One week

I read an article the other day written by a collaboration of nutritionist and personal trainers. It was full of advice and answers to health questions. Most of it I already knew. But there was one questions inquiring about how soon you should see results. The answer shocked me. I figured 4 weeks and you should be able to tell that you've been busting your tail...at least a LITTLE something, right? Do you know how long before you see results? 12 WEEKS! That's right, TWELVE freaking weeks. Is it any wonder that I usually only make it 6 weeks before I get frustrated and give up? So I'm committed to 12 weeks. I'm going to try to do some sort of cardio and/or weight training at least 5 days a week. I'm one week down. I missed going to the gym on Friday this week and I generally try to take Sunday off (I don't consider 50 sit-ups before bed a violation of that). So I made it. 5 days of classes at the gym. My favorite class was offered on Thursday and Saturday. It was a quad-step aerobics class...the last 20 minutes of the class the instructor pushed us to do 6 steps. Awesome. Exhausting. Totally worth it.

Now, despite my new found knowledge (remember, 12 weeks) I still find myself stepping on the scale every morning hoping that I'm the exception. Why? I don't know. Maybe just to torture myself....maybe because I find it difficult to believe that one can work so hard and NOT see some sort of result. It just doesn't seem fair. (I know, I know. LIFE isn't FAIR. Does this statement make you want to stick out your tongue as well?) So, another 11 weeks to go. I expect to see results...and I'll probably still step on the scale every single morning....because I'm just that kind of person right now.

Short and Sweet....

I joined a gym on Saturday. On Monday I tried a "circuit training" class that had me sucking wind and thinking that I might black-out at any time. (I'm trying it again on Wednesday.) Today I did step aerobics. LOVE IT. Looking forward to trying more classes. I was a step class master about 10 years ago (pre-babies) and foolishly thought I could just jump right in at my old level. I now know differently. I'm back a square one EXCEPT that I still know some of the steps so I can enjoy the workout and not get too frustrated trying to figure it all out. Fun stuff, I tell ya. Looking forward to a QUAD-STEP on Thursday morning. It's gonna be awesome. I've decided to become a gym junky. :)

A few words . . .

It is me, Tracey.

I ran last week.

I ran last night.

I might run again tonight.

I'm back on Week 1

Just thought you'd like to know. :)

Sunday check-in

What did you do this week? For yourself. Not for your family (although they certainly matter). But did you take some time this week just for you? I hope so. If not, we're starting a new week and you have another opportunity (or many) to make sure you get in some YOU time. This past week, I took some ME time to exercise, read, shop and eat. Time by myself, or with a friend or family member that uplift me and remind me that I'm not just a dishwashing, lunch making, house cleaning, homework general (toss in some laundry too, while we're at it). I went running. I discovered that Comcast Cable offers "on demand exercise". Awesome! I can pick 10 minute, 20 minute, etc workouts. I can choose to target just one area. I can even meditate. Thank you Comcast. I told my husband I was gonna do the "sexy legs" workout. He was supportive. :) Then I found the "bootylicious" workout. Not for me. But, I gave it a try. I've mentioned that I'm open to trying new forms or exercise these days, and I thought that was a perfect example of trying something I normal wouldn't. Anyway, something I did worked though 'cause I have some achy muscles...and I LOVE that feeling. Mostly because I know what it means....and I like it. I'm looking forward to finding more "me" moments this week. Even if it is just 10 minutes of "on demand exercise".

The triumphant return

HI. Yep, it's me. I'm back...and I'm not offering any excuses for my absence. I confess that I have a mixed bag of emotions right now. A touch of shame, a bit of embarrassment, a lot of disappointment, and maybe a pinch of sheepishness all combine to create a big messy recipe for discouragement. A little over a year ago I committed to running a half marathon...13 miles...by Labor Day of 2010. My determination held out for a while. And although I have some great explanations (note: I did not say "Excuses") for my dwindling commitment, I have to own up to the fact that I simply didn't do it. I didn't REALLY think I could do it. I was not convinced. And to prove it, I failed. But, there is redemption. Thank goodness. I'm not going to commit to a half marathon. I might not commit to anything, to be honest. I'm at a very special "place" in my life right now. I just moved my family all the way across the country (East Coast to the West Coast) for 1 YEAR. I have dreams of returning to the East Coast svelte, healthy, and rockin' a "new me" body. I haven't set a weight loss goal or a real solid fitness goal. I just have a vision of the person I would like to (and realistically can) be. Anything that gets me closer to THAT person, is going to be an accomplishment.

So today I went running. That's right. I laced back up my running shoes and jumped on the treadmill. The whole time I was running, I was thinking about THIS blog. And feeling ashamed about the fact that I haven't kept it up....or accomplished the original goal....and I was almost too embarrassed to post anything today. But then I thought, I'm certainly NOT the only one out there like this. I have too many friends who talk about running and/or getting healthy....give it a go...and then, for whatever reason, they stop and get distracted from their goal. Why is that? I don't know. For me, it is the slowness of the process. I get so discouraged when I eat well and exercise regularly and DON'T loose weight or see results OR even worse, when I gain weigh. I know, everyone says, "...muscle weighs more then fat". Whatever. I find myself thinking that if all this work isn't going to pay off, then I'm not going to do it! Probably not the best approach, right? Maybe my muscles are trading places with my fat cells, but the scale doesn't seem to be paying attention to that and despite all of my study and understanding and education, the number of the scale DOES matter. I can't get away from that. I'm not that person. For me, the number of the scale indicates progress. So, I want a lower number. That's my goal: a lower number. I don't know how low that number is going to get, but I have a general idea. For now, LOWER is as good as it's gonna get in the goal setting department. Simple. Sweet. Brief.

Oh, and just so you know....I am going to keep running. And maybe I'll run in some sort of race sometime. I'm sure I'll blog about it, if I do. I'm also gonna try some funky new classes....who knows, maybe belly dancing, zumba, or hot yoga will inspire me. If you've tried something and LOVED it, by all means, share. I'm sure I will. Let's be triumphant together.

Mommy, what is Frankenstein doing in Utah?

Hello beautiful computer, too bad it's not mine! It's been a while since I've blogged, computer is sick at the Mac hospital in Utah (aka my mom's house). Luckily since I'm in school I have access to a student resource center, not so lucky that I have to be away from home to do my homework and fun stuff.

So for updates, I wish I had an amazing story to tell, some great breakthrough, but I only have little ones for the time being. I went up to Utah for just a couple of days to surprise my mom since I haven't seen her since my wedding in December - sorry Tracey, I totally would have visited if I had more than just a couple of days, I swear! So, I was so taken over with excitement that the weather was perfect and I decided to take my jogging outside! Woah, what a difference from an indoor treadmill! Get this ladies, you actually have to move your body when you're running on actual ground. Speaking of the ground, it's not all flat and smooth, no - no, there are hills and pot holes and curbs, OH MY! My body was screaming at me the first day, but I pushed through. Then, when it came for my second run, my body felt so sore and stiff, I must have looked like Frankenstein running throughout the beautiful neighborhoods of Clearfield! I kept trucking along though, even throughout my never ending huffing and puffing. I have to say, I wish I lived somewhere that I could take my workouts outside in the summer, it was totally worth it! Consider yourself lucky if you do and take advantage of it!

Catching up

I tried to write on here a few times during our last vacation but somehow I kept getting interrupted or the internet was down or.....well....I was prevented.  So the past 2 weeks have been busy.  First of all, and most exciting, Tracey came to visit again.  We had a wonderful time.  She did 12 photo sessions though and is now furiously editing and proofing and all that stuff.  The girl has got talent!  We did manage to spend about 2 days at our lake house in upstate New York though.  Ahhhhh, relaxing.  Except that it rained one day. Sad.  We will see each other again in August though and it will be all about playing.   Anyway....our Lake House is a bit remote and we like the chance to get away from it all, so there is no internet.  I know, we are REALLY roughin' it out there.  I managed to go running only 1 day.  And I ate horribly.  In fact, I refuse to step on the scale until Saturday because I don't want to know about the damage.  I'm going to try to eat well and exercise every day this week in hopes of righting my calorie binge.  I find it entertaining that folks seem to think ONE session at the gym will somehow erase a week of poor eating habits, or even a meal.  When I am running, all out, for 40 minutes I only burn just over 400 calories.  That's 4 apples.   Odds are, when we "splurge" we are consuming more then 400 calories.  It's just the way things go.  Don't fool yourself.  Although the 40 minutes of cardio will help, it won't erase it...but it's better then doing nothing, right?  Right!  I recognize that I'm going to need to drop my calories and burn more calories every day this week to make up for eating with abandon.  Recognize the sacrifice you are making when you decide to eat something that might not be all that great for you.  Is it REALLY worth it?  You aren't looking at just 30 minutes on the treadmill or the elliptical.  30 minutes will NOT burn away that cupcake.  Anyway....I have a lot of recovery to do.  Today I went to the gym and ran for 20 minutes, did some sit-ups, used the URG (have you ever done that? ARGH!), and lifted weights.  The coolest part of all this, I took my 7 year old daughter with me.  It was her first time.  She loved the treadmill, was disappointed that her legs weren't long enough to try the stationary bike, decided that she could URG and be a rower when she grows up...and maxed out at 12 reps with the  3 lbs weights.  So cute.  Fun.  While I did abs she rolled around on an exercise ball.  We spent 45 minutes at the gym together.  I think we'll do it again.