Last night I watched Julie and Julia at the movies.  It was another night out by myself and I was intrigued because Julie was a blogger and Julia Child is just an interesting person.  Let’s just say the movie was hilarious and I could totally identify with Julie.  The joy of having something to call yours and how happy you get to get a comment from someone who is actually reading what you read. 

But the one thing that really resonated with me was Julie’s idea that she needed a goal/deadline.  I’m always deadline driven.  Knowing that something HAS TO get done by a certain time pushes me forward.  I think that’s why I like being a pastor so much.  I can’t put off my sermon too long because I don’t think my congregation would be too happy if I stood up on Sunday morning and said “Oops no sermon this week because I didn’t get it done.”  And Headquarters would not understand if I missed deadlines for grants we need to pay for all our social service programs.  And I know that the kids we work with would mutiny if I didn’t have a fun lesson planned.  In fact I know they would because I have shown a movie a few different times when things were crazy busy and they hated it and told me so.  LOL kids are honest

Anyways I digress.  I need goals to keep pushing myself forward.  I know that is why WW is working for me.  I have a goal weight, a goal for points to eat for each day, a goal for extra points, and I give myself a goal for exercise (AP) each week.  But I haven’t been doing so good in the exercise goal area.  Sure I’m getting in the AP’s… I run occasionally, I do the elliptical and I lift weights and do yoga.  But I need a challenge.  I’ve gotten complacent with just burning calories again instead of enjoying what I’m doing and pushing myself to improve.

Enter Stage Left: My new Running Challenge!  I can run 4 miles in under 45 minutes but I want more.  So I’m going to train to run a 10K!  I found a program on Run University for a Couch to 10K.  I’m going to have to modify it because I can already run 5K which is the first few weeks.  But I’m scared out of my mind excited and ready to run.  I know that I can do this and will run a 10K this fall.  I just have to find one. 

So today it starts.  A new day and my new plan to run.  I have plans to do yoga before lunch to loosen my hips and then hit the gym for weights once Hunni gets back from dropping off church members.  Then when it cools down this evening I’m going to  start with week 4 which means today I’m going to warm up, jog 1/2 a mile, walk 1/4, jog 3/4, walk 1/4, jog 1/2, for a total of 2.25 miles.  Ready, set, Here I go!

Question: Are you challenge motivated?  What kind of challenges do you set for yourself?

Yesterday and today were different for me.  Hunni was out of town all day yesterday…first towards Boston for work and then he went to Albany for fun with friends who are moving.  So all day it was me and the dogs.  I did a lot of work, surfed the internet, did more work and then decided I didn’t want to spend my evening on the computer.  So I planned to walk downtown to the local theatre and see Julie and Julia because I’ve heard its AMAZING!  However my local theatre didn’t have it so I ended up seeing The Time Traveler’s Wife.  I loved that book and wanted to see the movie but was skeptical they could live up to the writing…in fact they did a good job.  Not as good as I would have hoped but I think it was worth the $7 I paid to get in and enjoy and evening by myself.  Then I walked next door to my gym and ran/did the elliptical.  I forgot my back brace so I could only run 15 minutes before I got sore.  But I did run at 5.5 instead of my normal 5.2. I was happy.  Then I jumped on the treadmill for another 35 minutes before walking home.  I actually enjoyed the evening including my iced coffee from a local organic coffee shop.  And I managed to avoid the yummy spiced molassas cookies that I found out are 9 points not the original 3 I thought. 

Today I have WW at 8.30 (in fact I’m about to head out the door).  I decided I’m not going to WI and depress myself.  I got on the scale this morning and it said I had gained 4.5 pounds since last saturday.  I’m dissapppointed in myself that I ate like crap (re: too much salt not enough real foods) this week.  I know that this isn’t healthy for me.  And even though it feels like everything around me is falling apart at times I have to try and keep my habits as normal as possible so I don’t fall into a big depression.  I’ve struggled with manic depression a lot as a teen and I know that routine is a big thing to help me get through the difficult times.  I’ve been stable on medications for over 6 years and I don’t want to fall back.  So here I am grabbing hold of the wagon and pulling myself on.  I want to keep things the best way for me. 

So that means for me I made overnight oats for breakfast to take with me (I’m loving how easy this is to grab and go) and I’m dressed to run the Rail Trail after the Farmer’s Market.  I’m excited to start the week off right.  I need the stability.  Heck life is throwing me lots of lemons right now and I don’t like getting hit with them so I’m making a big batch of homemade lemonade to share (I did work at Auntie Anne’s pretzels as a teenager after all).    Enjoy!

Question: What do you do to keep things normal when it feels like things are falling apart?