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Fitness, Health

Let the Workout Madness Begin

One of my best friends is trying to kill me.

No, not in a serial killer way. She’s just trying to get us to work out more since we’ve both fallen off the workout wagon. Pumpkin donuts, apple cider, and ice cream are way too tempting when the leaves turn colors and the temperature drops. Sweater weather also gives the illusion that you can be frumpy inside your big, baggy tops. I’m making excuses, I know. But I bet you’ve said the same thing.

My friend’s idea to ward off fat is brilliant, but brutal. A monthly workout planner with day-by-day routine. The problem is . . . she wants to do three to five days each day. Kind of an accelerated plan, with a death wish. So, on Day 1, I wouldn’t just do Day 1’s workout. I’d do Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and maybe Day 4 if I’m ambitious.

So I tested day one.

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Crunches. Easy. Done in no time doing day 1, 2, 3, and 4. I even threw in some extra bicycles and mason twists.

Leg Lifts. A bit harder, but totally manageable.

Then came the planks. Usually I’m not a complainer. And I usually do three 1-minute planks in a gym session. But doing a short session, then another session, and yet another short session, got really frustrating quickly.

So, being that I’m thoroughly worn out. I’m hoping I get rock hard abs in a month. Or at least that my pants start fitting again. Here’s hoping. If you’ve got some inspiration on staying motivated, send it my way.

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Fitness, Health

I’m Not A Machine: Eating Healthy Has Its Limits

I’m proud of my progress so far this year. I’ve lost a significant amount of weight, especially for my height. A grand total of 20 pounds (give or take the day) since the beginning of the year. I’m only 5’4″. Most of this is in part of eating healthy.

I need to keep telling myself that this is an accomplishment, because not everyone has been supportive. In every life situation, there will be haters. Don’t let them get you down. For the most part, people have been really great, but there are a few that have made me feel like my progress has been not a great accomplishment. The reason I say this is that it takes a lot to not only start a journey like this, but to continue it through the doubt. There will be moments when weight won’t come off, when people are jealous and make you feel down, and then there will be times that you gain back the weight. It’s ok. It’s part of the process.

And I don’t want anyone to think that I’m always eating healthy and I’m a machine. I do my best, but I’m not perfect. I’m human like everyone else. It’s the small choices that make a difference, though.

Like when I craved a cookie the other night. It’s 140 calories for a Soft Bake Milk Chocolate Cookie from Pepperidge Farm. That’s a lot of calories for one cookie, but I wanted it. I’m not going to deny myself some sugar, but in the process, I’m going to try to add a healthy choice in the mix. Instead of having two cookies, which totally could have happened, I forced myself to eat some broccoli to fill my stomach and halt any additional cravings. Broccoli is low in calories, filling, and full of vitamins.

See, I need sugar just as much as the next person. Those cravings can’t be hidden forever, but they can be dwindled. I’ve been a savory eater my entire life, but sometimes I want some chocolate. I just don’t want to over do it. So the next time you’re craving a box of Thin Mints, take a moment to think about it. How about just one cookie to quell that cravings, and then eat something nutritious to supplement more of those cookies?

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Fitness, Health

Run It III

Ohhhh, my legs hurt. Yeah, I’m gonna whine. However, I can’t whine too much, and that’s because I’m losing weight and getting toned from all this running. (9 wholes pounds lost from the first of January to now!!) I can’t believe focusing on running and not on weight loss is actually paying off. Go figure. For all those years I worried about what the scale said, all I had to do was not worry and get on the treadmill.

To be fair, it’s not just the running, I have changed my diet a lot and am actually tracking everything I eat. If you’re one of those people that think back on your day and go “I have no idea how much I’ve eaten today,” then you need to download the MyFitnessPal app in the Apple store. Some days I can’t believe I’ve eaten so much, and others I’m struggling to eat enough. But using the app and tracking what I eat and how much I work out has helped a ton to keep me on track. If you don’t eat enough calories, your body actually goes into starvation mode (or so I’m told), which is why those Don’t-Eat-Diets don’t work. Your body needs sustenance. Feed the cravings! I think I’ll go snack now…

Update:

Jan. 24 – 3.75 miles
Jan. 25 – 4.25 miles (While listening to Macklemore’s Thift Store the entire time on repeat.)
Jan. 26 – 0 miles tracked, went snowboarding instead – snow was calling to me
Jan. 27 – 1.75 miles
Jan. 28 – 0 miles
Jan. 29 – 2 miles
Jan. 30 – 2.25 miles
Jan. 31 – 3.25 miles

Feb. 1 – 3.85 miles (New month, new attitude!)
Feb. 2 – 2.34 miles
Feb. 3 – 0 miles
Feb. 4 – 2.25 miles
Feb. 5 – 1.52 miles
Feb. 6 – 2.80 miles
Feb. 7 – 0 miles
Feb. 8 – 0 miles (We had a blizzard, darn that Nemo from keeping me from the gym…)
Feb. 9 – 5.20 miles
Feb. 10 – 3.60 miles

Subtotal for this set = 38.81 miles + 46.26 (previous subtotal for 2013) = 85.07 miles in 2013 so far! Meaning I’m almost a quarter to my goal of going 365 miles in 2013 and it’s only February.

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Fitness, Health

Run It II

My shoes for running were starting to fall apart. (Okay, not really, but good enough of a fake excuse to warrant a shoe shopping adventure.) Seeing as I used them heavily last year to run and am using them every day in 2013 so far, falling apart wouldn’t be a bad thing. So as a birthday/Christmas/New Year present to myself, I found another pair. I can’t wait to break them in! Hoping to do so on the next round of running. Until then, I’m cruising along in my other pair, which are still in pretty good condition. Mixing my shoe obsession with my running project . . . I’d say that’s a good thing.

In other news, I’m well on my way to 365 miles in 2013. I’m so excited that I haven’t given up yet. Not running a 5K per day anymore, but still at least a mile a day.

Jan. 11 – 1.36 miles
Jan. 12 – 4.75 miles (walking around Boston)
Jan. 13 – 1.30 miles
Jan. 14 – 3.45 miles
Jan. 15 – 2.20 miles
Jan. 16 – 1 miles
Jan. 17 – 0 miles
Jan. 18 – 0 miles
Jan. 19 – 2.27 miles
Jan. 20 – 1 mile
Jan. 21 – 3.5 miles

This subtotal is 20.83, plus the previous 25.43 miles.. .brings me up to 46.26 miles in 2013 so far! That’s about 2.20 miles a day!

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