Inspiration

So, part of my inspiration to get healthy and fit, besides me wanting to do it, was this last push by a video I saw online.  Ben Davis of Ben Does Life started jogging one day.  He kept jogging, and eventually lost 120 pounds.  You can see his video by clicking here. So anyway, after working on this for more than 3 weeks now, I wanted to order one of the shirts so I could wear it for the Bellin Run in June!  It came in the mail today!  Not a good pic, but here is is! Yay!

Back to it!

So I've had a cold for the last few days, and I had to take 4 days off from working out.  That felt terrible!  I wanted to start the week out on a good note today, so I decided to dress it up a bit.  It worked! I had a good day, and got back to the gym!  That felt great!  I did my back, biceps, abs, 20 minutes on the elliptical and 20 minutes on the bike.

Motivation

So I'm now 3 weeks into my official program of working out and practicing a vegan diet. (minus no workouts for the last 4 days because I've been sick)
How am I keeping myself motivated?  Well, different things work for different people I guess.  For me, I keep going back to this photo from October 2005, the day I adopted Montey. Although I like this pic because it shows the immediate bond Montey and I had, I dislike it because it clearly shows how unhealthy I have been, for a long time.  This is me at my worst.  312 pounds. (at least I think It's my worst, I didn't weigh myself regularly).  I never want to look or feel like this again, not even close to it!

Another thing that keeps me motivated is the changes in my body, my mood, and my energy level.  I feel like I have more energy, that I'm in a better mood and more lively. I see the changes, and feel them as I wear my clothes, or shower.  And when I'm at the gym, I pick the elliptical in front of the window instead of the tv. This way, I see my reflection in the window as I work out, and I use that as motivation to keep going!


I've got a long way on my journey, but I'm excited to see where I'm at so far.
What keeps you motivated?

Project: 365 - 2 month update

Tomorrow marks 2 months since my birthday, and the date I started my Project 365 picture a day. I know I said I wasn't going to (or try not to) post any face pictures until my 37th birthday, but I was curious to see if I've changed at all in that time.  Some people at work tell me I look slimmer, but I guess I don't really see it as easily.  So here goes.  The top picture is day one, November 19, 2011 and the bottom picture is today, January 18, 2012.  I guess you can see more of my ears in the second picture, so that's a good thing, right? Hopefully that extra chin will start disappearing! :)

Quinoa

Tonight's dinner:  Quinoa Pilaf and sauteed broccolini (baby broccoli).  Good stuff.

Intervals

With all the working out I've been doing, my body was getting a bit tight so I thought I would get to the chiropractor for a bit of alignment, or shall I say re-alignment.  That felt great!


I've been working pretty hard, so I decided to take Friday and Saturday off.  That felt good, my body must have needed it, as I slept until noon on Saturday!  That was wonderful as well.


But with that, I was a bit concerned coming into today's workout.  You see, in the past once I miss one day, then another, it turns into a week, then a month, and well you get the picture.  So, although I had a filling replaced at the dentist after work today, I made no excuse, and I got to the gym.


Tonight I did my chest, triceps and abs.  Then, I got on the treadmill to start intervals.


If you recall a few weeks back, I could barely do intervals of jogging a lap and walking 3 laps, then jogging a lap, etc.  Tonight, I did 1 mile intervals!  So, I jogged a mile, walked a mile, jogged a mile, and walked another mile.


That felt really good to complete that!  Each time I do something I didn't think I could do, or wanted to quit midway through, but finish it, it feels really good.  I have a history of not finishing what I start.


Happy jogging!

Breathing

I jogged another mile tonight, on the treadmill this time. Felt a bit different, but I finished it, probably easier than last time.  I slowed down the pace on the treadmill to a 12 minute mile, because yesterday was my off day.  I do need to get my breathing under control though when I'm jogging. Otherwise I'm never going to make 6.2 miles.  Probably high because when I got done my heart rate was 161.  Seems a bit high.  As I get into shape I'm hoping this gets better.  Pressing on until then!


Cheers.


It's cold today.  14 degrees with -4 windchill.  I guess winter is here, at least for a few days.  Hard to believe it was 55 just 2 days ago and I was walking outside at lunch with not coat!  I guess we were spoiled so far this winter.