The fun kind of pain

So today, I did another 1 hour ride with my current favorite Peloton Instructor, Matt Wilpers.  I got another personal best for output today. 

The fun thing is learning new ways to push my body.  I think one of the reasons I enjoy riding with Matt so much is that he explains things in a way that make sense to me.  Do they hurt?  YES!  Do they make me uncomfortable?  ABSOLUTELY!  Am I seeing and feeling changes in my body as a result?  Yes, Yes I am! 

I have exercised 20 of the last 30 days using the Peloton, (an increase of 10 days over the prior 30 days) and have done at least 1 Peloton workout every week for the last 9 weeks. 

Today, Matt talked about feeling the entire pedal stroke, and not just using your quads to push the pedals down (we all know how to do that) but using your hamstrings and glutes to pull the pedals up on the back side of the pedal stroke.  I wasn't understanding what he said at first, and I wasn't feeling anything in my glutes or hamstrings, so I decided to try a different approach.  I sat back on my SITS bones (not fun) and rather than pushing the pedals, I only allowed my legs to pull. 

We were riding at a really slow cadence (under 65 rpm) but high resistance so I was in zone 4 of 7 in my power zones.  All of a sudden it felt like someone tied knots in my glutes and hamstrings and the burn in my quads was completely gone.  I had to consciously think about not letting my feet touch the bottom of my shoes, or pushing down on the pedals.  We did this for 4 minutes, which doesn't sound like much, but good gravy, did I feel it. 

I can tell my core strength is improving because when I started I had a very difficult time sitting up, 'heart forward, lengthening the spine, stacking my muscles above my hips and then hinging forward from there" with a slight bend in my elbows and not putting all the pressure on my hands.  Now I get it, and being able to sit up this way takes the stress off my hands, my quads, my knees and gives me more power. 

I also glanced at myself sideways in the mirror and was shocked.  While I'm not losing my belly just yet (yes, I know, abs are made in the kitchen), I'm starting to notice that my booty is lifting.  I've always had a big butt, so that isn't going to change, but I'd rather it sit higher than be saggy, and that appears to be happening. 

This quarantine has definitely taken a toll on our family mentally, but at least I'm finding some healthy ways to deal with it. 

Quarantine Fitness

So, just over a month ago, the state of NC shut down the schools and said we will not return to school until at least May 15.  I've spent the better part of the last month teaching myself how to become an online teacher for my students, since I'm not the best online learner myself, I want to be the best possible online teacher.  This internal drive to be the best causes me large amounts of anxiety and stress.

There are many ways to deal with that level of stress an anxiety.  In the past I have dealt with it by stress/binge eating, and sometimes having a drink or two.  I made a conscious decision that since I was going to be home the better part of the next two months, it was time to dedicate myself to my workouts and do better physically rather than giving myself a crutch that wasn't healthy or productive.

At the beginning of this quarantine, I had a total of 25 rides in on my Peloton bike, which I had owned for 13 months.  Since March 15 I have ridden an additional 24, and today, I will do my 50th Peloton Ride.  In this time I have discovered Power Zone Training, and put aside the fear of it and just jumped in head first to an 8-week Power Zone challenge.  I committed to riding 3 times per week over that 8 week period to get in my cardio and workout more consistently.

I have found three additional instructors that I love, so that list is now up to 4.  Cody Rigsby and Robin Arzon do "regular" rides and now Power Zone rides.  I adore them both, and in fact they are my go-to instructors for "fun" rides.  Cody has done Lady Gaga and Madonna Rides.  Robin did a Lizzo ride, a Hamilton Ride and a Greatest Showman ride.  Christine D'Ercole, Matt Wilpers and Denis Morton (who completely unfairly has way better than I do) all teach Power Zone Rides along with the "regular" rides.  Matt is a smiling demon who kicks my ass every time I get on the bike.  Denis is my Musical Spirit Animal and chooses awesome stuff like Janis Joplin, INXS, Toto.  Christine's tag-line is "I am, I can, I will, I do".  She tells you in every ride to drop your shoulders and drop your baggage.  She says that being on the leaderboard every ride is more important than where you are on the leaderboard.  I love them all for different reasons. 

When my doctor told me I shouldn't be running anymore, stopping running caused me to gain weight, approximately 25 pounds in 3 months.  While my Peloton journey doesn't have me losing weight because honestly, I can't outride my fork, and I need to be working hard on nutrition, it has helped me find a new activity that my aging/damaged knees can handle without massive pain, swelling and inflammation that lasts for days.  I'm falling in love with Peloton the way I did with CrossFit and running, when I could do those things.

I am not halfway to my century ride, and my free century t-shirt after I finish it.  I really think I want to go to NYC and ride with all of my favorite teachers in one weekend.  Maybe the stars will align and this damn virus will go away.  Maybe Barney will take me to NYC for my birthday next spring, and I'll get to meet them all.  In the meantime, I'm going to keep on pedaling.  I have also altered Christine's phrase slightly, "I am a badass, I can do anything I put my mind to, I will love myself through the process, I do deserve this!"