Thankful Thursday #5

1. I am thankful for new running shoes. After having some major issues while training for the LA Marathon last year I decided it was pretty stupid of me to be so stubborn. I took my sisters advice and went to a running store to be professionally fitted. Prior to this I was wearing shoes from department stores and went by how they felt. That worked well until if didn't and that last pair of running shoes was almost my last. My generous parents bought me my first pair and I have refused to try anything since. Thankfully Amazon recently had an amazing sale and I stocked up on a few pairs to last me awhile. And, right after the race on Saturday I knew it was time for a shiny new pair to be broken in. My feet feel fantastic and it's like running on clouds.

2. I am thankful for detailed and color coordinated chore charts. And of course for a husband who is patient and understanding when it comes to my OCD. The apartment has stayed clean and on day two of our calendar I had to ask what I am supposed to do during the 20 minute pickup if I only have 5 minutes worth of stuff to do.. I can see this working for us!

3. I am grateful to my best friend for being willing to jump back into a workout routine to help hold me accountable. I know that it is so much easier for me to stay accountable when I have someone doing it with me. We've seen success together a few times before, I know that if we stick with it this time we will see success again.

4. I am thankful for my parents, who let me run after work. It is easier for me to run immediately after work because it doesn't give me the opportunity to sit down. Knowing myself I know that I won't get back up, so going for a 1-3 mile run around their neighborhood is so incredibly helpful, especially since I can keep going if the run feels good or stop if I'm just having a bad run day.

5. I am thankful for tomorrow. Both the fact that it's Friday and because it's weigh in. I'm excited to have a fresh week. I didn't do bad this week food-wise but could have done better fitness-wise. I have yet to take my progress picture for the month for fear of seeing the changes, but will be taking them tonight to post tomorrow. I've been peaking at the scale all week and today was my highest day and I'm still less than last week, so here's hoping there's a loss tomorrow!

Hollywood Half Marathon- Race #4 of 14

This morning started bright and early.. Okay, not so bright, but very early. The alarm went off at 3:45 am so that I could press snooze once or twice before getting up and dressed for the race this morning.

My very awesome husband offered to stay up in order to take my running laundry out if the washer and put it in the dryer. He even took it from the dryer and set the laundry basket of clean clothes in the bathroom since he didn't know what I was planning on wearing. Lack of planning on my part won him some extra and major brownie points.

I picked my sister up at 4:45am and we made our way to Hollywood. We thought we had planned ahead and had given ourselves plenty of time to find parking and make our way to the start line. Unfortunately, the parking structure they had advised would be open for our use that morning was blocked off. There were so many people looking for parking and no one really directing anyone where to go. We eventually found a parking lot and decided it was our best option, even though we'd have to walk a bit to the start, walk a lot farther after finishing, and we weren't quite sure we'd come back to a car with a ticket.

Major frustration. 

I really do try to keep my frustration levels low at races, knowing that things happen, people make mistakes and that it is a learning process. In the grand scheme of things, a race not starting on time or running out of water is low on my list of things to worry about. However, this is the third year of this race and my sister and I both have a legacy status in this race. I'm not too sure we'll be coming back next year. Three years and three unorganized events later...

The race started about 15 minutes late an since we were in the second to last corral it meant we started 15 minutes after that. We started strong and kept a pretty good pace for the first half of the race. But the halfway point got us both. Rachel couldn't feel her right foot and on top of that felt like her feet were burning (later to be discovered the cause were two blisters). Her shins were also feeling tight and causing pain. My right knee was not happy and I was in quite a bit of pain no matter if I walked or ran. We decided to finish the race walking, although I strongly contemplated stopping at the first aid tent and not finishing. 

At that point I think it was more mental than physical though, so we walked 6.5 miles to the finish with occasional bursts of running when there was more of a downhill. 

It wasn't our best finishing time, but it wasn't our worst. It really was about finishing, and we did. 

On top of the 13.1 miles we had just finished for a medal, we then had to walk an extra 1.42 miles (partly uphill) to the car. No ticket though!! 

Another half is done. 4 out of 14 finished and the next one is in 3 weeks. I really like always being in training mode. It gives me something to work towards and keeps me more focused than if I was just running for pleasure. 

Good thing I enjoy it!

 

Weigh In #17

Starting Weight: 189.2

Last Weeks Weight: 182.0

This Weeks Weight: 182.4

+/-: +0.4
Total +/-: -6.8

Clearly I'm doing something wrong here, and I'm pretty much over the fact that I'm not committed 100% to this effort of losing weight, keeping it off, and living a healthy lifestyle. 

So I am committing to myself this week to give it my all. I'm not shooting for perfection here, just progress. 

I could make excuse after excuse about why I haven't been strength training even though it works. I could justify the fact that I'm tracking every thing I eat even if that means I'm going over calories. I can explain that I've been really stressed at work and that carries over into my personal life and when I'm stressed I eat. 

That's not going to solve anything though. What is going to make a difference is what I do about it, not what I say about it. And I've been a lot of talk with little action. 

I need to start blogging more to hold myself accountable. I need to turn here when I've had a difficult day, to vent it out and work through why I want to turn to food. I need to turn here when I have no motivation to workout, to figure out what's holding me back and to hopefully find a small amount of motivation to do the workout. 

I can't keep doing what I'm doing though. Because I can tell a difference when I look in the mirror. I can see myself going back to a body that I didn't appreciate, a body that made me feel self conscious. I've made too much progress mentally in that area to turn around and throw it all away physically. 

Last weeks goals:

1. Track. I did it! I've made it another week with tracking everything. I did go over on calories six out of the seven days, however only one of those days did I net over 2000 calories. Baby steps. 

2. Water. Doing better with this one. I made it all but one day with at least 6 glasses of water. We started a new challenge at work to get in more water, so I am paying more attention to how much I am actually drinking so that I can accurately log my glasses of water each day. 

3. Clean out closet and dresser. If by cleaning out I actually meant adding more then I succeeded. I have a weakness for online shopping when there is an amazing sale going on and I may or may not have indulged in some new clothes shopping a couple days last week. So far, everything that I have received I have loved, so at least there's that. It all fits, I feel great and I am hoping to actually need this new business attire I've got going on soon. It's too casual too often here. It's nice to spruce it up. Unfortunately, there is a pile of hang ups sitting in front of my closet. A reminder to actually go through, get rid of (and not feel guilty for getting rid of) my older clothes that I no longer fit into, wear or like. 

4. Make April training schedule. I have it printed out and ready to go. I am going to be filling it in week by week so that I can work with Patrick's schedule and actually schedule workouts on days that I know they will get done. Things come up and happen (like being clumsy and tripping and pulling your side) but I'm trying to be flexible when it comes to rescheduling for realistic events and not just random excuses.

5. Stick to workout schedule for coming week. Not quite. I did change things around when I made my workout schedule for this first week of April, so there's that. Plus the slight "injury". It is what it is.

Workout schedule:

March 28th - April 3rd

Friday 3/28: arm workout completed, minimum 1 mile interval run completed

Saturday 3/29: 5 mile training run did not complete (did run 1 mile), cross training did not complete

Sunday 3/30: minimum 1 mile interval run completed, cross training did not complete

Monday 3/31: arm workout completed, 2-3 mile interval run completed

Tuesday 4/1: strength training DVD completed, minimum 1 mile interval run completed

Wednesday 4/2: arm workout did not complete, 2-3 mile interval run did not complete (did run 1 mile)

Thursday 4/3:  strength training DVD did not complete, minimum 1 mile interval run completed

This weeks goals:

1. Track. Stay in the black more than half the week.

2. Water.

3. Clean out closet and dresser.

4. Stick to workout schedule.

Workout schedule:

April 4th - April 10th

Friday April 4th: arm workout, minimum 1 mile interval run

Saturday April 5th: Hollywood Half Marathon

Sunday April 6th: gym, minimum 1 mile interval run

Monday April 7th: arm workout, 2-3 mile interval run

Tuesday April 8th: strength DVD, minimum 1 mile interval run

Wednesday April 9th: arm workout, 2-3 mile interval run

Thursday April 10th: strength DVD, minimum 1 mile interval run

So there it is. My breaking point of where I needed to get in order to start to make some positive progress. I think this week is going to be a good one. I'm ready mentally and I plan to go grocery shopping today in order to fill the refrigerator with healthy foods again. I've got this.. I hope!

Marley weighing in.

Thankful Thursday #4

1. I am thankful to my family and friends for making my birthday last week a wonderful one. I am so grateful to be surrounded by such amazing people and so lucky to be able to not just love my family because I have to but love them because I want to. It's like that saying about sisters.. "Sisters by chance, friends by choice." It's so true in regards to each one of these relationships. I couldn't be luckier!

2. I am thankful that I finally was able to talk to my boss and coworker that I work directly with about some things that have been bottling up for awhile. It was like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders and I finally feel like we can make some forward progress. I held some things in that had been bothering me for awhile because I didn't want to step on anyones toes and because I truly didn't think anything would be done about it. Thankfully I was wrong about that last part and I may finally get the proper training that I deserve and need in order to be the best I can be at my job.

3. I am thankful that I am taking a couple days off from working out. Not that I was doing that much and not that I was actually in a routine that was exhausting or taking up too much time, but it was a good reminder for me to slow down and not jump in head first again. I tripped yesterday on my lunch break and ended up pulling something in my back. Yesterday's workout plan was 2-3 miles and an arm workout. I ended up going for 1.14 miles (to satisfy the streak), but skipped the strength. Today's workout is a strength DVD, cross training at the gym and a 1 mile run. I am adjusting it slightly to skip the strength DVD, but I will do the run and the stationary bike tonight. I do plan on doing my arm workout tomorrow but taking it easy with another 1 miler since the next half is Saturday.

4. I am thankful that I have decided to start journaling to Isabel instead of just using the journal to complain about daily annoyances. That was not my intention when I started journaling but it became so easy to focus on the frustrations in life (as petty as they were) instead of on the positives. I finally finished my second book for March yesterday and ended up crying at the ending. It involved a mother dying and leaving her 16 year old daughter a journal that she had been writing to her since finding out she was sick. I don't want to look back and think about the things I wish I would have done but didn't because I thought someone would think the idea was stupid or not start now because I wish I would have been doing this for the past 6 years. No, instead I started last night and I intend to keep going for who knows how long. It's a place to keep our story, our past, our present, hopes for our future, quotes, funny things she says or does, adventures we go on, adventures I hope for us to go on, etc.

5. I am thankful that I have so much in my life that makes me happy. I'm not happy 24/7 and I definitely have struggles in my life, but I think I learned awhile ago that it's better to focus on the good in your life then on the things you want to change. I'm working on improving my life in so many ways and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for me. I know that everything happens for a reason and I'm accepting of what's happened so far. To be honest, the person I am today is so different from who I was just a year ago. I can only hope that the changes (which I believe to be for the better) can be seen by those around me. I feel more positive, outgoing, and just all around happy. It's a good place to be.

Photo a Day- March

March 1st:

March 2nd:














March 3rd:

March 4th:














March 5th:

March 6th:














March 7th:

March 8th: (iphone)

March 9th: (iphone)

March 10th:














March 11th:

March 12th: (iphone)

March 13th: (iphone)

March 14th: (iphone)

March 15th:




















March 16th: (iphone)

March 17th: (iphone)

March 18th: (iphone)

March 19th:




















March 20th:














March 21st: (iphone)

March 22nd: (iphone)

March 23rd: (iphone)

March 24th:



March 25th: (iphone)

March 26th: (iphone)

March 27th: (iphone)

March 28th: (iphone)

March 29th: (iphone)

March 30th: (iphone)

March 31st: (iphone)

Mileage Update #11

Mileage update:

Monthly mileage goal: 105 miles

Monthly mileage as of 4/1: 112.42 miles (March), 3.38 (April)

Yearly mileage goal: 1250 miles

Yearly mileage as of 4/1: 383.55 miles

30.68% complete

Total mileage recorded to date (1/1/12-4/1/14): 2133.56 miles

Running streak goal: 500 days

Running streak: day 163

This week's mileage: 21.21 mile week

Wednesday: 2.04 mile walk, 2.52 mile interval run

Thursday: 1.09 mile interval run

Friday: 1.34 mile walk, 2.04 mile walk, 1.23 mile interval run

Saturday: 1.25 mile interval run

Sunday: 2.37 mile interval run

Monday: 1.34 mile walk, 2.61 mile interval run

Tuesday: 1.34 mile walk, 2.04 mile interval run

April Goals

New Years Goals that will be included monthly:

1. Write in a journal every day
2. Take at least one picture a day
3. Run and/or walk 105 miles
4. Run at least one mile every day to continue running streak
5. Track on MFP
6. Read two books

April Goals:

1. Have at least one child free date night with Patrick
2. Work on blanket
3. Work on cross stitch
4. Work on coloring book
5. Look into cake decorating classes
6. Stick to workouts as much as possible