Weekly Goals Link Up - 7/22

Happy Monday y'all!

It's happy for me because my hubby actually had today off, yahoo!!

But of course I didn't get to sleep in because I foolishly made a doctor's appointment for my daughter at 8am this morning.

Foolish.

Oh well, I had no idea he'd have the day off anyways!  He had to work Saturday and has been working 12 hour days most of the past week.

No fun for this mom.  Luckily I recently met this really cool fellow mom and Navy wife and we hung out most of last week!

On to my goals.  Yesterday was my youngest daughter's 2nd birthday (cue the awwwwws).  Of course I made cake and cupcakes.  Of course I ate cake and cupcakes.  Delish!

And pizza. I ate lots of pizza.  Sigh.  I've been feeling craptastic everytime I have pizza now.  Because, if you've read my previous posts, I have a pizza addiction. I can't just have one or two slices.



It's a sickness, people.

So I'm linking up again today to get back on track.  I'm going on vacay in 19 days and I'd like the good habits in place prior to that.

There will be pizza on that trip too.  The best pizza.

Goals for Week of 7/22 -

1.  Run 4x this week.  I managed to run after the birthday party yesterday (a 5K, yes I did), so 3 more to go.  I'll be heading out right after this post.

2.  Start some kind of strength routine. Whether it be some squats, lunges and planks in my living room, I need to start building that lean muscle.

3.  Eat out less this week. We were out and about so much last week that we made one too many stops at the drive-thru.  I've meal planned through the end of the month so I hope to stick to that.

What are your goals this week?  What have you had trouble with in July?

Yesterday's Workout and Self-Doubt

So yesterday's run.

Do you ever have a conversation with yourself, in your head, where you go back and forth on whether or not you can do something?

In my case, it was running for 20 minutes.

It's not as if I've never run a non-interval run before.  I've done it many, many times.  I've run a couple of 5K races.  Heck, I've even done a 5.5 mile run! 

But I've been on this interval-run-kick for so long, where I run 3 minutes, walk 1 (Week 1 of the Ease into 10K, wash, rinse, repeat).

So yesterday I decided I was going to dip back into the 5K training and do a 20 minute run, 3 minute walk, 5 minute run.

I got out there and was feeling pretty good on that first mile. I thought about my BFF Amanda (and new blogger at A Healthful Approach) kicking butt yesterday and busting out a 5 mile run on the treadmill. And that seriously motivated me to just make it happen and go for the 5K.

I did my 3.1 and felt fantastic.  And wondered why I'd even doubted myself in the first place.

My run pace was a respectable 10:33. I know I'm not a fast runner, but hey, I'm getting it DONE.

Now I'm linking up for Weigh In Wednesday (better late than never)!

 

It's my first week, but certainly won't be my last!  I'm happy to have the extra push to get past this number! I just finished hosting an FB Biggest Loser Challenge and did not win. But I was weighing in on Wednesdays, so this will not be new to me.  I'm hoping to try Weight Watchers again because that seems to be the one thing I can stick with. 

Current Weight: 173.3

1st Goal Weight: 168

Ultimate Goal Weight: 150ish

Here's to another step in the right direction!

10K Training, Again

It's Tuesday, peeps!

I feel like I haven't had a chance to get on my computer in DAYS!  It's hard to find the time when the trio is up and running around.

I knew it was time to get re-started in my 10K training. I have started it more than once and gotten all the way to week 7, and then BOOM - off the wagon I fell.

It was a hard fall.



I started again and kept repeating weeks 1 and 2. I love those 3/1 intervals!  But I was having motivation issues along with some breathing troubles.

So I restarted the plan yet again. I swear it's probably my 5th time.  Today would be the day I start week 2.  Again. Again. Again.

But I feel bored. I don't feel motivated. I feel like I should be DONE already. I should be able to run 5 or 6 miles no problem.

I used to mix up my running with gym classes.  Sigh. I LOVED my old gym in Maryland. Loved it.  I had a great group of friends that I made through the gym and I always looked forward to going to class.

Body Pump.  Body Step.  Body Attack.  Body Combat.  I love you all and miss you. 

That plus running was fantastic for my motivation.  Now the closest gym that offers those same classes is 18 miles away.  It's not super realistic for me to join when it's totally out of the way.

What's a girl to do?  Off to go run for now.

The Skinny Rules

Otherwise known as "The Skinny Rules!"

Picture me fist-pumping when I say Rules.

Bob Harper - of Biggest Loser fame - has a newish book out called "The Skinny Rules." I haven't read the book (for shame), but I've read a ton of other "diet" books.

I hate the word diet.

My friend Betty posted these rules for our group during The Biggest Loser challenge I put together. 

Here are The Skinny Rules: 

1. Drink large glass of water (16 oz.) before every meal and snacks--5 a day
2. Don't drink your calories--stay away from fruit juices and sodas that are high in sugar. 2 cups coffee okay
3. Eat lowfat protein at every meal--protein doesn't have to be animal based. Protein minimizes hunger.
4. Slash intake of refined flour/grains--try brown rice, quinoa, barley, farro
5. Eat 30-50 grams of fiber
6. Eat apples and berries each day
7. No carbs after lunch--eat lean and green at night. Protein and veggies are best
8. Read labels--stay away from artificial ingredients or foods that sound like bad chemistry experiments
9. Get portion size right--you can bag some portions ahead of time
10. No artificial sweeteners
11. No white potatoes
12. One day a week meatless--eat more beans and nuts
13. No fast foods and fried foods
14. Eat a real breakfast: include protein, grains and fruit (lowfat plain yogurt is great protein source)
15. Make your own food and eat at least 10 meals a week at home
16. Banish high salt foods--use more herbs
17. Eat veggies--as much as possible
18. Go to bed hungry--try not to eat after 8 p.m. or 4 hours prior to bedtime
19. Sleep Right--get adequate sleep
20. Plan one splurge meal a week--but don't go crazy with the calories, fat and sugar in it

Seems like a no-brainer, right? It sounds like something I might be able to handle in my life.  I love my white carbs though!  Such a drug they are!

I think I'm going to give it a shot though.  I need to start making better food choices. Making good choices has always been my problem, and I need to start fixing it.

Anyone followed this approach?  How did it work for you?