Rough week.

So, I knew this week might be a little rough. Friday I had a great weigh in, Friday night had girls night...drank way too much, which lead to terrible food choices (from a fast food breakfast to an oatmeal pie(x2)) on Saturday. Sunday morning I ran my best 5k to date on the treadmill and was immediately sore in my calf and knee afterward, I didn't have time to ice though because my husband and I were going out to watch football and celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary (which was Monday, but we both had to work...me day, him night). I had been craving a cheeseburger for weeks, so I had one. Came home and we made chicken chilli together and I ate fairly well. Monday, my back was hurting badly. It had bothered off and on all weekend, but I didn't remember doing anything to it.

Then, I remembered...the push ups, sit ups challenege that I finished on Thursday. I had been planning to re-do Week 3 this week, starting on Monday, but I could barely move between my back, my left calf and my right knee. So I took yesterday off...I went shopping last night and did a fair amount of walking.

This morning rolls around and I get up at 6am and head out to the gym...walking to the gym I notice I'm in pain but I keep thinking that it will just wear off once I get warmed up. I stretch and get on the treadmill, walking hurts but I am trying to push through, so I go into a jog and it felt as if I had knives repeatedly stabbing me in the back, calf and knee. I had to stop. I came home and tried to do a "Zen Sculpt" pilates/cardio type deal and could only make it 1/2 way through.

It's about this time I realize I've been coughing all morning and my nose is running like crazy. I also feel a little feverish. I think I'm getting a cold too! What in the world!

I think this might be my bodies way of telling me to take it easy for awhile? Even sitting at work is causing me some pain. I'm only 29, I'm not supposed to be falling apart!

Even though it's not my fault I can't work out, I feel guilty about it. Is it because I made so many bad food choices over the weekend thinking I would work a lot of it off this week? Maybe.

Happy 1st day of Fall! (The best season)

Gobble, Gobble

I registered for my first 5k race yesterday! It's the Greensboro Gobbler and it's on Thanksgiving morning, starting at 9am. I figured this was perfect since I will be at home with my family for the holiday. I am nervous about it, but I have plenty of time to prepare. I know I won't place, I'm not very fast. My goal is to finish, with a respectable time and run as much as possible. If I do that, I will be happy! It will be great to cross the finish line and know that my family will be there cheering me on!

I had a good weekend and stayed on track, even with this being the first Football Sunday of the season. It's amazing to me though how much my alcohol tolerance has changed with my weight loss. I used to sit and drink beer and watch football with the guys all day. I had 4 beers yesterday and by the end of the 3rd beer I was feeling the effects. That is a good thing though, I definitely won't be drinking as much anymore.

I started Week 3 of the Push Ups, Situps, Squats challenge and I'm quite certain this week is going to kick my butt. I did my exhaustion test and I found that I improved my numbers in everything except Situps. I'm proud of myself and can definitely tell that I am gaining strength in my arms.

Weigh-in on Friday, I was 166lbs, up by .6lb. Not disastrous, but a trend I need to break nonetheless. My goals for this week are small. I want to be 164lbs by Friday and I want to run at least 3 times. 3 Times may not seem like much, but with my legs problems of late, if I can run 3 times, I'll be happy.

Until next time... :)

Sometimes, you just have to run.

Yesterday, I had a really bad day at work. I was stressed to the max and at 2pm I got the sudden urge to run. I couldn't of course because I was at work, but I held onto that feeling and when I got home...I ran. I ran my best 4 miles ever, averaging 11:13 per mile. This for me, is a great time! I felt awesome afterward...

I am so hooked on that endorphin rush! I've really been missing it lately because of my calf and knee problems and of course, they had to come in and rain on my parade after I stopped...

But after some icing, I don't have much pain today, so I'm going to hit the treadmill again tomorrow and hope for the same great results. I may not be the best runner, and honestly, I'm more of a jogger/walker, but I do love it.

Today I finished Week 2 of the Sit Ups, Push Ups, Squats Challenge and boy was it tough! Each week gets tougher, but each week I feel stronger and that keeps me going. I still don't know if I'll make it the whole 6 weeks, but I'm going to give it my all! Here are my Week 2 results:

Push Ups:

Level	Performed at	Max
Week 2 Day 3	2009-09-10	17
Week 2 Day 2	2009-09-08	16
Week 2 Day 1	2009-09-06	17

Sit Ups:

Level	Performed at	Max
Week 2 Day 3	2009-09-10	40
Week 2 Day 2	2009-09-08	30
Week 2 Day 1	2009-09-06	30

Squats:

Level	Performed at	Max
Week 2 Day 3	2009-09-10	32
Week 2 Day 2	2009-09-08	32
Week 2 Day 1	2009-09-06	30

My weigh in is tomorrow and I have no idea what to expect. I had a pretty decent week, so I'm hoping that if I didn't have a loss, I at least maintained. However, regardless of my weight, I am proud of myself this week. That alone, is worth more than the weight loss...knowing that I made good choices and made activity a priority even when things got tough. It helps remind me that this is my new life, not just a passing phase.

Now, I'm off to have a guilt free beer with the husband person and some friends. Happy Thursday! :)

Help Yourself to Happiness

The other day I was watching TV and a commercial for Golden Corral came on. My eyes glazed over as I was transfixed by the images of all you can eat, steak, chicken, pizza, yeast rolls lathered in butter and desserts passed across the screen. Then, their logo went across the screen:

Golden Corral: Help Yourself to Happiness

This, snapped me out of LaLa land.

Help Yourself to Happiness. Think about that for a moment...a majority of people who have weight issues, are emotional over eaters. Is this really a message we should pass along? Help yourself to happiness at an all you can eat buffet? This is the exact behavior that I have been trying to break for years! An over eater seeing this message is almost like inviting a recovering alcoholic to an open bar and saying "help yourself".
Sorry to dwell on that, it just struck a cord with me for some reason.

I do believe that food is love. I believe that family times gathered around food are sacred. However, it's not the consuming of food to the point of near bloat that makes these times happy. It is the enjoyment of one each other's company that does.

"Eat, Drink and Be Merry (in moderation)" is a good way to go.

I am just not having a good day.

I am just not having a good day. Today I am sad, I am angry and I am depressed. Honestly, I have felt this way for weeks, not just today and I can't seem to shake it.

However, feeling this way does not give me the right to eat whatever I want, stop exercising or give up trying to make myself feel better.

I will not drop anchor here. This will not be my undoing. I will not binge, it will not make me feel better. I will not stop caring about myself as I have in the past. I will not be sucked into the black hole of despair with an open ended ticket.

I must work on a plan to get myself out of this hell.

Once upon a Pumpkin

Let me start with my challenge update! Today was Week 1, Day 3. I have completed the first week of the Push Ups, Sit Ups, Squats challenge!


Here are my stats for today!

Push Ups

set 1			11
set 2			15
set 3			9
set 4			9
set 5			19 (at least 13)

Sit Ups

set 1			17
set 2			22
set 3			14
set 4			14
set 5			30 (at least 20)

Squats

set 1			15
set 2			20
set 3			13
set 4			13
set 5			30 (at least 18)

I finished the work out off with a 2.11 mile run/walk...again, more walking than running because of my stupid calf muscle. 

I have a confession to make, I started this challenge doing traditional push ups, today I had to switch to alternative "girly" push ups. I had a lot of pain in a lot of places and really wanted to complete my work out today but I knew I could not do traditional push ups today. However, I see a big increase in my set 5 numbers which I have to attribute to my hard work! I'm enjoying this challenge so far and I am expecting next week to kick my butt! Week 2 starts on Sunday!

In other news, Coastal NC has been unseasonably cool this week and it has been PHENOMENAL! I absolutely love cooler fall type weather and I think I need to consider moving to a place where the temps range from about 65-75 degrees year round. I know that the temperatures here will sky rocket back up starting tomorrow per Mr. Weather Man and stay in the high 80s through October but my point with this is, it was the perfect week for Starbucks to bring back their Pumpkin Spice Latte! This is my favorite coffee of all time. I love all things pumpkin. When I heard it was back, I was ecstatic and then, terrified. I wasn't sure I could order a "Tall, Nonfat, No Whipped Cream Pumpkin Spice Latte" when I was used to the traditional, Venti or Quad full fat, whipped creamed topped version.

Well, today, I walked into Starbucks, tall and proud after my work out and I ordered the reduced calorie version of my favorite (while quietly clapping my hands with a HUGE grin on my face which made the barista laugh) and I sat outside and slowly drank my Latte. I didn't even notice a difference in taste. I was just so happy that I could walk into Starbucks and not give into the temptations of the whip cream, pumpkin loaves, rice krispie treats that I was so used to indulging in without giving it a second thought. Yes, a trip to Starbucks, for me, takes that much effort.

So, today has been a great day so far. I have proven myself, to myself, in more ways than one! :)

Holy Abs!

So, as you know I'm participating in the Hundred Push Ups, Two Hundred Squats, Two Hundred Sit-Ups challenge with Roni over at BlogToLose and RonisWeigh and this morning I completed by Week 1, Day 2 work out.

All, I can say is Holy Abdomen, Thighs and Arms. This is an intense work out for someone like me. I've been working out for awhile, but I can't say I've put a lot of focus into these type of exercises before and therefore, it's really testing me.

Here is what I did this morning:

Week 1, Day 2
Push-Ups

set 1		6
set 2		8
set 3		6
set 4		6
set 5		max 9 (at least 7)

Squats

set 1			13
set 2			16
set 3			13
set 4			13
set 5			max 26(at least 16)

Sit-Ups

set 1			15
set 2			18
set 3			15
set 4			15
set 5			max 23 (at least 18)

I did these after I did a cardio boxing/stability ball work out that worked a lot of ab and arm muscles. Overall, I had a great work out this morning all in the comfort of my own living room. That is the beauty of this challenge...no special equipment needed, just w willing and able body!

Ok, time to make the coffee!

OH! I almost forgot!!!! Happy September!!! :)