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Fitness Weekly Discussion
What have you been doing lately for your own fitness? Try out any new programs or exercises? Have any questions for others about your training? Want to vent about poor behavior in the gym? Started a new diet or have a new recipe you want to share? Anything else health and wellness related?
I bought an ebike a few weeks ago with the intent of using it to commute and run small errands. Its been good so far but its still very much not summer yet here so its cold/uncomfortable.
I've started bicycle commuting to work. It's 5.25 miles and I happen to live near a greenway that takes me nearly all the way to work. Most of it is paved, however some is gravel and occasionally involves some sketchy road crossings as it's not fully complete, however it's a remarkably easy commute with only a few tough hills (particularly on the ride home). On a good day it take me 30 minutes to get there and 35-40 to get home. I've really been enjoying it, just me, the birds, and my bike shaped object cruising through a nice, safe path through the city.
Those are great for you, though! If you get bored you can start training to sprint up the hills. It's great cardio but unlike running (at least for me) it's super fun.
I agree (after the fact!) and in fact I can make the route more difficult if I desire. As I get closer to work the greenway ends and I enter a densely housed neighborhood with a network of roads with varying degrees of elevation. I've only been at it 4 days but my watch tells me my avg hr trend seems to show that I'm adapting. I was already reasonably fit, but it does seem to be noticeably easier on the fourth day (today).
Still working on my L pull-ups. Hoping to work my way to front lever some day! I used to do 3 Ls and then my extra weak abs would need a day to recover. Now I can do tons of sets of 3 per day, but I've never done more than 4 in a row. From here I'm starting on training through the front lever progression exercises.
Originally I was trying to master muscle ups, but I got worried after I realized it's possible to absolutely tear through your shoulder with a muscle up if you make a bad enough mistake. So for now I'm taking a detour.
Have you tried doing window washers? It's an easier position to get into than a front lever and is great for your obliques.
I'm back at it, my Tildes Fitness Pals. I'm planning to run a 5k with my friend in June! I've been using the garmin coach feature and it's been going good! I do not like the app telling me when I've overreached or under performed, like dude. shut the fuck up, you're a robot what do you know? But otherwise I'm really just getting out there and focusing on really improving my running. I've been trying to run faster/with more effort and push myself through those physical and psychological low spots.
I'm focusing just on running right now and doing some weight lifting. I want to be able to maintain better what I'm doing and then build up from there. I got some kinda shit health news so I'm just trying to take steps in the right direction without a.) spiraling and b.) making so many changes they don't stick.
Two weeks out. I hesitate to say motivation is back, I'd prefer not to go to the gym most days and accessory compliance is spotty. But coach is happy with the effort I'm putting in.
In order to push myself I am breaking my "no caffeine after noon" rule. I'm not big on energy drinks but one at the beginning of each session is helping with my focus during heavier efforts. It's impacting my ability to sleep on time but I'm hitting my 9 hours so I don't think it is having any deleterious effects in the short term. Will reinforce the rule after next week when effort drops back down.
Also tried quitting nicotine (those Zyn things). It was successful for a bit over a week. But I found myself really struggling with focus at work. The result is I cut my nicotine intake by about half. Thinking it might be self medication with undiagnosed ADHD. Not sure I want to talk to a doctor about it. Hoping a job change will help, my current job doesn't really provide opportunities for the "hyperfocus" that I'm good at.
Looking forward to dialing back lifting frequency. Will move from 6 days/week to 4days/week. Want to get out on some more walks in the evenings this summer.
I'm about 10 weeks out from my first half marathon and I recently completed the full distance on the treadmill! Definitely the furthest I've ever run and the fastest. My time was just under 2:30 which I understand is pretty ok for a beginner. I really enjoyed that I was able to find my good "cruising pace" where it felt like I could keep going forever.
Going to keep working on my speed and now that spring is finally starting to arrive, will start taking some of the runs outside to acclimate myself for a June run.
Last year it was nearly 40 the day of the race so hopefully it is nowhere near as hot this year...
Monday is going to be the first day of a training block for a trail 5k coming up in June. I've never trained specifically for a 5k, so I'm looking forward to seeing how my fitness and speed improve. Most importantly, I need to get a trophy at the 5k because they're giant rubber duckies and this has been the main race I've tried to stay focused on for the last year (because I didn't win one of the duckies last year). That means it's also the first time that I will have trained specifically to try to do well for a race, rather than just training for the distance (I ran a marathon in September and a 55k in February and those are the only times I've ever followed a training plan).
A lot of my training will be based on heart rate to try to focus on improving my VO2max, so I bought a heart rate strap because I know my watch isn't accurate enough for these purposes.
I'm also going to be trying to lose a fairly significant amount of weight through this training block and carrying through to the marathon I'll be running later this year because I know that has been slowing me down fairly significantly. That means it will be important for me to count calories and especially to hit macros so that I can stay healthy throughout the next several months.
I'm signed up for several fun-looking races over the next few months, so I'm excited to get after it! The first race is tomorrow night and I'll get a glow in the dark shirt so that's fun.
Edit: jk I miscounted the weeks and this past week was supposed to be the first week. I thought 11 weeks sounded weird 🤷