My week.

Stuff I did this week.

Bootcamp, twice.  I really enjoyed it, too.  I needed a good run with bootcamps, because last week, I was ready to quit.  I was doing whole thirty and I would run completely out of energy before it was over.  There were a lot of factors at play here, but I think not having any non-fruit carbs was really kicking my butt.  I brought some Ezekiel bread back in and I've now got enough energy to make it through about 90 minutes of strenuous exercise.

3 training runs.  Sunday morning's run was ok, I really struggled on Wednesday- had to keep talking myself through it until I finished and today's run was an absolute dream.  I loved every second.  One of my BFFs met me for the last half-mile or so and it was such a joy to see her pretty face and hear her ramp it up beside me.  I've come a long way.  I can now run and talk a little at the same time.  It used to be that I needed to spend ALL of my attention on watching my breathing.  I'm really starting to think I can run these 10Ks.  Total mileage for the week was 13.11.  That's 3 3.5 mile runs and a shorty before bootcamp on Tuesday.

Not knit.  I've got projects on deck, really I do, but I keep turning my head away from them.  They are pretty much all straight knitting and that's so damned boring that I just want to do something else.  I need to stop, because I can't pick up something more interesting until I have these things off the needles. BECAUSE I SAY SO.

Ran a webinar.  At work, I've taken over running our team's weekly webinar.  I get a good amount of stage fright, but I am getting more confident week by week.  I'm starting to get to a place where I believe I can be good at it.  That's a good place to be.

Boxing class.  I LOVE TO BOX.  REALLY REALLY.  Something about boxing class makes me feel like all is well in the world for at least 3 hours after.  A friend I haven't seen for too long came to class today for the first time and she seemed to enjoy it.  This makes me happy.  Everyone should hit some stuff once a week.  It's good for the soul.

Counted calories- Even when it was inconvenient.  I may not lose weight this week.  I really can't be arsed to care too much.  But if I don't, it won't be because I didn't make myself accountable. 

All in all, I am really great with where I am.  I had an epiphany today.   I honestly don't care if I stay this weight forever, so long as this body will allow me to do the things I want to do.  I want to fuel it with healthy foods, do a better job of getting enough sleep and keep pushing myself to be better, faster, and stronger.  I am not defined by what the scale says.  Do I wish I looked better? Sure.  I think we all have that voice in our heads telling us to feel a certain way about ourselves.  But I am taking myself back from that voice.  I may not always feel this way, but today I do.  And I would like to feel this way tomorrow.  And that's a really, really great start.

So, how the heck are you?

I signed up to do what?

Last night, I went on a race registration spree.

I have 5 events coming up and am now registered for 4 of them.

The first, Color Me Rad, will be walked with Raj and Deven.  I did this race last year and it was FUN FUN FUN!  I can't wait to get all messy!  That's August 31.

Coming up after my fellow Warriors and I will Run Back to the 80s on September 17.  We are planning on dressing like 80s TV show.  I'm thinking of Mama from Mama's family or maybe something from Facts of Life.

Coming up right after that is probably the one I am most scared of.  On September 29, I am going to run the Zoo Run Run 10k. This will be my longest ever race.  I'm nervous but I've got this.  YES I CAN.

After that, I registered for Gilda's Run 10k to benefit Gilda's Club on October 13- supporting people with cancer.

I am also doing a 12 mile moonlit walk at some point in October.  I might also add the haunted hustle and a Thanksgiving run (or 2) but for now, this is what I'm up to!

My weight isn't changing.  I'm still gaining and losing the same 5 lbs.  I need to just stay the course, track my food and try not to eat more than 1/2 of my exercise calories.  I've got this.  I know what to do, I just have to do it.

Shrinking Jeans Summer Blowout Weightloss Challenge

I need a boost.  I decided to join The Shrinking Jeans Summer Blowout Weightloss Challenge.  I'm going to stay the course with my calorie counting, clean eating, 40 miles run for the month of August, 30 minutes of yoga per day and twice a week bootcamp and once per week boxing.

I'm proud of my fitness, but my weight continues to be higher than I'd like it and higher than it has been at various points of this year.  I'm disappointed to report that I am only one pound less than I was on 1/1/2013.  It's time for me to continue putting in the work.  Here's what I learned doesn't work for me.  MODERATION.  If I open the door, I open the floodgates and my self control goes out the window.  I need to just use my common sense, make better decisions and keep working hard.  You don't lose weight in the gym, you lose it in the kitchen.

My trainer will be doing fall and holiday fitness challenges.  I will definitely be in it with her, as my fitness has grown by leaps and bounds.  If I could get my food dialed in, I would seriously be all set.

I accidentally agreed to run a 10K in September and another in October, so I am working hard to get ready for that.  This week's training runs are 4 10-minute runs with a one minute walk break between each run.  Next week, it's 3 15-minute runs. I'm a little scared of it, but I'm tough, I've got this.  Prepare yourself for weeks of whining about too much running, which is probably better than weeks of silence I've been giving this blog lately.

So, how are you all? What are you doing to make your life a more positive place?

What I've Been Up To

True to form, If I am not posting around here, I'm probably offtrack.  Lame.

I need to keep myself more accountable.  I've been eating poorly, but exercising well.  As a result of my eating poorly, I've put back all of the weight I lost this year.  It's not over for me, though.  I am doing a 2 times per week bootcamp now, boxing on Saturday and training runs M, W, and F.  I think the more frequent nature of meeting with my trainer coupled with my basic competitive nature, I should be able to drag myself back on track and into eating correctly.

Starting my day with exercise does help me to eat more correctly.  I am counting calories again, watching my sugar and trying to plan my food days.

Other things I've been up to.  My family and I went to New York City and really enjoyed ourselves.  We packed a lot of sightseeing in just a couple of days.  We spent a lot of time walking.  Frequently our walks had Deven on shoulders because a little kid has a hard time keeping up with 6 adults.

I've been enjoying work.  No problems there.

I've been knitting.  I recently knit an octopus- (pattern from Purl Soho).  I loved knitting that and am kind of sad it's cast off.  It's going to get its own post here in the future. 

On Friday night, I participated in Relay for Life.  It's very high on the top 10 most powerful events I've ever completed.  I spent about 6.5 hours on the course.  I would have spent longer, but unfortunately, rain and lightening kept us off for the last 2 hours.  It showed me that I do have the stuff to participate in a half marathon or full marathon, but if I am going to do that, I'd like to run it.  So for now, I'm trying to work my way up to 10K by the end of the summer.

I'm glad to be back here, blogging and being accountable.  I'll try to check in a couple of times per week.

Be well, everyone.

Bingetastic

My workouts have been very good. My food, not so much.

Time to get back in order.

I'm going to drop my available calories and make myself earn more food with exercise. But I am not going to be dropping calories by much.

Next week, I will record my honest weight regardless of the result, but it's going to hurt.

I'm happy with where I am. I just need to re-clean my diet.  To much dining out. Too many cheat days.

I've got this.

Playtex Secrets- A product review

I'm a bzz agent.  This means that I am perodically given free or reduced cost products to try and give my honest opinions about. Sometimes that opinion is negative. Sometimes it's positive.  I always try to give a well thought out review of each campaign I am part of.



Recently, I was given the opportunity to join the Playtex Secrets campaign.  It's a a new kind of bra.  I am constantly struggling with my bras.  I spend far, far to much time pulling on my bras, adjusting, etc.  I've got an entire drawer full of very expensive bras and none that I am happy to wear.

I was skeptical about getting a bra in the mail just giving my band and cup size, but figured I wasn't out anything as this campaign was offering a bra at no cost to me.

A few days later, my bzzkit arrived with my new bra.  I was so excited I ran off to put it on right away.

So comfortable.  It's not perfect, but it's good.  It doesn't pull up, it doesn't pinch, the underwire doesn't poke.  It is true to size, feels great and has fast become my favorite bra. 

It has successfully made it through 4 washes (I was waiting to get it through a couple of washes before I posted this review).  It's not less comfortable or less supportive following a laundering. 

It's a cute bra, pretty full coverage. Some might think of it as a downside.  It's not sexy, but it leaves a nice silhouette under clothes.

 I've got several coupons for money off a Playtex Secrets bra.  I don't WANT to share these coupons, because I am a greedy git and I like this bra but I would be WILLING to share a coupon or two (or even three) for $5 off of a Playtex Secrets bra from Kohls.  Just leave a comment with an email address and I will contact you off the blog for a mailing address.

Awakening

I love Spring.  I love those first crisp days when you aren't sure if you should wear a jacket or a coat.  My desire for outdoor fitness is high, so I put the Gentle Leader on crazy Conner and put on my running shoes and head out the door. 

The world is still mostly painted in graytone.  Grass is gray, dirty snow melting into rotten puddles on lawns.  Many sidewalks are damaged from winter's aggression.  There is a crunch underfoot from sand, no longer needed, but yet to wash away. 

My app tells me it's time to start running.  I quicken my pace slightly and urge the dog to a jog.  We run along, turning up a steep hill in a neighborhood street.  I notice the trees are starting to bud.  I smile, remembering how gorgeous this stretch of land is in the summer.  My app tells me it is time to walk.  I slow my pace and look at the ground below.  Little patches of grass are starting to turn green.  I smile again, I love watching the world wake up.  My app tells me to run again.  This run is longer.  As I go, I focus on my breathing. One, two, three, four in and one, two, three, four out.  I'm getting more tired.  This is the part where I start to think about giving up.  I remind myself that I am no quitter.  I pick up my knees a little higher, push a little harder.  The run gets less tiresome.  I have renewed energy.  The app tells me it is time to walk.  I slow my pace and praise the dog.  We decide where we want to go next.  The app tells me it is time to run again.  It's going well.  I am lost in noticing the earth's awakening. It occurs to me that I am having my own awakening. 

This past few months, I've realized that I am strong, way tougher than I give myself credit for.  I can keep up in a very challenging workout.  I'm not elite, but I am trying.  I don't quit.  I keep running at a challenge until I finish it.  The app tells me it is time to walk again.  We slow our pace and notice the world.  I'm grateful for these minutes, where it is just me and my dog vs. my desire to succeed and my obesity.  I'm getting stronger every run, every workout.

It's time to run again.  I am tired when this run starts.  Normally, I'd want to quit.  I won't be quitting.  The dog starts to pull in pursuit of another dog.  I tell him to stop.  We watch where that dog goes and turn the opposite way.  I don't want to spend the last few minutes of this workout being pulled.  I am in charge of me, of this time.  I push myself.  Very tired.  Pick up feet a little higher, count my breaths again, one, two, three, four in and one, two, three, four out.  Focus on one thing so you can't focus on the smaller things.  I'm not really that tired.  One, two, three, four in and one, two, three, four out.  And it's time to walk and cool down.

The athlete in me is awakening with spring.  I am inspired.  I can't wait to see how far I can go.

Be well, everyone.