March Madness

Well this month went well for the most part.  I didn't eat as well as I should and came out the same weight as the beginning of the month.  The positive?  At least it wasn't higher:). 

Running is going well.  I have started ramping up my distance and feel great so far.  I got new pants.  Tights for the first time.  I can't believe I ever ran in big baggy pants!  The next month will be my biggest mileage of training then May will taper back a bit.  Tonight I had my first outside run of the year where I didn't need a toque, gloves and an extra top layer.  It was glorious. 

My goal for March was to not snack in the evenings.  It didn't go so well.  I started out strong but the mindless eating is terrible.  So April's goal goes a lot like March but not quite as strict.  I will aim to stay within my calorie goal for the day.  I will eat half of what My Fitness Pal gives me for extra calories.  On long run days I will make sure to have lots and lots of veggies available.  Evening eating will be limited to staying within my calories and only fruit or veggies, maybe yogurt.  

April will also mark the return of morning runs.  I was doing some when I was still on the treadmill but once the outside running started I didn't like the idea of being out, alone, in the early morning darkness. Now that it's a bit warmer and getting light a tad earlier I'll get back to it.  That will free evenings up for playing outside with the kids.  I'm even considering a bike this year!

It's hard to believe this year is already a quarter done!  Time needs to slow down don't ya think??

February Followup!

The month of February was a cold and snowy one!!  It started out with a big dumping of snow and more has fallen through the month.  We've been under an extreme cold alert for most of the month too.  This kind of weather makes me just want to sit on the couch with a good book, a blanket and perhaps a glass of wine (or two).  This month was definitely a tough one but thankfully it was also a short one.  

Exercise wise I did quite well.  I ran 10 out of 12 planned runs.  Exercised 21 out of 28 days and tried to be at least a little active on the other 7 days.  I successfully completed the last round of Group Power at the Y and will start the next round on Monday.  I received several comments from instructors that I am showing increased strength and form.  Overall it was a great month of activity!

Food wise I kept my goal of bringing lunch to work all month.  I am sure I saved a good chunk of money and ate much better.  I need to get a little better at planning and maybe pre-cooking dinners for after the gym so I'm not grabbing things like a sandwich or whatever looks good in the fridge.  That's easy enough to do though.  I just need to make sure the days we aren't at the Y I make extra so there are leftovers or make a big pot of chili or stew on the weekend that will keep for a couple days. 

A couple other things happened this month. My old lady kitty passed away at the beginning of the month.  She was 20 and lived a good long life.  We were all very sad.  

For the last couple years the girls have been asking for a kitten and the answer was always after the old lady died.  We have another cat who is about 11 and the 20 year old would not have taken well to a kitten.  Once she passed we told the girls it would have to be a couple of months wait....then we went to buy fish food. Of course we went to the pet store for that and of course they had an adoption event on.  The girls were great at first.  I told them that they weren't getting one that day.  They looked at all of them and said they knew and were okay with it. They walked away from every kitten and cat.  Then just as I thought we were gettingg out without a meltdown or begging Macey bumped her head against the door of her cage and the girls were done.  She looks just like our other cat and was so sweet.  We came home with a new family member that day.  She was 12 weeks old.  

Isn't she cute???  

She's such a good kitty.  She tolerates the girls loving and purrs like crazy!

March's goal is to not eat after dinner unless I am under my base calorie goal for the day.  If I have exercised that does not give me permission to eat for the sake of eating.  I'll have my meals and snacks through the day but come evening I know I eat because I'm bored not because I'm hungry.  If I'm truly hungry I'll have some fruit or veggies.  No more snacks for the sake of snacking!