I've continued going to Dailey Method workouts throughout December and I still love it. I had to take the 2 weeks of Christmas break off entirely due to family and myself being sick the entire 2 weeks. I started back again this past Monday and went again last night. I love it, love it, love it. It is not a cardio workout, although I do raise my heartrate a bit at times, but it is small isometric movements that kill you and then big stretching of the same muscles. I just really enjoy it and feel like it is something I'm doing for ME - something purely for my love of it, rather than feeling the obligation of getting to the gym to accomplish something.
I started running again on Tuesday. I had started trying to run in mid december but again had to take a break during the holidays. I would much prefer to run outside, but not doing it in negative temps. I've been off of cardio for so long that i have to start small and build myself up. Dave and I talked about doing the 5/3 riverbank, but there is no way i could build myself to that point in time. Maybe I can get to the point of running the holland half marathon in the fall. I really want to get back into running... not only to burn calories, but because i just miss it. I miss the freedom, the adventure of running while on vacation, the feeling afterward. When I drive down my running route on a nice, sunny day, I get wistful. So I'm going to get myself back into running shape.
I've also made a commitment to change my eating. I had really waffled back and forth over the last year with eating clean, eating paleo, doing weight watchers, etc. I had started weight watchers right before I got that virus over the summer and was having some success in the few weeks i did it, but then with that virus, the weight just came off and stayed off so i never truly completed weight watchers. I have tried paleo and high protein eating and it just doesn't work for me. And then I had a 2 month sugar binge from halloween - new years. Its time to cut the crap. I'm at my Holy Shit I Have to Do Something About This weight - 136. This is the weight I was in the Amazon and those pictures are upsetting to me. So I'm cutting the sugar out and going to a plant based, healthy fat way of eating. I also had bloodwork done and my cholesterol was 325! So I started meds for that and I think plants are a huge thing for helping cholesterol... Ultimately, I need to eat plantier and cleaner... its time to change and make it last.
To be clear, this eating change is not entirely about weight. I'd be lying if I said that wasn't part of it, but its not the whole thing. I have gotten lazy in my eating and even though I've been gluten free, I have not done a good job of staying away from other inflammatory foods - sugar, starches, crap. I think my body is prone to inflammation and I need to be careful about the kinds of food I'm eating and how much water I'm drinking. Changing my eating is a commitment to doing that.
I did not notice a major change in the way my back feels with just the addition of The Dailey Method. But, I think I feel that it is better just since cutting out the junk in my diet. I'm going to monitor that... I was going to make an appointment to see a back specialist, but I'm so worried that a) he/she will tell me that there is nothing wrong and b) he/she will prescribe 3x weekly physical therapy... there really is just no way i can fit that in. So I'm going to see if eating better has an affect. If it doesn't, then I'll make the appointment.
We are heading to Maui on March 28th for Nora's 13th birthday trip. It is 80 days away. I have time to change my habits, get back into running and work hard at The Dailey Method! And incentive, for sure!
