Summer Challenge 2010!

Crazy busy day, but I just wanted to say that I'm joining The Summer Challenge 2010 created by Kandice over at No More CHUNKY DUNKING, time to skinny dip!

More details later (how do I get that badge thingy here?) Anyhoo I hereby pledge:

To weigh myself every Friday.

To lose 10 pounds by the end of the challenge (August 23). If I lose more, great.

To work out at the gym at least 3 times a week. If I go more, great!

All doable! Thanks Kandice!

On track and setting goals

Just got my period and have been feeling bloated and crampy. Set my alarm to go to the gym and I woke up at one point and turned it off. But then I woke up again and thought, I'm awake, I'd better go! So I did. Got 3 miles in. I always vary the pace and the and the incline. It felt good. Three days in a row! Can I go for 5 days next week? Could I (gasp) possibly go on the weekend? It's up to me.

I have a little secret goal. Every year my girls run a mile in the fall for their school's fun run. This coming fall, I'd love to run with them. I've never done that, and I never thought I would. The only way I'll feel comfortable enough to do that is to lose weight. In a few weeks, if I get on a good workout routine, I'd love to start the couch to 5k program and maybe even do a 5k in the fall. I don't know if my knees will let me, and I'd be OK with not doing a 5k, but I think I should be able to run one mile on two days to be with my girls. Shhhh, don't tell! :)

Went to the gym

Although it was a bit tough to wake up early enough to be at the gym at 5am, it felt good. It felt good when I was doing it and when I was done. Did fairly well with food choices yesterday, and so far so good today.

I just found out I have to do a follow up test re a slight medical issue, so that's weighing on my mind. I don't know if it's PMS or a bit of worry that has given me a headache, but trying to work through it. Trying to drink a lot of water.

Biggest loser was inpiring to me last night. Especially Daris who worked through Bob pushing him over and over. Daris is so fit now, it really is inspiring!

OK, back to work. Happy Cinco de Mayo! (Healthy chicken enchiladas for dinner)!

I ran!

eeWell, I knew I'd better get up and go to the gym today if I wanted to keep seeing results, since I didn't go yesterday. And I did! Even got there a bit early. My plan was to do 2 miles on the treadmill and then the weight machines I did two days ago. For some reason, I woke up early with almost a nervous energy. Anyhoo, I'm on the treadmill. I usually do between 4.0 and 4.7 alternating and adding a bit of incline here and there. And as I kept doing the 4.7 mile bursts, I thought, I can go faster.

So I ran! cranked it up to 5.7 mph! I hadn't planned it. I just did it for a minute or two at most, about 3 times. But it felt good! And the amazing thing is when you go faster, you go farther much more quickly. Doh! I'm guessing skinny people just know this. :) So I did 2.5 miles and still had time to do my weight machines. I actually found myself looking at couch to 5K info when I got home.

I've been wary about running as I had a knee injury in college, and I didn't think the pounding of running would be great. So I'll take it slow and listen to my body. But the lesson I learned is that I need to push myself, and I can push myself.

I think reading so many inspiring blogs of others who are on this weight loss journey has really helped. I see what other people are doing. People who weigh more than me. People who used to weigh more than me. Skinny people. All pushing themselves to be better.

Tomorrow will be treadmill only, so let's see how far I can go?

Desk job

This morning I read this NY Times article on how sitting all day is not good for you, even if you exercise regularly:

Not good news for those of us with desk jobs! The comments to the article are interesting. In the article, they reference the treadmill desk, which I linked to the other day! Now I don't think I'm ready to set up a treadmill desk, although the idea is intriguing! But this seems more feasible: 10 reasons to use an exercise ball as yourchair

I also think walking around while I'm on the phone could help (I work at home). Sometimes I'm on the phone and just need to listen in. So I can put the phone on mute, speakerphone even. Maybe do lunges or lift light weights? Unfortunately, most of the time I'm sitting at my computer, but I can get up periodically to move around!

This is also why those sensors like the Bodybugg or the Gowear Fit seem like a great idea. If I was more aware, I could probably get more movement into my day.

Food for thought. I did not go to the gym today. Not sure why, just felt like I needed a rest. But looking forward to the weight machines tomorrow again.

Goal for today: move around when I can while I work and drink more water!

Good workout day

I got to the gym today, 2 days in a row, whoo hoo! I did two miles on the treadmill and then some weight machines for a total of about 50 minutes at the gym. I was proud of myself and felt good when I left.

I had a good day of eating yesterday, due to all the healthy choices I surrounded myself with.

As expected, I'm pretty much back down to my Sunday weigh in weight after a day, so no harm done. Tomorrow it will be one month since I started this weight loss quest. I had told my husband that I wanted to to this, and he supported me joining the gym. He challenged me to losing 2 pounds a month for a year. Very doable! Of course I've lost more than 2 pounds. Even if I only lost 2 pounds a month, that would mean next January I would weigh 24 pounds less, and that wouldn't bad! But I hope I can way exceed that. I know I will.

I need this!

So I work out of my home. Sitting at a desk in front of a computer. And I sooo, need this treadmill desk:

http://www.treadmill-desk.com/