I broke 90%

In fact... I got 96%.

I missed two questions on a 50 question exam (that covered the brain, cranial nerves, eye, ear, heart and arterial system)... I am proud.

:D

Lifted Friday, and cleaned all day... gonna go for a ride today... just gotta keep on keepin' on... its all I can do.

busy...

so yeah... that challenge took a nose dive on day 11 and hasn't recovered, but I'm not too worried. Weight trends downward, so the eating must still be on track. Back on the bike tomorrow after the Anatomy Exam at 11:30 am... I gotta break a 90% on this one if I'm going to have ANY hope of getting an A in the class.

Structures of the brain, cranial nerves, the eye, ear, heart and veinous system are on the test. Luckily I'm a relative expert on the gross anatomy of the heart, so that saved me some studying.

Hoo-Rah!

Day 10

I did 60 minutes on the trainer last night, trying to make up for the lack of effort the prior two days, but I do think my legs needed a break as they were REALLY sore Friday and Saturday, both.

I am uninspired to do much more today tho... I'm TIRED!!!

Whoops...

Late updates on days 8 and 9:

20 minutes each day, nothing major... just enough to continue the challenge.

I'm gunning for 50+ minutes of hard pushing tonight. The last couple of days have been fucking exhausting. Family obligations, the licensing test (I passed... did I mention that?), working on the basement, etc...

So, I'm here, I'm just... really really busy.

its all about the sits, yo! (day 7)

And today there was much rejoicing because my delicate, pretty-princess of an ass had a lovely new saddle upon which to ride (sally ride). I decided to see what random selections from my "least played faves" would give me on ye ole iPod and it worked out well.

I was VERY uncomfy on the Terry Butterfly saddle at first, so I got off, adjusted it a bit, and tried again... and lo there was much rejoicing and the girlie bits were not squooshed, and the sits bones were settled nicely into the firm (but supple) foam of the wider (for her pleasure!) sides of the butterfly flare.

35 minutes at relatively mild intervals with a low hill thrown in for 7 minutes of good measure (*squee*) Not as much drippage tonight (are you getting sick to DEATH of my sweat reports yet?) but a good workout overall.

7 days... it feels good so far... still need to pick up the dbs in addition, but for now I'm meeting my goals.

day 6

45 minutes on the trainer... drippy drippy drippy.

Happy Happy, Joy Joy...

Celebrating the Democratic victory in the Congress, the ensuing resignation of our pal Rummy, and the election of the first Muslim to congress... ('bout damned time!) Progressive milestones are everywhere, but the job is no where NEAR done.

Never is, really...

onward, ever onward!

Today I am Proud...

We Motherfucking Did it!!!

Thank you, America! And don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya on the way out, Mr. Rumsfeld!!!

Oh yeah... and Day 5 - I did 20 minutes on the trainer while obsessively refreshing Cspan.com and CNN.com... HR was up around 130, but nothing major.

I may have to celebrate tonight!!

A Political Aside...

I know that this is a fitness blog... I know I don't mention politics... pretty much at all. But today (in the US) its Election day and I just Voted.

In my generally conservative area there were many city and county offices running unopposed by Republicans. I wrote my own name in rather than voting for them. I know it will make no difference... but it was important to me that NO Republican receive my vote this election... even by default.

109 Reasons to Dump the 109th Congress

NY Times does not endorse ANY Republican Candidates

Do your part.

Use your voice.

Vote.

day 4

53 minutes on the trainer using an "all techno" track-list. More dripage upon the mat. Hooray!

I can't wait to get into the double digits of this challenge... I think I'm not going to get on the scale until day 10, just for shits and giggles. I've been so/so with paying attention to my food tho, so its time to bring that back into alignment. Its funny really... these days my biggest indulgences are wine and bread. When I go for something "naughty" it isn't even entirely naughty... ya know? I can hardly stand chips and candy anymore (well... except for REALLY good dark chocolate) It makes me feel good to know that my eating habits are more solid, even when I'm off of a training plan.

Mike bought white-bread tho... I'm going to have to kill the boy. ;)

Off to watch MNF and hopefully see the Seahawks beat some Raider ass all over the field... tho... with the way Oakland has been... uh... "playing?" this season... it could be pretty ridiculous. I wonder if Seattle'll put in the 3rd string before the 4th... ;)

day 3

45 minutes on the trainer...

Several good climbing hills that kicked my ass... HR up and sweat dripping down on the mat (yay!)... I was able to adjust the tension on the resistance cable to provide enough pull for me to stand in the pedals to climb.

I am SO out of shape tho, I spend most of my time "pumping" my feet up and down rather than making circles, which is what I'm supposed to be doing.

Ah well... it will come.

It'll be interesting to see how my cardiovascular health improves with this regime... I am definitely liking it so far.

Speaking of which - Mike got me a new saddle. A Terry Butterfly Ti - which should arrive soon... I am excited to see if it makes a big difference on my sit-bones and girlie bits... supposedly its a HUGE deal.

Made a FABULOUS dinner tonight... dry spice rubbed NY Strip steak (one steak - it was 16 oz and we split it) and steamed broccoli (with home made cheese sauce for the kiddies) and Cheddar biscuits.

I think I'm embracing this whole "dairy land" thing. ;)

day 2

23 minutes on the trainer...

maybe I should dub this "National Brenna Cycle Month" NaBreCyMo... everyone needs a National month of Something... right? Am I right?

Come on... y'all KNOW I'm right.

;)

Ok... so maybe not.

Tomorrow I go for 60 mins... can she do it???

Of COURSE she can!

cycling...

I'm having a hard time dealing with this whole "no running" thing. I know I have to do this to allow my feet to fully heal, and I know its the right thing for my overall ability to continue to be athletic in the future... but its hard. When all else failed, I could run. Until I really got into it, I'd never thought that I could be a runner... but once that click happened... the one that allowed me to just keep running on my one 10 mile day... I realized that I COULD run and that just kicked my ego up a few notches right there.

And now, I can not run. And I have "good feet for cycling." I've been kinda pissing and moaning about that for several months now... hemming and hawing about what to do... its cold, but I have a good bike... a REALLY good bike... and I live in Wisconsin, where it is literally too cold to ride for at least half the year.

So yesterday I broke down and bought a trainer. I set it up in the bedroom and mounted my beautiful bike to it... and I looked at it for a while... and finally set up some track lists on iTunes, loaded up the iPod and climbed aboard.

I spent the first song just spinning up, shifting gears and resistance levels to figure out the trainer and what I could do... and then... something clicked... (vou-ja-de?) and I started pushing... and climbing and jumping and holy crap it was like a spin-class in my bedroom.

I will say that the mag+ is kinda loud at high speed... but bump up the resistance, shift down and climb and its completely tollerable. Its a good thing I only sprint for like 20-30 seconds at a time right now.

So... I'm giving the trainer a thumbs up... for now its in the bedroom, and I'm going to set a goal...

Starting yesterday my goal is to get on the bike every day for 30 consecutive days for at least 20 minutes. Last night was a 45 minute session... I've got more song lists to create... but I'm excited to be moving forward again.

Oh yeah... scale on friday was back to 176... so at least I haven't lost ground... just time...

Still pushing for 160 by December 31.

Too Pissed NOT to Post...

"The new IDSA guidelines published in October by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) are already causing patients to be denied treatment for chronic Lyme disease. The guidelines have recommended against any long term treatments, listing numerous specific antibiotic classes not to be given, listing alternative treatments and even supplements not to be offered to Lyme patients. Clinical discretion has been removed from treating physicians. We ask that you, your families, and friends across the country sign this petition immediately. Lyme treatment is at stake."

THIS IS FUCKED!!!

SIGN THE PETITION HERE...

READ MORE HERE...

re-post at will.