Sunday, 26^th March 2006 | 12:59 AM
Finding my stride again

I would've updated yesterday, but I couldn't get into Diaryland. Fortunately, I'm still in the mood to write.

I'm finding my gym stride again - finally shook off that post-flu lethargy/laziness. Things I tell myself to push my ass into the gym:

• going to the gym helps me sleep
• going to the gym relieves my work stress
• going to the gym makes me less irritable
• going to the gym makes me feel calmer
• going to the gym makes me feel good
• going to the gym helps me burn calories
• going to the gym helps me lose weight
• going to the gym makes me fitter
• going to the gym makes me healthier

Yes. Breaking down all the reasons just emphasises on their importance, I believe.

We were really pushed to the max during last Friday's yoga class. I felt fitter than I felt the previous class during yoga, but our instructor really pushed us. Somehow last lesson she focused a lot on the hamstrings, and my hamstrings are really one of my biggest problem areas. They are super tight - and that's not good. I've always noticed that my legs don't extend as full as those of other girls while doing ab exercises, but I always attributed it to me being fatter than them or something. But lately I'm discovering that I haven't been stretching my hamstrings enough, and that's why they're super-tight. Something yoga is helping me with surely.

And meanwhile, I'm in a bit of a quandary regarding cardio exercise. Is it better to walk faster, or walk longer? I'm eager to increase my speed on the treadmill, but afraid that I will get so out of breath that I will have to cut my cardio time. And I somehow believe that if I don't walk for very long, then the walking I'm doing won't help me build my stamina much. I've just been experimenting while at the treadmill on possible speeds, inclines, etc. Basically I've been trying to focus on being able to walk faster and further during the same amount of time (45 mins) but yet I'm wondering if I'm not challenging myself enough.

And now I must sleep, so that I can wake in time for my pilates class early tomorrow morning!

- last entry / next entry -

recent entries:

Saturday, 1^st April 2006 - The constant struggle

Sunday, 26^th March 2006 - Finding my stride again

Monday, 20^th March 2006 - It's like I'm Vulcan, or something

Monday, 27^th February 2006 - My house of cards finally comes down

Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006 - Books and fitness