I'm Back!!

So this summer had been hard for me.  After weeks of not seeing a change in my weight like I was hoping, I got really down about all of this weight loss/working out.  It's tough when you work your ass off at the gym and watch what you eat and you don't see the numbers change.  The funny thing is that I know that I'm gaining muscle and that muscle weighs more than fat.  I know this but it still sucks when the numbers don't change.  So I'm trying something different now...

As of now I'm on my 3rd week of waking up at the crack of dawn (ok so 5:20) for a 2.3 mile walk/jog with my neighbor.  We do this 3 days a week and we also do an hour of Zumba Friday night.  I also try to make it to the gym for Zumba 3 days a week and a minimum of 30 mins of the elliptical if I don't make it to Zumba.  I stopped looking at the scale because all it does is get me down and back to doubting.  Instead I've been taking measurements.  The measurements make me feel better about everything.  I took my first measurements in May and as of the 19th of Sept, I've lost inches all around.  Go me!!

Neck:  -.5"

No current pics of me but here's a pretty flower :D

Bicep:  +.3"
Forearm:  -.5"
Waist:  -2.7"
Hips:  -2.5"
Thighs:  -2.5"
Calf:  -.3"

Weeks 10 & 11

Let me start off by saying that I finished my first 5k in about 50 minutes.  It was definitely harder than I was thinking but also there were a lot of hills and off road track so that makes it hard too.  But I finished and that is the important thing.  I gave my self a goal and I did it!!

I also want to brag about how AWESOME Gretchen did!!  She didn't make a ginormous fool of herself (and me for that matter!) by whining and acting a fool on the leash.  She did get a little snappy when a few dogs sniffed her butt and she didn't see them.  Can't blame her for that though...I think I would get a little snappy if someone tried to sniff my butt without me knowing!!

After the race

Back to my workouts....they have suffered these last 2 weeks.  Part of the reason is I just don't know what to do.  I know how to get on the elliptical and the treadmill but I get bored doing the same thing over and over.  Last Thursday, I worked with one of the trainers.  It was nice having someone push me to keep going and give me direction but trainers come with a price and I can't afford that price at this point in time.  I was going to start doing Zumba last Friday but a bad night with little son made it very hard to get moving in the morning.

I started Zumba on Wednesday.  Boy is it tough!!  I now realize that I generally march to the beat of my own drum and trying to follow someone else is proving difficult.  I'll be going to the left and everyone else is going to the right...I'm usually the only one out of sync.  I'm sure I'll get better at following the more I do it.  Did a little bit better today in Zumba class, still mostly out of sync but doing better.



Current Stats:
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 204 lbs (I seem to be fluctuating between 3-5 lbs and I guess I'm not losing as much because my muscles are building...)
Activity level: started Zumba....classes are 3 days a week

Week 8 & Week 9

Week 8:

Week 8 kinda sucked.  Went to the gym Monday and Tuesday.  Thursday I didn't make it cause little man had his 15 month check up (my little boy is getting so big).  Friday I didn't make it either...over slept.  The days that I actually went to the gym was tough because I didn't feel like being there but I made and I made sure that I got in at least 2 miles in my normal time.  I think I am bored doing the same thing every time I go.  Every time it's the same thing over and over...get on the elliptical and go as long as I can.  Time to change it up.

Week 9:

This week has been better.  I think it's because the 5k is tomorrow.  Monday and Tuesday I "ran" on the elliptical.  Wednesday the kiddies and I went to the park to play with friends.  Thursday..OMG there were a lot of people on the cardio deck.  I warmed up on the treadmill (1 mile) and did a 3 mile "bike" ride.  I decided to take it easy today and not go to the gym.  I am sooo excited about the race tomorrow!!  I want to shout from the rooftops that I'm running my first 5k tomorrow!!


Current Stats:
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 201 lbs (not sure how accurate this is cause I haven't weighed myself in 2 weeks)
Activity level: 5k training

Week 7

I did good this week.  I made it to the gym early enough to start extending my work outs.  Z makes it a little difficult when she gets uber clingy and it takes 10 minutes for me to leave the playroom but hey I get it done.  I finished my 2nd mock 5k today and I shaved a 1.5 minutes off my first time!!  I also finished my first mile today at 12:40 minutes!!  2 more weeks until the big race!!  I gotta get some new shoes before then.

Monday: 2.3 miles 30 min

Want these!!

Wednesday : 2.6 miles 34 min
Thursday: 2.8 miles 36 min
Friday : 3.1 miles 39 min



Current Stats:
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 201 lbs
Activity level: 5k training

Week 6

For some reason this week seems like a blur.  Could be because last weekend was jam packed with activities.  Could be because I didn't even want to go to the gym at the beginning of the week but hey I pushed though and made it to the end of the week!!  I'm pretty sure that I ran/jogged/walked 2 miles Monday and Tuesday.  I do know for sure that on Monday my first mile was finished in 14 mins.  Wednesday I didn't go to the gym because the pile of laundry was threatening to overflow.  I was going to take Gretchen out and see how long we took but it started raining cold rain.  Thursday was a bad day...I barely got 20 mins in at the gym because a certain little lady was being irritatingly stubborn. Today was awesome...today I did a mock 5k on the elliptical and I finished in 40:30 mins!!

Mile 1 - 13:30

Mile 2 - 12:55

Mile 3 - 12:35

The last tenth of a mile I walked...

Current Stats:
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 201 lbs  (Same as last week...I'm going to blame the yummy yummy carb cakes from Easter Brunch)
Activity level: Training for the 5k 4-5 days a week

Week 4 & 5

Missed blogging my progress last week.  

Week 4: I ended up not going to the gym Friday as we had a little Easter get together with some friend Friday morning but I did take Gretchen for a walk in the neighborhood.  We walk just over a mile and did some training exercises like working on walking nicely next to me and not charging the dog that lives on the corner.  Gretchen did pretty good...this 5k will be her big test.  I did my best time/distance on Wednesday...2.25 miles in 30 minutes (woot woot!! Go me!!).  I've decided that I'm not a big fan of the run/walk so I've been pretty much jogging/running on the elliptical.   

Week 5:  My kiddos get sick over the weekend so I missed the gym 2 days but I got in the gym Wednesday.  After not doing much over the weekend and missing 2 days at the gym, Wednesday kicked my butt!!  Thursday was better...I kicked up the level of resistance up on the elliptical and ran 1.5 miles in 20 min (not that great but I ran the whole time).  I did 2.25 miles today in 30 minutes (Yay me!!). 

Getting more excited about the race!! 28 more days!!!  

Current Stats:
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 201 lbs  (Lost 2 more lbs!!  Not seeing much change in my weight but positive feedback from people tells me something is changing)
Activity level: Training for the 5k 4-5 days a week

Week 3

I joined the gym on Sunday and went everyday (go me!) but Wednesday.  Did 2 days of walking and 2 days of walk/run.  That first walk/run day killed me but I think that was because I was on the elliptical.  The elliptical really worked my thighs and the treadmill gets my calves.  I think that I'm going to try doing walk days on the treadmill and walk/run days on the elliptical.  I found out today that my scale is broken...sigh it's off by like 10 lbs.

I'm going to do another 5k (Run or Dye) in August with my sister...I'm excited about that one too!!

Current Stats:
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 204 lbs  (scale's broken...turns out I only lost 5 lbs)
Activity level: Started training for the 5k.