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?

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.)

Weigh in Wednesday

Planned Workout: Aqua Jog
Actual Workout: Aqua Jog and 30 minute interval run

I did it! I broke 190!
My current weight:
187.6
I even took a picture, see?



And yes, I realize it is upside down.

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.

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: 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.   

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.

Weigh in Wednesday

Planned Workout: 2 mile run/walk

Actual Workout: 3k run/walk and arm circuit

I don't know why, but I felt the need to make a record for myself today.  I was going to do my usual, then I went looking through the history on my little tracker.  The fastest 3k I had on record was around 25 minutes.  The personal best for 2 miles was 24:25.  I knew my 3k record could be beat.  So I warmed up and took off.

Here is a list of my stats as of now:

• Total Workouts for 2012: 44
• Total Run Distance 2012: 71.38 miles
• Total Time: 18 hours
• Total Calories: 8227
• Total Non-run Steps: 1282
• Farthest distance in one run: 3.30 miles
  
• Best 1k: 7:00
• Best 3k: 23:07 (as of today)
• Best 1 mile: 11:40
• Best 2 miles: 24:45

Well, it is Wednesday so time for my weigh in:

191.5

Not sure how I lost weight this week honestly, but I'm not going to complain about it. 

But I am going to show you what I made for lunch: BBQ chicken toasties (they were yummy!)  All I did was put some chicken in the crock pot with BBQ sauce yesterday.  Today, I got these little slices of bread (whole wheat), put some BBQ chicken on them and sprinkled them with a little 2% cheese.  Then I baked them in the oven for about 10 minutes on 300 degrees. 

Easter...a recap

Weekend Workouts: Ran/walk 20 minutes, nothing else

I gave myself a break this weekend.  Not that I needed one or deserved one, I just took one.  Sometimes its nice just to break away from routine and refocus and reflect. So, this is what I did on my weekend:

Little Miss all ready for church

 She had adorable white gloves with pink bows on.  I started to take her picture and she started crying and told me she didn't want to go to church.  When I asked her why she told me she didn't like her gloves. She took off the gloves, put them in her purse, and was all smiles the rest of the day.

What the Easter bunny brought.

 

Getting silly with the good stuff in the basket.

Egg Hunt

 

In Little Miss's basket was a kite.  It was a beautiful evening Sunday and she had a lot of sugar to run off, so we went to the "park" and she flew (well, Mommy and Daddy did most of the flying) her kite.  She did a lot of running around and trying to catch the tail.  She also enjoyed crashing her kite, over and over.

 

She found the bench for the soccer field and thought it made a perfect balance beam.

 

I  know I said I took a break on my weekend, but even with a break I still ran Monday.  This is my last week to get three runs in before I start my crazy schedule.  Little Miss and I spent the rest of the day playing and watched a movie before I took her swimming in the evening.  It really was a great weekend.

What about you? Did you have a great weekend?

Eating, Clothes, and Other Stuff *Updated 4/7/2012*

Planned Workout: 2 mile run interval (1.5 miles run, .5 walk)
Actual Workout: 2 mile run interval (1 mile run, 1 mile walk)

Today was not a "push myself" day.  I don't know why, just wasn't.  But tomorrow is another day, and I at least showed up for the game today.

And now its time for........ 

Hunger Pains

Food Journaling for the Not-So-Prepared

I started a food journal three days ago here. 

Everyday but the first day it has said this:

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 182.2 lbs in 5 weeks

*Based on your total calories consumed for today, you are eating too few calories. Not only is it difficult to receive adequate nutrition at these calorie levels, but you could also be putting your body into starvation mode. Starvation mode lowers your metabolism and makes weight loss more difficult. We suggest increasing your calorie consumption to 1,200 calories per day minimum.

WHAT?!

Too few calories?  I eat, let me tell you I do.  I eat toast with cream cheese and sugar free jam in the morning.  I eat baked chicken nuggets with Little Miss.  I even ate an ice cream sandwich today.  While I was still at work I had an extra snack because I knew that the final result for the day would be this.  I wasn't even hungry.

This first day I was full a lot.  I felt too full at times.  I was 157 over my calories, but dang!  I ate french fries (something that RARELY happens). 

My question is: Should I really bump up the calories (my calories for today was 1,123) even though I'm not hungry? 

Clothes Dillema

According to myfitnesspal, I have lost 23 pounds since I signed up a year ago.  WooHoo! As exciting as that is, losing weight leaves me with a dillema.  It's one I'm happy to have, but it is still a dillema.  My clothes are getting too big.  Of course, like most women I have "fat clothes" and "skinny"  "less fat" (in my case) clothes.  23 pounds on a 4'11" woman is a couple of sizes.  My "fat clothes" absolutly do not fit, and my few "less fat" clothes are getting a little baggy.  The only thing that still fits are my workout clothes (thank you hubby for under estimating my size.  I <3 you! )  

Aside from workout clothes, this is what I have left:

• 1 pair of jeans
• a few concert tees that never fit me before (concert tees run 2 sizes smaller than the rest of the world)
• 2 pair of work slacks (one pair will be out in about 5 more pounds)
• My work shirts (for now, they work)
• One hoodie
• a pair of jean capris
• 2 sundresses (its still too cold for those in Ohio)
• My free tee I just got from my gym

So what's the dillema? Buying new clothes.  I am Cheapy Mccheapster, so I had already decided that I didn't want to waste money on new clothes and would go to a resale shop.  But even buying used clothes that I know I will have to replace in a couple of months makes me go "grrrr".  Don't get me wrong, once I am to my goal weight I will go out and get clothes that fit, I will consider it a long term investment.  (Not to mention a great reason to maintain my weight.) Plus, my favorite stores always have tons of stuff size 2-8 on clearance (hopefully my size will be somewhere in that range).  For now, I think I will remain Baggy Mcbaggster, at least for another 5-10 pounds.  The I will let my sisters drag me to the store and get some clothes that fit.

 

My Second Home

Planned Workout: 2 mile run/walk with running being .75 intervals
Actual Workout : 2 mile run/walk with running being .75 intervals

That's right.  I did what I was supposed to today.  And I "ran" my fastest mile yet.  11.44.  Usually, this is a rest or cross train day, but I didn't run yesterday and didn't do anything Sunday, so I needed the run.  Plus, me schedule is about to change.....

Why is my schedule changing?  Two words: Free Class

Our gym membership auto-renews every year.  They send us our new cards in the mail.  This year they sent us coupons, too.  I got a free Tee (size L, thank you very much..no XL for me anymore!)  There was also a coupon for a free session of a water class.  I signed up for Aqua Jog (it said it was intense).  It is 3 days/week, plus my boot camp on Saturdays, plus I have to take Little Miss to her classes on Tuesday/Thursday (making these my run days).  Whew! Just typing all that made me tired!

So, you guessed it, Sunday is my rest day, and the gym will be my second home.  I hope I do ok on only one rest day, but I need to kick it up.  And I get bored easily.  When I get bored, I get lazy.  When, I get lazy, I start sleeping in instead of going to the gym.  When I stop going to the gym, I get fat.  Oh Lord, I sound like a Direct TV commercial!

The other"new" thing in my life?  My sister and I are signing up for a 5K.  In June.  I want to be able to run the whole thing. I hope she will be able to run the whole thing too.  Mostly, I want it to be fun.  There is even a run Little Miss can participate in.

TGIF

Planned Workout: Boot Camp
Actual Workout: Boot Camp  Today's Line up: Abs at 50 count per exercise, lunges, calf raises, jumping rope, step ups, push ups (I still do the girl kind), karaoke suicide, and lap running (well, this was most of what I did)

All this and went to work too! I am BEAT!

Now for an introduction to one of my favorite topics: Little Miss

She is 3 going on 13, and all kinds of sassy cuteness.  She has 2 regular imaginary friends and creates others as needed.  Sam is her BIF (Best Imaginary Friend) and is between the ages of 3 and 6 (depends on the day), she is from Mexico, loves broccoli, and her favorite color is tan.  Though Sam has a mommy and daddy, she mostly lives with us.  And she is an ornery little friend.  Several times I have had to put Sam in the corner for not listening.  My husband and I have both had to yell at Sam to get off the street.  It is probably a good thing we have understanding neighbors.

Little Miss went to boot camp with me on Saturday.  It wasn't planned that way, but it happened.  She was really good.  Toward the end she even ran two laps and stretched out with me.  It was fun.  She herself is in swimming and a gym class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

5k and The Bread Lady

Planned Workout: 2 miles run/walk half mile intervals
Actual Workout: DRUM ROLL PLEEAASSEE................................ 5k run/walk

I ran a whole mile at once!  Then I walked for a half mile, than ran some more.  The last part of it was more run/walk for short spurts as I fought with myself to keep going.
Ok, so I have ran a whole mile before (right before) I started this blog, but as soon as that mile hit I stopped.  And I'm pretty sure I had an out of body experience.  Or I almost died.  Something like that.

This time was different. This time I ran a mile, ran a little more (like one 20th), then walked until I was ready to run again.  Then ran again.  Sometimes even faster!
It was a good workout day for me :)

My Stats:

Distance: 5k

Time: 42:03

Average Pace: 13.54

I realize that to committed runners, this is really just a fast walk.  But to non-athletic, never-ran-a-day-in-my-life, 4'11" me, this is a feat.  And it's a starting point.

THE BREAD LADY

There is this really sweet old lady who bakes bread.  She bakes a lot of bread, all different kinds.  She also drops it off to us (where I work) or has an officer stop by and pick it up.  Not just a loaf or two.  More like seven or eight.  Usually she does this once a month.  All different types of fruit breads.  This bread MUST be enjoyed by everyone at the office.  It also has to be eaten a certain way- warmed up with either tea or hot chocolate.  (Yes, even in warm weather, it is always freezing in the office.) 

So I went to work tonight, and the bread lady had delivered.  Hmm... I had some hot chocolate in my drawer.  I had packed a nice little recovery supper of chicken, green beans, and sweet potatoes.  *Thank you hubby*  I had a yogurt as a snack.  At 21:30ish (that's 9:30pm for those of you who do not speak/read military time), I decide to forgo the yogurt and have pumpkin bread with hot chocolate.  Remember that 5 pounds by Easter? Yeah, I forgot too.

It was delicious, but now that I am getting ready for bed and thinking about setting my alarm clock for boot camp in the morning, I am telling myself  "I hope you get your a$$ kicked tomorrow, you deserve it!"  Sometimes I am my own worst enemy.