I’ve been spinning lately, and my sweaty sweatface tells me this might actually be a good workout. It’s hard to tell, sometimes, if you’re doing enough. As workouts get easier, I feel like I need to do more (and I probably do), which is why I added the spinning class into the mix of boxing, running, buts and guts, and yoga. So far, so good.
And since it’s colder, all I really want to do is eat soup and drink soy lattes with sugar free hazelnut.
The raspberry flavor is to die for. Thank you, Walgreens.
I had a friend running in the marathon on Sunday and it certainly was great to see so many people sweating their asses off, moving all together for 26 miles. I applaud them. It’s something I could never accomplish. It’s just a simple fact of life. I’m not a natural born runner. I do my best to run 30 minutes. I don’t see four hours in my future.
Tonight, I’m forfeiting running for yoga. I’ve had to miss classes and just do the treadmill and weights for the last week and a half because of scheduling conflicts. I readily plan on getting classy at least two other times this week (here’s looking at you, boxing.)
I’ve been stuck in my plateau for a bit now, even with the shaking up of my work out routine, so I think it’s time I acknowledge what could be changed in my diet.
1. Portions. I think I’m too comfortable with asserting my own visual ideas of what is the right amount that the actual serving size gets lost. It’s time to adhere a little more strictly so I’m not back to fooling myself (I’m talking about you, ice cream).
2. More vegetables. Peas and carrotts aren’t enough to make up for my lack of leafy greens. I really need to find ways to incorporate more greens into what I eat, especially for lunch. Even adding spinach to my fake chicken patties will do the trick, or simply eating more vegetable soup. It’s that time of year!
3. Snacking too late. I think I’ve been a little too leniant on eating too close to bed time when I’m watching TV or sitting on my computer. I’m being picky here, but whatever works to get me out of this funk is fine by me.
4. Watch the carbs. I do eat all whole wheat carbs/fiber, but there is such thing as too much and I should try to come up with some other ways to not eat them at every meal. Beans and spinach are great ways to get this done.
I have two friends coming to town to run the Chicago marathon this weekend. I have grown to be able to run a 5K (or 30 minutes, whichever comes first) and can’t ever imagine running for hours and over 20 miles. I give them a lot of credit.
Still, I’m always looking for easier ways to run. The New York Times has a suggestion for me: Relax. Easier said than done, but I’ll try it.
Yesterday I baked some Vitalicious Bluebran muffins. They are no fat with some sugar, however. They have vitamins and fiber and all that good stuff for you, but I decided I should have all that good stuff times four. Damn baked goods!
I went to the gym and did 30 minutes of interval training on the treadmill. I didn’t want to push my knee so I gradually worked up to some running with a lot of incline. I did not fall, thankfully as I have once before when my knee gave out mid-sprint. The tread said I ran off 300 calories, so that accounted for all but one muffin.
I got back on the scale today, as the week of monthly blotation was over. I was happy with the results. Down 2 pounds, 3 away from my goal. After reading the article on motivation in the post below, I’m going to take this opportunity to congratulate myself on the past couple of weeks.
Signing up for a new gym that was closer to my home has been the best investment I’ve made recently. I now go to the gym 4-5 times a week. When I was going to a gym two miles away, it would be 1-2 times a week, and I’d have to do some workouts at home, which I could sometimes lack motivation for.
With the new gym, I’ve been able to vary my workout, which leads to not being bored and continuing to work several different muscle groups. I can already tell a difference in my body. I feel the best I ever have, and I think look the best I ever have. And yet, I’m a work in progress.
I had two very strenuous workouts over the last week and I never once thought to quit. Even after I pulled something in my knee, I still went to the gym. I went to yoga and it felt great. I haven’t let a little soreness give me an excuse to skip out on the workouts. And why should I? I really enjoy working out. It’s come to that point now where I love it, and I’m so glad I can say that.
My eating is fine, per usual, but I’m always thinking of more ways to scale back. It’s possible that perhaps I snack too much at night from eating an early dinner. Or maybe I need to not eat ice cream everday. Sure, my snacks and ice cream are all of the healthy and low-sugar variety, but there’s probably something else I can do to make sure I’m giving my body the best care I can.
I get enough sleep, I eat a lot of fruit, and I’m working on the veggies (peas have become a regular staple). I suppose that soon enough I can help my body by treating it to a massage. After the last three pounds are gone, it’s on.
