Sleepy

It's been a busy week.... Nothing like a holiday to wear you down and mess up a regular schedule! I did not get enough workouts in but I did try to be good with all the eating. Until they brought dessert.... I did work out on Thanksgiving and it was an intense workout. I did 30 minutes on the treadmill, jogging and walking, then I went to the circuit weights and worked on some upper body muscles. After that I used the new eliptical machines and did 15 minutes on that, back to the weights to work on legs and back and then back on the treadmill for 15 minutes of walking. I wanted to go to Pump but it was too late in the morning for us to get everything done that we wanted to get done. Yesterday I woke up at 3:30 am to get some good shopping deals. Crazy I know, but sort of fun in a weird way. I love watching people and how willing we all are to be dumb about shopping. My friend Lynn had a Thanksgiving event last night so I dressed up and enjoyed another round of turkey! We also played some Rock Band and I got to relive my days as a drummer. Okay, it was one night but it was so much fun! This morning I just did cardio but it was a really good workout. I did 30 minutes on the crazy new machine and then 30 on the treadmill, running 2 miles an then walking. The crazy thing is that even though my legs felt wobbly after the first workout I was still able to run for 20 minutes and it didn't make me feel like I was going to fall down! Tomorrow I plan on going to the gym and doing another hour of cardio and make it to Pump. I didn't get in two classes last week and I hope that doesn't affect my weights because I was just moving up. We'll see. I hate the feeling of constantly starting over!

News

Not too much exciting to say about exercise lately. On Saturday I did manage to run 4 miles straight, and I felt like laying down for the rest of the day after that! But that makes two weeks in a row that I have accomplished that. On Sunday I did a half hour of cardio and went to Pump... and for the second week in a row I raked the yard (and once again it already looks like I've done nothing!). Yesterday I did not make it to the gym due to a meeting at College of St. Mary's and the finale of Dancing With the Stars. But the news is that I am going to start the Masters of Teaching program in January. This would allow me to finish the classes by next December and then student teach the spring semester of 2010. When I graduate I will then be able to look at jobs for the following August. This is really exciting thinking about being able to start working on something so quickly. I really did not want to have to wait until next August to begin classes. This also means that I will be in a classroom almost every Saturday from 8-5 for the next year. This will affect my workouts and social life, but knowing that I won't be sitting in front of a computer for the rest of all eternity makes it worth it!

Friday

Every week seems to be a struggle now a days. Work sucks the life out of me and time just flies by when I leave there. Other than the extreme soreness on Monday, as a result of raking on Sunday, I have done alright at the gym this week. I only got a half hour in on Wednesday but I was meeting Lynn at 7 so I didn't have time to go too long. And yesterday I upped some of my weights in Pump. I think we might go tonight and both weekend days (at least I am), so that will make up for any missed time this week.

One thing I forgot to mention before is this contest they had at work last month. It was a "How I Got Healthy" contest. People were supposed to write about how they have become healthier and how they did it and the stories would be posted on our website, I suppose as a motivation for others. It didn't matter how big or small, whether figuring out how to get workouts in during a busy life, quitting smoking, changing eating habits.... But no one would be awarded by the best, or healthiest, story. A name would just be drawn from the entries. The prize was a $100 gift card to a local spa/salon here in Omaha. I made myself write a story, even though I was a little hesitant about sharing it with strangers at work. Luckily enough only one other person entered a story and I found out last week that my name was drawn!! I have never won anything of that merit before. Really, I've only won a cardboard monkey, and that was almost ten years ago. Winning was a reminder of how far I've come in the past few years and there is no reason to give up now. Life is just more complicated now than it was a few years ago, or at least busier. I just hope I can get through the holidays staying at the same weight or even lowering it and this might be a challenge. I looks like the weather will cooperate on Thanksgiving, which will make for some nice long walks after all the turkey eatin' (and we have two turkey stops that day!).

Holding

The scale has been holding at 6.5 pounds higher than the weight from Thursday's not so bad weigh in. Even if it is correct, I am still going out and buying a new scale. I've totally jump-started my workouts again, since I am very motivated to see the scale number go down and not up and not hold at the same number. Since Thursday I have attended two Pump classes and completed 3 hours of cardio, making it a total of 5 hours of workout time. Yesterday I even got to try one of the new fancy machines at the gym (what I think Karrie has been referring to as the AMT? It worked my calves yesterday, so I'm only guessing). After my two hour workout this morning I also went home and raked the stupid lawn for an hour. Now my shoulders are on fire and my hands hurt really bad, but I think I am going to add it to my workout time this week because, man, was I sweating! I am finally off to the shower and to do the chores I look more forward to doing, like going to Target! And buy my new scale!

Mistake

Yesterday was an alright day. I pulled out my scale for the first time yesterday morning and weighed myself and it wasn't as bad as I thought. I had an orientation at work that took most of the afternoon and they served lunch. I was scared as to what we would have to eat because I heard in the past it had been fried chicken or potato casseroles. But to my surprise we just had sandwiches, chips, a cookie, and an apple. I went to Pump and all the weights felt good and I'm thinking about upping my weights on Sunday when I go again. Plus, they are installing all kinds of new cardio machines replacing old elipticals, bikes, and stair machines. I'm really excited about the new possibilities of my workouts.

Then I got on the scale again this morning. I tried to tell Don why I hadn't pulled the scale out in a while... Besides knowing I had gained a few pounds, I thought the scale was off because of how much it fluctuates even within 15 minutes of weighing myself. Today I weighed 5 more pounds than I did yesterday, making it my highest weight in 3 years. Then I weighed myself after my shower and had instantly gained 2.5 pounds. Now I know that it could be water weight, and it could be the scale being weird (it used to be more consistent). But it is still depressing. Especially with the upcoming holiday season.... Even today we are having Thanksgiving dinner at work today and I made a pie for it... It was a Cooking Light pie, but I just don't want the temptation around anymore. I want to quit my job and work out all day so I can eat whatever the Hell I want to without feeling the weight of the world in guilt on my shoulders every day. Let's just say I'm cranky and depressed about the whole thing.

Twice the Fun

Not really.... I tried to do both Combat and Pump after work last night and although I know I could have made it through the end of Pump, I left before lunges. A lot of that had to do with wanting to get home to watch Dancing With the Stars, but I also felt totally wiped. It's been a long time since I did both classes in a row like that and I could tell. It is especially hard after work since I sit on my butt all day. Amazingly enough sitting all day wipes out my energy worse than being on my feet all day and attempting a workout like that. We did do a lot of squats, lunges, push-ups and ab work in Combat, so skipping those few songs didn't make me feel too guilty. Tonight I am taking the night off from the gym. I was originally supposed to go to an appointment to talk to someone about a DJ for the reception but they had to cancel due to a "family emergency." So now I have to reschedule..... All I know is that I'm done with this cold rainy business that's going on outside. Yes, I know it could be worse but it could be better too!

Busy Day Off

I decided to take my "Floating" holiday today because I just really needed a day off. I really wanted a relaxing day but instead I got up the same time I always do and worked out for almost two hours. One hour on the treadmill (I jogged three miles straight!) and then I went to Pump, which is taught by Lesley on Friday mornings. I missed going to her classes, so it was nice to be there again. I tried to get a new license, since my address changed, but the line was too long! So I went straight to Panera and picked up lunch to take to Don down at his work, my former workplace. I didn't get out of that place until almost 3:00! I sometimes really miss the people there. I'm sure I'll make friends at my new work, it's just harder for me! Anyway, I went to the DMV down by his work, which is sort of in a bad part of town, but I got right in and I hardly lied about my weight on my new license! Finally, I got to Village POinte and bought Lynn a present for her birthday celebration tonight, then I came home and laid down for about a half an hour watching Oprah (another thing I really miss in life!) then I got up and made muffins. Whew. I'm exhausted. I thought this was supposed to be relaxing. Now I plan on getting up and going to Combat at 9:00. Not a lot planned for the weekend though, so maybe I will get a chance to relax!

No Canada For Me

Thank God the rest of the country (or most of it) had their act together because Nebraska didn't! Not that I really expected the state to turn blue all of a sudden, but who can really stand Lee Terry for another two years? Not me. Anyway, the good news is that I don't have to leave the country! I'm really excited about the possibilities of the future...and the fact that I don't have to live in a colder climate than I already do.

So I think I ate too much fiber yesterday. I may be sharing too much here, but my stomach is really bloated, and, well, gassy. This makes it really hard to work out comfortably. I forced myself to the gym but I think I really only achieved 30 minutes of cardio. Don had to work tonight, so I didn't have anyone to come home to.... but I didn't have the energy for the gym.... so I called my sister to have some human interaction. She did make me a chicken sandwich, probably not the worst thing for me, but I really wanted to eat better tonight. I really wish Don didn't have to work and wasn't busy all the time because I miss going to the gym with him. I need someone to hold me accountable.... It really seems more difficult to make it to the gym now that I have a sit on my ass all day long job. It really sucks the energy out of me. Then when no one is at the gym with me, encouraging me or at least toughing it out with me, it's hard to talk myself into staying. Tomorrow I am going to make it to Pump though. Better than nothing!

Rockin' The Vote

Today I hopefully made a difference in the world. If anything I practiced my right to vote, and I've never been more excited about it. I've been listening to ongoing election coverage on the MSNBC website while working and wish I could sit at home and just watch. I have never felt so involved and affected by a Presidential election as I do with this one. If it doesn't go my way, Canada here I come!

On another note, I think the third time is the charm with Combat. Last night was my third Monday in a row starting up again and for the first time I didn't feel like I was totally dead at the end. I did feel like I got a good workout in but I didn't want to just lay down and give up in the middle. So maybe things are getting better!! I am taking tonight off to go dress shopping with my mom and then watch election coverage until my eyes fall out of my head. I may have officially decided on a dress (those who were with me, I think I'm going for #2), so after showing them to my mom I may actually put some money down and say "I'm done with this!"

Short lunch break (with the whole voting thing) so I'll have to cut it off now. However, I'm sure I'll have something to say politically tomorrow. If anyone watches Boston Legal, last night's episode was hilarious and any Barack Obama supporter would get a kick out of it. Watch it online if you can (mainly a short part in the beginning and a longer bit in the middle/end part). Cracked me the hell up!