Day 202: Back in the Saddle

Whew! What a long hiatus that turned into, and not on purpose. The cold Finn gave me has been so very hard to shake, and then it turned super cold for a few days, which kept me indoors, and suffice it to say--not a lot has been going on. yesterday was my first real day back in the saddle after what feels like an eternity. Today, though sore and tired, I feel like things are getting back on track. Moving feels good. And, in spite of some tiny lingering remnants of congestion, I am tried of waiting to get going again! I weighed in this morning and was delighted to discover that my lack of activity hasn't utterly destroyed previous efforts--I have only re-gained a couple of pounds since my last weigh-in, and I haven't crossed back up into the 190s again. What a relief!

Being off like this has left me a little weak and pathetic, but I know I can catch back up. I made it to barbell class yesterday, and I made it through class, though I did have to take a small break at one point when I got super light headed. I also walked with my friend Jenn to and from knitting last night, which is a little over 4 miles. I somehow finished yesterday with well over 14,000 steps, which was am excellent discovery last night at bedtime!

I am backing up and punting on the 30-day Abs front. I don't want to go all the way back to day one, so I picked the most recent day I had completed that feel after a rest. Today, I am doing day 9, and then I'll just keep going from there.

I had every intention of going to Tiffany's Zumba class tonight, but Kieran's school project and my incredibly sore quads decided otherwise. K has this enormous economics project that's due Friday, and we were behind on both it and regular homework because of a snow day this past Monday. Sometimes, family needs must win over all else.

Log: 

Exercise:

• Lunchtime walk: 1.91 miles
• Day 9 of the 30-day Abs Challenge:45 sit-ups, 30 leg raises, 30 crunches, 38 second plank

Nutrition:

• Breakfast: Kashi Heart to Heart Oat Flakes and Blueberry Clusters with 2% milk and a small banana, tea with milk and raw sugar
• Lunch: Multigrain and flax seed wrap with homemade tuna salad and red leaf lettuce, cut up fresh veggies, and a few Kettle Chips
• Dinner:Baked chicken breast, roasted broccolini, and Trader Joes Harvest Grains cooked in the delicious, lemony broth from the chicken
• Snacks:one Girlscout Lemonade cookie, a small handful of pistacios

Stats:

• Steps: 7637
• Calories: I am honestly too tired to add this up.
• Weight:189

Coming Back up for Air

Life happens sometimes.

Since the headache from January 28th,  I have been off. We had house guests for the weekend of January 29th, and a sick kid at the same time. I cooked things like lasagne, and there were biscuits and beignets and beer. Then a friend came for Sunday dinner, and there was a cream sauce and a pie. And what there wasn't was a hike. And well--I am not really all that sorry for that insane, fun, but completely off the chain weekend. However, since then, I have been sick--it's impossible not to catch your little guy's funk when he's sneezing all over you and coughing all the time. It's been at least a week and a half since I have gotten a good night's sleep, thanks to a hacking cough that's been plaguing me. Rest is so important, and I have not had nearly enough. I've managed some bits of activity here and there, but not enough. But the cough is abating, thank goodness. I am so hoping I can make it to at least a couple of classes this week. I have gotten the food part back on track, but I have been a little afraid of working out with this persistent congestion. Here's hoping I can make it to Zumba tonight at the very least--I am playing it by ear.

I find this so frustrating, by the way--I feel like, since the holidays, I take one step forward, and then two back. Every time I start to get a little bit of momentum going, something just derails it all. I am happy to report that my weight is holding through all this, but I want to work on it continuing to go down. I want to get stronger and not keep having to restart! But all that is just whining. I am still determined as ever.

And here's a little bit of inspiration I stumbled across today. For all that this is a Pepsi commercial, of all things, it sure does make me want to get in great shape! (Also, how was this around in 2011, and I just saw it today???)

Pretty Thing From My Walk

Alta

Hmmmm. I am sick and can't stop coughing, so this week has been a total wash for working out, updating, or anything else, really. However, I am keeping up with what's happening in the fitness world, even though I am down for the count. I got an email yesterday about the new fitbit Alta, and I admit, I am intrigued. While I don't really like wearing things on my wrists, I might be willing to for this thing. It has all my favorite Flex features and all of my favorite One features, and I might just have to give it a shot. My job has a wellness program in which you can earn points by walking, exercising, eating well, and doing a whole host of other activities that are designed to help you improve your overall lifestyle. The points can earn you an Amazon gift card, a fitbit, or, if you are really lucky, a year of paid healthcare benefits. I am only a few points away from a new fitbit, and i think this may be the one I get.