Catching Up: Pretty Things From My Walks

Rising Up

Goodness. What day is it? I've lost track!

After all my good intentions, I was brought low once again by a bout of acute bronchitis. I am still coughing, but it's finally starting to get better, and I have been trying to ease back since the weekend by walking and walking and walking. And stretching--I went to yoga class on Monday night, and it felt amazing to stretch out my very stiff muscles. I am trying so hard not to over-do it, but that's not really in my nature. I tend to be all in, or not in at all--and i am trying hard to accept that this is not always the right way to do things. I think I keep getting sick because I keep trying to jump back in full throttle before I am really better. Walking and yoga, I can do, though, so I am. And I am trying to rest and make decent eating choices. It's very frustrating! I am finally to the point where I WANT to exercise, and my body is pretty much betraying me.

So. I am walking and walking and walking. And I am stretching and stretching and stretching. And that's it for right now. Next week, I am hoping I can add back all my classes, and really get back at it.

As part of catching up, I posted all the pretty things from the walks I have taken since the last post. And I'll tell you, we went for a huge hike this past weekend that was just amazing. The boys made it 6.24 miles, which is just great! We have come a long way as a family since we started with a mile and a half at a time last January. I hope we can hit 10 by the end of the summer. Still loving getting us all out into the woods, and I certainly plan to do more of that.

For the next week or so, I am not really logging things, but I am moving. I am working my way back to being back on track. I am trying to kick out the last of my lingering congestion. And once I jerk all the wheels back on the bus, I'll be back to writing more regularly as well.

I am so glad spring is in the air!

Cathing Up: Pretty Things from My Various Walks

February 28, Trout Lily at Hemlock Bluffs

February 28, Blossoms from Lunchtime Walk

March 6, Blooming Mosses from Raven Rock

March 7, Pansy from Lunchtime Walk

March 8, Japanese Magnolia from Lunchtime Walk

March 8, Sunset Glory from Evening Walk to Knitting

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.