Couch 2 5K - Week 7

So since I've decided to make my running comeback during what is turning into the hottest summer of all time, I've moved several of my runs to later in the evening, usually around 8p. This also means that the kiddo has retired as my running partner for right now - I just can't get him out there when it's this hot. This is the first week of all running, no walking and so far it's been great. Tonight I did 25 minutes straight and got just under 2.5 miles in. It's been so awesome to run for solid blocks of time. I know that the walk breaks were necessary in the beginning, but they were starting to hurt more than just running straight through - which I'm taking as a good sign! It's still not an automatic for me - I have to talk myself into it somedays, but once I get going, it's all good.
I have some new motivation to get serious about my eating again: pictures! The kiddo's birthday party was this weekend and after looking at the pictures, it was just confirmation that I'm still pretty far from where I want to be. I've been getting active again, but I haven't been eating as well and my water intake is TERRIBLE. I've made a conscious effort starting this week (2 days, I know) to cut back on sweets, get more water and keep an eye on my portions.

Couch 2 5K

Today was the start of week 5 of the Couch 2 5K plan for me. It's been going really well and tonight I did more running than I have in a year and a half and it felt really good. The kiddo joins me for the majority of my runs, but I'm trying to do a least one a week with out him for a little alone time. I've even been meeting up with my running group again, usually twice a week. I see them on Saturdays sometimes, but they are usually pretty far into their long run by the time we get out there. I've registered for the Tours des Fleurs 10K in September and Muddy Buddy in October, so I'm trying to stay on track so that I can run as much of the races as possible. This week will be a little tricky since we are going out of town. By this weekend I'm supposed to run a full 2 miles with no walk breaks - but I'll probably end up just repeating what I did tonight when we get back and then repeat this week's plan next week.
It's been so nice to run with my friends again and everyone loves to see the kiddo when he joins us. I have some loftier plans, but I'm not going to get serious about them until I get through these 1st two races...more to follow...

On the road again

It's true (picture). I can't get back to the races I miss if I don't get back on the roads. A good friend and I were talking the other day about how we both need to find a way to add some fun back into our lives. Balance and all that jazz. Actually, I was telling HER how she needs to find balance in HER life and realized that maybe...just maybe...I could take my own advice. I sat quietly and asked myself - if you had some free time, what would you do for fun? The first thing I thought of was running. Races, traveling with my running buddies, being outside...surprising, but my first thought, nonetheless. So I decided to get real about it instead of making excuses for not getting out there. Yes, it is FREAKING hot. Yes, there are not enough hours in the day. Yes, it will be hard starting from scratch.

SO...I registered for a 10K in September (one of my favorites) and my friend and I (see above) are going to do Muddy Buddy in October. I have no time goals, I just want to run again. My goal for the 10K will be to cross the finish line. The goal for Muddy Buddy will be to have as much fun as possible (and get Stacy in a good mud fight). I've reconnected with my running friends and even though I'm way behind them, I'm showing up at the same places, talking them about their upcoming races, etc. It has really helped keep me motivated. The kiddo enjoys the walk/runs and we've been able to make it work with our schedule - so far. Right now it's just 30-40 minutes, so it's manageable. In the last 7 days, I've done 4 30 minute walk/runs. I'm following the C25K plan right now, so it's been 1 min run/1.5 min walk this week and starting on Monday it will be 1.5 run/2 walk.

I feel better - more like myself. I feel more motivated to get other things done - cleaning the house, running the errands I need to take care of - it's easier to STAY off the couch once I've gotten off of it.

I know, I know...I give up.

It's become extremely clear that the only thing standing in the way of me taking better care of myself is...me. I was talking to a friend today about getting fit and taking better care of ourselves all around and we were laughing because I was explaining to her that I'm not good at not being good at something. It's difficult for me to start over with my running. It's difficult for me to start up with p90x being in the shape I am in. I prefer to skip the beginning steps and just be excellent right from the start. It keeps me from trying more often than I'd like to admit. I've been like that since I was a kid - I would not play something until I knew the rules and/or was able to play well. Friends would play a new game and I would stand off to the side to make sure I understood the game and had some strategic ideas first. It's just how I am. So when it comes to getting back to my athletic endeavors, I like to make these grandiose plans that have me progressing at what would most likely be an urealistic pace. Then when it fails, I quit. I'm an "all in" kind of girl. So I give up. I admit that I have to start over - at whatever it is that I want to start over. I make no plans. Today I took a walk with the kiddo and we had a lot of fun. I think we'll try to take a walk again tomorrow. This does not mean that I need to running again by next week, or that I need to schedule a big race to create some incentive. It just means that I'm going to try my best to get me and the kiddo out of the house for a walk as often as we can.

In other news, the weight loss has stalled - which I expected. I have not completely reverted back to eating whatever I want, but I've slipped more often than I like. I'm grateful that the scale has at least stayed in the same place, which is nice. I tried Zumba last week at the gym and I have to say that it was a lot of fun - and an EXCELLENT workout. That damn class had me sweating buckets and I was even sore for a couple of days. I'm going to try and hit that class up when I can - it made me feel really great. I have a new haircut, which I'm completely in love with and would love to share with you, but I haven't taken a new pic yet. I'll try to get one up later this week. Other than that, all is well.

Rough Week

I lost another pound this week, but it was not due to any effort on my part. This was a rough week for many reasons, most of which are probably 98% due to hormones. They're a bitch. Ladies, am I right?

Put together hormones and the fact that I am still not taking great care of myself emotionally and it was bound to get rough. To be honest, things have been building up for a few weeks now. Today I'm not in a place to delve into my mind's interworkings - I'm actually trying to stay out of there as much as possible for now, so I will revisit this later in the week. For today, I'm moving a moment at a time.

Hope you are all taking care of yourselves today, it's important. More to discuss in a couple of days...

Time for ACTION!

Only 1 pound lost this week, BUT my measurements went down by 1/2 an inch to 1 full inch in all but one area…stupid upper arms…always the last to go. Or maybe it just because I’m carrying a 22 pound monster around all the time and I’m developing guns! Probably not – there is nothing firm and muscular about my upper arms right now.

I was hoping for more weight loss this week, but to tell the truth, I’m ok with it since this was another week that didn’t go perfectly. There were TWO meals that included pizza, TWO handfuls of sugared up popcorn (caramel and cinnamon toast flavors) and at a birthday dinner at La Madeleine, I had THREE mini tarts (lemon, fruit AND chocolate crème brulee). It’s crazy, I do great for a few days and then just randomly the choices get bad. The pizza wasn’t terrible – I did fewer meat toppings and I had small servings, but I have no excuse for the sugar. I’ve thought about the pattern and the last 2 weeks have both been pretty rough at work. Stress definitely causes me to throw good choices out the window. I think that getting off of my butt and working out again would help, but my energy levels are so low right now with my lack of sleep that it’s hard to find motivation. I have options, there is no reason that I can’t get SOMETHING active done each day (or even every other day). I am just so tired at night and unwilling to get up early in the morning. So I’m going to start small: This week my goal will be to get in at least 3 30 minute walks. So before the next weigh in, I will get out and do some walking. I can do that, even with the kiddo, so that should be an attainable goal for this week.

I’m planning on doing Muddy Buddy again this year. I missed last year after doing it 2 years in a row, so I’d really like to get back out there. It’s not a race that I try to win, but I’d like to complete it without collapsing in the mud pit. I need to have enough energy at the end to have a killer fight with my buddy. I already have a buddy on board, so now I just need to get a few miles under my belt and some bicycle time. It’s in October, so I have some time, but it can sneak up on you if you don’t pay attention! I’m also planning on trying a yoga class that was recommended to me (thanks Heidi!) and J actually wants to do some yoga too, so we may find a way to do that together. I have plans…lots of plans…that’s the thing with plans; they generally don’t amount to much without action. So, now it’s time for some ACTION!

Not what I'd hoped...

So no weight loss this week. I kind of expected it, since after the brussel sprouts last week, it went a little downhill. I didn't go super crazy, but there was a Schlotzky's (sp?) sandwich for dinner one night, a larger-than-I-planned piece of birthday cake and a burger with fries. Not all on the same day, thankfully. I am actually glad I didn't GAIN weight. Ah well. It was a tough week. So yesterday I was back on track and today went well too. I did a better job with the shopping this week and we shouldn't run out of dinner options before the weekend - which contributed to the problem last week. Back on the horse, back on the horse.