Woah Deer

It was 55 degrees and sunny today with a wind that nipped but didn't bite. I donned my pink vest and went for a lunchtime walk. As I went up the path behind the upper building's parking lot and near the woods I heard rustling. I stopped. I looked up towards the noise and I had surprised 5 deer and made them scatter into the woods. As they bounded away I paused and watched them and then I sped up the hill to see if I could keep seeing them as they ran away. I was able to still see one. But they had fluttered away in a flurry. I thought it rather neat to see so many deer, and then I felt bad that I had interupted their day.

I continued my usual quick pace walk and followed most of my usual route but expanded it up the hill a bit and then down the hill on the other side of the street. I tried to soak up as much sun as possible. It is amazing how I can feel the energy the sun gives me and the happiness it produces. It literally and figuratively brightens my day. I enjoyed the sun and this Janu-FANTASTIC day for about 17 minutes; total walk including the stairs: 17:55. Total Walk: 1.0. Back at my desk I got to enjoy the dampness of my shirt on my back and under my arms; glad I had on a sweater so people couldn't see my sweat.

After work it was 57 degrees and so I waited for Ryan to come home and then we went to the track. While Ryan did his quick laps I did a fast mile in 7:58 followed by a jogged mile - and finished the last part of the final lap backwards to catch up to Ryan's walking lap - I made sure to even out the lap to get a full second mile in. Total Workout: 2.0  miles in about 18 minutes (I had the final straight away left at 17 minutes and then forgot to stop my watch). It was nice and there were patches of warm air and the breeze was more warm  than cool. A delightful night to be outside and moving! Once the weather gets crummy again I can at least feel comfort in the fact I went outside on this nice night.

Later while watching The Biggest Loser I did some circuit training with my 5lb weights - including100 crunches and 40 push-ups.

New Miles: 1.0 + 2.0 = 3.0
Total Miles: 630.0
Miles Remaining: 870.0
Weight: 137.4

Post-Dinner Walk

A lovely dinner with the in-laws then I walked 2.0 miles in 27:56 326cals 1% 4.3mph.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 627.0
Miles Remaining: 873.0
Weight: 137.6

Use It and Lose It

After avoiding sickness from co-workers all week and from Ryan I think I am starting to develop something - I can feel it in my chest and the general sluggishness that is building inside. I took a DayQuil to combat it and I keep giving myself pep talks like "Take that germs! This orange juice is com'ng to kill you!" and "You feel fine!" I hope it works.

I figured a bit of walking would help me out and so I did my 2.0 miles while listening to NPR and playing Fluffy Birds and then I drank more OJ, milk, ate blueberries ("Take that sickness! These blueberries are coming to get you!") and then I showered, put on my warm comfy pjs and settled in for a relaxing evening with some Ginger Ale +GreenTea ("Body you feel good. Look I just gave you Ginger Ale and Green Tea!")

Additionally, on Lose It! the more you lose the less calories you are allotted per day - since you weigh less you need to now eat less in order to continue to lose weight. At this time my allotment of calories daily is 1,436 (which exercise offsets some of my input - so I usually eat at least 300-500 more calories than that). I am curious to see what my allotment is when I get to my goal weight of 130.0.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 625.0
Miles Remaining: 875.0
Weight: 136.4

The on time Birds get the Worm

Up nice and early and got my 2 mile walk/run in 23:31 391cals 1%. Before and after my run I was distracted by the robins and other birds out of my living room window in the holly bush. The fact I have a brand new camera also contributed to my distraction - I played with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX47 and watched the birds. And then I got back to business and got 10 minutes of circuit training in - including 100 sit-ups, swimmers with 5lb weights (something from the Beginner's Workout), high knees, lunges, 10 squat-thrusts, 20 push-ups.

(My downfall weight-wise was that last night I went to Mad Mex, ate 3/4 of a Pepita Hummus and drank 2 beers. I suffered consequences later too when I suffered from indigestion all night.)

As the day wore on I found things to occupy my time but apparently not enough to occupy my energy, and so around 5:30 feeling energetic, and almost ready to take the shower I was due to take, I decided to run. I walked/jogged a lap then did a lap at 6.5 then the next at 7.5 then I repeated the 6.5 then 7.5 back to 6.5 then 7.5 back to 6.5 then down to 5.5 and finally a lap at 4.3. Total Workout: 2.5 miles in 24:46 392cals 1%. I followed that up with some singing of Taylor Swift as I lifted the 2lb weights during some squats I did while on the Gold's Gym balance board.

Mo's Motivating Songs: Guster "Amsterdam" and The Flaming Lips "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song"

New Miles: 2.0 + 2.5 = 4.5
Total Miles: 623.0
Miles Remaining: 887.0
Weight: 137.4

Change It Up

I did 2.0 miles 20:59 315cals 1%. I walked one lap, ran 1 mile at 6.3, ran 1 lap at 7.5, jogged a little over 1 lap at 6.0 then walked the final .2. It was nice to change it up and get myself running. I followed up the run with salad, multigrain bread, a glass of milk and a shower.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 618.5
Miles Remaining: 891.5
Weight: 136.0

Calf Time

I did 2.0 miles in 27:57 326cals 1%. Not anything exciting but it was good to walk since I think my knee started hurting from too much sitting today. During lunch I did a 5:20 walk of the stairs - down to floor 1 and up to floor 8 back down to floor 1 and back up to floor 5. It burned my calves, and it only took 2 minutes for my legs to burn.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 616.5
Miles Remaining: 883.5
Weight: 136.2

New Habits

I walked 2.5 miles in 34:54 407cals 1%. My left knee hurt towards the end and I tried to focus on walking in a more comfortable way but couldn't figure out how to. I listened to the news, played Fluffy birds, then ate some dinner.

New Miles: 2.5
Total Miles: 614.5
Miles Remaining: 885.5
Weight: 137.0

Move It and Lose It

I walked 2.0 miles in 27:49 326cals 1%. My left knee was uncomfortable for the last .5 miles. I wanted to quit so as to not hurt myself but because I am not a quitter I didn't.

I followed up the walk with some delicious sweet potato pierogies enjoyed with some Asian medley veggies. Oh, I have been eating pretty healthy for quite some time now. But with my using Lose It! adamantly I have been doing even better. Though some Raisinets slipped in there, but they are only half bad because the main ingredient is raisins, right?

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 612.0
Miles Remaining: 888.0
Weight: 137.4

Rainbows of Joy

After an odd Spring-ish rain storm that same simultaneously rain from North and South in addition to the downward direction out came a piece of a rainbow. And then an incredibly bright rainbow shown in they sky with a duller one just to its right. Sometimes the rainbow would become complete and at other times it would fade. The sight of the rainbow made me want to taste the rainbow and so I ate 2 mini bags of Skittles. (I also decided that in order to keep rainbows alive you need to eat Skittles.) I was so in awe of this rainbow - it was the brightest and most beautiful sight to see in a Winter sky. I wish I had had a camera so I could snap a picture of it, but all I had was my old cell phone which took a few grainy pictures and I cannot move off my SIM card. Instead of working I spent most of the roughly 2- minutes it graced the sky just staring at it and telling others to look at it.

Upon exiting work it was 50 degrees! I felt so energized in the evening night and the relative warmth. I half wanted to go to the track and run. But once I changed it was dark and I was uncertain if it would rain again. So instead I got onto the treadmill. And that was good too since I could listen to MarketPlace that way.

I walked 1.0 miles and then I put the Fire down and I ran half a mile at 6.3mph then bumped it up and did half a mile at 6.5mph. I then kicked it up and ran at a 2:00 lap pace/7.5mph for a lap. Then I walked .25 then I was still feeling good and so I ran again at 7.5mph for a lap. Then I cooled it down with another walked lap. Total Workout: 3.0 miles in 34:12 477cals 1%.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 610.0
Miles Remaining: 890.0
Weight: 138.0 (post run)

Fortunately a co-worker snapped some pictures of the rainbow

Happy Walk

After a leisurely morning of church and then breakfast and a semi-productive shopping trip (I got new pajama pants! This is exciting since Ryan hated my men's Guinness pants which I've had and worn for 5 years) I got onto the treadmill. I just walked and as is becoming the standard practice - I played with the Fire. I discovered more radio stations and podcasts and messed around with a few free games I downloaded. By the time 2 miles were up I felt as though I could easily distract myself for a bit longer and continue walking - and so since I had the energy and nothing better to do (than say perhaps sit on my couch and play with the Fire) I decided to keep walking and playing. By the time I was ready to end both fun activities I was nearing 4 miles and so wrapped it up and called it a day. Total Workout: 4.0 miles in 55:51 651cals 1%.

New Miles: 4.0
Total Miles: 607.0
Miles Remaining: 893.0
Weight: 138.8

Up and Running

Up and running around 9 I walked a lap (4.3) then ran a lap (6.3) then walked one minute then ran again for a few laps then did a mini-walk break followed by more running and eventually I got myself moving for at least 3 laps without walking then I cooled down for the final part of my final lap. I listened to NPR news to for my workout. Total Workout: 3.0 miles in 32:00 473cals 1%.

Still with energy I put on the Beginner's Workout DVD and skipped the warm-up and did the first 21 minutes of the workout - building up a good sweat and making me feel good to do a little more.

I showered and enjoyed being nice and clean, but afterwards I realized I had meant to also shovel the 4 inches of snow from our driveway. Ryan said he would get to it but before he did I became too bored/too restless/too impatient and so I changed and shoveled it. It took 50 minutes and the snow was heavy so it was difficult but my singing mentally to myself of "Every day I'm shovelin' " helped get me thru it. My arms feel much stronger now, well weak and tired, but I am sure after they recover they will feel much stronger.

I followed up this workouty day with a super huge dinner with family at the Olive Garden.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 603.0
Miles Remaining: 897.0
Weight: 137.2

Mile 600!

I went grocery shopping before the wintry mix storm hit town and then I got walking. I walked 2.0 miles while playing Fluffy birds again. I did 2 miles in 27:57 326cals 1%. I followed up the walk by eating my last 2 Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies and then realized I had just completed my 600th mile!

The downside of this milestone is that my left knee hurts

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 600.0!
Miles Remaining: 900.0
Weight: 137.2

Every Day I'm Shovelin'

I walked 2.0 miles in 27:28 326cals 1% while playing Fluffy birds on my Kindle Fire again and listening to NPR. Prior to that I swept the driveway as soon as I got home and then shoveled it about an hour later; getting some good work out in there.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 598.0
Miles Remaining: 902.0
Weight: 137.2

Playing with Fire

Back home from my work trip I got onto the treadmill - and while I listened to NPR I walked at 4.3mph and also played Fluffy Relaxation mode on the Fire. I eventually got so distracted that I had walked over 2 miles by the time I looked up again! And so I opted to play another round of the game and go til I finished it again - and I never looked up until I had walked 3.5 miles! At that point I knew I had gone far since I was getting tired and sweating a lot thru my hoodie. I put the Fire down and just walked to NPR news. Knowing I was definitely doing 4 miles I decided to go a bit further and have myself do 4.25 miles. Total Workout: 4.25 miles in 59:22 692cals 1%.

Since I am now more conscience of my calorie intake and am tracking it closely I am struggling with whether or not to trust my treadmill or go with my Lose It! app's calculations. Because NordicTrack is telling me I did 692cals and Lose It! says my walking burned me 325 - a bit of a difference! I am hoping then that the 1% incline I am walking at is what is accounting for at least some of that difference. I am tracking it as what the treadmill tells me since I have been using those numbers the whole time of this journey. And I shall pray it is accurate enough because what I eat and drink after depends on it. If I want to lose weight I need to not surpass my calorie limit for the day - and so if I am wrong with what my calorie output is I risk over doing it on my calorie input (I will incorrectly think I can afford to drink that beer I want.) Though I am sure if I looked hard enough to find an article that tells me the exact opposite  of what this "article" does - I am going to go with this information as accurate: NordicTrack Treadmill Calorie Calculation

New Miles: 4.25
Total Miles: 596.0
Miles Remaining: 904.0
Weight: 138.0

Morning Glory

I awoke at 7:30 and walked .25 at 4.3mph then ran 1.65 at 6.3mph then walked the final .1 - completing 2 miles in 20:33 303cals 0%. I listened to Morning Edition on NPR as I ran. Then I got a few sips of water, brewed some cofee, showered, and "started" my day. I had an afternoon drive to DC ahead of me and the next 1.5 days of trying to watch what I eat while I am out of town for work so it was good to get this morning off on the right foot (and the left).

In the evening I ate dinner at Dogfish Head Alehouse and tried to make a healthy decision - turkey club avacado sandwich. But of course the bread part isn't all that healthy. And of course it came with fries which I had to eat some of - so I ate about 15 fries. I drank an Egyptian style beer 'Ta Henket'. So once I got home I was feeling pretty guilty about those calories and so while I watched The Biggest Loser I spent 1.5 hours of it moving non-stop doing circuit training - doing a lot of sit-ups, push-ups, high knees, lunges, planks, squats - a variety of the Beginner's Workout exercisers and some additional ones at a moderate intensity.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 591.75
Miles Remaining: 508.25
Weight: 137.8

I like to Lose It! Lose It!

Since today went from sunny to overcast but not rainy and 37 degrees I went outside on a Lunch Walk in my cowboy boots on mostly dry ground. It was a quite refreshing 20 minute quick-paced walk of 1.0 miles.

When I got home from work I did 2.0 miles on the treadmill, and from minutes 5-20 I lifted my 2lb weights and picked a thing to do for 1 minute solid and then changed to a new thing. It added some good extra calorie burn to my walk - it got my blood pumping and made my arms tired by the end. I did my 2 miles in 28:01 326cals 1% 4.3mph.

New Miles: 1.0 + 2.0 = 3.0
Total Miles: 589.75
Miles Remaining: 510.25
Weight: 137.6

Sunday Walk

After morning mass and breakfast with my family Ryan and I got home and I got walking. I did 2.0 miles in 27:56 326cals 1% 4.3mph. For the first .4 miles my left knee was uncomfortable and hurting a little - so I lifted myself up and took pressure off my legs and focused on walking with form and keeping my legs aligned in a way that my knees felt good and eventually my left knee felt fine. So I lowered myself down and walked normal for the rest - with a concentration on walking upright and looking at my knees in the mirror to make sure I kept aligned well. I think that was beneficial since my knees didn't hurt again.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 586.75
Miles Remaining: 513.25
Weight: 137.4

Reducing Mini-Cheats

I awoke at 8:30 and got moving on the treadmill - walked .25 at 4.3 then jogged .25 at 5.0 then ran .25 at 6.3 walked again for 1 lap then ran 2 laps at 6.3 then cooled down with a lap jog at 5.0 and a cool down lap. Total Workout: 2.0 miles in 319cals 1%. So I have finally realized the treadmill's calorie calculation must be something not-entirely-sensical - because how can my walking burn more calories than my running? Shouldn't running burn more calories? Yet when I run the treadmill tells me I burned less than when I walked. I imagine its cal-culations are based on distance and time (and incline?) - so if I am running it doesn't take as long and so it says I burned less. But nothing I can do about that - so I will pretend as though it has figured it all out and what it is telling me is true. Mainly because I have no desire to try to compute a more accurate/alternative calculation, and of course it makes me feel good to see whatever the number is that it tells me I burned.

I followed up my 2.0 miles with the Bob Harper Beginner's Weight Loss DVD again. This time I took fewer mini-cheats and almost kept pace with the hard parts. If I could get an arm rest in there during some of the exercises I feel as though I'd be golden, or at least bronze. I used my 5lb weights to start and then dropped it down to my 3lb weights for the rest of the time. Holding my body weight up via my arms is the most challenging part. I hope after some time I will at least get a few strong muscles out of all this effort. I feel stronger and more fit, that is, after I have recovered from the workout - so I fully expect that once I can reduce my mini-cheats to zero I will actually have some muscles and can try out another one of my Bob Harper DVDs.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 584.75
Miles Remaining: 515.25
Weight: 137.4

Putting the "U" in Jan-U-ary

So for the past two days my lower right ab has been hurting. It kind of feels like a side-stitch you get from running. But I have it just in general rather than when running. It isn't a muscle, or at least I don't think it is, since it is too specific and doesn't always hurt if I engage that area's muscles. So I am currently in fear that it is my appendix. Ryan doesn't think so. Regardless my resolution must go on! And so I walked another 2.0 miles in 27:58 326.0 cals 1% 4.3mph.

Today as I looked at my calendar, not for any reason other than to try to come up with a witty thing to do with "January". And so the best I got was an emphasis on the "U". And so, fittingly for my effort and focus on me this month, I came up with a play on my November saying: "Putting the "U" in Jan-U-ary".

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 582.75
Miles Remaining: 517.25
Weight: 138.4

Janu-dreary

Down pouring rain moved in bringing back the all too familiar Janu-dreary weather. It was to be followed up with snow. Regardless of the outdoors I at least had the indoors and so I did .5 miles in 7:10 80cals 4.3mph 1% -- and then I accidentally turned off my walk because I was trying to prop up my Kindle Fire and it pressed against the treadmill's touchscreen. And then I started back up again and ran .5 at 6.3mph followed by a .25 walk at 4.3mph then ran another .5 then walked a cool down lap. Total Workout (counting the first half mile): 2.0 miles in 23:43 318cals 1%.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 580.75
Miles Remaining: 919.25
Weight: 139.8

Kneed to Listen

This morning as I fought off listening to the alarm clock I could tell my right knee was not happy. I focused on extending my leg and not putting it at any awkward angle. It is not good if my knee pain is back. I know I have been over doing it recently, so I need to listen to my knee and make sure I let myself rest as much as I need to rest. Maybe I can subtract some knee bends and focus on holding my legs in non-aggravating positions while I sit at my work desk for 8 hours -since I have a tendency to slouch and then prop my legs up and put stress on them.

So I made it thru the work part of my day and came home to a determined light night on the treadmill. I walked 2.0 at 4.3mph in 27:59 326cals 1%. The whole time I listened to the radio via my Kindle Fire and also decided to browse for free ebooks. I did get quite absorbed into scrolling thru the free books that the 2.0 was over in no time and I didn't notice my knee hurting at all. The problem with that though is that I wasn't paying attention to whether or not my right knee was telling me to stop. So hopefully it wasn't because I truly don't want to make it worse, though I'm also a bit stubborn in giving up meeting my Monthly Resolution (which in case you haven't noticed I did decide to make it a 2-mile-per-day- minimum as my monthly resolution).

Afterwards I sat down to a yummy healthy meal Ryan cooked. He is encouraging my Lose It! tracking and has always been supportive of my working out and eating right. While we ate he informed me he wants to also make sure he tracking what he eats and how much he works out because he wants to lose some of the post-Gaelic football season weight he has put on.

The one complaint I have with tracking my intake rather than just trying to be conscious of what I am eating is that I see the list of what I've eaten and I see all the calories. Calories add up fast even when you eat healthy and eat low-calorie foods! And so this is making me pause before eating a yummy unhealthy snack or grabbing a beer. And it makes me sad. I know this whole thing is self-imposed and self-guided so there is no real reason why I can't enjoy those things (other than if I wanted to be the healthiest I can be I shouldn't enjoy those things), but it is giving me pause and making me think more (too much) about everything I want to enjoy.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 578.75
Miles Remaining: 921.25
Weight: 140.4

Just Lose It!

While Ryan made delicious turkey chili I hopped on the treadmill. I did 1 warm-up lap then ran .5 at 6.5. Then I did 20 box jumps - quick followed by 10 more but facing left then 10 more facing right and jumping sideways up the step. I then ran .5 at 6.5. And repeated the box jumps except this time I focused on jumping as high as possible. It was very exhausting. I ran another .5 at 6.5 then did another round of high box jumps. Then I did a cool down lap for a total of 2.0 miles in 20:58 315cals 1%.

Then as I watched The Biggest Loser I did some weightlifting. Various reps and sets with my 5 lb weights (10lb total) - I didn't count how many but I did a lot over the course of the 1.5 hours. I also did 100+ high knees while holding the 10lbs extended out and bringing my knees up to them. Followed by 100 bicycles.

Also today I checked out the Lose It! app I downloaded on my new Kindle Fire. I can set a weight loss goal and then track the food I eat and also track my exercise. I know many a calorie counter can do such things but I have never before been interested in doing so. So the Lose It! app has me excited to start tracking my food intake and exercise and make me take better note of what I am doing. I hope to keep up my interest and using it so that I hold myself accountable. But I need to remind myself to do what I can but not worry too much about it. Yes I would like to lose some weight (and I set a goal of 130.0lbs since that would make me happy and picked a target of losing 1 lb per week) but I need to keep that as a nice bonus to my overall fitness plan. I must focus on doing what is best for me - so I will run and weight train and do some cross training and continue to watch what I eat - but do it all with a little more tracking.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 576.75
Miles Remaining: 923.25
Weight: 140.0

Janu-weary

Despite being sore from the day before and suffering from an unquenchable thirst (despite my best efforts to end it) I got a run in - .25 warm-up then a lot at 6.1 then 6.3mph then I ran the final .5 at 6.5 then did a cool down lap for a total of 2.25 miles in 23:49 355cals 1%. Then I did Bob's 10 minute Beginner Ab Workout - which was doable though my lower back isn't strong so I did have to give myself mini rests to ease up the discomfort.

New Miles: 2.25
Total Miles: 574.75
Miles Remaining: 925.25
Weight: 140.4

You're such a Harper

My 6 Bob Harper DVDs arrived in the mail Friday evening and this morning I got up to watch and workout to one of them. I picked "Beginnger's Weight Loss Transformation" since in terms of cardio and weightlifting I indeed am a beginner. I have past experience with following my soccer off season training plan and I have been doing workouts here and there but in terms of being able to do whatever someone else tells me to do at the pace they want me to do it in - well I am a novice.

I awoke at 8am to do my first Bob workout. And after 30 minutes... I finally had the DVD player hooked up properly so I could start. And after 45 minutes of a warm-up-workout-cooldown I was pretty exhausted.  Some of the moves were comparatively easy but others were hard for me. I really have issues with the mountain climbers - I can't get my legs to stay straight as I reach to the floor. And the thrusters were more like lacklusters when I got ahold of them. I learned my arms are not very strong; I could do several things with my 5lb weights but I did have to enlist the 3lb weights for some of the exercises. There were many times I had to hold a position and found myself giving myself mini breaks to just regroup. It was definitely cheating on the workout - since the point is to be uncomfortable and push  yourself. With a split second break when holding a pose I was able to finish out the set. I believe a good goal for myself is to someday be able to do the whole DVD with no mini-cheats and at the pace they do everything.

With one Bob Harper workout under my belt I feel tired but good and excited to be on this path of greater fitness, and also scared. Scared that I will not be able to do the workouts and scared I will give up. Hopefully excitement wins the day. And if not excitement then hopefully my desire to get fit wins over being scared.

Here is my new Bob Harper arsenal:
1) Beginner's Weight Loss Transformation
2) Total Body Transformation
3) Ultimate Cardio Body
4) Totally Ripped Core
5) Inside Out Method: Kettlebell Cardio Shred
6) Inside Out Method: Pure Burn Super Strength
(With titles like those who is not simultaneously intimidated and excited?)

After a nice late morning/early afternoon with my family at home and at Starbucks, Ryan and I went and ate some delicious German food with my aunt and uncle. Additionally we drank some beer. When I got home at 5:15 I wanted to do my 2.0 miles for the day. Ryan told me it I had already worked out for the day and didn't need to run, but I wouldn't be living up to my resolution without getting my two miles in. My legs were tired and they were happy doing nothing. But between my want to do two miles and the beer I had the desire to do the distance. So I walked 2.0 miles at 4.3mph in 28:05 326cals 1%.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 572.5
Miles Remaining: 927.5
Weight: 139.4 (at the time of the morning workout)

Jan-U-Airy

After painting the trim in our entry way nice white I happily succumbed to the glory of the day - it was sunny, it was warm. Yes, it was January but apparently nature didn't know this as it was 52 degrees! So I put on my capri running pants, my 2010 Pittsburgh Half Marathon shirt, covered by a shirt I got in college for soccer and I put on my Sansa clip and went outside running. As I ran I listened to Ira Glass' "This American Life" and enjoyed the day.

After crossing over the top of the hill the wnd picked up and I wondered if I had a made a mistake in how nice the day was. But after getting to the bottom of the hill and thru the next bends I either got used to it or it settled down a bit. It was indeed windy the whole way but not a bone chilling wind. And finally after having warmed up from the running the wind was welcomed.

I believe I was smiling a lot when running - caused by the happy sun and the joy of running outside on a nice day.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 570.5
Miles Remaining: 929.5
Weight: 140.2

Inclined Singing

I walked 2.0 on the treadmill as my knees hurt some yesterday and hurt a little more today, but walking was okay. So I sang April Smith & The Great Picture Show and Taylor Swift for the whole walk. It was a taxing walk since rather than breathing in stride I was breathing to sing. My first half mile was at 1% incline, the next half mile at 3%, the next half at 5%, less than .1 at 7% but that aggravated my left knee so I knocked it back down to 5% for the remaining part of the lap then did the final lap at 3%. I did 2.0 miles in 27:57 354cals.

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 567.5
Miles Remaining: 932.5
Weight: 139.6

Mental Effort

As soon as I got home I changed into my running gear and got treading. I did 1 warm up lap then ran solid for 2.25 miles at 6.3mph then walked .25. Total Workout: 2.75 28:34 433cals 1%

It was quick, and did take effort to keep going, but I managed it and motivated myself to go for over 2  miles when at first I had to force myself to get to 1.5. So the workout felt good.

Most Motivating Song: Coldplay "Politik"

New Miles: 2.75
Total Miles: 565.5
Miles Remaining: 934.5
Weight: 139.6

Resos and Plyos

An unspoken semi-resolution for the month of January is to do 2.0 miles per day. I am not sure if I really want it to be a resolution or not, but since I found myself 4 days into the month and having successfully done 2.0 miles each of the previous 3 days I figured I should keep this up in the event I do want to turn this into a monthly resolution. Though I am scared because (a) doing 1.0 mile/day in November was difficult and (a) because January is 31 days long. But I am encouraged by the fact I was able to do a similar thing before -so now I just have to commit to the same effort of actually trying to walk/run and I am sure I can manage to get 2.0 out of me.

I started off with a .25 mile warm-up walk and then some light stretching. I then ran .25 at 6.5mph and stopped for some plyo fun: 10 squats, 20 box jumps (only 6" because I only have a step to do this on), 10 forward lunges-alternating legs, 10 backward lunges-alternating legs and then I ran another lap at 6.5mph. After each lap I repeated the plyos. So I started with 2 laps at 6.5mph followed by 2 laps at 6.7mph followed a lap at 7.5mph and I did almost half of another lap at 7.5 but then bumped it up to 8:00mph for the final half-a-lap. I did one last set of plyos (making that 6 total sets) and then I walked a cool down lap at my standard 4.3mph. Total Workout: 2.0 miles in 20:21 314cals 1% + the plyos.

I rolled out the yoga mat on the living room floor and did 100 crunches, 2 sets of 20 bicycles, and 2 sets of 10 push-ups.

Most Motivating Song: Styx "Renegade" (it took me back to working out in college; it was a key pump-up song for me so many times)

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 562.75
Miles Remaining: 937.25
Weight: 139.8

Many Excuses

Before The Biggest Loser Season 13 started I got onto the treadmill and I got in 2.5 miles. I walked .25 then ran .5 at 6.5mph, walked for half a lap, then ran until mile 2.25 at 6.5mph. Then I cooled down for .25. I completed the 2.5 miles in 26:06 394 cals 1%.

I then finished running and brought my weights into the living room and set up shop in front of the TV. For 2 hours I did light working out - 100 crunches, 4 sets of 10 of both the 20lb sumo deadlifts and thrusters. I did 5 sets of 10 push-ups and 100 bicycles (a rep of both legs count as 1). As the show started I had to laugh because the theme of this season is "No Excuses" which is the opposite of the thought I had before I got running. I had thought to myself "Wow I am really good at making excuses to not do a thing I told myself I wanted to do." Such as going to the actual gym during The Biggest Loser and working out. What excuse did I use to myself? That the first episode is more of a 'get to know the people' episode and it wouldn't be the best for working out. Though as I started lifting I realized I actually could never watch the show at the gym around other people who are not Ryan because (a) I cry a lot while watching it, (b) I often yell at Dolvett to stop winking at people, (c) I laugh when Bob yells at people to not stop moving, and (d) I get annoyed when the scale beeps and beeps and beeps and so I yell even more at the TV. Now that I've written that all out I believe I discovered I may have some issues with my TV relationship more so than just being good at making excuses.

After I stopped working out I rewarded myself with a beer and ate the final two Christmas cookies we had lying around. Followed up with more multi-tasking by the TV - watching TV and working on on 2012 budget. (This is what nerds like me do for fun!)

Most Motivating Song: Taylor Swift "Picture to Burn"

New Miles: 2.5
Total Miles: 560.75
Miles Remaining: 939.25
Weight: 139.2

Exerting Effort

As I sat on the couch wanting to do something I knew I should walk or run and told Ryan that if I didn't have to change or exert effort I would exercise. A few minutes later I got myself off the couch and then got onto the treadmill. 

I walked a programmed "Easy" course for .5 where it increased from 2 to 4 to 6 to 8 to 10% incline. I did that in 98cals 7:10. Then I ran. I ran at 6.5mph for a solid 2.25 miles, running for 21:00 non-stop - and I surprised myself by tricking myself to keep going all that distance rather than stopping after 1. I then walked .25 to  complete 2.5 in 24:19 391cals. Total Workout: 3.0 miles in 31:29 489cals.

Then I lifted 2 sets of the 20lb kettlebell - doing 10 sumo deadlifts, 10 thrusters, 10 kettlebell throws. Then I did 10 woodblock chops with 10lbs for 2 sets.

New Miles: 3.0
Total Miles: 558.25
Miles Remaining: 941.75
Weight: 139.4

Happy Current Year!

As I rang out the old year and prepared to ring in the new I kept telling my friends "Happy Old Year!" which quickly transitioned into "Happy Current Year!" once Ryan got ahold of it. By the end of 2011 everyone was saying "Happy Current Year!" and as the clock passed midnight everyone went on to give hugs and wish each other a "Happy Current Year!". It was quite fun and funny and I like it so much more than saying "Happy New Year!".

For the first workout of the current year I was about to go run outside as it was in the 50s! But as soon as I got ready the rain moved in. So I got on the treadmill, where halfway thru running the rain moved out and the sun even shined. I did 1.0 miles with a light first lap then 6.3mph for the rest all at 1% incline - I did that in 10:15 157cals. Then I just had to act because if I thought about it I wouldn't do it - I increased the incline to 15%! And I went to do 30 seconds on/20 seconds off of hard run repeats at 7.0mph.

After 1 I was already tired, after 2 I was sucking wind, and so after just 2 20 second breaks I increased my rest time to 30 seconds - so I did 30 on/30 off. I did a total of 5 repeats - doing over .25 but under .5 so I count that distance as just .25. The final 2 were mostly done from some sort of willpower to force my way thru it as I had no business and 0% desire to keep doing it. Each 30 second-on felt like an eternity - and after 15 seconds I would look at the time wishing I was closer to having gone 30. My legs turned to jelly. My lungs were moving so fast I could have inflated a hot air balloon in about 5 minutes. After lowering the incline back down to a glorious 1% I walked and rounded out the mile. I did 2.0 miles in 24:53 403cals (though subtract some cals for those 30 second rests).

I followed that leg exhaustion up with some arm work - doing 10 sumo deadlifts followed by 10 thrusters followed by 10 kettlebell throws of the 20lb kettlebell - repeated twice. Sufficiently jellified top and bottom I ended my workout and grabbed some water and let my body ponder what I had just done to it. Happy Current Year Body! I'm going to get you into shape and try to shed off these 5lbs I re-gained during the holidays.

Most Motivating Song: Allison Krauss "Fast Fiddle and Banjo Tune"

New Miles: 2.0
Total Miles: 555.25
Miles Remaining: 944.75
Weight: 141.4

1st Pic of Us in 2012