Weigh in Wednesday

Planned Workout: JM30DS, aqua jog
Actual Workout: aqua jog

I am not doing well with this 30DS thing.  Today I over slept, ran to get Little Miss to track and field, me to aqua jog, and her to maw maw's so I could go to the office (my now second job) before going to work. 

Today was just one of those days, I think.  I thought I would be smart and wear my sandals to the gym since I was only swimming.  Yeah, forgot to pack myself socks for work.  Heel boots with no socks :( Awesome.

I did have a good weigh in this morning:
      
                             180.4

That's right. One pound away from how much I weighed when I found out I was pregnant.  Almost 5 years ago.  Ladies and Gentlemen, I just may be on my way!

Reality Check

Planned Workout: JM30DS, some kind of running at the gym
Actual Workout: JM30DS, Fat Burner walk @ 3.5 mph, and a little more weight lifting at the gym


Saturday morning, I was feeling good.  I attempted to run 3 miles.  A little over 2 miles in, I hurt my leg.  More specifically, the side of my quad on my right leg.  I tried walking for a while, then running again.  It still hurt.  Worse.  I decided I could walk home.  The more I walked, the more it hurt.  I called Hubby about a quarter of a mile from home to pick me up.  He was out mowing and didn't hear his phone.  I started hobbling, but made it home.

I decided that I would take Sunday and Monday off from any running and not do anything at all workout wise on Sunday.  Monday I did aqua jog, and I felt a little sore, but ok.  Today I tried 30DS and I was timid.  There were certain moves I just wouldn't do.  By Thursday I hope to get a run in, even just a small one.


After this debacle, I took a looonng look in the mirror.  Everyone has been commenting to me about how I am looking good and talking to me about how much weight I have lost.  Since I started this blog I have lost almost 30 pounds.  While this made me feel good and more confident, I started making decisions I shouldn't have last week.  Have a doughnut and coffee for a mid afternoon snack 2 days in a row? Sure why not?  Eat a 530 calorie pizza at 1130pm? As long as I run tomorrow. 



Being a Law Enforcement Dispatcher, this sign rocks!

Anyway, back to the mirror.  I caught a glimpse in the mirror and though, "Wow, I do look different.  Why did I wait so long to do this?"  Then I took a harder look and realized I may have come this far, but I am no where near the end.  Usually, this is when I get discouraged and start telling myself I will never get there.  Not this time.  This time I told myself, "Ok, so we still have back rolls and a "belly flap".  What can we do to work on this?  I think I can feel this time being different.

AHHHHHHH!

Planned Workout: run 3 miles, and JM30DS
Actual Workout: walk/jog 2miles and JM30DS


So, my IPOD got washed.  Along with my totals for all my runs for the year.  Along with all the music I use to get me through the runs.  So sad.  I hope it can be fixed. :(

Weigh in Wednesday

Planned Workout: Jillian M's 30 DS, aqua jog
Actual Workout: Aqua Jog, run 3k, more swimming


Ok, so I missed a day of my 30 DS challenge.  Really, I slept in a little too much, started it, did 10 minutes, then went "oh crap!" I gotta get to the gym! I tried to make up for it.

Plus, I was feeling a little bummed.  Today was my 5th day on 30DS and I have really stepped up the exercising this week.  And where does that put me on the scale?

189

!!!!!!!

That's right... I gained 4 pounds!!!!

I have been measuring myself and I am losing inches, so I am hoping this it the "muscles have a higher density than fat, so if your are not gaining mass, you are gaining muscle."  I don't know the exact ratios...but I think I will look them up.

I will get back to you on that!

Weigh in Wednesday---err Friday

Planned Workout: Jillian Michaels' 30 day shred, Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: see above ;)

OK, so lets start with the obvious: "Where have you been young lady?"

Well, I have been on myfitnesspal ...aaannndd...going crazy.

We had a yard sale last weekend.  Disaster.  We had to spend all the money we made on food.  Why? Fridge went out... on a holiday weekend...a HOT holiday weekend.  The last 2 days of the sale, we made zilch on money.

Little Miss had her last week of preschool *Sniffle* The little graduation was adorable.

I have taken up a fitness challenge on MFP to do 30 day shred in June.
I have also put (back) in to take up the training position at my old agency. (And remain where I am as well.)
I have decided to keep doing aqua jog, for at least one more session.

OK, the next part... I need to weigh in......

185.0

Yeah, doesn't seem like a lot, but I think I am losing inches.   Since it is that time, I will add an updated pic too:



I am working hard on balance right now.  Balancing exercise and food, life and fitness, work and play.  Obviously MFP is helping me with fitness, but it is taking away from my time to blog.  I am working on making time for both.

Weigh In Wednesday

Planned Workout: Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Aqua Jog

It is the week of decisions.  I need to decide if I want to sign up for another session of my aqua jog class.  Yes, I will have to pay for the next session, but I do like it.

Liking it is not the problem.  I love the class.  The problem is all these other questions I have about the class:

1. Can we afford it? We are on a tight budget right now and the class is almost $30.
2. Is it working? I feel tired and exercised after class, but I'm not sure I am seeing the results I expected.
3. Can I keep up this schedule and fit in more runs?
4. What about the fact that I want to swim on free lap time (a totally free activity) now that Little Miss is out of school?
5. What about other classes I have been thinking of trying?

Running is the biggest one.  Sunday I got up and ran to my sister's house (a little over a mile).  And ever since I have fallen in love with it.

Ok, weight time:

186.4

Well, I'll take it.

What a week!

Planned Workout: Nothing
Actual Workout: Nothing

This week I have been in a funk.  I almost drown myself twice in my swim class.  And I only ran 2.5 miles total this week. I haven't logged on to myfitnesspal.com, I ate fast food ( I know, I KNOW!), I skipped my water class totally on Monday.

Despite all this, somehow, I managed to lose weight.  I have no idea how.  None. 

On Wednesday I was really beginning to question whether I am setting my goals too high, whether I will be able to actually RUN an entire 5k in June, whether I will actually get any further in this journey.  It was depressing.  I honestly think that if Friday's weight would have been higher than the week before, I would have stopped trying.

What makes you feel better when you are in a funk?

Weigh in Wednesday

Planned Workout:Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Aqua Jog (and a little more)


Yes, I know it is Friday and I am just now weighing myself. I had a bad week and it just had to wait. The results? 186.1 This week, I'll take it!

WooT WooT!

Planned Workout: 3 mile run/walk interval
Actual Workout: 3 mile run/walk interval

That's right.  I did it.  I got myself up to 3 miles.  Granted, I walked probably a little under a mile of it.  But I did it.  There were some distractions and I think I could have pushed myself harder, but I enjoyed my 3 miles (after the fact,of course.) 

I compared my workout today to one I had in January with about the same time.  In about 40 minutes today I went 3.03 miles.  In about 40 minutes in January I went 1.79.  

I think a good run deserves a celebration.  So after work today I am going to go save some serious cash at the grocery store.  (Yeah, so I celebrate weird.  Whatever.)

Redemption

I had a bad day yesterday. Not just a bad run day. All day. It has been a long time since I have had a completely bad day.
I tried perking myself up several times with many different things:



Bubble Gum lotion didn't help.

Source

Neither did 2 cups of coffee.

Even goofing off and singing to the radio with Little Miss didn't help.

So I was happy just to start a new day this morning.Aqua Jog was good, not great, but a good workout.
Afterwards is where I redeemed myself for yesterday. I ran/walked for 30 minutes. I probably only ran a little over a mile of it, but i pushed myself more than yesterday and did better..even after a 45 minute water workout. I consider that redemption.

Regrets.Concens, and Swimsuits

Planned Workout: Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Aqua Jog


There are Regrets:
    I shouldn't have weighed myself yesterday.  It wasn't a weigh in day.  I shouldn't have eaten cookies and brownies yesterday. Aaannddd..... I shouldn't have been drying my swimsuit in the dryer all this time.

Then there are Concerns:
      I am having a yard sale at the end of the month.  I am going through all of my clothes and I really want to get rid of everything too big for me.  I think this concerns my hubby.  He is afraid I won't have any clothes left.

Then there's this:

My New (to me) Swimsuit

It is 2 sizes smaller than my old one, and made out of a better material.  It cost $4.  It fits pretty well, with room to lose weight.

I am hoping it will be a good investment.  In June I want to start swimming laps.  And I am talking up this class to hubby in hopes that we can budget it in for the next session. ( If you haven't figured it out yet, we didn't budget in boot camp this time, and I miss that class.)

+

Kicked Out

Rest Day

On Thursday, I officially got kicked out of the "Fat Girls Club."  One of it's (self-described, mind you) members pulled me into her area of the office to show her boss how much thinner I looked.  She jokingly told me to turn in my ID.  We talked and joked for a few; I thanked both of them for the compliments and went on my way to work.(Small things like that really help me reaffirm my progress and realize that though I still have very far to go, I have come far as well.) 

As nice as it was to get compliments, I am starting to feel in a scary place. 

Source

No, not that kind of scary.

Source

Yeah, more like that.

I am more and more not fitting into a group, if you will.  Not that I really think anyone is talking about me (and if they are they probably were 20 pounds ago.)  Its more of a no place to go.  Sure, my friends still talk to me and whatnot, but I feel that unless directly asked, I really can't talk about what I'm up to.  I recently told a lifetime friend that I had taken up running.  I don't think she really knew what to say, so I made it a joke: "I must have fallen and hit  my head or something, because you know I have never been athletic."

On the flip side of things, I do not fit in with the group of girls at the gym either.  Don't get me wrong, they are nice and we say hi to each other and talk about stuff when we drop off and pick up our kids from the in-house babysitter.  And their "hanging out" is working out at the gym 5 days a week.  Which is cool, but I can't join them.  I would either slow them down or they would leave me in the dust. 

So, with every mile I run and pound I lose I get more and more into that "limbo" area.  "Limbo" gets lonely. 

So, I'll end this one with a prayer:

"Thank you God for giving me sisters and Hubby.  They are stuck with me limbo or not!"

AMEN

Weigh in Wednesday

Planned Workout: Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Aqua Jog

I've been feeling better and it is showing in everything I do.  I have been eating better and exercising more.  Yesterday was the first day I ran/walked 2 mile in almost 2 weeks.  It felt good, but I can tell I hadn't done it in a while.  I burned out with a tenth of a mile to go on my second run and had to walk it.   But, I ran.
Today was definitely a push day in the water, too.

I am a week late on this, I know, I know, but here it is:

 

My Updated Pic

I am not a fan of this tank, but since it didn't fit me in January, I'm not complaining too much.  

So, what's my weight this week, you ask?

190.4

Three pounds in a week.  I am not sure how I did it, but I am glad I'm back! Maybe next week I will see a number that I haven't seen since I had my daughter: a 18# number!

Foodie, I'm Not

Planned Workout: Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Aqua Jog, arm circuit, abs

I am not a foodie.  By any means.  Don't get me wrong, I can cook and sometimes I enjoy it.  The enjoying it part seems to be less since Little Miss came along.  Though I do encourage her to help me in the kitchen and she seems to enjoy it.  But my menus are a little, well, bland.

Take last night,for instance.  We had chicken tacos.  Nothing special.  Today's lunch: leftovers.

This is today's lunch: Fruit Salad, Southwest Salad kit, chicken taco

In fact, the most exotic thing I ever cook is curried pork.  I know there are several reasons my menu stays they same: time, money, a 3 year old's palate.  But, I would like to broaden my horizons a little.  Make something new to our family.  This is what I came up with:

Moroccan Vegetable Stew with Couscous

Moroccan vegetable stew blends turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and garlic with chickpeas, lentils, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and raisins for an aromatic vegetarian meal that's rich in protein and fiber. The legumes in this dish provide iron, while the vegetables offer vitamins A and C. Whole-grain couscous, a Middle Eastern dish, complements this hearty stew and adds extra fiber to your meal.

I got this at  livestrong.com.

Granted, this will have to wait at least a week until I get to the grocery store again.  And I will have to modify hubby's some (he doesn't like tomatoes), but I think I will try it.  I will let you know how it turns out.

HOT HOT NOT

Planned Workout: 2mile run/walk
Actual Workout: 20 minute run/walk

I did do some running today... about 8 minutes of it.  Then my lungs began to burn and I decided walking would be the way to go today.  I am feeling better though.

Now what I would really like to discuss.  Something I saw on The Today Show this morning:  NYFFs (New York Fire Fighters).  There were about half a dozen or so on the show promoting their calender.  And the were Smokin' (please forgive the pun.)  They all looked like newbies though (5 or 6 years on or less,)
When most women think of firefighters this is what they think of:


source

However, as a wife of a volunteer firefighter for several years( according to the NFPA, 70% of firefighters are volunteer, fyi), I can assure you that most firefighters look like this:


Source

That's right. Awesome huh?  Full time EMS is about the same (with more females). 

I remember being told once how lucky I must be to get to "hang out" at the fire station.  LOL... the pic directly above comes to mind.

Now girls, don't get me wrong, there are some "Hotties" out there.  But don't think that great bodies = coolness either.  Sometimes the greatest looking ones are the dorkiest ones.

On the flip side, generally firefighters are the sweetest guys I have met (to females, guests, and children anyway.)  And if you go to their station on a slow day, they will gladly entertain you until it is chow time or they get a call.

Weigh In Wednesday

Planned Workout: Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Nothing

Sickness has fallen upon us.  Well, me mostly.  Little Miss is sick, again, but it is her typical cold and up all night coughing type sickness.  Mine started out flu-like for about 24ish hours, then turned into a more cold-like direction.  I camped on the couch all day yesterday.  Today I didn't do too much, until I had to go to work anyway.  Getting up and moving around made me feel a little better.  But I am still really congested and coughing.

I wanted to run this week.  To run and push myself to run farther.  I have been reading up on other runner's blogs and trying to do some research on running.  In the past,  I have attempted weight loss and healthier lifestyle and quit after six months or so every time.  This time feels different, then I hit little speed bumps like getting sick.  So am I going to get all "ho hum, woa is me" and give up again? Nope... gonna try something different:

Formulate a Plan.

I plan on getting at least a walk in tomorrow.  If I feel like it, a run.  I plan on going to Aqua Jog on Friday.  And I plan on making up a run this weekend.  Next week, I plan on being back in the swing of things.

OK...so time of truth...weigh in for this week..ugh:

193.8

Yeah, so I gained a little.  I am hoping this is just a reaction to being sick.  I hope.   

March of Dimes....A Recap

March of Dimes 5K 2012

It was cold. 45 degrees.  For the last mile, it sprinkled.  Cold and damp. Our team was a decent size.  Mostly family, some friends.  Avery's physical therapist and her family even walked.  We started out together, but ended up spread way out by the end.

This was our team name. My shirt said Auntie Em on the sleeve.

 

 This is Mr. Avery.  He was born at 23 weeks.  He will be 1 in May.  He is the reason my sister started a team and the cutest little nephew ever!

     Little Miss and her cousin painted rocks before the walk.

Little Miss walked with grandpa until mile 2.  Then I sent her walking to other direction with her aunt and uncle.  She was getting tired.  She walked about 2.75 miles.

 

After the walk, they had hot dogs, chips, bananas, and water.  We also got little goodie bags.  They had Michigan magnets and notebooks in them (did I mention we were at an OSU campus?), trail mix, and some stuff for kids. I enjoyed having coffee to warm up to.  I am not big on hot dogs, but mine was pretty good.

 

Even though it was cold and rainy and I walked at a very slow pace for me (nope, didn't keep time either), it was a good time.  I already asked my sister if she was going to do this next year.  She said yes and she was going to start fund raising sooner.

 Our team raised $952 this year.  Not bad for a first time team that started late.

Days Go By

Planned Workout: Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Aqua Jog

Today was, well a buzz.  Meaning that I really didn't much sitting down until work.  Even then I was pretty busy.  Aqua Jog was more of a workout today.  I upped my weights. That helped. And the instructor made it a little harder.

I have March of Dimes tomorrow.  I promise to do a recap.  And I am going Dent and Ding shopping with my mom and sister. Yay! 

I feel like time is going so quickly.  We only have 225 days until our cruise (my initial motivation for getting healthier).  Little Miss only has 5 weeks of school left.  This year marks my 3rd annul 29th birthday.  There are so many things I wanted to do this year.  There are things I haven't even begun.  Time is not on my side at the moment.  Anyone else feel that way?

Weigh in Wednesday

Planned Workout: Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Aqua Jog

Today was the first day I took Aqua Jog.  I had forgotten that it was a Monday, Wednesday, Friday class until about 9am on Monday.  It started at 930.  For anyone who knows me (or Little Miss), you know it is impossible to get us out the door and there in a half an hour.  We got there at 940.  I walked on the treadmill instead. 

Anyway, I went today.


Ok, it was only a little like that.  I am the youngest in the class.  The next youngest women have kids a few years younger than me.  But we used real weights.

It was more like this:


And this:



My biggest obstacle?


We had to swim on our backs with flippers on.  I can survive in water, but I am not a strong swimmer.  My form was horrible.  I am thinking about dragging hubby to the pool during open lap time and practicing my lap swimming.  If I can find the time (?!)

Overall, it can be a good cross training for me.  But I will have to keep running.  And do boot camp.

And now what you all have been waiting for (and I have been dreading):

193.4

That's right.  I have gained weight.  Laziness will do that to a person.  I am hoping to rebound quick in the next couple of weeks.  I have a lot going on. Fitness wise, that is :)

Bad to the Bone...or Muscle

Planned Workout: Bootcamp
Actual Workout: Nothing

I have been bad to myself this week.. Eating a lot of Easter junk food, not exercising regularly, and ignoring an injury.  That's right, total mal-functional week.

I felt a twinge and some pain in the muscle above and on the side of my knee on Wednesday.  "Hmmm" I thought, and though the pain was fast enough and hurt enough to make me stop when it happened, I started walking again, then running.  I ignored the pain. For the rest of the day.

Thursday, I only noticed it when I was walking, so I didn't walk much.  I didn't workout, either.
Friday, I started to run, but it hurt so I walked.  Walking made it hurt less.  Today my daughter and I lounged in bed until 11am.  Lazy, I know.  But breakfast in bed and cartoons were fun.  And my knee doesn't hurt at all today.

I have got to get ride of the candy junk in my house.  Little Miss is really great at sharing.  Too great.  And chocolate is my vice.  I haven't weighed my self since weigh in Wednesday, and quite frankly I'm afraid to.