Health Update

*I went to the dentist yesterday. I have, as always, healthy teeth & less than healthy gums. Not only do I have to floss every day, now I have to use this gum stimulator thing every day as well. Because I want to keep my teeth.

*I hurt my back earlier this week & lost two days at the gym. This makes me rather sad, especially since my 5K is 2 weeks from tomorrow. It looks like I'll just be walking it. I haven't signed up for the Turkey Trot yet. I'm heading back into the gym today for the first time in more than a week.

*I was home for a couple days this week and caught a little bit of that new show, The Doctors," which I think sounds like it's some old school soap opera. Anyway, they did a segment on sleep deprivation, and at the risk of sounding like a hypochondriac, I think I'm sleep deprived. I think I need more sleep than I thought I did and that it's having a cumulative effect. I don't think it's a magic bullet or anything, but my new challenge to myself is to get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep every night (as opposed to 6 1/2 - 7 1/2) and see how I feel. I may decide to try for even more, but this is my first step.

Read more about sleep deprivation: http://www.sleep-deprivation.com/

New Goals

So, I learned something about myself. Re-confirmed is more accurate, because I've proven it to myself over & over again. I am calendar & result driven.

I started running this spring and planned to do the Komen race in June. In late April/early May, a conflict came up against the race. I decided I'd just do a later race, but that I would keep training.

Almost immediately, I stopped training.

The moral of the story: I *have* to have benchmarks on my calendar, and in the reasonably near future.

To that end I'm putting AIDS Walk Washington (Oct. 4) & the Thanksgiving Day Trot (11/27) on my calendar now. Meaning I have to get back in the gym, now.

Catch-Up

It's been a while since I've posted, but I'm getting back into documenting my journey.

Health & Fitness:
I've been up & down. I'll have a few weeks where I'm consistently going to the gym, eating better etc. and then one little thing will throw me off & it'll take weeks to get back into it.

I'm sticking with the race-as-motivation plan, and am planning to join 1 or 2 local runners' groups so I can do group runs outside. I'm looking at the fall race calendar & I'm about to pick a 5K for the fall.

I've gotten back into the habit of adding fiber to my drinks, drinking more water, and eating a yogurt everyday. Most of this is with the help of www.joesgoals.com, because seeing it visually helps me track it. I've been having trouble remembering to take my pills & that's bad.

New job (as of February) means new insurance, and new insurance means at least some new doctors. I'm searching out a new gyn, dentist, & therapist. Luckily, Primary Care gets to stay the same.


Beauty:
I think I might need to see a dermatologist too. Or that could just be vanity.

I have a line item on my budget for salon visits. I've been consistent with hair appointments, but I'm still not doing facials as often as I'd like. Of course, right now my skin's pretty irritated, so that's out anyway.

I've accumulated a good deal of new cosmetics. And I can enjoy the results when I take the time to put it on - sadly, that is still not often enough. I have right now a combination of e.l.f., Sheer Cover & a high-ish end assortment from Sephora.

My hair is starting to have a lot of breakage again, mostly split ends that have worked their way up the shaft, so it's time to chop some off.

I bought a book on finding your style - haven't finished it yet.

I'm trying to set specific beauty goals, but so far I haven't come up with anything tangible.

Reflecting

On the fitness front:
I went to the gym today for the first time in weeks. I did 30 minutes on the treadmill at 3 mph. The Susan G. Komen 5K is in 8 weeks (9 weeks from yesterday, actually) as of today it would take me an hour to complete it, assuming I last that long. So my goal is to raise both my speed & my endurance.

I like the idea of the race being a fitness benchmark to put on my calendar, so I've worked out a tentative schedule.

Komen 5k - 6/08
10K - Marine Corps 10/08 or Veterans Day 11/08
10-miler - Cherry Blossom Race 4/09
1/2 marathon - fall 09 (Haven't found one yet - might go to Va. Beach & do the Rock & Roll)

Also, there's a 3K every month.

On the beauty front:
I'm waiting for my Eyes Lips Face bounty to arrive as well as doing some follow up with my Sheer Cover account. I want to add a little more polish to my look & hopefully I can get myself together to have a few minutes to spend on make-up in the morning. I'm thinking about going back out to Sephora & trying (again) to learn to put on makeup.

Hodge Podge

1) I'm going to run (or perhaps jog/walk) the Komen 5K in June. It's part of my fitness plan, plus it's social and it helps other people. A friend devised a training program that will get me ready in 8 weeks - if I can stick to it. It requires 3 runs each week. It shouldn't be as hard as it is.

2) If I can just get my butt to yoga & abs class every week, my gym membership would be totally worth it. It may have to wait until the 3 runs each week are less taxing on my body and I can do a run & an abs class or a run & a yoga class on the same day.

3) I only need to lose an average of 2.8 pounds/month for the rest of the year.

4) I'm getting a style makeover. It's a little daunting, but necessary. My major concern at this point is spending a bunch of money on clothes that I hope don't fit me by the end of the year. I'm hoping to upgrade my work wardrobe, add some color and some flair, and create some nice looks for going out.

5) I've almost convinced myself that I need to get a facial at least every other month. I'm trying to treat it as seriously as I treat my hair appointments.

6) Somehow, my Sheer Cover order has gotten stuck in limbo. It's probably for the best, since I'm still not using it. But I really want to get in the habit of using *something* at least for going out.

Finding the track

Before I can get back on track, I have to find the track again. There's been lots of upheaval over the last few months, and while all has not been lost I've not been intentional with very much of my health, beauty or fitness routine.

Health:
I've decided that my sinuses are probably a large part of my chronic minor health issues (headaches and nausea, especially) so I bought a Neti Pot. I've only used it once so far, and it felt really weird. I need to get used to it and see if it has a noticeable effect.

I'm increasing my fiber intake by putting Benefiber in almost everything I drink. (I stop short of taking it with me to restaurants.) I'm drinking more water and taking vitamins on a semi-regular basis.

Beauty:
I bought a Sheer Cover intro kit. It seems to work ok, I'm just not in the habit of putting on makeup.
I have developed a night routine and morning routine, though I have yet to stick to them. I printed them out and taped them to the bathroom mirror.
I'm in the middle of developing a salon schedule that I hope will include monthly facials. It's mostly a budget issue.

Fitness:
My goal is to lose about 25 lbs. this year.
My plan is to go to the gym 3x/week - which is not currently happening.
My new office is on the third floor of a walk-up, so I get a little more activity in my day than before. When it warms up I plan to take regular pre-work & lunchtime walks.

Skin care.

Recently, it hit me. 30 is in the rearview mirror. And though (if family members are any indication) I'm probably not in for major skin issues, I decided I better start taking better care of my skin.

I'd like to get a facial every month, but every other month is more likely. I need to make it a must-do for myself, like I did with my hair. I'm also trying to decide on skin care products that I really like - right now it's noxema, clean & clear toner and St. Ives moisturizer.