30 Days Hath September, APRIL, June and November

You would figure with the number of times I write about 30-day challenges something would change. I am happy to report for the most part when I go to Starbucks I only get a tall iced latter; every once in a while I will get a venti, but that is so infrequently I am very proud of it. I am still doing pretty well with no TV after 10:30, once in a while I get a nice case of insomnia and all bets are off. So here we are, April Fool’s Day, there are 30 days in this month so I am hitting the 30 day challenge, yet again! I know, why don’t I just give up. Well, I refuse to just give up!

A few things about this blog have changed. First and foremost, the weight tracker. It is a little disconcerting seeing how much weight I have lost vs. the total amount I am shooting for. So, it now reflects my short term goal (I shoot for 10% of the total amount at a time). At the bottom I also have added my countdown to my two “A” races this year. I have my half ironman in September and the Denver Marathon in October. The half ironman is not so much an “A” race more like a test to see how I am improving.

In March I had 68.5 miles on the books but only completed 52.23 (yuck!). That is definitely something that needs to be worked on! That barely over 75% of the miles I should have completed. I have a 4 mile run on the books for today that got moved to tomorrow (Monday was a little rough so everything got bumped back a day) with that miles included I would have been over 80%.

April has no races scheduled! Nada! Nothing! So this will be a good quiet time to continue training.

Attend Weight Watchers meeting every week (even bad weeks)

Complete all BRC FIT training sessions each week (doesn’t have to be on the exact days)

Water – 75 oz every day (this includes weekends)

another step in the right direction

Here we are approaching the end of the 30 day challenge, all I can say is I completed one of the four items! I am not to upset about it for the simple fact I am back up ad moving! I have put in more miles in the past month than I have in a while and I am feeling great! I am training with the Boulder Running Company Women’s FIT Team, I am enjoying my second week in.

Week 2	Miles Scheduled	Miles Completed	Comments
Monday	3 – 3.5	3.5
Tuesday	3 – 3.5	3.5
Wednesday	45 – 60 min cross
Thursday	4
Friday	45 – 60 min cross
Saturday	5 – 6		St. Patrick’s 5K
Sunday	Rest

The one challenge I have been able to stick to is the tall Starbucks. I have not gone back for seconds, I have not tried the ‘just one won’t hurt’. I get my one tall (and not on all days either) and call it good!

As far as the water goes some days I am really good, others, not so much. I do drink water every day, I just need to keep working on that one. Writing down everything I eat, I really need to work on that. I also need to work on my night time meals. During the day I am great! At night, yea, no! 30 day shred? I really sucked at that one.

Before my run I wasn’t feeling right. I have been fighting a headache for a few days now and then I got paperwork in the mail to re-evaluate child support, again! I get to go through this almost every year. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do until I got downstairs. I was torn between the treadmill (you can get a really good workout on that sucker!) or a nice easy relaxed run on the treadmill. Either way, I knew I was going to get a session in because I always feel better afterwards! Once I got down stairs I decided I would go ahead and get on the treadmill. I decided I would push my endurance a smidge. I ran 3 minutes at a 12 min mile and then walked 1 minute for the first mile. I was feeling pretty good. Second mile I did 1 minute at my 12 min pace, then a minute at a 10 min pace and then a minute at the 12 min pace and then walked a minute. Third mile was 4 minutes running and 1 minute walking. The last half mile was running! I know I can go longer between walk breaks, but I want to work back up to it. I do not want to get sidelined because of another damn injury or a flare up. I was very happy that I went down and got my run in.

Yesterday I did my run in my new Brooks Infiniti Capri and one of my new Brooks shirts. I have to say, I love my Nike, but the way the Brooks shirts feel… J The pants were comfortable too. OH! And my new running bra! I got that one at my favorite running store (Colorado Running Company), love it! It is comfortable and I don’t knock myself out when I am running in it! That was the second run I did in it (I washed it between wears) and that thing is comfortable!

Here is to another step in the right direction!

Day 5 of the Shred, Day 9 of the challenge

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day which is usually a depressing time for me and the lovey-dovey crap and the blah, blah, blah isn’t the greatest thing for a single gal. Yesterday was oddly peaceful for me. I have been a single gal for going on eight years (yes, there have been dates here and there, but nothing really special), during these years I have taken the opportunity to find me. Even with a crappy diagnosis I think I can honestly say I am happy with where I am, with who I am. But if anyone knows any great single guys!

Yesterday morning my feet were a little tender so I figured I would not do my 30-minute shred in the morning. I got down to the gymlet for a good 45 minute ride (I really can’t wait until I get a spin bike), I picked up one of my monkeys (my sister picked up the other one), we hit the grocery store and picked up the last of our week’s groceries and then headed home. We were having fish sticks for dinner so I left my sister and my boys to cook the fish and I ran upstairs to get my shred in. Yesterday was the first day I used weights, ok, they were 3 pounds but I still got a good workout in! I was heading back downstairs right as the kitchen time went BEEP! I got everyone salad and their rice and veggies, we all sat down and had a good dinner and I was out before 9pm!

This morning my feet were tender again, so again I didn’t get up for my workout. During lunch I got to the gymlet and got a 2.5 mile run/walk in. Felt good. I am not sure I will make it home after class in time to do my 30-minute shred, but I have come to grips that I will not be able to do 30 days straight of the video, but it is a supplemental workout, so I will do what I can (while listening to my body!). My water consumption is not doing so well right now, that is something I will get back on track. My eating has been pretty good, I did splurge a little over the weekend but I still managed to come in around my calories, so I couldn’t have been to bad. In the past I was horrible about eating fruits. They were one thing I really wouldn’t eat, but lately have been enjoying some fruit with my morning snack (strawberries or pineapple) and in the afternoon a nice big juicy orange! My boss came to talk to me and he had just finished eating one, since then I have made sure I have packed on in my lunch and boy of boy are they good!

While reading another blog (when I remember whose I will update this) I saw something about Cool Running’s running plan. Using their plan I start training for the Denver Marathon on 23 May 2011. Obviously I have a few conflicts, but that is no big deal. But I am hoping to join the women’s training thing around here and see if that helps any. I still have time to figure all that out! My focus for now is my century!

Oh! And my boys (the two legged ones) did get me a thing of daffodils of Valentine’s Day! (I am not a fan of roses)

Day 7 - Taking a day off

Here we are ¾ of the way through the weekend and I have to say I am not doing so well on my 30 day challenge. I didn’t not hit play on Friday, instead I was outside trying to shovel water away from my driveway. There was just the right mixture of snow, ice and water that I could see having some major issues Saturday morning. Saturday I didn’t hit play either but I did make it to spinning and let me tell you I was so happy to be there. It was great to be on a spin bike again (I can’t wait until I am on MY bike again). Today, well, I am just tried so I am taking a day off from workouts. My water intake has also slipped over the weekend. I am excited to report that I did go down 6.6 pounds at my Weight Watchers weigh in yesterday. I was wishful thinking a 7 pound loss, so when I was the 6.6 loss I started doing the happy dance!

I picked up my bike from the shop on Saturday, hopefully the warm weather we are having will make it possible to hit the roads sooner rather than later. Either way, she is home and ready to go!

Tomorrow morning is back to waking up and getting my 30 minutes in. Tomorrow is also a stationary bike day, I think it will be hills.

Well, tomorrow is back to work, even though I could use about another three days of sleep!

OH! I signed up for the Denver Marathon today. I think that means all my races for the year are now paid for.

30-Day Challenge

11 – 12 Feb 11

Ø 76 oz of water every day – got it in for Friday, but not quite on Saturday

ü TV off no later than 10:30 (Still doing well on this one!)

ü Down size Startbucks (I am sitting in Starbucks right now and have my tall next to me, I didn’t have any yesterday!)

ü Logging intake – haven’t writing down yet, but that will be easy to do.

Ø 30-day Shred – nope! L

Day 5 - Ready for the weekend

Here we are, it is finally Friday! I decided I would sleep in this morning and hit play tonight. I did get down to the gymlet for a nice 30 minutes of 2 minutes running/2 minutes walking. I didn’t make it yesterday before class, so I figured I would get it in today!

My boys, my sister and I went to HuHot the other night and my sister was about to take Cuervo out (he had reached his limit of people and noise) but she had to stop because of a song that was playing. I could barely hear it because of the surrounding noise (my hearing isn’t great in crowded areas due to being in the military). She sent me the info and I have to say, I can see why she didn’t want to leave before the song was over. The song is great and the video is really well done.

Anyway, tomorrow is weigh in day, ok, I would like to be down 7 pounds (just because of the 5 pound gain from last week) but I will be happy with any weight loss!

30-Day Challenge

10 Feb 11

ü 76 oz of water every day (3+ bottles )

ü TV off no later than 10:30 (I fell asleep a few minutes before it went off!)

ü Down size Startbucks (I am getting used to having talls now)

ü Logging intake

ü 30-day Shred – Every day

It is now Day 4 and I am off and running!

Last night was another one of those nights I was to tired to cook, my sister was still not feeling well, we decided we would go to Applebee’s (kid’s eat for 99 cents on Wednesdays), when we got there the parking lot was full! So we figured we had better go elsewhere. Up the street a smidge (in the same block) was a new place we have wanted to try HuHot. The smell of it when driving by YUM! We got there and found out it is an all you can eat Mongolian BBQ. Still smelled good! You get to pick out everything you want and then they cook it up for you while you wait, easy enough. When I got up to the grill I asked it would be possible for my food not to touch any meat, “vegetarian?” ‘yes’ (I wasn’t going to go into the whole fisheterian thing). The cleaned a spot for my food, put utensils around it to make sure nothing could touch it and announced when my food was going on and coming off. After speaking to our waitress (very nice lady) she said they have no problems working people and their dietary restrictions. I have every intention of going back again. I only went through once, but my older son got four plates!

This morning I did not want to get up! Freddie kept me up all night chewing of stuff and getting into stuff he shouldn’t be. When I actually cracked an eye opened I saw my jeans that are two sizes smaller than what I am in now hanging on my door. Grumbling I got up. This video is kicking my butt, well, actually it is kicking my calves and thighs (I was going down the stairs as I was leaving work yesterday, talk about sore!). First set of jumping jacks I had to stop before it was time because of a twinge in my knee, but rest of them I was able to do. I got interrupted midway through the workout because two puppies and one child all tried to go down the stairs at the same time. Puppies were fine, kid was not! After making sure everything was ok and giving him a reassuring hug I started the “butt kicks” section again and continued on. I finished up got cleaned up, Cuervo is fine, he and the stairs have just had a few to many issues this week (he feel down and hit his knee on Monday). I think part of it is because his mind is elsewhere. I know he will kill me if he found out I posted this but he and his girlfriend are planning to have their first kiss today (isn’t young love cute!). He has asked if we can get her a Valentine’s Day present when we go shopping this weekend (he is in 4^th grade and is already thinking about all that).

I am hoping to get a short run in today (Jose has an appointment, I have class, not much time, but I will try!), tomorrow is the pool with the kids (we all swim laps and then it is play time, good way to end the week). Saturday I am signed up for a spinning class and then I have WW weigh in. This morning I couldn’t help myself, I had to get on the scale, I needed to see if all this work is doing anything for my numbers. I was in my work clothes (my heaviest work pants) and my boots on I was down 2+ pounds since last Saturday’s weigh in! I have a feeling I will have no issue getting my rump out of bed tomorrow morning!

OH! And the countdown to CDA is under 500 days now! I know I am only guessing at the date at this time, but it is still exciting!

30-Day Challenge

9 Feb 11

ü 76 oz of water every day (3 bottles [24 oz] of water plus two cups at dinner)

ü TV off no later than 10:30 (fell asleep before TV went off, but kept getting woken up L)

ü Down size Startbucks

ü Logging intake (had to do an educated guess for dinner, but I did log everything!)

ü 30-day Shred – Every day

Day 3 (10% done!!!!)

When I got home last night I was COLD! Cuervo was curled up in his chair and Jose was on my bed and they were watching TV, my poor sister was in her room sick as can be. She came up to greet me and told me my boys had been really good all day. They watched TV and when they needed something they would come talk to her, otherwise they left her alone (they are amazing at doing that). Before I did anything else I got changed and hit play! The first round of jumping jacks I realized my calves for one heck of a workout on Monday! Freddie and Charlie tried to help me again. This time Freddie figured I need help staying up so he stood under my upper chest while I was trying to do push-ups. My sister came and rescued me! I was able to finish my workout (my knee played nice, thank goodness). Then it was dinner time. Quesadillas! I did have two, but I measured everything out. I only had a little bit of fat free cheese, and I did stack on the lettuce and cilantro, some no salt black beans and some other stuff. I thought I had made good choices, that is until I figured out the calories! According to Body Bugg and entering in everything I did eat yesterday I still came out without any issues. I was just shy of my goal calories in for the day. Monday it looks like I was way lower than I was supposed to be. I can now see where I am falling to short or going to far over. I figure 100 calories either way is manageable.

This morning I was back on schedule. I figured out how to get out of bed and Cuervo decided it was necessary to sleep in my room again (I think he just likes sleeping in his chair [it is one of those big round ones] and Charlie has no issues climbing up into the chair with him!). When I got out of bed Cuervo had packed up his chair and got it out of my way so I was able to get right into it. I hit play and again my calves started asking me what the heck I thought I was doing! This time during push-ups Freddie came over and started giving me kisses every time I came up. Then he decided it was play time with Charlie so they went outside. I have been doing the 30-day shred without weights, I am hoping to get to the store to pick up some dumbbells tonight. I don’t think I will need anything more than 3 – 5 pounds (for now). With my shoulder not back to 100% yet, this workout is great, it is not to strenuous on it but it does work out.

New bike pants (don’t worry, I did laundry Monday night) + running skirt (put on backwards [oops]) = perfect combo. My boss was in the gymlet today and I was so glad I had my skirt on. I am sure he wouldn’t have cared, but I would not have been able to get a good ride in trying to fix the back of my pants (they don’t go WAY down, but they are further down than I am happy with). After chatting with my boss for 5 minutes I got into my ride. Little hilly (nothing like what I am going to need for Elephant Rock – stayed between levels 5 – 9 with RPMS between 87 – 95).

30-Day Challenge

8 Feb 11

ü 76 oz of water every day

ü TV off no later than 10:30 (I have been falling asleep before my TV even think about shutting off!)

ü Down size Startbucks

ü Logging intake

ü 30-day Shred – Every day!

Day 2

My background on this blog is very fitting today! It is snowy and COLD out there! I think I heard our high is supposed to be a whopping 8 degrees (the low is -14 [that is without windchill!], who knows!

I have not hit play yet. Cuervo had a very rough day yesterday so he sent up camp in my room. Today is a snow day and sadly (luckily for me) my sister is coming down with the same thing I just got over! So my sister and my boys are staying home. Since Cuervo wasn’t getting up his “nest” didn’t move so I didn’t have space, but that is ok. I WILL press play tonight! Walking in this morning my knee kept bucking backwards (and having to be on the phone with my ‘boss’ for two hours) my lunch time workout got moved (if class gets cancelled tonight, I might sneak in a treadmill workout before I go home). Which means I absolutely will hit play tonight!

Yesterday I managed to get more than 100oz of water in! We ended up going to dinner at Red Robin (Cuervo loves that place and we thought it might help). They have veggie burgers there, but I didn’t want all those calories! So, I was very good and got a Cobb salad with no meat or dressing. When I got it I removed more than half of the blue cheese and about half of the olives. I was a little surprised that my sister didn’t realize how fatty olives are (she couldn’t figure out why I had removed them). Anyway, I did log everything I ate, to include my night time snack of popcorn!

Here is to Day 2!

Day 1

Here we are Day 1 of my 30 days. This morning when my alarm went off I told myself I can go ahead and sleep some more and I will do my work out this afternoon.

Let me rewind a bit. I went to Weight Watchers on Saturday morning and found I out put on 5 pounds, no real surprise, but DAMN! That is ok, I am getting back on track, I am not drinking a gallon of orange juice a day and laying in bed and doing no real physical activity (hey, I was sick!).

So, like I said, here we are Day 1. First thing is first, I did get my butt out of bed and hit play! My boys were supposed to keep the fur kids out of the way, but that didn’t quiet go as planned. I found out that the proper way to do crunches is ever time you come up, you get a puppy kiss! Jumping jacks a puppy needs to sit in front of you and wiggle his butt and then when you start butts kicks (I was very careful) he grabs onto your workout bottoms and provides more resistance for you! Mind you this is after only one time through… it was a good workout, I was sweating! And the 30 minutes (well, 27 something) flew by! I am looking forward to hitting play again tomorrow.

I also made it to the gymlet during lunch! I got a new pair of bikes pants (capris) this weekend and I had to take them for a test ride! I went to the bike shop to drop Baby off (she needs a new chain, so far, they had just started on her when I got that call), I can’t honestly be expected to walk in the front door go all the way to the back drop off my bike and walk back out the front door without doing some shopping! Plus I found out that their big sale will be the second weekend of March so I started my wish list! J Anyway, new bike pants, when I tried them on at the store I didn’t realize they were low riders (add in the fact my rump is on the large side-plumber!)… note to self: wear skirt over the top! It was a good thing no one else was in the gymlet with me! I did 45 minutes interval (2 minutes at level 5/2@level 10) today and my tush didn’t start hurting until I had 11 minutes left. Except for trying to pull up the back of my pants the entire time I like the pants. The padding is good. Usually I am uncomfortable about 10 minutes, it took me 34 minutes to get there today.

I am very proud to report I got my tall iced, non-fat, decaf latte; trust me my Starbucks people were shocked! I packed my food for the day… two serving of egg beaters egg white, ½ a serving of non-fat cheese, Morningstar sausage patty for breakfast; Greek yogurt and strawberries for morning snack; hummus, cucumber, cilantro wrap and carrots for lunch; and then cheese and crackers for afternoon snack. I think we are having non-fried eggplant parmesan for dinner (a guy in the grocery store told me the recipe, hope it works out well!).

Water – one plus bottle down, a little less than two to go!

1 Month

So Monday is the big day! The day I start Jillian Michael’s 30-Day shred AND a 30-Challenge! This will be in addition to bike time and running time.

After the 30 day challenges I have done in the past, I know there are some things that will just be setting me up for failure if I add to the list. So, my biggest goal is to make it as realistic.

First thing is first… water intake! I drink water, but nowhere near enough. I have my nice little CamelBak water bottle on my desk and I have one at home (if I bring my work bottle home I forget it there for a few days and that is annoying). So, Item 1 will be drinking 3 bottles of water (76 oz) each and every day! This is water, not Starbucks, not soda. Water!

Another one is my TV. Yes, I am one of those millions of people who have a TV in their room and I go to sleep to it. I have it set to go off at 10:30 every night, but sadly more often than not I turn it right back on for another hour or so. SO, the TV goes off, it stays off! This includes the weekends!

30-days of nothing larger than a tall drink at Starbucks! I know it sounds crazy. I have managed to go from a venti to a grande, now I just have to go down to a tall! This means less money AND less calories. OH! And getting multiple Starbucks in one day is a no-no!

Oh! This is one I need to work on (for both WW and Body Bugg!) – tracking my food! I suck at it! During the week I am ok, but once the weekend hits… forget it!

Since the 30-day Shred is a 30 day program my last goal is to get my workout in every single day! All 30-days I will hit play!

On a side note, I love the tri gear from De Soto. I can’t stand my legs and they have tri Capri bottoms. Every so often I go to their site and check out what they have, more often than not I hit the clearance bin. The other day I went in and my favorite bottoms were in there AND they were the pink and blue but they didn’t have my size, they had one size down! So I ordered it.They also had tops on sale, again, in pink and again a size smaller.

Now, realistically I will never wear a bikini (I bought one a while back as an inspiration outfit), but this is a whole different story! I also found a tri suite I like (the picture at the top)!

Gotta love it when you find stuff that is at least 50% off!!!! For those of you who know what I look like… don’t worry, I will not wear the top by itself after I get out of the water!

30-Day Challenge

Ø 76 oz of water every day

Ø TV off no later than 10:30

Ø Down size Startbucks

Ø Logging intake

Ø 30-day Shred – Every day!

30-days

So someone somewhere was kind enough to share their bug with me and like a good mommy I shared with my kiddos. Because of everything else that I deal with I got smart and only waited a week before heading to the doc. A week later, Z pack and some really good cough meds I am returning to me! Over the weekend when I begrudgingly went grocery shopping with my sister I picked up three workout videos by Jillian Michaels. 30-day shred, Yoga something and weight something or another (did I mention the cough medicine was the good stuff with the codeine in it?!). Obviously I have absolutely no intention of starting this week but I will start hitting play next Monday, and I will see what Jillian can do for me. Today I am excited because I feel I will be able to make it to the gymlet for a nice easy workout.
To add to the whole weight loss battle, I have restarted Weight Watchers (I was so excited when I had only put on 9 pounds after my marathon weekend trip [we were there for two weeks]). When I went to my first WW meeting I was still under what I had been when I had first started. YAY! I also got a BoddyBugg, hey, I want to see how my calorie burning goes throughout the day. It has been interesting so far, but I haven’t had it during a workout, let alone a good workout! I need to be close to MY goal weight by next June (no, I am not getting married this is even better… I will be doing my first full Ironman!) Between now and then I have a century ride and a half Ironman that I do not want to be carrying all this weight for.
So, from 7 Feb – 9 Mar 11 I will be doing the 30-day shred and to make it a little more interesting I will throw in a 30-day challenge! (Oh, and trust me, a full review of the videos will follow!)

September

I didn’t want to post this until I could post a full report. So here is my report!
My 30-day challenge had some issues along the way…
30 Day Challenge:
Sodas out – FAIL!
Completed at least 90% of training mileage – YES! GOT IT! (got 100%!!!)
Miss no more than two P90X workouts – FAIL! But in my defense PT and marathon training in addition to P90X plus issues with children not the greatest combination!

More importantly…
I lost a whole 3 pounds this month which for the record I blame my trip to Taco Bell!!! (I lost nothing this week but my total weight loss to date is 12.4 pounds)
Mileage for September is 91.26 – goal mileage for the month… 91 miles (mind you, not all of the miles are truly pounding the pavement, enough of them are elliptical machine miles – my doctor begged me to keep the pounding down as much as possible so I have traded a run or two mid-week runs in for elliptical machine workouts)

Next month goals:
Keep up the weight loss (no matter how slow it may be)
Books show 164 miles for October… school starts for me again on Tuesday so I am shooting for the at least 90% again.
Track everything I eat!
Swim at least once a week

Oh! And it turns out I am racing tomorrow! Hey, I have a 6 miler (pace) on the books, this is a 10K for a good cause, so why not!

Oh my love, how I have missed you!

First I have to admit the 30 days without soda thing has gone a little off track! The end of last week was one of the weeks I wanted something sweet and my Diet Dr. Pepper hit the spot perfectly!
I am in my final week or so of pain and torture. To make sure everything is going the way it should be my doc told me to go ahead and hit the pool (something I have not done in a long time). Cuervo had soccer practice last night (an hour and a half long) so while he was getting ready for practice, I was getting ready to hit the pool. I told myself no more than a half hour. I had looked at the local pool schedules and saw the Y only had one lane opened for lap swim during that time so I figured I would go to 24 (yes, I have two gym memberships, the Y has the better spinning and yoga classes, 24 has no kids!). I dropped Cuervo off at practice and off I went. I couldn’t even find a parking spot at 24 so I headed to the Y. I found a spot and there were lots of people heading out! I went in, grabbed my swim stuff and headed to the pool. To my surprise there was one person in each lane and there were three or so lap lanes going. So I asked a gentleman if I could share his lane (you never just jump in, you always ask) and he said sure. As soon as my body hit the water I felt everything just relax; I put my cap on; grabbed my goggles; damn, no ear plugs (I get ear infections so fast it isn’t even funny). I don’t care, I am here I am in the pool, I am going! I did a whole half mile, took me about 20 minutes, and man did it feel good! My shoulder felt great, it was wonderful getting out of the pool, pulling my clothes on over my wet swimsuit, putting the towel on my car seat so it would get wet and driving to pick up little man soaking wet!
Last night I even pulled out my triathlon book and started reading it again. I am blaming all this motivation on John! He just finished his first Ironman (which is awesome) and I realize my first one is still about a year and a half away but I figure it is never really too early to start getting ready. I haven’t been in a pool in God only knows how long and going back last night nothing else existed while I was in that pool. I am looking forward to buying new bike shoes and a helmet this spring (my bike made it out of the garage for its tune-up this year and nothing else). I am getting my running legs back (very slowly) and enjoying every step of it (ok, I might be singing a different tune tomorrow after my 6-miler on the treadmill tonight). I know that I have to take all this at a much easier pace than I had been. I want to remember my journey as something I have loved, not something I forced myself to do.
My race plans for next year consist of two marathon (one in January, one in November), two half marathon (one in January, one is September), a century race (June, I think) and a half ironman. All of these are not “races” they are training. The half ironman to see where I am at compared to last year (didn’t do to bad considering I had been on almost a week of bed rest due to a stomach bug the week before the race AND I was not permitted in still water for the previous two weeks because of getting a HUGE gash on my nose that had to be glued shut). Century race good way to see where my biking is lacking, I know I need to work hills! Marathon and half marathon – well I need to take family vacations at some point!
This week – I have
Monday – Cross training (hit the pool)
Tuesday – 3 miles (will most likely be my 6-miler – treadmill)
Wednesday – 6 miles (3 miles during lunch)
Thursday – 3 miles (3 miles on elliptical unless 6 miles wasn’t done on Tuesday)
Friday – zzzzzzz
Saturday – 6 mile pace (not running neighborhood, I think I will hit part of my trail)
Sunday – 8 miles (gotta love pull back weeks!)

The start of a new week

I know, Wednesday is the start of a new week? Since when? My Weight Watchers weigh ins are on Wednesday so for all intents and purposes today is the start of the week! This past week has been a little crazy, but felt great! I have completed all my P90X workouts so far, I am back running, and my eating has been pretty good. I feel as if I am coming alive again!
Jose and Cuervo (is that better than Kiddo #1 and #2??) are getting used to me coming in, heading straight upstairs and hitting play. They will actually sneak in from time to time to what Tony is doing. They love watching Ab Ripper X because of the comments I make!
This past weekend we spent two days at an amusement park in Denver, I was a little misbehaved, but not too bad considering where I was! My PT doc should be happy with me, the only thing I was on/in was the wave pool (the water wasn’t too deep and I wasn’t in there much during the waves) and the lazy man river (or whatever they want to call it). I let my boys get on whatever rides they wanted and I sat and waited for them. They kept asking me to go on rides with them and I told I can’t! My neck is a little off today, but not too horrible, but I am sure the doc will fix that when I see him this morning!
I know I said I wouldn’t run on plyo days, but the more I thought about it the more I realized I would not be able to get my miles in today, so I hit the elliptical machine yesterday during lunch and did my miles. I was dripping sweat by the time I got off the machine! Yes, I took a shower before returning to work. Today I will be zooming from work to Jose’s cross country meet, picking up Cuervo, dropping him at soccer, flying over to Weight Watchers, back to pick up Cuervo, then home to do P90X, luckily my sister will be home and making dinner. I will eat and then I will crash!

Weekly scheduled miles: 3 miles (hey, this is only day 2 of week 1 of training)
Weekly completed miles: 15.02

30 Day Challenge:
Sodas out – I went to an amusement park twice this past weekend and thanks to the help of my sister I was able to maintain the no sodas, we had some lemon aid, but no sodas!
Completed at least 90% of training mileage – Since I have only had to complete 3 miles last week I am currently over 200% of what is scheduled so far!
Miss no more than two P90X workouts – I did have to shift them a little, but so far I have not missed any!

Modify, modify, modify!

Happy hump day to all! Thank God August is over! This entire year has been on the rough side, but I think August has taken the cake so far. But, this is a new month and everything will be better!
Yesterday I went to my PT appointment, I have to say, my doc is HOT! But that is neither here nor there. He poked and prodded and OUCH! My nerves and muscles are all knotted and stuck together! He was trying to break apart the nerves (or whatever) and I kept seeing spots and talk about a headache! He gave me stretches and I go back on Friday!
On the P90X front… As I was leaving work yesterday, I was heading down the stairs (I try to use them as often as possible) out of the blue my right knee started SCREAMING at me! Very strange. I got home, I still popped in my workout video (plyometrics) and during the warm up we were doing lunges, my knee made it very clear that we won’t be doing to many lunges. Ok, so I modified it. I kept it 95% low impact, my heart rate still got up there, but not as high as I would have liked it to. This morning my knee is fine. I don’t know! If my body starts talking I WILL listen. I am planning on hitting the treadmill today (in my new Asics) for another easy 3 miler, worst case I walk the whole thing. Actually, really worst case scenario I will get on the treadmill and my knee will let me know that this is not happening. Tonight is Day 3 of P90X and I am feel good, ok, fine, my abs are sore, my arms are sore but it feels amazing!
Tonight is Weight Watchers night. Since I am planning on hitting the treadmill during lunch, I will not have to do my run during soccer practice, so I get to go to MY meeting! I am still hoping for a pound or two loss, so here’s to hoping!

I think it is time to hit the 30 Day Challenge again!

1. Sodas out (ok, I had one this morning)
2. Complete atleast 90% of weekly training mileage (marathon training starts this coming Monday)
3. Miss no more than two P90X workouts

Oh! And August brought a 1 pound loss! (Hey, after that month, I am excited that it isn't an increase!)

Finally Friday

This week I have been pretty good at getting my workouts in. Wednesday I didn’t make the second part of my workout, but I will be hitting the gymlet today for an easy workout. I am not exactly sure if I will hit the Elliptical or the treadmill, I guess I will figure that out once I get down there.
The Slim Fast thing is still going really well. I am really paying attention to what I am eating. I am not being fanatical about it, but I am keeping an eye on everything. They say to stay around 1200 calories; I think I am closer to 1500. I do also keep in consideration my activities for the day. If I am doing a longer/harder training session I will consume more calories.
Assuming the weather can hold up this week, I am going to try to take another trip up the Incline – I would like to make it all the way to the top this time. I don’t care how long it takes me, I just want to get up to the top for the view. Sunday I have an 8 miler on the books, fingers crossed!
Oh! And the 30 day challenge…
Stairs (going up once and coming down twice) – doing great!
Sodas – not a problem (still drink Canada Dry, is that counted as a sode?)
Starbucks – I am quite happy with my Grande!


OH! My Nike+ finally connected! My Mini is doing a mjor happy dance!

MRS

No, I am not getting married (I am still holding out for my Mr. Perfect), I am talking about meal replacement shakes. I am leaving for San Diego in 28 days (not that I am counting) and this weight is NOT coming off. So I figured I would give Slim Fast a shot. The whole idea behind it is a shake for breakfast, a healthy snack (100 calories), a shake for lunch, a healthy snack (100 calories), a “sensible” meal for dinner (500 calories) and a healthy snack (again, 100 calories) total daily caloric intake is approximately 1200 calories. Now, I am still drinking my Starbucks which is about 180 calories (not counted in any of the snacks above), if I am doing a tough workout I will have an additional snack (such as string cheese) and not stress about it. My water intake is just fine (I have to pee every 5 minutes!). On a good note I have become very meticulous with my dinners, the other night I made “Mexican Cornbread” and I made sure I measured out everything so I knew exactly how much I could have. I had two muffins and 2 servings of broccoli and cheese (my biggest weakness)! And I stayed within my allotted amount of calories. The thing I am worried about is on Sunday we are taking my mom to a Sunday brunch (I never like those) I need to make sure I am very good (and get a long hard run in before we go!).
The last week has been a little rough, Kiddo #2 had a serious issue (medical) and that put a cramp in a lot of plans. Then I got sick (laryngitis due to all my coughing). Last night Kiddo #2 locked my keys in my car and I did not have my spare anywhere near me (we were at Grandma’s house), so the workouts have been a little slim, but when I am able to get them in they are very enjoyable. I got my lunch time workout in and it felt sooooooo good. I did a 10 minute sllllooooowwwww walk on the treadmill as a stretch, then I did 1 mile as a “warm-up” at a slow but comfortable pace (I am still coughing a little, not too bad, but it is still affecting my breathing) then I hit the weights. My poor Nike+ Mini isn't picking up on it becuase of issues. She is sitting there playing a video game! Going up the stairs this morning my thighs were screaming at me! Yup, it was a good workout!!!!!!
Yesterday we had a potluck (#1 as a vegetarian I hate those things, even the salads come with meat; #2 doing the whole Slim Fast thing it was even more painful – but I did survive, I went to the gymlet!). I had signed up last week to bring something, so even though I wasn’t partaking in the potluck I brought something. Wit

h hands seriously full yesterday morning I did not get my walking up the stairs in at my usual time, but I did get it in after my workout. So, my 30 day challenge is going nicely. I have not had any sodas (I do still have an occasional Canada Dry – but that is sparkling water), my Starbucks have contently been a grande with no issues, and I have been pretty good about going up the stairs once a day and down twice.

I love hills!

I love hills! I love hills! I love hills! I love hills! (I will keep repeating this until I believe it!).
Last night we got to Kiddo soccer practice and since Coach wasn’t there yet Kiddo and I kicked around the ball, well I have to be careful with my left foot because it really hurt when I hit it on anything (the side of it at least). I used that time as a warm-up since Kiddo is still working on aim! When the other boys started showing up I kept an eye out for them, Asst. Coach showed up and was working with his boy, then Coach showed up and once he started practice I headed out. I have a nice little one mile route in the neighborhoods of the practice soccer field (this is a fairly hilly area). Last night was hills!

"Today's workout is to run 3 hill repeats, about the same length of time for each as it would take you to run a fast 400 on the track. In other words, if you run 400 repeats in 90 seconds, your hill repeats should take about that time too. Warm up before and cool down after. Because hills vary so greatly in their length and pitch, don't get too fussy about the precise details of this workout. More important is the application of energy you bring to hill training during the first half dozen weeks of this program. Finding a hill to train on is not always easy, particularly if you live in the flatlands. Jacksonville, Florida, where I have my winter training base, seems flat as a pancake. Runners there do their hill training on the high and steep bridges that cross the St. Johns River downtown. You can also do your hill training on a treadmill, if necessary." (http://www.halhigdon.com/spring/springinter2.htm)

As I was doing my warm-up I figured I would run this one particular section of the route, I would have more than a mile of warm up with hills included. I completed my warm-up and started up the hill. I knew the incline of the hill was pretty good but I did not realize I would have all that purple! By the third repeat I think I was telling myself repetitively “I LOVE HILLS!”

I finished up my hills and besides my heart trying to jump out of my chest and my lungs trying to disown me, I felt pretty good! Right as I hit my 3 mile mark it started to rain. I had enough time to get back to my car (parked over the practice field) and take my running shoes off before practice was called on account of the weather! My workout had a nice verity of greens and oranges. I am still having to run/walk (some of those hills are just to harsh (see the purples above!)

We got home and thank goodness dinner was made (my sister and Kiddo #1 were at home) so Kiddo #2 and I were able to eat as soon as we got in the door!

Now I keep reading blogs talking about the 3 Changes in 30 Days Challenge (or something like that)… When I got home I had 2 sodas (diet and caffeine free) which meant I went through a case in less than a week! WHAT????? so I started thinking about the 3 Change thing. Here is what I have come up with…
#1 – Sodas – I have one sitting on my desk which I will drink, but I will not buy anymore for the next 30 days.
#2 – Stairs – I think I love stairs about as much as I love hills! I will take the stairs up to work at least once a day (I work on the 5th floor) and down at least twice a day (assuming I go down stairs more than once)
#3 – Starbucks – I refuse to give it up all together! But I will decrease the size. And no brownies!
Those are my goals for the next 30 days! Wish me luck!


Monday – 4.04 + Strength - did lunges - HUGE mistake!
Tuesday – 3.14 - Did sidewalking - mistake!
Wednesday – 4.34 + strength (hill training)
Thursday –
Friday –
Saturday –
Sunday –