Week 4 C25k

I just started Week 4 of the program.  As I sit here typing, my legs are sore, my back is tight, and my shins are warm.  Yet, I feel amazing all over!  

Week 4 was haunting me. * 

A 5 minute warm up.  3 minute running, 90 sec walking, 5 minute running, and 2 min 30 sec walking. Both are repeated a second time. Then a 5 minute cool down.  

The week before was just a 2 minute run.  Who decided I could run for 5 straight minutes?  Anyone know?  If someone finds out who, point that beast in my direction because we have a few items to discuss!  Thank you! 

Anyway, on to the running.  

The entire 5 minute warm up was me worrying about how I was going to run for 5 minutes.  Talk about being in your own head.  It went so fast that before I knew it, I was hearing that little robotic voice telling me "Time to Run."  I am happy to report that the 3 minutes went well.  I felt in control.  I felt like everything I needed to be strong was; breathing, legs, pace.  

Of course the 90 second brisk walking went quicker than I could have imagined.  Probably because I was staring at the clock thinking about how long 5 minutes really is.  I took a nice deep breath and started my 5 minutes.  It wasn't too bad.  I was able to focus on the Netflix program I was watching, instead of the clock.  I stayed at a pace that I knew I could handle, but still challenged me.  Success!  

The next intervals were fine.  I had some cramping in my hip and a few shin pulls, but I wasn't going to die.  I knew I had to keep going.  Towards the end of the last 2 min 30 second brisk walk, I had a feeling I was going to have to walk a little more.  I was trying to walk out that hip pain and find my breath again.  I decided to give myself 60 extra seconds of brisk walk.  This meant that my last 5 minute run would be 4 minutes.  

I was still having hip and shin pain, but this is when I developed a new mantra for  my training.  I repeated it several times while running.  I might even have yelled it out while I was running.  I might have kept saying it the entire 4 minutes.

  I carried twins for 38 weeks!  Full term!  This is nothing.

Truth be told, it is something.  I know that.  I am very proud of the fact that I was able to do what I did.  I fought my mind.  I won.  

My legs are definitely feeling that jelly did too much work feeling.  It is a nice reminder of my accomplishment.  It is also a reminder of how far I have yet to go.  Remember, my goal is to finish the Pace to Pint 5k with a PR.  I have just over 5 more weeks until the race.  I know I will be excited and scared, but most of all I plan to be ready! 

*I look ahead on the workouts to see what I will have to do next week.  I am going to TRY to stop doing that.  It psychs myself out....obviously! 

~ Weigh In Day/Week In Review ~

I'm thinking of trying something a little different.  I'd love to hear what you all think of it, so please feel free to share your thoughts!

The scale and I did not have our weekly meeting today.  I do not plan on weighing for a couple more weeks.  

What do you think about a monthly weigh in?  

Right now I am focusing on the 5k training.  I am (trying) to make good food choices.  The scale goes up and down and all over the place it seems.  It makes me sad, mad, depressed, unmotivated, motivated, annoyed, hopeful ~ all at the same time.  What a mess!  That can't be healthy or good for the stress levels.  The strange thing is I see my body changing.  I see a difference in how my posture is.  I feel a difference in my sore bones.  Then I see the scale.  

I have to talk myself into getting on it.  I make food choices depending on what the scale says.  My mood depends on what the scale says.  What I do for exercise (or not) depends on the scale.  That's a bunch of crap.  I am stick of this stupid piece of glass with it's black digital numbers having more control over me than it should.  

I am in charge of me.  I am in charge of my mood(s).  I am in charge of how I exercise, what I eat, and what I accomplish.  

No more scale.  Once a month, I'll step on it and take a glance, knowing that I am eating as best I can, working out as best I can, and making healthy choices as best I can. 

I am more than numbers.

C25k Week 2 Wrap Up

Don't fret!  I have been sticking to my workout schedule.  I've just have a little too much on my plate to get to the blog.  By the evening, I just want to relax with the hubby and watch some Netflix.

This past week's C25k started with a 5 minute warm up followed by 90 seconds running/2 minute walking intervals, and finished up with a 5 minute cool down.

I am still struggling with the, "I don't really want to get up and do this," debate, but I am doing it.  I feel absolutely amazing when I am done.  Half way through, I even start to enjoy myself.  

During the 3rd workout of the week I started to have some of that knee trouble I had last year.  My knee was giving out from under me, almost catching.  I don't know how to really explain it.  It sucks.  It hurts.  It is weird.  

I didn't do any extra workouts after the 3 were in for the week.  I took it easy.  It seems to have helped, because by the next day I wasn't having any more pain or "catches."  

~ Weigh In Day/Week In Review ~

I am up a pound.  Yes.  You read that correctly.

I stepped on the scale.  Ready to see some amazing loss since I have been working out and counting points.  I wasn't expecting a Biggest Loser number, but I was expecting to smile when I looked down and saw those ugly digital numbers staring up at me.  

What?  No wait.  I'll weigh again.  I took a nice deep breath.  Surely I did not gain a pound.  

Haha.  Nope.  Up a pound.  

My darling husband offered words of encouragement.  He tried explaining how working out and eating right and blah blah blah.  You know it just went in one ear and out the other.  God love him for trying, but I gained a pound!  Working my butt off, I gained a pound!  

Normally I would throw in the towel for the day.  Oh heck, let's call a spade a spade.  I would pout!  I wouldn't work out and you better believe I would eat whatever I felt like.  

Today was very different though.  I took my 1 pound gain, recorded it online, and prepared for the rest of my day.  I know what I am doing.  I know I am working out.  I know I am counting points and making better food choices.  I know I am doing what I can do right now.  So, one day at a time.  

Looking back, there were days I did not eat enough points.  There were days I didn't measure dinner, but eye balled it.  There were days that I drank too much coffee and not enough water.  I can own all of it.  I can own me and my journey.  

So yes.  I gained a pound this past week.  Nothing worth working for is ever easy...  

~ Weigh In Day/Week In Review ~ 1/15/13

As weigh in #3 is approaching, I realized that last Tuesday, January 15th, for whatever reason, I forgot to share my weigh in info.  

I was down 2 pounds for the week.  Total of 5 pounds down.  I started my training (which is obvious by my other posts) and I started recording what I was eating, not just keeping track in my head.

Last week's menu 

Sunday ~  Coconut Shrimp with Roasted Red New Potatoes 

Monday ~ Pork Chops with Apples and Grits

Tuesday ~  Turkey Chili Taco Soup

Wednesday ~ PF Chang's Copy Cat Lettuce Wraps *

Thursday ~  Turkey Meatballs, Whole Wheat Pasta, and Garlic Bread

Friday ~  Pizza night

Saturday ~  Girls Night In ~ Homemade Calzones and WW **Butterfinger Dessert  

*This was modified quite a bit so that I could cut down on the fat/calories.

**I'll share the recipe this week!