Happy New Year!

Well, hello there. It's been awhile, eh? It's high time I dust this thing off and start blogging regularly again.

It's also an exciting time for me to blog again because I DON'T have any major life events to contend with, so I can actually focus on myself! Huzzah!

But 2013 was still a great year, what with that wedding and all. And I can say that the Beau and I were successfully married. I'm now a Mrs! It was, simply, the best day of my life.

Dad walking me down the aisle

With my family

With my NEW family

Outside the church

The holidays were their regular whirlwind of family, food and fun. But now it's done and 2014 is here and I've decided this is the year of me. The year I'm going to focus on what I want, on doing what I want to do, on putting my needs first.

This in itself will be a challenge, as I've always focused on what others want (and I don't say this in a I'm-a-martyr kind of way; more in a I'm-not-confident-enough-to-put-my-needs-first kind of way) so I've decided it's time to get better at saying and doing what I want, because the world will not end if I pick what movie we're going to watch or decide what we're having for dinner.

That said, my goals for this year are about excess, rather than cutting back. For example:

1. Eat more foods that make me feel good about myself. So more fruit and vegetables; more lean meat and steak; more smoothies, especially with spinach.

2. Run more, because it makes me feel good. I would like to get a 5K under my belt this year (I do have something else planned, but more on that shortly) but the way I feel physically and mentally when I run is more important than finishing a bunch of races. Though that would be cool too.

3. Knit more, and be more creative overall. Crafting for the wedding took up much of my creativeness last year and it was enjoyable, but now I'm looking forward to making things for the fun of it or for friends and family or even for myself (GASP!) because I want to. So I will.

4. Read more. I tend to go through phases when I can't seem to read enough but then suddenly books are dull and all I want to do are crossword puzzles and play on Twitter. This year, I've started off strong with The Demonologist and I've got quite the list for the rest of the year. And I want to start writing about what I read, too, so that will happen here.

5. Do more yoga. And by "more", I mean "any". I've signed up for four weeks of beginner classes with my sister-in-law so that's pretty exciting. They start next Saturday and I'm looking forward to being bendier.

6. Complete a triathlon. Wait, what? Yup, triathlon. It's just a wee one (375m swim, 12km bike, 3km run) so I'm confident it's something I can not only complete but enjoy doing. It's in July so I've got lots of time to train. Here's hoping Toronto thaws soon because it's hard to run on ice.

7. Be nicer to myself. This is going to be the hardest one on the list but it's something I need to do. I need to be kinder to myself, to tell myself good things, to think good things, to believe in good things. I've been seeing a counselor to help me with this; two sessions so far, with another scheduled for next week. It's been good so far and I'm hoping for more good to come out of it. It might seem weird to be seeing someone to work on self-confidence but it's something I've needed for awhile and I'm glad I'm doing it.

There are things I'm not going to worry about this year, too.

Firstly, my weight. It's something I'm always going to be aware of, for sure, but I'm not going to be obsessed with the number or with what I think I should weigh. Because if I eat right and train regularly for my triathlon, plus just run more, I'll see positive changes in my body, all without worrying about the number on the scale.

Secondly, I'm going to make a HUGE effort to not worry about the size tags on my clothes. This is going to be a big challenge, but something that I need to do for myself. If what I wear fits me well and looks good on m (and if no one else knows what size I wear), then who cares?! Right? Right.

And third, I'm going to stop stressing about how clean and organized my house is. It's a work in progress and likely will be for years and that's okay. As long as I work to keep it as neat as I can (as we can, as the hubby always helps), that is all that is needed.

It's going to be a good year, I can feel it. And with the house bought and the wedding over, it's going to be a year full of small, exciting, wonderful things and I can't wait!

And then I ran five kilometres

This past week marked the final week of my Couch to 5K training program and they were all big runs - at least that's how they felt to me when I looked at the amount of time I was supposed to spend running.

In the previous week I had pushed myself a couple of times and ran through the 5-minute cool down, which boosted my overall running time to 30 minutes. And I was pretty proud of this but I wanted to make sure it wasn't a fluke, that I could actually do that more than once. So with those last three C25K runs (2 x 28 minutes, 1 x 30 minutes) I was cautiously optimistic of my success but also aware that it may not work out after all.

Turns out I needn't have worried.

The first 28-minute run I stuck to the 28 minutes and was almost able to do it; I hit 20 minutes and needed a quick walking break, so after a minute of catching my breath I ran the remaining 7 minutes. It was a bit discouraging but setbacks are to be expected, right?

The second 28-minute run went much better though; I was able to push through the extra 5 minutes at the end and top out at 33 minutes of running. I also turned on my RunKeeper app to track distance - and I clocked in at 4.9km! While I was a bit disappointed that I didn't hit 5km, I was also completely surprised that I'd even made it that far. Woot!

Then last night was the final run of the program, 30 minutes. Again I set RunKeeper to track my distance and suddenly I found myself running...and running...and running...until I'd topped out at 6km.

SIX FREAKING KILOMETRES!

Given, 0.7km of that distance was my walking warmup but still - I managed to hit 5km!

I gotta say, I'm pretty proud of myself. When I first started the program and had to do some of the first long runs (you know, 5 and 8 minutes) they were HARD. And there were times when I was pretty sure I couldn't do it and that I should just forget it and find another activity. I'm not really sure why I kept going; maybe deep down I was actually enjoying running (and now I can admit that I do enjoy running). Whatever the reason, I'm glad I kept at it. And the humidity has also helped, which is pretty much the only thing I like about the humidity. The warmer air helps make breathing easier for me. It will be interesting to see how the cooler air of fall affects me but I'm hoping I can ride the wave of summer running success into the fall and overcome any obstacles.

Overall I'm ridiculously pleased with myself and I have no problem bragging just a little!

Hot run in the summertime

Toronto summer arrived with full force yesterday. As someone who hates extreme heat I consider myself lucky that the intense humidity didn't arrive until June 23. But arrive it did and since it was hotter than a cave troll's temper and stinkier than an orc's breath, it was a day best spent inside watching The Hobbit and Arrested Development. 

It was also the perfect day to catch up on laundry since fabric could hang outside without spontaneously sweating through everything. But around 6:45 pm our neighbour knocked on our back door to alert us to the start of the rain. The laundry made it in but the forecast said there'd be thunderstorms by 8pm. I wanted to run but was waiting for the sun to set, meaning the temperature would drop by half a degree. But with the threat of rain I made the executive decision: I would go running right then.

And I did. And it was hot. And sticky. And hot. And humid. And HOT.

But I made it. It was another 25-minute run and I made it through all 25 burning minutes. And I'm happy to say that the first 18 minutes were easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy. Actually, it wasn't until about 22 minutes that it really started to hurt and not just from the heat. Even with the last three minutes full of pain I kept going and it was awesome. (Well, eventually it was awesome. When I was done I was done.)

And because the rain held off, the Beau was able to barbeque. It's just so nice to come home from a steamy run to find burgers on the grill, eagerly awaiting cheddar cheese and anticipating being topped with carmelized onions and BBQ sauce.

Om nom nom!

I don't always grill burgers, but when I do I grill the best burgers.

MORE RUNNING!

Last night I went out running again and it was the first time since I've started that I actually wanted to go out. Usually it's all, "I have to go running now to keep up with the progress I've made." But I had planned to go in the early evening and I didn't try to make excuses or spend an hour saying, "I don't want to go running...but I have to."

It was a pretty nice feeling, I gotta say.

It was also a damn hard run - 25 minutes straight. I managed to do it, but it hurt. My allergies may be playing a part in the breathing pains I was having, but by the time I went to bed (4 hours after finishing) my lungs were still a bit sore. Even today, 15 hours later, I can still feel little twinges when I breathe deeply. I will be a very happy girl when allergy season is over. (Wait, when IS allergy season over?)

Even with the breathing challenges, I'm pretty proud of my progress though sometimes I need to be reminded to be proud. The Beau is my biggest cheerleader and after every run, when I tell him how long I ran for, he always responds with genuine enthusiasm and pride. And when I start comparing my progress to that of marathoners (which of course makes my 25 minutes seem like nuthin!) he makes sure I realize that, for most people, running for 25 minutes straight IS a big deal and should be treated as such. It's an accomplishment and shouldn't be scoffed at.

And - you know what? - I agree!

Post-run sunset. Aaaaaaahhhhh.

RUNNING!

Last night proved to be another wonderful night for a run. Though there was a point when I almost poured myself a glass of wine but I was strong and went running first - and it was SO WORTH IT.

Last night's run was run one of week seven of the Couch to 5K program and the furthest I've made it yet with the program (last time I did it I topped out at week six). I was a little worried about the run because it was the second long run of the program - 22 whole, continuous minutes. Even though I was scared and worried that I wouldn't be able to do it, I made myself go out. The result?

I DID IT! I RAN FOR 22 WHOLE STRAIGHT MINUTES!

There was even a point where I think I was hitting the beginning of the mythical runner's high, where I felt I could go forever. This was tempered rather quickly, though, by the feeling that I was going to die but then the magical, mechanical voice in my app said "One minute left" (sweeter words I've never heard!) and I pushed through and made it. And it was awesome.

So far I'm only worrying about time spent running, not distance. I know I have to eventually focus on distance but I'm more interested in getting my endurance up. When I ran on the treadmill I was at a 7-minute-kilometre pace. If I'm doing about that outside (and I honestly don't know what my speed is) then last night's run would have put me at 3 km, or 60% of where I need to be for a 5K. (Did I mention I've registered for a 5K? No? Well, I may or may not be doing a 5K that may or may not be in September. Heh.) Of course, throwing out the 60% number takes away a bit from the 22-minute number, but I'm not discouraged by it. I've got lots of time before September, so lots of time to keep building my endurance.

I've gotta say, I was beginning to think that I'd never really be a "runner" of any kind but since I've started running outside it's been so much better. I think I just might be able to do this.

Evening run, FTW.

A (TV) marathon and my own long run

Every few weeks, the Beau and I are gifted with a Sunday where we have absolutely nothing to do - no plans, no commitments, no pressing house or wedding duties. When these Sundays roll around we do our best to enjoy them in all their lazy, responsibility-free splendor.

Yesterday was one of those Sundays.

Now, it's not very often that the plan-free Sunday is also a house-duty-free Sunday, but we hosted my book club on Saturday night and cleaned up after the party, so there was no need to do housework. Just a couple loads of laundry and we were good for the day.

The weather also cooperated with us, in that it rained on and off for most of the day so we didn't feel the least bit guilty spending the day inside, on the couches (I'm so glad we have two!), watching a TV marathon.

And no, it was not an Arrested Development marathon. Instead, we watched Orphan Black. It just so happened the season finale for Orphan Black was Saturday night and Space, the station that carries the show, ran the entire season during the day Saturday. So we PVRed all the episodes and settled in for a day of excellent TV.

What. A. Show.

Orphan Black is a sci-fi show that centres around a young woman's discovery that she is one of many clones. Who made her, where she came from, why she was made and how she can have her own biological daughter are all explored in the 10 episodes of season one and it is one hell of a story.

But while watching Orphan Black, I kept thinking about running (and not just because the characters do a lot of running, for exercise and other reasons). I wanted to keep the momentum from Friday going but I also knew what was waiting for me in my next run: 20 minutes of straight running. I had hit this point last year when I did the Couch to 5K program and I successfully ran for 20 minutes, so I was also worried about not being able to match my previous performance.

Finally, shortly after 8pm, I made up my mind: I was going for a run.

The biggest change from Friday night to Sunday night was the weather. Gone was the humidity that had helped keep the air (and my airways) warm; now I was faced with a 16-degree evening, complete with chilly breeze.

Normally that kind of temperature is what I love - perfect for walking around the neighbourhood with a coffee. But I had to run and run I did. And I made it - almost. At about the 17-minute mark, I took a 30 second walking break, then ran the remaining time. But only 30 seconds of walking. Otherwise, it was all me, all running, all success.

When I got home, the Beau was so happy and supportive about my progress and corrected me when I said that my 17 minutes of running was probably a warm-up to most people; he said that for the average person, 17 minutes of steady running was excellent and something to be proud of.

So I am proud. And I feel pretty good today, though my lungs are a little tight still from the cold last night. But because I'll be fine, it was totally worth it.

Midnight run

Okay, fine, it wasn't a midnight run. But it was an evening run (which I'm fast discovering is my favourite time to run).

When I left work on Friday, it was in the middle of a serious rainstorm. But this being Toronto, the rain didn't last long and by 8:45pm, it was still overcast but dry enough to venture outside for a run.

And what a run it was.

I'm still on the Couch to 5K program and Friday night was the second run of Week 5: 5 minute warmup; run 8 minutes; walk 5 minutes; run 8 minutes; 5 minute cool down. I'll be honest, the 8-minute sections had me a little worried but I gave it my best go anyways...and the first one was easy peasy! Not even sure why that happened but it did so I just kept going.

When I finished the second 8-minute section, I still felt really good so instead of cooling down in the last five minutes of the workout, I ran it. That's right - 13 minutes baby! And - AND - when I was done I felt GREAT!

Why it went so well can be attributed to my working at running more regularly but also partly to the humid evening that was Friday. Even with the rain the humidity hadn't dissipated completely and proved an instance where the environment didn't work against my asthma. (Because both exercise and the environment cause my asthma to flare up, it's always neat to see when it HELPS me to breathe.) The humidity helped because it kept the air warm; when the air is cold and I'm gasping for it (like when I run) it causes my airways to constrict more, making my breathing harder. That's why running in the winter can be hard unless I've got a scarf or something over my mouth - but even then it can be dodgy.

But now that it's summer and the air is moist my running is getting on track and it's awesome. And I'm finally getting not just excited about building my strength as a runner but also confident that I can keep going and keep getting better. What an awesome place to be!

My neighbourhood, post-run, late in the evening

Running scared

I'm through the first three weeks of the Couch to 5K program and it's going well. Since I've been here before, I know that I can do it and that it just takes a bit of work on my part to stay motivated and to run regularly. And I could be running more regularly, but I'm doing my best with it.

But I'm also getting scared. It looks like spring has finally decided to join us and I'm worried about my allergies. Last summer, I was making great progress and was all set to do the zombie run when allergies hit and I couldn't breathe...at all...even with two inhalers and allergy medication. And I'm scared of this happening again, of my hard work being negated by circumstances beyond my control.

Normally my fears are irrational as they are the result of me assuming the worst will happen in any situation and then magnifying that by about a bajillion. But this time I know my fears are actually based in reality and - worst of all - there's not a lot I can do about it.

Sure, I can keep running - and I will - but it feels like it's just a matter of time before I'm struck down and forced to start again after months of allergy-induced breathlessness.

And after spring comes the horrible humidity that is a Toronto summer, which also makes breathing hard. Then fall, with more allergens, then winter, with cold air that burns. Now that I'm running regularly outside I don't want to go back in on the treadmill; I love feeling the sun on my face, having the wind blow through my hair, smelling the freshness of spring.

I just have to keep trying (and keep reminding myself to keep trying).

It ain't easy being wheezy.

A beautiful day for a run

Ha, just kidding! Happy April Fool's Day!

Today was actually a terrible day for a run but I still manages to do it, no foolin'!

We're at the Beau's folks for a couple of nights before heading off to Prince Edward County for a few nights. I'm bringing my running gear to PEC but who knows if I'll actually use it so I wanted to get a run in today. It was a frosty -13 this morning an the winds were at 40 km/he and I was damn chilly and my lungs hurt but I'm pretty proud of myself for doing it!

This is what it looked like on my run - brrr:

WW Weigh-In #63

I blame my cycle for this week's weigh in result.

Last week: 195.0 lb
This week: 196.0 lb
Total gained this week: 1 lb

But I haven been out running more and it's still kind of ugly but I'm doing it and that's what matters. I've also started doing more weights, which works out well on TV nights. No more lolling on the couch all night!

So with any luck I'll soon start seeing some results on the scale.

First frost!

I have never in my life been so excited for the first frost of winter.

This morning, when I left for work, I noticed a frosty glaze over our car and front yard so I took a deep breath - and I could breathe! It seems that whatever pesky environmental nuisance was wreaking havoc on my lungs has been knocked off for another season.

So I'm preparing to get back into running. I may even go for a short run tomorrow. No, I haven't run since September and no, it will not be pretty when I do start again but I am going to start. I've been realizing that I'm missing it, not just how it makes me feel but how it helps transform my body. I feel physically better, tighter, stronger when I run regularly. And it's one of the few exercises where I am able to push myself to gasping, which also makes me feel great (at least when my breathing returns to normal).

And in our new 'hood, we're on a dead-end street with other, smaller dead-end streets running off it so I can run up and down all these streets and look as ridiculous as I want and not worry because I'll be keeping it in the neighbourhood and off major roads. Though it may not be the best impression to give to the neighbours...oh well.

Oh running, how I've missed you!

New ways to measure progress

My allergies are still pretty bad so running is on the back burner indefinitely. The good news is that I'm over my initial funk and I'm planning to lace up my sneakers again as soon as my lungs allow.

Until then, I've decided to find new ways to measure progress. If I can't count distance or running time, I'll measure something else, dammit!

So what am I going to measure?

Firstly, push-ups. I can do 15 of them - just not in a row. But when I do three sets of weights, I do five push-ups at the end of each set and my arms are dying when I'm done but it's worth it. I want to be able to do 10 push-ups in one go, 15 after that and then...the sky's the limit!

(But first 10. Let's not get carried away or anything.)

Secondly, planks. I want to be able to hold one for one full minute. I tend to max out at 30 seconds, but it's me counting 30 seconds, which I'm sure is a bit of a cheat. I'll have to get the Beau to time me or at least get real clock to measure. But one minute for a plank is where it's at.

And thirdly, sleep. (Bet you didn't see THAT coming!) I want to start making sure I get enough sleep each night and that I'm properly rested. Getting enough sleep is important not just for weight loss but for happy living in general - because I'm a grump when I'm tired. My job makes a regular waking schedule hard but I'm starting to wake up around 8:30 most mornings on my own, which is when I need to get up for work anyways so that's good. I just need to be diligent about going to bed at the same time each night (as much as possible) and actually relaxing myself enough to sleep through the night.

I'm still going to weigh in, of course, and hopefully the scale keeps going down. And when I start running again I'm going to focus on time and distance and get up to regular 3km runs. It will be interesting to see what I can achieve first!

Running with disappointment

Last week, I had a great run. I was able to go for 25 minutes which, while peanuts to most, was a big deal for me. It was longest I'd been able to run yet and my lungs were burning by the end. But I did it and that made me incredibly proud and excited and pleased with my progress.

This past Sunday, I went for a run again with the goal of besting my 25 minutes (even 26 would have been awesome)...and I couldn't make it past 5 minutes. My lungs just seemed to stop working and it felt like I had a rubber band around my throat.

I had taken my asthma meds (even an extra shot of Ventalin to try to open my airways) but it didn't help. The culprit? I can only assume it's my allergies that have sprung up at the worst time ever. I also took an allergy pill to help combat symptoms but no luck. No running for me.

So I tried again yesterday - with the same results. And I'm still a little wheezy. And incredibly upset.

My asthma has always been triggered by the environment and by exercise. My inhalers really help with the exercise part and the environmental triggers haven't been that bad of late, but this fall they're suddenly terrible. The downside to all of this (and the biggest piss-off) is that I don't think I can do my zombie run. I mean, I really want to. REALLY want to. But running in a field outside of Barrie can only wreak further havoc on my already-tight lungs. And this is crushing.

I've felt really down about this the past two days. I've felt stupid for thinking I could do it. I've felt like a failure for not being able to overcome it. I've felt like an ass for telling anyone I was planning to do it. I've felt like giving up running altogether. I've felt fat and lazy and incompetent and incapable. And, I'll admit, I still feel that way a bit.

It's so disappointing. I wasn't expecting to set any records but I felt like I could at least finish the course. I wanted something I could feel proud of, something I could get recognition for accomplishing. I wanted to do this.

It's not completely decided that I won't run. I'm going to try again either tomorrow or Thursday (depending on how my lungs feel) to see if I can breathe long enough to get through 5K. But, honestly, it doesn't look good.

The Beau has been wonderful the past two days, being my cheerleader and giving all kinds of positive reinforcement while also saying that not being able to breathe is a perfectly good reason to back out of a run. He even said, "No one gets to be mean to my girl, not even my girl." (See why I love this man?)

We're going out of town for the weekend, to visit his folks, and that will provide a lovely backdrop for me to lick my wounds and get over my disappointment. But it sucks. It really, really sucks.

Running and houses

Just a quick post today.

I finally went for a run (like I've been planning to do for a week) and I actually did okay. I was still running and walking but I managed to run for 10 minutes/walk 5/run 5/walk 5 /run 7 so I feel pretty good about that. And I covered 3.05 miles, so that's almost 5km. (3.1 miles is about 5km.) I might be able to do this zombie thing after all!

And I will have house news tomorrow afternoon.

That is all.

Zombie training update

I haven't been for a run since August 4. For those counting, that's 12 days. Urgh.

When I did run on August 4, I ran outside for the first time...ever. Not the first time since starting the Couch to 5K plan but the first time ever in my life. Seriously. Why, I'm sure you're asking, have I not run outside before? The answer is threefold:

1 - As a beginner runner using a treadmill has helped me keep my pace. It's way too easy for me to start out faster than I should and tire much faster than I like.

2 - I've only recently started running continuously. Previously I've been doing run/walk intervals and, again, the treadmill has been undeniably helpful in this as it helps me monitor time and speed without really thinking about it.

3 - I've been terrified of how I'll look when running outside. Yeah.

But I now have just over 5 weeks to get in running shape because I'd like to be able to both finish the race and "survive" the race. (To survive, I have to complete the course with at least one of my three flags intact.)

The new plan of attack? Runs, three times a week, for at least 20 minutes. Of those three runs, at least one will be outside. That's still on track with my Couch to 5K plan, though in that plan I'd be up to 30 minutes of running in about another week. Of my three runs, I'd like to hit 20 min, 22 min and 25 min each week. Because the zombie run also involves obstacles, there will be (brief) moments to catch my breath so I feel confident that this is a good plan. 

I want to start this plan solidly on Sunday but I hope to squeeze in a run tomorrow too. And on days I don't run I need to do workouts that keep my cardiovascular strength up. It's my breathing that will kill me on zombie day if I don't work at it. And I don't want to die!

WW Weigh-In #32

It was another crazy week with lots of work hours and lots of being busy at home. One of my colleagues is on vacation (in Italy - lucky girl!) which has led to the longer work hours. It's weird, but 14-hour workdays honestly seem to fly by. If/when I'm ever back to a normal 8-hour workday it's going to feel like nothing!

In all this craziness, I did my best to keep up with my good eating habits but there were some slips. That's why, this morning, I weighed myself twice out of disbelief:

Last week: 187.2 lb
This week: 184.0 lb
Total lost this week: 3.2 lb

Weight loss target: 181.8 lb
To reach target: 2.4 lb

I promise you there were no unhealthy tactics used over the past week! I even had wine, pizza and tacos on the weekend. So how does one lose over 3 lb in a week? The short answer is pooping.

Okay, yes, it's kind of gross, but my digestive system has been in revolt the past few weeks but over the last few days I've managed to eat enough fibre and other good stuff to get back on track. My issues have also served as a wonderful reminder to eat lots and lots of fruit and veggies because they help keep one regular.

I've also got to get back to my running. I haven't had a good run in over a week. Being busy is the worst excuse, I know, but at work the only real breaks I've had were when I went to buy lunch. Now that the worst of the busyness is over, though, I'm going to get back on the running. My zombie run is coming up - September 22! - and I've got do to more outside running. But I'll do another post on that - I'm starting to ramble now!

But it's nice to feel back on track right when summer is winding down. Bring on the fall!

Couch to 5K and Week 5

Today was my third and final workout for week 5 of the Couch to 5K program and it was one I was dreading.

So far, I haven't had any problems with the program, especially through the first three weeks. With short running intervals, those three weeks were easy to complete and made me feel like a running rock star.

Week 4 started to get a bit tougher, as the running intervals got a bit longer, but I soldiered through. I was a little winded after a couple of those workouts but I completed them and that's what mattered.

Then came Week 5.

For Week 5, all workouts were different, with the running intervals getting longer with each workout. First I started with three 5-minute running intervals, broken up by 3-minute walking intervals. This was tough but doable and I managed just fine.

Then I had two 8-minute running intervals with a 5-minute walking interval in the middle. At this point I'd never run 8 minutes straight so I was a bit worried. Still, I not only got through it but felt amazing afterwards.

For today, I faced my biggest challenge yet: 20 minutes of straight running. No walking. Just running for twenty. Minutes. Straight.

And you know what? I did it.

HOLY CRAP, I RAN FOR 20 MINUTES STRAIGHT.

By 17 minutes I was starting to feel it. By 19 minutes, I was more than feeling it. By 20 minutes, I was ecstatic to be done. But I did it. I didn't walk. I didn't slow down. I didn't curl up in the fetal position and go flying off the treadmill.

I ran for 20 minutes straight. And I'm damn proud of that.

And I didn't even need my inhaler. I can't remember if I've talked about my asthma before, but I've got it. It would be an easy enough thing to hide behind and say, "I'd be able to run better if it weren't for my asthma." Thing is, there are plenty of athletes who have it, including Olympic athletes, and as long as you manage it properly you can do well at physical activities. It's because of this that I choose to approach my asthma this way: "I manage my asthma with two inhalers to allow me to do the best I can. Instead of using it as a crutch, I see my asthma as something to overcome."

Simple as that.

Although I may have done so well with my run today because of my awesome Olympic pedicure:

Couch to 5K update

Well hello! I hope you're all doing well this fine Tuesday afternoon!

Remember how I started the Couch to 5K program? Well, I'm still with it. The first three weeks were a little easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy and today I start week 4.

Last week, the running portion of each workout maxed out at nine minutes. Today, I'm facing a running portion of 16 minutes. Given, it's broken up into more manageable intervals, but suddenly I find myself getting into it. And it's exciting!

By the end of the program I should be running for 30 minutes straight. Right now, that feels almost impossible (emphasis on the almost). Really I just hope I can get through this week. Of course it's not going to get any easier (or maybe it will, as I build up strength) but I'm definitely not ready to fail.

I do have to survive those zombies, after all.

WW Weigh-In #25

And so it goes. And so it goes.

Last week: 185.8 lb
This week: 186.8 lb
Total gained this week: 1.0 lb

Weight loss target: 181.8 lb
To reach target: 5.0 lb

Sigh. I've been gaining and losing the same few pounds for about two months now - coincidentally, the same amount of time we've been house hunting. As I mentioned yesterday, stress eating has been a thing but now that I've recognized that I'm hoping to defeat it. Still, it would be so much easier if we could just buy a damn house!

I'm still working at finding a way over this hurdle. The Couch to 5K program will help; I did the first workout yesterday and it was pretty easy which will help me keep going. The running I've done in the past is definitely going to help but it's also nice to start at the beginning of the program and do really well - it's that kind of instant success that will help me keep going.

Also, I'm not going to hit my goal weight by July 4, alas. Losing 5 lb in a week is possible, but it's neither healthy nor sustainable. All I can do is keep working at it.

Couch to 5K

I've seen mention of the Couch to 5K running plan on Facebook and Twitter so today, when I found myself looking for a good training program for a 5K (that zombie run is coming up) I thought I'd check it out.

It's an 8-week program, which is perfect for me; I now have July and August to get into running shape and then another three weeks before the zombies come at me so with any luck I'll be able to do this. And the workouts are similar to what I've already been doing: walk/run intervals a few times a week, working up to longer running distances.

I thought that I could do my own program if I just tracked it myself but I'm discovering that I like workouts (both weights and cardio) that are structured for me by someone else (namely, someone with more fitness and exercise experience than me). I like having someone tell me that walk/run intervals three times a week will be enough to get me into shape. And I like seeing other people using it - even Jimmy Fallon! - and having success with it.

If you're interested, you can check it out HERE.

I'll let you know how I like it. Really, the only thing I can see impeding me is my own laziness!