In Stride: 2014

I'm not exactly sure what inspired me to write today after a yr. off, but here I am.

I'm not going to list excuses why I haven't blogged in so long, truth is...I just haven't really felt like it. LOL. I'm not a writer by nature so I have to get in "the mood". Apparently, today was the day!

This past winter I got lazy, not even gonna lie. I had zero desire to work out or to eat super healthy. I enjoyed every minute of it too!! However, when I really looked in the mirror in January, I realized I didn't like the results of my lazy winter. My clothes were much tighter and getting uncomfortable. Not to mention I was sick of the lazy feeling I get when I don't workout and eat right. I had been comfortable in my over sized winter gear for long enough. Spring was on the horizon and I was not ready for the attire that comes along with warmer weather. I'm not claiming to have become a cow or anything, and I know in some people's eyes I was still "small", but for me and how I'm comfortable in my own skin, I needed to make some improvements.

Also, the hubs came home with a scale a few weeks ago. In our 13 yrs of marriage we have never owned one. I guess it was time. I've never been one to care what the scale says, I've always gone with how I feel and fit into my clothes. However, about 4 yrs ago, when I really started working out consistently, day 1 I stepped on the scale at the gym and didn't like what I saw. I was 134...the heaviest I'd ever been other than being pregnant, of course. It proved to be a motivator over the next few months. I didn't get obsessed with the number but I found when I was mid 120s I felt the best and healthiest. When I stepped on it a few weeks ago...I wasn't in the mid 120s but in the 130s. 132 to be exact. I wasn't surprised with how I was feeling lately. It was a definite motivator! I will not obsess with the number but I do take it into consideration. My current goal is to lose 7 pounds and that would put me at 125. Today when I stepped on the scale it read...130. Yay! Progress!!!

Late January, early Febuary I began doing a Jillian DVD called "Trouble Zones". It is a great 40 minute workout! I ran randomly at my church gym while Emma had basketball practice. I was slowly starting to perk up and get out of the winter funk. But, not entirely. I proved to be a hard winter case of laziness to crack!

Fortunately for me, my church was offering an early morning boot camp starting in mid February. I was so excited and knew it was exactly what I needed! I showed up bright and early that first class not knowing what to expect. It proved to be extremely challenging and I was hooked! With a different workout each time we meet, my muscles never know what's coming. I have now been doing it for 3ish months and I am still sore after every class! I keep thinking there will be a day I'm not sore afterwards, but I'm beginning to think not! I don't mind though, soreness means that I'm getting stronger.

I am also doing a push-up challenge. It's a 30 day challenge and I do 100 push ups a day. I follow this super cool runner on instagram, #fitandfaithfulfc, and she threw the challenge out there and I accepted right away. I haven't been perfect and have missed a few days, but it's amazing to me how much easier they are getting as the days pass. Note....I said easier, not easy!! Big difference! I am also doing a "big girl" push up or so I like to call them. Only hands and feet touching the ground! The first day I could only do about 10 at a time and I broke the 100 up into groups of 50. Doing some in the morning and some at night...or whenever I had time. 15 days in, I'm doing all 100 in about 10-15 minutes tops. Sets of 10-15 with about a 30 second break between sets. My goal by the end of the month is to be able to do 2 sets of 50...we shall see!

Here are some progress shots!

day 1

day 6

day 14

Getting them done....Although, this was more of a plank because I had to wait on my sweet son to take the pic! lol

You may be thinking, why are you doing all this extra working out and not just running? In short, I am slightly injury prone when I have increased my mileage in the past so I want to make sure I'm strengthening my muscles to support the impact of running. Plus, I need to tone up the "winter flab!"

I have started running more regularly as well. I am running anywhere from 2-4 times a week. It is honestly depending on how sore I am from boot camp as to whether I can run or not the following day.

A fun motivator has been the awesome Garmin forerunner 220 running watch I received for Mother's Day! I love it! I have been wanting one for years and I'm thrilled that my hubby got all the hints I dropped ;)