I should have taken a picture of my dinner last night and tonight.

I decided to make whole wheat pizza crust yesterday on a whim because I wanted to make taco pizza with my leftover taco meat.  It was so amazing that I decided to make another personal pizza tonight with some of the leftover dough.  I seriously amazed myself with my taco-pizza-making skills.  I probably could have made do with about 1/2 the amount I ate, but it was too difficult to resist.

On another note, I went to hot yoga today around the lunch hour, and it was a great way to break the day up.  It did, however, make me feel a bit punchy afterward.  I'm used to coming home after yoga and taking a shower and then relaxing in PJs on the couch, not heading back to work and trying to teach my intern how write reports and calming down angry parents on the phone.  The good news is that working until 7:30 pm was a lot easier than most days. 

I haven't run for a week...but...

...I'm going on 4 days of hot yoga in a row!  I'm surprised at how much more I can do with each session I attend, and I'm even more amazed at how much my body has changed since I started going to hot yoga regularly.  Yesterday, for the first time since starting this whole hot yoga fiasco, I found myself NOT asking who the fatty was in the mirror and not cringe at the size of my thighs.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not all the way there, but I can definitely see changes.  Plus, I have my "river arms" and I haven't even been on the river yet this year!  Yet another way I've noticed and documented change: yesterday I bought a pair of size 8 jeans! I don't think I've worn a size 8 jean since I was in about 8th grade; I do have a size 8 dress, but as we all know, dress sizes are different from pants or jeans.  Yippee!  I also only have one more pound to lose before I go back to the doctor to weigh in and get my official form filled out so I can get $100 from the County for losing 10% of my weight.

I only have 7 sessions of hot yoga left on my Living Social deal and am trying to figure out if I want to continue.  I love it, but it's so stinking far away from my house and it's actually rather expensive unless you get a good deal (like Living Social).  I also have a Living Social deal for a fitness boot camp, and I suppose I should get that started, but since I've had so much success with body change doing hot yoga, I hate to give that up.  I also need to make sure I get running!  I skipped it every time I had it scheduled this week, partially to do hot yoga and partially because the weather was so crappy. 

I'll get back in the groove, but for now I think I'll finish up my 7 sessions...

Change of plans

The wind blew and blew and blew this morning, so I decided not go to boating.  I found out late the weather was actually much better up at Banks, but I'm perfectly fine with my decision to not go rafting.  Instead, I convinced my sister to come over to work on her wedding blog and then we went to get pedicures and manicures!  I took Brooke as well, and I wish I had my camera handy when she was sitting in the chair getting her nails done.  It was pretty entertaining.  We went to lunch and I headed out to hot yoga with my friend, Malia, at 4:00.  It was SO busy!  We were crammed in there like sardines and the humidity must have been 50% instead of 40%.  I wasn't quite on it this afternoon and really struggled to hold some of the poses that haven't been a problem in the past, but each day is different and I'm sure next time will be fine. 

I really am resting tomorrow....I think :)

Can I get a rest day, please?

Because yesterday was i.n.t.e.n.s.e.....and kind of awesome. 

After a whirlwind morning (quick stop to the office, dog park, picking up Brooke from her sleepover, and a stop at the Spring Thaw sale at Cascade Outfitters), Josh and I decided we would head up to Bogus Basin so Brooke and I could get into a lesson and do some night skiing.  ESD: 3:45 pm.  It was about 2:30 pm. 

I knew I needed to run, so I put on my running shoes, leashed the dog, and we headed out the door at 2:40.  As always, the first little bit was rough, but I was amazed at the end result: 3.22 miles at an average pace of 10:33!  I didn't have my heart rate monitor on, so I don't know what my heart rate high and average ended up being, nor the calorie count.  I'm OK with that given my time!  I'm pretty sure that's my fastest pace yet!

When I got home, I did some quick stretching (and probably too quick), showered, and got my skiing gear together.  We were on the road at our expected time.  Brooke and I did two green runs up at Bogus before our lesson at 6:00.  Even though I signed up for the "group special," I was the only adult signed up, so I had my very own private lesson.  It was amazing how much I learned from this teeny tiny senior in high school.  I needed to break some bad skiing habits I've developed over the past 20 years or so....not that I've skiied regularly over the past 20 years, but I really did develop bad habits wearing bad boots and only taking a handful of lessons as a child.  Anyway, Keoni helped me recognize what I was doing wrong and encouraged me to correct them. Turns out skiing isn't quite so hard on your legs if you use your entire body to turn, etc.  Brooke and I both learned some parallel skiing during the lesson and took the lift up to meet Josh eat dinner.  We skiied two more runs before I had to call it quits.  My body was so worn down from my fastest-paced run ever and learning an entirely new way to learn to ski.  Brooke and I went to the lodge while Josh got a few more runs in, and then we took off for home.  I crashed pretty hard once we got home. 

Josh and I are headed up to boat this afternoon, so long as it's not raining when we get up there....

Tomorrow, I rest.

I ate way too much today

We had a St. Patty's day potluck today at work and even though I had great intentions of having soup and ONLY soup, my self control flew out the window when I remembered there was voting to be done for best soup, best side dish, and best dessert.  How could I even think about voting for a dessert without indulging?  My thoughts exactly - I couldn't.  So I ate and ate and ate...and it was delicious!  I justified it by saying I would be going for a run after work, which I did....but it certainly didn't make up for all of the crap I ate.  Oh well. 

Tonight's run was another one of those nights where I just didn't feel like going out when I first started but knew I had to run.  In the end, my 3.47 miles felt pretty damn good, and it usually does. 

Stats:
3.47 miles in 37.19
10:46/mile average
Calories burned: 582

Feeling hot, hot, hot...

...in Sumits Hot Yoga, that is.  I managed to make it to hot yoga on both Tuesday and Wednesday this week and might even go again on Friday!  Tuesday was a pretty good class, and by that I mean I made it through and was able to do a few more poses than in the past.  I was convinced by my friend, Malia, to go again on Wednesday night.  There was a part of me that was super nervous about going two days in a row, but I went, rib cage and shoulders aching.  I felt a little rough when we first started, but I actually think it's because my muscles weren't warmed up yet, because after the class was over, I felt like I kicked ass!  I held several poses longer than I ever have and I didn't feel light-headed until the very end, before the core workout.  There's a part of me that would really like to go back today, but I also really need to run today...sooooo, I guess I better run.  The dawg will enjoy it, for sure.  Maybe I'll get back to yoga tomorrow....and maybe even Saturday and Sunday.

In other non-work-out news, I am now on my ninth day of being booze-free for Lent!  I feel great!  Now, if I could just bring myself to get to church...

Monday: Run Day

I had to work until 7:00 tonight but knew I also needed to get a 3-mile run in.  I thought about attempting to do 3 miles at lunch, but there's something about not being able to take a full on shower afterward that stopped that plan.  I could have gone to the gym, but it was SO nice outside that I couldn't stand the thought of running on the treadmill.  So I waited until after I got home to venture out.  I LOVE the fact that I went out at 7:30 and it was still pretty light outside when I got home 36 minutes later.  I took Seymour again tonight, and thankfully, he didn't try to trip me as much today.  I'll get him used to this whole running thing sooner or later.

Stats:
3.25 miles in 36:18
Avg pace 11:15
Calories burned 497

Weekend Recap

Josh made a somewhat last minute decision to go up to the Wind River in Washington on Friday night, boat on Saturday, and come home late Saturday night, which left Brooke and me at home alone.  I had already planned on going to hot yoga on Friday night, so I arranged the details with Brooke and headed out.  My last two sessions of hot yoga have been less than spectacular, so I tried a new tactic this time around and brought some Powerade instead of water.  That, combined with attending the 5:45 class rather than 7:30 class, made a world of difference!  I was able to make it through all of the poses without going into child's pose to rest, which felt amazing!  I finally left yoga again feeling rejuvenated instead of defeated.

Saturday was filled with one big plan to hit the REI garage sale and hopefully snag some cheap, returned shoes.  I met my sister down there and despite our high hopes, ended up being some of the last people to enter the sale.  I left with nothing, which is probably better.  My sister won a Mary Kay deal at the bridal show we went to a few months ago, so immediately after the sale, we went to learn all about Mary Kay products.  I did not expect to leave with anything, but $44 later I am now the owner of "Satin Hands" and two different eye shadow shades.  Good grief.  I ate away my shopping guilt at lunch.

I really, really needed to run on Saturday, so not too long after my chipotle chicken wrap and sweet potato fries, I took Seymour out for my regular 3 mile run by our neighborhood.  I think I got heart rate monitor problem figured out, so I had that and my iPhone app to determine my pace.  I got home from what I thought was about 3.1 miles only to find out that we had actually gone 3.4 miles.  I don't know why I never remember that route is 3.4, but it makes me feel pretty good.  My pace was pretty good as well, especially for running with the dog - he always trips me up a few times.  I think I averaged 10:50/mile for the run, which is awesome.

I had planned on getting my first day on the river today, but weather.com indicated it was only going to be 40 degrees at 1pm today up in Banks and that's just a little too chilly for me.  Brooke, Seymour, and I played shuttle-drivers for Josh and his buddies on the Southfork of the Payette, which means Seymour got to run all over the beach up at Banks.  We wore him out, which rarely happens. 

Finally, we got home and decided to try out the River Rock Alehouse in Eagle tonight.  They have a pretty good website and what looks like a pretty good menu.  Unfortunately, it was not as good as it appeared, and we won't be returning unless it's for a beer after Easter (they have a pretty big selection).  To make up for my lousy burger, I convinced Josh to stop at the grocery store to get ice cream...and on the way out I fell to my Girl Scout Cookie weakness and bought a box of thin mints!  Yes!

Lastly, I'm on day 5 of no booze and have been feeling pretty fantastic.  Then again, I've been pretty busy...and it's always easier to eat better and not drink when the husband is out of town!  We'll see what this week holds...

Hot Yoga

Awhile back I purchased a Living Social deal to get 20 sessions of Hot Yoga for $20.  I had never done yoga before (with the exception of the Wii, and that doesn't really count), and for some reason I decided this would be a good idea.  I went for the first time on a Sunday morning in February and loved it.  I decided to go back about a week later and went to the latest session at 7:30 PM.  I had been in an all-day training for Appropriate Use of Force at work (yes, I can probably take you down if you try to punch me) and just plain didn't eat enough food throughout the day before I went to yoga.  I didn't make it and ended up being "that girl" who walked out of class after 30 minutes.  Then I got sick.  And then I got lazy.  I finally decided to get back to it tonight - almost a month later.  Oops!  Once I decided I was going to go tonight, I ate plenty of food, drank lots of water, and thought I was prepared for doing yoga in a 95+ degree room.  I was kind of right.  I made it the full 75 minutes, but it was damn hard, and I certainly didn't make it through every pose.  I tried my hardest though, and I sat down when I felt light-headed rather than straight up walking out.  After tonight, I think I need to try a different time.  I can't give up.  After all, I have 17 sessions left...and I have to use them by mid-April...and that means I have to go about twice per week (or more) to get the best of the deal I purchased....

It's time to get running again

On a whim last week, I decided I wanted to form a team for the Sawtooth Relay next June.  I posted on facebook and by the end of the week, our team of 6 was formed.  I'm probably nuts for wanting to do this, but even more crazy for thinking about entering to run the See Jane Run 1/2 Marathon in Boise the next weekend.  I figure my training will likely be like training for a 1/2 anyway with a few more hills, so it shouldn't be too out of the question to run the 1/2 the week after the Relay...right?  Right??? 

On another note, Lent is coming soon.  As in, really soon.  As in, Wednesday soon.  I've given up indulgences in the past for Lent and on other seasons have vowed to begin a healthy or positive regimen rather than giving up the negatives.  I pride myself in being able to stick to my plan.  Some years have been more of a struggle than others.  In 2002, I gave up dessert, which was a killer since I was traveling around the country staying at houses of church members around the Pacific Northwest.  I lost 15 pounds that Lenten season.  This year, I'm taking it further than I've ever taken my Lenten sacrifice.  It's going to be hard.  Some days I'm sure I'll ask myself why in the world I decided this would be a good thing for me.  Other days, I'm sure I'll feel empowered for the decision I've made.  Enough is enough.  I'm giving up alcohol for Lent.  It's the truth.  See, I've written it here, so now I have to stick to it.  I've been cutting back on my alcohol intake anyway by limiting my drinking to only weekends and special occasions, so it's not like I'm going from a few drinks a night to absolutely nothing.  But I AM going from several drinks on Friday and/or Saturday to none.  And to make matters even more difficult, my birthday falls on Good Friday.  Good think it's not a milestone celebration, right?  It's cool, I'll celebrate my birthday on my husband's birthday, the day after Easter. 

As I go through this whole journey, I plan to post my progress with training.  I apologize in advance for the posts in which I whine about not being able to have a glass of wine after a hard day of work!