Week 2 Recap

I've been a very lazy blogger this week, mostly due to the fact that my parents were staying with us and I tend to let everything slide when we have house guests.

I was not a lazy runner, though, and I did all of the workouts that my coach laid out for me.

GMM Half Marathon Training Week 2 Schedule:

• Monday - Rest
• Tuesday - 3 speed
• Wednesday - Rest/Cross Train
• Thursday - 2 easy
• Friday - Rest/Cross Train
• Saturday - 5 miles
• Sunday - 2 easy

How the week actually went: 

• Monday - Rest
• Tuesday - Rest (Tuesdays have not worked out lately! Grr!) 
• Wednesday - 3 speed (hit my paces PERFECTLY, if I do say so myself)
• Thursday - 2 easy (not a great run, but it was ok)
• Friday - Rest
• Saturday - 4.8 miles (major malfunctions all over the place, including my watch dying, hence the short run since I didn't know exactly where I was supposed to turn around)
• Sunday - 2.2 easy (possibly the easiest run I've ever had)

I'm over being upset about Saturday's run (it was UGLY and I walked a lot), but if I were a newer newb, I'd be pretty disheartened and would be questioning my ability to do a HM in a few months.  Fortunately, I know I can complete the distance because I've done it before.  The question now is just whether I'll be running it or run/walking.  I'm hoping for the former!   We'll see.  Lots of time still!  

So, Week 3 begins today - fortunately with a rest day, because I'm feeling blah today (and I'm taking my parents to the airport this morning).    No new weight loss to report - but no gain, either, so that's good.  At least I know I can stop tracking calories for a few days and keep off what I've lost so far.  Actually, I think it's good to relax for a few days every once in awhile - otherwise it all ends up feeling like such a chore that you might say "Forget this!" and stop trying altogether.  Not what I want!   So I'm back to counting calories today and paying a little bit more attention.  5 months left in 2013, and I am 5 lbs from the goal I set for myself in January.  Pretty sure I can do it, but only time will tell. 

Fitbit Zip Update - Last week I accidentally wore my Zip in the pool for about 5 minutes.  NO HARM DONE!  I was shocked (and totally relieved) to see that it still worked perfectly, and has had no issues since.  Phew!  Well done, Fitbit, for creating something that is Diana-proof! 

Happy Monday, all! 

 

Fitbit Zip Review

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to buy myself a Fitbit Zip in order to try to further my meager attempts at weight loss.  After two solid weeks of use, I am ready to give my honest opinion about the Zip.

(I got the pink one!) 

I love it.

I wish I had gone ahead and splurged on one of the two "fancier" models that also track sleep patterns, but oh well.  The Zip was in my price range (I think I paid $60), and what I really wanted was a kick in the pants to get myself up and moving.  As a stay-at-home mom, you'd think that I'd be constantly moving around, chasing after the kids, cleaning the house, etc.  You would have been wrong.  I'd fallen into a rather sedentary daily routine as the kids had gotten older, and I am embarrassed to admit that there were days when I spent hours in front of the computer without getting up once.

Run four times a week?  Sure!  Do anything else remotely active?  Eh, no thanks.

Then I got the Zip.  Since then, I have consciously made the decision to be more active.  Knowing that this small device was tracking my movements actually makes me move more.  Seeing the numbers rack up, I'm actually more motivated.  "8,000 steps - BAD day, gotta do better."   Next day -  "13,000 steps before dinner! Yes!"   It's been amazing, this little competition with myself.

Could I have bought a regular pedometer for less?  Absolutely.  Is the Fitbit worth $60?  To me?  Absolutely.  I like being able to log on to the website and see my daily and weekly progress.  I like getting text messages saying "Overachiever! You've surpassed your daily goal!"   You can also see how you stack up next to others who have a Fitbit - so if you're at all competitive, it'll push you just a little more.

And the result on the scale?  I'm down to 150 lbs as of this morning.  That's an official 5 pound loss in the past 3 weeks, and most of that since I started wearing the Fitbit.

Yes, I've been eating less (and slightly better), but I've also been moving more - and I've been feeling better about myself.   I am so glad I decided to get the Zip!

**All opinions are my own and I was in no way compensated for this post, though I am never opposed to doing things for money.  That sounded dirty.  **