SNOW SUCKS!

Have I told you how much I hate WINTER?

I am assuming that the 5k tomorrow will be cancelled due to 8-12 inches snow that should start falling in the next six hours. Bummer. My sister and I are switching our workout to Sunday, thus giving Ol' Man Winter our big middle fingers!! We've got intervals on the treadmill planned followed by a nice 30 minute swim. AND we'll work hard because we're doing it together!

I swam today before my classes and it felt GOOD. I still have my issues (big toe thing, a tinge of shoulder pain) but all in all it was a good. Classes today were uneventful. What I am noticing most is that my mood is really upbeat, and my diet is good. I don't want to wreck it - I want to lose the 2.5 lbs so I can get my HAIR CUT and colored. I know a new hair do will make things even better!

A lot of Nothing.

I just got back from working at the Y. I changed my hours to only teach an hour at a time, but a colleague was sick so I stepped up and taught her classes. This means that I didn't get to workout (other than what I did with my students). I need to run - I have a race this Saturday (the Chipmunk 5K), so tomorrow morning I'll get in a quick one before I do my swim workout as planned. Of course we're suppose to get snow Friday night into Saturday. The race was rain or shine - it said nothing about SNOW? I'm going no matter what.

So I have a weird pain/feeling thing in my left big toe. It's not constant, or shooting or anything like that. When I was kicking today it felt like something was scratching the toe all the way inside my foot. It also felt the same last night when I slipped under my blankets in bed... Seems like when my toes are pointed? I'm just wondering what it could possibly be? Please don't tell me its related to AGE. OH and my ear is blocked from the pool today... HOW incredibly annoying! I can't hear a thing!!

On a more positive note. I have several people interested in my old bike. I can't wait to sell it so I can buy my new one. Maybe one day the roads will be free of snow so I can actually ride it!

WEIGH IN Wednesday - 192.0

After yesterday's sneak peak, I couldn't have been more surprised to see 192.0. My room was dark - I had to step on the scale a number of times before I could accept the fact that I am down 4 pounds from last week! This is BIG for me. I haven't lost that much at one shot since a long ago "LAST CHANCE" at WeightWatchers. Hurray for me!

On another, less than happy note... My DH called me at 10:15 on his way home from the gym to tell me that he had hit a pothole and blew out a tire. AAA was called and after towing to fill a doughnut and finally getting home he thinks something is REALLY wrong, aside from needing a new tire. MAN, COULD WE PLEASE CATCH A BREAK!!!!

MY Day

Today is MY DAY. My little one is back to preschool for 6 hours and I do not have to work at the Y. It will be my first time alone for any significant amount of time in dare I say, months?!

I am going to walk/run with the dog. She needs a long walk and I need my workout. She is a sniffer, so it's really impossible to get into a groove for a run, but I figure as long as we cover the miles we're good. After that - a shower, without interuption. Next, CLEAN MY HOUSE without someone following behind to mess things up. I always seem to overschedule my time, so that will be it.

It's supposed to rain/snow for the afternoon - which may result in my daughter's skating being cancelled. I really wouldn't be too disappointed about having to stay in. The last throws of my winter hibernation...

SO, I know tomorrow is weigh in day, but as usual I needed to sneak a peak -- 194.5
That looks good. Moving in the right direction... 5.5 lbs to a ME REWARD. Confirmation will be tomorrow!

It feels good to WORK!

I FINALLY made it to SPIN and although the class was a bit short (50 min), beforehand I was able to do 4 sets of bench presses, 4 sets of chest pulls and 2 sets of shoulder presses. My arms were shaking for the first 15 min. of class. I like when I work hard (once I am actually there and doing it).

My neighbor and I are taking turns with the kids this afternoon so I was able to go to the grocery store all by myself (a rare treat). I swear I saved 50 dollars - not being distracted by my "helper" or by being bullied into buying junk I don't want.

The rest of the afternoon I will be doing laundry and then I am off to get my older daughter at school, run to the library to return books and head to Brownies. A SLUGMOM has bailed (last minute) on her meeting day and I am going to have to step up (and that makes 2 meetings in a row)!! -- grumble -- BUT YOU KNOW, SHE WORKS --

SNOW derails my Saturday workout...

The 10+ inches yesterday and overnight kind of derailed my typical Saturday run with my sisters.... HMPH! SO, I got up and shoveled snow, walked the dog and called it a day. I suppose I could go to the gym, but honestly, I have written off this entire week of exercise due to school vacation. MONDAY MORNING I am SPINNING; my bike is already reserved! Tuesday I am keeping my fingers crossed for snow free sidewalks so I can run. I will be back on track.

On the eating front, I am doing WELL. I haven't been on the scale -- though i should do that, but I am writing it all and sticking to my bedtime routine --NO TV!!

We'll see how it's working for me come Wednesday.

Weigh in Wednesday

196.0 That's the number. Back to 7lbs for the ME REWARD. I've got some work to do.

What went right this week:
1) I logged all of my food. I also tried (5/7 days) to keep track of calories.
2) I exercised. 13.56 miles logged (5 were elliptical)and 3 weights sessions.
3) I went to bed. I have been going upstairs and reading vs TV and snacks.

How could I have done better? My ultimate goal is to increase cardio to 60 minutes 3 times per week, and to do more at home. (I can always find 10 minutes and I own a stability ball). I also want to be more thoughtful about PLANNING what I am going to eat in a day and not just grazing my way through. I will have a better sense of my nutrition and will better manage my calories throughout the day.

I am looking forward to next week when the kids are back in school and my Y time is back to managable levels - just 2 short mornings - Thurs/Friday. As the weather improves, I'll be able to get out on my bike and do my runs outside rather than on the dreaded treadmill. It's getting lighter earlier, getting darker later. Spring can't be that far away!

Back at it...

Made it to the gym - logged 3.2 miles on the elliptical and didn't run b/c I was grumpy and felt like reading a magazine rather than working too hard. What can I say, I'm being honest. I logged my food and hope that I am done eating for the day. I don't like some of my choices-- too much veggie dip, too many snacks. I am still within my calories for the day (as long as I stop eating NOW).

The kids are on vacation, and it is REALLY hard to be normal. They HATE going to the gym with me these days. It is BORING for them and for me it is painful dragging them there. Like I almost want to skip it for the week, rather than deal with the whining. Tomorrow and Thursday they have no choice b/c I am working from 9:30 - 11:30Of course, I told them they could go swimming for the last half hour, so maybe that will make it just a little bit better.

And these stupid calcium supplements I am taking are keeping me constipated (TMI). I really hope something happens soon. Weigh in is tomorrow regardless.

Two Family Days in a Row

Family dinner and birthday party yesterday and a visit to my dad's sister for lunch today. No time for exercise, not days of good food choices - though not disasterous. I am not going to let 2 days of slippage ruin 5 days of sticking to my program.

SO - I need to get back on the wagon and live the healthy fit life tomorrow in hopes of eeking out a decent weigh in. I have to admit to stepping on the scale Sunday morning (before the family fun) and seeing 195.0 .... It's true, a new number and a mere 6 lbs to go to collect my ME Reward - a new (desperately needed) hair cut, color and eyebrow wax. If all goes well this week, I am thinking that I'll be looking much prettier by the official arrival of SPRING!!

And there is always the additional motivation of a night out with friends March 21st and a Girls' Weekend April 18th to keep the weight loss ball rolling. Both events are with people I rarely see and I would LOVE to look better (read SMALLER) than I do right now.

TOMORROW I WILL RUN!

So GLAD I ran - So GLAD I'm done!

I did NOT want to run this morning. It was 10 degrees. This is when you are thankful for a running group that cares whether or not you show up. We decided to do a HILL course, which is 3.5 miles rather than a flat-ish 5 miles since it was SO cold. Aside from the dilema of whether to breathe through a neck gator or just suck in the cold - my run was strong and BOY was I happy to have it over with... Once again, I was glad that I went and today I feel good about my self. I need to file this in "memories to be retained" so I can pull it out when I'm as apathetic as I was a 5 a.m. this morning.

Valentine's Day Done

Valentine's Day is a lot of work for moms. My oldest daughter thinks Valentines are stupid and she doesn't want to send them to EVERYONE. You know how 2nd graders can be. My youngest has been working on her valentines for a week. I bought her High School Musical cards, but she decided that she wanted to make them herself. Getting both kids DONE and ready for school this morning was a major undertaking and I am glad to be free of it all.

I went to the gym and did 2 miles on the elliptical and then I set a new mile PR on the treadmill of 10:41, breaking my previous time of 11:21. I really impressed myself. I followed up with an upper body workout, planks and pushups and then headed to the pool. I intended to swim, but my boss was there so I had to look productive before my kids showed up at 10:30. Thankfully, I WILL get my pool workout tomorrow b/c I have a Lifeguard inservice training and I know that it will include at least a 500! By the time I am done, I will have been IN the water for 5 hours straight... HOLY Prune Girl!

Diet is GOOD, although I haven't a clue about the scale so I will stay off it til next Wednesday's weigh in. I am now following Nancy Clarks' suggestions for weight loss. She's a sports nutritionist, and is very well known in her field. I heard her speak at my TNT Marathon Group and was impressed at the time, though too clueless to actually follow her suggestions until now.

Suffice to say, things are good - BUSY, but good.

Wednesday Weigh IN

A depressing and surprising 199.0 ? SAY WHAT????

I have NOT a clue as to why the scale is up. I can only hope that the new calcium supplements are still keeping me constipated. I was initially shocked and perhaps a little dismayed, BUT I've decided that I am NEVER giving up so I need to keep trying until I find something that works. I've had 2 awesome workouts this week and another great one planned for tomorrow. Today is typically my OFF day since both daughters skate and I am at the rink for 3+ hours. However, the shoveling provided an extra needed boost to my diet/fitness goals. My mood is surprisingly up beat.

SO - tomorrow I have plans to run 2+ miles on the treadmill since the sidewalks are burried again. I will then do upper body weights, followed by 1200 yds in the pool before my Thursday lesson!

Friday I teach for 2.5 hours and Saturday will be my sibling run - 6 miles is the plan for this weekend.

Sometimes I AMAZE myself...

with how stupid I can be...

I thought I would pay off a credit card, so I wrote a $1600 check and stuck it in the payment envelope... a few days later, the oil man came and I decided to pay him and not the credit card. I wrote a much smaller $250 check to the credit card company put it in the envelope and promptly sent it.

This morning, I could not buy stamps with my ATM... WHAT? I went home and checked on line... OVERDRAWN $600+ UGH... I forgot to take the BIG check out of the envelope and now my credit card is not only paid off, but overpaid by $250!!

I spent the better part of the morning going to 2 different banks (where we have savings), getting out money and putting it in our pathetic checking account before other outstanding checks draw on the account. I think we're now ok, but man did I feel like a LOSER!!

Thankfully, I got to the gym before I tried to buy stamps. I did 30 min/2.79 miles on the elliptical, as well as a lower body workout. I then taught 2 swim classes - the last Tuesday of the session HOORAY!! The stress of the mornings antics have zapped my appetite, which is a good thing. Weigh in is tomorrow morning!

Finally a Monday worthy of writing about...

Last night, after a dismal diet dinner of fish tacos (with fried fish - and they were delicious), I vowed to get up and move this morning. I got the girl on the bus and dragged the little one with me to the Y where I ran 3 miles, did a strong upper body weight session and finished with a fast (for me) 11:10 mile/5 min cool down.

4+ miles done and it's MONDAY. It feels good. Weigh in will be WEDNESDAY! Stay tuned. I feel good things happening!!

As promised, weigh in 197.5

Hmmph.

AND - I ran a HILL course this morning with the sibs - 3.46 miles and I got hit by a car! Guy with iced up windows just pulls out from a side street, hits my leg - I have to slam my hands on his hood. Scared the crap out of me! All I thought was I am going under this car... The guy was like "wo - sorry, didn't see ya" Ah, ya - like maybe you should scrape your windows? Seeing is kind of a prerequisite to driving, isn't it? OK, I was unhurt, so I guess it's a lot of drama with little to show for it... BUT the adrenaline was definately flowing and I ran the rest of the way strong!!

The weight will come down - it has to... Journalling continues... Eating pretty well too!

One order of SPRING, please

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate winter? I NEED SPRING NOW. I am sick of cloudy, damp, cold, dirty snow yuck, every FREAKIN' day... Makes you want to go to the pool, right?! After nearly 3 hours at the YMCA teaching mostly screaming kids, soaking in 82 degree pool water, the only thing I can think about is how much I need SUN. I want to be OUTSIDE walking my dog, raking out my garden beds, planting, riding my bike. SIX WEEKS to go... Will I make it?

Tomorrow I am RUNNING 5 miles with my siblings at 7 am. It will be cold, dark and, from all news accounts, icy. JOY.

At least on the eating front, I am having a BANNER DAY. Whole grain muffin, skim milk and apple for breakfast. Lunch with mom - we split a sandwich and each had a cup of chicken soup. Yes, there were fries - but not many were eaten by me. I will get on the scale tomorrow am before I leave for my run. I am curious to see if I have gone down this week, and I plan on being better about keeping tabs DAILY (starting tomorrow, of course).

It doesn't matter if you want to or not

I keep telling my self that.... It doesn't matter if you want to do something... you need to reason that if it's healthy for you (i.e. exercise) or going to make you a better person (i.e. going to your kid's classroom), then you should make it happen regardless of whether it is something you want to do. Motivation is fleeting and I need to get over the MOJO requirement of my diet/exercise/life plan. I need to just DO IT which is SO cliche. In the long run, I know that I will feel better all around. I KNOW THIS...

Scale says 197.5 - SO GO VOTE!

Super Duper TUESDAY is upon us. VOTE!

197.5 - up 1.5 - I suppose I have been remiss in my food journaling and seriously lacking in the portion control/nutrition. MY HAIR IS OUT OF CONTROL. I need a serious intervention if I am ever to get to 189 and collect MY REWARD. When is it going to click? What must I do to get things rolling? I cringe every time I think about going BACK to Weight Watchers. I am sure it is right for a lot of people, but the last time I was able to lose real weight (22 lbs) was, um ... like 1983. No, I am NOT kidding. I haven't found a leader who is inspiring. I just haven't felt it -- except in my wallet-- over $400 dollars last year, and our family doesn't have a lot of money.

I can blame it on the kids - b/c I have to make meals even when I am not hungry and I eat them. I can blame it on my hubby, who brings Pringles into the house and buys me a foot long sub even though I specifically asked for a 6". I can accept ALL responsibility b/c I put the food in my mouth, chewed and swallowed. I did NOT go to SPIN Sunday b/c I was too tired and grumpy (precisely the reason I should have gone). OK, so I do all of these things and where does it lead me? 197.5

I have heard from people who have lost lots of weight that they don't know why it worked. Was it hard work? Absolutely. A lot of times they search for THE MOMENT when it all clicked, but I think that is for the benefit of the asker and not something real. My aunt says she just started doing it... eating smaller portions and the scale went down. She kept doing it and has now lost 94 lbs. I don't have that much to lose. If I could hit 155 I would be more than satisfied. If I could "JUST START DOING IT" -- eating smaller, nutritious portions and exercising with real purpose, I would be satified. IF.

Home with SICKIES - At least I RAN

Tonight was supposed to be date night-Grandma was taking the kids - and then my little one woke me up at 3:30 a.m. Coincidentally, this happened to be the time I got up for the day. She puked in her bed so I cleaned her up and put her in mine (on a towel and with a bucket). I cleaned up her sheets, put in a load of laundry and got ready to go to my sister's house for our weekly run... at 7:00.

Aside from a little slipping and sliding when we started, the run was uneventful. Not my best effort, but I think the morning antics put a damper on my motivation. At least I showed up and ran the whole 5 miles. It was good enough for me.

Got home around 9:30 and have been holding up hair and washing out the puke bucket ever since. So much for date night. I would have a hard time leaving my little mamma's girl :). Thankfully (and I don't know what possessed me Friday), I reserved a bike for Sunday's endurance 90 min SPIN class. Since it could be my only justified time out of the house tomorrow I am GOING.

Hubby has been in another dimension lately, so the idea of sharing responsibilities for a sick kid is kind of a non-issue. It's all me. I've been feeling a little out of sorts myself, so diet today is going great. My sister has lost 7,5 pounds and I am freakin jealous! I need to get things moving. TOMORROW I AM ON THE SCALE.

I guess you can tell that I am feeling much better, thank you.