still at it

 Wow.  I didn't realize it had been ten days since I last checked in.  I have no idea if anyone is even reading this and would notice.  Just in case, here I am confessing my fitness ups and downs to the cyberspace void.

Please enjoy the Strange Days album cover while I tell you a little bit about the past week and a half...

Since we last chatted, I went away for the weekend, ate really rich foods, drank a lot of delicious wine, beer, and cocktails, and probably gained a few.  I had a great time doing it.

Monday I felt bloated and sluggish, so I went for a run at lunch and then an hour long walk in the evening.  It was a great way to kick off my slowly escalating fitness obsession.  Tuesday I showed up to the step n sculpt class feeling tired, but I powered through.  I took the easy road on some of the drills, and by the end of the class my guilt had gotten to me, so I spend 20 minutes on the treadmill to compensate for not giving it my all when I had the opportunity.

Yesterday I had a breakthrough.  A running breakthrough.  I dragged myself to the gym at 5:15 to power it out on the treadmill.  I decided I wouldn't set a goal - I'd just go until I needed to stop.  I plugged in my ipod, pushed the quick start button, and let my endurance guide me.  I felt so good I did four and a half miles before I started to feel done.  I decided to round up to the nearest mile, and push through five whole miles.  It was phenomenal.  I feel like I've really overcome my knee issues.

Today I went to my morning step class, which focused a lot on strength training and general toning.  I know my butt is going to hurt tomorrow, and it's going to be great.  At lunch I decided to use my free time to return to the gym and pound out three more miles on the treadmill.  I've burned a thousand calories today.  That's right.  Starting to feel like the old me again.

Here's the kicker:  I gained weight and I'm not losing anything.  It's really frustrating.  I'll check back in after this weekend and hopefully I'll have a good number to throw at you.

Yesterday:

Total Calories: 2009

Net Calories: 1223 (246 under)

H2O Intake: 64 oz

Total Exercise: 60 min

Cardio: 60 min

Group Training

source

This morning was my second time at the early morning step n sculpt class.  I love a good morning work out with other ladies who are going through the same hell and making it fun.  It reminded me of the summer in college when Katie and I dressed up in short shorts, knee socks, sweat bands, and shirts we made that said "Jane's Team."  Fonda, of course.

I'm feeling really good about this.

Yesterday:

Total Calories: 2048

Net Calories: 1524 (57 over)

H2O Intake: 32 oz

Total Exercise: 90 min

Cardio: 60 min

Monday Update

I ate a lot and drank a lot this weekend.  I also played outside a lot.  I think it all evened out.  This morning I got up and ran 3.5 miles before work.  Tomorrow I'll be back at the gym for an early morning step 'n' sculpt class.  10-year reunion, here I come!

Balancing Indulgences

Sometimes it's ok to drink 4 glasses of wine in an evening.  Sometimes it's ok to have little extra snacks outside of meals.  Probably best not to do both in one evening.

Oh. My. GOODNESS!

I went to the step and sculpt class this morning.  Deep burn, team.  Deep burn.  The weighted squats turned my legs to jelly.  It was awesome.

The instructor was tough, but very positive and encouraging.  The best part?  Five years ago she was 230 pounds.  She's not just another peppy aerobics instructor who's been under 125 lbs her whole life and doesn't understand what weight struggle is.  She was a big gal, made the change, and works to help others make the change too.

I love that kind of a story.  It motivates me to push beyond.

Mixing It Up

There's an early morning Step & Sculpt class at my gym Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I'm contemplating catching tomorrow's class.  It's at 6:30am.  Think I can do it?  I'll let you know. :)

PS- I've been drinking a whole lotta water these days.  My skin is fab.

Back on Track!

The weather is getting milder here in the great city of Seattle.  I'm so happy I've been working diligently to nurse my knee back to capacity.  Currently, I can run 4 miles with minimal stopping.  I don't run back to back days, of course, but it's getting closer.  As soon as I can run 4 miles without stopping to rest my knee consistently for a couple weeks, I'm going to start working in some back to back running days.

This morning I got up at 6 and ran my neighborhood loop.  It was a beautiful morning.  I snapped a pic with my phone at one of my favorite view spots so you could see what I saw.  Gorgeous, huh?

I really miss running on the weekends with my running group.  Hopefully this summer I can get back to it.

The Elephant in the Room

I know I am super late posting my update.  I have a million excuses, but this blog is about not hiding behind excuses, and so I dug a picture out of my recent adventures to tack onto my stats.  Here's the ugly truth:  I fluctuated in weight a lot this month.  I had many glasses of wine and late dinners.  I was putting off weighing in as long as possible.

This morning I stepped on the scale and got the exact weight I brought to you last month.  I did, however, lose an inch of my chest, waist, and hips.  This caused my body fat percentage to read higher than last time.  Curious.  I'm beginning to question the accuracy of those calculators.

May will be a better month.