Morning Run (mostly walk)!

This week is my last week of summer before the first day of school. I decided that I would bring Bellatrix out to my studio to spend the week. I am so excited to spend time with her. I have some fun things planned for her, the first of which was a nice long run this morning. We slept in a bit, got up about 8:15 and started a run. It started off pretty good, both of us were pretty excited to be outside, and awake, and together. After about a mile... we took a little walking break. That little walking break turned into a pretty big walking break. In total we went 3.6
miles, and I think about half of it was walking. At one point Bella just plopped down on the grass to take a little break. It is evident that we are both out of shape.

The part that is sad for me, is that I miss running, and racing. But when I plan for a morning run I dread waking up for it... while I am running I can't wait to get back home... And all I want to do the entire time is walk. I think that means I am no longer a runner. I am super bummed out about that. I hope this doesn't last forever, because eventually I DO want to run another half marathon, and I want to look forward to waking up in the morning for a run. So today's "run" was 3.67 miles around Sierra Madre and it took us 54:16 to complete this distance which makes our average min/mi at 14:46. The last half marathon that I ran my pace was about 10 min/mi, I'd obviously like to get myself back down to that type of pace.

I also plan on getting myself back into the pool. That should be happening after the school year gets settled in, and I am feeling more comfortable in my financial situation. I have also contacted a trainer who runs group workouts similar to crossfit. He came highly recommended by two of my colleagues so I will be going to try that out this coming Tuesday. I am excited to get this school year kicked off, and get into a routine! The summertime lazies have taken over me for the past few months.. not that I haven't enjoyed being lazy. The rest of the week will be spent running some more (hopefully), going to the dog park, going to the farmers market, and working in my classroom. What will you do with the last few weeks of summer?

What Is Happening?

I have been so busy lately, that during my down time all I want to do is be lazy. There are also SO many other things going on in my life that I am having fun organizing and planning for that my workouts are pretty much non-existent... The good part is, I don't feel terrible, and I don't feel like I look terrible... But inside I know that I am not my healthiest self right now.

This coming Tuesday I will be headed to New York to present in a conference with my partner teacher about a project we did with our students this year. I have been looking forward to taking a few runs in Central Park, I mean honestly this place is just begging to be run in!!! I am feeling that this will sort of jump start me.

After New York I will be traveling to visit with family in Canada, and I have already been told by one of my cousins that he plans on taking me for a run. So the plan is that when I come back from this amazing two for one trip I will be all ready to rock and roll with my summer workouts! Running and swimming need to happen, but I also need to find a way to fit weight lifting into the equation since I don't have a gym membership anymore this might be a bit trickier. I would also like to explore yoga, because I would like to be teaching it in the classroom next year.

Morning routines

I have been doing a daily morning workout using a podcast called iFit Daily, and I am really likening the short and sweet workouts, not to mention the results I am already noticing!!!!! This morning I think I spotted some "sex" lines, you know those ones that jet out from your hips, I wouldn't mind having those more defined come summertime!! I would post a picture, but I am not sure that would be appropriate...

I'm really glad I found the iFit Daily podcast, because on the days that I miss swim practice, or don't go for a run, at least I have still done something with myself for that day! And they are pretty good workouts too, I often feel sore!

I really need to start running regularly again. I am going on my second week with no running, and I am missing that time for myself. I was viewing it as more of a chore, just one more thing I have scheduled for myself for that day.... One more item on my to do list. This was making it easy for me to skip it, and to feel unmotivated to just get out there and run. I am currently trying to change my outlook. I want running to be a place of peace, and time for myself. Something I look forward to because it rejuvenates me. The second problem is finding the best starting point. it seems to work well when i run from school, and not so well when I come home first. when I come home I am tempted to lay down, or just start to relax. Next week I will try taking my running stuff to school with me, that way once I get home I will have nothing else to do BUT relax. I'll update you on how that goes, if anyone is reading this that is......

Going Green

I have been trying to loose weight for a long time. I have bounced back and fourth around 150 pounds since I have started. I have tried running, going back to swimming, weight training, etc. But none of these workout strategies are giving me the weight I want. I am noticing however that I have been starting to tone up a bit wich is good. I had a epiphany recently, no matter how much I am working out, the only thing that will happen is getting toned up, I won't loose the extra weight until I make a change to my diet. I have always been fit, and my body is used to getting these workouts in, but what it is not used to is healthy living!

Working at Aveson has really opened my eyes to what I have been putting into my body for such a long time, and all the processed foods that I have been eating. I have been making a HUGE effort to change these habits. I gave up high fructose corn syrup a long time ago, and my most recent endeavor has been trying to give up processed foods, eating as naturally as possible, and trying to give up the use of plastic. At my school we have a garden, one day I would love to start growing my own foods! However, for now, I will be constantly looking for new places to get REAL foods.

Farm fresh eggs from a parent

I have a parent who brings me farm fresh eggs, and I am absolutely OBSESSED! These eggs were laid yesterday, and I know that these chickens have been fed nothing but exactly what they should be fed. No corn for these chickens :) YAY! I also found a farm by my house that I can go to get farm fresh eggs, but I like the ones from the parent because they come in all different colors! The two eggs in the right are green :) I think it is so neat that I have access to this type of stuff.

RAW MILK!!!!

The teacher that I work next door to also brought me some raw milk. She swears by this stuff, and attributes her lack of getting sick all years this year to this milk. I was a bit afraid of it at first, I thought it would be SUPER thick, but seriously it doesn't taste any different than whole milk! They also sell this type of milk at Henry's which is right near my house so that is exciting!!!

My Mahi Mahi dinner :)

I've also been trying to cook more often. This is a dish I made for the family that I live with in Pasadena. It's Mahi Mahi, broccoli, and potatoes! I got the Mahi Mahi trom Trader Joe's and coated it with a lemon parsley crust, and baked it. It was pretty good :)

I have some really good news to report as well, I weighed myself this morning... AFTER I ate breakfast and I was under 150-- 149.4 Not much under 150, but still under nonetheless. I hope it's a result of the foods I have been eating, and that I will continue to loose! The hardest part of eating healthy is trying not to go out to eat. Billy and I really enjoy going out to dinner, and it's really hard not to do that :( In fact, we are going out to eat at El Torito tonight before we go to the Ducks game........ I'm going to try not to eat too much chips and salsa.... Wish me luck!!!

September 2010

I just looked back through this blog, and discovered that my fist blog post was written in September of 2010. That was almost 3 years ago. I thought it might be nice for me to reflect on what this blog has brought me, and how my attitude and body have changed since then.

When I started this blog, I viewed it as a way to keep in touch with a good friend through our goals. It was a way for us to hold each other accountable, and stay on track with our weight loss. I had a lot of fun reading her blogs, and following her on her journey. I also liked that I was keeping track of my own successes and failures. Well, as time went on, and we both got busy.. the amount that we were both blogging started to dwindle. I still come on every now and again to catch up with some other blogs that I follow, and check to see if she has written anything. Sometimes I will write an entry, but a lot of the time it's just a place I come to read others' blogs. I found that I would spend A LOT of time just writing one blog, and that no one besides my one friend and myself were even reading them. I just didn't have the time.

Well I'm here now, and going back through the last three years was fun! It's pretty cool that I have a blog to document this aspect of my life, and that my friends and family can read through it. I had hoped to meet some new people through my blog, maybe some folks going through the same thing as me. But what I am realizing now is that even though no one reads my blog, it has still brought some positive experiences to my life. This blog has brought me some much needed "me" time. I have been able to plan, do, and reflect on my healthy and sometimes unhealthy life choices. That is pretty awesome!

Aside from what I enjoyed most about this blog, I can't forget all I have accomplished since it's beginning. I have ran in 5 half marathons, some fun 5k's and my most recent race a 15k. I still haven't ran a FULL marathon, but one day I think I will! For now, I am having fun running these shorter distances. Another big accomplishment... Billy has also started running :) He has run 1 half marathon, some fun 5k's and the 15k. I thought after the first half marathon that he would not be interested in ever running another one, but then he surprised me when he agreed to run the 15k. Now he has even been looking online for the next race for us to do together. This is my favorite part about running, it is bringing us together, it is giving us one more thing we have in common, and it is giving us a whole lot of new memories that I SHOULD be documenting here in my blog.

I have definitely been neglecting this blog, but I think a revival is in order! One with a lot more pictures, and accomplishments! Get ready everyone! OR maybe just me :)

Food journal 3/30/13

I have been watching someone on YouTube, who has inspired me to start keeping a food journal. She does it in an actual journal which I think might work better for me as well... But I haven't purchased a new journal yet so my first entry will be on this blog :)

Breakfast:
Trader Joe O's cereal

Snack:
Banana

Lunch:
Turkey sandwich on whole grain bread with no mayo or mustard :) just turkey, Swiss cheese, and lettuce. I had an orange on the side as well.

Dinner:
We went to heroes for dinner. Billy and I shared a salad with blue cheese dressing to start, then I ate half of my California cheeseburger on a wheat bun and with fruit as the side.

All and all not a bad day food wise, it felt good not eating the entire burger at heroes. I was totally satisfied when we walked out of the restaurant, without feeling like my stomach was going to explode, so that was good!

I'm also currently in the market for a half marathon to run this summer, as well as a fun obstacle course type run. I'll post more when I find a good one!

Weight update: 151.6 I just can't stay under 150!!!!!

151... I can handle that!!!

I was certain that I had gained at least 7 pounds since the holidays. I've been eating nothing but restaurant an processes foods, and have just been feeling very BLAH... Well I bucked up and weighed myself just now, and the scale says... 151 :) last time I weighed myself I was 149.2, so I am feeling optimistic about this 151!!!

My goal weight is still 135, so I have 16 pounds that I need (want) to loose. The first 4 days of 2013 have been a bust... But I'm excited to see where the rest of January will take me!!

2013 resolutions

Every year I make resolutions for myself, and pretty much every year the year blows by and I don't ever live up to the goals I set for myself. Last year was the closest I EVER got to actually accomplishing my resolution. I said I was going to run a marathon... I trained ALL year, ran 2 half marathons, and when the time came for me to run the full marathon in November.... My knee decided to totally crap out, and I had to demote myself to my 3rd half marathon. I have decided (that for now) my body and my knee are not going to support me in my long distance running endeavors, so I will be finishing up the last 2 half marathons I have signed myself up for, continue training and just see what happens for me and running in the future.

Now onto 2013!! I have decided not to make any super crazy resolutions for myself, but I have decided to make a few small resolutions and see how that goes. So, here is what I have come up with so far:

1. BE FRUGAL: I am going to be VERY careful with my money. I am known to compulsively shop, and even to overspend using my credit cards. Right now I have more debt (just credit cards not even student loans) than I have available credit.... I am going to put my credit cards away, and be as frugal as possible with my money. I will only buy things for myself when absolutely necessary, and I will have to crack down on eating out :)

2. BE A NEAT FREAK: This one might be a little harder for me to abide by. I really am a neat freak deep down, but sometimes I get sooo busy that cleaning gets neglected. My plan of action (don't laugh) is to make a list of weekly and monthly "chores" that I MUST abide by in order to follow through with this resolution.

3. REACH MY GOAL WEIGHT: This is hard to put a time limit too, but I have wanted to reach this goal weight (135, currently 150) since I started this blog, and I think 2013 is the year to do it!!!

4. GET MORE SLEEP!!!

5. READ MORE: I love to read, but it takes me FOREVER to finish a book... I get caught up in other things, and I go days without reading a book that I started... I want to finish my current book list, and start a new one :)

So, overall I think these are pretty reasonable goals, nothing TOO crazy... but things that I should be able to live up too!! Wish me luck :)