Training Progress Update

I am sad to say that I officially didn’t start my training until March 11th, not the 4th, like I had originally planned (the day I bought the shoes). And in those 2 weeks, I have only completed the first 2 days of the Couch to 5K Training.


The main positive thing is that I have at least started. I have the shoes, I have done runs, and I have officially signed up for the 5K! And although I haven’t been doing the runs on the program, I have at least been taking 2 separate 10-15 minute breaks during the work day (one before and one after lunch) to do some speed walking in my office basement. It’s air conditioned and there’s usually no one else down there. So at least I get some exercise, and I earn a Point each time. Plus, it breaks up sitting down at a desk all day. And if I have an hour lunch, I walk for the last 20-30 minutes of it.

So it’s not all bad - I am raising my heart rate 2-3 times a day by speed-walking around for 10 minutes (sometimes I add an exercise to lunch, if I am done eating). And I burn around 50-60 calories each time. I’ve been wearing my running shoes when I do that, so I can get used to being in them, and hopefully my leg and feet muscles get used to them as well. (Plus, walking in my work shoes could really kill me!!) I can usually get my heart rate up from about 90 to around 120-130 during the quick walks, and I can feel the onset of sweating, without actually doing so. I would feel disgusting after lunch if I ran or did an actual workout, so with these walks, I at least get some benefit to it.

I have had a few slip-ups– I do great during the day at work, because I have to structure my eating and walking around my work schedule. I can’t just sit and gorge out on food for an hour if I have a half hour lunch, for example, or overeat if I only brought 2 items in for lunch. And then when I get home, I have a fridge, freezer and cabinets of temptation and possibilities.

But, overall, I’m eating better and exercising more than I was 2 weeks ago, so I can’t be discouraged. I’m doing something, and that’s better than nothing.

Good news update:

- I weighed myself on the morning of the 11th, then the 18th, and again this morning, and even though I haven’t really stuck to the running program, I’m down about 6 lbs from my first weigh in!! I would say being down 2-3 isn’t a big deal because sometimes you can fluxuate that much in a day! But being down 6 means that I’ve lost about 2-3 lbs a week with just diet (even with the cheating!) – imagine what getting back into exercise regularly will do!!!

- Zach and I recently went on a 2 ½ hour hike the first weekend of my training, and I ended up “earning” 8 Weight Watchers activity points! That’s huge!!! That’s like a breakfast or lunch amount of points! We celebrated after at a brewery, but I kept myself to 1 beer, and 2 small chicken BBQ sliders (and perhaps some chips with homemade salsa). But I felt good about it!

- During the hike with Zach, he made a comment to the effect of “I am looking forward to climbing a ton of 14ers with you this summer”. This is very encouraging to me, because he wants to do more active things with me, and that he is planning on taking me on several of those climbs. So I have more motivation to get into and stay in shape!

So, all in all, it’s been an emotional up and down week with all the times I “cheated”, but since I mostly stuck to the program and I’ve seen a little progress, I’m excited to finally buckle down and do it for real and see a BIG improvement!

I follow a trainer on Facebook, and she always posts the best motivational pictures, and I really loved this one (helped me keep somewhat on track last week) -

Cinco de Mayo Resolutions

Haven’t you heard about Cinco de Mayo Resolutions? No? Maybe you’re confused with New Year’s Resolutions. The Cinco de Mayo Resolutions are about the time of year that I start to feel bad about not even working on my New Year’s Resolutions past January 3rd. So that’s when I decide to “recommit”. I originally posted my resolutions to hold myself accountable, but I think that’s probably the last time I looked at them.

I can be positive about one of them though – I have been a consistent blogger!! Normally, when I start journals or blogs, or even handwritten (or other) types of diaries, I go strong for a week or two, and then it becomes an every 6 month kind of thing. I like cataloging my thoughts, and events, and moments so I can go back and look at them, and I’m proud I’ve stuck with it. As for my other resolutions though….

I haven’t started eating any better and definitely haven’t started exercising again. BUT – I have made a “covenant” to myself (if you’ve seen “Yes Man” with Jim Carey, you’ll get the reference) to get up early and take Bailey for a walk around the neighborhood, and then take him again as the first thing I do when I get home from work at the end of the day. He is crate trained, and doesn’t mind being in there, but I still feel bad. Plus, even though I take him to the dog park on the weekends, he gets tired after only 20 minutes or so, and I push him to stay out longer for exercise. So we’re both out of shape. So why not take more walks? He’s also a real “puller” when he’s on the leash, so it never hurts to practice being with him on the leash so he can become good at it, right? We all win!

Today was Day 2 of my new “walking program” and I’m proud to say that I’m sticking with it! I must say, though, that I was out the door at 5:30 yesterday and 5:40 today, so I’m trying to see how much I can get away with, but I’m going to make myself more accountable. I must be dressed and on my way out of the door by 5:30 am or it doesn’t count. Setting a time will also be helpful when I finally get in shape and end up wanting/needing to walk further, especially in the mornings. If I have to be at work by 7, and I want to walk further, I will need to be firm with the time I leave the apartment.

I also have those Nike+ shoes, that feed information to your iPod about calories burned, distance covered, etc., and you can upload it online and share the info with others. So if I can figure out if Blogger can do that, than you can keep track and hold me accountable!!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!