Wow! I feel weak as cat water (as they say back here in the hills) but I did 4:15 on the elliptical!
I watched Cree on American Idol sing Whiter Shade of Pale and I just kept on through the judging.
I noticed when I was walking in the grocery store after church last night that I felt like my old self--strong.
I am already seeing the results (and feeling them) of my exercise. And those last 15 seconds--I pushed!--My longest time yet! Yay for me!
Friday
4 min. 4 shaking, long minutes. My legs are feeling every muscle especially my thighs.
I did 2 more minutes this evening at a harder pace. I'm worn out.
Saturday
4:25--My longest time. I'm trembling but not any worse off than when I did 1:30.
I'm so glad to have it over with though. I can't wait until the day comes (I hope it comes) where I will be getting on it without dreading it--where it will be more habitual. I've heard it said that it takes 21 days to make a habit. I'm ready for the habit!
Sunday
Only 3 minutes but I did a hard three minutres. I didn't get enough sleep last night. I'm sure that affected me because I still felt tired when I got up this morning.
Monday
4:30! I'm starting to think this striding is all about the last minute because the first three minutes it was smooth. I was not breathing hard. I had a good pace and I was enjoying the television show.
But I dreaded the last minute yet it is the one that's going to get me where I need to go. I'm not going to make it to five minutes if I don't take the last hard minute.
A preacher told us a week ago (and I wrote it down because I wanted to think about it and see if I agreed) every physical thing in the world has a spiritual significance.
I still want to think more about that but I do see the spiritual equivelent of this physical test I'm going through.
Tuesday
I started to get in the shower when I realized that I needed to get on the elliptical first.
I told myself it's only for a few minutes as I approached it reluctantly. It looks like a large metal praying mantis standing there.
Then I turned on the TV but as I starting striding I realized the preacher was just ending his sermon and a bunch of commercials started. I hate that. I almost got off and turned the channel but I didn't want to break my stride so I stayed on. I'm glad I did. I hit the 5 minute mark for the first time!
Wednesday
My second 5 minute stride! I noticed when I stepped on the elliptical that my legs felt stronger. Even getting on it at first was kind of hard. You have to put one foot up into a large paddle shaped pedal and pull yourself up onto it. (One small step for mankind but one huge step for me.) But now the step up doesn't seem quite as difficult and I have a sense of accomplishment.
It's taken 2 weeks to reach five minutes. I wonder where I will be two weeks from now.