Keeping Active, Even in Winter

Over the holidays I took a 2 week break from my exercise routine and I didn't really watch what I ate. By January 1st I was craving healthy foods and a few good runs. I actually decided that it was time to put some strength training back into my workouts as well. So, I went to my 'fitness motivation' board on pinterest and started to put all of those workout to the test.

I moved my workouts in the gym up to 9am so that I could avoid the afternoon rush or new years resolution people, and found that I really enjoyed workign out at that time, so I have kept it up. Since I eat oatmeal for breakfast around 7:30, by 9 it is all settled and I can get a really good run in. I turn on Kelly and Michael and they are commercial free for about 15 minutes, so the time flies by. I do a 30 minute run on the treamill at 1.0 incline and 6.0 mph.

Then I grab a yoga mat and do a combination of crunches, squats, lunges, planks, arms and pushups.

My workouts are about 45 minutes long total and I haven't had a problem making it through one yet. At home I'm doing a more intense circuit of strength moves that I can do while Remy is in the jumper or something like that. She is not into letting me do a video and we need to get a tire pump before I can use the jogging stroller again. I have found that even just a little strength workout makes me feel better and motivates me to eat better so that I don't completely cancel my hard work out.

I am eating a lot more fruit. My snacks consist of:
Clementines
bananas
apples
cottage cheese
carrots and hummus/laughing cow cheese
celery & pb
oatmeal
cinnamon life cereal
marshmallows/ m&ms (hey, I still indulge each day!)
mini tootsie rolls
green tea
coffee
pretzels
cereal

For breakfast my go tos are:
oatmeal (plain and not from a packet)
greek yogurt
1/2 wheat wrap (40 calories for 1/2) with pb and banana
whole wheat english muffin with spray butter
cereal (multigrain cheerios or corn flakes are my current faves)
coffee (of course!)
2 egg whites and turkey sausage on either an english muffin or 1/2 wrap
fruit! strawberried, bananas or blueberries usually

Lunch:
Salad with low cal dressing and iether lunchmeat or grilled chicken on top
1/2 wrap with chicken or lunchmeat, 1/2 slice cheese
carrots with hummus or laughing cow wedge
pretzels
soup
goldfish

Night Snack: this is usually when I eat my sweets. Ill have a hershey candy, m&ms, a brownie/cupcake from the freezer, whatever!

My dinners vary. I make a lot of chicken and lately a decent amount of shrimp. I try to keep carbs low and am actually thinking of giving them up for Lent. Not sure if I could really do that though so maybe Ill keep it to once or twice a week.

I am down 10 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. My clothes are fitting loose and I've had to buy new pants and now new bathing suits (but lets face it, I have a swim suit addiction and would have bought new ones anyway!). It seems that my ass left, along with my muscle and now my bottoms dont fit me!

A and I are headed to Key West at the end of February so I have even more motivation to work hard and make good food decisions. I think the week or week and a half before we go we will be pretty strict so that we can then indulge on our vacation. But the above is just a lifestyle and no longer a diet for me.

Have you guys found it easy to be good during the winter or are you stil leating lots of comfort food with the cold weather still here? I always find it easier to eat healthy in the winter and harder in the summer when all I want is beer, burgers and to go out and sit on a restaurant patio!

Running outside in September is not easy

Yesterday was hot. Really hot. And sticky. Its the end of September and it feels like July outside! It discouraged me a little about 3 minutes into my run with Erin. How was I possibly going to run 3 miles at a decent pace and not fall over? It was definitely more of a challenge then I thought, I had times where I felt like the sounds of me breathing could be heard by everyone in a mile radius. But, I finished and I finished with a better time then the 5K, so progress has been made! I was able to keep a 10mile/minute pace and went a little over 3 miles. Now, how I am going to move up to 4 miles next week.....? That seems like a hard challenge that I'm taking on. I don't think I will be nearly as confident in 6 days.

Erin ran 20 miles on saturday and I can barely run over 3.....I would definitely DIE if I had to run that far. So crazy!

3 Miles

This afternoon Erin and I will be running 3 miles. The last time I ran that far outside was in april, for the 5k. I'm not concerned that I won't be able to do it, even in this still kind of crazy heat, but it means that in one week I will be doing 4 miles outside. I have never done that before! But I guess one week at a time. Meaghy told me to increase my mileage on the treadmill or outside by a little each day and then I will be prepared; although, one mile in a week still seems like a lot to gain. I am ready for the challenge, though. I always feel good afterwards even if I feel like i may die during it.

Adam is about to be on the plane home and I'm really excited to try my take on healthy football food, my quesadillas(plus my fantasy team won for the 2nd week in a row - yay!). I'm also super excited to have him back here, where he belongs! (It sucks when your best bud goes away!)

Day 8

I have made it a week with my new diet and exercise routine! Even though it really isn't that long it is definitely a big step and now I will not want to undo what I have done. Sunday was a splurge day and I had wings and some beer. I didn't feel too bad about it because I stuck to my plan all other days. I even worked out Sunday morning, something that I used to be against. Monday I ran with Erin around downtown. We did the same route that we did back in the spring and I could see a noticeable difference in my endurance and overall performance. I am on my way to 5 miles! I have started to incorporate weights into my gym schedule as well. Yesterday I worked out on my own and got legs and back machines in, making my total gym time about an hour.

Food has gone extremely well this week also. I have cut out all candy except for a few Jujys at night. I've stuck to my meal plan and it has been working out really well. Saturday and Sunday I will be eating poorly so I will definitely be upping my workouts those days.

I have to say that being aware of my diet has made me feel thinner, even though I actually am not anymoreso thatn 8 days ago. Better choices are making my body function better and, in return, making me feel energized and just great overall! I decided to not use a scale this time around and just to go by my clothes and how I feel. Numbers were too frustrating and can't really be depended on with fluctuations and such. When I get to the point that I want to be at, I'll hop on and see if I really lost anything or just oned up and I think that will be interesting.

Yesterday

Throughout the weeklong birthday celebrating I had lost my way with food and my exercise. This picture pretty much sums it up. Ah, beer and brownies, that's a pretty fun way to live!

I think that birthdays and Holidays give you some room to relax and enjoy those yummy things life has to offer, and since my birthday lasted for so long it backed up to Labor Day as well. I did manage to hit the gym that weekend, but it was a far cry from what my body needed. See, I used to be very dedicated to my workouts. I ran my first 5K in April!

I was in the best shape that I probably have ever been. I worked out often and put a lot of effort into it. Then came summer, the pool, vacations, all the things that make you just want a drink and food. I have managed to hit the gym 3-4 times a week still, but not all of my workouts have been the best. That brings me to yesterday. Yesterday I regained control! I am runninga 5 mile race at the end of October. I have actually not run 5 miles straight, I have made it to 4 on the treadmill. I am planning on really fixing my nighttime eating. Dinner seems to be hard for me, I eat really well at work and then come home and eat whatever the heck I want! Not anymore, I need to find the motivation to keep it all healthy. Monday I start running outside with Erin. Erin does not take any crap and she will not let you quit. When I feel like stopping she always reminds me that I can keep going (although lets be real, its not in the nice way its in the way thats like 'hey, youre a whimp if you can't even do this,' but thats what works for me).If I need to eat right and kick it up a notch at the gym to stay with her and make my way to 5 miles outside then I will do it. I am lucky to have someone experienced that is willing to help me out to reach my goal. I am the type of person who needs to be pushed, and she can do that! So, I have a week to get ready for our first run......let the preparations begin!