August 15, 2012

Rethinking things

Lately, I feel like I'm always starting with, "I was so tired this morning, I really didn't want to run, but I did anyways"... it's getting old. Today, I actually woke up feeling pretty energetic, which was nice! I wasn't even dreading my run.

Today's scheduled run was a tempo run--20 minutes easy running, then 20 minutes at a "comfortably hard" pace, then 10 minutes easy. I put The Biggest Loser on my computer so I could watch it while I ran. I did the easy run at 6.0, then when it was time to pick a tempo speed, I decided to go with 7.0.

On Monday, I was feeling so crappy that my 3-minute sprints were at 6.5, and that felt tough! So I wasn't sure if I could hold 7.0 for 20 minutes, but I figured I could always reduce speed if it felt too hard. It ended up being the perfect tempo speed--hard enough that I wanted to reduce the speed, but not so hard that I couldn't physically keep going.

After about 7 minutes, I told myself that I couldn't look at the treadmill until after the last person on The Biggest Loser weighed in (4 people had weighed in already, and I needed an incentive to not look at treadmill every 30 seconds). If you watch the show, you know how long they drag out the weigh-in!

Finally, after the last person weighed in, I had less than 2 minutes remaining until the 10-minute cool-down. When I finished, I felt really good--like I had pushed myself today.

After the treadmill, it was time for my FINAL day of the Wii Active 30-Day Challenge!! I was a little nervous that yesterday's workout hadn't saved again, and I wouldn't be able to complete the challenge, but thankfully, it was good to go.

The workout was a variety of all kinds of the exercises I had done over the past 30 days. When I was done, I don't know what I was expecting--balloons, and streamers, and a party? But it just said:
I'm very excited to have finally finished it, though. For those of you that asked, the game didn't make an impact at all on my weight or body fat percentage. But the main reason I was doing it was to strengthen my leg muscles so that I don't get injured while marathon training (as well as to finally finish the challenge, something I'd started dozens of times before).


For the past few days, I've been rethinking giving up meat from my diet. I haven't had meat in over two months, and it was going great for a while, but lately it has just made me stressed out. It takes a lot of planning to get a healthy vegetarian meal on the table, and I am just not willing to put that much time into it right now. I really should have thought ahead and planned to try it when the kids are in school.

I don't miss eating meat at all (except maybe tuna fish, which is weird!), but I miss having endless meal plans that I know my family likes. Trying to please my family AND not take up so much time planning meals, AND eating vegetarian myself is just too stressful for me. So I think I'll go back to doing what has worked for my family the past couple of years as we became healthier. We've never been huge meat eaters, so we'll probably still eat vegetarian meals half the time, and include meat the other half.

I'm glad I tried out eating meatless the past couple of months, though, because I discovered some great new foods! My favorite being tofu. I'm really surprised how much I enjoyed it when I baked it and added it to a stir-fry. And Eli absolutely loves it, which is a shocker to me.


Tomorrow is Jerry's and my nine-year wedding anniversary. As of right now, we have no plans. I don't think we'll have a baby-sitter, and I have a doctor's appointment for a physical in the afternoon. But who knows, plans could change tomorrow ;)

22 comments:

  1. I'm going through the same hesitation. I don't necessarily miss meat, but it certainly makes it easier to eat it.

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  2. I try to do tricks like that when I am working out to... Can't take a break for at least three more songs.

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  3. Congrats on the anniversary! My husband would KILL me if I cut meat from our life-LOL!

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  4. I couldn't imagine having to plan vegetarian meals, I have a hard enough time thinking of meals with meat lol. I think it's great that you've done it for 2 months.

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  5. Congratulations on finishing your challenge! I think it totally should have had some streamers or something.... Oh well ;-)

    And a very happy anniversary to you and Jerry. I hope you have a good day, whatever you end up doing.

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  6. Congratulations on finishing your challenge! I think it totally should have had some streamers or something.... Oh well ;-)

    And a very happy anniversary to you and Jerry. I hope you have a good day, whatever you end up doing.

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  7. Congratulations on finishing your challenge! I think it totally should have had some streamers or something.... Oh well ;-)

    And a very happy anniversary to you and Jerry. I hope you have a good day, whatever you end up doing.

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  8. I watched the Biggest Loser on my treadmill run this morning and it helped the time pass quickly!

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  9. Congrats on finishing the challenge!!! I agree you should've gotten steamers or a certificate of completion lol!!!
    Happy Anniversary to you guys!!!!

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  10. Great job finishing the challenge and have a happy anniversary tomorrow!

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  11. Wii should offer a virtual medal for conpleting the challenge! Great job!!!

    You should try Insanity!

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  12. I am actually in the opposite boat of you. I have been a vegetarian for years and now I am married to a meat-eater. We mainly eat meatless meals here (unless my husband is going to grill himself a burger, chicken sausage, etc.). I sometimes think about going back to eating meat but I always wonder what the heck I would eat and how I would meal plan! I feel like I would have to start completely from scratch and find easy and tried and true recipes! That stresses me out too so I definitely understand where you are coming from!

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  13. Happy Anniversary!!! Tomorrow my husband and I also celebrate our 9 wedding year anniversary.

    Great job completing the 30 day challenge.

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  14. Happy anniversary! I hope you have a great day with Jerry today!

    Glad you finished the challenge and I agree, I think your Mii should be rocking a medal now!

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  15. Isn't it funny how playing little mind games with ourselves helps when doing a workout?!

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  16. I love your blog! I was a vegetarian for about 10 years, starting when I was 17. I started eating poultry and fish last year. It was a really really hard decision, but I think it was the right one for my body. I still eat a lot of vegetarian meals, usually two a day. One thing I learned is that you can eat just as unhealthily being a vegetarian (chips, cookies, french fries, and cheese pizza are totally vegetarian!) as you can eating meat. The only thing I feel was really easier when I didn't eat any meat was that fast food was not really an option. Most fast food places don't have anything meatless, so it was never a temptation for me. But all in all my life is A LOT less complicated now. I don't have to eat meat unless I want to, but I also don't have to be so worried about not being able to find anything to eat at family functions or restaurants, that always caused me a lot of anxiety.

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  17. Congratulations on the challenge!! And, I hope you have a very happy anniversary today!

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  18. www.emeals.com Vegetarian plan. The meals are actually pretty good and it is cheap for a vegetarian meal plan with shopping list and recipes, like $5 a month.

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  19. tammy/texzanAugust 16, 2012

    Hey Kate I was so excited for yours and Jerry's new purchase,, its so amazing how things seem to work out in the End,, that is so awesome! and Look at the money you saved,, and the Value you have added to your property . I know it will take time to get that new garage just remember to make sure jerry gets exactly what he wants,, and dont skimp on anything,, its a one time oppurtunity for you guys,, and the Garage/barn will also add value to your Land,, congrats and Of course Happy Anniversary to you Both .

    Tammy

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  20. You have made the journey and know what works. If you want some meat-eat it. You are one of the only realistic weight loss bloggers around. It's what keeps us coming back. =)

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  21. Congratulations on your anniversary.

    I wonder if adding some meat back in might give you some more energy. You try stuff out and go with what works on all levels.

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

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