“I’m having an off-week!”

That was my reply to one of my co-workers this morning when he asked me how many miles I ran before work today.

My answer was zero. Zilch. Nada.

He’s a runner too and was concerned. I told him I’ve only run 2 miles this whole week. One on Monday and one on Wednesday. Between the no-sleep, (which is getting better but I’m not caught up yet, Will I ever be? Doubt it) and having a busy week (excuses, excuses) I’ve chosen sleep over running. And I’m ok with that. I think I need it.

But I know that tomorrow when I run 7 miles (because I want to, Its a doable number, and a route I love) its going to suck. Big time. But thats okay, I can’t let that stop me from running. We all know how that story ends.

Tonight I work at my PT Job, then I plan to run and perhaps ride my bike on Saturday and Sunday. I NEED to do it. My body is achy, like it knows I haven’t moved it in too long.

I hope this off-week ends soon. I can’t take the feelings of guilt!!

Happy Friday Friends!

“If I don’t go for a run in this weather, it’s like spitting in Mother Nature’s face.” -Me

Vacation miles are the best kind of miles. You can run when you want, for how long you want, when the mood strikes. Love that.

The rain finally let up around 2 so I ran out for a 5k. It was a decent run, and I’m pleased. Vacation is good…hope you all have a great week friends!

Awesome Things

Today we had a Biometric Screening at work. They checked our height/weight/BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, Cholesterol, and triglycerides and the TC/HDL ratio, glucose, etc.

My numbers were FANTASTIC!!!

I’m down a pound from last week at my regular doc’s office! Only 7 more to go! My BMI? I’m totally normal! (Which I knew, but its nice having that confirmed!)

My waist circumference? 28inches! Um, hello?! I guess I am pretty tiny there…that’s awesome.

Blood pressure: 105/70-fantastic. Normal is 120/80 Pulse: 50-even better. Normal is 60-100. The screener was concerned until I told her I’m a runner. Then she wanted to talk about running and weight loss. I love that!

But the coolest part? My total Cholesterol was 167. HDL was 61. and my TC/HDL radio was 2.7 Anything under 200 for Total Cholesterol is great, the lower the better. For HDL the “desirable" numbers are above 60. Yeah baby! We didn’t do a fasting test so I don’t know the LDL numbers or triglycerides. My TC/HDL ratio should be less than 3.5.

She was concerned about my Glucose. for non-fasting it should be less than 140. Mine was 65! She asked me if I felt dizzy or faint, and did I need a protein bar?! I told her I was fine, and just was about to go heat up my lunch, so no worries. My mother the nurse told me to eat more for lunch (and carbs) to help that problem.

All in all, I’m pleased. These numbers are great and I know exactly what I need to do to lose those last few pounds.

Also awesome today? I did intervals during my run this morning again. It kind of sucked to do those 12 hours apart..HOWEVER, the weather was great! 58 degrees and humid, but sunny. It was a good morning for a run.

Hope you had a great hump day friends!

Reason 1,648 that Shortmom is the smartest: I ran some intervals tonight. I ran as fast as I could for as long as I could, then did recovery walks/runs for about a .10 of a mile.

Seems I CAN be fast when I want to push myself! Must push past the comfort zone!

Also, look at that best pace time: 6:23! I felt like I was channeling Chris (xpltvdeleted) and Pump (runningwithpump) tonight! 😉 My average second mile time when I was running was 7:47!

Tomorrow my company is doing Biometric screenings. That’s where they check your weight, BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. Hoping for some good news!

Have a good night friends!

1 Month Check-In

It’s been about a month since I started my little “Summer of Melissa” Project.

Let’s check in on my goals, shall we?

1. Pay off/down credit cards.

This is going well. The 2nd job is helping immensely. I’ve paid off 1 card completely and am on track to pay the other 2 off by the end of the year. I’m not spending needless money. Its nice.

2. My self-imposed dating break.

Well, aside from the disasterous date with “Blender Blake". I’m doing well on this one. However, my roomie is talking about setting me up. I’m down with that. I’m just not doing the online thing right now. It was way too stressful. I have NOT missed that stress in my life.

3. Change up the workout.

Well…on that front. I’ve been biking more. That’s so much fun! I haven’t done any yoga or lifted any weights. HOWEVER! I am 34 days into the 100 day pushup challenge. They are getting easier and I’m seeing some definition. It’s awesome. I’ve also been planking. I’m up to 2:40. Its hard, but totally worth it. You can see the muscles in my upper arms when I’m planking! Score!

I’ve got 60 days left to lose these stupid 8 pounds. I’m considering joining a gym near my house where my morning editor goes. Its only $30/month if I want to do the classes. $20/month if I just want to lift weights and use the machines. I’m mulling it over. It certainly goes against my spending diet. But I need to lift!

Hope you all have a great week friends!

shortmom replied to your photo“One of our midday forum guests talked about this today. I’ve been…”

do you do interval runs, or just jog at medium? switch it up with some sprinting!

Again, this is why Shortmom is the smartest: Nope. No intervals. Right now, I’m not pushing myself. Its like a lightbulb just went off! When I lost weight this past winter I was running on the treadmill and running sprint intervals! Duh Melissa!! Maybe I should try that with my runs now?! Thanks Christine!!

One of our midday forum guests talked about this today.

I’ve been struggling with losing about 8 pounds recently and this was pretty eye-opening.

I told him I run 20 miles a week, about 5 miles a day. I still haven’t started lifting, I know I know, but I plank and do pushups. He says, if I’m not sore, then it doesn’t matter how much I run…I’m doing too much cardio to lose weight.

Well that sucks. I’d rather run than do anything else.

I’ve been biking and doing a bit of jumping on the trampoline. Those make me sore. But they don’t give me the same endorphins and feelings that running does.

I guess I gotta change things up.

Stay tuned!

Why do some running shirts show sweat everywhere BUT my boobs, and then this one causes me to sweat circles ON my boobs?

Can’t win. Oh well.

I’m sure I gave the morning commuters quite the show. 5 miles, 10:46 pace. Running is awesome. Even in the heat.

The station is changing over servers right now so I’m just chilling, messing on my phone, waiting to put the 5pm together. The show will get done eventually, I guess!

Have a great day friends!

What a weird day (so far!)

I got up and ran 5 miles this morning. That’s not weird. I’ve been doing that most mornings for the past several weeks. What’s weird is that I saw this bat on the sidewalk during the run.
I initally thought it was dead, and when I stopped to check it out…it started moving, using its talons to crawl along the sidewalk. Instead of freaking out, I was fascinated. I kind of wanted to touch it! (Don’t worry, I didn’t!) I used a to stick to move it off the sidewalk into the grass and went on my merry way. I’m sure it was dying or diseased. It’s not normal for nocturnal creatures to be out during the day.
It was quite warm and humid already at 6:30am-74 degrees with 80% humidty! Needless to say I was soaked!
You might be able to see that the only dry place was where my sports bra was! Oy! However, despite the crazy humidty and heat I’ve been doing great on my runs these last 2 mornings. Previously, I’ve been walking more than I’d like due to the temps and my heart condition. My mile times have been averaging 11:20/mile. The last 2 days? 10:45/mile! Running has been easier and my miles 4 & 5 split times are 10:10 and 10:05! Getting Speedy! 🙂
Today is one of my co-worker’s birthdays. I made her Oreo Balls. (Random fact about me: I don’t like to eat the baked goods I make. So if I make something I rarely want to eat it. Not sure why, I just don’t do it.)
The most strange thing that happened today? If you use LinkedIn you know how you can see who has viewed your profile? Well I did that today, and the Former Lt. Governor of Nebraska (Rick Sheehy) viewed my profile! That initself wouldn’t be so odd-I’m in the News Business, it says that on my profile. Except that he recently resigned due to official misconduct. He was using a state-issued cell phone to call women (who were not his wife!) and talk to them for hours!
My boss asked if I was going to be a part of the former Lt. Gov’s next scandal…and I told him no way! I don’t plan on sleeping my way to the top!

That’s been my day. And it’s only 1:30pm! What does the afternoon have in store? Happy Hump Day friends!

Overheard in the Channel 8 Newsroom:

Me: “The company will pay for a team of 4 to run the Hard Charge obstacle course. Who wants to do it?“

Main Anchor: “What’s that?”

Me: “It’s one of those 4 mile obstacle courses. Through mud, barb wire and whatnot.“

Main Anchor: “You mean you run it? You can’t just drive it? This email is going in the trash then.”

Me: Facepalm, laughing. "No.“