I ran/walked today for 50 mins and it was great. I did take many breaks because my heart rate watch kept beeping and the little heart flashed with the arrow pointing down. This means I’m overdoing it. Ok, well it MEANS that I’m out of shape! My lungs don’t know what to  think about all of this, but I’m sure they will be grateful in the end.  And last night, I DID do 100 crunches and some arm exercises right before bed. I was JUST about to get under the covers when I realized I hadn’t done them. So, I got up went to the foot of the bed and got on the floor. My husband who was playing cribbage on his iPhone just looked at me like I was nuts. I asked if he would do them with me and he said, “Um, no.” So, I did them all by myself. All of them. I didn’t cheat or make it easy. I did it. I will be weighing in once a week on Mondays to track my progress. I think I may just be looking forward to it!  Continue reading →

Today I am feeling the burn.  I didn’t run this morning because it is my volunteer day on base.  I volunteer every Wednesday, so I will probably make that my routine “break day” from running until I get stronger. My goal is to be able to run every morning AND to a light weight or yoga strengthening workout Monday-Friday.  I will be doing abs and arms when I get home.  My goal tonight is 100 crunches and a few sets of arm exercises with 5-10lb weights.  I don’t want bulk.  I want to be *long and lean* which is very appropriate for being 5’10.  It just sounds nice to say, “long and lean”.  I don’t want to be ”thin” or “skinny”.  I want to be healthy and active.  I want strength.  If that keeps me at a size 8, I’m good with that.  If it dropped me back to a size 6, well at least I could wear the clothes in my closet.

*DISCLAIMER* I have not alway been a size 8.  After three knee surgeries and a near death experience with pneumonia, I gained almost 50 lbs.  I know that isn’t a huge amount for a lot of people, but for me it was heartbreaking.  I couldn’t move the way that I wanted to with my children, I wasn’t feeling good and I just didn’t feel like myself.  I also was diagnosed with asthma.  I’m now about 20-28lbs away from my earlier healthy weight. Oh what the heck, I can give numbers. Maybe it will help others feel motivated and join me. Continue reading →

I didn’t want to run today.  I woke up tired and every minute of my morning screamed, “don’t do it!”  I tried to trick myself into it by going through the motions of getting ready without really allowing myself to think about what I was going to do.  As the queen of multitasking (self-proclaimed of course) I rarely do one thing at a time, especially in the morning while getting two children off to school.  It’s just unheard of.  But, here I was this morning literally allowing myself to go step by step.  One thing at a time, so not to find more reasons not to run.

I got my Son off to school and told myself I WOULD NOT drive my Daughter Makayla (Kay) to the bus stop.  It is very close, but down a pretty good size hill. (everything is up or down a hill here) It’s embarrassing to admit that I have driven more than walking with her each morning.  It’s just easier, but isn’t that how we get out of shape? I knew if I walked down, the fresh air and beautiful scenery would motivate me to continue.  I made sure I was in my running shoes, shorts, and had my music ready to go. I told myself if I was *that* tired, I could just go home after walking her down instead of the run that loomed in the back of my mind.  Continue reading →