Workout with Weights

I have a plan!! I was digging through all my torn out pages from magazines and I found a 12-week beginning weight workout that I'm going to use. For the first 6 weeks you do the same routine three times a week; then the next 6 weeks you split up muscle groups and add some new routines. I think it'll workout perfectly for getting me back into the swing of things at a gym.
I've had this article for years (pages don't have a date on them, but it was either right before or when I first joined the Navy so at least 2001). I've started/stopped it a few times but never finished it. I'm looking forward to giving it my best. Tomorrow I'm off to the gym for Day 1, week 1!
Tonight I went for a run with the kiddos. Tabitha wasn't feeling good so it was just me, and man was it hard for me to get motivated. I ran/walked (mostly walked) 3 miles. I just felt tired tonight for some reason...probably too much coffee the past 2 days and not enough sleep.
I'm not sure if I mentioned it in the blog or not but I'm giving myself a little mini-challenge for the week. I'm not going to eat out, not once for an entire week. I started on Monday and so far so good. I made chili in the crockpot and the house has smelled so good! I just love this time of year. Anyway, the only day I'll probably have problems will be on Friday. It's my Sister's day off and we're headed to PA, so I'll have to eat out. I'm just going to try really hard to stay focused. No problem-o!

Baby Steps

I didn't go to the gym yesterday - I was in a little funk from traveling. I did go to the grocery store and stock up on some goodies and I ran last night at the parade field with the kids in the double jogger (4.65 miles in an hour).
Today, however, I went to the gym. I did 30 minutes on the elliptical while watching a movie ("The Rookie" - I'd never seen it before so I was all wrapped up in it), and then I went into the all women's section. I've been really wanting to lift weights but I wasn't exactly sure where to start. If you don't have a plan or schedule it can seem very intimidating - which it was. I was a little annoyed with the lack of selection in the room though, looks like I'm going to have to venture out into the "real" gym...time to put on those big girl pants.
So, anyway, I stuck with the machines in the room and decided to do leg and back (I remember hearing that you should work those two parts out together) - hey, it's a start! I did three leg exercises: a glute machine I've never used, leg curls, and leg extensions. Then I did back flye and rows. All were done on machines.
Years ago I used to go to the gym with my Aunt Mari and she carried a notebook with her to write every thing down. I still do this. The notebook I used today was the same one I used after Katelynn was born and I was working out with a personal trainer. I'm so glad that I took detailed notes! I did two of the ab exercises - crunches with the exercise ball - that were in the book. It felt good to be lifting again. I will take time before Thursday to write out a routine for getting me started.
Tabitha and I are going to keep running (probably 3-4 times a week) and start doing Pilates at her house three times a week. I'll lift three times a week as well. Pilates and lifting will probably be on the same day with running in between. We'll see how it goes. I'm going to have to make up a schedule so I stick with it. That's my "homework" for tonight after the kids go to bed!

Success here I come!!!

Beach Trip

I went to the beach for 4 days and did amazingly well!! My Sister went along with me and my two kids and we stayed at my Uncle Frank's house, he lives right off the water...seriously...

this is the view from his back porch. I took my running shoes with me and only one work out outfit because I figured it would be just like at my folks place and I wouldn't do anything. I'm so happy that I was wrong - even if my outfit smelled awful on my second run!!
On Friday morning I ran 3.5 miles 45 minutes. It was great to be running without the kids. Just me and the fresh ocean air. I liked it so much that Saturday night I went out and did it again, only this time I ran 5.3 miles in 58 minutes.
I'm not going to lie though I had an ulterior motive...I needed those miles to finish my summer challenge of running from Ft Meade to Assateague Island. I made it too - with an extra mile just because. I'm so proud of myself for not only running while on vacation but for finishing the challenge. I also ate pretty well while there (minus the donuts we got on the last day, and the pizza I ordered when we got home since I had an empty fridge, oh and the Sonic I ate on the way there, otherwise I ate very well!). Proof I ate well - I lost one pound last week - YEAH!!!

Joined a Gym!

I was so frustrated yesterday when I was checking out gyms. I went to the all women's gym that the women on base post about and rave about all the time. I didn't like it. Apparently they only offer childcare when they have classes AND they have this massive cardio floor for classes and a tiny cardio equipment section and even smaller weights section. It's $25/month to go there plus $15 for the kiddos. That's a lot of money for only being able to use the stuff certain hours. I like cardio classes, but I want something more with a gym membership.
The next place I went to is only $10/month but doesn't even have childcare. UGH! I went home and started making some phone calls. The first place I called reminded me of the big 24-hour fitness we went to in CO only three times as much money. They wanted $94/month for just me! Add Chris and the kids for $150/month. WOW! People seriously pay that much?!
After that I called the LA Fitness and Gold's Gym near base. Both are about the same - LA Fitness is more money upfront and the kids cost more. The two Gold's near base are owned separately so I can't use both. I went to one of them today and LOVED it!!! Now that's a gym! It had everything I wanted - great kids room (maybe one too many tv's, but kids didn't even watch it while there), lots of weights and cardio equipment, a crossfit room, stretching area, and even a private Ladies area. The changing area was a standard one. They even have a giant movie room full of cardio equipment so you can watch a movie while working out! Sounds like a great way to pass the time running! I'm checking it out tomorrow. Gold's also had one set price that included childcare and it even though they had a sign-up fee it was still cheaper total then the other gyms. Sweet!!
I'm very proud of myself for not getting discouraged and just giving up yesterday when everything seemed to fall through. It felt right walking through the gym today. I signed all the paperwork, checked on the kids, and then hopped on the treadmill. I ran for 32 minutes (3.2 miles) and then did a cool down and some stretches in the stretching area. It was so nice. A little over an hour of just "me" time while the kids were happily playing with someone else. I could get use to this!!
In fact I felt so good that I logged my food today. Let's get back on track shall we!

...and just like that...

...and just like that...I'm off track again. How does this keep happening to me?! This month is so crazy. I was looking at my calendar upstairs and realized that I've only done TurboFire 6 times this month - SIX TIMES! We are on the 16th already.
Blogging, not doing so well with that one either am I?! I haven't been blogging because I don't want anyone to know how badly I'm doing with every thing. I feel guilty. My eating is bad. My workouts are awful. I feel so tired and run down lately.
I would like to say that I've made a decision and that I'm going to join a gym tomorrow, although I can already feel excuses popping in my head with all the things I want to do and just not being able to squeeze it in. I've lost my workout partners, sort of. One is moving and one is pregnant. We've missed so many workouts this month because of one thing or another. I've been using it as a crutch. If I join the gym I can go when I don't have anything else going on. The kids can go in the childcare area and I can get a break. I can get on the treadmill and hopefully not have my foot bother me any more. It sounds like a great idea. I'm already forming excuses to not go tomorrow - seriously, what is wrong with me lately?! Where did all my motivation go to? Please, send it back to me.
My best friend sent this to me on facebook, and I look at it often. It makes me smile.

I'm leaving on Thursday. My Uncle has a beach house and my Sister, the kiddos, and I are going for 4 days. It will be so nice to get away for a little while. I'm taking my running shoes. Maybe in the mornings I can get out for a jog of the neighborhood. It's a quiet, peaceful area and my Sister will be there to watch the kiddos. And here comes my excuse, she's on vacation too and won't want to watch the kids plus I'll get sand in my shoes. Those sound like good excuses right?!
When I get back I'm creating a challenge like my Sister just did. I'm going to go 7, yes a whopping 7, days without eating out and as clean as I possibly can. I WILL get back on track. Besides at the end of those 7 days is my birthday - I can reward myself for doing good. Aw, I'm thinking of rewards already! UGH!!

Update on Angie and Goals

Things are going better this week - not perfect, but better. I'm logging my food! I'm walking in the mornings! I'm doing TurboFire! I'm running! Things are getting back to normal around here.
Goals. We are almost one week into September and so far, so good.
1) Blog more then once a week
Done. This is #2 for me this week - yea!!
2) Eat clean
As always, this is a work in progress for me. Some day's are better then others. Today started off really well, but by this evening I was super hungry and honestly, feeling a bit down on myself (wishing a special someone was here so we could just get away for the weekend...I don't have any real plans, and it would be so nice to have my spur-of-the-moment guy around). Anyway, I don't really need an excuse to eat chocolate (4 mini Peppermint Patty's to be exact), but it never hurts to find one. ;)
3) Exercise 6 times a week
This one won't happen this week. I missed Monday and Tuesday. Didn't feel like it Wednesday, but did it anyway and by Thursday I was into it again. Amazing how just one day back into a routine makes you feel so much better. Today it felt like I hadn't missed a beat. You couldn't have paid me to workout on Tuesday and Wednesday I was dragging my feet big time, but now it feels so right again. Funny how that works.
4) Lose 1 lb a week
I ate a lot at Mom and Dad's. Not bad, just a lot; especially considering I didn't workout unless you count picking green beans, wax beans, tomatoes, peppers, egg plant... as working out. I did step on the scale yesterday and I'm down one from last week, but I'm not counting it until Monday. That should give my body time to adjust from the trip and getting back into the swing of things.
That's my goal progress so far, so on to the TurboFire update. While I was gone, the girls didn't workout either - ha, ha...just goes to show how much we need each other to stay focused and motivated. Basically we all took 6 days off, so that means I'm at day 72. Tonight's workout was Fire 45 - still my favorite one! It's just go, go, go and then it's all done. Love it!
We are not going to do Tapout next. Tabitha is pregnant and all her energy is just zapped. We're going to stick with run/walking and do a weight program (probably Chalene Extreme again). I'm happy to be doing weights again! Hope to see better results this time around. I know, I know, I know - clean up my eating and the results will come.

"bad" days

Yep, that's me right now - the 5 sad black faces in a row. I was bad while away. I really wasn't expecting to do well, I took all my stuff as usual, but didn't do it. It seems silly to do my workout videos when there are so many other things that need done at my parent's farm. I had a fantastic time, the kiddos had a blast, and my parent's were so happy for our help and time - that's all that truly matters.
Tomorrow it's back to eating right and focusing on my goals. Time to have a few yellow faces on my calendar. I thought about meeting the girls for a workout tonight, but when I saw my workout clothes I had an overwhelming sense of dread - I did not want to try and squeeze into them. Tomorrow, yes, tomorrow sounds good!