Late New Year's Resolution...

Since about Xmas I've been trying to put exercise back in my life. Although it feels like a lost cause, I'm not giving up. I was doing okay until work and life didn't get better in the middle of January.

So this morning instead of going to work, I emailed in sick with a head cold, took some sudafed, and went for a run. Maybe it's counter-intuitive, but I've found a short run (isn't that the only kind?) makes me feel better. I figure it's because I tend to hack out all the crud in the process. Then a steamy shower to clean out the rest. And I always sleep better nights when I've done some exercise.

Also, I'm going to plan to go swimming at lunch later this week. I'd been avoiding it because I hate the sense that I'm just stripping all the color I just put in it. But I've decided that I need to swim. My knees and feet aren't happy with this extra weight and running just exacerbates it.

Maternal Worries

I guess I worried too soon yesterday. Turns out they did very well, and the directors told them so even before the results were announced. I'll blame it on an early morning that did not start out well and still thinking of my 14 year old as a sensitive preschooler.

I can already see that it will continue to be hard to see my children face adversity as they grow older. When they're small, I can wipe the tears and counsel about friendships and give constructive help. As they get older, I can listen, and facilitate activities, and nag about responsibility. And I'm sure as they leave the nest we'll be torn by the need to support financially versus the character building of making it on your own. I can only hope that we find the right balance. I don't want my children to come back and live in the basement, but on the other hand, I want them to know they will always be loved and we'll catch them if they fall.

I don't think it gets easier as they get older, just different.

The Danger of Baking, or "Self-Control? What's That?"

I have to figure out how to make just enough baked goods for band events with a little leftover for the family and not enough for me. Of couse, that doesn't seem to be helping me stop sampling while I'm baking. Making only enough for the band doesn't help, because then I get the huge guilt trip from Rachel and William.

I made blondies for the football game on Friday night, and have eaten an embarrassing amount since then (both baked and unbaked, I'm afraid). John refused to take them to Maryland with him, but every time I walk by the kitchen they are calling to me.

I suppose I need William to hide them, because if I hide them? I still know where they are.

Biggest Loser

I feel like I should preface this with "I'm not dead yet!" because it's been so long since I posted. It's been a mixed summer - I've gained back some weight, not as much as I had thought, but more than I hoped. I'm getting back into going to the gym regularly, which should help. Routine helps - I'm very bad about mindless eating when we're just hanging out around the house. Although given how badly I've binged and the crap that I've eaten, I don't feel too bad about the weight gain. Not like it was a surprise.

I've signed up for the Biggest Loser competition at the gym again. Based on last years experience, I could win this time. But I did it in the spring and didn't take it seriously. Feeling more motivated now. If I can really focus on the eating plan, I know the weight will come off - I just have to maintain focus. And I'm going to try to add in some other exercise as well. Last time was only Curves, now I hope to add some aerobic something on other days as well.

Anybody else feeling motivated with the new school year?

Stretch

It has been awhile since I have posted...mostly because I have been busy and I have not been doing so well with the exercise thing (or even just the drinking enough water thing).\

So I have been cleaning and sorting and decreasing our amount of stuff around the house.

I have gained back some of the weight that I have lost but not all of it. Part of this is due to Jim looking for a job so that they end up dropping me off on campus and not me parking and walking. I am hoping that with the kids starting back to preschool next week that it will establish more of a routine for us which should help.

I also have realized that I have been feeling stiff lately. Some of this is due to my children's amazing knack for sliding across my knee cap (ow) but I realized that I miss stretching and that having to sit in front of a computer a lot this summer has not helped that.
So....I decided to DVR a yoga show and at least do some of the stretching in it.
Since Jim accidentally erased my first two recordings (he didn't realize I wanted it recorded) today I did my first one.
It felt good but I realized:

1. I can't do it with children around. Whenever I sit on the floor the kids want to sit on me. Perhaps I can work on getting them to do it with me.
2. I like the stretching because it feels good
3. I'll have to work on the transitions between poses.
4. I'll have to work on my breathing. Most of my breathing was exactly opposite from what they were telling you to do during movement.

Anyway, hoping to get back on track.

One down, one to go...

Yesterday I did the Littleton Appleman Triathlon. I wasn't really well-trained, but it was a fun race and I finished. With a better time than I expected, really. I though it was very well run, it wasn't too competitive, there were lots of women, the water was warm, the bike ride was hilly but very do-able, and the run was... well... interesting. The run actually went partly through a field and then through the woods. This trail portion was about 1/3 of the run. Kind of fun! I didn't do much (read: almost none) training with the swimming or biking. So my swim was incredibly slow, but I was expecting that. I did better than I expected on the bike because I only had last year's tri to estimate. Last year my brake was rubbing and apparently it slowed me down a lot because now I'm riding much quicker.

Next week I'm doing the Danskin in Webster, MA. I'm looking forward to it, I guess, but I'm dreading having to go for an overnight just to do the Tri. It should be really fun because there's 5 of us going together. The swim won't be too bad because, if it's the same as last year, it's way less than the 12 mile it claims to be. The bike should be easier because, well, I just explained that, and I'm running much better than I was last year.

Now let's hope there's not too much rain this week so I can go out and swim and bike and run. And let's hope that there's not thunderstorms, as predicted, on the day of the race.

Checking In

Hi! It's been a while since I've checked in here.

For a while I was trying to go to 3 classes per week at the gym. That was working fairly well for a while, and then some other stuff came up. One of the things that came up was my trip to the Grand Canyon!

Yes! I did it! Starting on the north rim, we did a loop down to the Colorado River, along the river a way, and then back up to the north rim. It was challenging but doable. It was strenuous, yet relaxing. Pushing myself to go, go, go, (slow and steady) every day was not so hard without the mental burdens of kids, house, phone, computer, etc. I could just let my mind go, enjoy the scenery, and will my feet to keep moving! I will be posting some pics and/or a video on my other blog shortly.

Next up are the 2 sprint triathlons that I've signed up for this summer. Today I went to the pool for the first time. I'll never be a strong swimmer, but hopefully I'll get into a swimming groove that will get me through the 1/2 mile in a reasonable time. I need to do a little maintenance on the bike, but hopefully my spinning classes will have paid off once I do get on the bike. (I need to keep going to those classes.) I have some training routes planned out for the bike -- I just need to put some dates on my calendar to do them. I've been running. Not enough, but some. I still maintain my 11+ min mile, but that's just my pace. I'm able to keep going for a whole 3 miles. My next step with the running is to do some slightly longer distances so that 3 miles seems like cake. Next Monday I'm going with one of my Tri buddies to do the run route from one of the races. It has a large section off-road that is rumored to be challenging because of rocks and roots. We'd like to have done it once.

If I could just watch my eating more, perhaps I would lose weight. Even though I'm definitely stronger, I'm really not losing my big bowl-of-jello belly. Sigh. Will-power. I need some.

Finally, I've got to start thinking about a goal to put on the schedule after my races. Historically, once my event is over, I give myself permission to relax a bit, and then I never get back to the workouts. I will be a member at the gym until next January, so I at least need to keep the classes on my schedule. If you have any ideas for goals, let me know!