Fabulous Financials & Fitness

My taxes are finally complete.  I’m going to meet with the accountant later today to review my paperwork.  From what he tells me, I only owe a few hundred dollars. Yippee!  Can you say FAFSA modification?!?

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I’ve decided that I’m not renewing my lease.  I moved here for the sole purpose of enrolling BG into one of the best public high schools on the east coast and my mission is complete.  The lease is up in May and BG graduates in June.  Now I want to move back into my house.  But several things need to shake loose before it can work. I’ll share those details in another post.

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The first leg of our spring break plans are finalized, booked, and paid for!  Yayah!  During this trip, I hope to meet one of my favorite bloggers too. :-)

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BG and I are going on our final college tour this weekend.  By the end of this month, we will decide where she’s going to school.  I still can’t believe my one and only baby will be leaving me in about 6 months.  Some days I’m sad. Some days I’m excited.  I guess that’s to be expected from a single mom who’s been responsible for another human being for all of her adult life.

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Which reminds me, I need to get busy on our summer vacation AKA her graduation gift AKA her birthday gift plans.  For our first trip to Europe, especially if we go by ourselves, I’ve decided I only want to stay for one week.  Maybe 3 full days in Paris and 3 full days in London.  Based on preliminary research, 2 round trip tix and a 4 star hotel in both cities will run me about $3,500 USD and I estimate another $1,500 USD for vacation expenses.  I will get serious about making these plans after we decide where she’s going to school.

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I feel myself approaching that pivotal stage where I usually quit whatever health & fitness routine I’m on at the moment.  The timing is about right, 10-12 weeks.  As usual, my motivation is waning and I’m not SEEING the expected results, so I dread the effort it takes to continue.  But I’m determined to overcome this.  I will break this bad habit.  I will NOT quit this time.  I just wanted to openly acknowledge the feeling is present.

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The scale is still moving in the right direction (down!) and my clothes are fitting differently (too big!), so why am I not satisfied? *shrug*  I’ve lost nearly 20 lbs, I eat fairly well every single day, and I work out consistently every single week.  I’m ready to SEE a noticeable difference.  *pout*

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I’ve been tracking my nutrition everyday, but I have not read my prayer journal at all this week. :-(  That’s probably why I’m losing motivation.  I’ve taken my eyes off the source.

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I survived 2 days of meetings without indulging in junk food.  Although I had lunch out twice and dinner out once (work travel), I ate sensibly.

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I completed Week 9 Day 2 of the c25k running plan on Thursday and I have one more day of the program left.  When I finish, I will share my experience in a post of its own. But I just want to say this – I can’t believe how far I’ve come!

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Now that I’m running longer, my knees and right hip are starting to hurt (while running).  Also, the muscle above my left shin feels sore and my left foot feels tingly (after running).  Dang, when I read those sentences again, I sound like an old geriatric patient. LOL!

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Here are two inspirational quotes that gave me the extra oomph to keep going when I felt like quitting this week.

“If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.” –John Bingham

“The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand in times of challenge and controversy.”  -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Well let me go treat my arthritis aches and pains.  I hope you have a FABULOUS weekend!

I recieved a parking ticket this week.  A $60 parking ticket.  For what?  Well the violation on the ticket says I was not parked “within” a space.  *blink*  Let me get this straight.  City does not remove snow from the parking lot – FIVE days after the last snow fall.  Driver parks in said parking lot with hundreds of other drivers, despite the unremoved snow.  City issues ticket to driver for not parking “within” a space that wasn’t 100% visible DUE TO UNREMOVED SNOW.  Hmm, is that the new local government revenue strategy?

Aunt Flow is visiting and she’s being extra mean to me today.  I’m bloated, cramping, lower back hurts, and legs feel like noodles.  I think she’s trying to make up for last month because I didn’t even notice her presence.  I figured with my new fitness routine, my body was changing so we’d develop a new relationship.  Not so. This month, she’s back with a vengeance. *sigh*

Somehow, someway, I found the strength to complete Wk 7 D2 of C25K last night.  I felt like crap and I had to push 95% my maximum heart rate, but I did it.  I ran 25 minutes and my total distance was 2.17 miles including the warm up and cool down.

On Twitter, a few people were trying to convince me that I could run a 5k in June.  Mentally and physically, I don’t think I’ll be ready until the Fall.  But they gave me lots of flack and said things like “running 3.1 miles is nothing,” and “you can do it if you really wanted to,” and other phrases that implied running a 5k is an easy feat and I should be able to do it by June.  I laughed and said “what would you think if I said, you should be able to save $5k by June, saving money is easy.”  At that point, most of them conceded but two took me up on it.  Then it turned into a friendly challenge: if 5 (non-PF) bloggers would be willing to save $5k by June 1st, I’ll run the Susan G Komen 5k Race for the Cure on June 5th.  Fair enough right?  I need 3 more takers.

As a result of that conversation, one of my Tweeps gave me a brilliant idea.  Sometime in the future, I’m going to write a post titled “Broke to $5k.”  It will be a savings plan, similar to the Couch to 5k Running Plan, that will guide you from being broke to having $5k in savings within xx amount of time.  I need to think about the concept a little more and start jotting down ideas.

Although I’m still eating healthy and exercising, I don’t feel so good.  I am not bursting with energy like most people claim.  When I get home from work, I’m still exhausted as usual.  I am not getting quality sleep like most people claim.  I find myself waking up several times in the middle of the night.  I’m happy with my lifestyle changes, but I just wonder why my body doesn’t feel strong, energetic, and rested like other people who eat healthy and exercise.  Maybe Aunt Flow is clouding my judgment. I don’t know.

I have a suit that I hadn’t be able to wear in over a year.  When I bought it, I had it perfectly tailored to fit every curve of my body.  However, as the months progressed, it was getting too tight in the waste and thighs, very noticeable when I was sitting.  And the jack was getting a little too snug, didn’t pass the “spread my back” test.  So I had it dry cleaned and it sat in the closet on a pretty wooden hanger all by its lonesome.  Well guess what?  I pulled it out yesterday just for kicks and it fit!  I wore it to work for the first time in over a year AND I had to wear a belt because the waste was too loose.  And get this, the belt is almost too big so I had to wear it on the LAST hole.  Imagine that.

Spring Break is just around the corner and I haven’t finalized our vacation plans yet.  I’m finding lots of deals – 4 night Western Caribbean Cruise for $850 (w/o flights) or 4 nights in Puerto Rico at a 4.5 star resort for $1123 (w/ flights) – great prices for the two of us, but flight options are iffy.  I’m going to decide on a destination this weekend and book our flights on Tuesday or Wednesday.  Next month, I plan to be laying out on somebody’s island.

What’s been going on in your world?

Finally putting forth the effort to become healthy and fit has been one of the best decisions I have ever made and I am very happy with my progress to date.  I cut out junk food, eat a veggie and/or fruit with every meal, run 3x per week, and I feel good.  Now that I’ve found an exercise that I truly enjoy and plan to continue for the rest of my life, I’ve made a few investments to help me reach my health & fitness goals.

Running Shoes

This is probably the most important purchase I’ve made so far.  Without the proper running shoes, my calves and shins were KILLING me!  And to think, in the beginning, I wasn’t even running that far – maybe a few yards. LOL!  The biggest lesson learned, proper running shoes give your legs and feet the support they need to avoid injuries.

After running in the wrong type of shoe for 3 weeks, I finally went to a specialized running store and had a gait analysis.  They examined my arch on one machine, then watched my running form on a video screen while I ran on the treadmill.  They also asked me a ton of questions about my preferences, fitness level, and the location of pain.  Based on their analysis, it was determined that I do not overpronate, but have a normal arch or a neutral gait.  Then I was given several pair of running shoes to try, they answered all of my questions, and gave me a few running tips. Almost an hour later, I walked out with a pair of ASICS Gel-Cumulus 11 for about $100.  I’ve been running on clouds, with zero pain, ever since!

Heart Rate Monitor

When doing strenuous cardiovascular exercise – such as running – it’s important to know if I’m working hard enough or if I’m overexerting myself.  So around Christmas time, I asked my mom to get me a heart rate monitor as my gift.  She said “Of course, I am so proud of your dedication!”  Wanna know what she sent me?  A blood pressure monitor!  *blink blink* Gee, thanks mom!  I was muy confused. What does a blood pressure monitor and heart rate monitor have in common?  Naythan!  One doesn’t even resemble the other. LOL!

I returned that thing with the quickness and bought a Heart Rate Monitor made by SportLine for about $50.  Technically, I didn’t pay for it myself because the BPM was $75, so I had money left over.  It’s a regular watch with an alarm, a stop watch, and a HRM that also tracks your calories burned.  One day, I’d like to buy this one by Polar. I hear it’s one of the best.

Digital Scale

On a mission to lose a significant amount of weight, I bought a new scale with the rest of Ma Dukes’ money.  My previous scale was an old fashioned analog.  I couldn’t tell if the arrow was pointing to the small line or the big line.  Did I gain 5 lbs or lose 2?  It was just way too much guessing, so I’m loving my new one.

It’s a a digital scale made by Health O’ Meter for about $25.  It tracks the body weight, body fat %, hydration level, and bone mass for up to four people.  That’s a lot of data!  And it was on “resolution” sale.  Score!  In fact, we’ve developed a really strong love/hate relationship already.

Healthy/Organic Food

A health and fitness mission is useless without changing the way you eat.  For the past year, I’ve spent ~$250/month on groceries.  Now that I’ve been eating healthier – organic, fresh produce, lean meat, healthy snacks, etc. – my grocery bill has increased by more than 150%.

The final tally for January was $421.15 – for TWO people!  The bright side is that I prepare every meal – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks – at home.  During the month of January, I ate outside the home a total of 3 times and those were special occasions.

Other Expenses I may will incur in the future:

• Wii and Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board – $300
• iPod Nano and Armband – $180
• Gym Membership – $25/month
• Personal Trainer – $25/session
• 5k Race Registration Fees – $20??
• Good Quality/Sweat Absorbent Workout Gear – $xxx
• Smaller Clothes – $xxx

In total, I’ve spent about $345 $270 (so far) to live a healthier lifestyle.  In the future, I plan to spend hundreds more.  And it’s cool.  I’ve fallen in love with running and I love the way my body feels.  How did I ever deprive myself all these years?  Who knows!  Besides, I’d rather spend a few hundred dollars now to have a strong, healthy heart and lungs than spend tens of thousands later on prescription medication, doctor and hospital bills.  I’m committed to this new lifestyle and I am worth the investment!

One of my Tweeps asked if I were going to reward myself at certain stages of my health & fitness/weight loss journey. At the time, I didn’t have an answer, but she got me thinking. Hmm…I am finally conquering the one thing I’ve always failed in life, so why didn’t I have plans to reward myself for the hard work? *shrug*  Now I know why.

It was because I hadn’t thought of anything meaningful that wouldn’t set me back.  To be honest, I’d love to have a piece of Kahlua Cocoa Coffee Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.  Shoot, I’d love to have one of those heavenly sensations right now!  But would that really motivate me to keep going?  Umm…NO!  It would send me straight to the land of sinful regrets!  In my opinion, rewards should be timely, relevant, and meaningful.  So after giving it more thought, I finally decided on when and how to reward myself.

Wanna hear it? Here it goes!

When I achieve 25% of my weight loss goal:

I’m going to buy a pair of jeans in the size I want to be when it’s all said and done. Ha! I can see myself now – trying on those jeans every month week just to see if I can fit them yet. LOL!

• Week 1: ooh, I can get one leg in.
• Week 3: Uh oh, there’s the other lower leg.
• Week 7: Hey there thighs!
• Week 10: I can pull them up if I lay down and suck everything in reeeeeeeeal tight!
• Week 15: And they’re on!  But fool, you can’t breathe! Take ‘em OFF!!  Hurry up before your brain pops! LOL!

If all goes well, I might attain this milestone at my next weigh-in.  If I do, watch out for the tomfoolery on Twitter. Ha!

When I achieve 50% of my weight loss goal:

I’m going to hire a personal trainer.  By then, I may reach the infamous plateau that I keep hearing about.  The trainer should be able to mix things up a bit and help me get out of the rut.

When I achieve 75% of my weight loss goal:

I’m going to register for my first 5K race.  When that time comes and I actually commit to running a race, I will know the end is near.  I will need that extra burst of energy and some adrenaline to put a fire under my butt.  Doing something that I’d never thought possible is exactly what I’ll need.  Gotta keep my eyes focused on that finish line – figuratively and literally!

When I achieve my final weight loss goal:

I’m going on a shopping spree for a whole new wardrobe.  Yea baby!!  Clothes. Shoes. Accessories. Oh my!  I hear the weight maintenance phase is much harder than the weight loss phase, so I’ll need something uber fabulous to keep the pep in my step.  I’m not sure what the budget will be. Depending on my finances at the time, I’m thinking $1,500 to $2,000.

When you achieve one of your goals (i.e. save $1,000 or lose 10 lbs), do you reward yourself?

If so, how?

People avoid working out for many reasons.  To name a few:

• Limited time
• Too tired
• Too hard
• No motivation
• Dislike pain
• Frustration from slow results
• Weather
• Physical limitations
• Lack of money

All of these are poor excuses – some I’ve used many times by the way – but I think the last one (lack of money) is the most ridiculous.  Why does exercise need to cost anything at all?  It’s usually because the person wants a bunch of fancy doo-dads before beginning a new fitness routine.  They want to join a gym; attend group classes; hire a personal trainer; buy individual weights, balls, ropes, mats, steps, water bottles, workout DVDs, cute gym clothes, etc.  You get the picture.  But there are many effective ways to exercise without spending a dime.

I’ve recently committed to a permanent lifestyle of health & fitness.  I promised myself that I’d take better care of my body, eat healthy, and exercise regularly.  To keep that promise, I began the Couch to 5k Running Plan – also known as C25K.   How much did it cost me?  $0.

• I did not join a gym or hire a personal trainer.  I run on the treadmill at the fitness center in my apartment community.  When the weather warms up, I look forward to running outside and inhaling the fresh air.

• I did not buy any fancy workout clothes.  I wear regular old cotton pants, a sports bra, and a T-shirt – all of which were purchased a long time ago.  Before I began running, I also wore them to grocery store on Saturday mornings. LOL! #dontjudgeme

• I did not need any special equipment, just the legs and feet God gave me.

For the first few weeks, I did not spend a dime.  Yes, I wanted to buy the fancy doo-dads because they’re cool and even convenient.  But they aren’t necessary to get started.  Besides, I didn’t know if running was a form of exercise that I’d stick with long term, so I didn’t let the allure of new “stuff” be a roadblock to creating a better, healthier me.  Now that I’m reconditioning my mind/body and have found an exercise that I truly enjoy, I may invest in a few things to help me reach my fitness goals.  But until I see some results, I will save my money.

If you are putting off exercise due to limited finances, please consider another form of exercise that is free or low cost.  One that you enjoy, of course, but doesn’t break the bank.  Here are a few ideas here and here.  You don’t need all the extra stuff.  And your body will thank you.

In the next post, I’ll share a few basic things I’ve recently purchased and some of the fancy doo-dads I want to purchase…one day.