The dreaded before and after pictures. Now that I'm traveling what seems like 25 days a month - I obviously can't get out everyday and ride 40 miles on my bike. Hell, even if I WEREN'T traveling so much I couldn't do that in Charleston. I've never been in a more cyclist un-friendly town in my life. And I lived in MEMPHIS, for Jeebus' sake. The first few weeks I was here I mapped out what I thought would be easy, fun jaunts out on the bike on mapmyride.com. Great site, fantastic mapping tool using the Google Maps API, and even has snazzy little elevation viewing, distance, blah blah blah. If you haven't used it, try it out.
Then, after my 7th motorist swerving over into me and yelling at me for being on a bicycle instead of solo in a HUGE SUV, I decided maybe I would become a runner in order to stay fit. At least running I could do every day. When home, I'd run outside, when traveling and weather permitting, I'd run outside and when it wasn't I'd run on the treadmill. Easy peasy, right? Not really - I'm not too fond of running. I do it, begrudgingly, but I'm not fond of it.
As a result, I decided I wanted to get into swim-suit shape. A shape other than "pasty ex-cyclist-with-a-perpetual-farmer's-tan." I subscribed to a workout program - I can take this on the road with me using the hotel weights, YAY. In order to take full advantage of the program, though, I had to take 6 before pictures, will have to take the same 6 pictures half-way through, and then again towards the end of the effort. I've decided I won't look at those pictures until I'm at least 80% of the way there. No need to bum myself out from the onset. Before beginning the program, I've been running 6-10 miles a day to prepare myself for the "before pictures." How self-loathing is that??? My hamstring is pulled, my shins are splint (is that right?), and my hip flexors are tighter than a minimum wage employee's wallet during this economy. Pathetic? Sure. Mentally steeling? You betcha.
The good thing? It includes Yoga and Pilates, two things that I really enjoy.
Keep your fingers crossed for me that I don't increase my caloric intake as much as I increase my caloric output for the program.
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