Back at it!

*blowing the dust off* 

Hey there! So there were some bumps in the road (surgery and long hospital stay for the kiddo), then there was some fun (2 week lake vacation) but hopefully things have settled and I can start posting regularly again! During my time away I did learn a few things.

1. Running hurts. Like more than just being sore. I am not sure if it the extra weight that I am hauling around, am I wearing the wrong shoes or should I see a podiatrist? Well I am working trough this but for right now I am biking and that is AWESOME!

2. Biking is AWESOME! So someday I want to do a sprint tri so since running 3 to 4 times a week was killing my knees and feet I started biking (needed to start sometime anyway). I feel like I get a work out. I can get my heart rate up, I switch up the gears as it gets easier so my legs are always working hard and have tried out some areas with some elevation to keep it challenging! I feel soreness but not pain!

3. I need a schedule. I find myself at the end of the day trying to figure out when I am going to get my workout in! I think, "ok...lets go now", then I look at the clock it is the heat of the day. Then the next time I try it is time to get dinner ready or I was lazy earlier and didn't do anything so now I have lots to catch up on! Anyway...I need to dedicate a specific time for everything that needs to get done and STICK TO IT!

I just keep keeping on! Exercise is the only real way to be healthy and lose weight (there are things that assist in weight loss and health but nothing will really work with out a little sweat) and there are thousands of benefits. Sure for lots of us the motivation comes in spurts but it comes and that is the important part. Some of us love the gym and happily go there everyday with out fail! Just remember that anything is better than nothing!

Small Victories

I completed my first race yesterday.
It was just a 1k (.6 something of a mile) but I did it.
It took a long time.
What I learned yesterday was that my time didn't matter.
It mattered that I got out there.
I have to start somewhere and a slow 1/2 mile is where I am right now.
I thought I would be embarrassed by being so slow but I wasn't.
People were still cheering when I came across the finish line and Will (who could have ran the race in a 1/4 of  time) stayed right by my side and let me set the pace.
Everyone out there was working at a different pace.

My Point: Don't wait till you can run a race well. Run it now to push yourself. 

I didn't do great by some standards but I hit a personal best.
I did better than I thought that I could and it made me want to keep up the hard work.
Toward the end I thought I was done for. I didn't want to run trough the end.
Then I saw the finish line and just took off!
I don't get that feeling when I finish a run in my neighborhood.

I have my first 5k on May 15th and I probably won't be able to run the entire thing but I will be out there doing my best, taking the next step and I won't be alone. There will be other run/walkers out there just like me.

So get out there...you won't be alone!

Weekends

I love weekends.

We do a lot of eating, sleeping and general lounging about.

None of which is condusive to losing weight.

I was really good this week...even if you factor in the birthday treats. So...I kinda don't want to break my routine. I also want to enjoy myself.

See my dilemma? I want to be healthy!

Its just so hard.

As I write this post I am realizing how lame I am.

Would it really kill me to get up at a decent hour and do some yoga before I start my day?  Would a healthy breakfast be less satisfying than the fattening one I normally make?

No.

I can and will get up and workout and will cook us a tasty and healthy breakfast!

I will not blow it this weekend! I'm sticking to my plan!!

Have a great weekend!

Time Crunch? Why I don't want to exercise.

I did a little poll on my side bar asking my readers about workout challenges.

The winner? So glad you asked…

I don't have time.

Is that really true? When I examined my day I found plenty of time. (there is a good chance that you are busier than me...it might really be harder for you to find the time)

That extra hour of sleep in the morning. I adore my sleep. Don’t you? 

The hours watching Veronica Mars on Netflix. (awesome show...just saying)

You get my drift?

You have to take the time to make the time. <----- Swiped that one from my boss.

After an 8-hour work day, chasing children, playing taxi, who knows how many hours spent in the kitchen, all the time it takes to do all those things that need to be done...don't we deserve some leisurely web browsing? 

Yes. The trick here is balance. 

We must work and we must play. However, we must workout in order to be healthy.

If you are pressed for time and don't want to give up the me time that is rightfully yours, try some of the following:

A. I love to slowly devour Real Simple magazine.  It is my FAVORITE magazine.  It arrived yesterday so this morning I got up 30 minutes early and took my beloved Real Simple to the gym with me. I hopped on a stationary bike and read away! Small sacrifice...but tonight I will be chillin' on the couch with Will and/or doing anything else that I want!

B. I am TV fan.  I have a few guilty pleasure shows that are pretty good at grabbing and holding my attention. Last night I watched Pretty Little Liars while on the elliptical. Working out is much easier if you can distract yourself and a good TV show is a great way to get caught up and lose track of time. 

C. In keeping with the TV theme, I like to exercise at home while watching as well.  I have a few small and inexpensive workout accessories that are perfect for the home. Small set of free weights, wrist and leg weights (I love using these while doing house work), resistance bands (most with instructions and sample exercises) and workout ball.  There are SO many exercises that can be done mindlessly with this equipment while watching TV. 

D. Exercise usually implies workout. This implies the gym, weights, treadmills, and all that other stuff that sucks.  This is NOT true. Be active. Play in the back yard with your kiddos for an hour, run on the beach with Fido, find a way to include more walking in your workday (ya know those stairs aren't JUST for emergencies) or shoot some hoops with your pals. I have a friend that is a swimmer.  That is the only workout she does and she looks as though she spent hours in the gym. Swimming burns calories and works all the muscle groups. It gets the heart pumping and to my friend it is FUN. 

Find the time.

 It is there.

I am learning to give a little more time to my goals for a healthier me.  

It isn't easy but it is worth it.

Do you have a guilty pleasure TV show or magazine?? Do tell!

I'm back on the wagon...

and back in the GYM!!

Wow. Someone let the holidays make some excuses for her. *hides face, very ashamed.

I let the “I’m so busy”, “The holidays are so crazy” and my favorite “I want to enjoy the holiday season”, get in the way of my goals.

I caved.

I got lazy.

I paid for it.

What did I learn during my “break”?

Allow me to share.

1.  Consistency is ALWAYS the best policy. If you want to be healthy you have to consistently do 2 things: eat right daily and exercise often.  Skipping out on one or both can cause weight gain and you lose that “I just conquered the world” feeling that is now replaced with the “may I pretty please with a cherry on top take a nap” feeling.

2.  One good decision will lead to another. Yeah. That one is a 2-way street.  It all started with Thanksgiving.  I broke my work out routine and things went downhill from there.  Really. Make exceptions, give yourself rewards but plan ahead. Example: I like to work out at night so when there are events in the evening I plan ahead a get my workouts in the morning instead. Bend your routine but do your best to get the time in! Also, it’s ok to splurge but make it up in the gym!

3.  If you aren’t moving forward then you are sliding backwards.  There is no such thing as standing still.  The longer I went without working out the harder it was to start back.  It was hard to put in the time and it was actually difficult.  I had lost so much of the progress that I had made in addition to packing back on some pounds.  I have to admit that the 60 minutes on the elliptical was always challenging but it had gotten easier and tonight I nearly died.  No lie.

I am back in a routine and back to blogging.  I’m sad that I back paddled so much and sad that I neglected my blog. I am glad to back and I hope that we can help keep each other motivated.

How did you do during the holidays? Do you have any tips on being consistent even when things get busy?  Please do share!!