Day 263: The Hardest Thing

"The hardest thing about exercise is to start. Once you're exercising regularly, the hardest thing to do is stop."

I chose this quote today because this is where I want to be. I want to get back to exercising regularly and looking forward to it. Some days are easier than others and the exercise is effortless. Then there are days when it is a monumental struggle. The only constant is that I always, always, always feel great after a workout. I don't really know why that knowledge doesn't inspire me to be consistent. Why would you not eagerly jump back into something you know is going to leave you feeling amazing ? I gave up the Farmville game on Facebook because I felt like that was taking too much of my time and holding me back. For a while I felt like that was the right decision and an easy fix, but the effects didn't last. I still feel like it was the right decision and I don't miss it at all, but now I find myself just plain wasting time that I could be putting to better use. Life has gotten so much easier yet I've lost some of the focus I had. I'm still eating appropriately, so I'm not taking refuge in food and I'm not going to be gaining back any weight, but I've slacked off on the exercise and water components that are necessary for long term success. Oh, I'm still getting at least 64 ounces of water most days, but I'm often chugging it down just before bed. It would be more effective if taken in smaller quantities throughout the day. Today I again didn't drink any until lunch time. I have 2 cups of coffee and a shake in the morning, so I'm not typically not thirsty. Each beverage is 10 ounces so I'm actually getting 30 ounces of liquid in the morning that I don't count towards the water goal. My point is this is all about a lifestyle change and in case you didn't know, it is not easy to change a lifetime of bad habits. So I'll keep plugging away and try to focus on one day at a time. I think with time I'll be able to settle into a good routine. Working at home and commuting to a new place was supposed to be easy, but I think I haven't spent the time needed to actually acclimate to the change and develop that new routine.

Breakfast was a 4.4 ounce 180 calorie turkey sausage and egg muffin with hazelnut coffee. Second cup was Green Mountain Breakfast Blend. Morning snack was a 155 calorie chocolate shake with peanut butter powder. Lunch was a 3.8 ounce 220 calorie pepperoni pizza melt with raw carrots. Afternoon snack was 2.5 cups of Skinny Pop popcorn (100 calories) and a 5.3 ounce 80 calorie Light & Fit Toasted Coconut Vanilla yogurt. Dinner was an 8 ounce 180 calorie creamy chicken broccoli pasta served over riced cauliflower. The more I eat the riced cauliflower, the more I like it. It has a nice texture, never watery or mushy, and since it has little flavor you can put just about anything over it. Evening snack was a 1.9 ounce 120 calorie tiramisu. Total calories for the day are 1035. This is a little low and probably the reason I am still a bit hungry. I shouldn't have skipped the salad at lunch.

Today was a good day to be at home, it pretty much rained all afternoon and, looking at the forecast, we're going to be seeing a lot of rain over the next week or so. As long as it's not the fluffy white stuff I say let it rain ! I did get my workout in tonight and I got 64 ounces of water too. So it was a good day ! I ended up going back to the old workout I had been doing. I tried a new one first and at 3 mph it was just too fast for me. The one I went back to starts at 2.4 mph for about the first 10 minutes, then increases to 2.7 mph. It drops back to 2.4 around the 30 minute mark. I won't lie - I had to push myself hard tonight to get through it. It dawned on me that working at home I am less active. When I commuted every day I had to walk back and forth to the parking garage. I also walked a lot farther to the restroom multiple times per day. I walked back and forth to the break room in the morning and at lunch and to refill my water in the afternoon. I still do most of these things at home but I don't have to walk as far. So I think on Wednesday I'm going to pick a 20 minute workout to do during lunch on the days I work at home. I clearly need to get my activity level back up. I have to wonder if this isn't part of the reason I've been so lazy lately !! I've also been slacking on taking my vitamins, so I'm back on track with that too.

Off to the office tomorrow so it's time for a shower and bed. I'm tired tonight so I don't think I'll have any trouble sleeping !