May 14, 2012 12:20 AM HKT

Days 83 and 84

The hammer is starting to go down.

Yesterday I had an exchange with Peter asking him some questions on jumping rope where I said that my cardio wasn't that much better despite all the rope jumping I had been doing.  I then went to the gym and ripped off my best run in a few years yesterday - 3.29 miles in 30 minutes and I definitely left a lot on the table, there was gas in the tank and I never struggled at all, I could have done more.  

I have a great run in me.  I have been loving the way my body is capable of doing more and I have some running goals for this year ("the hill" and "the monster hill" being two routes I have had on the docket for a while now) but I have added in "2.5 miles in 20 minutes" which was my 3x a week run when I was in my 20s.  I have that "speed work" run in me, which blows my mind.  I will get there, jumping rope is blowing my mind for how it is helping my cardio.  After the run yesterday I did about 90 minutes of yard work in the evening instead of mat work.  I was spreading mulch and did about 7 yards, which was great for my legs, shoulders and arms.  A lot of sweat lost.  I also did well on the diet but had an indulgence - a sugar free milkshake when I took the kids out for ice cream to enjoy the day.

I am struggling with shedding weight, I seem like I might be at a plateau as there hasn't been much weight loss, but that may also be because of some of the indulgences from various celebrations (I never realized how many "celebrations" there are during the spring) and the muscle I have been adding, but I really would like to see those numbers start coming in again.

Started today with 600 skips on the rope before breakfast and it being Mother's Day I will be doing at least 2 hours of hard labor in the yard spreading mulch, dropping dirt, the whole deal.  My legs and arms will get their work.