I did it!!

My first 5K race was this weekend. I still can't believe that I joined the running community, but I did it! I finished strong at 33:10, which happens to be my personal best! My good friends and their children were there to help support me and be my cheering squad. Without them, I literally would not have been able to be a part of this race (because who would have watched LMA and BBZ?)!

Continuing to Run

I stayed strong to my will to run and be ready for my 5K next month. Unfortunately, in Cuba you have to time your runs just right. Or at least the northern does. There were people running in the middle of the day with the sun beating down at 85 degrees. Coming from 58 degrees the day prior, I had some acclimation to do first.

Just do it already

So I finally did it. I signed up for my first 5K. I still can't believe I'm turning into a runner. Although I have no desire to be an avid runner, it seems as though its happening whether I like it or not. Because I've actually signed up for two 5K's, both in May.

When I first started my new diet/exercise regime after the first of the year, a dear friend of mine suggested I sign up and run a 5K. Thinking what the hell, I never thought I would actually follow through with it. I mean, I had full intention of doing that, but sometimes it just doesn't happen for one reason or another.

Well, to my surprise I've kept up with the exercise. Along the way, I turned to another friend for running advice. She was able to give me a great 5K plan that gave me day to day instructions on how to go from couch potato to 5K runner in 8 weeks. Not only have I been able to complete a 5K run without stopping in 37 minutes, along the way I've lost 7 pounds (a safe amount over the course of 8 weeks, but I would have liked more) and 2 inches total. All within 8 weeks.

Sometimes when I think about it, this totally baffles my mind. I mean, I'm running 3.18 miles without stopping and I want to go faster and longer. My ultimate goal: To run the 5 K in 30 minutes or less.

And I'm going to do it.

Signing up for the 5K was by far the BEST advice my friend has ever given me. Not only because I just feel good to just run sometimes, I've had something else to focus on rather than just the weight loss. I know I am gaining muscle and losing fat which is why the scale is not as low I wish it would be, but I also know it will get there. Also, I feel as though I am setting a good example for my children. That your health, both physical and mental, is extremely important. You can't take care of others if you don't take care of yourself first.

So stay tuned. March should be fun with interval training so I can reach my goal. Who knows? Maybe before the end of the year, I'll be running a 10K. Maybe.

End of Week 2

I'm at the end of week 2 of working out. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing any differences on the scale yet, but I have seen some other changes. For one, I've already started to notice that my jeans are fitting better, especially in my legs. Guess those inner and outer thigh workouts are really paying off. Oh, yea, and all those squats! The other? I'm not dying after a 30 minute workout. Even with Jillian Michaels. I guess it's time to kick it up a notch.

I've consulted a few friends who I know run for a workout. My favorite actually came from a grade school friend who was overweight all the way until the end of high school. In college, she turned to running and now, after having 2 children, she is super woman!

This week I started Week 1 of her plan. An awesome routine to run my 5K by May 1st. Although it doesn't seem like much, to someone who is technically starting off from the couch, it's a lot. For Week 1, I have to run 2 minutes, then walk 4 minutes. I've made sure to make the walk a brisk one to keep my heart rate up. Repeating this 5 times until 30 minutes have passed nearly killed me the other day. Hopefully by the end of week 1, I'll notice a difference.

From Week 2 to week 10, I basically increase the running and decrease the walking by one minute increments. Hopefully, if all goes well, I should be running 30 minutes straight by week 10.

Right now? I'm not seeing it. But I'm determined. And boy will this surprise hubby when I can run along side him while we cruise the Cuban shore in April.

Watch out, dear.

Postscript: I weighed myself this morning and was down 2.5 pounds! And I ran 3 minutes straight!

Work-Out with On Demand

Did you know that if you have On Demand with your cable company, you can work out at home for FREE?? I LOVE that word! With On Demand Exercise TV, I can do a different 30 minute workout every day for an entire month.

Instead of purchasing several work-out videos that just take up space, you can work out with Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Loser with her 30 Day Shred video. 20 minutes later and I promise you will be begging for mercy. Ok, maybe not mercy, but you'll be sweating.

If you want to take it up a notch, add in Nicole Stewart's 10 min work-out, Leg Slimmer and Toner. 10 minutes doesn't sound like very much, but that one hurt!

So after 30 minutes of working out, what did I learn? Well, next time make sure I'm wearing shorts and a t-shirt, not pj pants and a long sleeve shirt (because it was a pj day after all). And I really should wear a sports bra too considering the amount of jumping jacks and jump rope movements she does in just 20 minutes.

Who needs to go to the gym on the weekends when you can stay home where its nice and warm?

Tackling the New Year

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years Eve. I have so much to say yet really don't know where to start. Maybe its the distraction in the back ground, or the lack of sleep from taking care of a sick child, but I do know where I'm headed for 2011 at least.

First, I REALLY need to get back into scrapbooking. I mean, hello. Three years ago I announced on here that I was starting my business Scraps 2 Remember. Since BBZ has been born, I haven't been at the drafting table. So New Years Resolution #1, Back to Scrapbooking.

New Years Resolution #2: Back to Horseback riding. Maybe not right now since I am not a big fan of the cold, but I definitely would like to this spring. I have a couple places in mind that aren't very far away. And I'm sure LMA would LOVE to get up, if not get close, to a horse.

New Years Resolution #3: Yes, I am one of those that makes a new years resolution to lose weight. I've needed to lose weight since BBZ has been born. At first I was saying I was doing enough chasing around two children, but obviously calories burned are not even close to the calories consumed. Last year, after hubby left for Cuba I finally started using the Wii system and the Fit Board to do yoga and of course, make LMA run around the room crazy before bedtime.

But this time, I have a different approach. I have a few things on my side this time around that I hope are going to help me finally shed these pounds. And I would like to do it all before I hopefully see hubby in April (I say, hopefully because you never know with the military but right now we are planning to see him).

My weapons:

A) iPod Touch 4th Generation

Didn't think I would ever want one of these, but since I have been fighting with AT&T for the past 6 months to get an iphone for less than $300, I settled on this. I shouldn't even say settle because this thing is AWESOME! Now I don't even need an iphone. So there, AT&T!

B) A gym membership

I have no had a gym membership since hubby and I lived in Arlington, TX, which was in 2002. Since leaving TX I've used the apartment complex "gym" or nothing at all since we have been here in VA. They gave me an awesome deal with childcare for a one year contract. And if we move when hubby comes home in August? We show them a copy of his orders and we can cancel for free. Until then, after I drop off LMA to school on Monday/Wednesday/Friday, I'll be heading in that general direction for at least an hour. I just might try my moves in a Zumba class, too.

C) And these....

Now these aren't your average sneakers. These? Are running shoes. Cost? $100. I've NEVER spent that much money on a pair of shoes. Ok, once, but they were leather custom riding boots that I still have and will never let go of until they are no good. Although to justify the purchase, I haven't purchase actual sneakers since October 2008.

Why did I do this? Because my last and final weapon for the new year?

D) A goal

Ok, not this one, but it was a good clip art from google. Yes, I am going to run/walk a 5K this spring. I mean, it's only 3.18 miles so I could technically run it all right now, but it would take me close to an hour to complete. And to make sure I do it, I am going to register this month for it. Pre-registration saves a good chunk of change and is a excellent incentive. I mean, I don't want to throw mine, I mean, hubby's money away.

So, now that I've almost completed my first week of training, what do I think? I'm going to be very sore tomorrow .... and the next day ... and the next day. But, I know it's going to be all worth it in the end.

Watch out 2011. I'm coming!