Trying to stay on track is hard!

I think it has been about ten days since I last posted.  At each work-out, or each time I am faced with a food challenge, I think of what I am going to say, but obviously haven't sat down until now!

I am here to tell you what you already know - trying to stay on track can be hard.  I don't know if it is hard for all those people in the world who are hard-core, but for little ole me, it has been hard.  A few years back, when I think I was blogging daily, I spoke about how every moment of every day up here at Otsego seems to revolve around food.  From the greasy fry-ups for breakfast, to the chips and dip while playing cards in the PM, to the countless pies in the evening - all we think about is food.  Over the last several years, however, we have really tried to change those habits, and just not bring the stuff in the house.  But, there are some things that I can only have when I am up here - like a pie from Grand Traverse Pie Company or fudge from the Alpine Chocolat Haus (ummm...caramel and sea salt fudge - yes please!)  I was failing at staying at or under my calorie count, even with an hour on the bike or doing my two-a-days.  On LoseIt I had it set to lose two pounds a week, which right now has me at 1180 calories or so.  I can't tell you the last time that I lost two pounds in one week, even when I was working my tail off earlier in the spring.  So I dropped my goal to losing one pound a week.  That bumped me up to about 1400 calories and that has helped a lot.

I have been going to the gym pretty faithfully for the last ten days.  I decided to bike.  I wanted something that was going to help me burn as many calories as possible in one hour.  The elliptical wasn't cutting it.  I jumped on LoseIt and played around for a while and discovered that if I biked for 60 minutes I should burn 600 calories.  I am also hoping to do a triathalon in the late summer/early fall so all this biking must help.

I have also been doing those mini-workouts I posted.  I really don't like running, but I want to do it.  Those mini work outs have you doing 20 minutes of cardio.  I burn more calories, therefore I run.  I am pleased to report that I have run my fastest mile in a long, long time.  I am at just under 11 minutes.  I am hoping to sustain for a full 5K.

I have a few races that I am hoping to do in the next nine months, and they are all road races.  The first is Zoe's Race in late August.  Zoe was in the room next to Jacob at Franciscan back in 2004.  Sadly her injuries were much more severe than Jacobs, but she has an amazing mom who has never given up on her.  Her mom started this race a few years ago to help other families retrofit their houses to accomodate wheelchairs and other medical needs.  We can't wait to get up there and see Zoe's family again.  It is going to be emotional for us all.

In October I am hoping to do the Tufts 10K for Women.  I have never run a 10K before, so it would be huge if I could actually complete one.

Lastly, next May I want to run the Historic Half Marathon.  This has been a dream of mine for a while. It is run in my home town, so what better place to run it.  And now I think I have a running partner for 2013, but more on that later.

We only have 12 days left here.  Twelve days to make the most of my time up here, but still try and stay on track.  Tomorrow I have a private swim lesson to work on my swimming strokes AND finally an appointment with a personal trainer.  I'll let you know how it goes!

Laters -
Mummy Qua