A little sore today

I woke up this morning with that wonderful feeling of being sore from a good workout. Seriously, doesn't that feel good? Anyways, I spent most of the day studying and then I took my final econ exam. That's the last one. That feels extra good. I'm done for about 3 weeks now. 

Once I got done with all that, I didn't really feel like going to the gym, but I did...because I know I have to. In fact, I really have to do this for about 5 straight days regardless of how I feel. It ended up being a decent run (3 miles), and I feel better for going. 

I'll be going again tomorrow for strength training, along with some HIIT.

Dust Yourself Off...

Ok. My blogs, along with most of yours, have been pretty much non-existent for quite a while now. I really am not going to promise to blog everyday or even every week or month for that matter, but I do desire to blog more often. I also desire to get my act together. 

There really is so much to say, but I just don't have time so I'll just do the quick blog thing tonight. 

I was doing really well for a while there, but I just let the chaos weigh me down. I'm a wife, mother of 4, have a full-time job with a 1 hour commute each way, and I go to school pretty much full-time. My husband has worked evenings for as far back as I can really remember, but he lost his job in October (we're fine). I thought that once he was home in the evenings, either we'd start going to the gym together or it would be easier for me to just go by myself and not have to worry about the kids. That hasn't happened at all. First of all, this getting dark at 5:00 thing really sucks. I just don't seem to want to leave the house after I get home anymore. Second, my husband and I both seem busier than ever now, and it never seems like a good time to go to the gym. Finally, I obviously just don't want to go. I try to get back at it about every other week, but it just never "takes".

Well, the truth is that I've put on some weight - not a significant amount. This week, though, I've started to get that feeling that I'm about to start expanding rapidly if I don't do something about it. Honestly though, it's not really the weight that bothers me as much as the not feeling fit. I used to think it was all about being thin, but as I started working out over the past couple of years, I realized that it's that feeling of accomplishment and the firmer body that I love...regardless of the size. Sure I'd love to be a firm 6, but I would be almost just as satisfied as a firm 8. I loved when I didn't feel flabby. 

I have one more final left this semester, and then I have a few weeks off from school. Instead of enjoying the break, I'm going to focus my energy into getting back into the routine of going to the gym. I don't know what's going to happen next semester since I'll be taking 4 classes. It's going to be very busy, but I know that I can still find the time to workout periodically...even a few days a week. 

I went to the gym tonight and focused on strength training, along with 20 minutes of HIIT. Tomorrow I'd like to just run at a moderate pace for about 30 minutes. Then I'd like to alternate these two things. I plan on aiming for everyday, because it usually results in about 5 days per week, which is respectable.

I'm not going to even try to tackle my eating habits quite yet. The fact is that I don't need to lose much weight if any. I just want to firm up. That's all. Maybe I'll try to shed a few pounds or so in the Spring.

Ok. After reading some of your blogs today, I think some of the rest of you are starting to feel that itch to get back to this too. Let's do it. We've done it before. We can certainly do it again. That's what it's all about anyways. Most of us are going to struggle with this for life, and there's a high probability that we're going to fall off the wagon periodically. However, every day is a new day. Oh wait. I just read something like this in a book I just got. It states, "You are a success when you clearly understand that failure is an event, not a person - that yesterday ended last night, and today is a brand-new day." I love that. 

One more thing... remember that every pound you don't put on over the holidays is one less pound you'll want to take off after. Think of that when you want to have more than 1 or 2 Christmas cookies or the chips and dip. Since I am prone to binging, this thought does help me keep myself in check most of the time. 

Happy holidays, everyone!

Quick Update

This week's eating was much better than it's been. Not pristine, but ok.

I am still working out with my friend on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We're just doing upper body strength training, although I suggested that we start integrating some lower body into our routine very soon. I am totally starting to see the tone returning back to my arms now. This is very exciting to me, because we've probably only been doing this for about 3 weeks now. Also, we both noticed this week that we were much stronger in what we could lift.

I was feeling very encouraged with my progress that I went up to the gym today for another strength training session. I had actually planned on running too, but I only put in 1 mile on the treadmill at the end of my workout.

I upped my runs to 3.5 miles this week. I plan on sticking with this for another week and then increasing to 4 miles. My plan is to alternate running days with strength training days. (MWF - running, TThSu - strength training w/short run).

That's all. School and work are both going very well. Everything else is great too. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Time to get serious

There is now a very strong possibility that I will be participating in the Detroit Free Press 5-person Marathon Relay. Evidently, one of the relay members is now preggers. Now I'm getting really excited about doing it. It's 1 month away (October 19).

I know that the 7.1 mile portion and the 3 mile portion are taken, so it looks like I'll have to do one of the following: 4.6, 5.6, or 5.9 miles. I honestly think I could do any one of them, although I'm not saying that I would be able to run the entire way. Maybe though...

Btw...there is possibly going to be another spot open...if anyone is interested. It'll probably be one of the 5 mile stretches. Please let me know asap if you're interested, because the deadline to change members is October 6.

Ooooh...this is going to be so fun. I was looking at the marathon map, and I just love the idea of running through streets of the City.

Btw...the Turkey Trot's first deadline is also quickly approaching. September 30. Who's in?

Short One

Ok. Yesterday I ran 3 miles in 28:51, even with a terrible side-stitch that began at about minute #4. This might have been due to not eating before my run. I usually try to eat about 1 hour prior, but yesterday it kinda slipped my mind. I thought I'd just go 2 miles, but after 2 miles, I knew I could push myself 1 more.

Tonight, I began working out with a co-worker/friend. We're going to be strength training together. We did upper body tonight. I feel a little irritated with myself, because I know I could have pushed myself harder. I was just trying to acclimate to working out with a partner though. Next time I'll do better. Btw...she is the co-worker that inspired me to start running (to get the runner's body). She is doing the Detroit Free Press marathon relay in October. Evidently, there are a couple of members that might not really be up for it, so there is a possibility that I could fill in for one of them. I know 2 of the other members (we all work for "the Bank"), so it should be fun/exhilarating/etc...

My eating today was pretty sad, although I've done worse.

I watched The Biggest Loser tonight. I always cry like a baby during the first episode. I like that it seems a little more even this year. I also like that Bob and Jillian chose their teams prior to the show starting. I did not like having to watch the numbers turn for their "internal ages." It was redundant and unnecessary. I got the point after the first one. The producer should be fired for that. :) I really like the father/daughter team. They just seem like good people. I hope the Detroit team does well. Of course, I'd like for all of them to do well.

That's about it. My plan for tomorrow is to eat in moderation and to run 3 miles in 28:45.

Right on Track

Well, today was probably my best run ever. I finished 3 miles in 29 minutes flat, and 3.1 miles (5k) in 29:45...and this included my 5 minute warmup. My method is this: warmup: 5.5 mph. Then 4 sets of 1 minute each of 6.0, 6.2, 6.4, 6.6, 6.8. Then a final set of 6.0, 6.2, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5.

Even after that, I wouldn't say that I was beat. I'm trying to stay moderate. I know I could push myself harder, but I don't want to hurt myself. I still have 2 months to go until the Turkey Trot, so I'll just keep steadily pushing forward.

I realized something today though. I don't think I go to the gym for weight control anymore. I honestly think my main focus is the sense of achievement and the desire to be fit/healthy/strong/etc... My thought is that it's probably a lot easier to push yourself to go when you don't tie your successes to how much weight you've lost or gained.

On another note, I was getting ready for work yesterday, and I thought that I was looking rather young for some reason. Most people would never guess that I'm nearly 34. In fact, I generally hear that I look around 25 or even younger. Everyone always seems shocked to hear that I have 4 kids. Anyways, I was thinking that I was looking younger, and then my 10 yr old son said...you know, you're almost looking like a teenager again. I wonder what it is. I think I've been getting more sleep. I've been working out again. I've been eating more fruits and veges, drinking more water, and taking my vitamins. I don't know what it is, but I'll take it.

A rambling blog about running.

I'm very excited to report that I'm running 3 miles in under 30 minutes now (on the treadmill). I don't know how much I talked about this, but I took a break from the gym...and the break was way longer than I had planned it to be. It ended up being about 3 - 4 months. I would not recommend this, because as you all know, it can be so hard to get back into it.

That being said, I've been going to the gym fairly consistently since the end of July now. Unfortunately I'm not doing anything like boot camp; however, I'm doing something. Sometimes that's all we can do really. It's way better than nothing.

I don't know what it is about running that makes me love it. I don't love it like real runners do, but I still enjoy the challenge of it. For some reason it's so easy to set goals with it and to play little mind games. I've been careful to gradually increase my exertion as to avoid injury, but I'm still making progress.

I remember my first day back to running...even 5.0 mph was a struggle. Now I am warming up at 5.5 mph. My first day back I went about 2.25 (including warmup and cooldown); now I've added about a mile onto that in less time.

My initial goal is to be ready for the Turkey Trot. My time last year was 30:13 (with no real training for it). I hope to blow that number out of the water this year, but I think I'll be pleased with anything under 30. All I know is that I must beat my time from last year.

Another thing I like about running is how it makes me feel solid. I feel that my curves are all in the right places. My butt and thighs feel strong. My posture is better. I honestly have no clue as to how much I weigh. I probably haven't weighed myself in a month. I'd say it might be 134 if I had to guess. I'm totally fine with this right now. The truth is that I was down to about 120 for a while and in size 6's. I now know that this is totally attainable for me, but it was honestly a lot of work...probably way too much work to maintain for the rest of my life. Where I'm at right now is something that I can live with forever. I can still eat a little bit of this and that. I can work out moderately without killing myself. This is a good place. I think 8's are still respectable. It would be nice to tighten everything up though. I think running will help with all that.

I was going to say more, but I'm literally falling asleep as I'm writing this. Maybe I'll write more tomorrow.