Thursday, December 29, 2011

Six Pack

For Christmas my mom bought me the Jillian Michael's Six Week to Six Pack DVD. I tried it out last night and boy did it kick my butt! I'm usually really good at ab work outs. My favorite part of any work out video is when they get to the abs. But boy oh boy I struggled!

I woke up this morning and my abs ache...so do my arms...and legs! I'm really looking forward to continuing this program. My mom did say I can't get a six pack before her (she's already in much better shape than me) but I told her in six weeks I'll either have a 6-pack or be dead!

Anyhow I really enjoyed the work out and had a lot more fun with it than I have with the 30 Day Shred (which is also a great work out I just enjoyed this one more). Can't wait to see what level 2 holds for me but I'm giving level 1 the full 3 weeks!

Hopefully I can shed the 40lbs covering my abs so my 6-pack will actually be visible!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Almost a new year


Well the new year is quickly approaching which makes us all look back and reflect on the previous year. I started out gung ho and did really well. I lost 16 lbs within in the first few months. I was sticking to my WW point count and exercising/running regularly.

And then...like happens to many of us. The year progresses and our resolve falters. I'm ending 2011 10 lbs lighter than I started it. Not where I had hoped to be but 10 lbs is 10 lbs and I'm happy about it. But this feeling of disappointment, of looking back and thinking where I COULD be right now if I'd just stuck with it stinks. So here we go again. A new year. A new start.

Today I've started back in my WW tracking. First time in months. My husband will be joining too and I think if we're both working towards the same goal then we'll be more successful as a unit.

I've made us up a big motivational poster for our bathroom hanging right above the scale. It has our goals written on it plus some motivational sayings. I'll add more as I find them through out the year. The bottom I made up one of those charts where you fill it in as you go to see the progress. We both want to lose 40 lbs so I broke it into 4 10 blocks for each of us and we can color it in as we lose. I think it will help to see the progress in a graph. Next to each 10 block I wrote out our rewards.

Mine are...
Pedicure
Inexpensive Item off my Amazon Wish List
Massage (if we can afford it, otherwise I'll pick something else)
NEW CLOTHES!!! At 40 lbs lost I'll need an entire new wardrobe.

His are...
Uninterrupted sports game. He wants to watch one sporting event from beginning to end without having to take a kid to the potty or build a Lego skyscraper.
Day of golf. He hasn't played in a year probably.
Date Night. A rarity for us!
New Clothes!

Here's to hoping it will help keep us on track!

I have the Disney Princess 5K coming up in February. I need to up my training for that. My foot injury has derailed a lot of my progress. I'll me seeing an orthopedic doctor sometime next year in hopes of solving that problem once and for all.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Hello....Hello...Hello.

I can hear my own echo in here. Far too long gone I've been! I have fallen HARD of the weight loss wagon. After having to quit running to heal my ever aching shins I just quit it all altogether. But I'm back! I turned 29 today and it hit me how close I am to 30. My 20's are quickly becoming the past instead of the present! I want to enter my 30s healthier and happier than I spent the latter part of my 20s. So back on the wagon I climb! You'll be hearing more from me in the coming weeks! I'm fired up and ready to get going. Of course I got fired up just days before we leave for vacation so....

Friday, April 8, 2011

M.I.A.

Well not really missing in ACTION. Haven't had much activity going on lately. My mom and I competed in our second 5K last weekend. It was a very hilly run and after 2 weeks of virtually no running with what few runs I did complete being pure misery it was a hard race for me. Not so bad for my mom! She placed 3rd in her age group and won a medal!! I was 7th out of 10 in my age group. As my dad says "major improvement since high school!" At least I beat 3 people! Just before the half way mark I told her to just go, just run. I had to walk and I didn't want to hold her back. She fought me on it but eventually took off. In the end I finished only a minute behind her. She shaved a good 5 min off our last time, I shaved off 4. I doubt we'll ever be able to say that again!

Since then I haven't done any running. I tried but these shins just keep giving me grief. I think they're better, try again and find out they are worse than I thought. I'm getting very frustrated and discouraged. My heart and mind want to run! My body does not. My littlest boy goes for a follow up appointment with the audiologist in a few weeks. Said audiologist just happens to be located near my running store so I'll be making a for sure stop there to see what I can do about making my shoes a better fit for me. Hoping I can get some comfy inserts to keep these flat feet a movin'! I've heard this can be a daunting task though, maybe for once, just once I'll get lucky first try.

I'm hoping to sign up for a 5 race 5K series happening here this summer. I really want to do it and look forward to the accountability and having a set date goal to train for. But I'm scared I'm not ever going to heal properly! I've been doing the elliptical on the regular now to hopefully heal while still building cardiovascular endurance and leg strength. I don't want to lose ground just because I can't really run right now.

That's my whine for today.

And here's my funny for the day. It is how I feel lately!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

My friend Jen over at Runner...Maybe shared this with me today. Love it!! I'll always be slow but I'll always think of this!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Back in Saddle

After a week of no running I've gone out to run twice now. The first was a miserable 1 miler. Every inch of me ached. I wanted to go home and sit on the couch and veg. Liked I'd been doing all week.

More ice.

More rest.

Try again today. 2 miles was the goal. I completed 1.6 miles before my body was done. The first mile felt WONDERFUL. I was chugging along, enjoying the morning, the hint of chill in the air. I was running on air. Birds were singing!

After that first mile though it went downhill. I started to feel aches here and pains there. Weird things that have never bothered me before. My right knee. My right hamstring. Not pain really but I could feel every.single.step. The beautiful morning suddenly became hot and humid. The road became hard. Birds were fighting.

But I did it, I got up and ran so I'm back!!!!!!!! I can never quit running. For the first time in my life I actually have defined calf muscles forming!!!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

To run or not to run

that is the question! I have been icing and wrapping my shin splints since Sunday. No running. I've walked a few times but at a stroll pace and not an intense one. I'm really itching to get back out and run. I'm ready for that runner's high again! I think I'm going to give it a go tonight. Maybe just a 1-miler to ease back into things and see how my shins feel.

I wish I knew WHY I got these. The main reasons I've read about for them include:
Over training: I don't feel like I've over trained at all. I hadn't even made it past 2 miles! But I am a new runner so maybe I did push too fast.

Sidewalk running: I do a lot of that but I'm rearranging my typical run course so I'll eliminate or at least minimize those. I so wish we had a great jogging trail here but that is one thing the area lacks.

Flat feet: Definitely have those! I overpronate for sure. Thought I had good shoes for that. Debating if I should hit the running store again and see what they say since they are the ones that fitted me for the shoes. I'm also pondering whether I should invest in a Zensah Calf/Shin Sleeve. I've read great reviews on these and they aren't too outrageously pricey. I already feel like I've loaded up on gear and yet I'm not even a good runner yet! But if it helps solve the problem and can keep me running it would be worth it.

What to do? What to do? What would YOU do?

Sunday, March 20, 2011

#1 in my first 5K!

Okay I didn't actually place #1 but I did get to wear bib #1. Yay for alphabetical listing and an A last name.

My mom came to spend Friday at our house. Lucky us she had the day off. After dinner she and I went shopping sans kids which was awesome. We both picked up a new pair of running capris to wear on race day. Then we headed out to spend the night at her house 1.5 hours away but much closer to the race site. After a decent night's sleep we got up around 6am to get ready for our race. A few minor setbacks later we arrived at the race site just after 7am. It was a gorgeous lake outside Florida Southern College. At first sight we decided there was no way the lake was only 3 miles. We estimated it at around 10 miles, at least!

Thanks Google Images! I forgot a camera.

After a long wait in the registration line (I think everyone at this race had an A-H letter name!) we got signed up, bibs on, race t-shirts acquired and bathrooms visited. It was race time!! We decided to line up towards the back of the pack since we had no idea if we could even run an entire 5k. It was a blast talking to all the race participants and seeing such a wide variety of runners. Before we knew it the gun went off and the race had begun! Such a rush!

The lake was gorgeous, the path was perfect and nicely shaded (always a bonus in Florida!). We quickly established a nice pace and just enjoyed the day. We spent most of the race laughing and talking! Not really race pace but fun for sure! A great way to spend our first 5K.

Seriously! How gorgeous is this trail!

Despite our initial observations it turns out the lake really is about 3 miles around. When we saw the finish line we both decided to pick up the pace and sprint to the end. My mom took off! Speed demon! I had to call her to come back cause we had promised to cross the finish line together! It was a great moment crossing that line knowing we'd just achieved our first FULL RUN 5K! Our time was a slow 45 minutes but the race was a blast and we can't wait to run again in our next race! I think we're both hooked.

#1 baby! Thanks cell phone for this ever so lovely photo of me.

My shin splints held up well and are quickly healing. Whew. I'm itching to run again but I'm giving them some time off to heal properly. Next 5K is April 2nd so I want to be totally healed up and hopefully will be able to beat our slow 45 minute speed from this race.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Want and Need

Tomorrow is my first 5K! I'm excited and nervous. So far in my training the furthest I've gone is 2 miles. I'm okay with having to walk if I NEED to but I hope I can run the whole thing. I read in another blog that there is a big difference in want and need in running. That really stuck with me. I often WANT to walk but don't NEED to walk. The mental game starts to play in. I start telling myself it is only a want, not a need. When I need to walk I can but until then I push through. Those thoughts have helped me to push a little further, a little harder.

Since this is my first race I'm trying to really figure out what I need to do for preparation. I know hydrating today is key. Eating right as well and having the fuel my body needs to push through to the finish line. Trying to decide what to wear is the hardest part of all. I had no idea finding good, affordable running clothes would be my biggest running challenge so far! I have a few different things pulled out and hopefully I'll be inspired in the morning with the perfect non-chafing outfit. Hoping the new Bondibands I ordered arrive today. I can't seem to find the one I own and I need it! I'm guessing one of my boys took it and sent it to the black hole we have that causes things to mysteriously vanish.

The race is closer to my mom's house, she's running with me so I decided to save myself the drive time tomorrow and spend tonight at her house. I'm very interested to see which of us ends up pushing the other to finish. She is a new runner, but is more physically fit than I am. However, she's never run outside, she's only run around the inside of her home. According to her Wii Fit free run she's running 3 miles. I'm curious to see how accurate that is or how it translates to an actual outdoor run. Whereas I've never run a full 3 miles but I always run outside in the elements.

How do you prepare for a race? What are your go to foods for fuel the day before and the day of a race?

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Kids say the darndest things

During my nap time work out my oldest son (he's 3) came out to see what I was doing. Of course he wanted to join me so I let him. I love promoting a healthy lifestyle to him and if he wants to exercise I'm going to encourage it! I know he isn't going to sleep anyhow so might as well have fun. About 10 minutes in he turns to me and says "Exercising is fun and good for you!" The rest of the conversation went like this...

Me: Yes! It sure is. Good for your weight and your heart!
N: What? No! Boys don't have hearts! Only girls have hearts.
Me: Oh really? Boys don't have hearts?
N: Nope boys only have brains!
Me: Do girls have brains?
N: (long thoughtful pause followed with a somewhat reluctant) Yeah girls have brains AND hearts.
Me: Good answer.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Abs with a twist

Everyone knows that once you have kids your life changes. But until you actually have them you don't realize to what extent those changes are. My boys are 1.5 and 3.5. They absolutely love working out with me, which is great fun and quite enjoyable to watch! My three year old loves to do jumping jacks. He pushes me to do more and more of them. They both love to come in and stretch with me immediately after a run. But the most fun and the most changed part of my work out routine has to be ab work.

I got the bright idea after my run yesterday to follow it up with an 8-minute ab DVD I have. Figured it would be a nice way to work on my core, which after two kids needs all the help it can get. Things started out fine. I laid down on my mat and started the routine. The little one laid beside me and together we worked our lower abs. Oh how I wish I had a video to show you guys of him lifting and lowering his little legs! This is where things got hairy. I'm mid crunch when I feel something wrapping around my legs. My oldest has the resistance band from the Wii Active and is attempting to lasso my legs. The youngest takes this as his cue to begin using my legs as a slide with my stomach as the landing pad. So I'm mid ab DVD, one leg tied up and a 30 lb baby bouncing on my stomach. It was quite the sight! And quite the work out. Nothing causes you to contract and hold your abs together quite like a small human jumping on it! At this rate I'll have a 6-pack in no time!

Having a two-year-old is like having a blender that you don't have the top for. - Jerry Seinfeld

Do your kids have fun working out with you?

Spring Cleaning!

My Sunday was spent Spring Cleaning! Oh how I love a good deep cleaning and getting organized. I just love organization! Amazing too how spring cleaning usually leads to the discovery of things you either didn't know you had or thought you'd long ago lost. Just a few days ago I was commenting to my husband that we needed a flour sifter. Low and behold I found one while cleaning! Amazing. The secret to a good spring cleaning post children is to have them out of the house while you do it! The hubs took our two boys out to their man store Lowe's. He loves that store, finding himself projects he wants to do but never will.



I've also begun a new promise to myself when it comes to working out. Since I started running I've begun to rest on that as my sole means of exercise. Considering I don't run far yet and I have a decent amount of weight left to lose I need to up my game. I'm vowing that immediately upon putting the boys down for naps I'm changing into my workout clothes and I'm doing some intense cross training. Hold me accountable for this! I started this over the weekend and managed to get my husband to participate as well. Makes for a lot more fun when you have some by your side to moan and groan with! On Saturday we did "The Firm step aerobics" and Sunday was a little fun with the Wii Active. It was a great time and I'm excited that I'm finally feeling excited about exercise! It felt good to sweat buckets.

Ah and how could I forget! We lucked out by finding ourselves a used great condition double jogging stroller for just $35! Total steal! It is a BabyTrend Expedition. We took it out for a first run last night. My husband who told me he couldn't run 2 miles totally ran laps around me while he pushed the stroller. We both finished an awesome 2 mile run (I'm thinking he ran more like 2.5 cause a few times he did an extra stretch of road while waiting for me to catch up). It felt good!! I find that I hit my stride around the 1.5 mile mark, just in time to be done running! I've got another week or two of 2 milers and then I'll start hitting 3 miles in my training. Hoping that I continue to hit my stride easily. It will be an experiment because I find myself wondering if 1.5 miles is my magic number or if I'm hitting it then because my Nike+ is telling me I only have 1/2 a mile left to go! Guess only time will tell.

When do you hit your running stride? Is it a set point in the run or is it dependent on the total length of your run?

Friday, March 11, 2011

Another Giveaway!

Can you believe it? Giveaways are the best! Check out Runner...maybe? for a chance to win an awesome handstamped keychain from LoreleiRose. Her stuff is great. I have a few things already for myself, including a keychain with my boys' names, a Christmas ornaments for each of my children. High recommend! So enter over at Runner...maybe? for your chance to win!

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

The Good -

1. Rocked my first 2 mile run. By rocked I mean finished, without walking. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't fast but I did it!
2. I'm sticking to my running training schedule. Granted I'm only like 3 days in but hey I'm off to a good start.
3. My new Believe necklace arrived in the mail yesterday and I am in looooove!

The Bad -

1. BOMBED my 1 mile run today. Had to walk a good portion of it. Just wasn't feeling it.
2. Urgently needed to pee the entire run. TMI. Sorry. It is what it is. Never run without making a pit stop first! Lesson learned the hard way.
3. I had virtually no water to drink today. Not sure how I managed it. I'm usually diligent to be sure I drink enough. My body was not happy with me this afternoon, forcing it to run with no hydration!

The Ugly -
1. My running attire. I have nothing good to wear running. It usually comes down to me staring at my closet trying to find something that I won't mind getting sweaty. Tomorrow I'm on a mission to find good comfy running clothes without breaking the bank. I do have good shoes already, those were a must for me to even start running.

I'll leave you with a funny cartoon...

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

New training plan

I signed up for a new training plan on the Nike+. I switched over from the walk to run plan to the Coach Jay 5K plan. It is definitely going to challenge me and force me to push myself out of my comfort zone but that is what I need. My mental game eats me alive and my physical game is still a struggle, I fight for every step I take, but I'm seeing growth in both departments. Go me!

Yesterday was day 1 and it was a simple 1 mile run. Ha. When did 1 mile turn into a "simple" run for me! Cause like I literally just learned to run it! I finished, not my fastest mile ever but I felt good during it. Today is no running, I'll do a DVD or Wii Fit. Tomorrow is 2 miles. I haven't run 2 miles in my adult life. I'm going to have to really push myself. I think I can physically master it, and I'll have to believe I can mentally do it too.

Speaking of believing I also ordered myself a nice little reward for when I hit my 20lbs milestone. I'm sooo close! Just 5 more lbs to go. It is a necklace that says "Believe" on the front and "13.1" on the back. I've struggled for many years to believe in myself. I've always been quick to admit my failures and faults. But I'm starting to Believe. Believe in myself. Believe that I can do it. Believe that 13.1 isn't a fantasy, it can be a reality. Can't wait for it to arrive so I can wear it as a reminder to myself to Believe in it all.


I ordered it from a cute little shopped called Lift Your Sole. Love the name!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Win a BondiBand!

My online world friend Jen is giving away two Bondibands! If you run or work out at all and don't have one you need one! Heck even if you do have one it is nice to have spares. They are great head bands! I have a "Looks like Walking, Feels like Running" Bondiband that I wear and I love it.

Check out her blog and enter to win one at Runner...maybe.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Tainted

I did my two mile run today. It was kind of a sucky run, I was struggling at the 1/2 mile mark, not a good sign! I finished strong but had a rough middle. I walked a lot of the middle. Oh well. I finished! I'll get it next time.

I did find that when I really started to think about something other than the pain in my legs I was able to push myself a lot further. Whodathunkit!

So I'm thinking...thinking about my first ever 5K run. The one I did in high school. Thinking about the fact that it was a totally tainted run. I didn't know it at the time. I ran it with a guy friend, he was older than me and in a position of power and respect in my life. We both had the aspiration to run the Gasperilla 5K in Tampa so we trained together. In retrospect, I probably should have seen huge warning signs above me about this guy and the relationship he had with me and my friends. I was young, naive so I took it at face value. But he's the reason that run is tainted for me. When I look at the picture of me crossing the finish line, him at my side, I don't see me in all my glory. I see him. A man that changed how I view the world and not for the better. A man who hurt one of my dear friends in the worst most unimaginable way and he did it from a position of power, of trust. I hate that. I hate what he did and I hate that he tainted one of my life's accomplishments. Someday I'll re-run that race and I'll have a picture of ME in all my glory sans one of the world's most despicable people.

I do look back on that day with a hint of laughter though. During our pre-race stretch he split his pants right down the middle and had to race with his jacket tied around his waist. Guess God does have a sense of humor. I think a lighting strike would have been more effective.

Signed Up

I did it. I committed to, signed up for and paid to participate in two upcoming 5Ks. The first one is in 2 weeks and I'm woefully unprepared! My mom will be joining me, she's new to running as well so we'll hopefully be on pretty equal ground during the race! Proceeds benefit abused children so it is all for a good cause!

Be on the lookout for pictures of my very first (in my adult life) 5K race! Coming Soon!

I'm planning to try and up my run today to 2 miles. Hopefully I'll be able to push myself to run it all.

In other news I am down 15lbs from my new years starting weight!!! Woot woot. The last time I managed to lose 15 lbs required pushing an 8 lb human from my body.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Running Milestones

When I tell you that I am at the very beginning of my running journey you can take me quite literally! I've recently hit my first and 2nd running milestones. 1 full mile of running. Then 1.5 miles of running! Proud of myself I am. I have my realistic sites set on a 5K in October. Food and Wine Family Fun 5K at Disney to be exact. I have my crazy goggles on with sites set on the Disney Princess 1/2 marathon in February 2012. I find it a bit insane to think I can go from 1 mile runs to a 13 mile run...ever...but I've got a year to train and the desire to accomplish it. What's the worst that can happen. Right?

From the beginning...

I guess the best place to start a story is right from the beginning. It was a warm June day in 1982 when a brand new baby entered the world. They named her Haley, 7-something pounds...Okay maybe that is TOO far back! Fast forward to my senior year of high school. Sixth period. TV Production. A friend convinced me to do something crazy. After years of being in the marching band I had quit and decided to branch out into other areas of extracurricular activity. I tried out for the school plays and received small roles. And then the crazy, I joined the TRACK TEAM. I was not, I am not a runner. My 6th period friend told me I'd be guaranteed a trophy at the end of the year if I joined. All my other trophies boasted "Principal's Honor Roll" or "Perfect Attendance." I wanted a SPORTS trophy, one to really cherish! So I agreed. Thankfully our track team was an "anyone is welcome" team and didn't require any actual running ability! I joined the team and began our afternoon runs. My teammates pushed me hard when all I wanted to do was quit. I stuck it out though. I raced the 800 meters. I lost. A lot. Every single race to be exact. And not just lost, I'm talking DEAD LAST. But I had a BLAST. My coaches praised my determination, my unwillingness to quit even when everyone else would have. And at the end of the year I got my treasured trophy. Most Dedicated Runner. I like to joke that means I "came to every race and carried the coaches bag."

I graduated high school and unfortunately my running fell to the wayside. Sure I tried a few times to run with friends in college but it wasn't something I made a priority and it wasn't long before running became merely something I'd done in high school.

I'm now a Grad school graduate, married for coming on six years, with two wonderful boys. And I'm trying it again. I'm letting that 6th period friend rejoin my thoughts and I'm giving it a 2nd go around. After two pregnancies and a thyroid condition have caused me to climb my weight up into the mid 180s I needed to change. My husband and I had a miscarriage this past December. I decided when New Years Resolution time rolled around that I wasn't going to let another year pass unhealthy. I joined Weight Watchers and dropped 10 lbs in the first 5 weeks. Amazing. But just losing the weight isn't enough for me. I want to be fit, I want to run. After years of spouting that "I only run when chased" I've decided to take up running...without the chase.