30-day fitness challenge

i need motivation. i need someone calling me daily and asking how i did. i need someone to go to the gym with. i need... help.

so i joined the 30-day fitness challenge. here's what the site says:

• Each day you'll receive a newsletter detailing your challenges for the day.
• These challenges will include:
  • An Active Challenge - these challenges will require you to be more active throughout the day with a variety of ideas.
  • An Exercise Challenge - these challenges offer more structured cardio and strength routines. You'll have many choices for your workout, but always feel free to do your own routine if you like.
  • A Flexibility Challenge - these challenges will help you increase your flexibility with stretching, yoga and/or Pilates-type exercises.
  • A Nutrition Challenge - these challenges vary and will help you become more aware of your own eating habits (this isn't a diet!)
  • A Mind/Body Challenge - here you'll find a number of challenges that help you relax, regroup and enjoy some quiet moments throughout the day.

As long as i really use this and stick with it, sounds like it could be good. and all the equipment i might need will be in the gym at my work.
update coming next week. if i last that long.

Race around the world.

This morning I set my alarm for 6 am. I left a house full of boys still sleeping and went for a run. The sun wasn't up yet, but half an hour before sunrise it was light enough to see and still dark enough to be that kind of muffled quiet through the neighborhood. I was concerned on two fronts, one the ground was wet and the sky was threatening rain again. Also, our neighborhood doesn't have sidewalks so I would have to run on the street or on the grass to the shoulder.




Although "run" might be a bit misleading. What I did was day one of the c25k program. It uses intervals, running/walking and builds up every day. After 9 weeks it's a solid 45 minute run of approximately 5k. I had a conversation with a friend who used the program last year (and who now races half marathons) and she spoke highly of it. Just a few days later I found that they had an iPhone app. I was excited because, you know me, if I can use technology to do something it becomes far more attractive to me. The app lets you import a playlist of songs for your run and gives you voice and sound cues when it is time to switch your interval. You basically put on your headphones, pick the day you are working on and hit "go." No watching the clock, timing your intervals, counting laps. You put on your headphones, listen to music and the program tells you what to do (even lets you know the halfway point so you can turn around.)



I only made it through about 20 minutes of the 30 minute program. I was feeling pretty good until about 13 minutes, which was into the 4th running interval. Then my ankles started hurting, and of course the burning chest and throat that goes with running and I was reminded of WHY I HATE RUNNING. Also, the thunder and lightning that caused me a moment of pause before I left the house started up right overhead so I turned around to go home shortly before the halfway point. I did manage to get home before the rain started.

Also, it was quiet, cool and peaceful, if a bit painful.

So, my plan for the next 9 weeks is to run tuesday, thursday and Sunday. Wish me luck!

getting this right

so. i went shopping this weekend, and purchased a few items of clothing. i've forever worn size 18 or XL. it's just what i wear. but i'm not happy with how my clothes fit. they're too loose under my bum, and tight in other places...

we hit sales. and i bought smaller sizes!

so, i bought some pants in an 18 (but they're gap), skirt in a 16, and a few tops that were either large (not XL!) or size 16 (not 18!). they're all super cute, and fit great, and make me look awesome.

i'm not losing more weight. i was wearing the wrong size! so, while i'd love to be down another size or two, i'm happy where i am for now. i feel good, i'm eating well, and while i'm not currently losing weight, i'm looking alright where i am.

don't get me wrong, i'm not done yet. like i said, i'd like to be down a little more. i want to lose some weight before i have baby (babies?), and feel better in general. but i'm not unhappy, which is a really good thing.

Why do they make microwavable bacon?

Seriously. Why do they make bacon that can be made in under a minute? In sixty second I can have five strips of crispy bacon. Any bacon lovers dream right?

Unless that bacon lover is also a girl trying to lose 20 pounds by the beginning of second semester.

Why does ranch dressing taste so good? Greasy pizza? Delicious chocolate chip cookies? Oh... I could go on and on and on...

But I won't. The point here is that modern conveniences make having your favorite unhealthy treats simple and convenient. I used to hardly ever eat bacon, but then I found that microwavable bacon has (nearly) the same taste and curbs my craving for fatty food.... by giving me that dose of fat that my hips do not need.

I was going to write about tasty, low-calorie salad options, but what's the point if follow up that salad with something grossly unhealthy for me? Basically, I'm feeling guilty. I know what I should be eating, but I choose the bad option every time. Is there something wrong with me? What makes me choose these bad options for food, then feel guilty about them afterward? I want to be skinny. Or at least skinny for me. I want to be under 200 pounds. But since the beginning of summer, I've gained 10 pounds. In the 3 months since my wedding, instead of losing weight I've gained it. I need help. An intervention.

They say the best things you want don't come easily, right? Well, they should come easier than this...



Despite what the number says, I still think I look ok. I don't look great, but I'm at least accepting of what I look like. I don't mind the way I look... but I look at pictures and I hate the way I look in those. Why do cameras add ten pounds? I'm just going to have to keep working. And find a motivation for walking. Which I think I might have found here.

I'm exploring the "Shieldmaiden Challenge" this week. Wish me luck! (And to stay away from the bacon!)