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Sunday, July 31, 2011

C25K: W1D2

As I explained in my previous post, I've started the Couch to 5K running program.  (You can read more information about the program and the app I use on my iPod by clicking the link.)  Since it is the end of July and in the middle of the summer, I want to do the workouts in the morning or later at night when it is cooler outside.  The app on my iPod allows you to make a playlist for the 30 minute session and then makes a ringing noise for each switch to walking from running.  It also lets you know when the workout is half over.

This morning I went at 9 for the week 1 day 2 workout.  The workout consists of:
  • 5 minute walking warm-up
  • 60 seconds running
  • 90 seconds walking
  • 60 seconds running
  • 90 seconds walking
  • 60 seconds running
  • 90 seconds walking
  • 60 seconds running
  • 90 seconds walking
  • 60 seconds running
  • 90 seconds walking
  • 60 seconds running
  • 90 seconds walking
  • 60 seconds running
  • 90 seconds walking
  • 60 seconds running
  • 5 minute walking cool down
Obviously, I don't run very well, that is definitely clear.  To accomplish my goal of becoming a runner I want to start by doing a 5K.  This morning I jogged a lot more than I did on Friday.  I am very happy about that and proud of myself for that.  I successfully ran (slowly) six out of the eight 60 second increments from start to finish.  The other two 60 second increments I started walking and then about five seconds later, the bell to start walking sounded.  I wish I would have kept going those last five seconds.

I'm going to be doing the Couch to 5K workouts every other day and then will be doing Wii Fit on the days I don't do the C25K.  Sean says I should include a rest day one day throughout the week.  I haven't decided what day I'm going to make a rest day yet.

So far, the lifestyle change has been going really well.  I'm going to be weighing myself on the 1st and 15th of each month.  Tomorrow is the first of the month so tomorrow will be weigh day.  I will keep you all posted.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Friday, July 29, 2011

Couch to 5K: Week 1 Day 1

Well, I did the Couch to 5K: Week 1 Day 1 workout.  I can't say I successfully completed today's but I can say that I jogged as much as I could.  I am proud of myself because it is a start and it is more than I jogged yesterday.

Now, I'm going to reward myself with a dip in the pool (which I have yet to use at this apartment) and it will be glorious.  Also, the usual noisy upstairs neighbors are playing ridiculously loud music which was playing when I left for the walk/jog and is still playing.  Joy.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Minnesota is warm.

I walked from my apartment, around Como Lake, and then back.  After mapping it, it's 3.35 miles.  I know it isn't very much, but it's a start.  Summer in Minnesota is warm, too warm, which means Kali is sweaty.  I would like a lovely 75 degrees everyday, not this 85 feels like 95 degrees with 49% humidity junk.  I think the heat would be tolerable without the humidity.

Also noted on the walk, the monarch butterflies are back.  I saw quite a few of them.  One day (probably soon) there will be butterflies everywhere outside.  It happens only one or two days out of the summer.  I'm excited to see that.  Another random comment which Sean will enjoy: as people on the biking trail went past me I would always look to see what kind of bike they have and then I notice the person.  I guess that's what I get for living with a cyclist.

Time for a cool shower.  Have a good night everyone.

Slight terrifying, strangely invorgotating.

I'm about to do something scary and great at the same time.  It may seem small and insignificant to you, but to me, it is a huge deal.  And the thought of doing it has already been a huge confidence booster.

Instead of saying I'm going on a diet and exercising more, I prefer to say that I am making a lifestyle change.  Because that is what it is.  Diet and exercise will only ever work in the long run if it is a lifestyle change.  I'm taking charge of my life and I'm taking control and I'm incredibly proud of myself at this moment for taking the first step. 

I feel like the best way for this to work is to have a way I am accountable to others.  Hence, this blog post.  Along with all of my other blog posts about apartment gardening, family and friends, and weird/quirky/random things I blog about I will be blogging about my lifestyle change. 

I found the inspiration (and courage to blog about it) through Ben Does Life.  I've read many of his posts from the beginning of his getting healthy journey (okay, many as in starting at the beginning and almost up to date -- I'm not creepy, I promise) and I have found it so admirable.  I found out about Ben Does Life a few days ago through a link on another blog.  It has shown me that I too, can do this.  I want to make myself the happiest person I can be.  This lifestyle change is going to be a selfish thing I do for myself and my health. 

I still am debating about posting my current weight and doing bi-monthly weigh-ins.  That is the part that terrifies me the most about this whole thing.  I know in order for this lifestyle change to work, I need to be completely honest with both myself and you -- whoever you are.  But that doesn't make it any easier for me to post that number.

What I want from you is support.  I want you to be my friend and not judge me too much, please.  These blog posts and you are the motivation for me to keep this going.  I know I can do it.

I haven't decided how much I'm going to post or how frequently.  I hope to at least a few times a week.  I'm keeping track of my caloric intake with a handy little app called Lose It! on my iPod.  I've used it for about two years, and I love it.  By used it, I mean I've had it on my iPod and have successfully used it for a few days at a time, but this time I know is going to be different.  It's going to be different because I have a different attitude going into this lifestyle change than I have had in the past.  And also, I'm downright sick of being overweight.

Some long term goals:
-eventually start running (right now it's at a walk/fast walk/very slow jog)
-figure out what my goal weight is (Wii Fit says a female of my 5'9" height should weight 148.6 pounds)
-along the way fit into my favorite jeans that I haven't worn in well over a year
-be happier (in general, I am a pretty happy person already but I want to increase that happiness)
-make my shoe size go down (I've read that in some cases people that lose a lot of weight also go down in shoe size and my feet are huge, so that would just be an added bonus)
-get healthy

That's all for right now.  I will be adding to this list as time goes on.  Sorry for the long post with no pictures.  If you made it to the end of reading this, thank you for supporting me already.  I truly appreciate it.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Coincidence...?

Warning, completely random.
My nose has been a lot runnier since my appendectomy.  I know, weird, but not a gross/sickness type of runny, just runnier with normal nose stuff.  Is this normal?  Could the anesthesia mess with my body that much?  Or am I just noticing this change now and chalking it up to nothing?

Weird...?

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Blogging victory?

Well well, it seems that I am declaring a winner in the little blogging war my mother challenged me to.  And I think the winner should be me.  Clearly, I've been posting more. 

Just saying. 

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Please welcome the newbies...

The new succulents I found at Ikea and then arranged into a pot and a new lemon tree.  Below you can see the succulents:


There's aloe and two other plants I can't remember the names of.  These plants are pretty low-maintenance, so caring for them should be easy.  Ikea has a pretty good selection of succulents, but they were picked over last week.  I spent a while searching for the three best looking plants. 

Lemon tree!



Sean and I were at Home Depot last week getting some paint for some unfinished picture frames I want to hang up in the dining room/kitchen.  A lot of people were wanting paint that evening so as we were waiting we were walking around the store.  I had found the cactus, palm, and citrus potting soil I needed for the lemon tree.  I was planning on ordering one online but wanted to have the soil prior to ordering it.  I, of course, wanted to look at the various plants outside.  As were were going down an aisle I saw mandarin and kumquat trees.  At the end of the aisle Sean found a bunch of Meyer lemon trees. 

We then chose the best looking tree there that already a few blossoms on it.  Also, some baby fruit.

By the way, I'm nerding out because I think this photo has some great depth of field.  Sean didn't seem too impressed.

This tree is much more developed than the last tree.  It would have cost me more in shipping to buy a tree online than at Home Depot.  As Sean can tell you, I got really excited walking around Home Depot carrying the tree around. 

The tree came in a plastic pot.  I had a pretty terra cotta pot that I bought for the first lemon tree, but we all know how that turned out.  After letting the tree's soil dry out for a few days I replanted the tree into the terra cotta pot on Sunday.  So far, so good.  The Miracle Grow cactus, palm, and citrus potting soil has worked pretty well.  It is supposed to improve drainage because of the materials in it.  I'm thinking about re-potting the succulents since I planted those prior to getting this soil.  Another project for another time I guess.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Almost there!

What looked like this on June 18th when I posted the picture the first time...


...now looks like this!


Those first four tomatoes are turning yellow, which is a good thing.  The sunbold tomatoes are ripe when they are a yellow/orange. 

Who's excited?

Monday, July 11, 2011

Summer.

It is July.  July means the middle of summer.  Since I'm not in school anymore, summer doesn't seem like that big of a deal anymore. 

I remember as a kid, the last day of school was the greatest day of the year.  It was almost comparable to Christmas, only warmer.  That last day of school meant summer vacation was here.  And summer vacation seemed like nothing but an endless possibility.  Pre-teenage years, it usually meant a lot of time was spent at the swimming pool and with neighborhood friends.  Once I had a summer job, summer vacation didn't matter as much, but it still meant a vacation from school.

Then, in college, summer vacations marked another year of my undergrad completed.  Also, summer was a time for working in order to pay bills during college.  Those summers seemed to fly by just as fast as college did.

Now, summer seems almost non-existent.  Working full-time means my schedule doesn't change at all.  The days that turn into weeks that turn into months seem to fly by.  It feels like it was just January and 2011 had just started.  Now look, it's July -- the 11th of July to be exact.  And soon, it will be January again.  (That's a horrible thought, I don't want to even think about snow.)

Where has all of the time gone? 

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Out of control.

The apartment garden is out of control.  And by out of control, I mean, out of control.

I just did some major pruning on the tomato plants.  Well, I cut the sucker shoots that come up right near the bottom of the plant/top of the soil.  The biggest tomato plant has been trimmed back since a new shoot took over the top after cutting it a few weeks ago.  The biggest tomato plant (the sunbold) isn't the tallest anymore.  Shocker, I know!

The peach tree is getting huge too.  I don't know what I am going to when I can't fit it in the window anymore.  I don't have room in my apartment for a full sized peach tree.  I think I need someone to house it for me until I have a house someday to keep it at.  Anyone want to babysit a peach tree?