C25K - Week 4, Days 1 & 2

So, since I posted that I was going to do one more Week 3 run on Saturday, I decided to just go ahead and jump into Week 4 instead.  I may have been a little unhappy that my kids decided to wake me up so early on Saturday morning and needed to run off some steam, maybe.

I actually did it though, shy of about one minute on the 3rd run when I thought my legs were just going to collapse underneath me.  I was pretty happy that I got that far though.  16 full minutes of running for someone who does not run is pretty impressive, even if I sliced a minute off.

This morning I forced myself out of bed for my second try and I did it.  I took a short 30 sec. break during the last 5 min run for a sip of water because my throat was way too dry (still dealing with a cold and sore throat), but I made up the 30 sec. on the end.  I'm pretty amazed that I pushed myself through even when I wanted to quit.

Every time I look ahead to the next week's workout I think there's no way I can do it, but then I move forward and I DO IT.  I am doing it, and it feels amazing.

C25K - Week 3 Continued

I haven't been updating here as often as I would like, but I also haven't been running as often as I would like.  I'm really not doing well sticking to my MWF schedule for various reasons (excuses?).  Even though this is titled Week 3 of C25K, I'm in my 5th week of actually doing it.  I'm just stretching things out a bit. 

The Week 3 runs were rough at first, but the last two that I did felt a little easier.  I even added on an extra 90 sec. run the last time.  I'm hoping to do one more Week 3 run over the weekend, then move on to Week 4 starting Monday.  I'm hoping to pick up the pace in the next few weeks and push forward a bit more, instead of stretching each week into two.

I did get slowed down a bit this week thanks to a lovely head cold my daughter passed on and some pain in my right knee.  I'm actually a little surprised that the knee pain held off for this long.  It isn't horrible yet, but I did notice it hurting more than usual so I'm trying to take it easy as much as possible.  I may need to find some strength exercises to help with my knees as they are probably my weakest point.

C25K - Week 3 - Day Off

I had to take an unintentional day off today thanks to a lovely stomach bug that hit me over the weekend.  Besides feeling like someone is stabbing me in the gut with a knife, it has left me super tired, given me a lovely headache and has my muscles aching.  I'm feeling a bit better today, so hopefully I can get back on track tomorrow.

C25K - Week 3, Day 1

So, despite what I said in my last post, I got all aggressive this morning and decided to move forward onto C25K Week 3.  The first half went pretty well.  The second half made me say some not so nice words in my head, but I pushed and made it through.  When I hit those tough runs I start questioning myself, but so far I haven't quit.

I'm off schedule this week because I could not force myself out of bed on Monday morning.  I usually plan my runs for MWF, then an extra on Saturday if I can fit it in.  This week I've done T Th so far.  Amazingly, I actually missed my run yesterday.  I wish I would have gotten up and fit it in, even if it would have been a little harder without a day of rest in between.  Even though I'm struggling a bit with the runs, I feel so much better on the days that I get up and do it.

C25K - Backstepping

I finished Week 2, Day3 on Friday, but I'm still struggling with that last run interval so I think I'm going to repeat Week 2.  I'm getting all of the running in, but my body is screaming at me during the last couple of runs.  When I looked forward to Week 3, I just don't feel like I'm quite ready for it yet.  If I can, I'll push a little harder toward the end of the week.  I'm so terribly out of shape that I really feel like I need to take this slow.


Monday is generally my start day for the week, but I just couldn't get myself out of bed this morning.  I don't know whether to blame the busy weekend or the super strong antihistamine I took before bed, but my mind wasn't functioning enough to push myself out of the bed.  I'm a little disappointed in myself, but I know that I just have to catch up and go full force for the rest of the week.  I'll either make my run up tonight or tomorrow morning.

C25K - Week 2, Day 2

I completed C25K Week 2, Day 2 yesterday and it was rough.  For some reason my legs just felt like lead.  I had to slow my pace down, but I did finish it.  Most days I feel good afterward, but yesterday I just felt tired and wiped out. 

I haven't been sleeping well this week and allergies have been absolutely crazy, so I'm blaming that for my lack of enthusiasm.  I sure hope it returns soon or I'm going to really have problems in Week 3!

C25K - Week 1, Day 2

As much as I didn't want to get out of bed this morning, I did.  It was a few minutes later than I had intended, but still plenty of time to get my 30 minutes in on the treadmill.  Week 1, Day 2 of C25K was much easier than Day 1 and there's a very good reason for that.  Apparently I jumped way ahead of myself and was running 90 sec at a time and walking 60.  I should have been running 60 and walking 90.  BIG difference!  Day 2 felt incredibly easy in comparison.

The other thing that made it easier, was that I discovered this awesome C25K iPhone app.  It is really easy to use and you can even build a music play list for your runs right inside the app.  Each week's run/walk increments are built right in with audio cues when you need to switch gears which is really helpful - no need to watch the timer.  I definitely would recommend it.  There is also a list of C25K podcasts available to download that tell you when it is time to switch to running/walking.  I haven't checked any of them out (yet) but if you don't have an iPhone or iPod, it gives you some other options.

I'm feeling really good about this whole thing today.  My leg muscles are starting to get a little bit sore/stiff but it's the good kind of soreness so it isn't really bothering me.  I plan on enjoying my extra 30 minutes of sleep tomorrow, but I'm actually looking forward to my Friday morning run now!

Dusting off the Treadmill

Saturday morning I woke up irritated.  My kids never sleep in long enough for me to get any benefit on the weekends and I was tired.  It didn't help that hubby and I had gotten into a semi-argument the night before just as I was trying to go to sleep.  I wasn't ready to face the day.

I reluctantly crawled out of bed, went to the bathroom for my usual morning routine, but stopped before getting in the shower.  Instead, I grabbed a sports bra, socks, and tennis shoes and headed for the treadmill.

I haven't used the treadmill in a very long time.  If it weren't for the occasional visit from my mother-in-law, I'm not sure the old thing would even function any more.  As it is, the display is hard to read (but does work if you can make out the dim numbers) and the belt has a couple of torn spots along the edges.  I did actually dust it a couple months ago and clear the cobwebs off, but there was a nice fresh layer of dust that needed removing.

Armed with my Zen and my iPhone to use for a timer (screw the dim, hard-to-read display on the treadmill), I climbed on the belt and started it up.  As I took the first few warm-up steps I slid on my headphones and cranked up the music.  I've had Tik Tok stuck in my head for days, so I put on some Ke$ha and started jamming. (No judging my choice of music here, the beat kept me moving.)

I figured 20 minutes was a pretty good goal considering the only exercise I've had for the last several months includes chasing around my two little monsters or making a mad dash through the grocery store.  Before I even bothered to check the time, I was already over halfway through.  A few minutes later and I had met my goal, almost effortlessly.

I'm not at all a runner, so I'll admit to walking at a fast pace for that 20 minutes but it was enough to get my out-of-shape heart pumping and break a sweat.  I only clocked a little over a mile, but it made me feel great.

I got off of the treadmill with my head held a little higher, the stresses of the morning a little lessened, and feeling a little bit invincible.  It's funny how such a small thing can make such a big difference in your day.

That's why I set my alarm clock a little earlier today and got up and did it again.  It was a great way to start the day.  I wasn't thrilled to get up earlier, but again, I felt great when I was finished.  I'm going to make it a goal to get up early at least 3 days a week from now on and visit my old treadmill.  Who knows?  Maybe it will end up being a daily thing.

I've been on this quest to simplify, to relax more, to find more "me" time during the day, and to achieve a healthier lifestyle, but I've only been taking a few very timid steps toward it. This is something I need, both for my physical health and my mental health.  That 20 minutes on the treadmill did a lot for clearing my mind.

Yes, it's another small step.  Yes, I've done it before and before long I've gotten tired of the routine and stopped.  I need to find a way to hold myself accountable.  Perhaps I should join a Twitter group or other online site.  I did check out SparkPeople.com the other day and it looks interesting.  Until I decide on something, putting it out here for everyone to see is a start.

Starting Over

As the title says, I'm starting over. I don't know of a better way to keep myself accountable than to write about it here. I'm really not good at this whole diet/exercise thing, but I want to be. I want to find the motivation to make myself better. I want to be healthy. I just don't want to have to work so hard at it.

I'm adapting my "30 Days To A Better Me" plan. I initially planned 30 day increments with the idea of doing Jillian Michaels' 30-Day-Shred, but that didn't work out so well. For now, every 30 days will be a check-point of sorts. That will be the time that I stop, evaluate where I'm at, where I want to be, and how I can change my plan to fit my life better. I hope that will help to keep me from just giving up in frustration. I want my plan to be flexible, but I also know that it takes time to form habits.

As of today, Hubby and I are back on Weight Watchers. My weight has gotten out of hand (though really I just never lost the baby weight after having Evie) and he wants to lose some too, so we're doing it together. We need each other's support to stick to it. My long-term weight loss goal is to lose 60 pounds.

As far as exercise goes, the 30 Day Shred just isn't my thing. It's a good workout, but my knees apparently can't handle it. I still plan to work it into my routine, but it definitely won't be daily. I'm ready to jump into my EA Sports Active that I got for the Wii, and will probably rotate the two, along with some time on my treadmill. My initial goal is to exercise 3x a week. I know I should do more, but until I figure out how to work the time into my schedule, I need to start small.

Over in the sidebar, I've made new sections for "Goals" and "Accomplishments". I plan to update the accomplishments every 30 days in order to help re-evaluate my goals. I will most likely update the weight loss weekly, on Mondays (my WW weigh-in day). For the first time ever, I'm also going to measure my body and record inches lost as well. I'm hoping that will help motivate me as I watch them drop off.

I'll be updating here as I see fit, when I need a little motivation, or when I want to share my accomplishments. I really want to commit to this. I really want a healthier body and lifestyle.

Here's to my first 30 days to a better me!