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Saturday, January 1, 2011
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Having fun while "working" out
Part of my return to fitness is that I really want to have fun with it. I hate reading blogs or magazine articles that say "I hate doing cardio, but I just do it." Um, cardio can be fun, can't it?
On Tuesday, I had a faculty meeting that went a half hour longer than necessary. Even though I had a bag in my car full of gym clothes, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead, I called the Fiance and asked him if he wanted to meet me to play tennis. I'm awful at it. I like to make believe that I'm a Williams sister and grunt while I serve or hit a ball out of my reach, but really, I suck. However, being out in the sun with The Fiance having fun while burning calories... that's a big plus.
Yesterday was Day 2 of Week 1 of the C25K. I admit that I feel a bit of soreness in my glutes and my abs from my first run on Monday, but yesterday, I just got it moving. I have to admit that my last interval (there's eight of them this week) was truly a push, but doing the loop around the hospital at lunchtime when all the workers are outside getting a bit of sun and going for a walk motivated me. I kept thinking, this interval, I'm going to pass that lady in red. This interval, I'm going to pass those two older women. It was great.
Today is a non-running day, and I'm debating whether I want to go to the gym and put in a hard core workout on the elliptical or to go for a walk in the sun. Decisions, decisions :)
On Tuesday, I had a faculty meeting that went a half hour longer than necessary. Even though I had a bag in my car full of gym clothes, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Instead, I called the Fiance and asked him if he wanted to meet me to play tennis. I'm awful at it. I like to make believe that I'm a Williams sister and grunt while I serve or hit a ball out of my reach, but really, I suck. However, being out in the sun with The Fiance having fun while burning calories... that's a big plus.
Yesterday was Day 2 of Week 1 of the C25K. I admit that I feel a bit of soreness in my glutes and my abs from my first run on Monday, but yesterday, I just got it moving. I have to admit that my last interval (there's eight of them this week) was truly a push, but doing the loop around the hospital at lunchtime when all the workers are outside getting a bit of sun and going for a walk motivated me. I kept thinking, this interval, I'm going to pass that lady in red. This interval, I'm going to pass those two older women. It was great.
Today is a non-running day, and I'm debating whether I want to go to the gym and put in a hard core workout on the elliptical or to go for a walk in the sun. Decisions, decisions :)
Monday, May 3, 2010
C25K: Week 1, Day 1
So, it's been quite a while since I've found myself at this place... literally over two years ago! I decided to take my sprinting heels out for a spin. The rain had cleared, it looked beautiful outside and I needed to get my workout in. What's better than a C25K walk/run workout? This week's workouts are a 5 minute warmup walk, a 60 second run followed by a 90 second brisk walk, and finished off with a 5 minute cool down walk. There are eight of these run/walk intervals, and I thought I could do it. I mean, last time, I was so close to reaching my 5K goal... how hard could this be?
Well, the first two or three intervals were fine. A breeze. When I got to the middle... oy. Not as easy as I remember it. By the time interval seven rolled around, I was out of breathe, my shins were hurting (crap, really? I need new sneaks already?), and I was sweating like a pig.
But man... that run felt good. I remember why I stuck with it for so long. And it was the push I needed to make this week a good week fitness wise.
Well, the first two or three intervals were fine. A breeze. When I got to the middle... oy. Not as easy as I remember it. By the time interval seven rolled around, I was out of breathe, my shins were hurting (crap, really? I need new sneaks already?), and I was sweating like a pig.
But man... that run felt good. I remember why I stuck with it for so long. And it was the push I needed to make this week a good week fitness wise.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
An even bigger challenge
Once upon a time, a girl who had lost weight decided that she wanted to become a runner. She decided to try the Couch to 5K program. She tried and tried and tried, but she never ran a 5K.
That's going to change this year. Starting Monday, I'm restarting C25K. I found that, in the past, running towards a goal really motivated me. In order to be successful, I'm reaching back to things that got me results before. I'm a bit scared and a little nervous, but that podcast is all ready to go for tomorrow morning. Eep!
That's going to change this year. Starting Monday, I'm restarting C25K. I found that, in the past, running towards a goal really motivated me. In order to be successful, I'm reaching back to things that got me results before. I'm a bit scared and a little nervous, but that podcast is all ready to go for tomorrow morning. Eep!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Facing the Truth
I hate starting this new blog off with a Debbie Downer string of posts, but I'm just being honest and truthful about how I'm feeling.
This morning, I stepped on the scale and found a number that I wasn't too happy to see. I've been hitting the wall for the past two months. My eating hasn't been as in control as I'd like it to be. I'm also not exercising near as often as I'd like to. Who's fault is that? Mine and mine alone. I control what goes in my mouth, and I decide whether I can spare 30-45 minutes a day to work out. And, the reality is that I've been making some bad decisions lately. What I'm faced with is the honest truth: I need to be in control. I *am* in control. I just need to remember that.
Back in December, I wrote a list of goals for myself. I opened that document today and looked over it. I have some pretty lofty goals, but they're my goals. My ultimate goals are:
1) I want to lose 40 pounds by the end of 2010.
2) I want to look good at my own wedding in June 2011.
3) I want to wear a single number size.
A 40 pound goal in eight months means a five pound loss each month. Totally doable. Another issue that I'm having with my body image is that I've completely stopped all my strength training: big mistake. That helped me tighten up and have some fabulous arms that I was proud to show off last summer. I want to get there again. I want to feel good about myself. And right now, that's just not happening.
This week's Glee contained this song, and, watching it last night, it really hit home. Sometimes we need to realize that we're beautiful, even when we aren't feeling our best.
This morning, I stepped on the scale and found a number that I wasn't too happy to see. I've been hitting the wall for the past two months. My eating hasn't been as in control as I'd like it to be. I'm also not exercising near as often as I'd like to. Who's fault is that? Mine and mine alone. I control what goes in my mouth, and I decide whether I can spare 30-45 minutes a day to work out. And, the reality is that I've been making some bad decisions lately. What I'm faced with is the honest truth: I need to be in control. I *am* in control. I just need to remember that.
Back in December, I wrote a list of goals for myself. I opened that document today and looked over it. I have some pretty lofty goals, but they're my goals. My ultimate goals are:
1) I want to lose 40 pounds by the end of 2010.
2) I want to look good at my own wedding in June 2011.
3) I want to wear a single number size.
A 40 pound goal in eight months means a five pound loss each month. Totally doable. Another issue that I'm having with my body image is that I've completely stopped all my strength training: big mistake. That helped me tighten up and have some fabulous arms that I was proud to show off last summer. I want to get there again. I want to feel good about myself. And right now, that's just not happening.
This week's Glee contained this song, and, watching it last night, it really hit home. Sometimes we need to realize that we're beautiful, even when we aren't feeling our best.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Do these sweatpants make me look thin?
I had to laugh today. I had a weekly appointment at the allergist for my immunotherapy, and when I got home, I put my sweatpants back on. It's automatic. I'm going to be working at home, I want to be comfy (although I think that wearing sweatpants for the past 4 months has made it easier for me NOT to lose these 20 pounds), and it just makes sense. What I didn't expect was to catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror and admire how my $5 walmart sweatpants looked with my Ann Taylor Loft cardigan. You know you're on the slippery slope if you're admiring yourself in sweatpants :)
I went for a wonderful walk in the evening sunshine. My goal for this spring/summer before it gets too hot is to try to work out outside as much as possible to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. My walk was about 3 miles long and it lasted 50 minutes. Not completely hard core, but better than sitting in my sweatpants in my comfy apartment.
I went for a wonderful walk in the evening sunshine. My goal for this spring/summer before it gets too hot is to try to work out outside as much as possible to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. My walk was about 3 miles long and it lasted 50 minutes. Not completely hard core, but better than sitting in my sweatpants in my comfy apartment.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Thirteen Months to Life
Hi! You might know me from Taking Chances or Hard Core Kiki. Regardless of where you met me in my weight loss journey, a lot of things have changed. I started blogging back in January 2008, after a tough separation and moving back on my own. During that time, I had gone from being 240ish pounds (I mean, who really knows their weight at their highest?) to 210, and during my time on Taking Chances, I lost 50 pounds, taking me down to 180. I moved my blog over to Hard Core Kiki last summer, because I felt tough. I had adjusted to my new life as a single gal, and I was ready to take on the world. Last summer, I was at my lowest adult weight of 172.
A lot of things have changed between now and then.
I started dating and got engaged to the most wonderful guy in the world. He is exactly what I was looking for, and I could not ask for more. During the spring 2010 semester, I've also been on sabbatical, which is a lot more stressful than anyone can imagine it is, not to mention isolating. I've also been dealing with some medical stuff (nothing serious, but something that has definitely affected my life and my body). Finally, I gained 20 pounds between October 2009 and January 2010. And they don't want to come off.
So, here I am... a 192 pound engaged lady facing down daily work, life, and wedding issues. So, while you may be used to a fitness blog, there are a lot of different issues... LIFE issues... that will be discussed here as well. However, my goal is to NOT be a fat bride. I was a ginormous bride the first time around (can I say how relieved I was to be able to throw out Wedding #1's pictures because I thought I resembled this in them?) and I am determined to be a fit and healthy bride this time around and carry that into the next stage of my life as a married woman.
A lot of things have changed between now and then.
I started dating and got engaged to the most wonderful guy in the world. He is exactly what I was looking for, and I could not ask for more. During the spring 2010 semester, I've also been on sabbatical, which is a lot more stressful than anyone can imagine it is, not to mention isolating. I've also been dealing with some medical stuff (nothing serious, but something that has definitely affected my life and my body). Finally, I gained 20 pounds between October 2009 and January 2010. And they don't want to come off.
So, here I am... a 192 pound engaged lady facing down daily work, life, and wedding issues. So, while you may be used to a fitness blog, there are a lot of different issues... LIFE issues... that will be discussed here as well. However, my goal is to NOT be a fat bride. I was a ginormous bride the first time around (can I say how relieved I was to be able to throw out Wedding #1's pictures because I thought I resembled this in them?) and I am determined to be a fit and healthy bride this time around and carry that into the next stage of my life as a married woman.
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