28 Day Challenge - Day 5 Check In

So this is a mid-point check-in. I ended up going and having lunch with people today (instead of spending my lunch walking and then eating afterwards at my desk). I did eat a light lunch of beef pho (well 1/2 the bowl...the portions were huge) and haven't snacked really at all today (which often is another weakness). 

Since I didn't have my lunch break to walk I've been trying to do little bursts throughout the day. This morning I walked (practically in a jog) the three blocks from the train to the bus (mostly because I wanted to catch the earlier one and not be late to work). And I just got back from walking around the building (with extra attention to running up/down the stairs). Basically the building is shaped like this:


(stairs -->)    [[[[[[[ _________________________]]]]]]]] (<-stairs)
                             |                                                |
                             |                                                |
                             |                                                |
                   =        |                                                |
 (stairs->)     [[[[[[[[|                                                |]]]]]] (<-stairs)                 
                   =        |                                                |
                             |                                                |
                             |                                                |
                             |________________________|

I ran up or down (doing a loop on the side) stairs as I passed by (to help quicken my heart rate).

I still have an hour and a half left at work and I hope to do the same loop at least once or twice more (*fingers crossed*).
                            

28 Day Challenge - Day 4 Check In

Today the skies are crystal clear blue, hardly even a white fluffy cloud to be seen, and the temperatures are an amazing 71 degrees! So nice I wore a dress! :) What better way to celebrate an amazingly gorgeous day then going out for a walk in it!? 

So off I went, down 1 flight of stairs, 2x around the building and back up the stairs. I didn't nearly walk as long as I wanted but with the improper shoes on I was getting shin splints. So I stopped after the 2nd loop and did some stretching (the best I could with a dress on). 

To help increase the amount I'm exercising today - I plan on catching the bus into downtown that makes me walk 3 blocks instead of the bus that drops me off right in front of the train station.  

On top of increasing my exercise I started to wonder what my calorie intake was. I've always considered myself a fairly healthy eater. We rarely have "junk food" or sweets in the house (just don't count the over whelming number of cupcakes made these past few weeks for my sister's bridal shower. Most of those are given away anyways)....my weakness is carbs. Pasta, breads, rice...etc. I try to counter them with salads and vegetables but I don't think I'll ever be able to give up carbohydrates completely. 

 

Anyway. I'm not necessarily looking to "cut back" on my calories...but I did want to take them into consideration. So last night I downloaded a Calorie Counter app and so far I don't think I'm doing that badly. For breakfast I had 2 pieces of sourdough toast, for lunch smoked salmon and as a snack celery sticks and hummus. 

Here's to day four.

4 down 24 to go baby!

28 Day Challenge - Day 3 Check In

So I've had a jam-packed busy day today. One meeting after another after another. However, I knew that today was going to be busy and it would be hard to find time to do a walk at lunch (in all honesty it's 3:48 and I haven't taken a lunch break yet - I ate my salad in between meetings but no real break). 

So, since I knew I had a busy day planned, and the weather has been so agreeable lately, I took the bus this morning instead of the train. 

May not seem like a big deal. EXCEPT....

When I take the train to work I only walk from the house to the car, the car to the train, the train to a bus and a bus to work. In total I walk (maybe) 3 blocks. And if you've ever been to Portland you know we have teeny-tiny blocks.

However, when I walk to the bus (that takes me directly to the office and requires me being out of the house a 1/2 hour earlier than the train) I walk a 1/2 mile! (and then another 2-3 blocks to get to the office). 

I count today as a success. A half mile in the morning, taking the long way to get places today in the office, and I plan to take the long way (walking) when getting home this evening.

(We'll see how I'm feeling when I get home. We might have a 2-part day).

28 Day Challenge - Day 2 Check In

I would prefer to check in with my 28 day challenge after each accomplishment (however with yesterday being such a busy day I did yesterday's check in earlier today).

Here's my Day 2 check in though - right on time. 

Academic Building

Question for you. Have you ever worked out and just had a (random) release of emotions during it? My Day 2 exercise was power walking at lunch. I did 3 laps around the building plus up/down four flights of stairs. Within my first lap I was nearly overwhelmed by the amount of frustration and anger that burst forth from me. Not at anyone or anything particular just in general. 

By the end I had completely walked it out of my system. 

It was GREAT!

28 Day Challenge - Day 1 Check In

Sister-in-law Gayle, Me, Sister Kat (photo taken by Emily)

So yesterday not only started the first day of May (where has this year gone?) but also the first day of my 28 day Challenge (to be healthier and exercise daily). Yesterday was also my sister's bridal shower (that I've been planning for almost 2 months). It turned out amazing and while I didn't go running or swim laps in the pool I think all the carrying boxes and totes from the house to the clubhouse, the lifting of bottle water crates and bags of serving platters, the cleaning, the decorating, the running around and playing hostess....this should (and in my book does) count towards my "Daily Exercise". I was so tired after 8 hours (the party itself was only 2) I could barely move, or even get up off the couch, it felt as if I'd been working out for those 8 hours. 

Here's to Day 1 of my 28 Day Challenge!