I don't remember which one of my fabulous blog friends commented when I lost my job about how this was going to be a huge turning point for me in terms of finally taking care of myself. Whoever it was, you were right.
It's really weird how suddenly different my mind works. Maybe it's because I'm not being beaten down by a miserable man every day and feel like I'm worth it. It may be one of those situations where you never realized how bad it was until you're on the other side of it.
This all started yesterday which was my first day of week 4 of couch to 5k. I had repeated week 3 and was feeling pretty confident about moving on up until about halfway through my run. I just couldn't do it. I did the 3 minute followed by the 5 minute (a mere 90 second recovery) and then I just couldn't go on. I'm no quitter but it was just a bad day. It happens. Last night as we were going to bed I told my husband I was taking today off. All he said was "don't let this beat you" and that was all I needed. (yes I'm the luckiest girl in the world because I have a cute, sweet, super supportive Scottish husband...I highly recommend them!)
Today I was up at the crack of dawn and damned if I didn't show week 4 who's boss. It took EVERYTHING I had. I literally had to wring out my ponytail and my clothes were so soaked I couldn't even bring myself to throw them on the bedroom carpet. Straight to the basement :) I even have my first case of runners nipple. Almost as painful as dental surgery. Time to invest in some new bras and some Body Glide (I've only ever used it for blisters but folks say it does wonders for the nipples!)
I've definitely raised the bar. There's no going back now. I have set goals, met goals, and moved on to new goals. I remember this mindset from my past. It's exactly as it was when I lost 100 pounds 10 years ago. It's so nice to meet the real me again.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Checking in!
It's time for me to check in on my blog buddies again.
Things never slow down over here and now I've taken on a part-time job to add some more crazy to the mix. I'm just helping out at a friends agency for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. JUST when I was getting into my routine of going to the gym in the morning! Now it's even harder to fit it in but somehow doing this couch to 5k thing has changed my attitude and I find myself making it a priority. That is a really REALLY big step for me.
Still running along and I've managed to make it through week 3 of Couch to 5k. I'm "holding myself back a grade" as I call it and doing week 3 twice. I just wasn't sure I'd "graduated" from week 3 yet :) Since I'm only doing this for myself, I don't feel bad about taking it at my own pace. All I know is that eventually I want to be like the girl next to me on the treadmill today - she was almost 2 miles in and hadn't broken a sweat. I was gasping for breath and dripping sweat on to the belt!
The weight is coming off SOO slowly but things are taking shape. My legs look so much better and I swear my ass has lifted about 3 inches. My current jeans make me feel like I'm wearing a diaper they are so baggy but I'm holding out as long as I can before I buy new ones.
More than anything, I'm happy with my attitude toward my fitness goals and even my attitude toward food. I just managed to go through a weekend without gaining any weight which may have only happened once or twice in my life. I've been trying to eat just a little bit when I feel hungry and never let myself get to the ravenous "screw it all lets go get mexican food and margaritas" point. I've also been trying to satisfy my cravings with my own light versions of things. For some reason I was desperate for banana pudding and found out Jello makes a fudge banana 45 calorie variety. It was delicious and totally satisfied that beast. Then I wanted a hot dog from the Varsity. If you have ever been there you know how good they are. Instead I got some 97% fat free Hebrew Nationals and light whole wheat buns. Totally hit the spot. It can be done and I can stay satisfied without blowing it. Why is it that this seems all new to me???? I've done this before and I know what works but sometimes it's like learning it all over again.
Hope everyone out there is great. Spring is such a wonderful time of year. I wish it would last forever!!
Things never slow down over here and now I've taken on a part-time job to add some more crazy to the mix. I'm just helping out at a friends agency for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. JUST when I was getting into my routine of going to the gym in the morning! Now it's even harder to fit it in but somehow doing this couch to 5k thing has changed my attitude and I find myself making it a priority. That is a really REALLY big step for me.
Still running along and I've managed to make it through week 3 of Couch to 5k. I'm "holding myself back a grade" as I call it and doing week 3 twice. I just wasn't sure I'd "graduated" from week 3 yet :) Since I'm only doing this for myself, I don't feel bad about taking it at my own pace. All I know is that eventually I want to be like the girl next to me on the treadmill today - she was almost 2 miles in and hadn't broken a sweat. I was gasping for breath and dripping sweat on to the belt!
The weight is coming off SOO slowly but things are taking shape. My legs look so much better and I swear my ass has lifted about 3 inches. My current jeans make me feel like I'm wearing a diaper they are so baggy but I'm holding out as long as I can before I buy new ones.
More than anything, I'm happy with my attitude toward my fitness goals and even my attitude toward food. I just managed to go through a weekend without gaining any weight which may have only happened once or twice in my life. I've been trying to eat just a little bit when I feel hungry and never let myself get to the ravenous "screw it all lets go get mexican food and margaritas" point. I've also been trying to satisfy my cravings with my own light versions of things. For some reason I was desperate for banana pudding and found out Jello makes a fudge banana 45 calorie variety. It was delicious and totally satisfied that beast. Then I wanted a hot dog from the Varsity. If you have ever been there you know how good they are. Instead I got some 97% fat free Hebrew Nationals and light whole wheat buns. Totally hit the spot. It can be done and I can stay satisfied without blowing it. Why is it that this seems all new to me???? I've done this before and I know what works but sometimes it's like learning it all over again.
Hope everyone out there is great. Spring is such a wonderful time of year. I wish it would last forever!!
Friday, April 9, 2010
My first 5K
When I first started my couch to 5k program I never planned on actually running an organized 5K but the opportunity has come up and I'm going to go for it. The hospital where my husband works has a team for the Komen race this year on May 8th and we are signing up. Both of us!
Technically I just finished week 2 of the program but now that this has come up I'm going to get another session in this weekend before I start week 3. The race is 4 weeks away but I don't have to run the whole thing. It will be good practice, and great fun.
As some of you know I'm a long time Breast Cancer 3-day walker and crew member. This will be my first Race for the Cure and I'm looking forward to participating in a different event.
You'd think all this running would lead to some weight loss but I feel great so it doesn't matter that much to me right now. I'm focusing on my fitness goals and hoping that weight loss will be a happy side effect. I've been a in a food rut which hasn't helped. Something about the change of seasons leaves me struggling with what to eat. Nothing sounds good to me right now but I have to get some meals planned. I'm on to week 3 of c25k and my husband is starting a fitness boot camp. We need some good fuel for our fire :)
I'm giving myself some time to catch up on my blog reading today. Hope you are all doing well!
Technically I just finished week 2 of the program but now that this has come up I'm going to get another session in this weekend before I start week 3. The race is 4 weeks away but I don't have to run the whole thing. It will be good practice, and great fun.
As some of you know I'm a long time Breast Cancer 3-day walker and crew member. This will be my first Race for the Cure and I'm looking forward to participating in a different event.
You'd think all this running would lead to some weight loss but I feel great so it doesn't matter that much to me right now. I'm focusing on my fitness goals and hoping that weight loss will be a happy side effect. I've been a in a food rut which hasn't helped. Something about the change of seasons leaves me struggling with what to eat. Nothing sounds good to me right now but I have to get some meals planned. I'm on to week 3 of c25k and my husband is starting a fitness boot camp. We need some good fuel for our fire :)
I'm giving myself some time to catch up on my blog reading today. Hope you are all doing well!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Couch to 5k week 2
I made it through week one! I'm actually moving on to week 2! Excuse the exclamation points! I've never made it this far!!
It went really well some days were easier than others but I was never overly sore but could still feel the "zing" which is how I knew I was doing the right amount. One thing for sure, it has whipped my lungs into shape! A week ago I could barely walk around the block and yesterday I was running around with my husband and dogs on our walk like it was nothing. So far I'm really impressed with this program.
On the work front, I'm still working harder than ever to make ends meet but I'm getting the hang of it, one baby step at a time. Some of my learning is coming from mistakes and that's very hard for me but it's part of the process. It's the process defining my process. Never did I think that would be so exhausting!
Now, our dogs are so dirty they have "ring around the neck" so I'm off to go give them a bath.
Hope everyone is doing great out there!! Thinking of you all even though I haven't had time to comment.
It went really well some days were easier than others but I was never overly sore but could still feel the "zing" which is how I knew I was doing the right amount. One thing for sure, it has whipped my lungs into shape! A week ago I could barely walk around the block and yesterday I was running around with my husband and dogs on our walk like it was nothing. So far I'm really impressed with this program.
On the work front, I'm still working harder than ever to make ends meet but I'm getting the hang of it, one baby step at a time. Some of my learning is coming from mistakes and that's very hard for me but it's part of the process. It's the process defining my process. Never did I think that would be so exhausting!
Now, our dogs are so dirty they have "ring around the neck" so I'm off to go give them a bath.
Hope everyone is doing great out there!! Thinking of you all even though I haven't had time to comment.
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