Motivation Less

Last nights ride was hard.  I felt good when I got there but having to start hard out of the parking lot to catch the group and then having the pace line start out hard (18-19) on the incline, in a head wind it just killed my legs.  I was having a really hard time catching my breath and I felt really dehydrated.  Thank goodness for some really great friends and hubby that hung back to pick me up and waited for me at the stop sign.  I just don't think that I would have been able to finish all alone.  I was ready to turn around and go back.  At one point I was asked if I wanted to SAG (put my bike in the back of the assistance truck and have him take me back to the shop) but I knew that I didn't want to do that.  I wanted to push through it.  Part of me knew that this was the push that I needed to finish the ride.  At this point we were only 4 to 5 miles in and I had a long way too go.  I got in the middle of a great pace line and we took off again.  I felt great.  P was talking me through and reminding me to drink water the entire time.  I really think that his support is what helped me to finish.  Thank goodness for the tail wind once we turned around.  The added push was what we all needed.

I did go out with the faster group.  I did get dropped.  But I pushed through and made it through my 19 miles.  I feel good about my determination.  Next week will be better for sure.  I know that everyone goes through these little humps.  I have to remind myself that this is beginning of the season (at least it is for me) and I that I have a long way to go to get back into the cycling shape that I was in at the end of last year.  I look forward to that day. 

Tomorrow I will participating in a fun social ride the 3rd annual Bike Park to the Park that the City of Winter Park is hosting.  I just love this event.  It is a lot of fun.  We will see every kind of cyclists there.  Mom's with babies, hard core racers, trikes and recumbents.  The best part is the we are promoting the healthy lifestyle that comes along with the cycling.  What better way to start my Friday than with a bike ride.

Cycling Day

It is Wrong Way Wednesday today and I need it so badly.  After dealing with Strep throat for two weeks (both kiddos) and having to pick up the boy child early from school today I think that a little hard work on my part is just what I need to do recharge.  I am going to try and go out with the faster group tonight and hold on.  It might take every ounce of energy that I have in my body but it is worth a shot.  It is a gorgeous day and it should be a beautiful night.  I have been eating pretty darn good for two days so that should help.  I am already up to glass number 4 of water hopefully I will be at #6 or #7 by ride time. 

I have missed this so much.  Thank you daylight savings time for bringing back my night rides. :)

New Product

I received a free sample of new product last week in the mail.  It labeled itself as a "water enhancer."  I try to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day and I have to admit it gets old.  No lie.  Sometimes I mix it up with some Lipton Green Iced Tea bags and that helps but I was looking for something with a little more flavor.  This stuff is pretty yummy. MiO...

No calories, no fat, no sodium, no carbs.  Not too bad.  I love the taste . I think that I might give the other flavors a try.  It isn't an all the time "thing" but it is a nice change of pace to boring water.  You can pick it up at Walmart for $3.99 and this little container holds about 24 servings.  Give it a shot!  Let me know if you like it.

Gym Visit

I really had a good time!  25 minutes of cardio, with 15 of that on the elliptical machine.

10 minutes of walking (to and from the gym.)

My core workout was hard especially since I haven't been to the gym in a week.  But I did 12 push-ups that is a huge plus.  HATE Push-ups!!  Lots of crunches, bridges, butt lifts, planks, transverse planks, leg lifts then topped off with lots of stretching and I think that was the best part of the day.  It felt awesome!

Started up my food journal again today.  It is scary ya'll.  Of course I don't completely agree with the program that I am using but it is a start. 

Tomorrow is a new day!  Bring on the pain. OOH RAH

Blogger of the year

I cannot even find the time or determination to come in here and blog.  That is just awful!  Nominate me for blogger of the year.

I guess my sloth-likeness has translated to my fitness regime as well.  I haven't been very diligent about getting to the gym in the last week.  I have jogged a couple of days and I have walked a few days.  Last Wednesday I rode my bike with St. Johns Cycles and had a blast. But for the most part I have been playing mommy to some poor sick babies and have been being lazy. 

I have had a long talk with myself over the last couple of days.  I have too many goals that I have set for myself this year and I would hate to see myself not accomplish them.  Today I have decided to get back in the gym and I will be sure to visit there at least 4 times a week.  If I am unable to do so I will take full advantage of the afternoon sunshine to do something outside; cycling, jogging, or walking.  I have come this far I don't want to go back. I will not go back.

Food Journaling

I began my food journal again.  So far so good.  The only thing that I noticed is that according to myfitnesspal.com I have gone over the amount of protein I should have in any given day?  I am confused.  Isn't it a good thing to have the lean protein?  I guess I am going to to have to look this one up and research it further.  So it looks as though i will be having a salad for dinner.  Lots of fruits and veggies but no protein. 

What is your thinking on this?

A New Day, A New Me

First of all I would like to thank all my friends and family and responded to my "poor pitiful me" post from yesterday.  I was having a bad day. :(

This morning I woke up with a new attitude, it was most likely caused by the 7 hours of sleep that I was able to get last night.  It really does reset your system. 

I have started up my food journal again and I am determined to keep it up throughout the weekend.  I have got to see where I am going wrong with my intake.  I don't have any big plans for working out this weekend but I am sure that jogging and cycling will be involved.  We are going take the kiddos on the trail on Saturday along with my mom, which isn't really an aerobic workout but it is something.  Sunday morning I am planning on a solo cycling event down to the airport and back.  Unless I can talk the hubby in going with me then I will have to find a sitter.  That would be fun to get back in the saddle with Paul as my drafting partner.

I have decided that this is just the push that I needed to keep my motivation.  I have a goal and I will succeed.  Hopefully without all the drama that yesterday brought.

Discouraged

Just discouraged.  I feel like all the hard work that I am doing at the gym and eating healthy is not doing me any good.  I cannot lose the weight!!  I actually am gaining it back.  I have heard that it is muscle weight or water weight or that time of the month.... but I am just over it really.  I understand why people give up.

I started a food journal last week.  I did it for two days then the weekend arrived and haven't been back since.  The two days that I did the journal were really good.  I was able to keep the calories  under the recommended range and I was eating a lot of good food.  Trying like hell to keep my metabolism up.  This weekend I worked out a lot including a bike ride on Sunday.  But the weight didn't go down, it went up.  Which made me angry and I didn't go back to the food journal.

That is when it started to bring me down.  I work out at least 5-6 days a week.  I rotate between cardio, core and strength, but mostly cardio.  I average about 40 minutes a day at the gym.  If I don't get to the gym I work out at least 30 minutes at home.  Maybe I am not doing enough?  Maybe I still need to work on my food intake?  Maybe I just need to only drink water and eat saltine crackers?!  It really is bothering me.  I feel lazy when I sit down on the couch at night especially when I have a weight gain for the week.  My brain is telling me to get my fat butt up and doing something.  But my body is tired.  I know that I cannot work out all the time but maybe it would help. :(

I try to keep this journal upbeat and positive but today is just a not a good day.  I have been coached and given so many great ideas as to what I should be doing but I just don't think that it is enough.  Tomorrow is a new day, maybe it will be better.