S-S-S-Sold!

on March 21, 2009

Hello! This afternoon was more of the same — viewing commercial and residential properties and trying to decide whether or not we want to move from Florida to North Carolina. We haven’t made any decisions at all, but we sure are having fun!

The Urban Planner in me is kind of freaking out because we get to check out all these mixed-use developments. 🙂

Everything in Charlotte is so pretty. It’s definitely more aesthetically appealing than Orlando.

We grabbed lunch at EarthFare… I was so excited to try this out because I’ve seen it on Kath’s blog so frequently.

I had a salad with BBQ tofu (which was actually yucky and I didn’t eat) and a small roll. With pineapple on the side.

Plus two vegan oatmeal raisin cookies.

And an Honest Tea.

I also had a handful of trail mix:

Around 2, we met up with a realtor who showed my in-laws several properties (and when I say several, I mean 15…. it was exhausting). Check out his license plate:

Hahah.

In between house hunting, I snacked on a few blue chips:

And another cookie:

Addicting. Vegan crack.

Exercise Guilt?

Now we’re back at the hotel for some down time, and then we’re going to dinner. I’m kind of torn because I feel like I should go to the gym and run, but I really don’t want to. I feel badly because I’m registered for a long race (15.0 miles) on April 11 and haven’t been sticking to my schedule at all. It’s not like I cry myself over it or my self-esteem plummets, but I definitely struggle with exercise guilt when I miss my workouts. I hate to admit that, but it’s true.

I am concerned about losing my endurance, not putting on weight. I worry I’m losing strength and that my next long run will feel torturous (which it will).

Does anyone else struggle with exercise guilt? Can you give me any tips for just letting it go? If it’s just a day or two that I’ve missed, its easy for me "get over it," but I do feel quite guilty when I know I’ve generally been slacking on my training schedule for a few weeks.

{ 34 comments }

VeggieGirl March 21, 2009, 3:17 pm
Haha, love the license plate 😀

Hang in there, Caitlin!! Treat your body well and just exercise when you feel like it 🙂
Nicole (anotheronebitesthecrust.wordpress.com) March 21, 2009, 3:27 pm
That license plate made me laugh 😀
Brandi March 21, 2009, 3:40 pm
that’s hilarious! one of the best license plates I’ve ever seen.

I say don’t worry about it – you run a lot, and even if you’re not sticking exactly to your schedule, you’re also not at home right now, which makes it hard. As much running as you do normally, you’ll still do great in that race- just do what you want until you get home and then get back on your schedule. But don’t feel bad 🙂
livelovelaugheatlearn March 21, 2009, 3:43 pm
Exercise guilt sucks, but you hae worked out. It’s not like you’ve completely abandoned working out. It’s that all or nothing mentality thing you talk about!!! What you’re doing is better than nothing at all!!!
Mica March 21, 2009, 3:48 pm
I feel really guilty when I don’t stick to my schedule, but I just try to remember that I won’t lose that much in a couple days. It’ll all be fiiiine!
d.a.r. March 21, 2009, 3:49 pm
I get the exercise guilt too, but I know that if I am not working out, my body is telling me something. Usually I just need a little break both mentally and physically. After a couple of days I usually get back into the swing of things. You trained really hard for your half-marathon, I’m sure you are just pooped!
Amelia (AC/DC: Highways to Health) March 21, 2009, 3:52 pm
I get the exercise guilt too. I’m still figuring out how to deal with it! Sometimes though I think it’s a good thing cause I know I can’t live with the guilt for too many days and I’ll get back out there and do it!
Susan March 21, 2009, 3:55 pm
I think exercise guilt is totally normal, somedays I’ll get it more than others. However, if I find I’m really slacking over the course of a few weeks, I take it as a sign that my body is just getting tired. A week off of exercise all together will totally revamp my energy and enthusiasm and I can throw myself back into training wholeheartedly 🙂
The Healthy Hostess March 21, 2009, 3:56 pm
It sounds like you are having a blast! I totally know how you feel about missing workouts. The one thing I find is that when you miss a workout or a few, you work out so much harder the next week or so after. It almost remotivates you for when you get home! So enjoy your break and kick your own butt next week!! Plus, you always workout hard – so don’t worry!
Rachel March 21, 2009, 3:58 pm
I recently had to skip a whole week of training due to extenuating circumstances, and today was my long run (9 miles)- It was not pretty. My advice- cut yourself some slack when you can help it when you miss, but if its happening repeatedly, well then the guilt might just be your conscious!
Run Saraaah March 21, 2009, 4:08 pm
I get exercise guilt too, I get worried I am going to lose my endurance and slow down. The next time I complete the planned exercise, I try not to worry about it.
Holly March 21, 2009, 4:18 pm
I understand, when I don’t stick to a schedule, it freaks me out! My suggestion: make a NEW schedule starting from your next run!
skinnyrunner.com March 21, 2009, 4:30 pm
i completely feel the same way and don’t know how to change it. ill try to tell myself, its ok to miss a workout and you’ve ran x amount this week, and i still feel bad. arg!!
just me March 21, 2009, 4:41 pm
love the license plate

and i feel like that every time i go down to the glades for a week plus surveying…but i would say try not to worry. our bodies take and do so much more than we think and can adjust pretty quickly. 🙂
Tina March 21, 2009, 4:46 pm
Honestly, I rarely feel guilty. Just get back on the exercise train when you have a chance! 🙂
SarahF March 21, 2009, 5:12 pm
I use to get really bad workout guilt but one day I kind of just “talked back” to myself. I live an extremely busy life and sometimes it’s more important to live than it is to workout. Now instead of filling bad about missing a workout, I congratulate myself for the workouts I do make!
Meg March 21, 2009, 5:28 pm
Love the license plate.

Those vegan cookies sound addicting.
Erin March 21, 2009, 5:42 pm
I get really down on myself too when I don’t follow the schedule (for example, not running the 13 miles I was supposed to run today). I just try to remind myself that tomorrow is another day to get back on track and then try to move forward.
Beth March 21, 2009, 6:14 pm
Ya know Caitlin, if you have a long term interest in planning you can move to NC and go to the master’s program at UNC Chapel Hill. My husband is an alum and it’s the #2 public university program for planning in the U.S.!
Megan March 21, 2009, 6:29 pm
i definitely know what you mean with exercise guilt. this whole semester, I’ve barely exercised AT ALL. and it makes me feel so so guilty to know I’m not making any progress. I’ve just tried really hard to step back and take a look at the big picture.. in the end, relaxing with the Husband and vacationing and doing things like that are the experiences life is about, and they trump exercise for me any day.

looove that license plate. I need a fab plate like that…
carolinebee March 21, 2009, 6:31 pm
i agree with all these lovely people 😀 Our bodies can really shock us with what it can take- and how they can bounce back and be there for us when we need it! Sometimes if i have exercise guilt..i just pretend that instead of NOT WANTING TO, i just had a killer stomach ache, or broke my leg for the day! At least you can trick yourself into momentarily thinking you COULD not have ran that day, and tomorrow you can hooray! ha that may sound totally whack, but i hope you feel better about the whole thing 😀
Matt March 21, 2009, 6:49 pm
I don’t really feel excercise guilt. I look forward to going to bed at night because I know that I’ll be running when I get up!

Hang in there!
Becca March 21, 2009, 7:50 pm
I definitely struggle with exercise guilt. Like I know I should take tomorrow off since I’ll be doing a ton of unpacking in a short amount of time (and my dorm is going to be on the 3rd floor). I feel like I should though because I doubt I’ll be able to the first two days with the orientation schedule.
Amie March 21, 2009, 8:09 pm
I struggle with exercise guilt as well. I just try to tell myself that I will go the next day, or that I will walk a lot or do some cleaning.
Maggie March 21, 2009, 9:06 pm
Earth fare! I’m jealous; I’ve never been.

Cute license plate 🙂

About the exercise guilt – I get it too. I usually feel like I have to exercise first thing in the morning. Nothing bad would happen if I didn’t but I always do some kind of exercise as soon as I get up, and I get panicky if I know that I’m not going to be able to. I think the key is maybe doing some light yoga-type stretching to relax and chill out. That’s what helps me.
Erin March 21, 2009, 9:43 pm
Caitlin, dont worry so much. You are living your life! Don’t beat yourself up! You are very dilligent 99 percent of the time Give yourself a break! Enjoy yourself!
Sarah (lovINmytummy) March 21, 2009, 10:27 pm
Exercise guilt S-s-s-sucks!

I never take as many rest days as I should, and when I do, I feel guilty, but then on my next run I feel SOOOO (s-s-s-soooo?) much better.

I think your endurance is built up so much at this point, you’ll be fine. In fact, you may even be better!
ChickPea March 21, 2009, 10:58 pm
I’ve always wanted to visit an EarthFare–looks like you had a tasty time!
Kelli March 22, 2009, 12:13 am
Stupendous timing re: exercise guilt. Yesterday I had the. worst. hangover. ever. One of those completely debilitating ones where I laid in bed literally all day with the spins. Needless to say, I didnt workout, which I feel awful about, ON TOP OF feeling shame because of the drunchies I succombed to before bed. Overeating+not exercising is not a happy combo. For me to get over it, I realize that I need to live more in the present. I’m not training for anything except life (if that makes sense and is not horribly cheesy). There is no urgency in needing to workout.

Your husband looks really hot in nice clothes….umm…..

also a question: have you worn your HRM while shreddding? details? and i’m sorry if you’ve fielded that one before, I imagine you have, thanks!
Carolina John March 22, 2009, 5:22 am
oh yea i get huge excercise guilt. especially while taking time off to deal with an injury while stil mentally preparing for the race.

i’m glad you’re enjoying charlotte! the carolina’s are a great place to live, i’ve been here all my life, between north and south carolina.

now that you’re married, you shouldn’t forget that north carolina has the better public school system and better college system. yea, they have higher taxes but it’s worth it for the kids you don’t have yet. one day that will become important.

enjoy your time in the carolinas and have a safe trip home!
HangryPants March 22, 2009, 5:32 am
Yep, definitely feel the guilt, but I usually feel better within one day of getting “back on track.” Just try to think of the break as another kind of training for your body – rest time!
Colleen March 22, 2009, 5:52 am
I too struggle with the exercise guilt. This is what I do:

-If I have TIME to exercise then I do SOMETHING…
-If I don’t have time and I’m exhausted I tell myself that resting and getting my stuff (school, work, etc.) done is more important and I tell myself not to dwell on it. (Or at least try not to dwell on it :))
jane March 22, 2009, 6:14 am
i definitely feel exercise guilt, but i try to remind myself that taking it easy for a couple of days is GOOD for your body. and i remind myself that you can’t just loss endurance over the course of a couple weeks. it takes probably 3 solid weeks off to really set you back, and even then you could crank it up fairly easily since you’re used to it.
and most importantly, i realize that if i force myself to exercise just for the sake of not having guilt, then i’m not really enjoying myself or running and i will be more likely to not keep it up for the long term if i’m not having (at least a little) fun.
hope that helps! 🙂
katecooks March 22, 2009, 10:38 am
i know just what you mean with exercise guilt! when i really don’t have it in me to work out, the best thing i try to do is not beat myself up over it, especially when i am on a vacation like you are now…i mean, you should enjoy this time as much as you can and not have a cloud of guilt hanging over your head!! you exercise quite a bit and taking a day or two off to just enjoy life and your family and your husband is never wrong!!!

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