The cafeteria here at my new place of employment? IS AWESOME. Boars Head deli meat, Finagle a Bagel, a full salad bar, a full FRUIT bar, a full ICE CREAM bar, a daily Weight Watchers special, a daily pasta special, a daily pizza special...can you HEAR me getting fat(ter)?
So I gave myself 2 weeks. 2 weeks to enjoy the bounty of the cafeteria. (Did I mention the prices are cheap? About $5 for a meal.)
And then this week, the beginning of Week 3, I was determined to get back on the workout wagon. So I brought my sneakers (and my diet lunch) to work. There is a back staircase that goes up 7 flights and hardly ever gets used. I had the great idea that I would WALK THE STAIRS for 30 minutes during my lunch. And I could continue to do this all winter long! Brilliant, right????
Oh. My. God.
Needless to say, I only lasted 20 minutes, not 30. I was huffing and puffing and sweating like a Biggest Loser contestant after a Last Chance Workout with Jillian.
But I felt proud. Accomplished. I had figured out a way to (1) get exercise while (2) avoiding the cafeteria. Yay me.
Then came Tuesday morning. I tried to get out of bed. OUCH! You guys, my legs hurt all the way from my hips to my ankles. So Tuesday, during lunchtime, I walked for 30 minutes, hoping to stretch out those muscles.
Yesterday (Wednesday) was EVEN WORSE! But more my lower legs than my thighs. Again, I walked for 30 minutes at lunch.
This morning, I figured I would try a new tactic to try to ease the soreness, so I got on the bike for 30 minutes before work, thinking maybe THAT would bring me some relief.
Ummm...notsomuch.
So here I am at work, the New Girl, walking around like I have a corncob up my butt because my calf muscles feel like knotted rope. Way to make an impression, huh?
From now on? I'm taking the goddamn elevator.
30 comments:
I used to work where they had an awesome cafeteria - and it was FREE. Ugh. I think your plan is great - it'll just take a little time to get used to the stair-climbing. 20 minutes is awesome, I wouldn't last 10 mins. Maybe if you stretch more during the climbing it would get easier?
OK - I have pulled most of my back muscles from being sick this week (I won't go into detail) but this post cracked me up and now I am in MORE pain from laughing. Thanks for sharing the wealth...oooouch!
But you go girl.
Oh man! That's the WORST. I did that once and i couldn't even get out of bed my calves were so sore.. What was I thinking? But if you keep at it for 30 days it becomes a habit.. and then you'll be a rock star!
I found your blog via SITS... if you're interested I'm hosting a blog carnival each Thursday called "just for the JOY of it" - come by and link up if you get the chance!
I'm considering a job move and the new building has an awesome cafeteria too. But it also has a fitness center. So, if I get the new job, I'm hoping I can ignore the cafeteria most days and hop on the elliptical instead.
HA! My word verification is 'imstif'
as in, I'm stiff... Appropriate, no?
Oh no! Reminds me of my day in New York, and my subsequent trip to Vegas to meet a bunch of blogging friends for the first time. I was so stiff and sore from all of the walking I did in NYC that I was limping around in Vegas. Great first impression!
Despite your soreness I think its awesome you're trying so hard. It will go away and remember, "No Pain, No Gain!"
Look at you fitting your exercise into your daily routine.
That cafeteria sounds delicious!
I need to get back on the Shred bandwagon - I'm failing drastically!
It could be worse, you could be walking around like it's a pumpkin.
I cannot exercise at my new job, because I am cursed. The day I brought my shoes and workout clothes is the day I headed to the urgent care clinic with my "foot that needed a boot on it for 3 weeks."
I think its karma telling me I don't need to exercise. Clearly.
Hey at least you had the motivation to do work through those days of pain!!! When I am in pain after a workout...thats usually the end! Yay you!!! Keep it up "they"(wouldn't you love to meet they someday?) say the pain goes away!LOL!
Look, you're not a moron. Seems to me you could do with a yoga course. Find a good one in your area and join. You'll feel wonderful in no time, and probably achieve your target figure too!
Mine get like that if I run for longer than five minutes. I suck at running. The stair idea is great! Stick with it. Eventually you'll stop looking like the The New Girl with the Corn Cob.
Dude...did you say an ICE CREAM bar?
Are they hiring?
I would eat ice cream WHILE I walked those stairs.
At least you are trying.. kudos for that.
I work in a hospital not known for good food but since I am on the evening shift and not nights, I am kinda excited about the cafe...dumb huh lol
You see, that is what I mean about exercising.. take the elevator for crying out loud!!!
LOL
You are awesome!! It will get better and then you'll be glad you stuck with it!
Oh, I know you're in pain, but this post was funny... sorry for laughing out loud.
ps - it was easier to laugh at your pain then turn green with jealousy over that cafeteria.
i say screw it. screw the painful workouts and their after pains - dive into the yummy new cafeteria and enjoy every minute of it!
i am no help huh?
Stairs kick my butt! But good for you for making that effort. That cafeteria sounds great. The one here at the hospital is not bad, but it's closed when I'm here since I work nights.
Keep at it, girl! The soreness WILL go away!
Maybe 10 minutes stairs and 20 minutes walking would be a better, more "well-rounded" option, though!
Just remember - it's a GOOD sore! Maybe you'll start a trend at work and everyone will start walking like they "have a corncob up your butt"! It's so hard to motivate at work so I give you huge thumbs up to that! I'm sure everyone was impressed by the new chic at work...
i'm so impressed you could stick with it! i probably would have backed out before i even walked the stairs for 20 minutes. i think i'm allergic to exercise!
I'm trying to get back on the Workout Wagon. It's difficult, but you can do it...SITS sent me by, and I'm glad they did!
Three's a Charm, Correctamundo?
You get the same effect from the shred. i have been doing that and ow. i sympathize.
Lol! You crack me up! Stopping by from SITS! I love the idea - I need to do more during lunch than heat up my lean cuisine and sit at my desk and read CNN headlines!
Stopping by from SITS! You are way better than me! I haven't had the motivation to put even 20 minutes on my treadmill. Wait to go you!
HA! Think of it this way, you're making an impression. They're prob'ly all saying to each other, "did you meet the new girl? you know the one that walks funny? she seems nice."
Wow. Can I come work there? We don't even have a grill in our building! I think the daily Weight Watchers special would really help you quite a bit once you're ready to crack down.
Stretch, you must, must stretch. And pace yourself. Good for you for starting!
I love this post title. I could name many of my posts I never post that same thing. heh.
Our cafeteria is expensive and meh. I rarely go there.
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