My weekend was filled with entirely too much activity. I’m still recovering. Oh, wait, that’s from the cold I had…

Anyway, despite possibly better judgment I decided to be tough and get to the Celebrate Fitness Boot Camp I’d signed up for on Saturday morning.

The event was held at Washington University’s Athletic Complex, and you can visit this link to read my preview of it. I did the Boot Camp, and it was TOUGH.

The class was held on the football field and lasted for 90 minutes, at least half of which was the instructors telling us to run to the end zone and back and the other half was them telling us that they were from Shark Fitness and that if we wanted to be working out properly we needed to be going to their classes three times a week and doing 1500 squats a day. Or something like that. Most of the time I was just trying not to pass out, which was a direct result of a) being somewhat out of shape still, b) the silly diet of no sugar, grains, or dairy that I’m on for another two weeks and probably mostly c) having a really bad cold but feeling like I should do what I said I would do.

Anyway, after completing the class I felt wonderful and accomplished and I was glad I went. Until a few hours later when I felt really lousy: seriously tired and terrible congestion from my cold, but honestly, that could have happened either way.

I got a goodie bag since I’d heard they were fantastic and I’m always glad for another tote bag…but the T shirts were cute and really soft and I was kind of jealous. If I do it next year, T shirt is my choice (probably they will change suppliers and have different shirts to spite me…don’t do this! I beg of you!) Though the goodie bag also included a water bottle, some coupons, free samples, and a pair of socks.

Overall it was a really well run and fun event.  I was given a free entry from my fellow blogger Katie from Mom’s Little Running Buddy but all opinions are my own. One caveat would be that the class is kind of expensive for a class, but you do get a shirt or bag, and proceeds go to charity, so you feel good about that.

This weekend I’m running the annual St Patrick’s Day race in downtown St Louis with my friend April. I’m excited because the weather looks to be AMAZING! I didn’t run last year, but I did run the two previous years. This picture is from two years ago.

How cute was I two years ago??? I was all tan and skinny and whatnot. *sigh* This is why I’m working out regularly again and why I’m on a crazy diet, so I can look more like that lady. Well, maybe minus the tan, but mostly.

Sweet potatoes baking the the oven, beef stew (whole 30 compliant of course) in the crockpot. This is Day 17 of 30. Remember: whole 30 means no added sugar, no legumes, no dairy, no grains (no alcohol). So it’s meat, fish, eggs, sweet potatoes (no white potatoes for fairly arbitrary reason), tons of veggies, some fruit, oils and nuts for fat, and that kind of thing. Sparkling water with 100 percent pomegranate juice seems to be a nice treat, and I’m getting very used to black coffee and hot tea. It’s not so bad, especially now that I’m over my cold…and I’m more than halfway done. I plan to keep many aspects of the plan for awhile until I reach my goal weight, but don’t want to be so strict (or feel that I have to avoid social situations in order to be able to eat) and I look forward to having a few things that I’m missing, at least on occasion. The name of the game moving forward is moderation in all things…and that, readers, should help me progress along the path that I find myself. I feel good right now.

I’ve mentioned how much I love and hate dead lifts before haven’t I?  I love them because they make me feel really strong and powerful.  I hate them because I am fairly incapacitated for a few days after.

Yesterday Mike had me do a whole bunch of them.  We did a couple sets of 8 or 10 (can’t recall, I pay him to count) and then he added weight (I complained) and did another 4 sets of 6.  Afterwards he said it was the most I’d ever done.  110!  I was super proud of myself.  I’ve put on a little weight this year (emotional eating combined with less cardio) and I was feeling very fat going to gym…after the dead lifts I felt STRONG and AWESOME.

Some people will think, wow that’s a lot. Others, huh that’s easy. We are all different—but it was the highest I had ever lifted for so many sets.

I don’t understand people who complain about lifting weights.  I love it!  Bring me your squats, your dead lifts, and your lunges. I love when I’m carrying in all my groceries at once and I realize that a year or two ago I would have been struggling and now it’s totally no big deal.

Of course I woke up last night and my back was super sore, and today I’ve been crazy sore—every muscle in my back (I think, I’m not a doctor) and my hamstrings are starting to really hurt. But I’m still thrilled.  I may be a little heavier, but I’m a little stronger, and that’s good enough for me right now.

Well it’s not entirely. But I’m happy to feel strong.

I could pretend I haven’t gained weight. I’m up about 15 pounds from my wedding weight…I guess it’s the “newlywed 15”.  I’ve had to buy new pants. I may need to buy new running shorts when the weather gets nice. Eating healthy and getting out there for a run has been proven to be a struggle over the past few months.

I think spring will help though. I am over the cold weather, seriously! I’m still going to push myself through the Go Half in a couple weeks though my goal is to finish before Leslie finishes her full (not really—my goal is to finish and not kill myself, and use my lack of training to motivate myself to do better in the future and to remind myself that I am not perfect, life gets in the way, and sometimes it’s okay to just half-ass parts of life when other parts you’ve been giving your all.).  And I’m considering a fall marathon so there’s that too. It’s still a goal I have and I know I’ll have much more time and energy to train over the summer.

I used this creepy Hannibal Lector style mask tonight. It was scary, but it felt really nice on my face.

And I’m relaxing tonight, enjoying a rare Wednesday night off—watching movies and drinking wine and hanging out with this fine creature.

I was going to run this morning, but I woke up with sore hamstrings, along with that twinge in my right ankle (oh have I not mentioned that? same place as in August…) and my butt/hip issues, I figured, you know what, a day off is probably a good thing.  My trainer tells me to stay active and that I don’t need to worry but after years of dealing with my various violin-related injuries where TIME OFF is the best remedy, old habits die hard.  He probably meant don’t take a week off, rather than don’t take a day off.  (Then again he is crazy and runs every single day.)

The first day off I usually feel more achy.  But then the body heals.  I don’t plan to take more than today off, other than scheduled days off (busy weekend ahead!) but I think one day is fine. 

Mike (my trainer) and I had a little discussion yesterday regarding my weight loss goals.  Many people have asked if I am losing weight for my wedding, or alluded to how they lost weight for their wedding, or perhaps said that they were too stressed to eat, etc.  Basically I hear this as "you need to lose weight for your wedding." I mentioned to him, and that frankly I would be most happy if I didn’t gain any weight between now and my wedding (and I’m counting my weight as my pre-Thanksgiving weight, that is starting to equalize, thank goodness.) 

This is why I love Mike.  His answer was, "well, I don’t think you need to lose any weight." 

(For the record, Chris won’t talk about weight-related topics to me at all because he knows they are a trap.  I’m sure he would say the same except he wouldn’t answer at all.  Smart man.)

Granted, I don’t actually BELIEVE that answer. 

But it made me think, hmm, this is a weight I’ve maintained pretty easily for months now without too much bother or stress.  But yet I still want to be smaller (less significant, am I right?) and thinner.  Or do I just want to be stronger, faster, and more muscular?  I guess I’ll have to keep working out even after I get married 😉

All in all though, I certainly get a lot done when I’m not working out!  I did a bunch of wedding planning stuff (up to 54 official yeses!), caught up on some other paperwork, practiced, and even cooked a hot lunch for myself.  I love having a cooked lunch on occasion—usually I just have a sandwich with a salad or cup of soup. 

What do you think about rest days?  Necessary evil?  Best part of working out? 

Note to readers:  this is a Saturday morning regret post.  Completely G-rated, but still, will contain lots of self-flagellation and self-deprecation.  If you don’t like when I beat myself up, well, then click to my Jon Hamm post instead.  If you LOVE when I kick myself, then you should also make sure you read my post about my wedding as weight-loss incentive (though it is failing me the past several days.)

My biggest diet downfall is eating in restaurants.

When I eat at home, it’s easy to eat well.  Especially because we just don’t keep junk in the house.  If it’s there, I might eat it.  If it’s not there, I’m certainly not going to go out and get it.

But in a restaurant it’s different.  All the options are there!  And they look so good, and the descriptions are so well written…

I shouldn’t have gone out for dinner last night.  I should have eaten at home.  I’m such a self-saboteur.

Three days ago I was the lowest weight I’d been in…decades?  And I fit into the lowest size of jeans I can recall wearing!  (Still not beating HIGH school, but it’s cool.)  So what did I do afterwards?  I ate like crap.  I went to Ernesto’s and had DESSERT.  I made a decently healthy pizza at home but then ate too much of it (self control on portion size is still an at-home challenge).  And then last night I went to Stellina with some friends.  Don’t get me wrong.  It was fantastic.  But really, did I NEED to order the lasagna?  And we split antipasto.  Which ended up having a huge amount of cheese.  Which I ate my full share.

I also had a salad (not pictured) because I absolutely love restaurant salads.  Honestly I was full after the antipasto, and certainly after the salad.  Luckily I managed not to eat the entire portion of lasagna and brought it home…where it sits in my fridge and I am debating tossing it because I probably shouldn’t eat it for lunch.  But then that’s a waste of food.  And considering the amount I’ve spent eating out, I shouldn’t waste food.  Though arguably it’s a waste when you eat food your body doesn’t need.

To make matters worse, the rest of the weekend contains more potential diet disasters:  tonight is a friend’s birthday dinner, and tomorrow night is a friend’s going away party.

I AM good at working out, at least.  I got up and ran 3 miles this morning.  I ran 4 miles yesterday with Jen after having had a workout in the morning with Mike (I still can’t get over the fact that he wore his 80s outfit!).  Frankly all that exercise likely led to my complete and utter lack of self-control at dinner.  It’s such a double edged sword!

Okay.  I need to put it behind me.  I will do better at dinner tonight (perusing the menu, there is a delicious looking ahi tuna entree that would likely be fantastic and diet friendly).  One day at a time.

Yes, I know I’m too hard on myself.  You don’t need to tell me that.

Was dinner last night fun?  YES.

After I took this picture the hostess offered to take a picture of all of us.  Which was such a refreshing change from many restaurants, where the hostess barely will make eye contact since he or she is OBVIOUSLY so much above you.  Thank you lovely hostess at Stellina!

Of course I look silly because I’m leaning in at a weird way.  I should have flexed instead 😉