Working hard to overcome me.

This past week I worked my behind off!  Really, I did!

I pushed myself hard on the running app.  I chose food carefully almost the entire week!  We even had a little date night at Applebee's, and instead of opting for my usual (something with delicious mashed potatoes!) I opted for a salad...dressing on the side.  I was surprised, I actually ate very little of the dressing!  Yay!

Then, there was Saturday night...we opted for Cafe Rio, and I was STARVING!  That was my one weak moment this past week.  I gave in to the pork salad.  It won.  And I'm not even going to lie, it was delicious!

I weighed myself before Saturday though...and it seems all of the hard work I was doing was not registering with my body!  So, I've opted to skip a week on the scale.  Not because I've been bad, but because I've been super good this past week (minus my one transgression).  You see, even after eating Cafe Rio, I pushed myself physically to make up for it.  I started wearing my Nike Fuel Band again, and this was the result of JUST SATURDAY:

That's right...I had over 20,000 STEPS for the day!  I burned 1,734 calories!  (Yes, my daily average is low..I haven't been wearing it all month...)  But it was my BEST DAY YET for the app!  I ran on the treadmill, I busted myself around the house cleaning all day, I walked that night outside, and I ran again!  Seriously, I'm still sore from Saturday!  So my little Cafe Rio slip up was not such a slip up...you see, I still have to eat the things I love.  Just not all the time!  

But, back to my scale dilemma.  After working hard all week, focusing on my running...focusing on my eating...I'm afraid if I step on the scale and don't see a significant loss I will be crushed!  I know the work isn't always seen immediately, but it should be!  And it's discouraging if I don't see it.  And right now I'm kinda fragile.  So I'm going to work hard again this week....then I PROMISE I will post a weight next Tuesday come good or bad!

I am feeling too good right now when I run to jeopardize stupid head games!  The weight will fall off eventually, I'm confident...but I know I haven't been consistent for very long yet, therefore my body needs to catch up to my work.  (Call it an excuse if you want...but I don't think it is.)  (I think it's me realizing the scale can't always determine me, and I have to overcome that side of me...)

My plan

Remember how I told you I was running a marathon?

Well, I am.  THIS marathon.

So.  I figured it was time to start running.

Consistently running.

A while back I found a great "starter" marathon training.  I am planning to use it, and hope it gets me ready for the big race in time.

Here is a sample of the training:

I adjusted it for the race I'm going to be running, along with the days I'm able to run (due to school, kids, and sometimes no husband.)

As you can see, my "official" first week isn't until January 29th.  

But, I knew it was going to be UGLY. 

I also knew that I needed to start.

You see, if I keep putting things off....then I'll always put things off.

I need to see change, so I need to BE change.

I haven't been incorporating a ton of exercise in my daily routine, and I knew that needed to change.

I had plans to run.

Yesterday.

Thursday.

Wednesday.

Tuesday.

(You get my point.)

Each day I woke up, telling myself...

"self, TODAY you are going to run."

Each day would pass....my running shoes still in the closet.

Today I woke up.  

(In more than one way.)

I decided today I had to stop postponing the inevitable.

Either I go to work, either I start moving more, either I start running.....

OR, I don't.  Or I stay where I'm at, slowly gaining what I've worked so hard to lose!

So today I ran.

I am using Nike+ to track my runs.  

I like this program, I've used it in the past. 

(Although I reset everything to have a "fresh start".)

(If anyone uses this, please "friend" me... alishabowling @ hotmail . com)

(notice the spaces in my email address so I don't get spammed...make sure you delete them!)

The program is awesome!  It works with iPhones, iPods, or you can buy a chip and it uploads directly online.

As I'm running, there are many options...  

*I can hand select the playlist I want to run to. 

*I can set it up for either a timed run or a distance run, or a free run.

*It interrupts my music throughout the run, letting me know when I'm 1/2 through, when I've hit milestones, letting me know my pace.

*When I'm through with my run, I can add notes about the run.

*It maps my GPS coordinates.

*I can log on and see my run after, even showing my paces throughout the entire run.

*And really, so much more!

So here was todays PATHETIC run.

(Did I mention, my lungs KILLED!) 

(Yes.  I am THAT out of shape!)

I plan to try and keep up my progress here, I think it would be nice to see the improvements I make.

(I only have improvements to make from this point!!!)