Blast from the Past

So today I got an IM from an old friend. The premise was business but the result was great. It was so nice chatting and catching up and things are really go well for both of us! It's strange how just that tiny reconnection with a friend can make you smile... minutes... after the conversation is over - and of course, no one can even see that I'm smiling. In fact one of my favorite quotes is "If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it." By Andy Rooney I think it's very true. If no one is around you are smiling for yourself, because it's what you REALLY feel. (this conversation also proved to be a much better alternative than the ice cream sundae I was going to have!)

OK enough of that .. back to business...
It looks like I get to start reading a new book tomorrow - I think I"ll end VERY close tonight, but not quite enough. I did however go out and buy the book today.. so it will be ready and waiting for me.
I learned an important lesson today - or rather figured out a potentially disasterous problem. The last few days, when I've been kicking my own butt at the gym, I 've come home and had a terrible upset stomach. I've eaten like I should but both Wed and Thur I headed to bed early in an attempt to make it go away. Today when I got home from the gym, it happened again, after successfully devouring a pita with turkey and cheese and strawberries (The strawberries weren't in the pita!) . So I did some research and found that one cause of an upset stomach after a workout is dehydration. UH OH. So today, as I was feeling rotten, I re-filled my water bottle and continued sipping on it... and tada! it went away. I now know (especially on days when I really push myself) I need to keep drinking water, long after my workout is over.

Today on the treadmill (and the 3 mins or so on the bike) the bottoms of my feet were killing me. Any ideas why? I also got on the new Precor elliptical/stepper machine. I didn't like it. It's cool, it adjusts to your strides so you can be doing steps, a short stride, or long stride like skiing. But I had a hard time keeping it where I wanted it. After running on the treadmill, I wanted to just work my quads - my calves were beat up enough. I think I'll stick to the regular ellipticals from now on.

Yesterday was my rest day - and I decided I really deserved it. So I curled up on the couch and watched "Catch Me if You Can"

I guess that's all for now. This week's motivational quote has been "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over is you just sit there." I have to remind myself to get up an move sometimes!

Book Store.. here I come

I guess I'll be heading to the bookstore after school tomorrow so I can start reading the prize I'm sure to earn in the next two days =)

Things have been going well. Today I took a step and sculpting class at the gym - it truly kicked my butt and felt great.

I'm so tired though, all this activity is making me crave sleep all the more!

Another Sole Sisters connection - today I decided that I needed a new sports bra so I figured I would look and see what kind the one was that I liked. It was Moving Comfort. There was actually a story in Sole Sisters about the founders of the company. It makes me very glad that I wear their stuff and I will definitely buy more from them.

Well I'm bushed.

54 Days until Great Big Sea!!!

13,732

That's the number of steps I did today! I blame it all on my rekindled love of the elliptical and an unending basketball game. Really, Virginia Tech needs to work on their Free Throws! :)

Tonight's post is going to be short because it's already 10:30 and I need to get up extra early.

I kicked some butt today.
I did my regular treadmill run - 30 mins
Then I got on the elliptical for about 45 minutes.

I met my calorie burn goal, my step goal, and my exercise time goal. Pretty good day I'd say. But now I'm understandingly tired.

Talk to you all tomorrow!

My Girl, I Second That Emotion, The Way You Do The Things You Do

All great songs! Those are the kind of Temptations I like. Not the kind I had to face today. A fellow teacher of mine had an "Inauguation Party" for her students complete with DELICIOUS smelling pizza. She offered me some... and it did smell so good... but I have a goal. I have a destination to get to and random pizza does not fit.

Feeling proud of myself for skipping the pizza, I went on with my day. We had a meeting after school when this SAME (unnamed) teacher plopped a box of Oreos and Fudge Striped Cookies on the table next to me. I could just smell the chocolate begging me... but.. I only looked once - and it wasn't even close to wanting one - it was just to see exactly what they were. YAY for me!

Today I also tried Water Aerobics, the jury is still out on whether or not I like it. I mean it was different, but I don't know if it's "enough" of a workout for the amount of time I put in. I'll see how I feel in the morning. Although I did ride the recumbent bike for a half hour after because I didn't feel like I had worked out at all.

So much to tell.... Last night I finished Sole Sisters (recommended to me by Irene). Some stories were more inspirational than others, several made me at least tear up if not completely break down. One story inspired me so much, I'm going to run in the race that it presented. Chapter 4 is about the Allentown Women's Classic 5K. It's a very girly race held in October. It sounds like a blast. I informed my parents that we are taking a mini vacation that week, to the Lehigh Valley so I can run in that race. This will be the first race that my parents will be at (unless they decide to come to some this summer) But my goal is to truly RUN this race. To be a fit, runner.

I mentioned above that I have a new drive- a new passion. Last night as I was blogging about music, I realized how much I miss "Great Big Sea" I really want to see them in concert again. I've known about a concert about 4 hours from where I live and I've been debating about it. I don't have anyone to go with. But after listening to them last night, I REALLY want to go. It feels right. So I bought my ticket - with the condition that I WILL BE UNDER 200 POUNDS by the time of the concert. (March 17). So there it is - I get to go see my Band if I stick to my routine!

That's all I have for tonight. I need to get some sleep. Goodnight.

Moving Along

So I went to the gym tonight. Still not really "feeling it" but went out of habit - and the fact that I had to weigh in for Biggest Loser. Success! According to the scales at the gym I lost 2.8 pounds this week! Now I'm thinking.... "imagine what I could do if I actually got my butt there more and worked out more often!!"
I ran on the treadmill again-

I was much happier with this run. I finally broke the 3k mark on the treadmill. Yay. I 've started listening to music more. I find I get A LOT more done listening to music - rather than watching tv and there are songs that make me HAPPY. I find myself smiling - and even singing along. Plus even as sit here typing this I'm listening to "Charlie Horse" and I know I'm gonna be dancing as I sit here. Music is good! Man do I want to see them again!

Anyway, I think I'm going to go to bed early tonight... so with that.. goodnight.

P.S. Irene gave me a "fabulous Blogger award". Thanks!!

Jersey Boys... and stairs

The past few days I have done a whole lot of computer work- but not much actual physical work - like working out! However- I did manage to have a calorie deficit each day.(as measured by my Body Bugg) :)

Today we went to see Jersey Boys in Pittsburgh -- the city was alive with the game going on, and at intermission everyone was checking phones, tvs, etc to get the latest updates. I'm glad the Steelers won. I don't care for Baltimore very much. Lol. But anyway the point of my story... besides seeing an AWESOME show, I managed to get a bit of a workout in. We parked on the 9th floor of the parking garage and I decided that I was going to take the stairs when we left. Ok - I was a bit overzealous. 9 stories in a parking garage is HUGE. and of course being the crazy self that I am, I didn't just meander up the stairs. Oh no, I RAN up the stairs- well the first 5 flights, then I huffed and puffed the rest of the way. I made it up in less than 3 minutes and man was I sucking air! Whew! But I'm proud of myself for taking advantage of the opportunity.

We also ate at Buca di Beppo. I probably ate more spaghetti than I should have, but I did well limiting what I ate.

Ways to Earn Points

I have devised a new system to earn points. I have included some other (not physical fitness or food related) items. I consider them to be for my "mental fitness." It's a way of MAKING me, make time for myself.

Here we go.Most of these are daily, but some can only be earned at certain times during the week.

Wear Body Bugg - 2 point
Track all food - 2 points
Fruit- 1 each
Vegetables- 1 each
Fruit & Veggie Bonus point if each is 2 or more, and veggie is greater than fruit.
Take Vitamin- 1 point
Daily Reading* - 1 point
Meet Protein Goal (20%) - 2 points
Meet Protein Goal within 2% - 1 point
Meet Carb Goal (65%) - 2 points
Meet Carb Goal within 2% - 1 point
Meet Fat Goal (15%) - 2 points
Meet Fat Goal within 2% - 1 point
Meet/Exceed Fiber Goal (21g) - 2 points
Meet Saturated Fat Goal (<20g) - 2 points
Meet Water Goal (64oz) - 3 points
Meet Water Goal ( 1/2 water, 1/2 other liquid) - 2 points
Meet Water Goal (1/2 water) - 1 point
Calorie Deficit (1000+cal) - 3 points
Calorie Deficit (500-999cal) - 2 points
Calorie Deficit (1-499 cal) - 1 point
30 Mins of Cardio - 2 points
30 Mins of Weights - 2 points
30 Mins of Yoga - 2 points
30 Mins of Running (outside) - 5 points
30 Mins of "activity" on body bugg (if not in another category)- 2 points
Wii Sports/Wii Fit- 1 point for every 15 minutes
Steps Taken Daily 10,000 - 4 points
Steps Taken Daily 5000-9999 - 2 points
Steps Taken: More than the day before- 1 point
Write a blog - 3 points (can only earn once per day)
Sleep (the night before) 7+hours - 3 points
Sleep (the night before) 5-7- 1 point
Piano Practice - 1 point for every 15 minutes
Positive Weigh in (Tuesdays only) -2+lbs -5 points
Positive Weigh in (Tuesdays only) 1-2lbs - 3 points
Positive Weigh in (Tuesdays only) .1-.9lbs - 1 point

So there you have it. :) Since I have made more points available I'm thinking of shifting some of my "Prize levels."
*Daily Reading- I have several books that I've been reading. If I sit down and read at least one of them - a chapter or more- it counts.