Thursday thanks

I had an entirely different "thanks" planned for today...
But then I got out of bed, stepped on the scale, and the first two digits were digits I haven't seen in a year. (Maybe longer?) And yesterday my sprint intervals were finally back into the range that I consider to be my personal fast pace (6:50 for six 2-minute intervals with 1 minute rest).

Source: google.com via Beth on Pinterest

I don't talk about weight much because I am more concerned about being STRONG than I am about being skinny. I know that weight fluctuates with hydration, and that I can lose muscle and be "lighter" without being any healthier.

I debated not even writing about weight, because it's not the number that matters...

But I also know that I picked up some bad habits when I moved to Florida. (I mentioned this - briefly - back in November.) And those bad habits led to a 15-pound weight gain.

The scale showed a symptom of a larger problem: I was not as fit as I once was. What bothered me most was how much speed I had lost...

I spent years logging miles and lapping the track to bring my half marathon time from 2:20 down to 1:53, and I was still getting faster!

But then I allowed those bad habits creep in.
And in November I ran a 2:11 half marathon.

WRONG WAY!!!
Image source

How did I get almost 20 minutes slower?!?

I could blame the horrible Florida weather for messing with my training.

I could blame rich Southern food for tempting me with buttery goodness.

But that would all just be a load of crappy excuses.

To be clear: In my mind, it is always respectable to finish 13.1 miles, regardless of pace.

But I know I am capable of more.

So I took a hard look at my eating and exercise habits.
I made some adjustments:

• More vegetables.
• Meatless Mondays.
• More complex carbs to replace the simple ones. (Hello quinoa and barley! Nice to see you again!)
• Weight lifting three days a week.
• More high-intensity interval training. (Sweaty weather is no excuse to skip track work.)
• Getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night.

No "miracle diet."
No starvation or deprivation.

There was no overnight change.
But after four months, I see results.
I'm leaner.
We bought 15-pound weights to add to our household collection, because the 10s were getting too easy.
My muscles show.

So I'm thankful that those numbers on the scale prove what I already know. And I'm thankful that interval training has been paying off: a sub-24 minute 5k is within reach again...

Are you a scale-watcher? A pace-tracker? Or do you ignore the numbers?

And... more importantly:
What are YOU thankful for this week?