bye bye gym

Sharon is having a bit of a financial crisis. The bulk of her clients are elderly. They are dying or going to nursing homes and she's not getting new ones. So money's tight and she's looking for ways to slash her budget. Plus I think she's a bit of a shop-a-holic.

So this morning on the way to the gym she said it would be the last time. The $20 a month for the gym was one of her slashes. I can't believe I talked her out of it. A) she needs to work out, even if it is half-assed. Something is better than nothing. B) Unlike me she enjoys it. Fun is something she certainly needs more of.

Instead, I talked her into changing from the super-dooper Planet Fitness plan to the bare bones $10 basic one. I think she only took the super dooper one because she could bring guests (me). She doesn't use any of the other services that come with it. Now of course she's looking to find another $10 to slash. (My idea—drink/make coffee at home. I bet she spends $10 a week or more on coffee out!)

So now when I take her to the gym I can walk the 'hood. That's fine. I prefer it. Too bad she goes on a Sunday or I could mosey up to my brother's place and have fancy tea while I waited.I need to plan out a forty minute route or three.

Last night I did 10 minutes of step-ups in the hall. Today, I did the bike on 10 for 10 minutes, the thigh master and other lower body machines. I'll do step ups, and maybe the sidewalks will be clear enough to walk for a bit. A big ice storm is headed our way. It might be my only opportunity to walk this week.

the piggie in the stairway

Today's I was in Boscov's to look at curtains, and to get there I walked thru housewares. They have an entire line of piggy themed do-dads for the kitchen. I just glanced as I walked thru and this adorable pig caught my eye. It's a "kitchen" timer. He now lives in my stairway for when I do step ups.

I tried him out tonight and set him for 10 minutes. It took less than four to do the first 100. The other six to do an additional 125. It's pretty obvious that the more I do the slower I get.

After I did my grading I did Day 3 of the walk tape. "Slim Your Legs". A 14 minute mile. It included lunges and swats. More than likely I won't be do that one again. My knee do not do squats or true lunge. Sansome is so fit when she lunged her back knee nearly touched the floor. She also added a grapevine side step. This is getting too much like aerobics in the 80s. Been there, done that. Not coordinated enough to walk and chew gum yet alone all that and keep walking.

Maybe Saturday I'll try the speed walk. It shouldn't have any fancy crap.

fat girl still shoveling

Another day, another snow storm. This time about a foot. It's becoming very clear that I won't hit the sidewalks again until at least March. We're to have snow today, then another big storm on Tuesday.

I did the usual group of sidewalks and my "driveway" and this time I'm house sitting, so I went down to do theirs. When I arrived their neighbors had already done it. I owe those strangers dinner.

Sharon's former downstairs neighbor Carmen works at St Luke's. During the storm she called Sharon to see if she could crash there for the night. Sharon, of course, said yes. So when Carmen stopped by here before she went home, she remarked on how much weight I lost. I thanked her, but I haven't lost any. And my clothes size hasn't changed in two-years. Maybe I'm relocating the fat? More than likely she was just being nice.

I'm up to 200 step-ups, and I've done the walk tape once since I bought it Tuesday.

follow thru

Went to Wally's world for Pat's prescriptions and bought the video. I got one with five, one mile walks. All different. My attention span should last 15 minutes. Four are 14-minute miles. The fifth is a 12-minute mile.  You can do one at a time, multiple or all of them. I'll do one tonight, after I''m done grading.

I like her bedazzled walking shirt. Wonder if it comes in breast cancer pink?

As I was walking thru housewares to get to back to the pharmacy, I thought I needed something. Couldn't remember what. Now I do. I went into the hall to do my step-ups and realized I never bought a timer. Counting is getting old. I did 150 today.

Before I left for school and Walmart, I sent my check into the Volkksport people. I decided if I go on one, and everyone is 80, I don't need to go again. A one-hour 5Ks cost as much. What appeals to me is the 10Ks.

If the weather people are right, this fat girl will be shoveling again. Another storm is due Wednesday night.

decisions

It's tough walking outside right now. It's bitter cold and icy. Another big storm is due tomorrow. But I need to keep moving or in March I'll be back at square one. Besides, I have two stair climbs to do before the weather breaks.

Most would tell me to go to the gym. Let's not and say we did.  Yes, it is the logical choice for winter, but when have I ever been logical?

Decision No. 1 ... the easy one
When I'm at Walmart today picking up Pat's drugs, I'll buy a walking DVD. I certainly won't be able to do it everyday, I'd be so bored. But if I did it once or twice a week till the weather breaks it will be worth the money.

Decision No. 2 ... 
the hard one
I have been thinking about disbanding every two feet. The walking club that isn't. I really thought I could take my experiences from being a training walk leader into the real world. Make friends. Have fun. Marketing it solely on FB is not working. I have lots of "fans". But nobody other than family comes. Family I can email.

So do I pull down the page? I was seriously thinking about it. Still am. Or do I make up some poster or postcards or even business cards and distribute them. I'm sure Lyd will take them to her Barri Buddies. Where else? I'm not fit enough to be in the exercise column in the Morning Call. that would be great advertising.

every two feet had it's first walk May 15. So we're barely 7-months old. Maybe I should give it more time? Maybe I should throw some money at it?

Any ideas for marketing?

On a happier note Lyd has lost 101 pounds. The gastric bypass had a lot to do with that. I'd like to think her walking with us has helped also. You go girl.

Decision No. 3 ... 

Do I join the Volkssport group?  This is a national, perhaps international walking group. They do long short and long walks and multi-day walks. I remember talking about this during another winter. I couldn't find it in this blog, so maybe it was in the previous one.  It sounds fun. My biggest concern is that everyone will be 80. (I have a hard time remembering that I'm 55.) Membership is only $25/year. I spend more than that on a 5K. They also have a $6 new walker try-out packet. They are goal oriented, and each time you do a walk you get some sort of a patch ... like GS and a log book to track your mileage.

The closet club to me is in Quakertown, the Keystone State Volkssport. They have splinter groups. I think mine would be the Liberty Bell Wanderers. They have event's in Allentown, Bethlehem and Hellertown. Not to mention the Philly murals and sculpture.

I think I might be talking myself into walking with old people. Wonder if Bonnie would want to? She's a Girl Scout. She likes patches.

On a different note Jack LaLanne died yesterday. I remember watching him when I was a kid on the old black and white. He was on, but I never remember exercising. Mom either. Guess some things never change. He was my introduction to health and fitness as a child and I didn't listen. Guess I'm still not. Goodbye Jack.

trailorhood

Sharon daddy-sat last night for Lydia so she could go out with some friends. So since I had to pick Sharon up today, I thought I would suggest walking. Lydia said yes. So the three of us took a spin around the trailorhood*.

Halfway thru the first lap, Sharon announced she was bailing after the first loop. It was too icy. Lyd and I went around twice more. It totaled out about two miles. It was slip, sliddy fun. Some places, like in the photo, were good. Others were kind of nasty. It alll depended on where snow blew back onto the road.

The trailorhood has mostly rolling hills, but there was one nice one that wasn't so rolling. It was sort of steep.

Otherwise I've been doing stepping on the stairs. Nearly every day. 100 at a time, at least twice a day.

* trailorhood—there neighborhoods of a mobile home park, aka trailer park, or aka the politically correct, modular home community. It comes from a Toby Keith song. Lydia likes Toby Keith. I've never heard the song, even though I just posted the link.

another day, another storm

This time light, fluffy ever so beautiful snow. Maybe four inches. I did as many sidewalks and driveways as on Tuesday in about half the time. Although this time there was a lot of snow over the shoulder action. Many less calories burnt.

The plow just went up the street, maybe a half hour ago, so Betsy and I decided it wouldn't be a walking day. (I always have off Fridays, no snow days for me!) I need to get out of this house.

Some teens just walked up the hill carrying a huge sled. I really wanted to ask if I could come along. Just what they'd want. Someone as old as grandma coming with them.

So I'm thinking when the was is finished, I'm going to walk down to the store. Ironically for bread and milk. Have the eggs. No, I'm not making french toast. We just ran out at breakfast.

I also need to get my steps in, in the stairway. I have an airport run tonight, so there will be a lot of sitting going on!