up

Well. Today's my birthday, and so far it's a good one: 

• Scott gave me a Jawbone UP that I hope will help me become more active and aware of my decisions that affect my health.
• We got our tax refund, just in time to pay a big bill.
• I got the barbell set I ordered, so I can get a great workout today.
• I decided to take the day off work, because I can.
• I plan to get a massage, and maybe even a pedicure.
• Every few minutes I get a friendly message from someone on Facebook.

So I feel happy and grateful. Off to do my workout!

Off the couch

In an effort to get more aerobic exercise, I have started trying to run. This is not something that has EVER been in my workout repertoire...even in the 80s and 90s when I was doing high-impact Jazzercise regularly and could keep going through the whole session without getting too winded, I wasn't able to run more than a minute without having to stop.

But I keep reading about this Couch to 5K program that gradually trains non-runners to become runners by starting with tiny amounts of running interspersed with walking and gradually increasing the running time over 9 weeks. I'm on week 3 now. I downloaded a podcast on iTunes that has not-too-cheesy background music and a lovely British lady who tells you when to walk and when to run. Monday's session contained my first instance of running for 3 (!) minutes at a time. I could barely do it! But I did. Then today the 3-minute run came up again...and it was perceptibly easier! This could actually work.

I hope it works! I'm going to sign up for a 5K so I have something to shoot for.