Month: January 2017

Work/Life Balance

I just submitted all the HR paperwork to my supervisor, which he already signed off on for me to TELEWORK 1x a week starting at the end of the month! 

I AM SO EXCITED! 

My old job allowed for telework and I usually teleworked 2x a month, but it was more informal because it was sporadic. With this I will get to update my calendar with “working elsewhere” and will be supported in calling into meetings that may pop up. I picked my telework day as Tuesday all last semester I rarely had meetings that day and also to break up my grueling commute. 

I know some people like teleworking on Monday or Friday, but Monday I want to hit the ground running and also prep for my telework day and Fridays are usually “fun” days at work and the commute is significantly better. Plus my cornhole league is on Tuesdays so I won’t have to rush home to made a game.

With teleworking, I’ll be easily getting 2 hours BACK in my life from not commuting on Tuesdays and I can get in a midday workout (which because when cornhole is in season I don’t usually get in a workout) and I can do laundry or get my car serviced and telework from the dealership or a coffee shop. So much of this will give me an ease I didn’t have last semester. I know I needed to “earn” this privilege and I’ve been plotting it (haha). I just passed my 6 month mark at work and my boss is very pleased with me. I gave some great examples of how telework will help my productivity and add some nice work/life balance. 

My summers at work are always busy so my request is only through mid-May for right now, but then I hope to pick back up the telework option again in September if it works out this semester or even a compressed work week in the fall since under normal (I won’t be new and we won’t be launching a new software system) circumstances fall is quieter. We shall see. 

WIW

Today: 202.8

Last week: 204.2

Change: -1.4

progress, I’ll take it. I’m doing the Shakeology 3 day cleanse next Tues-Thurs. I think flushing my system will be a good thing, even if my habits have been really good the past ~2 weeks. 

Priorities

For most of last semester it was “hard” to make a 5:30 fitness class ~30-40 minutes away. This would involve me dressed and out the door around 4:45pm. My work is by no means strict about getting in/leaving work so long as you don’t have a meeting at that time, plus it’s not uncommon for us to have peak workloads – like for me it’s generally in the summer. 

So last Tuesday and yesterday I was successful in making it to 5:30pm classes because I MADE IT A PRIORITY. Work and emails will always be there for me, but the class to is going to happen with or without me. The plan is to get to 5:30pm class today too. Tuesdays is Body Combat – which is a freakin’ hard and sweaty workout!

I’ve been able to workout daily since 12/29 (I had one rest day on Friday), but even before the few days off over the holidays I’ve been great with doing Shred since after Thanksgiving. A 30 minute DVD workout is still a workout and I’m making the choice that 30 min DVD and/30 min brisk walks on the treadmill are better than nothing on days when I can’t make a class or don’t have time for something longer than 30 min. 

Weekend Rundown

Friday

  • Took a half day to take Freddie to the vet because he had been sporadically vomiting all week. Vet called Saturday – Blood work revealed he has hypothyroidism – aka his thyroid is inactive, so he will need a pill 2x a day for the rest of his life. Clearly I was upset, but he’s in perfect health otherwise. This new pill will help him maintain his weight and improve his hair.  
  • I was SUPER productive at work since I was only working a half day. I am always extra productive on days when I’m working an abbreviated day. With focus I’m sure most people could do their jobs in ~25 hours a week.
  • I spent late Friday afternoon at one of my old work bestie’s house hanging with her and her 3.5 yr old and 4 month old. Awesome time hanging out. I definitely miss seeing her daily back when we worked together. 
  • I took a rest day fitness wise since I had worked out for a week straight prior to today. 

Saturday

  • Snow! Just a light coating, but it was super pretty.
  • I had to drive in the snow because I had to bring a urine same to the vet since Freddie didn’t want to go when we were there on Friday. 
  • Made it to body pump class and then walked on the treadmill.
  • Big grocery shop/meal prep shop with T for the week, then we watched movies and were lazy bums. 

Sunday

  • Slept 11 hours, I needed it. I didn’t sleep well Fri and Sat worrying about Fred. 
  • Did Shred Level 3 – day 2. I freaking love level 3 – it’s my favorite of the 3 levels. 
  • Got a manicure, my first since E’s wedding in September. All the housework made it silly to waste money and time on my nails. I got a gel manicure for the first time in YEARS. I discovered the Sally Hansen Nail Effects 2 years ago and they were my go to with an occasional regular manicure. I always admire nails and I feel better about myself when my nails are done (and not super stubby). I’m hoping to keep up a strong nail game this year! 
  • Went to a beautiful Brewery with T in Bluemont, VA and stumbled across a super cute old restaurant that was heated by fireplaces

Miles In Review

  • 2010 Total: 791
  • 2011 Total: 651
  • 2012 Total: 750
  • 2013 Total: 343
  • 2014 Total: 429
  • 2015 Total: 693
  • 2016 Total: 328.95

I took a huge step back in my mileage after my March half and April 10 miler and then stopped running altogether in mid-September. My feet needed a break, badly. My plantar fasciitis/heel spur/Achilles have been nagging issues since summer 2015 early into my Dublin marathon training. I was in such euphoria after the marathon that I really didn’t take much of a break and clearly I paid for it. 

This year I’m going to focus on short mileage – 5Ks mostly and my 1 mile time. I think pushing hard for a short period of time will be better than moderate push for an extended period when it comes to my feet. Clearly I’m going to start things off slow and build up strength and stamina, because I’m pretty sure I couldn’t even run a non-stop mile at the moment, but that’s okay. 

Twelve 5Ks?

I haven’t raced since May and haven’t even run since the middle of September, but my heel/Achilles/PF having been feeling better since I got all new shoes in October and took a complete rest from running. 

I’ve walked a little on treadmills lately and today I decided to register for a 5K on MLK day that is a run/walk which is exactly what I plan to do – both run and walk. T also let me register him! 

I have my annual Race for Hope 5K in May, but it got me thinking, could I commit to one official 5K race a month for 2017? I figured I might as well register for January before I officially commit. 

Any favorite 5Ks in the great DC area you all recommend? 

WIW & Monthly Measurements

  • Last week: 203.0 
  • This week: 204.2
  • Change: +1.2

Definitely frustrating when I’ve been pretty on point since last Thursday, but I also ate and drank a lot of junk before then. 

Did measurements for the first time in a few months, they are obviously all UP, but since this is a new year and a new start, I’m only going to focus on today’s numbers. 

  • Chest (under breasts): 36.25
  • Smallest Waist: 37.5
  • Belly Button: 44.5
  • Hips (under belly): 45.25
  • Saddle bags: 44.5
  • Neck: 13.25
  • Mid Upper Arm: 11.75
  • Upper Arm: 14
  • Mid Upper Thigh:23.5
  • Above Knee: 18
  • Mid Calf: 16

Five Dollar Fat Pants

Over break I found myself wearing jeans fairly frequently. In the colder months I usually only wear jeans like 1x a week for a few hours at most if I’m going out. Otherwise no jeans to work and outside of work I’m in pj pants, yoga pants, or workout pants.  

I have one pair of jeans that currently “fit” however over the holidays all the extra junk and booze really were causing my jeans to HURT. So I went to Old Navy to check out their sales and came across a pair actually in the same size but with the most amount of stretch ever for $5 ($4.97 to be exact which I thought was a mistake since a similar pair was $14.97). I didn’t want to “invest” in larger jeans, but $5 to feel comfortable as I work towards slimming down is fine by me.