fishwoman~i have also worried about getting enough stretching or flexibility training in during the week, but I haven't been able to squeeze it in yet. Some days I can feel that I need to really stretch out and others I feel fine. I never start just running right away though. I've read some stuff on stretching that concluded a good warm up is just as effective for injury prevention and possibly more so. You still have to worry about lactic acid after workout though, but I haven't had any problems with cramps or soreness after cardio for a little while now after starting up regularly--strength training is a whole other deal, oy! my abs hurt sooo bad today! and those lunges! it hurts to sit!
I love pilates and I need to find time to do it 1-2 times a week, but I don't know how to make any more time!

melissa~how's your back? if you're fully functional, I would go ahead and add some light weights now or at least go through the motions without any weights--lunges situps etc. I've got one of those ball things at home that I'm going to get out again this weekend (I've ignored it for a couple of weeks now) to do some back and abs work. If you have any doubts then definitely wait til next week.

My eating is still out of whack but I think I'm doing okay on the exercise stuff again. You guys are really motivational! I would really rather be out exercising right now--not really sure how I'm going to get that in now..

oh, and I was just going to mention that last weekend's art show went super duper and this weekend I have another one--I'm setting up a lot of my space tonight. Cross your fingers for me! I really want to make enough money to paint the house and finish our deck before cold weather!

I hope your artshow went well, Mel!

I did my 35 minutes of running this morning on a 5:1 interval. I also did my lower body weights and my back seems fine. My left deltoid still probably isn't 100% but I am going to give it a shot tomorrow and see how it reacts. I will put the weights lower than what I was doing before.

I also need to get more stretching / flexibility stuff into my workout. I have been looking at dvds on amazon but still haven't bought one yet.

Good morning everyone!

Melra - I also hope your show was spectacular!

SherpaMelissa - congrats on getting up early to run!

I haven't done anything yet today, but Friday night I did 30 minutes on the elliptical; Saturday I took (back to back) a 45 min. pilates class and then an hour-long step class (my calves are still aching!); and Sunday I just went for a 1/2 hour walk with my husband and the dogs.

Here's to a great week!

ETA: I went to the gym during lunch today - 45 minutes on the elliptical; 5 minutes in the steam room as a treat

I was going to post in the morning but I couldn't wait! I met my Sept running goal tonight! I ran 3 mi in 34min. I didn't think I would get it all done--in fact, I set the treadmill for 3mi thinking that I would run 2.5 and then walk out the rest, but I pushed myself through. I'm feeling a lot better about the 5k this weekend now.

melissa~I really like the Denise Austin pilates / yoga dvd. I had to work my way up strength-wise to get through it all, but it's not intimidatingly hard and she makes it easy to learn.

fishwoman~I covet your steamroom! My "gym" is just a community center--I only pay $5 a month and understandably there are no amenities like a steamroom or even showers. But it still has all the cardio machines a girl could want and a decent range for weights. I put the difference btw that and a bona fide gym membership into the college fund...oh, and into new clothes for me!

You know, I am just amazed at my mood swings on these posts! up down up down! It's crazy! This is the longest I've gone in my adult life really paying attention to weight loss, even if I haven't always been on track. After seeing all my shifts in attitude, it's no wonder I've gotten fat! I mean, who knows how long I would have let myself continue in my funk if I didn't have some exercise goal to meet or some challenge to be accountable for. It feels so much better to come home from a good run than to have another evening eating poorly and whining about looking dumpy.

Yay Mel!

I know what you mean about the mood swings. I am the same way. If I actually drag my butt out to do something I feel awesome. If I don't, I'm mean and rude to myself. It is crazy!

Of course, I didn't get up early to get to the gym this morning. I don't know why mornings have been so incredibly tough for me lately. I will do my thing at lunch, though.

I love the steam room too FishWoman, but I hardly ever squeeze in the time to sit in there.

Just wanted to post my exercise goals for this week to help keep me honest:
Tues: 20min high cardio and full body weights
Wed: 45min mod - high int. cardio--3.3 mi running goal
Thurs: 35min cardio and full body weights --try to match Mon time on run
Fri: 50 min low-mod int cardio--probably splitting this elliptical/treadmill
Sat: 5k race (gulp) maybe yoga or pilates in evening (I'll need the stretching!)
Sun: Long low cardio (a long walk?) and ab/back work

My schedule has opened up a bit more this week and I hope I'm not being too ambitious, but I've got a mini-goal to meet! less than 3 weeks! eek!

Aw shoot--i didn't get enough cardio in tonight. Not enough time before dd's dance class. I was thinking I was close to my goal but nope. I did crunches on the incline bench though--lots tougher than i thought.

melissa-did you do your thing at lunch?

Why yes, Mel - I did. I did a 30 minute bike ride because it a scheduled cross train day, so I should do anything but run.

I am having such trouble getting out of bed in the morning. Maybe it is because it is dark out or something. I have a 30 minute run to do at lunch again today.

At least you got some cardio in and you tried! Good job!

I tried a new exercise dvd last night. It is called "Crunch Pilates" and is produced by Crunch gyms (i think they are out of NYC). Anyhow, it was pretty awesome! I wouldn't really call it pilates though, it was more like 25 minutes of low-impact aerobics with 15 minutes of pilates matwork. But i really enjoyed the workout and intend to buy the dvd.

it is so nice out that i hope to get out for a run at lunch today. it is getting dark too early for me to run after work anymore.

Keep going everyone!

I am dissappointed in myself today--I was too exhausted yesterday I could not get myself to run. In fact, I even took an hour nap when I got home from work! My sleep schedule is all wonky and I was wide awake at 2:30am again so of course I didn't wake up early enough to do anything this morning. I wish I could leave here and go for a run right now. bleh. I didn't do anything last night but watch Veronica Mars.

: Woo! I got up at 4:30am, got to the gym before 5am and ran 5 miles this morning!! It took me exactly 70 minutes and I burned about 400 calories. Who is this woman? Where did the real Melissa go?

That sounds like a cool dvd Fishwoman. I wish I could do stuff like that. My kid and my dogs climb all over me and it just doesn't happen.

Hang tight Melra! You will find your mojo again soon!

Melissa that's awesome! You've already had a full day practically! How did you feel after the 5miles, did you have any thoughts of going further or were you done?

I went for a run outside last night on the little hills in our neighborhood and I made the mistake of not drinking enough water yesterday (read=no water, what was I thinking?) and I kept getting side cramps. I made it through almost 2miles, probably like 1.85? and then had to walk it out for awhile. I ran a few more intervals but the cramps were pretty bad by then so I only walked after that. Then my daughter and I walked home from daycare--about 1.2miles. She has such long legs it was actually a better paced walk than I expected. So total I got in a little more than an hour with running and walking. I can't believe I'm supposed to run a 5k tomorrow. I am really nervous about it, which is stupid b/c it's just a run.

I did 50 minutes on the elliptical yesterday.

Melra - good luck on the 5k tomorrow! Have you run a race before? The crowd will totally sustain you - it is really pretty awesome!

Melissa - I don't have kids, but the dogs climb all over me! I keep telling my DH I am going to market my own "working out despite your pets" dvd They usually get banished to the basement until i am done.

*****
Just got back from the gym - 45 minutes on the elliptical

Mel, I could have still gone further. It is time constraints with me actually. I start work so early, I don't have enough time to get the running in before that. Luckily, when we do 8 miles I will be at my sister's house in NH so she can watch my daughter.

Good luck on your race tomorrow. You will be fabulous!