Headed up hill

I took yesterday off because it was Sunday and I was tired, dang it! ;-D However, I used that "extra" time to reevaluate my exercising habits. Up to this point I have simply been picking any one of my many videos at random each day depending on what I felt like doing. I've recently had the desire to return to running at least once a week, but wasn't sure when I'd find the time. I also noticed that I was doing more and more of the easy to moderate videos and that the difficult ones were beginning to gather dust. So... last night I sat down and did some research on intensity levels and whatnot and came up with an actual exercise schedule to follow. Novel concept. ;-P Actually, the idea of a schedule would have put me off the idea of exercising in the beginning (having to do what I didn't want to just because it was on the schedule). However, my motivation has been seriously waning of late, and I knew I needed some additional structure to keep me going. It took me a while to figure out what might work to keep me accountable, and finally I came up with making a schedule. I've also made myself a count-down calendar. I've extended my "ending" date until April 30th, as well. Why April 30th? Why not. Actually, I have no idea what I'm going to do after April. My original goal was to get fit so that we could try for another kid again with me at a healthy weight from the start. However, those plans have been pushed back 6mths in favor of buying a house. So, now I have a TON of extra time to meet my goal and I'm kinda wondering what I'm going to do with it all. I guess I'll just get as fit as I can and enjoy the results for a longer period of time, as opposed to getting fit and immediately forfeiting my body to pregnancy again. Ooooh imagine if I actually looked GOOD in a bathing suit this summer?! Wouldn't that be amazing! Hmmm something to think about.
Anyway, I digress. :-)

Not only have I made myself a schedule. My schedule ups the ante. On Mondays, Tuesday, & Saturdays I will be doing a minimum of 60 minutes exercise. On Wednesday I'll be doing 65 minutes minimum. Thursday will be my day to get out and run or hike, so my exercise time will vary between 90 and 150 minutes. Sundays I'll be doing 80min but some of that is including the relaxation poses of my yoga video, so that will be my "easy" day. Also, included in each of the above mentioned times is a minimum of 15minutes of ab work EVERY DAY.

I've included abs every day because I've realized that that is my biggest hurdle to jump right now. According to most charts I'll reach a healthy body fat % when I'm 174lbs or lower and I'll lower my risk of disease when my waist is 35inches or smaller. Right now I'm at 179lbs and 36.5inches. It may not sound like a long way to go, but I've already lost more than I ever have with a deliberate diet (as opposed to being deathly ill) and I can sense my body wanting to plateau. Also, I'd like to go a little farther and get down to at least 170 if I can. Once I'm there, we'll see what I think about getting down to 165 (my dream weight).