Thursday, April 29, 2010

Chapter 2 page 50 - half marathon training update (HMTU) 1

Well - I've jumped into the deep end of the pool!!!!! What am I thinking?

I was going to create a separate blog for keeping track of my half-marathon training, but I decided that my millions of readers probably won't mind if I use this blog to discuss my training on this blog - after all, it's part of my chapter 2 journey. So . . . hopefully for the next 16 weeks a few times a week, I will have a post about my half-marathon training. I will title the post HMTU (half marathon training update) so if you don't care, you can easily skip those posts.

First, let me say HOW MUCH I am enjoying my new training partner "C". She is sooo patient with my extremely slow pace and my loud huffing and puffing. She says she is enjoying our time together and doesn't mind the pace. I think she is being honest - I hope she is being honest. I told her today that there was a HUGE difference in doing our 3 mile training today versus a 13 mile race (wonder how she'll feel about me after we jog/walk for nearly 2.75 hours together???).

My normal training partner "L" is still "MY GO TO GIRL!" Love her!! Absolutely LOVE training with her - the time flies by which is fabulous since you all know how little I like jogging/walking anyway!!! Her life is a bit full at the moment so hopefully we can get a few training sessions in during the month - "C" and "L" and I have all pledged to do the 1/2 marathon of the Parlor City Trot (Saturday, September 4, 2010)

With 2 training partners, I'm more likely to get more workouts in during the week which is going to be necessary if I'm going to try to do a half-marathon in 16 weeks!!!

Today, "C" shared a printed training schedule with me. Today's plan was to run (please always read the word "run" as "jog") and walk for a total of 40-45 minutes (I think). We warmed up and cooled down with a 5 minute walk and then jogged/walked 2:2 (alternating 2 minutes jogging with 2 minutes walking) for 28 minutes. Did you happen to notice how windy it was between 4-5 p.m.?????!!!!!!!!???????? My goodness!!! I felt as if we were jogging backwards it was blowing soooo hard!!! Our time from start to finish was 38 minutes - only 2 more hours and I'll have a 1/2 marathon under my belt (wow - what the heck am I thinking?!?!?!) We probably only went about 2 3/4 miles or maybe even a smidge less.

How did I feel during the training session? Well, I felt like we were going so slowly but I was really working hard. On a scale of 1-10 referring to how hard I was working, I would say it was a 9. My lower back was sooo tight, it just felt like it was going to crack and break. Also, I felt as if I couldn't get my rhythm during the jog. I usually do a gliding type motion and today I just couldn't get that smooth flow going. I surely hope I can get it back sooner rather than later - I certainly don't want to actually run. On a positive note, I didn't cough when we were done or while we were doing it.

One training session down - only around 45 more to go (WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!!!)

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Chapter 2 page 49 - remember when. . .

First, if you didn't read page 47 or page 48, please be sure to - page 47 is going to be an amazing event you HAVE to be part of and page 48 shows that I have officially cracked up!!!!!!!

I've titled this post "Remember when . . . " -

Why the title - well, after thinking through the post for page 48 and having my husband gone for the week, I've really thought that this week could be a jump start to the life I really want (fitness, healthier eating, weight loss, smaller clothes, feeling amazing about myself and my physical accomplishments). That said, I have 4 groups of friends taking me out to celebrate my birthday - that's a lot of calories and less evening exercise time.

Back to the title - I have been thinking about the time from 1998-2001 when I was 100 pounds less than I am now. Although I honestly think I've blocked much of the exercise part out of my memory, whatever I did back then worked - I was HOT!!! I want to do that stuff again.

A bit more about the title - last week my sweaty BFF sent me a motivational email detailing things that she did when she was thinner that worked. They were logical and very much do-able. So why don't I just do them???? I think it's come down to laziness!!!!

Many of you reading were thinner "back in the day" - remember when? What things did you do during that time that led you to be that way? Any idea why you stopped doing them? If you have returned to doing them - what motivated you to dig back in?

For me . . .
1. I ate "boring" food - carrots and hummus seem to come to mind as one of the things I would take with me wherever I went as a snack. Dinner was a chicken breast and rice and broccoli more often than anything else - I think I remember.

2. I ate small snacks every couple of hours.

3. I exercised for at least 45 minutes almost everyday. I would walk and carry my golf clubs for 18 holes several days a week. I would get up early in the morning to run along the Ft. Monroe sea wall at dawn - it was an amazing view and to think it had been there since the civil war - pretty fantastic!

4. I went to a gym everyday either to run on the treadmill, lift weights, or swim.

5. I was preparing for Basic Training for the Army - that'll motivate you to go for the run today. ----- do you think my goal for walking/jogging the half-marathon would be significant enough to keep me moving forward???

What about you? What things did you used to eat or do "back then"?

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Chapter 2 page 48 - what do you think about . . . .

If you missed my page 47 entry - please be sure to check it out. More info about the Girls' Night Out event will be coming as more details become available.

I have a question -
What do you think about me jogging/walking a 1/2 marathon in September?

I admit that I get a bit delusional - I can easily do 3 miles, and probably with some challenge 6 miles, so in my head - I can do 13.1 - but . . . .

There is another summer training program called "Summer Striders" starting June 1 and going through August 31. It meets on Tuesdays from 7-8:00 p.m. with the goal of walking a 10K.

In addition to this training opportunity, I have a new jogging training partner starting this week. We're going to try to train at least once a week - she's done 1/2's before and it will definitely be something we discuss during our training on Thursday. I'm soooo excited to have someone to jog/walk with - you all know how bad I am at doing it alone!!!!!!!!!!!! I just HATE it alone - too bad, the weather has been spectacular.

So, I'm serious. What do you think about me jogging/walking a 1/2 marathon in September??? Am I crazy? 'Cuz I think I might be.

How did this crazy thought process come about??? Good question. I had been thinking seriously about training to jog the entire 10K in September (something I think I could probably easily train to do). My normal training partner suggested that we walk/jog the 10 Mile race in September. Well - if she thinks we could do the 10 Mile race, then what is 3 more miles and let's just do the 1/2. Yep - that sounds as crazy when I type it as it does when I think it to myself. Hmmm!

I am easily, and regrettably, 100 pounds overweight - though I would feel far more amazing about myself if I could lose 50 and I would probably call it a day if I could lose 75 pounds. I'm thinking that setting such a high goal would force me to commit to training which would be pretty serious calorie burning especially as the mileage increases.

Seriously - what do you think?

Have a great rest of a rainy weekend!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Chapter 2 page 47 Mark Your Calendars!!!

Mark Your Calendar and plan to attend:

What: Girls' Night Out (2 mile fun walk/jog/run, dinner, vendors, pampering, tons door prizes & other free stuff, 2 hours of Zumba)

When: Friday, August 15th 2010 Registration is 5-6 p.m.; event 6:15-10:00 p.m.

Where: Wells County 4H Park

Cost: $15 pre-registration; $20 day of

What you get: Nylon backpack bag jammed with tons of discounts, coupons, free stuff, and more!!! Dinner is included!!!

In the upcoming months more info will be available, but this is a MUST attend event for every woman in the area who loves hanging out with other women, being healthy, having fun, being pampered, and just having time to celebrate you!!!!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Chapter 2 page 46 - end of week review 4/4

I set the following goals for the week of 4/4 - and now it's confession time!

1. Create a weekly menu and do the grocery shopping all on one day.
Sunday - Chicken pot pie - NOPE, MEAT MARKET CLOSED DUE TO EASTER; ATE PIZZA INSTEAD

Monday - Hamburgers on the grill with fresh veggie toppings - YEP

Tuesday - Spaghetti with Cesar salad - NOPE - MY BAD, MADE WEDNESDAY'S MEAL INSTEAD BECAUSE I'M LEARNING HOW TO READ THE MENU I CREATED

Wednesday - Chicken fried rice (Curves recipe) & chicken veggie pot stickers - YEP, BUT ON TUESDAY; ATE HAM STEAK INSTEAD

Thursday - Eating out with the 3 Elles - YEP, I ATE FISH & SALAD (AND OTHER GOODIES - CHECK OUT MY 3ELLES.BLOGSPOT.COM BLOG FOR MORE DETAILS)

Friday - Fritos taco salad - YEP & YUM!!!!

Saturday - TBD - YIKES, IT'S SATURDAY TOMORROW ALREADY - NO IDEA, STILL TBD I GUESS!

2. Go to the gym on Monday and Friday (this is the goal I'm LEAST excited about). - DID NEITHER - I'M A LOSER. I DID GO TO AEROBICS CLASS ON MONDAY AND TECHNICALLY I WENT TO THE GYM TODAY, BUT DIDN'T WORK OUT - I WAS THERE IN MY WORK CAPACITY ONLY.

3. Go to an aerobics class on Tuesday.
YEP - GOOD TIME!

4. Spend at least 45 minutes on Wednesday doing 2 minutes & 2 minutes walk/jog.
NOPE - I'M A LOSER!

5. Be mindful of portion sizes during meals.
YEP - I EAT TOO MUCH!!!!!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Chapter 2 page 45 - 4/4 goal update Wednesday edition

Here is my daily goal update (Wednesday edition) for my week of 4/4 goals:

1. Create a weekly menu and do the grocery shopping all on one day.
Tuesday - Spaghetti with Cesar salad - DIDN'T READ THE MENU CLOSE ENOUGH AND DIDN'T EAT THIS; WAS GOING TO EAT IT TONIGHT, BUT IT WAS UNEXCITING SO IT'S BEEN CROSSED OFF THE MENU FOR THE WEEK

Wednesday - Chicken fried rice (Curves recipe) & chicken veggie pot stickers - ATE THIS YESTERDAY BY ACCIDENT SO . . . TONIGHT WE WERE GOING TO EAT TUESDAY'S MEAL, BUT INSTEAD WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GRILLED HAM STEAK - GREAT THING ABOUT THAT? 2 REASONS - FIRST, THERE ISN'T MUCH OF IT SO I CAN'T OVEREAT; SECOND, I DON'T LOVE IT SO I WON'T OVEREAT.

2. Go to the gym on Monday and Friday (this is the goal I'm LEAST excited about).
- SEE PREVIOUS UPDATE

3. Go to an aerobics class on Tuesday.
-SEE PREVIOUS UPDATE

4. Spend at least 45 minutes on Wednesday doing 2 minutes & 2 minutes walk/jog.
-I KNEW WHEN I MADE THIS GOAL I WOULD NEVER ACHIEVE IT BECAUSE I JUST HATE HATE HATE TO DO IT BY MYSELF. IF I HAD A TRAINING PARTNER SCHEDULED TO DO IT WITH ME THEN I WOULD DO IT - SHOULD I CONSIDER INVESTING IN A PERSONAL TRAINER?????????? MIGHT REALLY BE WORTH IT - ANYONE EVER WORKED OUT WITH A PERSONAL TRAINER BEFORE???

5. Be mindful of portion sizes during meals.
-ALTHOUGH, I HAVEN'T EATEN YET TONIGHT, DUE TO THE SMALL SIZE - THIS WON'T BE A PROBLEM.

HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL TOO!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Chapter 2 page 44 - 4/4 goal update

Here's my first update on this week's goals:
1. Create a weekly menu and do the grocery shopping all on one day.
Sunday - Chicken pot pie NOPE WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS - MY BAD, MEAT STORE CLOSED DUE TO EASTER; WE ATE PIZZA FOR DINNER

Monday - Hamburgers on the grill with fresh veggie toppings - YEP, WE ATE THIS. i SKIPPED THE BUN AND DOUBLED THE VEGGIES.

Tuesday - Spaghetti with Cesar salad - TOTALLY WISH I HAD REMEMBERED THIS WAS WHAT I WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE FOR DINNER TONIGHT - TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT IT AND WENT WITH WEDNESDAY'S MENU - DANG! I HAD PLANNED THIS FOR TONIGHT BECAUSE I KNEW I HAD TO WORK LATE. UGGGGGG! WE'LL HAVE THIS TOMORROW I GUESS.

Wednesday - Chicken fried rice (Curves recipe) & chicken veggie pot stickers - WE ATE THIS TONIGHT! IT WAS DELICIOUS, BUT WE DIDN'T FINISH EATING UNTIL LIKE 5 MINUTES AGO - I'M SOOO TIRED.

Thursday - Eating out with the 3 Elles
Friday - Fritos taco salad
Saturday - TBD

2. Go to the gym on Monday and Friday (this is the goal I'm LEAST excited about).
WELL I DIDN'T GET TO THE GYM ON MONDAY - I WENT TO AN HOUR LONG ZUMBA CLASS INSTEAD. IT WAS A MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE WORKOUT. I WAS GOING TO TRY TO DO BOTH, BUT I WAS SO TIRED AS I HAD WORKED 12 HOURS. I'LL REALLY TRY TO GO FRIDAY.

3. Go to an aerobics class on Tuesday.
YEP - DID THAT AND HAD A GREAT TIME!

4. Spend at least 45 minutes on Wednesday doing 2 minutes & 2 minutes walk/jog.
THIS WILL BE A REAL CHALLENGE FOR ME TO ACCOMPLISH AS I REALLY HATE TRAINING ALONE!

5. Be mindful of portion sizes during meals.
I ATE A BIT MUCH TONIGHT, BUT I WAS THINKING THAT IT WAS A CURVES RECIPE SO IT WOULD BE PRETTY SAFE TO SPLURGE.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Chapter 2 page 43 - wk 4/4 goals

Keeping in mind, my 3 month goals -
1. Break the sugar addiction so that it doesn't rule my life.
2. Exercise 240-300 minutes a week.
3. Reduce my portion size and eat more of the proportion of foods I'm suppose to (i.e. 7 oz meat, 3 dairy, 12 svgs cho, 3 fats, etc)
4. Make the "right" (read as "healthy") choice when eating in public, with friends, or family (exceptions are eating out with 3 Elles or my husband in which case I'll use strategies to reduce the potential damage - i.e. eat less, drink less, choose healthier option, etc).
5. Plan healthy weekly menus at least 3 out of 4 weeks each month.

I'm setting the following goals for the week of 4/4:
1. Create a weekly menu and do the grocery shopping all on one day.
Sunday - Chicken pot pie
Monday - Hamburgers on the grill with fresh veggie toppings
Tuesday - Spaghetti with Cesar salad
Wednesday - Chicken fried rice (Curves recipe) & chicken veggie pot stickers
Thursday - Eating out with the 3 Elles
Friday - Fritos taco salad
Saturday - TBD

2. Go to the gym on Monday and Friday (this is the goal I'm LEAST excited about).

3. Go to an aerobics class on Tuesday.

4. Spend at least 45 minutes on Wednesday doing 2 minutes & 2 minutes walk/jog.

5. Be mindful of portion sizes during meals.

Wish me luck!!! What are you focusing on during the upcoming week? I'm your biggest cheerleader and have every confidence you will do well!!!

Chapter 2 page 42 - final final goal update

I promise this is my final report on my goals for the week - thanks to those of you who stuck with me this week and read my posts even though they were more for my accountability than for the joy of reading.

My goals for this week:

1.) Attend aerobic class on Monday and Tuesday.
I ATTENDED CLASSES ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY - BONUS!!!!

2.) Go to the gym on Wednesday and Friday.
WENT TO THE GYM FOR A 1/2 WORKOUT ON WEDNESDAY - NEVER MADE IT FRIDAY DUE TO CAR REPAIR AND SHORTER GYM HOURS. I DID DO HEAVY LANDSCAPING FOR AN HOUR THOUGH - SURELY THAT HAS TO COUNT - I SWEAT, MY HEART WAS POUNDING, AND I WAS EXHAUSTED WHEN I WAS DONE. YEP - THAT COUNTS!!!

3.) Participate in Spring Into Training on Tuesday.
YEP - DID THAT! AND LOVED EVERY SECOND!

4.) Using the week's menu I created and grocery shopped for today, be mindful of my portion size.
YEP - DID THIS. I ATE TOO MUCH, BUT IN SOME RESPECTS I THINK THAT I ACTUALLY MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN EATING LESS.

I THINK I GIVE MYSELF 100% FOR THIS WEEK'S GOAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I'M THRILLED THAT I ACTUALLY DID WHAT I SET OUT TO DO. WOOO HOOO.

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!

Friday, April 2, 2010

Chapter 2 page 41 - final goal update wk 3/25

So here is another boring post that's more for my accountability than anything else.

My goals for this week:

1.) Attend aerobic class on Monday and Tuesday.
I'VE ALREADY POSTED ON THIS, BUT I WENT TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY (MONDAY'S CLASS WAS CANCELED). I WAS ABLE TO GO TO A "BONUS" AEROBICS CLASS ON THURSDAY AS WELL.

2.) Go to the gym on Wednesday and Friday.
WENT TO THE GYM ON WEDNEDAY (ONLY DID 1/2 A WORKOUT - SORRY, SOME IS BETTER THAN NONE?????!!!!????) - AND FRIDAY - WELL, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN SO . . . .I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT GETTING AN ALTERNATE WORKOUT IN. I'M AT THE CAR DEALERSHIP WAITING PROBABLY ALL DAY FOR THEM TO FIX MY CAR THEN I HAVE A VERY LONG LIST OF OUTDOOR WORK THAT NEEDS DONE - BUT IT'S LIKELY TO BE VERY HOT TODAY - STAY TUNED FOR MY PLAN.

3.) Participate in Spring Into Training on Tuesday.
ALSO ALREADY BLOGGED ON THIS - MISSION ACCOMPLISHED AND HAD A FANTASTIC TIME!!

4.) Using the week's menu I created and grocery shopped for today, be mindful of my portion size.
YEP - I WAS MINDFUL AS I OVERATE - BUT I DID STICK WITH THE PLANNED MENU WHICH MAKES ME SOOOO HAPPY!!!!!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!!!!!!