C25K Week 4: Halfway through and BAM, Kicking It Up a Notch

May 28- June 3

Well, this was a mental challenging week I think more than anything.  The first two days were really hard, but not once did I stop running even if it was barely jogging.  Then on the last run of the week I actually kinda just gave up during the second run.  I didn't walk the whole time, but did stop and walk for a bit and then picked it back up.  I think I made myself go faster than I actually should have and then wore down too quick.  I am a little disappointed that I didn't hold out, but I when I say it was a mental week, I mean it.  I was struggling with other things and I am down and distracted by it.  I did still run a lot during my cool down and didn't lose much distance on the last day of the week.  The schedule was: 5 min warm  up, run 4 min, walk 2 min, run 6 min, walk 3 min, run 4 min, walk 2 min, and then a 5 min cool down. Here are the pics. I am going to stop putting the walk pace unless it changes.  It has been at a constant 17:08 for a long time.

day 1: rp: 11:19, a: 14:35

Day 2: rp: 11:19, a: 13:53

Day 3: rp: 11:06, a: 14:02

So, there was improvement!  The run pace totals are calculated on what I guessed to be my average run pace since I didn't run at a consistent speed all week.  So, it could be off some.  My debate now is do I redo this week and go at a much slower but consistent pace or buck up and go to week 5. I feel it was more of a mental thing, but I guess I didn't go at a consistent rate even before I got all discombobulated with my mental stuff.  I better decide quickly if I want to do it today while the kids nap (writing this during day 1 of week 5) because I figured out that I can't run at night with all the hydrating going on, or I will be up all night.  I did get an amazingly better workout though this week.  I was literally dripping with sweat.  I am glad I still made it through this week even if slightly altered.  I really still don't like running.  I will say that my knees hurt a lot at the beginning of the week, but because of something else I did, I feel it is helping make my knees stronger. By the end of the week, they were not as painful after the run, but still iced them down to make sure.  

Weigh in on the 28th: down .8lbs.  :( Still not as big of a number as I would like to see.  I know healthy weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds a week so it couldn't be too much more, but I would like to least hit 1 lb every week.  Grr.  I have a theory that since muscle weighs more than fat and I am working muscles I haven't in forever and strengthening them that is why I haven't lost as much. So, my theory is I am gaining muscle and therefor not losing as much.  A girl can dream right?

You ask what I mean by kicking it up a notch?  Well I have made a frienemy.  Her name is Jillian Michaels.  Yes, you know where I am going now.  :)  I have had her DVD 30 Day Shred since right before I got pregnant with Max and never opened it.  I have heard so many of my friends out there talk about it and I own it, and I need some strength training so here we go.  I also my have been inspired by Pinterest and seeing someone's pic before and after doing it for 30 days.  They also were doing a c25k plan and yoga.  I am not doing yoga, but I am doing c25k and it made me feel like I could do this.  I say frienemy because those 20 minute workouts are BRUTAL!!!  So, she is evil to me right now in week one, but I am hoping by the end I will be thanking her. If it was on day that I was running too, I did the video first then ran. I was so very sore in my arms, legs, and somewhere deep down under the layers and layers of fat in my abs Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but then Thursday, it was all better.  I didn't do it every day.  I took a break on Friday and Sunday. I am down in the dumps I tell you.  I thought exercise was supposed to lift your mood?  


Here is a cute picture of the week though.  I was working out with Jillian one night after the kids were in bed and Avery was still awake and came out of her room and was spying on me while I was doing push ups and then again when I was doing crunches.  So the next day she was doing push up and crunches and I got a picture of the crunches.  :) 

Praying I get past this mental stuff!!  

C25K Week 3

May 21-27.  Week 3.  Wow I actually made myself keep going.  I think this is the first time since ever that I have worked out for more than a couple weeks.  I am determined to follow through with this program.  After my run on Saturday (end of week 2) my knees hurt the next day.  I didn't think anything of it really just thought it was my body adjusting to stuff not being used for awhile, but as this week went on my knee pain got worse.  The day I took anti-inflammatory meds is the only day it was too bad.  I started icing after my work outs and that helped temporarily.  I got suggestion from friends and I will be looking into them or have already like new shoes, icing and/or heat, and stretching them better.  I think every day I dread the moment until I get on the treadmill and when I am almost done is when I finally realize I am stronger than I think.  It still REALLY STINKS and I want to give up at times, but I push through.  I also have decided I HATE running.  I don't know if it is because I am so out of shape or because I really hate it, but I don't want to be a quitter, so I am going to keep going and see if it is just my fatness revolting.  :) The intervals for this week went: 5 min warm up, run 3 min, walk 2 minutes, run 90 sec, walk 2 min, repeat run/walk interval, and a 5 min cool down.  Yay only 2 intervals of running.  Only having 4 total runs kinda made me feel a little better, but only a little because it was still very hard.  Here are the pics:

day 1: rp: 10:54, wp; 17:08, a: 15:46

Day 2: rp: 10:00, wp: 17:08, a: 14:54

Day 3: rp: 10:20, wp: 17:08, a: 14:39

I didn't run as may total miles this week as last week either.  Only 6:14 miles. No extra days or time of running this week, when I was done with the workout, I was done!!  I did try to add at least one extra run in there on the last 2 days during what was supposed to be my cool down.  I ran day one at the same pace as the week before and my distance went way down so I upped my run pace on day 2 and kept it there for day 3.  I never change my walking pace because I feel like I am pushing myself already on that front right now.  I am happy to see my average pace go down!!   I also did nothing else this week, no strength training or anything else.  It was a tough week.  

Weigh in on Monday (21st) said I was down another 1.4lbs.  So that puts me at a total of 2lbs down!  Sweet.  I did watch what I ate more and it paid off.  :)  I have stopped recording what I eat, but I need to start doing it so I can be more accountable. 

Well, I think I am caught up on my running log since I am currently in week 4.  I have new stuff going on this week and I am excited about it I think.  So, I better go so I can get ready for the kids to nap so I can run on this rainy day.  I will say I still don't want to do it, but going to anyway. 

C25K Week 2

May 14-20.  Well, week 2 definitely was harder than week 1.  I thought maybe it wouldn't be too bad since week one was not too hard at all, but it was tough.  Just goes to show how out of shape I am.  This week I helped moved my good friends 1 and 1/2 hrs away and so I got a 2 day break between day one and day 2.  Helping my friends move was an all day affair.  Loading the uhaul, packing, driving there, unpacking the uhaul, and driving back.  I am giving myself some credit in the exercise department since I felt like I was hit by said uhaul the next day. I did make myself run that next day even though I didn't want to and actually during the last run was praying for God's strength and screaming/grunting.  It was HARD.  Day 3 was hard too, but no screaming and after I was done with the actual workout I made myself walk until I hit 50 minutes.  It felt nice to do a little more.  Intervals this week: 5 min warm up, run 45 sec, walk 60 sec, run 60 sec, walk 90 sec, run 90 sec, walk 2 min and repeat for a total of 3 times, then a 5 min cool down.  Here are the pics:

day one: rp: 10:54, wp: 17:08, a 15:33

day 2: rp: 10:54, wp: 17:08, a: 15:55

day 3: rp: 10:54, wp: 17:08, a: 15:25

day 3: extra 15 minute walk :)

Total of miles this week: 7.57.  Well, there was some improvement despite the dip from day one to two.  I am happy that I completed week 2 because the furthest I have made it on this before is the beginning of week 2.  Yay! I will say I have been going a little longer than the work out says because I feel like I can. I mainly walk, but like to add at least one run in there for a minute. So, its not a lot, but something.  :)  i also didn't do too much strength training.  I think I tried to do some of the things I found on pinterest a couple of days, but never kept its momentum. 

On the weight loss front I only lost .6 pounds.  :(  I was really sad. I started when I started running and weight in on Mondays, so it is going to post a week behind I think.  I decided to kinda do the old weight watchers again.  I can't afford to do the new points plus and I have the info for the old one so that is what I am going by.  I say roughly because sometimes I don't write down points.  I think that is maybe why I only lost .6lbs.  I keep telling myself I didn't gain or stay the same so that is something.  :) 

Me a Runner?

Yeah, I am trying something kinda new.  I found this thing a little over a year ago called C25K (couch to 5K) and it is a 9 week routine that gears you up to doing a 5K.  I started doing it and got plantar fasciitis and then life got in the way.  Then with the move back to IN, I kinda put it on the back burner, but knew I wasn't done.  So when the new year came I didn't make resolutions per se, but one of my goals for the year is to do a 5K.  We are set up enough in the house for me to start working on it. I am currently on week 4 (can't believe I am already halfway through).  This is how I thing the first week went.

  first week was May 7 -13.  I actually did not think the first week was that hard.  I was sore, but not to where I couldn't move or anything.  I also was able to stay on longer than the day required adding at least one extra run.  I also got on an extra day just because.  I am glad to be doing something like this in my life.  I know I need to get back to a healthy weight and have a healthy lifestyle not only for me, but to set a good example for my beautiful children.  Maybe if I put it out there on this blog I will be more accountable to keep it going.  I also plan to find a 5k to sign up for soon to make me stay motivated.  Here is what the treadmill said at the each of my runs for the first week with totals.  Run pace=rp, walk pace=wp, and average pace=a.  Intervals were 5 minute warm up, run 30 sec, walk 45 sec, run 45 sec, walk 60 sec, run 60 sec, walk 90 sec, repeat run/walk intervals 3 times, then a 5 min cool down 

First Day rp: 13:20 wp: 17:08 a: 17:01

Extra day

Day 2 rp: 12:00 wp17:08  a:16:22

Day 3 rp:10:54 wp: 17:38 a:16:30

I went at total of 7.29 miles.  I know I have a long way to go, but you have to start somewhere and I have 6 & 1/2 weeks (at this point) left to get there. I improved my run pace in the first week, so I will take it.  :)  I also added a little, tiny bit of strength training with push-ups and crunches a few days.  That made me more sore than the running.  I know if I want to actual do this right I need some strength training, but at week one, I wasn't sure what to do for sure, so it was mainly running.  So, I am not a runner yet, but going to give it a try.

Wow, Where Did I Go? I Cannot Believe it has Been a Year

I wanna say, I have missed writing this thing so much.  I know it was never a part of anyone's daily routine and I wasn't a avid, everyday blogger, or don't have a handle on this whole blogging thing, but it is a good therapy for me.  I cannot tell you the countless blogs I have thought up over the year, but was never able to do it and most are now irrelevant or long forgotten.  A year ago my world was turned upside down and I moved back home while Brian was on deployment.  I stayed with my mom and then got a place in my home town and got into a routine waiting for Brian to come back to us.  We got to visit lots of family and friends.  Avery went to school (Pre-K) and LOVED it.  She went in the afternoon (which was her normal nap time), so she was a cranky girl in the evening.  Max has gone from barely sitting up when I stopped this blog to being able to walk and run a little cute run.  He is starting to talk a lot more and is very independent.  Then December finally came and Brian came home and it was so wonderful!  We really missed him and were so happy to have in back in the good ol' U S of A.  We came back down to Norfolk for the Homecoming and had a few days to ourselves as a family and then headed back up to Indiana for the Holidays.  We were not able to move back to Norfolk right away and so moved into my mom's until we could afford to move and for a house to come through.  While waiting we came down once a month to see Brian.  It was always an adventure with the scary hotels we ended up staying in.  :)  So, after all that fun, we are back in Norfolk living in the same housing we were in before even on the same street and our house is even set up the same way.  I even almost pulled into our old driveway and would have if Brian hadn't stopped me.  So it kinda feels surreal the whole time in IN, because we are back in our old house pretty much, which I didn't think would ever happen.  Brian is no longer on deployment, but still leaves quite often on little underways (or work-ups) where the boat will go out anywhere from a few days to a month.  He is currently on a break for the underways and is in school in San Diego, CA for CNC machines.  I am so proud of him and the work that he does.  I know he does not really like being the in the Navy, but he does enjoy his actual work and it shows in how good he is at it.  His school if for 7 weeks and we are down 3 & 1/2 weeks.  He missed Mother's Day (which makes me sad) and will miss Father's Day, by a week.  He hasn't had a Father's Day with both of the kids yet, at least not here with them.  We are still in the process of putting our house together, so that is a good distraction for me while he is away.  The kids take up most of my time though (which I am so thankful for), but still miss Brian like crazy.  I am happy to be back here as a family and glad to get my blog going again (yay for internet!).  So, here I am again going to give this thing a try even if it is just for me.  :) 


 Here are just a few of the hundreds of pictures captured since I last posted.

Kids and I at Apple Works

Homecoming :)

Had a wonderful friend take the kids pics.  Avery 4

Max 1

outside one of the hotels we stayed at visiting Brian

my man is so cute!!!

Celebrating with Meme

Bestie's Babies Avery loves Hezekiah

couldn't help it.  Thanks for letting use your darts Hezekiah.  :) 

Nana and Pa's

Easter.  Right after we moved back down to Norfolk.  Do they look alike or what?

Two Weeks! That's it?

Well, it has been two weeks and a day since Brian deployed and two weeks and 2 days since I have seen him. How is possible it has only been two weeks? It feels like it has been a lifetime. The first day went so fast but it's been so slow going since. We have been keeping ourselves busy and when I think about an individual week, it seems to go by fast, but then how has it only been two weeks? I miss him so much and I know the kids do too. Avery has been having issues at night with either needing to sleep with me or night time accidents. She had an accident 3 nights in a row, but last night she actually made it through. I don't get it because before this started I would hear her get up and go to the bathroom and go back to bed, but then it's like she forgot. I can only imagine how hard it s for her not really understanding where her Daddy is and why we can't get him.

Max has started this new screaming phase since Brian left. I often wonder if it is him growing more into his personality or him missing his dad. I know he is litle, but Brian had always been able to calm him and I think he misses that. I think he is finally getting ready to have a tooth come through which does not help. Avery was never bothered by it so this is new territory for me.

Well, to pass the time so far we have hit the beach, had a game night, movie night, done some retail coupon shopping, Dr's apt, church and just hanging with Brittany and Abbey (our friends who we met because Brian and her hubby work together). I have managed to break my laptop so it will not charge. I am so thankful for my iPad right now. :) It does have its disadvantages and that is only because I am not tech savvy and dont know how to do a quarter of what this thing can do. Like right now, i want to put up some pictures of what we have been doing, but don't know how. Guess I should learn. So another thing added to my list to do to stay busy while Brian is gone. :).

As much as I hate how slow I feel the time is going, I am in a way thankful because Max will be over a year old and Avery will be in school by the time Brian gets back. So I guess I should just enjoy my kiddos and Brian will be home before I know it.

Let the Countdown Begin!

Deployment!  A word I am not a big fan of right now!  Today Brian's carrier, The USS George H W Bush (CVN 77), headed out for a 7 month deployment with him on it.  I know Brian has been through boot camp and underways on a submarine, and workups on the carrier, but when I dropped him off last night I knew this was different because I knew this would be the longest we have been away from each other.  Today it just doesn't seem real because he has been on workups and gone for a month or so at a time.  I just can't believe it.  He is going to miss so much and we are just going to miss him like crazy (I already do).  I hate that he is going to miss the kid's first dual birthday, my birthday, father's day, Thanksgiving, Avery starting school, and all the other stuff in between.  Ugh!  I know Brian is in the Navy and this was going to happen at some point, but I just don't think that you can ever really know how you will feel until you are here doing it.  I know this is only day one so I am assuming there will be other bad days and some good days over the next 7 months, so I guess we will just have to take it one day at a time.  I am so thankful that we get to email each other and he will get to call me sometimes!  I already got my first email.  :) 

I hope Brian got to do all he wanted to before he left.  We tried to do a lot in the last couple of weeks.  Including a mini vacay (which I will hopefully post about soon).  I even let him pick the food out for our  meals on Mother's Day since he was leaving so soon.  ;)  I know these months will go by fast, it is just hard to see in the beginning, but I can look back and can't believe Max is almost 9 months, so I know how quickly it will go.  I have a lot I want to while he is done to keep myself busy.  I want to get Avery into swimming lessons (which I have to pray how to figure out how to do that with Max), I want to do some things projects around the house, take some trips home, explore this area a little more, get caught up and keep it that way on this blog, and I started C25K (couch to 5K) training that got put on hold while spending our last little bit with B, and would like to finish that.  I don't know if I will be able to do a 5K at the end, but think I would like to, because of not having anyone to watch the kids, but thinking about trying to find one in IN when I am done.  With doing the C25K I hope to get in better shape for me and my family.  I want to get more involved in the church we found down here and get a church family. I know I am going to need God to get through this and need to grow my relationship with Him so that is a priority.  I also want to grow as a couoponer.  lol.  I want to be one of those people that pay pennies for my families household needs and groceries.  So, I think I have enough to keep me busy!  :)  I just pray for Brian's safety while away from us that he is quick to return to us. 

Here are some pictures from our last day together: 

Pizza we made for lunch for Daddy saying Love you.  :)