Improving Each Day

9 down, 26 to go. Actually, it's about 9.5 down. I weighed in at 166.8 this morning and then at 166.0 after I got back from my run. Yep. I know some people will tell you not to weigh yourself everyday, but I find it to be more helpful. I can more easily keep up with what I'm doing from day to day if I keep tabs on the number. If I weighed only once a week, I think I would go crazy trying to keep myself from doing it and would actually obsess more over it. I killed it in my run today, guys. Also, I greatly underestimated how far I was running in the park. It's actually almost 2.5 miles. And I ran the entire first mile and then did interval running the rest of the time. It was tough, but I stuck it out like a trooper and feel amazing now. The reason I know how far the run was is because I've started using the MapMyFitness app on my phone. It records everything and even talks to you at certain points to let you know how you're doing. At each mile, she tells you you've reached said mile, how long you've been running, and your average pace. It's so helpful and this is what my workout looked like today:

Yep, you read that right, 304 calories burned. I am darn proud of that. I went to the store yesterday and got a bunch of stuff that I used to eat often and it's been so long now since I've had them that I can't wait to eat them again! Things like squash, spaghetti squash, zucchini, cantaloupe, oatmeal, etc...

I still kind of can't believe how quickly I'm losing the weight! But at the same time, I can absolutely believe it because I'm working incredibly hard. Yesterday, the schedule was different and a lot busier than I had originally thought it would be, but I still managed to squeeze in my run and then crunches before bedtime (btw, I've added crunches back into my daily routine since Thursday). The crunches are not only a good way to tighten up muh tum tum, but also a way to keep my metabolism going before and during sleep. Not only did I have to improvise the time I ran yesterday, but also the place. I had to take both of the kids to a tutoring session. Isa's only lasted half an hour while Tony's was a full hour, so while they were both in there, I did my run around the neighborhood in which the building is located. It wasn't as pleasant, but I got it done and that's all that matters! And it's all so worth it. I'm already sleeping better, my skin is clearing up, energy is up, mood is up, my whole demeanor is improved. 

While I'm working hard on this, I'm also working hard on the job. Throughout the past couple of months while the kids are out of school, I've basically been playing chauffeur. Most of my days are spent picking them up and dropping them off and I've been working a lot of later nights. In return, and because she has a lot of time off coming up, Adele has offered me this Monday off and then off from next Friday until I return from Alabama. That's quite a few days to relax, pack, and just get everything in order before I leave and I'm soooooo incredibly grateful for this! In just two weeks, I'll be flying home for my two week visit!!! I'm so anxious and excited and happy and just everything positive you can think of. Oh to be at home in my own bed again. And in the hot Southern summer again. Its cold here when I run :( Yes, cold. Not chilly, not breezy or cool. Cold. It doesn't get warm or hot until the afternoon and then I'm no longer able to get out there. I have to do what I have to do when I can do it, I suppose. My first concern when I wake up is figuring out when I'll get to run. That's a good thing to think about instead of focusing only on food and being hungry. 

On the menu today:

• Breakfast- Dannon Light & Fit Greek vanilla yogurt with half a banana, coffee- I had two cups, 1 tbsp sugar-free vanilla caramel Coffee-Mate creamer.
• Lunch- half a can of tuna over salad with 1 tbsp of Hidden Valley fat-free ranch dressing.
• Snack- smoothie: other half of the banana, handful of strawberries, 1/2 c Dannon plain non-fat yogurt, 1/2 c original unsweetened Silk almond milk- frozen and then thawed to eat like ice cream.
• Dinner- 2 c cooked spaghetti squash, other half of the can of tuna, 2 tbsp Newman's Own Light Alfredo sauce. Kind of becomes a tuna casserole type dish. Delicious.