The cold has definitely kicked in!!! My morning workouts? F that. No, really. There is no way I'm dragging myself out of my nice, warm bed to get in my icebox of a car and drive to the gym when it's 10 degrees outside.
It was nice on some days to be able to get working out over with in the morning, but I've still been doing a pretty good job of keeping up with the gym. The week of Thanksgiving, I made it there 6 times - even Thanksgiving morning! Last week only once though thanks to this awful cold I've been dealing with. I think it's finally coming to an end, but I gave in and picked up some NyQuil today because I haven't slept straight through a night for 8 days now.
Yesterday I climbed 4.5 miles on the Stairmaster, warm up at level 8 then alternating between levels 10 and 12. Tonight I went to my hour boot camp class, then ran on the treadmill for a half hour. I'm OBSESSED with the new Black Eyed Peas song, "The Time." Their music is the best for running, the beats always keep me moving. Last summer I trained for my triathlon to their album "The E.N.D.," this summer I'll definitely be training to their new album : )
Speaking of summer (and is it bad I want summer back already?!), I've decided I'm going to train for a half-marathon. I also want to do the triathlon I did last year - but I really want some people to train with me!! Any takers? It's fun, and you'll feel awesome!! I should probably set my sights on a longer distance triathlon, but I'd rather just focus on running for the half-marathon. I have to figure out how to incorporate triathlon training as well, but we'll sort that out later.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Looking back and looking ahead
Wow! Haven't updated this blog in over a month. There have been some big changes in my life recently, and I've been pretty busy most days. I've been doing good with my workouts though, and still doing pretty good with portion control. When I decided to try and get in better shape this year, my goal weight was 130 - and I've hit and maintained that the last couple months! I'm now trying for 125, I'm at 128 pounds. With the holidays ahead, I'm just looking to maintain my current weight...not going to try and "diet" during the holidays! Still surprised at how far I've come. Here's a before and after from Halloween:
150 pounds in 2009. Eek! I remember feeling awful at Halloween last year, just not confident like I had in years past. That's why I put almost 0 effort into my costume last year.
It's hard to believe 2010 is starting to wrap up. After Halloween, the rest of the year always flies by. I was looking back to when I created this blog in January. I started that first entry by saying:
"I'm reluctant to say my diet and new focus on exercise are a New Year's Resolution. This seems so cliche and generally, New Year's Resolutions fail. But after the Christmas cookie binge that takes place for me each December, it's natural that diet and exercise kick back into gear in January. So, here I am!"
I am proud to look back and see how far I've come since the start of the year. I'm sure many are already thinking about their "I'll lose the weight THIS year!" resolution for 2011. If you're one of those people, here are a few guidelines I hope will help you along the way:
1. BE PATIENT!!!! This is perhaps the biggest thing. It took me about 8 months to lose 20 pounds. Some can lose 20 pounds in half that time, and I'm sure I could have as well if I had really tried. Instead, I focused on making small and gradual changes that I knew I could stick with. In my opinion, if you try to make too many changes in the beginning, you're going to overwhelm yourself, fail at some, and then get frustrated and give up all together. Remember that getting healthy and in shape is a marathon, not a 50-yard dash. : )
2. Set a fitness goal. I really think this helps motivate yourself a lot more than, "I'm going to eat healthy and exercise." For me, my fitness goal was the triathlon I participated in back in August. Having something "real" to train for helps keep you on track and hold yourself accountable. So whether you want to run a 5K or a marathon, pick a fitness goal and train for it - and trust yourself that you can do it!!!!!! I never thought I would complete a triathlon, but I did! If I can do it, you can do it.
3. Learn to forgive yourself. Push yourself, yes, but accept that sometimes you are going to have an extra cookie...or 2...or 5! Accept that some days at the gym are not going to be your best workout ever. Just do the best you can one day at a time.
I'm trying to decide what fitness challenge(s) I want to do for 2011. Here are my options:
Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon: I hear this race is a great way to get into longer distance running. It's a very popular event and benefits the American Cancer Society. It's called the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon because there is a different band for each mile of the race.
The SkyRise Chicago Stair Climb - information for 2011 is not up yet, as the 2010 event just took place Sunday the 14th. This is where you climb all 103 floors of the Sears (yes, Sears damnit, not Willis!) Tower. There's also an event in February at the John Hancock (Hustle up the Hancock), but sadly, it's already sold out! This would be tough, but I don't consider it tough enough to be my ONLY event goal for 2011, especially because it doesn't take place till November. Still making up my mind if I want to try for this one or not.
The Chicago Triathlon: I'll be honest, the "real" triathlon scares the crap out of me! The triathlon I did last year was a "mini" or "sprint" triathlon. The swimming part is in open water, too. The distances are:
SWIM: 1.5K or 0.932 miles
BIKE: 40K or 24.85 miles
RUN: 10K or 6.2 miles
In comparison, the distances for the triathlon I did were:
SWIM: 250 yards
BIKE: 6.5 miles
RUN: 2.1 miles
The Chicago event also offers a sprint triathlon, which is still longer than the race I competed in:
SWIM: 0.75K/0.466 miles/820 yards
BIKE: 22K or 13.67 miles
RUN: 5K or 3.2 miles
Look, I know I just rambled above that "You can do anything"...and you can...but I think I would consider the Chicago sprint triathlon over the Chicago triathlon ; )
Anyone want to train for some of these events with me?? : )
150 pounds in 2009. Eek! I remember feeling awful at Halloween last year, just not confident like I had in years past. That's why I put almost 0 effort into my costume last year.
It's hard to believe 2010 is starting to wrap up. After Halloween, the rest of the year always flies by. I was looking back to when I created this blog in January. I started that first entry by saying:
"I'm reluctant to say my diet and new focus on exercise are a New Year's Resolution. This seems so cliche and generally, New Year's Resolutions fail. But after the Christmas cookie binge that takes place for me each December, it's natural that diet and exercise kick back into gear in January. So, here I am!"
I am proud to look back and see how far I've come since the start of the year. I'm sure many are already thinking about their "I'll lose the weight THIS year!" resolution for 2011. If you're one of those people, here are a few guidelines I hope will help you along the way:
1. BE PATIENT!!!! This is perhaps the biggest thing. It took me about 8 months to lose 20 pounds. Some can lose 20 pounds in half that time, and I'm sure I could have as well if I had really tried. Instead, I focused on making small and gradual changes that I knew I could stick with. In my opinion, if you try to make too many changes in the beginning, you're going to overwhelm yourself, fail at some, and then get frustrated and give up all together. Remember that getting healthy and in shape is a marathon, not a 50-yard dash. : )
2. Set a fitness goal. I really think this helps motivate yourself a lot more than, "I'm going to eat healthy and exercise." For me, my fitness goal was the triathlon I participated in back in August. Having something "real" to train for helps keep you on track and hold yourself accountable. So whether you want to run a 5K or a marathon, pick a fitness goal and train for it - and trust yourself that you can do it!!!!!! I never thought I would complete a triathlon, but I did! If I can do it, you can do it.
3. Learn to forgive yourself. Push yourself, yes, but accept that sometimes you are going to have an extra cookie...or 2...or 5! Accept that some days at the gym are not going to be your best workout ever. Just do the best you can one day at a time.
I'm trying to decide what fitness challenge(s) I want to do for 2011. Here are my options:
Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon: I hear this race is a great way to get into longer distance running. It's a very popular event and benefits the American Cancer Society. It's called the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon because there is a different band for each mile of the race.
The SkyRise Chicago Stair Climb - information for 2011 is not up yet, as the 2010 event just took place Sunday the 14th. This is where you climb all 103 floors of the Sears (yes, Sears damnit, not Willis!) Tower. There's also an event in February at the John Hancock (Hustle up the Hancock), but sadly, it's already sold out! This would be tough, but I don't consider it tough enough to be my ONLY event goal for 2011, especially because it doesn't take place till November. Still making up my mind if I want to try for this one or not.
The Chicago Triathlon: I'll be honest, the "real" triathlon scares the crap out of me! The triathlon I did last year was a "mini" or "sprint" triathlon. The swimming part is in open water, too. The distances are:
SWIM: 1.5K or 0.932 miles
BIKE: 40K or 24.85 miles
RUN: 10K or 6.2 miles
In comparison, the distances for the triathlon I did were:
SWIM: 250 yards
BIKE: 6.5 miles
RUN: 2.1 miles
The Chicago event also offers a sprint triathlon, which is still longer than the race I competed in:
SWIM: 0.75K/0.466 miles/820 yards
BIKE: 22K or 13.67 miles
RUN: 5K or 3.2 miles
Look, I know I just rambled above that "You can do anything"...and you can...but I think I would consider the Chicago sprint triathlon over the Chicago triathlon ; )
Anyone want to train for some of these events with me?? : )
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Holidays on the horizon...
I think my cat wants me to gain weight. Each morning, the second my alarm clock goes off for the gym, he jumps into bed and gets all cuddly with me. Last week, he won twice. I mean really, could you resist this???
So, the big 3 holidays are fast approaching: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I am not a huge candy person, so Halloween isn't as harmful to me as Thanksgiving and Christmas are. If you ARE a candy person, you may find this article interesting and helpful. This info really shocked me:
-3 miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have more sugar than a glazed doughnut
-Half a pack of Skittle has more sugar than a scoop of Haagen-Dazs Cookies & Cream ice cream (that one really killed me!)
-9 Twizzlers carry as many calories as a Wendy's Double Stack Burger (WHAAAAT?!)
I have no exciting news on my diet/exercise front...weight has stayed the same, still exercising 4-5 times as week although not with the same gusto as during the summer triathlon training.
So, the big 3 holidays are fast approaching: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I am not a huge candy person, so Halloween isn't as harmful to me as Thanksgiving and Christmas are. If you ARE a candy person, you may find this article interesting and helpful. This info really shocked me:
-3 miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have more sugar than a glazed doughnut
-Half a pack of Skittle has more sugar than a scoop of Haagen-Dazs Cookies & Cream ice cream (that one really killed me!)
-9 Twizzlers carry as many calories as a Wendy's Double Stack Burger (WHAAAAT?!)
I have no exciting news on my diet/exercise front...weight has stayed the same, still exercising 4-5 times as week although not with the same gusto as during the summer triathlon training.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
More teeth stuff and other news
This blog is about me being healthier all around - mentally, physically, etc. Seems somewhere in there, I forgot about your teeth. So here's my PSA: GO TO THE DENTIST. Today I got my first teeth cleaning in a year and a half, and it took forever because I had so much tartar build up (I know, I know, I sound oh so attractive right now!)
In the past, I've never really had issues with my teeth, so I was surprised to find out about a host of problems today. I had to have 2 fillings on the upper right and an old one replaced in the upper left. My gum line is not looking good - some areas (mostly the lower area) are very recessed, which is mainly attributed to aggressive brushing. This was the 2nd or 3rd dentist telling me to get an electric tooth brush, because I will likely not break my aggressive brushing habit on my own. I had to agree - I'm usually rushing to get in done and am ramming that tooth brush all over the place. The dentist's office had a deal on an Oral B brush - after my mail-in rebate (I hate those. I am hoping this one won't take forever), the brush only costs me $50. I checked online and even on Amazon, it doesn't go for less than $99. It's $130+ in most stores.
I've never tried one before, and I'm sure it will take my impatient self some time to get used to using. I'll have a review after a few uses ; )
So besides teeth news, I've been doing a good job the last couple weeks with working out in the morning. I thought this summer was busy, but the fall seems even crazier! For work last week, we attended a large trade show at McCormick Place. This meant driving on I-55 for a few days, and I gotta say, don't know how people do that every day! I swear I'd rather be unemployed then be in traffic for 3+ hours a day roundtrip. I knew I'd be exhausted by the end of the day and so I planned to get my workouts done in the morning. Even though I was tired, I did manage to work out Sunday through Thursday last week. I've kept up the morning workouts this week, and even though I hate waking up early, it is nice to have it out of the way if I don't feel like going later that night. With the season change, once it's dark outside, I tend to be a hermit and not want to leave the house for the evening.
I've continued selling items on eBay - they have FREE listings until January, so anything that doesn't sell the first time can just be relisted again. Happy to report I've maintained my weight for all of September, there was usually just a pound to pound and a half fluctuation some days.
I slept in this morning, so now it's time to get to the gym. Later!
In the past, I've never really had issues with my teeth, so I was surprised to find out about a host of problems today. I had to have 2 fillings on the upper right and an old one replaced in the upper left. My gum line is not looking good - some areas (mostly the lower area) are very recessed, which is mainly attributed to aggressive brushing. This was the 2nd or 3rd dentist telling me to get an electric tooth brush, because I will likely not break my aggressive brushing habit on my own. I had to agree - I'm usually rushing to get in done and am ramming that tooth brush all over the place. The dentist's office had a deal on an Oral B brush - after my mail-in rebate (I hate those. I am hoping this one won't take forever), the brush only costs me $50. I checked online and even on Amazon, it doesn't go for less than $99. It's $130+ in most stores.
I've never tried one before, and I'm sure it will take my impatient self some time to get used to using. I'll have a review after a few uses ; )
So besides teeth news, I've been doing a good job the last couple weeks with working out in the morning. I thought this summer was busy, but the fall seems even crazier! For work last week, we attended a large trade show at McCormick Place. This meant driving on I-55 for a few days, and I gotta say, don't know how people do that every day! I swear I'd rather be unemployed then be in traffic for 3+ hours a day roundtrip. I knew I'd be exhausted by the end of the day and so I planned to get my workouts done in the morning. Even though I was tired, I did manage to work out Sunday through Thursday last week. I've kept up the morning workouts this week, and even though I hate waking up early, it is nice to have it out of the way if I don't feel like going later that night. With the season change, once it's dark outside, I tend to be a hermit and not want to leave the house for the evening.
I've continued selling items on eBay - they have FREE listings until January, so anything that doesn't sell the first time can just be relisted again. Happy to report I've maintained my weight for all of September, there was usually just a pound to pound and a half fluctuation some days.
I slept in this morning, so now it's time to get to the gym. Later!
Monday, October 4, 2010
And when you smile...
I'm a little bummed right now. I went to get a second opinion on an Invisalign consultation I had a couple months ago. I had braces 4th through 6th grade, but my parents didn't keep up with taking me for my retainer and that combined with my wisdom teeth coming at 19 moved my teeth.
See the tooth?
That tooth is the bane of my existence. Or, at least the bane of my smile. It's on my right side. I hate being photographed from the right. I hate people seeing my laugh from the right. Basically, I hate that tooth. I was very much hoping I could get Invisalign, but my 2nd opinion tonight told me the same as the 1st - I need traditional braces. Invisalign will straighten my teeth, but it's not going to move that tooth back down in line with my other teeth.
My options are:
1. Invisalign and then get a binding/veneer on the problem tooth to make my teeth appear in line. This will take longer than braces and be more costly.
2. Traditional braces
3. Leave them be. They may continue to worsen over time.
Both told me I would only need the braces for about 12 months, and then would need to keep up with a retainer the rest of my life. I am not sure what to do. A lot of people tell me my smile looks great, that they barely notice it, and so on. But my shifted teeth really bother me, and a year is not that long - hell, I don't even know where this year went. I'm sure it would be over before I know it. I really don't want my teeth like this in my wedding photos, either.
Thoughts?
See the tooth?
That tooth is the bane of my existence. Or, at least the bane of my smile. It's on my right side. I hate being photographed from the right. I hate people seeing my laugh from the right. Basically, I hate that tooth. I was very much hoping I could get Invisalign, but my 2nd opinion tonight told me the same as the 1st - I need traditional braces. Invisalign will straighten my teeth, but it's not going to move that tooth back down in line with my other teeth.
My options are:
1. Invisalign and then get a binding/veneer on the problem tooth to make my teeth appear in line. This will take longer than braces and be more costly.
2. Traditional braces
3. Leave them be. They may continue to worsen over time.
Both told me I would only need the braces for about 12 months, and then would need to keep up with a retainer the rest of my life. I am not sure what to do. A lot of people tell me my smile looks great, that they barely notice it, and so on. But my shifted teeth really bother me, and a year is not that long - hell, I don't even know where this year went. I'm sure it would be over before I know it. I really don't want my teeth like this in my wedding photos, either.
Thoughts?
Monday, September 27, 2010
Lighten up
Tonight I went to boot camp, though my back isn't 100% yet. I told the instructor at the start of class, and it seemed like she did a very easy class today. I've been using 5 and 7.5 pound weights, this week I lightened it up to 2.5 and 5 pounds. I realized tonight how foolish it was to do the heavier weights last week after missing 2 weeks of class. Not sure how I feel about class tonight - it's hard for me to tell if it "worked" or not. For some reason I equate a good workout with lots of pain/aching, so since I'm not totally wiped out I feel like it wasn't a good workout. That's probably a mentality I need to switch out of.
The rest of the week is going to be a pretty crazy schedule. My company is exhibiting at a show at McCormick place Wednesday & Thursday. Set up starts tomorrow, and from what I hear, McCormick is a huge pain in the butt to bring your booth material to, so I don't know how long it will take us to get our stuff in and out of there. I'm going to try really hard to get to the gym in the morning, because I have a feeling that by the end of the day I'm not going to want to go to the gym.
Yesterday I unpacked most of my fall/winter stuff, but found myself throwing a lot of it into the "eBay" or "donate" pile - and not really because the clothes were or were not fitting. I've been holding onto a lot of stuff from sophomore year of college, and it's just not my taste anymore. I remember that during soph year of college, I purged my high school clothes for the same reason. Seems my taste goes through a change every 4 years or so!
Almost forgot I want to rave about a tea I've discovered - actually, my boyfriend discovered it first and then I went and bought some : ) I'm not a big hot tea drinker, and definitely not a big green tea drinker. But this Lipton cranberry-pomegranate green tea is SOOOO GOOD! I don't add sugar to it or anything.
Check it out!
The rest of the week is going to be a pretty crazy schedule. My company is exhibiting at a show at McCormick place Wednesday & Thursday. Set up starts tomorrow, and from what I hear, McCormick is a huge pain in the butt to bring your booth material to, so I don't know how long it will take us to get our stuff in and out of there. I'm going to try really hard to get to the gym in the morning, because I have a feeling that by the end of the day I'm not going to want to go to the gym.
Yesterday I unpacked most of my fall/winter stuff, but found myself throwing a lot of it into the "eBay" or "donate" pile - and not really because the clothes were or were not fitting. I've been holding onto a lot of stuff from sophomore year of college, and it's just not my taste anymore. I remember that during soph year of college, I purged my high school clothes for the same reason. Seems my taste goes through a change every 4 years or so!
Almost forgot I want to rave about a tea I've discovered - actually, my boyfriend discovered it first and then I went and bought some : ) I'm not a big hot tea drinker, and definitely not a big green tea drinker. But this Lipton cranberry-pomegranate green tea is SOOOO GOOD! I don't add sugar to it or anything.
Check it out!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Back update
Have I mentioned on here before how I hate going to doctors? It always feels like a waste of money, especially when paying the $40 specialist co-pay. I always feel like I'm being told what I already know. My visit to an orthopedic doctor yesterday felt much like my visit to the podiatrist back in June. She had me do a bunch of things - walk on my toes, walk on my heels, stretch to my toes, etc. - and nothing was wrong or causing me pain. I was starting to get paranoid and think, "She probably thinks I'm a hypochondriac."
One of the reasons I wanted to see the doctor was to get another MRI. I had one when I was 12 because I was having pain in my lower back and down my leg. The whole outcome of that situation is still sketchy to me. Initially, they said there was nothing wrong with my back. Then for some reason, 6 months later, they contacted my mom out of the blue and said, "Actually, she does have a slight bulging disc." I've never understood why my MRI was randomly being looked at, because we had not contacted them to look over it again. Anyway, I haven't had anything checked out since then.
Of course, my naive self who is still transitioning to "being a grown up" when it comes to health insurance and things did not realize how much MRI's cost. The doctor did take some X-rays, which are not going to show the actual disc cushioning because they are soft tissue. However, they are able to see my vertebrae and how much space is between each one. The space lessens over time as your spine compresses. She did note that the space between my bottom vertebrae was a bit decreased for my age, but that was why she had me do some other things to assess if I have having nerve issues. She doesn't feel I am showing any signs of that, which is good.
But I still feel like I don't have a real "answer" as to why this pain has occurred 3 times this year already. I guess my back and core muscles are just weak? She did recommend that I go to physical therapy for a couple weeks, but that is going to cost me $20 per session. I'm not sure if I'm going to do it yet. I'm going to talk with Nels' cousin Heather and try to get some pointers from my friend Lisa's brother, as both are therapists. I also don't have an answer as to why I sometimes experience pain in my back and a bit into my leg at random times. I do know that I am susceptible to straining my lower back, so I need to be more careful. I am going to continue with boot camp, but take it easy on some exercises and also talk to the instructor first to let her know about my back. Some people in the class have knee issues, and she always tells them a modification or different exercise to do if we are working on one that causes strain to the knee.
So...that's the update. I guess it was worth it to get it checked out, but I hate spending money on doctors!
One of the reasons I wanted to see the doctor was to get another MRI. I had one when I was 12 because I was having pain in my lower back and down my leg. The whole outcome of that situation is still sketchy to me. Initially, they said there was nothing wrong with my back. Then for some reason, 6 months later, they contacted my mom out of the blue and said, "Actually, she does have a slight bulging disc." I've never understood why my MRI was randomly being looked at, because we had not contacted them to look over it again. Anyway, I haven't had anything checked out since then.
Of course, my naive self who is still transitioning to "being a grown up" when it comes to health insurance and things did not realize how much MRI's cost. The doctor did take some X-rays, which are not going to show the actual disc cushioning because they are soft tissue. However, they are able to see my vertebrae and how much space is between each one. The space lessens over time as your spine compresses. She did note that the space between my bottom vertebrae was a bit decreased for my age, but that was why she had me do some other things to assess if I have having nerve issues. She doesn't feel I am showing any signs of that, which is good.
But I still feel like I don't have a real "answer" as to why this pain has occurred 3 times this year already. I guess my back and core muscles are just weak? She did recommend that I go to physical therapy for a couple weeks, but that is going to cost me $20 per session. I'm not sure if I'm going to do it yet. I'm going to talk with Nels' cousin Heather and try to get some pointers from my friend Lisa's brother, as both are therapists. I also don't have an answer as to why I sometimes experience pain in my back and a bit into my leg at random times. I do know that I am susceptible to straining my lower back, so I need to be more careful. I am going to continue with boot camp, but take it easy on some exercises and also talk to the instructor first to let her know about my back. Some people in the class have knee issues, and she always tells them a modification or different exercise to do if we are working on one that causes strain to the knee.
So...that's the update. I guess it was worth it to get it checked out, but I hate spending money on doctors!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Let's resurrect this blog
So this blog has been dead for almost 3 weeks now. Sorry, readers! I've been pretty busy lately and haven't felt like blogging. I had a great Labor Day weekend with Nels, especially the day we spent on his cousin's boat with his family:
Had a fun night out with Robin and Nels at Saddle Up:
And attended Cheryl & Keith's wedding:
Cheryl looked absolutely GORGEOUS.
I also went on a business trip throughout Ohio with my boss. It was fun and a productive trip, but WOW I didn't realize traveling could be so exhausting!! We were in a different hotel every night. By the last day, I was completely fried. I also hadn't been home for almost a week, what with being by Nels Thursday - Sunday and then being gone for the trip Sunday - Wednesday. It felt so great to come home, especially to my kitty who missed me very much! Right away he climbed on my suitcase and gave me a look that said, "Don't leave me again!"
On the health side of things, I've been maintaining my 15 pound weight loss - even after the triathlon. I've held steady at 133-134 pounds, which is good. I'd like to get a bit under 130 if possible, but haven't been dedicating myself to additional weight loss. I've been giving a good chunk of my paycheck to New York & Company since Labor Day or so. They've had some awesome sales, and I was in need of all new dress pants for work since NONE of mine fit. I was very happy to purchase their pants in a size 8 and 6 : ) That made my day. But when I went into Aeropostale wearing my size 9 jeans I had purchased there 2 years ago and tried fitting into a 7, I could barely pull the jeans over my butt. That made me not so happy : ( I know that all store sizes are different, but still, it's aggravating. So I didn't bother buying any jeans there!
Another thing I've been doing is going EBAY CRAZY! My mom has been selling a lot of our leftover garage sale clothing items and other things on there, and has been doing really well. eBay had another one of its promotions going on where you can post items for free, so I put a bunch of stuff up there. My mom told me I could post on hers because she has a high feedback rating, but I wanted to build up my own score. I did pretty well for my first time! A few weeks later they had a 10-cents posting fee, so I put a lot of items up then as well. I've made a little over $100 so far on about a dozen items - jeans, tops, etc. - WAY better than a garage sale! So that's been helping me buy some new clothes.
And final update - I may have to give up my beloved boot camp. I strained my back for the 3rd time this year last night. I'm going to see a doctor tomorrow to make sure everything is OK. I had an MRI done about 12 years ago and the doctors found I had a bulging disc in my lower back. I figure it's about time I get that all checked out again since I've been experiencing some slight sciatica the last few months. I'll update you all tomorrow!
Had a fun night out with Robin and Nels at Saddle Up:
And attended Cheryl & Keith's wedding:
Cheryl looked absolutely GORGEOUS.
I also went on a business trip throughout Ohio with my boss. It was fun and a productive trip, but WOW I didn't realize traveling could be so exhausting!! We were in a different hotel every night. By the last day, I was completely fried. I also hadn't been home for almost a week, what with being by Nels Thursday - Sunday and then being gone for the trip Sunday - Wednesday. It felt so great to come home, especially to my kitty who missed me very much! Right away he climbed on my suitcase and gave me a look that said, "Don't leave me again!"
On the health side of things, I've been maintaining my 15 pound weight loss - even after the triathlon. I've held steady at 133-134 pounds, which is good. I'd like to get a bit under 130 if possible, but haven't been dedicating myself to additional weight loss. I've been giving a good chunk of my paycheck to New York & Company since Labor Day or so. They've had some awesome sales, and I was in need of all new dress pants for work since NONE of mine fit. I was very happy to purchase their pants in a size 8 and 6 : ) That made my day. But when I went into Aeropostale wearing my size 9 jeans I had purchased there 2 years ago and tried fitting into a 7, I could barely pull the jeans over my butt. That made me not so happy : ( I know that all store sizes are different, but still, it's aggravating. So I didn't bother buying any jeans there!
Another thing I've been doing is going EBAY CRAZY! My mom has been selling a lot of our leftover garage sale clothing items and other things on there, and has been doing really well. eBay had another one of its promotions going on where you can post items for free, so I put a bunch of stuff up there. My mom told me I could post on hers because she has a high feedback rating, but I wanted to build up my own score. I did pretty well for my first time! A few weeks later they had a 10-cents posting fee, so I put a lot of items up then as well. I've made a little over $100 so far on about a dozen items - jeans, tops, etc. - WAY better than a garage sale! So that's been helping me buy some new clothes.
And final update - I may have to give up my beloved boot camp. I strained my back for the 3rd time this year last night. I'm going to see a doctor tomorrow to make sure everything is OK. I had an MRI done about 12 years ago and the doctors found I had a bulging disc in my lower back. I figure it's about time I get that all checked out again since I've been experiencing some slight sciatica the last few months. I'll update you all tomorrow!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Planning meals makes things a lot easier
I've been logging my food religiously since Monday and have been planning my meals to the best of my ability for the following day. Eating during the weekdays is rather easy thanks to the structure of the workday. It's the weekend that is going to be more of a challenge.
I fall into habits of eating the same things for awhile...been that way since I was a kid. (Turkey and cheese sandwich for lunch 3rd grade through high school? Yes.) I know others need more variety, but I don't. My meals have been almost exactly this since Monday:
BREAKFAST - 7 AM:
Egg Beaters with 1/2 a slice of Colby Jack mixed in
MORNING SNACK - 9 AM:
Thomas' 100% whole wheat bagel thins - Skippy reduced fat peanut butter on one side, Philly whipped cream cheese on the other. I'm OBSESSED with this combo! Perfect mix of carbs, protein & fiber to keep me full for quite awhile. Regular bagels have too much dough for me, so I love the bagel thins.
LUNCH - 1 PM:
For over a week I was eating the Smart Ones breakfast scrambles for lunch, but I finally decided to bring some different frozen meals this week. I know that these frozen meals aren't the "freshest" or "purest" foods, but they are what is easiest for me to turn to for something healthy and easy. Tuesday I ate a Health Choice chicken pesto alfredo dinner - this was SOOOO GOOD!
I also recommend what I ate today, which was the Lean Cuisine roasted garlic chicken pizza:
This pizza was really, really, really good!!! Next time, I will have a side of marinara sauce handy to dip it in though...I did miss tomato sauce with it, though the creamy sauce was good.
AFTERNOON SNACK (3 PM):
Dannon light 'n fit vanilla yogurt w/ 2 tbsp reduced fat strawberry granola
DINNER (6 PM):
Jennie-O turkey burger with a slice of Colby jack on Aunt Millie's 100% whole wheat hamburger buns. Very tasty for this cheeseburger addict, and runs at 390 calories, 31 grams of protein and 17 grams of fat.
It's been nice to have a "dinner plan" this week. This is often where I'll mess up. I come home from work starving and am too hungry and rushed to worry about what I'm cooking for myself. Throwing one of these burgers on the Foreman grill doesn't take long at all.
Then post-workout, I have a mug of chocolate milk (fat free milk w/1 tbsp Hershey's special dark chocolate syrup stirred in).
Workouts this week have been pretty good too. VERY disappointed I couldn't get to the gym tonight. I was pumped to go workout but when I pulled into my deserted gym parking lot, I knew something was wrong. Sign on the door said closed due to power outage. Lame : (
Sunday I went swimming for the first time since the race, and still pulled out 40 laps so I felt pretty good. I've missed swimming! Monday I forced myself to suffer through boot camp - about 10 minutes into class I got the headache from hell. Every rep we did had my brain pulsating. Not fun. Tuesday, I did 60 minutes of cardio - 30 on the crossramp and 30 running on the treadmill.
Hoping I can force myself to wake up in the morning to make up for tonight's missed workout.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
A little bit blah...
I've been feeling a bit "blah" the last few days. For one thing, I feel exhausted for no reason...it's 7:30 pm and I already want to go to bed. I also haven't been much in the workout mood since Sunday. I've noticed that Sunday is a critical workout day for me, for some reason I allow it to set the tone of my workouts for the entire week. Well, this past Sunday was not the best workout. When I got home from Nels', I cleaned the house some and did a total deep clean of the bathroom. I threw practically every cleaner under the kitchen sink into the tub/shower, and the fumes made me really dizzy and gave me a BAD headache. At around 6 pm, my mom was starting to cook dinner and the gym is only open till 8 on Sundays, so I made my way over there for a short workout. Felt awful. Forced myself to get through 10 minutes on the Stairmaster and 10 minutes on the crossramp, then I went home and called it a night.
Last night, my workout was pretty good. I had boot camp for an hour, which is always great. Then I did the crossramp for 25 minutes, but I was not feeling as energized as I was last week after class. I was feeling WIPED OUT!!!
To back up a bit (since I haven't blogged in over a week), I had some GREAT workouts last week. Here's a recap:
Sunday - the triathlon, of course!
Monday - boot camp & 30 minutes of cardio
Tuesday - abs, Stairmaster (15 minutes), rowing (10 minutes - borrrrrring), and jogging on the treadmill (15 minutes)
Wednesday - break
Thursday - biceps, shoulders, abs, 15 minutes on the Stairmaster and 30 minutes on the crossramp
Friday - woke up early because we had to move my brother up to NIU. It was a good thing I decided to run outside and not go to the gym, because when I opened the front door...
My brother's friends Saran-wrapped his car and decorated it for him leaving for NIU! He was both annoyed and amused:
Since he was parked behind me, I wasn't going anywhere! Anyway, back to the run - this was one of the most AMAZING runs I've had in a long time. I felt great!!! I ran for 5 miles, but it felt like only 2. It made me wish that I had done morning runs all summer. I've been meaning to get up and run in the mornings this week, but going back to that whole tired thing...yeah it hasn't happened.
We got my brother all moved into his place, he's so excited to be away at school and have his own apartment. I'm happy and excited for him too, but it's weird with him gone. It just feels like he's away at camp for the week. I miss him today.
I'm going to take it easy tonight and just relax, maybe finally fold my laundry I washed last week (or maybe not, ha).
Last night, my workout was pretty good. I had boot camp for an hour, which is always great. Then I did the crossramp for 25 minutes, but I was not feeling as energized as I was last week after class. I was feeling WIPED OUT!!!
To back up a bit (since I haven't blogged in over a week), I had some GREAT workouts last week. Here's a recap:
Sunday - the triathlon, of course!
Monday - boot camp & 30 minutes of cardio
Tuesday - abs, Stairmaster (15 minutes), rowing (10 minutes - borrrrrring), and jogging on the treadmill (15 minutes)
Wednesday - break
Thursday - biceps, shoulders, abs, 15 minutes on the Stairmaster and 30 minutes on the crossramp
Friday - woke up early because we had to move my brother up to NIU. It was a good thing I decided to run outside and not go to the gym, because when I opened the front door...
My brother's friends Saran-wrapped his car and decorated it for him leaving for NIU! He was both annoyed and amused:
Since he was parked behind me, I wasn't going anywhere! Anyway, back to the run - this was one of the most AMAZING runs I've had in a long time. I felt great!!! I ran for 5 miles, but it felt like only 2. It made me wish that I had done morning runs all summer. I've been meaning to get up and run in the mornings this week, but going back to that whole tired thing...yeah it hasn't happened.
We got my brother all moved into his place, he's so excited to be away at school and have his own apartment. I'm happy and excited for him too, but it's weird with him gone. It just feels like he's away at camp for the week. I miss him today.
I'm going to take it easy tonight and just relax, maybe finally fold my laundry I washed last week (or maybe not, ha).
Monday, August 16, 2010
The Day After
Post-race, I feel so empowered now. It's a wonderful feeling! I went to boot camp tonight and told the instructor about the race, and some girls talked to me about it after as well. Boot camp was awesome tonight - it was a really challenging class, but I didn't feel like "I can't do this" at any point. I used the heavier set of weights, 7.5 pounds, for the ENTIRE class. When I started this class back in the winter, I'd use 2.5 pounds as my light set and 5 as my heavy, so to be at 7.5 now is awesome. That might not sound like a lot, but the class involves doing high repetitions rather than heavy weight - trust me, you feel the burn!!! After the class, the instructor told me "By the way, you're looking awesome lately!" That made my night : )
After class, I did the cross ramp for 30 minutes. I usually have this machine set at an incline of 10 with a resistance warm up of 8 working up to 10. Tonight I warmed up at 10 & 10, then built up to 12 & 11.
Class ends at 8, and I was so sad to see that it was already pretty dark outside. Summer really is coming to an end : ( The weather is absolutely gorgeous though, loving the break from high heat and humidity!
After class, I did the cross ramp for 30 minutes. I usually have this machine set at an incline of 10 with a resistance warm up of 8 working up to 10. Tonight I warmed up at 10 & 10, then built up to 12 & 11.
Class ends at 8, and I was so sad to see that it was already pretty dark outside. Summer really is coming to an end : ( The weather is absolutely gorgeous though, loving the break from high heat and humidity!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Triathlon triumph!
The race is over! It was awesome. I loved it and I want to do more next summer! I exceeded every single one of my goals - my swim time, bike time, run time, and the total time. The official results are posted, here's how I finished:
Swim: 5 minutes, 59.2 seconds. For the swim, I ranked #234 out of 353, so still slower on that compared to everyone else. Since I trained myself with no other help or coaching, I'm darn proud of my time : )
Bike: 26 minutes, 2.6 seconds. For the bike, I ranked #169 out of 353.
Run: 19 minutes, 32.5 seconds. Very excited that I kept my normal running pace even after swimming and biking! For the run, I ranked #121 out of 353, so did very well here compared to other participants. I'm sure a lot of people were worn out by the end.
FINAL TIME: 51 minutes. 34.4 seconds! My goal was to finish in an hour, and I made it! I placed #151 out of 353 participants.
So now that I already gave away the info you wanted, if you'd like to read my experience of how it all went, here you go : )
On Saturday, we were emailed our swim start times - the fastest swimmers went first and everyone's BIB number was ranked y time. The race was scheduled to start at 7 AM, and my swim time was 8:12 AM. I was freaking out a little - I had to wait over an hour to start the race?! Although I had moved up to the faster 7 minutes and under pool, I was the slower of the fast swimmers, so I was towards the end. I was mostly worried that my excitement (and breakfast) would wear off by the time I'd get in the pool. The email also said that due to construction, we would not be able to bike in the street, so we'd be on the bike path I practice on. The bike path isn't very wide. I was also concerned that the path would be packed and it would be difficult to get a good time.
The night before the race, I was feeling very, very nervous. It took me well over a half hour to fall asleep. I woke up around 1 AM and couldn't fall back asleep for over an hour. My alarm clock went off at 5:20 AM. Now, a lot of times during the week I set my alarm for this time with the intention of going to the gym...and usually, I just hit "snooze" and save my workout for the evening. This was one workout I couldn't skip, though.
I got dressed - sports bra, swimsuit, tank top with my number pinned on, shorts & shoes. I made myself some scrambled eggs out of Egg Beaters with some cheese mixed in, and my Thomas' 100% Whole Wheat Bagel Thins with Philly whipped cream cheese and peanut butter. I don't know where the time went, but before I knew it, it was 6:05 and race instructions were at 6:30. I put the bagel in a baggie and threw that in my bag with my goggles, ear plugs, and flip flops. Since I leave 3 minutes away from the pool where the race was held, I rode my bike.
As I turned onto the main road and saw all the race set up and people, I started panicking a little. "What am I doing?!" I thought. No turning back now, though. I checked into the race and got in line to be marked up -they write your race number on your arms and the back of your legs.
The bike racks were split up according to your BIB number, so I hung my bike on the rack (you just had to lift it a little bit and the front of the seat hung across a metal bar) and set up the rest of my stuff - untied my shoes, laid out my socks and clothes. After race announcements (which were pretty much pointless, it was all of the information from the emails), there was nothing to do but wait.
My parents, brother, Nels, best friend Lisa and my aunt Debbie arrived around 7:30. I talked to them for awhile, then went to line up at about 7:55. As each swimmer went into the pool and I got one person closer, I couldn't believe this race was really happening and that I was participating in it!!! I don't know how to dive well, so I sat on the edge of the pool and dropped myself in when it was my turn.
"5...4...3...2...GO." I pushed off and could feel that my whole body was very nervous, but I focused on the laps. The pool was roped off into 5 lanes, and on the odd numbers (they were labeled clearly on construction cones as well as cement slabs at the bottom of the pool) you had to swim under the rope and then down and back up the next lane. The swimming felt a bit more difficult than practicing in the pool at my gym because of the waves from all the other swimmers. When I'd bring my head to the side for air, I often got a mouthful of water. By lap 5, I was feeling rather fatigued but kept pushing the best I could.
After the swim, you run out to the bike area and get the rest of your gear on. I honestly don't even remember running to the bike area, putting my clothes and shoes on, or getting on the bike haha. It's all a blur. The biking felt a bit more difficult than I expected, too. My nerves were still going crazy and I was feeling hungry/weaker than I was expecting to. To my surprise, the bike route was not crowded at all. I was pretty much alone the whole time. I did pass 3 bikers along the way back, when I was really pushing myself.
It didn't take me long to put my bike back on the rack and start running. The first mile of the 2.1 mile run felt like the longest mile of my life.
Water grab:
Alright, so the story about my finish is pretty hilarious. There was a woman ahead of me who I wanted to pass, so I started sprinting.
I succeeded and passed her...
I saw the construction cones, and my family, and I figured this was the finish line, YAY, so I stopped.
Almost the end, but not quite. I was supposed to run through this little roped off lane. You can see everyone pointing and you can also see the woman I passed grabbing my shoulder and pushing me out of the way.
Oh well, I know I totally had her. My mom has the whole thing on video, it's really funny.
So proud of myself that I finished with a great time for a beginner. Using an online training plan, I completely coached myself. I want to do more races next summer, maybe even some longer ones! It's a little scary to think about doing even further distances, but then again, this race seemed scary at the start too.
I'll be running an 8K on September 26th for PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Chicago, the largest No Kill Humane & Adoption Organization. Training for that is next!
Swim: 5 minutes, 59.2 seconds. For the swim, I ranked #234 out of 353, so still slower on that compared to everyone else. Since I trained myself with no other help or coaching, I'm darn proud of my time : )
Bike: 26 minutes, 2.6 seconds. For the bike, I ranked #169 out of 353.
Run: 19 minutes, 32.5 seconds. Very excited that I kept my normal running pace even after swimming and biking! For the run, I ranked #121 out of 353, so did very well here compared to other participants. I'm sure a lot of people were worn out by the end.
FINAL TIME: 51 minutes. 34.4 seconds! My goal was to finish in an hour, and I made it! I placed #151 out of 353 participants.
So now that I already gave away the info you wanted, if you'd like to read my experience of how it all went, here you go : )
On Saturday, we were emailed our swim start times - the fastest swimmers went first and everyone's BIB number was ranked y time. The race was scheduled to start at 7 AM, and my swim time was 8:12 AM. I was freaking out a little - I had to wait over an hour to start the race?! Although I had moved up to the faster 7 minutes and under pool, I was the slower of the fast swimmers, so I was towards the end. I was mostly worried that my excitement (and breakfast) would wear off by the time I'd get in the pool. The email also said that due to construction, we would not be able to bike in the street, so we'd be on the bike path I practice on. The bike path isn't very wide. I was also concerned that the path would be packed and it would be difficult to get a good time.
The night before the race, I was feeling very, very nervous. It took me well over a half hour to fall asleep. I woke up around 1 AM and couldn't fall back asleep for over an hour. My alarm clock went off at 5:20 AM. Now, a lot of times during the week I set my alarm for this time with the intention of going to the gym...and usually, I just hit "snooze" and save my workout for the evening. This was one workout I couldn't skip, though.
I got dressed - sports bra, swimsuit, tank top with my number pinned on, shorts & shoes. I made myself some scrambled eggs out of Egg Beaters with some cheese mixed in, and my Thomas' 100% Whole Wheat Bagel Thins with Philly whipped cream cheese and peanut butter. I don't know where the time went, but before I knew it, it was 6:05 and race instructions were at 6:30. I put the bagel in a baggie and threw that in my bag with my goggles, ear plugs, and flip flops. Since I leave 3 minutes away from the pool where the race was held, I rode my bike.
As I turned onto the main road and saw all the race set up and people, I started panicking a little. "What am I doing?!" I thought. No turning back now, though. I checked into the race and got in line to be marked up -they write your race number on your arms and the back of your legs.
The bike racks were split up according to your BIB number, so I hung my bike on the rack (you just had to lift it a little bit and the front of the seat hung across a metal bar) and set up the rest of my stuff - untied my shoes, laid out my socks and clothes. After race announcements (which were pretty much pointless, it was all of the information from the emails), there was nothing to do but wait.
My parents, brother, Nels, best friend Lisa and my aunt Debbie arrived around 7:30. I talked to them for awhile, then went to line up at about 7:55. As each swimmer went into the pool and I got one person closer, I couldn't believe this race was really happening and that I was participating in it!!! I don't know how to dive well, so I sat on the edge of the pool and dropped myself in when it was my turn.
"5...4...3...2...GO." I pushed off and could feel that my whole body was very nervous, but I focused on the laps. The pool was roped off into 5 lanes, and on the odd numbers (they were labeled clearly on construction cones as well as cement slabs at the bottom of the pool) you had to swim under the rope and then down and back up the next lane. The swimming felt a bit more difficult than practicing in the pool at my gym because of the waves from all the other swimmers. When I'd bring my head to the side for air, I often got a mouthful of water. By lap 5, I was feeling rather fatigued but kept pushing the best I could.
After the swim, you run out to the bike area and get the rest of your gear on. I honestly don't even remember running to the bike area, putting my clothes and shoes on, or getting on the bike haha. It's all a blur. The biking felt a bit more difficult than I expected, too. My nerves were still going crazy and I was feeling hungry/weaker than I was expecting to. To my surprise, the bike route was not crowded at all. I was pretty much alone the whole time. I did pass 3 bikers along the way back, when I was really pushing myself.
It didn't take me long to put my bike back on the rack and start running. The first mile of the 2.1 mile run felt like the longest mile of my life.
Water grab:
Alright, so the story about my finish is pretty hilarious. There was a woman ahead of me who I wanted to pass, so I started sprinting.
I succeeded and passed her...
I saw the construction cones, and my family, and I figured this was the finish line, YAY, so I stopped.
Almost the end, but not quite. I was supposed to run through this little roped off lane. You can see everyone pointing and you can also see the woman I passed grabbing my shoulder and pushing me out of the way.
Oh well, I know I totally had her. My mom has the whole thing on video, it's really funny.
So proud of myself that I finished with a great time for a beginner. Using an online training plan, I completely coached myself. I want to do more races next summer, maybe even some longer ones! It's a little scary to think about doing even further distances, but then again, this race seemed scary at the start too.
I'll be running an 8K on September 26th for PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Chicago, the largest No Kill Humane & Adoption Organization. Training for that is next!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 8, Day 5...
Well, that wraps up my training till Sunday. A few updates:
I reported my final swim time to be 8:40. This still seemed pretty crappy to me...so I searched Google for what the average time for a 250 yard swim should be, and it was saying 5-6 minutes for most people. What the heck? When I've been in the pool, I usually glance at the clock at my start and finish and then estimate the time. I decided to re-time myself tonight. I brought a stopwatch with me and gave it my best shot for the 10 laps - but didn't go so fast that it would be something I couldn't repeat Sunday.
My end time? 6:03. This makes a BIG difference. There are 2 swimming pools that will be used during the race, one 7 minutes and up and one for 7 minutes and under. I have to admit, I'm nervous about being transferred to the "faster" pool. But it is better that I be accurate and challenge myself then be stuck trying to pass people in the lanes and mess up my time.
Then I went for a 30 minute run, and only ran 2.6 miles, which is pretty crappy compared to my normal pace. The last 2 weeks or so, I've been getting terrible cramping in my side. I don't know what else to blame besides the humidity, so let's just blame that : )
Here are my anticipated times for the race:
250 yard swim - 6 minutes
6.5 mile bike - 30 minutes
2.1 mile run - 19:40
This puts me at just about 56 minutes. My goal is to finish in under an hour, but I think this is going to be pretty hard with the transitions - getting from the swim area to the bike area, putting your bike on the rack before the run part, etc. I'm going to wear my sports watch and time myself at the start to try and stay on track.
At this point, I'm not nervous about my physical abilities with the race - I am more nervous about crowding in the pool...someone hitting me on my bike and sending me flying...trying to pass people while biking...etc. I HATE biking in a group.
My Aunt Debbie, best friend Lisa, Nels, my parents & brother will be there Sunday morning. I'm so excited for them to see me do this!
The next blog post will be post-race : ) I'll have pictures & all the details for you!
LET'S DO THIS!
I reported my final swim time to be 8:40. This still seemed pretty crappy to me...so I searched Google for what the average time for a 250 yard swim should be, and it was saying 5-6 minutes for most people. What the heck? When I've been in the pool, I usually glance at the clock at my start and finish and then estimate the time. I decided to re-time myself tonight. I brought a stopwatch with me and gave it my best shot for the 10 laps - but didn't go so fast that it would be something I couldn't repeat Sunday.
My end time? 6:03. This makes a BIG difference. There are 2 swimming pools that will be used during the race, one 7 minutes and up and one for 7 minutes and under. I have to admit, I'm nervous about being transferred to the "faster" pool. But it is better that I be accurate and challenge myself then be stuck trying to pass people in the lanes and mess up my time.
Then I went for a 30 minute run, and only ran 2.6 miles, which is pretty crappy compared to my normal pace. The last 2 weeks or so, I've been getting terrible cramping in my side. I don't know what else to blame besides the humidity, so let's just blame that : )
Here are my anticipated times for the race:
250 yard swim - 6 minutes
6.5 mile bike - 30 minutes
2.1 mile run - 19:40
This puts me at just about 56 minutes. My goal is to finish in under an hour, but I think this is going to be pretty hard with the transitions - getting from the swim area to the bike area, putting your bike on the rack before the run part, etc. I'm going to wear my sports watch and time myself at the start to try and stay on track.
At this point, I'm not nervous about my physical abilities with the race - I am more nervous about crowding in the pool...someone hitting me on my bike and sending me flying...trying to pass people while biking...etc. I HATE biking in a group.
My Aunt Debbie, best friend Lisa, Nels, my parents & brother will be there Sunday morning. I'm so excited for them to see me do this!
The next blog post will be post-race : ) I'll have pictures & all the details for you!
LET'S DO THIS!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 8, Day 3
Yesterday, I went to boot camp and did 30 minutes of cardio on the crossramp, so a 90 minute workout altogether.
Tonight I went on a 35 minute bike ride, a little over 8 miles. I practiced riding with my helmet, just to get used to it since I've never used one before - wasn't difficult to get used to. As soon as I rode into my driveway, I hopped off the bike and took off the helmet and went running. Didn't even stop for water or my iPod - had to do an iPod-free practice run since I won't have it during the race! It's a lot tougher without music - it seems so much longer. At one point it felt like I had already run a mile, I checked my watch and it had only been 4 minutes. I still got through running 2.25 miles after my bike ride. The race is a 2.1 mile run. I'm sure it will be easier without music with the crowd cheering and the competitive feel of the other participants around you.
Tonight I went on a 35 minute bike ride, a little over 8 miles. I practiced riding with my helmet, just to get used to it since I've never used one before - wasn't difficult to get used to. As soon as I rode into my driveway, I hopped off the bike and took off the helmet and went running. Didn't even stop for water or my iPod - had to do an iPod-free practice run since I won't have it during the race! It's a lot tougher without music - it seems so much longer. At one point it felt like I had already run a mile, I checked my watch and it had only been 4 minutes. I still got through running 2.25 miles after my bike ride. The race is a 2.1 mile run. I'm sure it will be easier without music with the crowd cheering and the competitive feel of the other participants around you.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 8, Day 1
THIS IS IT, FOLKS!! The final week of training! Ahhhh! Can't believe it's finally here.
As far as workouts go, it will be a pretty easy week, as you're supposed to taper off your training so that you don't burn yourself out on race day. Here's how things went yesterday, and how they'll go the rest of the week:
Day 1 (Sunday): Swam for 30 minutes and was supposed to run an hour. Made it 50 minutes. Felt pretty good, haven't run that far in quite awhile.
Day 2 (Monday): Boot camp class followed by some cardio (20-30 minutes)
Day 3 (Tuesday): 30 minute bike & 30 minute run
Day 4 (Wednesday): 30 minute swim & 30 minute run
Day 5 (Thursday): 30 minute run...but I might add an extra bit of bike training before that. We'll see.
Day 6 & 7 (Friday & Saturday): The plan calls for 2 days rest before the race. I'll gladly take it!
I printed out all the instructions for the race, as there are quite a bit. I'm really nervous about the transition parts, like hanging my bike on the bike rack and things. The transitions are going to eat up a good chunk of time. Like after the bike part, you have to take your bike back to the rack and you must hang it up by its seat...and things like that.
Got my bike helmet yesterday. It's actually a "Youth" helmet, Nels went shopping for one with me and was like "Well, your head is pretty small...maybe you can save $5-10 bucks by getting a youth helmet." Haha, sure enough, it fits fine! Was only $18.
As far as workouts go, it will be a pretty easy week, as you're supposed to taper off your training so that you don't burn yourself out on race day. Here's how things went yesterday, and how they'll go the rest of the week:
Day 1 (Sunday): Swam for 30 minutes and was supposed to run an hour. Made it 50 minutes. Felt pretty good, haven't run that far in quite awhile.
Day 2 (Monday): Boot camp class followed by some cardio (20-30 minutes)
Day 3 (Tuesday): 30 minute bike & 30 minute run
Day 4 (Wednesday): 30 minute swim & 30 minute run
Day 5 (Thursday): 30 minute run...but I might add an extra bit of bike training before that. We'll see.
Day 6 & 7 (Friday & Saturday): The plan calls for 2 days rest before the race. I'll gladly take it!
I printed out all the instructions for the race, as there are quite a bit. I'm really nervous about the transition parts, like hanging my bike on the bike rack and things. The transitions are going to eat up a good chunk of time. Like after the bike part, you have to take your bike back to the rack and you must hang it up by its seat...and things like that.
Got my bike helmet yesterday. It's actually a "Youth" helmet, Nels went shopping for one with me and was like "Well, your head is pretty small...maybe you can save $5-10 bucks by getting a youth helmet." Haha, sure enough, it fits fine! Was only $18.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 7, Day 5
Breakfast obsession! Many of you know how much my boyfriend and I love breakfast...especially breakfast skillets (which are dangerous, I know). Lately I'm loving the Weight Watchers Smart Ones frozen breakfasts - I've been eating them in the morning AND for lunch.
When I get to work, I cook up this one or the eggs & potatoes one. Then I have these awesome Thomas' 100% Whole Wheat Bagel Thins that I pop in the toaster. I spread Philly whipped cream cheese on one side and chunky peanut butter on the other - LOVE that combo!!! These bagels are perfect because they aren't as large as regular bagels. They're just right : ) I've noticed that by eating more in the morning and earlier in the day, I eat less later on at night.
Had an amazing swim Thursday. I swam 42 laps again, with virtually no pauses inbetween. I felt like I could have swam all night. I really want to keep up with my swimming even after the race is over. I'd love to build up to swimming for an hour. It's such a great way to mix up your workout and burn a lot of calories without being drenched in sweat. Good for the arms and back, too : )
Then I ran on the treadmill 2 miles. Would have gone a little longer, but had to get over to a friend's house and time was just running out.
I packed some workout clothes in my weekend bag with the hope that I will do some working out by Nels this weekend. I'm scared to run around the area, because I don't know it. But he has some FitTV channel and stuff OnDemand, so maybe I'll do one of their workouts Saturday. I wish he had a gym in the area that lets you pay like a daily fee or something so I could just go there when I'm in the area.
Just about one week till the race! Sooooooooo excited!!!
When I get to work, I cook up this one or the eggs & potatoes one. Then I have these awesome Thomas' 100% Whole Wheat Bagel Thins that I pop in the toaster. I spread Philly whipped cream cheese on one side and chunky peanut butter on the other - LOVE that combo!!! These bagels are perfect because they aren't as large as regular bagels. They're just right : ) I've noticed that by eating more in the morning and earlier in the day, I eat less later on at night.
Had an amazing swim Thursday. I swam 42 laps again, with virtually no pauses inbetween. I felt like I could have swam all night. I really want to keep up with my swimming even after the race is over. I'd love to build up to swimming for an hour. It's such a great way to mix up your workout and burn a lot of calories without being drenched in sweat. Good for the arms and back, too : )
Then I ran on the treadmill 2 miles. Would have gone a little longer, but had to get over to a friend's house and time was just running out.
I packed some workout clothes in my weekend bag with the hope that I will do some working out by Nels this weekend. I'm scared to run around the area, because I don't know it. But he has some FitTV channel and stuff OnDemand, so maybe I'll do one of their workouts Saturday. I wish he had a gym in the area that lets you pay like a daily fee or something so I could just go there when I'm in the area.
Just about one week till the race! Sooooooooo excited!!!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 7, Days 2 - 4
Having a tough time keeping up with the blogging lately!
Monday (Day 2): I went to boot camp, as always. My pal Kelli joined my gym a month or so ago, and I was so excited to see her come to class on Monday! She did awesome for her first one : ) it was fun to have someone I know in the class with me. After boot camp, I did the elliptical for 20 minutes to get some extra cardio in.
Tuesday (Day 3): Had a 60 minute workout - 30 minutes on the Stairmaster and 30 minutes running on the treadmill. My legs were SO tired and sore after that.
Wednesday (Day 4): Took a rest day, which I'll swap for Friday's rest day. My legs were just feeling too sore and tired to want to do anything. I took my bike to get the back tire repaired - had to have the inner tube replaced. There was a small staple in the tire poking into the inner tube, causing a slow leak. Thanks, Mr. Staple for costing me $20. At least it was a quick, easy & cheap fix.
Monday (Day 2): I went to boot camp, as always. My pal Kelli joined my gym a month or so ago, and I was so excited to see her come to class on Monday! She did awesome for her first one : ) it was fun to have someone I know in the class with me. After boot camp, I did the elliptical for 20 minutes to get some extra cardio in.
Tuesday (Day 3): Had a 60 minute workout - 30 minutes on the Stairmaster and 30 minutes running on the treadmill. My legs were SO tired and sore after that.
Wednesday (Day 4): Took a rest day, which I'll swap for Friday's rest day. My legs were just feeling too sore and tired to want to do anything. I took my bike to get the back tire repaired - had to have the inner tube replaced. There was a small staple in the tire poking into the inner tube, causing a slow leak. Thanks, Mr. Staple for costing me $20. At least it was a quick, easy & cheap fix.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 7, Day 1
TWO WEEKS TILL THE TRIATHLON!!!
First, gotta catch up on last week since I disappeared from blogging:
Week 6, Day 4: On Wednesday I had to do a 15 minute swim and a 40 minute run. First I did some weight machines, then I swam for about 20 minutes, did a 30 minute treadmill challenge (alternating between sprints and different inclines) and then wrapped up 10 minutes on the crossramp. Normally I'd run outside, but I wasn't able to get to the gym till after dark.
Week 6, Day 5: Went to the gym Thursday morning because I had to leave for Moline right after work. I was supposed to do a 40 minute run, but instead I did 45 minutes on the crossramp at level 10.
Nels' birthday was Friday, but I was so excited to give him his prezzies that I had him open them Thursday night. Forgot my camera, so had to take a photo with the Droid:
Nels with his loot - a kabob rack and skewer set for the grill, a grill cover (he needed one), and then an assortment of jerky and meat sticks. Nels loves beef jerky and also loves trying different foods, and I happened to find a meat shop in Elgin that carried different beef, venison & elk jerky. I checked out their site and also found they had a sampler pack of different meat sticks - including wild boar, ostrich, alligator and...kangaroo?! I knew he'd be psyched to try these, and he was : )
Saturday we had to drive back from Moline to Woodridge for Brittney's wedding! I love weddings, especially ones where I know a handful of people who will be there...makes it a lot more fun! Brittney and I met in 7th grade science class and were really good friends throughout junior high. We got split up for high school - I had to go to DGS and she went to DGN - but thanks to Facebook we kept in touch a bit throughout college. It wasn't until after we both graduated from college though that we started getting together - but I'm so glad we did! Brittney looked beautiful and the wedding was an absolute blast. Here's some photos:
Congratulations, Brittney & Brent!
Week 7, Day 1: Today my training called for a 30 minute swim and 60 minute bike ride. I went to the gym around 6:30 to swim and be able to bike before dark. I did a great job swimming today, swam for 35 minutes and did 40 laps. Got home and changed to ride my bike, get on my bike, and....why am I so low to the ground? Get off the bike and see my back tire is flat as a pancake. I have no idea if there is a leak/hole/tear or what the deal is. Last week when I was riding my bike, I was having an unusually difficult time pedaling. I thought my legs were just tired from boot camp, but now I'm wondering if it was low on air then and now has completely run out. : ( I'm really sad, this bike is 2 months old, I don't know what could be wrong with it. I'm taking it out by Nels this weekend because the shop he bought it from will check it out. I would have gone back to the gym for some other cardio, but they close at 8 on Sundays. Grrrr.
That about wraps things up for now.
First, gotta catch up on last week since I disappeared from blogging:
Week 6, Day 4: On Wednesday I had to do a 15 minute swim and a 40 minute run. First I did some weight machines, then I swam for about 20 minutes, did a 30 minute treadmill challenge (alternating between sprints and different inclines) and then wrapped up 10 minutes on the crossramp. Normally I'd run outside, but I wasn't able to get to the gym till after dark.
Week 6, Day 5: Went to the gym Thursday morning because I had to leave for Moline right after work. I was supposed to do a 40 minute run, but instead I did 45 minutes on the crossramp at level 10.
Nels' birthday was Friday, but I was so excited to give him his prezzies that I had him open them Thursday night. Forgot my camera, so had to take a photo with the Droid:
Nels with his loot - a kabob rack and skewer set for the grill, a grill cover (he needed one), and then an assortment of jerky and meat sticks. Nels loves beef jerky and also loves trying different foods, and I happened to find a meat shop in Elgin that carried different beef, venison & elk jerky. I checked out their site and also found they had a sampler pack of different meat sticks - including wild boar, ostrich, alligator and...kangaroo?! I knew he'd be psyched to try these, and he was : )
Saturday we had to drive back from Moline to Woodridge for Brittney's wedding! I love weddings, especially ones where I know a handful of people who will be there...makes it a lot more fun! Brittney and I met in 7th grade science class and were really good friends throughout junior high. We got split up for high school - I had to go to DGS and she went to DGN - but thanks to Facebook we kept in touch a bit throughout college. It wasn't until after we both graduated from college though that we started getting together - but I'm so glad we did! Brittney looked beautiful and the wedding was an absolute blast. Here's some photos:
Congratulations, Brittney & Brent!
Week 7, Day 1: Today my training called for a 30 minute swim and 60 minute bike ride. I went to the gym around 6:30 to swim and be able to bike before dark. I did a great job swimming today, swam for 35 minutes and did 40 laps. Got home and changed to ride my bike, get on my bike, and....why am I so low to the ground? Get off the bike and see my back tire is flat as a pancake. I have no idea if there is a leak/hole/tear or what the deal is. Last week when I was riding my bike, I was having an unusually difficult time pedaling. I thought my legs were just tired from boot camp, but now I'm wondering if it was low on air then and now has completely run out. : ( I'm really sad, this bike is 2 months old, I don't know what could be wrong with it. I'm taking it out by Nels this weekend because the shop he bought it from will check it out. I would have gone back to the gym for some other cardio, but they close at 8 on Sundays. Grrrr.
That about wraps things up for now.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 6, Days 2 & 3
Yesterday I had a good workout. 60 minute boot camp class and 30 minutes of cardio on the crossramp afterwards.
Today was a bit of an annoying workout. I rode my bike outside - covering some of the race route - for 40 minutes, then ran outside for 15 minutes. Exactly what my training plan outlined, and not a minute more. Feeling really worn out today. The workout itself went OK, but there were so many frustrations to working outdoors! Here's my list:
- Cars parked over the sidewalk. Annoying whether your biking or running.
- People yelling things like "mamacita" at me from their cars when riding my bike.
- People not looking to the right when they fly up to an intersection to make a right turn on red. I have the green light, a-hole.
- Couples walking their dog who don't move an inch when I'm riding straight at them.
Between boot camp and the workout today, my legs are beat. Taking a shower then heading to bed early. We've got a production shoot at 7 AM tomorrow at work.
2.5 weeks till the race!
Today was a bit of an annoying workout. I rode my bike outside - covering some of the race route - for 40 minutes, then ran outside for 15 minutes. Exactly what my training plan outlined, and not a minute more. Feeling really worn out today. The workout itself went OK, but there were so many frustrations to working outdoors! Here's my list:
- Cars parked over the sidewalk. Annoying whether your biking or running.
- People yelling things like "mamacita" at me from their cars when riding my bike.
- People not looking to the right when they fly up to an intersection to make a right turn on red. I have the green light, a-hole.
- Couples walking their dog who don't move an inch when I'm riding straight at them.
Between boot camp and the workout today, my legs are beat. Taking a shower then heading to bed early. We've got a production shoot at 7 AM tomorrow at work.
2.5 weeks till the race!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Triathlon training: Week 6, Day 1
Alright, so I slacked a bit last week. I got 4 workouts in (Sunday was the 90 min. practice triathlon, boot camp Monday, then double workouts on Tuesday) and then after that I just stopped. My body was so sore by Wednesday from boot camp and my 2-a-day Tuesday that I had to take a rest day, I was absolutely exhausted. Intended to get back into things Thursday, but then a stressful situation came along that took my focus away from everything. By the time it was Friday...well, the weekend was here! So you can imagine how my workouts went (non-existent).
For the most part I've enjoyed the triathlon schedule, but lately it's been making working out feel like such a chore. I know I have to really focus these last few weeks. Honestly, I feel so ready for this race though and I just want it to be here already!
Had a great workout today. I swam 30 minutes - 36 laps! Then I jogged outside for another 40 minutes. That damn cramp on my left side was coming back again and really slowing me down.
This weekend I went out celebrating a couple birthdays, and I must say it felt great to feel "skinny" - to not worry about what candid pictures are being taken of me when I'm not looking and all that. Friday night Nels and I went out to downtown Naperville to celebrate Jacklyn's birthday:
Here's a picture of me last year at Jacklyn's birthday, you can definitely see a difference.
Saturday night, Nels and I went downtown to Wrigleyville for Kelli's birthday at John Barleycorn! I was so excited to go and Nels and I even took a nap during the day so that we wouldn't be lame and go home early. Unfortunately, we did anyway. I've been having some sinus/cold thing the last few days, and walking 20 minutes from our free parking spot to the bar in the humidity did not help this. My head was pounding, I couldn't breathe, and I was feeling exhausted. There was some sort of film on my contact lenses and every light I looked at had a huge aura around it. We stopped by Ian's pizza first so that Nels could try some of their interesting pizza I was telling him about! He got chicken taco and I got tortellini pizza:
I was hoping to feel better after the pizza, but unfortunately, it didn't help. We only stayed at John Barleycorn about 90 minutes, and then I was feeling so lousy and exhausted that I had to head home. We did get a few cute pics in though:
I'll be having a fun time with these girls next Saturday too, because it's Brittney's wedding! Can't wait.
For the most part I've enjoyed the triathlon schedule, but lately it's been making working out feel like such a chore. I know I have to really focus these last few weeks. Honestly, I feel so ready for this race though and I just want it to be here already!
Had a great workout today. I swam 30 minutes - 36 laps! Then I jogged outside for another 40 minutes. That damn cramp on my left side was coming back again and really slowing me down.
This weekend I went out celebrating a couple birthdays, and I must say it felt great to feel "skinny" - to not worry about what candid pictures are being taken of me when I'm not looking and all that. Friday night Nels and I went out to downtown Naperville to celebrate Jacklyn's birthday:
Here's a picture of me last year at Jacklyn's birthday, you can definitely see a difference.
Saturday night, Nels and I went downtown to Wrigleyville for Kelli's birthday at John Barleycorn! I was so excited to go and Nels and I even took a nap during the day so that we wouldn't be lame and go home early. Unfortunately, we did anyway. I've been having some sinus/cold thing the last few days, and walking 20 minutes from our free parking spot to the bar in the humidity did not help this. My head was pounding, I couldn't breathe, and I was feeling exhausted. There was some sort of film on my contact lenses and every light I looked at had a huge aura around it. We stopped by Ian's pizza first so that Nels could try some of their interesting pizza I was telling him about! He got chicken taco and I got tortellini pizza:
I was hoping to feel better after the pizza, but unfortunately, it didn't help. We only stayed at John Barleycorn about 90 minutes, and then I was feeling so lousy and exhausted that I had to head home. We did get a few cute pics in though:
I'll be having a fun time with these girls next Saturday too, because it's Brittney's wedding! Can't wait.
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