Couch to 5k day 3

Wow!  I've completed week one of the couch to 5k. (Only 8 weeks to go.)  I don't really know how to feel about it....surprised, celebratory, relieved, shocked.  Really can't gather my thoughts and put a finger on exactly what I am feeling.  I procrastinated for 24 hours before getting on the treadmill for day 3 and although I stretched, my feet and shins still hurt a little. Not as much as last time though which is good.  I still struggled with the 1 minute run sections. Mentally and physically.  I can see improvement there definitely though as I recovered much, much better between running segments. I think I'm in for more character building than muscle building, fat stripping on this journey from couch to 5k.  As soon as I finished my little inner voice said "Wow! Done! Now next week I have to run for 90seconds each time. I'll NEVER be able to do that."  Such a seductive and convincing voice.  A week ago I would have said that I'd NEVER be able to run for one minute let alone complete a whole session which include 4 x1mins of running, then backed up and did it 2 more times.  So I'll have to keep this in mind next week when my self-doubt and lack of confidence start screaming at me again.  How much do we stop ourselves from doing in life because we listen to that voice?


Edited to add:  It's almost an hour and a half since I got off the treadmill and wrote the above post and I'm feeling really good.  Body feels ok and mood and general feeling of wellbeing have lifted to a lovely level.  I'll keep hoping the runners high hits me during the run instead of 90 minutes later!

I did something crazy today...

I started doing the Couch to 5k running programme. It's something I've wanted to do for a very long time but my health has definitely held me back. I'm feeling stronger and the moment so decided to give it a whirl.  My intention is to complete the programme - I will however listen to my body and if it says that it's not coping and heading backwards then I'll kick back or stop.  My body and health come first before my willfull determination to achieve wonderful feats of fitness.  I've been so very busy with my art and then keeping up with everyday life that I've been restless to move. My walks just didn't seem enough anymore so I figured that was another reason to give it a go. 

I'm doing my version of the C5k on the treadmill.  There are a few reasons for this. I thought it would involve less impact on my joints than the hard surface of the path outdoors. (No sore knees after my first run so all good so far with joint impact.) It is much easier to track times and distances when they are right there on the screen in front of me.  The treadmill is 3 rooms away from Jeff's office and has an emergency pull thingy so if I get into trouble help is very close by. I think I'd feel a bit self-conscious running with all my wobbly bits out in public so this is a more emotionally safe place to start.  Let's hope my body can keep up with the grand visions of health and fitness in my mind....   :)

A change is as good as a holiday

My trusty little feet took me on an adventure today....  After weight watchers (where I lost 300grams), I headed to the pool that I mentioned in my previous post. 

Out came my trusty goggles and cap. I'm sure they were quite excited to be liberated from my linen closet and finally out having fun and getting WET.  Then I dove in and got moving. Only for 15 minutes mind, but it was a start and I so enjoyed it. I managed 6 laps = 300m. The pool was very quiet and I was the only one in the 50m. There were some cherubs having a lesson in the 25m pool at the other end of the building but I was left undisturbed.

Here it the pool building in all it's glory! Not very well lit and my camera really overemphasised the dimness but oh glorious to be in the pool and not be thinking about the sun.  Splendid, splendid day.  I will definitely be going back. Swimming gets my heart rate up in a way that walking just doesn't. I'd have to jog to get similar cardio results and I don't want to consider jogging until I've lost at least another 10kgs. I felt fantastic for the first hour or so after being in the pool. Now, 3 hours later I am starting to get quite sore across the shoulders and in my back. No doubt my muscles are in shock at the new use I put them to.

Sleeping with Mr Darcy

After a long and busy week I was feeling particularly weary this afternoon. I decided to plonk myself down on the couch and have a rest while watching Pride and Prejudice. I saw the scrummy Mr Darcy make his first appearance on screen and woke to the end credits. That's the third afternoon sleep I've had this week. Can't stay awake, dead-to-the-world type sleeps. I have been busier and more active than I've been for years so I won't panic yet about falling back into fatigue. Perhaps I've just overdone it.

We had a public holiday on Monday so I had to find an alternative Weight Watchers meeting to weigh in at. I've decided to attend this alternative meeting from now on as the leader was amazing, so well informed about nutrition and very entertaining and approachable. The meeting was very interactive too, we broke into groups and read nutritional panels then discussed them. Everyone was very friendly and chatty and the meeting was heaps of fun as well as informative. Ok, details for the week....I lost nothing. Not a gram. I've been a lot more active this week and have increased my cardio as well as continuing to count points. I did go over one day when we had unplanned take-away due to a blackout but I thought my extra activity would take care of it. Oh, well.

My current cardio involves me walking out the door and walking, not particularly fast for 20 to 30 minutes. I've pushed out to 30 minutes about 3 days in the past week. I also included a 45 minute bushwalk which included a small hill and I hope to do this each week. I'll keep an eye on my fatigue levels as I am hoping to push out all of my walks to 30 minutes. If I'm tired, I'll either drop the time back some days or include a second rest day. Not bad, I've gone from 10 minute walks to coping with 30 minute walks in about 5 weeks. Happy, happy, joy, joy, to be out and about being active!!

Any suggestions as to how to reboot my weight loss would be appreciated. I'd like to lose at least something next week. :) I was thinking perhaps increasing the weights I lift during resistance training to try and build some more muscle. Might help.

I'll post photos of my bushwalk when I can work out how to use my new camera and it's quirks. Hope all is going well for you all and you are staying happy and healthy.