Know your limits...

I made a stupid choice last night. I ran almost 6 miles in 96* weather after not having a sufficient meal (meaning a meal with some carbs to burn while running). Not smart! And I just kept pushing. It's one thing if you are in a life-or-death situation and you need to run, it's something else if you are just being stubborn. I tend to get into the "mode"- be it exercise or dieting or both, and get obsessive. I'm getting to the obsessive stage right now. I need to step back and relax- just a little, not a lot. My point is, just because you CAN do something like run when it's hot outside, doesn't mean you should. Listen to what your body is telling you. Mine was trying to tell me STOP! I was nauseous & my face went numb, that's not good!
Just remember, your fitness level varies from day to day, and that's okay! Know your limits and don't push too hard, or you'll burn yourself out. I've done that to myself in the past and I don't want to end up there again. Challenging yourself is different, that's a good thing. Obsessing on the other hand, that's a bad thing. So, I'm reevaluating for this upcoming week. I'm going to be smart. I am going to stay within my limits and work on the obsessing part. That means I think I need to get rid of the scale (or at least put it in the garage). That way I'm not tempted to get on it several times a day...seriously, I do that. But, not anymore. Here's to a good week!

Am I Crazy?

I know that a nursing mommy can be a little crazy.....all those hormones running around and wreaking havoc. I just feel a little nuts right now. On top of the *woo-hoo* feeling is the urge to be done nursing. I want to have my body back. I want to be able to eat anything, drink anything, run a long distance...without thinking about the effect I am having on my milk. Don't get me wrong, I love love love breastfeeding. And as I'm sitting here writing this I'm wondering why I don't shut up and quit complaining. I'm giving my son the best food ever created and doing what my body was meant to do. See what I mean, I'm crazy, I'm arguing with myself and telling me to shut up :P
Okay, sorry. This post is mostly for me. I know that. If you read it, thanks for listening to my rant....

Having a tough one...

I'm having a tough day. I haven't gone completely out of control with my eating, but it's on the verge. I don't know what it is. My emotions are all over the place. I'm tired and frustrated over nothing in particular. GGRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! Need to vent. Now Riley's crying. I feel a little better just having written a few lines. I think it's time to reward myself for my hard work up to this point (and the fact that I made it back to pre-pregnancy weight). Mani/pedi is in order. I've got the gift certificate, I need to go and make the time for myself. SOON! Keep movin' forward right?

Reaching a milestone...

Can I just say WOO-HOO!!! What am I so excited about you may ask? Well, I made it back to my pre-pregnancy weight (185lbs). I still have 40+ lbs to lose, but this is a big deal for me! This week was somewhat of a struggle for me too. I was having a difficult time staying focused. Just fudging here and there, but that adds up. Last night I forced myself out for a run at 9:15. Dylan wasn't real happy about it, but I NEEDED to do it. I can't fall into the trap of not exercising cause it's too easy to let it become the norm. And, I've got the 10K looming =) Wednesday I went for it and ran 6 miles, just to see if I could even do it. Guess what, I DID! Just had to brag a little, sorry.
But anyway, I reached a milestone, so here's what I want to know...what are your short term goals? Milestones? Do you have a # of pounds you want to lose? A physical challenge you want to accomplish? I want to hear about it!

This is what I do....

This post is for you Tiffany (bloggy friend)- obviously not me as I'm the one writing it =) Anyhow, Tiffany posted a comment requesting a rundown of the foods I eat. So, here it is. This is just a general accounting of what I do right now. Since she hasn't been reading the blog for very long some of this will be a repeat from prior posts. So, here goes...
I am actually doing the Weight Watchers points right now. I follow fairly loosely from home. I just needed a general guideline to help me track my daily intake. I have done WW in the past, gone to meetings etc. etc. but I wanted to do this at home. Part of the reason is because while my hubby is supportive of me losing weight, he thinks that meetings and programs are a waste of time and money....he would rather see me spend $ on a personal trainer or exercise equipment. Anyhow, I have lots of info just skittering around in my noggin. I worked at LA Weight Loss, I've done different programs, I've lost weight, I've gained weight, I've read books, the list goes on and on. So, I have taken little bits and pieces and made it work for me.
First and foremost, the one thing I found true every time I've lost weight, I HAVE to be in the right mind set. I know right now that I am making a lifestyle change. I don't want to struggle and yo-yo the rest of my life. I am making changes that I intend to live with. This is important to note because you must address the issues that cause the weight to begin with. I know I can have a special treat, but not all the time. I know I can have a burger, just not every day. Realizing that there is a difference between hunger and the urge to eat is HUGE for me. Understanding that you will have great days and bad days is important too. Just because you have a bad day though doesn't give you license to give up. If I want this, I have to be willing to make the uncomfortable choices and put the blood, sweat and tears into it. Otherwise, it's not really worth it. If you don't have to work for something, it's easy to take for granted.
I know, I know I was supposed to be telling you what I'm eating....sorry, I got side tracked. Sometimes thoughts just flow. I also find that writing out some of the insightful things I've realized helps me remember them too. Okay, focus, food =)
Breakfast is usually one of two things- applesauce and cottage cheese, or a 2 egg omelette
Lunch- sandwich, fruit, granola bar
Dinner- lots of chicken dishes, steaks, LOTS of veges.
I like to keep things basic! Use tomato sauces instead of creamy sauces. Marinade and grill things. Limit your portions of the fatty stuff. I take a few bites of the stuff that I used to eat like it was going out of style, like Mac'n'Cheese. One of my favorite snacks- popcorn. Also, portion size is important! Eat slowly, drink water with your meal, buy a cookbook with HEALTHY family recipes. Get a buddy or in my case, a blog =)
Losing weight is hard! But, breaking it up into smaller chunks and doing small goals is really helping me this time around. Okay, I'm done with my ramble. Tiff, I hope you got what you were looking for out of this post!

Old Goals....New Goals

Here's the update on the goal situation. Today was goal day. I ran my 5K this morning, finishing time- 31:04. Right on target as the goal was to finish under 31:30. The other goal I wanted to hit was for weight. I stepped on the scale this morning and what did I see? Bingo on the weight...exactly 190. Yay! Yay! Yay!
So, now for the new goals. You might be saying....what?! she just finished the first set! I know myself though. I need to have something to keep the momentum going. So, here we go.
Next month on the 11th I found a 10K run (that's 6.2 miles). Right now, I don't have a finish time set, just finishing it and running the whole thing is the goal. And now, a goal weight. I want to be somewhat ambitious for this month, especially if I'm going to be running and training for a 10K. I think 10 lbs is a good place to start. I can always update it.
Anyway, I felt really good running today. Yesterday I slipped into a pair of pants so comfortably it wasn't even funny. What an awesome feeling that was! The slogan for the race this morning was "Keep Moving Forward"....perfect sentiment I think!

Doin' the "Happy Dance"

So, at this point I've lost 16 lbs. I'm so stoked! Yesterday I went through the closet and dumped all the maternity clothes. That felt sooo good. I know, Riley is 9 months old, and I should've gotten rid of them a while ago, but most of my other clothes were still too tight. Not anymore. I have a stack of pants that, while they may still be on the snug side, I can wear! How exciting is that?! I have been sticking to a pretty basic routine, but I find that basic is better for me. The jogging and walking that I've been doing is really helping to tone my legs, as is the yoga. I just have to say, I LOVE doing yoga! If you have never tried it, you should give it a shot. It's alot harder than it seems, and gives you great tone and flexibility. Something else I love, pilates. I need to find the time to slip it back into my daily schedule because my big trouble area is my tummy and that worked so well for me after Lily(aka baby #1) was born.
Anyhow, I'm looking forward to my 5K on Saturday. I'm feeling great, hope you are too, just thought I'd share....

New Goal

Well, I have to change my weight goal again. I hit my prior goal of 195 and I still have a week and a half till my 5K. I have 10 more days so I think 2-3lbs would be a good loss. Today I'm going to attempt the 3 mile run. I feel confident that I can jog the whole thing. I injured myself last week and haven't exercised a great deal in the past few days, but I think a little break was a good thing. It allowed my body a rest. Remember that you must listen to your body and rest when you need, and eat when you need.

*Update for anyone interested: I finished my 3 mile run today in 31:52! I didn't feel like I was gonna die at any point, and I had enough left to kick it in a little at the end. I don't know why I feel the need to kick it in, this isn't a competition. But I always feel better when I give it that extra oomph at the end*