Go away

I’m done with winter!   Thank you, but I’ve had enough!   It’s time to move on to better things...like spring!!!

We had more winter weather this week.   I’m over it!  I want balmy weather!  I want bike ride weather!  I want to put my hat and gloves away!

Ok I’m done complaining!   (Maybe).  I am blessed to be working from home this winter!   I haven’t had to stress and worry about getting to and from work in these storms.  It’s been totally stress free for me.  (Well mostly....I still worry about Jason!). 

We have been just continuing onward.  Work during the day and relax during the night.  We enjoy our evenings and our time together...with our pets.  :-)

My eating has been spotty.  I am teetering on the edge of collapse.   Meaning I’m not being horrible but I’m barely doing enough to maintain....if there is any loss it is minimal...and most likely to be regained.  I have not been totally serious about this journey.  I’ve been trying to have my cake and eat it too...pun intended!!

The sweet treats on the weekend get me every time!   One night turns into two which turns into three!   And the the damage is done so all of my work week is trying to play catch up for my weekend indulgences!  It’s not working!!!

I’ve got to stop the cycle!   But even as I type that, I struggle because the weekend is upon me...what dessert!  Should I have my dessert tonight and then just hope and pray for willpower the rest of the weekend?  Should I resist tonight and then take the chance that I won’t get something delicious the other nights?   Yes these are serious decisions  and worries for me!!!

And yes....that is a good addicts brain talking!   

How does one beat that mentality?  I just wish it would go away...just like winter...disappear into oblivion!

Weekend weight loss

Ahhh what a weekend!  I was so ready for the weekend after the last week of work.  (Ok, I’m really ready each weekend, butast week even more so!). I was anxious to get my official weight for the week and I was looking forward to the quietness and relaxation of the weekend!  I was was also determined to add some activity back into my life this weekend!  

So let’s start with the weight!   I showed exactly 2 pounds down for this new year.  (1.6 down for the last week).  Not too shabby!  But that brings me to my deep thought of the day.   How crazy is it crazy how our minds work!  I lost 2 pounds this new year (woohoo). yet I had to tamp down disappointment and disgust  at what the scales showed!  I don’t like the numbers I see.  I’m working to change those numbers, and I showed results...but I still cringed when I saw the numbers.  In reality I should have been jumping up and down with joy!  (Which would have also incidentally burned an extra calorie or two had I literally jumped up and down!). It shows how skewed our minds really get!!!  

I stumbled across an old picture of me this weekend. Part of me feels sad that I let this go!  But part of me is super motivated to get it back!!!!

My eating was about what I expected this weekend.  I was higher than my projected range.  I’m ok with this. I didn’t binge eat.  I didn’t overeat.  I didn’t go crazy with desserts.  I just had higher calorie foods...and I knew I was doing it when it happened.  It was a conscious decision.  I am not in this to live a life of total deprivation...I’m in this to live a life of health and balance.  That means that some days could be considered a failure ..but that’s ok!   I’m giving myself permission to have those days of ‘failure’.    How and I rebounding?  My lunch is packed for work today...an salad and some fruit!   Since I indulged this past weekend, no snacks after work this upcoming week!   It’s a trade off....a balancing act!

So more good news?    On Saturday we did our errands early and headed to a local park so that Jason could fly his drone before the snow hit..  Instead of standing there immobile, I took the opportunity to walk around the field that he was standing in!  It wasn’t a whole lot, but 1.5 miles is better than none!!!!!    Even more?   On Sunday we headed out in the snow and walked 3.5 miles!  (Hard miles in a couple inches of snow!)

I am happy with my weekend.  I’m ready to face this upcoming week of healthy living!  I’m a bit stressed about some changes at work and a new activity that I will be embarking upon today. (Stressed enough and nervous enough that I kept dreaming and waking up about it.).  I’m not going to eat my stress though!!!!!!   I w got this!   Here comes Healthy Maryfran!!!

Friday: brrrrr winter is here

What a week!!!  It wasn’t a bad one, thank heavens... But it sure was crazy!!!   It sure ran the gamut in terms of what happened.  So without further ado, I give you my recap of the week.

Workouts

I started off Monday still reeling from my weekend of being sick.  I decided to put my newfound early morning workout routine on hold until I was fully recovered.  I did not call off of work.   I trudged into work.  By the afternoon I was really dragging!  But I made it.   Because it had been so rough to make it through Monday afternoon I decided to not workout on Tuesday morning also.  Part of me wonders if I didn’t make that decision more out of ‘I don’t wanna wake up early’ versus ‘I really don’t feel right yet.”  But regardless, I am ok with my decision.  On Wednesday though...no excuses!  I got up and did my 25 minute workout.  It’s not super intense...but it’s at least something!  I received an email on Wednesday from my good friend Julie (she lives about 8 hours away from me...we primarily communicate through email...occasional texts and visits every once in a while...rare visits sadly enough).  She just happened to mention the fact that ‘luckily my fit bit alarm went off and that woke me up’.  I had a lightbulb moment.  A Fitbit alarm???  I imagine that at some point may have known that I could set an alarm on my Fitbit .(Amazon Affiliate link)..but then again...maybe not!  Either way, an alarm on my Fitbit  would eliminate my guilt at the loud alarm going off and waking both Jason and I up when it only needed to be me sacrificing sleep!!  Let me tell you...it worked like a charm!!  Yeah, he stirred when I slipped out of bed...but he didn’t total wake with the rousing alarm!  So yes...on Thursday I worked out too!    

This week I added in weights and some arm work!  I also got smart and threw my headphones on and listened to music to help pass the time on the stair machine thingy!  This weekend I may look into my supply of DVD’s and add in a video or two!  Anything to keep it fresh and different!

Work

I did some more training this week.  On Tuesday and Wednesday I worked with some reps in Indiana to train and prepare them for the next step in doing this job.  They are definitely on the fast track of learning everything.  Necessary since they are taking over my position.  Sometime  in the next month or so I’ll be the one learning a new position (my team’s work is being moved to our Indiana site and I’ll be on a new team.).  

The discontinuation calls continue.   These are calls regarding the end of the assistance program for one of the medications that I support.  Some of them are difficult...which we expected....after all we are taking away the free medication that people have been receiving...and it is a life saving medication! But let me tell you though...I’m amazed.  Simply amazed.  A few times a day I get the call and someone is obviously upset about this change...and worried.  But then they still stop to say ‘thank you for the medication that you HAVE given me for free’. I didn’t expect that at all...and even though it’s only a few it does restore faith in the human race.

Eating

My eating was pretty good this week.   I never went crazy.  I never binged.  I stayed steady. My calories were pretty well in line. 

I thought I tracked over the weekend..but I apparently didn't...I have since gone back and done so and my calories were in the same range.

I have my goal on myfitnesspal set to have me lose 1.5 pounds a week...and as you can see I come in below that goal....so I SHOULD be losing!!!!

Weight

I’m holding steady within the same 2-3 pounds.   Grrrrrr!  I don’t want to go lower in my calories...but it seems I’m going to have to.

Weather

Welcome winter!   I didn’t get any good pictures of our first snow...I left home on Thursday morning right as it was starting where I live and drove straight into the storm.   I made it to work with out much fuss...and I was inside all day and missed the bulk of the snow.   I commutes home in the aftermath and continual rain -and ice.  Jason was sent home from his job...they closed down...lucky boy!!!   He sent me this picture taken from the couch at about 10:30 when it was just getting rolling.

Our area got about 4 or 5 inches...but then the temps rose a bit and the rain helped melt the snow.   We are still in the clean up and residual ice from all the snow and rain stage.  But we weathered our first winter storm.

Overall I would say that the week was an ok one. From sick to health.  From 60° to winter storm.   Exercise....no exercise.   Just a total crazy week of opposites!  I didn’t have any great success in my weight loss...but I will say continuing on with the exercise instead of not restarting is a huge victory!!!!

Weigh in day

For some reason I was dreading weighing myself today. I don't know why.   It's not as if I was horrible.   I didn't manage to keep myself at the low end of my caloric target (1200) but I managed to stay within the range, allbeit at the top end of that target range.  I hadn't drank near enough water though.....but I didn't think of that until after the facts. So I don't know why I was nervous...but I was!

Regardless, I stepped on the scales.   Woohoo.  236.8.  So that's two down from my official weigh in last week and 1 down from my weight every other day last week.   I'll take it!!

Running this week....not really happening.   I'm not risking life and limb to run on sidewalks, roads and alleys that are still snowy/icy.   

Yes we got snow yesterday...about 8 inches give or take.   I was out for about two hours shoveling, cleaning off cars and playing in the snow.  I was active the whole time but my Fitbit was only registering 4000 steps when I came in.  Uhhh after two constant hours of movement.    I think not!    So apparently shoveling and car cleaning falls into the realm of activities that my Fitbit doesn't detect enough movement.    Regardless....I moved the rest of the day and still registered over 11k steps. 

 

Yes...my snowman was wearing sunglasses and a bikini! 

I've been thinking a lot lately about excuses.  Some people have an excuse for everything in their life and they never accept responsibility for anything. Annoying as all get out!!).  These people complain all the time about their life and how horrible it is...but always have an excuse as to why they can't change.  They just wallow in their self pity and will never change for the better .  Some people take control of most things but just come up with excuses for the biggies.   These people can sometimes change but if they do it's by luck and/or takes forever.    And thirdly, there are people that say 'no excuses'.  They own up to their problems and roadblocks in life and if something is physically /emotionally/financially/ etc impossible they find a work around and complete the task anyway.   These people see change.   And can I dare I say happiness?

Success in this journey (and life) is taking no excuses.   Stop saying 'these are the cards I've been dealt' and kick this cards to the curb.   Medical conditions?   Nope not valid.  Not at all!!!  I've seen people with terrible mental disorders lead productive lives....I've seen people with horrible physical disformaties  compete in bike races .....medical conditions are  not valid!!!  Time constraints?   Unconvenience but definitely navigable!!  They are simply excuses.   If you want something bad enough you will find a way!!!!

I want to be thin.....it's time to find a way!!!!

Mud bogging

Well here we are, the weekend is rolling to a close.  Again.    Seriously, this really needs to stop happening!  At least I can say that I had a wonderful weekend!  How could it NOT be fabulous....I got to see friends....I got to spend a lot of time with Jason...and I got some hiking in!!!    Lets start with the friends........(not that Jason isn't a friend...but he's a bit more than a friend ha ha ha)

On Saturday morning I had the opportunity to meet up with some friends (gals that I used to work with).  I've got 19-20 years on these girls but we had a wonderful time!    We laughed.  We covered some important topics of conversation (Someone needs to give these girls some advice!!!  ha ha ha), we had breakfast together  and we hit up some stores and did a bit of shopping!   It was just what the doctor ordered and it's amazing how things like this works.  The one gal showed up and we could see that she was just not herself.   By the end of the first hour we could see that the conversation and girl talk had helped her. That's what friends are for! We did shop a little so I got some walking in at the mall....not enough to really count though, even though I'm really tempted to do so!!!!  See, if I do that, I could possibly say that I counter acted the Cinnamon Supreme Sweet and Stuffed Pancakes.  Seriously, I am embarrassed to say that I ordered those things!   They were tasty...but all sweet and totally NOT healthy!   I'm not even going to write down the calorie count....isn't it enough that I put the link in there??  ha ha ha.    The only good thing?  I was soooo full and just not at all hungry the rest of the day that I ate some cheese, some strawberries and a hard pretzel in the evening and I was not hungry the rest of the day.  And yes...I heeded the voices that my body was saying...and that was 'For heavens sake, please don't eat!'

Yeah yeah yeah....it is obvious in the picture, I was drinking diet soda.....I know, it SHOULD have been water!!!!

Jason and I got to spend a fair amount of time together this weekend.  Lots of time relaxing together in nice warm and relaxing places where we could have long conversations.  But we were also able to get two hikes in.

The first hike was at the Martins Mill Bridge and around the park.  We stayed off the hilly trails and walked the road from the bridge down to the actual park area and circled that snow covered area and then went back to the bridge.  We did that loop a few times until the wind knocked us for a loop and we were too cold to continue.  (ok, until we decided to retreat to the car and the warmth.....I"m sure we could have continued if we had wanted to...but 2.56 miles isn't bad!  It wasn't a bad walk...there were areas that were a bit snow but nothing too intense.




We also decided to hike at Balls Bluff Battlefield/Regional park.     Last weekend was the event of the Snow hike...this weekend we had another snow hike but I think I will refer to it as Mud Bogging instead!   The trails there were a LOT more intense.  Yes, there was a lot more ascents and decents on the trail.  But it was the snow that made those up hill intense....snow is slippery...and going up and down a trail on slippery snow is interesting to say the least. (especially the parts of the trail that were on the edge of a drop off!)  The snow was actually NOT the worst part.  The worst part....when we were NOT climbing up or descending a hill, we were walking on the flat riverbank.  That sounds peaceful and serene doesn't it?   Yeah....not when that said river was at flood stage a few days ago.    Walking through a couple inches of mud is.....interesting, fun and DIFFICULT!  Totally different muscles than normal hiking and different muscles than snow hills.   It was  a GREAT workout!     I didn't get any pictures from the trail...but I did get a few pictures of the National Cemetery that is housed in this park and the sight of a Civil War Battle.  This is one of the smallest National Cemeteries in the United States.  It has 25 graves and there are 54 men buried here, all of them unknown but one.  Sobering to think that 53 families (so many more in the Civil war overall I know)  lost sons who were buried with an unknown gravemarker.  All in all.....3.68 miles at Balls Bluff Park!

So a good weekend with some activity

So....it's 7:30.  I'm home.  Showered up (I wasn't exactly cold but I wasn't exactly warm....and I wasn't exactly muddy but I wasn't exactly clean!) and sitting here watching tv.  Nope....not watching the Super Bowl...does that make me un-American?????

Snow snow go away!!!

Lets talk about the life events first....I'll get to the healthy stuff at the end! (Ok, healthy stuff will be interspersed through the whole thing I guess because losing weight and trying to move to a healthy lifestyle IS part of life and has to be incorporated....)    

Snow......arrrggghhh!!!   I don't want this!  They are calling for a mega snow event in my area this weekend.  I do NOT want it!  Take it back!   Send it somewhere else!   

As we get closer they are predicting somewhere between 1 and 2 feet.

It's not that I mind being snowed in for a day or two.  I'm working on a to do list of things to occupy myself while I'm sequestered at my house. (Ultra important things like organizing my file cabinets!)   It is the fact that I am going to be stuck there and it ruins the chances of me doing what I WANT to be doing. First, I had to cancel and reschedule a breakfast date with two friends.  Yes, Saturday morning I was supposed to meet with two gals I used to work with and while we are meeting in my town, they each have a 30 -45  minute drive to get to my town (one is north of me and the other south...I'm smack dab in the middle)  We have already rescheduled the breakfast girl gossip/chat date, so while I'm disappointed that it's being cancelled; it is going to still happen, just a little delayed.    But that doesn't make me feel ok about this snow. OK OK OK, let me admit what the real problem is.... I probably won't get to see Jason this week because of the snow.  Hey, this is a HUGE deal to me...and to him (yes, he's talked about it too!).   Yes, we are to that point in our relationship where we don't like to go without seeing each other for too long.

We have talked...we live 4 miles apart.....but the midway point (one route) is right near a Dunkin Donuts (drat...more donuts) and a Burger King (double drat...that's bad too!)....wait...and a Chinese Restaurant (triple drat.....sodium city!)....and wow....a repeat of what I ate bad last weekend!!!!    So we have jokingly laughed about walking to the midway point.  (That is if he doesn't intentionally go stay with his parents and get snowed in there in order to help his parents clear the driveway and walks...which he has talked about doing.)   That would be good exercise....but not sure it is a valid option that we will actually utilize though...but we have actually vocalized and laughed about it.   Because seriously....a two mile walk in a foot or two of snow is reasonable right?????

Either way, I am trying to be positive about this pending blizzard. 

***Positive that it will be over as fast as possible. (So I can go collect a hug and a kiss!) 

*** Positive that the weather will be in the 40's next week with no chance of snow...meaning that any lingering snow removal and after affects of the snow will rapidly disappear. (Hey, that's the forecast!)  

 ***Positive that at least I will be getting a lot of exercise as I shovel us out!  (Shovel in hand.....one eye on my niece and nephews to ward off any incoming snowballs...either way, I'll be moving!)

***Positively glad that this is my weekend off so I don't have to sit back and worry about driving to work or getting home from work if I'm there while it gets bad!  (Jason has repeatedly talked about this as a positive, even though he also laments about the non-MF weekend in his cards)

***Positive that spring is right around the corner!  (Wishful thinking.........fervent prayer.......)

Food yesterday?  I was right at 1300 calories.  I aim for 1200 but consider anything within 100 calories right on target...so I did well.   It was difficult.  I grabbed food at home before I hooked up with Jason last night and I was SOOOO tempted to get a drink/smoothie that had calories while we were out.  I stuck with water though!   I had already hit the 'complete entry' tab on myfitnesspal...I didn't want to go back and have to correct...and I already knew I was at the upper limit of my calories for the day.  So water it was!   Yes, I ate more carbs than I should have...but lets get the calories in line first and then I will work on dropping the carbs!   Baby steps!

The water is going well!  I am consistently getting in at least 'close' to 64 ounces of water.  Most days over that amount.  I still use my trusty water jug for work days. 

  

On the weekends I tend to go toward bottled water as I'm usually out and about and it is just more handy.  My weekends with water consumption have been easier than before because Jason pounds the water.....it's easier to remember to do when someone else around you is drinking a river dry also!

And back to the snow.....Seriously?  I need to move back to Florida!

Winter just needs to go away!

This winter stuff is infringing upon my plans to improve my numbers in running.  Seriously!

Ok, I like snow.  It's pretty and all that  But I'm just ready for warm.  I'm ready...ready to get out and run and ride my bike!  

Yes, today dumped about 15 inches of snow on us.  We've had snow and/or ice at least once a week since Christmas.  (and actually I think since the beginning of December). Ok, we may have had a week where there was nothing...but wait, those are the days that it is 0 degrees in the middle of the afternoon.  So yeah, I'm done with winter!

I've eating probably too much today.  I woke up and at about 7 drug myself out of my warm bed.  (at 6:30 they delayed opening the bank until 11).   I made waffles for breakfast (and turkey bacon for Todd).

 At about 8AM they actually decided to close the bank for the day.  I walked out the door at 8:05 and spent almost exactly 2 hours outside shoveling the heaps of snow.  

Why yes, that is one of those 'ole men hats'  it is absolutely awesome!

Not playing...WORKING.  I came inside at right about 10....took off my top layer and headed straight for the exercise bike.  Why yes, I did do two hours of shoveling outside and then follow it up with 60 minutes on the exercise bike.  I am all that and a slice of bread!     After my ride, I showered, checked my mail and put lunch n the oven.  Yeah, we had Stromboli. (I had pepperoni....yeah, real pepperoni).  So my eating has been a bit above and beyond today.  Oh well.

The afternoon has been spent relaxing.  I figured out that curling is really quite addictive to watch.  I sat down to watch the women's hockey game but fell asleep.  Now I"m up and watching luge.  Hey, it's inspiring, knowing that these athletes have scarified and worked out and just been amazing in their efforts.  Makes my efforts to lose weight pale in comparison. OH yeah, you are wondering how much these curling guys work out.  Yeah, they showed a calendar....holy cow those guys were all muscles and totally buff!

Yay, the precipitation has recommenced! Ok, once again.....on days like oday where winter allows me to stay home I love it....i'm just antsy because I want to go out running without the risk of breaking my neck...o or getting run over by some red neck in a truck on my lame-o back road!

I'm reconsidering the exercise bike thing.  I have a recumbent bike.  It's got some issues...and I'm happy that it gets me moving.  HOWEVER,I know it's not giving me a good workout.  So I'm one again reconsidering the indoor bike training question.  Trainer?   Exercise bike?   GAH, I hate decisions like this!

Well I better get back to the focusing on these relay luge races.  Highly important!    Plus, well...my cats await me!!!!  That is Lucy laying on a pillow that is sitting on the arm of the couch above my folded up pillow and that is Ethel laying beside my pillow sharing my blanket.

HI HO HI HO It's off to work I go

My eating has been totally spot on the last few days.  I feel so proud of myself.  It really is crazy that the 'high' I get from that sense of pride.  It is a feeling that is so much more long lasting and pleasant than the high I get from eating.  The high I get from eating is a fleeting feeling...this empowering prideful high totally feels me with a sense of happiness.  It just feels good to be in control!   And no, being spot on does not mean that I am not eating or just eating one thing.  I'm eating nice quantities of food.  It's amazing that when you are choosing healthy options that you can eat a decent quantity.   It reminds me of the book that used to be a big hit..'this or that'. You see, I can have one serving of chips for 140 calories (give or take) OR I could have a serving of applesauce, grapes AND a string cheese for roughly the same amount of calories.  I'm not saying that I won't have the chips...some days are just 'chip days'....but if I'm choosing the correct foods, I don't have to eat 'less'.

And just to prove that I'm still eating normally and not depriving myself...YET still staying in the correct zone of calories..... why yes, that is the biggest loser on the tv,...and why yes, I have cats that LOVE ice cream!  

Ethel (right) and Desi (left) both eyeball my ice cream

On Monday the bank was closed so I was off work. Hip hip hurray!   Todd didn't have to work until 2, so we headed up to town,  What did we do?  Why we went to the gym!  I spent a half hour on the treadmill running.  I then moved to the upright bike for thirty minutes on a hill climber program.  I was sweaty but feeling great when I was done. 

From the gym, Todd and I headed out to lunch.  We went to a small eatery called Cafe Del Sol.  I got a turkey wrap (no cheese, the calorie buster is the flavored mayo on the sandwich....but OHHH so worth it) and the field greens with a balsamic vinaigrette instead of their homemade chips.    Not bad in terms of calories.   I was happy with my choices.  I felt satisfied with the food I ate and proud of myself.  

After a quick trip to the store, we went home and Todd almost immediately left for work.  I sat down and did some work on my computer, worked on some laundry and did some things around the house.  I contemplated working on some scrapbook stuff, but when I looked at the clock I realized that by the time I got it set up I would be heading out the door.  

Where would I be heading???  Well Monday night is my normal zumba night.  Since I was home and feeling so awesome, I decided that if one hour of zumba sounded fun than two hours would send me into total rapture.  Yes, I headed out to a double session of zumba. I have fun at zumba, I wasn't thinking about the exercise...I was just thinking about the fun and camaraderie that the extra hour would give me!!!

The first hour of class I was on fire!!  I had a pep in my step and I was pushing myself hard.   I was feeling GOOD.  The fifteen minute break came and I stopped moving to talk to my friends and get some extra water before starting round two.  (Technically round three of exercise for the day.)  I don't know if  if was just that my legs were about shot by then or if it was that minimal 15 minute break but the second hour was ROUGH.  The natural pep had totally disappeared from my step.  I had to mentally tell myself to jump and move.  I had to make a concerted effort to push myself.  Even then, I allowed my body to work at the level that I was comfortable with, afterall, I was working on three plus hours of exercise for the day.  I was just having fun.    

I came home from zumba, had dinner and took a shower.   Some nights after zumba (or a really hard workout) I get home and I am totally freezing.....shivering cold.  I stayed in the living room for a few minutes but then decided that I was just COLD.  I decided to go to bed and read!   I curled up under my blankets, petting my cats (they took turns visiting me) and read for a bit.  By the time Todd got home, I was sound asleep!

Today was the big day of the projected snow.  I woke up and it was just starting to fall. I am supposed to be at work until 10.  I know for a fact that we are open for business, so I'll be heading out the door for work in a bit.  I'm only hoping that they realize that the snow is coming down steadily and that it is only going to get worse and thusly send us home at a decent hour.  Like noon....(the news is saying get out in the morning if you MUST go out, but be home by noon). .....however, I have my serious doubts as to getting released early today....

Speed Demon

Yesterday's exercise plans got shot out of the water with the snow.  I didn't make it out for my morning run and I didn't make my evening trip to the gym that I had planned.  GRRR   I spent about 30 minutes outside in the morning shoveling and walking.  I then followed up in the evening with a 30 minute step aerobic dvd.  (which kicked my butt!).  SO I still maintained a somewhat active day.  VICTORY!  (however I caved and had a diet soda after my step aerobic workout....oh well, my water consumption was in, so it's not a bad splurge!)

This morning I was up and out the door shortly after 7AM.  Why so early?  I had a make up run to do!  (remember, yesterday's run was canceled due to snow)  I was nervous at first. MY car was covered in a layer of ice and our deck was one slippery mess.  However, the roads were fine.

Snow covered fields at sunrise

I have decided what I'm going to do to increase my speed while I run.  I have decided to run intervals. I've read different views on increasing speed.  Some say intervals, some say run up a steep grade hill and jog back down and repeat at least 10 times (which sounds like an incredibly intense workout...I will probably torture myself with that sooner or later).  Some people just say run and force yourself to better your time each and every day.  I'm going to simply run intervals.  I am going to try to pushy myself harder during my intervals, since I know that I will have a period of rest after the run.  My plan?  I still plan on running three times a week.  Two runs will be interval runs and the third run will be a straight up jog/run.  My third straight up (no interval) run will be timed and recorded so that I can hopefully see my progress.   I had actually found a great (free) app for my phone a while back, and never used it as I swung through the C25K program.  It's called RunNow.  You can set the length of your run intervals and walk/jog intervals.  You can change how it notifies you when it's time to run/walk and it notifies you when you are at the halfway mark (in case you are running an out and back).  I used it today.  My play list played just fine with this program also running....and the voice did a nice job of notifying me when I needed to change up my pace.  It doesn't have a GPS program built into that app (maybe that's because I have the free option!  LOL)  but I just turned on one of the apps that I have on my phone (mapmyride is a free one). Maybe someday soon I can afford a heart rate monitor that has that built in so I don't have to zap the power on my phone when I'm running!    But for now everything running on my phone works just fine.  I can't wait to see how I progress.  I would LOVE to be under 40 minutes for my next 5k (May 18th) but I will be happy with ANY improvement!   I will conquer this running thing ....in a few months you can just call me "speed demon!"

Bird brains and defunct plans

Well, best laid plans always seem to fall apart.  I had a run scheduled for this morning....and a trip to the gym planned for tonight.  Yes, I did.  And I was determined to do it.  However, the forecasters FINALLY got the weather forecast of snow correct. (They've predicted snow every week at least once, more often than not twice and every time we dodge the bullet and get nothing).  Well, this time they got it right.  We have about 4 inches and it's still coming down.   I don't relish having a broken bone from slipping on snow and ice so I decided to forego the run. (and as for tonight, it's supposed to snow all day long...so driving 30-40 minutes to the gym will probably be out also...yes my gym is that far away...EVERYTHING is pretty much that far away from my house)  I did go out for about 15 minutes and shovel. (that's all it took or I would have gladly shoveled longer...more exercise).  I then walked down the road for a bit and also stopped and took some pictures of the grateful birds at our bird feeder and on the surrounding trees.  I will definitely be exercising more tonight.  Todd and I are talking about a walk on the canal and I am setting a date with my step aerobic video! While the snow messed up my plans, I will admit that it is it is pretty.  The good thing?   Within a few days it is supposed to be in the upper 50's!  Dare I hope that spring is actually here for good! 

 

My weight, well although I'm taking my Sunday weight as my official weight.   So my official weekly weigh in is 231.1, this morning my scales showed me at 229.7.  HOT DOG!!!!!  My weight almost always drops between Sunday and Monday...go figure!...maybe I SHOULD go back to Monday weigh ins!  Ha ha ha....no matter what it does, as long as it is going down, that's all that matters!  :-)  And I'm determined to see that it DOES drop!

Where is MaryFran????

I've been keeping track of my weight since Friday.  I weighed myself for the start of the new month.  I saw that it was going to be a tight loss month.  I wasn't surprised.  I had a huge loss last week.  I watched my weight everyday through the weekend......I held steady. I watched carefully because the monthly ick was actually due to start late last week...I waited and watched the scales (for anyone reading this that has no clue what I'm talking about I'm unlucky enough that the monthly ick is usually precipitated by a spike in my weight...water weight...but a spike none-the-less).  I drank my water like a fiend....trying to forestall that weight gain.  I just didn't want to see any weight gain.  The ick did start...and I didn't see a huge spike (YAY).  My final weigh in result for this week....I lost three tenths of a pound.

Part of me is super frustrated with my 3/10ths of a pound.  Seriously only three tenths of a pound?  By rights.....by the calorie counts...by my efforts, the loss should much higher!  It frustrates me to no end.  There is a small part of me that screams to stop.  But then I think about what I want out of my life.  There are places that I want to go...clothes that I want to wear.   A life that I want to lead.....and I want to lead it as a thin person.  I know that my inner happiness should allow me to lead a happy life as a fat girl.  My happiness is not contingent upon my weight.  Inner peace and happiness comes from within my soul and I know that.  Weight has nothing to do with that inner happiness.  But dammit...I WANT TO BE THIN!  And I WILL be!  I"m focusing on that desire and pushing through the disappointment that lurks within me at my eensy tiny weight loss (even though I did somewhat expect it).


 Soooo, we are being told by the weather forecasters that we need to batten down the hatches because there is a better than good chance that we will be getting hammered with snow mid week.  I've heard conflicting reports of how much snow we will be getting.....it's anywhere from one foot to two feet.  When you are with that much snow does it really make a difference between one foot or two?   haa haa haa     So the craziest thing occurred to me today.   As they predict the snow to hi, part of me has that hope that work will be closed at least one day.  That is the good part.  But then A panic sets into me and my heart stops!  You see, it messes up my exercise plans.  I am on a roll.   How will it mess up my exercise plans?   Well,  if it is snowing Tuesday night early enough, I will have to forgo Zumba on Tuesday night.  If it's snowing on Wednesday that evening of zumba will be canceled.  Getting to the gym...a half hour drive away will be impossible too!   Even worse?   If we get a foot or two of snow...how will I go out and jog on the roads on Thursday (which is my run day...and it's a 22 minute straight run)???    Yes, I'm worried about my exercise plans.  That said, I have come up with an alternate plan.  I do own an exercise bike and I figure I will hop on the exercise bike and ride an hour here an an hour there.  I also will be spending time shoveling the driveway...so that is good exercise also.  That plan calmed my racing heart and helped to push down the panic about zumba and not being able to make it to the gym at least.  However, the missed run is just really freaking me out!!!!!!  I don't want to get off track with my running!  I'm doing so good!  I need to do my runs!

  Yeah, who is this girl?  I have no clue where MaryFran went and who has replaced her...but it's kinda scary!  

Excuses meets dedication

I'm still a bit congested, but really do feel well enough to exercise.  I need to get my exercise mojo on.  Tomorrow will be easy as I will be trying out a new exercise class. OK, it's new to me..... Masala Bhangra is the name.  Hey, sounds like it could be a hoot.  :-)  It is an type of Indian Dance and I figure it will be worth a try out.    Then of course Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are my zumba days.  So I just need to find the mojo to exercise today.

 That said, I was totally floored this morning.  The road I live on is a back road.  It's narrow and dangerous in the BEST of conditions.  We are plowed last and even when plowed the road remains pretty bad until nature takes care of the snow.  This morning I was driving Todd to the studio and I was coming home.  It was about 9 AM.  I was taking my road slowly because of the treacherous conditions.  And what should I see?    A JOGGER?  IN this weather!  With snow on the ground!!!   Jogging on  small country snow covered road!!   That my friends is dedication.  I can't say that I will  ever be that motivated.  However, it really does go to show that my excuse of snow/cold/weather etc etc etc is a crock of doo doo!

Enough said...today is my stay home and vegetate on the couch (or in bed at times)day and I need to get back to that activity!  :-)  (well maybe after some xbox kinect!)