22 December 2007

What's it worth to you??

Commodore got me thinking today. Actually, that's not totally true but, as often happens with blogs, it helped me focus a bit and define a problem I was overlooking.

I have, in many ways, given up my quest to lose weight. I've realized by focusing on trying to lose weight I was actually defeating myself. You can't focus on the negative, you must focus on the positive. So I shifted my focus. Instead of focusing on losing weight (the negative), I've been working on my running, strength, and cardio. This is definitely working towards the positive. I can measure improvements and see positive results. This is a good thing. I've been pretty focused and consistent for the entire month of December. But there was something missing. Then I read Comm's post today.

I watched the end of the Biggest Loser on Tuesday night and was duly impressed. These people did an amazing amount of work, they lost an amazing amount of weight, and they all looked fantastic. But they did have a great incentive, $250,000. For that kind of money I would do a lot of things, losing weight is definitely one of them. Incentive, rewards, whatever you want to call it, are powerful things. Since I don't have $250,000 laying around or know anyone who does, I guess I, like Comm, will have to find some other incentive.

What could possibly motivate me to work out with passion and not miss any?? What could I possibly want that I'm willing to work that hard for? Why is the end result of health and fitness not enough reward in itself? I honestly don't know and don't know if I will be able to figure it out. The big ticket items that I do want, I'm not ready to purchase yet, nor will I be in the next few months. The smaller items are just not that great of an incentive. So I don't know what the incentive should be. Should it be a 'thing' or something else. Maybe a trip. I don't know. It is definitely worth some thought and contemplation. I've got a little over a week to come up with something. Let's see what happens.

Well now I've really done it.....

Since I went ahead and registered for the Lanikai tri this morning, I figured I'd better get ready to start swimming. I have no goggles, old swimsuits, no plan, you get the idea. So I've been online spending money like a drunken sailor. I've ordered 2 swimsuits from SwimOutlet (they were on clearance) as well as new goggles and a very 60's swim cap :) I also ordered the Total Immersion DVD to work on my swimming. Oh, by the way, the swimsuits, cap, and goggles are all in shades of pink ;)

I've now got to work on my mental game. I always consider myself a poor swimmer. As a result of that thinking, I swim pretty poorly. In 2005 I took that stroke clinic and the instructor told me every class that I was a good swimmer. He had very little criticism about my stroke and I really only needed to make minor adjustments. With his praise ringing in my ears, I had the swim of my life at the 2005 Na Wahine. After that my swimming went downhill quickly. What this tells me is that my swimming "game" is really all in my head. I know how to swim and I'm a pretty decent swimmer. I just need to get it into my head that I am. So, on January 2nd I head back to the pool and while doing drills and laps necessary to improve my swimming, I will be working on my internal game also. I am a good swimmer, I am a good swimmer, I am a good swimmer.......

Well now I've done it.


This message is generated as confirmation of your recent registration on Active.com. You have been successfully registered for the following:


Registration:

Bikefactory/Jamba Juice Lanikai Triathlon

Purchase Date:

12/22/07

Category:

Individual

Event Date:

04/13/08

Name:

Florence *******


CLICK HERE for a complete version of this registration.







I'm in. I've signed up for my first tri of the year. I'm very excited and very scared. I have got to start swimming :)

21 December 2007

Warning: very unholiday like rant ahead

I am so incredibly sick and tired of hearing the term "give back" What the f*ck does that mean exactly? People say all the time, it's a chance to "give back." Give back what????? And to whom???? Last night I heard someone who was donating toys to Toys for Tots that it was her way of giving back. Again, I ask, give back what and to whom?? Did those underprivileged kids give her something I don't know about?? Maybe the Marines gave her something?? I don't know, but clearly someone, somewhere gave her something and now she's giving it back. But, unless it came from the kids to whom she's donating the toys, it really wouldn't be giving back would it? It would be paying if forward.

I hear a lot too of "giving back to the community" Huh???? What exactly did the community give you? I know I give the community far more than it gives me so I don't feel the need to give anything back. Considering the exorbitant amount of taxes I pay and the little I use of the community resources, I'm keeping every little thing the community gives me and I'm not giving anything back.

Another common phrase is "give back to those less fortunate." Just thinking here, but if they are less fortunate odds are they didn't have anything to give in the first place so what exactly are these people giving back??

I donate to things. I give to the less fortunate. I don't give back anything to anyone. I've worked hard all my life and have never really taken from anyone or anything, so I feel no need at all to "give back." I feel incredibly fortunate to have my health, a hubby, my dogs, a good job, etc. so I will donate, or give, to causes that help those who aren't as fortunate as I.

Oops! I lied!! I do "give back." I try to volunteer at at least one race every year. I figure there are runners who volunteer at the races I run so it's only fair to give back and volunteer so they can run. But that's a pretty fair exchange. They volunteer so I can run, I volunteer so they can run. That's a pretty even trade.

That's it!!! To me, "give back" indicates a fair trade, an even exchange, a common ground so to speak. Giving to charities is not giving back unless you take something from them during the year. If you are giving to a charity because you are fortunate enough to have more than you need, unless you took something from that charity you are not "giving back." If you are giving to a charity that has nothing to do with any help you received in the past, you are paying it forward.

I hate when words or phrases are used improperly, or used in ways that make no sense at all. Jeez, I'm becoming more of a word nerd than I was before. Ugh!!!!

19 December 2007

Second thoughts.

I was talking to my boss today and we were discussing the 10k on New Years Day. She lives where it's run and has run it before. She then proceeded to tell me it was the hardest 10k on the island. Huh??? What??? Turns out the course is mostly uphill. Both ways. Seriously. You start with a gradual uphill, those ones you can't see but sure can feel when you run it. That goes on for about a mile or so. Then you turn up a pretty short, but very steep hill. When you reach the top there is a long, steep downhill. Then you run up a short, not too steep hill and turn around and come back. That long, steep downhill is now a long, steep uphill. Of course after that it's mostly downhill from there to the finish, but this long, steep hill is really long, and steep. This knowledge is making me have second thoughts about this race. I want to challenge myself but I don't want to kill myself the first time out. There is a 5k the Sunday after, maybe I'll just do that one :)

18 December 2007

Technology challenged

A while back I got a Garmin 305. At first I loved it and used it all the time. But then I realized some problems with it. I didn't like that the HR was displayed so small at the top of the screen. There were a couple of other things I didn't like that I can't remember right now, but trust me, it bugged me. Then I got my Nike + and decided that was way more fun, except it didn't have a HRM. Oh the dilemma. So this morning I go to run and my Nike + is dead. Oh, poo!!! I bust our the Garmin and, since I was early, looked at the instructions only to realize I could customize the display screen. DOH!!!!! I swear, it's the little things that trip me up. So I got in a 3 mile run and had a blast and got to see my HR the whole time - woo hoo!!!!

Tonight I did my weight workout. I missed last night because I had to take Rocco to the vet. If you're interested the whole story is over at Flo's Place. So I did Day 1 tonight and then I did this interval workout that was really fun. You do jumping jacks for 30 seconds then rest for 90 seconds. Repeat 7 times. It turned out to be quite fun. So I got a good run this morning and a good workout tonight.

I'm alone tonight, it's poker night, so I'm off to have something for dinner and go to bed early.

17 December 2007

I'm still here....

I've had a thing going on the last few days and I find myself withdrawing into myself. I can't let that happen, that's when things start to go wrong.

I have broken my streak. I had planned to workout every day in December. Unfortunately, life got in the way. Sunday I woke with a major headache. I thought I was getting a migraine. I have not had a migraine in over 25 years but I still remember what they feel like coming on. I was sure that I was getting one. I pretty much felt like crap the whole day. So there was no run. There was not much physical activity at all. My head really hurt and I was not going to take the chance on bringing on a migraine. So there was no workout on Sunday. My streak has been broken.

I did however, walk around Wal-Mart for about 3 days looking for gifts. Hmmm. Maybe that was part of my headache?!?!? I got hubby a 26" HDTV for Christmas. He is going to be so surprised. I told him there was no way he could buy a new TV. The one he has is less than 3 years old. So this should be a real surprise for him. I can't wait :)

I did get up and get right back on track this morning. I did my exercise bike. I really need to look into some treadmills. There are times, like right now, when I feel like running. It's 8 p.m. and I am not going to run on the road. Oh, well. Maybe some day.

Okay, that's all. I'm not going to let this thing get to me and draw me into my self. I have this horrible habit of avoiding things that I don't want to deal with. When I start avoiding something I start withdrawing and that is not a good thing. So I will NOT let this thing drive me inward and I will get back in the saddle immediately.

Conversation with Hubby

 So yesterday morning I presented my idea of working out at home to the Hubby. Once I presented it to him, he said he was in. I told him I h...