I Can Do 30 Minutes a Day

Let me start by saying I love when I can take my HIIT classes at the gym and when I can run at least three days a week.  In fact, I love when I can exercise for about an hour a day.  Running in my neighborhood is pretty easy to fit into my schedule, even if it's busy, but taking classes is not always feasible.  

Like now for example.  

My teen daughters are currently in sports, my son found out he needs a new ACL and is having surgery tomorrow for that, he will then continue with physical therapy afterwards, my husband has a fractured foot and only drives as little as absolutely necessary and I've begun making gifts and baking because....the holidays are coming.  

Whee!!!

With all this going on I am reminded that one thing I've really learned about living a healthier life is things change.  There have been seasons where I had time to train for a half marathon and seasons where I was happy if I got three days of exercise in a week.

The more I thought about it I decided one thing I don't want to change with these seasons is the fact that I do exercise regularly, even if I "only" do 30 minutes a day or if I "only walk".

Those "only"s are key for me. 

"I can only exercise 30 minutes a day." or "I'm only going to walk today." can sometimes sound like excuses not to exercise more.  It's kind of sad if you think about it, because when I weighed 232 pounds I didn't make time for intentional exercise at all, so getting 30 minutes a day done was a huge step in the right direction.  And I only began with 30 minutes of walking 3 days a week.

My observation is the more I find myself capable of the more I critique myself if I feel I'm not living up to those capabilities.

This is helpful in preventing me from getting lazy, but can also be detrimental if it turns into self condemnation and leads to me not doing anything because I can "only" do x, y or z.

Right now I don't have time for hour-long classes at the gym multiple days a week, but I do have 30 minutes I can dedicate to intentional exercise and I've decided to commit to doing at least 30 minutes a day of some sort of exercise.

In fact, (probably because I was running on an endorphin high) I even made a public commitment to keep my exercise habits through this busy season of my life by posting this to my Instagram account:  

To help keep me accountable I'm going to update my progress on my Friday posts.  I also try and input my workouts on my account at Daily Mile, which updates the widget on the right side of my blog.  -->

I know some of you are very faithful to your exercise, but if you need some motivation please feel free to join me.  You can come back every Friday and check in by leaving a comment on my Friday post.  

Maybe I'll even start a "Motivational Monday" series with updates on everyone who has decided to join me in this little challenge.  :) 

Have a good one and happy moving!

Note:  I was "writing" this little poem while I ran and then repeating it over and over for about a block so I wouldn't forget it when I stopped and could actually record myself.  lol  And I can write another post about how many times I went back and forth about whether to post my first video on here...without makeup.  I only go out without it to exercise, and that only started happening a few years ago.  I decided to keep it really real today.  =)

Out and About

Well, I was going to try and pop on here to check in about a week ago, but it just didn't happen.  We were swamped busy last week attending and helping host an annual conference our church puts on every fall.  It was exhausting, but wonderful all at the same time.  My husband took the week off and I enjoyed spending some time with him as well. 

Due to our hectic schedule last week I purposely did not weigh myself on Friday.  The week is too busy to exercise (since I do like the six hours sleep I managed to get in daily) and my eating was so-so.  

We ate out a few times and I had one or two donuts throughout the week; not exactly anything that would lead to weigh gloss, so I decided the scale would be better left untouched.  This is a once-a-year event and I wasn't worried about the scale for that bit of time. 

This week is pretty much back to normal, though the beginning to the week has been recuperating from last week.  :)  Actually, my mind is also running a mile a minute because I have a couple crafty projects on the burners.  I also have ...

...another surgery for my son.  Yep.  He's been having an issue with his bad knee and a MRI revealed a torn ACL.  The doctors are pretty sure this is from his original ski accident last March and he is scheduled for an ACL repair with scope this Thursday.  

It's a good thing I had already decided to workout from home for the duration of 2014.  I'm going to write more about that later, but I had already decided running and doing Jillian Michael workouts a few days a week will be the best way to make sure I get my exercise in during this busy season.  So, when I heard they were scheduling another surgery I wasn't freaked out about missing any exercise classes in the daytime.  

Instead I will continue on with my exercise while he rests and not feel like it can't get done just because my schedule has to be rearranged a bit.  Glory!

So, anyway...I'm alive.  I haven't forgotten about living a healthier life and I should be back to more regular blogging again shortly.  :) 

Thanks for stopping by!

Weigh-In ... Almost Didn't Happen

Today's Weight:  171.0

Loss/Gain:  -1.0 

So...this has been a crazy week and I haven't weighed since the other day [when the scale was up], so I almost didn't weigh myself today.  In fact, last night I was thinking about going back to reporting my weight on here the last day of the month like I was doing before, because I really don't like the feeling of "tomorrow is my weigh-in day I need to eat like...".  

However, I guess I'll keep weighing in on Fridays and reporting it.  I does help me stay a little more focused when I know I have to be accountable on Friday.  :)

With my crazy week I didn't track and didn't exercise.  Apparently I did manage to make more good decisions than not-so-good, so I'm content with it all. 

I finally posted about my 10K race earlier today, so you can read all about it here.  

Thanks for checking in and have a good weekend!  

10K Remembrance Run

Note:  I'm writing this race report about a week later, because it's just been that busy around here...

Short Story: 

(Courtesy of the Project Life App)

Long Story: 

My 10K race went very well.  I want to add, "..despite it being warmer than I anticipated.", because it was warmer than usual for this time of year.  The race also went well despite me being a nervous wreck the night before and even than morning.  Glory!

I'll just add in here the next day we woke up to a lovely 60 degrees and I asked the earth why we couldn't have had that the prior morning, but I digress.

This is the 3rd year I've participated in this race and I loved this shirt the best so far; so much so I decided to wear it to run the race in.  Had I checked and seen it was going to be warmer than normal I would've stuck with a running tank, especially because I've always followed the running rule of "don't wear the race day shirt until you've completed the run"... oh well.  I was proud of my reason for running and wanted to show it.

I wasn't really nervous about running 6.2 miles until the night before.  It's like this year came crashing down on me.  I told my husband last fall was so full of anticipation and feelings of accomplishment as I finished up my half marathon training, completed that in September and then he returned from an eight-month deployment in November.  "It's like then the new year came and everything came crashing down!!", I moaned.  Okay, I think I actually cried for a minute.  

[Once again] he was awesome in reminding me those things weren't my fault and to not be worried because I knew I could finish the race.  *deep cleansing breath*  *wiping tears away*  "I know.  You're right.", I confirmed and went to sleep. 

He had duty Saturday morning, so he was up just before me wishing me luck and reminding me to just enjoy myself and not worry about the time.  I groggily agreed to do just that. 

So, I got up and went about my race morning ritual of heating up coffee first thing and grabbing a protein bar to go with it.  I honestly wasn't really hungry yet, but I made myself drink the coffee pretty quick so it could go through my system in time for me to potty before the race. I live about ten minutes from the race location, so I wouldn't have a long drive time to get there and let my system do what needed to be done. 

I dressed, made sure I had everything and headed out the door.  I was grateful for a clear sky and a beautiful sunrise because my stomach was a mess of jumbles.  It wasn't minutes before I decided I needed some motivational encouragement and I found one of my mantra songs, The Climb by Miley Cyrus (sorry...this is the ONLY song I love from her...) and proceeded to listen to it on repeat the whole way to the base...crying a couple of times and then reminding myself I knew I could do this. 

As I pulled in the parking lot I spotted a car belonging to friends of ours.  The husband was running the 10K as part of his training for a half marathon this weekend.  That brightened me up a little.  When I spotted them in the crowd I was even more excited.  

His wife came as well and humored me with a few pictures of us together and me alone before we lined up to start.  (By the way, I had a perfect potty stop before meeting up with them for pictures, which is always HUGE for me.  I love when I have to go and there is time to relieve myself... small things make me happy.)

As I lined up I also chatted with a gal who told me she was a nervous wreck because she had an injury and hadn't been able to run the last five weeks.  I just encouraged her with a saying I adopted the minute I heard it, "I'm a completer, not a competer."  We're just here to finish and time doesn't matter.  She thanked me and I wished her a good race.  

There was a lot of people walking, so right away I knew one of my fears wasn't going to be realized -- I would not be the last one.  :)  I was seriously worried about coming in last because I've slowed up by a whole minute per mile this year.  

As is always the case in my races I started out slow and steady, pushing just enough to know I wasn't going too easy and after a mile or two I started picking off the people who rushed out the gate too fast and had to stop for walk breaks.  That's always my small victory and one I didn't really expect to experience with my slower running time this year.  But it happened and I felt better knowing that I wasn't the only one running so slowly this year, because very few of those people ever came back and passed me again.  I was actually amazed at the amount of slow runners in this race. 

My friend's husband was not slow and he had told me he was shooting for a 42:00 finish, so I didn't expect to see them after the race since I planned on a 1:15 - 1:20 finish.  However, around mile 2.5 there was the wife cheering me on and taking pictures with her phone.  I was so tickled that she hung out to cheer me after her husband had passed by.  

Even better, just after mile 4 there is a portion of the race where you're headed to the finish but you make a left turn and head out for a 2-mile loop back to the finish line (It's quite deceiving the first time to run it, but I expect it now.).  My friend's husband had finished the race and they were both there cheering me on.  Aww...gee...I felt really special.  

So, I continued plodding along and grateful we had one more patch of wooded area to shade the warming morning.  I also chatted with a few people as we skipped around large puddles in the wooded area.  I try to not be one of those people who annoys other runners, but at this point in the race people usually complain about the large puddles and I always joke that this is where I feel like a trail runner. :)  

I have to say that I knew I was running slower than any of my previous races, but I was running faster than I had so far this year.  By mile 5 I was beginning to feel it in my legs, but I just pushed through and tried to continue my steady pace.  What's funny is at mile 6 I always want to pick up my pace for that last 0.2 mile, but this time I didn't really feel like I had it in me.  So, I pushed a little, but just decided I wasn't worrying about pace, so I was just going to finish strong. 

As I cross the finish line I heard someone call my name and my friend had stayed to see me finish.  In fact, she was videoing my finish.  Awww... (okay, well, really her husband was staying because he was winning first place for the over 40 group, finishing in 42:__something.)

When all was said and done I was glad I signed up for this race.  It was hard in more ways than I thought it would be when I originally planned to do it, but I finished and I finished strong.  As I said earlier, it was my slowest 10K time, but my fastest average pace since I began training.  In fact, I was hoping, praying for a 1:20 finish and I killed it with a 1:14 finish!  Woot!  

THAT is something I'm very proud of.  

Weigh-In ... Results Follow Basic Steps

Today's Weight:  172.0

Loss/Gain:  - 4.0 lbs

Well, I wasn't expecting that, except that the only other day I weighed myself this week I was down and last week I saw 173 on the scale.  So, I guess it shouldn't have surprised me as much as it did. 

It's funny how this week I had a few moments where I overate and felt like I was never going to get the hang of it;  but at the same time I had more moments where I felt back to my normal healthier self and made simple, basic choices for healthier living.

It's funny, but just when I feel like giving up I find what it takes to keep going and then results follow.  I think the determination to make this the "last time" I lost that large amount of weight and the determination to never go back is what pulls me through.

*Contented sigh*

Tomorrow is my 10K race and I am ready.  Last week I ran 5 miles and was able to maintain a pace close to a 12:00 minute mile.  This will be my slowest 10K, but at least my pace has picked up since my first 6-mile run a month or so ago.  

I will have to try and not think too much about how slow I am right now and remind myself that at least I can run for 6.2 miles.  That's more than I ever dreamed of years ago.

The weather has been gorgeous in the mornings, so I'm looking forward to enjoying a nice run tomorrow.  This race weaves in and out of some wooded areas, so it's always enjoyable for me.

Have a nice weekend and thanks for checking in!  

Motivational Monday - It's My Pleasure

As I was running last week I heard Heather from Half My Size make this comment:

"Finding a healthier body should be a pleasure, not a punishment."

Do you know how many times I've felt like my slower metabolism, and taste for high-fat, high-sugar foods are a curse and need to punished by healthier eating and exercise???  Assuming you follow my blog because you are also striving to live a little healthier I'm sure you can relate. 

When I heard that comment though, I actually stopped to type it out exactly as she said it because I wanted to remind myself healthier food choices and regular exercise need not be punishment for me being "bad".  Instead, as a fellow blogger friend told me once, it's like I have an illness that needs special attention.  

When I'm completely honest I would not exercise or give a care if I ate less sugar/breads if I was thin.  Sad to some, but true. 

However, I know diabetes runs in my family and I know my joints were already feeling the weight of my unhealthy lifestyle (pun intended), so I was happy to begin making some changes to prevent myself from going farther down the path of an unhealthy lifestyle. 

And while there are times I groan because I can't eat "whatever"(all the time) or I may not feel like I want to exercise, I know I always feel better when I do what is better for my body.  

In fact, when I finished my run that day I said to no one in particular... "It's my pleasure!" to make healthier choices.  :)

Weigh-In ... Totally Forgot to Post

Friday's Weight:  176.0

Loss/Gain: +/- 0

When I weighed myself Friday morning I had every intention of posting it pretty quick, but... I forgot.  And then I've had a bustle of a weekend and never got around to it.  

Anyway, I wasn't planning on posting much, because after I weighed myself I still felt as contented as I did when I wrote the night before.  :) 

Before I See the Scale Tomorrow

As I was sewing this evening I was thinking about where I'm at in my healthiness journey and decided I would post tonight, before I see the scale tomorrow, so that my thoughts are not affected by the number I see in the morning.  

I've weighed every day this week and it's been up 3 pounds, down 3 pounds every other day, so who knows where it will settle tomorrow.  I can't honestly say I don't care what it will say, but I can honestly say I will not be too sad if there is no loss shown this week.  

Because one of the things I wanted to share is that I have made some great strides with getting back to my "new normal" self who was eating healthy and exercising a year ago.  I have found myself less compelled to overeat at meals and less likely to snack throughout the day when I'm truly not hungry.  

A short time ago I felt like I had lost "it" and I wondered if I'd every get "it" back.  Who knows if I was trying to use food as a salve to soothe over my other issue I've been dealing with, or if I just gained weight and then felt no hope of losing it so I didn't care how much or what I ate.  

And right now I don't care to do any further introspection to figure it out. 

All I know is I am finding myself picking healthier choices and smaller portions more often than not lately and feeling like my old [new] self.  :)  This makes me happy.

My running is also improving and that makes me happy as well.  Part of the improvement in my speed is the weather cooling, but I think the other part is that I'm running three days a week again and my body is remembering what it is to be a runner, or even to be physically active again.  Hooray!

So, basically what I want to say is that I am happy with how things are going.  I know I need, and want, to see the scale get back into the 160's because that is a healthier place for me to be.   I was maintaining around 160-163 for about a year and a half, so I know I can stay there comfortably. 

And since this 15-pound gains was due mainly to overeating during a stressful time in my life I know I can get it off again ... eventually.  

The gain happened.  I am moving on and letting go of it;  knowing I need to tighten the caloric belt, but also knowing I am not going to beat myself up if the scale doesn't reflect the other good things happening.

So, no matter what the scale says tomorrow I will be happy.  I will keep pressing on towards a healthier, happier me, because I won't give up.  :)