Orange You Glad…

…this isn’t a post about Reach the Beach?

I had so much fun, but it’s nice to get back to regular blogging. Sort of. I leave for a fabulous long weekend at the beach TONIGHT! I’m going to the Outer Banks with friends–for the fifth Memorial Day in a row–and driving down to DC tonight and OBX tomorrow.

I’m really excited to collapse on the beach tomorrow, because I feel like I’m still catching up from sleep from last weekend. I’ve been a complete fail at waking up to work out, but I still managed to get a good workout in Tuesday night and last night.

Tuesday, I did 20 minutes of super-sweaty intervals on the Stairmaster, and last night I had a lovely run while out at my parents’.

The Stairmaster is something I did often while losing weight, and I forgot what a good workout it is. I mean, hoisting your body weight over and over again for 20 minutes is no joke.

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Last night, I went out to my parents’ to borrow a car to drive down to the Outer Banks. I hadn’t woken up in time to work out before work yesterday, so I told my mom that as soon as I got home, I was going to run. I didn’t give myself or her a choice. Once I walked in the door, I dropped my bags and immediately changed into my workout clothes, because I knew I wouldn’t otherwise do it.

There’s a huge hill coming out of their street, and I tackled it head-on. After running on hilly terrain all last weekend, I was far less afraid of tackling hills. Tuesday’s tough-but-awesome workout reminded me that I need to push myself more in my workouts than I have been lately, so after that first tough mile, I kept picking it up.

I came back, and my mom had an awesome dinner of scallops, sweet potatoes and spinach for me.

So, a few weeks ago, I said I really wanted to lose a few pounds before going to the beach this weekend. Three weeks later, and the scale’s only down a pound and I tried on a bikini last night and was still really unhappy with what I saw. I’m disappointed in myself, but at least I feel like I’m making progress.

Save for this week, I’m back in a much better workout routine. I’ve introduced strength training back into my life. It’s no longer as much a puzzle to get my workouts in, making me wonder how I thought it was so hard just a few months ago, as my schedule hasn’t gotten any lighter.

And now that the routine is back, I’m craving the intensity. I want the hard workouts, not just because they will make me thinner (which they will, if I don’t eat back everything I burned…), but because I miss pushing myself.

But I’m ready.

(Which is great, because I have a marathon coming up that I’m coming for.)

I’m back in a better place than I’ve been lately, and I’m ready to kick ass.

I’ve had a great week at work, and considering that last year as I left for OBX, I knew I was probably going to get laid off the week after (and I did..), I am just really thankful to be employed at all, much less at a rewarding job.

Tonight I’ll be driving to DC and tomorrow, down to OBX.

I have a feeling I’ll be talked into another long bike ride, so I’m sure I’ll be back at some point with another post.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND! Are you doing anything fun?

10 comments on “Orange You Glad…

  1. Jocelyn

    Dude you look super amazing (skinny and toned) in your Reach the Beach photos!!!!!! SO I don’t know what you are talking about…

    Hope you have fun this weekend!

    Reply
  2. Molly

    I’m going to my future in-laws’ lake house. Like you, I was hoping to lose a few pounds before putting on a bikini in front of family, but I’m still unhappy. But I am in great shape to run my first half-marathon next weekend, so there’s that!

    Reply
  3. Jenni

    OBX, I’m jealous! I’m landlocked for the weekend, but I’m sure we’ll get something barbecuing on the smoker and hang around the pool. I’ve promised myself though to start the weekend out strong though with a walk/run (still a beginner!) – thanks for helping inspire me to keep pushing 🙂

    Reply

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