P90 First Week Review

Dear Reader,

Although this blog has been horribly neglected, I would like to report that I am still in existence.  I have done some blogging on my author blog(mostly about writing, imagine that...). 

But here is the place I blog about exercise.  I am on week one of P90.  I admit that I am not following the nutritional plan, first of all because Shakeology is outrageously expensive, and also because there is too much chocolate around here from Christmas.  My willpower is rather low in January.  I have bought some healthier food and have kept breakfast and lunch lower in calories.  If I can kick the dessert habit I've picked up, I'll be good.  I am not going to do the 6 Day Shred, as I believe it to be a dangerous restriction of calories, especially whilst exercising.

The exercises for the first month of the program aren't too bad.  It's a bit challenging, but I am surviving it.  I printed out the program calendar from a third party website and didn't notice a misprint that had me doing a sculpting workout from the second month.  That one was hard, but I survived it too.  I do hope that by the end of month one, I'm better able to handle those "Sculpt B" moves because I really thought it was going to do me in. 

So far my asthma has not been an issue.  I suspect that I will need to use my exercise inhaler for month two.  The only result to report here on day five is that my posture is greatly improved.  I haven't slouched once since sitting down at the computer this morning.

My free coach is not working out so far.  I have sent her an email and gotten no reply.  Perhaps she is busy, or has no answers for my questions.  It is rather unfortunate that her specialty programs do not include P90.  I doubt she'll be of much help.

I'll finish up week one tomorrow.  So far, I like the exercise portion of the program.  I like the fast pace, how quickly we change moves, and how the host is upbeat in a non-annoying way.  I do modify some of the moves, and have a slow pace, but I expect it to improve.

Asthma 5K

Dear Reader,

While I somewhat enjoy exercise, and don't exactly despise it, I find motivation hard to come by as far as keeping at it.  The wii fit board told me I've lost weight since last summer, which is great, except that it was because I hadn't used wii fit since then.

I think I've been subconsciously viewing my asthma as some sort of terminal diagnosis.  Nevermind the fact that I have not yet had an asthmatic attack, the thought of having one while miles from my home is not fun.  This is something I'm working on.

I still don't ride my bicycle much, but I'm working on an easy 5K training plan(the "easy" part being that it's walking).  I'm not planning to enter any official races, but I think it will help with my confidence and changing the way I think of asthma.  I want to see it as a challenge instead of a hindrance.

Still Going

The post title says it all.  Life is throwing all sorts of stuff at me this year, but I'm still going.  I did finally cross the Brandywine in my ride to Rivendell.  The trip is much more exciting in the book and the movie.

My writing is sort of on hold.  I have a privately printed almost complete first draft to tear into.  I like seeing it in book form, and hate to start marking it up, but I really want to get back to the story.  I'll have to put the fantasy work on hold, but this is the first real story I had pour out of my brain and into any semblance of a book.  I need to finish this one.

Riding for Real

Dear Reader,

Today I rode my real bicycle outdoors.  Only a half mile because I haven't ridden in awhile and honestly, the asthma scares me.  My doctor says I may have graduated to full blown asthma.  That doesn't make riding outside sound appealing. 

The ride went well enough, and I wasn't out of breath for too long.  Think I'll try again tomorrow.

Black Riders

My first encounter with a Black Rider.  I was too tired to be much afraid, but the hobbits were sure freaked out.  Mile 31 and the Nazgul are already tailing us. 

Snow

Dear Reader,

The lovely Spring weather we've been having in Wisconsin(snow!) has slowed my journey somewhat, but I have made some small progress. 

I'm up to 19.5 miles now.  Rivendell is still a long way off, but I'll get there.

Still Riding

The hobbits have outpaced me due to my getting more hours in at work this week as well as planting a ridiculous amount of peas, but I got back on my exercise bike today.  I actually worked up a sweat this time, which either means that it's really Spring, or I have to ride 7 miles to get a good workout in.  Today I crossed the "Stock Road that leads to Woodhall" and will follow it for awhile.

I am 13.5 miles into my journey.
Only 444.5 miles to go.

Still in the Shire

After a day of rest, I kept myself to a casual pace today, and am still making my way through Tookland.  I had to stop to plant potatoes, but it was nice to walk under the stars in the cool evening afterwards.

The Ride Begins

I began my journey to Rivendell this afternoon with five miles on my exercise bike.  I have crossed the Great East Road, and entered the Green Hill Country of Tookland.  A very pleasant journey thus far.

Biking to Rivendell

Dear Reader,

In my quest for more interesting ways to exercise, I have run across the "Walk to Rivendell" challenge, in which you keep track of your miles and log in to keep track of your progress on the road from Hobbiton to Rivendell.  The mileage was calculated from maps of Middle Earth.  How awesome is that?

You can keep track of mileage here.

I'm adapting the challenge so that I can use my bicycle, or my recumbent exercise bike, as well as walking.  This will allow me to continue my journey on rainy/snowy/inclement days.  I will post my progress on the blog.  Should be lots of fun!

Update

Dear Reader,

After some reconsideration I have created a twitter account under my pen name.  It's going alright, and I've found that it helps me with my confidence in my writing.

In other news, I realized tonight that I can recite Monroe County 4-H club names like Bran Stark recites house sigils. :)

Writer Incognito

Dear Reader,

It is not well known that I have a pen name, and that pen name has a website and blog attached to it.  I have no idea what to put on the website, as my writing is not something I put a lot of time into at the moment and I would feel like a fraud promoting something that is not going along at any steady rate.

However, I have spent several minutes this morning using various search engines to see what page the website comes up on.  The name by itself is not findable on Google, but if I add "fiction" I get a first page result and adding "weebly" give me number one.  :)  Webcrawler, Bing and Dogpile all yield first page results for the pen name alone, although Bing put me at the very bottom. 

I am considering twitter and facebook accounts, but there again, I'm not sure I could generate enough content to make them worthwhile to anyone who may like or follow them. 

Writing

Dear Reader,

I've started my fantasy/adventure story.  I have many ideas and an eight year story arc, so I'm expecting it to be at least a trilogy.  The hardest part will be world building, something with which I have very little experience.

With other stories, I have tried simply writing them(which is the most fun, when I can do it), making an outline(helpful but not so fun), and now I've started using note cards.  I expect I'll be using a ton of note cards as I start filling in details of my story world.

This story is going to take a long time to write, which is ok because I'm enjoying the creative process.  Lots of reading and writing and editing are in my future.  Wish me luck!

Running for My....

Dear Reader, 

In the past couple of years, while I've been away from the blogosphere, I have attempted running for my life, or health, or just fitness in general.  I enjoy it when my body cooperates.  Having weak knees has gotten in my way, but some low-end braces and a couple of physical therapy consults have helped.

I started with knee strengthening exercises.  They helped enough to convince me to try a couch-to-5k program I found on Pinterest.  Things were going well until week 3, when my exercise induced asthma kicked in.  My lungs were not ready for such a workout.

I have since changed inhalers and added a rescue inhaler to use before exercise.  And I have set myself walking and biking goals for the year.  Unfortunately, I'm way behind on my walking, so I'm not sure I can make that one, but biking should be good.  Anyhow, I'm gearing up to try again on jogging/running.

This time of year, the best time to exercise is way early in the morning, before it gets hot(or hotter) out.  I just read an article with tips for becoming a morning runner.  Here are some tips of my own, that I think are just as useful:

1. Get your butt to bed at night.
2. Get your butt out of bed in the morning.
3. Drag yourself onto the treadmill or out the door, wherever you prefer to run.
4. Brag about your progress somewhere.
5. Repeat.


It also helps to develop a competitive streak.

Now all I have to do is stop procrastinating and get going.

The Next Big Thing

Dear Reader, it seems I haven't kept up with this blog after all.  However, in my absence I have been tagged in a blog challenge.  Since I have started writing again, I may as well participate.  It might even be fun. :)

How it works:  First: Answer the 10 questions below.
                         Then:  Spread the fun and tag 5 more awesome people to participate.
                         It's also nice to link back to the person


I don't happen to know any fiction writers other than the one who tagged me, so I will link back to her in my one tag.

1. What is the title of your book / WIP?

The Bible Study

2.  Where did the idea of this book come from?

I've been wanting to write something with more religious content, and something a bit adventurous.  This is sort of a combination.  I'm not sure how the idea itself formed, it just sort of popped into my  head.

3. What genre would your book fall under?

I don't really know.  Spirituality/suspense?  Supernatural mystery?  Something along those lines.

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

It's a little early yet for casting, as all I've done so far is a basic plot outline.  Not much character sketching has been done.  There are a number of actors I would love to see play any of my characters.  I would try to put Aidan Quinn or Sir Anthony Hopkins in there somewhere.

5. What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

   Hmm, I'll try to do this without making it sound like a comic book....

A parish Bible Study opens a door to [Unnamed Heroine]'s past, sweeping her up in the ever raging battle between good and evil.

6. Is your book published or represented?

When/if completed, my publisher will be Collier Bluff Books

7. How long did it take you to write it?

Time will tell....

8. What other books in your genre would you compare it to?

I've never written anything like this before, and I don't read much of this type of story either, so I don't really know.

9. Which authors inspired you to write this book?

Nobody in particular.  Maybe every author I've ever read.

10. Tell us anything else that might pique our interest in your book.

I try to make my characters realistic and sympathetic, even with the wildest plot lines.  There will be humor.  I can't write a story that doesn't have some humorous parts.  Lots of faith-based content and characters you can feel comfortable rooting for.

The One Awesome Fiction Author I'm Tagging:

Kate Warren



*To officially apply for the four vacant tags, please leave a link in the comments.

Yes, I am Still Here

Dear Reader, I realize it has been a few years since my last post. Life has gotten quite busy. My eldest brother passed away a year ago this past January, which pretty much spoiled 2011. I'm not sure where 2010 went. I will make an effort to post more now that I have some time with all my kids in school, and maybe even keep it up over the summer.

If you're still reading this, I apologize for the long silence and marvel your unbelievable patience.

One Down, One to Go

Dear Reader, I am happy to announce that I have completed my biking goal for this year. I rode 100 cumulative miles. It's an awesome feeling. Next year I'll have to bump it up to 125 or maybe 150.

I'm still working on my reading goal. I've read 17 of the 25 book goal. I'd hoped to finish them over the Summer, but I got too busy with gardening, so now I've given myself to the end of the year.

Driving

I forgot to mention this last week, but I passed my driver's test! I'm still learning some things about driving etiquette, but it's nice to have finally gotten my license.

CCD

Tonight was my first full length catechism class, and it was really awesome. My third graders are good listeners, and they participated well. We got through all of the things I wanted to cover and most of the extra activities as well. I might be able to work in a snack next week. The kids would love that. :)

Catechism

I am now officially a catechist. I'll be teaching the third grade catechism class, starting next week. Last night was the teacher in-service, where we handed in all of out paperwork and went over the schedule for the first semester.

I've been researching and writing down ideas all week, and am really looking forward to teaching. Some of the anxiety may return come Wednesday, but I'm feeling pretty good about it right now.