One Month, No Blog

I first want to mention that in my last blog I explained I started a new job... and it has taken me a month to update my blog. My job has sort of prevented me from any time whatsoever. I like my job (for the first time in a long time) and I feel like I am finally contributing to a cause I believe in. However, since this is a cause I believe in... the lives of young people... my job is a lot more emotionally exhausting than any previous job. There are days where I feel like a chicken with my head cut off.... Plus, the earlier hours have kept me feeling exhausted and the minute I get home I don't get to put my feet up, instead I have to walk my crazy dog. Some days this walk gives me time to decompress and time to take in the quiet after all the loud jibber-jabber of teenagers, some days I feel like it takes every ounce of energy to force my legs down the street with her and when I get home all I want to do is lay down. Alas, I can never lay down, one because of the crazy dog, two because I am not done with school yet, three the holidays are here and I still haven't gotten a gift since Black Friday,and the only gift I bought that day was for Avery, and she's the easiest person in the world to buy for (other than Lynn, who is also easy and fun to buy for). Thanksgiving finally gave me an opportunity to get some decent workouts in and last week I made it to the gym on Wednesday and Thursday, along with long, good walks on Monday and Tuesday (before it turned really cold).

One of the things I have really struggled with lately is my recent weight gain. It depresses me, especially when I get dressed every day. All I want to do is wear sweat pants. I am extremely ashamed and mad at myself for letting myself go this far. I'm twenty pounds up from my "happy" weight and I have hardly any time to work it off. So, I try to take it in stride and I've bought a few new things to get myself through, but I've been having a hard time finding pants for work that aren't super-nice trousers. Nothing is long enough for me, nothing fits my thighs, etc. I ordered 4 pairs of pants from Victoria's Secret online because they have long pants for everything, yet every pair of 12 longs I bought did not fit at all, which depressed me even more. All I want to do is work out but I have to sit on my butt in front of the computer and do homework instead. And then I snack while I do it because I can hardly stay awake each night.

On a positive note, this morning I ran three miles straight for the first time since I finished my challenge before I started my new job. I am really proud of this accomplishment, especially with the way I've been feeling. I have also been making it to Pump twice a week and I have finally been increasing my weight to a place I feel better about. I am hoping this trend in working out continues an upward climb, and I am hoping for a snow day this week so I can get some homework done during the day and stress less!

Late

I know I promised to keep better track of this blog and keeping it up to date, but the person I know who reads it I have talked to recently and knows about my workouts. Especially my biggest achievement, which was finishing my 6-week plan and running 30 minutes straight. Which I did at 5.5-5.6 mph. I was supposed to start the next 6 week plan yesterday, but I was pretty tired after my big run and going to Pump after that big run, so I put it off for today. I am going to run 30 minutes straight again. I am pretty confident in doing this, especially since I have done it once already this week and I have had a lot of energy lately. Tomorrow I am going to do the run again and go to Pump again. I'll take Thursday off, since I have a lot of decorating and celebrating to do that night and Friday I hope to make it to the gym in the afternoon so I can be in tip-top shape for wedding events. I have to train for my hours of dancing!

I started my new job yesterday, and so far so good. Some students are a pill, which is to be expected no matter where you go, but all in all I feel a lot more at home than I have in a long time.

Weekend Workouts

I miss my weekend workouts. I still get a good workout in on Sundays, but I really miss working out on Saturdays as well. Also, because we had the Miller family birthday party this past Friday, I did not get in my scheduled run. There were also other contributing factors, like leaving my workout bag at home on accident, having an assignment due by 5 pm that was stressing me out, and waiting to find out if I got the job, finding out I got the job, telling my boss that day so I could give one weeks notice... anyway, I even got out of work a half hour early, which should have meant that I could make it to the gym but because we weren't taking Gracie with us to the Miller house, I thought I would go walk/jog with her instead. First, there are too many hills in my neighborhood for a beginning jogger trying to achieve jogging x amount of minutes in a row at a time. Also, with all the rain we've had and the fall leaves on the ground mean a jogging hazard. Third, my dog is still very much a puppy and is hard to control on a leash jogging. She's on this side then on that side, her nose to the ground half the time not watching where she is going, yadda yadda yadda. I tried and jogged about five minutes straight then I decided there were enough hills that a 45 minute walk would suffice. To make up for missing my run on Friday, I upped the schedule for today. Friday I was supposed to run for 15 minutes, after a 10 minute walk and finishing with a 5 minute walk. Today, I was supposed to walk 6 minutes then jog 18, walk 3. Instead, I walked 5, jogged 20, walked 5... then I went to Pump, which kicked my ass.

I also gave in and drove to David's Bridal and asked for help on my dress. They are letting it out a little bit in the four seams they can, which should help me breathe a little better come Jennifer's wedding day. I was so sick of beating myself up for letting things go and not fitting into it. Since it could be zipped up, just very tight, we decided this was the best way to go (and the cheapest). Now that I will be comfortable for her big day, I feel a lot better about things... at least a lot less guilty!

A New Day

I feel like things might be turning around. Although I haven't lost any weight yet, I've gone to Pump 4 times, and I'm almost done with week number 4 on my Running plan. I was going to go to Pump this morning, but I have an interview at the same time as class, so I guess it will be tomorrow morning! I'm really excited and nervous about the interview because getting this job would be a step towards my goals and at 29 I really need that step. I have a free weekend, aside from all the homework and celebrating Don's birthday but I have a lot of working out planned during that time as well.

On Wednesday I did intervals of 5 minutes jogging and 2 minutes walking. Today I bump it up again (either today or Sunday, I have to look) but it's getting harder and easier at the same time.... if that makes any sense. Running is getting easier but it's harder every time because I'm always doing more than the last time. Last time I kept the intervals at about 5.5 mph so I wouldn't get too tired too fast. I figure I can work on speed once I get the endurance part down.

Today we bring Gracie in for her big procedure. I will miss her a lot today but also plan on getting a lot done without her distracting me!

Update

First of all, can I say that the upcoming forecast makes me want to crawl into a warm hole and sleep until spring... I cannot handle this sudden change of seasons. I need a slow transition into winter, not the possibility of snow in October!! Yuck.

Here's the update of my workouts: last night I did Monday night's workout but I did it twice. This means that I walked 10 minutes, then did one minute intervals for the next 10 minutes (mainly between 5.6 and 5.8 mph) then I walked 5 minutes and did the 10 minute one minute intervals again before cooling down. My hamstrings and inner thighs were on fire every time I ran! At least the soreness had gone down a lot by yesterday. Today I did the scheduled Wednesday workout, which consisted of 10 minutes of walking and 15 minutes of one minute intervals. I kept the speed about the same as yesterday. Then I cooled down and Lynn met me to go to Pump. This time around was even more difficult than the first time because some muscles were still tight and sore. I almost couldn't finish lunges and my legs were shaking ever time we dead lifted during the back track. But I made it through! And Lynn made it with me, even though she is recovering from being sick. Hopefully she stays on the track of getting healthy so she can go back with me next week! Tomorrow I am taking the day off, I have to take Gracie to puppy class and finish up some homework. Friday will be the next workout... the schedule does seem to be getting more difficult but this could be because I have been so sore and tight the past couple days. I can't wait til the pain goes away and I can truly assess my progress.

Holy Gadzooks, Batman!

I went really, really light on weights yesterday. I still can hardly walk, sit, stand, whatver. I'm sure I look crazy. I did my Sunday run/walk, which consisted of 8 minutes walking, 15 minutes of run 2 walk 1, and a 2 minute cool down. Then I went to Pump, they just launched new choreography this past weekend, so it was all new, and very difficult. Only difficult because I'm weak and totally out of shape when it comes to weights. I don't think I can do my scheduled run/walk tonight... I hope I can go on a walk with Gracie though. I hope Lynn is still willing to meet me Wednesday for another round of Pump... I think it's the only way I will go back again so soon! I hate how quickly you can get out of shape... it's only been a few months and I can hardly do anything!

Check

I'm a week and a half into my 6 week plan. I've been doing well with the running part, not so well with the weights part. I used to love lifting weights, but that was when I had more free time. Now I know I should just go back to Body Pump becuase I think that will be the best way for me to get strong again. Just not looking forward to the sore part.... Plus, I don't want being sore to interfere with the running part, so I need to work something out that will allow me to do both.

Right now I am doing a variation of the Special K diet. I tried some protein water mix at Karrie's last Sunday and enjoyed it a lot. Of course, now I can't find it anywhere here, they only had the tea flavor at HyVee and the Bakers I stopped at didn't have any Special K protein stuff. Yesterday I ate one of the meal bars for lunch and had a bar for a morning snack. I had the 100 calorie popcorn for an afternoon snack and then a really big salad for dinner. I don't know if I'll be able to do that everyday, but I hope to just get back in the habit of really being aware of what I'm putting in my mouth.

Right now we don't have a lot of plans for the weekend, other than the usual (class, groceries...) so I think it will be a good food weekend and I might try Pump on Sunday morning after my scheduled run/walk.