Trying Does Not Equal Giving Up

Wow! Two weeks. Two weeks really fly by when you are having fun and not running. What can I say? Life happens in-between the plans that you have so carefully made. I'm not gonna beat myself up. I'm just gonna look forward and keep going.

The kids have been on spring break for the past two weeks. The first week we went to Las Vegas and Disneyland. Both places involved a lot of walking, but no running. Last week I was back at work and took some sub jobs since I have been extremely stressed about my students dropping this semester. So I worked during my "me" time. Our weekends are always crazy busy and to top that off I tweaked something in my hip, so I have been experiencing hip/butt/lower back pain.

But this is a new week and today is a new day and I am proud to say that even though I felt close to zero motivation to get up and run today, I did it anyways.

It is starting to warm up here in the sunny state of AZ. That means I have an excuse to complain more and work out less.... Wait, that was my old way of thinking. My new self needs to solve this problem. The heat sucks, yes? I do not even really like being out in the sun. So today I woke up early. I know, I know, I tell myself I am not a morning person and hit the snooze button repeatedly every morning just so that I can enjoy a few extra seconds in my nice warm bed. But today I opened my eyes, got out of bed, put on my clothes and walked out the door. It is a beautiful day. I was able to enjoy the sunrise and definitely felt much better when I was done. The best part is that I got it out of the way and had the rest of the morning to focus on ME!! I was able to catch up on some club work and I worked in my garden and I ate breakfast and helped the kids get ready for school. These things are all important to me and make me a better me. This needs to be my new plan from now on until it starts cooling off again in November.

I simply need to drag my sorry ass out of bed and do what I promised myself I would do. Just try. Take it one day at a time, one step at a time. I'm worth it and my family and friends are worth it too.

Ummm, Yeah

Viking Women apparently don't run when they are stressed, overworked, busy and getting ready for vacation...especially when this is all happening at the same time. Fortunately, I am not going to kick myself over this. It is what it is. In Vegas and Disneyland we will be doing plenty of walking. I may even check out the gym at the hotel. Pat on the back, I brought workout clothes. :)

Nothing much else to report other than I do actually feel like I want to run. How weird is that??

One More Day

Hey there. I made it through one more day. Today was a busy day with doctors appointments, kids to school, eyebrow wax, work, community service at Feed My Starving Children, work and work. I am happy to say that even with all that business I was able to get in a workout today. My shins were hurting me and didn't want to run again today, so instead we decided it would be a wonderful day for a bike ride. So my sore shins, Black Betty and I went out for a ride. A 5 mile ride in 30 minutes thank you very much. It was awesome! I didn't burn as many calories, but I had a great workout out in the beautiful March weather. I'm so glad that I took a ride on the wild side and did something different.

Oh. My. Hell. (on so many levels)

Ran/walked today. Didn't like it.

That's really all I have to say... but I really should explain myself.

I knew that I would be running today. I guess my biggest problem is that I don't see myself the way I really look. It's like reverse anorexia or something. I know I'm fat, but I don't really internalize my fatness kinda like super skeletal anorexic people don't think that they are thin enough. So I knew today would start a new leg of the c25k program. A VERY SCARY new leg. The "short" run is 3 minutes which was the "long" run just last week. The "long" run is 5 minutes. Holy Hell!! Yes, that's right. But my brain was telling myself that I looked super cute in my new running pants that I got. Let's take a little detour. My new grey pants with little slits on the cuff with pockets for my iPhone that are made by Danskin. The little tag that was on the pants give the following inspiring tips:

DANSKIN NOW

Move closer to you goals

Create the world you want

Inspire those you love

Live your life in motion

Then, I look on the back of the tag. I love that they only cost $9.00. But then I notice the name of the item... DN PORKCHOP JUDO. What the hell? Porkchop!?!? PORKCHOP? Very funny Danskin, very funny. Touche. I get your humor.

So anyways, I was thinking how cute I looked and not that I am still fat and that I need to psyche myself up to run 5 minutes. So just to let you know, I can not in fact run 5 minutes. Yet. I was able to do both of the three minute runs which is really amazing since it wasn't that long ago that I couldn't even run one damn minute without stopping early. So I know if I keep working I will get there. One foot in front of the other, one day at a time.

Here's another interesting fact. I took the dog with me today which I can say with 100% confidence I DO NOT LIKE. But, every time I start getting on my workout clothes and putting on my Nikes she gets very excited and starts running around looking for her leash. Then she starts crying because she if very afraid I will leave before she finds her leash. Then she starts looking me straight in the eye like "you better not leave before I can find the damn leash!" So I break down and take her, even though I don't want to. Today, my middle child wanted to come along too. WTF? Yeah, I need some little kid dancing in circles around me while I am trying to "run". Luckily she only lasted 1/2 the time before she got bored and headed for home.

Today I went 2.22 miles!! Yeah for me.

YES!

I have so much to talk about today. First of all, I ran my entire third leg of the program without stopping early on any of the runs. That's two 3 minute runs and two 1 1/2 minute runs. My right calf was a little tight and my knee is hurting a little but nothing that a little ibuprofen won't fix up. I also ordered some "joint health" medicine from Melaleuca that I have used before and I know will help. Yes!! I am so happy that I pushed through the pain.

I focused on my parents today. They were both great people and died tragically young. That is one of my biggest fears. I don't want to die young and leave my children and never meet my grand children. This is another reason that I am running. To be a good example to them and to be around FOR them.

Next, I would like to celebrate obtaining my first mini goal. I use an app called "Loose It" and it tracks the food that I eat, my exercise and my weight. I decided that having a huge weight loss goal is not in my best interest. Little goals along the way that will eventually add up to an overall big weight loss is my plan. So I'm going to focus on 10 lbs at a time. 10 little pounds. Ten nasty little pounds. Yeah, right!! Ten pounds is a big deal. The first 6 of my 10 pounds came off relatively easy....but those last couple of pounds were a struggle. BUT, I did it!! At first I wasn't going to post a picture of the screen shot that I took, but then I decided that I am heavy and it's not a secret. There's no hiding my large ass and hammies. So it is better to own it. So I have decided not to be embarrassed about how much I weigh, but to be proud of those 10 little pounds that I have lost. Yes, that is a better plan. So here it is....my first 10 pounds gone. :)

My starting weight. OMFG! That is the heaviest I have ever been.

10 pounds gone!

I have set a new goal for 10 more pounds. I'll

let you know when I hit that goal.

I don't know why it says this. I do not plan to maintain this current weight.

The next thing I would like to discuss is the tragic loss of my pink skull head phones.

As I was running my iPhone fell out of my pocket and dropped to the ground. Thankfully, my phone was fine, but my head phones are jacked. (taps playing) Goodbye to my comfortable earbuds. You served me well and may have saved the life of my precious iPhone. Thank you.

I know that this post is getting long, but I just have so much to talk about today. The last thing that I would like to say is that I really am enjoying looking at nature while I am out and about walk/running. I noticed today that all the trees are budding out and the tiny green leaves have burst overnight. It is so beautiful to see that Spring has sprung. Here is a picture of our flowering plumb tree in our front yard. I LOVE it.