A Universal Experience leads to Issues

Well, this post and my last one seem appropriate for this time of year - 

talking about food and then how to lose the weight you gain.  Ugh!

Doug runs early in the morning when no one is out, and Kylie went to the gym to strengthen her leg, but usually we all work out at the house.  

When a new gym opened close to us and they had a "couple's discount" for February, Doug and I decided to do it.

It's pretty fancy.

The first day I went, the windows were open and clear when I was on the treadmill.

The next day, the windows were frosted at the bottom to hide the ladies from the street view.

One week later, they put in shades that are pulled down most of the way most of the time, but I don't have those pictures handy.

The treadmill view



I tried the bikes, but it was even worse because you couldn't even stare at buildings.




So I started bringing something on my phone to stare at while I walked so I wouldn't have to stare at the shades.

There are so many interesting things that happen at the gym.  Some are just fun cultural differences, and some are amusing because there have never been athletics or sports in school for kids here.  Girls, especially, are not taught how to run, exercise, lift weights, or take care of themselves.  So even though there is a trainer in the room, many women are trying to figure things out on their own, and even though I'm proud of every single one of them for being up there and trying, some things still bring a smile to my face.

The men have a gym on the other side of the wall.  I hear stories from Doug about things they have, and I think they've got some better amenities :)



I know they have a bigger pool, although I'm not complaining about the ladies' pool.  It's nice!

Even though many ladies like to get in the pool, very few know how to swim, so they do exercises in the shallow end, and the entire deep end is left empty for me to swim laps if I want.

March 18, 2019

My exercise schedule is sporadic at best.  I try to go three or four times a week after I drop Keira off at school and before language class starts, but let's be honest, it's really easy to find an excuse NOT to go.

*It's cold.
*I'm tired.
*I have work to do at home.
*I'll do it tomorrow.
*I didn't eat that much yesterday.

Oh, well.  Here's to another year of getting in better shape and a quick prayer that the gym offers another special in February so we can afford to renew our membership :)

Hepatitis B - not my friend

If getting the disease Hepatitis B feels anything like the shot, I'm staying as far away from that stuff as possible!

I haven't been in this much pain since I pulled my back out.

I could not get out of bed this morning until Doug brought me some medicine and I let it get in my system.

I was able to get around all day as we did "stuff," but I was always aware of the pain. I should have had MUCH more sympathy for my children when they had to get this last year! Bad mom!

Doug got Hep A and B, rabies, and a polio booster. He said the rabies hurt him, but he got up and ran 9 miles this morning with his running buddy. (They are training for a half marathon, so they run every morning at 5:45 except Friday and Sunday!) Maybe running helped move all that medicine around, even though he is still sore.

I had asked people to pray for the trauma of the shots for my kids, but next time, I'll be wiser and ask for the soreness and achy ness to not be so severe. All of my children cried today when someone touched their arm or picked them up or just grazed them, and two of them were up last night at different times needing Motrin.

We go at it again next Friday, but Doug is going to try to get his shots moved to Tuesday since his half marathon is next Saturday. It would stink if he had to run while battling the effects of the typhoid or yellow fever shot.

I'll keep you posted.

Fitness Test

I had already tried to tell myself that if I walked during my fitness test, then in December, even if I ran a LITTLE, it would be an improvement. Oh well, so much for that.

I was put in a group that had a couple who must sprint marathons for a living! There was one marathoner in another group that hadn't even broken a sweat and was just finding his stride when the 12 minute timer went off. Yes, I know, 12 minutes isn't much to most of you, but I...don't...exercise.

The wife sprinter easily lapped me twice before I made it around the gym once (it was too wet and cold to do it outside), and I was running!

Yes, I ran.

I don't know what was wrong with me.

Maybe, it was a little competitive side of me, but I didn't think I had one.

So, crazy me ran the whole thing except for the two straight-aways I chose to walk and catch my breath.

Not smart.

Not smart.
I made it around 19 times in 12 minutes. Doug did something like 25 or 26. The sprinters did 31 or something.

The point is (and it's not a good point), I have to beat 19 in December. What was I thinking???

It's mandatory to work out 4 times a week here, so hopefully, I will have improved by then.

I'll let you know.