Starting week five

[Guest guest]

I haven't had a chance to check-in in the last couple weeks but just wanted to

say I'm still here and still going strong! I just finished week 4 and I can't

believe I've actually made it this far. I've started so many challenges in the

past and usually never gotten past week 2 or 3 before giving up. I think one of

the big things that has helped is that I've been a little more laid back about

it than I was in the past. I don't mean being lazy in the workouts or not

strict about my meals. It's just that in the past I've tried to be so perfect,

counting every calorie/protein/carb/fat gram, trying to plan every single meal a

week in advance, documenting every move on every workout, measuring and weighing

every single week . . .I think I would end up getting burnt out just from all

the record keeping I was doing! This time, I'm sticking with the palm/fist

method, not planning meals more than the night before, not feeling like I have

to carry a notebook with me in the gym and I have only weighed myself once since

I started. I think getting rid of all the extra work has helped me stick longer

than I would have. I know I do need to weigh/measure again so I think I'm just

going to do it at 6 weeks, and then again at 12. I always have a bad reaction

to the scale so I'm avoiding it like the plague! I know I've made progress, I'm

fitting into some pants that didn't fit a couple weeks ago, plus I feel so much

healthier and just have more energy. I can't believe I'm actually going to

finish this time! I'm already a third of the way through! Woohoo!

What do you all think about working out on free day? Not as an extra workout

but as my sixth workout of the week. I've been doing free day on Saturday b/c

it just seems to work better for us but the gym is closed Sunday so I've been

doing my cardio on Saturday mornings, at the beginning of free day. That

shouldn't hurt anything, right? Also, has anyone been fighting allergies this

season? Mine feel like they're practically taking over my life . . we live in

the East Bay (just west of San Francisco) and the pollen is pretty much out of

control. And recently I've noticed that it's starting to effect my cardio, my

chest is feeling really tight when I get out of breath and it's taking alot

longer for me to start breathing normally again than usual. Any thoughts? It

kinda feel like it might be turning into asthma. Ugh.

Anyway, sorry this is so long! Thanks for listening. . . . I know I don't write

much but I find reading about all of you very encouraging and inspirational.

Keep it up!

Marci