January wrap-up

Time to look back at January and see how well I did

January Goals

-Come up with, and follow, running plan. Half done.  I made a running plan, now I need to follow it.

-Make time to accomplish my goals! I've gotten a start on this one.  I've started waking up earlier to get more accomplished.  I'm still getting in the routine and trying not to press snooze so much, but it is a start.

-Walk at least 5000 steps daily. DONE!  
I'm so happy that I can at least check one goal off my list.  The plan tonight is to get in my push-ups, sit-ups and squats.

February Goals

Seriously, how did it get to be February already?  Time to set some goals!

February Goals
-Run at least 2x/week
-Additional workout at least 2x/week
-Lose at least 4lbs
-Drink at least 50oz water/day
-Walk 7500 steps/day

I think that looks good for now.

32 weeks left

Only 32 weeks until my first half marathon.  It sounds like forever right now, but I know how fast it fly by.  I found on fitness.com a beginner walk/run 13.1 training guide and an intermediate 13.1 training guide.  Both are 16 weeks, so if I start this week, it should put me in a pretty good place!  I'm hoping to get a run in tonight, hopefully.  I was planning on doing an outdoor run on Friday, but with the snow coming tomorrow, I'm not sure how possible that will be.  I'll figure something out though.  

So, I've been pleased with how I've been taking care of myself in terms of dressing nicely, doing my hair and make up, actually doing my nails.  I don't feel like I look as slobbish as usual :)  But I haven't been taking care of myself eating wise.  I feel so crappy with all the junk I've been eating.  Which I always think sounds cheesy, but is so true.  I feel heavy and sluggish and just not good.  I packed my lunch today with the snacks that I packed for O.  I figure that I'm trying to give him healthy snacks, I already have everything out, its so easy to just make two of everything.  Yes, it took me ages to figure that out.

Now, on to the check-in.  I went up this week :(  I'm not surprised in the least, but I'm not happy either.  8 weeks to lose 12lbs now.

 

Here I come, Spring!

I realized yesterday that I am 10lbs above my start of pregnancy weight.  And so, I've decided on a new goal - Lose the last 10 by the start of Spring (aka March 20)!  That's 9 weeks, so it should give me a good amount of time.

I also realized that I lost 40lbs last year, which sounds great when you say it like that.  Though when you break it down to having lost 35 within the first few months of O being born and holding on to the last 5 until after he turned 1, on top of the fact that I shouldn't have gained 50lbs to start with, it doesn't have the same ring.  So, I'm really excited about this goal to finally be rid of my pregnancy weight, and then on to the weight I was trying to lose 2 years ago :)

I also posted a picture of me, which I've been meaning to do for a while.  That's O and me after my 10k this past fall (10/10).  I have a few of myself during and after the race, but his cuteness makes me look better.

Surprise!

I lost a whole .2oz this week!  Which is a big deal since Monday was a huge pig out day, and while I didn't snack much over the weekend, my fried food choices weren't the best.  Seriously, I almost made myself a pan of brownies Monday night, but I was lazy and wrapped up in The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown.  I also haven't worked out.  I found excuses not to run this weekend, and three weeks in, I feel my motivation slipping.  How sad.

Last week, I did the initial tests for the hundred push-ups,  two hundred sit-ups, and two hundred squats challenges.  I meant to start last night during Biggest Loser... I'd hate to start a program that's supposed to be 3x/week at the end of the week, so I'm trying to decide if I should go for it and start this week and have a Th/Sun/Tue schedule, or wait until next Tuesday and work out Tue/Th/Sun.

For the push-ups, I'm on the lowly rank 1 with 5 push-ups completed.  Sit-ups and squats, I'm ranking poor with 15 and 20, respectively.  Seriously, did I push myself at all?  I'm thinking no when looking at those rankings.

I know I'm making another excuse, but tonight, I seriously need to sleep.  O was up for 2 hours straight in the middle of the night, not able to get comfortable.  And my coffee was kind of ick this morning, though that might have been for the best with all the sugar and calories packed in there.

I'm hoping my ravenous Monday and Tuesday are behind me and I can get back to normal eating and water drinking habits, and keep that going through the weekend.  .2oz does not sound like a lot, but it's enough to keep me hopeful, and I'd love to see a bigger drop next week.

First run of the new year!

Last night, after dinner, J proposed a run.  He's a volunteer firefighter, and they  have a treadmill at the station we could use.  Usually when I'm not prepared to run, I make some excuse, but last night I went with it.  I didn't do great, 1.6mi in 21:30ish, but I finished and I didn't walk either.  And it was a start!  It did feel good to get up and run.  It also did wonders for my pedometer numbers ;)  There's only one treadmill, which works out so one of us is playing with the baby while the other is running.  I don't think this will work as well once either of us are going for longer runs, but I do think it will get us through the winter.  I can work on endurance during the week and length on the weekends.  I didn't think I'd get to update my running ticker so soon.  I just put 100 miles as a goal so it would look like my ticker is running toward something, but I'll likely adjust throughout the year.

I also weighed in this morning, 1.4lbs down!  I was quite surprised to see that number, especially after the handfuls of M&Ms I had post run.  But it was a pleasant surprise, a number I haven't seen in at least a year.  Just need to keep that up!

I still haven't gotten any of my magazine workout plans in my email.  If O cooperates by going to bed when he's supposed to, I think I'll turn cleaning into a dance party exercise.  His routine has been off the past week or so, and I'm hoping its not his new routine, otherwise, nothing will ever get done around the house!

One week down

And not much done.  I have been good at hitting my 5000 steps though.  I will say that the pedometer doesn't work so well on leggings, but is remarkable with pj pants.  It will be interesting to see how the pedometer works with running shorts.  Well, I hope!

I go back and forth on eating well, despite my best intentions.  This weekend was my son's birthday party, and even though we did have healthy options, I am sucked into cake too easily!  I will say that I did better than I normally do when staying at my mom's house, so at least there's that.  My Starbucks addiction will be cut when I'm out of gift cards, which will help tremendously with calories, but won't do much for my alertness in the morning :)  And I can't bear to bring in the rest of my Christmas candy to work!  Luckily, that's almost gone too.

I decided to make good on my Biggest Loser resolution by looking at Shape and Fitness magazines online for workout plans.  I've found both sites easy to use in the past, but today I had to sign up for a bunch of email newsletters in order to get the plan delivered.  Hopefully one of the plans I signed up for looks good.  I don't generally like the workout plans found in these magazines.  They do have their pros, such as being able to complete the workouts at home and easy to fit into my schedule.  But more often than not, I feel funny jumping around my living room by myself.  I guess with a DVD, at least I'm following someone else who looks silly jumping around.  I'm most excited to see the "Get your post-baby body back!!!!!" plan.  I'll give it a try tomorrow night.

As for running, well, its really hard to fit in :(  When I get home it's dark, so weeknights are out for a while.  I am not a morning person in any respect, besides, it would be too dark in the morning as well.  I need to fit in a jog at least one day over the weekend for the next couple months until the days get longer.  I did find a beginner 5k plan at runnersworld.com.  It's not a total beginner plan, and is only 5 weeks long.  Next step, find some races!

Biggest Loser

I took last season off the Biggest Loser, but it's already drawing me back in this season. New goal, find a workout I can do while watching the Biggest Loser.  In seasons past, I would eat during the show.  But, the ice cream was just comfort food for crying at the inspirational contestants, so it's ok, right?  I didn't think so.  So, I'm open for suggestions, I do best while following a plan.  I'm digging out all the exercise equipment I've bought over the years.

I heart Bob and Jillian.

Is it really January?

Eek! I can't believe it's 2011 already! Seriously, going to bed early on New Year's Eve and missing the ball drop has really stopped me from believing we're in a new year, but the calendar says it's so.

So, time to make resolutions and goals for the month, and for the year to come.

2011
-Run my half marathon. (mostly run, some walking is allowed)
-Lost 35lbs. (I know this might take longer than a year, but I'm going to work on it!)
-Run the 2011 Turkey Trot and beat my best 5k time doing so. (34:06)

January
-Come up with, and follow, running plan.
-Make time to accomplish my goals!
-Walk at least 5000 steps daily.

Jared got me a fun pedometer for Christmas, so far so good on day one of 5000 steps. Hopefully I can increase my goals each month. I also entered to win a Wii today based on my resolution to run a half marathon this year. Thanks Oprah for having an OWN health fair at work today! Keep your fingers crossed that I win.

Eating wise, meals I do ok. Its the snacks that kill me. Like the almost 3lb bag of M&Ms I got for Christmas that is sitting at my desk to get rid of by sharing. Obviously I'm failing if I'm eating more than sharing, the bag is being moved to the common area as soon as I press post.

In good news, I weight in less than I thought I would this morning. It's my official 2011 starting weight. I feel Tuesdays are a good day for weigh-ins, so it works out that I forgot to weigh myself the first 3 days of the year.