An update to make up for my lack of updates.

So I have been MIA over the last few weeks. Here’s what’s been going on:

• - Work is good! Busy, but good. Things have been a little challenging with some projects I have been working on. My boss left about 3 weeks ago. But, I feel like I have learned and have grown so much in just the few months I have been at my new agency. 
• - I am still going strong with the gym. It’s been about a month since I joined and I have been going 3-5 times a week. Maybe I am just on a gym high or something, but it’s sort of addicting. And it helps that there is a super cute guy there every day during the week between the 6:15 and 6:45pm timeframe that I consider my motivation. Oh, did that make me sound like a stalker? Well, I don’t even know his name and have never talked to him, but I like to consider him my gym boyfriend. Ha. Now I just sound like a crazy, desperate woman.
• - I’ve also been doing well with my diet. Weekends are tough, but I’m sticking to it as best I can.
• - Remember my online dating fiascoes last summer? Well, I ran into two guys I went out with (only once) that I met online at the same bar, two weeks in a row. I didn’t talk to them, but one had a serious beer belly, which he didn’t have last summer, and I think the other was with his boyfriend. Those were some real winners.
• - It’s hot. So hot, I haven’t been to the pool in a few weeks. So hot, I dread getting out of my car if I have to leave during the day for a meeting or run errands on the weekend because all it takes is walking from the car to the entrance of the store to start sweating. Or maybe less than that.

And that’s it. Life as usual.

I joined a gym.

I’ve only been twice in the last 5 days or so and I was supposed to have an appointment with a personal trainer tonight (so she could tell me how fat I am and how I need to lose weight, because I feel like they all do that), but she canceled on me as I was walking into the gym. Figures.

I’ve been feeling lazy lately and have actually been doing well on WW this time around (I actually resisted eating queso!), so I felt like joining a gym was good next step in trying to be somewhat healthy. We’ll see how this goes.

Thanks to Champagne Toasts and High-Heeled Dreams, Map My Run is my new fave tool. I was feeling lazy this afternoon/evening because it is so warm and sticky out, but after some unintentional motivation from my friend Jess, I went for a quick walk/jog around my neighborhood. I didn’t think I went more than a mile or so and I never really rely on my iPad pedometer, but according to Map My Run, I went 2.12 miles…and I have the sweat to prove it.

I also found out that my usual two routes on the Katy Trail equal about 4.5 miles. That makes me feel good. Now if only the lbs. would start dropping…but that’s another story.

How yoga made me sick…a true story.

You’d think with all this unplanned extra time on my hands, I’d be working out. Truth is, I hate working out. It’s not fun for me. It’s work. I was regularly going to yoga for a solid few weeks, which is the one workout I actually like (besides walking), but that ended when I got sick about three weeks ago. And I blame getting sick on going to yoga. Why you ask? Think about it…

Forty sweaty, gross people in a room that pumps up the heat and humidity. They are laying on the floor. Sure, they are on their own mats, but their sweat drips on the floor or soaks through their mats. The instructor is telling them to b-r-e-a-t-h-e….so they do, releasing all of their germs into the sticky air where they linger around until the door opens and the next class floods in the room.

The yoga studio I used to go to never cleaned in between the afternoon/evening classes and I don’t know if they cleaned in between the morning and noon-ish classes because I rarely went to those. How completely unsanitary.

Three weeks ago I got sick, the sickest I have been in years, and it started the day after I went to yoga class. And with no health insurance, I paid the MinuteClinic at CVS to tell me that I had a virus and that they basically couldn’t do anything for me. I drugged up on OTC meds and cough drops. I felt awful, just awful. I had my trip planned for Las Vegas so I pushed through that with laryngitis and an awful cough that got worse after I got home. I was coughing so hard that I pulled the muscles in my rib cage/chest, which lasted for another week. I probably too much Aleve, but the pain is finally gone.

So thank you yoga, for getting me sick.

Now, I have three more Groupon, Living Social, etc. yoga coupons to use and I would never just throw that money away. I actually miss going to classes too. I guess I will have to bite the bullet, load up on some Vitamin C, take antibacterial wipes to class and start going to yoga classes again.

Butt = Kicked.

It’s been maybe two years, maybe less, since I have done yoga.

I feel good. I feel a little sore. And I will probably feel more sore in the morning. But I feel good. Thanks, American Power Yoga.

Yoga-licious.

I’ve purchased three yoga deals over the past month or so - Groupon, DealOn and BuyWithMe. Each one was $30, which is about the average price for just two yoga classes, so I got some pretty darn good deals.

I am back on my diet after blowing it in Las Vegas last week. I am feeling motivated and ready to really give this a go and tomorrow I am going to go to a yoga class. The BuyWithMe deal was for 10 classes at American Power Yoga, which I have been to before and is close to my house, so I am going to hit up the 6:30pm class after work.

I’ll follow up with a post about how it goes.

Sense of accomplishment.

I have worked out every day so far this week. I enjoy the fact that the Katy Trail is steps from my apartment and that is free and ready for me to use whenever I want to.

I have been sporadically working out over the past few months (I stopped for a while when it rained for a week, JRL came to visit and then went to Vegas for CTIA), but I feel a serious sense of accomplishment that I have been out there for the past four days.

And every day I have tried to push myself a little harder. Walk a little farther, jog a little longer. It’s a good feeling.

I never forget a face.

Last week as I was walking along the Katy Trail, between Knox and Fitzhugh to be exact, out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of a familiar face. I turned my head just a little more and realized…it was hot guy!

I quit the gym months ago so out of sight, out of mind. I saw him again today and we even crossed the street together. He got to the other side and sprinted off, leaving me to walk along at my slow pace. But I now have something to look forward to while I am working out on the Katy Trail.

Tomorrow? Same time, same place?

Lack of motivation…I need a recharge.

I was doing so well with my daily or every other day walks/jogs on the Katy Trail for a while, but one week of rainy weather, followed by a week of running errands after work, a weekend with JRL and then an entire week of working until about 7pm, I have lost my motivation.

I have also been stressed out, eating crappy, sleeping poorly and having one too many drinks lately, so I spent today relaxing and attempting to plan out my week.

I went grocery shopping and picked up some fresh fruit and veggies and some good snacks from Whole Foods. I am going to try a new spin on lunch tomorrow - carrot and celery sticks with light ranch dip, some grapes and a few slices of cheese with crackers. I used to do this back in NJ and it’s surprisingly filling. I also know that I have late conference calls this week on Tuesday and Thursday, so I am going to plan on getting to work a little early on Monday, Wednesday and Friday so I can leave at 5:30 and get some time on the trail in.

I am heading to Vegas next Monday for an entire week and that means long hours, aching feet and lots of food and drinks. I normally HATE working out when I travel (I am too tired and never have enough room for workout clothes in my suitcase), but I feel like if I skip a week, I will lose my motivation when I get back. Even if I am able to sneak in a few days of the elliptical, I will be proud of myself. Easier said than done, but I am going to try.

Maybe I should start a food diary/workout blog to help keep me motivated…?