Exercise Revamp: Couch to 5k

So now that I have more time on my hands, time to get back to being serious about my weight, nutrition, and fitness. I have gone back to tracking my food intake, and have been hunting for some fun recipes. But the most revolutionary development is my sudden desire to try to become a runner.

Up until a week ago, I would tell you that you'd only see me running if something was chasing me. Unfortunately, I am so out of shape, something chasing me wouldn't have to work very hard to catch me as I am now. Part of the challenge of running for me is my general size. Carrying the extra weight makes running tough. But I downloaded the free couch to 5k program on my new iphone 5s, and did the first day today.

The workout is 30 minutes total, but there are 5 walking warm up minutes at the beginning and 5 cool down at the end. For the middle 20 minutes, there was jogging 60 seconds and walking 90 seconds alternating. I felt I needed more of a warm up though, so I added 5 minutes, and I DEFINITELY needed a longer cool down so I added 10 minutes to the end. Overall it was a 45 minute workout. I typically walk 20 minute miles, and my average mileage was 19mph so I am not exactly the quickest runner. I am glad to find out I don't run more slowly than my brisk walk though - apparently for others like me who are running newbies, oftentimes running is slower than walking even if it is tougher.

But, I am not worried. Speed supposedly will come on its own. My plan is to do the plan 3 times a week as scheduled, and just do my normal 30 minute walks on off days as weather permits to keep my muscles loose. I did the whole Week 1 Day 1 as it was laid out, no extra breaks, and I will keep progressing until/unless I hit a day where I can't do it as it is laid out. Then, I will just repeat that day until I can do it. There is no rush for me to finish this program in  8 weeks just because this is an 8 week program.

I feel really accomplished.

iPhone Revamp?

So, it was bound to happen eventually. My iPhone 4 took a beautiful dive into the sink, straight into a bowl that was soaking and therefore full of water. It was removed immediately, but clearly this is a scary prospect. I have clients who need to be able to communicate with me, and might be trying and I am ignoring them. I am also applying for teaching positions, and can't send out any apps or resumes until I have a phone number to call. I am normally so careful with it, but accidents happen to the best of us.

Luckily, my family was up for renewal less than a month from now, making us eligible for new phones. After convincing my father that yes, the plan we have is perfect for us, and no, other plans or special deals would not be deals for us because they no longer offer our plan anymore and we are grandfathered in. The current options would leave the family paying about 20 more per month at least, not less.

So, I am going in the morning to pick out my new phone. The iphone 5c is what comes free, 8GB. I loved my 4, but found in the last 6 months I used up the memory more often than I liked. I am debating paying an extra fifty bucks to get the 5c with 32GB, which seems like serious overkill, or paying a hundred to get the 16GB 5s. A newer model, more data to a reasonable level, but is it really that much better or different?

Not really sure. I am sure I will really love whatever I pick, and I am sure I will be MUCH more careful with my phone near water in the future.

End Of Student Teaching

So the past three weeks have been totally insane. I finished out student teaching and got a TON of the sweetest cards from my adorable second graders. I managed to finish up my portfolio which ended up taking so much more time than I anticipated. Then I came to my parents' to visit, and that is where I still am.

I've spent the past week reading a ton and visiting family and friends. It hasn't really sunk in that student teaching is over, really. I've mostly been resting a lot, trying to decompress from the whole experience. Once I get back to Bethlehem on Thursday, I will need to gear up for the new year. Applications to contract positions, getting signed up to sub, dog sitting, and apartment overhaul cleaning are all on the menu. It will take a little bit for my certification to come in, but I actually think I will very much need that time to get organized while it does.

Also on the agenda is to get back into trying to eat healthier and exercise more. Even though it is cold out, I am actually FAR more a cold weather person than warm, so I am hoping that I will get a lot more walking in with having days off. I didn't lose as much weight this fall as I was hoping, with the yo-yo effect student teaching stress had on my weight, but I am excited to restart. I have a list full of recipes I want to try now that I have a little more time, I am rediscovering colors in terms of my makeup wardrobe, and generally really hopeful about everything to come.