and would feel better for an hour or so, and then feel feverish again as I "came down"...although I didn't actually have a fever after last Monday.

Today is BEAUTIFUL!!!! It was 26 or 27 degrees here today. Locals here are complaining that it is hot for this time of year. I kindly informed them that this was like July in Calgary. I had to laugh at the weather warning today...there was an advisory out for "dry air".

The rice paddy, that our kitchen window faces, was harvested this past weekend. I am a little sad about that. I won't ever see the rice at peak growing-season blowing in the wind again...we will be gone from Japan in July next summer. I am not a little sad about that! ;-) Definitely looking forward to returning to friends and family in my home country.

Still struggling

My week off is almost over and I am still flagging.
It is amazing how much a fever takes out of a person! It doesn't help when you have to keep working...
I am well over the actual fever, but I am struggling to keep from getting a secondary infection. I feel terrible still. Today I slept in, had brunch hung then folded laundry and had to lay down. I slept again for an hour and a half!
Then we went for a family bike ride. A nice slow pace. My first work-out since being sick (and yet not altogether better). I am back home with a splitting headache and I feel exhausted. Sheesh! What did I pick up?!
Anyhow, the sunset was nice on the way home. The clock says 5:51 on Sat. evening and it is dark now.
Tonight we are having a one-year anniversary party for our Karate Dojo! Tomorrow night is supossed to be our 2nd test for yellow-belt...but I am in no shape to take it. I will have to break it gently to Edo-Sensei. ;-)

ねつ が あります

That title translates as, "I have a fever".
That translates as, "I am not working out for a few days this week".
Thought I'd give you a heads up...

Last week when I took my daughter to the hospital for her heart check-up, I thought...this place is full of sick people. I am going to be sick in about 10 days or so. (That was a week ago Thursday). Humph. (>_<)

So, I am not sure about work tomorrow. The best bet for me is to go in to work and let them SEE I have a fever. Then they will shoo me home. Otherwise, there is a good possibility they will expect me to have a doctor's note...and I have no way to get to the doctor. Well, I could ride my bike or take the bus, but who wants to do that with a fever?

People here in Japan actually die from overwork, AND that is written on their death certificate! My friend from the next-door prefecture noticed one of her co-workers looked like death one day, so she asked her supervisor why he looked so terrible. The reply was that he had just had his KIDNEY OUT the day before because he has cancer!!!!! That's right. He was back at work the next day. So, I guess I can go to work with a low-grade fever. They don't like it if it is contagious, though...that is why I think I will get shooed home. There isn't a substitute teacher system over here, and they DO NOT want to get sick. Other teachers have to divide and carry their co-worker's load until they return. Very good incentive to not stay away! My position, though, does not carry those consequences, since no one else can do my job.
We'll have to wait and see...

I love my iPod!!!!!

SO,we finally got out iPod Nano in the mail. I LOVE IT!!!!

Linea, I am now enjoying my rides! ;-)
I rode to a business meeting on Friday and I don't think I have ever ridden so hard...nor enjoyed it so much. I rocked out! I think every Japanese person driving by must have thought I was hilarious, or crazy, or both...but I didn't care! (I did refrain from actually singing out loud ;-)
When I arrived at the Board of Education, I was muddy and sweaty and red-in-the face. (I arrived early and had brought a change of clothes...don't worry). My Japanese Big Cheese is known to be very dour and grumpy, but Yamada-sensei happened to walk by just as I was parking my bike and actually laughed out loud!!!! Now, by Japanese standards, that is actually quite a rude thing to do...but again, I didn't care! :-)
Fun, fun, fun!

Exercise 5/6: Biking
Time: 25 min approx.
Av. HR: really high

Had a business meeting for 3 hours. Then I rode home. The sunset was amazing!!!
Fun, fun, fun.

Exercise 6/6:
Time: 25 min approx.
Av HR: almost as high as before

-rode fast enough to get home before the sunset was over!

Good thing I did all this earlier in the week. Today I have a cold and feel like crap. But, it is only my 2nd since arriving here 15 months ago, so I can't complain.