God there's nothing like trying on an old pair of pants to make you feel like complete shit. I've got to get my shit together. It was a reality check to try to wiggle into those pants and find that they barely go up over my (now) giant ass. I don't even want to step on the scale. So I won't. But I am going to start counting calories I think, as a means to just keep track of what I'm eating. I'm not so much worried about a number, but more about the quality of food items that I'm putting into my body. I am going to try out more new Paleo recipes and I'll share them here as I make my attempts, bad or good. 

I just want to be able to wear my pants again. Working out starts September 1st, but for now I have a seven day stretch at work that is sucking the life out me. I plan on fitting in at least 20 minutes of walking my little Dottie at least every other day for now.

Last week was a pretty big bust. I only did zumba twice, I think. That was it. I can chalk it up to it being my birthday week and wanting to celebrate, but the fact of the matter is - I was being lazy. 100% lazy (well, maybe 90% since I did go to zumba twice). But I'm getting my shit back into gear with my eating and working out. Here's the plan for another fun-filled week:

• Monday - Zumba
• Tuesday - strength training in AM, 2.5 mile run PM
• Wednesday - Zumba
• Thursday - strength training in AM, 3 mile run PM
• Friday - Zumba
• Saturday - Body Pump

No excuses this week, damnit.

This morning I got up at 6AM and headed to the gym for a 30 minute lifting session. It has been about two weeks since I went and lifted (not counting Body Pump, which wasn't so much heavy lifting but lots of repititions - it still kicked my ass, though). This morning consisted of:

• 3x15 squats - 40 lbs. barbell
• 3x14 lunges - 30 lbs. dumbells
• 3x15 overhead press - 30 lbs. barbell
• 2x12 tricep kickback - 10 lbs. dumbell
• 3x15 bent row - 40 lbs. barbell

Isn't that so interesting? I'm sure you are on the edge of your seat.

i'm back!

After too long of a hiatus from exercise and all things healthy, I'm getting back into the game for real. I joined a gym and I've been eating (mostly) well. Let's talk fitness first.

So I bought that Groupon for the pilates studio and I went to their Zumba Toning class. I liked it, but it wasn't as great as normal zumba at Studio Vida. Buuuuut I will definitely return to check out other classes and instructors. Especially because I have those discounted passes. Friday mornings will be Zumba, Saturday mornings are going to be Body Pump. I've never done Body Pump so I'm pretty excited to check it out.

I also joined Freedom Fitness here in town. My pal goes there, too, and the price is right - only ten dollars a month. I've been with her a few times and she's taught me some new strength training stuff. Once I learn my way around the weight room, I'm going to start going in the mornings before work. Mondays and Wednesdays I'm focusing on legs, Tuesdays and Thursdays are upper body days. I'll probably throw in one or two runs on those days, as well.

Speaking of running, I ran for the first time since Beach to Bay on Monday. I went to the gym with my mom while I was home and after I lifted I hopped on the treadmill and waited for her to finish. I decided to just run and see what happened. I kept it nice and easy, around 11 min/mile, and I was surprised to find out that I felt pretty great! I wasn't huffing and puffing like I thought I would be. I ran for twenty minutes, a little less than two miles. Not terrible for the first time back. Then I decided to be real crazy and doubled up my workout for the day by going to zumba in the evening. I had to get my Mario fix. HRM told me I burned 735 calories in the hour. Chyeaaaah! So Monday was intense - lifting, run, zumba.

Tuesday I woke up early and went to the gym with momma again. Focused on arms and did rows, curls, kick backs, etc. My arms are so weak, it's pathetic. I've gotta work towards changing that. I headed back to CC and got another semi-workout by unpacking and putting together my new room. Hey, I worked up a sweat so it counts!

Okay, so that's the fitness front. I'm feeling pretty confident and excited about keeping it up. So now for food. I've been loosely following the 'paleo' diet, which essentially is you eating like a caveman. Meat, fruits, vegetables, nuts. I'm not being ridiculously strict with it, but I feel pretty good so far cutting out almost all of my dairy and grains. The dairy needed to go anyways, I think I'm slightly lactose intolerant. And I don't eat a hell of a lot of grains anyways. But... you're not supposed to eat beans. Beans are going to be hard to let go so I'm sure I'll still eat them every now and then. I'm not going to even give it a second thought.

Okaaaay, so that's my plan. Build muscles, eat real food. And I'll leave this with this week's WWS:

• Sunday - swam, some lifting at home
• Monday - legs, ran 20 minutes on treadmill, Zumba
• Tuesday - upper body
• Wednesday - legs (maybe... having dinner at the house tonight and might not have time)
• Thursday - upper body (full body if legs don't happen tonight), run two miles
• Friday - Zumba
• Saturday - Body Pump

national running day

It seems like an appropriate day to get my ass running again. I am going to try to do two miles after work. I have a feeling it's going to be brutal. With my inactivity plus the amount that I've been smoking lately...it's not going to be pretty. But I've got to do it. Because if I don't, it's just going to get worse and worse.

I'm going to try to lose twenty pounds by September. I need to start eating cleaner and drinking less beer. I'm also going to attempt to quit smoking. We'll see what happens...

yuck.

I haven't run or done anything physical since Beach to Bay. Over two weeks. Of sitting. And drinking beer. And eating. Gross.

I bought a groupon for some fitness classes at a studio. They offer zumba and Body Pump and stuff so I'm eager to try it out this week. Over the weekend I guess I did get some exercise walking around at a music festival, though.

I swear I'll be back on this thing more often. I just need to find motivation to get my ass up and moving again.

WWS

This is the first weekly workout schedule I'm making that doesn't have to include running! Funnily enough, that makes me want to add it in. Oh mind, you work in funny ways. Here's the plan, stan:

• Monday - strength training, leisurely bike ride around the neighborhood
• Tuesday - 2 mile morning run
• Wednesday - strength training
• Thursday - zumba
• Friday - strength training, 2 mile walk with Dottie
• Saturday - 4 mile run

Quite ambitious, but I feel motivated.

Last week was a decent work out week. I missed the Wednesday run I had planned but oh well. Thursday I got up at 6:30AM and went running before work. I did 2.5 miles and it was so pleasant! I am going to start doing that more often. It's a million times better than waiting 'till the hot, humid afternoons to run. Blech! Friday I did full body strength training, and then Saturday was the race. Not too shabby.

struggling.

I am struggling to find motivation these days. I haven't stopped running, but I am only doing about half of my runs that I plan out. This is what this week consisted of:

• Tuesday - 2.69 miles in 25:30 (9:28 pace)
• Saturday - 6.04 miles in 1:07:41 (11:12 pace)

Maybe I need to take a different approach to my running or something. Switch things up, get me motivated again. Or maybe I just need a little break. I'll get it soon, after these two upcoming races. I've got the Race for the Cure 10K in a week and Beach to Bay a week later. Maybe I'll take a week off after that. 

It's getting hot and humid, summer is coming. It's too hot for running in the summer. I should join a gym. 

10.15.2011 workout

I had so much motivation after work today. I got home and immediately donned my running clothes. I ended up doing 1.86 miles in about 20 minutes, putting me at a 10:45min/mile pace. While I wasn't going faster, I felt so much stronger today and my breathing was much easier and more controlled. So that's some progress right there.

Roommate & I are doing pizza and The Walking Dead tonight. I bought some frozen Kashi pizza that wasn't nearly as shitty seeming as the other standard ones. We'll see how it is!

I'm sleepy.