Stairs Are a Fun Workout!

Yesterday was a fun day.  I went to a water park with my family.  I blogged about the whole experience today on my other blog...so if you want all the deats about being flushed down a toilet, riding a slide that ends in an enema, and being the best and worst mom all in a matter of a few hours - go read over there.

Today, here, I am going to talk about only one aspect of the water park:

The Stairs.

Holy mother of workouts.

When most people visit a water park, they think that the slides are the best, or the pools, or the splash parks, or the slides that resemble a giant toilet.

The one thing people complain about?  The stairs up to all of those fantastic rides.

I know, because it's basically all I heard while out and about at the pool yesterday.  

Standing in line, I heard countless people make statements like "I sure wish they had thought about installing an elevator" or "These slides would be a lot more fun if you didn't have to climb up so many stairs" or "I don't care if you're scared, you're only going down one way...and it doesn't involve me walking all the way back down those terrible stairs".

And, yeah, I actually heard a parent say that to their poor, terrified little child.  Sad.

But, anywho, while I listened to all the complaining.. I'm happy to report that none of that complaining came from me.

What came out of my mouth?  

"I'm getting my workout in today!"

"These stairs are killing my legs, and I'm loving it!"

"I wish I wasn't so afraid of heights, cause I'd love to just walk up and down those stairs a few times to really get my sweat on."

"I think I'm going to jog up this time and see how far I get before I have to walk!"

Yes.  My banters earned me a few crazy looks, and even a few sniggers from kids that were probably wondering how on earth I was getting my big behind to jog up the stairs... but I did it.  Not near as many times as I wanted, because my fear of heights tends to get in the way when I'm going up higher and higher... but I enjoyed the times I did walk (and jog) up the stairs.

I woke up this morning with a few pangs of soreness in my legs.  I was happy about that.  It didn't last very long, but it was enough to tell me that the stairs did something... even if it was a little more than going for a walk up to the park and back.

That's one great aspect of being fat and wanting to lose weight.  Stuff like walking up a bazillion stairs becomes a challenge, an enjoyable task...just in order to get in some exercise.  I was winded and hurting a little by the third time up (which was the time I chose to jog), but I liked the pain.  I wanted the pain.  I wanted to feel like I was walking up with a purpose other than just getting to ride down a terrifying slide.

Besides swimming, I haven't gotten in much exercise over the past couple of days.  My walks have been interrupted with either getting up too late or being out until late at night.  Going to the water park and walking up those stairs made me feel a little less guilty...and feel like I accomplished something that was better than nothing.

Today, I passed up the offer of going to a family barbecue.  Not because I didn't want to go.. but because, well, I didn't want to go.  I've been out and about so much, lately, that I honestly want to get one day at home where I don't have to do anything.

And, because I actually want to get in some good exercise today.  

On the agenda is swimming.  Duh.  That's always on the agenda.  But, real swimming.  Not just playing in the pool with the kids.  Laps.  And water aerobics (that I actually looked in to).  And more laps.  And then some racing with the kids.

Once I'm all done with that, I want to go for an evening walk.  A nice, long one.  Up to the park.  Around the park.  Music in ears....just me and the music and the sidewalk.  

That's my idea of a wonderful day off from everything.  And that's exactly what I'm going to do.  

I mentioned in my quick Ten Things Thursday, yesterday, that I'm planning on doing a low carb eating plan.  Not Atkins.  Not any "plan" really.  Just cutting out carbs like pasta and bread.  I'll be eating more veggies... lots more.  I'll still be eating my Greek Yogurt, and other dairy, just not the bread or pasta stuff.

Not sure how it will pan out, but I feel like the carbs are my biggest nemesis.  I over eat when I eat carbs.  I feel satisfied if I just eat a meat and load up on the veggies.  So much better for me.

It's a mindful plan.  Meaning I have to be mindful when I'm making my meal plan and actually sticking with it.  I'm not telling myself that I'm forbidding certain foods, just not including them in my plan.  I'm perfectly content eating cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes.  I'm perfectly happy eating a vegetable medley instead of rice.  I'm avoiding pasta dishes right now, because it's really hard for me to make spaghetti for my whole family - but me not eating it. 

We'll see how it goes.  I'll be standing on the scale again in a couple of weeks to see how it's going.  Fingers crossed is all I have to say.  I've enjoyed not standing on the scale, and I have noticed a slight difference in how some of my clothes are fitting.  Hopefully that's a good sign and not just my imagination.

Guess we'll have to wait and find out.

Right now though, I'm thinking it's about time for me to eat lunch and then think about getting in the pool.

Till next time!