I'm Back

It has been a while since I have blogged, exercised, or stayed within my calories. I guess you could say I took a vacation. Between illnesses and stress at work I have been spread too thin. These are excuses and do not make my vacation acceptable, but sometimes in life we have to do things to get by. My clothes are getting tighter, I am tired all the time and I am starting to get stress induced headaches. Last night at the gym I weighed myself for the first time in probably about six weeks (the battery died in my scale and I have been hope not weighing myself would help me focus on more than the number). 167.4! What how did this happen? I do realize that I normally weigh myself at home first thing in the morning without clothes on, and this was at night with clothes on after working out, but still. Enough said I can't change the past but I can do better today.

I had written out a weekly schedule of when and what kind of exercises I want to do during the week. Yesterday I was going to do cardio after work. Well I got off work very late and had to rush home to pickup some paperwork from the Dr.'s office and by then it was time to get my kids from daycare. I did not let this ruin my day. When I got home I still made dinner. It takes a little over 30 minutes to cook and my kids are not very willing to wait to long after we get home to eat, but they survived and I am glad I did not cave and just pick up a pizza on the way home. Then after they were bathed and put in bed my husband got home. I got my gym bag, changed and was off the the gym.

At the gym I decided it was time to run on the dreaded treadmill. I love running, but hate to do it on the treadmill. Winter seems to be coming early around here and I am determined to keep running so I am ready come summer. I ran 1.5 miles. It felt so good and I could feel days worth of stress just melt away (or was that sweat). I was so proud I did exactly as I had set out to do even if it wasn't when I had planned on doing it. Go me. I realized during my run last night that how can I expect anyone to respect or love me when I don't do the same for myself. Eating right and exercise are ways that I love myself and show that I respect myself. If my husband was abusive to me the way I am to my body I would leave him in a heartbeat.

I think I want to end every post with one thing that I am proud of. Today I am proud that it is a tough choice for my son to choose between applesauce and candy for dessert. He finally chose the candy but I took a while to decide and I am certain if I had yogurt the candy would have lost. He learned this from me and my diligence in making sure sugary snacks are only a rare occasional treat.

Just a quick post. Yesterday I was talking to my younger sister on the phone and she asked what I was doing. I told her I was shoveling my sidewalks (thanks mother nature for the two feet of snow, not) and she said "how can you shovel and talk on the phone?" My reply was " I am on my bluetooth." She in turn says "Thats right you are in shape." I guess its the small things that we can do in our everyday lives that get easier that we take for granted until someone who is just starting off reminds us of where we used to be. Thanks sis, that came the right time. I currently have no scale, dead battery, so I don't know what my weight is, but my clothes are getting tighter and I can tell I am putting some of my weight back on. I need to start working out and running again! I need to stop binge eating. I want my energy and my motivation back. I need to get over all the new stress in my life and get back to well MY life and enjoying it.

More to the story

Last night I left out some of the important details. If I am doing this so I can look back see where I came from, what worked, how I have changed, what worked, what didn't work, ect. then I need to be a little more detailed. Last night at the gym I did the treadclimber for twenty minutes (after a five minute warm up on the treadmill of course). I pick a slower than normal walk speed (I couldn't remember what I used to pick its been that long) but my heart rate stayed in the 140s most of the time and never got over 151. I have read many places that this lower steady rate is better for burning calories, however I usually prefer higher more intense workout. I had one voice in my head saying "this is good you don't need to workout too hard and be exhausted tomorrow." Then there was Jillian Michaels in my other ear shouting "You have to step outside of your comfort zone to see any changes. Now move faster." My side hurt a little so I listened to the first voice. When I was done with that a part of me thought I should just leave, twenty minutes was a good first time back workout, no need to overdue it. The another part of me thought well I am already here why not do a little more. So I did. I did the elliptical for another ten minutes. This time I kicked it into high gear. It helped that Beyounce's Single Ladies came on my MP3. The beat was perfect. I then walk to cool down for another five minutes on the treadmill, and left burning a little over 400 calories. GO ME :)

Oops

Wow I can't believe it has been almost a month since I last posted. It has been a crazy month for sure, and in the process, I let my healthy lifestyle slip. It started with my first 10k. Well actually three days prior to that my little girl broke her leg. Then that Saturday she spent the day throwing up :(. The on Sunday I ran/walked my first 10k. My time was 1:23:41. Not bad. The next day was my turn at the stomach crude. So between the race and the throwing up, my ab muscles and my side were extremely sore. From there work and life got crazy yadda yadda ate out alot yadda yadda yadda. So finally I said enough! On Saturday I started eating right and today I went to the gym. I feel so refreshed and empowered! I have more energy and my body doesn't feel so bloated and painful. I need to remember this feeling.