Pursuing Balance & Joy

A New Routine

Author: Elizabeth

G’morning, friends!

I’m trying to get back into a routine that creates time to write in the mornings. I actually started last week (obviously, the plan needs a little work…lol). The more important part of the routine is that it gets my workouts done before work. I’ve been doing that on Thursdays when I travel, but I had pretty much stopped doing morning workouts otherwise. I’m doing my best to get back to them though because they seriously make me feel awesome.

I started last Wednesday in Louisiana. Wednesday is a running day so morning was really the only time that could happen outside. It was 104 degrees when I left work that day. I was unbelievably happy to have already gotten my run in! I also managed to get up for my workouts Thursday and Friday. (Intervals on the elliptical Thursday & a nice bike ride Friday.)

Weekends are another story. Saturday we slept in a bit, but I was outside by around 10:00 a.m. to run 8 miles. I have one more long run before my next half marathon on September 3. (YAY!) Sunday was a planned day off, but after babysitting for this cutie:

and shopping for a few hours, Tom and I hopped on our bikes and rode to dinner and back. It was a perfect end to an awesome day.

This morning, we got up and ran 4 miles. He definitely hates getting up early to exercise, but I’m hoping if he doesn’t fall asleep at his desk he’ll want to keep doing it. I did my strength workout and stretching when we got back. It makes my whole day better when I get all that done in the morning.

Time to work now…go have an awesome today!

August 15th, 2011  |  Posted in Exercise  |  2 Comments »

A New Goal

Author: Elizabeth

Hi, friends!

I can’t believe it took me a whole week to come here and tell you this.

I HIT MY GOAL WEIGHT!

It was a lot less exciting this time than the first time, but I was still pretty stoked. I recommitted myself in February, planning to get myself to 130 pounds. Last Friday, I weighed in at 129.8 pounds. Hooray!

LoseIt gave me a cool badge for my efforts too.

Thanks, LoseIt!

It also automatically changed my plan to weight maintenance and gave me about 250 calories more in my daily budget. That part I’m okay with. The next day I weighed in at the same number. All good. The next day I weighed in at 131. Instead of decreasing my calories since I was over my goal weight though, LoseIt kept my calories at a maintenance level.

Hmm…I’m not really okay with that.

I had a pretty good week and was under my calorie budget every day, but I still came home to 132.2 on the scale. I know it’s silly, but really I’m not okay with that either. So today I set a new goal weight. It’s 125 this time. That will keep my LoseIt app with a net calorie budget down where I want it to be. Sure, I could just artificially lower the limit, but that wouldn’t really be using the app the way it was intended. I think they should work on their maintenance mode settings. Of course, most people probably don’t keep counting calories once they get to maintenance mode either.

I’ve added another goal to my world in the last couple weeks too. I don’t think I’ll really start focusing on it until after the wedding, but it’s still there in the back of my mind right now. It’s a body fat percentage goal. I got a monitor so I could start tracking it. The healthy range for a woman’s bf% is kind of huge: 12-31% depending on where you check. I’m at 26% right now…definitely within the healthy range. I’m still figuring out where I’d like to be. I’m just keeping track for now.

I heart numbers. Seriously.

August 12th, 2011  |  Posted in Goals  |  Comments Off