September update-Progress, goals met

It's been a while. Usually, when I go missing for a while it's because I have been slacking and nothing has changed. This time, it was because I was so busy at work and I neglected this blog. I have been making a lot of progress this year!

In January 2017 I had the following goals:

• Go to the gym/get a 30 min workout at least 3 days a week
• 5k run without stopping
• Bike to work
• be able to do 20 pushups
• make kickboxer of the month
• goal weight: 165

Except for March, April, and May (crazy stupid busy stress time at work) I did not achieve my goal of exercising at least 3 days a week. Every other month so far I have done it for every week. So far, June and July I worked the hardest. 

TWAS Into the Wild 5k

Dash and Dine

The 5k run without stopping goal took a few times. My friend mapped out a route from the house to go run, and I wrote down how long it took us each time. Our first run was on April 17th, and it took us 38:42 minutes. To try and get even better, we ran a 5k at work called Dash and Dine. 

Dash and Dine is awesome, people can use it as a qualifying time for this big 10k in town called the Bolder Boulder, it only costs $20, and you get food at the end! 

We only had time to do the Dash and Dine two times, but my time went from 36:53 minutes (stopping to walk once) to 35:33 minutes and achieving my goal of no stopping! 

We ran the Wild Animal Sanctuary 5K in June, and with no stops, our time was 38 minutes. This was a huge improvement over our 2016 time, at roughly 44 minutes! 

I have always wanted to bike to work. According to google maps it would take me about an hour and 20 minutes, and that it was about 14miles. I was intimidated, and thought I'd be too sweaty and gross to want to work after biking.

Luckily, Boulder hosts this Bike to Work Day  and I decided this is my year, I'm just going to do it. On a day off in June, I biked it just to see how long it would take. Unfortunately it was a 90 degree day and I struggled there and back. It took me an hour and a half to bike there, so I stopped for food at concessions, chilled out, then biked home which was much shorter (downhill, knew the way now).

On June 28 I biked to work for the official day my friend and I left at the same time, and stopped at a station in Longmont for free Breakfast. I really enjoyed biking to work, and I did it a few more times over the course of the summer. 

My goal for reaching 20 pushups hasn't been achieved yet, but I was busy focusing on other things. Pretty sure I am close, and I can change that number to 40 pushups for 2018.

My goal to make kickboxer of the month was not achieved. The ILoveKickBoxing club I was in closed its Longmont location, and it was around that time that my back was really starting to hurt. When it closed, it felt like it was fate for me to do some less high impact exercise and let my back get stronger again. I am hoping I can get a strong back and core before returning to kickboxing in 2018 at Round House Fitness.

When the kickboxing studio closed, a group of tight-nit kickboxers banded together and through some serious hard work they were able to make a new and better studio. I am dying to go support it, and I am hoping that soon I can.

Left: January 1 2017 Right: September 1 2017 About 15lbs down!

Goal weight: 165. I finally reached that goal in August, and it was a slow process. By maintaining calorie counting using Myfitness Pal, using Fitbit (and then when the band broke) Garmin Vivofit -which I loved, it's water resistant and I could have gone swimming with it if I wanted to) to track steps. I lost the Garmin at the airport a few months ago and tried a cheap replacement...as soon as it dies I am switching back to Garmin.

I have a mini goal to have lost 20 pounds by mid October, which is when I am going on a Disney Cruise. I am just 3 pounds away! So I am upping my gym time and trying to watch what I eat more. September was a bust, had a lot of work stress, plus parents visiting for a week, and then a weekend of visiting my bestie on the other side of the mountains meant less gym time and bad eating. But so far I am at least achieving the minimum goal of a workout 3 times a week.

I have never actually succeeded in losing weight before, so this year has been a huge triumph. I finally figured out what works for me! Of course things can change and I'll hit a plateau sometime, but for now I am going strong!

I have already made a list for 2018's goals, which I will be sure to repost in January. Right now, I am thinking:

• Be able to do 5 pullups
• Goal weight: 150
• 40 pushups
• Beat best 5k time (35:33)
• Run a 10k without needing to stop
• Bike to work at least once a month once its warm enough
• Feel strong/healthy enough to take up kickboxing again

Pie season approaches and I face a few other challenges this time of year. Work is going to get very busy in October/November and when it gets cold I lose some of my favorite outdoor activities, like biking and running. Luckily it never gets too cold in Colorado and winter never lasts too long. I am just hoping to stay motivated.

I imagine just seeing my own progress pictures, and knowing how far I still have to go, will keep me on track!