quick update

So, let’s see where we are now…  I’m starting to feel like I’m back in a good groove with regard to running/exercising in general.  

I started the Runners World Holiday Run  Streak on Thanksgiving day (run at least 1 mile every day between Thanksgiving and New Years).  I got through 4 days, and then decided maybe it wasn’t the best idea for me.  I’ve had Achilles tendonitis off and on for 5+ years now, and have a hitch in my gitalong, as they say - meaning I’m pretty sure I’ve got a cartilage problem in my right knee – it catches occasionally with some significant discomfort – mostly on the uphill.  So anyways, although I decided that streaking isn’t the best idea, I did get into a good mindset about exercise in general.  No pressure on pace, but let’s just get something going most days of the week.

I’m still working my way through the Couch to 5k program as a structured way to ease back to all running rather than run/walk.  And on the days I’m not doing C25K, I’m walking 40 minutes or so at a good clip.

Next step will be to add in some strength training to maintain muscle mass while I’m trying to lose weight overall.

Today's activity

So I'm taking this wellbeing class at my local gym (as I think I mentioned in my last post).  Since I'm now working earlier hours for the winter (I get out of work at 4 instead of 5), that gives me a good chunk of time to hop on the treadmill at the gym before my class starts, probably 40 minutes or so.

Then I have my class which is an hour of lecture/discussion (not sure what tonight's topic will be), followed by an hour of some sort of group fitness (no idea what that will be either).

Other item of note - we have about a bag of Halloween candy leftover from last night - but being the genius I am, I bought candy that I absolutely detest (Mounds and Almond Joy - both have coconut which I think is vile).  So no being tempted by what's at the house.  And seems like no one brought their leftovers to the office today, so that's good too.

Back at it again!

So, once again I’m starting a post with “wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve written anything here!”  Literally, my last 20 posts probably started with that.  But anyways, I’m back for the duration.

What’s going on lately, you might ask?  Well, my fitness is still meh, and my running is meh, and my stupid heel/Achilles is still meh. 

Having said all that, I started a wellbeing class at my gym recently, so I’m getting a good bit more consistent with my workouts than I had been previously.  Also, as part of the class, I had a biometric screening done that included a body composition test – and now that I have a breakdown of lean mass vs non-lean mass, I have an accurate resting metabolic rate, which allowed me to set an accurate calorie goal for the day.  That in and of itself was a real breakthrough on the food side of things – it gave me an achievable target to shoot for every day with my food and calorie tracking on MyFitnessPal (food tracker).  And on days when I’m more active, I know to fuel appropriately.

Where I’m a bit confused is with my fitbit (activity tracker, for those who don’t use one).  I have it synching with MyFitnessPal, and MFP automatically adjusts my calorie goal depending on how active I am that day.  However, I think MFP is giving me too many calories for the level of activity I’m doing.  For instance, just because I get a good number of steps from parking far out in the parking lot, or going the long way to the bathroom during the workday, doesn’t mean I should get an extra 500 calories to eat that day.  So I’m thinking to unsynch my fitbit and MFP, and adjust my calorie goal only for intentional exercise, like a 30 minute power walk or a 2 hour hike or a 20 minute walk at lunchtime, that sort of thing.

Because absolutely positively, I’m convinced that my long-standing Achilles/heel problem is exacerbated by my carrying an extra 30 pounds.  No doubt about it.  So although I’m getting more consistent with my exercise, I need to get the food in line too.  Some people say you can’t outrun a bad diet, and although that’s true, for me, it has always helped to get the exercise consistent and then better eating follows.  Because when you know how many miles it takes to burn off a Snickers bar, it’s a lot easier to resist them.  Says the girl who's had 2 snickers minis today (damn colleagues bringing Halloween candy to work already?!!).