Running and P90X

Yeah - bring on March 1.
That means, typically, there is warmer weather out there. And, I have missed running because of a couple reasons:
1. I hate running inside (track or treadmill).
2. I hate running when its below 40 degrees.

Last night, by the time I had the chance to run, I had to run inside on the track. The past few months this has been almost impossible because my gym keeps the track at about 90 degrees so you can't breathe. So, I would do interval hills on the treadmill. Last night, the heat/air was back to normal. It felt so good to run 2 miles. I didn't lose much on my time, but I could feel a difference in my right ham and in my left ankle. I've been having knee issues - but amazingly not when I run. So that was a good thing.
I'm running tonight on the track again (just a time thing) and then tomorrow night I'll run out at Seneca. I'm gearing back up for the Anthem 5k on Saturday.
But, I've missed the energy running gives me and the weight loss/shaping ability that running has. Definitely will be doing that. I love the parks here in Louisville, and I am looking forward to Shelley, Johnson, and Lynn Lakes in Raleigh and also Umstead State Park. They will be good preparers for the Half I'm doing over Labor Day wknd. Hopefully some running buddies in Raleigh too. (But I'll def miss my running buddies here in the Ville).
Ok - now for P90X. I've heard and read so many blogs about how absolutely wonderful this is. And for some yes. This is the first time I've heard some negative reports of it.
You can read about it here. Basically - its a lot of money. But, if you can borrow someone's to test before you purchase it, that might be a wise move.
Ok - go exercise people - its spring - that means its one more month closer to bathing suit season - yikes! :)

I can either be...

Fat again or Fit 4 Life.
I do great during the week and I've done well - doing yoga, exercising, etc. Friday wasn't good. Most Fridays aren't - but that doesn't mean it can slip into the rest of the wknd.
I have to make choice:
1. Be obedient and be fit and healthy with my body working the way God has designed for my body to work.
2. Enjoy oreos, too many baked lays, sugar cookies, hot chocolate just to mindlessly eat, give up on running to quick because of little things that aren't going perfectly.
I want to:
1. Feel great
2. Be great
3. Look great - love those size 6 jeans!
4. Don't want sagging skin
5. Invest in others
6. Be there for ministry later in life - and be healthy to do a great job at it.

God has given us a body that was created to be productive and glorify him.
Drinking unsweet tea right now - and doing pilates when I get off work at 930 tonight.
Tomorrow: work, vegetarian tea lunch, run out at a park (in the cold, am I crazy, push through), cooking legumes (I always feel fancy when I say that word in my head), babysitting for a dear family.
Sunday will run in the morning or do yoga before church (it might be snowing outside, so I may stick with the yoga).
Monday is a pilates class! :)

Too much eating! Need Motivation!

Ok - so I've been eating way too much this week...
1. Changes at work bring stress
2. Hormones
3. Sweets at work
4. Just not motivated

I need to snap back in to it! I need to challenge myself for the next 2 months. I need some attainable goals.
Can you as readers help? Thank you. I set my February goals - but how do I actually attain them now?! The scales has to go the other way!
Need some motivation! HELP!

February Goals

I like making mini-goals! It helps in losing weight, in cleaning your home, or cooking a large meals. You have to break things down - instead of looking at the long term.
So, what am I going to do in February that will make more more healthy:
1. If it is up to me, eat salads for dinner. This gets me a lot of green in and doesn't weigh me down at night. Now, there are times when I'll have dinner with others - but then I can just eat sensibly - or if going out, I can have a salad. I know of one exception - Sonny's with Sloan.
2. Start back training for a 5k. That means running more intentionally. Started week 5 of Couch to 5k again today. Got most of it done - but a sweet friend I hadn't seen in a while was there so I stopped and talked to her then ran out of time. My first 5k of 2010 is the first wknd of March. Bring on the Anthem!
3. Continue with yoga or Bob's boot camp. The first 3 weeks of the month will be dedicated to our friend Bob Harper. He makes me work. My quads and hams and inner/outer thighs actually hurt right now between the 2 DVDs and running.
4. Feb 24 - bring on round 2 of Jillian's 30 Day Shred. That will have me 30 days out of last day of my current job - so I want to look stellar. I really feel like I toned up and looked sleeker the last time I did it (before the holidays set in), so I want to do it again.

New things:
1. Taking a semi-private yoga lesson with a friend this weekend. I am very excited about that!
2. Hiking both Berea pinnacles later this month with Sloan. I've done it once before, but I'm doing it with Sloan this time.
3. Antibiotics. Taking augmenten right now for a sinus infection from last week. It is helping, but is sometimes not sitting well with my stomach and is making me thirsty - so I'm drinking tons of fluids!

How are you sticking with your NYRs? How are you keeping motivated in the cold month of February? What are your mini-goals? What new things are you trying this month?

Crud and Weight

Well, folks, over a week later and I still have crud. That's about how I describe it and how I feel. Life must go on though. I am going to the clinic on campus today after speaking with my friend, the nurse, this morning.
I've been doing yoga all week in my house. That has been good. 2 days I only did 20 minutes, 2 days I did the whole 45. Feel much stronger and lean after doing a full yoga session!
And...I have finally lost all the holiday and birthday weight! Now, I can concentrate on losing the last 5-10% I have to go!
Keep up all the New Year's resolutions everyone!

Workouts while sick?

I am sick. I hate being sick. The whole body hurts, sore throats, ears. Life must go on right?

So, I had finally gotten back into a track interval/yoga workouts and then this. But, it just hurts to do anything - mainly keeping my head up!

So, what do you do when you are feeling sick?

Interval Incline Treadmill Workout

Are you one of those people who despise the treadmill like me? Are you looking for new ways to put your coat hanger (you know, that at-home treadmill) to use? Are you wanting to improve your leg strength? Are you wanting to change up your routine? Did it snow outside this week at your house (or just is too cold) so you can't run outside?
If any of these questions you can answer yes to, then this blog post is for you.
It snowed here 4 inches yesterday, the indoor track at the gym is about 85 degrees (can't run in that), and I hate treadmills. This is why I love reading other peoples' blogs!
CarrotsNCake posted a 24- minute treadmill workout on her blog yesterday, just as I was getting off my second job, so I jotted it down and it helped me plow through a treadmill workout. I lengthened it and made it my own at either end - but this is a great one:

Minutes Speed Incline
2 3.0 (warmup) 0
3 4.9 0
3 4.7 1
3 4.5 1.5
3 4.3 2
3 4.2 2.5
3 4.1 3
3 4.0 3.5
3 3.9 4.0
3 3.8 4.5
1 3.5 (cool down) 2.0

The reason this is great:
gets your heart rate up and keeps it there
sweating
kills your legs (shins, calves, quads, and hammies) - and your butt
doesn't make 30 minutes on the treadmill boring
just over 2 miles