fit_in_time’s BodyBlog

Who the heck invented Facebook?  It’s TOTALLY ADDICTIVE!  I’m so busy "finding" people, that I rarely check this site anymore.  But, just in case you are wondering, I’m still working out.  Diet is not as great as I’d like, but I’m starting a new personal, 30 day challenge.  Starting April 1, I will take pics, and its clean eating/working out for 30 days.  Haven’t mapped out the whole plan, I’ll do that tomorrow. 

Oh well, I’m getting up in the AM, so its time to shut it down.  I just needed to write SOMETHING here…

Wow!  It’s taken me 7+ months to get to my 40th blog.  But, here I am.  So, what do I have to say for myself?  Well, though I haven’t been logging on (my college alumni reunion website is now taking up some of my time in the evenings…) I’ve been consistently setting and achieving my weekly goals of working out, and eating right.  The Girls Trip a few weeks ago didn’t wreck too much havoc on my routine, and as soon as I came back, I was right back on track.  I just read my last post, where I had just run for 10 minutes straight.  Well, yesterday, I ran for 20 minutes straight, took a 4 min recovery, and then proceeded to run for 10 more minutes!

My weight training is also starting to pay off.  In early Feb, I started with a very simple routine of pushups, squat presses, step ups, and planks. Couldn’t do more than 2 sets of 8.  Now, I’m on 3 sets of 12 for each exercise, and I’m adding new exercises each day.  AND - I accomplished my 1st full push up about a week ago!  Mind you, its still not a perfect "man" pushup, but I’m able to support by bodyweight through 2 perfectly formed PU’s!  YEAH!

While the scale STILL isn’t moving much (I am still hovering around 206 - 208) my bodyfat has decreased since my last weigh in. I got on the scale today, and BF says 32.4.  Whoa!  I just checked my last stat, and BF was 38%.  BIG DIF!  The biggest evidence of this was during my girls weekend a few weeks back.  Of course, I did what all girls do, and ran out to shop for outfits for my trip.  In my normal custom, I picked up two size 16 jeans.  When I put on the first pair, my friend promptly said "those jeans are TOO BIG"!  She was right!  The jeans hung loosely around my body all day.  "Just try a smaller size", she said.  I decided, what the heck, and went back to the store, to try on a size 14W.  THEY FIT, but not perfectly, they are TOO BIG in the thigh/hip area!

So, with all of that said, how do I want to close my 40th post?  By simply saying this - By my next 40th post, I plan to be "bigger" and better than ever!

As I wrote in a previous post, I’m now setting weekly goals.  It really helps me to be able to celebrate the "small" weekly wins, and it makes the road ahead a little easier.  Its been three weeks now, and the time seemed to go by quickly.  Plus, this contest with my hubby is helping to keep me focused, and motivated. 

Today, I did a 55 min cardio session, and guess what - I was able to run for a full 10 minutes!  Then, I did a 5 min recovery, then ran 10 more min and another 5 min recovery.  I wanted to do one last 10 min set, but I couldn’t cut it, I ended up running for a final 5 minutes.  I finished out the last 5 by walking at a 4.0 incl, to keep my heart rate up.  So, bottom line, even though I still can’t run a full 30 minutes, I’m able to do more and more each time!  That is exciting!

I’m also working on my pushups.  I have 0 upper body strength.  Every other day, I’ll do 3 sets of 10 "girlie" pushups.  I always start off each set with an attempt at a full pushup, and I’ll lower myself down, but I can’t seem to get back "up". That’s one of my long term goals for 09 - to be able to do 10 FULL pushups!

Now, this coming weekend will be the challenge!  I’m headed to Charlotte, NC for a long "girl’s" weekend.  Lots of parties, and undoubtedly, drinking.  But, I’m ready!  I’m taking my workout gear, and this week’s goal includes a workout every day until Thursday (departure day), and then I’ll pick it up again on Fri and Sat, while on travel.  My workout buddy is traveling with me, and we’ve already agreed that we will split all our meals.  I do plan to limit my drinks, and follow up each drink with a big bottle of water.  Wish me Luck!

Though I tried not to, this AM, I hopped on the scale.  My next weigh in (for the contest w/ hubby) is Mar 1, but I succumbed to the urge to weigh myself.  208.6.  I started thinking - "Damn.  I’ve been up and down over these past few weeks, but I can’t seem to get lower than 208.6"!  And, It’s Highly Unlikely that my scale is broken. Yes, I know..weight isn’t everything.  But those numbers have become the yardstick for how I measure my progress.  My efforts.  My successes/failures.  It’s a vicious, self-depreciating cycle.  Yet, I still do it. I’m really trying not to make the numbers my life.  I’ve definitely gained progress in other areas.  I’m able to run more.  My endurance seems to have improved.  I feel myself getting a little stronger with each workout.  And, I’m making better nutritional choices overall.  Yet, the 208.6 still haunts me. Oh well.  Mar 1 is around the corner.  Let’s see if we can get that number just a li’l lower….

My new thing to keep me motivated is to devise new WEEKLY goals.  This allows me to celebrate the small successes, while still moving towards the ultimate goal.  So far, my weekly goals have been to do at least 6 days of workouts.  For the past two weeks, I’ve made both goals. 

I’m also focusing more on diet, esp on the weekends.  During the week, I eat pretty clean (cuz I’m brown bagging my lunch and snacks), but on the weekends, sometimes I tend to go a little crazy.

 ALSO, hubby and I have a bit of a "contest" going on.  We started on Feb 1, and we check in on the 15th, then the 1st of every month.  At our first check in, I hit my goal of a 4lb weight loss.  Yippee.  He didn’t make his goal, but I know that if he seriously cleans up his diet, he’ll be WAY ahead of me. 

I’m hoping that this constant "goal setting" will keep me focused.  This, and the fact that Summer is right around the corner…..

Is how sore you get.  BUT, I’ve come to welcome the soreness.  Cuz, it means I did something right (I hope!) 

Good Night!

Wow, it’s been forever since I’ve blogged.  My job has me totally stressed out these days, and the LAST thing I want to do (after sending emails all day) is to log onto my home PC.  Well, I fell off the wagon last Nov - Dec.  Tried to get back up in Jan.  Lasted for about a week, then fell off for two.  Got back on for a week, then fell off a week. 

At this point, I just keep trying to get back up!  And sometimes, that means going back to the basics (working out + clean eating = healthier, more fit ME! )

February is going a little better.  I’ve cleaned up my eating, and recommitted myself to "clean eating" for the thousandth time.  I’m up most mornings (7 days last week - Woo Hoo) to work out.  This week’s goal is to work out 5 days.  So far, I’m 2 in.  Was supposed to get up this AM, but I was unable to sleep a wink last night.  Again, the job has me stressed out, so many nights, I toss and turn, in anticipation of what the next day’s work will bring.  So, I couldn’t get up this AM, and now, here I sit, in my workout clothes, too darn tired to get it in.

So, I think I’m going to try to make up for the sleep tonight, so that I can get myself up in the AM.  I’m yawning as I write this.  Blogging used to help keep me sane, so I’m hoping to get back to the basics of what kept me focused and on track last year.  Wish me luck!

To get FAT!  Today was our Holiday Luncheon.  "Soul Food" catered.  Fried Chicken, candied yams, turkey, greens, etc, etc, and then a Dessert Bar.  I probably had a little of everything, and then 2 cups of Pepsi, which I’ve been craving lately. 

Now, I feel run down.  I have definitely noticed that once you start eating clean, when you go back to junk, your body knows the difference.  Thank God!  That’s MORE incentive to staying on track!

So, as I sit hear, bloated, with my stomach cramping, I’m reminded once again of why I’m doing this. 

Tomorrow is another day….

When I was blogging on the regular, I found that it helped me to be more accountable.  So, I’m trying to get back to that.  Today was my cleaning day, but I received an unexpected invite to a Ladies Tea.  I spent most of the AM cleaning my kitchen/wood floors, and the next thing I knew, it was time to start getting ready.  BUT, I hadn’t worked out this AM.  My new mantra is to DO ME - so I jumped on the treadmill for a 20 min brisk run/walk.  I had to yell at the dog 50 times, and answer 50 more questions from my daughter, but I DID IT!  I DID ME!

I know it was only 20 minutes, but somethings better than nothing, right?  I certainly hope so!

Well, not really starting over, but I had to take a week off, cuz my knee is really bothering me.  I have a long-standing injury w/ my left knee.  If I go to hard too fast, the pain flares up.  The P90X stuff was probably a mistake for me.  Perhaps when I lose a little weight, and gain more leg strength, I’ll be able to do it, but the last time I did the tape, the jumping quickly flared up my knee pain.  The pain is right behind the kneecap, and I can feel it when I walk up the stairs, or bend at the knees.  (Does anyone have this sort of pain, or know what it is?) 

So anyway, I took about 8 days off, to get it together.  in retrospect, instead of taking days off, I need to just modify my workouts.  Whats scary to me is how quickly I’ll get "comfortable" with not working out.  However, I think the small difference is, now, while I may not always be "motivated", I’m constantly thinking about it, and telling myself that I’ve got to keep moving, keep pushing!  So, that pushing got me off my butt this AM, and back on the treadmill.  Just the act of moving, sweating, listening to my ipod while I workout is comforting to me.  I felt better, and once again, I’m reminded of exactly WHY I’m doing this.  FOR ME!

So, today, I’m starting, again!  I don’t want to go into January 1, having to say I’m starting over.  I want to hit Jan 1 with some solid days of workouts under my belt, and a new focus/committment to taking care of me, and living my best life ever! 

Have a Wonderful Weekend!