But really, I'm asking, how?

The sad part is, I used to be a morning workout person. I used to wake up at 5:45am every.single.day., 6 days a week (sometimes 7), and meet my bestie for a four mile run on a causeway next to the ocean and just talk the whole time and not be out of breath at the end. #thegoodoldays

This was pre-college of course; during college there's no way I could get up that early given that I really took the ol' 'going out' part of college seriously, and I worked 40 hrs a week, and I was getting my degree.

Then, I moved to NYC and was a teacher. 5:45am would no longer be even enough time because I had to be to work before 8, and realistically in NYC that means leaving by 7, for a 2 mile bus ride. Ugh. Not to mention, there's just literally no way I was running in the early morning in the NY winters, nor was I gonna run around my neighborhoods when it was dark out, by myself.

Then I was back to Tally in law school, and there was a little while there where I was working out in the morning basically with a personal trainer, but I literally have anxiety about working out "too hard" in the AM because I have (1) thrown up and (2) gone to the ER bc i (didn't realize at the time) had an exercise-induced migraine.

So, I think if I am gonna work out in the morning, to start with, I need to with walking and running. Eventually I would like to get back to adding in weights and strength training, but I think part of my problem is that I just try to do everything at once, and it's just not possible.

Anyways, so I'm going to, once again, attempt a morning workout routine. I've actually been trying to do this for a few weeks - I keep signing up for AM classes and then I back out. I've considered running, but, I do live basically in downtown Miami, and while I've never felt unsafe at the times I walk around, I wouldn't want to go running in the morning when it's still dark out. Part of exercising is that you want to be able to zone-out somewhat, amiright?

So, I don't know why I just remembered there is a gym in our building, and, instead of it being on the first floor, they conveniently (temporarily) moved it to the 10th floor - which is only 2 floors below me. Also, I'm realizing tomorrow is a Monday, so great time to start, and THEN I realized it was the start of a new month, great time to start, and when I realized it was MAY I realized it was a great time to bring back my old fave: "MileADayMay" !

So, for MAY, I am going to stick to running or walking or elliptically or stair climbing at least ONE mile every day -- when I wake up. 😑 I literally cannot take ONE day off, because all it takes for me is ONE day off and I will miss the next three. I also want to start with walking/running because I don't want to go sick and I know those exercises do not cause me to throw up/migraine. And finally, I need to start working out in the AM because of my work. I have been so busy lately, getting so many things thrown at me and that means that even on days I think: Okay, I'll do this after work, I either literally cannot because I have to work all night or I am so exhausted because the work day has been exhausting or I'm starving because -- dinner time. So, I need to workout in the morning so that I can "get it over with," and I hope eventually that turns into something I look forward to as "me" time. Also, I'm hoping this "mental" shift as to why I'm doing it will help keep me motivated (versus it being something I have to do.)

But please, enlighten me, if you're one of those crazy AM workout people - how'd ya start?

xo,
kim

Staying motivated to workout

If you have any nike app for running (I use the tomtom watch, but used to just use the app) it gives you little "awards" when you log onto the website. 
I was very excited today when my runs (I didn't run twice, just had to stop and start my watch b/c it was malfunctioning) uploaded and this came up: 

I mean, granted, I can't actually imagine a month of the year that I didn't exercise in the past however many years ... but some of those months were definitely just one or two times a month, but still, it gave me a little pep in my step. I haven't run since my half-marathon on Sunday, Feb 23 and I felt like I better effin' get back into it because I ran 5 times a week without fail from Jan 19 - Feb 23 and I don't want to lose that momentum.

I set a goal on Nike to run 5x week for the next 6 weeks (Nike "recommends" 6x a week -- what??) which is really ambitious but also, not crazy! And really it just counts down from 30 so one week if I'm feel ambitious I can run 6 or 7 days. Also, there is no length requirement so if all else fails I will resort to the good ol' #mileaday.

Another goal is just for that little "shield" to light up at the end of the year to tell me I was active every month of the year!

What helps you stay motivated?

Saturday Stadium Workout

Ughhhhh

What's worse than a Sunday hangover?

I'm not much of a drinker, but yesterday I was out drinking from about noon (brunch) until 10:30pm. I mean, I love day drinking as much as the next person, but that's so I can get home by 7 and be in bed by 8. Amiright?

But, before all that, I went with Amanda & Sophie to the stadium to do a "stadium workout." I didn't really know what to expect, but as a former Lost addict I assumed it meant we would run (and I would walk) up and down all the sections of the stadium.

What I didn't realize was that there were these sick things you could download from the internet called "stadium workouts" and there are all sorts of torture components .. not JUST the up and down in the stadium! 

What I should also mention is that Amanda and Sophie are both SUPER in shape and yes, I did just run a half marathon last weekend, but (and I hate to say it) running isn't really that hard of a workout once you get to the point where you can run a long distance. Anyways, so they are both super in shape which meant I had like two personal trainers but which also meant I couldn't slack! I couldn't find the sensor for my HR monitor, but Amanda burned 600+ calories so I probably burned at least 1000. 

So, this workout consisted of running, lunging, planking, push upping, mountain climbing, stadium running, tricep dipping, wall sitting, squatting and more running. Wow, even just typing that out makes my legs ache. And yes, today my legs feel like someone beat them with a baseball bat yesterday. Isn't that a great feeling?? 

So, I feel confident saying I've got this whole working out thing down. I've been working out consistently since Mid-January...now for the hard part: EATING RIGHT. 

However many times I've done it, I just always slip back down. To be honest, I don't even think I eat that unhealthily ... I've been the same weight for about three years (give or take 5 pounds) ... so all I have to do is lose 30 pounds, and then I can eat however I eat now and maintain that weight. Right?

So, uhh, give me some tips on how to stay full while eating delicious food and still being healthy. K? thanks!