Challenge Complete!!

No Junk Food Challenge is complete and I can happily say it was a success!!  Today was the first day that I could eat whatever I wanted and I didn't touch any of the candy in our office.  There were jelly beans during our staff meeting and they didn't even tempt me.  

The whole point in doing the challenge was to teach myself that I don't need that stuff and that there are things way better than junk.  It worked!  I just feel so much better since starting that I don't want to ruin it. I have more energy, my workouts are better and I can see the difference.  

This week I have already run twice and been to the gym three times and each workout was better than the last.  Monday in CycleFit the instructor commented on how she has noticed a change in my workout.  That my form for some of the positions was improved and it was clear that I got it.  She even said she thought I could handle a full class not just the beginner class. Yesterday in Gravity the instructor told me he could see that I was getting stronger. 

The thing with becoming physically healthier is that I also feel more confident.  Last week in our training I was far more vocal and engaged than I have been in a long time.  It was in part the fact that I was comfortable in the group but I also know that feeling better overall improves my mood.  

So what's the plan from here??  Keep doing the things I've been doing and increase my running distance!  It's Half Marathon training time!!  

So Awesome!

Every year at work at this time we have our annual Training Weeks.  It's a chance for everyone to get some mandatory training as well as some time spent together away from the daily workload.  It's always fun and I always come away energized. 

The problem is there is always candy, cookies and junk.  As mentioned I am doing a No Junk Food challenge.  I went into this week knowing there would be daily, even hourly temptations.  I knew I could either give in or be strong.

This year we got "points" in the form of lifesavers!  As soon as the first one was handed out I thought "oh shit!" I really wanted to participate and get my team some points AND I really like lifesavers.  Then came the gummies that the person sitting beside me brought, then cookies and more candy that was in the kept in the kitchen.  

I went into the week with a plan though and was determined not to touch any of it!  And I didn't:). 

Each day I loaded up my lunch bag with good healthy foods and stuff that would satisfy that want for the candy.  It took some willpower and a lot of internal dialogue but I did it.  I also knew that I would be very disappointed in myself if I caved.  

Next week is back to my regular schedule.  I'll be back to my crazy days with meetings and paperwork.  I'll continue to bring my food and not have crap.  I have 5 more days of the challenge but I have learned so much.  

Oh and guess what else happened this week??  I got up at 5:30am and ran twice!!  I have always preferred morning runs but the winter cold makes me not want to get up.  I'm back at the mornings though and loving it!  Maybe the healthier eating really does make a difference ;)

January Round Up!

Wow!!  It's already one month into 2015! My goal for January was to move everyday. I kept track of my movement in a note on my phone so that it would be quick and easy to enter things.  I also started wearing my Fitbit Zip again.  For the month of January I had purposeful exercise (running, walking or the gym) 24 days and the other 7 involved long shopping trips, trips to the library and market and tourist stuff in Florida.  Some days I had purposeful exercise and leisurely movement.  I'm very happy with how January went. 

Near the end of the month I decided to join a challenge in a facebook group.  It's called a no junk food challenge and there is a list of things we aren't allowed to have.  

It's a 21 day challenge and I am currently on day 11(12?).  I'm very proud of how I have done.  The first couple of days I was dying.  I joined the challenge becaus I wanted to try to train myself to choose healthier things for snacks.  I also wanted to cut out pop and decided what better time to try.  I have had nothing on this list.

Since the beginning of January I have lost 7.2lbs and am back to where I was a couple months ago before the wheels fell off.  I feel great.

February's goals will be to keep up the daily movement and bring my lunch everyday for the month.  I know, I know!  I've said that before but this time I'm much more serious.  I spent today making soup, chopping veggies, making hummus and Glo Bars.  I'm going to make a big salad tonight that should last a few days too.  This week is the perfect week to start this one too, it's my annual week of training and there is not enough time to go out and buy something.  

Don't forget!  February is "Heart Month" and not in the valentine sense.  It is a month to raise awareness for heart health and heart defects!!  More on that as the month goes on though;)  

Runs for Cookies Virtual 5k Report

Several months ago, maybe even a year, I started following the blog "Runs for Cookies".  The writer is a runner who has lost a bunch of weight and is part of a documentary (yet to be released) called "From Fat to Finish Line".  There is also a facebook group of the same name started by the people in the documentary.  These groups and blogs have been very inspirational to me over the last few months.  A few weeks ago Katie posted that she was holding her Virtual 5k again to celebrate her birthday so I decided to sign up.  I've never done a virtual race before but thought it would be fun.  People from all over the place had signed up and today was the day.  

I had planned to run it outside because the weather hasn't been too bad the last few day.  Last night it was very icy though so I decided to move it to the treadmill.  I run on the treadmill most of the time now but sti don't love it.  I usually keep it to 30 minutes or so.  Also my treadmill may be on its last legs.  It takes a bit to warm up and the first few minutes the belt seems to slip making footing odd.  I did the 5k though.

It took me a significantly longer time than it would have in a road for several reasons.  On the treadmill I tend to stumble and trip easier. I also run slower and am more likely to take walking breaks. Today was no different.  I was happy with what I did though and am so happy I signed up.

I have been running pretty consistently but not very far over the last few months.  Today's run was the longest in weeks!  This run has shown me that I can still push longer and feel good at the end. It helped me decide that I will start training for a spring half which I hadn't been sure of for the last couple weeks.

Runs for Cookies and the whole From Fat to Finish Line Family are some pretty amazing people!!

Here's my "proof picture".  I'm really not a selfie person so that's the best I got:)

2014 in review

Another year has come and gone.  It seems to me that the older I get the faster time goes.  I don't know where it goes but before we know it the year is gone.  

A year ago I sat down and set some goals for the year.  I planned to run 400k and one half marathon.  I met both of those goals.  I then amended my 400k goal to 600 or 700k.  I think I hit 600k but cannot be sure.  I stopped tracking distance a couple of months ago in an effort to find the love of running again.  It worked and I am ready to start tracking again.

I planned to take my lunch to work more and that seemed to sort of happen.  I think I took it more and when I did buy it I often made much healthier choices.  

I wanted to go away for my 10th anniversary.  That didn't happen.  There were a few reasons for that.  We didn't really have anyone who was able to watch the girls for the whole weekend and we were saving for a trip to Florida.  In a week we will leave for Florida so that worked out.  We did get several camping trips in this summer just not anything alone.  I'm okay with that.

I have decided that 2015 is my year.  I love my family but I don't always love myself. It's time to love me again.  They will adjust and we will all be happier.  I am reluctant to set any specific goals because the ones floating in my head might be a bit lofty.  So for now I am going to set monthly mini goals.  For January it is going to be a move everyday challenge.  I'm going take advantage of the beautiful weather in Florida and run everyday while there.  I'm going to run 3.7 miles on my birthday.  For the rest of the the movement can be fun or hard but it has to be movement.  We bought a dancing game for Christina and she loves it so on the days I can't get to the gym we can bust that out.  As long as I move I've met the goal.

I'm probably the healthiest I have ever been and am going to make 2015 my healthiest year ever.

December is here!!

I can't believe it is the last month of the year!  This year has gone by way too fast.  November was a good month all around. I was able to get to the gym a lot.  I started to go to a new class which is so fun.  It's called Group Power and it is a full body strength training class.  It's tough and feels awesome at the end.  I'm back to going to Gravity and CycleFit too.  Running was good in November.  I did mostly treadmill runs and didn't track my mileage.  I would estimate that I ran 10 times for about 50k total.  Not bad when you add it to the other classes.  

Eating wasn't spectacular.  I do really well lol day the in the evenings things get a little out of hand.  

My goal for this month is to keep things going as is and to keep my whits about me when it comes to all the holiday eating.

Reverse Resolution

A few weeks ago I joined a group on Facebook.  The goal?? Lose 20lbs before the New Year.  It was a sort of way to keep on track over the holidays and to have a support group to go to when things get tough.  The first few weeks have sucked for me.  I am moving more than I was but my eating is off the hook bad.  I am so aware of this but honestly just haven't cared.  Today I decided to start caring again.  I am absolutely addicted to junk food.  There isn't much I won't eat and I can be very impulsive about it.  Today I have decided to get myself back in control of that.  The next few weeks will be riddled with food, get togethers and drinks.  I will make the best possible choices.  In January I always go for my yearly physical and I want to see continued downward results in the numbers.  I want to see and feel the results.  

Last week I went to gravity class again for the first time in ages.  I went a lot when the class first started then the timing was off but now there is a class right after the girls swim.  Last week I hurt for days after that class.  I had to skip a run because just walking hurt too much.  I walked the same length I would have run but there was no way a run was happening.  Yesterday I did the class again.  The moves were similar but not quite the same.  Every move was done on both sides, then one side and the other.  She called it a unilateral workout.  I expected immense pain this morning.  I had a very slight ache!!  Nothing really hurt.  I was disappointed!!!  So tonight I pulled out a ladder workout I had been given.  I should have run but by the time we got home time was limited so this was more bang for my buck so to speak.  I am hoping I can manage a run after work tomorrow but if I don't Satuday it will be!!!  

On the weekend I am going to be super brave and take real before pictures.  Although they aren't true before since I have already lost about 40lbs over the last 4 years. They will be what I judge all my results in though.  If I'm really brave I may post those so that I have a real out there before!  I will update my pictures every 12 weeks.  It's on now!!!