February Wrap-Up

I loved hot yoga this weekend!  The temperature was perfect for me, I love the heat.  I'm still sore in my back.  I didn't get Week 3 Day 3 of the challenges or a run in, but I did get in some good playground time with the family!  I finished week 3 this morning, and the push-ups are killing me.  My schedule is a little off now, but that's ok.  

So, how did I do this past month?  Looking over my goals, not terribly well.

February Goals
-Run at least 2x/week nope - I think I got in maybe 2 runs this month? Maybe 3?
-Additional workout at least 2x/week DONE!  Yay!
-Lose at least 4lbs As I've only lost about 3.5lbs this year, this is a no.
-Drink at least 50oz water/day I actually did pretty well on this one.  Maybe not daily, but most days.
-Walk 7500 steps/day I think I was close on this one more often than not.  A lot harder than I thought though.


Unfortunately, I misplaced my pedometer, so I'm not sure about the last few days.  Must look for it tonight!

Weigh in and March goals to come tomorrow!

Filling up on water

Hot yoga tomorrow at 10am!  I'm super excited about this.  It sounds like it'll be a good workout.  I'm trying to find the balance of staying hydrated today and not stopping during the 3 hour drive to my in-laws this evening.

I was up half the night on Wednesday night, so I didn't get up to get my workout in.  But I did get a lovely bath and some reading done at 3am.  I woke up this morning to finish Week 3 Day 2 of my push-ups, sit-ups, and squats.  I'm impressing myself by squeezing out as many push-ups as I do!

I'm hoping to get an outdoor run in on Sunday as well.  We'll see how I'm feeling :)

Push-ups are hard

Weigh ins are good.

I started day 3 of all my challenges today.  I managed to get through the push-ups, but it is definitely getting harder.  Though, I am looking forward to not jiggling in my tank tops when the time comes.  And I fit in some Jillian Michaels yoga yesterday while J was cycling.

I didn't get a run in yesterday, and my miles ticker is the same as last week.  *insert excuse here*  I really need to get to it.

But I did lose this week!  Lose, gain a little, lose a good amount seems like an annoying way to do it, but hey, I'll take it.  

Exhaustion Test

I move on to week 3 of everything!  Barely on the push-ups, I got the 16 needed.  Once I hit 10 I knew I could squeeze out the 6 more.  If I did one more sit-up I would have moved up to column 2 and 1 more squat would have got me to column 3.  But right now, I am still in the same columns as the past 2 weeks.

Also, I've been meaning to put this out there.  I'm going to work on no sodas during the work week.  I started on Thursday, made it through Friday.  I only had one soda on Saturday.  I'd like to eventually be soda free.

Week 2 down

I finally finished week 2 of my push-ups, sit-ups and squats.  The push-ups are definitely getting harder.  Tomorrow I have an exhaustion test to see where I start on week 3.  I'm afraid that I will have to repeat week 2 of the push-ups.  I think I need it, but would have loved to move on.

I didn't get a run in since Monday, eek!  I wanted to run Friday, then Saturday, and then today.  But didn't.  Sigh, hopefully tomorrow.  Luckily, I have the day off tomorrow, so I should have time, right?  The half still doesn't seem real to me, but I definitely have to step it up.  The weather is starting to get better, so yay!  I think that will help since I can get outside as well.  And can go before or after work with J and O.

We started looking at races in the area to practice.  The first one I saw that I'd like to do is an 8k.  Not a distance I've done before, but based on my last 10k, I feel confident in completing the race.  

Text to J

You're right.  If my half goes well, I might do a marathon some day.  Don't quote me.

Did I really just say that?  I'm feeling inspired From Loser to Runner

Valentine's Aftermath

To start, I'm still considering this weekend a success.  I know weight loss isn't easy, there will be fluctuation, and pounds aren't the only measurement.  I know snacking habits are hard to change, and everything takes time.  I know gaining .6lb in a week isn't the worst thing in the world and can be for any reason (water weight, sleep, stress, etc), and I'm not even whining about it.

This weekend was still a success because I was in an environment where I snack without thinking.  I had access to some of my favorite snacks, and indulged a little, but didn't go overboard.  I exercised when it would have been so easy to say, eh, I have an opportunity to rest, I'll take it.  

Yesterday, my diet consisted of M&Ms and pizza.  Obviously a horrible day.  But not every day, and I'm not going to beat myself up over it.  Especially as it's left me excited for my veggies at lunch.  Does this mean I'm growing up?!?  I'm also not going to make any silly statements like, well I'm getting back on the horse today!  I don't count a day of splurging as falling down.

I have decided that I need to change my attitude toward weight loss.  This post is a departure from how bummed I'd normally be.  Normally I'd think well, I've messed it up already, might as well go all the way and finish those M&Ms!  Which, I almost did yesterday.  When I went to share with my coworkers this morning, I was totally surprised by how little were left.  Oops :)

Obviously, I'm going to have days where everything will hit me and I'll need a break from being positive.  If I don't ever whine, I won't really be me, haha.  But, I did get in 30 minutes on the treadmill last night, my mileage ticker has moved up 4 miles since last week, and I got in my pushups, etc, this morning.  I'm feeling strong.  Sore, and tired, but strong.  And like I would like to wean myself from drinking so much soda, which is exciting.  I have a daily soda, but I am drinking out of habit, not want or necessity.

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'd call this weekend a success!  I kept my snacking to a minimum, even surrounded by chips and my favorite dip and cupcakes.  I didn't, however, drink as much water as I would have liked, and drank too much soda, even if it was diet.  But all in all, feeling pretty good.

Workout wise, I did the Biggest Loser/Jillian Michaels "Last Chance Workout" DVD with my sisters (shout out to Betsy for bringing the DVD and having us workout!).  I also finished week 1 day 3 yesterday of all my pushups, situps and squats, and I am feeling everything today.  Since I did all that yesterday, I took this morning off and will start week 2 tomorrow.  But, the plan is to get a treadmill workout in tonight.

I felt great yesterday after working out.  My body was tired, but strong, and I was happy.  I hope that feeling keeps me going.

Today, eating has been horrid.  I have a bag of Valentine's M&Ms, which is generally trouble.  I'm trying to at least not snack on a ton else, and to not eat too many M&Ms, but it's so hard.  And I didn't plan in advance for dinner.  Hopefully tomorrow's weigh-in goes well, but I'm a bit scared.

I am excited though about hot yoga in a few weeks.  My sister-in-law invited me to go to class with her when we're down visiting.  I can't wait to try and am hoping to work in a few yoga workouts at home for balance sake (and because I enjoy yoga!) in the next week or so to prepare.

Pound for Pound Challenge

A coworker sent our department a link to join the Pound for Pound challenge sponsored by the Biggest Loser.  This is something that I'd see ads for during the Biggest Loser, and probably fastfowarded though most of them.  I tried looking for information once, but didn't find the Biggest Loser site too helpful, so I gave up.

But I, along with a few coworkers, joined today!  I pledged to lose 15lbs by May 31st.

Treadmill + Nook = love

Last night I got my second run in of the year.  I jumped in to Week 3 of the Fitness magazine run/walk training guide.  I wanted to keep on track to get both this and their Run training guide in before my race, so as I slacked weeks 1 and 2, I skipped them.  J told me when looking at the program that I could skip the first few weeks.  His faith that I'm better than I am at running is great, but week 3 definitely pushed me, so I think I'm in a good place.

I also remembered to use my Nook on the treadmill last night, which was great!  Adjusting the font to "large" helped me read while running and not having to worry about a book or magazine staying open was so helpful.  I really need something to take my mind off running so I'm not staring at the clock every 2 seconds.  Now I just need to load up my ipod with audiobooks for outside runs.

This morning, I finished week 1 day 2 of my push-ups, sit-ups and squats.  It felt great getting up and getting something done this morning.  Though tomorrow is my off day and I'm definitely looking forward to that too :)  I'll probably still try to get up early to stay in the habit, but I'm sure my body will appreciate the rest.  And my laundry pile will appreciate the attention.

Down again this week!

Yay!  Down another 1.4lbs from last week.  I hope I can keep this trend up.  My water intake has been great, and I've cut back on my snacking.  In the back of my mind I'm telling myself not to get ahead of myself, I start out strong and then get lazy again.  Not to put myself down, but to remind myself to take everything a week at a time.  I'm doing good, but if I try to plan exactly what I want to do or how much I'll lose (fingers crossed!) next week without taking into account how life gets in the way, I'll just be disappointed.  But this week, I'm very excited.

I just need to monitor my food choices on a daily basis and pack ahead for lunch.

Now getting a run in on the other hand... ugh.  I'm going to my mom's on Saturday and I'm hoping my sisters will push me to get outside for 30 minutes.

First workout of the new year

It only took until February 7.  This morning, I got up early, which is becoming a habit, and did my first work out of hundred push-up, two hundred sit-up and two hundred squat challenges.  I didn't do a lot of any of the moves, but it was my first day of the first week, and I'm starting out small.  But I felt successful.  I was very happy that I could still do a "real" push-up, which I worked so hard to achieve a while back.  During the push-ups, I did feel a little pressure on my c-section scar.  It didn't hurt, and it wasn't like I was pushing myself too hard, more like oooh, I haven't done this in a while.  I really should have strengthened my core muscles back up a long time ago!

Hitting 7500 steps a day is a little harder than I thought, and I haven't hit all my steps every day.  But I'm getting close and trying to get away from my desk and couch more.  When I left my house this morning, I was about 1400 steps and when I got to my desk at work, I was about 600.  So, my pedometer reset sometime on my commute today.  But overall, I'm doing pretty well today!

Accent Vlog

Accent blogs have been making the rounds and I decided to join in :)  I've rounded out my Saturday night with I Used to be Fat (to keep this blog related, according to one episode, I should be 125.  I think I'll just stick with my current goal), Iron Chef and Jersey Shore.  It's kind of freaky to see Pauly D without his hair gelled.

Anyway, here's the word list/questions.

Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught

• What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?
• What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?
• What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?
• What do you call gym shoes?
• What do you say to address a group of people?
• What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped
• body and extremely long legs?
• What do you call your grandparents?
• What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry
• groceries at the supermarket?
• What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?
• What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

February First Check-in

It's now the fourth, but whatever, my weigh in was from the first.  If I hadn't gained last week, this lose would've have been fabulous (1.4lbs)!  I'm definitely feeling the effects of my upped water and have already cut down tremendously on my soda and coffee intake. 

Waking up early has been getting easier, but I still haven't managed to fit in a workout before or after work.  I need to stop being a slacker!