March 25-31

Today's weight: 177.0 pounds.

Workouts:
Monday: Weights (upper body) for 45 minutes
Tuesday: Off
Wednesday: Cross-trained (stairs, elliptical) for 45 minutes
Thursday: Off
Friday: Off
Saturday: Walked 3.5 miles
Sunday: Off

Last week was very, very busy. Besides work, I: read two books for class, wrote a paper, went to class, saw one of my favorite musicians play a show, went to a library book sale, made a very elaborate cake from scratch for my dad, spent the day in Chicago for my Dad's birthday, and spent the day with my family for Easter. I don't feel so bad that I didn't work out much. I needed the rest. It was good to spend time with loved ones. I am very, very lucky to have them. I am humbled by their love.

My leg was feeling so good today that I went for a (very short, very slow) run outside. It was my first run outside this year that wasn't in the rain and fog. It felt excellent. It also made me realize my leg was not healed. So, back to taking it easy for the week. This was a good start, though. And this week won't be nearly as busy as last week, which means more sleep, and more workouts.

March 18-24

Today's weight: 174.4 pounds.

Workouts:
Monday: Stairs for 40 minutes, abs
Tuesday: Ran 5K in 30:37
Wednesday: Off
Thursday: Sprints for 2 miles (up to 8 mph)
Friday: Off
Saturday: Elliptical for 1 hour (5 miles)
Sunday: Off

I hurt myself. Again. This happened at the exact same time last year -- I was even training for the same 10K I'm training for now. I know I've said running is a lesson in patience, but I'm still feeling particularly defeated. In my down moments, I tell myself I wasn't meant to run. That I'll never truly be a "runner." That I get hurt too much, that I'm just not strong enough. But I know that's not true. All the times I've dragged myself out of bed in the dark, made myself run that extra 5 minutes, forced myself out of the house in the cold -- that's what makes me a runner.

But it's still frustrating. I have a stress fracture in my leg, most likely for shin splints I stupidly ignored. I haven't hurt this much since I first started running, nearly two years ago. I read that you get shin splints/stress fractures when you're first starting running and/or when you up the intensity of your runs abruptly. I've been pushing speed a lot lately -- maybe not gradually enough.

So, I'm adjusting my training plan and trying to make the most of it. At least it will push me to do more weight-training. And until my leg feels better, I'm taking my workouts one week at a time, and trying not to worry too much about that 10K. 

February 18-24

Today's weight: 178.0 pounds.

Workouts:
Monday: Off
Tuesday: Ran 5K in 31 minutes
Wednesday: Stair climb for 30 minutes
Thursday: Spin for 50 minutes, abs
Friday: Ran 2 miles, elliptical 3 miles
Saturday and Sunday: Off

I've been trying to vary my workouts more, now that I know I can run the distances I want to run. And, look! I finally did weight-training. A very little bit of it, but it's a start. I've had bad shin splints for the first time in about a year -- I'm not sure if it's because I'm running more, or faster, or just that my shoes are worn out.  I'm hoping mixing up my workouts will help. Otherwise, it's time to buy shoes. Again. Already.

January 7-13

Today's weight: 177.0.

Workouts:
Monday: 3.5 miles on the elliptical
Tuesday: 2.5 miles on the elliptical
Wednesday: Off
Thursday: Ran 3.1 miles
Friday: Ran 2 miles
Saturday and Sunday: Off

Food:
The pace of my job has picked up tenfold. I haven't been eating lunches regularly, and often wolf something down after work, before the gym. No good. Tonight I bought some fruit and vegetables (mostly for juicing) and some yogurt and granola bars for work. If I can't take lunch, I can at least something healthy.

Overall:
I felt a little down at the start of the year. Getting another cold didn't help. The gym being closed most days before January 4 didn't help, either.

But, I'm feeling better. Got four easy workouts in last week. Fitness classes at my gym started up again this week, and they've added a new spin class. I'm looking forward to working out again. And feeling proud that I managed to run a 5K without stopping. That's probably the first time I've done that in a while. I have a month and a half to get up to five miles, but I think it will be fine.

In other healthy news, I went to the doctor today to get a flu shot and bloodwork done, since I've low iron even before I gave up meat, and I've had a pretty poor diet for the last year. Now it's off to the dentist, and then to finally relax at my best friend's house. Feeling OK. Feeling like I'm taking care of myself.

Goals:

• Make smoothies or juices this week to use up the fruits and veggies I bought. I've given up trying to cook for now -- my job and my other plans are too time-consuming and I'm too dumb to figure it out for real. So, juicing it is -- for now.
• Keep flossing (finally). 
• Go to back-to-back strength training and spin classes this week.

 I think this is going to be a good year.

Move/make: Weeks 6 and 7, Take 2

Today's weight: 177.6.

Workouts:

Week 6:
Monday: Spin class (1 hour)
Tuesday: Off
Wednesday: Elliptical (30 minutes)
Thursday: Off
Friday: Ran 30 minutes
Saturday: Off
Sunday: Off

Week 7:
Monday: Spin class (50 minutes)
Tuesday: Spin class (50 minutes)
Wednesday: Ran 40 minutes
Thursday: Met w/ personal trainer
Friday: Off
Saturday: Ran 30 minutes
Sunday: Off

Thoughts on food:
Last week was my busiest so far at work. I worked late or through lunch almost every day, grabbing snacks when I could. My diet has been awful -- it's always the first thing I neglect. I met with a nutritionist and found out two suprising things: I'm eating way fewer calories than I thought, and nearly 50 percent of those calories are from fat. So, this week's project? Eat better. It's almost certainly why I'm not losing weight very quickly -- my body is malnourished.

The funny thing is, I don't eat meat, I don't smoke, and I rarely drink. I don't eat fast food, and I stopped buying things like chips and cookies to keep in the house. I even gave up Diet Coke. Because the worst things I eat now are cheeses and nuts, I (mistakenly) assumed my diet wasn't so bad. So, it was an eye-opening meeting. And I shudder to think how unhealthy I would be if I was doing all of the above things.

Overall reflections:
I am so happy to have discovered spin class. The days are shorter, and it's dark by the time I get home from work. That means I can't run outside anymore -- the first time I haven't been able to do that since I started running. I've been pretty down about it, but spin class looks like the thing that'll get me through the winter. I love it!

My meeting with a personal trainer was good, too. I learned what I need to work on, and I wasn't overwhelmed or intimidated. She was very nice. After the holidays, I want to keep meeting with her. It's expensive, but my girlfriend assures that the money she spent on a personal trainer was some of the best money she ever spent.

Goals:
I accomplished everything off of last week's list except for cooking. My job was so, so exhausting these last two weeks, and I learned that I totally neglect healthy eating when I'm stressed at work. So, for this week:

• Keep going to spin class.
• Continue to make peace with the treadmill (I learned last week that a good iPod playlist makes all the difference).
• In general, embrace the fact that I can't run outside anymore during the week, and take advantage of weekends, when I can go outdoors. 
• Buy and make some (very) easy meals -- I'm talking frozen veggies and salmon filets. That easy. I hate frozen food, but it's got to be better than bread and cheese five days straight. Right?

Move/make: Weeks 3-5, Take 2

Today's weight: 172.2.

Workouts:
Week 3
Mostly took the week off to travel. No workouts worth writing down.

Week 4:
Monday: Off
Tuesday: Walked 3 miles
Wednesday: Ran 25 minutes
Thursday: Off
Friday: Off
Saturday: Ran 35 minutes
Sunday: Ran a charity 5K (33 minutes)

Week 5:
Monday: Off
Tuesday: Ran 22 minutes
Wednesday: Ran 30 minutes
Thursday: Off
Friday: Off
Saturday: Ran 40 minutes
Sunday: Ran 20 minutes

Thoughts on food:
Ate a lot of Indian food these last couple of weeks. Learned that it's hard to be a vegetarian in small-town Arkansas. Finally started cooking for myself in a real way that I am actually excited about. Made grilled brie sandwiches with wilted spinach/sauteed garlic for lunch today. Delicious.

This upcoming week is the first one where I've planned a meal for every day that I actually want to eat (and don't just feel like I should eat, like a salad).

Overall reflections:
A busy couple of weeks of work-travel-work meant I was pretty burned out on running/eating/work/life. Throw in some random heel pain, severe depression, and lack of sunlight, and I didn't do much for a week or so. But I bought new running shoes (again), got some sleep, and finally sorted out some things. My heel pain is gone, and I also beat my PR for a 5K. I'm feeling better.

Tonight I'm going to a spin class for the first time ever. I get free gym classes as part of my employee gym membership, so I'm trying to take advantage of them. Hoping these classes will keep me from tiring of running. I just haven't been feeling it lately. I'm always careful to pay attention to when I'm not as excited about running. I want to protect it and keep it as something I look forward to, something that sustains me. I don't want it to ever be a chore.

These last couple of weeks reminded me that life is always a work-in-progress. I've been feeling a little worse for the wear. I am trying to remember to be gentle to myself, to take it easy when I need to. I am trying to be more vocal about who/what I am grateful for. I am trying to remember how much my loved ones sustain me. I am trying to remember how much running sustains me. I am trying. I suppose that's what matters, on tougher days. On better days, it's the doing that counts.

Goals:

• Go to a couple of gym classes. This will help with cross-training and keeping me interested in working out during these shorter, drearier fall days.
• Set up a time to meet with a personal trainer and nutritionist (also free, courtesy of my gym membership).
• Cook the meals I said I'd cook (mostly fancy hot sandwiches and fish tacos). 
• Get at least one shorter, tempo run in.

Move/make: Weeks 11 and 12

Today's weight: 172.3 pounds.

Workouts (last week):
Monday: Biked 30 miles
Tuesday: Off
Wednesday: Off
Thursday: Off
Friday: Biked 5 miles, walked one hour
Saturday: Biked 3 miles, weights for 45 minutes (legs and abs)
Sunday: Off

Workouts (this week):
Monday: Off
Tuesday: Off
Wednesday: Ran 35 minutes
Thursday: Ran 37 minutes
Friday: Ran 20 minutes
Saturday: Ran 37 minutes
Sunday: Off

Thoughts on food:
These last two weeks have been a whirlwind. I finished my job training last week, and started teaching this week. Because of that, I haven't eaten as well as I probably should be, but I've only gone out to eat once a week. I'm making sure I stay on top of grocery shopping.

Rather than focusing on cooking, which is clearly not happening, I think a more realistic goal for me is to make sure the snacks and small meals I eat throughout the day are healthy and filling -- veggie burgers, fresh fruit, a protein-filled breakfast. I'm happy to keep the no-eating-out rule, though. It's saving me money that I can spend on better groceries.

Overall reflections:
I stuck to about half of the goals I posted last time. I went grocery shopping, I finally saw a podiatrist, and I went to the gym and lifted weights.

I didn't work out as often as I wanted last week, but I more than made up for it this week. I got the green-light to start running again this Wednesday, and have gone for a run every day since then. I am so, so happy that I can do this. I still have another appointment with a neurologist (for a nerve conduction test, since it's a nerve problem in my foot), but my podiatrist said I can start running again as long as my foot doesn't get worse or start hurting (it's just been numb, but not painful).

I didn't fit in another long bike ride, so that's a goal for next week.

Between my last post and this one, I also quit my first teaching job, and am starting a job this Monday that is more in line with what I actually want as a career. It will allow me to stay in the town I live in, rather than driving all over northern Illinois. It pays just as well as the old one, and I won't have to work with little kids. I'm nervous, for a whole other slew of reasons, but I'm happy to leave that other, grueling job behind.

These last two weeks have been insane, but I'm feeling much better than I was before. I'm also starting to see a difference from working out. My muscles are stronger and more defined, and I have a lot more endurance. My weight seems to be steadily going down, too. The cross-training definitely helped. Going forward, I want to make sure I have more variety in my workouts, rather than just running or biking. 

Goals:
I binged on running this week -- I was just so glad to be able to do it again. But now I have a job that gives me more free time during the day to hit the gym and the pool -- things I couldn't always do before.

Because of that, I want to do the following things next week, for some variety:

• Go to the pool at least once
• Go to the gym and lift weights at least twice
• Go for a long (25-mile or more) bike ride
• Go for a run

I also need to make an appointment to see the neurologist.

As for my long-term summer goals, I sat down and listed them all out here. That way, I can use this space for my short-term, week-to-week check-ins, and have a running list in one place of my overall goals for the summer.