These foots were made for flappin'

[Randall]

It's been almost 11 months, but I got back on the treadmill today. Yes, it's been that long.

Just one mile this time -- I think I can safely push myself on effort but not on stamina -- and I'm starting from less than zero. Last July I was losing weight after ditching one of my medications and had high hopes of getting my exercise program in gear. Well, over the next two months I began a death spiral into uncontrollable sleepiness, which totally derailed my exercise plans (and threatened the same for my life in general).

The upshot: I'm back on the fat pills and heavier than I've ever been. This is the backdrop for my attempt to restart the exercise thing.

One small change over last year: I did my walk/trotting (mostly) barefoot today ... just me and my socks. I think I'll keep that up if my feet don't mutiny.

Wish me luck.

Randall

And no, I am not going to read Sheila's marathon thread until I can go two miles without stopping.

[Wassercrats]

From less than zero miles? I think walking backwards counts the same as walking forwards, so you may have been in better shape than you thought.

I had an uncontrollable sleepiness thing a few months ago. I was in bed with no symptoms but sleepiness for about three days pretty much straight. I'm not sure if that happens when you need to make up for missing just about an hour of sleep for a few days straight, so I may have had something.

Try this. It looks so yellow and wakeful. Also, sunlight during the day is supposed to help.

I remember your tooth problem despite the milk you drank. Your body may be having trouble absorbing nutrients. Try some Recombinant bovine somatotropin.

I don't accept insurance, but my fees are reasonable. Pay only if it works.

Oh, good luck.

[Andilinks]

Best of luck with your new regimen and with your health in general.

My treadmill had plastic covers on the roller ends that would injure my heel if I caught on them so I removed the covers before using the treadmill barefoot. But I still prefer shoes, I think it's safer.

Andi

[Mandi]

There must be something in the (New England . . .) air . . . my oldest DD fired up our treadmill out of the blue today too. It's seen precious little go-time since garden season started. I can't justify walking on a belt, when there are productive things to do outside that can make me just as sweaty. But come fall, I'll be there again I'm sure.

Keep it up! Do you have some good tunes to listen to?

[Wassercrats]

Another tooth-fatigue link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...&dopt=Abstract

[Randall]

Among males in their 30s, those engaged in transport/driving and engineering/production had more missing teeth than others. We found a relationship between the number of missing teeth and subjective symptoms of fatigue among men in their 30s.

I'm not missing any teeth , but thanks for the ... something.

Originally Posted by Mandi

my oldest DD fired up our treadmill out of the blue today too

I doubt she's as fat as I am right now (where's the fat smiley?), but at least I'm in good company.

Do you have some good tunes to listen to?

That's something I haven't worked out yet (no pun intended). The treadmill isn't remotely near to any decent sources of music, and I'm still waiting for a 32GB iPod Nano before I jump back into the portable thing.

I need to do some looking around -- maybe somebody's come up with a decent set of wireless (Bluetooth, maybe?) headphones by now. Then I could leave the laptop safely on the floor with no wires to trip over or strangle myself with.

If I had to, I suppose I could put some speakers in that area just for the laptop. But headphones would do a better job of blocking out the treadmill and flappy-feet noises. (You have no idea how loud you are until you try to sort-of-run on one of these things. I'm half afraid that I'll plunge through the floor.)

Randall

[Trilby]

No connection to the discussion, but the title reminded me of the Rose is Rose comic strip of the same date.

[sheila]

Yesterday I went to the gym (which I haven't done in a few weeks) and was going to do a bit of running on the treadmill and also some work on the weight machines. Generally I prefer to run outdoors, but it is hot here and I didn't want to get up early. So afternoon treadmill at the gym it was.

I fell. Well, I tripped. Never ever done that before. And I don't know rightly how I did it. One moment I was running along as nice as you please, laughing at the I Love Lucy program that was showing on the TV, and the next second I was holding on to the hand rail in front of me with both hands, body at about a 45 degree angle, feet way out behind and trying to "catch up" to the rest of me. I did catch up and stand back up and pick up running again and I didn't fall off the machine. It was kind of disturbing/humiliating in any case.

Also kind of re-injured my groin/pelvic area that's been almost completely healed from February. It's much better today.

Randall, so glad to hear your at it again, and hope it goes well for you this time. Just take it one day at a time.

And try not to fall off!

[Andilinks]

And try not to fall off!

These possible injuries were the beginnings of my preference for the StairMaster. But once started on the StairMonster I realized another advantage of being able to exercise while mentally detached from external dangers.

Since there is virtually no danger of falling from the SM while you remain even slightly conscious it is possible to achieve a trance-like state which can collapse the passage of time, eliminating boredom. Actually the detachment allows a focused concentration for me but it could easily be meditative as well. Sure you can "zone-out" on a treadmill or even while running in the city but the more dangers and distractions you can eliminate the safer and easier it is.

It is the just endorphins that kick in for the "runner's high," but if you can eliminate external distractions this can be harnessed. Or maybe you just get high. But hey, it's healthy.

[Mandi]

I fell while running on a treadmill once. It was a machine without a safety-off clip. I fell smack on the tread, which was bad enough - but instantly, it SHOT me off the back off the machine. Man, that was embarrassing (and painful, LOL!) Of course it was at a gym, too.

There are reasons I have one in the privacy of my own home now . . .