Eating Intuitively

On Saturday, April 18, 2009, I will be participating in “Climb Miami”.  I’ll be running up 55 floors – a total of 1,210 steps.  With less than two weeks to go, it’s time for me to increase my training.  I don’t feel I am quite ready.

So, this morning, I woke up at 4:30am, and I was in the gym at 5am on the stepper.  My goal is to go to the gym Monday through Friday all this week and next.  By the time the event rolls around, I hope to make the “climb” with ease.

Once I am in the gym, I aim to step for a full twenty minutes.  I initially started at 75 steps per minute, but I lowered the level to 67 steps per minute.  I need to make the training easier before I make it more difficult.

EatingIntuitively.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.

I am still amazed how much of a workout I get from the stepper.  I thought I would be well-prepared after riding the recumbent bike for 30 minutes per day at least four days a week.  The stepper is a whole different animal.

After about ten minutes, I was really out of breath, and I had to stop to get some water.  Within less than a minute, I was back on the stepper.  I went a few more minutes, and I took another break. 

I will be glad when the training is over.  I have gotten used to waking up and exercising in my house.  It’s a lot more effort to get up and go to the gym. 

Since I am finding that the recumbent bike and the stepper are two very different exercises, which exercises do you think are compatible?  Would training on the eliptical machine make the stepper any easier?

Breakfast:  Cinnamon Swirl Granola Bar; Egg; Banana; Cracker, Honeymaid Graham Crackers (Nabisco) ,Low Fat Honey; Morning Coffee

Morning Snack:  Chicken Breast; Banana

Lunch:  Pasta with Beef; Cabbage, raw; FF Dressing

Afternoon Snack:  Cheese Puffs

Dinner:  Roast Turkey Medallions; Mushrooms, canned or cooked; Applesauce, unsweetened; Oil, canola, olive, peanut, safflower; Pasta, cooked al dente

Dessert:  Golden Pound Cake

Drinks:  Crystal Light; water

Exercise:  20 minutes on stair stepper.

Pedometer:  ?

I went to the gym this morning for my second practice for “Climb Miami” on April 18th.  I’ll be walking up 55-floors, 1,210 steps, and I want it to be as easy as possible.  My conclusion is that I need more practice!

When I got on the stair climber this morning, I set the pace to 75 steps per minute.  At that pace, I would finish the climb in 16 minutes and 8 seconds.  I think that is a pretty good time, but it is far from the record of six minutes.  I still can’t get over that!

EatingIntuitively.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.

I started out okay at this pace, and I actually maintained the same pace throughout the practice.  However, I did pause a few times.  Each time I paused for about one minute.  I think there were actually five breaks.  I finished the climb in about 21 minutes.

I do believe my practice sessions are very similar to what I’ll experience at “Climb Miami”.  The machine I’m using very closely simulates walking up stairs.  I use the bars to support me, but I will be able to do that in the building as well.  One thing I cannot do on the machine is skip steps.  It just doesn’t move that fast.  I’m not sure I’ll skip steps during the real thing, but it seems likely.

Because I am getting so much of a workout from my practice sessions, I feel like I need to have more sessions.  I initially thought one additional session per week would be enough, but now I am looking into how I can rent a stair climber for two weeks.  I’d much rather have the machine in my house, and it would only be two weeks.

While I figure that out, I’d really like you to consider a donation to the American Lung Association through my donation website at http://www.derekschwandt.com.  Thank you.

Breakfast:  Turkey and Egg Breakfast Sandwich; Egg Whites; Pineapple, fresh; Bread, oatmeal; Morning Coffee

Morning Snack:  Fish, baked or broiled; Raisins

Lunch:  Steak and Cheese Melt; Lettuce, green or red leaf; FF Dressing; Year Round Average Cherry Tomato

Afternoon Snack:  Cheese Puffs

Dinner:  Tender Beef with Portobello Mushrooms; Strawberries; Oil, canola, olive, peanut, safflower; Pasta, cooked al dente; Bok Choy (Dole)

Dessert:  Ice Cream Sandwich

Drinks:  Crystal Light

Exercise:  15 minutes on the stair climber.

Pedometer:  ?

Today was my first day of training for “Climb Miami” on April 18th, and all I can say is “Wow!”.  Apparently, climbing vertically is much more difficult than the exercise I have been doing. 

I stepped on the stair climber this morning, and I quickly increased the level until I was moving at 75 steps per minute.  At that pace, I would complete “Climb Miami” in just over sixteen minutes.  I wouldn’t be running, but I would still be moving fast.

As I continued through the “floors” on the machine, I realized I was really pushing myself.  I was breathing heavy, and it was getting more and more difficult for me to continue.  I stopped a couple times to catch my breath and get a drink of water.

EatingIntuitively.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.

All in all, it was a good training session for a few reasons.  First, I finished the climb on the stair climber.  I completed more than 1,210 steps.  Also, I acquired some insight into what I need to do make my training program successful.

At this point, I believe I should get on the stair climbing machine at least two times per week.  That will give me ten practice sessions for the actual climb. 

By doubling my training program, I expect each session will get easier and easier.  By the tenth time, I want it to be a breeze.  Even better, I hope to improve my time drastically.

If, by chance, I am not seeing a marked improvement as the sessions continue, it will be necessary to expand my training program again.  The next session is Wednesday.  We’ll see what happens.

I’m still looking for more ideas for a successful training program.  Do you have any you can share in the Comments?  

What is “Climb Miami”?  Please check out my Climb Miami website. 

Breakfast:  Vegetable Frittata Strata; Egg Whites; Pineapple, fresh; Bread, oatmeal; Morning Coffee

Morning Snack:  Crabmeat; Cranberries, dried

Lunch:  Roasted Vegetable Pizza; Lettuce, green or red leaf; FF Dressing; Year Round Average Cherry Tomato; Canned Hearts Of Palm

Afternoon Snack:  Peanut Butter Cookie

Dinner:  Glazed Chicken Tenders; Carrots, cooked; Strawberries; Oil, canola, olive, peanut, safflower; Rice, brown, cooked

Dessert:  Chocolate Caramel Bar

Drinks:  Crystal Light

Exercise:  training for “Climb Miami”.

Pedometer:  ?