Last Thursday yoga? Fail!

I completely forgot to write about the fact that I did not in fact make it to yoga last week. Nor did I make it to the hot yoga class I've been wanting to check out this past weekend. The whole week was really one big yoga fail. BUT, tomorrow, before training, I'm going to get a half an hour in before my training session. Sure, I'll feel weird walking out halfway through, but hopefully I can just get a spot by the door and sneak out very quietly. And besides, if my trainer told me to do it, I can do it. Right?

So yes, tomorrow I will right about yoga darn it!

8 miles, again

I'm ridiculously late in writing about my latest long run, but late is better than never right??? Last weekend's long run was another eight miler. I could have probably upped it to nine and been fine, but I've been fighting injuries so much that I thought it best to just do a repeat eight miles and then do a mile cooldown (i.e. walk slowly) The first mile was by far the worst. I walked the first two or three minutes and then could not catch up to my normal pace to save my life. Which considering the fact that my normal pace is somewhere slightly south of 13 minute miles well, that's pretty sad no?

The next seven miles were a breeze really. The weather was nice and it was cloudy so really a perfect day for a run. I stopped every two miles to stretch (again, trying not to aggravate my injury prone body more than is necessary) and all was well. I think I'll be ready to tackle nine miles in two weeks. I'd try it this weekend, but I have a weekend full of class (9-4am F/Sat/Sun) so it just isn't going to happen. I think I'm going to try for two five milers this weekend and then tackle nine miles next weekend. Hopefully it won't throw off my training schedule too much...

Hump day!

The first week back from vacation is always tough. This time it's really tough! I'm not completely sure why, but suffice to say I am dragging this week. Getting up for training on Monday and Wednesday mornings was torture. But I was glad I did it, so it's obviously completely worth the torture!

In an effort to try and actually start losing weight I decided to tweak my diet a little more by trying to lessen my sugar intake. I'm already doing weight watchers religiously and live by a gluten free diet, and of course I'm working out like a crazy person, but I'm still not losing weight. So more changes must be made. Since I know sugar has always been a problem for me (which was confirmed recently by my doctor) I decided to give it a try. So far? It's hard. I really want to eat candy and did totally cave last night and have 2 points (100 calories) worth. But I figure a little bit of sugar is less than the tons I was eating before, so it's something right?

I'm also going to try and focus on incorporating more vegetables into my life, but for now I'm just going to focus on less sugar and then up the veggies gradually. I've found that trying to make more than one change at a time is pretty unrealistic for me, but that making small changes over time seems to work.

I'm also thinking about trying to change up my workout routine a little bit. I'm doing weight training twice a week and running three times a week (at least) but again, the scale isn't budging. I really want to incorporate more yoga into my life, so tomorrow, I'm going to go to the super hard yoga class at my gym. Actually, it probably isn't all that hard, it's probably just more that I have no upper body strength, but either way, it's a struggle for me!

In running news, my mom, sister and I are all signed up for the Houston Half Marathon in January. Well actually, my sister is signed up for the marathon, but my mom and I are signed up for the half. I may switch to the marathon, but that all depends on how my half training goes. (as luck would have it the half marathon fits perfectly into my supposed marathon training plan should I go that route.)

I'll write about yoga tomorrow, should be interesting.

New shoes, Success!

So I think I finally found a good pair of shoes! Yes, I realize this is my third post about tennis shoes, but no one reads this blog but me so it doesn't really matter now does it?? So yes, I have new running shoes that don't give me blisters, or at least haven't given me blisters yet and I have taken them on my longest runs to date.

Three cheers for new shoes!!!

Now if I could just figure out a way to stop hobbling around like an old lady the two days after my long runs. I think more stretching and icing is probably in order. And actually taking up practicing yoga instead of just talking about it wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Beach Vacation...

Hola! I had great intentions of blogging while I was away at the beach for a week, but instead, my computer decided not to work thus leaving me internet-less for an entire week. I would be lying if I didn't say it was kind of nice. Sure I missed the distraction of all things internet related, but it was nice to be away from it for a whole week, even if not by my choice!

I started out my week with a lofty goal of walking (and running) 70 miles during the eight days we were there. I quickly realized that goal was a little unattainable and decided instead on a goal of 50 miles. I spent every day walking for hours and hours along the beach. It was wonderful. I ran four of the days as well with my long run being 8 miles (almost pain free!) There is nothing in the world better than strolling along the beach alone with your thoughts and the sound of the crashing waves. It was just so relaxing and wonderful.

I'm sad that it's over and am trying to psyche myself up for real life to begin tomorrow. UGH. I think I should have taken a two week vacation!

On the weight loss front things are still the same. I haven't lost a single pound in months. I had a week (two weeks ago) where I weighed in at 173.4 and I was thrilled to be rid of 175, but then I was quickly back to 175.4 this week. So frustrating! I'm beginning to think I'm going to have to take drastic measures in order to actually lose these thirty (or a dream forty) pounds. I'm not sure what those drastic measures are yet though, I feel like I'm already being really "good" - working out like crazy, running, doing weight watchers, eating a gluten free diet, etc. The only things left to do would be to cut out sugar, work out more, and add more vegetables to my diet. Other than that I'm at a complete loss.

I just hope that once I do lose the weight my body is as stubborn at staying at say 145 or 135 (dream!) pounds as it is at staying at 175.

New shoes, FAIL

Ok, so two runs in and the new shoes are no better than the old shoes! Freaking crap. Granted, they aren't giving me blisters, but they are causing me other problems, so I get to try and return them and get a third pair. After that I'm saying goodbye to Asics and am going to have to try a new brand.

Maybe two posts about shoes is overkill? Yeah, probably.

What else is going on?? Well, I had my final for my summer class last night and it's a relief to be done with it! Granted, I still have to go to class on Thursday, but I don't have to study anymore and that is fantastic. Only 12 more credits to go after Thursday. I can hardly believe it! In some ways it seems like just yesterday that I started, and in some ways it seems that I've been in school forever.

Once I get done with class I'm going to have one and a half glorious months off from school before I go back (except for one weekend class thrown in there, but it hopefully won't be any big deal.)

I'm contemplating studying for the GRE during my time off and/or start studying French. Also I'm planning on ramping up my workouts to try and actually get some of this weight off. I'm holding steady at 11 pounds down and it's annoying the crap out of me.

Onwards and downwards (I hope!)

New shoes (take 2!)

When I started training for the half marathon (or rather, when I started running more than 25 feet) I bought new shoes. I went to the local running store, showed them my old worn shoes and got fitted for new shoes. I've worn the same shoes for years now (Asics 2150s) and the running store employee told me they were the best shoes for me, except I needed to buy the wide version. Granted, the same running store employee also asked me if I had given birth to a child recently, so maybe I shouldn't have listened to him.

They didn't have the shoes in stock, so I bought them offline, for a hefty discount (!!) and they were delivered straight to my desk at work in two days. I should have known I was in trouble when after my first run I started getting blisters, but I told myself I was just breaking the shoes in. FAIL. Blisters are a signal that your shoes don't fit! Argh. I should never have listened to that employee!

So last night, I go to the Asics store in my building, and they spend a half an hour determining which shoes are the best fit for me. Amazing. And they'll take them back if they cause me any trouble within the next two weeks. Granted, now I'm out 130 bucks that I never intended to spend, but hopefully I can kiss my blisters goodbye.

Next up, trying to convince shoes.com to take back my blister causing too big pair of shoes. I don't have high hopes for that one!

Moral of the story? If an employee of any store ever asks you if you have recently had a child and you are not in fact holding your newborn, run in the other direction out of the store, because not only do they lack in common sense, but they probably won't have the best advice on what you should buy.