New Year... New You (or me)

So, here it is, the beginning of another year and I feel like I am never going to get out of this rut. Ugh. I mean, we have gone out as a family on several occasions, but I just can't seem to find motivation to work on my own health. It frustrates me as I know I need to make my health a priority, yet I just don't seem to take the steps I need to. Exercise is part of the equation, but so is eating. I have been failing miserably on both accounts. That needs to change. 

So tonight I set out to start again. I put on my finisher shirt from Ironman Canada. After all, if I can do an ironman, certainly I can handle thirty minutes on the treadmill, right?

And on went the shoes. I probably need new shoes, as these ones are getting old, yet they haven't actually gone too far due to that lack of motivation, so for now, thy will have to do. 

And then I went downstairs and got on the treadmill. It wasn't fast, and it wasn't far, but it was thirty minutes. For today, I'll take it. It's a start. It's better than sitting there doing nothing. 

There you have it. I'll focus on this for a bit and then get to the eating habits. They too need to improve. 

Today's weight: 194.9lbs 

Today's distance: 3.34km

Change is in the Air...

To say the last couple weeks have been stressful would be a bit of an understatement. Truly, I have felt quite overwhelmed lately but mostly due to circumstances completely out of my control. It has been a bit of a wake up call however and it has me feeling much more committed to becoming healthier and taking better care of myself. Without going into much detail, I will say that I have seen people in my family go through some tough stuff. Namely, cancer returning and killing a loved one. Another loved one suffering a broken leg and needing surgery to get it back into place. And another loved one being admitted to the hospital. So, suddenly I am seeing multiple ways that health is failing in people that matter to me. It has provided a true wake up call and made me really think hard about taking better care of myself.

I know, broken record. But maybe this time will be different. We only get one body to last us a lifetime. It seems important to take care of it and give it what it needs. I know I have seriously lacked in motivation for quite some time now, and I am really not sure how to get out of that slump. But I have to try. For my sake, but also for my boys. I try and set a good example for them but lately it just feels like I haven't been doing that. I haven't been terrible, but I know I can do better. I am thinking maybe if I can get to this blog more often, that might help.

And I need to keep an eye on the calories going in, and the quality of those calories as well. I want to be eating a more balanced diet, in the quantities that I need to sustain myself (or perhaps a little less than I need so I can attack the extra weight that has crept back on). I want to be eating lots of fruits and vegetables. And I want to come up with strong protein sources that are not always based on animals. And I need to drink more water. That should be an easy one!! I need to concentrate on the part where the fuel going in is high quality and real. Yes, I will still have some treats. I have too much of a sweet tooth not to. But I need to make sure they are just that... a treat... and only sometimes. I need to resist the constant unhealthy snacks on display at my workplace. I need to remember that what goes in is what will be fuelling me. And I only need so much fuel. I should probably start tracking what I eat again, because the last time I did that, it was super effective.

But the other side of it is the exercise. Now I know the last little while has been a bit dictated for me, but it doesn't mean I still can't find a way to sneak in some exercise etc. I have not made it a priority. I need to. I need to because I want my body to be strong for me. I need to because I want to be strong for my family. So I hope that today gets me going again. I am going to put up this post, and see if I can try and add to this blog at least three times a week.

Today I made the decision to go for a run. Nothing long. Nothing far. Just a run. And I did. It was super hot outside, but I went. Just for half an hour. But it was something. Because I want to start making it a priority. For me. No more excuses.

And I guess I should document where I am starting. Ugh. Again. Not something I really want to share, but something I really need to so that I can try and improve upon it. The scale says to me 194.2lbs. I know. There is work to be done. The pants are pretty snug. I want them to be loose again. I want to feel better about me. I can do this... at least, I hope I can!!

No sweeter reward!!

Just finished the next treadmill run. I am watching Once Upon A Time while I run. This morning while contemplating a morning coffee, I opted for a small latte over a mocha. I know, trivial little decisions, but wait. By choosing the latte over the mocha, I was able to have the sweetest reward after my run. A glass of Avalon Dairies Organic Chocolate Milk.

 It is such a treat. And although it makes a pretty amazing mocha, a glass of chocolate milk, made all the fancier in a nice cup, is pure heaven. Try it. You will see what I mean. You might have to run a bit longer and a bit further, but it will be worth every sip.

In the meantime… another 4.98km run. Why not 5km? Because it was a preprogrammed route and that is just how far it is. This afternoon I will get a bit of a walk in, as the kids go on their walk-a-thon fundraiser at the school. Yay, it's a time to be active with the kids!! Love every one of those opportunities.

Run done.

The beautiful part about two boys being at camp is that I can exercise as I wish. No kids fighting. No arguments. Just me and my run. It was great. 

I went for an hour. Just slow. Sort of copied the husband. When his bike program said go faster, I ran faster and when it said go slow, I went slower. So it was a nice mix. And it is done. Hopefully tonight I do some weights at work. I will keep you posted!!

Renewed!!

Well, that was a pretty successful week. Managed to get in a 45 minute swim (for some reason you practically have to drag me to the pool kicking and screaming), my first outdoor ride, the eight minute test on Trainer Road, a 7km run, two more 4km runs, and then tonight was another hour on the bike. That was about 7 hours of training. Not too bad!! This Ironman training needs to stay consistent now though. No more falling off the band wagon!!

And tomorrow my little guy starts his training. His school is doing a running club, where every day they run a kilometre and then at the end of May they run the last 1.2km on race day, totalling a marathon!! So, he will be completing his second "marathon". Not bad for a kindergartener!!

An all around amazing run...

So today I went out on a run. My oldest was in school, and I had just dropped off my youngest at preschool, so I had some time on my hands, and some miles to get in. My day started with a little link from CTV Olympics with a montage of some amazing Canadian athletes heading to the 2012 Olympics. It was a great little clip (literally, it was only 30 seconds). And in the background was playing, Invincible by Hedley. It was perfect. It inspired me. Here it is in case you want to check it out:



So, I set out. I was wearing some tights and a shirt from MEC and my favourite running socks from SUGOI. I didn't find my sports buds so only had my phone with me. I ended up just playing this same song on repeat, but it was just perfect. Listening to Invincible, by Hedley, I ran and ran. The scenery was great. I was was running on the University of Calgary pathways, and then soon enough was running past Ronald McDonald House and the Children's Hospital. Of course this always reminds me of the many appointments we've attended there for my little one. And then in the distance, I see the mountains. It's an incredible backdrop. The run was fabulous. Truly. I put in 1 hour and 23 minutes. Didn't really have much more time as I had to be back at the school picking up my son shortly after. And the speed wasn't anything to brag about, but I ran 11.19km. I was consistent. I was happy. My body was happy, and after a few runs last week and another long ride, I feel like I'm where I need to be.

Next up is the Calgary Police Half. It's not very far away now, and really, I could stand to have put in a few more runs, but, we are, where we are, and I will work with what I've done, and what I will do!!

How is your December treating you??

Life is busy. But, I truly believe Newton had it nailed. An object in motion stays in motion, an object at rest stays at rest. So, far, December is starting to prove that once again, I can be in motion!! A friend told me about Strides Running Store December Streak challenge, to go one mile every day in December. Minimum. Every single day. You can do more than that, but you can't count anything above the mile as miles for the next day. To make it a streak, it has to be a mile every day. Including Christmas. No excuses. No exceptions. Find the time, to go one mile.

Well, today is December 13th, and so far, I am 13/13 for going a mile a day. Most days I go more than a mile. But every day, without fail so far, I have gone a minimum 1.6km. And funny enough, when you make it a priority, it fits in. An object in motion, stays in motion.

It's not too late to start. I mean really, there is no set date to start a streak. Today can be your day one. No excuses, just do it!! You'll be set and in a routine before the new year even hits!!