Ramblings

Monday: ran 10 miles in American Fork Canyon and almost stepped on a rattlesnake.  When they say these snakes can blend in to their surroundings, they ain't just a-kidding!  I don't know what got my heart racing faster--the run or the snake!

Tuesday: hiked to the top of Timp.  It's been a while and I didn't have much else going on so what the heck.  Should have started earlier, but still had a good time.  Lots of flowers up in the meadow.  It's perty this time of year up there.

Wednesday: back to work, but Happy Birthday to me!  Daughter #2 took me to lunch and daughter #1 took me to dinner.  I think I went significantly over my calorie limit.

Saturday: Sogonapmit Marathon.  Did much better than I though I would.  I actually enjoyed myself and I think I can attribute much of that to the workouts I've been going through with McCade.  The first half is all up.  The second half you just retrace your footsteps back down.  Ended up with a negative split by 15 minutes!

It really was a good week, but you'd have been hard pressed to convince me.  I wasn't eating as well as I needed to--above and beyond the birthday stuff--and my mind likes to play games with me anyways.  Woe is me, woe is me.  Seriously, sometimes I'd really like to just smack myself up the side of the head.  I'm starting to realize how much of an emotional eater I have been (and still can be).

Your Attitude determines your Altitude

You've probably heard that before.  I've heard it so many times it almost makes me want to puke.  To purposely include it in this blog just seems wrong.  Making it the title is even worse!

But it's true.

At 6:10 this morning I had to wake up my daughter to get her home to her mother so I could be at my appointment at the Wellness Center at 7:00.  My daughter loves her sleep as much as I do--and she didn't seem all that cheery during the 5 mile drive.  My only advantage over her this morning was the 5-Hour Energy that was beginning to circulate through my system.  I love my sleep and I dislike mornings.  We both made the best of it and I made my way to my workout.

Working out at the Wellness Center with me were Grady and Socorro.  Both of them were going through their routine with their trainers.  Tuesday I had to reschedule my appointment and McCade shared his time set up for Angie with me.  I felt like I was intruding.  But it was enjoyable to see what positive attitudes everyone involved in this 100-Day Heart Challenge have.  Everyone is so excited about the results their efforts have so far produced.  Our trainers are so helpful and encouraging.

And it's kind of contagious.

I don't struggle as much to get up and do something at 6 a.m. as I used to.  And I just feel better generally.  There are results I can actually see due to this challenge, and it's those results that make me want to work extra hard to make sure the results I can't see end up looking good at the end of the 100 days.

I think we got this!

Motivation

This morning's nutrition class wasn't so much about nutrition. Today we got into the psychology of what it is we're trying to accomplish.  The obstacles and barriers that get in our way.

Turns out what's mostly in my way is me.

My choices.

My mind.  And those little voices in it that say it's OK to have a Pepsi today cause it's been a really-really long day.

Thoughts, left on their own, are like water--they'll take the path of least resistance and go as low as it can.  I think that's where the saying, "Get your mind out of the gutter" comes from.  Maybe.

Anyways, my motivation--the reason I need to be more proactive in the choices I make--is this:

and this:

 and this:

and this:

Penance for an off day...

The Carpenter's had it right, mostly.  I actually enjoy a good rainy day.

Yesterday--Monday--was a tough one.

I woke up later than intended and didn't get in a morning run, and the heat and humidity later in the day made it easy to take a pass then as well..

I was doing pretty well with my eating throughout the day, probably eating more carrots than I actually should have.  If you eat to many carrots, will your skin turn orange?  But I felt hungry.  Whole wheat pasta is supposed to help you fill fuller with less on account of the fiber content, right?  I thought so too, so that's what I made for dinner.  And all that I had eaten up to that point came right in close to my total recommended calorie intake for the day.  Except I was still hungry.

And I had a coupon for a free chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-a!

I should have put that darn thing through the shredder!

Cause I drove to the Chick-fil-a and got myself a free chicken sandwich (and waffle fries and a fruit punch).

And a guilty conscience with some self-recrimination for dessert.

I'll tell you why I don't like Mondays!


So, what did I tell McCade at my training session this morning?  "You got to make me hurt this morning, McCade!"  I knew it was time to bump up the intensity some, but I felt like I needed to work extra hard to make up for the trip to Chick-fil-a.  I'll be darned if he didn't take me serious, too!

The speed and incline were both increased on my hill-repeats and extra weight was added to most of my weight training exercises.  I had to step off the belt on the treadmill a couple of times to catch my breath, and McCade had to "assist" me with a couple of the final reps on one or two or the weight exercises.  I can lift my arms above my shoulders now, but for a while there this morning it was a difficult task.


Did I really consider this morning's workout as a type of penance?  Not so much.  Like I said before--I knew I needed to bump up the intensity of my workouts some or I'd simply plateau.  But maybe I did a little bit because while nobody expects perfection day in and day out with this challenge, I expect myself to have a little more control over my response to "perceived" hunger pangs.

4th of July

Probably my favorite holiday--it usually means get-togethers and barbeques.  And so it was.

Cookies, brownies, hamburgers and hotdogs, and salads.

And soda.

The soda was my assignment, but I didn't have any.  And I only had one hamburger, a small dollop of the cottage cheese/jello salad and only a few Doritos.  Of the cookies and brownies: I only had one.

Of each...

And there were a few options...

Still, it was a successful week: I'm down a few pounds overall and I unintentionally wear my pants like my son wears his. Time to cinch up the belt. Me likey!

Went on an awesome hike/trail run Saturday.

McCade gets to put me through the wringer tomorrow morning--and to that, I say, "Bring it!"