#82 - Goals.

Friday, August 31, 2012

So, this month, I decided to do goals.

August Weekday Goals:
1. Drink at least six cups of water.
2. Get at least 7.5 hours of sleep.
3. Meditate for ten minutes.
4. Exercise for at least ten minutes.

August Weekend Goals:
1. Drink at least four cups of water.
2. Get at least 8.5 hours of sleep.
3. Limit alcohol (1-2 glasses all weekend)
4. Be wary of the foods eaten; try to track.
5. Sundays = prep food for the week.

August Weekly Goals:
1. Aim for 5 days of working out.
2. Try at least one new recipe.
3. Lose a pound.
4. ST or circuit training at least 3x.

August (Monthly) Goals:
1. Lose at least three pounds (~159 pounds).
2. Workout at least 20x.

Looking back, I didn't do as well as I had hoped. My weekday goals the second half of the month were on target, but the weekends and ST were my downfalls. Plus, since I stayed at my Mom's for two weeks, sometimes these things were tricky to get in. I'm not going to beat myself up over the August goals because I've have some positives things that happened:

1. Signed up for my first 5K.
2. Since signing up, I have been very diligent about getting most of my workouts done (minus ST).
3. I've hit my goal of water almost all month.
4. I'm healthier than I have ever been. I'm finally taking care of my body.
5. I was super stressed out last night and instead of binge eating, I decided to do my workout like I had planned.
6. I have not touched my boyfriend's cake all week. Even when I really wanted it.

Also:

August SW: 162.2 lbs
August End Weight: 156 lbs

Total loss in August: 6.2 lbs!

So for September, I think I am going to keep the same goals. I'm going to be aiming to do much better with them this month. I know I can do this!

September SW: 156 lbs

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#81 - Thoughts.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

There has been a change in me over the past few days. My bathroom is fairly small, so before every shower, I am almost forced to look at myself in the mirror (due to lack of space). Usually, I am displeased with how I see myself. However, lately, I have had a different mindset.

In high school, I was petite, but I still had a pudge in the stomach area and my thighs were huge. I sucked in my stomach because I didn't want to be a "fat girl" with skinny friends. It was uncomfortable, but I did it. Even though I didn't want to be the "fat girl", I never took the time to invest in my health. Instead, I ate double cheeseburgers and drank soda every day, if not 3-4 cans a day. I hated my body, but I never did anything about it.

In my first year of college, I put on the lovely "freshman 15". I vowed to myself to start exercising and eating right. That lasted for barely a month. By the time I graduated, I had gained around another 15 pounds. I was even more miserable, but again, I never did anything about it. I hated hanging out with friends because I was so self conscious.

Last April, I joined Spark. I was around 155lbs then. I worked out and ate the best I could, and I lost eight pounds. I decided that football season (tailgating) was more important to me than my health. After a season of tailgating with burgers, chips, soda, and alcohol, I had gained another 20lbs. I was officially at my highest weight of 175lbs. I hated my body even more. When I would vow to lose the weight, I never stayed committed.

Fast forward to June 10th, 2012. I had a few weeks to drop some pounds before I saw my dad in Alaska. I didn't want to miserable on vacation, so I started walking every morning, drank my water, and watched what I ate. When I stepped on the plane to head up there, I was down about 8-9 pounds. I was much happier. I found ways to stay active on the trip. Heck, I only gained 2 lbs! However, when I got back home, I felt that laziness start to set in. I couldn't get back on track for the life of me. I was going to be in a wedding a few weeks after the trip, and that didn't even motivate me enough to get back to it.

Everything changed when I signed up for the 5K in October. I became much more motivated. I always try to drink at least four cups of water (usually more but this is the minimum). I try even harder to watch my portions although I have had several nights where that didn't happened. I'm not always in the mood to exercise especially with these shin splints, but I find a way to get it done. Heck, last Friday night, I didn't have time to go on my run, and I literally started crying (I know, such a baby) because I had left myself down (I would have NEVER felt this way before). When the scale doesn't cooperate, I get sad, but I brush it off (this usually made me quit). Why? I've realized what this journey is all about - being healthy. It's not about a number on the scale even though that helps! It's not about being the skinniest girl in the room. It's about what exercise does to my body, how I feel after a run, and how much of a blessing water is when it re-hydrates me. It's about portions and learning self control. It's being happy where I am at right now. So, the past few days when I have looked in the mirror, I have seen beauty. I have seen health. I'm proud of my body. I don't ever want to be where I was again. I wouldn't trade this feeling in for the world.

My advice to those of you struggling - pick a goal date. It could be a trip or a race and work towards it. Don't let one meal or missed workout mess you up. Why? Because you have something important that you are working towards. I'm telling you the truth when I say - the 5K that I signed up for has changed my life.

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#80 - Foam Roller.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Just because I am obsessed...



This isn't my number, but the organization posted this photo on their FB page yesterday. A wave of emotions kind of ran over me. I still can't believe that I am signed up for a 5K run. A run? Me? The girl who used to hate running. Heck, I can't even believe I signed up for a 5K to begin with. I'm so excited and nervous all at the same time. It seems like all I think about is the 5K! Ha.

Anyways, I FINALLY motivated myself to do some ST last night. It was tough, but I'm hoping that once I get back home and get into a routine, I will be able to work on incorporating ST in my routine.

Also, I tried foam rolling last night. I did my calves which really hurt my shins. However, it felt so good. I couldn't figure out how to go my inner shins which is where all of my pain is, so I just rolled it across the area as hard as I could. Oh my. I was laughing and almost crying because the pain was intense. However, after I was done, I got ready for bed, and I had no pain whatsoever while I walked. I even woke up this morning feeling much better. So, best believe I will be laughing and almost crying tonight with the foam roller. Haha. Oh! And I did the neck massage with the roller, and it was pure heaven.

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#79 - Update.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

So, this morning, I woke up to a beautiful surprise - 158.8 lbs! I am finally in the 150s, and I love it! I can't even believe it! Honestly, this is the push I needed in regards to eating. I'm usually good about exercising, but my eating has been so so at dinner time. I've adopted the "well, I worked out today, and there is half a month left to reach my goals, so I will just eat whatever tonight." That logic runs over to tomorrow night and so on. Last night, I ate about 1-1.5 servings of spaghetti my Mom made, and I left it at that. No second helpings for me.

I've been staying at my Mom's since last Monday. She just had surgery on her wrist (carpel tunnel), so dinners have been kind of hectic. It's been a lot of eating out and foods I don't usually eat. I know I can offer to cook a healthy meal, but she's picky. Ha. So, I am doing my best with food.

Although food has been shaky subject, my exercise has been pretty good. I took the guy's advice (from the running store), and I backed down a bit in regards to the 5K training. Last night, I walked/ran two miles. I'm going to stick with that for a couple of weeks and then go up to three miles. A mile doesn't feel like enough. I will have to say that I believe I bought the right shoes. Last night's run was pretty much pain-free. My shins did pretty well up until like the last half mile, so I was really surprised! I'm in love with my shoes, and I am in love with running. I like pushing myself. Honestly, running is pretty much all I talk about right now (to the boyfriend). Haha. I am pretty sure he's tired of hearing about it.

My shins have been hurting since I woke up, but I'm about to start working with my foam roller tonight (thanks Pooksaluagh!). I hear it's going to hurt, but that it'll be worth it. I can't wait for the day that my legs won't hurt at all before, during, and after my runs. I think I will fall even more in love with running!

Lastly, I'm having a difficult time with strength training. Honestly, all I want to do is run (told you I'm slightly addicted, ha). I know the importance of ST, but I just don't want to do it. I've signed up to do the "Sparkpeople Official Spring into Shape Bootcamp". This has six videos that are all less than 15 minutes. I've only done two, and I started last Thursday. I'm not really interested in Body Rock right now because I feel like some of it I need equipment for, and I don't have the money. So, any suggestions on ST?

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#78 - New Running Shoes!

Friday, August 17, 2012

Ahh! Thank you all so much for suggesting I find a running shop in my area! It was great getting tips and finding new shoes. He had me run in three different shoes, and these are the ones I chose:



They are from Saucony. They are light weight which is why I bought them. The other two were a little heavier. He said that the full leg pain was probably from form as well as not having enough support under my arch. Last night, I took them on a 2.05 mile walk, and my leg pain was gone. It felt so good to walk again without pain. I will have to say that the shins still hurt (not as bad though!), but I think they will have to heal before I am completely free of pain. So, Tylenol, icing, stretching, and massaging are going to be my friends over the next few weeks.

He gave me some tips on my running form as well as some stretches that target the calves. He was great!

He did, however, say that he thought I should ease up on the running. He thought I was putting too much stress on my legs with the running. He suggested I back off to just walk/run a mile for now and work my way up. I have mixed emotions are this, so I'm not sure what my plan will be. I like my 5K walk/runs. I guess I will see how today goes with the new shoes.

On another note, as I said in my status, I am down ten pounds (finally!) from my starting weight this morning! So, as my reward, I decided to make my new shoes the present for such awesomeness. Haha. I'm so ready to get into the 150s now! Ahhh!

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