Running NSV

I had a major running non-scale victory today. I jogged at 5.0 mph (a 12:00 min mile) for 25 minutes straight through. My new personal best for two miles is 24:00 minutes. Woo Hoo!!!

Somehow I got it in my head to start running at 5.0 mph, which is the highest I run at for intervals on the treadmill. It was going fine and when I knew I could keep going past five minutes I went ahead and kept going.

I soon realized I could probably make it to twenty minutes. As that neared I knew I could do a bit more, so I told myself 2 miles or 25 minutes. I hit two miles at 24:00 and decided to stick out that last, hard minute just because I could.

I think I could've ran the entire 30 minutes at 5.0, but I was so done at 25 minutes and didn't feel like pushing through those last five minutes. I know it was only five minutes, but it was already getting hard and I was content to stop and be pleased with how good I did.

Allergies have been bothering me like crazy lately and I still had the bike to do for 30 minutes. So, I started a cool down jog for the last five minutes and marveled at how just a year ago I was doing the Couch to 5K program and being thrilled to "run" at 4.0 mph for a full 30 minutes.

It was a great workout today! Now I'm off to bed...to rest these weary legs. :)

Working and Working Out

Short Story:

I learned the best time for me to exercise on the days I work (I'm a part-time substitute teacher) is in the early mornings. It won't be an intense hour at the gym, but it will be better than nothing and I won't have to feel like I sacrificed my evening with the family for it. And...I'm not minding the getting up earlier, because it leaves me feeling great all day. :)

Long Story: (This is kind of rambling, but I don't have time to "clean up" my writing tonight.)

I worked yesterday and today. Last week I got up early to exercise on the days I worked, but yesterday I wasn't feeling like it. As I laid in bed I told myself I would workout in the evening. I knew Freddy wouldn't mind if I went to the gym, and I could even do a quick 30-minute DVD at home if that was all I had time for.

Well, I felt guilty and horribly all morning for "skipping" my workout. Why? Because I know that when I'm working (and one daughter has ballet after school) we don't eat dinner until around 7:00 pm. In order to care for my house after dinner, spend some time with the kids, get things ready for another day's work and get to bed at at decent time I don't have extra minutes for exercise. I could skip my household duties and ignore my children to get a workout done and get to bed on time, but that's not my thing.

Around lunchtime I texted my husband to tell him I didn't think I'd go to the gym in the evening after all. I explained that I didn't want to ignore the family for the evening just to fit in exercise and he agreed that was fine.

After him basically telling me he thought it was okay I was fine. No more guilty feelings. Though this may not be a popular thing in the health world, my family comes before my exercise. If I'm so busy that I have to choose between spending some time around the family or getting exercise in, I will almost always choose my family. There is balance there, but that's how my priorities go. My kids won't always be around forever, but the opportunities to exercise will.

So... while I felt better emotionally for the rest of yesterday for just deciding to skip the workout for the day I also learned something. If I am going to get exercise in while working I must get up and do it in the morning. I did it last week and after not doing it yesterday I realized that really is the best thing.

So, today I did. I was up and starting my 2-mile Walk At Home Leslie Sansone DVD by 6:00 am. I got a good brisk 30 minutes of exercise in, showered, got twins off to school, did devotions, got myself and son off to school and felt better all day for it. :)

And now...I've paused to think...lost my train of thought (hubby is watching over my shoulder because he wants to use the computer), so....I should probably get to bed now.

Hopefully I've have more clarified thoughts later in the week. :)

Oh, yea...now I remember. The neatest thing I've learned from this observation is that I haven't minded getting up early to exercise before work. It's not the most intense workout like running, but it gets the blood pumping and me going. I step up the walking workouts to make myself sweat, so I know I'm getting a decent workout in. I also have notice that I feel so much better throughout the day for doing it, which makes it easier to get up the next time. (except for Mondays when you stayed up too late the night before... LOL )

I guess that's it for now. G'nite!

Weigh-In ... Doing Something Right

Today's Weight: 185.0

Loss/Gain: -1.0 lb

Total Loss So Far: -46.0 lbs

After a week of PMS chocolate eating and TOM arriving yesterday I'm very pleased with a one-pound loss. I can't remember the last time I had a lost when TOM arrived. I must be doing something right. :)

It's been another busy week, and another good busy. Eating was so-so with the beginning of the week having a huge PMS indulgence.

Exercise has been good.

• Sat - 40 mins of Jillian Michael's intervals DVDs.
• Sun - Rest
• Mon - 30 Day Shred DVD before work
• Tues - Leslie Sansone 2-mile walk before work
• Wed - Rest
• Thurs - Sansone 2-mile Faith Walk
• Fri (today) - 30 mins on elliptical finishing just over 3 miles at levels 12-14 and 30 mins on bike completing just over 6 miles at levels 10-12.

I've had some emotional days, but things are getting worked out and it's all for good. I'm learning sometimes we have to face the fight and hard times to rejoice in the victorious outcome.

I don't know if the emotional issues I've been dealing with will impact my weight loss journey, but we'll see. In the meantime I'm continuing on in my weight loss journey.

Here's a question or two for everyone:

1. If you had an accountability partner what would you want to be accountable to each other for? Calories eaten daily? Exercise commitment met daily? Either of these weekly? Something totally different?
2. If you've had a friend you were accountable to, what did you do? Was it helpful?

Thanks for the comments. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Have a nice weekend everyone! I'm going to try and get back to some more regular blogging...as soon as I remember my husband is home in the evenings now and not out studying till all hours any more. (we share a computer...) LOL

Thanks for checking in! :)

Full-time Days

It's Wednesday and I've been working every day this week so far. When working my days are full and then my evenings are full of taking care of household chores and relaxing for a few minutes with the family. Blogging is not the highest on my list of things to get done, so it takes a backseat when I'm this busy. The good thing is my weight loss journey doesn't. :)

I've still been tracking my food and I've gotten up to exercise in the mornings. Today is my rest day in the week, so I was able to sleep an extra 30 minutes.

I told my friend on Monday night that I'm a little amazed at the energy I've had each evening to get dinner and take care of what needs to be done (to keep the house from getting a mess while I'm working). I told her when I worked full-time before I used to be so tired in the evenings. I attribute this energy to eating better and getting regular exercise. Of course rest is good too and I've done pretty well at getting to bed at a decent hour...something about knowing I'm getting up at 5:45 helps me. :)

Anyway, I have a post brewing regarding a sermon my pastor preached last Sunday. He and his wife have been exercising and watching what they eat for the past few months and in his sermon on striving for excellence he paralleled his weight loss journey to his walk with God. It was a very timely sermon for me in all areas of my life, especially with my word being FOCUS this year. :) I took many notes and will be back to share with you what I learned as soon as I have a bit more time.

In the meantime, I'm off to get dressed for work. I hope you're all having a good week. Thanks for checking in! :)

Weigh-In ... Chocolate & A New Love

Today's Weight: 186.0

Loss/Gain: -1.0 lb

Total Loss So Far: -45 lbs

What a good, busy week I've had.

I'm glad to be down after a week of chocolate indulgences. I have journaled every one, but there were more than usual this week. Amazingly I didn't do too shabby with my calorie intake daily, even with chocolate, and that is a step forward. I can do better, so I plan to this coming week.

I've stepped up my exercise to 45 minutes or more. Here's what I accomplished since my last weigh-in:

Sat - 30 mins on bike and 30 mins on elliptical

Sun - None

Mon - 30 minutes jogging and 20 mins on bike

Tues - 50 minute 4-Mile Fast Walk DVD by Leslie Sansone

Wed - none

Thurs - 45 min 3 Fast Miles DVD by Leslie Sansone (at 5:45 am because I had to work - GO ME!!!!)

Today - This morning hubby and I went to gym after dropping off son and I have already doen 30 mins jogging on treadmill and 30 mins walking random hills routine on treadmill at 3.8/4.0 mph intervals. I was one sweaty girl after that.

So, I'm pleased with my exercise for the week. I'm shooting to hit 45-60 minutes of exercise daily. I know it's vital to my success and it helped this week - especially with chocolate in my blood all week. LOL

Oh, and I have to share something new I've fallen in love with (can you tell I have time to blog today?? I've been wanting to tell you for a few days now....) BLUEBERRIES!!!!

I see Lori eat them all the time and thought I should give them a try. I LOVE THEM. I even had my son try them and he liked them as well. mmm....they've been added to my fruit with lunch or snacks now.

Well, I must go. I'm writing on an endorphin high, so I'm feeling very happy right now, but my housework does call. So, I'm off to make my house look all fresh and clean again so I can enjoy my weekend.

Have a great Friday everyone!! :)

Doing Well

Just thought I'd pop in to say that it's been a busy week, but I'm doing well. I hope you are all having a nice week.

Talk to you tomorrow for weekly weigh-in. :o)

My Valentines

Heart healthy things I've done in the last 48-72 hours.

• Ran a 5K on Friday.
• Got a babysitter and went out of town Friday with my Luv for an overnight trip.
• Ate chocolate covered strawberries.
• Finished 24-hour getaway with a trip to the gym with said Luv.
• Biked for 30 minutes and then did 30 minutes on elliptical during that gym visit.
• Enjoyed dinner at Chipotle with husband and kids (and seriously aching thighs from workout).
• Remembered Sunday morning that the greatest valentine of all is the love God showed to us when he gave his son to die for our sins. John 3:16
• Had friends over for lunch on Sunday for nice visit.
• Exchanged valentines with ladies in church (something new that we all enjoyed).
• Sent my kids off this morning with little valentine's treats and lots of hugs and kisses.

It's just been a wonderful, loving couple of days! I forgot my camera at church yesterday, so I have to leave you with this digital scrapbook page I made recently.

I'm a blessed woman with a happy heart! I hope you all enjoy some kind of activity that will bring joy to your heart today!