Las Vegas Vacation: Falling off the Fitness Wagon

This past weekend my boyfriend and I took our first trip together, to Vegas. It's the city of love, right?

While walking the strip I was drawn to a number of restaurants, all smartly posting their menus outside their respective entrances. So many delicious sounding foods. Then there were all of the dessert shops that I was lured into. All of their pastries, cakes, candies, and chocolates beckoning to me. While I did succumb to many temptations while walking The Strip, I made sure to incorporate extra calorie burning techniques wherever possible.

I raced up stairs instead of taking the escalators, every time we entered an elevator I did ten squats, watching the fountains at the Bellagio gave me a good excuse to do standing push-ups against the rail, waiting in the airport provided a good opportunity for tricep dips on my seat, and anytime was a good time for some isometric tummy moves.

While I may not have come out on top of the calorie consumption to calorie burning ratio, I still felt like I did better than most people while they're in Vegas. Going on vacations is always fun, and it gives me a good excuse to relax for a little while. The trick is ensuring that these vacations don't give me an excuse to slack off in my fitness routine.

Run, Run, Running Around

I'm not a big fan of running in the cold, in fact, I almost border on HATING running in the cold actually, but for some reason I have really been enjoying it this week. I'm not sure if it's the new running gear that Mike (the BF) bought me (I have refused to buy technical running clothes for most of my life because I have acquired so much free running gear through school sports, and organized races, so it's kind a new phenomenon to me)or if my attitude about the winter months has improved in my old age, but either way running in the cold and the rain has been extremely enjoyable the past couple days.

I'm planning on a 6 mile trail run this afternoon and part of my is hoping for a downpour (I know, careful what you wish for) because it makes the trails much more slippery, which equals much more EXCITING! Plus, running in the mud makes you appear to be extremely hard core.

Just a random side note to self: I must hit the gym today! Need to focus on abs and incorporate ball work.

The Solo Runner

There is just something about going out for a solo run that is somehow much more refreshing than running in a group. Don't get me wrong, I love running with other people when the time calls for it, but it feels cleansing to go on a solo run a few times a week.

I hadn't been able to get a solo run in for awhile given the way that my schedule fit with my boyfriend's schedule(a random aside: He has gone back to working nights which means it's more difficult to go for a run alone unless it is during the wee hours of the morning). Moving right along, I went running by myself yesterday afternoon because he had to testify in court and the whole proceeding ended up running late (no puns intended).

It felt great to get out there, to be able to run at my pace and not worry that it was too fast or too slow. It was warm enough to wear shorts, and that felt liberating as well. Basically yesterday's run epitomized why it is that I am a runner to begin with. To feel a sense of freedom that no other sport can lend you. With running it's all about you, all about whatever it is that you want to get out of the run.

Get Fit While You Sit (Yes folks! It is indeed possible)!

Lately I've been feeling a like I have zero time to exercise. Between work, my relationship, spending time with friends, studying, and trying to complete everyday tasks, I feel like I have no time to fit in the amount of exercise that I want to be getting. In order to rememdy this situation I brought my exercise ball to work, hiding it beneath my desk and only taking it out when I know everyone else is either preoccupied or at lunch (see: not very often), and quite honestly, the thought of rolling around on the ball in my slacks and heels is not really that appealing to me.

I think I have finally found the solution to this problem! I came across this eBook entitled, Get Fit While You Sit and even though it sounds like an exercise program that some old folks might be using, I'm still diggin' it. It gave me some really good ideas for sneaking more exercise in throughout the day, primarily at work, which makes me feel as though I am GETTING PAID TO EXERCISE! :) Anyway, I wouldn't necessariyly recommend it as a primary source of exercise (keep in mind that I am just a little obsessed with running), but it is a really great way of burning a few extra calories, breaking up the monotony of an 8 hour day of working at a desk, and having some fun too.