Lack of motivation? Stuck in a slump?

I knew it would hit me again sooner or later.  It usually hits a few months after I join a gym.  This time it was 6 months before it really hit me.  Yesterday and Sunday I had a serious lack of motivation to get myself moving.

While I was sitting at work yesterday, I could see how nice it was getting outside and all I wanted to do was go outside for a run.  Once I got home, I knew that I still wanted to get outside, but was not able to do so at that time - had other things that I needed to take care of first. Plus we kept going back to the TV and Facebook to get more information of the events that happened in Boston this afternoon at the Marathon.  I knew several people that were in Boston for the big race and wanted to make sure they were all ok.  (thankfully we did find out that they all were safe and unharmed).

By the time we finished dinner and I would have had the chance to get outside, the motivation was gone.  I kept telling myself I should at least go downstairs and hop on the treadmill.  That never happened. It didn't help that I was still hungry after dinner (long story, but basically dinner was a flop, didn't like what we made and I kept trying to supplement dinner) and the Cinnamon Cheese Squares that were baked last night kept calling to me.  I wasted the entire evening. The first really nice day in weeks that I could have been outside enjoying the spring air. Next thing I knew, it was time to head to bed so that the alarm could go off (not so) bright and early.

What a waste of a perfectly beautiful day!  :(  I did end up eating one of the bars that was calling to me... but it was only one.  Previously, I would have eaten 3 or 4.

I am hoping that getting to the gym for my training session tonight will help get me back on track.  With a 5k and a half marathon coming up in the next month, I need to keep focused!  Today is a new day and I am determined to make it through on a positive note!   I found a few different workouts that I want to try on my non-training session days to try and bring a little more variety to my routine.  Today is another beautiful day and I will make the most of it!

Sweet Tooth alert!

This afternoon, while sitting at my desk working, I had a ginormous craving for somethign sweet.  Before I headed towards the vending machine to see what I could find, I remembered about my chocolate stash in my desk!  Thanks to a post on Facebook a few weeks ago and a trip to my local Target store, I had a small stash of "Unreal" chocolates in my desk drawer.  Up until that Facebook post a few weeks ago, I had never heard of this brand/company and wanted to give them a try.  For those of you that are not familiar with them, Unreal is "Unjunked candy".  Taken directly from the back of the wrapper:  No Artificials,  No Hydrogenateds,   No Corn Syrups, No Preservatives, No GMOs".  Sounds like a winner to me!

Up until today, I had only tried their Candy Coated Chocolates with Peanuts (ie Peanut M&M's).  Those were not quite as sweet as an M&M and had a very smooth flavor.  My son said that they had a slight carob taste to them.  I had to agree - and I do like carob so I was not going to complain.

Today was the Peanut Butter Cups turn!

WOW!

These are fabulous!  It is probably a good thing that I don't have another package of the in my desk, they would probably be gone!  Taste was wonderful, texture was perfect.  I decided to take a look at the nutritional information for these Peanut Putter Cups, compared to a classic Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.  Overall the fat, calories and carbs were all lower with the Unreal version.  The biggest difference was in the sugar content.  The traditional Reese's has 21g of sugar, while Unreal Peanut Butter Cups only have 11g!  Plus counting the fact that the Unreal does not have any of the "junk" in the Reese's.  Taking into the account that the Unreal does have a lover sugar content as the Reese's  I did notice that I did not get that sugar buzz/headache that I usually get when I eat a Reeses (which is why I hardly ever get them anymore!)

Now before anyone says anything... I know that this is still candy and is not to be eaten daily!  I just know that I am always looking for ways that I can reduce (and eventually eliminate) artificial flavors etc form my diet, without feeling that I am completely depriving myself of occasional indulgences, like candy bars.

(side note)  I did try the regular chocolate candy coated pieces (i.e. &M's) and I did not care for those.  They were not terrible, just not something that I would buy again.

Running like a fool

The 3rd Annual April Fools 5k... on Friday the 5th of April.  I am thinking that the joke is that is was NOT run on April 1st!  

After a busy week of work, playing catch up on projects that piled up from taking the previous week off for spring break, the run was a welcome challenge.  

With  shoes laced up and bib numbers pinned Elizabeth and I headed to Appleton after work.  We laughed about the last race we did together. It was the Scheel's Run for Home 2 years ago.  In the process of completing that 5k, we experienced rain, sleet, snow and various combinations of the all three.  After the first half mile, it was not even worth trying to avoid puddles, It was just easier to run right through and keep going.  The freezing temperatures were the whipped cream on top of the hot cocoa that we should have got when we finished.  When I reached the finish line, I got my medal (this is one of the few local 5k's that actually gives medals!)  and waited for Elizabeth to finish a few minutes behind me.  Once we both had our medals, we made a beeline for the car, in search of our extra sweatshirts to warm up.  Forget waiting around for the awards ceremony, we just wanted to warm up!

Fast forward to today, mild temperatures in the 40's, the sun is shining and the is no sign of rain or snow for hundreds of miles.  Also helps that this race is run in the evening, instead of just after sunrise!  We arrived at Players Choice (location of the finish line) and hopped on the bus to head to OSI, where the run was starting.  Matt met us with us there - my pacer!  Due to some technical difficulties with buses and getting everyone to the starting location, the race ended up starting a little late, nut nothing worth complaining about - it was a gorgeous night for a run (yes a little chilly once you were outside but that would be short lived once we started moving!

After mile 1, I was feeling good.  Pace was at an acceptable 11:something minute minute mile.  Off to a good start!  Mile 2 was just a good, I was still feeling pretty good.  Shortly after we passed that 2 mile marker, Matt told me that we were at 21 minutes (and some odd seconds)!  That was a 10:something mile!  WooHoo!!  Shortly after 2 miles, I felt the wall coming, but was determined to run through it.  I could see the building off in the distance that represented the finish line.  I was not stopping to walk, I wanted to finish it the way that I started.  When I came around the last corner and could see the timer at the finish line, I was shocked to see it was only at 34 minutes... Did I really just finish this in less that 36 minutes?  Unbelievable!

Once across the finish line and catching my breath, Matt informed me that we just pulled a time of approximately 33:11!!!  I think this pulls out as one of the best (If not the best) 5k time that I have ever done!

What's next?  Scheel's Run for Home in 1 month!  Let's just hope that the weather is better than 2 years ago when I ran it!  Not sure which is worse - running in sleet, slush and freezing rain or sweltering heat (which was the Packers Training Camp 5k 2 years ago) Thoughts?  What is the worst conditions you have run in during an organized race?  I think I have run through it all... not sure which is worse!

Breaking the scale

Ok, I am sure that many of us have wanted to break the scale because it didn't show us what we wanted to see, or we thought it was broken because it didn't us tell what we thought it should.  Right now, breaking the scale habit is where I am.  I admit it, I am a peeker when it comes to the scale, have been for many years.  If the batteries in my scale died, I had to replace them immediately.  Last week, at the urging of my trainer, I need to break that habit of stepping on the every morning.  Weighing in at the gym once and work once is more than enough.  No need to stress myself out about the scale any more than that. How am I going to do that?   My morning stop at the scale us part of my morning ritual, just as much as getting dressed and eating breakfast!

I can proudly say that I have survived week one!  In the last seven days, the only time I have stepped on a scale was last Friday morning at work (Biggest Loser weigh in) and then tonight at the gym, witnessed by my trainer.

Why did the scale become such am integral part of my daily routine? Back in my Weight Watchers days, I had convinced myself that it was a way to keep myself accountable.  Did this really work?  I thought so. If the scale was up, it motivated me to eat better, exercise more etc.  If the scale was down, I knew that I was doing the right thing and needed to keep working. However, there is a downside to this.  There are so many factors that can make "peeking" daily a negative.  Most bathroom scales are very temperamental- are you sure it is in the same spot on the floor?  Is the floor actually level? That is just the scale itself.  Are you wearing the same clothing?  Shoes? Is the sodium from last night's Chinese dinner helping you hold on to more water than usual?  In the end, the number on the scale was became the most important thing in my journey.  It was at the forefront of my mind everyday, whether I would admit it or not.

Spinach Artichoke Tart
Original Version

I have learned over the years that the scale is not the only thing that matters in the journey to my ultimate goal - a strong, healthy body... and of course be able to go shopping because nothing in my closet will fit me anymore!  The food choices that I make are just as important as everything else in this journey and we have been working to find more new, exciting recipes to try!  Today was one of those days that we tried something new!  I found the recipe for this Spinach Artichoke Tart that I just had to try!  I actually bought some of the ingredients for it a a few weeks ago, but had to wait until I could get my almond flour from my mom (best deal I could find was through her food coop!)  This morning we finally dove in and made is, and I am so glad that we did!  It was phenomenal!  My apologies for the not so brilliant photo - it was tough to get a good shot before it started disappearing from the pan! I did realize that since I used almond meal instead of almond flour, the crust did not have the same texture as the original  but it was still wonderful.  I actually had 2 pieces with lunch just because I wanted to eat it when it was still warm!  I was going to make a quiche to bring for Easter Brunch, but I think this just may be replacing the quiche!  It was the equivalent of spinach artichoke dip, in a crust!

Oh, before I forget... the scale at the gym tonight?  Yup, down 2 pounds from last week!  Was this because I didn't stress myself out over the scale?  Hard to say.  I guess we will have to see what the next week shows!

The new normal?

Steel Bridge, Sturgeon Bay

OK, I am done with winter and glad that it is officially spring, but I am really not liking the first day of spring this year!  The above picture was actually from a few weekends ago, but it is still a good reference to the current weather around here.  At this rate, we are not going to be able to get the grill out until August and will have ice on the lakes until about the same time!  This has been one of the snowiest March's in a long time - and I am so ready to be done with snow!

In an earlier post, I commented that I never thought I would say going to the gym was part of my normal routine.  I am really seeing how much they gym has become the new me - it is no longer a chore, but something that I have come accustomed to.  Over the last few days I have realized 2 things...

First is that my home workouts are losing some of their intensity.  I keep finding too many other distractions to keep me from doing what I need to do on those days that I am not able to get to the gym.  I think that I need to really change things up at home to keep myself going.  I need to do something to get my home workouts back to what they need to be.  It should help that I finally have gloves to use with the punching bag that I got last month - releasing stress and frustration on that bag is going to be awesome!  Hopefully that is what I need to get back  into the swing of things at home.

The other thing that I realized is that the gym puts me in a better place both physically and mentally.  Yesterday I felt like I was just going through the motions.  I couldn't focus on anything and was just not myself.  After getting back to the gym last night, I felt better today. I had more focus again. Now after tonight, I feel like I am back to normal... yup, they gym has become part of my new normal... and the world has not come to an end - yet.  :)

Curse the Scale, Embrace the pinch

Tonight night when I met with my trainer I informed him that I was not holding my breath for a good number.  The scale was not nice to me at home this morning, so I was pretty sure that it would be the same result at the gym.  I was tracking what I ate, made smart choices when we ate out and got in my workouts.  I was right... scale was up another pound.  This makes 2 weeks in a row that the scale was up so it was getting a little frustrating.

What more can a girl do, aside from giving up everything in her life?  I want to succeed at this, but I don't want to have to give up everything in my life just to lose the weight.  I enjoy my pizza on occasion, wine is my friend and who doesn't like chocolate?  Balance is the key to life.  There has to be a way to balance the desire to get back to a healthy weight without having to give up everything that you enjoy.  I am determined to find it.

Today he told me that he wants to do a body fat test.  3 quick pinches will hopefully tell us what we need to know We have not done one since I started working with him at the end of October - on Halloween to be exact.  I was totally game for that - who would not be!

I know that the scale is only one part of the equation, but it is the one component that is the easiest to focus on.  The scale is right there in the bathroom, calling to me each time I walk into the room.  It is too easy just to hop on and see what is has to say.  It's the curse that has virtually controlled my mornings for several years now.   Next old habit to break - stop stepping on the scale daily!  My trainer has suggested that I not torture myself like that. As it is, I weigh in at the gym weekly, as well as weigh in at work once a week for the Biggest Loser competition there.  That is more than enough.  This is going to be a tough one - I have been a chronic peeker for years!  It is part of my morning routine!  I guess it is time to hide the scale and see where that takes us!

The measurements that we have been taking at the gym every few weeks have slowly shown that things have been moving.  Granted they have been moving slowly, but when the total pounds lost (7 pounds as of last night) is less that the total inches lost (9.1 inches since last week), it makes one scratch you head.  Something is happening inside...  After a few pinches, and some quick calculations, the results were in.  I was down 11% body fat since the start!  BINGO!

So it is official, although the scale is not showing it, there is something happening under all this fluff!  The Pinch tells the unseen chapters of the story!  Embrace it and use it to fuel the mission!

With that behind us, it was time to get to the workout!  It was that beloved week when we change up the routine and push it to the next level!  It was a great feeling when I finished a few of the new exercises that he said he needed to add more weight next time - I was stronger than he thought!  Now that will definitely keep a girl motivated!  Now I just get to wait and see what is in store for me tomorrow!

Chasing Leprechauns

Waking up before the crack of dawn, with temperatures in the low teens and snow/ice everywhere is really not be idea of fun when it comes to heading out to run a 5k.  But that was exactly what we did this morning!  Mission = St Patty's Day 5K in Appleton  .  This marks the first 5K run since the Packers Training Camp run last July.  Matt and I were on the road bright and early... ok it was not really bright outside when we his the road, it was just early!

With with the training/conditioning that I have been doing in the last few months in they gym, I should not have been worried.  My trainer has expressed his confidence that I am ready and will succeed.  However, approaching that starting line was somewhat nerve wracking!  Would I really be able to finish this?  Would I be able to even come close to my 36 minute time that I was aiming for?  Can I survive my first outside run this winter?  Would I be able to keep up with Matt - considering he is quite a bit taller than me?

I know I can do this.  I have done it before.  This is just another run.

The cold and wind was something that we could have done without - it was brutal.  But we pushed through it.  I pushed myself and ended up running all but about a half mile of the course.  In the end, we finished with a time of 38:28, slightly over my 36 minute goal.  I am not going to complain one bit!  With the wind, cold and lack of outdoor training, I call it a success!  Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures at the event because I was so cold once we finished that I just wanted to get out of the crowd,  head for home and find my warm comfy clothes!

Any guesses on how long it will take for the lunges to thaw out?