Spring!

I've been doing well with my running. I've been running outside in the early morning. I've overcome the broken treadmill, and the broken mp3 player. I am listening to a PlayAway audio book from the library called Firefly Lane. I think it may even have been a MC book club choice recently. I am thankful for my appropriate gear: My worn joggers bra I've had for years... it's comfortable and all I need. I have a tech l/s shirt which does much for warmth, and a nice pair of lined work out pants with pockets. I keep those in my bedstand drawer so I can pull them on when I wake. I have a head band to keep my ears warm, and my new convertible gloves/mittens which I LOVE! I also am happy to have my cycing jacket which is entirely dayglo yellow/green, so I can be seen in the dim light of dawn. It is a phenomenal wind breaker too and I can pull the sleeves over my hands if I haven't worn my gloves. Ipop a kitchen timer in my left pocket and the PlayAway in my right pocket. I also love my Asics sneakers with red trim despite the salesperson's advice to get something less bright. I love RED! So, I don't guess or gather in the morning; I don, grab and go.

I am charting my running and trying to make one tiny increase in duration or intensity eAch week on my way toward my goal: 30 minutes of solid running 4 times a week by Fall. I'm up to 22 minute runs with 3X3 minutes minimum of solid running. I allow myself to have easy days (walking or light running) and that is up to 35 minutes. I'm proud of my efforts and feel good running.

Unfortunately the scale is not tipping in my favor toward my weight-loss goal. I actually went up in February and back to my forever-normal weight so far in March. It is so difficult. I truly believe I'm fighting my age (45), but I'm determined! I do love certain sweets and am trying various techniques to eat better and less: Keeping crunchies in the house like celery and pepper pieces, enjoying 3 bites of a sweet and tossing it, filling up on salad before a heavy meal, waiting 5 minutes when I suspect I might be full, trying not to eat at night, substituting ice water for snacks, trying to leave something on my plate. Wow! That is a huge amount of strategies. None of them are totally new to me, but most of them are not actually happening as much as they can. Sooooo, I guess I know what I should do, that's the first level of learning. Now I have to thoughtfully force myself to do more of it, then hopefully it will become less thoughtful and more automatic... a much higher level of learning.

OK... I'm still at it!!