Goal Update

So I haven't been the best about sticking to all my goals that I set for January, but this month hasn't been a total fail.  While I haven't gone to at least 1 spin class every week, I did finally make it back to my favorite instructors class last night.  It was tough, but not as bad as I expected.  Plus, I really missed that great feeling I get when I'm drenched in sweat once the class is over.  On a side note, I had to leave work a little early to make it to the class on time.  When I went to ask my boss if that was ok, he told me that of course it was and he never wanted to be the reason I didn't workout.  How great is that?

The one goal that I really feel scared good about is the Olympic distance triathlon.  While I didn't sign up for the actual race yet (only because I need to wait until I get my tax return - triathon is expensive!), I did sign up for a training group for the race.  I have mixed feelings about this because it really scares me to do a longer distance, but I know it will feel great once I do it.

I'm actually doing it!

Granted it's only been a few days since I really got serious, but I'm actually sticking to eating healthier.  Sure, I'm a little hungry starving all the time, but I haven't given in yet.  Yay!!!

New Year, New Goals, New Me??

The end of the 2011 really got away from me and I was really bad about posting and about my new healthy attitude (in other words - not healthy at all).  Well, I shouldn't say I wasn't healthy at all, I actually was quite good about working out.  But if you've read any of my other posts, you know that working out generally isn't my problem and food was my enemy.  I didn't do THAT bad eating candy and other junk, but I ate lots of fried and otherwise bad for you food. 

I keep talking about starting anew and a new year is a great time to do that.  I hate setting resolutions though because people always set themselves up to fail by either setting unrealistic goals or by trying to completely change themselves.  So this year, I decided to just set a few doable goals for myself, but instead of making this something that I want to do in the next year, I decided that I wanted to set goals for myself for the month of January.  And here they are:

1. Run at least 7 miles a week.  I saw a lot of people set goals to run at least 1 mile everyday.  I know this won't work for me because there are days my knees hurt so bad that even 1 mile seems overwhelming.  So with 7 mile/week, I allow myself to take a day off if needed and catch up another day by running 2.
2. Run at least 1 5K every month.  I need goals in order to stay motivated.  If I know I have a race, I'm less likely to slack off.
3. Go to the gym at least 3 times every week to weight train.  I've actually been going more often than this lately, so it shouldn't be a problem.  But I wanted to set it as a goal so that I don't find an excuse to stop.
4. Go to at least 1 spin class every week.  This has been an issue for me ever since I got a new job since my new office location makes it hard to get to the gym at the right time to make it to class.  But I need to find a way to arrange my schedule to make it happen.
5. Get in the pool at least once every week.  When I'm not training for a triathlon, I find it hard to make time for the pool.  I really enjoy swimming though and I know it's a really good way for me to do some cardio without hurting my knees, so I want to make sure I do it more frequently all year round.  I just need to figure out a few good workouts to use when I'm not training and getting workouts from my coach.
6. Make smarter food choices.  I struggled with setting a food goal the most out of all my goals as I really wasn't sure what the best goal would be.  I want to eat healthier and I want to lose weight, but more importantly I want to find an overall healthier lifestyle that I can stick with.  I know I need to make this goal more measurable for a more long term goal.
7. Get out of the plus sizes (and stay out).  Right now I'm an odd size where I'm kind of between plus size and regular size.  Regular size is too tight, but then the smallest plus size is too big.  I think they design all plus size clothes thinking that all overweight people have big bellies, so they don't work for me most of the time.  I won't have to lose a ton of weight before the regular sizes fit me just fine and hopefully I can get there in a month. 
8. Pay cash for everything.  Not all of my goals need to be about my physical health.  I've had my ups and downs financially due to some poor decision making in the past, but I made a lot of progress in the last year about improving my situation and I think I could get rid of all my unhealthy debt this year as long as I don't run up any new debt.
9. Read 1 book.  I love to read, but don't always make time for it. 
10. Take the dogs for a longer walk once a week.  Good for me and the dogs. 
11. Sign up for an Olympic distance triathlon.  I've done a bunch of sprint tri's, but have always been scared to take the distance further.  This year I will do it.
12. Sign up for a half marathon.  I really want to do a marathon in my lifetime, but I don't know if this is the year I will do it.  However, I've never run a half either, so I figure that's a more reasonable goal.  And you never know - maybe I will suprise myself with a marathon, but I will do a half first and see how that goes.

At the end of the month, I'll recap on how well I did with my goals and set some new goals for February.  Here's to hoping that I can keep with everything this month!!

Fitspiration

Since my fitness plans got thrown off track, I'm finding it hard to get motivated to get back into it.  Well, I have been good about working out - the real problem is trying to get back to eating healthy.  I keep finding reasons to allow myself to eat badly and why I can't eat healthy today.

Today that stops.  Today I'm going to get back on my health kick and start getting back to losing weight.  I know I can do it.  Sure it's hard, but the reward is so worth it!!

Life Happens

Sometimes the best laid plans get kinks thrown into them.  Just as I was starting to get into this weight loss kick and get into a routine, I got laid off from work.  It actually happened the night after my last post, which is why I never posted my before pictures and haven't posted in a while.  I am a stress eater, so you can imagine that it did wonders for my diet.  In addition to the stress, I was at home a lot more which made food a lot more accessible.  All in all, being laid off set me back in my plans BIG TIME.  And then throw Thanksgiving (and even more food) into the mix....

I was really scared that I wasn't going to be able to find a job without having to move, but I was really lucky and found a new job quickly (and locally) thanks to one of my ex-coworkers.  I can't thank him enough.  Unfortunately now I have the stress of starting a new job, but I think I'm finally ready to get back into action and start back to eating better.  The good thing is that I never stopped working out, so I can at least feel good about that.

This weekend I'm going to get Jason to help me do before pictures and get all my measurements to get a starting point.  And then from that point forward - it's nothing but healthy for me!!  And I think I need to work on how to cope with stress without resorting to food.  Any suggestions?

New Shoes

So I finally got new running shoes over the weekend and I'm going to try them out later tonight.  I'm so excited!  I actually got a a pair of Newton running shoes, which normally retail at $155, but I got last years model that was severly discounted and got them for only $50!!  It was nice to see "You saved $105" on my receipt.  Hopefully they feel good when I run tonight.

I also got my hair cut this weekend - and by cut I mean chopped.  I've had the same hairstyle with only slight changes for at least the last 10 years and it was time for a change.  I'm now 8" of hair lighter.  It feels weird and will take some time to get used to, but I think I like the new 'do. 

I was trying to post a picture, but for some reason it won't load, so I'll have to try again tomorrow. 

Tonight I am also going to take a full body "before" picture so that I have something to compare to in the future.  I'm also going to weigh myself and take measurements so that I have an accurate starting point.  Then I'm going to weigh myself every 2 weeks to check on my progress and periodically take measurements.  Plus I'm going to start posting my exercise to help keep me accountable.  Check in tomorrow to get my initial stats.

Ouch my feet

Why does getting in shape have to cost money?  I'm in desparate need of new running shoes, but I don't have the extra money for them right now.  My arch in my right foot has been bothering me because my shoes are so worn.  I guess I will just have to deal for now until I get paid next.  Just makes it that much harder to motivate myself to get out there when it hurts.