I made it to the gym yesterday after leaving work at 6pm. The treadmill hurt. My left calf was incredibly tight. I think I'll start stretching a little before I run to try to prevent that from happening again.

Today, I have a massage, so I will forgo the run and enjoy the treat :-) My brother-in-law's wife also had their baby boy this morning.

Thursday and Friday look good for me to make it to the gym. I'm excited.

Success!

I went to the gym five days this week! I lifted twice, and ran three times. And I'm down to 160.4, the same weight as the first week of December last year :-)

Hopefully, this upcoming week will be even better.

Rockin' It

 

While it's only Tuesday, it looks like I'll make it to the gym every day this week. I ran yesterday, even though I kept feeling a twinge in my hip while I attempted to walk/bumped into desks at work. And today, despite getting out of work at 6:30 and knowing I was making pork chops (pan-fried and baked--so delicious) with bulgur and corn for dinner, I still went to the gym and lifted. I just did my arms, shoulders, and chest (translation--20 real minutes at the gym), but I went to the gym. The rest of the week looks far more promising in terms of time ;-)

Second Day

I went to the gym again ;-) I fully intended to spend half-an-hour on the elliptical and didn't even put on my knee supports. Instead, I found myself on the treadmill--struggling a little bit, but I finished my intervals and covered 2.25 miles. I am definitely sore, but a soak in the jacuzzi was rewarding and soothing. Plus, I put the treadmill at a tiny incline. Tomorrow should be interesting.

Sadly, I won't be able to make gym tomorrow because my mother-in-law is having us for dinner and I am working late. I just don't have enough time to make it from work to the gym to shower to her house....

First Step on the Return

Despite waking up exhausted at 5:30 am, drinking my coffee without creamer or sugar, not eating lunch until 3 pm, and working until 6:30 pm, I WENT TO THE GYM. I really considered just going home, making dinner and going to bed, but I will never reach my goals doing that.

And I was really pleasantly surprised when I got the gym--it wasn't mobbed. I got right on a treadmill and did 37 minutes of intervals--running for 2 minutes and walking for 3 minutes. My calves hurt, but I made the gym a priority, and that's the first step.

New Year's Resolutions 2013

 

With the new year beginning today, I have spent some time reflecting on this past year. It certainly did not go as smoothly as planned. My running fell away for one reason after another. Work was challenging and exhausting, tummy troubles, head colds, the flu... Things kept happening that prevented me from getting back into shape. Unfortunately, that resulted in a complete plateau for my weight and a decline in my health. I began 2012 weighing 165 and ended in the same place. 2013 will not be a repeat.

My wonderfully supportive husband has already signed me up for the Warrior Dash in September. I have looked at the 5K's in my area and found two that I would like to do--one in April and one in May. So those will be my real deadlines. That gives me just under 5 months to rebuild my endurance and work up (again) to running 3.1 miles. 

I also have a friend's wedding in June--a wedding that I would like to have a trim middle and toned arms for (especially since the dress is sleeveless). 

With these deadlines in mind, I will start back at the gym tomorrow at the beginning of the Couch to 5K interval program. And this time, I won't quit after 5 weeks (which is as far as I ever got last year). 

My resolutions for 2013 are:

1. Drink more water

2. Eat more fruits, veggies, and whole grains

3. Run a 5K

I wish the best of luck to everyone else as they set and begin working on their own New Year's Resolutions.