A Successful Day One

Last post was March 2, 2012.  Seriously?  I didn't even remember that this was MY blog.

Well, since my last post, I have gotten married, gotten pregnant, had a baby, quit my job, and am now raising my two-and-a-half-year-old child.  I've gained 42 pounds (pregnancy), but I've also lost 45.  I've tried to eat cleanly, which I've done well and failed miserably.  Mostly, my weight stays in the same 4-5 pound range, despite my best efforts to drop some pounds.  I think I like food too much.

In the last couple weeks, I must have gone a little crazy with the salt and sugar because my body protested quite loudly.  I have felt terrible: bloated, gurgly tummy rumbles, indigestion, maybe even a little heartburn.  In an effort to feel better, all gluten and refined sugars have been cut from my diet.  At the moment, I'm also going Paleo, so cutting back on brown rice and dairy.  Today is Day 4 of clean eating, and I'm feeling great.  Tracking exactly what calories are going in my mouth has helped quite a bit too because I am more closely sticking to my 1,800 calories a day.  Reducing caloric intake reminds me drastically of living in Hiroshima for a year.  When I first arrived there, I ate so much food.  I'd finish my meal (that my host family provided) and would still be famished.  After several weeks (?...I don't remember exactly when it changed), I would be full before even finishing my meal that the same family provided.  I doubt they fed me more...at least I hope they didn't.  I also lost a total of 30 pounds during my year abroad.  SO...  Yeah, I eat too much.

Those days are changing.  I decided to try a new fitness challenge in addition to attending TKD classes 3 times a week.  This challenge is the Betty Rocker 30-Day challenge, and it basically requires clean eating (which I'm already 4 days in) and a 15-minute workout every day.  I struggled with the 21-Day Fix workouts because 30 minutes away from the little guy just wasn't happening.

I just finished the Day 1 workout, and it surprised me!  I was totally dripping sweat afterwards!!  It felt wonderful, too.  I feel clear-headed and inspired to write, which is why I am tapping away on my laptop as the little guy takes his nap.

Aside from the obvious and usual benefits of working out, this time is dedicated to ME, which is something that every momma desperately needs.  It isn't something that I had been doing, and my psyche paid the price.  As I continually have to remind myself, it is essential that I take care of myself before I can even begin to expect to take care of the Little One.

Yay, for a successful Day One.

Better than coffee

This week I actively returned to working out.  TKD Sparring class on Monday, Kickboxing class on Tuesday, recovery on Wednesday & Thursday, and Body Pump on Friday.  I would also like to try a new class at the gym on Saturday (tomorrow), but it's at 8:00, and I may wimp out and not drive all that way.  We'll see.  I'll probably call an audible on that one in the morning and just go to another sparring class OR attempt to run the 3-mile route for my black belt test.  I've never run it, so I have no idea what the path is, but I think it's posted somewhere.  If the weather's nice, maybe I'll do that tomorrow.

I am determined to be consistent with working out again.  A good friend and I have agreed to help each other, so we are encouraging one another to go to 6 a.m. classes a couple times a week.  We went to our first one this morning, and surprisingly, I enjoyed it.  It was more effective in waking me up than a cup of caffeinated coffee.  Healthier too.  No jitters...just wobbly legs!

The goal is to alternate TKD, gym classes, weight training, and running to be healthier.  It takes up an incredible amount of time to do all these things, but I've been conditioning myself to wake up at 5:30 in order to have enough time in the day to do these things.  So far, it's going fairly well.  Having a friend expect me to meet her at the gym at 6am is helpful motivation.  I just need to get used to showering at the gym.  I need one of those towel things that have elastic at the top so I don't have to hold onto a towel when leaving the shower area.  On the bright side, if I start working out every morning at the gym, that's one less shower I have to pay for, which is helpful, since I'll probably be showering twice a day if I attend TKD in the evenings too.

Time to whip my body into shape.  Bring on the summer.

baby steps

to most people, this may not seem like much, but for me, it's another small accomplishment.  i actually noticed the moment that i felt full when i was eating brunch this morning.  and I stopped eating, even though there was still food left on my plate.

More importantly, though, I didn't want any more.

Awesome!

distressed

admittedly, i have been desperate to find a way to make (and more importantly WANT TO make) working out a priority again.  somehow, over the last few months, exercise and working out took a backseat to doing things like cooking and cleaning.  i mean, really?!  who WANTS to cook and clean?

i have completely reverted back to my old ways, and i find myself a bit distraught about it.  i'm not sure how to enjoy working out again and get back to my somewhat fit body.  the last 8 days have been a food-fest--unfortunately--although it all did taste good at the time.  perhaps i should just start working out regardless of my opinion of it (JUST DO IT...????) and maybe, just maybe, i will remember the appeal and will be motivated again to continue.  it doesn't help that my gym is changing ownership, and i don't know if i will like the new management.  i was quite happy with my gym and its instructors, so i may be using that money i pay in membership dues towards gas to drive to & from tae kwon do/kickboxing.

lackadaisical

it's sad to admit, but the motivation is scarce these days.  i think about working out, but it usually just remains a thought.  all things i loved about it are no longer a motivation for me.  i'm not sure why that is, but i seem to have lost motivation to go to class or anything.  perhaps i should try different classes at the gym since they've introduced new things.  maybe that will help.

here I go again

I know it's cyclical, but I started the Couch to 5K program over...again.  I was able to skip Week 1 because it was too easy, but Week 2 was slightly difficult, so I opted to complete the week.  I had forgotten how much running causes your leg muscles to tighten, so I need to be more diligent about stretching afterwards. Tomorrow, I scheduled to run W2D2, and surprisingly, I'm looking forward to it.

change of pace

Now, that I've finally leveled up in TKD, I am surprised to find that my motivation has diminished somewhat.  The pace is completely different than being a color belt, and it's more self-study.  I know I can do it, but there are other things I want to do.  I want to start running regularly--so I can be ready during the heat of the summer; more weight training at the gym; possibly even start teaching classes at the gym.  I still want to get a black belt in TKD, but the task seems so much more daunting now that I'm at the bottom of the next level.  When I decided to start taking classes again, it didn't feel like I was a newbie since I knew the curriculum.  It's a different ball game now.

It seems pretty silly, and I'm probably just whining.  The quicker I get thru the white & yellow belt stuff, the sooner I can take the first pre-test.

It's just difficult now b/c I haven't decided on a short-term goal to work towards.  Once I figure that out, I think I'll feel a bit more focused again.