Thursday, December 31, 2009

>Out with '09

>And in with 2010!
Happy New Year!               

 I hope the new year brings everyone good health and much happiness!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

>Note to gym goers

>If you have a terrible case of gas, please refrain from spending too much time on the treadmill (especially next to ME!!!).
Holy-canolli! There was a lady next to me at the gym tonight and I swear something died inside her. I had to keep my sweat towel over my nose for the better part of my 1.5 miles. It was THAT BAD!
So, my advice....
If you even think you might pass gas uncontrollably while working out, just stay home. Really, just buy some workout dvd's and do it in the privacy of your own home because I can assure you that (me) and all other gym rats will appreciate it!!!

Just sayin'!! ;)

Monday, December 21, 2009

>My goals for 2010

>Tonight I went to the gym for the first time in days. As hard as it was I managed to run 5.42 miles in just a few seconds over an hour. On my drive home I had time to think about my running. I also thought a lot about my goals for 2010.  I say for 2010 because I don't have a date set to accomplish these goals but they are things I hope to get done in 2010 even if it takes me the entire year.  I will succeed.

1. to lose 30-35 more pounds
2. to run a 5k race in 35-37  minutes
3. run an 8k race
4. run a 10k race
5. begin training for a half marathon

There I've said it. Those are my goals for 2010.

I don't plan to mark a date for any of them (at least not for now) but I do hope to get them all done in the up coming year. I will track my progress on each here on my blog. I won't be posting any "New Year's Resolutions" because I haven't ever really stuck with resolutions. I have worked harder to meet certain goals I have set for myself. So, in 2010 I am going to work hard and succeed at all of my goals!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

>I lied.

>And at least I can admit it! ha ha
I know I said I was going to post daily about what's going on with me working out and all the eating..blah blah
Right. So, in case any of you don't know...
It is the holiday season!
Are you like me at all and just get slightly overwhelmed by how much you actually have to do?
Between working full time, trying to manage a family (and with the help of my loving husband), working out and all the other stuff in between I just haven't had the time to sit down and write many blog posts. When I do have the time (which I rarely do) it's times like now while I am sneaking to do it from work! yikes. Luckily it helps (a little) to be related (by marriage) to the boss. :)

Anyway, I have worked out some and of course not nearly as much as I wish I was working out. Like I have said, like you all have said... working out SOME is better than NONE. Last night my hubby and I took the kids over to their grandparent's house and did a couple hours of Christmas shopping. It would have been very easy to let hubby talk me into just going home and being lazy afterwards. I didn't though. Instead he dropped me off at the gym before going to pick up the kids. I got a good 45 minute workout done on the elliptical machine. The only reason that disappoints me is because I wish I was running for 45 minutes. I really want to improve my running. So, tonight I plan to run. I am going to start back to week 6, day 2 of the Couch to 5k program.

As far as eating goes, it hasn't been great. I am concious of what I do eat for the most part. I am not losing but I am not gaining. I don't mind maintaining. Never before have I ever maintained through the holidays so I am pleased with that. My goal for now is TO maintain through Christmas. I'm not worried about dieting right now and really don't think I will be after Christmas. I think I will just go back to the more healthy way of eating and remind myself that it's a lifestyle change that matters.

So, that's that. I lied. I'm moving on. I will do my best to post when I can. :)

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

>This cold, wet weather makes me want to sleep.

>And when I left work today I was thinking of nothing but the fact that I really wanted so bad to come home and throw on my pjs and sit my butt in my favorite comfy chair with my feet up for the night.

I didn't do that.
Instead I came right in the door and got my gym clothes on. My hubby had dinner ready, I skipped. Hubby and the kids ate and we then headed out the door TO THE GYM! :)

I love being able to take the family to the gym. The kids can run around and play in the childcare there and hubby and I get to workout. We don't really work out together but knowing he is there (and rooting for me) is enough for me to know how supported by him that I am. That's a huge help in this process for me.

I had a pretty good workout. I did 5.25 miles on the elliptical machine in about 53 minutes. I felt strong and probably could have done another 2 miles or so but it was time to get the kids and head home. I didn't track calories burned but I know I burned enough to make a difference (at least a difference in my mind...lol). I need to really step up the strength training and get some weight lifting going on but I feel so intimidated by those machines!  I will get there. Right now I am just taking it one day at a time and one workout at a time.

The main thing is that I overcame how I felt when I left work this evening and got my workout in. That counts!

Monday, December 7, 2009

>Weekend Review

>Friday - I'm coaching Annabelle's basketball team. It's an Upward league and since hubby decided last year to not help coach again this year a friend and I decided we would. I was nervous! I've never done anything like that and don't know a whole lot about basketball. Thanks to my wonderful hubby all went well. That was about all the exercise I got in Friday but it's much better than going home and plopping my big rear in front of the tv all night.

Saturday - I ran 2.75 miles on the treadmill and did a little (very little) arm work. It was a light workout but I did feel like my run was pretty good. Hubby worked out on the machine beside me and while I didn't see him he said he kept looking over and giving the thumbs up while I was running. :)

Sunday - rest day. I usually don't do a lot on Sunday as far as working out or running goes unless I have a race coming up. I've taken a break from running any races for a bit so therefore I rested yesterday.

I'm back on track with my eating today and have so far logged everything into Spark People! I may or may not get to work out this evening. I had planned to get up and hit the gym early but my bed was just so warm and comfy (read- I'm a slacker in the mornings!). Hubby has a football banquet tonight and won't be home until late. Normally I would go to the banquet with him but I won't be able to go tonight because someone has to keep the kids and our previous plan for a sitter has changed. So, I am thinking that after the kids are settled in bed I can pop in a Biggest Loser dvd or something and get in some kind of exercise. I will let you know what I end up doing. I feel good for today. Now I am off to chug the water!

Friday, December 4, 2009

>Lesson learned

>Today was a busy day for me. I never made it on Spark People to log my food. I'm not so sure that was a bad thing. I had to take my son to work with me today since he isn't enrolled in pre-school/extended stay on Friday's and my Friday sitter was unable to watch him. On days he goes with me it's really close to impossible for my day to be anywhere close to normal. I ran out of the house without having packed lunch or breakfast. I even left my water bottle sitting on the counter. What did I do? I did manage to pack Peanut plenty of snacks! ha imagine that! 

To say today was good foodwise would be a complete and total lie. As a matter of fact I am going to go ahead and lay it all out here and tell you what I did eat today. What have I got to lose really? Well, besides the obvious (weight)!?  Being honest with you keeps me more honest with myself (or something like that. lol). So, because I was late and needed to eat and because my 3 yr old was "beggin" for me to stop I pulled the car into McD's on the way into work. I didn't do horrible but  not good either. I got myself ONE of their breakfast burritos...not the mackdaddy one but the smaller sausage/egg version. I can't recall the calories but I did eat 3/4s of the burrito. I also purchased a yogurt parfait to have for a mid/late morning snack. Again, not horrible. In fact I love the yogurt/fruit combo and I think the one from McD's is about 150 calories or so. It's not too bad really.

So what made my day so bad in regards to food? Well, my beloved 3 yr old son has a true love for Chick Fil A. If you don't have those near you...be glad! The place is pure evil, but it can be healty. I promised him lunch there.  Yes, I  know what you are thinking now. "Good grief, fast food junkie. Does this woman know how bad that stuff is?" YES, I am fully aware. Trust me, our family does make more healthy food choices on a regular basis than we do poor choices. In fact, my son's fave thing to eat at home is bbq chicken and steamed brocolli. No, I didn't make that up to make myself look good. Anyway, rather than get the grilled chicken salad with fat free dressing like I KNOW I should have gotten I chose the number 1...:( Shame on me. I felt horrible about it all day long. Frankly, I still feel awful about it.

I wouldn't normally let a day's food choices make me feel so bad, but I did also make a trip to Starbucks tonight. Did I choose my normal drink (Skinny Vanilla Latte of 90 calories)?? You guessed it! Nope. 300+ calories in my tall Peppermint White Mocha.   Can you say glutton? Yep, that was me today. And here I sit at midnight spilling my guts to you (whoever you are ;)  -thanks) about my poor choices with food today. I feel like crap. I feel guilty. I feel like mush.

But it is just ONE day. Tomorrow is a new day (didn't I say that yesterday?). And my day will start on the treadmill at my gym. I don't even care how cold it is out in the morning or how bad I want to stay cuddled in bed with my 3 loves. I made a vow yesterday to do better and to say I blew it today...well, that may be true but what I can do is to choose to NOT blow tomorrow by waking up tomorrow and being proud of how far I have gotten. I have worked hard. It's time to quit playing games (gees, how many times is she going to say that?). What I have learned from today is that I can't let all of my will power go out the window. Afterall my will power and determination is what helped me lose 30 lbs to begin with. And my motivation and drive is what has helped me add to the miles run in my ticker.

So, here's to a new day! ;)

Thanks for all the support from those that read here. It is appreciated!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

>What can I say...

>I'm a total slacker.

I've slacked in posting here for many reasons.  Do you want me to even go about listing them all? HA!

I feel unmotivated most days, especially lately. In the last two weeks I have worked out/ran twice. Yep, you read that right....TWICE. The day before Thanksgiving and Tuesday of this week were my only two days of running. I know, I know.. I keep saying, "this week I am going to step it up." I don't. Well, not really. I did run 5.54 miles Tuesday but really is that stepping it up? I think not. I could use all the classic excuses like, "my family is just so busy" or "the holidays have hit and there is just so much to prepare for," but really!? Excuses are lame. All of them.

I haven't taken measurements in who knows how long. I haven't felt like it. Lately I feel like a pile of mushy and who wants to unclothe and ask their hubby to measure all the mushy parts? Not me, especially since I have only worked out twice in two weeks and we are only a week out from Thanksgiving. I don't think I am really afraid to see my measurements. I'm positive they won't be bigger than the last measurements I took. I'm just afraid (well not really afraid more like I dread) what the measurements will be mainly because if they aren't down at all I will feel even more like a failure than I already feel. Ya know!?

I've pretty much maintained my current weight since about October or it may be September. I can't recall and I didn't go back to look. At any rate, I don't think maintaining is a bad thing. I have fluctuated up and down around the same number. That's fine. BUT I really am ready to see the scale move down and continue to move. So what does that mean? Well, that means that I have to quit just saying, "I'm going to step it up." It is so easy to SAY those things but I'm telling you it is hard to actually DO it. Surely, I am not the only one who struggles. So, what is it you DO to actually get the job done? I need your ideas!

Yes, I am a busy person. Yes, I work full time and have a family life once I get off work. I am my daughter's Girl Scout troop leader and now (starting tomorrow, I'm scared to death actually) her Upwards Basketball coach (I may not have mentioned that I have never coached a thing before.. and I never played basketball)!! But I can't use those things as excuses to not "step it up and get the job done" when it comes to me and this crazy weight loss journey I have been dealing with for far too long. Right?! Right. So, no matter what... and you can even remind me (if anyone still reads here) that I am on a journey and there is a goal to be made. I want to reach the goal sooner rather than later and that means everything starts NOW.

No matter what I will post here daily if only to check in with myself (or you if you're reading) whether it is to discuss what I am eating or my exercise for the day or just how I am feeling about life in general. And I will stop being such a slacker. Period. :)