Today

Today has been a slow day. I was all caught up on work this morning, and the kids were at school, hubby was at a meeting, and I had the house to myself! Yea!!! So I drank Coffee, had breakfast, watched the news, did laundry....then I got bored, so I jumped on the treadmill. I didn't really feel like running at first, but once I got a mile into it, I was pumped and didn't want to stop! So I didn't. I ran 8.5 miles!!!!! Woo-Hoo!!!! It felt GRRRREAT!
After I finished, my hubby got home, actually scared me half-to-death during my cool-down. I didn't know he was back, and he snuck up on me, and jumped and yelled. I screamed and jumped about a foot in the air! LOL! This is the exact reason I will not watch scary movies with him. He's got a mean streak! LOL!
I finally have work again, so I got it researched and scheduled for tomorrow morning. All caught up. Stephen went to get the boys from school, and I'm sitting here enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee. Life is good today! :-)

The Challenge!

I've just accepted Jen's Challenge, to eat clean (fruits, veggies, protein, and good carbs...no junk foods, or processed foods) and workout every day for the next 10 days! Who will join us?
(click on her name, it will take you to her website)

BTW: I have to give a shout out to my Daddy! He has changed his eating habits, and has lost somewhere around 40 lbs!!!! He looks great! Even just looking at him, you can tell he feels so much better. Congratulations Daddy!!! I'm SO PROUD of YOU!!!!

Running...

I love running! (Yes, I'm still here, and still working out....just never have much time to blog).

Now that my knee is totally healed up, I'm back into my running groove. Man, I sure did miss it! I've got into the habit of taking running shoes, and workout clothes with me when I'm working. This way when I finish, if I have time, I can stop by one of the parks with running paths, or one of the lakes with running paths, and run anywhere from 4-6 miles before I come home. I am soooo enjoying this weather! We've been in the 70s for the past few weeks, with lots of sunshine. It's been perfect running weather! Wish it would stay like this forever!

If I can't squeeze in a run, I've been doing the elliptical and weight training while catching up on my favorite tv shows. It's nice to at least work up a good sweat, if I'm going to be something as "un-productive" as watching tv. :-) But this way I can mix up my workouts, and keep it fun. Who am I kidding...it's not necessarily "fun" all the time, especially if I'm tired... but it's "a must" for stress relief, and for my sanity! LOL! Afterwards I always feel 100% better...so that's why it's a must, and not an option.

Working out

I've been working out, and watching what I eat, trying as hard as I can to finally get back below 120. But here I am, stuck at 122. Better than the 124-127 I was stuck at before though. I actually haven't been below 120 in over a year. But back before I had kids, and had lost so much weight, I was around 112-119 steady (depending on the time of month, and time of year). I want to get back there, just to prove to myself that I can (even with my super busy life/schedule/kids/etc).

I did 2 hours on my elliptical on Saturday night while Stephen was working and the kids were sleeping. It was bliss!
I've been doing the elliptical a lot more, because it's easier on my knee. Which is healing up nicely. I can actually run about 2 miles now without it hurting. So I'm making progress.

I didn't run in the Half-Marathon a little over a week ago. We have just had a lot going on, and with my knee hurting so badly, I knew I couldn't run it. Why injure myself even more...
So I'm going to focus on running for fun again, and maybe train for another one next year. I feel like a total slacker for not going and running in it anyway; even if I would have had to walk most of it after my knee gave out. And after it was rained out the first time back in May (which I was all ready to run in then, injury free). But I just have to cut myself some slack and let myself heal up 100% before starting to train for this again.

3 miles...

I was feeling extremely crabby, irritable, and depressed...this non-stop rainy, gloomy weather is really getting to me (it's been raining for a week straight). So, I decided to RUN! (Knowing it always makes me feel so much better...it relieves tension and stress, and simply makes me feel happier...so I ran).
I did 3 miles, in 30 minutes. It felt SOOO GREAT!
It's still raining and nasty outside, but I feel so much better.

lacking motivation....

ever get the feeling "why bother?" "who really cares?" "why do I spend all this time working out, and just always look the same?"
that's where i am right now. I'm bored, I'm lonely, I'm tired, I'm lacking motivation....
Actually to be honest, I haven't worked out in 2 weeks! :o Yikes!!!
Honestly, I've just been really busy with work, and then when I'm not working, I've been doing household chores and homework, taking care of the boys, grocery shopping, etc. I don't stop until I crawl into bed, and then it all starts again around 6am.
I was "resting" in order to let my knee heal, then I realized "time flies", and it's been 2 weeks since my last run. Which is probably good for my knee...but not good for my mind, or spirit. I'm in a funk....

Watching Biggest Loser usually inspires me, and I watch it while on my elliptical. But last night, was the first break I have taken from work/chores, and I actually sat on the couch with my hubby and watched it. I didn't feel the least bit guilty. I simply enjoyed the time, relaxing with my husband, and not thinking about the stresses of daily life. I cried when watching, and hearing Abby's story. It made me thankful for my family, and hug them a little tighter last night.

I'm determined to get some sort of workout in tonight...I need it...I need those endorphins for my sanity...my body is at a plateau (has been for years now) and I can't seem to get it to change anymore, but you know what; I'm sick of obsessing over perfection....

Weekend...

We had a great weekend...well, other than Seth running a fever and Stephen not feeling well on Sunday...it was a good weekend otherwise.
Before everyone got sick, we went to the track and spent some time exercising together. It felt great to run. I didn't want to over-do-it with my knee, so I only ran 2.5 miles. Then I did lunges and step ups on a tall bench, and push ups. After that, I joined Stephen and the boys for some football.
Once the boys were finally tired and hot, we had gone to get them some ice cream (I actually resisted the temptation and just had a diet dr pepper), and then we took them to the park to eat their ice cream and play. We all had so much fun together, just spending quality family time together (plus we got our exercise!)