Working Out and Weighing In Link-Up

The last time I wrote to you about my fitness journey I was completely frustrated, like in tears frustrated.  I decided for now, I am going to take a break from the scale and focus on my progress in numbers that are viable and I can push myself to change right then and there. 

The first thing I am celebrating is getting a mile in in almost 10 minutes.  I remember when I used to only walk a mile and in was a solid 17 minutes. 

The second thing I am celebrating is 4 miles in almost 45 minutes (really it is closer to 46, but I like interval numbers like quarters...OCD probs).  4 miles, if I even got to that distance was at least an hour (walking, because I couldn't run).

 

I have been using interval training to increase distance and time. 

I love HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) for several reasons:

• It is great for increasing the time for a particular distance.
• It is heart healthy.
• It burns fat, not muscle.
• It is great for weight loss.
• It increases your metabolism.
• You can do it with no equipment (I use a treadmill)

 Here is what I started doing:

 I have since changed this and I am now warming up with a 1 mile jog at 5.5-6 (depending on how I feel) and then go into interval training.  For interval training I have been walking 1 minute at 3.9-4 and running 1 minute at 7.5.  I think I am going to keep speeds the same and work on increasing the amount of time I run.  I can run half a lap in 1 minute at 7.5, so my hope is to increase that to 2 minutes, then 4 and so on until I can run a mile at that speed.  

And here is an after workout picture, just because.  

Ummm, next time, please remind me that to avoid a doubt chin to angle the camera HIGHER than me.  Thanks.

So, here is to letting numbers on the scale go, for now, and celebrating the journey.