HYC Update: Need to get out of the house (and moving!)

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

I’ve sort of gotten out of the habit of working out since the end of the school year when it was crazy-hectic.  I’ve done a few workouts since school got out, but nothing to write home about.  I had tons of errands to do last week, my first full week of summer.  Then Lulu arrived, and we haven’t left each other’s side for more than a few minutes. I’m feeling a bit cooped up right now, because I hate the way she whines and whimpers when I put her in her crate, even for a few minutes.  I know I need to get over it, because in 2 months, I’ll be back at school and I’ll need to leave her for 6+ hours a day.

I have taken her with me on a few car trips, and she does really, really well.  She seems to really enjoy the puppy seat I got her, which makes it much easier.  We’ve gone to my parents’, PetSmart, the vet, and the park.

Speaking of which, we took our first “real walk” yesterday at my favorite neighborhood spot, The Rose Garden.  It’s a gorgeous spot, and while dogs aren’t allowed on the inside of the park (for obvious reasons), there is a ton of grass and roses on the outside, too.  Plus there are some really beautiful older homes to gander at while you walk.  Lulu was in absolute heaven.  “Grass!  People!  Other dogs!  Lots of things to distract me!”  🙂  You should’ve seen her, poor puppy.  She didn’t know what to do.  She’d start off running at full clip and then she’d suddenly stop and lie down.  It was hilarious, but it did get a bit frustrating after a while.  We went about 1/2 a mile in 20 minutes.  LOL.  LOTS of stopping and starting.  I know that I just have to continue to be patient with her, and the more we walk, the better she’ll get at it.  I also plan to enroll us in puppy classes in July, and one of the main things they teach is leash control, which I need.  I’m doing my best, but her excitement is hard to contain.

Other than our walk, the only other exercise I did yesterday was the Wii Fit+ for 15 minutes.  So, it’s definitely an improvement on the previous 2-3 weeks, but it’s definitely not the Bella’s Boot Camp that I want to get to this summer.  I’m giving myself the summer off from food tracking, as well as the scale and going to focus my efforts on activity.  And I feel very strongly that by eating more intuitively (only when hungry) and making activity the priority, I’ll see success this summer.  But in order to really see the success I need to get moving.

I know that going for a good walk with Lulu (as well as taking her out front several times a day) will be a good, relaxing activity, but I also need to really move my body at the gym, on my bike, and in the pool.  I need to use the gym to the fullest and take all of those classes that I’ve been wanting to.  Starting this week, starting today, I am committing to getting in at least an hour and half of activity a day. This will be an hour of heavy exercise and at least half an hour of walking Lulu/Wii Fit+, etc.  I know I can do it, because I did it last summer.  Plus, since I’m off now and lots of my other friends are working, I have a lot of time on my hands.  Working out is a free way to enjoy my day and make sure I don’t feel so cooped up.

I think getting out of the house and working out will also help me with crating Lulu. It will be good for me to slowly get her used to being without me.  And we’re going to start today.  I have a nail/pedi appointment at 10:15, and I’ll be gone about 2 1/2 hours.  I worry about how she’ll react, but then I remind myself that we do 6 hours every night and she’s just fine.  At night I’m in the same room with her, though.  But, just like with anything in life, I have to take the first (puppy) step in order for us to be successful.  Wish me (and Lulu) luck.