Run 3

I'm doing it! It's Sunday, and I definitely did not want to put on the shoes, but I did, and I did it. I only covered 1.83 miles today, compared to slightly more on Friday, but considering how long it took me to convince myself to go outside into the beautiful weather today, I'll take it.

My feet still hurt, though my shins weren't as bad today. I had trouble getting myself to run the full minute, too. I'm tired out. I just want to sit on the couch! But that's why I'm doing a couch to 5k!

Last night I did my morning stretch routine, and one of the neck tension releasers video. I did them at night, but I think this particular morning routine is also a good warm up video.

And then I did a 15 minute strength video. It was a set of very basic hand weights moves repeated three times. Considering I didn't have any problem completing it with the three pound weights, I probably either need to use the 5 lb weights instead, or find something more challenging.

I'll work on that.

Yoga and Articles

I usually go to a yoga class on Friday afternoons, but it's canceled for the indefinite future, so I'm trying to work some more of it into my at home schedule.

I did a45 minute yoga work out last night. A morning energizer focused on a light stretch, back tension releasers, and then, since it was late at night, a slow paced bedtime yoga routine.

Yesterday I posted some links from the MyFitnessPal blog, mainly so I could find the links to the 400 calorie meals again. I'm going to do the same thing below, with notes on the article if I feel like it.

http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/25-life-hacks-to-eat-better/
Make a pinterist board with go-to dinner recipes. make lunch the night before. Carry a water bottle. Eat when you're hungry. Breakfast burrito recipe. Get enough sleep. Replace junk food with healthy snacks. Make a shopping list. Make use of frozen staples.

http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/6-high-fat-foods-that-are-good-for-you/
Avacados, eggs, olive oil, nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pistachios, nut butter, and fatty fish.

http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/so-you-want-to-start-working-out-in-the-morning/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/how-to-learn-to-like-running/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/20-meat-lover-meals-under-400-calories/
Saving for later. 
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/5-low-carb-comfort-food-alternatives/
Lots of tasty looking recipes.
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/a-treadmill-workout-that-arent-boring/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/the-beginners-guide-to-running/
https://www.mcmillanrunning.com/
This is a tool for determining appropriate running pace.
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/healthy-bites-want-to-know-what-200-calories-looks-like/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/6-non-gimmicky-ways-to-boost-your-metabolism/
Weight training, cardio, drinking water (how much water should you be drinking?), snacks between meals, spicy food, and caffeine.
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/5-reasons-youre-not-hitting-your-weight-goal/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/how-do-you-stay-motivated-30-tips-from-myfitnesspal-users/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/im-heavy-and-running-to-lose-weight-should-i-worry-about-my-knees/
Warm up properly, strengthen your core, adjust running form (keep knees straight, not leaning in), good shoes, and pay attention to what hurts.
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/are-you-wearing-the-right-shoes-for-your-workout/
There are more links at the bottom.
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/a-15-minute-core-routine-you-havent-tried/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/the-dos-and-donts-of-ordering-sushi/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/7-tricks-for-getting-more-out-of-your-workouts/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/the-2-running-workouts-you-need-to-drop-pounds-fast/
Target your exertion levels based on heart rate.This has good information on weight-loss running.
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/meal-planning-for-beginners/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/11-things-youll-learn-start-counting-calories-mfp/

I think I've met my reading requirements for the day. Below are the articles I opened but didn't get to. I'll have to read them later.
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/how-to-pick-the-best-running-walking-shoes-for-you/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/when-should-you-replace-your-running-or-walking-shoes/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/nutrition-101-proteins/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/nutrition-101-carbohydrates/
http://www.cooksmarts.com/articles/planning-for-savings/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/myfitnesspal-introduces-restaurant-logging/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/8-ways-to-feel-fuller-on-less-calories/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/10-easy-healthy-cooking-hacks/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/14-filling-dinners-400-calories-or-less/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/14-slow-cooker-dinners-400-calories-or-less/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/12-power-lunches/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/14-quick-and-simple-soups-and-stews-400-calories-or-less/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/5-bodyweight-moves-that-burn-fat-fast/

MyFitnessPal Articles - To Read Later

Some articles I want to save to read later:

http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/8-ways-to-feel-fuller-on-less-calories/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/10-make-ahead-breakfasts-under-300-calories/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/4-fitness-myths-stop-believing-now/
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/10-make-ahead-lunches-under-400-calories/

Couch to 5k - Run 2

I don't know what it is. Maybe my sneakers aren't broken in. Maybe I need inserts. Maybe I really just need to toughen up my shins. But my feet are killing me, and my lower legs aren't so happy either.

I decided to nix my Friday afternoon arc session, seeing as last Saturday I only made it 10 minutes before I peaced out on the deal. I just can't deal with the pain of that machine right now, when all I need to do to stop it is turn it off and walk away. At least with the run I'm going to have to, at minumum, walk until I get back to my car or front door, and, on top of that, I get a lovely dose of nature.

But still. Ouch!

My soreness level yesterday, Thursday, also impacted my decision to spread my three days of running over Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday, instead of Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. My lower body was pleasantly achy. I did a good job beating it into shape this week. Cycling stays on Monday and Wednesday. The lower body aches highlight how little I'm doing for my upper body, though. I still need to sandwich in that yoga and strength routine time. I know I can do it! Now I just need to do it!

Anyways, Thursdays are a pretty busy day for me anyway, so I probably would have had a hard time jamming a run session in.

I had a hard time with it today, and my Fridays aren't that busy! Thirty minutes of fresh air was a nice way to end the productive part of my work week. I'm gonna label that as an achievement, too, just because I can.

My diet may not be going well (I ate a pint of ice cream last night by accident) but at least I'm working out.

Is it the turning point????

I think I'd like to start updating more often. Not as often as I was when I started. But more often. When I have stuff to talk about.

This year has started by seeing me at my heaviest ever. I've tipped 200, and even 210, but never 225, and that's where my poundage has been this past week.

January was a wash for losing weight, but I swore up down and sideways (again) that February would be the turn around.

Today, I was at 223.4, my reward for finally being good with my calorie count this week. I'm notorious for cheating (but who isn't), and paleo hasn't been very doable for me. Last week (or maybe it was the week before)(or both), I failed to prepare lunches for myself and had to eat lunch out. Hoo boy, was that bad. I've cut down on my adult beverages, but still let myself enjoy now and again. Like tonight! Tonight I'm celebrating. With wine.  I've hit all of my exercise and calorie goals for the week. I went cycling Monday, running, Tuesday, and made it to my cycling class again today, Wednesday.

I set a goal for myself, too, one that I hoped would be achievable. On monday, I clocked 11 miles. I log my cycling classes under the bicycling, divided by mph, in my calorie app. I really wanted to be able to log it under 12-14 mph today, so my goal was 12 mph. I did 13.5! Now, Wednesday's class is a little more endurance themed than Monday's, which does a lot of toning exercises, so it makes sense that I went above and beyond today! We shall have to see if I can do it again on Monday.

Something I wanted to blog about is my feet. My feet always hurt when I exercise! I have slightly flat feet, so I don't know if I should be using inserts or not. I'm not. So towards the middle or end of class the outer half of my feet start aching. Sometimes it fades, due to endorphins or what not, and sometimes I just muscle through it. I was going cycling fairly often for a while, and I think I noticed that the aching faded over the weeks, so hopefully now that I've got my butt broken in again, my feet will break themselves into shape, too.

Back to weight. My lowest weight in log in the past calendar year was 187.8 on August 21, 2015. I started logging my weight again on June 24, 2015, at 191 lbs, after seeing some weight gain those previous months from 180-185ish. That's a gain of approximately 35-40 lbs in 6-7 months. Not good. Boooooooooo. A number of factors in my life have contributed to this, one of which is living with my partner and indulging in yummy food wayyyyy too much. I have a portion control issue. If it tastes good, I want more. Oh well..... I'll get over it.

So, this time last year, my weight was healthier, though still not in my BMI target range, but I was not exercising AT ALL. I am now exercising, I have better endurance through out my life, and I'm still making improvements!

I've succeeded at something! Yay!

February

Still having trouble stabilizing my weight. I'm still eating low carb, but not quite paleo. I do my best, but I'm just trying to count my calories.

Still cycling. But the facility that my yoga class takes place in had an electrical fire, so has been closed for about a month, is planning to reopen, but doesn't have a hard date. I'm doing my best to initiate a morning yoga practice for myself, but I'm not a morning person, so, well, that's a dicey subject.

My interest in Zumba had waned. I'm just so uncoordinated...

I found a simple, 15 minute strength routine (2 actually) but have not started doing them. I think they would go well with my yoga practice, since the yoga would warm me up, but I don't know how many times a week I can do it, or if I can do it everyday. It's a fairly simple, full body workout. The other one is a simple arms and shoulders toning routine.

I'm thinking about doing one of those couch to 5k running programs. The winter has been so mild I feel like I should take advantage of the nice weather while we have the nice temperatures. I do my best to do cycling twice a week and the arc machine on Friday, but, realistically, I only make it to two out of the three. I could use some more cardio. Half an hour of running feels doable. (UPDATE: day 1 went well).

It's already been a busy year, which is no excuse for slacking in the health department, but sure doesn't help.

Onward and downwards!