Strange lack of body awareness

The other day I went for a hike, at a trail that I often use. It's hilly, public trail out on a ranch near town. Mountain bikers use it, too. I've done this trail about 10 or 12 times total probably. The first time, when I went with family, it probably took the whole group of us 2 hours or more to get around the whole thing. My fitbit rates it at about 10,000 steps and about 32 flights of stairs worth. So, it's a good, challenging workout for me at this point in my fitness.

One of the last times I went, though, I had the odd sensation that it was just OH SO MUCH HARDER than usual. It was warm out, sure, in the 80s, but not any warmer than the last time I had done the trail. Was it the week I had had previously, I wondered? Or because I was listening to an audiobook on my ipod that I had already heard before, rather than one of my nursing school lectures that I really had to concentrate on....yes, perhaps it was distraction that was key? Or maybe I hadn't slept as well or as long the night before? I even started wondering if maybe I had accidentally taken the 'long loop' instead of the 'short loop'.

It was only when I got to the end, back in my car, and peeked at my clock that I realized why. I had gone around about 20 minutes faster than the last time I did it, without even realizing it.

Feeling Stronger (2011 Week 21 Update)

In my last week, as summarized by Loseit, I was about 1200 calories over budget, and gained 2.8 pounds. So, all in all, not the best week.

However, I did go on a big hike on Sunday with my Dad. It was a trail that I'd been on before this past thanksgiving with my whole family and in laws, and it took us all over 2 hours to get around the loop. Last Sunday, it took my dad and I about 1 1/2 hours. I did it again today (I'm a couple days behind on this post) and it took me an hour and ten minutes.

The 2.8 pounds last week I feel like I can blame almost entirely on anxiety and responding to that anxiety by binging on ice cream. I'm really stressed out in the rest of my life right now.

But after the hike today I feel a lot better. I know theoretically that exercise helps with stress management and mood issues but I haven't been good in the past at putting that theory into practice. Today's hike was a good move.

Tomorrow I'm planning to get up at a reasonable hour, go apply for another job, and then spend the rest of the day with my niece. Maybe I'll even go to aqua-aerobics in the evening.

I'm feeling a little bit stronger and more capable, a little more like things are going to work out, one way or the other.

...followed by pain.

After my hike yesterday I did a bunch of cleaning around the house and then hosted my brother and his family for dinner. By the end of the day I could hardly walk. My right foot was in so much pain whenever I would even put the smallest amount of pressure on it to hobble the next step.

My parents had invited me over to watch a movie with them. Whenever I am off my feet for a while and then try to get up again the pain is back -- so sitting still for an hour and a half movie and then trying to walk out to my car, well let's just say I looked seriously impaired.

My insurance situation is kind of wonky right now, but I've decided it's time to take the next step in treatment, which wound be a cortisone shot in the bottom of my foot. I've tried the stretches and the special shoes, and they do help some, but not enough. I've got one podiatrist in town that I'm allowed to go to (by my insurance) so I'm going to call up next week and see about making an appointment. Hopefully the shot will do the trick. Plantar fascitis sucks.

Another successful hike!

I went on a 2 hour hike today with two friends who are also trying to get in better shape. I consider myself very lucky to live in a place where you can go on a beautiful, sunny hike through the hills about 10 minutes from home in February.

I was definitely the straggler of the 3 of us -- to be expected as I'm about 80 pounds heavier than the larger of them. I was breathing hard, and I got an ache in my side for part of it, and I needed to take several short breaks to catch my breath again during the uphill portions. But I feel great afterward. We went out for a healthy lunch downtown (I had 6oz of baked mahi mahi and some wild rice, water to drink). My legs are definitely sore now but I feel energized and good.

Getting outside and being active (especially with fun friends) is such a good mood boost!

Keeping up on a Hike (2011 Week 4 Update)

My weight took an upswing at the beginning of last week, up to 341.2 again, but by the end of the week I am back down again and another pound lighter. That's not keeping up with my weekly goal but I am still ahead of my year goal by about 4 pounds, which is doing well for the end of January.

So I'm at 337.8 now. I'll update my loss graph below.

I did a hike on Friday with a group of people. I did pretty well keeping up with the crowd, but had some GI crampiness part way through that made it really uncomfortable. A couple of days ago I adjusted my daily calorie goal up to 2800, which is about what the fat2fit BMR calculator says I should be eating, and is on average about where I was eating during the week I lost over 5 pounds.

I've been having some issues with my mood in the last couple days taking a dip. I am hoping it's just a matter of my sleep schedule being off (I slept in until noon yesterday and today)..which could be either a cause or a symptom I guess. Last night I started feeling energetic again around 9:30 but was pretty low when I got up again today.

Today I bought a new workout dvd to try. It's the biggest loser one with Bob and Jillian. My walking buddy has been talking about doing the Wii fit version... and I have a wii but I think buying additional games for it is pretty expensive. Plus, thought I am getting closer, I'm still over the weight limit to use the balance board. So I just got the workout dvd version. I will probably give it a try tomorrow.

I still haven't been back to the gym. I keep putting it on my calendar. With my financial situation right now it might make better sense to just cancel the membership and try to do more at home or outside. I really haven't been using the gym enough to justify the monthly payment.

Next week my tutoring job starts back up again. I am going to try to use the breaks when students don't show up to either study and really get schoolwork done (rather than goofing online) or go for walks if it is nice out.