85 Days

I was really tired this morning - seems to be a trend lately. I'm seriously thinking about taking some days off next week (recovery week) and actually sleeping in. Today was also supposed to be a low calorie day but I decided against it. Last night, while at my son's baseball practice, I started to get a scratchy thought and some dripping (not going into anymore detail) and I didn't think that dropping my calories was not what I needed right now.

I did however get my workout done this morning. I have 1 more day of Insanity left. It is scheduled as Max Cardio Conditioning/Cardio Abs and the Fit Test. Since I've been so tired lately, I think I'm actually going to just do the Fit Test on Sunday. Then I may take Monday and Tuesday off completely. These are also days that I teach my gym classes as school so it won't be completely devoid of exercise. Then on Wednesday I may do one of the recovery workout, Thursday will be a run day and I'm thinking maybe a yoga day on Friday. That will bring me to my long run on Saturday and my hybrid starts on Monday. I'm leaving next week kind of in limbo - I have the above outlined plan in my head but I'm also leaving it open to change if necessary.

I also have a confession to make. I gave into the temptation of a burger and fries for today's lunch. I was out running errands and it took longer than I expected so I didn't get home for lunch and I didn't bring anything with me. I could have made a better choice but I didn't. That fact cannot be changed and I will no longer dwell on it either. I will make better choices for the rest of the day and forgo any type of dessert (even a healthy one). I'm also thinking about adding another workout this afternoon just to help offset the poor choice of lunch. I know I can't out exercise the calories I take in but it will help me mentally!

Something good did come out of my errands though! Over this past week I had 4 different lights burn out on me when I turned on the switch. Two of which were flood lights in our family room. These silly lights (part of a track lighting system) are the hardest thing to figure out. There seems to be a million different sizes and wattage etc. But, I went to the store and got the right ones and even installed them back into the tracks! I also replaced the appliance light in our kitchen radio and the light in my daughter's ceiling fan. All this might not sound like much but I'm proud of the accomplishment!

I will try to get on later and update the rest of the day!

86 Days

Yesterday went really well! I wasn't sure how I would feel this morning, after the low calorie day, for my workout. I actually felt pretty good this morning - I was a little tired but that was because I had trouble falling asleep last night.

The workout was Core Cardio & Balance. It was nice to have a shorter workout scheduled. It felt really good to do that workout. I did really well with the hip burners and the shoulder work at the end. Those muscle groups really start to burn because Shaun T doesn't let you rest until you get all the way through the cycle. At one point he makes the comment: your shoulders are going to burn and when that happens just bring it all into the core and keep going. That was what I tried to focus on - I closed my eye and just tried to keep moving and pushing through. It is such a great feeling when you make it all the way through without a break!!

Today is a normal eating day. Had my egg white burrito for breakfast and boy did it taste good! I will also continue with my gallon of water. I'm looking forward to a great day - I'm sticking to my eating plan and because of that, I am feeling better every day.

I'm stuck about what to have for dinner. The kids asked to have pasta. I really don't want a huge carb meal after my low cal day yesterday. I want to make sure I stick to balanced meals and really keep this ball rolling. We also have baseball practice tonight so I don't have a lot of extra time to cook 2 meals. I'll think on it for a while and hopefully, I'll be able to get back on later and update what I came up with.

87 Days

What a difference a day makes!! Yesterday, I felt really tired! I got up to exercise but just couldn't do it - I did teach my gym classes so I did get some exercise. I had hoped to exercise in the afternoon but again I just couldn't get myself moving so I thought a rest day was in order. That on top of doing a month 1 exercise session on Monday (partly because I was running out of time and partly because I didn't think I'd be able to go a full hour). It was actually getting me a touch worried because the family is moving into its busy sports seasons so we end up being out just about every night.

However, this morning was totally different! I woke up feeling ready to exercise!! I did the Max Interval Circuit and it was awesome. I felt great doing the workout and even better after it was finished! It is amazing how much energy you have after working so hard. Common sense says you should be exhausted when you work that hard but the opposite is often true. You actually feel more energetic and empowered after you have pushed yourself to your max and come through on the other side.

I've also decided to zig-zag my calories this week. Today I'll have about 900 food calories and 160 supplement calories (pre & post workout). Now when I say food calories I am using meal replacement shakes so there are a fair number of different supplements being used today! I will repeat this on Friday. On Thursday, I will eat my normal level of calories which I think is around 1500 (I'll try to track it and nail it down a bit more). I've seen this strategy used by many people but I will be honest - I've never tried it myself. I really think it is going to be a BIG kick to my weight loss goals. I've had some water weight fluctuations recently so I want to dial things in during this last week of Insanity. I let that first month get away from me but I feel really good about things now so this is a perfect time to try this!!

Other daily news: my puppy has double ear infection. Poor guy!!! We saw the doc today and he has a yeast infection in both ears. We got his meds (has to take for 14 days) and now we just have to keep vigilant about it. The doc thinks he might be a dog that is just prone to getting them because he hasn't been swimming or anything. Labs are prone to ear infections anyway but I really hope he isn't extra prone!

I've been working on this post off and on all day (actually started it this morning at 7 am) and just wanted to update on how the "diet" is going today. I have stuck to my all day and so far I'm feeling pretty good. I still have 1 shake to drink later tonight and some more water but things are good!

Well the system seems to be acting funny so I am going to try and post this - I may add an update later. Either way, have a great night!!

Final Update For The Day:
It is official! I am sick of meal replacement drinks.....LOL! I made it through this day clean and on program but I really did not want to drink that last shake. I will admit that I really wasn't hungry and if it was a normal day I may have just stopped with 5 meals instead of 6. However, today was not normal and since my calories were so low for the day I knew I had to have that last shake. I am proud of myself for following through on my program, I'm looking forward to getting on the scale in the morning and I'm looking forward to a day of mostly food and not drinks!!! Off to bed - early workout in the morning. I WILL be Diggin' Deep!!!

91 Days - What a Great Run!

I had a wonderful run this morning. I was scheduled to be a 10 miler and especially after last week's stomach trouble I was really looking forward to what I could do this week. We took off on a very hilly (and windy) course. There is one section of the course (between miles 3 & 5) that covers the 2 miles and is uphill the whole entire way. I made it up about 3/4 of the way at a really fast pace but then had to slow down. It is so cool to know that I can cross-train 5 days per week and still do so well on a long run!

As I said before, it was supposed to be a 10 mile run but it was actually an 11 mile loop. I knew at about mile 7 that it wasn't going to get me back at 10 miles. I decided that I would see where I was when I hit mile 10 and then walk the rest of the way to the car. As we got closer, I decide to run to a certain spot (knowing it would put me over 10). When I got to that spot, I looked at my watched and realized that I was only 1/4 of a mile from 11 so I just ran it out to 11 and walked the last mile back to the car. It was a good way to end the run - I love walking afterward because it really helps me keep the soreness down! I may still be sore but I am so happy with the way it went!!! I don't have the exact time here in front of me but I do know that we averaged 9:40 per mile. Considering the hills on this course......I am ecstatic about the results!!!

Next week is my last week of Insanity. I will then do 1 recovery week and jump into my hybrid - I'm looking forward to the challenges!!

92 Days

I was feeling the need for something different this morning so instead of doing my normal Insanity workout, I did the Fast & Furious workout and some stretching from the P90X DVD. It was nice to do something different. One thing didn't change though - the workout was a butt kicker!!

The weather was absolutely beautiful today so I took Chip to the park. We did a run/walk for 2.5 miles. He was GASSED! I think the heat really got to him. I had water but left it in the car - I need to remember to bring it next time. I also had him weighed today and he is 83.4 pounds (he's a little shy of 9 months old). I don't want him to get to heavy but the dog is all rib cage, legs and loose skin! We just need to keep an eye on him and make sure he maintains a good weight. I'm afraid that if he gets really big, he might not be able to run with me as much as I'd like - I guess we'll just wait and see.

I'm really proud of my dd - she was in a spelling bee today and did really well! It was a contest between the 4th & 5th graders. Each classroom had a contest and then the classroom winners had a contest in front of the entire 4th & 5th grade classes. My dd was the third best speller in the contest! AWESOME!!

Tomorrow is another 10 mile run. Some of the others are going 12 but I've increased the past 3 weeks plus ran an extra day today so I'm sticking with 10. I'm hoping not to have the same stomach problems that I had last week. I'm running with the faster runners in the group so it will be a good test! The bad part is that it is another 4:30 start. Getting up isn't the problem (I'm up in time when I workout at home) it is just hard to get to where I need to be and ready to start by 4:30. I can do it though and like I said I'm excited to be running with these particular runners!

Tomorrow also holds baseball tryouts on tap. It will be the first time my ds goes to a tryout. I think all the kids make a team, the tryout just gives the coaches a chance to see the kids play first. He has made a lot of progress since last year - I just hope he plays hard and doesn't get all shy when he gets there. He's a good little ball player when he is relaxed and confident in himself.

I guess that's all for now - have a great weekend!

93 Days & The Gift

I met with "the group" to run this morning and to give Helenann her watch. It was a total surprise to her and it was a great way to start the morning! So, I ended up running 5 miles instead of doing the Insanity Recovery workout. I felt pretty good and it will be interesting to see how I feel on Saturday - 10 miles on the hills.

I ended up eating some things I shouldn't have today. I had some graham crackers and some potato chips. It was a nice little splurge and now I'm moving on.

I heard about my dd's soccer team today. They assigned her to a team that is as far away from us as you can get. I would take me a good 45 minutes to an hour to get her to practice (and the same to come back again) and the coach wants to practice 2x per week. Add to this my ds's schedule, which we don't know yet, and there is no way I can do this! I sent the coach a note a requested a new team. So, now I'm just waiting to hear back from them. I really don't get their team make-ups. We have been on teams located all over the place - I realize that some of that is due to player changes but when you see the same girls over and over again you start to wonder why you aren't still on the same team. Anyway, I'm hoping to hear soon about which team she will be on.

My ds has his "tryouts" this Saturday so we will know about his schedule soon too. He is so excited about playing baseball this year. I hope it carries over to the field. Sometimes he has all this energy and excitement and then gets all shy when he gets to the field.

We got out for a family dog walk and bike ride. The kids rode their bikes (yes both of them) and we walked the dog. It was awesome that we could all get out and do that together - especially since the weather was nice! The fact that my dd now feels comfortable enough to go out and ride up ahead of us is great to see!! I'm so proud of her!!

94 Days

Today was my Max Cardio and Cardio Abs workout. I felt much better today - didn't get light-headed today! It was weird yesterday. These workouts are really hard but I am loving the way they are making me feel! Not only is my body feeling stronger but my focus and enthusiasm is growing as well!

On the P90X commercial there is a woman who says something along the line of: I wasn't crazy about changing my diet but as my body got stronger it craved better food. That's kind of where I am now. Don't get me wrong, I still have cravings every single day and it's a constant struggle every day to keep to my plan. However, I'm feeling stronger, leaner, healthier and energetic and I'm loving that sensation!!!

Even though I have 94 days until my race, I only have about 1 week of Insanity left. It amazes me that time has gone by this quickly. I have really loved doing this program and a part of me is sad to see it end but I'm also excited to start my new program AND get back to consistent running. Speaking of running, I'm actually going to meet the group tomorrow for a 5 mile run. A friend of my is running Boston and just last week her Garmin stopped working. So, we all chipped in to get her a new one kind of as a "Great Job" sort of gift. It will be a lot of fun and she is going to be totally blown away!!

I was at the store today and tried on a "sports bikini" (not sure what else to call it). I looked better than I expected - I'm not where I want to be (still have a pooch in the front) but I've made big strides. I also tried on some workout lycra shorts (I wear them under my shorts when I run) and I dropped a size! There are so many positives happening right now and my next biggest challenge is to not let myself get complacent.

Keep working hard and pushing your limits each and every day!!!

95 Days

Today has been a bit strange....I was doing my Insanity workout and got really light-headed. I didn't change my morning routine so I think it was just one of those days. I ended up not doing one round of one of the circuits and then took it a bit easy when I did get back in. I didn't get as good a workout as I usually do but I'm OK with that. I did my best!

Nutrition has been spot on the past week or so. I even kept clean at dinner tonight - my hubby wanted brats and waffle fries. I stayed away and made myself a big veggie and chicken salad. It was satisfying both physically and mentally satisfying. I've dropped 3 pounds over the past week or so and am looking forward to the progress I'm going to make over the coming weeks.

I can't get the past 6 weeks back but I just keep thinking at just how much more progress I could have made if I had been able to dial in my nutrition from the start. The important thing though...don't dwell on that aspect! It is in the past and I can't change it so I'm making the best of today!

Congrats to Jessica who finished Insanity this week and had awesome results! She's now training for the Boston Marathon and I KNOW she'll do awesome!!

Tomorrow is Max Cardio and Cardio Abs - I'm really looking forward to it. I'm Diggin' Deep and loving it!!

Great News!!

Last Friday, while flossing my teeth, I thought I chipped my tooth. Go figure....you do what you are supposed to do and it breaks anyway!!! Well, I went to the dentist today and it wasn't my tooth! It was actually part of a filling. My face is all numb because he had drill out the old filling to make sure everything fit well. But, I'm just glad it was just a filling and now the problem is fixed.

Big News!

I am so proud! My daughter learned to ride a bike this weekend. My son let her use his bike (so she could easily put her feet on the ground). We rode on the street - back and forth. Then we moved onto riding around the block together. Then she went around the block alone - I was so proud of her because she has been so scared to ride so to go off by herself was absolutely HUGE!! The weekend concluded with her riding all the way around the neighborhood while her Dad walked the dog. She went down hills and everything! I again am just so proud of her!!!

98 Days & Saturday Long Run

I've made it to double digits! The race seems like it is a long way off but I know it will be here before I know it!

Today was my weekly run (I'll be increasing my running days in a couple of weeks) and we ran 10 miles. I ran 11 about a month ago and it was WAY too much too soon. So, I was curious as to how I would feel today. My legs and cardio felt really good - did start to feel some leg stiffness around mile 9 but nothing major. We ran 8 last week so I expected some tightness around 9 miles anyway.

The bad part to the run was that I was having some stomach issues (not sure why b/c my nutrition has been quite good this week). This meant bathroom stops - don't worry, no details. On a positive note we were running a loop that had businesses open on opposite ends of the loop so there was no problem finding a place to stop (thank you WAWA & Dunkin Donuts).

Our finishing time was about1:42:00. That means I have 98 days to drop my time by about 20 minutes. I am confident that without the stomach troubles I can put a dent in that immediately. Then getting back into running shape and using some speed work will also shave off time. I think I have a really good shot at 1:20:00 and I'm going to do everything I can to make that goal reality.

Have a great weekend and it I have time I will post my nutrition.

100 Days

Today was my Max Recovery day and this workout is always tough. It isn't a recovery in the sense of you take it easy. However, there isn't any jumping involved in this workout which is really good for my joints. It incorporates Shawn T's version of some yoga positions, LB strength moves and lots of core/plank type work. You definitely don't jump around like a crazy person during this workout but by the end your arms and legs are definitely shaking and weak.

I realized something today. I have a hard time with the push-ups and to be honest I was feeling a bit down that I wasn't better at them after having done both P90X and almost all the way through Insanity. Then, I went to show my husband a push-up ab and realized that I could go down into a low push-up position and hold it. When I was doing P90X, I could not get into this position and hold it! I still want to be better (and faster) at my push-ups but I'm happy that I am absolutely making progress!!

Today has also been a good day in terms of my nutrition and my water consumption. I have again finished my gallon (and then some) and have mostly kept to my eating plan. I did have some veggie chips. Overall, I'm pleased with the day and hope to see more progress on the scale in the morning!

Tomorrow I'm into double digits for my countdown. I'm also down to about 2 weeks of Insanity! Time is flying by!!

Day 101 - Beginning of Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday which begins the church season of Lent. I am trying to bring 2 very important aspects of my life together in the next 40 or so days. My hope and prayer is that this next 40 days is the beginning to a great life change for me. Up to this point I really feel like I've been living short term "diets" instead of making this a lifestyle change. I always seem to fall back onto the poor eating choices. So, I'm going to use this Lenten season to work on discipline and spiritual focus. I am "giving up" all cookies, cakes, pies, candy etc and reading the book 3:16 by Max Lucado.

I know these 2 disciplines will make me a healthier person both inside and out. By eliminating the junk food I'm really hoping to see some great results in the fitness an weight loss areas. By reading the book and spending some daily time with my Lord and Savior, I'm hoping to open the rest of my life to endless possibilities.

Onto the daily plan:
Exercise - completed Max Interval Plyo this morning. It is still hard - my max HR hit 174 and the average for the working session was 152.

Water - 1 gallon (already close to finishing)

Nutrition
M1 EW burrito
M2 nutrition bar - banana later
M3 Turkey sandwich and veggies
M4 nutrition bar
M5 Beef & Broccoli Stir-fry
M6 LL cheesecake

Update to come later

102 Days and counting!

I got up this morning to exercise but was feeling really tired. So, I decided to wait until after school to exercise. This, in the past, has been a very slippery slope for me. I have had a tendency to "say" I will exercise and then not do it. That is why I'm posting it here and will update the outcome after I finish the session.

On a better note, I did get on the scale today and I'm down another 1/2 pound. I am very happy about this because I gave into some munchies last night. Today, I will make sure my eating stays clean and I stick to plan.

Tuesday Plan:
Exercise - Max Interval Circuit (after school)

Water - 1 gallon (already about 1/2 way done)

Nutrition
M1 EW burrito
M2 nutrition bar
M3 Chicken sandwich with veggies
M4 Protein shake and a piece of fruit
M5 Mango Salmon & salad
M6 LL cheesecake


UPDATE:
Today didn't go quite as planned. I left for work and realized that I had forgotten my nutrition bar. So I had some graham crackers instead. It was actually a very hard day at work because there was a lot of "junky" food around because it is Fat Tuesday.

I also changed my exercise routine. By the time I got home my knees were feeling a bit rickety. So, I decided to do my Fountain of Youth Yoga DVD. It was my first time doing this routine and I liked it. It is a 45 minute routine as compared to the 90 minute P90X routine. I was also pleasantly surprised at how well I did with the ab work. It wasn't very long but there were a couple of exercises that I have tried in the other yoga session. I was able to do them better than I ever have before. I think I may need to go back and try the Ab Ripper X session one of these days.

Day 103 Update

It has been a couple of days since my last update. Things have actually been pretty calm but here is an overview of the past couple of days.

I did well on Saturday at my friends house. I was able to maintain my weight which is a big accomplishment. Weekends tend to be a very difficult time for me especially when socializing with friends. Friends and food usually go together with me and when I can balance those 2 aspects easily, I will know that I have overcome a huge hurdle.

Sunday was supposed to be a Max Plyo day but I decided to take a rest day. I want to make sure to protect my joints with this program. This is definitely a lot more jumping than I have done in a very long time and the last thing I want is a joint injury!! I think the rest day was a good idea both mentally and physically - I needed it!

Sunday was also awesome because my son went to church with me! I let the kids choose, on the first Sunday of each month, whether they want to attend church with me (the other Sundays are Sunday School so we all just go). I was going to our early service (7:30am) and asked him on a whim. I was very pleased when he said yes - what a blessed day!!

Today started with a Max Cardio session - this one is really hard! Oh, what am I saying? They are all really hard...LOL!! It felt great to get up and move this morning! Then I went to school and taught my gym classes and felt like I had oodles of energy. I love the way a good exercise session makes the rest of my day feel.

I've almost completed my entire gallon of water (less than 32 ounces left) and food is going well.

Nutrition:
M1 EW and oatmeal
M2 nutrition bar
M3 Turkey sandwich & veggies
M4 nutrition bar
M5 Steak, sweet pot. & peas
M6 Almost cheesecake

Off to pick the kids up from school!

105 days left & Saturday run!

Exercise: 8 mile run with friends - done first thing this morning. I felt really strong on the hills and the entire run in general. We did stop to walk a couple of times because my running partner needed a break. She's just getting back into running because of a foot & back injury and isn't sure how the hills are going to impact her body so she wants to gradually try the courses out.

Water: 1 gallon

Nutrition: I'm going to allow myself a bit of leeway today. I won't be splurging all day but we are visiting friends today and I don't know exactly what foods will be available. I am going to watch my portion sizes and have some fun.


I can't say enough just how happy I am with the way my fitness is going! The run today really showed me just how out of shape I was not too long ago and how much better I am now! Insanity has shown me just how much more my body is able to do. I only thought I was working hard before - now I know better!!

Plan for Day 106

Thursday was an awesome day in all aspects of my health and fitness! Friday is going to be just as successful!! I did receive my new yoga DVD from Beachbody. It is the Fountain of Youth yoga session and I'm really looking forward to trying it. It is only 45 minutes as compared to the 90 minutes in the P90X program. I did a quick view of it and it appears to cover all the poses that have really been helping me since this summer. If I have time tomorrow afternoon, I really want to try it!!

Friday Plan:

Exercise - Max Interval Circuit (first thing in am); Yoga (in afternoon if I don't have to pick the kids up from school).

Water - 1 gallon (filling it up tonight so I don't have to worry about it in the morning).

Nutrition
Recovery drink after workout
M1: EW & oatmeal with blueberries
M2: Fruit smoothie
M3: Turkey sandwich & veggies
M4: Meal replacement bar
M5: Baked chix breast, stuffing & veggie salad
M6: CC, pudding, oats

There were a number of times on Thursday that I really just wanted to sit down and munch away on something.....anything. The Beast was pushing hard but I was able to push him away. This is really big for me! One day of not listening to The Beast is in the books and my plan is to string many more together!!!

I can do this!
I choose to do this!
I will do this!!

Update for day 106 - ended up being out for dinner so I was not able to follow my plan exactly. The choices weren't great either. I ended up having 1/2 a meatball sandwich. Not perfect but I'm quite happy with the fact that I limited my portion size. I did finish my exercise session and I did drink my water. Overall, I'm satisfied with the day!

107 Days Left

Yesterday I posted about goals and today I've gotten onto the computer super early in order to post my plan for the day. We need to have those long term goals but it is also important to have daily goals as well! I'm planning on posting this type of record the night before and then adding an update later on in the day. Let's have a GREAT day!!

Exercise goal: Insanity Max Recovery

Water goal: 1 gallon of water

Nutrition:
Recovery drink immediately after workout
M1: Egg white and salsa burrito
M2: Protein/fruit smoothie
M3: Turkey sandwich and carrots
M4: Protein bar
M5: Buffalo meatloaf, potato and veggie salad
M6: Cottage cheese, pudding, oats

I know that if I stick to this meal plan (and only these meals) I will see a drop on the scale. So that is my big goal for the day:

Eat only what is on my plan!

End of Day Update:
I did pretty darn well today! My exercise session was completed first thing this morning. My gallon of water was finished at dinner. I did have a small snack of dried fruits and veggies in the afternoon so I didn't stick only to my meal plan but I'm very pleased! This is the best nutrition day that I have had in quite some time....the first of many!

Goals: March 2011

In 2010, my goal was to qualify for Boston. I trained consistently. I train intensely. I made some mistakes and my body gave out on me. I hurt my foot and as a result I didn't qualify. I'm OK with that though because it was the process that was important. I spent a good 4 months training hard and spending time with good friends - in one way it was a disappointment but in many others it was a huge victory!

For quite a while now, my goal was to drop 10-15 pounds. This has been a tougher road than even the marathon training. There is no arguing the fact that I exercise at a high intensity - I put the work in. The problem enters in on the nutrition side of the equation. You can not out exercise what you can potentially eat! All of those little bites count toward your total daily calories. Just because you break off a piece of cookie (instead of eating the entire cookie) doesn't mean it is calorie free. Just because I spent 1 hour exercising at my max doesn't mean I can give in to those sugar cravings. And, unfortunately, that is exactly what I've been doing. Losing the pounds obviously isn't the right "goal" for me. I'm hoping to make the weight loss a secondary achievement.

I have run the Baltimore 10 Miler for the past few years now. It is a great race - well run - and a fair but challenging course. The field has grown each and every year and because of the layout of the streets, they have gone to a wave start. This means that you need to enter an approximate race time when you sign up so that you can start with people who will be running at about the same pace. The course has had my number the past couple of years so when I had to choose a time, I struggled with what it should be. I decided to make this one of my next goals with the hope that it will help me stay motivated with my exercise routine as well as work on my "secondary weight loss goal". I entered in a time of 1:20:00 for the 10 miles (which equates to 8 min/mile). This will be a HUGE challenge for me so it is going to be imperative for me to keep my exercise intensity high, keep my program balanced (running, strengthening & stretching/yoga). It is also going to be a big help to my speed if I drop those pounds.

So, in the next 108 days I will be striving to increase my running speed, to get my body stronger and to keep my flexibility high. I will be running, using my P90X and my Insanity programs to achieve those goals. I know I need accountability with my nutrition so if you read this, please check in with me - call me out if I seem to be slacking in the food department. The little ticker at the top of my blog should make steady downward progress. I will be exercising at my max and because of that, I need to fuel it with good and healthy foods.

Goals are important! I need to have focus - something to work towards. So, my first goal for 2011 is 1:20:00 at the Baltimore 10 Miler! I will be making others but for right now this is what I'm working towards!!

Insanity Fit Test #3

I took my third Fit Test this morning and except for a muscle spasm in my back I'm happy! Here are the results:

Switch Kicks: 69/73/83
Power Jacks: 62/63/65
Power Knees: 106/120/124
Power Jumps: 39/50/55 - these are my hardest ones!
Globe Jumps: 11/12/12
Suicide Jumps: 16/19/20
Push-up Jacks: 23/27/27 - I think I'm also going down farther than I did at the start.
Low Plank Oblique: 60/78/70 - during this one I started to get a spasm in my back so I couldn't keep it going.

I am really happy with these results! Tomorrow I start the Max sessions - today, I will really try to get this back spasm under control.

The End of Recovery Week

This has actually been a tough week. The Insanity recovery week has you do the same workout all week. I have really gotten used to doing something different each day so the repetition got to me a bit. I did mix in a day of yoga and today I will do a stretching session - as soon as I finish this. The week ends with a nice run tomorrow morning - I look forward to these because it gives me a chance to catch up with my runnin' buds.

Next week the real work begins! The Max sessions of my Insanity program begins. I believe there are 4 separate workouts and you just cycle through them one after another. I've seen some video of them and they look really tough. I'm definitely interested in seeing how my body deals with them.

I have 1 more month of Insanity and then I'm getting back into more running. I've already put together a program, which will probably run me a good 6 months, that will incorporate P90X, Insanity and my running. I'm going to alternate the P90X workouts and the Insanity workouts by month with 3 days of running being a constant throughout the program. I really want to see how my body responds to this hybrid. I love the way it will incorporate the lifting, the running and the high intensity plyos as well as the P90X yoga. They have all become so very important to me and the functioning of my body!

Recovery Week!

I've made it to the Recovery Week in my Insanity program! That means I've made it to the 5 week mark of the program and that next week will begin the 2nd phase of the program.....the Max workouts! I'm nervous and excited all at the same time!!

I was able to go for a 7 mile run on Saturday and it went really well. I wasn't sore afterwards - like I was after the 11 miler the week before. The first 3.5 miles were completed in about 10:30 splits and the last 3.5 miles were in the low 9's. I was very pleased with how my legs felt at the faster pace. I could definitely feel that it was faster - thanks for pushing the pace Cathy! I was happy when we reached the end of the run but I know that I could have kept going.

I did not complete the last Plyo CC session on Sunday because I tweaked my foot on Saturday. I was coming down the steps and a tendon, or something, twinged and it has been a little sore. I decided it would be better to rest it than to do a lot of jumping an lateral movements. It is still a little sore but I didn't have any trouble with the Core Cardio & Balance workout. This was a new workout for me and I liked it - good thing because I do this same workout all week long. There is one section of the workout where you just BLAST your hip flexors and then your shoulders. I'm really hoping that the shoulder work will help me with the plank work in the sessions (I usually start to give out in my upper body before my core "dies").

I think I'm also going to take some 1/2 way photos. I really haven't seen much scale motion but I do feel better. I also feel like my core is stronger and firmer. As these workouts ramp up I'm really hoping to see some downward movement on the scale. My nutrition isn't perfect but I really feel like I'm starting to correct some things.

I'm off for meal #2 - trying a Shakeology drink that I got from a friend. Make it a great day!

February 17th Update

Wow - things are really moving along! I completed day 25 of my Insanity program. I'm almost 1/2 way finished. The program is intense but I am loving every minute of it! I haven't seen much movement on the scale but I was noticing today that I'm really feeling good! I don't really know how to explain the feeling but I just feel better than I was before.

I am starting to get a better handle on my nutrition as well. Reality is, I haven't dropped any weight because my nutrition hasn't been good enough. Afternoons are my weak times so I've been trying to alter my habits/schedule to account for this time better. Some days it works better than others but the important thing is that I keep working at it!

The weather was absolutely beautiful today - about 65 degrees. The weather really fired up Chip and he decided to start digging in our veggie garden. In order to combat this I decided to take him out for a run. My kids were home so I got them on their scooters and the 4 of us did a 1.5 mile loop in our neighborhood. It was a GREAT time and it did a pretty good job at tiring Chip out (at least for a little while). I'm proud of both Chip (we only walked once) and the kids. The section where we walked was on a pretty steep hill and I was afraid that the kids might fall. Tomorrow, I'm hoping to get us all out to the park so we can hike on the trails.

The warm weather leaves on Saturday - back to reality! It's back just in time for my Saturday run with "The Group". I'm not planning on running as far as I did last week. I'm planning on between 7-8 miles. Eleven was definitely too far to start off with! It should be a good time!!

The Day After.....

Yesterday, I went on my first run in about 3 weeks. It was great to get out with my running buds! I have really missed them! My plan was to run about 9-10 miles at a nice easy pace. I ended up running 11 miles. The pace was OK - I did the first 5 a bit faster than I probably should but I was running with a friend that I haven't seen in probably 2 months and we got caught up in the conversation.....I wouldn't trade it for hte world!

The second half of the run was pretty hilly but the pace was slower. Cardiovascularly, I felt great! I was thrilled with the way my Insanity program has kept my cardio shape up. I didn't know how I would feel over a long run because the Insanity workouts are shorter (about 45 min. and I ran for over 2 hours) and they work different energy systems. I was also pleased at the amount of spring I had in my legs going up the hills.

Things felt great until about miles 7-8 which was when I started to feel tight in my legs. There wasn't any pain involved, I just started to feel a tightness, especially in my hamstrings. I was running with a friend who is in PT for a hip problem so we did do some walking which was nice. By the time we got back to our cars at mile 11 I was really ready to be finished!

I did some quick stretching for my legs and sides but boy did I tighten up on the ride home. As soon as I got home, I changed and settled in for some stretching. I was VERY tight! I find that my core area is really effected when I run. I get these little spasms, especially in between my ribs, when I'm finished my runs. I've been trying to work on strengthening my core but I still get those spasms when I'm finished. In addition, my legs, feet and hips were pretty sore for the rest of the day - not injury sore just sore from doing something I haven't done in 3 weeks.

Fast forward to this morning....I am still pretty tight and a bit sore. I was planning on doing my Insanity Plyo CC session this morning but I decided to take a rest day. I figured that if my hips and knees were sore, jumping on them probably wasn't a good idea. I am focusing in stretching today!

I'm also thinking about becoming a BeachBody coach. There is some initial cost involved because you are starting a home business. I'm trying to get a handle on exactly what those costs are and then I'll talk it over with the hubby and decide what to do next. There is a lot of opportunity there but I'm not sure if it is for me - still on the fence. I love the exercise products that is for sure! I haven't tried the nutritional products but everyone on the message boards seem to love them.

Looking forward to a nice day with friends! Also looking forward to getting back to my Insanity workouts tomorrow - I think it is Pure Cardio!

Our First Run/Walk!

Chip (my puppy) and I went for our first run/walk together today. We went 1.25 miles - it is the route that we walk every night so I knew the distance would be no problem. I would try (emphasis on try) to get him to slow down and walk but he was loving it!

We started with Chip picking up a bottle - he is such a Lab! - and walking. Right from the start he just wanted to Go! When we did start to jog I was having trouble keeping up with him but I got him to slow down a bit just by talking to him. He's my smart boy. My jog seems to be a fast walk for him...LOL!

I was really amazed at just how well he took to it! Now I really can't wait for the weather to start getting nicer! I really want to get him out on the trails but there is still snow around here so the loop in our neighborhood is what we'll use. I'm hoping to get him out a few times a week at least at the beginning. He is about 7 1/2 months old so I don't want to go too far or do it too often.

I'm hoping to have many more runnin' with my dog stories in the future!!

Things have been going well!

Monday was my 2nd Fit Test and I was a bit nervous about how my results would turn out. It turned out really well so I was quite pleased! I added more reps to every exercise and I feel like I was going lower in my push-up!! Here are the results (the first number is what I did in the initial test):

Switch kicks: 69/73
Power jacks: 62/63
Power knees: 106/120
Power jumps:39/50 (I'm super thrilled with these b/c I always find these hard)
Globe jumps:11/12
Suicide jumps:16/19
Push-up jacks:23/27 (I think I was also going down further into my push-up)
Low plank oblique: 60/78

On Tuesday, I decided to do my workout in the afternoon because I felt tired when I got up in the morning. Let me tell ya - there is a big difference between morning and afternoon sessions. My legs felt really sluggish in the afternoon (I teach gym classes to preschoolers on Monday and Tuesday). However, I pushed through that Plyo CC session and was very pleased about the whole session. I actually love that particular workout. It is really hard but there is something about it that really appeals to me.

This morning was Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs. First let me say that I find this session really hard because you just never get a break. Add to this that my legs were still a bit fatigued from yesterday and it just turned out to be a really hard workout. I'm proud of myself for doing my best and pushing through.

I'm still working on my nutrition - I've had some ups and downs. I'm also trying to change the way I think about my body and how it looks and functions. Sure I'm heavier than I would like to be but I know that I'm healthy and strong on the inside. I'm still looking to drop some fat weight but I'm also trying to work on feeling better about myself no matter what!

Until next time!

P90X Yoga

I just finished my P90X Yoga session and I feel great! I definitely needed this workout - I was finding that I had many more tight areas than I thought. My flexibility has increased greatly since this summer and I really notice when I start to "slack-off". I've been stretching with my Insanity workouts but I have found that it isn't as much as I was getting with my P90X sessions. I don't necessarily consider this as a fault with Insanity it is just a different workout and I need to adjust accordingly. I will add, at least part, of the P90X Yoga DVD into my workout schedule. I say part because 90 minutes is hard to fit into my day. I'm really happy when I can get the first 45 minutes of the DVD finished.

I've also added a weight loss ticker to the top of my page. I need the extra accountability beause I have been sliding a bit on the nutritional aspect of my program. While getting ready this morning, I turned on the TV and the Insanity infomercial was on. There is one section where Shaun T. says something like: "If you give it you ALL you will see results". I really feel like I'm giving my all during the workouts BUT it occurred to me that I'm not giving it my ALL with my nutrition plan. I have come to learn, through my time with Leanness Lifestyle, that the nutrition is more important than the exercise. You cannot out exercise what you can potentially eat! I need to keep this in mind each and every day!!

If you are a football fan - enjoy the game tonight but watch your eating! That is what I am going to do today. We are spending the day at a friends house and they typically order pizza for dinner. It may not be the best decision but I'm going to allow myself 1 slice of pizza tonight. During the day I will drink lots of water and snack on veggies only! Please check back here and keep me accountable! If I don't post the outcome please send me a comment. Enjoy the day because every day is a blessing!!!

Insanity Day 13

My Insanity workouts continue to roll along. I can't believe that I'm almost 2 weeks into this program. I am starting to see some progress with some of the moves! There is one move called suicide jumps that I was struggling with. It is on the Fit Test and I was able to do 16 in one minute (not sure if this is good or not). This move has you bend down, jump your feet back into plank position, then jump back into the bent position and then finish by standing and jumping up in the air. You then repeat this series over and over again. When I started, I almost felt like my feet were getting "stuck" on the way back in and it took me a long time to get my feet under me so that I could then stand and jump. This morning I felt like my feet got right under me which allowed me to stand and jump more quickly.

I am continuing to work on my nutrition. One thing I need to do more of in this area is plan. I've made progress in that I have moved most of the junky stuff outside into the car (it is the kid's after-school snack) so that I can't mindlessly grab a bag and munch. There is still more junk in my kitchen and I know that my best course of action is to just go up and throw it all away. I'll be honest that it doesn't feel right to just throw out unused food when it hasn't spoiled but I also know that if it is in the house I WILL eventually eat it! OK fast forward about 10 seconds and I just walked up to my kitchen and threw out a bag of chocolate that was up there. I have been munching on it but I can no longer do that - it is at the bottom of my kitchen trash can. Yes, I moved stuff out of the way and put the bag on the bottom and covered it back up. IT IS GONE!!!

My 2nd Fit Test is Monday and I considered making up Wednesday's missed workout tomorrow but have decided against it. I will instead do my P90X Yoga session. I really credit this workout in particular with helping to get my foot back into a pain free state. Side Note: I noticed today that when I went to massage the heel area of my left foot (the one that had the plantar fasciitis) I didn't have any pain anymore! The foot hasn't been bothering me but there was always just a bit of soreness near my heel when I would massage it. My new shoes have also been a big help but I'm looking forward to doing the Yoga session and really working on the stretching of my entire lower body.

Tonight my son got to use his birthday present - Flyers Tickets. He went to the game with his Daddy and just saw them win over the Dallas Stars. I took him to a minor league game a few weeks back and our team won that one too. My "Little Man" 2 for 2 - way to go "Dude"!

The hour is getting late and I need some sleep! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Nutrition is........and other stuff

Nutrition is my Strength!

I am making this my new mantra. I am going to try and say this to myself numerous times each day because as I posted before: "I am what I think about most!" This weekend was a struggle with my nutrition (anniversary dinner Friday night plus some high fat and carb meals on Sunday). So now I need to get back on track and creating this mantra is my first step. Nutrition is my Strength!

My exercise session have been amazing lately! Saturday was Insanity Plyo Cardio Conditioning and then a really" insane" hike at the park. The snow and the hills made it really hard - even our puppy was tired by the end!! I really wish I had worn my HR monitor because I think it would be interesting to see how it compared to my Insanity workouts. Yes, it felt that hard!!!! Oh and, Nutrition is my Strength! Sunday was a much needed rest day. My hubby and I thought about going on another hike at the park but lying around and relaxing felt really good - I even slept in and I never do that.

Monday brought my next Insanity workout - Cardio Power and Resistance. I had trouble getting motivated first thing in the am but ya know what? I got myself up off the sofa and into my workout clothes. It turned out to be an absolutely AWESOME workout! Nutrition is my Strength!! I worked hard and felt extra satisfied when it was all done. I love having a great workout when you struggle to get motivated. Just knowing that even though you didn't want to do it but you pushed through anyway feels great.

That brings us to today and a Pure Cardio workout. Nutrition is my Strength! I think I was able to push through thsi workout a little bit more than the first time through. It was still a struggle - about 15 minutes of non-stop super high intensity cardio. I was feeling great with the way things went and I was finishing up with a few of my own stretches when something happened. The phone rang and it turns out that the kids were off school and so was I because there was all sorts of ice out on the roads. It's only February 1st and the kids are already been off enough to cause them to have make-up days at the end of the year! In one way it makes me glad that I have started the Insanity program because I would be getting really stressed about missing a lot of running days if that was the only thing I was doing right now. Nutrition is my Strength!

I feel like this post got away from me a bit - I've been all over the board here at the end of the post. Thanks to anyone who reads this and I would love to hear back from you! Have a great day and keep eating clean and exercising hard!!

You are.....

You Are What You Think About Most!

I was reading a book called: "The Power of Attitude" by Mac Anderson and came upon this phrase. It is not a new one to me or to may others but it is powerful and I need to keep reminding myself of it a lot more!

I first head about this concept from David Greenwalt at Leanness Lifestyle but it really is all over. It is the basic idea behind "The Secret" and was talked about by Henry Ford and Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. If you are not familiar with this type of thinking here it is in a nut shell - you will attract the things you think about. If you are being positive then you tend to see things in a positive light and get positive results in the end. The opposite is also true, if you are feeling and acting in a negative way then you will tend to get negative results in return.

I have seen this work in some areas of my life and in the lives of others around me. About a year ago, I decided to not get so worked up about things that I don't really have control over. I decided to adopt the line of thinking that things will work out and that it wasn't healthy or worth it to get all stressed out about things. I was going to work hard and do my best but if things don't work out exactly how I expect it.....that isn't necessarily all bad. I've been much more comfortable with the things going on around me! It was a wonderful change!

On the flip side, I know someone that is a negative person most of the time. As a result, when some thing happens in her life she tends to see the negative/bad side of things. Everybody is ALWAYS out to get her and she just doesn't seem happy most of the time. Who wants to live that way?!?!?!?!? Not me! It is a conscious decision that we can all make.

This all brings me back around to my exercise sessions and my nutrition. I have, for a long time, used this type of thinking with my exercise sessions. When I'm running up a big hill I will repeat phrases like: "I am a strong runner", "Beat the hill" or "I am strong and I will get up this hill". I am using this same thinking during my Insanity workouts. Today was Pure Cardio and it was hard (no breaks) but I just tried to keep my thinking positive and it really helped me work through the session. I didn't get down when I HAD to take breaks. I viewed it as the first steps toward a stronger and healthier me. It's all in the attitude!!

Now my nutrition.....I haven't been using this technique. Duh! It really struck me as I was reading the book last night. My common phrase is, "I struggle with the nutrition aspect of my programs" Can we say it again? DUH!!! Of course I've been struggling with the nutrition because I've been telling myself over and over again that I struggle with my nutrition!!! I am making a pledge to myself today that I am changing the way I think about food and my overall nutritional program. I am not perfect and my nutrition won't be either. However, I'm going to do work on keeping a clean diet 80% of the time and I'm going to use the Law of Attraction line of thinking to change my views about food.

We all have choices in life. We can choose to be positive or negative. We can choose to be healthy or sickly. We can choose to use this technique or not. What are your choices and how are they effecting your lifestyle and your happiness? I challenge you to try this way of thinking and see how it changes your life! Are you up for the challenge? I am!!

Insanity and Snow - Related???

Today was my first go at the Cardio Recovery workout and I enjoyed it. The intensity is really dialed down from the other workouts and you spend time doing ab work, stretching/yoga moves and some basic strengthening exercises. I felt pretty relaxed after the session but I sort of felt like I should be doing more......here's where the snow enters the picture.

Lots and lots of snow as a matter of fact! I'm not sure how much we actually got here in DE but it was deep and wet. Translation.....heavy! I tried to get out early so that I could clear off the bottom of the drive and so that my hubby wouldn't drive over the snow and pack it down. The mission was accomplished but it took a great deal of effort. I think I was out there for approximately1.5 hours and that was just working on the cars and the driveway. My wonderfully kind neighbor has a snow thrower and cleared the sidewalks! Anyhow, I now feel like I've had a huge amount of work but I still need to clear out the gutters (in the street) and then hopefully get out to play with the kids.

I think I said in my last post that I was keeping track of my heart rates to see if there was any change over the next couple of months. I've made a chart and hopefully in the next few weeks I'll see some changes and be able to report them. My peak HR this morning was only 138 so you can see how much the intensity drops with this recovery workout (the other sessions were in the 170s to 180s). I also tried to take a resting HR (taken after coming down stairs so it isn't truly a resting HR) and got a reading of 58 bpm. I will periodically test this as well and see how that changes as well.

Have a great day and keep working hard!

Power & Resistance

Day 3 of Insanity is the Cardio Power & Resistance workout. It was an awesome workout and really showed me some of my weak areas. Powerful and explosive movements are not my forte - at least not yet!

The workout is extremely difficult. I even started to get a bit lightheaded at the very end of the session. I took a break through most of the last combo. At first, I was a bit upset with myself but then took a step back and took pride in what I did accomplish. Even the people on the DVD take breaks and stop early and I know this isn't their first time through the workouts. My max HR hit 173 during this workout. I want to keep track of my HRs to see if it changes over the course of the workouts. I plan to use average HRs for just the working sections (not the warm-up or cool-down) but today I forgot to set the lap button so the HR values represent all parts of the workout.

I have also been trying to pay more attention to my nutrition. I am trying to focus on keeping most (if not all) caffeine and sugar out of my diet. If I can do this at least 80% of the time, I think it will make a significant difference in my health and appearance. So far the past few days have been really good. I've had some sugary cravings but I have been able to avoid most of them. I have definitely increased my fruit intake and this has helped with the sugar cravings.

Tomorrow is the recovery workout - I'm really looking forward to it! Have a great day!

Start of Insanity and some Accountability

It has been some time since I've posted here and I think it is about time I started again. I was inspired by my new friend Jessica. I know I need to change my way of thinking about my lifestyle and hopefully this will help me get that ball rolling.

I've been using the Beachbody program P90X since the beginning of June 2010. I was having some foot problems and really needed to cut back my running. My entire workout regimen had be skewed toward running. I was no longer lifting or stretching and I believe this was a large part of my problem (there was also a biomechanical problem). So I purchased the P90X program and it was just what I needed! I got me back into lifting and stretching and even added some Yoga. My body was continuing to make positive changes but I was feeling the need for more of a challenge. Enter Insanity!

Insanity is the most intense workout program I have ever seen. I'm only 2 days into it but I already love it. It starts with a Fit Test where you have 8 different exercises that you do for 1 minute and count how many reps you can complete. You retake the test every 2 weeks to chart your progress. Here are my initial numbers:

Switch Kicks 69
Power Jacks 62
Power Knee 106
Power Jumps 39
Globe Jumps 11
Suicide Jumps 16
Push-up Jacks 23
Low Plank Oblique 60

I'm quite pleased with these numbers and can't wait to watch them increase as I progress through the program.

Today was the first actual workout and it was called Plyometric Cardio Circuit. It was really hard! I wore my HR monitor and my average HR was 168 bpm. It left me huffing and puffing and sweat just pouring off my body. It was hard but I loved every minute of it!

My goals, as of right now, are to lose about 20 pounds and to increase my fitness level to a point where I feel I can successfully complete the Half Wit Half Marathon again and beat my previous time (which I will find and post later).

Thanks for reading and I welcome any and all comments and accountability comments.

I Choose Challenge (Day 7 - 4/25/10)

Today was a really good day! I got up this morning and did my Cardio Coach version 7 session and it was awesome. What a great mix of longer intervals, speed intervals and hill intervals. I TOTALLY soaked the towel I brought for sweat.

I am loving the bike workouts but I am really missing my runs and running buddies. I really think my gym classes are the biggest problem with my foot. I have 3 more weeks of classes and then I will be away from that silly floor for a few months. I REALLY hope that will speed the healing process.

Tomorrow is a lifting day. I'm also thinking that I need to vary my bike rides. I don't know if I want to just keep switching Cardio Coach programs or if I just want to add in some steady rides. The weather isn't looking good for the next couple of days so I think I definitely be on the bike for any cardio. I guess I'll just play it by ear for now. Tomorrow is also my measurement day so I'll be rechecking all my circumferences and such. Hopefully I will be happy with the results!

Been a rough few days!

I woke up Thursday morning (2am) and felt awful. My whole body ached and my stomach was somewhat upset. As a result I have not exercised since Wednesday (which was a great lifting and CV workout) but I have dropped my weight to 153.5. The really bad part is that about a day after I got sick, my hubby got it too!!

I have felt pretty good today so my plan is to do a bike workout tomorrow in the am. I want to do the Cardio Coach version 7 workout. I've started it twice and have run out of time both times. I haven't gotten past the 1st challenge yet.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have more detail to write about.

"I Choose Challenge" - 4/18/10

Today has been a pretty good day! My eating was really good up until dinner (poor planning on my part). The good part is that I didn't allow that to mess up the rest of my evening!!!

I did not get an exercise session in though - my son was up sick (again) a number of times overnight and I just didn't have the energy to get moving first thing this am. We then had a fun and busy day at the Wilmington Blue Rocks game. My son got to run out on the field with the players for the National Anthem and then after the game he got to run around the bases. Our seats were great (right behind the 1st base dugout). The Rocks lost the game but it was a great time!!

Probably the best part was when I ran into my cousin that I haven't seen in 9 1/2 years!!! Yes, I said years - I didn't even recognize her. She was a young girl the last time I saw her. I'm hoping to keep in better contact with her now that I know she is in the area.

Day 2 (4/17/10)

I got up this morning and did my Cardio Coach Version 8 program this morning. It is a good workout! Some of the intervals are much longer than on his other programs - it was a nice change of pace. I really enjoy doing his programs! I also don't know what I would do if I didn't have these programs (because of my foot).

I've done pretty well with my eating today - not perfect but pretty good. I had a number of opportunities where I could have had a lot of junk but I kept things pretty clean. My daughter had a soccer game and my son had a baseball game - both sites had concession stands and I stayed away. I took a look once but walked away.

Tomorrow I need to take some measurements and finish my fruit salad (if I don't do that part tonight). We are also going to a baseball game (my son and his team are getting a chance to run out onto the field with the players) so I will again be tempted with the dreaded concession stand!!!

Other things I want to accomplish in the next few days:

1. Make a vision board.
2. Make some menus (3-4 weeks worth).
3. Go food shopping.
4. Set goals for both my fitness and my running (although I realize this will need to be modified).
5. Write my "Why" - this is always something I really struggle with. I never seem to find that fire/spark that excites me whenever I think about it.

That's a lot to take care of over the next few days! Off to try to work on some of the above and watch my Phillies!

It's Been a Long Time!

I have really fallen off on my Blogging and my journal writing. Truth is, many things have fallen off lately and I'm hoping to rectify that starting now.

About a month ago, I ran in the Lower Potomac River Marathon and tried to qualify for Boston. We (my training partners) trained really hard and had to deal with some pretty crappy weather this past winter. However, I thought I had a chance to reach my goal of 3:50:59. To make a long story short, I didn't make it because I got a stomach but during the race - I thought I was having a problem with the heat but it turned out to be much worse. During the race every muscle from my butt down was cramping. The stomach problems didn't start until after the race was over and I was on my way home. I ended up losing 10 pounds because I didn't eat for 2.5 days (unfortunately I gained it all back).

The other problem I have is that I developed plantar fascitis during the training process. It is not going away very quickly either. At this point, I'm only running 2 to 3 days per week and not going over 5 miles. It has improved but I'm really anxious for it to be all healed. I think I've forgotten what it is like to not have foot pain after my runs.

Hopefully this will be the first of a consistent string of posts. I really need to get back into my groove. I did go out a buy a bunch of fruit today at the farmer's market and plan to cut it all up tomorrow. I love having fresh fruit salad available all the time. Maybe it's the spark I need to get the whole thing rolling again.

The Face of My Beast

This is a picture that I found and decided to use as the Face of My Beast. I've made copies and am going to post them in areas that I might go trolling for food. I will also carry one with me in the car. The whole Devil thing has it's own connotation to it and the huge belly in this picture captures how I feel right now. I know I'm making positive changes but the feelings are still there right now.

I will fight this Beast and I WILL WIN!!

Things continue to go well - 5/26/09

My weight has been steadily dropping because I've been eating right and I've been exercising (both weights and aerobics). I've been loving my Flex 4 lifting workouts. They are short but intense so it is very easy to work it into my schedule.

As I said, my weight has been dropping, I'm down to 152#. The only part that is a little frustrating is the Club Bucks program at LL. I can't remember if I've mentioned them before but you gain points by working the program correctly. It goes into a lot of detail that I won't discuss here but the better the follow the program, the more points you earn. They begin over every Tuesday morning. Well, last week I was the leader in points until Sunday and then all of a sudden there were 2 people ahead of me (tied with each other with about 3 points more than me). Now, I know I did really well but I'm kind of frustrated because I don't know what more I could have done and I'm wondering if there are just weeks when you won't be able to win ( because you aren't reaching a goal at that particular moment).

Nevertheless, I will be working my hardest to be on top of that list!

Today has gone well 5/21/09

I'm very pleased with the way the past couple of days have gone. My eating has been better and I've been doing well with my exercise. I recently purchased the Flex 4 workout series from Muscle Audio and it is really helping with my resistance training sessions - I'm actually doing them! LOL!!

Seriously though, the audio helps keep you on tempo and works with a program at LL called the Muscle Professor (MP). The MP takes your lifting weights and progresses your weights and reps so that you can make steady gains and not just lift the same weights for the same reps for month after month after month.

Today I ran 4 miles and since it only took 35 to 40 minutes I decided to make sure I did another 20 minutes on my bike. It took me until 7:30 this evening to get on my bike but I did it!

On a different note, my "baby" graduates from Kindergarten tomorrow. I use the word graduates because he is actually leaving his current school. For the past 4 years, my son has been going to school where I work. Starting next fall, I will no longer have a child coming with me to school - it is going to be strange!

Off to make my plan for tomorrow.

Here We Go Again!

I am yet again finding that I have been away for a very long time. I've been through a lot of weight gain (getting up to 160#) and illnesses. The last illness was a very strange one - I think it may have been Fifth Disease which manifested itself as an extremely itchy rash and sore and swollen joints.

Thankfully, that has cleared up and my weight is on its way downward. I've learned that when I'm not active on LL, I gain weight very easily. When I'm active on the LL site thinks really tend to fall into place. It is never easy and I'm not sure it ever will be, but things at least make sense. The other nice thing is that school is almost over so I'll have more training time and hopefully I'll be able to get the kids out on some trails and then hit the pool. I'm really looking forward to it - the kids are becoming more independent and I'm hoping this will make this summer a bit more relaxing (especially at the pool).

I'm still, as always, trying to figure out my "WHY". I know part of it is that I just don't feel good where I am right now. However, I've felt this way for quite some time and it has never been a driving force for me. I've read, and listened to Coach David, about how a good strong WHY just drives you to your destination. I makes you find solutions instead of giving in to those bouts of emotional eating and truthfully I would love to have that feeling. I know that no one can give me the answers about my WHY because it is just that - MY why. So as I figure it out, I will post it here. Until then, I will just keep taking things one day at a time.

4/14/09 - Trail running in the rain???

NOPE - we chickened out! However, it did allow me to do something that I haven't done in a very long time. I actually worked out in a gym. My friend took me into her gym as a guest and I completed 1 hour on the elliptical machine. It was hard and boy did I sweat like a pig! I tried lots of different resistances and elevations. I have a feeling my butt is going to be quite sore tomorrow!

It was a lot of fun but I'm hoping to get back out to the trails in the next couple of days. I'm not sure what tomorrow's weather will bring - some reports are calling for rain and some aren't. My friends are running in the morning but if it isn't raining in the afternoon I may try to get out on some different trails on my own. Thursday is supposed to be nice and a group of us are going to try and get out in the early am for about 7 miles (I hope!).

I also got my lifting completed for the day and will do different body parts tomorrow. I was supposed to lift yesterday but I messed up my timing over the course of the day.

Eating has been only OK today. I need to get to the farmer's market and make some more bars so that I have my supply ready and on hand.

Different topic - my daughter has been having trouble seeing the board at school recently. I think she may be nearsighted. I called the eye doctor and he was booked until the end of June! The guy is good and his schedule reflects as much. My son when to him for a different situation a couple of years ago and he is wonderful. Luckily, the receptionist wiggled us in for an appointment tomorrow. The "bad" thing is that the kids are supposed to be spending some time with their grandparents and I sort of feel bad about taking them away. The "good" things are that my parents were going to be in the area tomorrow anyway AND that I get a chance to get her in right away. She reads so much, and loves to do so, that I would hate to having something seriously wrong.

Update more tomorrow!

4/13/09

I had an awesome run this morning!!!

My friend and I ran a new route (for me anyway). There were lots of hills and we covered 7.5 miles in about 1:15. I still have to get my lifting finished but I'm pleased with the way things have gone today. My eating has been good although I need to get some more water.

I have a dentist appointment (along with the kids) tomorrow. The last 2 haven't been great so of course I'm starting to worry about this one. I don't feel like I changed my habits but I went from no cavities for about 12 years to having one and then having a filling messed up. The filling was actually the one I had done the visit before and something didn't take so, in reality, I didn't really have anything "wrong" the last visit but I still had to go back for filling work. Just doesn't sit well with me! The kids don't have any cavities so they are looking forward to the visit. They only know that they get "presents" (toothbrush and stickers) when they go - I hope it stays that way!!!

Off to finish my exercising and get dinner started!

4/11/09

Things worked out pretty well this morning. For the past few days they have been calling for rain on both Friday and Saturday. Yesterday ended up being beautiful for a good portion of the day. I woke up this morning hoping that the rain would hold off long enough to get our run in. I was quite please to find no rain when I got up so my friend and I headed off for our run. We had finished about 4 miles when we felt the first rain drop. We decided we would go for about 6 miles. Unfortunately for us, the last 1.5 miles was finished in a pretty heavy rain and stiff wind. The 6 miles took us about an hour and I am very pleased with the time and the effort!

This run put me at 34 miles for the week. I am thrilled with that effort. I was also able to finish 3 RT sessions. I will take tomorrow off (Easter Sunday) and then run and lift again on Monday. My weight was down to 153 this morning. Saturdays are always a challenge for my eating so my goal today is to avoid the donuts at breakfast and really concentrate on sticking to my plan.

4/10/09

It has been a few days since I've posted but things have been OK - not perfect but I feel like I have been taking more forward steps than backward ones.

I've consistently been getting 2-3 RT sessions in per week. This past week has been wonderful in terms of my running. I've gotten out for some trail runs - which was AWESOME - and logged 28 miles and haven't even done my long run for the week. It has felt so good to get back into the rhythm and to feel normal again.

I am slowly trying to get back into the nutritional rhythm. As I said above, it is happening slowly but I do feel like I can make more positive changes. I want this to become lifestyle and not a struggle. I'll be honest, there are times I really wonder whether that will EVER happen but that is all part of the challenge I guess.

As an update, I'm down to 153.5# and will try to update this stat regularly.

Have a Happy Easter everyone!

4/2/09

7:33 am

I am really encouraged by the way things are going this week. Since Monday, I've been able to get in 2 lifting sessions and 2 runs. In addition, my weight has dropped down 152.5! I'm under no illusion that it is fat weight but I'll take water weight drops as well as fat weight drops at this stage of the game!

I had a good run this morning - made my goal of running at least 5 miles. The weather is even getting a bit warmer so things are GOOD!

When I'm in Action Phase, NOTHING can or will stop me from reaching my goals!!

1:30 pm

I've been struggling with some cravings this afternoon but I've been able to stick to my plan. I've been trying to repeat the above statement any time I feel like I might be slipping. As I stated this morning, I've dropped a number of pounds over the past week which makes this a very dangerous time for me. I usually do really well for a couple of weeks and then I get complacent. This then leads to some extra nibbles here etc. All leading back to the fact that I haven't fully committed to the program.

When I'm in Action Phase, NOTHING can or will stop me from reaching my goals!!

April 1. 2009

No April Fools Jokes here!

I am going to try to type short little bursts here because I find it difficult to sit for long periods and type entries (consistently at least). So, my hope is that I will consistently type entries if they are just short bursts.

7:15 am
I got up this morning at 4 am and was lifting by 4:45 am. It usually takes me a bit to get going enough to lift - I don't seem to have that problem with my running. Anyway, it was a good session (I'm doing the Afterburn program - 1st phase). I found myself quite light-headed at times and even nauseous a couple of times. I'm not sure if I should eat before I lift or not.

That's it for now - off to school.

8:38 pm
Today has been a very good day! Not perfect but that was not my goal. My nutrition was good today (couple extra things) and my mindset was pretty positive for most of the day. I was not able to get in any cardio but I am very pleased with how today progressed. I'm off to make some goals for tomorrow!

It's Been Ages!

I feel as though I've been doing a lot of drifting lately! My nutrition has been hit and miss, my health hasn't been all that great (wasn't able to exercise for about 3 weeks because of illness) and I've just not felt excited about much of anything. Many hours have been spent watching TV instead of doing anything remotely constructive and it is time for that to change!

Yesterday I worked on my new and updated "WHY" and will post it here. I want and need accountability but mostly I need to find the strength inside of me to fully commit to the LL and make it's principles a part of my DAILY living! WARNING: my "WHY" is pretty long but here it is anyway:

Why Now?
I’ve just looked back at my last “WHY”, which was written last July while I was in LLE. It talked about wanting to run a 3:50 marathon and how doing that would be easier at 130-135 than it would at 154 pounds. The funny thing is – I am again about 154 pounds and I’m just as displeased with the weight now as I was then. So the question now becomes, if I’m so displeased with the weight, why am I not dropping the pounds and then maintaining that lower weight? I’m not sure I have an answer to that question and to be honest, writing this “WHY” (each and every time I write one in fact) seems to give me as much trouble as keeping my eating clean.
In many aspects of my life, people have told me that I’m a perfectionist and that I’m a Type A personality. I’ve never considered this to be the case but maybe it is true. “If I can’t be perfect with my eating then I won’t pay any attention to it at all”. The funny thing is, other than making sure I run at 4:45 in the morning I don’t think I view my running the same way I view my food. We’ve discussed this type of thinking during our runs but haven’t really come up with any answers.
In addition to being a perfectionist, I’m also a people pleaser and quite content to stay back in the crowd. I do not like confrontations (I may hurt the other person’s feelings) and I’ve never been the one who stood out - I’ve always been the steady and dependable one content to stay in the background.
I now feel that these 2 factors have had a negative effect on my self-esteem. My self-esteem isn’t so low that I hate myself or anything like that but it has caused me to view myself as something less than “special”.
These feeling need to change – I need to transform my body and my mind. I am living a life that God did not intend for me. I need to become the person that He created me to be – “SPECIAL!”


Bring on the Pain!
I really can’t recall “missing-out” on things. I’ve been a part of many wonderful teams and groups – I’ve always been a great team player. Being a part of those groups gave me some of my fondest memories.
My “pain” starts more in the present. I have recently gone through a “who cares” phase and during this phase I added a good 10-15 pounds. So, there is a great deal of poor self-talk that usually accompanies those types of situations: “Great job…all that hard work last year and you threw it all away!” To go along with the increased weight you also have a clothes issue. Many of my clothes do not fit (although it is, at present, getting better) – every time I try to put them on I’m reminded of what a “failure” I am. These feelings and situations are not acceptable and will no longer be tolerated!
I’ve also come to realize that I usually try and take the easy way out of things and I’m coming to realize that this is a character trait that I do not like and one that needs to change. I was about to write that this is true with my nutrition only but who am I trying to kid? I have not been putting the effort out into my exercise programs either. Resistance training is not easy so I have not been performing it regularly! Keeping my eating according to plan during the afternoon is not easy so I have not been sticking to my plan! The truth is, there are many aspects of my life where these traits hold true – I take the easy way out or the short cut.
Finally, I have determined that I have NEVER fully committed to this program. I have not put the Six Strategies into practice and as a result I have not seen the results that I should have seen. This has also not allowed me to make this a part of my life and has kept it as a “program” or a “diet”.

Who else is impacted?
My family is definitely impacted by my current actions as well as by my future actions. My current actions are forming patterns in my kids. If they see me eating junk, they will do the same. Conversely, if they see me eating healthy, fresh foods in the correct portion sizes, they will follow that example as well.
As I start putting my needs first, they will be affected by that as well. It probably won’t be comfortable and in some cases I’m sure I’ll get resistance. That can not and will not stop me!
I am a preschool teacher and one of my responsibilities is teaching our school’s gym classes. I therefore have an opportunity to influence a rather large number of people. I am a very active person so I already get many comments from my co-workers who are amazed at just how much energy I have. I have tried to be a positive influence on their lives so that they can in turn, take it home to their families. However, I feel that my best opportunity is with the 100 children in our school. Children are sponges, at this age, and it is very important to me that I lead them in the right direction – one that will lead them to a happy, healthy and active lifestyle!

Bring on the Pleasure!
Fully committing to something will be a new experience for me and one that I’m sure will bring me pleasures that I can’t even imagine! I know I will feel better physically and emotionally. In addition, my running will also improve! However, there is something much more important to be gained from this journey – self-respect! I will know that I not only set a goal but that I also made sure that I trusted and loved myself enough to make the best choices that I had available to me. As long as that process is occurring, the weight loss becomes a secondary outcome. I am becoming a better person on the inside which will eventually manifest itself on the outside.


Thanks for taking the time to read this!

Fell off the wagon

Things have been tough lately and I accept full responsibility for my actions. I hate when I start making great forward progress and then sabotage myself. I've lost count of how many times I've done it.

I've been spiralling out of control for the past week or so and am beginning again today. I was really sick this weekend and allowed my eating to go crazy. I've felt very bloated on top of all the achy feelings from the cold. It made for a pretty crappy weekend.

I just wish I could figure out why I do it! If I knew why, I could head it off at the pass. I'm listening to my LL MP3s again and hope to get things back on track. Gotta get off the computer - until next time!

January 25, 2009

Usually when I've not been blogging it is because I haven't been following my plan - not this time! This is especially significant because there has been a fair amount of stress around here the past few days. We found out on Thursday that my husband's truck needs a new engine and it is going to cost a boat load of money! This on top of the already strained finances and it has been a rough go lately.

The good news - I have not allowed it to spiral out of control and into an eating frenzy! I have even dropped my weight down to 154 as of this morning which, I believe, is 2 pounds ahead of schedule. I haven't been perfect but I've been pretty darn good and I've kept up my exercise. I'm finding it difficult to do a lot of lifting (especially intense lifting) because of my neck - the tightness and soreness just isn't going away - so I've improvised. I've been doing my lower body exercises on the Bosu ball. That way I can keep my weights lighter but I'm adding a significant balance element (or lack of balance element). For my upper body I've just been keeping my weights light and my reps higher.

I may not be able to get my measurements done in the morning but I want to get them taken sometime tomorrow. One thought I've been tossing around for the measurements is to take them on Fridays. I don't run on Friday and it might be easier to go that route - something to think about! I have lots of work to get done so I'm signing off!

Honor Yourself!
PWE2

January 20, 2009

It is almost 1 pm and the day has been going great! I got out for a VERY cold run this morning. I had hoped for 6 miles but settled for a little over 5 because it was so cold.



I have also vowed to myself that I will keep to my planned meals perfectly today. I inputted my meal plan last night and printed it out and so far I'm 100% on track. This is something that I'm not sure I've actually ever accomplished here at LL. I tend to make small changes here and small changes there and then if you honestly look back on the day, much of the plan was thrown out the window.



It is now almost 8 pm and I've done well today! I did have to change one meal because I didn't budget my time well this afternoon. The good part was that I exchanged it with a healthy alternative (protein smoothie for protein pancakes). I have one more meal and then I'm done for the day. I'm looking forward to seeing downward movement on the scale in the morning!

Off to plan tomorrow's meals!

Honor yourself.
PWE2

January 19, 2009

No school today because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday! It's nice to be able to get on and feel like I have ample time to scan my favorite blogs and get an entry in!

Yesterday was a really crazy day - I slept a lot! I actually slept until 7 am, which is really late for me but then I fell back asleep and got up at 8:30! I went down and ate breakfast and the kids started playing MarioKart. I didn't want to watch it so I went upstairs to watch something I wanted and wouldn't you know it, I fell back asleep and slept for another hour and a half. That is really NOT like me but since I'm fighting a cold, I just let it happen. I guess my body needed it!

However, today has been different! I woke up at 4 am and met my friends for a run. I was looking forward to the hilly loop we usually do on Mondays. However, some new friends showed up and were up for that course so we ran another one which is about 5.5 miles long with one medium hill. I think we will probably do the hilly course tomorrow. Then I came home and did some light resistance training and ab work on the BOSU ball. I'm afraid to do much heavy "stuff" because of my neck - the spasm is still hanging around and I don't want to make it worse!!!!!!!!

I've been doing OK with my weight loss. I've averaged about 1 pound loss per week which is my goal but I would love to get ahead of the game! I am the reason - I've not always been great on my meal plans. I take full responsibility because I am in control of my choices and my emotions. I eat nutritious food to fuel my body and to keep myself healthy and energetic! Here's to the power of positive self-talk! Today has been good so far and it will soon be time for my next meal which will consist of protein packed pancakes (leftover from yesterday).

My neck is starting to bother me so I'm going to get in the shower and let the hot water loosen up the muscles. Have a great day and stay true to your goals and yourself!

PWE2
Honor Yourself

January 13, 2009 & Jan. 14th

I'm kind of viewing today as a Day 1 of sorts. I really felt like I had a different attitude and in this situation, different is GOOD!



I have done much better with my eating today and I accomplished my workout goal of running 6 miles this morning. I was also able to get in 10 minutes of resistance training. I know it isn't much but it is more than I've done in a while and I'm viewing it as a step in the right direction.

Wednesday:
I started this post yesterday but my hubby turned off the computer so I'm combining these 2 days. Today has not been a great day because I woke up with a bad neck spasm. When I get these there is no way I can exercise (yawning hurts!). I've been taking Advil and I've had on a heat patch all day. I am really hoping that it will subside enough by tomorrow that I'll be able to meet the others for our run.

Neck hurts sitting in the chair so I'm done!

Good and Bad

I fell into the trap again! My eating has not been good since the last post so what do I do? I stay away!! Sure, I've been busy but who isn't - and, at least for me, it's an excuse and a bull-crap one at that. One of my goals for today was to post so here I am.

I took my measurements this morning and they are not good:

Weight: 157.5
BF %: 34.8%
Upper Chest 37.5 in
Chest: 39.75
Rib cage: 35
Waist: 39
Hips: 40
L. Thigh: 22
R. Thigh: 21.5
L. Calf: 14
R. Calf: 14

Just about every measurement went up and this is completely due to poor eating habits. I have continued to run most mornings. My lifting routine needs some work but that too is a work in progress.

Now some good: I came up what I think is a good leverage. I gave my boss my before pics (workout shorts and sports bra) in a sealed envelope and if I don't make my goal (147# by 3/30) she is to post them on our school bulletin board. So far, I'm on target although I know that I could be well ahead of the game if I stayed more strict with my eating. I continue to work at changing my overall eating habits so that it becomes a lifestyle and not a "diet".

More good news: I ran my first race of the year yesterday. It was the Icycle 10 Miler. My initial goal was to run it in 1:20:00 but since I had gained weight (instead of loosing it) I decided to alter my race expectations. I decided that 1:30:00 (9:00/mile) would be a good challenge to shoot for. Most of our training runs were no faster than 9:30 pace so dropping 30 seconds sounded like a good goal. The day was very cold and at times there was a strong wind. The course is also a very hilly course so there was a big challenge to be had. I ran with my friend Helenann and we were able to finish in 1:24:22 which is a pace of 8:17/mile. Needless to say, I am THRILLED with the time!

I'm looking forward to what will come next - I took the day off today (except for teaching my gym classes) but I'm looking forward to my run tomorrow. I think we are shooting for one of our hilly routes which will be a challenge this soon after the race but I know it is what I need. If the group wants to start going a bit faster I'm all for that too!

Until next time!

December 15,2008

The weekend is over which means so are the parties and the parades (well most of the parties). We celebrated our family birthday party for the kids on Saturday and it was a lot of fun. Then on Sunday my husband was driving his stations fire engine in our local parade. The weather for both days was beautiful and a great time was had by all!

This week is my daughters actual birthday, so I need to get stuff for her school party and of course we'll have another small birthday dinner with just us. I still have some Christmas prep to do (baking and presents) this week but things are winding down. Which is a good thing, because I'm feeling quite exhausted right now!

Food this weekend was only OK because of the party. I did get a great run in on Saturday but again was EXHAUSTED Sunday and didn't exercise. Today I'm still feeling run down and I think a big part of it has been my poor eating habits. This summer, when I was eating well during LLE, I had energy galore and really need to get back to that!

I will post my meals later - off to school!

Be Exceptional
Just Be Good For Today
PWE2

December 11, 2008

I'm hoping this link will take you to my food journal at LL. If it works then my time spent typing will be greatly reduced. The day has been going well. I've made a goal of trying to decrease my diet soda intake. I had one with lunch and my goal is to have no more today. There has been a discussion on the LL board about diet soda being a trigger for many people and the last thing I need is to be taking in yet another trigger.

I'm off to make a healthy dessert and then exercise.

Be Exceptional
Honor Yourself
PWE2

Accountability!

I'm taking a page from my friend Melissa and putting this info out as an accountability step. I took my measurements tonight and I will continue to post them each week. If you don't see them PLEASE call me on it!

Here they are:
December 10, 2008
Weight: 156
1 Site Skinfold: 27 mm
% BF: 33.8%
Fat Lbs.: 52.7
LBM: 103.3
Upper chest: 37.5 in.
Chest: 39.5
Rib Cage: 34.5
Waist: 38.75
Hips: 40
L. Thigh: 21.5
R. Thigh: 21
L. Calf: 14.5
R. Calf: 14.25

Those measurements do not make me very happy but now they are out there and I will now begin to reduce them. I have also come up with some weight and running related goals. Here they are:

Jan. 11th: Icicle 10 Miler
Wt. 150.5
Time: 1:19:59 or faster

Mar. 15th Caesar Rodney 1/2 Marathon
Wt. 140.5
Time: 1:48:10 or faster

Apr. 19th Buckley's 10K
Wt. 135.5
Time: 47:19 or faster

May 17th DE 1/2 Marathon
Wt. 135.5
Time: 1:44:50

There it is, some of it is based on previous times I have run these specific races and others are based strictly on a target pace. This is going to be extremely challenging but it is something I will work at with all my ability.

Be Exceptional!
Just be good for today!
PWE2

I've been MIA

From my blog - again!

Life really seems to get me going these days. I feel like I never have enough hours to get everything done (as I'm sure many can relate).

I have tried to buckle down with LL again - the system/site/people are great, it's me that drifts away. I have joined a team to help me get through the holidays. My weight is higher that it has been in a long time but I've already been able to drop a couple pounds.

I'm hoping to be able to post here more - if anyone has ideas about stretching time I'm all ears!!!(LOL)