So I've talked about quitting my gym. There is always some reason I could come up with to stay with the gym. Most of those reasons started with "what if". What if its really hot out I can run on the treadmill. What if it is really snowy and icy I could run at the gym. Instead of thinking of the what if I started thinking about now. How much do I use the gym? The answer sadly is not much. There are months that I pay for my membership and I don't use it at all. So I quit!
I have quit the gym but I've started with a different kind of gym. I'm now heading to a kettle bell gym. I hate lifting. But it is not that bad when you do it with a group...I guess.
Lots of push ups and planks..everything we all should be doing but I hate to do. I end up sweating like a busy hooker on a hot summer night after just the warm up. Ugh. I figure this will help my running and add some muscle. What girl doesn't want a little bit of muscle?
So hopefully I get more from this gym than my old gym. I will say I am really out of my comfort zone...which can only mean that this is something I should be doing.
Well I did it! I completed a pretty good run on the treadmill..with the help of Young and the Restless! Thank's Y&R! I headed to the gym on Wednesday since we didn't have school. I really need to have a few week days off from work so I can head to the gym in the afternoon. Did you know that you have your pick of machines during the afternoon of a random weekday?! I know I had no idea! Now I just need to figure out how to get to the gym during the school day. Anyone want to volunteer throwing a bunch of snow around the superintendent's house so he thinks a blizzard has happened once a week?? I'm sure his will not catch on to this trick.
Anyway..back to the gym..I headed over during my surprise snow day to attempt to get in a run on the treadmill. I figured I would mess with the speed to keep things interesting. Since it works for lots of you all, I figured I would try it. Well I got on and realized that Y&R was on.
So I decided that I would unplug my music and see what was happening with Nicki and friends. I think it was a great idea! I was able to get in almost 5 miles on the treadmill. Thank you Y&R!
On Thursday I headed out with some friends to listen to a band. We claimed we were ushering out the January birthdays (KP's) and welcoming in the February birthdays (Jen's and mine). But really it was just an excuse to hang out without sweaty clothes and listen to music. As always it was a good time hanging out with running friends.
No we didn't go skiing.. Those goggles were made for bars.
I headed to the gym hoping to run 8 miles on the treadmill. Yeah that didn't happen. I headed to the gym with ever intention of slogging away on the boring treadmill. There is just something about treadmills that I just can't stand. Oh how I wish the temps were not super cold and there was not ice outside.
I think I need some entertaining when I use the treadmill. Maybe a magician or something to distract me!
Or if this guy was beside me I bet I could go farther on the mill. I would spend most of my time wondering what in the world he was doing and not counting down the miles and minutes on the dreadmill.
I did about 40 minutes and then headed to the bike. My friend Stephanie recommended running a few miles and then doing something else and then hopping back on the mill and keep that up until I get my miles in. I am going to try that tomorrow. The only problem I could see is that when I get off the treadmill the last piece of equipment that I want to go back to is the treadmill. I will try this tomorrow at the gym.
On a good note I am down 4 lbs this month! That is a good thing. Hard to believe that I have lost anything this week with the laziness of all of the snow days. I guess that means I didn't eat like crazy. :)
I have been off from work all week long. There is just something about a snow day that I just love. I love the fact that it is a gift of a day and I often use them as my lazy days. Well so far I have had three lazy days in a row. I have had lots of time to clean and bake..but did I do that..some but not much. I did make no school strawberry pancakes
I used most of my snow days to read. I have read a book a day. Ah it has been great. I started with some free book from Amazon. They really sucker you in with the free book and of course it was the first of a series so I had to read the other three books in the series too. And of course those books were not free. :) I also guess that works out to more than a book a day. Ah my days ran together so much that I can't keep track of how many books I have read #firstworldproblem
We got a few inches of snow and under the snow was ice. So today was the first day that I have actually left my house. I am such a home body during snow days. Nothing beats a book, a blanket and some mindless TV during snow days. I did get out on Tuesday morning before the snow started to fall to get a workout in at the gym. I used Wednesday as my day off since there was ice everywhere. And I think today I will be able to head to the gym. The only problem I had at the gym on Tuesday was that I was not the only person that had the idea to head to the gym before the snow. I ended heading over to the elliptical since all of the treadmills were taken and then finish my workout on the bike. I am hoping that today everyone went early to the gym and I don't have to fight anyone for a machine. :)
I didn't run my 7 miles today. I would like to run them outside and not on the treadmill so I am going to head outside tomorrow. It is supposed to be in the 50's so that sounds much better than running in 30 degrees today. I did make it to the gym. Instead of running I worked out on the elliptical. So I am proud of that one. Now if only that stupid number on the scale will start going down I will be really happy.
I made some yummy beef soup tonight. So yummy I had two bowls. Yeah not sure if that helps the good old scale go down. But on a good note I had a salad for lunch. I would show you a picture of the goodness but I was enjoying it so much I couldn't stop and take a picture. Beef broth with onion, celery, a bit of tomato and beef pieces along with some egg noodles. Reminds me my mom. I usually request this soup when I go home to visit. I have just recently started to make it myself. It is really not hard at all. And so nice to have a bit of home once in awhile. Funny how some foods can just take you back to a specific place and person.
It looked sort of like this only no carrots and more beefy..less chickeny.
Well I still have not gotten back into the swing of things since my two months off. I don't think the cold from last week helped either. Really who wants to leave the house to go to the gym when it is freezing outside. It was much too comfy on the couch under covers when the temps were below 0. I did do a lot of walking during my time off from running and the gym, so I'm not feeling totally lazy...just sort of lazy.
I finally made it to the gym yesterday. I figured if I went in the afternoon I wouldn't have to wait for machines. I know I should be happy that people are all excited about going to the gym and getting fit..but I hate the fact that I can't find a parking spot or a machine. And I know I need to wait for 8 at night and I should be fine, but by that time I am all comfy at home. So yesterday I headed over in the afternoon. I figured everyone pretty much went to the gym first thing in the morning. Turns out that the afternoon is the perfect time to visit the gym during New Years Resolution January! Now if only I could take off of work during this month so I could go to the gym..but that is not looking promising. I ran some and biked some. So all in all I was happy with my gym time. I think I will head back there this afternoon.
I am supposed to be in training mode for my March half marathon. I have yet to actually put up my running schedule on the calendar. Maybe that will be today's goal. You have to dream big people! Since it has not been on my calendar I have sort of ignored the fact that I need to be in running mode. It is so easy to ignore training when you do not see it everyday when you make your morning breakfast. Well I am off to finish some cleaning and then head to the dreaded gym :) Temps might be great for running the neighborhood today so that could be on the calendar too.
I was debating my gym membership. I haven't been to the gym for months but I continue to pay them every month. Why? Why am I wasting my money for something that I do not really use. I guess because if I want to use it I can. I do tend to use it more in the winter for running and working out. That was the main issue that I had when I was going back and forth on do I ditch the membership or not. I do not enjoy running in snow and I don't run outside when there is ice out there..so I decided I guess I will keep the gym membership and see what happens who knows, maybe this spring I will save some money and stop paying the gym for nothing.
I did go to the gym twice this week. So I hope the trend continues. As I have already said, September is a hard workout month. Since we are mid October I am going to start to be a bit more regular with my workouts. I think adding the gym to my non-running days will be very good for me. If nothing else I can hop on the bike and get some reading in while burning some extra calories. I am currently up a few pounds with marathon training which I hear is not really odd. I was hoping to go the other way. I still am blaming September for those few pounds. Stupid back to school time making me tired and lazy.
I have run club tonight and then some running this week and the Army 10 miler this weekend. I have not started to stalk the weather yet. I am just hoping it is better than last weekends half marathon. It looks like Marine Corps Marathon is sneaking up on me pretty quickly too...Yikes! Well I am either going to finish or not going to finish. I will start to think about that next week..this week is my favorite 10 mile race..Army 10 Miler!
Just want to take the time to say Happy Memorial Day to all! Happy Memorial Day to all who are serving or have served in our Military.
Hard to believe that we are at the end of May. Especially since the temps have been soo chilly this weekend! I can't remember the last time I've worn a hoodie and jeans at the end of May before. brrr...One day 80 degrees the next two 45 degrees.
I went to the gym yesterday to say hi to all of my friends..like the bike, the treadmill, the elliptical. They missed me terribly. I wish I could say the same. I did like reading while biking..got caught up on some of my book. I stepped on the scale and my weight is slowly creeping back up..so I need to put a stop to that before I gain everything that I've lost. So I guess I need to visit the gym more often. Sometimes I just don't want to visit my friends. I am also going to try and take Riley for more walks (I know you all have heard that before.) May has not been the best for running. I think it is just the end of the year craziness at school and I am tutoring a kid twice a week after school, which means after tutoring I just don't have the energy to head out to the gym. I'm hungry and so I eat and not workout (Hey I wonder how that weight is creeping back up?!) Fifteen more days of school and then the excuses stop and marathon training starts.
I'm heading out for a long run in a bit...even though I just don't feel like it. But sometimes we have to do things that we don't want to do. I know I will feel better after the run. I know I will feel like I accomplished something other than just dreading work tomorrow. Ok, I'm off to take Riley on a walk and then head out for run. I've just talked myself into it!
1. I'm heading to the gym tonight..I would rather sit on the couch and watch Hallmark Christmas movies,but I'm telling myself that I will take my kindle and read Running On Empty...if that doesn't make you want to hop on the Bike at the gym I don't know what would.
2. One week until my favorite holiday!! Yippy! I love me some Turkey day! Can't wait to head up to PA to see friends and family.
3. I waited too long to sign up for a Turkey trot and now it is sold out..so I tried to sign up for the second Turkey Trot that Megan is running and it is sold out too. I'm going to try and sign up day of since they have 100 spots open day of..but with my current luck with turkey trots it may end up that I am cheering everyone on! Who knew that people were so crazy for turkey trots??
So no school tomorrow. Yeah! So I will head out the door and vote and then head straight to the gym..that's right I had to write it on the blog to make sure that is what I will do :) I had it in my mind to head to the gym tonight, but I just couldn't bring myself to go. Then I figured out that if it is seven, last week it would have been 8:00 and really that is just way to late to go to the gym on a Monday! Yeah I thought that was a pretty good excuse too.
I just have not figured out what time to fit in the gym. I can't go after school because by the time I get there it is packed and I am annoyed that I have to circle the parking lot multiple times to find a parking spot. So I need to go after 6:30. I just have to work on the no excuses. :) I wish I could get up early and head to the gym, but really I like my bed too much.
So I told myself all day long that I was going to go to the gym and run 5 miles. At noon it was not looking too good for me. I decided to take a brief nap thinking that I could recharge my battery and then go the gym. Turned out I couldn't fall asleep. My friend Kristi called to tell me that my niece Toria has been talking non-stop about Aunt Pam (I guess that means she wants a visit from Aunt Pam). So I took that as a sign no nap and get my butt to the gym.
I got to the gym as the Ravens v Pats game was starting. I love running and watching the game. The only issue I had was sometimes when something happened during the game sometimes I would forget to keep running...not what you want to do on a treadmill. Luckily this was not me:
Although at times I was very worried that the above picture could be me. I was also a bit worried that I was going to freak the guy beside me out. Every time a play would happen I would make sort of noise as I sucked in air.
So I completed my 5 miles and watched football at the same time. This means I ran at the gym two days in a row! That is a very good thing for me this month.
Well I have not really been doing much running this week. I figure I just ran a half so I can take a brief break. I ran on Tuesday at running club (slow but it was a run) and that was about it for the week. This coming week I will be back to running and visiting the gym.
Instead of running I went to Brewfest on Saturday. Running or beer..hmm I choose beer.
I ran into Sheen while we were enjoying some brew. Nice to hang out with her outside of school. It was my first time going to brewfest. It was a pretty nice event. Not a bunch of small breweries but just enough. I enjoyed some pumpkin ales and a very yummy blueberry ale. It was a perfect day to be outside enjoying some great fall weather. Who wants to run when there is brew to be had!
I did finally head back to the gym this afternoon. It wasn't the best day at the gym. I didn't stay that long, but I guess I can say "at least I went." I did a few miles on the treadmill and then headed over to the bike. I only did about 15 minutes on the bike. I didn't want to aggravate the plantar fasciitis and it was bothering me earlier today so I didn't want to take any chances. I stretched out the foot before getting off the bike so at least I didn't look like an 80 year old walking away from the bike. Tomorrow I will try and make it back to the gym or run around the hood. We will see. Mondays are usually super tiring.
1. All the cool kids hang out in the parking lot and sit in the bed of a truck. (wonder if the cool kids will see me with my water bottle and ask me to hang out)
2. Dunkin' Donuts makes donuts around 7pm at night. I haven't decided if I should go at this time or stay away...it does smell sooo good.
3. When I use the recumbent bike for more than 30 minutes my plantar fasciatitis kicks in big time.
4. When did they get rid of the rock climbing wall?? This could have been the month that I attempt to climb that moving wall of rocks.
5. 2:30 in the afternoon during the week is the time to go for no wait for a treadmill. Wonder if I will get another surprise day off because of flood to come back at 2:30...
Who would have thunk it that I would learn five new things simply by going back to the gym. Imagine how much new information I may learn if I go to the gym more frequently!
We had a flood day today so no school. The county that I work in was hit pretty hard with flooding yesterday after the week long rain fest and the torrential downpour that happen all day yesterday. Some of the schools have some flood damage and lots of roads were closed and some homes were evacuated to the local high school. On a happy note, I had a super productive day off! I finally got the oil and my slow leaking tire looked at. Thank you tire patch and no lines at the auto place! I went to Walmart and did not get irritated once and found a filter that I have been looking for for my vacuum cleaner. I went to the gym and had a great run! The only issue I had was that stupid little emergency stop magnet piece came off mid run. Ugh!!!! Just throws me off when I am suddenly stopped and I can't continue my current mileage count. I know I can add the two distances, but it just throws me off. All in all I had a great flood day. Monday it will back to work.
So I decided to go to the gym to run my 3 miles today. I figured I haven't been there in the past month or more, so I might as well get some of my money's worth out of the place. It was a bit warm and humid outside, so I think it was a pretty good decision.
I put on my new running shirt and headed into the gym. Amazing, they didn't move the place and all the equipment was in the same spot as the last time I was there... Well I hopped on the good ol' mill and off I went. I was a pretty good run when all of a sudden a girl hopped on next to me. Normally this wouldn't be news but was very distracting. She ran with her arms straight down at her sides! I couldn't help it, I kept stealing a glance at her running. Now I am not a running pro (far from it) but don't most runners run with their arms at a 90ish degree angle. I have seen this arms down approach before and it really baffles me. I mean what happens if you fall? Will your arms respond fast enough to catch you? Or do you just end up falling on your face? Doesn't it take more energy to keep your arms by your side than to have them at an angle by your body? It just seems so crazy to me. I mean, I don't run like Phoebe or anything.
But I definitely do not run with my arms straight down at my side either.
Well the girl seemed to be running fine, I don't know why I find it so fascinating, but I do. So a quick 3 miles later she was done and I was done. I then moved on to the bike and thankfully everyone had bent arms at the bike.
Bra update:
Well Title Nine, I am done. I called them today to inform them that yet again I have not received the bra. To which they told me the last day it was scanned. Yeah I can figure that out from the website. Then I proceed to tell her that it seems that it hasn't moved from Maryland since the 14th. To which the lovely lady told me I was wrong and it will probably get there. Well I guess they should change it on the tracking site b/c it only says Maryland on the 14th and the 24th. That seems to me like it hasn't moved. She then was going to send a replacement but they are out of stock of my size and color. Which irritated me b/c I would like a new bra before school starts in September. Really does it need to be this hard?? I told her I was done and to credit my card. She said no problem but to give them a call if the package shows up, b/c then if is shows up at my house they will charge my card. Ugh!!! It is a freakin' bra! How difficult can it be to mail it?? Or to figure out it must be lost??
So I have headed back to the gym this week. I ran a bit on the treadmill and then I headed to the StairMaster. I think I might start to like the StairMaster. I figure I can work on my legs and butt. I then ended with the bike. Not too bad. I was very very sweaty too. I have this weird thing with sweat. I love to see the sweat on the treadmill because I feel like if it is dripping off of me, I am obviously having a great workout. Well the sweat was dripping on the treadmill and that poor StairMaster. So I guess it was a pretty good workout.
Tomorrow is the Tim Harmon 5K race in Fairfax. It is a pretty small race. Last year they had lots of trophy and medals for age group winners and door prizes for those of us non-winners. I ended up winning a great 30 dollar gift card to a local restaurant. I LOVE DOOR PRIZES!!! They also have an oldies band, The Sock Monkeys, playing. You can't beat the atmosphere. The only problem I see is that tickets go on sale for Steelers at 10 am so I hope I can get the tickets and still win some door prizes. This is where an iPhone would come in handy. Shoot my iPhone is not coming till Monday..figures.
I also made a new play list to run to. I hope between the different gym routine and the new play list I will get out of my running funk. :)
So Sunday started the marathon training schedule. Luckily it was 30 mins of cross training, so I took the dog for a walk and played Just Dance 2. I was sweating after Just Dance so I am counting that towards my Sunday workout. :) If you are wondering I have a new go to song...Wake me up before you Go-Go..by wham...I know, I know, it shocked me too. I was always doing so well with the It's Raining Men that who would have thought I would top the 10000 points for the Wham song.
So last evening we had a girls night out at The Melting Pot.
Now if you notice in the second picture that Kristen and I finished up the other plate of chocolate dipping goodies for the table. You just can not let cheesecake and brownies sit at the table untouched. I think they lock you up for stuff like that, so rather than risk a police raid Kristen and I took one for the team and finished up some of the left over goodies (which also included some pineapple and strawberries...see we were thinking healthy). Very yummy.
Since I had so much chocolate and sweets the night before I decided that I must run today. It was supposed to be a stretching day but lets face it I have had lots of days of stretching for the last couple of months. So off to the gym for a 40 min run and a 40 min. bike ride. Yeah I rock lol.
Snow/freezing rain/ ice are supposed to move into the region over night. Is it bad that I am hoping for at least a 2 hour delay tomorrow?? Probably won't happen but we will see. Then it is back to the running club. I haven't been there since before Christmas.
So I had a wonderfully lazy Sunday. I love lazy Sunday days. I probably should feel guilty for not doing half of what I should be doing around the house, but I don't. I did get out and made it to the mall to buy some cheap bargain books for my first graders who come to my morning reading with a parent this Friday. You can't beat the bargain bin, especially when I am giving away 15 free books a month to the first 15 families that show up for my monthly morning reading. This month it is first grades opportunity to bring a blanket and a parent and read before school starts. They were very excited for the free book but more excited for the hot cocoa with marshmallows! (The cheers really went up for the marshmallow announcement).
I also made it to Dick's and bought a cold weather compression shirt. Now since I am purchasing cold weather gear I will spend most of the winter in the gym on the treadmill (isn't that how it always works). I was going to try to run outside but the wind was horrible and it took my breath away just walking to the car so I quickly decided to head to the gym.
I wanted to skip the gym but I talked myself out of that idea. I did end up going and had a nice short run while watching the eagles game. I have forgotten how much I like running and watching football. I end up not worrying so much about my distance and just watching the game. Too bad I remember this at then end of the season. Oh well next year I guess. I was also happy that I waited until the afternoon to go to the gym because all the New Years people love to go in the morning (I normally go in the morning but I didn't want to fight for any machines). So that was a good decision, no fighting. The only issue I had was I was on the treadmill and a guy jumped on and I believe he had some rank body odor. At least I hope it was him! I almost had to get off. Then I was worried that its me. I kept thinking I didn't smell it till the guy started running, but then maybe I am sweating more and it really is me! Oh great, I am a stinky mess! Then a few minutes went by and I am thinking what if I am the one offending this guy and it really is me that stinks...he stops running and leaves and wouldn't you know it the stink left too! So I am guessing that it was the guy and not me.
Then I got to thinking, which is worse, a person who takes a bath in perfume (you know so much so you can taste it while you run) or a person with B.O.? I almost think it is a toss up.
So I think it should be illegal for a Dunkin Donuts to operate in the parking lot of the gym. I parked my car and the smell of freshly made donuts comes bouncing over to me...the smell is so nice..but I resist and enter the gym. Then on the way out that damn donut smell is still hanging around.
I figure that you learn something new everyday. Here is my gem today. I overhead a group of young guys talking as I was leaving the gym.
"Dude you know how a dude looks like a baller but totally is not one. And then the dudes that don't look anything like a baller come walking over and wow they are major ballers" The other guys all agreed that this was so the way of the world. Who would have thunk it??
Hope everyone has a happy Tuesday. Tomorrow is my Friday :) After work I am loading Riley in the car and heading to PA. Oh please do not snow while I am home and please please please do not snow when I am driving to or from PA.
So I am convinced I have a broken scale. The numbers on my scale keep going up and very rarely go down..yep sounds like a broken scale to me! Just in case it is not a broken scale I started back at the gym today. I figured if I am paying the money I might as well make an appearance every once in awhile. So I ran and biked today. Felt so good I will be back for more tomorrow. Hopefully this will help cure the broken scale. :)
I am thinking I might start writing down what I eat and keeping track of the calories again. I am so not good with that. But I am really not liking the number on the scale so I guess this is what I need to do. :( Write everything down..grrr. So I guess I have just come up with my plan to fix the scale
1. Write down what I put in my mouth and the calories attached
2. Hit the gym more regularly and/or run outside more frequently than the past month
3. Take Riley on more walks.
Ok, I wrote it down so I guess that means I must follow it.
