Long Distance Training Run- 9 miles

Today was our longest training run to date, but that will only last until next week when we concur the double digits with 11 miles.

I'm still getting over a cold, so I didn't have high expectations for this run or even that I would be able to finish, but I told myself last night that there would be no pressure and if I needed to walk it all, I could.

I walked more than I would have liked, but I finished and that's what I'm focusing on. I could have used the excuse of being sick to skip the whole thing, but instead I got out there. 

Now I can spend the rest of the weekend resting. 

Keeping Active

Although I started feeling sick on Monday with a sore throat, and although it has been progressively getting worse, I've been staying active and enjoying my workouts.

I'm walking almost daily and getting my classes in.

I'm loving my new GPS watch and all the functions it has, especially the app on my phone. It makes my life so much easier when it comes to keeping track of my mileage.

I'm taking the boot camp class tonight and planning on taking it easy again tonight like I did yesterday. I still got a good workout in, but didn't feel like I was exerting myself too much. 

I'm looking forward to resting tomorrow before the 9 miler on Saturday, and then having another full day of rest on Sunday.

Hopefully this cold will not stay around much longer...

Fitness Before the Feast

When I signed up for boot camp, I told myself that in order for it to pay for itself I needed to make it to two classes a week. It felt like a good number of classes. Doable while I could still be flexible.

Then this happened..

So, my plan for two days a week went out the window and I'm not up to four days a week.

Thankfully we are allowed to substitute one class for a 3 mile walk, run, hike, swim or bike..

Monday was our first day and our weigh in for the challenge.

(I'm already down a pound since Thursday!) 

I've been tracking my mileage and made it to one class so far (Monday night's boot camp). My hope for the rest of the week is to go tonight, tomorrow and attempt the 530am class on Friday. If that doesn't happen, then I'll get in 3 miles that day since there's no boot camp on Saturday this week. 

I've also been tracking on myfitnesspal. We have to turn in our menu's each week, so no excuses to not track and track honestly. There's no point in lying..

I decided to go into myfitnesspal and add in my weight history from Weight Watcher's since I started in June. This isn't a new journey, but a continuation using a different method. So, I should count my progress for the whole time. 

My new GPS watch arrived last night, so I'm excited to try it out today and to see how the app works. 

It feels really good to be active again, even if I do have a cold.. 

Long Distance Training Run- 4 Miles

I was so ready to not complete the mileage this weekend..

We originally had 9 miles scheduled, but after looking at both of our schedules, we decided to switch this week and next. But, I find that it's easier for me to talk myself out of the lower mileage runs.

Patrick and I woke to at 5 yesterday morning to set up for our garage sale: 

We were out until almost 4!!! A lot longer than we had planned, especially since we were doing it again this morning. 

I was exhausted yesterday evening, so it wasn't difficult to talk myself out of going. Then we got up early again this morning, so no run planned beforehand. 

That left tonight. Which was almost enough to talk myself out of going. 

But I told myself if I tracked a route on mapmyrun from our house to where we were going for dinner and it was close to 4 miles then I would run there.. 

Mapmyrun on the computer tracked it at 4.21 miles, mapmyrun app on my phone tracked it at 4.92 miles (5.02 after walking around the parking lot), and Patrick's car tracked it at 4.42 miles. Hmmmm... 

It may be time to try my GPS watch again. Or to start searching for a new one. If the distance is that far off, then I'm sure the speed is off too. I want accurate data! 

The issue with the one I have now is that it doesn't link to my computer the way it should. The USB cord doesn't read correctly and I can't get the data the way it should show (similar to the mapmyrun app). 

That data is important to me..

So, I either use my phone, knowing the data is incorrect, or spend money when we're trying to get out of debt/save.. GPS watches, good ones, are not cheap..

So, it looks like incorrect data it is! 

No matter what, I went out and did it, even when I really didn't want to. And that feels great!! 

Now to mentally prepare myself for the challenge at boot camp that starts tomorrow!

I Drank the Kool Aid

My sister and brother-in-law have been going to boot camp and eating better since May and the results both of them have achieved are absolutely incredible and inspiring..

After 16 weeks on Weight Watcher's I am down a total of 8.4 pounds. I'm proud of that, however I want more.

I don't want to just lose weight to see a lower number on the scale. I want to lose inches and be confident in a bikini. I want to learn to eat better foods. I want so much more..

Weight Watcher's can provide that, if you follow the program. I wasn't. Not as well as I could have. I'll miss the people and that community, but that was really the only reason I was still going. The meetings were my me time.

But now my me time is at boot camp. With a new group of people who also have my best interest at heart.

Overall, it came down to finances and wanting to see results. I couldn't afford doing both each month and had to choose what was best for me. I know what my body can look like when I workout and workout hard, and I know that in order to achieve that I need to go to boot camp and eat better. Much better.

I weighed in last night and am excited to watch myself transform. 

I promised myself that I would go to at least two classes a week and have kept that promise for the first two weeks. 

(Photos by Hyperion Fitness and Eric)

But starting next week I'll be going 3-4 times a week as I've signed up for a challenge. 

I'm trying to find a way to balance it, but I know that focusing on my health is beneficial in so many ways and not just for me. I'm happier when I workout (hello endorphins!) and I'm setting a better example for Isabel by preparing better meals for all of us and by showing her that it's good to take time out for yourself. 

I needed the push to step out of my comfort zone and I'm so glad I did! It didn't take long at all to feel welcome in this community, to feel accepted, to feel addicted. 

Blanket Updates

I am finding that although my orders so far have all come from family and friends I am truly loving my side business. I am finding a way to work with the stash of yarn I have collected over the past year and am using my spare (HA!) time working on a hobby that relaxes me.

I really didn't want to have to find a part time job where I would be spending a lot of time away from my family. It wouldn't really make sense for me to work 40 hours a week from 8-5, not counting travel time, and add additional hours on top of that. If I thought I felt guilty spending time training or going to boot camp twice a week I couldn't even imagine how I would feel adding in a second job.

Thankfully I am able to "work from home" and spend time with my family while I crochet. Although I know it's frustrating for both Patrick and Isabel to constantly see me crocheting while we're together, they understand that for now, while I'm working on custom orders, it's my job. Once those custom orders are completed and I'm just working on filling up the Etsy store, I can be more flexible and have set times that I'm focusing on crocheting.

Yesterday I spent some time updating the photographs for the Etsy store and included some yarn combinations that haven't been crocheted yet. I think that eventually I'll get some orders, but for now I'm going to appreciate the friends and family that have been supporting me since I started.

I think what I love most about what I do is that customers get to choose the colors that fit their needs. I've been lucky enough to have some orders that I get a general "It's a girl, so something pink? Whatever you think.." and then I get to go out to the stash and figure out a combination, but I think having the freedom to choose whatever colors they want makes this a great choice when it comes to gifting something to a little one in your life.

Please visit me at my Etsy store or on Facebook. Do not hesitate to reach out, place an order, like and share!

Long Distance Training Run- 3 Miles

9/20- 4 miles- completed

9/26- 5.5 miles- completed

10/3- 4 miles- skipped

10/11- 7 miles- completed

10/18- 3 miles- completed

It would have been so easy to have stayed in bed this morning.. After getting up early Friday and Saturday, I had wanted to have one day to sleep in, but since I didn't go last night I had to get up and get going.

This was my fastest average pace since starting running again. 12:17 is pretty good for me overall and I'm really happy with it since I felt sluggish and it was not an easy 3 miles. 

But I did it, and that's what matters.

I did get in my head a little and started doubting how I'm going to do 26.2 miles if 3 miles felt difficult, but that's what the training is for. And I'm eating better and adding strength training, so it will get easier with time. I just have to stick with it and push through the hard runs.

Weight Watcher's- Week 16

After a 5 pound loss last week, I wasn't expecting much of a loss this week, however I was hoping to see a loss. 

I got the opposite result and gained 1.6..

Womp Womp.

I didn't food prep the way I did last week, however I thought I was making good choices and only used 7 of my 49 extra points. Although, since I've been working out, maybe I didn't eat enough..

There are so many factors that can affect the scale that I can't sit here and obsess over what I did wrong or right. I ate well, started working out, and lived my life. 

After two hard core workouts, I know I'm making progress in the right direction, even if the scale doesn't go down..

My leader wasn't surprised by the gain and her first question was "Are you training?" So, if it's not a shock to her, I'm not going to let it shock me.

And, after a month, I've made progress overall:

I feel better and I think I look better. The scale can say what it wants.. Measurements and pictures don't lie. 

I'm going to keep on keeping on and hope that my hard work this week just needs some time to catch up.

Update

I keep saying I'm going to blog more often, and then life happens and blogging just becomes one of those things that doesn't become a priority.. But like a lifelong friend, you can go for a period of time without talking and still be there for one another. So, here I am. Back to update on my life and what's been happening the past two weeks..

Weight Watcher's:

Two weeks ago I saw another gain and finally reached out for help. My sister has offered to help me meal plan, shop, and prep and I finally jumped in and took her up on the offer. 

I followed the plan closely, but stayed flexible as well.. 

5 pounds in one week!!! Boo ya!

So, then Patrick and I decided to attempt it ourselves this week. We planned and shopped, but no prepping happened. I still ate well all week, so I'm hoping to get back to it this week and actually follow through.

I'm also drinking more water thanks to my new app Plant Nanny. You track your water intake and water your plant. It may seem silly, but it's helping! 

Marathon training: 

I skipped my 4 mile run two weekends ago and regretted it last weekend when we went out for 7 miles. To be honest, it's difficult and I'm starting from square one, but I'm making progress and I'm proud of myself. 

It would be so easy to just stop. To not even try. But I am trying and I am really happy to be lacing up my shoes and getting back out there again.

This popped up on my news feed a couple days ago: 

And I have my countdown app:

And my feelings toward the race are becoming more about excitement and less nervousness.

I would like to keep up with my sister for as long as possible, but this is her race. She's in the best shape of her life and is killing these training runs. It's so inspiring to watch her. My goal is to finish. No time goal for me this time. I got my PR. I just want to be there for her.

Fitness:

I had been keeping up with my training schedule pretty well. I would say sticking to it about 85% of the time. Getting in some walks on my break at work, going for a run after work, doing some strength DVDs.. 

Then my sister started talking to me about boot camp. 

I can see it works. I mean, that's obvious. But I was scared.. What if I couldn't do it? What if he yelled at me? What if we had to do burpees? What if..? 

So I told myself to make it through October following my planned workout and then I would join boot camp..

Two days later I was at my first boot camp. Leg day. And burpees..

But, I survived! I wanted to hate it, and there were points where I did, but I know my body won't change if I don't push myself past my comfort zone. So, I'm signing up for a year and planning on going at least twice a week.

Which I already have.. Wednesday boot camp and this morning at 530am for a studio body conditioning class.

Personal: 

This was updated as of yesterday: 

Which means, as of today I am 13 days smoke free. I still have cravings, but I have not (and will not) give into them.. I'm stronger than that, and even more than that, I really do not want to go through the first few days of quitting again..

We also added to our family:

I received an email from the shelter that they were taking the $125 registration and fees for a new pet down to $25. I looked online and saw this face and fell in love:

So, Patrick took Camper to meet him and things went smoothly and we brought him home.

So far, everything has been smooth. All three animals get along and Joey has made himself at home. 

Camper and Marley are still getting plenty of love.. 

My mom, sister and I went out and got matching tattoos. I love it and am so excited that we all agreed on the design.

This past Monday, Patrick and I celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary.

Where did that time go?! 

Patrick planned a great evening.. In-N-Out at our wedding venue! Then my parents came to take some pictures (haven't seen them yet!!)

The In-N-Out is meaningful because we had planned to go there the night of the wedding. But we were both exhausted, so we skipped it. One of very few things I would change about that night.. He can be romantic when he wants to be..

BabyBlanketLoveBug:

Business is going well. I have over 20 orders and have complete more than half. Always excited to get new orders, and looking forward to stocking the Etsy store. 

Right now I'm working on one for Patrick for his friend's baby shower. 

I've been trying to stay out of the yarn store unless I need something for a specific project.. The stash is expanding and I'm running out of room! 

Overall, life is fantastic.. 

And I am doing really well..