Week 4: Day 1

It was hard, and I thought I was going to die, but I made it.  I only cheated once and walked for 3 minutes instead of 2.5.  I made it 2 miles...actually 2.034...but who's counting?  Still hanging out at 150, but my pants fit a bit better and some are actually a little big.
The heat this week may be a huge downfall.  I've pushed my running time to even earlier... but it's still around 74 degrees at 5:45. sigh.  Much earlier and I"ll be running in the dark.  Next week, I'll be on vacation, so I need to plot a track to run there...then it's on to the mountains, where I will finish the program.  So, hopefully I will be super in shape and running 3.1 miles by the time I come home.
On a health note: I have noticed that my heart rate (which was skyrocketing) is not going up as scarily high and is coming down faster.  These are good things, and even if the weight isn't flying off as I would like, it's good to know that my heart is getting stronger and able to handle more!
That's the most exciting post ever.  heh.

Week 3: Day 3

Please, someone tell me this gets easier.  I did HORRIBLE on distance.  But, I did finish, and that's the goal right?  Also, my stupid MP3 player's battery was dead.  And since I was already outside, I didn't want to go in and risk waking the kids trying to find a battery.  So, no music today.  The weather, at least, was cooler.  I did a 6:00 run (as opposed to 6:30) this morning, as I did on Wednesday.  It was nice.  Not as many people, and it's light enough to see, but the sun isn't fully up.  I think I will continue this for the next couple of weeks, and then I"ll be in the mountains, where it is supposedly cooler.  heh.
I added pics to the last post.  We'll see how that continues.
Next weeks schedule is going to have me writing stuff on my hand.  It goes like this:
5 minute walk warm up
3 minute jog
90 sec walk
5 minute jog (WHAT?!!?!?)
2.5 minute walk
3 minute jog
90 second walk
5 minute jog.
Holy Monkey... sorta scary actually.
The good thing is with this is the distance I'm supposed cover, I'm already covering.  So hopefully, I won't go backwards.  2 five minute jogs... shooee!

Week 3: Day 2

Same amount of distance.  The humidity was INSANE!!!  I had to go a little earlier this morning due to doctor's appointments.  As I slept horribly last night, I was awake before the alarm and out into the nice cool stifling hot morning (seriously 77 at 5:45 in the morning should only be legal in hell!)  sigh.  Anyway, the 3 minute jogs were a smidgen easier today, at least the first one was.  The second one, I was all feeling good about and forgot that the timer was counting down and not up...so at 2 minutes I was all proud of myself and then realized I still HAD 2 minutes, not 1.  I actually did take a break in the middle of the last 3 minute jog and re-stretched my legs, they got really tight. But I finished it all.
2 good things:  1) I was listening to Bob Marley's 3 Little Birds on my last 1.5 minute jog and as I turned the corner, the sun was just coming over the trees in these great rays and there were three little birds in the road in front of me.  It was pretty cool... also I stole some blackberries out of a neighbors ditch at the end of that 1.5 minutes... heh.  They don't pick them.
2) at the doc's this morning, my blood pressure was 104/60!!  I've never had really high BP, it's usually steady at 120/60.  But obviously, something is going right for my BP to be that low!  so wahoo!
Still no pic.  I thought about it many times yesterday and just never got around to it.  We are going to the beach in the morning.  I'll have someone take my pic there.  That should suffice.
Here's hoping for a bit more distance on Friday and a little less humidity!

Week 3 pic.  Me at the beach.  For comparison, week 1 pic at the top.... maybe a little difference???

Week 3: Day 1

That just plain sucked.
The cycle is: 3 minute jog, 3 minute walk, 90 second job, 90 second walk...rinse, lather, repeat... only 2 times but still.
Actually, the fact that I only had to repeat this 2 times made it bearable.  As predicted I didn't go as far.  1.642 miles.  Still not too bad.  My shins, quads, arches... everything really, hurt!  But I did it.  Again, the music helped.   Jump, For My Love, The Pointer Sisters, really helped me make it through that first 3 minute jog.  At 1.5 minutes I thought I might just stop an lie down for a minute. Heh.
It didn't help that one of my kids was up every 2 hours last night.  Jerry was up until 2 doing homework.  I'm SOOO ready for vacation.  But not to worry, I will still run.
I am going to do measurements to night.  I'm still at 150, but I think things are starting to shrink a bit.... in a good way!  I'll post a pic on Wednesday. This week is crazy busy.

Week 2: Day 3

What the hell ever.  I woke up sore from squatting for over an hour picking blackberries yesterday.  My legs begged me to stay in bed.  Alas, they don't own me!  heh.  So up and at 'em.  I decided on calm music today (lots of Sarah Mclachlan) and that I wasn't going to push myself too hard.  I was going to just do my 6 cycles and then go take a hot shower and get on with this day (which by the way promised to be full of emotional turmoil as Elijah graduated from preschool... sob!)  Everything was going okay.  Except the freaking humidity was insanely high.  I was sweating by the end of the 5 minute walking warm up.  Side note: I purchased a duo dry shirt with built in sport's bra and MAN it supports and helps to keep me fairly dry.  nice.  So anyway, in what I thought was my last cycle, I decided that if I pumped it up a notch I could probably get in at least the same amount of distance, so I sped up... a lot.  I got to about 45 seconds when I realized that this was my 5th cycle and not my 6th.  Sigh.  So, my 6th cycle was the slowest jog known to man.  I probably could have been passed by an old woman on a walker.  But I finished it and ended up at 2.04 miles today.
My eating this week has been horrid, but that's the way it goes.
Tomorrow I'm taking the kids to the beach for the morning and then Jerry and I celebrate 11 years of marriage.  I hope that it is a grand day!  And I hope that Monday doesn't kill me!

Week 2: Day 2

My legs rebelled this morning. I mean they yelled at me to stop many times this morning.  Alas, they were out voted by the rest of the body.  I have to say that the music is a massive motivator for me.  I can be ready to give up and then a really good song will come on and I will feel like I could run for miles... which, you know, I am I guess. heh.

Today I reached 1.929 miles.  I have realized that I am completely competing against myself. This is both good and bad.  Bad in that I am pushing myself REALLY hard.  And while that's all well and good, I feel like I'm setting myself up for failure.  Right now I get a break after each running segment.  Quite frankly, I'm pretty sure Jerry would have to come find and drag me out of a ditch if I tried to run the distance I am covering with walking and running.  Once I start running more than walking, I feel like my distance will probably decrease, as my pace slows a little bit.  If the goal is to run 3.1 miles then I will make that at this rate WAY before the end of 9 weeks. And I just don't see that happening.  On the other hand, I am pushing myself and pushing my limits.  A few weeks ago, running for 90 seconds at a time would have had me gasping for breath.

My pulse only got up to 177 at the end of the workout.  This is much better that what it was last week.  I feel like my lungs are getting stronger too.  I"m still very tired, but I do feel my awake time has a bit more energy.   And I also think that my tiredness is related to something else entirely... but that is a different post for another day.

Week 2: Day 1

5 minute warm up, 90 second job followed by 2 minutes of walking.  After the insanity that was my weekend I was really nervous about today.  And while it was hard, it wasn't impossible and I didn't die.  The sun, however, is starting to blind me on a few of my turns.  I also added a bit to my route so I don't get too bored running the same thing over and over.
Today I covered 1.8 miles.  Not to shabby for really not doing a whole lot over the weekend.  I have to say that I don't sleep well the night before I run.  I"m hoping that as I get more comfortable in the routine that I will sleep at least normally.  It didn't help that the girl child decided that 5:00 was a good time to snuggle into bed.  It's really not that big of a deal, but the way I sleep with her KILLS my back, so I was really sore even with stretching.  Sigh.
I really thought about doing some measurements to see if there really is a difference happening, but alas, I am lazy that way, so the only stat you get for the beginning of week 2 is my weight... 150.3!  Getting there!
I thought I would do a pic every other week.
Be back on Wednesday!

Day 3

Today kicked my ass.  My pulse was racing by the end.  I don't think that the counter thing on my watch was right, or maybe I was counting too many beats, whatever.  However, I moved up to 1.6 miles today. So maybe I was just pushing myself harder...or maybe yesterday I was just REALLY lazy.  I also added music to my MP3 player, which I haven't done since shortly after Elijah was born.  It's funny how much music motivates me.  Some songs I was just struggling through and then something I REALLY loved came on and I would take off.
Anyway, week one is coming to an end.  I hope that Monday does not do me in.  I will be in the 90 second jog/2 minute walk cycle.  90 seconds doesn't sound that bad...right?  heh.  We'll see.
Oh, and my feet, they felt fine today.  So thick socks, no extra arch support, and shoes tied at the perfect tightness.  wahoo.week 1

Day 2...

I went from 1 mile to 1.25 miles today.  I"m not really doing this for distance, but I was a little curious when I finished my loop and had to improvise.  SO already I guess my pace is better.
Monday I was starving all day after the run, so for breakfast today I have had an apple with Nutella and two whole grain waffles.  Hoping this will tide me over until I get back from taking the kiddo to school.  Where I have a cup of Greek yogurt and granola waiting in the fridge.
I also took the inserts out of my shoes and my feet feel much better.  Stupid inserts!
AND I swallowed a stupid gnat.  Dumb gnats.
I didn't do any extra stuff today as I did strength training yesterday.  My muscles were tight yesterday and I felt the burn today, but it was entirely unpleasant.
Hoping the rain holds off on Friday.  I feel like if I miss a day it will take a while for me to get back into it.

Week One...

This is for my Couch to 5K journey.
First off, I am not a runner.  I was once upon a time, but since high school... really unless someone or something was chasing me... not so much.  I HAVE been walking at least 3 times a week.  I tried to walk at least a mile each time and usually wore weights on my legs and was pushing Grace in a stroller.  My problem is that the weight was not coming off.  So, I figured I needed to ramp up the workout.  Since Couch to 5K seemed made for someone that doesn't run... I thought I would give it a go.  I will do the program MWF and do a resistance training TTH and then take the weekends off.
I decided to not buy new shoes for this.  I just bought a pair a few months ago, so not so much.  I have decided that if I make it through the 9 week training, I will splurge and buy a pair of decent running shoes.  So I went and bought a pair of arch support inserts.  Um, not so much.  My arches didn't hurt, but it put a lot of pressure on the outside of my feet.  So I will try without the inserts on Wednesday and see how it goes.
I have to say that I was rather proud of myself.  I made it through the first workout and even came home and did 20 push ups and 100 crunches... heh.  So anyway...
I don't do measurements except weight:
Starting weight: 153
Week 1 picture:

Here's hoping!