Swam 450 yards
20 minutes in the sauna

Playtime at the pool with Vivian was delightful.
Thirty minutes, 900 yards, and then the sauna.

Life is good.

Double take

I'm not going to lie: Tonight I feel a little bit like a badass.
I did indeed skip the hot tub and spent the time in the pool, still swimming, not really meaning to break any records, just hoping that I could keep moving for the whole time.
I swam a half mile before the time was up.
That's right, 880 yards, or twice what I usually do.
I'm pretty certain I'm going to feel it in my arms before this time next week, but that's not going to stop me from going back tomorrow.
And the next day.
And the day after that, too.

I'll let you know how it goes.
Oh, and I did twenty minutes in the sauna too.
What an amazing evening at the gym.

Swim: 440 yards
Hot tub
Sauna: 15 minutes

After the gym, we came home to our routine of dinner and cards. There was fish and roasted root vegetables, a perfectly autumnal offering of food.

We watched the penultimate episode of The Five, and then we were both tired enough to call it a night. We were asleep before 8:30.

The routine continues to hold me.

Swim: 440 yards
Hot tub
Sauna: 15 minutes

Swim: 440 yards
Hot tub
Sauna: 15 minutes

I missed the pool yesterday, even though walking around the University of Richmond was its own special delight.

Swim: 440 yards
Hot tub
Sauna: 15 minutes

Swim: 440 yards
Hot tub
Sauna: 15 minutes

I made a critically important discovery at the gym this evening, and I feel sort of dumb for not already knowing it: the family pool is about 6 degrees warmer than the lap pool. This is huge for me, since the chronic fatigue makes me more sensitive to cold than ever. The good news is that I jumped right in and swam a quarter mile before dipping in the hot tub.

Yes, dear readers, the swimming component of my routine is back, and it's all to the good. I'm only doing a quarter mile for now, trying to focus on re-establishing the habit before worrying about distance or time.

It's nice to be back, especially as the winter hours are upon us.

It's also really nice to have something g worthwhile to report on the fitness front. I feel as though I have been treading water and losing ground incrementally anyway all year.

Swim: 440 yards
Hot tub
Sauna: 15 minutes

Urges

So the urge to commit homicide (I.e. smoke a cigarette) was wicked this afternoon and evening, and that's strange since it's been 98 hours or so now. But you know, cravings are real.

I took Vivian and visited my sponsee. Afterwards, Vivian and I suited up and went to the pool for a bit, then grabbed some Chinese after for dinner. At home we cleaned up, made some calls, watched an episode of The Flash and cleaned some more. Clothes were sorted, hung p, and some scheduled for donations. I'm still with the urges, but proud of myself anyway.

Hot tub for the win

This morning I woke up feeling wicked sick. I made tea, canceled my whole calendar for the day, and did as little as possible, including a nap. After dinner, we took Vivian to the pool, swam some and hit the hot tub some. A little activity and increase of the core temperature goes a long way. Day sixteen of the gym.

Also, the cayenne-cinnamon-cocoa seems to be helping.

Another early morning at the gym. Fifteen minutes at level six (up from level five) on the elliptical. Walked a quarter mile before pulling 100m on the rowing machine in six minutes -- my form is getting better and I'm extending back far enough that it is essentially working in 100 sit ups as well as the other awesomeness that is the rowing machine. Walked another quarter mile, then jogged a quarter mile, then hit the glute extension (12 reps each leg at 70 pounds), the inner and outer thigh machines (2 sets of 12 reps at 70 pounds each) and the back extension machine (24 reps at 70 pounds) and 16 inclined sit ups. I simply could not do more than 40 pounds on the tricep machine, so I set the weight at that and did twelve of them. After that, swimming a mile was a respite, and five minutes in the hot tub was golden.

At home, Vivian was a delight as we made breakfast and changed her into her uniform and went to school. I turned the stale bagels into slices and toasted them, and they are delicious, a perfect accompnaiment to some lemon ginger tea.

I'm starting to see definition in the arms and increased firmness in the abs. I can definitely feel the improvement in my back and core. The scale says I've hit 125, and I'm really ok with that. I can feel the weight finally, finally!! coming out of my face, even if only a little. I'm probably going to need new swim shorts by April, since the waist on the ones I have is getting a bit loose. I feel really positive about the way I look for the first time in a decade.

The biggest bonus is the way I feel, which is way better overall from a couple months ago. I definitely have more energy throughout the day, and feel less cranky in general, less discouraged. I am still an emotional wreck about things at times, I grant you, but for actual reasons and not because I didn't have enough energy to feel good. Peace is possible.

Oh, and I just found out about the FitBit Blaze that is coming in March. I totally need one, but that's not important right now.

In other news, today is day nine of not smoking.

Let the Rhythm Take You

This morning was cold, cold cold. Stupid cold. We shivered all the way to the gym.
Once there, the rhythm of this month took over: ten minutes on the elliptical, five minutes (1000m) rowing, glutes, sit ups, back extension; swim two miles in ten minutes; zone out in a meditative state for five minutes in the hot tub, remembering that the Universe loves me and wants me to be happy.

Eggs, cheddar, bacon and horseradish wrap afterwards, with hot tea and a new-to-me mug.

Simple Sunday

This morning we turned the dough into bagels, and wow, is it yummy. It's so good that we are considering ditching store-bought and making our own batch of 16 every week. Feel free to stop by for Sunday brunch around 9.

After bagels and rest time, we hit the gym. It's arms day for me, which means nearly an hour in the weights room after warm up on the elliptical. I am increasing, slowly, so it must be all to the good. Drank a litre of water during my weights hour, too.

Then I donned my new suit - board shorts for the win, ladies! - and hit the pool while Vivian splashed in the kiddie area. The hot tub at the end is ridiculously soothing. At home, we all devoured some more food - I had 3 eggs, a hamburger from last night, some Swiss cheese, mushrooms and a tomato. And cinnamon tea.

It's been over 24 hours since I've had a cup of coffee, and nearly three days since a cigarette.

Off schedule and off kilter, but doing it

Last night we were up late, and today's schedule was already thrown for a loop needing to reschedule an afternoon appointment, so the morning trip to the gym got rearranged. The universe must have had a completely different set of plans for us. The evening gym visit resulted in Vivian getting a chance spot in the swim lessons. She had a good time in the kid zone while I did arms in the weight room - ten different machines, with two or three sets on each - and finished with the back extension and glute machine. Yes, after four days in a row, my abs and butt are feeling it.

Some progress has also been done on the Onerous Tasks list last night and today: I have a new sponsor; I met with the guardian ad litem; I went to two new-to-me meetings.

Also, whoever came up with acupuncture was a complete genius.