May 30, 2015

Incline walk

Well, I found out what happened to my iPod... remember I mentioned someone had broken into our garage last weekend? Yesterday, my mom saw an article in the newspaper about a bunch of teenagers in a nearby neighborhood who had a party Sunday night, and five of them decided to go around and break into garages, stealing a bunch of random stuff, just for the fun of it. They said that it "seemed like a good idea at the time".

From our garage, they took (along with my iPod) our weed wacker, a gas can full of gas, and a hammer (that we know of). They may have taken more, but those are the things we noticed, because we needed them all yesterday. I didn't file a police report when I noticed my Jeep had been broken into, because my deductible on my insurance costs more than the value of items stolen, so I didn't think there was any point. But after reading the newspaper article, we hoped maybe some of our stuff was recovered, so we ended up filing a police report. The police said they had recovered a weed wacker, which was awesome--but then we discovered it wasn't ours. It sounds like the teens stole a LOT of random stuff from several garages. Jerks.

Yesterday, Eli had a field trip at the River Raisin Battlefield (a battlefield from the War of 1812) and I was a chaperone. My friend Andrea was chaperoning as well, so I met her at her house, and then she drove to the field. History is not exactly of interest to me, so it wasn't the most exciting field trip; but it was cool to see the memorial that was still up from Memorial Day. They had flags (I think there were about 450) in the ground in rows, and a list of names of fallen soldiers that each flag represented. Seeing that many flags in one area really puts the loss into perspective.

The kids participated in some sort of reenactment, and even dressed the part. Eli LOVED that he got to carry a gun ;)


As you can see, it was pouring rain. It's been raining hard all week. We lost power a couple of times, and three out of four of the kids' baseball practices were canceled!

Today, I really wanted to get in a workout. Not just my PT exercises, but something that would burn a lot of calories. I decided to walk on the treadmill, with a high incline, and see if I could get my heart rate up as high as it is when I run. I set the incline at 12% (the highest it goes), and the speed on 3.5 mph, and started walking.

I wore my Garmin and heart rate monitor so that I could get an accurate calorie burn, and I was shocked when I saw how many calories I burned just from walking! By walking at 3.5 mph (I even decreased it to 3.2 mph for a little bit, because it was tough) for 30 minutes on an incline of 12%, I burned 335 calories! That's the same as, if not more than, I burn when I run for the same amount of time. I continued to walk for about 10 minutes afterward on a 0% incline, so the total for 40 minutes was 2.08 miles and 380 calories. That incline is no joke!

Heart rate for my incline walk; during a typical run, it is usually in the mid- to high-150's. 

After the treadmill, I did my PT exercises, and then did a few games/exercises on the Wii Fit U. I set up a routine on the Wii Fit U that includes a bunch of exercises that are for hip strengthening and balance (two things I really need to work on). I'm getting discouraged because I STILL feel pain in my leg here and there, and marathon training is supposed to start soon. I'll see what the physical therapist says on Thursday.


My dad finished another painting that I absolutely LOVE. As soon as I saw it, I pretty much claimed it as mine :)


I think it's the colors that I love so much. Now I just need to get a frame for it so I can hang it up!

22 comments:

  1. I have very little interest in history as well. Did the flags and names represent soldiers who died?

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    1. Yes, I believe so. The plaque showed the names that they represented, but didn't give much more info than that. I'm assuming that for Memorial Day, they were representing fallen soldiers.

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  2. AnonymousMay 30, 2015

    So happy you found an exercise which can burn as many calories as running until you can run again. Way to go. And that painting, I love it. Stunning! The way the wood grain looks so authentic, and I can only imagine how good it looks in person.
    And, as far as those punk kids, so glad they found them. I hope you get your stuff back and someone teaches those kids a lesson.

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    1. Thanks! It looks like the teens (18-19 years old) are facing some serious jail time--a couple of them up to 8 years! I probably won't get my stuff back, but I'm glad they got caught.

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  3. I actually like history, but have NO idea what Eli is supposed to reenacting. He looks like a wizard with a gun! :)

    Good for you for creating a hard workout that you can do with your injury! I've heard that incline walking is really great for toning your legs and butt as well, in a way that running doesn't necessarily do. Fingers crossed for your physical therapy appointment on Tuesday!

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    1. I'm not sure what it was, either. It was down pouring, so the chaperones kind of stuck together under a pavilion while the kids got dressed up and marched with guns ;)

      The incline walking was definitely a tough workout--just as hard as, if not harder than, running!

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  4. AnonymousMay 31, 2015

    That painting us beautiful. Your dad is very talented.

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    1. It's so interesting to me that he's had this hidden talent--he didn't start painting until he was approaching 60! And he taught himself by watching Bob Ross on TV. I'm impressed!

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  5. I can barely stay at a 12% incline for a couple of minutes. You are in amazing shape!

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    1. It was HARD... I was thinking of all the excuses in the world to stop after five minutes ;)

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  6. AnonymousMay 31, 2015

    Love the painting! Looks like the fishing village in Leland that we drive through on our summer vacation up north :)

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    1. My dad would love a real-life place like that! ;)

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  7. AnonymousMay 31, 2015

    History may not be of interest to you, but at least show some respect. There is nothing "cool" about flags set up for Memorial Day.

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    1. AnonymousMay 31, 2015

      To the anonymous commenter: I assume you're being a jerk because you've dealt with some sort of loss, so I'm sorry about that - but taking it out on a blogger on the internet is not productive at all. And if you weren't biased or a jerk, you would have seen that Katie acknowledged the magnitude of the loss represented by the memorial. She meant it is cool that the memorial is still up...and it is cool. Katie, don't listen to this comment please. I've been reading your blog for a long time and I (and your other readers, I'm sure) know exactly what you meant. You absolutely have respect for people who serve our country. We all know that.

      -Katie in Texas

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    2. Thanks Katie! :) I think (at least I hope!) that anyone who knows me, or has been reading my blog for any length of time, knows that Memorial Day (and Veteran's Day) mean a great deal to me, and I would never be disrespectful toward that. Seeing all those flags was--for lack of a better word--a "cool" visual to represent Memorial Day. I'm glad you know what I meant!

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    3. AnonymousJune 01, 2015

      Just FYI to Katie in Texas, Katie didn't originally even acknowledge what the flags were for, she added that to her post later and didn't even address why she added it. So originally it was just cool, which I realize since I have read her, is just because she is so uneducated and lacks culture to have an interest in anything but herself.

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    4. Then stop reading this blog if you have that big of an issue with it. Personally, I love your blog Katie :) Your stories of weight loss are very motivational and I love hearing about your family too!

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  8. Holy cow on the incline + calorie burn! That is serious! It makes sense though I guess because even walking up a steep hill gets me huffing and puffing. And 12% is no joke! Your dad's painting is GORGEOUS! Be sure to show us when you have it framed. :)

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    1. I was thinking about going to the rec center to use the stair climber, but it was raining, and I really didn't want to go out--so I figured that was the next best thing. I couldn't believe how good of a workout it was, even though I was walking fairly slowly!

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  9. That painting is gorgeous! Post a photo when you frame and hang it.

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  10. Katie, first of all your dad's painting is gorgeous! What an amazing talent to find you have at age 60! Beautiful :)

    Secondly, I really hope you give no thought to the "anonymous" person commenting. You have always given much respect to the military...present and past. Someone who has to comment as "anonymous" appears to be hiding and if they can't comment as themselves, there's a reason. Please pay them no attention.
    ~Bridgette

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    1. Agreed, Bridgette. Comment as yourself or don't comment at all. I hate anonymous stuff!! I also hate people who are just looking to be offended. You keep your head up, Katie!!

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

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