As of today I'm a Couch to 5k graduate. Here's my RPA (running point average...ha!)

4.5mph/2.25 miles.

I ran. RAN! @ 4.5mph! For 30 minutes. str8!

Now I can stop being coy & quit saying that I jog.

@ 4.5mph I freakin? ran! Huzzah!

Woke up this morning looked @ the clock and the time just didn't look right. It actually was but for the first time it looked liked the insane ungodly hour that it truly is.

"There is in the worst of fortune the best of chances for a happy change." - Euripides

Day 69

Re: that other stressful situation. (This puppy will be w/me for @ least another 3 months if not 4.)

So yesterday I log into my bank acct. Seeing the balance I immediately got a pit in my stomach. W/o getting into too much details right now, I will later, this is the exact place I found myself in during January. I can't even bring myself to think back to it right now, let's just say my world was very dark and I gained 4lbs in 2 weeks.

Yesterday was an emotionally stressful day. I've got to be intentionally vague here so bear w/me. It started early and by mid afternoon I was a bundle of nerves. When I got home my energy was zapped. I just wanted to crawl in bed and that's exactly what I did. I didn't even have energy to nuke my dinner so I ate two bananas a little extra peanut butter and called it a day.

Around 6 a friend called me to cheer me up. Laying there, feeling in the dumps watching that Simpson girl pimp my favorite limited time Buffalo Chicken pizza and hearing the words "My treat" propelled me out of bed.

It's one of those weeks. *sigh* I really need these two quotes today.

"I'm looking forward to looking back on all this." - Sandra Knell

Ate off plan, will get into it a bit later.

"Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength." - Charles Spurgeon

Day 68

Wasn't pimping Hootie bad enough?

The sandwich has one sausage patty, two eggs, two American cheese slices and three strips of bacon. [snip] Post said Burger King decided to offer the enormous omelet sandwich -- which goes against current trends in the fast food industry of offering more healthy choices -- in response to customers who said they wanted a more filling breakfast. [snip] [source]

A breakfast that fills you up thru lunch & dinner. Yea that sounds about right.

Nutritional Details:
Enormous Omelet Sandwich
Calories: 730
Fat: 47gms
Saturated Fat: 17gms
Cholesterol: 415
Carbs: 43gms
Protein: 32gms

I gotta give them credit, @ least they are keepin' it real w/the name.

Last night I chatted w/a good friend. She's been going thru some problems and was asking for advice. Knowing her as well as I do and how she deals w/things I tried to give her some solutions that would work best for her. After I was done, there was a pause and she said, (sorta snotilly) "Well actually I think XYZ is better."

I was fuming.

Not b/c she didn't take my suggestion, it's the way it went down. Why ask me for advice if you are going to catch an attitude b/c I'm not saying what you want to hear? That's what pissed me off.

I don't give flip advice, it's really a heartfelt thing for me and I usually end up feeling drained when I'm done b/c I give it a lot of energy and thought. I'm really sensitive, I can feel other's energy when they are struggling. That's just the type of person I am. I wish I wasn't. I try to change, but I can't help it.

But after that phone call, I'm out of the advice business. The only exception I'll make is if someone comes to me directly. In those cases I find the person much more open & thoughtful. Since it's not my style to tell people what they want to hear just for the sake of it, I'm just saying nothing.

Or I'll do like that Seinfeld episode when Kramer wanted to break up w/his girlfriend who Jerry and Elaine never liked. After they admitted that to him, he got back w/her he was mad @ them. So the next time he went to break up with her, they avoided telling him to do it and instead tried to convince him to stay w/her.

Well I wont take it that far, his girlfriend was pretty horrible.

But next time my friend asks, I'll just repeat back what she's saying. Now I see what she really wanted was confirmation & not necessarily something as radical (from her viewpoint) as I suggested.

I'll also try to remember one of my favorite quotes:

"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't." - Erica Jong

Jackass neighbor to the left kept making pounding noises thru out the night while Asshole neighbor across the hall kept slamming her door. I hate this place.

"Heroism consists in hanging on one minute longer." - Norwegian proverb

Day 67

Thanks to Marci's AMAZING progress pictures I gave it my all in weights today. Looking @ what she's accomplished since the first of the year really got me pumped and helped my mind focus. I went slower than I did last week and took my time w/the extra three reps. YOWZA!

Self sent me an email. They are giving away 200,000 free 2 month passes to Bally Total Fitness. Summer is comin' may as well get a 2 month jump start on 'kini season.

Over the weekend BethK mention of overtraining and Lindsey's concern on my Saturday entry prompted me to do some research.

There are two terms I heard for the first time last year. Overtraining and Starvation Mode. They got tossed around a lot on one of the forums I frequented, but nothing I read ever made much sense to me.

This morning I put on a pair of pants I wore last week, they felt snug. Inwardly I groaned and wondered, What if after the last 3 weeks I lost nada. Or worse gained!?!

I took a deep breath and tried to remind myself, part of the motivation for this challenge was to stop focusing on ?results? and focus on improving my body. Weigh day is Friday. I'm trying to reserve expectations, but 3lbs (the whole pound a week thingy) would be nice. A pound is fine. Staying the same is ok. (Working on making that my mantra, on Friday I'll know for sure if it was effective.)

While I try not to look @ the final day and so I can keep my mind on what I'm currently doing, here's the game plan on the next few days:

I had company yesterday and today. I'm thinking the only thing that can explain the rush to the gym is that summer's coming in 12 weeks. Yesterday it was a guy I hadn't see before. Today it was Sweetcheeks.

There's an episode on The Simpsons when Bart gets a credit card, charges an expensive dog and when they come to repossess he gives them Santa's Little Helper. When he gets him back he says something like, "The cat's been strutting around like she owns the place."

Today I thought, Dammit, I stay outta this place for one day now these people think they own the place.... Yet another reason I'm driven to get down there daily. Competition.

Final week WÒÓT!

"Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal." - Pamela Vault Starr

Day 66

FYI - I'm working on the right side this afternoon, the layout may go wonky from time to time.

Update: Finished tinkering for now. I added scripts show comments and more of the entry on the home page. Also updated the master archive page to show a excerpt of the entry.

Next weekend I've got to strip the code some more and make the changes from today effective on all pages.

Here's the follow up to yesterdays challenge of meeting my goals while out @ the movies.

First thing I did to prepare myself was switch around my meals. I saved my yogurt especially since I didn't work out but if I did I would have had chocolate milk instead, for later. I had my usual breakfast and about 2½ hours later instead of my morning snack I had lunch.

Since the movie started @ noon which meant I'd leave my house around 11:15 to get there in time, I'd arrive 2 hours after lunch. In my purse I packed: the yogurt I saved, an apple, a slice of cheese, a pack of trail mix and a 20 oz water bottle.

Tally of last weeks poll question: What's your main form of weight training?
Free weights 75.0%
Circuit machines 10.7%
I don't do weight training 7.1%
Resistance Bands 3.6%
Own body 3.6%
Hydraulic machines 0.0%
Household items (heavy cans, jugs) 0.0%
Other 0.0%

Total votes: 28

This weeks poll question: What's your main form of flexibility?

Woke up just fine this AM, w/my usual feeling of I don't wanna get up but I did.

Once again the madness of Full House vexed me. When I last saw them (Friday) Danny just proposed to what's her name @ Disney world over the Summer. Today, it's Xmas & they've been engaged for 6 months. I missed one freaking day!

Anyone harboring concerns about me hitting the gym every morning driven by a fear of falling off the wagon, rest assured, it's that wacky Tanner family I am painfully addicted to. Further proven by this mornings quote.

"It doesn't matter what other people think about you, all that matters is what you think about yourself." - Jesse Katsopolis

Day 65

I wanted to make a note of this for future reference.

So what made today a rest day?

I woke up tired. Very tired. Unlike most mornings when I wake up and feel a bit sleepy or lazy, today I woke up feeling heavy.

I really pushed myself during yesterday's weights. When I was done w/in about a ½ hour I started getting drowsy. 9pm couldn't come fast enough. By going to bed by 9 all week, 2 weeks really, I knew it wasn't that I wasn't getting enough sleep.

Ok, today is movie day. Biggest challenge getting in all water & stickin w/preplanned eats ie: no eating out, no not eating. Other than that this week is in the bag, let's see what %tage I end up making it.

"You are not stuck where you are unless you decide to be." - Dr. Wayne Dyer

Day 64

Availabilty
Brussels sprouts are available from late August through March.

How to Select:
Brussels sprouts can be found in the produce section of most health food stores, specialty markets, and supermarkets. Look for small, compact sprouts with bright green leaves free of blemishes and yellowing. Store them tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to three days.

I think I get part of what shook me up by yesterday's unexpected comment on me losing weight.

Like Eve, I too have a blog I talk about health/weight, I comment on others blogs, I post to forums, I read the magazines and on and on, so why did it freak me out?

Part of the reason is that for the most part, the people who read my blog know that I'm working out, know about the pains I take to plan my food. People on the forums I visit are all about doing something to lose weight.

Well either someone over @ Nick @ nite heard my cry or the fitness gawds smiled on me this AM. They played an old episode of Full House.

But that brings me to my other gripe. How is it we can put a man on the moon, but no on can play reruns in order? They also screw up the Seinfeld reruns in the evening. Somewhere around season 3 or 4 they lapse back to season 2 episode. :furious:

Speaking of Seinfeld...oh Morty I'll always remember you proudly wearing that tight "#1 Dad" t-shirt Jerry gave you. Rest in peace.

"If you can't be a good example, then you?ll just have to be a horrible warning." - Catherine Aird

Day 63

Ahh workouts this week. Torture. Then again have they been anything but?

Cardio
Couch to 5k on Tuesday was a struggle. Full House just couldn't get me thru those last 5 minutes. I flipped to MTV & VH1 praying for an upbeat song to zone out too. MTV played I'm okay by My Chemical Romance (love the song hate the video) I turned up the volume, stared str8 ahead and just ran and ran and ran. Now that I'm a runner (ha!) I need some tunes.

GAK!

Someone, and not the same someone I'm skeptical about when they say I'm losing weight, but someone who never sees me eat b/c we have diff't schedules just called out to me from behind and asked if I was losing weight.

I start fumbling and getting all flustered as they insisted, "You are losing weight I can see it. You are looking good."

I'm so not ready for this.

I officially turned off my heat yesterday. It's spring, c'mon apartment warm up already. I found myself burrrowing deeper under the blankie this morning. Barring a deep freeze, the heats off till winter.

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try." - Beverly Sills

Day 62

Yea I really wasn't feeling good yesterday. That headache/migraine made it hard for me to look @ the computer much less think. More than making up for it today...tee hee.

Chris asked:

what got you started on your personal quest for fitness and excellence? What got you off the couch? Were you ALWAYS this athletic? What drives you?

I gave a brief answer, but it's been on my mind today and I wanted to explore it more w/o hijacking his comments.

What got you started on your personal quest for fitness and excellence?
Over the years, my interest would flare up from time to time. Summer time? Gotta hit the gym. Pants too tight? Gotta stop eating Taco Bell.

I would have to say late 2003/early 2004 was the turning point. By the end of 2003 I had just finished another year w/o losing any weight. Worse. I gained. Sometime around November I started the drinking water and walking 2 minutes a day. By the start of 2004 I was going to the doctor for a checkup. I got a clean bill of health and she asked me if I ate a lot of fried food. I told her yeah. She said my body handled it very well. And for some reason that reply & the fact that she seemed impressed, bothered me.

After that visit I felt very lucky. I didn't have or develop a disease due to my years and years of poor eating and not working out and I made a decision to get in shape for my health first and vanity second.

What got you off the couch?
Being annoyed that walking up the 2 flights of stairs to my apt left me winded. Always feeling sluggish. Feeling like I'm too young to be this out of shape.

Were you ALWAYS this athletic?
Not really. I played outside a lot as a kid b/c my mother forced me to. In high school I was a leader in my PE class, but that had more to do w/me being a teacher's pet. I did like volleyball a lot and badminton. I briefly joined the track team for a semester. Post high school...nada.

What drives you?
I'm driven to condition my body. I think that's why I like boxing movies so much. Funny I don't like boxing the sport and have never watched a fight, but I like seeing fit bodies going the distance.

I used to be driven by a # on a scale or a clothing size, and while I do hold onto those things as signs of progress and forms of success, lately I've been wanting more. Like I want to run in a race or I want to be able to run around in the park and not be winded. I want to be active in the summer and when I think of vacations I want to do something physical.

My biggest desire is to be healthy. (Being a size 6 w/a bodyfat in the 16-22% range is a welcome side effect )

There is so much conflicting info when it comes to health and fitness. What I'm starting to notice is the conflict seems to come from people trying to sell something. For the most part the medical community seems to agree on some basic points, but when that info gets used to sell product it gets all twisted and convoluted.

*sigh*

It's hard for me to keep track, so I gave up trying. What I do is read as much as I can and pick things that I can live with or makes sense to me.

Take water. This month on the cover of O says something like we don't really need 8 glasses of water. Then there are news reports about getting too much water. Then you read that juice and soda counts as water.

That's all well & good, but I'm all about drinking water period.

Since I've started my 100oz a day kick my fingers are no longer swelling even a little bit in the morning. Even though I was already drinking close to that amount, I was slacking on the weekend. After I got sick it slowed down even more. I noticed yesterday & today my fingers felt fine.

I came up w/the minimum of a 100oz a day based on reading that you should drink ½ your body weight in ounces and add 8 ounces for every hour you workout and 8 ounces for every 25lbs you are overweight.

So for me ½ of 181lbs = 90oz + 16oz (50lbs to lose) + 8oz (1 hour workout) = 114oz.

It wasn't an automatic thing drinking water. I had to wean myself off my daily coca cola habit and I didn't like how water tasted. So I started w/4 oz a day and built up to 64oz a day. Last year I prolly got in more water than I've ever purposely drank in my life. But I still had days or a week or two I'd slack.

This year it's my drink of choice period. I've never been big on juice. Plus it's expensive. Water is free. I fill up my 50 oz bottle @ any water fountain. I promised Stacey I'd post some water related entries last week but I got sidetracked. They are all in my old archives and it's a monster to go thru that thing. I'll get into it this weekend and next week for sure devote a few posts to the benefits of water.

For now I found this:

Lose weight with water

'Must drink more water, must drink?' We all know that the wet stuff is essential for life - but did you know it can help you lose weight?

Water keeps us cool, lubricates our joints and flushes toxins from our bodies, but admit it, how many of us really drink the recommended two litres a day? For those of us who do struggle to drink enough, the great news is that water actually can help you in the battle against the bulge.

Now for the science bit
Your metabolism is the bio-mechanical process that breaks food down and turns it into energy. In a nutshell, it consumes calories. Since metabolism is your best ally in the frontline against weight, you want it to be working at full speed. Water is the fuel that drives metabolism's chemical reactions. So, if you're not drinking enough, you won't burn as many calories as you can. Simple.

Running on empty?
If you're not drinking enough water - at least 2 litres a day - here's how your body is being affected:

Your weight loss will slow right down. This is because about 2.5 litres of water is naturally lost through daily bodily functions such as going to the loo and sweating. If you don't replenish this water you'll soon become dehydrated, and your metabolism will be among the first to shut down. So, if you're dieting and you can't seem to shift the weight, perhaps it's because you aren't drinking enough water.

Your digestion will suffer. Water is essential for digestion and elimination. Poor digestion means you won't be absorbing the goodness from your food. Your body in turn will send up signals (read: cravings) for food that has minerals your body lacks.

You'll feel 'fake' hunger. When dehydrated, your body sends out the same signals that prompt you to eat and you may end up answering that response with food. Water will not only curb those hunger pangs, but it will fill you up. Fitness trainer Bob Greene recommends drinking a tall glass of water half an hour before a meal to fill the void and prevent overeating (For more information, check out Get With the Program, Getting Real About Your Weight, Health and Emotional Well-Being by Bob Greene, Simon and Schuster, ?15)

You won't get the full benefit of exercise. Your metabolism increases with exercise, and as we mentioned earlier, water is essential to maximise your metabolism. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your workout. read more

No not the buttery fluffy kind.

And no I don't mean the obvious belly ones ::

I always hesitate to post things about weight loss. I'm jinxy. But I'm going to swallow the fear and declare, my tight in the leg size 12's from a few weeks ago, now have rolls of extra fabric around the thigh. I sorta noticed it late last week but thought, Meh I've musta stretched them out.

But this week, today even, it's obvious they aren't as tight. Remembering back to when I bought them, they fit in the waist but looked like they were painted around my thighs. That TIGHT! Now that I've sorta calmed down on the whole groping myself to detect changes, I'm taken aback. I gotta give credit where credit is due...I blame those loathesome squats & lunges...heh.

The other day someone said they could tell I'm losing weight and motioned to their facial area. Like they were saying they could see it in my face. I'm such a cynic, I'm thinking...Yea right you only think that cuz you see me chowing down on fruits and turning down cookies. I dunno?maybe they're on to something?I'll know for sure next Friday.

Oh and I know I said I'd reopen the polls on what middle picture to use @ the 12 week point (1st week of April). But that would be 2 weeks into my new routine. To keep everything on the same schedule every time I end a training routine, I'll update the middle picture. Which means the polls will actually reopen next Friday. Try to contain your excitement

Get Moving!: Top 7 Exercise Motivation Secrets

Let's face it, we all know we need to exercise. Many of us know how to exercise. How many books and videos do you own? How many gym memberships have you had in your life? You may even be an expert on the perfect exercises for your body. But you're not doing it! Why? Well the problem isn't lack of knowledge, it's lack of motivation. Does this sound familiar?

What can you do? Focus less on gaining more knowledge, and more on getting and staying motivated. As you become more consistent and start seeing results, you will be able to apply all that knowledge. Here are seven secrets to getting and staying motivated:

Secret One: Find Your "Why"
In order to be successful at any endeavor, we must have a good reason for doing it in the first place. Exercise is no exception. What will get you up in the morning on those cold, dark days when you just want to stay in bed? Many people say "because I want to lose weight" or "I want to be fit". While these are good goals, they are not good enough reasons for long term success. You must dig deeper. What is important to you? What do you value in life? Answer these questions, then see how a regular exercise program can support your values.

Secret Two: Make a Commitment
Once you find your "why", it's time to make a commitment. Here is a definition of commitment you may not have heard: a commitment is the ability to carry out a worthy decision, even when the excitement of making that decision has passed. Read that definition again, and really understand it. How many times have you been excited to start an exercise program, only to become bored or distracted by other things? As soon as the excitement passes, so do your exercise plans. Be sure you are ready to commit, and if you are not, then commit to not exercising. That way you can let go of the guilt and commit when you are ready.

Secret Three: Set Daily, Measurable and Realistic Goals
If your only goal is to lose 40 pounds it will be a while before you feel successful. After all, it can take a while to see such results. Rather, set daily measurable, achievable goals that allow you to feel successful every day. Keep a weekly diary and set goals each day for what kind of exercise you will do, how long you will workout, how hard you will exercise, etc.

Secret Four: Keep Track of Your Progress
After you set your goals and write them down, you want to also chart your progress. Be sure to write down your daily achievements to compare to your goals. This will become extremely motivating as you see yourself meeting your goals. With consistent exercise, you will also see your workouts becoming easier and your ability to work harder and longer. This often happens faster than visible results on your body, such as weight loss or definition. Many people become frustrated and quit exercise right before big changes are about to happen, because they don't see the results on their bodies. Seeing measurable progress on paper will keep you motivated while you work towards the bigger goals you have set for yourself.

Secret Five: Get Objective Feedback
You may know what a good workout feels like - you have that endorphin "high" after exercise, or you have energy to spare all day long. But do you know what an effective workout feels like? It is hard to know how effective your workout is every day without waiting for weeks or months to see the results. What if you could see day after day how many calories you burned, or what your heart rate was each workout? Using a heart rate monitor can tell you if you are working too hard or not hard enough. What about calories? An accelerometer can tell you all day long how many calories you are burning and keep you motivated to move! When you look for ways to add activity to your day it becomes a fun game and you can instantly see the results.

Secret Six: Avoid the "All or Nothing" Mentality
Have you had plans to exercise five times one week and the first day something happened and you didn't exercise? When this happens, many people give up on the rest of the week This is known as the All or Nothing Mentality. Keep away from this - it doesn't work. If you approach your exercise and nutrition program in that manner, you set yourself up for failure. Allow for flexibility in your exercise plans and know one missed day is not a setback.

Secret Seven: Be Accountable!
About 95% of all participants in an exercise program will stop exercising. Why? No support. Research has shown that exercisers with some kind of support system have a better chance of continuing exercise. You need someone who will also hold you accountable for your exercise. Working with someone like a personal trainer, a coach or a mentor will give you the support you need and you can work together to identify barriers to keeping your commitment and develop strategies to overcome these obstacles. Most people need far more support, follow up and accountability than they think to start and maintain an exercise program.

In the interest of avoiding the all or nothing mentality, don't try to implement all these secrets at once. Pick one or two and when you have those working, add another secret. Just like results from exercise, building motivation and consistency will take time. Fitness is not just about reaching a destination, it is a journey where you will learn much about yourself and grow from your experiences. Keep your short term goals in mind, and enjoy the journey to reaching your ultimate goals. [source]

I wish that was a typo, but I was in bed by 8pm. I almost made it earlier. I started getting a wicked headache before lunch and it got progressively worse as the day went on. I almost didn't hit the bike, but thought if I did the post workout euphoria would make it go away. Nope. I ended up skipping the stretching. I tried but laying on the ground and moving around made the throbbing worse. I don't have aspirin so I ended up taking some left over dayquil from when I got sick and just laid in bed. I dozed off for maybe a ½ hour skipped dinner, had 2 bananas instead and just waited for it to get late enough to finally go to sleep. It was still lingering when I woke up this morning but after about 20 mins of walking it went away.

"Enthusiasm finds the opportunities, and energy makes the most of them." - Henry S. Haskins

Day 61

I love Tuesday's b/c it's my easy day. I get to ride the bike and do some stretching in the pm.

I love Wednesday's b/c it's smack in the middle of the week and I only have 1 more weight training session to go.

I love Thursday's b/c I don't have to run again until Sunday.

I love Friday's b/c I don't have to lift weights again till Monday.

I love Saturday's b/c it's my first afternoon off since Sunday.

I love Sunday's b/c I get to run again.

I love Monday's b/c by the time it's over I've completed all my workouts @ least once (running, walking, weights) and look forward to a light day on Tuesday.

My morning is not complete unless I a) drop something or b) lose something.

I got all the way to the gym, almost finished my warmup walk when I realized no ♥ rate monitor. I literally flung myself out of bed, got dressed w/one eye closed the other ½ open and stumbled to the gym.

Oh and I dropped my cell phone. Smack dab on the hardwood floor.

What? Celery is a vegetable ::

In my defense I had 2 servings of the gas inducing Broccoli, but listed celery to show how much variety I add to my life.

"In the long run men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, though they should fail immediately, they had better aim at something high." - Henry David Thoreau

Day 60

Okay last week, week 1 of the 3 week @rse kickin' challenge, I had some food goals, but purposely let my calories & overall percentage veer on the high side.

I can't do...actually I take that back. I can do it all in one shot. However, experience has taught me that when I do, I end up feeling deprived and overwhelmed, ultimately doing myself in and then feeling guilty and weak.

So I chip away @ things.

Knowing I wouldn't have my free meal on Saturday, when I went shopping last week I bought the more yummier Lean Cuisine meals. Not the rich tasting fried and gravy laden Stouffers. Didn't even look @ them. Ok I glanced at them, then shot them dirty looks.

Instead I got the Everyday Favorites. All of which caused my calories to hover in the 1900's, which isn't too bad, but my carbs were in the high 50's - low 60's percentiles. Room for improvement.

So now that the indulgence is out of my system & my emotional side has learned, yes I can live w/o a free meal, this week I scaled down to the Cafe Classics that scream, in a big yellow bold serif font, right on the front of the box: Counting Carbs?

Subtle, real subtle.

Anyhoo, to coddle my inner child I got 1 meal that was decadent, Chicken Enchilada Suiza with Mexican-Style Rice and had it yesterday. Looking ahead, this week my calories will hover in the 1500-1600 range and mercifully my carb % will hit the mid 50's.

What also shot the carbs up was the fact that I was eating deliciously carby corn. This week it's all about the spinach, carrots & brussel sprouts. Oh joy!

That's why I don't pay too much attention to carbs. W/the exception of the frozen dinner I know what I ate to contribute to the grams was high fiber cereal, fresh fruit & frozen veggies. Now, if I was eating 300 grams soley from fast food and the vending machine, it'll be time to put my inner child on a strict workout routine and modified eating plan.

Waitaminute...Isn't that what I'm doing now? Durn that inner child for getting me into this.

It's only b/c I noticed my site traffic shot up over the weekend and saw where it came from that I realized I've gotten shout-outs from 3 of my favorite reads. Ironically it's also the one weekend I post nothing of note. Despite being home for the entire weekend, I only left to get the groceries, and being online the whole time.

I was helping a friend get some features running on her site. And I was pruning music for my (please please please help me get a free laptop) [6/17 update: I got the iPod] [1/31/06 upddate: I got the shuffle!] So I haven't had much time to bloghop or even write anything more than the daily quote (which is really cut & paste) & morning musing (just me rambling).

But w/the influx of new visitors ::waving hi::, the first day of spring and b/c I've been meaning to do this forever, I figure now is a good time to explain my site. I'll eventually turn this site intro into it's own section and add it to the navigation.

It may be too late for those that came over the weekend, but here's an overview of my site:

It's busy. I know. I have lots going on. I know. That's pretty much how my mind works. No matter what computer I'm on I have @ least 25 windows open and anywhere from 5-7 programs running. So the fact that I have almost 30 categories, some not even used yet, reflects me to a tee.

I post pretty frequently @ least 3 times (Daily pudge pic, quote & morning musing) sometimes as much as 8 posts in one day. So that I only have current entries on the first page, I try not to post no more than 7 entries.

A Fitness Tale » Up till the 4th grade I wanted to be a writer. I loved my creative writing class. It's been a long time since the 4th grade. My grammar & punctuation sucks. This category is an attempt to tap into my creative side. It's also a place to indirectly express painful issues I've gone thru.

Articles » Newsworthy health topics.

Challenge Check In » Where I keep accountable on current personal challenges.

3 Week @rse Kickin' » My current personal challenge.

Challenges » Any online challenges I happen across.

Crazy » Weird health news

Daily 5 » Defunct challenge.

Exercise » Exercise specific articles.

Financial Fitness » Dropping my credit card debt along w/the pounds. Only updated on the 15th of every month.

Food & Nutrition » Food specific articles.

Featured Food Friday » I don't cook so can't share recipes. Instead I highlight a food I've recently eaten.

Goals » Self explanatory.

Journal » The main category where I jibber jabber about this & that .

Morning Musings » My first post of the day. May or may not be coherent.

Motivation » I post freebies, motivational stories & the like.

Photoblogging » I also love taking pictures. This is a hobby I want to invest some time in. I'm not as good as I'd like to be, but later this year, I'll make this a weekly project.

Pudge Pic » My in a red ?kini. Daily. (currently on hiatus till I end the 3 week @rse Kickin? Challenge.)

Quotes » I post these based on my mood, what speaks to me or what I need to remember first thing in the morning.

Site News » Where I keep track of what I've done w/the place.

Success Stories » Found anywhere from bloggers to people in the news to magazine articles.

Tips » Health tips.

Training » Overview of my training plans.

Trends » Interesting trends in health.

Weekly Poll » Posted on Sunday mornings, available till sometime Saturday.

Weekly Weigh-Ins » Updated on Fridays. (currently on hiatus till I end the 3 week @rse Kickin? Challenge.)

Weight Loss » Weight loss specific news

Workouts » Where I jot down things about my workouts.

No I'm not late for St. Patrick's Day ::

It's the first day of Spring. Time to shed the winter blues for green growth. Happy Spring Day!

Sometimes I'm extremely grateful to use a treadmill in the am. I don't know how I'd muster the energy to put one foot in fron the other if I headed outdoors. *shudder*

"Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Day 59

Tally of last weeks poll question: What is your main form of cardio?
Elliptical machine 33.3%
Walking (treadmill) 16.7%
Other 16.7%
Walking (outdoor) 14.3%
Running 7.1%
recumbent bicycle 4.8%
Jogging 2.4%
Biking (outdoor) 2.4%
I don't do cardio 2.4%
Biking (stationary) 0.0%
Stair climber 0.0%

Total votes: 42

This weeks poll question: What's your main form of weight training?

Not to toot my own horn, but TOOT. TOOT.

Granted it wasn't a 100% week, more like 99.99% What did me in? That pesky 3rd flexibility session. I KNOWWWWWWWW I should have just done it on Wednesday, but early last week I was all blase I couldn't be bothered. Yesterday I started having some guilt but that didn't last more than 10 mins. I'll get it in this week.

Other than that I'm pretty proud that even though I stayed in the entire day yesterday, I didn't slack off and not eat. I pretty much kept myself on my weekday schedule and next thing I know it's 5pm and almost dinner time.

Interesting, when I stay home and drink water I'm in the bathroom every 30 mins. During the week I don't feel the urge that frequently. I think my bladder knowing the bathroom is 10 steps away vs. 3 flights down takes advantage of the situation.

As far as workouts, this week weights and Couch to 5k increases, but everything else stays the same. Early this morning some jackass neighbor of mine was being loud. I woke up thinking I slept a full night but when the alarm didn't go off I checked the time. 1:50!! I tossed and turned for so long, when the alarm finally went off I was beat.

I kept pressing snooze and debated only doing Couch to 5k. I finally flung myself out of bed and compromised. B/c I didn't have time to do the 45 min walk, I'd do the 20 min fitness pgm. I'll have to check my notes, but I think I did the same pgm a few weeks ago and it just about wiped me out. It peaks @ 3.8mph and 8% incline. Today I was like, "Is that all you got?"

"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't." - Erica Jong

Day 58

This week has been vivid dream week.

Last night it was a two parter. The first part had people I went to high school with. Part 2 involved a group of men hanging a horse by it's tail from a tree. Then they started to chop it down. I was screaming @ them and woke up w/a hoarse (no pun) throat.

That may have come from knowing Ring 2 started yesterday.

"The greater part of our happiness depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances." - Martha Washington

Day 57

Availabilty
Nectarines are available from May through October.

How to Select:
Look for nectarines that are fragrant and yield slightly to gentle pressure with your fingers. Avoid fruit that is green or hard.

Ripen nectarines on your kitchen counter or in a paper bag overnight. The fruit can be refrigerated for up to five days.

How to Use:
Nectarines can be eaten fresh as is, with sugar and cream or used as a substitute in any recipe that calls for peaches including ice cream, pies, jam and mixed fruit.

Nutritional Information
• Nectarine (2 ½ inches diameter), 1 fruit (raw)
• Calories: 67
• Protein: 1.32g
• Carbohydrate: 16g
• Total Fat: 0.63g
• Fiber: 2.2g
• Excellent source of: Vitamin A (1,000 IU)
• Good source of: Vitamin C (7.3mg)

Fun Facts
• The nectarine and the peach are so similar that there is only one gene that separates the two to make them distinct. The nectarine has one recessive gene ... the one with the fuzz. Many people prefer them for this reason.
• Nectarines take their name from the drink of the Olympic gods called "nektar."
• There are several varieties, both clingstone and freestone that vary in color from half red to full red to maroon. The color does not indicate the degree of ripeness, just the variety.
• Nectarines, like peaches, are not fully ripe when they arrive in the grocery store. Refrigeration stops the ripening process.
• Nectarines can be used in the same ways as peaches, except if someone peels a peach because they object to eating the fuzz, they do not need to peel a nectarine. The skins can also be left on when making pies, cobblers and fresh fruit salads, etc.

[sources: 1, 2, 3]

This has really become my favorite fruit. I like the fact that parts of it can be both crunchy and soft. I'm so glad I missed eating it as my PM fruit two days this week. I got blindsided by bad plums (too soft, not sweet & turning bad) so I was able to stretch out my fruit w/o even trying.

I don't remember the last time I had a nectarine and it's pretty safe to say I never bought on. I first got them the Sunday before I got sick. Since I was unable to eat them, they stayed in the fridge till the following week.

When I finally got to eat them they were so YUMMY! They were all a combination of being crunchy like a plum and soft like a peach. Since I've been plowing thru them this week, I haven't had a chance to see if they'll eventually turn semi-soft again. I don't know if the extra week did the trick or they were like that when I bought them.

It actually confused me, b/c it was the size of an apple, the look of a peach and the crunch of a plum. I thought I stumbled into a cosmic warp @ Publix that Sunday, stuck my hand into an alternate universe and lucked out w/this mystical fruit.

Nope. Same fruit was there this week.

No snooze for me today. I even woke up 10 minutes before the alarm clock.

Better than Caffe

"You have failed only when you quit trying. Until then, you're still in the act of progression. So, never quit trying and you'll never be a failure." - Tommy Kelley

Day 56

I'm a Libra. One of my traits is to always look for the bright side. A blessing & a curse. Don't ask me to referee an argument. Everybody wins! YAY!

I even use that Pollyanna approach on myself. Earlier this week, my mentals have been hovering in the basement. This morning I'm starting to feel like myself again & today feels a bit brighter. When I'm in the dumps, I try to find things to snap myself out of it. What's that quote? Fake it till you make it? Yup?that's me this week. Faking my enthusiasm to work out.

Last summer when I frequented beachbodys msg boards, I was often asked, how did I stay motivated to work out? I'd reply that working out didn't motivate me. If I worked out only when I was motivated, I'd workout 5 times a year.

I figured that no one is motivated to brush their teeth. It's just something they do daily and that's what I want exercise to be for me. Something I did.

Rather than motivation, I look for inspiration.

I'm inspired by success stories. Before & after pictures. Bloggers & Journalers who are making it happen on their terms. Even if I can only admire their way of eating or working out from afar, I still get very excited by their efforts.

I'm extremely inspired by hard work. One of my biggest motivations comes from movies. It's why I love boxing and most sports movies. Some recent movies that come to mind:

Girlfight This chick went from huffing and puffing around the school track grabbing onto the chain link fence to being able to complete the yearly physical challenge. Chin ups and all!

Miracle These guys did drills on the ice. ICE!

Coach Carter Push ups for punishment. Laps for lateness. Discipline, respect & an unbelievable season of b-ball.

Million Dollar Baby First off all look @ that back. I long to jump rope like she did. Abs for days!

Rocky I can not forget the classic, my all time favorite. The one that started it all. Nevermind the fact that I always get over the story. It's the dedication, the training, the freaking raw egg & the running before the sun rose that makes me wanna lace up my sneakers and jump w/my fists pumping in the air.

And lastly what really inspires me is the fact that I'm not there yet.

When I drove home the other day, as I was talking myself out of riding the bike, the car went over a few pot holes. Naturally my belly jiggled. I told myself so long as my belly jiggles and overlaps my pants, I do not have the luxury to blow of a day. In the distant future when I'm @ maintenance, I can be less of a drill sergeant.

But not yet.

I had a dream that a blogger I know, well not really know but we've exchanged comments a few times, stole all my workout gear. My training calendar, my jump rope, food log and some other things. I tracked her down to her apartment but she was ducking me & didn't go home. So I hid around a corner. When I saw her I tried to get my stuff back. I was like, look you can keep the [I forget what] just give me back my training log. I woke up in a cold sweat.

Had company this morning. It was her. Again.

It's been a few weeks. Last time I saw her I was doing Couch to 5k intervals and Michelle Tanner was just a baby, now I'm a runner and she's in the first grade. I glanced @ the door when I saw a movement then went back to watching tv. Not chatty in the morning. The dream was still on my mind.

She got on the bike and when she was about to get off she said, "I don't know how you wake up and get here so early."

Execept she said it like:

"I dont' know how you ::lip snarl:: wake up and get here so early ::roll eyes::."

I turned to look @ her mid sentence and caught the facial expression and dripping sarcasm. I was going to reply, Ummm...same way you did sweetcheeks, but I gave her my patent 2 second fake smile and turned back to the TV.

She did a few floor moves & leg lifts and left. Then a few minutes later I think someone else wanted to come in but must have saw me and turned back, I caught a white t-shirt out the corner of my eye. They peeked in and pulled away quickly.

If she thinks she's gonna beat me to the gym, she picked the wrong girl & wrong week. I'm very competitive. Know that Seinfeld episode where he races the woman @ the ATM. That is TOTALLY me.... Going to bed by 9 means I'm raring to go. So bring it on sweetcheeks. Bring. It. On.