Staying on Track While Vacationing

Remember last Thursday when I was all, "I'm not going to eat ranch dressing tomorrow"? Friday I went to lunch at a salad bar. There was a plethora of ranch. There has been a plethora of ranch since. I haven't exactly resisted. You win some, you lose some, right?

Let's see. I'm nearly half way through my Challenge and I've only lost 5 or 6 pounds of the 20 pounds I've gained over the last year. This is the bad news. The GOOD news is yesterday I achieved a huge goal. On a treadmill, I ran a 5k in 30 minutes. Not 38, or 36, or 34..... I paced myself at a 10 minute mile for 3.1 miles. I started running over 2 years ago, and yesterday was the first time I have ever done this. I was actually running about a 9.5 minute mile for a good bit of the time! I know it seems like a snail's pace to some of you who are more "seasoned" runners, but for a chunk-a-munk like me - I just won the overweight Olympics. Woo!

I'm keeping my food situation under control for the most part. I did relapse a few times over the weekend on wonderful things like thin crust pizza, and pot-luck food at a party - BUT I try to burn whatever I eat in my workouts, and I've stayed away from most junk food.

I no longer hate this challenge that I have made for myself. I am starting to see gradual changes in my body and my energy levels are ridiculous. The only parts of the challenge I haven't been 100% consistent with are the blogging ( Sometimes I'm too busy exercising, or cooking healthy food, or laying on the floor in my own puddle of sweat while small children jump on me), and I've missed 2 or 3 calorie logging days. To me, I think I'd say I'm still going strong! No one said I had to be great.. just good enough, right?! That's always been my motto, anyway.

My family and I are going out of town this weekend. There will be no blogging, and yes, there will probably be even more ranch dressing and enjoyable food. However, there will also be a treadmill near the cabin and a big, beautiful beach to run on. I think I'll be okay.

Any tips on staying on track while vacationing? Not eating wonderful vacation-food isn't an option.

Thoughts From a Hungry Girl

So here is something I've discovered over the course of my challenge: I'm obsessed with skinniness. Honestly, it's taking over my life. This can't be good, right? It's so much more fun to exercise and eat right when the goal is to become healthy - not to fit into a size 6. This whole situation isn't fun. I'm hungry and my legs hurt.

I went for a 3 mile run the other night, which was nice. There really is nothing like the feeling of endorphins shooting into your brain. Also, there really is nothing like running by a store window and catching the reflection of a wooly mammoth. Windows do motivate me to train a little bit harder, and to smile more. The Lord knows I like to look like I'm enjoying myself to the passer-byes.

Tonight I did yoga. Man, I really suck at yoga. I guess that's why they call it a "practice", no?

Tomorrow night is Friday night. Naturally, I don't have any plans. I'd like to challenge myself at the gym and see how many calories I can burn in one night. Who knows? Maybe I can make myself pass out or throw up or something! That sounds a lot more like my Friday nights circa 2002. I was skinny back then, just sayin'.

 I'm not going to eat any ranch dressing tomorrow. That crap is really messing with my calorie situation.

There, now you all know what I'm doing. What exactly are YOU doing? Are you craving cheesecake as much as I am? Anyone?

Trying to Get Skinny Sucks

Well crap. Sorry I missed a couple of days blogging. I know I promised I would write every day of my Challenge, but with 3 kids and a job and actually doing all of the OTHER things I promised to do, sometimes I don't wanna.

Since I can only take one day off from the exercise per week, I suppose I have to go until next Sunday before I get a break. I accidentally took Saturday and Sunday off from working out this week. There is a valid reason, though. Friday night my girlfriends all got together for a few cocktails. I can't pass that up, right?! I accidentally had a few too many of said cocktails, thus leaving my body extremely dehydrated and useless on Saturday. Sunday was a no-go because my husband went fishing ALL DAY, and the gym's daycare isn't open on Sunday. You see? Semi valid excuses.

My weight isn't flying off as quickly as it has in the past. This is either because my metabolism is slowing down in my elderly age, or I'm not doing the dieting right. I have stayed right around my calorie goal every day, and I'm making healthy choices. Really, I think my body just secretly likes being fat so it's fighting me.

I will win.

Working Out At Night

Well, the day got away from me and I ended up going to the gym at 8pm. Funny thing about it was, I had so much energy! I worked out for 50 minutes... and I don't mean light working out. I was sweating like an ape with mad cow disease. I'm starving but I am just going to go to bed, and pray that the scale gives me good news in the morning.

On a side note, I ran on the treadmill just the one mile tonight again. It looks like I can officially run a 10 minute mile. I know to most people that seems like a really long mile, but to slow, chubby people like myself, I'm Speedy Freaking Gonzalez.

Boom.

Expresso Bike

How in the name of the Lord baby Jesus have I never experienced the Expresso bike before now?! While wondering around the gym today, and trying to think of something to do other than run, I came across a video game/exercise equipment situation. I watched the big screen in front of me while I rode my virtual bike through beautiful cartoon fields, while smoking my animated competition. I nearly forgot I was working out for most of my time with the Expresso bike, except when I was going uphill, and when I was playing with the controls on the "bike" and realized I was increasing the resistance a ton while I was riding. That was scary, but fantastic all at the same time. Something the running community might want to look into for cross-training, no?

After my brief 20 minute jaunt on the pretend bicycle (to be honest, the seat was starting to hurt the lady parts), I couldn't help myself...and I got on the treadmill. I'm either addicted to running (obviously not addicted enough, judging by the size my butt), or subconsciously too afraid to expand my cardiovascular horizons. I only ran a mile, but it was a solid 10 minute mile and I felt awesome enough.

I ate pretty well today. I made a "healthy" baked ziti for dinner tonight. It was the bomb.com, to say the least. I haven't entered my calories into the online log yet, so in all actuality... dinner might not have been healthy at all. I used low fat cheese.....Smart Noodles.....I tried anyway.

I've lost a single pound so far. Just the one.

How to be a Sexy Beast

For lunch I had a foot long sub sandwich today. It was oven roasted chicken, on "whole wheat"..but I'm estimating it was around 600 calories. That was the biggest downfall of the day. I didn't pack a lunch for work and ya know, big girls get hungry often. The only other options for lunch today were sushi or Taco Bell. The foot long won. Remember, no judging.

On Sunday, to remember Lise and Faith Palmer I went for a run. I only made it 2.5 miles, but I have been super sore ever since (pathetic, I know). Today I was feeling extremely inspired and, at the gym, I showed that treadmill who the boss was! There were a few hiccups (like the fire alarm and building evacuation that occurred at mile one), but I got right back on the machine and kept going. After 3 miles of really pushing myself, I realized that it was time to stop. My groin felt like it was detaching from the rest of my body. Too much too soon, especially with my newly-fat body.

I did everything I was supposed to do for The Challenge today, and I didn't even have a calorie overage.

I guess I still have to do something about my jiggly arms before bed. Ugh. Why do we have to have so many body parts?!

I already miss Cheeze-Its. 32 days to go.

The Challenge

Oh don't read the title of this blog with that look on your face. Don't judge me. I told you all from the beginning that I tend to get ideas, then I get lazy and change my mind, or get too busy, or lose self worth, or drive by a Taco Bell, and give up on said ideas. You have done it too, right? Besides, my first objective with this blog was to train for and finish a half marathon and live to tell about it. I've done that! Twice. And I've even directed a few races since. I'm accomplished now. The only problem is, I'm an accomplished, out of shape, fatty. Again. Oh yeah, with little self worth.

I have a few questions that I don't think anyone but God himself can give me answers to. Questions like, why does my body like being fat so much? Why are my body and my mind constantly in a battle over burritos and Real Housewives of New Jersey verses a chicken breast and a 5 mile run? Why can't I just be one of those "naturally skinny" girls (who I'm sure all have terrible personalities anyway)? Why am I always tired? Why do I avoid blogging like I do standing on a scale? Where did I set my glass of pinot grigio?

 Oh man. I could go on for days.

What it all comes down to is, since I had my son two and a half years ago I have lost over 50 pounds. Actually I was close to a 60 pound loss at one time! I was feeling amazing, wearing between a size 6 and an 8, had calves to die for. I took a few months off from my perfect diet and exercise routine (okay, by a few months, I mean eleven of them) and here I am. My stomach jiggles when I run. As do my thighs and my double chin. I bet my freakin' ear lobes jiggle when I run. Blegh. It's gross and I'm unhappy. Clearly, this makes me grouchy and the opposite of perky and inspiring.

 On July 1st I'm turning 28. Guess what happens a month after that? My ten year high school reunion, and ya know what folks? I'm not a supermodel, or a doctor, nor did I invent Post-it notes. I had better walk in there looking damn good if my claim to fame is my hot dog/cornbread casserole. Time for a change. Time for something drastic. Again.

I've created a new goal for myself. Since I refused to pay the outrageous entry fees for the Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon this year (my tradition has been to run it the last two years), I needed to give myself something else to strive for. I wanted to make a plan for myself that will better me on the outside, and on the inside. I need to get in touch with who I am and learn to actually be proud of myself, the way I used to be.
I am calling this.... wait for it......The Challenge.

Catchy, no?

For the next 33 days, I am going to:

•  Exercise for at least thirty minutes a day, 6 days a week. Three of those days should be a run (just to stay relevant and such), and I've gotta do those arm weights. My arms jiggle a lot too.
• I am going to log my food into my handy,dandy calorie counter online. That thing is amazing and somehow makes me feel guilty for eating an entire bag of miniature Butterfingers!
•  I am going to attend church each Sunday without fail. No excuses. The man above seems to help me stay focused..so I figured I would throw this in to be doubly sure I don't sleep in on Sunday mornings.
• I am going to blog. Every night. Whether you like it or not.

 Boom.

Well, that's all I have for now. Feel free to join me in this little adventure. I mean, even if your birthday isn't July 1st, it is a few days before the fourth of July, and who wants to look bloated under fireworks?! Not me and certainly not you!

 Please leave me any suggestions you have for me on fun workouts, healthy food that doesn't taste like crap, or your thoughts on The Challenge.

*que Eye of the Tiger

2012 Running Season

Well, allow me to welcome myself back to the wonderful world of blogging. I've left you guys hanging. I'm sure you are all on the edge of your seats wondering what has happened to me, right? No? Oh. Well I'll fill you in anyhoo.

The running. Gracious. I started running in 2010 and have found that in the fall and winter, somehow my brain and my body decide to boycott moving around more than necessary. I mean, I haven't been dormant or anything. I still do a little treadmill running about once a week. Not anymore than 3.5 miles at a time though. I don't feel bad about it. I have 3 kids and a husband who, if we are being honest, is a little bit like a kid. But alas, it is March and time to get out there and beat some pavement. I'll kick it off (like always) with Tacoma's annual St.Paddy's day 5k run. If I'm being honest, I'm not expecting to break any world records on speed here. If I can bust it out with an average mile at around 10 minutes, I'll be pleased with myself. As of late, I don't have any life threatening illnesses (like the last two years around this time) so it should be doable and a fabulous time. I'll keep you guys posted on the events that ensue, naturally.

I promise to be a better blogger. I need some new and interesting topics. Any ideas? Is there anything running related that you would like me to investigate (and by investigate, I mean read a little bit about and form my humble opinion on)? I suppose it's the time of year to focus less on Angry Birds, and more on sweating.

Here's to the return of my mammoth calf muscles!