Whew! Today I woke up pretty sore. I'm still sore from Sunday's workout! Workout 4 was exhausting and really worked my upper body. Workout 5 this morning wasn't as tiring. :)
So last year I ran a marathon. This year's crazy idea is....[drum roll, please]...sprint distance triathlon!
A friend at work asked me if I would be interested in trying one later this year. After thinking about it for a while, I bought a new swimsuit. Because nothing says getting ready to swim serious laps like a new racerback swimsuit. :) Later this week I plan to take said swimsuit on its maiden voyage and see if I can still stay afloat for any length of time. I haven't swam competitively since high school. I am hoping it's like riding a bike. I'll let you know how it goes!!
In other crazy ideas, I'm going to try and knit my daughter a pair of leg warmers. The most difficult thing I have ever knit is a scarf. If the leg warmers don't work out, I'm knitting her a blanket for her dolls. :)
Have a great day!
Showing posts with label Goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Goals. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Goals For 2012
Now that I have had some time to reflect (and to recover from the cold/plague that my children so generously shared with me), I have thought about my goals for 2012. But first, I wanted to recap my 2011 Goals:
2011 Goals
1. Post on blog more often. Hmmm, not so successful on this one.
2. Run a marathon. Check.
3. Be more personable. I think I accomplished this, more so in the latter part of the year.
4. Spend more time with my family. Double check. (Also more so in the latter part of the year.)
Here are my goals for 2012. I came up with a few more this year....
2012 Goals
1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. I recently read Craig Ballantyne's 14-Day Fast Fat Loss Guide where he gives a complete 14-day Fast-Track guide to fat loss using the exact plan he gave to a college buddy who had gained 25 pounds since the birth of his baby. Lots of great advice in that article. This would be a great kick-start for 2012, even for me. I gained a couple pounds over the holidays and would like to quickly lose them (see Goal #2).
2. Maintain my weight. After losing those couple "holiday pounds", I'd like to maintain my weight. At the end of TT Contest #12, I felt like I was at a good weight. I'd like to stay around 145 lbs.
3. Be present and focused in every workout. No more listening to October Project during my workouts. I need more girl-power, butt-kicking music. :)
4. Increase number of pull ups I can do. I am beginning Shawna Kaminski's Pull Up Challenge Workout next week and I would like to increase the number of pull ups I can do in a row to 10. Mini goal: 5 pull ups after 4 weeks of the program. I haven't been able to do that many in a row for a while now. I am looking forward to working toward this goal.
5. Get my chin ups count back to over 10. I used to be able to do that many, then I stopped working on it.
6. Hug my children more often. :)
7. Post on my blog 2-3 times a week. I plan to post my progress with my workouts, and am hoping to start posting recipes again.
8. Keep up with the housecleaning. I am a horrible housewife. ;)
That's about it. Hope everyone is having a great New Year!
Please see my Disclaimer/Disclosure Statement.
2011 Goals
1. Post on blog more often. Hmmm, not so successful on this one.
2. Run a marathon. Check.
3. Be more personable. I think I accomplished this, more so in the latter part of the year.
4. Spend more time with my family. Double check. (Also more so in the latter part of the year.)
Here are my goals for 2012. I came up with a few more this year....
2012 Goals
1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. I recently read Craig Ballantyne's 14-Day Fast Fat Loss Guide where he gives a complete 14-day Fast-Track guide to fat loss using the exact plan he gave to a college buddy who had gained 25 pounds since the birth of his baby. Lots of great advice in that article. This would be a great kick-start for 2012, even for me. I gained a couple pounds over the holidays and would like to quickly lose them (see Goal #2).
2. Maintain my weight. After losing those couple "holiday pounds", I'd like to maintain my weight. At the end of TT Contest #12, I felt like I was at a good weight. I'd like to stay around 145 lbs.
3. Be present and focused in every workout. No more listening to October Project during my workouts. I need more girl-power, butt-kicking music. :)
4. Increase number of pull ups I can do. I am beginning Shawna Kaminski's Pull Up Challenge Workout next week and I would like to increase the number of pull ups I can do in a row to 10. Mini goal: 5 pull ups after 4 weeks of the program. I haven't been able to do that many in a row for a while now. I am looking forward to working toward this goal.
5. Get my chin ups count back to over 10. I used to be able to do that many, then I stopped working on it.
6. Hug my children more often. :)
7. Post on my blog 2-3 times a week. I plan to post my progress with my workouts, and am hoping to start posting recipes again.
8. Keep up with the housecleaning. I am a horrible housewife. ;)
That's about it. Hope everyone is having a great New Year!
Please see my Disclaimer/Disclosure Statement.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
I Am A Marathon Runner
A slow marathon runner, but I finished! And it was a PR! ;)The first 15 miles went great. This picture was taken just after the 15 mile mark. Still smiling! I was right on pace, averaging a little over 12:00 per mile.
Then it started to rain. And it rained for the next couple hours, during which I finished the remaining 11 miles. I'm not going to lie, I was feeling pretty miserable. I would run a bit, then walk. And when I would walk, my left knee would pop with each step, so I would run. Repeat.
And then it started to lightening and thunder. I had about a mile to go when a woman walked by and said, "You better hurry, they are thinking about closing the course."
Hurry?!?
Well, I decided I wasn't going to get that near to the finish and have the course close on me! I gave that last mile everything that I had left (uphill!)
I felt so proud crossing the finish line, even though my time was 5:43:22. (Thanks to everyone who stood in the rain to cheer for me!!)
A co-worker (who is a marathon runner) hinted to me that since I am a beginner, the next marathon I run will undoubtedly be faster.
NEXT MARATHON?!?!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
New Year, New Goals
This year has gotten off to a pretty good start, and I wanted to share a few goals/resolutions that I have for the year. You are already familiar with some of these. :)
1. Post on the blog more often.
I've been a little neglectful.
2. Run a marathon.
Or even jog one. :) I haven't been running as much as I would like to be. I confess, I've been a bit of a wimp. The weather has been really cold, and even though I bought some cold weather running gear, I haven't run outside. I also have a nagging pain in my foot. It actually started around the time I ran the half marathon. I thought it might be plantar fasciitis, but I don't have any heel pain, which seems to be a common symptom. It's more in the ball of my foot. I feel it in the morning when I first wake up, and also after sitting for a while, like when I'm in a meeting and then stand up afterward. I'm concerned because I haven't even started training yet!
3. Be more personable.
I am horrible at small talk. I've been accused of not being "effusive". So this year, I will "effuse". :)
4. Spend more time with my husband and kids, separately and together.
I always feel like I'm telling my kids, "In a minute." I want to spend more quality time with my kids. And a "date night" with my husband every once in a while wouldn't hurt either. :)
And, of course, eat right, exercise, and get more sleep. All of which will help me achieve my goals!
Happy New Year everyone!
1. Post on the blog more often.
I've been a little neglectful.
2. Run a marathon.
Or even jog one. :) I haven't been running as much as I would like to be. I confess, I've been a bit of a wimp. The weather has been really cold, and even though I bought some cold weather running gear, I haven't run outside. I also have a nagging pain in my foot. It actually started around the time I ran the half marathon. I thought it might be plantar fasciitis, but I don't have any heel pain, which seems to be a common symptom. It's more in the ball of my foot. I feel it in the morning when I first wake up, and also after sitting for a while, like when I'm in a meeting and then stand up afterward. I'm concerned because I haven't even started training yet!
3. Be more personable.
I am horrible at small talk. I've been accused of not being "effusive". So this year, I will "effuse". :)
4. Spend more time with my husband and kids, separately and together.
I always feel like I'm telling my kids, "In a minute." I want to spend more quality time with my kids. And a "date night" with my husband every once in a while wouldn't hurt either. :)
And, of course, eat right, exercise, and get more sleep. All of which will help me achieve my goals!
Happy New Year everyone!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Believe In Yourself - Be Your Own Audience
I will be one of the first people to champion social support. I have seen the benefits for myself and for many others (in TT Contests, for example). But even with social support, you first need to believe in yourself. I’ll demonstrate with 2 stories about my father (I’ll bet he doesn’t realize how philosophical he is!)
You have to want it.
My father smokes. Not as much as he used to, but he still smokes. Years ago, I asked him, “If you know smoking is bad for you, why don’t you quit?” His answer? “I don’t want to.” He knew smoking was bad for him, but he still smoked.
It’s exactly the same if you want to transform your body. “Why don’t you quit eating doughnuts/French fries/insert-vice-food-here when you know it’s bad for you?” Or, a more difficult question, “Why don’t you exercise when you know it’s good for you?” Is your answer “I don’t want to”? Probably not. It’s probably “I don’t have time” or “I don’t know what to do.” Stop making excuses. If you want it, go for it!
This is a perfect time to start the next TT Contest. Workouts are short, intense and laid out for you. Read the Rules here ==> TT Contest Rules
Be your own audience.
When I was in college, I interviewed my father for a paper I wrote while in a class about gender. He gave me his opinion on the differences in working with men vs. women. He said that you could tell a man to do something, and he would go and do it. If you tell a woman to do something, it will take longer because she’ll need to ask “How’s this” and then she’ll go check in with someone else “How am I doing?” The needing of constant reassurance was something my father saw as distracting and not a direct way to accomplish the task.
I think this can apply to lots of situations. I find that women in general do seek more approval, and their self-esteem relies on this approval. First, you need to be your own audience – make your own applause. If you don’t have the support you need externally, you need to be your own cheerleader. Don’t wait for external approval to begin your journey, start right now!
So join me in the next Turbulence Training Contest. Be your own advocate and start your journey! My start date is Monday, September 6th. When's yours? :)
(Note that you don’t have to actually buy anything to join the contest.)
Have a great week!!
Please see my Disclaimer/Disclosure Statement.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
End of Week 13 And Other Updates
It seems like forever since I have posted a weekly update. Between home and work, it's been so busy. I get home from work and don't even want to look at a computer. And the past few weekends have been packed.One weekend we painted both kids' bedrooms - I let the kids pick what colors they wanted. My son wanted black, but I talked him into gray. He ended up choosing a color called "Platinum". It actually turned out really nice. It's a gray with a bluish undertone. My daughter, on the other hand, chose a color called "Rosy Cheeks". It really should have been called "Strawberry Milkshake" because that's exactly what it looks like. I don't know if I could sleep in her room, but she really seems to like it. :)
Then another weekend I ran in a St. Patty's Day 5K. I'm a little out of practice, but I came in a fairly respectable 88th out of 327 in my age division. I was hoping to make it under 30 minutes, but there were 3 pretty big hills I had not anticipated, and ended up with a time of 30:43.
I've also been reading like crazy, which cuts down on my computer time. I recently read all 5 of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians books (loved them), then I read Christopher Pikes' Thirst No. 1: The Last Vampire, Black Blood, Red Dice (just OK, will probably read Thirst No. 2 eventually), and I just started Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (and Jane Austen). So far it seems pretty funny. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books so I am getting a kick out of reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
Today is the last day of Week 13 in the program I am using (the one from the Precision Nutrition forums). I am in Phase 4, which is supposed to be more of a fat burning phase. The problem is, the strength training part of the workouts takes me so long, I don't have time to do the recommended cardio. I recently began to look over my Turbulence Training workouts because I have an event I would like to attend in about 5 weeks and really need to lose a little fat! :)
However, when I went to the grocery store yesterday, I picked up the March/April issue of Muscle and Fitness Hers magazine and there on the cover was "Bikini Ready in Just 4 Weeks!" So I looked it over and it looks like a solid workout. It's circuit training 4 days a week, with other cardio on the remaining days. I plan to complete Week 14 to end Phase 4, and then I think I am going to start the "Bikini Ready" program. I'll let you know how it goes!
If you're still with me here after all my rambling (thanks!), I wanted to let you know I may not be posting very much in the near future. Things have been pretty busy, and will remain that way for the next few months. I hope to pop in when I can! :)
Have a great week!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
What I'm Giving Up For Lent...
Peanut M&M's.
I said it, I meant it.
'Nuff said.
On a side note, I asked my husband what he was going to give up and without missing a beat he said, "Veggies." :)
I said it, I meant it.
'Nuff said.
On a side note, I asked my husband what he was going to give up and without missing a beat he said, "Veggies." :)
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Results from TT Contest....
Here goes nothing! Here are my final results. As I mentioned, not as dramatic as past contests, but I am happy with where I am. That was part of this contest - losing the "contest mentality". This was about lifestyle goals. I just wanted to work out hard, eat healthfully and mindfully, and not neurotically count every calorie.
When I used to look in the mirror, what I saw was never quite right. On the one hand, I was "too fat" and all I saw was loose skin and stretch marks from my pregnancies, then I would lose weight and become "too skinny" and would set out to gain weight.
After the last contest I entered, I decided I needed to gain 5-10 lbs. In the process, I gained some very bad eating habits (like late night snacking and large portions), along with about 20 lbs. This contest was for losing that excess 5-10 lbs, but in a healthy way.
During this contest, I had an epiphany while I was at the gym. A “skinny” girl got on the treadmill next to me and entered her weight into the machine. I was surprised that she weighed EXACTLY the same as I did. My brain really thought about that one…If I think she looks good…and she’s the same weight as me…hmmm….maybe I really look OK!
I learned many other things during this contest as well, such as:
…there’s more to post-workout nutrition than whey protein powder.
…take a day off from training…and mean it!
…it’s OK to feel a little hungry every once in a while. I don’t have to snack at night.
…I like asparagus…I mean, I really like it!
I am happy with my results and am exactly where I want to be. I lost the weight safely, over a reasonable amount of time, in a healthy way. My clothes fit better and I feel great!
Here are the TT workouts I used:
TT for Athletes (phase 1)
TT for Mass @ Home
Original TT for Abs
So that's it! Right now I'm using Original Turbulence Training. I can't remember if I've used it before or not - I've done so many different TT workouts over the past 2 years! But I like it so far. And it's been even more fun because my husband has been doing the weights part with me at home. (Then I've been going to the gym for intervals on the following day.)
I'm also committed to maintaining my running endurance that I've gained, so I am trying to get in a 4-6 mile run at least once a week. I had a nice 4 mile run this morning. It was 25 degrees (F) out, but the sun was shining and I was nice and warm after the first mile.
Before I forget, here is the link to the Weekly TT fat loss call. This week covers the TT Fusion 2K9 workout, the next TT Contest (starts right after Christmas), and how to calculate your calorie needs.
Have a great week!
Disclosure: This post does not contain an affiliate link. I just think the calls are fun to listen to. :)
When I used to look in the mirror, what I saw was never quite right. On the one hand, I was "too fat" and all I saw was loose skin and stretch marks from my pregnancies, then I would lose weight and become "too skinny" and would set out to gain weight.
After the last contest I entered, I decided I needed to gain 5-10 lbs. In the process, I gained some very bad eating habits (like late night snacking and large portions), along with about 20 lbs. This contest was for losing that excess 5-10 lbs, but in a healthy way.
During this contest, I had an epiphany while I was at the gym. A “skinny” girl got on the treadmill next to me and entered her weight into the machine. I was surprised that she weighed EXACTLY the same as I did. My brain really thought about that one…If I think she looks good…and she’s the same weight as me…hmmm….maybe I really look OK!
I learned many other things during this contest as well, such as:
…there’s more to post-workout nutrition than whey protein powder.
…take a day off from training…and mean it!
…it’s OK to feel a little hungry every once in a while. I don’t have to snack at night.
…I like asparagus…I mean, I really like it!
I am happy with my results and am exactly where I want to be. I lost the weight safely, over a reasonable amount of time, in a healthy way. My clothes fit better and I feel great!
Here are the TT workouts I used:
TT for Athletes (phase 1)
TT for Mass @ Home
Original TT for Abs
So that's it! Right now I'm using Original Turbulence Training. I can't remember if I've used it before or not - I've done so many different TT workouts over the past 2 years! But I like it so far. And it's been even more fun because my husband has been doing the weights part with me at home. (Then I've been going to the gym for intervals on the following day.)
I'm also committed to maintaining my running endurance that I've gained, so I am trying to get in a 4-6 mile run at least once a week. I had a nice 4 mile run this morning. It was 25 degrees (F) out, but the sun was shining and I was nice and warm after the first mile.
Before I forget, here is the link to the Weekly TT fat loss call. This week covers the TT Fusion 2K9 workout, the next TT Contest (starts right after Christmas), and how to calculate your calorie needs.
Have a great week!
Disclosure: This post does not contain an affiliate link. I just think the calls are fun to listen to. :)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Race Results and Other Updates
Oh boy, has it been a busy weekend!
The 10K race on Thanksgiving went great! It was a 9:00am start, so I had a bowl of oatmeal at about 6:15am. We got to the race site at about 7:45am and it was cold, windy and rainy - yuck! We sat in the car to keep warm. I started to jog and warm up at about 8:20am, and then looked for my teammates. It was a big race though, and I couldn't find them! I decided I needed to use the porta-potty "one more time" and was still in line as they were singing the Star Spangled Banner! I got to the start line with just a couple minutes to spare.
There were 1544 runners for the 10K (and I think about 2500 for the 5K run/walk). I went into the race with the mentality that it was just another 6 mile training run. No pressure - just find a good pace and stick with it. I was recovering from the stomach flu as well (of all the rotten timing) so I wasn't looking to break any records - I just wanted to finish!
My first mile was a little over 9:00, my second mile was closer to 10:00. I just kept that pace as best as I could. My 5K split time was 29:38 so I knew I was on pace to make my goal of less than an hour. I felt really good the last half, especially the 5th mile for some reason. I ended up finishing with a time of 59:18. I was really happy with my time, and I could really tell that all of that training paid off. My overall pace was 9:33 and I placed 1151/1544. In my age division I placed 62/113 and out of 688 females, I was 412. My husband took a picture at the finish line, but I can't find the cord that connects the camera to the computer. I'll try to post the picture when I find it. LOL
I was so proud of our team as well! We all finished strong and came in 24th out of 28 teams. Over half of us on the team had never run a 10K race before, so we certainly weren't in it for the glory; just for challenge and to say we did it!
After the race, we went home and I started Thanksgiving dinner. I made healthier versions of just about everything. We had a ton of turkey left over! I made a big pot of turkey soup with the leftovers. Friday I hit the local bargains and almost finished all of my holiday shopping.
Saturday morning I went for a short run at the gym. True to form, 2 guys on the stationary bikes behind me were comparing how big their turkeys were. :) Then we traveled to another wedding in Iowa. (How many people do I know in Iowa, and why are they all getting married?) Needless to say, Hubby and I overindulged a bit at the reception.
Sunday morning I went for a run outside. It was a beautiful morning and a good way to start the day. I would guess it was between 2 and 2.5 miles. On the drive home, Hubby wasn't feeling well (gee, I wonder why) and so when we stopped for lunch, he decided to order...wait for it...just an order of onion rings! I had a salad and a cup of soup (thankfully no turkey!)
This morning I started the original Turbulence Training Workout. I had a week off from TT last week, and this week I will take off from running, which means I will probably do my TT intervals on the stationary bike.
Whew! I think I am caught up! Final contest pics coming soon!!
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase the product, I will receive a small portion. I don't get paid for reviews, and I only review items that I actually own.
The 10K race on Thanksgiving went great! It was a 9:00am start, so I had a bowl of oatmeal at about 6:15am. We got to the race site at about 7:45am and it was cold, windy and rainy - yuck! We sat in the car to keep warm. I started to jog and warm up at about 8:20am, and then looked for my teammates. It was a big race though, and I couldn't find them! I decided I needed to use the porta-potty "one more time" and was still in line as they were singing the Star Spangled Banner! I got to the start line with just a couple minutes to spare.
There were 1544 runners for the 10K (and I think about 2500 for the 5K run/walk). I went into the race with the mentality that it was just another 6 mile training run. No pressure - just find a good pace and stick with it. I was recovering from the stomach flu as well (of all the rotten timing) so I wasn't looking to break any records - I just wanted to finish!
My first mile was a little over 9:00, my second mile was closer to 10:00. I just kept that pace as best as I could. My 5K split time was 29:38 so I knew I was on pace to make my goal of less than an hour. I felt really good the last half, especially the 5th mile for some reason. I ended up finishing with a time of 59:18. I was really happy with my time, and I could really tell that all of that training paid off. My overall pace was 9:33 and I placed 1151/1544. In my age division I placed 62/113 and out of 688 females, I was 412. My husband took a picture at the finish line, but I can't find the cord that connects the camera to the computer. I'll try to post the picture when I find it. LOL
I was so proud of our team as well! We all finished strong and came in 24th out of 28 teams. Over half of us on the team had never run a 10K race before, so we certainly weren't in it for the glory; just for challenge and to say we did it!
After the race, we went home and I started Thanksgiving dinner. I made healthier versions of just about everything. We had a ton of turkey left over! I made a big pot of turkey soup with the leftovers. Friday I hit the local bargains and almost finished all of my holiday shopping.
Saturday morning I went for a short run at the gym. True to form, 2 guys on the stationary bikes behind me were comparing how big their turkeys were. :) Then we traveled to another wedding in Iowa. (How many people do I know in Iowa, and why are they all getting married?) Needless to say, Hubby and I overindulged a bit at the reception.
Sunday morning I went for a run outside. It was a beautiful morning and a good way to start the day. I would guess it was between 2 and 2.5 miles. On the drive home, Hubby wasn't feeling well (gee, I wonder why) and so when we stopped for lunch, he decided to order...wait for it...just an order of onion rings! I had a salad and a cup of soup (thankfully no turkey!)
This morning I started the original Turbulence Training Workout. I had a week off from TT last week, and this week I will take off from running, which means I will probably do my TT intervals on the stationary bike.
Whew! I think I am caught up! Final contest pics coming soon!!
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase the product, I will receive a small portion. I don't get paid for reviews, and I only review items that I actually own.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Week In Review - Week 8
Only 4 more weeks to go! This week went sooo much better than last week. Nutrition was much better. Only a few stray tablespoons of peanut butter! The trick, I find, is to not open the jar of peanut butter. ;)
Workouts were pretty good. Toward the end of the week, I was feeling a little tired and I couldn't figure out why. My son just had the flu, so maybe I had a very, very mild version?
This week I started thinking about when I began really running (just a few months ago, ahh, the good old days...) and I was looking at my first long run that I did on August 1st. On that day, I ran my first 6 miles (all in a row!) at a pace of 13:46. (Total distance: 5.8 miles, Total time: 1:19:49) I also went back and looked at my first "Endurance Test" that I did in April of 2008. I had set the speed on the treadmill at 5.0 mph...and made it 10:18 before I had to stop. I was proud of that at the time, and I'm even more proud of the improvements I've made since then.
I also began a new workout today! I went back to a workout I used waaaaaayy back during the first TT contest in the winter of 2008 - the Original TT for Abs. I got great results using this program in the past and am excited to see how it goes this time around.
Here's how the week went:
Monday: OFF
Tuesday: Stride workout - 4.38 miles/50:00; TT Mass @ Home, Workout B; TT 3 Minute Arms
Wednesday: 2.93 miles, easy pace/29:44; TT 6 Minute Abs
Thursday: Pace Workout - 5.31 Miles/60:00
Friday: TT Mass @ Home, Workout C; TT 6 Minute Abs
Saturday: Felt tired today. Took about 3 miles to feel warmed up. It was cold and windy and it seemed like I was running into the wind for a lot of the run. 8.05 miles/1:25:41
Sunday: Today I felt much better. TT for Abs has an extra interval workout with push ups and other exercises built in that I wanted to fit into my week, but I wasn't sure where it could fit. I decided to shorten my Sunday run by a mile, and then do the interval workout right afterward. From my driveway, I quickly ran down to the corner and back, which took me about 30 seconds, and then did the exercises. I went through the 3 intervals twice, figuring my neighbors had enough of a show watching me do the push ups, etc, on my driveway. Then I went to the gym and did Workout A. Total: 2.05 miles/19:28/TT for Abs, Workout A
Weekly Total: 23.14 miles
Primary Contest Goals
Eat healthfully and mindfully, with foods more in their natural state: Much better this week!
To NOT use Fitday: Did OK.
Complete every TT workout to the best of my ability: Yes.
Run 15-20 miles (at minimum) per week: Completed this week.
Complete two 5K races, with at least one of them under 30 minutes: Complete! Ran two 5K races, both at 28:32.
Secondary Contest Goals
Lose 5 pounds of fat (mostly from abs and thighs): N/A this week.
Reduce consumption of diet soda: Decreased soda this week to a more normal level. No more, no less. So that's good, I guess. Hey, that rhymed! :)
Have a great week!!
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase the product, I will receive a small portion. I don't get paid for reviews, and I only review items that I actually own.
Workouts were pretty good. Toward the end of the week, I was feeling a little tired and I couldn't figure out why. My son just had the flu, so maybe I had a very, very mild version?
This week I started thinking about when I began really running (just a few months ago, ahh, the good old days...) and I was looking at my first long run that I did on August 1st. On that day, I ran my first 6 miles (all in a row!) at a pace of 13:46. (Total distance: 5.8 miles, Total time: 1:19:49) I also went back and looked at my first "Endurance Test" that I did in April of 2008. I had set the speed on the treadmill at 5.0 mph...and made it 10:18 before I had to stop. I was proud of that at the time, and I'm even more proud of the improvements I've made since then.
I also began a new workout today! I went back to a workout I used waaaaaayy back during the first TT contest in the winter of 2008 - the Original TT for Abs. I got great results using this program in the past and am excited to see how it goes this time around.
Here's how the week went:
Monday: OFF
Tuesday: Stride workout - 4.38 miles/50:00; TT Mass @ Home, Workout B; TT 3 Minute Arms
Wednesday: 2.93 miles, easy pace/29:44; TT 6 Minute Abs
Thursday: Pace Workout - 5.31 Miles/60:00
Friday: TT Mass @ Home, Workout C; TT 6 Minute Abs
Saturday: Felt tired today. Took about 3 miles to feel warmed up. It was cold and windy and it seemed like I was running into the wind for a lot of the run. 8.05 miles/1:25:41
Sunday: Today I felt much better. TT for Abs has an extra interval workout with push ups and other exercises built in that I wanted to fit into my week, but I wasn't sure where it could fit. I decided to shorten my Sunday run by a mile, and then do the interval workout right afterward. From my driveway, I quickly ran down to the corner and back, which took me about 30 seconds, and then did the exercises. I went through the 3 intervals twice, figuring my neighbors had enough of a show watching me do the push ups, etc, on my driveway. Then I went to the gym and did Workout A. Total: 2.05 miles/19:28/TT for Abs, Workout A
Weekly Total: 23.14 miles
Primary Contest Goals
Eat healthfully and mindfully, with foods more in their natural state: Much better this week!
To NOT use Fitday: Did OK.
Complete every TT workout to the best of my ability: Yes.
Run 15-20 miles (at minimum) per week: Completed this week.
Complete two 5K races, with at least one of them under 30 minutes: Complete! Ran two 5K races, both at 28:32.
Secondary Contest Goals
Lose 5 pounds of fat (mostly from abs and thighs): N/A this week.
Reduce consumption of diet soda: Decreased soda this week to a more normal level. No more, no less. So that's good, I guess. Hey, that rhymed! :)
Have a great week!!
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase the product, I will receive a small portion. I don't get paid for reviews, and I only review items that I actually own.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Week In Review - End of Week 7
I wanted to post this yesterday, but my weekend was so busy, and then my son was sick with the flu and time just flew by. I'm feeling a little tired myself. Hoping I didn't catch the flu as well. Today was my day off from workouts, so I got a little more sleep and my muscles got a rest.
This week did not go as well as last week. My eating was all over the place. I had some good days, some OK days and 2 terrible days. I think it's stress-related. I'm definitely an emotional eater. I was really proud of myself today. I stayed late at work, and it was just me and the peanut m&m's. I was ---->thisclose<----- to having one (who am I kidding? I wouldn't have stopped at one), but then I remembered I had a jar of unsalted, dry roasted peanuts in my desk for just such an emergency. They hit the spot and I didn't eat a single m&m. Workouts went well, though. TT for Mass @ Home has been a great workout. I don't know why I've never used it before!
Here's how the week went:
Monday: Hill workout. This was a really tough workout. I know that I need to do more hill workouts to improve my running. 1 mile warm up, 2x200m hill (8% incline)/400 m recovery, 2x400 hill (6% incline)/400m recovery, 2x200 hill (8% incline)/400m recovery, 1/2 mile cool down, 8 minutes walking - 4.36 miles/50:00
Tuesday: OFF
Wednesday: 2.10 miles easy (25:00)/TT Mass @ Home, workout B/TT 3 Minute Arms
Thursday: 5 mile pace workout - 1 mile warm up, 1x400m/200m recovery, 1x1600/400m recovery, 1x400m/200m recovery, 1x1200/400m recovery, 1x400m, 1 mile cool down, 6 minutes walking - 5.30 miles/60:00
Friday: TT Mass @ Home, workout C
Saturday: Today was my first run in the double digits. It was a beautiful morning - 33 degrees (F) and sunny. A little chilly for the first mile, but then I felt great. Had a short break (5 minutes at most) at 5 miles while I ran inside my work to retrieve an item I had forgotten on Friday. 10 miles/1:42:19 (10:14 pace)
Weekly Total: 21.76 miles
Primary Contest Goals
Eat healthfully and mindfully, with foods more in their natural state: Not good. Not good at all. Need to pull myself together here. :)
To NOT use Fitday: Checked in again a couple times this week. With those stressed eating days, I wanted to see how I was doing. Not using Fitday is only going to work as long as I only eat healthfully.
Complete every TT workout to the best of my ability: Yes
Run 15-20 miles (at minimum) per week: This week I ran 21.76 miles. The program I am following for running increases the miles a little at a time, so I think next week I am running about 24 miles.
Complete two 5K races, with at least one of them under 30 minutes: Complete! Ran two 5K races, both at 28:32.
Secondary Contest Goals
Lose 5 pounds of fat (mostly from abs and thighs): N/A this week.
Reduce consumption of diet soda: This week I drank more than usual, which I think is one of the reasons I didn't eat well. It seems that when I drink more diet soda, my eating gets...less than stellar. I read that artificial sweeteners can bring on cravings, so maybe that is what happens.
That's it for this week. Gotta get up early tomorrow morning, so I'm going to go to bed early and see if I feel better in the morning.
Have a good night!
This week did not go as well as last week. My eating was all over the place. I had some good days, some OK days and 2 terrible days. I think it's stress-related. I'm definitely an emotional eater. I was really proud of myself today. I stayed late at work, and it was just me and the peanut m&m's. I was ---->thisclose<----- to having one (who am I kidding? I wouldn't have stopped at one), but then I remembered I had a jar of unsalted, dry roasted peanuts in my desk for just such an emergency. They hit the spot and I didn't eat a single m&m. Workouts went well, though. TT for Mass @ Home has been a great workout. I don't know why I've never used it before!
Here's how the week went:
Monday: Hill workout. This was a really tough workout. I know that I need to do more hill workouts to improve my running. 1 mile warm up, 2x200m hill (8% incline)/400 m recovery, 2x400 hill (6% incline)/400m recovery, 2x200 hill (8% incline)/400m recovery, 1/2 mile cool down, 8 minutes walking - 4.36 miles/50:00
Tuesday: OFF
Wednesday: 2.10 miles easy (25:00)/TT Mass @ Home, workout B/TT 3 Minute Arms
Thursday: 5 mile pace workout - 1 mile warm up, 1x400m/200m recovery, 1x1600/400m recovery, 1x400m/200m recovery, 1x1200/400m recovery, 1x400m, 1 mile cool down, 6 minutes walking - 5.30 miles/60:00
Friday: TT Mass @ Home, workout C
Saturday: Today was my first run in the double digits. It was a beautiful morning - 33 degrees (F) and sunny. A little chilly for the first mile, but then I felt great. Had a short break (5 minutes at most) at 5 miles while I ran inside my work to retrieve an item I had forgotten on Friday. 10 miles/1:42:19 (10:14 pace)
Weekly Total: 21.76 miles
Primary Contest Goals
Eat healthfully and mindfully, with foods more in their natural state: Not good. Not good at all. Need to pull myself together here. :)
To NOT use Fitday: Checked in again a couple times this week. With those stressed eating days, I wanted to see how I was doing. Not using Fitday is only going to work as long as I only eat healthfully.
Complete every TT workout to the best of my ability: Yes
Run 15-20 miles (at minimum) per week: This week I ran 21.76 miles. The program I am following for running increases the miles a little at a time, so I think next week I am running about 24 miles.
Complete two 5K races, with at least one of them under 30 minutes: Complete! Ran two 5K races, both at 28:32.
Secondary Contest Goals
Lose 5 pounds of fat (mostly from abs and thighs): N/A this week.
Reduce consumption of diet soda: This week I drank more than usual, which I think is one of the reasons I didn't eat well. It seems that when I drink more diet soda, my eating gets...less than stellar. I read that artificial sweeteners can bring on cravings, so maybe that is what happens.
That's it for this week. Gotta get up early tomorrow morning, so I'm going to go to bed early and see if I feel better in the morning.
Have a good night!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Week In Review - Lost Again
Except this time I'm not lost in Twilight. I've been reading Dan Brown's new book, The Lost Symbol. I'm only on Chapter 19, so a short week in review. ;)
Week 6 ended yesterday. I am HALF WAY through my 12 week transformation, and frankly, I'm slightly disappointed. But, on the upside, I've started seeing progress and I am greatly encouraged. I always say the best motivation is seeing results!
Here's how my workouts went this week:
Monday - OFF
Tuesday - TT Mass @ Home, workout B; TT 3 Minute Arms
Wednesday - 2.19 miles (22:11); TT 6 Minute Abs
Thursday - 5 mile pace workout (1 mile warm up, 1 x 400, 1 x 800, 1 x 1200, 1 x 800, 1 x 400, 1 mile cool down) Total: 5.02 miles, 57:00. My legs were toast after this workout. Between this run and the ab circuit I did Wednesday, I was pretty sore from my navel to my toes. :)
Friday - TT Mass @ Home, workout C; TT 6 Minute Abs
Saturday - 7.05 miles (1:14:48). Really nice run this morning. 32 degrees (F), but sunny, so it didn't feel too cold.
Sunday - 3.06 miles (29:08); TT Mass @ Home, workout A; TT 6 Minute Abs. Workout A is TOUGH. I've failed my drop set 2 weeks in a row. I got an extra rep today though, so I feel like I'm gonna get it next week.
Weekly Total: 17.32 miles
Primary Contest Goals
Eat healthfully and mindfully, with foods more in their natural state: Did good this week, and even managed to stay out of the peanut butter (on some nights).
To NOT use Fitday: I popped in this week just to do a check on where I was calorie-wise on a typical day.
Complete every TT workout to the best of my ability: Yes
Run 15-20 miles (at minimum) per week: 17.32 miles this week. So I did make my goal. Whoo-hoo! Wasn't sure I was going to because this was a race recovery week.
Complete two 5K races, with at least one of them under 30 minutes: Complete!
Secondary Contest Goals
Lose 5 pounds of fat (mostly from abs and thighs): I am down a few pounds and my thighs are fitting into a certain pair of jeans again!
Reduce consumption of diet soda: Did better this week. I even had tea for dinner one night instead of a diet soda. That's HUGE for me.
It's half over, time to really focus on eating well, and working hard. My ultimate goal is to keep this lifestyle and not be "in a contest" or "not in a contest". So far things have been going well. No neurotic calorie counting, no carb cycling, etc. I'm feeling really good about this! OK, I've rambled on longer than I thought. Now, back to my book! :)
Week 6 ended yesterday. I am HALF WAY through my 12 week transformation, and frankly, I'm slightly disappointed. But, on the upside, I've started seeing progress and I am greatly encouraged. I always say the best motivation is seeing results!
Here's how my workouts went this week:
Monday - OFF
Tuesday - TT Mass @ Home, workout B; TT 3 Minute Arms
Wednesday - 2.19 miles (22:11); TT 6 Minute Abs
Thursday - 5 mile pace workout (1 mile warm up, 1 x 400, 1 x 800, 1 x 1200, 1 x 800, 1 x 400, 1 mile cool down) Total: 5.02 miles, 57:00. My legs were toast after this workout. Between this run and the ab circuit I did Wednesday, I was pretty sore from my navel to my toes. :)
Friday - TT Mass @ Home, workout C; TT 6 Minute Abs
Saturday - 7.05 miles (1:14:48). Really nice run this morning. 32 degrees (F), but sunny, so it didn't feel too cold.
Sunday - 3.06 miles (29:08); TT Mass @ Home, workout A; TT 6 Minute Abs. Workout A is TOUGH. I've failed my drop set 2 weeks in a row. I got an extra rep today though, so I feel like I'm gonna get it next week.
Weekly Total: 17.32 miles
Primary Contest Goals
Eat healthfully and mindfully, with foods more in their natural state: Did good this week, and even managed to stay out of the peanut butter (on some nights).
To NOT use Fitday: I popped in this week just to do a check on where I was calorie-wise on a typical day.
Complete every TT workout to the best of my ability: Yes
Run 15-20 miles (at minimum) per week: 17.32 miles this week. So I did make my goal. Whoo-hoo! Wasn't sure I was going to because this was a race recovery week.
Complete two 5K races, with at least one of them under 30 minutes: Complete!
Secondary Contest Goals
Lose 5 pounds of fat (mostly from abs and thighs): I am down a few pounds and my thighs are fitting into a certain pair of jeans again!
Reduce consumption of diet soda: Did better this week. I even had tea for dinner one night instead of a diet soda. That's HUGE for me.
It's half over, time to really focus on eating well, and working hard. My ultimate goal is to keep this lifestyle and not be "in a contest" or "not in a contest". So far things have been going well. No neurotic calorie counting, no carb cycling, etc. I'm feeling really good about this! OK, I've rambled on longer than I thought. Now, back to my book! :)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Week In Review - Week 5 (Including Race Results)
Can you believe Week 5 is over? YIKES! I think this week went just OK. I didn't have any ice cream, which is good, but I only replaced it with something WORSE. I have rediscovered my love of eating peanut butter out of the jar. Bad, bad, BAD! In the evening, I've been craving smooth, rich foods. Peanut butter, ice cream, cream cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. Does this mean I'm lacking something in my diet? Maybe I need to eat more rich foods earlier in the day. I will NOT eat peanut butter out of the jar anymore!!
This week I started the TT for Mass at Home workout and it's been great. Workout A makes my arms feel like jelly all day. :) Workout B is lower body, and I took it real easy this past week since I had a race yesterday (more on that in a minute). Workout C is total body, but more focused on the upper body than the lower body. Since it's a mass-building workout, there are no intervals. So this workout is perfect as I continue my running. I can't remember if I mentioned this already or not, but I've signed up to run a 10K race in November!
So here's how the past week went:
Sunday: Ran 2 miles, easy pace; TT Mass @ Home, workout A; TT 6 Minute Abs (This was technically the last day of Week 4, but it was my first day of TT Mass @ Home.)
Monday: OFF
Tuesday: 3 Mile Stride Workout (38:00); TT Mass @ Home, workout B; TT 3 Minute Arms
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: TT Mass @ Home, workout C
Friday: Ran 1.74 miles, easy pace
Saturday: 5K race, 28:32. My time was EXACTLY the same as my time from the race 2 weeks ago. Except this race was better because I didn't feel like I was going to puke on the finish line! :) There were only about 125 people, and for many of them, I think it was their first 5K. I placed 10th overall, and 2nd in my age group.
Sunday: Ran 2 miles, easy pace; TT Mass @ Home, workout A; TT 6 Minute Abs
Primary Contest Goals
Eat healthfully and mindfully, with foods more in their natural state: Healthfully, I did good. Mindfully, not as good. That peanut butter isn't jumping out of the jar by itself.
To NOT use Fitday: Still going well.
Complete every TT workout to the best of my ability: Yes
Run 15-20 miles (at minimum) per week: Week 5 - only a little over 10 miles, because of the race on Saturday.
Complete two 5K races, with at least one of them under 30 minutes: Complete! Ran two 5K races, both at 28:32.
Secondary Contest Goals
Lose 5 pounds of fat (mostly from abs and thighs): N/A this week.
Reduce consumption of diet soda: This week I bought some decaf tea so that I could make iced tea instead of drink soda at dinner time. We'll see how it goes!
Before I forget, here's the link to the TT Weekly Call: TT Fat Loss Coaching Call
This week, Craig talks about the TT program he used to help an actress do her first chin up (TT for Female Strength). He also talks about sticking to your plan, the best lower ab exercise, and the "300 Workout" from Men's Health Magazine.
Have a great week!
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase the product, I will receive a small portion. I don't get paid for reviews, and I only review items that I actually own.
This week I started the TT for Mass at Home workout and it's been great. Workout A makes my arms feel like jelly all day. :) Workout B is lower body, and I took it real easy this past week since I had a race yesterday (more on that in a minute). Workout C is total body, but more focused on the upper body than the lower body. Since it's a mass-building workout, there are no intervals. So this workout is perfect as I continue my running. I can't remember if I mentioned this already or not, but I've signed up to run a 10K race in November!
So here's how the past week went:
Sunday: Ran 2 miles, easy pace; TT Mass @ Home, workout A; TT 6 Minute Abs (This was technically the last day of Week 4, but it was my first day of TT Mass @ Home.)
Monday: OFF
Tuesday: 3 Mile Stride Workout (38:00); TT Mass @ Home, workout B; TT 3 Minute Arms
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: TT Mass @ Home, workout C
Friday: Ran 1.74 miles, easy pace
Saturday: 5K race, 28:32. My time was EXACTLY the same as my time from the race 2 weeks ago. Except this race was better because I didn't feel like I was going to puke on the finish line! :) There were only about 125 people, and for many of them, I think it was their first 5K. I placed 10th overall, and 2nd in my age group.
Sunday: Ran 2 miles, easy pace; TT Mass @ Home, workout A; TT 6 Minute Abs
Primary Contest Goals
Eat healthfully and mindfully, with foods more in their natural state: Healthfully, I did good. Mindfully, not as good. That peanut butter isn't jumping out of the jar by itself.
To NOT use Fitday: Still going well.
Complete every TT workout to the best of my ability: Yes
Run 15-20 miles (at minimum) per week: Week 5 - only a little over 10 miles, because of the race on Saturday.
Complete two 5K races, with at least one of them under 30 minutes: Complete! Ran two 5K races, both at 28:32.
Secondary Contest Goals
Lose 5 pounds of fat (mostly from abs and thighs): N/A this week.
Reduce consumption of diet soda: This week I bought some decaf tea so that I could make iced tea instead of drink soda at dinner time. We'll see how it goes!
Before I forget, here's the link to the TT Weekly Call: TT Fat Loss Coaching Call
This week, Craig talks about the TT program he used to help an actress do her first chin up (TT for Female Strength). He also talks about sticking to your plan, the best lower ab exercise, and the "300 Workout" from Men's Health Magazine.
Have a great week!
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase the product, I will receive a small portion. I don't get paid for reviews, and I only review items that I actually own.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Why You're Not Losing Weight
I just wanted to post about this new Precision Nutrition article about Clean Eating Gone Wrong because I am sooooooo guilty. Here is the link to the article: This Meal Plan Could Make You Fat
The article discusses how even though your meal plan looks great on paper, it's all of the little extras throughout the day that we "forget about" that make a difference. I am totally guilty of this.
I often finish my kids' leftovers.
I am guilty of eating things while standing in front of the pantry/kitchen cupboard.
I am guilty of eating ice cream from the carton in front of the refrigerator.
I've been better about hitting the office candy bowl. (Record 33 days so far!)
The article hits on exactly what I am trying to achieve:
"avoiding self-imposed eating restrictions, meal plan rules, and cheat foods"
and
"eating a reasonable amount of quality food each day, forever"
It's a great article to read if you, too, have these same issues. I still like to make a meal plan, because it helps me shop for the week, but I've become much more flexible on what I put on the meal plan. For example, I'll put "fruit" instead of "6oz watermelon". Then I have freedom to choose what fruits look good at the farmer's market. I don't think meal plans are inherently bad, I think being so strict you fall off the wagon is bad. But I really need to curb the extras. Since I am not counting calories now, all those little extras can add up, and if they go unchecked, then I know I won't make any progress. So keep an eye on all your "little extras" (I'll keep an eye on mine) and we'll all be that much closer to our goals! :)
The article discusses how even though your meal plan looks great on paper, it's all of the little extras throughout the day that we "forget about" that make a difference. I am totally guilty of this.
I often finish my kids' leftovers.
I am guilty of eating things while standing in front of the pantry/kitchen cupboard.
I am guilty of eating ice cream from the carton in front of the refrigerator.
I've been better about hitting the office candy bowl. (Record 33 days so far!)
The article hits on exactly what I am trying to achieve:
"avoiding self-imposed eating restrictions, meal plan rules, and cheat foods"
and
"eating a reasonable amount of quality food each day, forever"
It's a great article to read if you, too, have these same issues. I still like to make a meal plan, because it helps me shop for the week, but I've become much more flexible on what I put on the meal plan. For example, I'll put "fruit" instead of "6oz watermelon". Then I have freedom to choose what fruits look good at the farmer's market. I don't think meal plans are inherently bad, I think being so strict you fall off the wagon is bad. But I really need to curb the extras. Since I am not counting calories now, all those little extras can add up, and if they go unchecked, then I know I won't make any progress. So keep an eye on all your "little extras" (I'll keep an eye on mine) and we'll all be that much closer to our goals! :)
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Racing Results - Goal Achieved?
Today was the first of two 5k races I will be running as part of my goals in the TT contest. I woke up this morning, and my quads were sore! I couldn't imagine what from. I did my TT workout on Friday, but with a lower intensity, and I wasn't sore yesterday. So if it was DOMS, they were really delayed!
I warmed up for about 10 minutes and my legs felt like lead. I was a little nervous about the race. I wasn't sure it was going to go well by how my legs were feeling.
The first mile consisted of trying to move up because we were still in a pack. I past the first mile marker at about 9:06, so I knew I was on pace. Then my shoe came untied so I had to stop and tie it! During the second mile, my heart burn started to get bad, and I vowed to take something for reflux before my next 5K race. My pace was still good and I past the second mile marker at about 18:30. The third mile felt better - the heart burn diminished, and my pace was steady, but I was getting doggone tired.
Final results
Time - 28:32
pace - 9:11
place - 231 out of 665
division place - 15 out of 81
gender place - 104 out of 438
And here's an action shot my husband took at the finish line...Yes, I am wearing tiger ears and a tail. It was a run to benefit a zoo!
All in all, I am very happy with the results. I made my goal of a 5K in under 30 minutes!!
Afterward, I splurged at lunch and had one of my favorite kinds of pizza. It's called the Border-to-Border. It's Canadian bacon, pineapple, tomatoes and jalapenos. Yum!
I warmed up for about 10 minutes and my legs felt like lead. I was a little nervous about the race. I wasn't sure it was going to go well by how my legs were feeling.
The first mile consisted of trying to move up because we were still in a pack. I past the first mile marker at about 9:06, so I knew I was on pace. Then my shoe came untied so I had to stop and tie it! During the second mile, my heart burn started to get bad, and I vowed to take something for reflux before my next 5K race. My pace was still good and I past the second mile marker at about 18:30. The third mile felt better - the heart burn diminished, and my pace was steady, but I was getting doggone tired.
Final resultsTime - 28:32
pace - 9:11
place - 231 out of 665
division place - 15 out of 81
gender place - 104 out of 438
And here's an action shot my husband took at the finish line...Yes, I am wearing tiger ears and a tail. It was a run to benefit a zoo!
All in all, I am very happy with the results. I made my goal of a 5K in under 30 minutes!!
Afterward, I splurged at lunch and had one of my favorite kinds of pizza. It's called the Border-to-Border. It's Canadian bacon, pineapple, tomatoes and jalapenos. Yum!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Week In Review - Week 2
Wow, the leaves are starting to change color already. Autumn is my favorite season, but where did summer go?
I didn't get a chance to do a Week in Review last week, so here's a quick recap:
TT Contest Week 1
Monday: TT for Athletes, workout A/run: 1.12 miles/15:00
Tuesday: TT Intervals - warm up, followed by 2 minutes running and 2 minutes walking, repeat for total of 6 intervals (first 4 were at 6.7 mph, last 2 were at 7.5 mph), cool down/3.44 miles/45:00
Wednesday: TT for Athletes, workout B
Thursday: Running - 4 miles/39:25
Friday: TT for Athletes, workout C/run: 2.16 miles/25:00
Saturday: Running - 7.28 miles/1:19:42
Sunday: OFF
TT Contest Week 2
Monday: TT for Athletes, workout A/run: 4 miles/41:50
Tuesday: TT Intervals - warm up, followed by 2 minutes running and 2 minutes walking, repeat for total of 6 intervals (first 2 were at 6.7 mph, last 4 were at 7.5 mph), cool down/3.49 miles/45:00
Wednesday: TT for Athletes, workout B
Thursday: Running - 5.51 miles/57:28
Friday: TT for Athletes, workout C/TT 3 Minute Arms
Saturday: Running - 7.93 miles/1:31:56
Sunday: OFF
Primary Contest Goals
Eat healthfully and mindfully, with foods more in their natural state: getting better
To NOT use Fitday: Didn't use. :)
Complete every TT workout to the best of my ability: Yes
Run 15-20 miles (at minimum) per week: Week 1 - 18 miles, Week 2 - 20.93 miles
Complete two 5K races, with at least one of them under 30 minutes: First one up is September 20! :)
Secondary Contest Goals
Lose 5 pounds of fat (mostly from abs and thighs): Have to wait until the end for this one. But I am down about 2 pounds since Day 1.
Reduce consumption of diet soda: Yes. I started buying the cute little 8oz cans and have those with lunch instead of the regular cans. I also eliminated the afternoon soda on most days. I still have a 12oz can with dinner.
Summary
The past 2 weeks have gone fairly well. Labor Day weekend wasn't the best nutrition-wise. We went to a wedding and I overindulged on a few things. Like potato salad. And candy. And maybe one too many rum and diet cokes. :) But back on track now.
Running has been going well. I can tell I have improved my endurance, although I don't know if my speed is a lot faster. I might try to run a 5K on Monday at race pace. I'm still debating how I want to train this week since my race is next weekend. But if I'm going to run a race pace 5K, it would be Monday. Heck, why not? Let's give it a try! :)
Have a great week!
I didn't get a chance to do a Week in Review last week, so here's a quick recap:
TT Contest Week 1
Monday: TT for Athletes, workout A/run: 1.12 miles/15:00
Tuesday: TT Intervals - warm up, followed by 2 minutes running and 2 minutes walking, repeat for total of 6 intervals (first 4 were at 6.7 mph, last 2 were at 7.5 mph), cool down/3.44 miles/45:00
Wednesday: TT for Athletes, workout B
Thursday: Running - 4 miles/39:25
Friday: TT for Athletes, workout C/run: 2.16 miles/25:00
Saturday: Running - 7.28 miles/1:19:42
Sunday: OFF
TT Contest Week 2
Monday: TT for Athletes, workout A/run: 4 miles/41:50
Tuesday: TT Intervals - warm up, followed by 2 minutes running and 2 minutes walking, repeat for total of 6 intervals (first 2 were at 6.7 mph, last 4 were at 7.5 mph), cool down/3.49 miles/45:00
Wednesday: TT for Athletes, workout B
Thursday: Running - 5.51 miles/57:28
Friday: TT for Athletes, workout C/TT 3 Minute Arms
Saturday: Running - 7.93 miles/1:31:56
Sunday: OFF
Primary Contest Goals
Eat healthfully and mindfully, with foods more in their natural state: getting better
To NOT use Fitday: Didn't use. :)
Complete every TT workout to the best of my ability: Yes
Run 15-20 miles (at minimum) per week: Week 1 - 18 miles, Week 2 - 20.93 miles
Complete two 5K races, with at least one of them under 30 minutes: First one up is September 20! :)
Secondary Contest Goals
Lose 5 pounds of fat (mostly from abs and thighs): Have to wait until the end for this one. But I am down about 2 pounds since Day 1.
Reduce consumption of diet soda: Yes. I started buying the cute little 8oz cans and have those with lunch instead of the regular cans. I also eliminated the afternoon soda on most days. I still have a 12oz can with dinner.
Summary
The past 2 weeks have gone fairly well. Labor Day weekend wasn't the best nutrition-wise. We went to a wedding and I overindulged on a few things. Like potato salad. And candy. And maybe one too many rum and diet cokes. :) But back on track now.
Running has been going well. I can tell I have improved my endurance, although I don't know if my speed is a lot faster. I might try to run a 5K on Monday at race pace. I'm still debating how I want to train this week since my race is next weekend. But if I'm going to run a race pace 5K, it would be Monday. Heck, why not? Let's give it a try! :)
Have a great week!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Here We Go Again....
I'm joining another Turbulence Training Transformation Contest! (You didn't think I could stay away forever, did you?) My first day is TOMORROW!! I'm taking Before pictures early, early tomorrow morning. Even before going to the gym! I think my eyes will be open in the pictures. :)
If you are interested in joining me, please check out the rules here ==> Transformation Contest Rules
If you complete the 6th Turbulence Training Transformation Contest, and submit Before and After photos and a 300-word essay, you will receive SIX MONTHS FREE to the TT Members website (which includes the discussion forums and new workouts every month). That is a fantastic prize, and the only thing you have to do is complete the 12-week contest. EVERYONE who finishes (and submits their photos and essay) gets that! At least go check out the rules...
You have until September 18 to think about it... ;)
Here are my goals for the next 12 weeks:
Primary Goals
Eat healthfully and mindfully, with foods more in their natural state
To NOT use Fitday*
Complete every TT workout to the best of my ability
Run 15-20 miles (at minimum) per week
Complete two 5K races, with at least one of them under 30 minutes
*As I've said before, I think Fitday is a fantastic tool for someone who is a beginner, or is not likely to be obsessive/compulsive about it. It was becoming a little OCD for me.
Secondary Goals
Lose 5 pounds of fat (mostly from abs and thighs)
Reduce consumption of diet soda
The workout I chose to start the contest with is TT for Athletes. It's an older TT workout, but I liked the way it had a couple of optional interval days that I could use to instead work on my endurance running. It's mostly bodyweight exercises, with a couple of optional weighted exercises.
So my week looks like this:
Monday: TT for Athletes, Workout A
Tuesday: TT Intervals
Wednesday: TT for Athletes, Workout B*
Thursday: OFF*
Friday: TT for Athletes, Workout C
Saturday: 5-7 mile run
Sunday: OFF
*My gym is getting all new equipment and they are closed this week on Wednesday and Thursday to clean the area and install the new equipment. Since it's mostly BW exercises, I can do workout B at home. Next week I will probably add a short run on Wednesday (as the TT workout seems like it will be short), and will run 3 to 4 miles on Thursday. If the stars align right, I may run 3-4 miles this Thursday. :)
So that's it for now. Remember, if you want to check out the rules for the contest, you can do so here ==> Transformation Contest Rules
See you on the forums! :)
If you are interested in joining me, please check out the rules here ==> Transformation Contest Rules
If you complete the 6th Turbulence Training Transformation Contest, and submit Before and After photos and a 300-word essay, you will receive SIX MONTHS FREE to the TT Members website (which includes the discussion forums and new workouts every month). That is a fantastic prize, and the only thing you have to do is complete the 12-week contest. EVERYONE who finishes (and submits their photos and essay) gets that! At least go check out the rules...
You have until September 18 to think about it... ;)
Here are my goals for the next 12 weeks:
Primary Goals
Eat healthfully and mindfully, with foods more in their natural state
To NOT use Fitday*
Complete every TT workout to the best of my ability
Run 15-20 miles (at minimum) per week
Complete two 5K races, with at least one of them under 30 minutes
*As I've said before, I think Fitday is a fantastic tool for someone who is a beginner, or is not likely to be obsessive/compulsive about it. It was becoming a little OCD for me.
Secondary Goals
Lose 5 pounds of fat (mostly from abs and thighs)
Reduce consumption of diet soda
The workout I chose to start the contest with is TT for Athletes. It's an older TT workout, but I liked the way it had a couple of optional interval days that I could use to instead work on my endurance running. It's mostly bodyweight exercises, with a couple of optional weighted exercises.
So my week looks like this:
Monday: TT for Athletes, Workout A
Tuesday: TT Intervals
Wednesday: TT for Athletes, Workout B*
Thursday: OFF*
Friday: TT for Athletes, Workout C
Saturday: 5-7 mile run
Sunday: OFF
*My gym is getting all new equipment and they are closed this week on Wednesday and Thursday to clean the area and install the new equipment. Since it's mostly BW exercises, I can do workout B at home. Next week I will probably add a short run on Wednesday (as the TT workout seems like it will be short), and will run 3 to 4 miles on Thursday. If the stars align right, I may run 3-4 miles this Thursday. :)
So that's it for now. Remember, if you want to check out the rules for the contest, you can do so here ==> Transformation Contest Rules
See you on the forums! :)
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Racing Results!
Weeeeellllllll......Not EXACTLY the result I was looking for, but I still set a new personal best in a race. I started near the back (so I wouldn't get run over) but that may have been a mistake. I started off slower than I intended because we were kind of crunched, and it was hard to pass at first. I felt really good the entire race, and I didn't have to stop and walk at all. I ran really hard at the end and managed to cross the finish line without vomiting. Although I did gag 3 times. :) But....I didn't make it under 30 minutes.
My official time was 31:15, with a pace of 10:04. I finished 192/480 overall; 92/317 total women; and 16/52 women in my age division. Very happy with those results!!
There's another 5K next Monday on Labor Day, but I haven't decided if I will enter. I'm going to check it out though. :)
My official time was 31:15, with a pace of 10:04. I finished 192/480 overall; 92/317 total women; and 16/52 women in my age division. Very happy with those results!!
There's another 5K next Monday on Labor Day, but I haven't decided if I will enter. I'm going to check it out though. :)
Friday, August 28, 2009
Week In Review
Today I picked up my bib and timing chip for the race tomorrow. I'm getting a little nervous because it's my first "real" chip-timed race. There will be 500 people running the 5K, and so this will also be my first race that will most likely have a large audience.
I felt really good running this week. My nutrition was pretty good, aside from the bit of sugar free, fat free ice cream I had. :)
Here's how this week's training went:
Saturday: Ran outside for 5 miles. It felt pretty good, and I was proud of my time. It was a run full of adventure, though. I almost stepped on a cicada, nearly got hit by a bee in flight, and even got honked at twice, followed by one "Hey Baby!" (And I wasn't even wearing my short shorts.) 5 miles/51:43
Sunday: 1 mile warm up, 1 mile run, 1/2 mile cool down. I warmed up more than I usually do on Sundays and this was my fastest Sunday mile yet. First week was 11:15, second was 10:12, third was 9:55, and this week was 9:25. 2.5 miles/28:57
Monday: Today I was supposed to run 5K on a treadmill at my target pace. I warmed up for 12 minutes before I started the 5K. I made it 1.5 miles, then walked for 1 minute, then ran 1.6 more miles at my target pace. So I completed the 5K in less than 29 minutes, but had to walk for a minute. Which I think is OK. :) 4.69 miles/50:00
Tuesday: 3 miles at an "easy" pace. 3.22 miles/40:00
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: OFF
Friday: I wanted to do a 1-2 mile run today, just to loosen up my legs. At least, I think that's the reason. I got this "week before race" plan somewhere online, and I think that's what they said about running a couple miles on the Friday before the race. So I did an easy 1.52 miles this morning, and it felt really good! 1.52 miles/15:38
Total Weekly Miles: 16.93 miles
I went back to compare my weekly miles, with how long I spent running them (because I'm nerdy like that) and found that:
Week 1 - 18.29 miles - 3:51:04 (average of 12:38 per mile)
Week 2 - 19.165 miles - 3:40:22 (average of 11:24 per mile)
Week 3 - 21.36 miles - 4:02:11 (average of 11:20 per mile)
Week 4 - 16.93 miles - 3:06:18 (average of 11:00 per mile)
Whoo-hoo! I can be pretty number-driven sometimes, so it's nice to see improvement by the numbers. Gee, I hope I did the math right!
Tomorrow is the big day - wish me luck! Better yet, wish for me not to vomit on the finish line! :)
I felt really good running this week. My nutrition was pretty good, aside from the bit of sugar free, fat free ice cream I had. :)
Here's how this week's training went:
Saturday: Ran outside for 5 miles. It felt pretty good, and I was proud of my time. It was a run full of adventure, though. I almost stepped on a cicada, nearly got hit by a bee in flight, and even got honked at twice, followed by one "Hey Baby!" (And I wasn't even wearing my short shorts.) 5 miles/51:43
Sunday: 1 mile warm up, 1 mile run, 1/2 mile cool down. I warmed up more than I usually do on Sundays and this was my fastest Sunday mile yet. First week was 11:15, second was 10:12, third was 9:55, and this week was 9:25. 2.5 miles/28:57
Monday: Today I was supposed to run 5K on a treadmill at my target pace. I warmed up for 12 minutes before I started the 5K. I made it 1.5 miles, then walked for 1 minute, then ran 1.6 more miles at my target pace. So I completed the 5K in less than 29 minutes, but had to walk for a minute. Which I think is OK. :) 4.69 miles/50:00
Tuesday: 3 miles at an "easy" pace. 3.22 miles/40:00
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: OFF
Friday: I wanted to do a 1-2 mile run today, just to loosen up my legs. At least, I think that's the reason. I got this "week before race" plan somewhere online, and I think that's what they said about running a couple miles on the Friday before the race. So I did an easy 1.52 miles this morning, and it felt really good! 1.52 miles/15:38
Total Weekly Miles: 16.93 miles
I went back to compare my weekly miles, with how long I spent running them (because I'm nerdy like that) and found that:
Week 1 - 18.29 miles - 3:51:04 (average of 12:38 per mile)
Week 2 - 19.165 miles - 3:40:22 (average of 11:24 per mile)
Week 3 - 21.36 miles - 4:02:11 (average of 11:20 per mile)
Week 4 - 16.93 miles - 3:06:18 (average of 11:00 per mile)
Whoo-hoo! I can be pretty number-driven sometimes, so it's nice to see improvement by the numbers. Gee, I hope I did the math right!
Tomorrow is the big day - wish me luck! Better yet, wish for me not to vomit on the finish line! :)
Friday, August 21, 2009
Week In Review - What Goes Around Comes Around
This week's lesson: If you eat like crap, you run like crap.
Work was a little stressful this week, and while I am usually pretty good about it, this week I found myself in a meet-and-greet with a bowlful of peanut m&m's. On more than one occasion. Needless to say, it wasn't pretty. But I did learn a lesson. My morning runs did not feel that great the day after a peanut m&m lovefest.
Here's how the week went:
Saturday: The week started out really well. 6 miles/1:08:38
Sunday: 1/2 mile warm up, 1 mile run, cool down. 1.75 miles/19:33
Monday: 4.09 miles/45:00/TT 2K6 Workout B (later in day)
Tuesday: 8 minute warm up, 3 x 1200 at race pace (6:45 each), 2 min walk in between, cool down. I felt like I could have done 4 x 1200, but I ran out of time because I got to the gym late. 3.34 miles/37:00
Wednesday: 11 minute warm up, 2 miles at race pace (18:00), cool down. 3.24 miles/35:00.TT 2K6 Workout A (after running)
Thursday: OFF
Friday: 11 minute warm up, speed drills like the previous 2 Fridays, but this week was 10-10-5 (x6), followed by 10-10-15 (x3) for a total of 9 intervals with a 1 minute walk between each. I don't think I will be doing my TT workout tonight. Was at work really late and I have a lot to do around the house before I can get to bed! 2.84 miles/37:00
Total Weekly Miles: 21.26 miles
I think I did OK increasing my miles this week. My first week was 18.29 miles, my second week was 19.175 miles, and now this week is just a hair over 10% more of last week, so I think I'm doing this right! :) However, next week my miles will be a little bit reduced, closer to 15 or 16 miles. It's the last week before my race!
This was my last week for TT 2K6. I really liked it. It was a nice complement to my increased running. Next week I am only running. Tomorrow I plan on running 5 miles, then my usual warm up plus 1 mile on Sunday (might complete that last TT workout too), then Monday I am going to attempt 5K at race pace. Tuesday's plan is for a 3 mile easy run, then off on Wedneday and Thursday. Friday I want to do 1 or 2 miles, then Saturday is race day! That sure went fast!!
And there will be clean eating all week!!!! I may try "The Flash Diet" again and start taking pictures of my meals. Helps with accountability!
Finally, Turbulence Training Transformation Contest Finalists are supposed to be announced very soon so get your voting fingers ready!! :)
Work was a little stressful this week, and while I am usually pretty good about it, this week I found myself in a meet-and-greet with a bowlful of peanut m&m's. On more than one occasion. Needless to say, it wasn't pretty. But I did learn a lesson. My morning runs did not feel that great the day after a peanut m&m lovefest.
Here's how the week went:
Saturday: The week started out really well. 6 miles/1:08:38
Sunday: 1/2 mile warm up, 1 mile run, cool down. 1.75 miles/19:33
Monday: 4.09 miles/45:00/TT 2K6 Workout B (later in day)
Tuesday: 8 minute warm up, 3 x 1200 at race pace (6:45 each), 2 min walk in between, cool down. I felt like I could have done 4 x 1200, but I ran out of time because I got to the gym late. 3.34 miles/37:00
Wednesday: 11 minute warm up, 2 miles at race pace (18:00), cool down. 3.24 miles/35:00.TT 2K6 Workout A (after running)
Thursday: OFF
Friday: 11 minute warm up, speed drills like the previous 2 Fridays, but this week was 10-10-5 (x6), followed by 10-10-15 (x3) for a total of 9 intervals with a 1 minute walk between each. I don't think I will be doing my TT workout tonight. Was at work really late and I have a lot to do around the house before I can get to bed! 2.84 miles/37:00
Total Weekly Miles: 21.26 miles
I think I did OK increasing my miles this week. My first week was 18.29 miles, my second week was 19.175 miles, and now this week is just a hair over 10% more of last week, so I think I'm doing this right! :) However, next week my miles will be a little bit reduced, closer to 15 or 16 miles. It's the last week before my race!
This was my last week for TT 2K6. I really liked it. It was a nice complement to my increased running. Next week I am only running. Tomorrow I plan on running 5 miles, then my usual warm up plus 1 mile on Sunday (might complete that last TT workout too), then Monday I am going to attempt 5K at race pace. Tuesday's plan is for a 3 mile easy run, then off on Wedneday and Thursday. Friday I want to do 1 or 2 miles, then Saturday is race day! That sure went fast!!
And there will be clean eating all week!!!! I may try "The Flash Diet" again and start taking pictures of my meals. Helps with accountability!
Finally, Turbulence Training Transformation Contest Finalists are supposed to be announced very soon so get your voting fingers ready!! :)
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