Why Not?

Why not?

This was my mantra a long time ago. When I ran a marathon and wrote numerous books and believed that I could achieve anything I set my mind to.

Then I got completely derailed by life. The last three years have been hard. This year has been the hardest. Sometimes it takes complete destruction to finally start to grow again. Like a forest fire that leaves everything charred but provides the means for new life to grow.

It's been a long year. I secluded myself for most of it. It gave me time to think and realize what is important and what never mattered. I think people spend too much time on stuff that just doesn't matter in the long term. I know I did, and I'm trying to be better about it now.

I've set some big goals. Big, scary goals. Because why not? I used to love big, scary goals. They pushed me to grow. I need more of that in my life. The hardest part is starting slow and recognizing where I am. It's been three years of little movement and lots of emotional eating. My brain wants to do things that my body is not ready for - not yet.

Luckily, I turned to lifting to get me through the last few years. I am stronger than I was before. For awhile it was all I could do. Now, it is the thing that always gets me back on track.

I had been doing pretty well for the last month. Feeling more like myself. I ran a few times. The longest one was 5.3 miles on an absolutely perfect fall day. The sun was shining. It was cool, but not too cold. The leaves were at the peak of their autumnal beauty. I was running on a section of road that is lined with big, old trees. Their leaves were bright yellow, and as I ran through, a little breeze picked up and created a cyclone of yellow leaves. As they danced around me, I kept thinking that this is why I run. For the beautiful moments that I could never experience if I stayed home. This is what's been missing for the last few years.

I was having a much better time at TKD as well. I started getting sick not long after I started TKD. I didn't know what was wrong with me for a long time, but it became difficult to do most of the movements. As much as I loved it, classes were a struggle. Then after surgery, when I was just beginning to feel like my old self, my dad passed away, and life went into a tailspin. I took a 6 month break from TKD. I had a lot of doubts. I wasn't sure I wanted to continue, but there was something in the back of my mind that told me to go back and try again - really try. Because for the first time I could actually give it 100%. One class. Give it my all. Don't let my head get in the way. Just go and see what happens. I told myself I could not go back if I chose, but I had to do one class.

I had the best class I had ever had. I felt good and strong. I was so worried it would be like before, but I had healed (at least physically). I wasn't limited anymore. It was incredibly freeing. I cried the whole way home. I have no doubt in my mind now that I will become a black belt. I am 100% dedicated to TKD now. The people are amazing and have become like family. I get to spend time with one of my best friends, and another friend has just joined class, too. I want to surround myself with inspiring people, and my TKD family are some of the best.

When everything is good, and I am focused things go very well. It's dealing with the setbacks that has always been the problem. There is a fine line between giving yourself time to rest and recover and sinking too deep into darkness. That's my biggest struggle. I always eventually pick myself back up and get back on track, and if I can do it this year, I can do it whenever. If nothing else, I've grown in that way during this miserable year.

The past week has not been a good one. I've gotten to the point in my grief where I am mostly okay most days. This last week has made up for it, though. It's been a rough one. On top of that, I slipped a rib and was in a lot of pain for a few days. I took time off from exercise to let it heal - which is already a smarter choice than what I used to do. But, it meant missing TKD and then I kind of settled into a week of inaction.

 I had the intention to be active and get myself out of this funk, but days passed, and I just couldn't decide what I felt like doing. When I am in that head space I can talk myself out of anything. I was looking through various workouts and found a simple one that was a test for 1RM back squat. I haven't tested my squat in a very long time, and I have been lifting quite a bit. I'm almost always up for squatting, so I decided to do it.

As always, my head is my biggest deterrent. Fixing my mindset has become one of my biggest goals, and I am seeing a little improvement. Still, that nagging little voice is always there. Doubting my abilities. I've been squatting fairly conservatively. My old PR for back squat was 150#, but I really thought I could do more. I'd been letting fear control me and had stuck to a max of 95# for my workouts. I started there and built up the weight. When I loaded the bar with my big 45# plates, the voice began. They looked huge. They looked heavy. Doubts began to swirl. But, I did it. 135# - no problem. It felt easy. 145 - easy. 155 - easy (and a new PR). Doubt started to fade. I started to feel good again. In the end, my new PR is 175#. I wonder if I could have done more if I started at a higher weight, but it was where I needed to start. I'm very, very happy with my new PR. Best of all, my confidence is back, and I am feeling ready for this week and to get some work done.

I'm focused on small actions that if done daily will help me build up to my massive long-term goals. One of them was to blog again. I was struggling to write before this year, and since my dad's passing, I haven't been able to write a word. It's slowly coming back. So slowly. Writing a blog post has been a goal for weeks. Today, I finally felt like I had something to say. It ended up being quite a bit. If you've made it through this much, thank you. I hope being honest about my struggles can help someone else, even if just to show that they're not alone. I felt alone for awhile, but more and more I am realizing that we are all much more similar than we are different.

I'm looking forward to ending 2018 on a better note and have high hopes for 2019. Time to live life again. Why not?  We only get one. I better make it count.

All About the Steps

The weather has been absolutely amazing. Summer is coming, and the days have been warm and sunny and vibrant. It makes me want to be outdoors as much as possible.

This morning, I wanted to run. It's been awhile. I had been having trouble with my hip for almost a week. Apparently hiking is magic, and my hip feels great now. Running had to happen. I did my c25k run. It was 25 minutes without walking breaks. I could've gone longer. It felt great. 

I also took the Moon Dog for a walk. We did about 2 miles. He's so happy outside.

This was taken last night while we were chillin' in the backyard enjoying the sunset. Love him.

I'm all about the steps this summer. Now that I can run again, I need to rebuild my cardio and endurance. I've got some long term goals that will need some kind of base. Right now, I'm trying to make sure I get 10,000 steps/day, and on running and hiking days that goal is easy to hit. I'm really looking forward to an active summer. 

Runner.

This weekend was absolutely gorgeous. I spent most of Saturday working inside, so yesterday my goal was to be outside and active as much as possible. I had a C25K run on my list, but I wanted to wait until the evening when I could run with Andy.

I started with an early morning walk with Moon Dog. I've been feeling a lot more energetic, and our walking pace has gotten a lot faster. I am still blown away at how much better I feel since surgery. I've been so distracted by life and my emotions that I haven't really noticed the change. I used to be completely exhausted by every little thing I had to do during the day. Now, I have so much more time to get things done because I don't have to rest after every little thing.

After my walk, I was feeling energized, so I decided to lift. My gym is my happy place. I started a lifting plan that I have done before and love. Yesterday was upper body. I worked out for over an hour and felt amazing when I was done. I love the feeling after a good strength workout.

Evening came, and we decided to run the hill. The last run was 20 minutes without walking, which went so much better than expected. This one was back to intervals.

I had a great run. I had to break up my middle running interval. I was on the super steep section of the hill, and my calves were screaming. I did push myself to start running again, at least for a bit, when I was still on the incline.

I paused at the top of the hill to take a picture. Everything has come to life in the last few days, and the world is so green. I love this time of year.

I kept running. A little past the halfway point, I turned around. I was psyched. I have been struggling to hit 2 miles. I'd only done it once before, but I knew I would get it this time. I usually do not even reach the top of the hill. I reached it and ran past it. I was still feeling great, and my energy was through the roof.

I was in a groove when my last walking interval came up, and I decided to just keep going. I ran through the last running interval and still felt good. I decided to just run the rest of the way home.

I still cannot wrap my head around how much better I feel. I'm so thrilled to be running without an accelerated heart rate, without horrible foot pain, without complete exhaustion. To be able to keep going, feel good at the end, and wake up pain free and strong the next morning.

I'm grateful to be healthy and able to get out and enjoy a gorgeous day. I'm grateful to be a runner again.

Still Broken, But Getting Better

On March 31st, my dad passed away after a 5 year battle with cancer. I haven't been able to think, let alone find words to express the grief I feel. I'm not sure that there are words to describe it, and if there are, it will take a better writer than me to express it. It's having a giant hole inside of you. It's walking around and looking fine and everything is normal, but nothing is actually normal and you are so far from fine. It's feeling like the world has been turned upside down, shaken, and broken, yet your day-to-day is the same.

It's taken me a month to even get back to all of my usual activities. It took a week for me to leave my house. Every little thing was a monumental effort. Even just picking up my kids from school was too much. Every person I saw was incredibly kind, but I could not talk about it without crying. I still haven't had a day without crying, but I've got it a little more under control now.

 I am so grateful for the people in my life. This whole thing has made me value my relationships a lot more, and unfortunately, it has also shown me a few that I need to let go. But, I am staying focused on the love that people are giving me. It's been absolutely overwhelming.

The last thing I added back into my life was TKD class. My TKD family has been incredibly supportive and understanding, but it took me a while to go back. First because class is in the evenings, and I was so exhausted just from trying to exist that I couldn't get myself to go. Second, because even though I am much more confident in my abilities now, it is still a place where I have to step out of my comfort zone often. I just wasn't ready.

It was so good to go back. It is one of my favorite things. I didn't have to talk about my problems or think about them. I could focus solely on class, and I had the support of all the wonderful people there. I was also pleased to find that missing almost two months of class had not affected me too badly, and I still remembered my pattern. I just felt happy after class. I think it was the first time I've really felt good since all of this began.

For now, I am taking things slow. I am being patient with myself and accepting that I am not always going to be up for training (or some days even leaving the house). I'm doing what I can and knowing that it is enough. My health has become a top priority. I'm a master at making excuses, but that's not happening anymore.

 My dad was always the strongest and bravest man I knew. He taught me how to lift when I was young and would accompany him to the fire station. (He was a firefighter and EMT - see, the BRAVEST man I've known.) It is when my love of lifting truly began. Even after his diagnosis, he walked almost daily, and I am not talking about a mile or so. He walked up to 8 miles. No music, no headphones. He watched the nature around him. He hiked almost until the end. We had some really amazing hikes last fall, and I am so grateful for those memories.

So, that is where I am at today. Still broken, but getting better. Figuring out how to live with this and doing my best to make healthy choices and just feeling grateful for all the good in my life.

Normal.

Two weeks, and life continues.

Still working on getting back to "normal". I've been focusing mainly on improving my health. Exercise, healthy eating, meditation, and sleep. I have not been 100% on all of these every day, but I am trying.

Today was a small victory. I've been doing well with running. I'm still following the c25k program. Hopefully, the podcast will be back soon. Most days I really feel like I need to run. I need to be active. Because I can.*

Last week, Andy and I finished week four. We are officially halfway through the program. Then it started snowing. It's April in Vermont. You never know what you're going to get. I am looking forward to some beautiful spring running, but this is also the kind of snow I love. Today, the air is filled with big, fluffy, white flakes. They melted almost as soon as they hit the ground. It's not very cold. The air is crisp.

There is the wind. It blew steadily into my face for the first half of my run. The pretty snow had turned into something closer to rain but still with the sting of ice. I definitely considered turning back. I started trying to justify it. I could just walk the warm up and then turn back. I could wait until tomorrow. Maybe it won't snow tomorrow. Etc, etc, etc...

I decided to run the first run section and decide after that. I was already out there. It wasn't so bad. The wind would be at my back on the way back to my car. And, of course, I should run "because I can". I completed week five, day one of the c25k program. There was a time when running in rain/snow/wind was usual for me. It's not a big deal, but I've been avoiding it for awhile. I haven't wanted to be uncomfortable. Now, I just want to run, regardless of weather, and I am looking forward to future race training. I'm ready to challenge myself again.

Right now I am enjoying the slow build up to running again. The last two runs have felt much better. There is definitely some improvement.

*Mantra 2018

Thankful and Healing

Things I'm thankful for today:

#1 I am not in any pain for the first time in a year. Honestly, I've gotten so used to being uncomfortable that it kind of freaked me out. 

#2 Physical Therapy. I love it. I've been going for the last few weeks to fix a problem with my shoulder. It was causing constant, painful headaches for about 6 months. Today, I have no headache. It's pretty amazing. My PT also told me that my ankle is strained tendons and nothing more serious. Very happy about that.

#3 Taking a long walk in the sunshine with my Moon Dog. It has been warm and sunny for two days now, and I am loving it. Went for a 3 mile walk with the pooch this morning, and it was pain free! Amazing. 

So, the last few weeks have been pretty rough. I was in a lot of pain and feeling pretty run down. My body felt like a 90 year old (or how I imagine it feels, anyway). I've been trying to exercise while also resting both my ankle and my shoulder. I'm trying to focus on letting my body repair. The final tournament of the season was last weekend, and I can finally relax a little and focus on feeling better. I have to admit, I have been pushing myself even though I should have been resting. 

I've been careful with my eating and with my movement. I have been doing everything I need to do to combat my medical issues and staying well hydrated. I feel better. Not 100%, but so much better than before. I already feel so much better.

I've also been trying to stay positive and calm. I've been meditating regularly. I usually follow my own plan, but it's seemed like too much work lately. I don't want to have to think about it, so I found a guided meditation app that looked like what I was looking for. I wanted something simple and something that would keep me consistent. It's called Headspace, and they offer 10 days of 10 minute meditations for free. I just completed day 10 (admittedly it took me more than 10 days - life doesn't always cooperate). It's great. It's simple and consistent, and I don't have to think about it (or anything else). The subscription fee is really low, and I plan on subscribing and getting even more meditation packs. The calm I feel is totally worth it. 

So, that's it. Nothing too exciting. It's been a week of healing. Exactly what I needed.

It's A Busy Life, But I'm Enjoying It

It's been a long week. I haven't been able to post for the last few days, but I have managed to make time for some workouts. Priorities.

Wednesday was a super busy day. I knew it was going to be and got up early to get in a quick workout. 

Wednesday's workout:

Push-ups level 1  15 reps x2

alternating biceps curls 15#  6 reps/side x2

modified 1 arm push-ups level 2  10 reps/side x2

barbell shoulder press 45#  10 reps x2

push-ups level 3  15 reps x2

overhead triceps extensions 15#  12 reps x2

Short workout, but better than nothing!

Thursday ended up being a rest day. I took the Moon Dog for a walk, but that was all I did. I had a good reason. I was finishing a revision of my next book. I've been working on it since June, and it was so nice to finally finish it. Good excuse for a rest day.

I needed to rest. My stress level is increasing, and I have not been doing very well with my H2O intake. I'm definitely not feeling my best. Sleep and water are the things I need the most right now. These are my main goals going into next week. I know I'll feel better. Feeling better = more energy = getting more work done. 

Yesterday, I attempted a second run with the Moon Dog. This one was - less successful. There were a lot of new smells that needed to be sniffed, and I couldn't get him to focus. We walked a majority of it. Still, better than nothing. I'm taking baby steps with running. I've always jumped into it and done too much too soon. I then burn out or get injured. I'm trying to focus on small, attainable goals that will develop into habits. Change takes time.

I wanted to get in more of a workout yesterday, so I decided to do some HIIT. It was mostly lower body, push-ups, and TKD. By the end I was a sweaty mess, so something was working. I also ran through my pattern between sets. I love that no matter how much I work at it, there is always something new to focus on. Patterns are never perfect. Honestly, there are days when this also drives me crazy and frustrates me, but lately, I've really enjoyed working on small parts of it and trying to make it better. It helps that I'm seeing some progress. 

Friday's workout:

1 minute work / 30 seconds rest - all sets done x2

squats

side kicks R (no dropping knee)

side kicks L (no dropping knee)

push-ups level 1

alternating lunges

modified 1 arm push-ups level 1 R

modified 1 arm push-ups level 1 L

squat / side leg lift (alternating)

hook kicks (no dropping knee) R

hook kicks (no dropping knee) L

plies / calf raises

push-ups level 2

modified 1 arm push-ups level 2 R

modified 1 arm push-ups level 2 L

standing cross crunches R

standing cross crunches L

Won Hyo x 4

Today has been another rest day. The kids had a soccer game this morning. I love watching them play. It reminds me of when I played and how much fun it was. I'm glad they're enjoying it. They almost didn't sign up this year, and I am so glad they did. Soccer is one of the best parts of fall!

We spent the rest of the day with my parents. We went apple-picking (another fall favorite) and went out to lunch. It was nice to spend time with them. We don't see them nearly enough.

We're home and resting for the evening. Everyone is tired. I'm going to bed early, so I can rest up and still get in a long run tomorrow before rehearsal. It's a busy life, but I'm enjoying it!

Keeping Busy And Still Exercising

It's been a week since I last wrote. It has been an insane week. Lots of events coming up at work, kids have started soccer, I'm working on two shows and starting another, and I am working hard at finishing my next book.

I'll admit, it has made it difficult to fit in exercise, but I am committed to staying on the list. So, here's a recap.

First of all, the Moon Dog and I have been walking every day. It's a nice, peaceful part of my day, and I know he loves it, too.

Saturday, I was still feeling exhausted, so I took the day off.

Sunday, I was pressed for time, but I wanted to do something.

jump rope 1minute  x 2
hook kicks, without dropping my knee  20/side  x 2

jump rope 1 minute x 2
door swings 15/side x 2

jump rope 1 minute x 2
side dumbbell crunches 15#  15/side  x 2

one leg step ups  10/side  x 2
modified 1 arm push ups level 2  10/side x 2

Push-ups
level 1 25 reps
level 2  15 reps
level 3  15 reps
level 2  15 reps
level 1  15 reps

On Monday, I had TKD. It was a good class. I worked hard. I don't feel like I did particularly well on anything, but my pattern went pretty well. I've been practicing, and it's all starting to click.

On Tuesday, I was super sore from class. My feet hurt when I first woke up. I do not want my plantar fasciitis to come back. Stretching was the only option. I did 25 minutes of yoga. It felt great and made my feet feel better.

Wednesday was a busy day. I did do some incline push-ups and modified one arm push-ups. I'm still committed to my one arm push-up goal. I already feel stronger, and I'm noticing improvement in my regular push-ups as well.

Thursday's workout was awesome. It was just what I needed at the start of a stressful day.

Squats 45# 10 reps
Won Hyo x 2

Squats 155# 6 reps x2
push-ups level 1  25 reps x 2

Won Hyo x 2

Plie squats 155# 6 reps  x 2
modified 1 arm push ups level 1  10 reps/side x 2

Won Hyo x 2

Lunges with barbell 135# 5 reps/side  x 2
modified 1 arm push ups level 2  10 reps/side  x 2

Won Hyo x 2

I love a good strength workout. Nothing like feeling completely weak to make you feel strong.

Today, I did a HIIT workout. Lots of cardio and abs. It was a good workout and got my heart rate up almost immediately.

This weekend is another busy one, but I really want to get in a longer run. I've missed running and need to commit to running more consistently.

No matter what I will do something active. I'm staying on the list!

Awesome Workout Week

And, the week of awesome workouts continues...

Yesterday, I had planned on dead lifts, but my legs were super sore from Monday's squats. I decided to go with bench press instead. Since I was so sore, I wanted the second exercise to be something gentle. I decided to work on my TKD patterns in between sets. It was a good choice. Not only did I get a lot of practicing done, but the movements loosened up my legs and made them feel better.

Tuesday's Workout:

Bench Press  //  Patterns
45# 12 reps       Won Hyo (current pattern) x 3
55# 12 reps       Chon Ji, Dan Gun, Do San, Won Hyo x 2 each *
65# 10 reps       Won Hyo x 3
75# 6 reps         Chon Ji, Dan Gun, Do San, Won Hyo x 2 each
85# 4 reps         Won Hyo x 3

*The first time I attempted Dan Gun and Do San, I completely forgot them. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that. Luckily, the Artist remembered Dan Gun and is currently working on Do San. He helped me remember.

With my legs still a little sore but feeling much better, I decided to go for a walk with the Artist. One of our "epic walks." We walked from our house into Enosburg on the Rail Trail. It was hot, but we brought water and snacks and took our time. We walked 6 miles!

I was feeling the walk when I got up this morning, but I really wanted to do dead lifts today. After running some errands, my legs loosened up, and I was ready. I paired them with biceps curls and triceps extensions. Lower weight/more reps.

I started light with the dead lifts. I do not want to hurt my back. I would much rather go a little light to start. I'll get back to where I used to be eventually.

Wednesday's Workout:

Dead Lifts  //  Biceps Curls/Triceps Extension
45# 12 reps *  10# 10 reps / 10# 15 reps
65# 12 reps     10# 10 reps / 10# 15 reps
75# 10 reps     10# 10 reps / 10# 15 reps
85# 10 reps     10# 10 reps / 10# 15 reps
95# 8 reps       10# 10 reps / 10# 15 reps
105# 6 reps     10# 10 reps / 10# 15 reps
115# 4 reps     10# 10 reps / 10# 15 reps

*I used the bar for a warm-up set. I could have done more that 12 reps, but I wanted to save it for the heavier weights.

It was a great workout. I'm feeling really strong. Barbell rows and shoulders tomorrow!

Stop And Smell The Wildflowers

This morning was absolutely gorgeous. Sunny, bright blue sky, and everything is green. Vermont in the summer is like living in a child's drawing. The colors are so vibrant.

The kids are at TKD camp all week, so I took the Moon Dog for a walk after dropping them off. It was already getting hot, and he overheats quickly in the sun, so we kept it short. I love walking with him because he really loves being outside. You can see how happy he is.

The walk was beautiful. There were so many wildflowers that you could smell them in the air. It was a wonderful walk.

Even Moon Dog stopped to sniff the flowers.

I have TKD tonight. I'm really looking forward to class. I learned the rest of my pattern last week and have been trying to practice. I haven't done as much as I would have liked. Last week was kind of a crazy blur. I barely had time to eat and sleep. This week I have more time, so I want to put in more work.

Yesterday, I got my workout by moving chairs and tables for 2 hours without a break. It was kind of nice. I listened to a book and just kept working. I wasn't sure how I would fit my workout into my schedule, so that was a perfect substitute. Of course daily pool circuits with the kids continue. We have so much fun, but it definitely feels like a workout, too.

Keeping busy and enjoying summer!

Rest Day

Yesterday was the last day of theatre camp, which involves a 12+ hour day of rehearsing with over 40 kids. It's a lot of fun, but I am on the move all day. I barely stopped to eat. The performance ended up being really great. The kids were amazing. I was happy and exhausted. My legs and feet ached from standing all day. When I checked my pedometer I had walked over 18,000 steps - about 4.25 miles. Not bad.

Today I gave my legs a bit of a rest day. I took the dog for a short walk and played in the pool with the kids. I practiced my pattern, and I re-did some choreography for a musical I am working on. Nothing strenuous.

It was nice to have a day off after a week of craziness. I'm feeling rejuvenated and ready for the next project. Summer is busy, but it's so much fun!

Take Care Of Yourself

There is so much more to being healthy than just exercise and eating well. Stress, sleep, and water consumption are all very, very important. I know this, but it doesn't mean that I always pay attention to what I need. 

This week was a show week. Show weeks are always stressful. This one was more so because I had to cancel one of the last rehearsals due to the Artist's eye mishap. I haven't slept more than a few hours a night all week. I haven't been drinking enough water. I've been eating pretty well and exercising regularly, but that's not enough.

I had an ambitious workout plan. Yesterday was a perfect day. I got up early for a 6 mile walk with my friend. My legs felt surprisingly tired after all the hills. This was the first warning sign.

The Bean and I went for a 5+ mile bike ride in the afternoon. The weather was so perfect, I just had to be outside in the sun! 

We had a great ride and celebrated with tea and a smoothie at The Flying Disc. Did I mention that I consumed a lot of caffeine this week? Not a good choice, especially combined with not enough water.

I had a lot planned. Today was going to be a long run. Monday a long hike for my friend's birthday and TKD. My body had other ideas.

I woke up this morning with a cramp in my calf. Cramp isn't the right word. It was incredibly painful, and I couldn't get it to relax. I now have a painful spot in the middle of my calf and can't put a lot of weight on it. I didn't take care of myself, and now I'm paying for it.

I had to bail on my run. I'm probably going to spend most of today resting. I'm not sure I'll be able to do a huge hike tomorrow, but I'm hoping if I rest it will be possible.

It's frustrating. I like being active, and I've been working so hard to be more consistent and push myself. Health requires a multifaceted approach, and I have been neglecting 3 out of 5 this week. My brain wanted to push through, but my body knew when to stop me.

Moral of the story: Take care of yourself completely, or your body will make you.

Back To The Barbell

Trying to stick to my healthy goals this week. It's been somewhat challenging. Things at work are ramping up because we open for the season this weekend. Plus, I've been putting in a lot of time on a major revision on my new book. Not enough time in the day.

Tuesday, I squeezed in a couple miles. The weather has been amazing, and I want to spend as much time outside as possible. Running always sets me up for a better day. It wasn't a great run. My legs were tired and heavy from TKD class. Still, I felt good for most of the day.

Tuesday night I started feeling really sick, and that carried into Wednesday. I spent most of the day in bed and didn't get anything done. Unplanned rest day.

Today I am feeling better. Not 100%, but definitely better. I took the Moon Dog for a nice, long walk. It was a pretty morning.

I also started a new lifting program today. I've been considering it for a few weeks. I miss lifting, but I need to keep it moderate while I'm doing my half training. I waited until the TKD tournament was over because I knew starting up again would make me really sore. I set today as my start date and got it done.

I forgot how much I love lifting. It really is my favorite. Today was a chest push/pull day. I got it done and feel great. I can't wait to have muscle definition again. I decided to go with a plan instead of making my own because I know it will help keep me on track until lifting becomes habit again. Then I might branch out and do my own program. For now, it's nice having someone else do the thinking for me. I like this plan, too. It uses simple, basic movements, and I like the way the days are split up.

My eating has been okay. Yesterday was rough, but I did okay. I'm focused on cleaning up my eating and taking things one day at a time. It's nice to have motivation again. I'm already feeling better and sleeping better. Forgot how good it feels to take care of myself.

Staying Positive

Keeping the healthy trend going today. My eating is on track. My meals are planned. Today is an exercise-filled day.

I started the morning with a walk with two of my favorite people. It was the perfect start to the day. After getting some work done, I went home and did a half an hour of yoga. I needed a good stretch, and I want to be loose for class tonight.

I'm finishing the day with TKD. I haven't been to class in a few weeks due to work, vacation, and sickness, and I am feeling a little nervous. I feel like I haven't practiced enough. There's a tournament this weekend, and I am a little worried about it. I'm trying to stay positive, though. That's the goal.

One day at a time.

Animals and Exercise

Today has been all about animals and exercise.

For the last couple days, the Moon Dog and I have been walking on a part of the Rail Trail that goes along the river. The ice makes awesome cracking sounds, and MD stops to listen every time.

After running and TKD yesterday, I needed some serious stretching. I did 35 minutes of yoga, and my muscles thanked me for it. I had two kitty helpers during my workout. I didn't get a picture, but every time I get the yoga mat out, I have at least one cat helping out. (And by helping out, I mean attacking my hands when I'm in downward dog.)

I'm super excited because my new sneakers came in today!

I've been running more often, and I desperately needed new shoes. I cannot wait to break these in!