It's been awhile......

It's been almost a month since my last blog post and, as usual, that is because I have been struggling.

Struggling now, like I was struggling to get up this hill. 

The good news is that I've "only" gained about 2 pounds since my lowest weigh in on May 1st. The bad news is that I can't seem to get my head out of my butt and get myself back on track! I do wonder if this is a little of those post race blues. I talked about this experience after completing the full marathon in 2012. The same type of thing is happening now. I completed the half marathon in May, which was my BIG goal for the year. It was my "comeback" race. It was the race to prove to myself that I actually CAN do this again and I will get back to where I once was (and continue on). And now it's over.

BEST RACE PIC EVER!!!!!

It's so weird because it's not like I don't have other goals for this year. I have the Towpath 10-10 coming up this weekend and I'm doing the 10 miler. I was thinking about tackling the full marathon distance again this year, but have since decided not to push it (for so many reasons). But, I would like to complete at least one more half marathon this year so it's not like I don't have an idea of "what's next". If I have more goals to tackle, WHY am I having such a hard time doing that?

Perhaps one reason is because my partner in crime is currently injured so we haven't been working out together. Thankfully I gave my mom the running bug last summer so I have her to run with once a week. The last 2 weekends we have met to cover 6 miles, which has been GREAT! But during the week I am struggling to find the motivation to get my exercise in. It's summer so my schedule is all thrown off. I don't have the workout class that I do 2 days per week during the school year. I have spent some time gardening (splitting hostas, spreading mulch, etc) and I am getting on the treadmill at least a few times a week; but I'm just not feeling it. Yes, the treadmill is boring, but I find I'm more likely to just do that then to go outside by myself to run. It's also stinking hot so running in my cool basement is better than outside in the hot sun.

Matchy-matchy! :)

I wonder if some of my lack of motivation comes from my poor eating choices of late. I really think it does all go hand in hand. My food has not been going well for well over a month now. I mean, I first started talking about my struggling with this post on May 8th! June 15th and I have yet to have really gotten back on track with my food. I texted Leslie this week and told her that this was IT. This was my week to get my head out of my butt and to get back on track with my food. I lasted ONE DAY. Sigh........

It's really so stupid. This is truly NOT that hard. If I just exercise and track my food I can lose weight and do it pretty easily. If I'm exercising I can afford to eat more calories and still lose weight; but I need to track those calories to keep everything in check. My goals are not lofty. I'd like to average 4-8 lbs lost per month. This amounts to 1-2 lbs per week. I am not asking for too much and I am more than capable of achieving those goals. I'm not going to achieve any of my fitness goals without achieving these weight loss goals.
So it's time. It's time to stop being stupid. It's time to resume tracking my food. It's time to up my exercise. It's time to lose this weight before I put any more of it back on. 2 pounds isn't bad, but 2 can become 5, can become 10 and before I know it I will have re-gained the 40lbs I have lost from my highest ever weight. I can not and will not let that happen. In fact; I think it's time for me to go hop on that treadmill.

Determination