Stop the Madness

I hope everyone had a happy 4th! I know I did. David and I had a jam-packed day. We went to the Zoo and the adjoining conservatory in the morning, grabbed lunch, saw Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, had a swanky dinner on a gorgeous outdoor patio, and, of course, watched some fireworks.

Unhealthy breakfast in bed! Yup. That’s for sure a Red Bull.

I was OBSESSED with this Puffin at the Zoo. He kept showing off and splashing around a ton.

Conservatory.

Swanky dinner. I got a massive Croque Madame (I only managed to eat a third of it), David got half a Roast Chicken, we got pate and crab chowder as an appetizer, and had a glass of white wine each. Oh, plus bead and butter. Yum, French food. Expensive. And loooooooooooooooooooooooooots of calories.

Braving the horrific heat. Sweaty and smiling while watching fireworks!

 

So although my 4th of July was a little indulgent, I did make some changes after my last, rather despondent post. I bought an armband to hold my phone and/or ipod while I run.

And I got a(n expensive) gym membership at LA Fitness. I’ve got a (complimentary) session with a personal trainer on Monday to asses my fitness level and discuss my goals, and I’ll be heading to the gym for the first time tonight. If I can make it on time after the errands I need to run, I plan to take their hip hop class. If I don’t make it in time for the class, it’s Zombies, Run! on the treadmill.

I will NOT let the heat stop me from moving forward toward my goals. Temporary setback was just that. Temporary.

Scale Trauma

So, my scale has “shit the bed,” as we say in Boston. Which means it’s broken. (And yes, that really is a common saying there. Everything you’ve seen in Good Will Hunting is marginally true).

Normally, I step on my (digital) scale, and the numbers bounce around a bit (within a 7 lbs range or so) before settling on one. Yesterday and today when I stepped on the scale, the numbers bounced around within a 75 lbs range, and then said ERROR. I’ve tried replacing the batteries, resetting the scale, moving it to a different section of floor, but no dice. My scale has shit the bed. It’s just as well, because the scale is at least 5 years old, which I suppose is a good shelf life for a digital scale purchased with a coupon at Bed Bath & Beyond. But now I need to buy a new one.

And I am terrified.

I am so scared that a new scale will wipe out all of my progress. What if the new scale says I’m much heavier? What if my old, broken scale has been lying to me since March? What if I’m actually no where near breaking through to “one”derland?! I’m so dependent on what “my” scale says, and so scared that another scale will say something wildly different. The idea of going “backward” is so upsetting to me that I sort of don’t know what to do with myself.

I ordered a scale off Amazon this morning, since I don’t have any time at all to run to the store to pick one up this week. And while it won’t arrive for a few days, I am so, so scared to step on it when it does. Ugh.

ANYWAY.

Let’s focus on some positives, shall we?

On Monday I worked out twice! David and I got up and did Workout 1 from BR, and then in the evening after work I went on a mission to save the world from Zombies! I left this little note for David to find when he got home from work!

In addition to the regular storyline with the Zombies, Run! app that works with your playlist, you also have the option to turn on the “Zombie Chase” feature. At any random time during your run, the Zombie Chase feature can be activated. You are given warning that you’re being chased, and updated as to how far behind you the Zombies are, as well as a beeping noise, and lots of Zombie moaning sound effects. The feature uses the GPS in your phone to track your speed. You have to increase your speed by 20% and maintain it for one minute in order to “out run” the zombies and escape. So it’s basically an interval training tool. I turned it on during my run on Monday, and WHOA. Like I’m sure I’ve mentioned I’m not a runner. I recently compared my version of “running” to “Gallumphing along in agony like a walrus” in a conversation with a friend of mine. So increasing my speed by 20% and maintaining it for a full minute was HARD. The Zombies kept getting closer and closer, and the beeping and moaning got faster and louder, and I was SURE I was going to get caught. I couldn’t keep it up. I was dying.

BUT. I TOTALLY OUTRAN THAT ZOMBIE MOB! I thought I would have a heart-attack afterward, but I totally did it! A silly victory to be sure, but I was pretty psyched about it, none-the-less.

This is a picture of me, post-run, making some kind of hilarious face which I think was supposed to convey how bad-ass I am. I get RED when I work out. Over even when I’m just sitting on the couch and it’s warm outside. Heat and my super pale skin are not good friends.