Woohoo!

Exercise(6/6): Cycling
Time: 40:46 (elevated HR) about 50min with warm up/cool down
Av. Heart Rate: 152

Woohoo! Week 3 bites the dust! No iTunes for any of you! Although, my love affair with cycling has quickly vanished. Always pushing to up my heart rate sucks the joy (or would the word be "leisure"?) right out of it.
I am heading to Tokyo tomorrow to help new Language Teachers arrive in the country and get situated. It is going to be a crazy 5 days...so I won't be logging in for a few.

Another Thursday, Another Karate

Exercise (5/6): Karate
Time: 1:30
Av Heart Rate: NA

It was a good but light workout. It hit 39˚C today, so no one was moving very fast. Learned a new kata tonight (which basically means "routine"): Tekishodan. Very cool! (It is short so easy to remember). It has something to do with "enemy" and "first one". (Apparently the next one will be tekinidan...ni being 2)
Mixon redoes his heyannidan (yellow belt routine) on Sunday. Ganbatte, my boy!

Upped my Time

Exercise(4/6): Cycling
Time: 50-55 mins
Av Heart Rate: 148 bpm for 40:56

My husband (who happens to be a personal trainer as well) told me to up my time today. (Yuch)
So, I did.
I also did about 15 km in that time. I am sure that is not good, but I have no where to go but up. We have discovered that one particular strip of the bike path has no interruptions for 2 1/2 km. A cycling team from the university uses it...so now we use it to do "laps".

Did NOT want to get up

This morning was rough getting out of bed.
I have a theory that the mosquitos in Japan have evolved! I swear they are intelligent! They hide all day and just after the humans have fallen asleep, they press their attack! They also know how to avoid the bug zapper and how to stay quiet.
Last night I woke up scratching after only a few minutes of sleep. 2 bites on my face, one on the PALM OF MY HAND, and one on my index finger later, I was fully awake. Grrrrrrrr.

So, needless to say, I was a bit grumpy getting out of bed this morning. But YOU are here, just waiting for your chance to pounce on those iTunes. I had no choice.

Exercise (3/6): Bike ride
Time: about 40 min
Av Heart Rate: 147 for 28:44
I thought I had compensated for the time by going farther today...I wanted to keep my HR up for 30 min...but apparently I am going farther faster! :-)
That's good to know because my legs felt like led this morning.

I need tunes for the ride to help me keep my pace up. I new by the HR monitor that I was slowing down so I started chugga-chugga-choo-choo-ing!!!! It helped me keep my pace...but I am sure I looked ridiculus! (lol)
An iPod would look much cooler!~

Frisbee Again

Exercise(2/6): Frisbee with Colin (definitely more of a work-out playing without the kids! -sorry kids- ;-))
Time: 30 min
Av. Heart Rate:NA

The fam. and I met up at the elementary school after work and I played frisbee with Colin for a good half hour. Next time I will put the heart rate monitor on! It was intense for a while. Then Selah (my daughter) joined us and things slowed down considerably. Then we all biked home.

Selah is learning how to ride a unicycle! Now there's good exercise! They are part of the recess equipment at the kids' school. There are also parallel bars for beginners to use their hands while they learn to balance. Too cool!
On that same note, all elementary school is Japan have a pool. Swimming is a part of the phys ed curriculum. The kids are going everyday during summer break too and rapidly improving! :-)
Yea for them.
They alone are good incentive for me to keep my arse in gear, if I want to keep up with them in the coming years.
I think I will bike in the morning...on my 2-wheeler!

Starting Week 3

Exercise(1/6): Karate
Time: 2 hours
Av. Heart Rate: NA

It was a good workout tonight. I wore my yellow belt for the first time tonight. :-)
Mixon has his test next Sunday. Unfortunately, I won't be able to see him through it because I will be in Tokyo. Colin will have to hold the fort down. But, hopefully that will put an end to his tale of woe.
I also am not sure about what to do for exercise/this site while I am away for 5 full and very busy days next week.
Should I take time off/suspend the challenge during a business trip?
Should I find time no matter what...even if I've only slept 4 hours? (which could be entirely possible on this trip).
Feel free to offer suggestions...

No change...grrrrrrr.

It has now been 2 weeks. I have managed steady exercise and am getting into a routine and so on. This is good. I am not out any money yet (which doesn't make the website very exciting for you...but it works for me! ;-)

I have been on the scale and there is no movement yet. I find that very frustrating and psychologically impeding. It makes me feel like all that effort was for nothing. I may as well sit in comfort on my arse! I want results! But I have to get past the scale and realize it is more about my health in the long run. And it is not like I have been overly active the rest of the day. I have a desk job.

My workouts have to get longer and more intense on a regular basis.

Ganbarimasu!

Frisbee Time :-)

Exercise (6/6): Light bike ride and frisbee.
Time: 1:30
Av. Heart Rate: NA

Went for a bike ride with the family to the local "castle" by the river and played frisbee for an hour or so in the parking lot. It is overcast today so the sun wasn't bearing down on us. We had a great time. :-)
If only ALL exercise could be that enjoyable!
Time for some frozen yogurt.

We may bike to the local fireworks display tonight on a different river. In Japanese, fireworks is "hanabi" which means 'flower-fire'. The locals come adorned in their yukatas (summer versions of kimonos...less hot) to see and be seen.

Early Ride

Yesterday (July 28th) Friday morning
Exercise (5/6): Bike Ride
Time: 40 minutes
Av. Heart Rate: 147 for 28:17


I would have done a longer ride at that heart rate...but I got stopped by a bunch of traffic near the end and so I turned off the monitor a bit early.
I am learning the trail better. I couldn't find where it reconnected after a bridge crossing...but I found it this morning.
It was already getting hot at 6:30am!

It Was a Hot One

...Like 7 inches from the mid-day sun...
Depending on where you were in Gifu today, it was 35-37˚C. Not sure what that feels like on a humidex (they don't have that here)...but it felt gross.

Exercise (4/6): Karate
Time: 2 hours (1 of which was hard work ;-)
Heart Rate: NA (can't moniter in class cuz I can't wear any accersories for obvious reasons...)

A Nice Evening Ride

Exercise(3/6): Biking
Time: 40-45 min approx
Av Heart Rate: 148 for 29:49

Went for a ride after supper today. Not sure how I feel about that...I was tired from the day, full from a bit of supper and now I am hungry later. Hmmmm. I will judge whether it affects my sleep (or lack thereof) in the morning.

Have to go try and get Japanese Driver's Licenses in the morning so it will be another evening workout.

I did it.

Exercise (2/6): Biking in the rain!
Time: approx 40 min
Av Heart Rate: 144 for 31:03

I am learning lots. For instance, it is really difficult to get my heart rate up over 150 when I haven’t had anything to eat and it is raining. (probably had more to do with not eating anything)
My stomach doesn’t like early morning plus I was anxious about biking in the rain. I stood at my kitchen window for about 5 minutes going through a list of excuses why I didn’t have to go. But this blog-thing is helping me keep things in perspective. I recently typed something like “no more excuses”. So, I went. And I actually enjoyed it! Except that I was hungry and (as my husband would say) “bonked” – wore out/crashed because I hadn’t eaten. Next time I will start with an orange. (Mandarin oranges are in season from now until Christmas here!)

I stayed up late tonight and watched 24 on DVD (one of my many weaknesses) so I will NOT be getting up early to work out. After school is my goal. Should be fun because I can work out with my husband who is on summer vacation. (which means he has no problem staying up late…grrrrrrr)

Week 2 Off to a Slow Start

Exercise (1/6): Karate
Time: 1 hour
Heart Rate: Not worth recording.

It was exercise...but it was pretty light.
The rain has descended again. Another weather advisory for heavy rain/thunderstorms/flood.
So, the big question is...will she ride in the rain tomorrow morning?

First Week Finished!

Exercise (6/6): Biking
Time: about 45 min
Av. Heart Rate: 157 (35:27)

It is a beautiful sunny Saturday in Gifu, Japan. 29˚C today. I think I am sunburnt from my ride. But my crotch hurts less today! :-)
I got farther and went faster.
This is the first week of the rest of my life. No more excuses. (and I am the queen of excuses)

So, I cheated you out of your itunes...this week.
Keep watching!

Ouch!

My body is hurting is all kinds of places! It is Thursday morning but I am not working out this morning....but don't hold your breath. I have a 2 hour Karate session tonight.

Don't give up on me slackin' though. If you are vigilant, you may get your itunes yet. I am always eager the first week of a program.

More later...

Later...

Just finished Karate. I got my yellow belt! (small yeah)
It is not a joyous occasion because my son got only a conditional pass...he has to retest in a few weeks in order to get his belt. I think the world stopped turning. As far as he is concerned, he failed and he is stupid and he hates Karate and never wants to do it again. He cried, he was embarrassed (like I am at my spelling....) What is a mom to do?
I hope this is one of those things that goes on to create great character. I will tell him till I have no breath left in me, how much I love him and what an awesome kid he is. Maybe someday it will sink in.

Exercise (5/6): Karate
Time: off and on for 1 hour due to familial crisis
Heart Rate: Don't know because I can't wear my watch-like monitor in class.

Rain, rain go away!

Exercise (4/6): Karate
Time: 30 min
Av. HR: 127 (for 23:17 of the above 30)

I am figuring out what gets my heart rate up indoors in a small apartment. Probably good the first official week anyway...it gives me room to improve and prevents over doing it.

It is still raining...
There is an official weather warning for floods and thunderstorms for our area. I am glad we live on the 2nd floor! Apparently the rainy season in Japan comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion! Rain is forecast through till Sunday. We are all a little grumpy about it.

Indoor Workout

Morning!
Exercise (3/6): Karate, Squats
Time: 30 min
Heart Rate: Av. 118
-Not very high, but I did 50 squats and inumerable sit-ups (I lost count, but I burnt out) on the Abs ball, and maybe 5 attempts at yoga push-ups (those are cool, but I have no arm strength...or maybe my body is just too heavy yet) as well as karate.
-raining today so that's why I did the "indoor thing". I want to order those new Tae Bo DVD's for indoor times...I think they will help get my heart-rate up when I am housebound.

Biking in the Rain

Exercise(2): Biking
Time: 30 minutes
Av. Heart Rate: 144 (at one point it topped out at 160 - had to work for it though)

Kids were occupied at a community kid's event, so I went for a ride/workout with Colin...in the rain. It was actually nice cuz it cools you down.

(Somebody is baking cake or pie or something. It smells SO good!!! I want chocolate.)
I need some of those cycling short with padding "you know where". That was painful!

2 down/4 to go

Oh yea, along with my picture I will post my original weight (I weighed in last week) and have a "weight counter" to chart my progress. I can download one off the internet I'm sure. I will weigh in once a week...probably a Saturday morning.

Yellow Belt Karate?

Exercise - Karate
Time - 2 hours (kind of)...more like 1 hour of actual exercise

I had my test for yellow belt today. Don't know if I passed yet. I screwed up on a couple of things...
1) my combination blocks
2) my foot position on some of my stances...I think my toes were pointed the wrong way a few times and Sensei doesn't miss a thing.
Oh well. I will find out next week if I get a fancy new colour to belt up my Gi (pronounced gee with a hard "g").

I noticed my sister-in-law has put up a link on her blog for this one. Game on! (Thanx Rach)

I will post a "before" picture soon. Whether it will be a "before I am skinny" or "before I am broke" picture has yet to be determined!

(I really really really don't want to post a picture like that. I hate pictures of me!!!!! But that is the whole point of this isn't it? At least I can block out my eyes/face)

As the Japanese would say..."Ganbatte" (which means, fight!/persevere/endure etc)
If this is said to you, you are to reply "Ganbarimasu" (I will fight my best)
So,

Ganbarimasu!

The iTunes Challenge

Want some free iTunes? I will give you a $10 iTunes gift certificate if you catch me slacking off.
Here's the deal. I need to lose weight. I need to exercise regularly but I need some accountability. Problem is, I am half-way around the world from most family and friends, so accountability is lacking and I don't want (nor enjoy) my husband in that role. And this is way more fun!
I need to exercise a minimum of 6 days a week. If I haven't posted by (each) Saturday, midnight- Pacific Standard Time (which is Sunday, 4 or 5 pm in Japan where I am...depending on the time of year), then the first person to post a comment within the next 24 hours will be the proud recipient of a $10 iTunes gift certificate from yours truly!
I will continue to work on setting up the blog with stats and features as I have time, but for now, I just wanted to get started.

Pass this on to friends and family! Everyone is welcome to my challenge!

(What the heck am I doing?!?!?! Am I Crazy? I am scared spitless. I hope I lose weight and not money)