Exercise aches and pains

I have been exercising a lot more lately.  A lot more.  I go to the gym nearly every day. 

Originally, I wanted to improve my 5K time, so I was working on going from a walk to a jog on the treadmill.  Before long, I was hobbling about because my heel bones hurt so much!

After a while, I changed my plan of attack.  I have read that walking is better on your joints than running or jogging, and that you can get the same benefits as long as you go the same distance.

Okay.

Now, instead of trying to run/jog a 30 min. 5K, I am speed walking 4.2 miles every day in 60 minutes.  It is longer than the 5K, but that's great.

My heels are still protesting, and now my Achilles tendons seem to be joining the complaint fest, but, surprisingly, that's it!  No shin splints.  No aches and pains anywhere else.  It is at it's worst first thing in the morning.  I limp out of bed like an old person and it is physically painful to put my weight on my feet.  The sensation fades fairly quickly, however, so I keep going back to the gym.

I have found a machine that I love!  It has a heart monitor built into the hand grips.  I set my age, weight, time, and speed into the machine and tell it whether I want a fat burn workout, or a cardio burn.  On a cardio burn, it will adjust the elevation (the machine ramps up) until my heart reaches 144 beats/min. and maintain that for the entire hour!  I rock out to my music and the machine ramps up and down to compensate.  How cool is that?!  For the fat burn it does the same thing, only it keeps my heart rate at a lower 113 beats/min.  I plan to do cardio burn M-W-F, and fat burn T-Th.

Whyfore all the exercise, you ask?  I want to get back in shape, of course!  I have only seen modest weight loss, and no inches lost, yet.  However, I feel great!  I can tell that my heart is in better shape, and I have lots of faith that I will transform myself this time.