i need a change

The bike commute to the gym was awesome! In all it was 20 minutes there, 20 minutes swim, 20 minutes back. About 7 miles bike. I was tired but felt good last night -- I didn't push myself to swim my normal 30 minutes 1) because I wasn't sure how tired I would be on the bike home and 2) I had convinced myself i had put my lock on wrong. Like someone would steal it in broad daylight at the YMCA!

But I stepped on my scale this morning and I weighed 131.

I know.

Which means that, for the month of June, I really need to concentrate on EATING WELL and exercising. I think I've got the exercise routine down, but I really need to focus on eating well.

Also ... I need to make this a long term goal.

So, I'll say this ... I'm thinking of taking all my measurements on the 1st and then not weighing myself or measuring myself until July 1st, my 25th birthday... The idea being I'll concentrate harder on eating well if I can't micromanage the results day-to-day...

Tonight: Spinning + 10 mins. core + front-and-back pushups.

my feet

I've been on blogger hiatus due to my late realization that I need to take care of my feet and some personal things I'm not going to get into here.

I saw my aunt the pediatrist over the weekend and she diagnosed me. I've injured my plantar fascia ligaments and they're inflamed. Apparently I have a low arch, and the half marathon coupled with my horribly unsupportive yet cute sandels have made it worse.

So I'm on my second week of my running break.

1. Because I don't want to be in pain.
2. Because I really like running and want to be able to do it pain free.

So there are some things I need to do before I lace up my shoes again.

1. Ice
2. Flex/stretch

And things to buy/try out:

1. Inserts
2. Supportive sandles
3. Trail running shoes.

And hopefully I'll be back running by either this weekend or next weekend.

In the meantime I've been swimming more (cough some) and biking more (yay!) than I have been. I've been back to spinning class twice and this weekend I biked 11.5 then 12.5 miles (in an hour each) with my brother Joe. So much fun! I want to go 10 miles on a new trail I've read about with D this weekend.

So yes, running is on hiatus. But I'm staying busy with the cross training. (And being good -- I'm even icing my feet as I type).

I think I'm going to try an ultimate fit workout tomorrow after a light dinner -- bike the 10/15 minutes to the Y, swim for a half hourk, bike the 10/15 minutes home. I drove the route today and I think I have it where I'm safe enough and avoid the two crazy dangerous crossings near my apartment.

YAY!

So if this works, and I don't absolutely die afterward, I would love to do this once or twice a week. And eventually bike to the park and trail too. Talk about a full lower-body work out! Add core (which I've been doing) and arms (yeah, still getting around to that ....) and I will be set.

The trick, of course, as it always is, is sticking too it.

But I'm excited about my new bike-swim-bike adventure!

eateing well

I'm down to 128 this morning, which is my pre-vacation weight.

I feel pretty good and will hopefully squeeze in a run tonight at the park or the trail, followed by core and some strength exercises.

I'm actually looking forward to doing it! Ha! Like I ever thought I would type those words.

But after three days of "healthy" aka "normal for me" eating, my body feels good and is ready to move.

Eating well makes such a difference!

feeling good

I ran 7 miles (walking parts of the last 2 miles) because the bottom of my feet just hurt so f*ing bad! Mom's feet and knees are hurting too, and we're seriously reconsidering the half marathon that we signed up for June 2.

It might be too far too soon. It just shouldn't hurt this bad. It shouldn't be this painful.

I have mixed feelings -- I already paid the $32, and I want to do it. I want to feel that rush of "I did it!"

But I know if I push it ... that I could push myself right of running this summer. And I want to run, because it's stopped being about the race and just about feeling good.

Which is exactly where I want it to be. Feeling good.

And there are a slew of 5k and 10ks I could do ...

I think I'll try one more long run this next Sunday and see how it goes.

In other news, I went swimming on Saturday for a half hour. I really liked it, and I'm going to try to do it once a week this summer. I'm also contemplating doing spin class once a week and yoga once a week. I think I can do all three and run 3-4 times a week as long as I take it easy.

Which would be fun.

I like how it works different muscles and I feel really good afterward. I like how it tones different muscles. I also am thinking that this is the summer I could reach 125 or even 120 if I keep this level of activity up -- and that's where I really want to be. A size six instead of an eight.

And I need to add strength training, which will help my running and the whole toned.

I have the books ... but .. well ... haven't figured it out yet.

But overall, after reviewing the past six months of activity, I realize that I just feel good. I feel physically good at work and at home and I love love love being able to take walks and go hiking and not get too tired. I also haven't been sick so far this year, and that's another plus.

So, yes. I want to keep my level of activity, if not strength or increase it.

comfort food

I ran about 3 miles at quarry park yesterday afternoon and it was gorgeous. I felt so good! I wore slightly thicker socks (although my good thick socks are at D's house) and my feet didn't hurt as much.

Although this morning they are still a bit sore.

Did some good stretching but passed on the core and weight lifting and instead went to D's house for pizza (yes, I know ...) with the excuse that I would pick up my good, thick running socks. Yep. The socks are still there and I'm back up to 130.

Sigh.

But the thing is, I know why I'm maintaining a high weight and it has to do with my poor eating habits. I had pb twice yesterday, for breakfast and lunch, 3 store-bought bagels (230 calories each), a Dilly Bar from DQ (damn they're hard to pass up at work), a banana and pizza. Oh, and a cookie.

With D working on his house and all the changes, he's seeking out some major comfort food -- sugary cereal, pizza, cookies, etc. It's hard to pass up when I'm with him, even though I know I should. Work is going through changes and everyone is bringing in treats -- aka comfort food -- to ease the stress. Damn it's hard to turn down!

But part of it is my own fault. My options are limited because I haven't taken the time to plan them out. I haven't been cooking as much as I used to, hell I've barely been to the grocery store since vacation!

Time to get back on the band wagon.

ouch!

Well, I lost a pound this morning. The two days of eating well (which included turning down donuts AND cake at work Monday) has helped. I'm down to 129. One more pound and I'm at my maintenance weight; four more pounds and I'm back to where I was last summer.

Ahh, summer.

I did a 6 mile run Monday but hurt the bottom outside of my foot, probably because I was wearing too thin of socks -- they didn't start hurting until the last mile. I also did 7 minutes of core work which I could feel every time I laughed yesterday. My abs were sore in a good way yesterday; my foot not so much.

First my knees, which I think are better, and now my foot! More and more I think I need to start a weight lifting/training/stretching routine.

So I took the day off yesterday and joined D and his brother T at D's house. We had a nice little camp fire going and it was just so nice watching the fire, talking, watching them get drunk. As much stress and work as his house is, it's a nice spot. And it's nice that it's a house. You can grill, have a fire, hang out ... it's just nice.

My plan tonight is to buy thicker socks and go for about 2 miles, possibly 3, possibly at the quarry but I haven't decided yet.

back on the band wagon

My eating has gone from vacation-mindfull to stressed-comfort food to all out junk, with a few weak efforts thrown in there.

Time to bring back the food tally each day, until I get a handle on it.

Yesterday I started with a whole wheat english muffin with peanut butter and coffee with soy milk. Snack was a chocolate chip cookie at work. Lunch was a veggie sub and apples (my weak effort!) from Subway. Snack was a dilly bar from DQ (a work hazard for some reason) and another cookie (damn employee appreciation day). Then I had a third (!!!) snack of 100-calorie popcorn. While healthy, it's so salty. Dinner was even worse: a large helping of potatoe salad, multiple crackers and cheese, veggie baked beans, broccoli with cheese and a chic pea pattie on a bun.

Yikes.

I don't even want to know how many calories that is!

Today hasn't started off well either. I had sugary (as in multi-colored sugary) cereal this morning. Now I'm off to a bbq (why am I so nervous?). My game plan is to bring some veggie burgers and fruit and eat only that ... and then seriously get back on the band wagon. Which will mean writing everything down.

I'm still at 130 pounds, my fingers are swollen, my clothes are tight and I'm just not a happy camper.

Time to get back on the healthy band wagon for me.

running spill

I went running with D and the pups tonight and it was fun. We ran around his town.

The dogs were so excited to run! It was the first time we brought them out. We ran 10 minutes with them on the leash and then 10 mintues off the leash in this field. It very much felt like running when I was a kid -- wild and free in the grass with the puppies chasing after me.

And then I tripped over Buddy or Scout, possibly both, and went tumbling to the grown.

My very first running spill.

I must have looked really funny because D laughed a little and then ran over. I must have been dazed and confused by the whole thing because I just lay there, my legs twisted funny, the dogs bouncing on me because I was on the ground with him. My knee hurt a bit but D lifted me up and I got back into it running, slowly.

We ran for 10 more minutes for a total of 30 around town. Buddy was good except when he saw another dog. He wanted to go play and would pull me literally a dozen feet before I could get a hold of him. They're strong dogs! But I wore them out because they were too tired the last few minutes and didn't put up the same fuss as before.

So yes, the dogs ran me. But I out ran them!

These last few days running -- in quarry park and now with the pups -- makes me feel so free. I've been taking the watch and going for 30 minutes, with no concern for my pace or the distance. Just whatever feels good. Sometimes it's slower, sometimes faster.

I like not having to map it out and being able to explore different routes. It's really been helping me destress after work -- I think, in part, because I don't have to worry about the run itself. No worries about getting the exact distance in or the right pace. Just running.

I've been toying with buying a Nike+ for my iPod -- it gives you distance and pace and all that good detail -- with out any calculations or distance measurements. And I think it would be pretty cool.

But then I think, will it be as relaxing?

And then I think, maybe I should re-evaluate my running goals.

I'll never be a fast runner. I just wont.

But I can be a distance, plodding-along-at-my-own-pace runner. I have found running outside enjoyable and relaxing, it has helped my mood and helped keep my stress level down. I have fallen in love with running at quarry park and I want to explore other trails and paths around town. And I love running with D and, even with their bounciness, the pups.

Maybe pace and distance, maybe they don't matter.

Maybe I should start measuring my runs, insteady, by time.

I think it will make my training for my next half marathon -- yes, I registered today for a race June 2 -- even more enjoyable and relaxing. Intead of running 8 miles this weekend, I will run for 1:30. 10 miles next weekend? Nope, 2 hours.

I signed up to finish. To give myself a goal. To get myself out the door with my running shoes on. Not to set a new PR.

Although, lets be honest, a PR would be nice.


Time: 30 minutes.

readjusting

I weighed in this morning ... at 131. Again. I was this high a month ago, and this high right after Christmas, and before that right after my last vacation.

It's very frustrating. Yes, I know it's only 3-4 pounds from my happy maintenance weight. BUT my clothes don't fit well at this weight, I feel swollen and uncomfortable.

And I've become very attached to eating, which sounds weird, but I seek out and crave snacks and such. I make unhealthy decisions (chips instead of apples at subway) and eat for comfort (um, that ice cream snack Sunday night).

So now I'm making a concious decision to get back in the ring and eat healthy. To fight myself on my unhealthy cravings. I know from experience that I just need a few days to readjust my food clock and I'll be back down to 128.

It's just frustrating that I have to readjust after every vacation/holiday. Even an active one!