Today's Workout
45 minutes tempo run (2 min. w/ 2 min. recovery) PM - 3.24 miles

Well, that didn't suck.

I'm still dreadfully slow, but that's okay. I am making progress and, while still slow, I'm faster than I imagined I could be this time last year. Huge improvements in endurance are evident also.

It's about freakin' time, folks. I guess the consistency thing really does pay off.

Speaking of consistency, Sandra has suggested that the two of us begin running at lunch twice a week. That means that instead of my evening run, I'll be getting in 30 minutes during the day. I might still be able to add a bit at night, but I don't want to overdo it. It will be nice to have someone to run with again, and Sandra is great company. It won't hurt that I'll actually be OUTDOORS running, which I desperately need practice in doing. I love my treadmill, but it's not the real thing, ya know?

In talking with another fitness/nutrition specialist (btw, I do still <3 Trainer Lisa but a girl's gotta tap all the resources she can!), he commented that this business about doing the right things to lose the weight and improve fitness (i.e., consistent yet varied cardio + resistance training + clean eating) is much like buying a new car. I know what the cost of fitness is. Do I want to pay that price in order to obtain the body I know I can have again?

Do I?

This has definitely triggered some new (and a resurgence of old) thoughts for me. I have some decisions to make and they're the same ones I've wrestled with making a million times over the past 4 years.

Either I accept myself at this size and this sub-par level of fitness and continue with the unhealthy eating and sporadic exercise, or I suck it up and make a change. If I don't do it now, I'll just have to revisit this decision later. Hell, even if I do it now, I'll still have to revisit it again and again in order to keep the motivation.

It's official ~ this Nike+ thing is addictive. Compared to other similar sites where you can track mileage, it's slow, but they use pretty colors. LOL Yeah, I didn't think that offset the slowness of it all either. BUT, the coaching on the iPod Nano is way cool. As are the challenges, I think. I've signed up for a Beginner 20 miles in August challenge. That's a reasonable place to begin. Also, I signed up for an NFL Challenge ~~ a running challenge where you run for the home team. What a hoot, huh?

Again, Lisa kicked my tail tonight. It wasn't nearly as bad as last night, but we worked upper body pretty hard. I expect my triceps and lats to hurt badly tomorrow.

I must shower & sleep now. But what a nice day it turned out to be! A little bit of sun today, the top down on the way home, lots of hugs & kisses from the munchkins, and a nice workout with friends. Life is good.

Wow.. another really tough workout tonight! But first, I got an iPod Nano this weekend so that I could spend even more $$$ (fortunately no more than $30) on the Nike+ system. OMG ~ I love it! I calibrated the thing this afternoon and then proceeded to do my first workout. It said I ran 2.01 miles in 23:15. That's a damn sight faster than my normal snail's pace, and I think I'm finally convinced that my treadmill just isn't consistent in its mileage reads. I had the same problems with my Polar 625 footpod showing a faster pace and farther distance than the treadmill did, and now I'm having the same thing happening with the Nike+ system. Each system was calibrated with the treadmill (same incline, yadda, yadda), so while I love my treadmill, I'm not convinced I'm as slow as it thinks I am. I'm going to just go with this new philosophy. :-D

So after the run, I was inspired to call Lisa and request an additional training session since I had sorta kinda paid a bit ahead. Lucky for me, she was available. Let's just say my legs are going to be sore tomorrow! No worries about that, though, as I'm aiming for a 3lb loss this week (not every week, just this week!) and I'll need extra exercise in order to do it.

Oh, and on another note, I did eat well today, which was absolutely necessary after not being as strict as I wanted to be this weekend. It's a new day, and it was a good one. Well, it's the end of this day and I'm off to bed now.

Happy running, cycling, or lifting to you all!

Today's workout consisted of 15 minutes on the stairmill, which was intended to be 20 until my left knee starting tweaking on me. No worries, though, because I moved to the elliptical trainer for another 30 minutes and had no problems. Also planning to get in 20 minutes of Pilates. I really enjoy feeling ab muscles working again.

On a different note, on my right foot towards the inside just under the big toe (not sure what it's called) I feel like I have a blister, only I don't. It burns like that, though. What could have happened under the skin to make it feel this way? Anyone? Bueller?

I'm interested to read anyone's thoughts on it. I'm usually barefoot around the house, and I noticed it begin to hurt the longer I was on my feet today. I took Excedrin Migraine ~ it's a wonder drug. I'm sure I'll be fine soon.

Oh, and Lisa called today to say that our neighbor is going to begin joining us for workouts. This will be good for two reasons: first, so that I can get to know my neighbors better (haha!) and second, it's going to decrease my hourly training fee, which will mean either a savings or possibly the potential to move to 3 sessions per week, if Janet wants to do that at some point. For now, 2 is all I can afford without cutting back on other things like food & water. LOL