The last little bit...

Friday, May 31, 2013

You know what I like better than just about anything else when it comes to my bike rides? Not the beautiful surroundings (they are pretty!), not the wind in my hair (that does feel nice!), not the calories melting away (although that is the point!). What I like best is the last little bit.

What do I mean? I mean that point where you are about a quarter of a mile from the end of your ride. Your legs feel like jelly and your lungs are burning. You may have already gone twice as far as you planned. You have nothing left in you. Then you see your destination ahead of. The end is near and its getting closer. Instead of giving in and saying "Whew, I'm almost there." it kind of invigorates me. I see it and I see a challenge. I see 'This is the end. The last chance you have to prove yourself to yourself. What are you going to do about it?' And I go for it.

The last little bit gives me a reason to feel good about myself. It tells me that I may have finished my ride for the day but I finished on my terms. Most of all it reminds me that I am stronger than I think I am.

Oh, and here's a pic of my new baby:

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BILL60 6/1/2013 9:11AM

Well said!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LEANGIRL22 5/31/2013 12:26PM

Just go for that burn girl. It does feel great! Sheila Report Inappropriate Comment

Made up for the rough start yesterday

Sunday, May 20, 2012

So my day didn't start out well yesterday- got woken up a good hour earlier than I had hoped, had to clean egg off of my van, tried to go for a bike ride but found that we were under a wind advisory once again with 30 mph crosswinds on my route I had planned to take... But- it did get better!

Yesterday I found the birthday present I had been looking for for my DH, came home, ate a light lunch and decided to go to the nature center. I invited my DSS14 to come with. And he agreed! On the first invitation! No cajoling or anything. Took him, the dog, and my DS6 to the nature center and went for a 4 mile hike. Got a little wet in the river and burned a good few calories. DSS even told me last night that he was sore. I figure he's 14, in good shape, and a varsity wrestler so if he's sore then I know I was getting some exercise!!! We had a ton of fun and its always great when DS6 gets some good quality bonding time with his big brothers (since we share custody of the DSS's he misses them sometimes). We all came out good and tired and DS6 had a bunch of new things that he could wonder about and try to research (why do rivers flow the direction that they do? How do trees end up hollow? What kinds of butterflies, insects, flowers did we see?)

Today's been pretty good so far too. Its rainy and 60 today (it was sunny and 90 yesterday) but everyone is in a good mood. Church was good. DS wasn't too shy to get up and sing with his Sunday School class. Plus- I just got done making the best omelets I think I have ever made (diced roast beef slices, tomato, onion, spinach, pepperocini peppers and a little bit of shredded cheese) Even DS14 loved it and said it was the most filling 400 calories (mine was a little less since I used egg whites) he's ever eaten. Well, off to clean up my omelet mess and then to finish a few odds and ends for DH's birthday tomorrow and somewhere in there I'll fit in some strength training and hopefully some Microbiology studying.

Til tomorrow...

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LOOKINGUP2012 5/20/2012 4:49PM

For getting a lot of activity in for the kids on a hot day. Happy birthday to DH. Enjoy the day! Report Inappropriate Comment

PLAYBLUES22 5/20/2012 4:13PM

Sweetie, your breakfast sounds, delicious. I had a cheese omelet also, but with egg beaters and salsa with avocado sounds like we were thinking on the same lines Have a great day Ronnie Report Inappropriate Comment

Disappointing morning...

Saturday, May 19, 2012

DH still had his alarm set from yesterday so I got woken up at 7:30 (after having gotten to bed around 1am last night). My van got egged last night and DH said that he had hosed it off right away but when I went out to get something found that there was still egg all over the side of my van. Had planned on going for a long-ish bike ride today (hoping for 20-30 miles) and figured since I was up early I would be able to get that done. Got on the trail and found that I was dealing with a 30+ mph crosswind. Miserable. At least with a head wind you know you'll get the tailwind on the way back, but with a crosswind like that it just seems miserable the whole time. I ride to have fun and get in shape, not to make myself miserable. So my ride this morning ended up being 20 minutes instead of the 1-2 hours that I had hoped. Just generally not a great morning so far.
I WILL make the rest of the day better. I am going to go work on getting my van cleaned off now. Then I plan to take the dog for a walk and maybe take the kid for a walk in the nature center.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BILL60 5/20/2012 8:59AM

Hang tough cause better days are ahead of you. Report Inappropriate Comment

A simple formula going forward

Friday, May 18, 2012

I keep moving = So does the scale

It's official! My weight is below what it was before I got pregnant with DS6. I am now also officially in the 'healthy' range according to the CDC. I still have more to go to hit my goal but I love being over that hurdle. My goals going forward are to:

1. Continue to work toward my goal weight of 140 pounds
2. Bike 40 miles or more per week
3. Continue to track my food intake every day (nothing like seeing it in writing to make you think twice about that second piece of birthday cake...)
4. Drink my 8+ glasses of water every day.
5. Scout a route that I can take to bike to work and start seriously planning how to do that.
6. Be aware of the example that I am setting for my kids and act accordingly

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LOOKINGUP2012 5/18/2012 3:37PM

Big on reaching Healthy! I can't wait to get there. Report Inappropriate Comment

KNEWMETODAY 5/18/2012 8:04AM

Congratulations. Your goals look great. Report Inappropriate Comment

GONEWLIFE 5/18/2012 8:01AM

Great job ! Report Inappropriate Comment

BIGDOG18 5/18/2012 8:00AM

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Getting stronger!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

So, I managed to do almost 10 miles in about 40 minutes today. My average speed was about 14 mph. That's 1.5 mph faster than last week's 9 mile rides were. If I can get up to doing 10 miles at 15mph I'll be just about ready to riding to work this summer. It always amazes me when I get back into the swing of things how much different I feel and how quickly.

This week I have noticed that my quads aren't nearly as sore the day after riding, my mph is increasing, and the hills are feeling a little less hilly. I've only been at it about 3 weeks this times around so I'm really excited to see were I'll be at in another 3 weeks. I'm pretty sure the weight will start following again pretty soon here.

All in all- feeling pretty good about myself this evening!

Oh yeah, and in between trying to get in shape I'm working on helping my teenage stepson cram for a physical science final as well as keeping up with my kindergartener while DH is out of town this week. I'm so good I might have to start wearing a cape!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CORNERKICK 5/17/2012 1:55AM

Way to go! Report Inappropriate Comment