It's Saturday!

I had another great exercise day, although I have to admit, I didn't run or jog at all.  It was 28 degrees when I went out this morning and my legs were just not letting me go any faster.  But, I had to get the mileage in.  I almost feel really strange lately if I don't exercise.  I was supposed to jog this past Thursday, but ended up going to a friend's Thirty-One party and eating some seriously yummy snacks.

At any rate, here are my stats for today:

Distance: 4 Miles
Duration: 56 minutes
Calories burned: 717
Average Heart Rate: 170
Maximum Heart Rate: 180 (A little better than last Saturday)
In Heart Rate Zone:  Not very long...

I was supposed to go for 4.5 miles, but I just didn't have it in me.  I was absolutely freezing and my hip started to bother me.

I wish I could say that I have a weigh-in update, but I don't.  I haven't weighed myself in a few weeks because I just don't want to see the scale go up or stay even.  That would be completely irritating.  I plan to weigh-in sometime mid next week.

My husband and I have been preparing our son for his surgery this coming Tuesday.  He is going to have ear tubes put in and his adenoids removed.  I have been praying for a speedy recovery as well as some kind of remedy to his near constant sinus and nasal problems.  This week he started yet another cold.  It is so ironic to me that as soon as he completed his last course of antibiotics that his nose began to run once again.  I am convinced that his adenoids are causing the problems, at least I hope.

So for the next couple of days I plan to hang out with him as much as I can and will post another report after his surgery on Tuesday.

If you pray (or even if you don't), will you consider saying a little prayer for us as we go into surgery Tuesday morning?

It's Official

Yep, it's official.  Well, by my non-medical standards anyway, but my hip bursitis has returned.  I began my bout with bursitis many, many years ago.  It has come and gone over the years, but for whatever reason, it has decided to rear its ugly head at me.  And darn it hurts!  I imagine it is from all of this crazy exercising I have been doing, but it isn't going to stop me!

I guess I have to ice it every once in a while and just move on. 

Does anyone else have this problem, or do you have aches and pains that just nag you?

A much better end to the week!

After my sort of fail earlier this week, I decided to simply move on.  All I can do is better, so better I did.  I did very well with my food choices and never went overboard, not even this weekend!

I might add that Chili's restaurant has a FABULOUS dinner called Margarita chicken.  It comes with a grilled chicken breast over a small amount of rice and the most fabulous black beans!  According to Eat This, Not That is has 580 calories.  Which for a large dinner is really great!  Not only that, black beans are SO good for you.  According to one study, black beans have more antioxidant activity, gram for gram, than other beans.  And no, I suffered no indelicate side effects.

On Saturday, I went for one of my infamous jog/walks and managed to exercise for a distance of 4 miles with the following stats:

Duration: 54 minutes
Calories burned: 708
Average Heart Rate: 170
Maximum Heart Rate: 180 (A little better than last Saturday)
In Heart Rate Zone:  Not very long...

All in all, my mile average was 13.5 minutes.  I say that's not too shabby for someone who doesn't really run.  Actually, I have no idea how far I ran, but I ran when I could until I just couldn't do it any more.  And then I walked in between.  I realize this really isn't a 'proper' way to train, but it's working for me.

Then today, I went on a shorter jog/walk for 2.5 miles.  Sunday is generally a more relaxed exercise day as far as mileage, and then I build during the week.  But, I finished it in 34 minutes and still burned almost 400 calories, so I'll take it.

My son and I have come up with one awesome fruit smoothie, so when I got back from exercising this evening, he helped me make smoothies for the family.  Here is my favorite version:

1 banana, sliced by a 3 1/2 year old (if you don't have one of those, you can cut it yourself; it just won't be as cute.)
1/2 bag of frozen strawberries (I think the bag was 16 oz.)
1/2 cup 100% apple juice (this helps the sweetness factor)
1 5.3 oz. container of whatever Greek yogurt you like.  We used Fage with honey.

Whip that bad boy in the blender and you have an awesome treat for you and one that your kid will even drink!  I choose Greek yogurt because of the really high protein content and lower sugar count than regular yogurt.  I also read that it helps your muscles recover after a workout.  I'll let you know tomorrow if that's true.

I'm supposed to weigh-in tomorrow, but I am absolutely scared to death.  I may wait until later in the week and try to get on a new weigh-in schedule.  Weighing in on Friday seems so much better than Monday.  I always have a 'case of the Mondays' anyway...who wants to add a weigh-in to that?

Keep on keepin' on!

I wish I had a WooHoo Weigh-In to report, but unfortunately I was up .6 pounds this week.  BOO!  But, I actually am well aware of what happened (at least I think), and old habits do not die fast for me.  It really takes one day of bad eating to throw things off.  In my case, I ate kind of crappy all weekend.  So, I suppose this is what happens.

I have definitely realized that I have to be very disciplined at this point in my journey, because I am not in maintenance phase.  I am in the beginner phase, and being very strict is key!  I don't like it, but as they say, "It Is What It Is."

I did do my training jog/walk on Sunday evening and I also managed to get in a Leslie Sansone workout tonight.  It has been really rainy and dark here today and I almost talked myself out of exercising, but I put those big girl panties on and worked out anyway.  And in the end, I feel better for it!

With that, I'll keep on keepin' on this week and hopefully I'll have a better weigh-in next Monday.  Or maybe I'll switch it to Friday so I can weigh-in before the weekend?  :-)

And we're off!

I had my last jog/walk this week from my training plan for the 10k that I am participating in on April 30th.  Today's walk (and I am saying walk because I would be lying if I said I actually ran) was 3.5 miles.  Using my new Polar FT4, I was able to determine the following stats:

Duration: 50 minutes 30 seconds
Calories burned: 665  (WooHoo!)
Average Heart Rate: 170
Maximum Heart Rate: 183 (Yikes!)
In Heart Rate Zone: 6 minutes 58 seconds

Now, I'm guessing the last part is bad.  I was only "in my zone" for right around 7 minutes.  When you initially set-up the heart rate monitor, it asks you to enter all of your stats like sex, height, weight, etc.  I assume that it determines your appropriate heart rate zone for the duration of your exercise activity based on your stats.  I'm guessing mine was too high.  Guess I have to work on that...and read what that actually means.

Otherwise, I feel great!

Next week's plan is as follows:

Sunday (yep tomorrow): 2 Miles
Tuesday: 3 Miles
Thursday: 2 Miles
Saturday: 4 Miles

I really don't have a particular running pattern yet.  I basically just try to warm up by walking and then run as far as I can without passing out.  Today I probably ran a total of .75 miles.  I guess that isn't bad for someone who "isn't a runner."  But we shall see how this goes!

Oh, and to relate back to my post from earlier this week; I plan to have some Texas Sheet Cake to celebrate my step-son's birthday this evening.  At least I planned it and already know what I'm going to eat, right? 

A few lessons learned

“Most people who fail in their dreams fail not from lack of ability but from lack of commitment” ~ Zig Ziglar

I found this quote on another blog and I really love it!  It's so true and certainly applies to my life.  I looked back on my blog posts from the beginning of this journey and I have really learned quite a few things.  But, I have SO far to go!  Not really as far as actual "pounds lost", but my mentality is so immature.  I learn new things every single day about health, food, weight loss, and about myself.  One thing is certain, I do not have the lack of ability to make this happen.  But do I have the commitment?

I like to think that I am committed.  But it is really hard!  I have found through this process that I am not a Superwoman, nor will I ever be.  I have weaknesses.  I like food that is bad (well, to the contrary, it is really good.)  I have a lot going on during the week.  I am a mother of a very rambunctious three year old.  I am trying to be a good wife.  I am trying to faithfully serve my God.  And on and on and on.

But thus far, I have learned many things and it only reinforces why I am committed to fulfilling my dreams of being healthy and feeling good!  Let me share a few of those realizations with you:

1.  I have to consistently exercise.  I have led a lifestyle that didn't incorporate exercise and it is way to easy for me to slip right back onto the couch and watch television.

2.  I really love finding and trying whole and healthy foods to eat.  Who knew that fruits and veggies could be so tasty?  And might I add, I make a really mean fruit smoothie!

3.  I cannot do it all at once.  I am the kind of person that becomes obsessed with things almost to the point of insanity.  I realize this about myself, yet I continue to do it anyway!  This is exactly what the title of the blog states:  a journey.  A journey is a lifetime of change, not a one day turnaround.

4.  I feel really good in my own skin.  I haven't felt this way in a long time.

5.  My son has taken notice of the changes I have made.  This simply amazes me that I can make such a significant impact in his young little life.  He asks me all the time, "Mommy, are you going to do your ets-ercise?"

6.  I really love Greek yogurt!  Why didn't we have this sooner???

7.  I have the ability to do this and the commitment continues to burn inside of me.  It's awesome!

8.  I love to blog.  It does take time, but it is so important in my self-accountability.   

These are just a few things that I can name off the top of my head.  I am certain there are more exciting lessons to be learned!

Foodtrainers: The Secret Ingredient for Weight Loss

I am loving this article. I really believe it is true. Now, if I could only convince myself of that, I'd be all set!

Foodtrainers: The Secret Ingredient for Weight Loss