100 Days

In 100 days, hubby and I are going on vacation! Oh thank heavens! It's been over a year since we got away and I cannot wait!

But, I'm not happy with what I look like. I had a doctor appointment Tuesday night to update the primary with all the ankle stuff from the summer. And of course, the dreaded weigh-in. Apparently the ankle caused a 9 pound weight gain.

I suppose that's not too bad, but I am not happy in general with my weight and I really don't want to go on vacation looking like this.

So, I want to spend the next 100 days working hard on my food and my exercise. At this point I need to get my butt back to the gym and work out, even though I know it will be less than it was before the ankle break. I need to start eating better, stop buying dinners out and making food at home that's healthy.

So, here's to a healthy 100 days!





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21-Day Fix

Hello All! How are you? How's your week been? Mine's been good - still fighting the cold I had since last week. Hoping it completely goes away soon!

Today hubby and I started the 21-Day Fix plan. We have both been a little too casual about our diets lately and I am not happy with how I look. In the last three years I've gained about 50 pounds. Yea...

June 2012 - Baltimore Women's Classic

March 2015 - Shamrock Half Marathon

Odd how both photos have me in orange... Anyway! That's not the point. The point is I weigh way more than I should and I'm trying something to change that.

I have a couple friends who have done it and had good results. Nothing I've tried lately has worked, so why not try something that talks about portion control and more real food than processed. I'm not a packaged food diet or shake kinda person {yes, I know the 21-Day Fix has Shakeology, I chose not to use it}. Give me a diet that talks about eating real food in real portions and I'm all for trying it.

So, today we started and for the next 21 days we will be eating real food in smaller portions. Breakfast was eggs with peppers and onions, 1 slice of toast with peanut butter, and half a banana. Not bad. All real and all good. I have my meals planned out through Easter currently. Over the next few days I will plan out next week as well. The planning is rough, but it does make things easier....knowing what I'm going to eat for each meal.

Let me say here and now that we will not be 100%. Our plan is to eat healthy 6-6.5/7 days. I know we may not see the same results as others with a day off, but in order to make this work as more of a life change than a diet, we have to be true to ourselves. We will want a beer. We will want a burger. We will want a doughnut. It may not be exactly the way it is planned out, but we need it to work for us.

We also start the workout portion tonight. The goal is to do the workouts, plus our training plan for the Wild Half Half Marathon in May. They are only 30 minutes each, which isn't much. We should be able to swing that. ;-) After work, first thing we work out.

Have you done the 21-Day Fix? What do you think? Tips? Suggestions?
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Les Mills Combat

Last week I was talking with a friend who is a Beach Body Coach and who included me in a challenge group she organized in Oct. We were chatting about working out and how I know I need to get into better habits. I'm better than I was a year ago, but still I can improve.

She suggested a few things and I looked at the Beach Body website. I saw the Les Mills Combat program and thought it sounded interesting. I really like the kickboxing classes at the Y I've taken and I did karate for a couple years in high school. I thought this might be a good thing to have at the house...since my Tae Bo videos are VHS and we are lacking a VHS player. LOL!

Starting Monday, Nov. 3 I will be starting Day 1 of the program and I've already put every workout in my planner. The 60-day Warrior program goes all the way through the end of the year perfectly.

Here's to a successful two months, plus a November challenge, 5 races, and the start of half marathon training!

Have you done this? Did you like it? Did you have success?

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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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Getting the motivation back

The last couple of days I have been thinking more and more about getting my butt out there running. On Sunday I decided to go for a 10 minute run, after my bike ride. It seems strange to go for a run after a bike ride, because it isn't easy but I wanted to. Plus I kinda like brick workouts. Weird, I know.

I hate running in the heat, so I usually skip running in July and August. I have been wanting to get my motivation back so I thought 10 minutes is better than nothing. And I was right. I felt good after running those 10 minutes. It was about 85*, but I didn't feel that hot. Probably since I biked 5 miles and was already hot. I felt slow and sluggish and my second 5 minutes were really a struggle, but I did it.

Then on Monday, I went out for another 10 minute run. I walked up to the local park and ran 10 minutes around the path. It's pretty hilly and a struggle for me honestly. I figured the hills make up for the lack of bike ride. I think I might have been right! The one hill that kills almost killed me! I had to do a "run to that bench, run to that tree, run to that playground..." But, I did it!

I know .03 of a mile isn't that much, but I'm happy. The goal is to run faster and to run through the end of the summer. Since I hate running in the heat, just having a goal of 10 minutes is manageable. I can do 10 minutes. This gets me back into the habit of running, which is what I desperately need. Why?

I have set up some goals and challenges for myself over the next year. What are they?

1. Finish my 14 in 2014 Challenge. I've only run 5 races so far. I need 9 more. Eep! I have the following on my radar:

• Boardwalk 5k - Atlantic City, NJ {August 23, 2014}
• Quarterback Club of York 5k - York, PA {September 1, 2014}
• Bird-in-Hand 5k - Lancaster, PA {September 5, 2014}
• Cupcake Classic 5k - Hanover, PA {September 13, 2014}
• Troeg's Hop Dash 5k - Hershey, PA {October 5, 2014}
• Baltimore Running Festival 5k - Baltimore, MD {October 18, 2014}
• Pumpkin Chase 5k - Harrisburg, PA {October 25, 2014}
• Kids Peace Trick-or-Trot 5k - Baltimore, MD {November 1, 2014}
• Hero Run 5k - Harrisburg, PA {November 2, 2014}
• Girls on the Run 5k - York, PA {December 6, 2014}
• Celtic Solstice 5 Miler - Baltimore, MD {December 13, 2014}

2. Complete the Celtic Solstice 5 Miler in under 1 hour. I've had this as a goal for a year and a half. I would like to accomplish it on December 13, 2014.

3.  I'm also tossing around the idea of running two half marathons on back-to-back Sunday's to make it into Half Fanatics.  I'm already signed up for the Shamrock 8k and Half Marathon in Virginia Beach March 21 & 22. I kinda want to run The Love Run again next year and that is the following Sunday, March 29th. Totally doable. This Half Fanatics thing has been in my head for a year or two, but I've been too nervous about doing it. The more I think about it though, the more I want to do it.

Maybe I'm just getting my motivation back for running. Maybe? Let's hope so!


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Decided to try

For months I've been interested in getting a fitbit. I really wanted a Flex, but they recalled all of them after 1% of the population had a skin reaction to it.

I couldn't decided if I wanted a Flex because the Force had everything I wanted, whereas the Flex didn't. I looked at many of the options out there, but none of them really seemed to be what I was looking for.

Monday, I decided I was getting the fitbit Flex. The reason? I really wanted something that I could wear consistently without having to remember to put it on. I can wear it for about 5 days before having to charge it. The other reason is because it helps you determine how you sleep. I do not suffer consistently with insomnia, but I have had more cases of it lately than I like.

I ran to Dick's Sporting Goods to pick one up because I have a member's card with them and figured $105 bucks will help me get a cash back reward. I lucked out apparently because the salesperson I got to unlock the fitbit told me they hadn't had the slate gray/blue one in for months. They must have received a shipment.

I chose the gray/blue one because I thought it would match more than black or bright pink. I brought it home and it was pretty much charged and I could start right away. It comes with two bands - a large and a small. I put the large on and it practically slid off my wrist. The small is exactly what I want; it will stay close to my wrist rather than be like a bangle bracelet. It's the only small thing that fits! LOL!

I've only worn it half a day so far and with my 2 mile walk today, I'm just under half of the pre-determined goals - 10,000 steps, That's not too bad. What I really want this for is to see how I do at work. I walk quite a bit there - half a mile to work, walk during work, half a mile from work. It will be interesting to see how that looks at the end of the day.

I'll keep you posted on what I think and how it goes. I'm hoping it keeps me thinking about how on days I don't work {Monday/Tuesday} I need to move my butt and not sit at my desk all day researching/reading/playing on the internet.

Do you have a fitbit? Do you like it? Any tips?

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Weekend Workout

Over the weekend, hubby and I hit the trails for a couple workouts. We started out at Gifford Pinchot State Park on Saturday for a three mile hike. We had gotten in a few two mile walks around our neighborhood, plus all the walking in TX a few weeks ago, but this was the first intentional three miles in ages.

It was a warm day, but it turned out that under the trees it was really nice. It was shady and a nice breeze blew through helping keep us cool. We had a little trouble at times staying on the right trail, but we were able to get a nice 1.5 miles out before turning around. The walk back was nice and we got a full three miles in.

Pinchot State Park is really pretty

Sunday, we hit the York Rail Trail to get in a bike ride. I had taken our bikes to the bike shop earlier in the week for some maintenance and picked them up Sat. We hadn't ridden the bikes in a couple years, but we thought it might be a good workout to test hubby's legs.

The goal was to go 4-5 miles depending on how he was feeling. It was a warm morning, but biking is always nice since you build your own breeze. We headed south since there were less crossings to worry about. We went through the tunnel and got to two miles and hubby felt good, so we chose to go on.

We made it to 2.5 miles and took a break.

My new bike. Sunday's ride was it's inaugural trip!

Hubby did well! No pain!

The Rail Trail is so pretty.

The obligatory selfie.

After our water break, we rode back super fast! On the way down we took it very easy so hubby could test his legs and I could test my bike. As we headed back to the car, hubby picked up the pace. On the way down we did our 2.5 miles in about 20 minutes. When we got back to the car, we did the second 2.5 miles in 14 minutes. Not too shabby.

We celebrated with this yummy lunch.

BLT, carrots, blueberries, and mixed fruit

Did you get a fun workout in this weekend? What did you do?

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Boot Camp

(c) Square Fitness, York, PA

 

Yesterday, I signed up for my very first boot camp class. It was an introductory class, low impact. I had never done one before and was a tad bit nervous. A. It was a new facility I had never been to before, so I didn't know what to expect and B. I didn't know if I could handle it.

There were 10 of us yesterday, which is a bigger class than they usually have. I thought it was fine. The instructor set up 10 stations and we did each one for about 30 seconds, could have been a full minute. Honestly, I was paying so much attention to the station to think about how long we did it. We did two stations, then came to the middle for some cardio.

It went very well. I was able to do most of the harder variations on the routines, which made me happy. It felt good to go out and do something since I've been sitting on my butt for about a month due to that stupid sprained ankle. It hurt a bit while working out, but I ignored it. I'm tired of letting it keep me from doing things.

There is talk of a Monday night boot camp class. If so, I believe I'll be attending a few. I don't know if I'll go every week, but I woke up this morning feeling sore, so I know I got a workout. I liked that it worked all the muscles, though it has been hard moving around today. LOL! I suppose in the long run that's a good idea.

Have you tried a workout you were nervous about? How did it go? Did you go back?
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What was I thinking???

This is my YMCA TRX class space. I workout allllllllll the way in the back left.

Well, my TRX classes end soon. I think next week, but not sure. We missed a Monday for Memorial Day and I think we're making it up. Not sure. But, tonight I stopped off at the front desk and (gulp) signed up for the next 6 weeks of TRX classes. I'll miss one due to a trip to AC, but eh. It's summer. Can't make em all.

But, I've discovered I really like it. I'm not buff (yet), but I do think my arms have better definition than they did. They're still a bit flabby, but that's diet. Trying to get that under control now. One of the girls in the class believes she can see a difference in her abs. Sadly, I cannot. :-( But, as I said, that's partly from my diet issues.

The thing that surprises me most is that A. I haven't fallen! I swore at some point I would get tangled in those cords and either fall doing what the gentleman above is doing or I'd do something stupid with my feet in the straps.and fall on my face. So far, so good! B. That I'm getting better! I know that sounds stupid, but I honestly wasn't sure I would see a difference in my ability in just 6 weeks. But, I have! I have issues doing things that I have to lower myself using my arms (i.e. push-ups). While I'm not great at them, I have noticed the exercises where we lower ourselves downward have gotten easier. I can actually bring my head all the way down to the handles now, whereas when I started I could barely get to my elbows. Improvement!

So, another 6 weeks of TRX. Hopefully this session will coincide with a better diet and we'll see some weight loss as well as muscle definition!

What classes are you taking? Are you moving indoors to classes now that the weather is warming up?


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8 - 30 - 4.5

8 mile run

30 minute trainer session

4.5 mile bike

I'm thinking I went a bit overboard yesterday. I needed a long run over the weekend, but it didn't happen so I figured I would do it Monday. I went to the park and ran 8 miles at a local park. My mileage for the weekend was 10, but I just couldn't run around the park one more time. LOL! I was happy with 8 miles. 

At 6:30, hubby and I met with our trainer for 30 minutes. We did a fairly easy routine, then spent the rest of the time doing core work. Sadly, most of it involved legs which was not happening after an 8 mile run. Some of the stuff I just couldn't do. The legs were just not cooperating. 

After the trainer session, we hit the stationary bike to help with the soreness. We started doing this after our trainer sessions about a month ago and it has drastically cut down on the amount of soreness we have over the next two days. It doesn't go away totally, but it is much more manageable. We cycled 4.5 miles in 25 minutes. 

Today, I'm feeling a bit sore. Not awful, but I can tell I worked out yesterday. I'm thinking yesterday was a crazy workout day. Really not me actually. I'm hoping that the pounding I took over the course of the day though helps strengthen my legs for the half. The last time I ran 9 miles, it took almost 2 hours and 10 minutes. This time, 8 miles took 1 hour and 46 minutes, which if we take my mile pace and add one for 9 miles, I would be under 2 hours. Not a bad increase in a month. I have about a month until Shamrock. I really want to keep a 12:59 pace. Yesterday was a 13:19 pace. I'm getting there. Hoping I can bring my pace down a bit in the next month and I get a boost from those running around me.

How was your Monday workouts? Did you have a good one?

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