What a difference a day makes

So the rules of the challenge are this:

1 point for getting down 64 oz water
1 point for 7-9 fruits and veggies
1 point for each 10 minutes of concentrated physical activity

First the "easy" part:

I woke up raring to go this morning and decided that I'd try to do 2 Xbox One Fitness workouts.  This is my new favorite toy.  I love the constant feedback and you definitely see it if you're slacking.  First was 40 minutes of "Firestarter" from one of my old favorites, TurboFire.  I took a rest and grabbed some water and then got my second wind.

The second workout was MOSSA Strength.  I need to lift more so this is helping me with that.  Lots of upper body and I had to lighten up on the weight midway through but I didn't stop.  Here's the end result:

7 points here!!!

The best part, I had more energy today then I've had in months.  I got A LOT done today (aside from the workout).

Next, water....

now this was actually shockingly easy.  I haven't been huge about drinking water lately and the prospect of 64 oz seemed daunting.  I just took one of our regular 16 oz dining glasses and kept refilling it.  After the long workout this morning I was midway through my second glass pretty early on and just kept going.  

1 point, piece of cake!!!

Then comes the tricky stuff...

One point comes from eating fruits and veggies throughout the day and it's all or nothing unlike the workouts.  My diet has been lacking for a while so this is going to be a shock to my system.  I decided to stop eating like a 4th grader and make some good choices.

Fruits - piece of cake.  Blueberries in the Shakeology this morning and some pineapple for a snack.

Veggies - ugh.  Well, I had vegetable soup for lunch and that counted for 2, but I'd honestly have to fudge it for dinner.  We had bruschetta and meatballs and sauce with pasta for dinner but I'd be lying if I said I got 3 servings there since we are basically just talking tomatoes and onions there.  The funny part is, I am really too full to have a salad that probably would have got me there.  I think the water is making me more full.  So... no point there. 

 BUT....  I ate more actual food than I've had in weeks throughout the day.  Had a few hunger pains there and there but check it out:

If you don't want to do the math, that's 1455 for the day and I definitely wasn't starving!!!

So given my long workout for today and if I can stay out of the tiramisu in the fridge, I'm actually near 400 calories under my goal for the day!

This challenge is definitely something attainable and I can't wait to start seeing all the benefits these changes will make!

No More Excuses

Well, here we are almost at the end of the first quarter of the year and I have to say I haven't been off to the best start.  The crappy weather in Ohio has been the death of my motivation and has had a serious effect on my mental health.  Nat has been through quite a rough patch these last few months as well due to a reduced effectiveness of his medication and that has been frustrating and at times exhausting.  In reading "Driven To Distraction" at the request of Nat's current doctor I started to realize and accept that I also have similar issues and not in the cute... "Oh look, a squirrel" way, more in the "I stay at home and move in circles all day without really getting anything significant accomplished and I can only get things completed when the world will stop without it" kind of way.

While it has been easy to work out and make some healthy choices a day here and there, post jokes and motivational quotes on Facebook, put up a good front, it's honestly all bullshit up until now.  All that was an attempt to hide from the depression, the lethargy, AND THE DONUTS, lots and lots of donuts!!!!

May 7th I will celebrate 37th year on the planet and the 10th anniversary of my brain tumor surgery.  If this is your first time around, check out my old blog posts for more information on that.  With that anniversary coming up, I have decided that it is time for a reset, physically and psychologically.  I have also decided that the time for excuses is over.  This isn't a matter of reinventing anything, I have done this all before and I know the steps that I need to take to get there.  For me, the physical pretty much takes care of the psychological.  When I am working out and eating better, I am able to cope with the stresses of day to day life much better and I'm probably an easier person to be around.  Commitment and accountability are the only things that I am lacking.  So far I have taken two steps to work toward these positive changes.

1)  I registered for my first ever 5K.

I have had several challenges when it comes to physical fitness and I've conquered most of them.  There are only 2 things that remain -- being able to run and being able to do pull-ups.  I think the latter will allude me for at least a while longer but I am determined to complete a 3 mile run and turn in a respectable time.  This run is special to me because it fundraises for a cause close to my heart (brain) and on the 10th anniversary of my surgery nothing could be more appropriate.  My goal is to run as much as I can of the 3 miles and to raise at least $250.  If you have a few bucks to spare, please consider going to BT5K.org click "Donate" and search for my name.

2) I signed up for the Spring Booty Buster Challenge

In order to stay on track with the "training" over the next 90 days or so, I noticed a challenge that my friend Terese spoke about in her blog.  Run to The Finish describes the challenge best:

"7 weeks of tracking “points” for being active and eating clean, while getting non-stop support from other women who are exactly like you. Sometimes they’ll wrap you in a bear hug and other days text you at 5AM to get your a** to the gym. It’s about prizes and habits and finding the fun in healthy living."

Anyone from beginners to marathon pros are welcome.  I'd love to have some company, and some competition, click below and join me (tell them I sent ya)!

I'm going to start using the blog for accountability and to share with my challenge mates.  I know the upcoming posts may not interest many people, but if you could at least make a small contribution for BT5K I would be most grateful!