It's Official

I'm running a 10K. Even though I've been training for the Tufts 10K, I haven't registered. Until tonight. So, that makes it no longer just an idea, it's for real people! This is my last week of training for it, which is great, because I'm looking forward to hitting the weights an extra day of the week, and being able to have more flexibility with my workout schedule. I've been doing early morning workouts every day, which gives me one 14-hour day/week, and some other fairly long days. I will still do the morning workouts, but I will be able to choose the days so that it allows me to get a bit more sleep. Sleep is good.

I had a good run Wednesday morning - my time has improved since I started. I also had a kick-ass workout Friday, which I'm proud of because I postponed it from morning to afternoon and then almost skipped it. Those 50-lb push presses are killer, not to mention the 50-lb lunges and then floor wipers. Then a 2-mile run after. Fun fun fun!

I work with a woman who works out regularly. But you really can't tell. I don't want to be one of those people, who works out all the time but has very little bodily evidence, so to speak. I mean, I like to work out cuz it makes me feel good, but I don't want to put all the work in and then not look like it at all.

5 Miles

My 5 miler was good. I'm proud - I feel like 5 is a nice number to be able to run. Of course, I haven't even run my 10K yet, but I'm thinking about a half marathon. The good thing is that my pace was pretty good, a little faster than it has been previously, but my heart rate was lower, which I think means it was easier for me to run faster. So that makes me feel good. Speaking of feeling good, thanks for all the encouragement and positive comments on yesterday's blog. :)

I ate potato chips today. Bad girl. I was sleepy and trying to make it through an orientation meeting, and I caved in to the Lay's. Betcha can't eat just one! The good thing is that I put a handful on my plate, and resisted the temptation to get some more. I don't even really like chips! But still, it was a bad decision. :(

This is How We Do It...

This is a picture of the majority of my food consumption for the week - 3 different kinds of meats being marinated (salmon, pork loin and chicken), carrots, sugar snap peas, salad, tuna salad, 3 days worth of BCAAs, 10 servings of protein powder, and hummus. Tuesday I'll cook meat for the remainder of the week. Although my weight loss for the week was a wee bit disappointing, I know that had I not invested this time over the past 3 weeks, I would have gained weight, or at least stayed the same. It's not fun, but it's worth it. Although I only lost .4 lbs this week, I lost 1 inch off my hips. Yay! Oh, but at least my partner the Swankmeister held it down with 3 pounds - go swanky!

Tomorrow is my first ever 5 mile run. Woo hoo! I mapped my route, and I'm on my way to bed so I can get up bright & early and get it done. Wish me... something. :)

As I mentioned, my weight loss was minimal this week, but I'm making a couple of changes this week, and we'll see how it goes. I've been eating a carby breakfast in honor of my morning runs. Not this week. Umm... that's the only change. Here goes another week in the life of Rebecca!

Weird, I Know

I'm so proud of me. I skipped the gym today, and I'm skipping tomorrow too. For most people that would not be a source of pride, but it is for me. My challenge in life is often doing too much, pushing my body too hard. But last night I didn't feel so well, and rather than pushing myself, I took the morning off from my work out, and I feel so much better today! I decided that I needed the sleep more than I needed the cardio. So Sunday I will get back on it, but I'm proud that I was able to make that decision for myself, and do what is good for me. Yay!

Just Had to Say

I just wanted to say that I worked my ass off today. I did 3 sets 15 of floor wipers holding a 50-lb barbell, lunges with a 50-lb barbell, and push/presses with a 50 lb barbell. Whoa. Nice way to start my day. :)

Just One of Them Days

Today was one of those 'awe, man, it's time to get up already?!' days. I babysat twice this weekend, didn't get in the bed until about 1:00 am, and was supposed to get up at 6:30 to run 4.5 miles. When my alarm went off, I debated. I was all set to sleep for another hour, but at the last minute, I decided to just get up and run. Because I lingered in the bed, my run was cut short by 1 mile, but better that than nothing, right? Right.

Another Week...

I remember years ago, when I was young & foolish, my older, wiser brother said to me: 'perspective is reality'. I disagreed with him then, but I have come to realize that he is right. Since today is his birthday, I just might tell him that.

Whatever perspective a person has shapes everything: their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, actions, attitude. Sometimes a simple perspective change (or paradigm shift, as Steven Covey calls it) can radically alter someone's life. I mean, we have all experienced the pain of trying to help someone change something that we clearly see is bad for them. But until they see it for themselves, our efforts will be futile.

I guess for me, the bottom line is that my perspective on the various aspects of my life: school, weight loss, relationships, dictates how I handle them. School is my number 1 priority. I have been feeling a tad bit overwhelmed by the amount of reading that I have to do, but I realized that I need to be reminding myself that I am capable of handling all of it, and that I am privileged to be in school, and grateful to be learning about what I love. When I take on that perspective, it's easier and less daunting.

Weight loss is also a top priority and my perspective on it is that it's not an option - gotta do what I gotta do to get it done, as quickly as possible. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not willing to starve myself or take any other drastic measures, but within reason, I need to do what it takes to get it done. It's a sacrifice. I spend a lot of time planning meals, meal times, shopping lists, cooking, and preparing for my week so that I can eat well. But my perspective tells me that there is no alternative. There is an abundance of food opportunities around work & school, and if I am not prepared with my own food, I will indulge. Not a good idea for my pocket or my waistline. So... I spend the time to prepare & plan.

I've worked pretty hard pretty consistently for over a year. September 12 was my weight loss anniversary. 42 lbs later, I have learned a lot. I am a better, more confident person. Although I am not any happier necessarily, I am happier with myself, if that makes sense. I have lost 10 inches from my waist, about 5 from my hips, and 4 from my thighs. (I'm speaking from memory, so those aren't exact numbers). And I have a sense of accomplishment that no one can take from me. Cuz nobody did it for me. People helped me, and I'm SO grateful for it. It's not even about wearing a smaller size or looking better in my clothes (although I am NOT mad at those things!) It's about taking control of my life, putting my priorities in order, and doing what it takes, day after day, to get it done.

Today I got a compliment - someone told me that I look really thin. Nice.

However, today was not a good eating day. I ate unnecessary carbs. And for the most part they were not even worth it. A month-old tortilla, for example. Yuck. (It wasn't mine - I was at work & didn't check the expiration date - a mistake I will never make again).

My run was nice. Although I was supposed to be born in Hawaii (God got confused I guess), I do have to say that I enjoy running in the brisk air very much. It's refreshing.

Well, off to bed & up at 6:30 (late) for a cardio session. Probably gonna hit the stairclimber - BIG fun!

Random Stuff

1) Weight loss has returned me to the land of the Shirt Tuckers. Although I have a fairly healthy self-esteem (I know I'm cute, and I have been known to stop traffic a time or two, but I'm no Catherine Zeta-Jones), I don't often look in the mirror and smile at what I see. Today, in my new jeans and tucked-in shirt, I did.

2) Someone at the gym said to me today 'you must be a bodybuilder'. I'm not, and perhaps I should have been flattered, but... I wasn't.

3) The best-laid plans... you know the rest. I turned on my broiler yesterday, in accordance with my plan to cook my meat for the week (steak & pork loin, plus salmon for dinner). In the process, the pans that I store in the oven got really hot. How hot, you ask? So hot that I melted a dishcloth taking them out of the oven. There goes the baking sheet and the dishcloth. I didn't even know that was possible. I was tempted to go to Burger King, but instead I made myself an improvised protein shake, and actually drank it all (although I didn't enjoy it).

4) Hunger makes you do funny things. How badly did I want a lemon cookie today? How badly did I want to eat all the sweet things that are in my fridge? On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd say it was a 7.5. I even wanted a Mike's lime, which is a weekday no-no. Not to mention the leftover, unopened package of M & M's. But, I sit tonight having consumed NONE of it. That's right, I resisted all temptations. But I know that my hunger, caused by a missed meal (couldn't be helped), made me crave some stuff I shouldn't eat. I ate some carrots instead. Yum.

And Another Thing

I must have been really tired on Friday, because I realized later that I could have talked about my early morning workout and a couple of other things. Oh well. Today I got up very early and went to babysit for a couple who did a triathlon together. I really didn't feel like going to the gym for a 50:00 cardio session afterward, but I did. It wasn't the greatest - my heart rate didn't get up too high, in spite of my level and the burn in my legs. Dunno why - any of you bikers out there have any ideas?

This week adds another layer to this new phase of my life - my internship. Starts tomorrow. Looking forward to it with a mix of nervousness & excitement. I have no idea what I will have access to in terms of refrigeration, microwave, even water. This newbie feeling is a bit disconcerting sometimes - I have told a couple of friends that I feel like an 18-year old freshman. In & of itself, being 18 - not so bad. But the fresh meat part, I could do without. But it's part of the process, and I know that in a month or so I will be comfortable, or at least familiar.

I'm going to try a couple different things this week - pork loin, for one. Also, I'll be eating a fairly carb-y breakfast, so we'll see how, if at all, it affects my weight loss for the week. I was rather pleased with my 1.2 lbs last week, because I know that I was hanging off the back of the wagon last weekend. I ate a couple of donuts, drank a couple of coffees, and did a couple other bad-girl things. Of course, there's always that 'but what if I hadn't done...' thought. Interestingly enough, even though I was a little loose with myself this weekend, and I have ice cream in the freezer and dark chocolate covered caramels in the fridge, I didn't eat them. The other day I went looking for my lemon cookie, and the store didn't have it. I opted to not get a substitute and just forego the treat, thinking I would get it later, but I didn't. Could my sweet tooth be losing its grip?!

Friday...

Is it me, or did the summer pass by really fast? Already, my first week of school is over. Thank God. I mean, truthfully, it wasn't that bad. Me and my giant cooler got it done. I can see myself getting bored with salads, so I will have to put in some work to make sure I have enough variety that I don't get bored. Boredom for me leads to cheating. If anybody has any suggestions on veggies & protein sources that travel well & are easy to cook, I'm open. The one thing I probably will have to be careful about is making sure I don't depend on sugary, caffeinated food to stay awake at the end of a very long day.

I'm not exactly sure how or why, but it seems like the scale is cooperating with me, in spite of my dietary infidelity last weekend. I'm not complaining though. I lost another inch off my waist this week, which is grrrrreat!

Maybe I should have tried this earlier in the day when my brain was actually functioning. Then I might have something interesting to say. But since I don't... happy weekend!

Me - Organized?

So, today was my first day of class. Long day. Unfortunately, I didn't sleep well last night, and I woke up this morning @ 5:30 with a killer stomach ache, due to insufficient food yesterday. I know this because at 5:30 am, when it was still a bit dark, I ate an apple and the stomach ache went away. So I went for my run and went about my day. Someone sitting next to me in one of my classes said I am so organized, cuz she was looking at my planner and wants me to plan her life too. Ha! If only she knew that, in spite of the fact that I had planned out every moment of my day, I had no idea where my classes were when I walked into the building. Oh well - can't have it all together I guess.

But my eating went well, except for the fact that I had to eat another meal when I came home because I was hungry and don't want to get up tomorrow morning with a bellyache again. Yuck.

I just want to say that when you really want something, you find a way to get it done. I have a big ole cooler that I carried around with me, with 3 meals in it, to make sure that I stay on my dietary track. It would be easy for me to use grad school as an excuse to fall off the wagon, but... not so much. But that's just cuz I want it. And I'll do what it takes to get it - no excuses.

Running Late

Thanks to everybody for your comments, I'm so glad you care about my comments! I have lots of blog entries in my reader to catch up on, I dunno when that's gonna happen at this rate.
My plan for today was to pack 3 days worth of salads, veggies, cook some chicken (to put in my salad), BCAAs, protein powder, workout clothes, and whatever else I need for the week. It's done, although I need to get my behind in the bed, so I can get up tomorrow morning for a run, and make it through the rest of my day (6 hours worth of classes after a morning with a 22-month old) still awake. Big fun!
Today's workout was good:
Overhead Squat/Wide Grip Cable Row
Barbell Push Press/Hamstring Roll
Dynamic Lunge/Russian Twist
I did 3 sets of 15, with 60 seconds of rest between each superset. I felt that 'this is it' feeling - I've been trying to find the right number of sets & reps, and rest, and today I feel like I got it. It was a good feeling.

Not Much to Say

I ran about 4.2 miles today. It was great, but tough. I had the brilliant idea to include hills. Great Rebecca. My eating has not been great, and I have not weighed myself since Thursday for personal reasons (not avoiding the scale, just haven't had access to one). But since I should be returning to a semblance of normalcy (albeit, a new normal) soon, I will be able to properly assess the damage.

FYI: I have not been able to comment on any blogs, or at least most blogs, for the past few days. The computer I have been using has forbidden it for whatever reason. I'm sure that nobody reall cares, but just in case someone missed my infinite wisdom's appearance on their blog, I'll be back!

On My Own

You know, when it gets down to it, all you have is yourself. Before anyone gets all up in arms, let me say: I am a firm believer in community - family, friends, counselors, whoever. I have made it through very difficult times in my life because I have had a community of people on my side, and I'm grateful for all of them, even the ones that are no longer really a part of my life. However, when it comes down to it, even with a trainer or someone to push you, it's your own internal voice that keeps you going. It has to be you that silences the excuses and gets out there to get it done. Today I broke out my jumprope and did 40:00 of intervals on my jump rope. Was it the best workout? No. Do I wish I had access to a gym? Yup. But did I let that stop me? NO! I remember a couple of years ago coming to my Nana's house with a jumprope and using her stairs for exercise, cuz I was determined. Nobody can do that for me. When it comes down to it, I can have all the encouragement and support in the world, but they can't do it for me. They can, however, help me do it, and I thank God every day for that. Thanks to all of you who read my blog for your comments and encouragement - it is much appreciated. Here's to a good Labor Day and a great weight loss week!

Running is Like Life

I had a nice run today, lots of hills and stuff. The funny thing is, while I'm running up the hill, my legs are burning, and I just want it to be over cuz I feel like I can't take it anymore. Then, I reach the top of the hill and coast down, and it feels so good! But the thing is, you can't coast if you don't push your way up the hill. And you better enjoy the coast while it lasts, because another hill is sure to come, quickly. And truthfully, you better enjoy the burn too, cuz the push through the burn, that's where the real growth happens. That's the lesson taught to me by today's run.