life Archives - Mom Works It Out by Angela Gillis

Welcome to the first Weekly Wrap Up of 2022. The start of the New Year wasn’t the greatest. Sadly, we had to put my dog, Master, down this week. It’s has affected me more than I thought. It’s been hard adjusting to Master not being around, but I know it was the best decision. He was in a lot of pain and could barely walk. I know he’s in a better place.

The year started with several work trips, and I spent too much time in the car. I tried to start with a positive mindset and get back to some healthy habits. Life happens, and things don’t go as planned…but isn’t that just life? Let’s get into the recap.

Willie and I celebrated our anniversary on Sunday. It’s no secret that Willie and I went through some callous times, and I didn’t think we would recover. But things slowly got better, and I’m glad we were able to make it work. I am grateful and happy to be in this place in life with him. I don’t want to divulge too much here; just know we are happy and healthy.

Workouts for the week

Monday: Planned 35 minute easy run. This workout turned into a treadmill walk. I almost skipped this workout but decided I had the time to get it done. I also needed the mental break to deal with my emotions. I spent most of the day driving in the car and then got the news about Master.

Tuesday: unexpected rest day.

Wednesday: Planned 35 min speed work (30 seconds run/30 seconds walk). This workout was rough, and I couldn’t get my feet moving. My legs were dead, probably because I spent so much time in the car on Sunday – Monday. Physically I was tired, and my heart wasn’t in the workout. I did it get it done, and I managed to get my intervals done, but I could have done better.

Thursday: Planned rest, but I missed my Tuesday workout. Thursday was a hectic day of traveling for work and other household things, but I still didn’t want to miss my workout. I didn’t get a chance to exercise until 7 pm. I opted for a 25 min HIIT workout because it was a mix of cardio and strength. But let’s not get it twisted; I’m not too fond of HIIT workouts. I’m an endurance runner, so these types of exercises are HARD for me.

Friday: 90 min long run. This run went horrible. I can’t sugarcoat it. I had to pump myself up on the way to the run. I almost backed out of the run so that I could do it another day. I figured I wouldn’t feel any better the following day, so I needed to get it done now. The weather wasn’t my favorite: cold and windy, which ended up messing with me for the rest of the day. I have Reynaud’s Syndrome, which is why I’m always wary about running in colder weather. I couldn’t feel my hands and feet the entire run. Yes, I had on gloves. I could barely run, but I needed the time on my feet.

Saturday: Schedule a 20-minute recovery run that turned into 20 min recovery ride, 15 min strength for runners, and 10 minutes of glute and calves foam rolling. I looked forward to doing my strength workout. It was tough because I was physically tired from the week. It was nice to get back on the bike and not run. Therefore, I will make some changes to take care of my body in the future.

What I ate

Being out of town and eating “healthy” is not easy, but I wanted to keep things in check. Before leaving, I prepped food (turkey spaghetti) for when I would return, so there was no excuse for eating out when I got back home.

After learning I would have to put my dog down on Monday, I wanted to eat my feelings. IT would have been easy because I was out of town and out of my comfort zone. I sat in the Sonic parking lot for almost an hour debating on whether I should order some ice cream or not. Eventually, I decided it wasn’t a great idea. I went back to my hotel, ate the food I prepped, and ate a salad from Wal-Mart. This was a telling moment because I didn’t eat my emotions, and I made the right choice. I’m still amazed at how much growth I’ve had over the years and how much I still struggle with some things.

For being on the go and spending so much time in the car, I did well being forced to eat out and find the “healthy” options. I ordered a Taco Bell power bowl, which ended up being rice and beans with tomatoes and lettuce by the time I made the substitutions. But it was filling, and it kept me full, so I didn’t crave any snacks. And then there’s my go-to Salata when I’m in a pinch. Thursday, I didn’t eat lunch until 3 pm, but I had my salad in my car and got all my veggies in. Eating out, even fast food doesn’t have to be unhealthy. And it’s not the end of the world if you’re not making the right choices all the time. Life is about balance, and sometimes you want to eat chicken nuggets or the hamburger, so do it. But you have to learn moderation and balance to enjoy those things without putting yourself on the guilt train. (Which you should NEVER do!)

Everything else

I finally finished Take a Hint, Dani Brown. Take a Hint is the second book in a three-part series about the Brown sisters. I enjoyed this book better than the first book. I’m glad my lack of sleep allowed me to finish this book. I tried to finish it before the end of 2021, but I didn’t quite make it.

I watched Cobra Kai season 4, and it was PHENOMENAL. Fun fact: I love Karate Kid, and when Cobra Kai came out, I knew I was all in. The third season was good because the season was filled with nostalgia from Karate Kid part II, but it was boring. It was made up for in season 4 because the story advanced and was very exciting. I’m growing tired of the Tori storyline, and Miguel and Sam don’t seem like an excellent match.