Deciding to just run and forget about the haters was probably the best thing I could have done for myself.
Because, this week I ran 4 times. That's the most runs I done in a single week in over 6 months. I obviously loved it since by Friday I couldn't wait to get to the gym and zone out for 45 minutes.
I also did yoga and Pilates this week - which I think really helped me not get too sore from the sudden increase in my running. And, I know the yoga helped me sleep because, for the first time in weeks, I slept like a freaking baby every single night.
Awesomeness! I finally don't have to wear a ton of under eye concealer to look human!
I tracked - not perfectly, but much better than average. I focused on drinking water and staying hydrated. I went to bed a decent time. I checked in on family and friends out East to make sure they were okay during the hurricane (send prayers AND money. seriously guys). I read some. I let myself watch reruns of HIMYM and drank green tea. I relaxed for the first time in months.
And, most importantly, I made myself a priority again. I stopped hating myself. I was nice to myself.
I remember years ago when I first joined WW and still went to meetings, there was a woman who had been with the program for years and finally made her goal weight. She'd lost over 150 pounds! Our leader asked her what advice she'd give to anyone just starting or to anyone struggling during their weight loss journey.
The woman's advice? Forgive yourself.
She said that each of us is going to fail at something during this journey. None of us are going to be perfect. The difference between lifetime members and people who quit? The lifetime members shook off the failure, forgave themselves for whatever they did wrong, and moved forward. The quitters used the failure or mistake as an excuse to stop.
So, forgive yourselves. I know there are a few readers of mine who have struggled with their weights for years - and this is the best advice I can give them. I had to remember it myself, so I know it's hard. But, you must be nice to yourself, because it's really difficult to take care of a person you hate.
\\
Forgiving myself for the last few months worked this week! Check out my stats - I'm down another 1.4 pounds!
Start Weight: 231.4
Current Weight: 147.4 (which was the goal I set last week)
Weight-loss to date: 84.0
Miles Completed: 15.58 (my goal was 14)
Goal for next Saturday: 146.0
Miles goal: 16
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
WLJ: 5.14.12
Well, my small gain last week seemed to correct itself this week...
Because I'm down 3.2 pounds! Yeah!
I didn't track as well as I had hoped, but I did do mindful eating. Just taking note of what I'm putting in my mouth seems to help me moderate my consumption.
I ran 21.46 miles and weight trained twice. It's been a long time since I've been able to write a sentence like that, and it feels fabulous.
I only had diet soda twice: first when I ordered in Chinese food on Monday and second when I had dinner with a friend in the City on Friday. I'm feeling pretty proud of that.
Also, if you look at the ticker at the top of this page, you'll see that I surpassed the 250 mile marker - that means I get to have a pedicure! I'm going just as soon as I get some coffee in me and figure out what the weather is doing.
The week emotionally wasn't super, but I got through it. I made a point during the stress to just focus on what I could control, and that's me. My surroundings, my health, my schoolwork, etc. I can't control the stupidity that's occurring over 1,000 miles away, so I might as well practice some serenity and let it go. It'll resolve itself one way or another, and I really don't have a say either way.
Goals for this week: run 20 miles, weight train twice, track 5/7 days, keep being zen, and do my best on the first half of my finals.
What are your goals for healthy and balanced living this week?
Because I'm down 3.2 pounds! Yeah!
I didn't track as well as I had hoped, but I did do mindful eating. Just taking note of what I'm putting in my mouth seems to help me moderate my consumption.
I ran 21.46 miles and weight trained twice. It's been a long time since I've been able to write a sentence like that, and it feels fabulous.
I only had diet soda twice: first when I ordered in Chinese food on Monday and second when I had dinner with a friend in the City on Friday. I'm feeling pretty proud of that.
Also, if you look at the ticker at the top of this page, you'll see that I surpassed the 250 mile marker - that means I get to have a pedicure! I'm going just as soon as I get some coffee in me and figure out what the weather is doing.
The week emotionally wasn't super, but I got through it. I made a point during the stress to just focus on what I could control, and that's me. My surroundings, my health, my schoolwork, etc. I can't control the stupidity that's occurring over 1,000 miles away, so I might as well practice some serenity and let it go. It'll resolve itself one way or another, and I really don't have a say either way.
Goals for this week: run 20 miles, weight train twice, track 5/7 days, keep being zen, and do my best on the first half of my finals.
What are your goals for healthy and balanced living this week?
Monday, May 7, 2012
WLJ: 5.7.12
Well, somehow or other I gained .2 this week. I'm not completely sure how that happened, but it is what it is. I've been doing this WW thing for awhile, so I know that a small gain like means absolutely nothing - especially when I know I did the best I could last week. In fact, I reached a few small goals last week:
I have some new motivation coming - namely my new swim suit from Bare Necessities (I love that they make bikinis for busty women like myself).
Oh, and that emotional stuff I mentioned last week - it resolved itself. I'm no longer fretting about it, which is a relief. I have enough to worry about with school right now - 15 days until the end of term!
- I ran almost 13 miles - that's not a ton for me, but it's more than the previous two weeks combined.
- I tracked 5 out of 7 days - again, not perfect, but better than before
- I did weight training - it was only one day, but I'm really not a huge fan of weights, so any at all is a big deal.
- I've slowly weened myself off my daily diet coke habit. I generally don't think some diet soda is going to kill you, but having it every day isn't really that great for you either. I'm going to try to limit it to when I go out to eat/order-in or when I'm at the movies from here on out. Make it a treat instead of a staple.
I have some new motivation coming - namely my new swim suit from Bare Necessities (I love that they make bikinis for busty women like myself).
Oh, and that emotional stuff I mentioned last week - it resolved itself. I'm no longer fretting about it, which is a relief. I have enough to worry about with school right now - 15 days until the end of term!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Weigh-in: 4.2.12
I'm up. I knew I would be, so I'm no shocked.
I've gained a solid four pounds since my last official weigh-in over three weeks ago, and it is what it is. 141.6 is my #GetYourAssMovingApril starting weight. I don't really have a goal, just to track my WW points and be as active as possible.
I'm resetting my daily WW points goal to 29 - I tried 27 and I'm just ravenous. I'd rather slow my weight progress down a bit and not hate my life than do the opposite. As you can see I've decided my new weigh-in day will be Monday, no real reason other than that's the start of my week on my FitBit and DailyMile and I decided I wanted some continuity. With the amount of activity I do, I'll still be eating all my weekly flex points because I think I have to or I'll go into to "starvation mode".
My fitness plan for the week is the following:
In other news, last week I signed up for my first two NYRR events. I still don't have my membership packet (and I'm going to send them a very angry letter here soon) but I do have my membership number so I could sign up. My first race will be a simple 4-miler in Central Park on April 29th. My second will be the Brooklyn half-marathon on May 19th. The Brooklyn Half is supposed to be a good beginners run since it's pretty flat, so hopefully I'll make okay time.
And...that's really it for now. Make sure you follow #GetYourAssMovingApril on Twitter to see what everyone is doing to get in shape for summer!
I've gained a solid four pounds since my last official weigh-in over three weeks ago, and it is what it is. 141.6 is my #GetYourAssMovingApril starting weight. I don't really have a goal, just to track my WW points and be as active as possible.
I'm resetting my daily WW points goal to 29 - I tried 27 and I'm just ravenous. I'd rather slow my weight progress down a bit and not hate my life than do the opposite. As you can see I've decided my new weigh-in day will be Monday, no real reason other than that's the start of my week on my FitBit and DailyMile and I decided I wanted some continuity. With the amount of activity I do, I'll still be eating all my weekly flex points because I think I have to or I'll go into to "starvation mode".
My fitness plan for the week is the following:
- Monday: Weights and Plyos (no running)
- Tuesday: 20 mins. Tabata (hopefully get 2 miles out of it).
- Wednesday: 6 to 7 mile pace run
- Thursday: 40 minute hill interval run
- Friday: Weights and Plyos
- Saturday: rest
- Sunday: Weights and Plyos (won't be home from CT)
In other news, last week I signed up for my first two NYRR events. I still don't have my membership packet (and I'm going to send them a very angry letter here soon) but I do have my membership number so I could sign up. My first race will be a simple 4-miler in Central Park on April 29th. My second will be the Brooklyn half-marathon on May 19th. The Brooklyn Half is supposed to be a good beginners run since it's pretty flat, so hopefully I'll make okay time.
And...that's really it for now. Make sure you follow #GetYourAssMovingApril on Twitter to see what everyone is doing to get in shape for summer!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
But, I was doing so well...
This seems to be the my overall feelings about Weight Watchers/weight loss for the last week or so. I was doing so well...then...fill in blank with some excuse I made about why I could eat like crap or not go for a run, etc.
In fact, I made so many excuses that I gained over 6 pounds. In a week. Eeek. I know some of it is probably just bloat from eating too much sugar but still...damn, 6 effing pounds! I about had a heart attack when I stepped on the scale and saw that number.
But, it was a good "come to G-d" moment for me. I must track and I have to exercise, no matter how busy I am. I must make myself a priority, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I also can't beat myself up about the gain because I know it's all part of the process - but to say I'm frustrated when I'm so close to my weight loss goal would be an understatement.
Anyways, it is what it is. I'm still working towards getting 110 miles in this month, but it may just kill me (or at least make my legs very sore) (I may need to buy some epsom salt for my baths). I'm also participating in my first half-marathon on April 15th with my Aunt Mary in Central Park. I'm not delusional to enough to think I'll run the whole thing, my goal is just to finish it and take some pictures.
I'm still waiting on my New York Road Runners packet (grrr) and as I said before, as soon as I get more information, I'll pass it along.
But this brings me to another thing I've been thinking about...a lot of runners have pre- and post- race traditions or treats. My favorite Weight Watcher blogger, Sheryl, treats herself to beer and french fries after races/events. I need to remind myself I'm on a budget, so a small treat under $10 or so is what I can afford. I'm thinking Crumbs Cupcakes - I love them, they aren't really that expensive, and by making them something I have to "earn" I won't eat them as often as I do now.
I'd also like to make myself a binder to keep all my race numbers in - something I can show my kids and grandkids when I'm older (although, I hope to still be racing by then).
Anyways, that's where my head is right now. Oh, almost forgot, a big shout out to my bestie Brea for registering for her first 5k! You're going to have a blast and feel amazing about yourself when you cross the finish line!
In fact, I made so many excuses that I gained over 6 pounds. In a week. Eeek. I know some of it is probably just bloat from eating too much sugar but still...damn, 6 effing pounds! I about had a heart attack when I stepped on the scale and saw that number.
But, it was a good "come to G-d" moment for me. I must track and I have to exercise, no matter how busy I am. I must make myself a priority, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I also can't beat myself up about the gain because I know it's all part of the process - but to say I'm frustrated when I'm so close to my weight loss goal would be an understatement.
Anyways, it is what it is. I'm still working towards getting 110 miles in this month, but it may just kill me (or at least make my legs very sore) (I may need to buy some epsom salt for my baths). I'm also participating in my first half-marathon on April 15th with my Aunt Mary in Central Park. I'm not delusional to enough to think I'll run the whole thing, my goal is just to finish it and take some pictures.
I'm still waiting on my New York Road Runners packet (grrr) and as I said before, as soon as I get more information, I'll pass it along.
But this brings me to another thing I've been thinking about...a lot of runners have pre- and post- race traditions or treats. My favorite Weight Watcher blogger, Sheryl, treats herself to beer and french fries after races/events. I need to remind myself I'm on a budget, so a small treat under $10 or so is what I can afford. I'm thinking Crumbs Cupcakes - I love them, they aren't really that expensive, and by making them something I have to "earn" I won't eat them as often as I do now.
I'd also like to make myself a binder to keep all my race numbers in - something I can show my kids and grandkids when I'm older (although, I hope to still be racing by then).
Anyways, that's where my head is right now. Oh, almost forgot, a big shout out to my bestie Brea for registering for her first 5k! You're going to have a blast and feel amazing about yourself when you cross the finish line!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Getting my swag (back)
This week I was "paid" for all my hard effort in the exercise department. I earned $30 towards Sleevecandy's Vintage t-shirts!
For those who don't know me in real life, my style as two distinct variations. The first is very put-together and coordinated while still funky. The second is what I call "art school chic" and is basically vintage t-shirts with thrifted cardigans, old jeans and sneakers. So, when I saw Sleevecandy was an option on EarndIt, I jumped at the chance to get a few.
Wait, back-up the train, I just realized I hadn't explained what EarndIt is to y'all. EarndIt is a website where you are paid, in points, for being active! You then are able to trade in your points to get discounts on clothing and other things.
With all the running I've been doing, I have a ton of points to spend. But, for a little while there at least, most of the rewards were aimed at men, so I waited and waited until I saw the Sleevecandy reward being offered! So, I "bought" the reward, went to Sleevecandy.com, picked out three t-shirts, paid the difference between the $30 reward and my total, and waited four days for my swag to arrive:
Girl Scouts, Libraries, and Macs - All near and dear to my heart :)
They also sent me some Smarties candies - I ate them during class yesterday when I was feeling peckish:
I love my t-shirts! Now, for the stuff you all really come here to read; how I did this week.
Well, since last Thursday, I've ran 27.94 miles, did two strength training sessions, and accumulated 71 Weight Watchers' activity points! I also tracked 6 out of 7 days (which is AWESOME for me) and I haven't had any beer or cupcakes for 14 days (but I'm having both tonight!).
So...today's weight: 137.6! New all time low! 93.8 pounds gone since I started this journey 3 years ago! I think I may finally have my swag back :)
For those who don't know me in real life, my style as two distinct variations. The first is very put-together and coordinated while still funky. The second is what I call "art school chic" and is basically vintage t-shirts with thrifted cardigans, old jeans and sneakers. So, when I saw Sleevecandy was an option on EarndIt, I jumped at the chance to get a few.
Wait, back-up the train, I just realized I hadn't explained what EarndIt is to y'all. EarndIt is a website where you are paid, in points, for being active! You then are able to trade in your points to get discounts on clothing and other things.
With all the running I've been doing, I have a ton of points to spend. But, for a little while there at least, most of the rewards were aimed at men, so I waited and waited until I saw the Sleevecandy reward being offered! So, I "bought" the reward, went to Sleevecandy.com, picked out three t-shirts, paid the difference between the $30 reward and my total, and waited four days for my swag to arrive:
Girl Scouts, Libraries, and Macs - All near and dear to my heart :)They also sent me some Smarties candies - I ate them during class yesterday when I was feeling peckish:
I love my t-shirts! Now, for the stuff you all really come here to read; how I did this week.Well, since last Thursday, I've ran 27.94 miles, did two strength training sessions, and accumulated 71 Weight Watchers' activity points! I also tracked 6 out of 7 days (which is AWESOME for me) and I haven't had any beer or cupcakes for 14 days (but I'm having both tonight!).
So...today's weight: 137.6! New all time low! 93.8 pounds gone since I started this journey 3 years ago! I think I may finally have my swag back :)
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Just joking.
Yeah, those goals I laid out two weeks ago...just joking. I made those goals and then promptly got the worst UTI I've ever had in my life. It hurt to sleep, sit, read, or run and I spent most of Saturday puking and I've never been this far away from Iowa while sick.
It. Was. Awesome.
Or something.
Just reminds me of something my grandmother always said to me, "We plan, G-d laughs."
So, yeah, I didn't eat very well the first week because when I wasn't feeling gross, I just ate what I could keep down. Then Thursday came and I literally didn't have time to weigh myself. I was more or less on the go from 7:30 on Thursday morning thru Monday night.
It was all fun at least: I networked with other data nerds and librarians, I visited family in Connecticut, and I reconnected with an old friend.
My mind hasn't been remotely on weight loss, but it's okay. I'm living life, and that's what so great about Weight Watchers - it's not a diet, so I never "go off" it! So, now that my life is a bit more settled, I'm going to try to focus on three things this week:
It. Was. Awesome.
Or something.
Just reminds me of something my grandmother always said to me, "We plan, G-d laughs."
So, yeah, I didn't eat very well the first week because when I wasn't feeling gross, I just ate what I could keep down. Then Thursday came and I literally didn't have time to weigh myself. I was more or less on the go from 7:30 on Thursday morning thru Monday night.
It was all fun at least: I networked with other data nerds and librarians, I visited family in Connecticut, and I reconnected with an old friend.
My mind hasn't been remotely on weight loss, but it's okay. I'm living life, and that's what so great about Weight Watchers - it's not a diet, so I never "go off" it! So, now that my life is a bit more settled, I'm going to try to focus on three things this week:
- Tracking my Weight Watchers Points (I also dropped my daily limit down to 27)
- Running 15 miles
- Doing some kind of weight training or yoga twice this week.
Keeping it simple and going back to basics is how I reset myself after a couple of weird weeks. What do y'all do when you've had rough weeks to get yourself going again?
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thursday Weigh-in: 2.16.12
So, I'm up a bit.
1.2 pounds to be exact, but I'm not entirely surprised (or even upset) by this.
Homesickness hit me HARD this week.
And, I was feeling kind of lonely (damn you Valentine's Day) (I normally don't notice/care, but it felt like it exploded all over me this year). Anyways, I fell into a old (bad) habit and ate my feelings...
Cupcakes, Reece's PB Cups, Chinese food, Italian food...you name it, I ate it. To be honest, had I not ran a metric butt-ton this week, I would have gained more than I did.
So, where does this leave me? Well, I gained. So what? I binged. Again, so what? I can't go back and fix it. I can't change it. It's done. All I can do is try to eat better today and set some goals for the week to come, so that's exactly what I'm going to do:
Notice, I didn't put a weight goal on this list anywhere. Why? Because I really can't control it, I can only control what I put into my body and what activities I do.
Until next week (and I'll try to do an update between then and now)...keep on running!
1.2 pounds to be exact, but I'm not entirely surprised (or even upset) by this.
Homesickness hit me HARD this week.
And, I was feeling kind of lonely (damn you Valentine's Day) (I normally don't notice/care, but it felt like it exploded all over me this year). Anyways, I fell into a old (bad) habit and ate my feelings...
Cupcakes, Reece's PB Cups, Chinese food, Italian food...you name it, I ate it. To be honest, had I not ran a metric butt-ton this week, I would have gained more than I did.
So, where does this leave me? Well, I gained. So what? I binged. Again, so what? I can't go back and fix it. I can't change it. It's done. All I can do is try to eat better today and set some goals for the week to come, so that's exactly what I'm going to do:
- Track - duh, I know I need to get back into tracking everyday, not just when I remember
- Run - 4+ miles most days
- Hula-hoop - 5 to 10 minutes most days for abs, plus a few minutes with my new arm hoops
- Sleep - I've gotten into the bad habit of staying up until 2 in the morning - I need to get back to sleeping by 11 so I can get up and greet the day.
- Try a new (healthy) food
- Make fruits and veggies a daily occurrence (I admit, I sometimes forget to make them a priority)
Notice, I didn't put a weight goal on this list anywhere. Why? Because I really can't control it, I can only control what I put into my body and what activities I do.
Until next week (and I'll try to do an update between then and now)...keep on running!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Review: CW-X Pro-Running Tights
I've wrote about my leg injuries and pain that are a result of running. How I'll start feeling like I'm getting somewhere in my training, and then hurt myself. Or, how my knees and hips will sometimes be so tender after a run that sleeping on my right side is impossible. I think these will be issues of the past.
Because...
Through some personal research and a recommendation from Bitchcakes, I discovered CW-X Pro-Running Tights (Amazon reviews led me to purchase the 3/4 length since I'm on the short side).
As you can see, I found them on Amazon, and my size (small) were $63.11. I'd been stalking them online for months, debating with myself if spending that amount of money on one pair of exercise pants was worth it, but the reviews were strong and many reviewers said the compression tights helped with their knee and hip pain.
So, I went for it.
They arrived fast (yay!) and as soon as I felt confident that I could leave my mom alone for a bit, I went to the gym to try them out.
First, let's talk about fit. They're tights - so, yes, they are tight, but they made my butt look incredible. Don't believe me? Here's some pictures:
And a fun artsy shot:
Anyways, once I got them on, I actually found them very comfortable. The support they gave me went from my torso to my calves. They felt a bit like thicker Spanx and the waist was drawstring, which I found helpful since my stomach is the smallest part of my body.
Now, for the real test: running on treadmill. If my knee and hip were going to hurt, it would be during/after this run since I'd taken 3 weeks off and the treadmills at this particular gym aren't the greatest for joints.
I decided to do a 4.6 mile interval run and as soon as I started running I felt different. First off, my run was more controlled and even - I could tell I was using both my legs equally for the first time (which made me run a little faster).
Also, I've always hated that my butt...ahem...jiggles when I run (I've got back, I know it, but it's not the most comfortable thing in the world). Well, my butt did NOT jiggle when I was running in these! Loved that.
Last, but certainly not least, my hip and knees never started hurting. Not during the run, not after the run, not the next day. The CW-X tights really helped.
And, just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, I've wore them on a long run, a sprint run, an easy run, and so on. Results were all the same: I loved them.
So...I've bought two more pairs. If that doesn't tell you what I think, I don't know what will.
Because...
Through some personal research and a recommendation from Bitchcakes, I discovered CW-X Pro-Running Tights (Amazon reviews led me to purchase the 3/4 length since I'm on the short side).
As you can see, I found them on Amazon, and my size (small) were $63.11. I'd been stalking them online for months, debating with myself if spending that amount of money on one pair of exercise pants was worth it, but the reviews were strong and many reviewers said the compression tights helped with their knee and hip pain.
So, I went for it.
They arrived fast (yay!) and as soon as I felt confident that I could leave my mom alone for a bit, I went to the gym to try them out.
First, let's talk about fit. They're tights - so, yes, they are tight, but they made my butt look incredible. Don't believe me? Here's some pictures:
And a fun artsy shot:
Anyways, once I got them on, I actually found them very comfortable. The support they gave me went from my torso to my calves. They felt a bit like thicker Spanx and the waist was drawstring, which I found helpful since my stomach is the smallest part of my body.
Now, for the real test: running on treadmill. If my knee and hip were going to hurt, it would be during/after this run since I'd taken 3 weeks off and the treadmills at this particular gym aren't the greatest for joints.
I decided to do a 4.6 mile interval run and as soon as I started running I felt different. First off, my run was more controlled and even - I could tell I was using both my legs equally for the first time (which made me run a little faster).
Also, I've always hated that my butt...ahem...jiggles when I run (I've got back, I know it, but it's not the most comfortable thing in the world). Well, my butt did NOT jiggle when I was running in these! Loved that.
Last, but certainly not least, my hip and knees never started hurting. Not during the run, not after the run, not the next day. The CW-X tights really helped.
And, just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, I've wore them on a long run, a sprint run, an easy run, and so on. Results were all the same: I loved them.
So...I've bought two more pairs. If that doesn't tell you what I think, I don't know what will.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
My new fabulous running shoes!
Bit the bullet and ordered a custom pair of Nike Free Run 2 iDs today.
Guys. They have my name on them.
Check out the
Nike Free Run 2 iD Running Shoe
I designed at NIKEiD.com
Click the link to check them out!
I'm too freaking excited for my new shoes!
Please send good thoughts for them to arrive before I move, k? K.
Guys. They have my name on them.
Check out the
Nike Free Run 2 iD Running Shoe
I designed at NIKEiD.com
Click the link to check them out!
I'm too freaking excited for my new shoes!
Please send good thoughts for them to arrive before I move, k? K.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Breaking down or breaking through?
The last week or so has been a rough one for me. I've been battling a few things when it comes to my move to NYC...things almost coming together, things just not getting off the ground, and so on and so forth.
And...I was ThisClose to saying "screw it, I'll just get a job in Sioux Falls/Minneapolis/Omaha". In fact, I even went and looked at a new car since I'd need a new one if I moved to any one of those cities.
I was so close to calling the whole thing off. But, I didn't because I realized I wasn't about to quit (again) on something I've wanted for a long time. Especially when I'm so close to actualizing it.
Instead, I chose to utilize a practice I use when I run. I said to myself, "Yes, Jaci, this is getting hard but you WON'T breakdown now. You WILL go at it even harder and WILL have a breakthrough."
Breakdown vs. breakthrough isn't a practice I created on my own - I heard it first in Kelly Cutrone's book "If You Have to Cry, Go Outside". But even she didn't make it up - someone said it to her when she was in the middle of a breakdown. And, it always resonated with me, because I knew that there have been several times in my life where I've allowed myself to breakdown and quit when I needed to just decide to make the choice to keep going on. And that's the key, it's a choice. You either choose to be passive and let the breakdown happen or you choose to be assertive and make the breakthrough happen.
I've applied this concept to my running.
I've learned while running that when it's getting hard, well, that's when I'm getting better. That's when I'm growing. That's when my time and endurance and breathing improve. Those last few minutes or half mile of a run aren't the time to start idling or slowing down. No, that's the time to kick myself in the ass and run faster!
So, yesterday I told myself to stop allowing the breakdown to happen and make the breakthrough happen. And, I did. I made phone calls and got some positive news about graduate school (I might get fully admitted instead of just prelim! This means I can get grants!) and also found a headhunter to help me start to find jobs out there. Now I'm feeling a whole lot better about my current situation than I did on Monday. Things aren't completely worked out yet, but at least I'm not being passive anymore.
This doesn't mean I won't at some point start feeling the walls crashing in on me again, but I'm going to try my damnest to remember that I am the only one who can make anything happen for me. I'm going to have to get on the phone and call people. I'm going to have to make them listen to me. I'm going to have to be the person everyone tells you not to be - the girl who harps. But, you know what, the girl who harps gets it done.
And, in life and work and everything, it's about getting it done. No one cares if you tried, they care if you did. Plus, lets be real, are you most proud of the things you have done or things you have tried to do? Probably the former.
So, how does this apply to weight-loss? Well, it's the same idea. When it gets hard you can either give up and breakdown or you can buck up and have a breakthrough. I know I've been a bit passive in my WLJ the last few weeks since I'm focusing a lot of my energy on my move.
But, I also know this is more of an excuse than anything. I've been trying (sorta) but I haven't really been doing. I say I'm watching what I eat (passive), but I'm not actually tracking (active). I say I'm getting some exercise at work (passive), but I haven't been running regularly (active). And since I know I'm not doing what I should be doing and thus not having any success on the scale, I've been whining. Well, whining won't get me anywhere. But, tracking and exercising will.
So, staring Monday, since that's my WI day, I'll really start my tracking challenge. I mean really do it, not the half-ass attempt I was doing. I'm going to put it all down on paper (or screen or keyboard - wth is the blog equivalent?) for five weeks. I'm sure part of the reason I was so passive was because I didn't have a specific goal to work towards - so here it is: 137 by Halloween. Roughly six or so pounds in 5 weeks. Completely doable. Name of challenge - Teeny by Halloweeny. Cute, no?
And...I was ThisClose to saying "screw it, I'll just get a job in Sioux Falls/Minneapolis/Omaha". In fact, I even went and looked at a new car since I'd need a new one if I moved to any one of those cities.
I was so close to calling the whole thing off. But, I didn't because I realized I wasn't about to quit (again) on something I've wanted for a long time. Especially when I'm so close to actualizing it.
Instead, I chose to utilize a practice I use when I run. I said to myself, "Yes, Jaci, this is getting hard but you WON'T breakdown now. You WILL go at it even harder and WILL have a breakthrough."
Breakdown vs. breakthrough isn't a practice I created on my own - I heard it first in Kelly Cutrone's book "If You Have to Cry, Go Outside". But even she didn't make it up - someone said it to her when she was in the middle of a breakdown. And, it always resonated with me, because I knew that there have been several times in my life where I've allowed myself to breakdown and quit when I needed to just decide to make the choice to keep going on. And that's the key, it's a choice. You either choose to be passive and let the breakdown happen or you choose to be assertive and make the breakthrough happen.
I've applied this concept to my running.
I've learned while running that when it's getting hard, well, that's when I'm getting better. That's when I'm growing. That's when my time and endurance and breathing improve. Those last few minutes or half mile of a run aren't the time to start idling or slowing down. No, that's the time to kick myself in the ass and run faster!
So, yesterday I told myself to stop allowing the breakdown to happen and make the breakthrough happen. And, I did. I made phone calls and got some positive news about graduate school (I might get fully admitted instead of just prelim! This means I can get grants!) and also found a headhunter to help me start to find jobs out there. Now I'm feeling a whole lot better about my current situation than I did on Monday. Things aren't completely worked out yet, but at least I'm not being passive anymore.
This doesn't mean I won't at some point start feeling the walls crashing in on me again, but I'm going to try my damnest to remember that I am the only one who can make anything happen for me. I'm going to have to get on the phone and call people. I'm going to have to make them listen to me. I'm going to have to be the person everyone tells you not to be - the girl who harps. But, you know what, the girl who harps gets it done.
And, in life and work and everything, it's about getting it done. No one cares if you tried, they care if you did. Plus, lets be real, are you most proud of the things you have done or things you have tried to do? Probably the former.
So, how does this apply to weight-loss? Well, it's the same idea. When it gets hard you can either give up and breakdown or you can buck up and have a breakthrough. I know I've been a bit passive in my WLJ the last few weeks since I'm focusing a lot of my energy on my move.
But, I also know this is more of an excuse than anything. I've been trying (sorta) but I haven't really been doing. I say I'm watching what I eat (passive), but I'm not actually tracking (active). I say I'm getting some exercise at work (passive), but I haven't been running regularly (active). And since I know I'm not doing what I should be doing and thus not having any success on the scale, I've been whining. Well, whining won't get me anywhere. But, tracking and exercising will.
So, staring Monday, since that's my WI day, I'll really start my tracking challenge. I mean really do it, not the half-ass attempt I was doing. I'm going to put it all down on paper (or screen or keyboard - wth is the blog equivalent?) for five weeks. I'm sure part of the reason I was so passive was because I didn't have a specific goal to work towards - so here it is: 137 by Halloween. Roughly six or so pounds in 5 weeks. Completely doable. Name of challenge - Teeny by Halloweeny. Cute, no?
So, who is with me? Who wants to have a breakthrough with me and be Teeny by Halloweeny?!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
WLJ Weekend Update 9.3.11
First off, it's September. How the heck did that happen?! This officially brings the start of my hard-core job search in NYC. I'm not optimistic. I'm hoping, but not optimistic. I've spent around 20 hours this week resume writing, applying, and doing other job-search activities and the week isn't over yet. I'm trying to remind myself that it won't happen overnight, and there ARE jobs out there, so to be patient, but patience isn't my greatest virtue.
And, from my friends who have found jobs in this recession, I've surmised that the magic number seems to be 100. Each applied to around 100 jobs before getting hired. I've got 20 down, so I'll just keep plugging along. And, I have a job, not a great job, but a job nonetheless, so at least I have that in my favor - apparently some employers won't hire people who are unemployed. How does that even make sense? People keep blaming Obama and the government for the high unemployment, but um, I'm thinking they aren't to blame for that craptastic logic.
Anyways, the point I'm making is that I haven't done much in the way of my weight loss this week. I only tracked on Saturday and I only ran on Monday. So, the fact that when I weighed-in this morning and was only back up to 144, was okay with me.
My goals for this week are to run 3 times, not for weight loss, but for the simple goal that running helps me deal with stress and anxiety. My other goal is to track 4 days. Sometimes, you just have to start small, so that's what I'm doing.
Wish me luck, I have a feeling the next week will be doozy.
P.S. "The Girl With The Fabulous Running Shoes" won in the poll. As soon as I have time to, I'll be updating my header and web address. I'll let you all know the day. Thanks for voting!
And, from my friends who have found jobs in this recession, I've surmised that the magic number seems to be 100. Each applied to around 100 jobs before getting hired. I've got 20 down, so I'll just keep plugging along. And, I have a job, not a great job, but a job nonetheless, so at least I have that in my favor - apparently some employers won't hire people who are unemployed. How does that even make sense? People keep blaming Obama and the government for the high unemployment, but um, I'm thinking they aren't to blame for that craptastic logic.
Anyways, the point I'm making is that I haven't done much in the way of my weight loss this week. I only tracked on Saturday and I only ran on Monday. So, the fact that when I weighed-in this morning and was only back up to 144, was okay with me.
My goals for this week are to run 3 times, not for weight loss, but for the simple goal that running helps me deal with stress and anxiety. My other goal is to track 4 days. Sometimes, you just have to start small, so that's what I'm doing.
Wish me luck, I have a feeling the next week will be doozy.
P.S. "The Girl With The Fabulous Running Shoes" won in the poll. As soon as I have time to, I'll be updating my header and web address. I'll let you all know the day. Thanks for voting!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
I'll always be a runner.
I've been battling some injuries and sickness the last few weeks. Thus, I haven't ran since June 24th. And I feel awful about it! It makes me feel like I'm quitting and that I'm lazy.
But, I know I'm not.
Because I'll always be a runner.
How do I know this? I know this because before I started running, I thought running was something people only did to stay skinny. I thought it was something other people did. I said I only ran if someone was chasing me.
And now? Now, I call myself a runner. It's part of who I am. I love how I feel 10 minutes into a run - the high. I love how my brain relaxes and how I get my best ideas while stomping out a couple miles. I may not be the fastest runner in the world, but I don't even care. I love racing myself, improving myself, and relaxing myself all at the same time.
I can't wait for this cold to completely leave my body. I want to run. I need to run. Because I'll always be a runner.
But, I know I'm not.
Because I'll always be a runner.
How do I know this? I know this because before I started running, I thought running was something people only did to stay skinny. I thought it was something other people did. I said I only ran if someone was chasing me.
And now? Now, I call myself a runner. It's part of who I am. I love how I feel 10 minutes into a run - the high. I love how my brain relaxes and how I get my best ideas while stomping out a couple miles. I may not be the fastest runner in the world, but I don't even care. I love racing myself, improving myself, and relaxing myself all at the same time.
I can't wait for this cold to completely leave my body. I want to run. I need to run. Because I'll always be a runner.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
WLJ Weekend Update: 4.30.11
First things first: I can't believe it's almost May. I remember growing up thinking the month of April was the longest month ever because all I wanted was for it to be May and school to be over for the year. Now, I feel like April flew by and I'm only 4 or so months out from moving East. Eeeeek!
Anyways, back to weight-loss...
This is one of those weeks I feel kind of guilty to report what I lost because I don't necessarily feel like I earned it. My body forced me to keep it real this week and stop being so obsessive because it revolted.
The week started out well enough, I went out to dinner and stuff over the weekend and on Monday did something I'd never done before IN MY LIFE: I ran, without walking or taking a break, for 45 minutes.
The longest I'd ever done before was 30 minutes (then I walk a bit and run again), I know that's big jump in time, but I was running and felt awesome at 30 minutes so I just kept running while paying close attention to my heart rate monitor (I use my HRM to tell me when I'm overdoing it) and it wasn't until minute 44 that it started going a little high. I did a quick 1 minute sprint (as I always do at the end of run) and then stopped. I was so proud of myself and overall felt great, so I walked a bit more to cool down and then stretched.
By that night my knees were a bit stiff, which I'd expected because anytime I up my time my arthritis acts up. So I iced and took some ibuprofen and elevated my legs when I went to bed...no biggie, right?
Wrong. My right knee was KILLING me on Tuesday, so my mother and I went to the pool and I did a lot of stretching and mobility exercises in the water before a long soak in the hot tub. It felt better, but I still needed ibuprofen just to walk around my house that night.
Wednesday, woke up feeling fine - yippee! Did some chores around the house and then arranged to meet a friend at the Y after my run to hot tub (yes, in Iowa "hot tub" is a verb). I'd decided I was ready after my 45 minute run on Monday to start the Bridge to 10k program and did Day 1 Week 1 of it. Didn't seem tough: 5 min. warm up, 10 min. run, 1 min. walk, 10 min. run...for a total of 40 min. of running and 13 min. walking. Easy peasy.
Um...yeah, for some reason, by the time I'd finished the 3rd interval my right knee was hurting again. WTF? 10 min. is nothing! I've been able to run that for a long time now! Only thing I can think of is the abrupt change in speeds might have caused the pain? Anyone who runs, please feel free to advise, as I'm still befuddled.
Anyways, hot tubbed with Brenda, then went home and realized this pain was completely different then just my knee hurting...it started in my knee but then went up the entire back of my thigh. I remembered having a similar pain when I was a catcher in softball and vaguely being told I had a pulled hamstring. Crap. I also remembered that when you pull your hamstring you are supposed to rest it for 6 weeks. That kind of kills my running plan of making it to 500 miles by July 1st. I wanted to be sure that's what it was so I visited my old orthopaedic surgeon from when I was a teenager and he confirmed it was a pulled hamstring.
No running for 6 weeks.
I can walk, I can elliptical (have I mentioned that I HATE ellipticals? Boring!) and I can bike, but NO RUNNING. Well, he said I could start doing some short runs in 3 weeks, but absolutely no long runs for 6 weeks. Grrr...so obviously, didn't do my normal 30 - 40 APs this week, instead I did about 15.
Oh, and on top of my hamstring I also started having some stomach problems this week (probably from all the ibuprofen) and what do I eat when my stomach is upset? Well, I eat crackers and bread and other things to absorb the acid. And I "forgot" (more likely ignored) to track at least 3 days this week. Basically, I wasn't eating a well balanced diet like I usually do and thus was completely expecting to have, at best, a small weight gain this week.
But...
For some reason, I lost 2.8 pounds. Which is a lot for one week for anyone, but really a lot for someone in the last 5 pounds of their WLJ. I'm not complaining, but I'm a little confused by it. I guess sometimes your body just does what it wants.
New Stats:
Start Weight: 232.4
Current Weight: 146.8
Weight-loss to date: 84.6
Goal Weight: 145
Pounds to Goal: 1.8
Goals for this week: find something to do for activity that doesn't bore the crap out of me and go through my old clothes that are too big for me and purge to make room for new clothes!
Anyways, back to weight-loss...
This is one of those weeks I feel kind of guilty to report what I lost because I don't necessarily feel like I earned it. My body forced me to keep it real this week and stop being so obsessive because it revolted.
The week started out well enough, I went out to dinner and stuff over the weekend and on Monday did something I'd never done before IN MY LIFE: I ran, without walking or taking a break, for 45 minutes.
The longest I'd ever done before was 30 minutes (then I walk a bit and run again), I know that's big jump in time, but I was running and felt awesome at 30 minutes so I just kept running while paying close attention to my heart rate monitor (I use my HRM to tell me when I'm overdoing it) and it wasn't until minute 44 that it started going a little high. I did a quick 1 minute sprint (as I always do at the end of run) and then stopped. I was so proud of myself and overall felt great, so I walked a bit more to cool down and then stretched.
By that night my knees were a bit stiff, which I'd expected because anytime I up my time my arthritis acts up. So I iced and took some ibuprofen and elevated my legs when I went to bed...no biggie, right?
Wrong. My right knee was KILLING me on Tuesday, so my mother and I went to the pool and I did a lot of stretching and mobility exercises in the water before a long soak in the hot tub. It felt better, but I still needed ibuprofen just to walk around my house that night.
Wednesday, woke up feeling fine - yippee! Did some chores around the house and then arranged to meet a friend at the Y after my run to hot tub (yes, in Iowa "hot tub" is a verb). I'd decided I was ready after my 45 minute run on Monday to start the Bridge to 10k program and did Day 1 Week 1 of it. Didn't seem tough: 5 min. warm up, 10 min. run, 1 min. walk, 10 min. run...for a total of 40 min. of running and 13 min. walking. Easy peasy.
Um...yeah, for some reason, by the time I'd finished the 3rd interval my right knee was hurting again. WTF? 10 min. is nothing! I've been able to run that for a long time now! Only thing I can think of is the abrupt change in speeds might have caused the pain? Anyone who runs, please feel free to advise, as I'm still befuddled.
Anyways, hot tubbed with Brenda, then went home and realized this pain was completely different then just my knee hurting...it started in my knee but then went up the entire back of my thigh. I remembered having a similar pain when I was a catcher in softball and vaguely being told I had a pulled hamstring. Crap. I also remembered that when you pull your hamstring you are supposed to rest it for 6 weeks. That kind of kills my running plan of making it to 500 miles by July 1st. I wanted to be sure that's what it was so I visited my old orthopaedic surgeon from when I was a teenager and he confirmed it was a pulled hamstring.
No running for 6 weeks.
I can walk, I can elliptical (have I mentioned that I HATE ellipticals? Boring!) and I can bike, but NO RUNNING. Well, he said I could start doing some short runs in 3 weeks, but absolutely no long runs for 6 weeks. Grrr...so obviously, didn't do my normal 30 - 40 APs this week, instead I did about 15.
Oh, and on top of my hamstring I also started having some stomach problems this week (probably from all the ibuprofen) and what do I eat when my stomach is upset? Well, I eat crackers and bread and other things to absorb the acid. And I "forgot" (more likely ignored) to track at least 3 days this week. Basically, I wasn't eating a well balanced diet like I usually do and thus was completely expecting to have, at best, a small weight gain this week.
But...
For some reason, I lost 2.8 pounds. Which is a lot for one week for anyone, but really a lot for someone in the last 5 pounds of their WLJ. I'm not complaining, but I'm a little confused by it. I guess sometimes your body just does what it wants.
New Stats:
Start Weight: 232.4
Current Weight: 146.8
Weight-loss to date: 84.6
Goal Weight: 145
Pounds to Goal: 1.8
Goals for this week: find something to do for activity that doesn't bore the crap out of me and go through my old clothes that are too big for me and purge to make room for new clothes!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
WLJ Weekend Update: 2.19.11
Weigh-In:
Another week is in the books - and I it was a great one! I'm down another 1.6 pounds for a grand total of 72.2 pounds lost! I'm only 14.2 pounds from goal (which means I need to lose the equivalent of my Ragdoll cat, Pashima) and I entered a new decade in my weight. The next decade is my goal decade. Craziness.Exercise:
I ran/walked over 28 miles this week as well as did some bike riding. My only regret with exercise is that I didn't get outside to run this week - after two months of frigid temps, this week felt like spring with temps in the 50s! Of course, we are now supposed to have a snow storm tonight through tomorrow. Oh, Iowa. Fun Stuff:
I figured out I was in desperate need of some new running shoes, so I ordered a pair of hot pink Sauconys. They are supposed to be really, really light and should help me run faster. I don't know if that will happen, but their cuteness will make me more excited to run if nothing else. I also went shopping for some new clothes for my NYC trip on Tuesday and...wait for it...I can now fit into a junior size 10! I'm pretty sure that last time that happened I was still a teenager. I felt like a firework (I heart you Katy Perry) and I'm super excited to wear my new jeans while out and about in The City. |
| Image Source |
Vacation Plan:
Speaking of NYC...I've been asked by several people what my plan is for maintaining or losing while on vacation. First off, my goal will be to maintain, so if I lose it will be a huge bonus. Also, I won't be weighing-in next Saturday since I won't have access to a reliable scale while on my trip. My next weigh-in will be March 5th. By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
~ Benjamin Franklin
I'm a WWer who uses all my weekly points (as well as a few activity points) every week. I lose consistently by eating them, but I also know the more I eat while losing, the more I can eat while maintaining. With this in mind, I've decided I will be saving and using my weekly points while in NYC and staying within my allotted 29 daily points the rest of the time. This will allow me to have the flexibility to enjoy myself and the fab food in NYC, while not derailing my weight-loss efforts. Here is a chart to help illustrate my plan:
| home | New York City | home | |||||||||||
| current week | new week | ||||||||||||
| 2.19 | 2.20 | 2.21 | 2.22 | 2.23 | 2.24 | 2.25 | 2.26 | 2.27 | 2.28 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 |
| 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 45 | 46 | 45 | 46 | 45 | 45 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| rest | run | run | run | rest | run | run | rest | run | run | run | rest | run | run |
As you can see, I also plan to run while on my trip (I'll be taking my new shoes!). I'll be keeping my runs to around two miles, enough to keep my endurance up but not so long that my feet get sore. I'll be walking a lot, but as I don't count activity points for anything I didn't do for the sole purpose of fitness, I won't be counting it as activity in my tracker.
Well, that's the plan! I'll let you all know how/if it worked in two weeks!
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