I was going to say this too. Sometimes in our locker room a man will accidentally walk in, and there is a big reaction or even a new woman who is not one of the regulars, and so everyone's curious (and, as Daktari said, sometimes especially defensive during tours when they are partially undressed and the person coming in is dressed). I think once you become a regular somewhere people will not give you as hard a time. I feel a sense of family/connection with all the regulars, even if we are different and/or don't care for each other. There's still the commonality of having all this time we spend next to each other at the gym! Speaking of which, I did an hour next to Jill on the Arc Trainer today. She did level 15 and held the sides instead of doing the arm motion. She was extremely quick (like a fox I tell you!) and was texting and watching Ellen Degeneres. I was doing a high intensity slower session and using my arms and legs while watching Judge Judy. Then I did 30 minutes of yoga, weight lifting, and abs next to the serious, older, petite, muscular Asian woman whose name I do not know, though I do know her whole exercise routine, and I'd venture to say she knows mine :).

I completely agree that the women who are already in there have a heightened sense of vulnerability because of their own state of undress. I get that and I'm okay with just having to grit my teeth for a little while until they get used to me, and they will. I play well with others and make friends easily.

I think that especially in the US we are all sort of conditioned to be uncomfortable with our own bodies in a public space. I understand that people are uncomfortable in their own skin and I am also. I think the monster in my head is that I'm in the wrong skin at all, and additionally do not care for it.

I think the other patrons will get over it faster than I will.

Nordic walk in sand 9 miles. *copyandpaste*

Going from 6 miles to 9 for the last four days = sore legs in the morning.

:theisland:

Last weekend while on my walk I was talking to a friend when we noticed a huge plume of black smoke across the water and were trying to figure out what it was. Turns out it was the Asiana plane crash. Strange stuff out there some days.

:praying:

Can you give us a quick description of what Nordic walking involves, Kelt?

I've been struggling with the intense heat and humidity! So I'm still inside a lot on the rowing machine. It's supposed to be in the 80s this weekend though, woohoo! I have a Sunday ride scheduled with a friend I am training with. Her longest ride of the season has been 22 miles so I'm hoping to push her to about 35 on Sunday. With hills.

It's an adaptation that came from off season cross country skiing training. Very popular in northern Europe, and being incorporated into a lot of rehab programs in hospitals. It looks kind of like this, I just do it on a beach.
It's basically a very fast aggressive walking with upper body recruitment, but no impact. I think of it as an outdoor elliptical machine.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...qk_M407I4uWuVN

I ran into one of my friends this morning and she was sporting a brand new set of poles. She is from India, everybody who thought I was a little touched a year ago is drinking the koolaid. She is #7. :cheesy:

Thanks to you asking I found a picture of it underwater!! I could seriously get into that! Unfortunately the only picture I found is one that I cannot transfer into here.

Today was a crappy day. I had a migraine this morning which made me feel exhausted all day. And I had several unpleasant experiences at work. :(

I did not want to go to the gym tonight. I argued with myself for quite a while. But I had a race to finish dammit! So I trudged off to the gym.

I'm so glad I went. I feel so much better after my workout. :)

And I had the fastest time I've walked all week! :cheesy:

Today's time = 1 mile in 40 minutes and 1 second.

Don't you just love when you can turn a day around like that?!

Today I decided to use my resistance bands rather than free weights. It was a nice little switch up. Really need to get back to yoga on a daily basis.

Any kind of moving is exercise, my friend! It is great that exercise is built into your way of life.

So far--
 

thirty minutes of laps -- 10 mins front crawl / 10 breaststroke / 10 front crawl

Even with sore knees I have kept rideing the bike just not as for or as hard,it feels like cheeting but I can still get some cardio in my work out.I have done thiryt to fortyfive minits day working out with weights and playing basket ball plus useing the bowfles till I just give out.For the next three days I have pool games to go to so my program will be much easyer but not forgotten,so when i'm done will get back to what I am doing.I am starting to drop a fue pounds again,I was thinking it wasnt going to happen again so I am pleased just wish I didnt have to crunch the workouts so hard cause I dont want to blow out something then cant workout at all.

Another 9 on the beach, a beautiful sunny day.

I should probably crank up the SPF tomorrow.

:tanning:

3 hrs at the pool, swimming, walking, and water arobics.... legs feel like jello.... I will sleep good tonite!