It took some convincing...

In my last post, I told the blogosphere that I was going to get up early and exercise before I went to the office. Well, it might have taken almost two weeks of some convincing, but I finally did it. There's just no way for me to work out after I get home from the office. I work hard, I'm tired, and I'm just unmotivated. If I did it in the morning... then I wouldn't be awake enough to really complain about it :)

I came up with the brilliant idea to try couch to 5K again. I'm about 30 pounds heavier than the last time I tried it out, so I was prepared for failure. Surprisingly enough (to me), I was awesome. The first week is 20 minute of 60 seconds running and 90 seconds of walking. I really didn't think that I would be able to make it through 20 minutes, and I pictured myself gasping for air after the first 60 second run. (Obviously, I still haven't caught onto that positive thinking thing.) And yet... I surprised myself. I made it through the whole 20 minutes without getting a side cramp. Including the 5 minute warm up walk and the 5 minute cool down walk... I did 30 minutes of cardio today.

HIGH FIVE!

Cuando, cuando, cuando

Once upon a time, getting up at 6AM to hit the gym was second nature. Okay, I won't really lie to you... it wasn't second nature, but a lot easier than it is now. Now, getting up at 7AM is a chore in itself. There's something nice about snuggling up next to your husband, especially on a chilly fall morning. It's like having your own personal heater. (And yes, people, I'm talking about snuggling, get your minds out of the gutter!) I usually head into the office by 9 and come home by 5:30 or 6. I make dinner (if it's Monday or Wednesday... Mr. Kiki makes dinner on T/R when I have an afternoon full of teaching). and then settle in for the night.

Oh yes, I settle in for the night around 7PM.

As much as I've been loathing Jillian Michaels lately (don't ask... she kinda irritates me on a talk show), there's a line in the 30 Day Shred that always sticks with me. Here's an excerpt: “People are so placated by groups that say, ‘Start by taking the stairs,” says Michaels. “What? That makes people think, ‘I’m so fragile, I can barely take the staircase.’” In fact, she says, the human body can withstand a lot—and increasing the intensity of your workout is one of the fastest ways to burn calories and lose weight. “The more we hear this false message of lethargy, the more we believe it,” she says. “As humans, we have evolved to the point where the sky is not the limit. Your capabilities are, in fact, limitless.”

So... I don't want to get up before 7AM, but I want to be settled in by 7PM? Pretty unbelievable, right? I sound like a 70 year old versus a 31 year old. I've decided to commit myself to some evening workout time. There's nothing wrong with hitting the elliptical or the treadmill at 7:30PM, especially since I've been utilizing my complex's workout room. Or, if I didn't want to go there, I could easily pop in a video and do 30 minutes of cardio in the bedroom. These are all things that I *used* to do... but since I met my personal heater... er, Mr. Kiki... it's been more difficult to unlatch myself from the snuggliness that is our post-dinner routine. Let's see how successful I am with this approach.

Red in the face

Monday was my first workout session in what seems like forever. I had a small procedure done in mid-September (all is fine, and I'm okay) and so I had to lay off the exercise for almost two and a half weeks. Funny, but in the workup for this procedure, my surgeon sent me a list of things to do BEFORE the surgery that would make afterward that much easier. Along with eating right and not taking anything that could thin my blood (fun, right?), he also suggested taking 30 minute walks to pump up my stamina. For someone who was having a hard time working out, walks were great. I got out in the sun. I enjoyed the rolling hills of the medical campus not too far from my home. Fresh air. Yum.

Well, the past five days have been absolutely crappy weather-wise. It got cold on Friday, which turned into wet and VERY cold on Saturday and Sunday and Monday. On Monday afternoon, I wanted to wrap myself up in a blanket and watch Real Housewives of Anywhere, but instead, I dragged myself to the workout room in my complex. It's a small room with two treadmills, two ellipticals, a recumbent bike, and a nautilus machine, but it wasn't raining in there. I got myself on a treadmill and took off! The machines all face a one way mirror (the women in the complex's office can see you, but you're looking at your reflection) and I couldn't believe how red my face got. Has it been that long? Was it the awkwardness of the treadmill? Both?

When my 30 minutes were up, I was a little disappointed with how far I had gotten distance-wise, but then I thought that it was an accomplishment getting to the gym rather than curling up with a blanket and Bravo. And my flushed face had a smile on it as I walked back to my apartment in the rain.

My life in stickies

I'm a huge Post-It note (in my vernacular, "stickies") fan. I make a to-do list every day on a sticky note, tuck it inside my planner, and try to follow it religiously. However, yesterday, I read this article about how you should only have six "to-dos" on your sticky note in order to not feel overwhelmed and actually accomplish things throughout your day. So, I thought I'd try it out:



Did you catch #6? Yes, that's right. In the middle of my very busy day, I thought that exercise was important enough to be on my narrow list of things to do. And I'm proud of myself. I came home from the office a bit exhausted, and almost got sucked into watching a "Tabitha's Salon Takeover" marathon on Bravo (anything on that channel is extremely addictive to me). But I finally put my workout clothes on and did 30 minutes of the Biggest Loser's Boot Camp. I owned this since October, but haven't tried it once. Lots of squats and lunges and weights along with some cardio.... kinda reminds me of Jillian's 30 Day Shred, but taken down a notch. I liked it. It was just what I needed.

Did you include exercise on your sticky (whether real or mental) today?

Let's Start at the Very Beginning

I decided that this summer is the time for me to get back on track with my weight loss and fitness. Last summer, I had a lot of personal stress on myself, and luckily, this summer, it's all gone. Instead, this is going to be the summer of me. My job is to be my most fabulous self. That's what everyone's goal should be, since everything else just falls into place from there.

Anyway, like one of my favorite songs from the Sound of Music, I decided to start from the very beginning, because it's a very good place to start! I figured I would get myself out on the rail trail and run a mile. After I ran the mile, I decided to tack another half mile onto it, and I have to admit that at the end of the 1.5 miles, I was tired. It's been a while since I've run that far. But I did it... 1.5 miles! I rock! I came home and did some weight work, and I feel pretty darn good.

What have YOU done today to make you feel proud?

Change of Plans

This weekend ended up a little differently than I had planned. Originally, I thought that I would squeeze in another run on Friday and Saturday, but that didn't happen. On Friday, I went for a six mile hike with some friends on the rail trail in town. It was a gorgeous afternoon, and being Friday, it was nice to be able to vent to each other about our lives. Saturday found me at the local arboretum for a 75 minute hike. It was a lot warmer than I expected, but wandering through the arboretum and then down to the rail trail made me a happy camper. My blisters told me to take Sunday off, but I was back to running... in the rain, no less!... this evening. I was challenged by a Facebook friend (who just happens to be my best friend from Pre-K, that's going way back) to run a 5K with her over Memorial Day weekend. I'm in it, maybe not to win it, but to complete it would be a win in itself!

Weekly Weigh In: I'm Still a Rock Star

One of my favorite songs of the past year or so is Pink's "So What?" It reminds me that stuff happens, but at the same time, we continue to be the awesome person that is way down deep inside all of us. My first So What? of the week is that I gained 0.4 pounds this week. Where did it come from? Well, I went home to see my family for the first time since Christmas break. I ate everything that my family put in front of me, within reason, of course. A few people at Easter dinner noticed that I didn't take a ton of food the first time around the buffet spread and that I didn't go back for seconds. At dessert time, my cousin and I split some of our desserts. My second So What? is that lent was FINALLY over and I did indulge in some Cadbury mini eggs and Dove truffle eggs. My tummy is still recovering from the reintroduction of that kind of dairy in my diet, but at the same time, I was so hungry for it. So, that half pound? So what? It'll be gone next week, and I have some great memories with my family.

The last So What? I want to share with you is something that I read in Us Weekly (I know, it's my thing, leave it alone). It was about celebrities with cellulite and how they're putting it out there and saying So What that I have cellulite? I love it! Kim Kardashian, Sophia Bush, Kate Winslet, even Reese Witherspoon! How awesome is that? As someone who has cellulite as well, I'm glad that celebs are coming forward and saying that pretty much everyone has cellulite. It's true. Get over it.

I went for a run yesterday afternoon (2 miles) and am going for another one today and tomorrow. Gotta enjoy the sun while it's here! Hope you have a great weekend!

Finding My Motivation

I was away for a long weekend... seriously, my weekend started on Wednesday night and I didn't get back in town until yesterday afternoon. During that time I did not work out once, which makes my gain really no big surprise. However, it's back in the saddle today. I did the 30 Day Shred to get back in the swing of things since I didn't have the motivation to get out of bed and get to the gym. However, I'll be there tomorrow morning unless it's really nice and I can go for a run :)

Fitness Weekend

After the past few weeks of being a bit lazy on the fitness side of things, I decided to kick it into high gear. Friday, I did a good 45 minutes on the elliptical. Saturday, again, another 30 minutes on the elliptical and Level 3 of the 30 Day Shred (seriously, not as ass kicking as Level 2... which made it that much better!). Sunday was a mile run with a three mile hike. It's funny when you think about fitness, we do it because we want to look better, and therefore, feel better about ourselves. Honestly, I've been working out consistently for about a week now, and even though I might not *look* any different, I feel much more confident about my body and what I'm capable of doing. I think those of us who have been slacking, er, too busy, to work out need a reminder like that every once in a while :)

Spring has Sprung!

Well, maybe at least for two days. Yesterday was supposed to be rainy all day, but around 3PM, the sun came out and the weather turned nice. Would you blame me for letting my late class out a bit early in order to get in my first outdoor run of 2009? It was great. I drove over to the stadium and ran a two mile loop around the various campuses of my university. Running outside is a lot harder than what I remember it to be :) But it felt WONDERFUL. I'll be doing it again today before the rain returns on Friday!

Graduation Time

Okay, March was a complete bust. With all the work and travelling that I did, there was no way that I could keep up with my workout schedule. Lucky for me, April is a completely different month. I only plan on being out of town for a weekend to visit some family, but other than that, my eye is on the prize: the end of the semester. It's just about seven weeks away, so I've linked another prize to that special shiny day of May 17th: I'd like to set up another 10 pound goal. The scale is FINALLY moving in the right direction for me, and I want to keep up that momentum and move past the weight I was at for graduation last year. Granted, I'm already 10 pounds slimmer than what I was at graduation 2008. Wouldn't it be GREAT if I was 20 pounds slimmer at graduation 2009? I think it would be :)

I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for some nice weather later this week. I want to go for my first outdoor run in a looooooooong while. I'm looking at Thursday at this point. Until then, it's the elliptical at the rec for me.

Weekly Weigh In: Woke Up This Morning

Good news! I lost 1.8 pounds this week! That is my largest loss since the beginning of the year! Woo!

I had a kind of Sopranos morning. If you're not a Sopranos fan, sorry for this post, but it's so true. I kind of moped around my apartment for a while, not really feeling motivated to hit the gym. I was tired because I went to bed after midnight last night after a long, but fun, phone conversation. My gym buddy wasn't meeting me at the gym. I could have had a Tony Soprano morning, and sit around my house in my bathrobe (no wife beater tyvm) drinking coffee. But one of my friends who I was chatting with via email pushed me to go to the gym. So, I went. I figured that since the rec is going to be closed over the weekend, I might as well hit it up now.

Got to the rec and picked out a treadmill. I really wasn't feeling the whole running thing today, but still, it was Friday, and so that's what my schedule told me to do. While I was warming up on the treadmill, I noticed a few objects in the pond. They were ducks! It has to be spring if the ducks are out on the pond, fighting over the females! Does this mean that we'll be able to observe some ducklings out in the rec pond in a few months? I'm so excited about this.

So, I start running. I've been doing a lot of thinking on the treadmill lately, and I've come to realize that I'm still scared of it. I ran for ten minutes at 5MPH and a 1% incline before I took a three minute walking break. My right shin/calf was killing me, and I couldn't figure out what it was. So, I took off the incline and decide to run like that. I ran for 15 more minutes, first at 5MPH, then at 5.2, and the last five minutes at 5.5. The last five minutes felt great. I think I need to start stepping up my speed. I actually think I'm running too slow, and that's what tiring me out. Sheesh. Why didn't I realize this before?

Real Quick!

Because that's all the time I have while I'm finishing up this other conference paper! I didn't work out at all over the weekend. Saturday, I had other plans (hee hee!) and Sunday and Monday were swamped with work. I finally got off my butt and did the 30 Day Shred today, but only after I figured out some data discrepancy and ran some new tests. When I get home tonight, I'll be catching up with my Boot Camp videos. Craziness!!! That's all I have to say :)

Weekly Weigh In: I am a runner

The best response I got to some of my previous posts are the ones that just say You ARE A Runner (thanks Cammy and Jason). But, one of my non-blog friends read that post and sent me an article about what makes you a runner. You can read the whole article here on Runner's World, but I picked out the reasons that I felt made me a runner.

I AM A RUNNER because my shoes are training equipment, not a fashion statement. The best shoe for me is the one that makes me a better runner. I choose the shoe that goes with my running mechanics, not my running outfit. (Trust me, the Brooks Dyad? It almost looks like an orthopedic sneaker. But it works!)

I AM A RUNNER because I know what effort feels like, and I embrace it. I know when I'm pushing the limits of my comfort and why I'm doing it. I know that heavy breathing and an accelerated heart rate--things I once avoided--are necessary if I want to be a better runner. (One of my biggest fears as a runner is being a loud breather. Who wants to be that person? Well, guess what? If that's what makes me a better runner, then so be it.)

I AM A RUNNER because I value and respect my body. It will whisper to me when I've done too much. And if I choose to listen to that whisper, my body won't have to scream in pain later on. (And if that means that I can't push it to be a faster runner just yet, well then, so be it.)

I AM A RUNNER because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far. (Trust me, I can run faster and farther than what I used to run at this time last year. That definitely doesn't mean I'm the fastest one out there!)

I AM A RUNNER because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not.

Excuse me, it's time for my Saturday run :)

Running Mad Libs

This morning, I hit up the gym for my usual Monday, Wednesday, Friday run. Got my towel, put my stuff in the little cubby I use, and walked up to my treadmill (isn't it funny that my treadmill has become "mine"?). As I started to run, I got tired. Granted, I'm still getting over this bug that has had a hold on me for the past week, so even though I had planned on running for 25 minutes, around 13 minutes, I was beat. Then, I got to thinking, I AM A RUNNER. But what kind of runner am I? Am I a competitive runner? I've never been much of an athlete, especially a competitive one. I was the kid who used to cringe at the mention of field day, hoping that it consisted of games of kick ball not 100 yard dashes. I would love to run a 5K, and I thought that goal was within my reach, but the more and more I run, I feel like I'm not moving along... I'm not getting much faster, I'm not running for longer periods... I'm just running. So does that make me a runner who just runs for exercise? And if that's what I am, so what? What's wrong with running for my cardio fitness? Isn't it the same as spinning? I'm "cycling" with no real place to go, other than to burn calories, be healthy, and look hot? Is that what I'm doing with running? There are lots of people who fall into this "non-competitive" category. So, by the end of my run (which ended up being a 13 minute run, 90 second walk, 5 minute run, 2 minute walk, 3 minute run, cool down), I started thinking, "I AM A ____________ RUNNER". I just need to figure out the blank.

Boot camp peeps! It's Day 4, and you should have done the core workout today. Yesterday's upper body workout was, again, too short, but I did feel challenged by today's core workout. Holy cow! Planks ON the balance ball? Who created that?

Boot Camp Challenge Day 1

Today, we tackled the 10 minute workout with Coach Nicole. My main complaint is that it isn't 10 minutes long. It's more like 7 minutes long with a two minute cool down. That really disappointed me because by minute seven I was working up a good sweat, and she cut it short. Ugh! So, I did a Walk Away the Pounds video to keep my momentum going for at least a half hour.

My suggestion on the Spark People non-music issue? Pull up pandora.com, set the "station" to a workout song you like (for me, it's Britney's Womanizer) and they'll play a whole bunch of songs that are similar to that song. On the Womanizer station, I hear a lot of Kanye, Christina, Lady Gaga, Pussycat Dolls, etc. Helps me move rather than hearing the tapping of Coach Nicole's feet.

So, I bought a balance ball at TJ Maxx and it was a complete bust. The damn thing wouldn't inflate. I'm returning it later today and hitting up Walmart instead. Saving $10 vs. having an inflatable ball? Hmm, no contest there.

How are YOU doing with the first Boot Camp workout? Ready for some cardio tomorrow?

Moving On Up

Today is/was a running day, but I've decided to take it easy instead. I've noticed this pain in my ankle (or is it my upper foot... it's basically the front part of my ankle, where my leg and foot meet). Anyway, I've had it for the past few days, and it's still not feeling any better today, so I'm not going to run, but instead will do a spin class later this afternoon for a little cardio goodness.

I'm so excited about my running though! Ever since I started my new relationship with the treadmill, my running has gotten a lot better. I'm running a 12-12:30 minute mile when I'm running, which for me, is a huge improvement from my previous run-ins with a treadmill. Anyway, I think I'm ready to move onto running long runs, not just the C25K intervals. Looking at the C25K program, it's built around the assumption that you're running a 10 minute mile. Uh, no, not me. So, for now, I'm going to concentrate on working on my running time. I'm bumping it up to a 25 minute run for the next few runs, then 27 minutes, 29 minutes. When I get comfortable with a half hour of running, then I'll start working on my distance. But I'm kind of hoping that it just comes with it.

Yay to those of you who signed up for my boot camp challenge! I'm so excited to be starting it soon. Hope you are too! And for those of you who are still in need of a balance ball... TJ Maxx is the place to go!

Another Brick in the Wall, Part III

We don't need no education,
We don't need no thought control,
Hey! Teacher! Leave them kids alone!

This song was going through my head this morning as I was in cardio hell. I decided to try out a "cardio challenge" class at the rec. I had been to another class with the same instructor, so I was ready for a workout and a challenging one. Class started at 7:30, and by 7:45, I was finished. The instructor had us working on Bosu trainers, which was fine, except she had the most intricate footwork for it. Translated: I was trying to figure out where my feet should have been going more often than doing the actual exercise the rest of the class was doing. She had us running laps around the room, and I think the breaking point was when we had to SKIP laps around the room. I couldn't imagine staying until 8:30, so at 8, when the group went for more laps, I picked up my Bosu, put it back on the rack and walked out. I heard later that two other people took my lead and left soon after. Let the revolution against ridiculous group classes begin! I ended up spending another 20 minutes on the elliptical, where I knew I was burning calories instead of scratching my head, trying to figure out where my feet should be.

I'm not doing a weigh in this week. Considering I was "off the wagon" until Wednesday morning, there is no reason for me to publicly admit my indulgences over the long weekend (oh, wait... I just did). Let's just say that I'm much more focused on next Friday and making it there than I am about my current status.

Have a great weekend!

Snow Daze

When I finally got my butt out of bed this morning at 7:45 and dragged it to the gym, it was kinda sorta flurrying. By the time I got to the gym and was at the end of my first 10 minute interval (that's Week 6 Day 2 of C25K if you're keeping track) we had a huge snow squall. I love snow, don't get me wrong, but running on the treadmill which is placed in front of a ceiling to floor length mirror while snow was coming in crazily with the wind? It was almost dizzying. Then, after about a minute or two of this squall, things returned to normal, and I completed the rest of my run.

I COMPLETED THE REST OF MY RUN! I'm so glad that I decided to switch over to the treadmill for these training runs. Today was the first day that I did W6D2, which is a 10 minute run followed by a 3 minute walk and then another 10 minute run. I admit that I was a little tired towards the end of interval 2, but still... I rocked those 10 minute runs. I think I might do that day maybe one or two more times and then start moving onto the longer runs, building my distance. Eep! I'm starting to feel like a runner again :)

Wow! I'm so excited about the response to my Boot Camp Challenge, which, in my head, I keep referring to "Fit and Fine for 29!" I'll put more details up here soon, but I'd like to start on March 1st since it's a four week commitment and the big 2-9 is on March 27th. Yay!

Superstar!

Does anyone remember that old SNL skit, Mary Katherine Gallagher? It was huge while I was in college, and my friends and I used to love that skit a ton. Maybe it was because I was a former catholic school girl myself, but sometimes, I just think to myself "I'm a SUPERSTAR!" just as a little pick me up. Sometimes we all need things like that :)

I went back to the gym yesterday and today. Yesterday, I did another C25K run on the treadmill. You know, I think I might be in love. With the treadmill of course! I concentrated on my speed yesterday (Hello, 5.2 mph! I don't think we've ever met before!) as well as my stride. I loved it. Today, I tried out a new Super Sculpt class. It was great. A bit of a cardio warmup, then all sorts of squats, lunges, and weights. I really enjoyed it. Another goal of mine today is to get back on the healthy eating bandwagon. Going to the grocery last night should help with that... kind of hard to eat healthy if there's nothing in your fridge!

So, it's my birthday next month... and while it isn't a milestone birthday (next year will be though), I'm thinking of having a blogging even for it. Anyone interested in doing the sparkpeople bootcamp with me throughout the month of March? I want to be fit and fabulous for the last year of my 20s. Let me know if you're interested, and if so, I'll give more details in a future post.