Just Got Out There

Oh my fricken lord.....everything about today was hard, but I did it. I got up at 5:50am. ARGH...

On the downside:

• Barely rolled out of bed
• NO gumption whatsoever!
• Didn't want to do it
• Dead legs
• Crampy and sore tummy.... like Sister No Hair....Everywhere put it, the kind you DON'T want to have
• Didn't run as much as last time

On the plus side:

• Did manage to get up despite eyes barely open
• sunshine!!
• crisp temp which I find easier to run in
• awesome views and plenty of gorgeous trees to admire
  
• Helpful mantras: JUST GET OUT THERE........Just get through it!
  

Whoa...today was a tough one. Just so very tired and devoid of energy, but although I didn't do much sustained running, did run at least half. Felt awful, seemed to take forever, but shaved off several minutes over the total time. Go figure.
Next time should be better....can't see it being any worse!

Still, am happy that I just got out there! :-)

Good start!

Yes! I made it! I successfully got up at 6:00am this morning - and it wasn't too hard either. No pressing of the snooze button today. I did hit a snag though. Had to cut my distance short because clothes in the dryer not dry, so I had to scrounge for other running gear to wear. This threw off my tight schedule so I had to settle for a shorter run. Still.....as a little wise woman told me, it's best to just get out there, so get out there I did!

I covered 3km, and am very proud to say that I mostly ran it. Only walked 3 short times...so I figure I ran at least 2.6 km today. Progress! Tremendous!

Felt great out there. No dead legs, heart and lungs did well. It helps when the sun is shining and the temperature's just right! I've increased my pace this time out. It is really helping me sweat which is a great thing, plus I think it will help me improve my time a little bit too. What can I say: I am competitive. (Surprise surprise! ) I want to do better this time out because quite frankly I was not pleased with my performance in June.

Am contemplating going for a short walk tomorrow morning...early, 20 - 30 minutes or so. This way I'd get to take advantage of the stillness of an early morning.
Believe me, stillness is a hard thing to find in my day!!

2 Thumbs Up!

Opted for a 2.8km brisk walk after dinner. Good move! Sun was out, not too hot, and fellow walkers were out. The best part of it all though had to be my walking partner: Will. If I answered one question, I must have answered 25! The mind of a 6-soon-to-be-7 year old is a wondrous thing! What is the smallest country? New Zealand is small but when you're there, can you tell that it's small? I know what the biggest country is, it's Russia. Does it also mean that it has the most people living there? In how many days am I starting school? Can you run fast? Faster than me? and on and on and on.....So much fun! It's rare that it's just the two of us....definitely worth repeating!

Back to work tomorrow....*sigh*...I know I'll get right into it once I'm there, but right now, I don't want to go. Or rather, I don't want summer to end. I'll miss the leisurely pace.....
Must get up at 6 am to fit in the run/walk before work. Can you believe I'm actually looking forward to it? Looking forward to moving, sweating, and that full body buzz afer the shower!

Things that make you go hmmmmmm...

Dilemma: Hubby starts work at 6:00am tomorrow, and I'm alone with the boys which means I either have to get up at an UNGODLY hour to do my 5km, or do it later in the day - probably after supper. That's a tough one. I prefer starting my day with this bit of exercise, but my hubby being one of those who likes being early to work means ME getting up at 4:30am to get this done before he leaves. That is just nuts. Don't think I can do it.....who am I kidding? There's NO F#*%@EN WAY I am getting up that early on my last day of summer holidays!!

On second thought....Tuesday he starts late, don't think he works Thursday.....I believe I shall walk a few km tomorrow evening, then get up early on Tuesday to run/walk the 5 km, same on Thursday and Saturday. MUCH more realistic.

Is it always this complicated? Computer says yeah.....

Me, Sensible....A Rare Thing!

As it happens, I was going to a party anyway...so there's my celebration! It came at a good moment too because I needed some ME time after playing taxi driver all day. (Pick up son's friend, bring son and friend to fb practice, come home, drive hubby back to work due to car failure, pick up son and friend from fb practice, go home, make lunch, feed kids, drive older 2 kids to meet their step-mom, drive home, wash, get ready, pick up hubby from work, drive home....get the picture?? Just another day in the life.....which I chose and do love, but some days IT GETS TO ME!!!!) But hey - wait a minute - that may just count as a workout!

Back to the party....incredible spread of food.......and I didn't pig out, didn't feel the urge to sample EVERYTHING. No sirree, I WAS REASONABLE!!!!! I drank my one German beer....so refreshing and delicious, sampled 3 salads - so 1 of them was potato....who cares? Even my servings were sensible! Stayed away from the sandwiches and meat. I know I know....anyone who knows me is wondering what about the desserts? Always the main attraction for me...not quite as reasonable in that I sampled several things: a mini-éclair - barely the length of my thumb, a mini-puff ball the size of my thumbnail, a thin slice of the chocolate b-day cake, and a SMALL piece of Penny Murray's heavenly, irresistable peanut butter pie. Ok, I admit it sounds like a lot - but it wasn't! They were all tiny pieces!! And I stayed away from the Nanaimo bars, blondies, and brownies - that counts for something!

Needless to say, I'm pleased with how it all turned out. Great food and great company. What more could I ask for? Hmmm....do I really want to ask that question??

Progress...

Oh my my....I'm actually having a skinny day! Haven't had one of those in a while. You know, the kind where you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and your first reaction is, "Hey - I look like I've lost a bit of weight." I don't look fat today! Cause for a celebration - but preferably not one involving sweets or beer...

Yahoo!

Oh my God...I think I'm melting...literally! So hot and especially humid today. On the plus side, there's a great easy way to lose weight!
Did it - went out for my 5km this morning, and there was ZERO hesitation on my part. That's pretty impressive given the heat and humidity, 'cause unlike my brother, I don't particularly enjoy sweating my balls off while out running! But then again...I got up somewhere around 8am, alarm free. Easy.
I was intending on just powerwalking this one, but lo and behold I had several sudden urges to run....so I did. In all, I think I ran about half of it. Heart felt great, but since when do my legs weigh 35kg each???? Do I need to a bit of weighttraining too? :-) But I'm following some advice. Don't overdo it too quickly. Baby steps. So this week and the next I'll stick to completing my 5km any which way I can at least 3 times per week. After that is when I'll add a little weighttraining - nothing major, just some basic stuff with a very basic bench in my basement. Hmm...if I'm lucky there'll be a rugby match on the tv while I train!!

Hmm...no mention of food and eating plans yet....there's a good reason for that!! Baby steps...

Still ....proud of myself. Week 1 objective met!!

Not My Thing

It's 11:30pm and I'm still up. I've been called a night owl too many times to remember...and to be honest, I am. This messes me up because I prefer to exercise...at least the cardio bit, first thing in the morning. That way, I can start my day feeling like I've already accomplished something...so if the remainder of the day is crap it doesn't really matter. Nothing can get me down! Plus my energy is boosted, I'm way more alert, and I just love to start my day on a high. But I'm not great at getting up in the morning. Not so bad during the 'Big Sleep' because I'm not ripped from my sleep by an annoying alarm, or if I am - I can go back to sleep. That is the best feeling, isn't it? Being able to just roll over, tell yourself 'I don't have to get up today', and go right back to sleep...*sigh*.
But once the 'Big Sleep' is over.....holy shit is getting up so early difficult. In order to be able to fit in the workout, I have to get up at 5:00am, something I am HORRIBLE at doing. It is so easy to convince myself that sleep is more important and comes first. Seriously...I've convinced myself of that way too many times to keep track.
But tomorrow CAN'T be one of those times. It just can't. Only 44 more days to go 'till the run.
On that note, g'night.

Baby Steps...

I suppose I should elaborate on just what my quest is....Like many women of my age (41) and circumstances (working mom of 4), I need to lose weight! More importantly, I need to whip myself into shape. There are many excellent reasons for this: so I can keep up with the kids, so I have more energy to tackle my hectic daily life, so I can live long enough to experience a great retirement with my hubby, yadda yadda yadda.... I should also add to improve my self-image, and to finally fit into those few treasured items of clothing I've been hanging on to!
So what's the hold-up? Why not JUST DO IT?? Search me. I guess if I knew I'd have written a book about it by now! Let's just say I'm definitely in the running for Top Procrastinator. I know, it's all in my head....but I am so damn good at justifying and reasoning my way in and out of everything. I guess it's a double-edged sword...
Like I mentioned...TONS of excuses, but no real good reasons....

I like my chocolate. I'm addicted to sweets. So if knowing and admitting are the first steps, why has my journey always come to a dead stop at this point??

But hey....wait a minute...I did make progress this summer: I didn't gain any weight! I usually do during the Big Sleep that is July and part of August....but not this year! Baby steps...

Just Do It

I don't know who came up with that at Nike...but they certainly hit it right on with that motto. Just do it. Think about it...it applies to EVERYTHING, especially if you're a procrastinator like me!

I really have to majorly clean the boys room and filter through all those toys and books...not to mention vacuum, dust, and wash the walls, ceiling and floor........JUST DO IT.
I have to start training for that 5 km run coming up in early October.....JUST DO IT.
Oh - and I think I might want to start a blog to chronicle this little quest of mine.....JUST DO IT.
Get the picture? I do. I always seem to have plenty of valid ideas...heck, even good ones, but I also always seem to lack the JUST DO IT mentality to make them all happen. But hey - it's never too late to start....so this is it: this is me JUST DOing IT!!

Clean the boys room? Started.....so check.
Training for the 5km? Check.
Start a blog? Check.

Watch out...I think it might snow tonight...