Cowgirl Up

Time to get back in.











Yep. Time to get back in the saddle. I think this is how I've been doing it:

I've been really having a hard time keeping the binge-eating under control, but that doesn't mean I can't continue to exercise, particularly strength training.


Greta from Big Bottom Blogger has a challenge for us called "Race to 10." We are to lose 10 pounds of fat while increasing lean muscle mass, and we are using our % body fat measurements to monitor the changes. The scale may not show a weight loss, but the fat% numbers should. Click here to read more.


I like the idea of not relying on the scale, and measuring is more time-consuming than a quick weigh, so I won't be doing that every day. I guess I better get a plan. That would help. I'll work on that after I post this.


I'll admit I have this nagging fear of failing (again). I can't give up, though (I think that would be the ultimate fail). So, I'm gonna get back on that horse and show it who's boss.

Weekly Report and Bonus: Skating

C25K

Monday: Did it. I was having a harder time. Sluggish. Bad mood.

Wednesday: Did it. Some snow, but the roads were fairly clear. It was beautiful.

Friday: Did it. Cold and windy. Harder today.

Resistance

Monday: Did it. Shaky arms afterward. I challenge myself to do a full, normal-looking push-up in two months (March 20ish).

Wednesday: Did it. Shaky.

Friday: Did it. Good workout. Skye joined me with 2# wts. and pushups.

Yoga

Tuesday: Did it. Hard work! Very shaky afterward. My 4 yr old said, "Mommy, you can't do what they are doing." I mastered the downward facing tree pose, though. :-P

Thursday: Half done. Seemed harder for me today (lack of sleep, maybe)

Saturday: Slept in. The plan is to do it later this afternoon.

No-Sugar Week

Monday: Did great. Sure missed it in my Shrek shake (it helped the medicine go down).

Tuesday: Did great. Added cinnamon and a couple extra slices of fruit to Shrek Shake...better.

Wednesday: Did good. Had homemade wheat/white crepes. Didn't sprinkle sugar on them, but there was some in the batter.

Thursday: Great. Getting used to no sugar in Shrek shake.

Friday: Great. Really wanted something sweet this afternoon.

Saturday: Eh. Had cookie and part of a shake at Carl's, Jr. Passed on the soda.

Bonus: Went rollerskating on Monday.

Much more comfortable closer to the ground.

The kids had Monday off, and my daughter suggested rollerskating. We went to a place in Orem. It's been something like 27 years since I've skated. My husband, son and daughter rented skates. My 4 yr old had his scooter. I planned on just sitting on the sidelines. I honestly felt I had no business being on the floor. I'd certainly look like a circus freak hurt myself. I had a 40-something friend who broke her arm while skating falling.

After helping my kids with their laces, I sat and watched. I watched as my husband skated off with my 8-yr old daughter, holding hands. My head shouted, "HEY, I want to hold my little girl's hand and skate with her! What am I waiting for?" Then I saw a woman larger than me rolling on by. She was such a great example (and didn't look like a circus freak). I rented my skates, practiced on the carpet, then took my solo flight...unapologetically myself.

It was so much fun sprinkled with terror, especially when the little kids start going in the opposite direction! But, I eventually got to hold my little girl's hand while gliding on the rink. I felt I was floating on cloud 9: happy to be with her, happy to be with my family, happy I overcame some mental barrier, happy I did it. No more sidelines for me.

C25K Week 1 and PSC Week 2 Reports

C25K

Day 1: Did it! (5 degrees F) Hills made me gasp. Time went quickly (especially the walking part).

Day 2: Did it! (20 degrees F) Got up earlier, still dark.

Day 3: Did it! (16 degrees F) Fog with 2-house visibility.

I enjoyed the fog. It was dark outside. The street lamps were a blurry glow. I could barely see two houses away. I couldn't see any houses down the hill from us, nor the shopping centers, nor the highway, nor the town across the lake. I wondered if there was a black out. I could hear the cars on I-15, but I couldn't see them.

I had my ipod. As I began down a long, dark street with just a dot of street light at the end of the tunnel, the song "Enter Sandman" by Metallica (playlist on bottom) began. Thicker patches of fog floated by me. I felt I was in a dream.

PSC

Day 1: Shrek Shake; 250 crunches

Day 2: Shrek Shake, celery and PB; 100 calf raises

Day 3: green beans and celery in veg. soup, blanched broccoli; 250 crunches

Day 4: Shrek Shake, broccoli, salad greens with bean and corn salad (yum); 100 calf raises

Day 5: Shrek Shake, spinach salad, green beans (stir fry); 250 crunches

Day 6: Shrek Shake, zucchini, lettuce on my CJ western bacon cheeseburger; didn't do the raises

Day 7: Shrek Shake, bok choy, cilantro and jalapeño; 250 crunches

There are no new PS challenges for the next couple of weeks. This will open up time to focus on other things.

Cranky Fitness's tips on eating vegetables.

5 at 5 Day 7 Report (Last Day!) and Next Challenge

I got the 5K walk in! And thanks to KatieO's advice yesterday, I didn't zap my ears.

Seth's challenge was a great way to kick start an exercise routine. I am going to continue walking but take it a "step" further. I'm going to do the Couch-to-5K program. It's 30 min every other day. In between I'll do the yoga video I won at Cranky Fitness (I ACTUALLY won something).

I liked getting up early. My goal is to get to bed earlier and wake at 5:30 a.m. I'm going to use at least a half hour of that for spiritual fitness (prayer, scripture study). First things first. Then the c25k/yoga.

Seth's next challenge is 250 crunches a day and a different green veg to crunch on per day for 7 days. I'm going to modify that. I'll do the crunches eod and do 100 calf raises in between (may modify that number depending on my plantar fascia). Green veggies are purchased and ready to be crunched.

Maybe you've heard this before, but I like it:

MOTTO TO LIVE BY

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave

with the intention of arriving safely in an

attractive and well preserved body,

but rather to skid in sideways, body

thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and

screaming, "WOO HOO, what a ride!"

Primal Stride Challenge: 5 at 5

Challenge: 5 at 5...5k at 5a.m. for 7 days beginning Jan. 1

I will wake up and walk for 1 hour or 3 miles, whichever comes first.

It might be nice to walk in the snow. In the dark. Alone.

(Mom, Dad, don't read this).

I'm not good with change. The desire is there, especially during quiet moments like going to bed or sitting in church. Once I get up (and running behind), I'm on automatic and just do what I see in front of me that needs to be done (feed kids and the pets, clean this and that, etc). And, because I usually don't see me in front of me, I don't get done. So, as far as working out, before I can step it up, I have to have something to step up.

I'm trying to figure out how fit fitness around my busy life. Maybe what I should be doing is trying to fit my life around fitness.

Maybe this challenge will be good for me. Change things up a bit.