Weighing in

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Meet my best friend and/or worst enemy. When numbers are low, I could kiss the damn thing. Spiked numbers mean feelings of failures and regrets and possible reasons why it could be broken. On my way to a healthy lifestyle I feel as though I should not base success on the number on the scale, but by my daily choices. Am I eating clean ? Did I get in enough exercise? Am I drinking enough water and getting in the proper nutrients? However, the scale is also a way to base my success on these choices.

The scale also has a way of popping up in the three places I'm at the most- home, work and the gym. Three places= five different scales. And I have no willpower to NOT step on everyone of them. I can tell you the difference in the scale at home to the one at work to the one at the gym and the difference between weighing in my workout clothes and work clothes and just before getting into the shower.

I'm going to have to really push to not focusing on that number. I don't want to be tied to the scale, but at this point, I kind of think it's my only choice :/

However, I really like this scale :)

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What are some ways that you measure your successes in healthy living?

Eating Well: Snacks

I spend a lot of time in my car.

One hour to work. I then drop off my husband and don't have to be to work for another hour. I either go into work early or wait in the car. One hour back home.

3x5= 15 hours spent in my car. Before making the change to a healthier lifestyle I spent quite a bit of this time eating in car. Grabbing snacks and small (and sometime large) meals to eat on the run. Obviously this is a big no-no now. I'm now in need of a game plan to curb my snacking, but still keep my body fueled for those days when I go to spin or Zumba as soon as I get home.

Part one of my plan is to pack the night before. I have a limited amount of time in the morning to get ready and sometimes grabbing everything just isn't possible before we have to be out the door. So my coffee mug, tea bag, Truvia, single serving of granola and water bottle go into the lunch bag the night before. My Greek yogurt has a special shelf in the fridge, which makes it easy to grab.

Breakfast= done.

Lunch is served at the school I work out. I eat a large serving of veggies, a salad and fruit (if it is available) and this usually filling until about 3 o'clock. I eat dinner anywhere from 6-9, and have at least 2 to 3 classes a week which I leave for as soon as I get home. What's needed? A healthy small snack that keeps me going until dinner.

I have a few ideas, such as peanut butter with apples/celery, dried fruits, small amount of meats with some whole wheat crackers, and popcorn. But I feel like I'm missing a whole world of all sorts of great, filling snacks.

I need ideas! What are some of your best snack ideas?

Sunday Afternoon Bike Ride

The husband and I drove 10 hours yesterday... from Minnesota all the way back to Oklahoma. After a great night of sleep on a real bed (no more air mattress!) we rode the local trail about 5 miles. It felt great to stretch out our legs and be outside. Beautiful day and a great start to a good fitness week :)

Matching bikes (for the time being)

Suspension bridge on the trail.

Taking a break to stay hydrated!

Thought For The Week

I spend an ungodly amount of time on Pinterest, but I love all the ideas, inspiration and motivation that I come by :)

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Goals

I am not one to sit down and write down my goals. I always have a general idea of what I'm working towards, but really focusing on them?

Not so much.

However, in the long run, it might be helpful to have a place to look back and see what I'm working for, and have some stepping stones to get there, as well.

Run a half-marathon

I have no plans EVER to run a marathon. You couldn't pay me to run that long, but I really would like to be able to run a half marathon. My plan is to be able to run one by the end of this year or the beginning 0f 2013. Granted that is if we survive the zombie apocalypse.

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In prep of a half, I need to work on my distance running, as well as my form. I'm currently training for an April 5k, and when that is over, I'm going to looking into Jeff Galloway's training programs.

Run a 30 minute 5k

Along with distance, I would like to be faster. My last 5k was 43.19 minutes... and that was a PR. I'm well aware of how slow this is and I'm currently working on adding endurance and speed to my running. For my April 5k I would love to be able to finish in under 40. While my current PR is lacking, I am still happy it was faster then my last two.

I'm getting there.

Be in a healthy BMI percentage

I'm still working up the courage to share my weight and BMI with the world-- but I am going to actively work towards reaching this goal with exercise and healthy eating habits.

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Create a healthy lifestyle

I've done the diets, and sure they worked for a time, but I need to focus on creating new habits that will last.

How do you help yourself reach your goals? Do you track them?

Motivation

I'm currently on vacation in Minneapolis and picked up a few magazines to read on the way home, including this one:
I was flipping through the pages and came across an article called Max Your Motivation. After taking a quick quiz, I was labelled "A Thinker" and basically had my life described to me in the first few sentences-- an avid reader, questioning everything and has a love for documentary films :)

But after describing what "A Thinker" is, the article talked about as a thinker, I tend to research subjects to the death and that I might have a problem asking others for help. Both of these things are true. I spend days researching new food, exercises and facts, even when I have a prime source right in front of me. While I don't think research is bad, I find that I can and will delay actually trying the foods or classes that I'm learning about-- just so I can have a little more information.

Their advice? Letting those who are more experience help you. Which is something I'm planning on doing, starting NOW. That crazy looking dish on your blog? I might email you about it. I'm going to ask the ladies at the gym what they thought of the new yoga class. And after making sure I know how to properly try an exercise, I'm going to try it, instead of spending more time googling it.

What about you? Do you like to research new things? Or are you more of doer?

For the love of running

Last year at this time, there would be no way on earth that I would be running. Not that I was against it or anything. I just didn't run.

Unless the possibility of being chased was present. Then you had better watched out because I was fast.

But then last October I had an old roommate move back into town and I began hitting the gym with her almost daily. And she, my friends, was a runner. A "Yeah I do seven miles in four minutes, what's it to you" kinda runner. And I began to become very envious of this talent. So I tried it.

Did I love it? No.

Did I like it? Kinda.

Could I stand to do it? Yeah.

I ran at the gym for a month straight and let her talk me into signing up for my first 5k. I trained for it-- running 1 mile, 2 miles and then 3.1 (to make sure I wasn't going to die before I made it to the finish line). The holidays began to hit, though, and my running became second to travel and family. So by the time my race came I wasn't as prepared for it as I would have like to be, but I climbed out of bed and put on my shoes and new jacket with thumb holes.

I went. I stood in line. I ran. I walked. I crossed the finish line, feeling proud of myself. I knew my time wasn't great, but as a non-runner, I was happy.

3 months and 2 5ks later, I still find myself running. I'm becoming faster and I love race days. The excitement of crowd while waiting for the gun is thrilling. While it's now only a 5k, I have dreams for an 8k, a 10k and eventually a half-marathon. Maybe even a sprint tri.

Do I love it? Kinda.

Do I like it? Yes.

Can I stand to do? Of course.

I'm hoping as times goes on, my ability to run and love for the sport will continue to grow.

What sports or fitness activities have you had to give a second chance?

Mission

...if I so choose to accept it, is this:

Part One.

To be healthy.

Not skinny.

Healthy.

Yes, being thinner is going to be a nice perk, but I want to know that my heart is in good shape, my risk for cancer and diabetes is down and that having that bowl of ice cream is okay because I've made good choices throughout the day.

Part Two.


To be an athlete.

To crave going to the gym. Sweating. Feeling the glow of a great workout.

To fall in love with running, but still be faithful to my first exercise love, spinning.

To accept the fact that I look ridiculous while doing Zumba, but it's totally worth the calories burned.

Part Three.


To try.

To try new foods, new workouts, new things in life, in general.

To try to meet new people.

To try to run a half-marathon.

To try to not let myself get in own way.