Health Progress

Well, I have reached a bit of a fitness plateau, exacerbated by the fact that making money and getting more hours at work overshadows, at this time, my workout priority. I can still comfortably run 3 miles in under 35 minutes, either on treadmill or a bit faster if going around the lake or being outdoors, weather permitting.






It's been raining quite a lot.






My size continues to shift, and while I haven't seen a lot of actual pound loss, my clothes continue to fit better/looser, and I occasionally LIKE photos I see of myself, which is pretty awesome.













Here's a recent example:

Taken over the weekend. Please note the calf definition, and while I know I'm by no means TINY, I'm a lot LEANER than I was, say, just under a year ago when THIS was taken:

Tummy bulge is MUCH less, legs are better and smaller, and thighs/ass/arms are much smaller and more defined. I was/am tired of the layer of insulation around my functioning, strong body.

I've been a bit indulgent lately, hopefully I'll behave through my hormonal time this month, and start in hardcore again with the cardio and continue on the healthy eating habit as March begins. Progres, progress, but it's slow, and I want to kick it up a bit.

In other news: I bought a Clarisonic. I've had face issues all my life, I plan on keeping tabs on the progress/changes with the Clarisonic. I've heard great reviews, so I hope my face will cooperate. Used it for the first time this morning, went through two cycles of use on face, and just under jawline which is also a problem area for me. Face looked and felt MUCH cleaner, no residue from my face wash (which is the same neutragena rapid clear matifying foam I've been using, didn't want to change EVERYTHING up at once), and though my spots are very visible (thanks, hormonal time of month!) the color and texture of my skin looked like I'd walked out of a spa. Will update with pictures, maybe.

Fully behind, but still on "wagon".

So I've recorded my food intake/exercise the past week, but forgotten to input it and lost my little pink post-its on which I keep the records, so I'm going to have to "start fresh" from Sunday onwards.

Sunday:
Breakfast: 1/2 whole wheat english muffin with 1 poached egg
Snack: Skipped, was exercising/out with horse.
Lunch: 1 shitake roll, 2 pcs white tuna nigiri, 1 rock n' roll >I swear, I can't live w/out sushi.
Snack: 10-15 guacamole flavored tortilla chips with 1/2 cup guacamole. 2 beers.
Dinner: 2 more beers, (It was the superbowl, no excuse, but doesn't happen often) Abs Diet recipe quesedilla as described previously, probably had some chocolate for dessert.
Snack: All the BEER took the place of this.

Exercise: :-D I did GREAT! I went on a hike/run for 55 minutes, not sure of the exact milage, but I usually do this trail on horseback. I hiked most of the steep uphills, ran the flats/mild inclines, and ran the downhills. I was really worried that I'd be exhausted/sore when done, but I was actually okay, and followed it up with about half an hour of horseback riding (gentle).

MONDAY:
Was really, really anticipating being sore as hell on Monday. I wasn't, though, which is awesome, b/c the last time I REALLY ran downhill, I couldn't move my legs for a week, my quads were split by rending pain. So glad that wasn't the case this time!

Breakfast: 1 protein water, 1 cup Special K Red Berries cereal.
Snack: 1 tomato soup-at-hand, 1 lowfat string cheese.
Lunch: 1 apple, 1 protein water, 1/2 serving filling for Abs diet quesedilla w/cheese.
Snack: I may have had another protein water, and a lot of diet cola.
Dinner: 1/3 cup naughty "garlic noodles" from PF Chang's (was STARVING and gave in), 2/3 cup healthy abs chili w/sprinkling of reduced fat cheese and 1 tablespoon fat free sr. cream, 1 veggie sausage (140 calories).
Snack: 1/2 bottle red wine. Naughty. But delicous. Small amount of chocolate.

Exercise: 55 minutes of interval training in spin class. I was in the front row, and really pushed it. Felt GREAT!