October Goals

I’ve been reading around the internet about the importance and benefits of goal setting. The problem is that I goals all the time, but my goals are more “big picture” and travel based. For example, I have a goal to visit India/China/Africa (aka somewhere BIG) by my thirtieth birthday. Is this the most sensible goal I’ve ever set? No, not really. But, it is something I like to think about. Given where I am at this very moment in my life, I’d say that traveling to somewhere like India is possible. My goal of traveling to India is not a bad one at all, but I do need to work on setting smaller, more achievable goals. Because really the best goals are ones that include a deadline. The goal (or is it a dream?) to travel to either India/China/Africa has a deadline of my thirtieth birthday, five years away. But, I can be more realistic and if I write it down I am held accountable to all of you.

So, without further adieu, I present you with my October Goals:

  • Run, slowly.
    In a little over a week, I should be okay to begin running again. Over the weekend, I started running super small snippets during my walks (from a fire hydrant to a fire hydrant, to the end of street, etc). I felt great as I was doing it, but I am nervous about re-injury. The plan is to start slowly – run for five minutes, walk for ten for the first few days and then start adjusting based on how my knee feels. I have a 5K at the end of the month that I’d really like to complete pain free.
  • Walk/Cross-Train.
    Walking and the elliptical have been good to me these past few weeks. I’ve  managed to keep my mileage up fairly well. I’m not where I want to be, but I’m not at square one and my speed hasn’t slowed at all. Especially if I am able to run again, I need to make cross-training a priority.
  • Cook a new recipe each week (and blog about it)!
    I feel like I’ve been in a funk with food lately. What better way to shake it off than to try new things. I am totally open to suggestions as to what to make!
  • Drink water.
    Pretty self-explanatory. I definitely have not been drinking as much as I should.
  • Put my clothes in my laundry hamper, not on the floor.
    I am the person that will only clean when company comes over. And my bedroom floor is like one big laundry hamper to me… even I though I have a hamper. This is a lifelong habit, but I need to break it. Perhaps this will be the month when I finally get in gear.
  • Read a book.
    Suggestions, please!

And there you have it, my October goals. Mostly fitness related, but overall a good place to start. And they are totally do-able. I just need to be disciplined and focused.

PS — Pretty sure Chris will be super excited to constantly remind me about putting my clothes in the hamper instead of leaving them on the floor!

Do you set goals for yourself? If so, what are they?

Are you dressing up for Halloween? Is it lame if I dress Penny up for Halloween?

Goodbye Fat Pants!

You know the ones I am talking about. The bigger pair that sits in the back of the closet in case you’re feeling a little bloated or just want some extra wiggle room. The pants you keep around in case you go out of town and let vacation get the best of you. Those pants.

Well, yesterday morning as I was getting dressed for work I looked through my closet. I’ve been feeling unhappy with my clothes for various reasons lately, but I think its just because I need to go shopping. (Really, you can only wear the same outfit so many times before it gets old.) I picked through my stuff, glancing over my typical fat pants and went for the pants that once upon a time ago fit. The pants I haven’t been able to wear for six months because of wedding stress followed by newlywed bliss coupled with a lack of regular exercise made me gain a few pounds.

I picked them up and looked at them.

It was going to be close. Like I could put them on, but I couldn’t button them. Then I considered laying on the bed to put them on because that works with just about anything (especially when you ignore the accompanying muffin top). If I sucked in would it make them fit better? Would I have to suck in all day?

No, I would not have to suck in all day. Because when I put them on the button clasped without force and I was able to exhale freely.

Success!

This feeling, this blissful feeling, is something I don’t want to lose. My next goal is to fit into the next size down from where I am now. To be completely honest, I’ve never been the next size down from where I am now. And that is slightly intimidating.

Though, for once in my life I feel like I am actually in the right frame of mind to reach that goal. My eating habits are getting a makeover. Training is coming along despite injury. And I finally understand that to change my body it is going to take time and dedication.

Quick Fitness Recap: The last week (and so far this week!) has been spectacular on the exercise front. To keep my mileage up for training I’ve started taking really long walks. My hope is that when I am able to run again it won’t be a huge shock to my system again. Also, if I am able to get faster in my walking then hopefully my running speed will improve as well. For example, on Saturday (my usual long run day) I went for an 8.25 mile walk. It took a little over two hours to complete but no complaints and no blisters. I took the day off on Sunday. Monday I did a quick 3.5 mile workout on the elliptical followed by my favorite pump class. Tuesday I went to yoga. And yoga is becoming a thing for me because it feels great.

Tell me about your workouts last week and this week. Are you shaking things up a bit? 

How I Got On Stage for GIRL TALK

(There is a problem with this sign)

Jennifer, Lee Anne, and I traveled to Charlottesville last night to see Girl Talk perform. This is the third time Jennifer and I have seen him perform this year; this was Lee Anne’s first time.

We began the evening by heading over to one of Jennifer’s favorite restaurants – Mellow Mushroom. Mellow Mushroom has a location in the Adam’s Morgan area of DC, but it was exciting to see that they have a location in Charlottesville. Unfortunately, in order to get to the restaurant we had to drive through the University of Virginia’s campus … I scoffed and was not too happy of a camper (Let’s go Hokies!!)

After a delicious meal we headed over to the venue.

The opening act, G-Sides was already well into his set when we got there. From what I saw, he engaged well with the crowd and worked the stage really well. I’m not sure Charlottesville provided the best crowd for him to perform in front of, but he stuck it out and gave it his all.

During G-Sides’ set, I immediately began to scope out the venue. Jennifer told me while we were in Pittsburgh that Girl Talk allows people on stage. As soon as she told me this, I made it my mission to get us on stage the next time we saw him, wherever it was.

I noticed two men with large video cameras so I struck up a conversation asking them if they knew anything about getting on stage during the set. They were polite but didn’t provide major leads.

Then, I saw them.

Three girls waiting by an opening in the gate. I knew that they knew something I didn’t know. I began to watch (read stare) until I decided I needed to go over and ask. They had the same idea that I had — out of all the places in the venue, this appeared to be the one most likely to get us on stage. If it wasn’t, we still had an excellent area to view the show.

Ten minutes later, it happened. A crew member came over and asked the question I so longed to hear, “want to get on stage?”

YES, PLEASE.

Commence geeking out.

We waited anxiously backstage for Girl Talk to begin his set. The crowd was young (born in the mid-late 90s) and I felt old but I didn’t care. I was about to be on stage with one of my favorite performers.

Play Your Part (pt. 1) began to play and we were given the okay to run on stage. Jennifer, Lee Anne, and I danced for the next two hours.

I don’t think I’ve ever jumped up and down that much in my life. I had the goofiest smile on my face the entire time and I really probably could’ve started crying at any moment. I was SO EXCITED!!

One rule about being on stage — no pictures. You are part of the act, you’re supposed to get the crowd hyped up, be energetic and fun. Needless to say I began to get a little upset when I noticed a bunch of girls taking eight thousand pictures of themselves in the same pose (hold the camera arms length away from face and snap pic. repeat seven thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine times). Luckily, one of the crew members noticed this and threatened to escort them off so they stopped.

However, during the close of the show everyone pulled out their phone and started snapping pics. I am guilty of taking seven pictures.

I enjoyed every single second of dancing on stage. No beers were spilled on me, no one stepped on my toes, I got to enjoy the show. And I was with two of my very best friends! It was glorious.

With the exception of seeing Paul McCartney, this was my favorite concert moment. Seriously. I cannot truly describe how special this was and how unforgettable it will be. To be a super cheeseball — I will remember it forever.

When I woke up this morning, I felt hungover. I had one drink last night, before dinner. The endorphins and the energy drained everything out of me. Or as Lee Anne put it, “I was drunk on happiness.” Totally the truth.

 

What is the coolest thing you’ve ever done at a concert? 

Who is your favorite person/band to see live? 

Cross Training Like A Boss!

I’ve been a busy busy girl this past week. Thank goodness because I definitely needed a boost in endorphins from not being able to exercise for the past few weeks.

By Monday, I began to get nauseous. Two weeks of no exercise made me an unhappy camper and my body was not pleased. I’m not sure if the nausea was brought on due to stress or lack of movement. All I know is that after I exercised on Tuesday, the nausea disappeared. Hallelujah!

Tuesday evening I took it slow. Like slower than slow. Forty-five minutes on the elliptical at a thirteen minute pace per mile. It felt good to be moving, but I was being cautious. I could not imagine finally being able to move again only to overdo it and be out of commission even longer.

Wednesday night, I hit the elliptical again. This time for thirty minutes, but higher intensity and resistance. My knee didn’t bother me at all, not even a teensy bit. After the elliptical, I went over to a muscle mix class to get some strength training in.

It was good to be back!

I didn’t work out on Thursday due to a social event. Though, I broke my personal rule of “no exercise Fridays” due to the missed workout. Friday evening I spent an hour on the elliptical going as hard and has fast as I could for an hour. My pace matched my running speed. A lovely workout to kickstart the weekends festivities.

On Saturday, Chris and I went into DC. We walked somewhere between four to six miles all over the city. More on that later.

Sunday morning I went to two gym classes: Body Step and Body Pump. I used to go to Step all the time before I started running. The up and down motions of the step had me concerned about my knee but luckily, no problems! Doing Pump after Step is not always the smartest decision. My lower body was so fatigued from Step, but I pushed through the workout. The only issue I had occurred during the lunge track. My left knee was done and it hurt. I spent the song stretching out my leg.

Monday I went to Spin class. It has been a hot second since I went to spin. I always forget how much I like spin until I’m sitting the class increasing my resistance.

Tonight I did a Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred DVD and it kicked my butt.

This week has been consistent and I love it. It is so amazing to be back in the gym.

I am only slightly (okay, majorly) upset that I haven’t been able to get outside as much. I feel like if I go outside I will be too tempted to run. And that would be no good. Unfortunately (for me), the weather has been ridiculously beautiful this week. It’s not fair. I spent all summer training in the humidity and the heat to be cheated out of the beautiful Fall weather. But I’m trying not to focus on that. Cross training will make me a stronger runner… just in time for Winter.

How did your workouts go this week?

Did you try anything new? How’d it go?

Did you eat anything particularly yummy over the week? Share the recipe!