2017 Summer Challenge

The blog has sat silent for quite a while now. The last time was 100 days before vacation to Jamaica, which was December. So...

I've decided to try my hand again at the blog and see if it can help get me moving again. I didn't do anything towards that last "I'm going to lose weight before vacation," in case you're wondering. I haven't really gained any more since then, but I haven't lost any either.

I thought I would aim for 5 pounds a month after I got home from vacation, which would have been January 2017, but that didn't happen either. I had motivation, but my sweet little Elizabeth kitten (she was 12) became deathly ill and passed away a week after we returned from vacation. Not how I wanted to return home.

I was to train for the Shamrock Dolphin Challenge in Virginia Beach this past March, but I was struggling to run. I chalk it up to the blood clots and pulmonary embolisms making my lungs much weaker than I thought they would be. I will not ignore the fact that I was/am out of shape and weigh more than I ever have, but the lungs were what bothered me most. So, I deferred the challenge until 2018.

Now, it is Memorial Day weekend and I am no closer to my goals than I was 100 days before vacation. I started thinking about this and decided to set a challenge to myself - lose a pant size between June 1 and August 31. I know that's three months, but for some reason it takes me forever to go down a pants size. I will lose shirt sizes quickly, but pant sizes just don't budge!

I thought about what have I been successful at in terms of losing weight. I have finally come back to Weight Watchers. I am not spending the money to officially join, but I've been a member so many times, I know how it works. I've always lost weight while on WW, so I'm going back to that on Wednesday.

While this challenge doesn't officially start until summer, I spent a good part of my day going through my work and workout clothes and doing three things - clothes that fit me go on hangers. Clothes that do not fit right now - do I like them? Yes - goes in the bin. No - donation. I've also thrown some clothes out because they are missing buttons, stained, etc. I'm hoping that by always having clothes that fit me easily accessible, I will be more inclined to feel better about myself. I'm going to restrain from buying any clothing, unless necessary - which might be pants, but I should be fine with shirts.

There you have it. My goal for the summer. I start Wednesday with the diet and workout routine. I will document everything here and hopefully by the end of summer, I will be down a pants size. Wish me luck!

Do you have any summer goals - weight loss, workout routine, read more books, eat in-season fruit, spend more time outdoors? Let me know!

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Hard decisions

This past week I celebrated my birthday. I've always loved my birthday, who doesn't? LOL! It's the one day a year that's all about you. We spent the day at the Baltimore Aquarium and dinner at the Owl Bar. Both were lots of fun! And I spent the day with my hubby, who is oh so good to me.

But, it made me think about things. I guess I'm at the age where people have those mid-life crises. I'm don't think that's where I am, but this birthday did make me think about my life. That's why I posted the above photos. The one of the left from 2012 was me at the Baltimore Women's Classic. I love that race and have run it five years in a row. The one on the right is from this past August 2014 at Chickie's and Pete's Boardwalk Run 5k. Can you see the difference?

I can. It's so obvious to me. I have let my workout desire and my diet just crash in the last 2 years. Horribly.

I've gotten to the point where I'm having trouble finding clothes I own that make me look good. I just look fat. Yes, it's relative. But to me, having been 40 pounds lighter, I look fat and I don't like it.

I need to make changes. I've been saying this for two years. But, after trying to find things that flatter me for two weddings in the last three months, not liking how I looked on my birthday, and knowing I have a wedding next month and gasp! half marathon training coming up, I gotta do it.

I have a notebook to keep track of my food, water, and workouts. I had a running trainer for the month of September that helped me get back into a workout grove. I need to keep moving with the workouts and add in healthy eating. I'm in a challenge group for the next 21 days and I'm going to put my all into it. I blew off the warm-up week, which is my fault, but I can come back and rock the actual challenge.

So, what have you put off doing? What do you need to work on to make yourself happy?


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October

October is my favorite month of the year. Always has been. I suppose it doesn't hurt that October is my birth month. :)

Honestly though, I love October because the weather starts to cool down, it becomes jeans/sweater weather, the leaves on the trees start to change, pumpkin {everything} happens, blankets are needed again, and oh yea...it's my birthday month!

This month I'm back to racing - Hop Dash 5k, Baltimore Running Festival 5k, and Kids Chance 10k. I have been running with a coach in September, so hoping I made some gains. I'll be happy if either 5k is under 40 minutes.

This month we're brewing beer with friends again. Well...I'm not. I'm just there to chat and bring snacks. LOL! Hubby does all the work. For me, it's just a nice day of hanging out with friends. :)

This month we're also christening the deck! At the end of the month we're having people over to hang out on the new deck for the first time. It will probably be cold, but we have a fire pit so hopefully that will help out. I'm looking forward to toasting some marshmallows!

This month I joined a challenge a friend is hosting. She was kind enough to send me a message asking if I'd like to join since she knew I've been struggling. She's so sweet! So, next week starts our pre-challenge to the official challenge. I'm looking forward to it and seeing what she has in store!

So, what's your favorite month? Do you like the fall too? What great plans do you have coming up?

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40 Pound Challenge Week 4

Do you know your habits? Do you know what you revert to over time? Sometimes that 21 days to instill a habit cannot compete against YEARS of habit. And that is how week 4 went with me. I reverted back to old habits. I didn't stick to the great habits I was developing in week 2 and 3. And it showed this week on the scale. :-(

Here are my overall weekly goals:

increase my protein levels (approximately 79 g per day) 

eat approximately 1500 cals per day 

work out 3-4 days a week

 

Day 21/July 2, 2013

* Under in calories (-145)

* Over in protein (+10)

* 60 minutes on stationary bike

Day 22/July 3, 2013

* Did not count, surely over

* Did not count, surely under

* Missed workout because I forgot to pack pants for the gym

Day 23/July 4, 2013

* I did fine at the picnic I went too, it was the drive to and from that I did poorly (drive was 5 hours total)

* No workout

Day 24/July 5, 2013

* Planned cheat day

* No workout

Day 25/July 6, 2013

* Did not count, not perfect, but closer

* No workout

Day 26/July 7, 2013

* Under by about 100 calories

* At protein requirements (79)

* 30 minutes TRX

* 35 minutes treadmill, inclines

And last week's goals?

1.  KEEP FOOD/EXERCISE JOURNAL EVERY DAY Nope. Not even close. Two days total.

2. Be at 1500 calories 6 out of 7 days. Two days. The days I tracked.

3. Reach 70 g of protein 3 days out of 7 days I got 2 out of 3 days. Not bad considering the two days were actually over that.

4. Workout 4 out of 7 days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Monday) I managed Tuesday and Monday. I would have gotten Wednesday if I hadn't forgotten my workout pants...

5. Lose weight. Nope. Sad.

Rather than losing this week, I gained. I knew it was coming. This week I am up 2 pounds from last week. I'm happy it's not more, which I honestly anticipated it would be. I can come back from this. I will not allow week 4 to drag into week 5, week 6, week 7, etc. One bad week does not define my challenge! Onward and downward!

 

Goals for this coming week:

 

1.  KEEP FOOD/EXERCISE JOURNAL EVERY DAY

2. Be at 1500 calories 6 out of 7 days.

3. Reach 70 g of protein 3 days out of 7 days

4. Workout 4 our of 7 days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Monday)

5. Lose weight.

 

Might as well go for the same ones from last week since I didn't reach them. This week I will reach them!

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What am I thinking?

I am a member of TribeSports.  It's a neat place to see athletic challenges to push yourself to increase fitness, stamina, and learn new things about sport. 

I received an email suggesting I check out the above challenge.  As you know, I'm kinda in a workout rut.  For some reason I'm having a hard time getting motivated, so what the heck?  What do I have to lose by taking this challenge?  I like how it explains what area it works out because those are areas I don't always focus on (especially core).  I think I might be able to manage this.

So, who's with me?  You can join TribeSports for free and I would recommend it.  It's a great place to meet people with the same interest (fitness) and a place to find interesting challenges you probably wouldn't have thought of yourself.  I joined a group of runner's who run in Hyde Park.  I live in the US.  Next time I'm in London (which hopefully is next year), I am checking in with the group and meeting up for a run.  :-)

Let me know if you accomplish the challenge.  I'll update when I complete it!

What am I reading

In case you're interested.  LOL!  I have set a new challenge for myself in the activity department.  For years I have wanted to run a Sprint triathlon, but never felt I had the endourance to do it. I thought I could swing the swimming and the bike, but that run would kill me.  I would never be able to train for that.  A little ironic now, huh?  ;-)

For the last several years, there has been a Sprint triathlon locally that I've eyed up with longing.  It's close to home and in June.  And every year, we either have plans already made for that weekend or, in the case of last year, we were in Europe the two weeks before and I was too scared to give up two weeks of training before doing something I've never attempted before.

This year, I saw one of the Sprint triathlons advertising early.  So early, that when I saw the information they still hadn't secured the date!  But, I waited patiently to see when it would be scheduled and during that time, talked myself into maybe doing it.  LOL!  They set the date and the day when registration would open.  The day was clear on our calendar and due to a change in my professional life, I decided to go for it.

On June 11, 2011, I will be competing in my very first duathlon!  I bet you expected me to say triathlon?  I would have too honestly.  The issue I have is the ability to get the swim practice in.  I do not belong to a gym and the only body of water I could go to will not be warm enough for swimming until closer to the race.  So, I decided to go with the duathlon instead - run, bike, run.  It is a 3 mile run, followed by a 15 mile bike, ending with a 3 mile run.  I'm feeling pretty confident on the run portion of the event.  LOL!  Who would have ever thought I would say THAT?  I now just need to get some miles on the bike.

So, knowing that I have NEVER done this before, I decided to grab a book on tri/duathlons - Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals: And Doing the Duathlon Too.  So far, it's a good book.  The author is great!  He's been doing tri/dua/marathons for 25 years and is basically just his take on what to do to be successful.  I'm really enjoying it and encourage you to read it to if you ever decide to do a tri/dua.

The game plan stands as this.  Have new tires fitted on my bike by the end of the month.  Then start training in April.  My plan had been to do some runs and a bike ride during the week, then on Saturday do a combo day where I run/bike/run to get used to it.  I'll be making out my plan over the next couple of weeks and starting in April will get my butt moving on it!

Follow along as I try another new challenge!  And try to make up my mind as to whether I'll sign up for the SheRocks Triathlon in Philly in August!