Apologizes Jo :)

Okay, sorry it's been so long since I have updated but here we go. I am running, the energy is up and the weight is dropping. Positive on all accounts.

So here is the update. Last week was great. I hit every workout (except Thursday) and have added in a walk in the afternoon/evening with Connor for good measure. Our walks are only 1-2 miles...but it's a good way to end the day. The ab workout is kicking my butt! I was in so much pain on Friday, I could barely lift myself up off the ball to do 1 crunch....let alone 5 sets of 12+.

This week is a tough week for my schedule, but I am doing everything I can to get it all in. Tuesday and Thursday, my normal strength training days, are booked with a meeting and a Bible study group. So, today, I ran 3 miles, did my Tuesday strength training and my normal Monday ab workout. I was dripping with sweat! It literally looked like I had peed my pants from all the sweat on my legs! Pretty embarrassing, but I guess it's the sign of a good, hard workout. So, tomorrow will technically be a day off, Wednesday I am running 7 miles at a 14:15 mpm pace and ab workout, Thursday I have a Bible Study and then on Friday is 4 miles, my Thursday strength training and an ab workout. Long gym days, but it will all get done.

Onto the shedding pounds part....am I am going to be so honest it's painful. I stepped on the scale two weeks ago and I was tettering on 130!!! I couldn't believe it. I knew my pants were tight and things weren't fitting well, but 130.....I weighed that at 6 months pregnant!!! I have horrified, but it was that shocking moment that reminded me why I embarked on this running journey to begin with. I wanted to get myself into shape for a ton of reasons and I was not on the right path to do so. Now, I have always been a person who will stick to anything, as long as I have 2 solid weeks to get into the habit and then it like riding a bike, completely natural. My goal is to weigh 110 when Ben comes home. Not entirely unrealistic. I have not been dieting or depriving myself...I am too old for that foolishness. Mornings when I am running consist of an egg white, spinach and very little cheese wrap with a 1/4 c. of fat-free vanilla yogurt (I have to have a little sugar before I run). Non-running mornings are 1/2 c. yogurt with homemade granola and fresh fruit. Saturday is my off-day from training and my off-day from healthy eating.....however, I felt so much better this weekend that I didn't gravitate towards crap food all day anyway!! Lunch is almost always a frozen Lean Cuisine meal or more typically, a grilled chicken salad with VERY little fat-free dressing and a ton of fresh veggies. Dinners are anything from the Sneaky Chef (loaded with veggies) or Biggest Loser. IF I am craving something sweet for a snack, I will have a sugar-free jello cup and fill it to the top with cool whip. It totally controls my portion size and it fantastic. Some of my snacks are a apple with a string cheese, Special K water, 100 Cal. snacks. On run days, I also treat myself to a frozen snack size Reese Cup! YUM!! I don't feel starved, I don't feel deprived and I dropped 3 pounds last week. Not a perfect system...but I have to feel better about myself. I feel completely dehabilitated when I hate the way I look.

fa-la-la-la fabulous

Sooooooo how I feel today!! Yesterday, I did 3-miles, or thereabouts, outside. I forgot how difficult it is to push my jogger and my arms got a crazy workout. I think that was what bothered me more than running did! After I got home, I immediately did the first day of my 200 sit-up program. I was doing fine until Connor started to sit on my belly and bounce up and down. He thought it was funny so I was laughing along and had a difficult time keeping up the pace! Because of my crazy high from working out, it completely changed my attitude about food. I ate so well all day long!!

Today, I went to the gym and did my strength training workout. Felt great and rocked it out! After, I went to the elliptical machine and was going to do 20 minutes there, until I realized that the ladies locker room was closed for cleaning....so I stayed on until the locker room was open again and I could go to the showers. Ate well all day again today, even though I treated myself to a couple mini-reese cups.

I have to keep up these lifestyle changes for at least another week. I have found that if I don't stick to something for 2 weeks, that it takes the wind to blow for me to bail. But if I hold tight for 2+ weeks, it is so easy for me to deny the sweets and crap and always turn to the better stuff for me....to make better, healthier choices.

Tomorrow, I have a 6-miler...wish me luck!

New Week- New Attitude

Gone is the pessimism. I am ready to attack and with a new plan, I am motivated to stay with it. One week at a time....heck, one day at a time anymore. I am committed to doing this, especially since I just looked at the pictures my sister posted when she was at my house with the kids and I LOOK like I definitely need to be committed to this. The pic's were disheartening. You know you put on weight, you can feel it in your clothes, but to see pictures look so bad- real eye-opener!! But again, there is nothing I can do about that but move forward and stay on course to a better, healthier me.

So, since today is an off-day, I am only using the blog to report on my upcoming week.
Sunday: 2 mile easy run
Monday: 3 miles intervals and an ab workout
Tuesday: strength training (focusing on upper body) and, if time, elliptical
Wednesday: 6 miles and an ab workout
Thursday: strength training (focusing on lower body) and bike or elliptical
Friday: running (not sure how long) and an ab workout
Saturday: off day

Runner in need of Motivation

I feel like it is a help wanted ad. I ran twice while I was in Ohio and it felt really good. I felt amazing both times. I did more than I had on my schedule on Monday. On Wednesday, I did 2 miles less than what I was supposed to, but, without trying to make excuses, I ran outside and it was the first time I have ever really run with hills. That being said, I felt great!!! The weather lent to being outdoors and soaking up the sun as much as possible.

Part of my plan for tonight (as soon as Connor goes to bed) is to rev up my workouts. Time is running short for the 13K and I am hoping to run a 10K at the end of September to support our military. I think my running, provided I can keep on track, is fine and is not asking too much of my body. I do, however, need to work on my strength training and diet. I have been researching some great workouts and hope to incorporate them into my existing routine.

Gotta get and keep motivation....I feel like I am running on fumes.