Week 44: 177 pounds

Give or take a few, I suppose. The numbers aren't reflecting the progress I am making, but I don't really care. I started Week 5 of the C25K Plan, and I gotta say this week is easier than Week 4 was. But I also think some of that is due to conditioning too. It's getting easier because I'm getting better. I can feel the difference in my stomach, and my clothes are starting to fit again.
Last week was a "cluster" for scheduling, so I ran Sunday, and then not again until Thursday and right away again Friday. I got my Week 4 done that way, but it sucked. I didn't get the day between for recovery that they recommend, and I felt it on Saturday. But sure enough, Sunday came along like it always does, and I started Week 5. When I was done, I felt pretty good which was lucky for me because I needed to take a quick shower and get to work, where I spent the whole 8 hours on my feet running around like mad. THANK GOD FOR 5-HOUR ENERGY!!!! I really love that stuff. My breakfast on Sunday consisted of a cereal bar, a Diet coke, and a 5-Hour Energy. And I felt great all day. Collapsed into a blubbering heap that night, but felt great all day!
I'm posting my progress at the C25K Facebook page too, and it is so great to see the inspiring posts from others there going through this too. Some are just starting out and doubtful of their potential, and others are veterans offering up "if I can you can too" style encouragement. It's really nice. I'm somewhere in the middle now; not a newbie but not done either. I like it here.
I was challenged by my friend to run in the Turkey Day 5K this year, and going by the calendar that would be just about the right timing assuming I am sticking to the program. And I am assuming as much, so we'll see. For now I am not making that promise, because he is going through the recent loss of his dad and has other things to think about now, but maybe in time we'll revisit the notion. Until then, gotta keep running.

Week 42: 178 pounds

Back at it! I started running again, and I have decided to repeat Week 3 of the Couch to 5K Plan. Not as a form of self-punishment, but because I really need to get back up to where I was before thinking I can just jump into it. And honestly, Weeks 1 and 2 were not all that dang hard. Sure, I was sweaty and breathing hard, but other stuff causes that too. Week 3 isn't really hard either in the grand scheme of it all, but for a lump like me it is enough of a challenge for me to be respectful of it.

Ooh, and a big ball!!

I have one of those stability balls that I use for doing sit-ups on, and let me tell ya it is SO MUCH BETTER ON THE BACK! My lower back has been doing weird things lately, and I really notice it during sit-ups. This thing is a hoot! Sure, I like to bounce around on it too. Who wouldn't? But the little plug that goes into the air fill hole is rather intimidating. It's like FOUR INCHES LONG! I have this nightmare-ish vision of the ball popping while I'm sitting on it, and the spike impaling me right through the "Exit Only" sign.

But I still bounce on it. Can't resist.

Back to the Plan: I am supposed to run three days a week (every other day), and take 2 days off to recover. Golly, a M-W-F "on", Sa-Su "off" schedule seems right on. But no, I tried that and found that it's better for me to do a Su-Tu-Th "on", F-Sa "off" approach. Sunday mornings I get up before everyone else anyway, so I have plenty of time to get in a workout and a run, take a shower, and have a bowl of cereal before anyone else is even stirring. It's nice. That leaves two nights in the middle of the week. Two nights! Psshhh! Who can't commit to two nights? AND, I'm talking about a commitment of about 45 minutes total, if I take my time.

Seriously, if I whine about how I can't do this, come find me and offer up the head-smack I deserve.

Week 41: 179 pounds

...and holding. In fact, I'm stuck once again in a "holding pattern" just circling around my plan instead of doing something about it. Dammit! I haven't run once since my dad went into the hospital, but there hasn't been a day I don't think about it. So there it sits, in my head, nagging me to do something about it. And there I sit, rationalizing it away and promising myself I'll get to it.

Sure, the truth is that I have a lot of stuff happening right now in my life, and I'm stressed out big time about it. And the last thing I am interested in is exercising. But I gotta slap that lame-o excuse outta my head and realize that EVERYONE is stressed about something, and in fact exercising actually HELPS me feel better (albeit tired) afterward.

Man, this blogging thing is easy. The rest of it sucks though.