Showing posts with label lifting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lifting. Show all posts

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Week 2 Recap & Thoughts on Tinkerbell

I just finished week 2 on my quest for weigh-loss and increased fitness (not to mention, training for my three 1/2 marathons!!).

Love my Zensah sleeves for recovery
Week 2 was much more tame than week 1. I cut back from running and biking everyday to doing each activity on alternate days. This was much more manageable, and it made it easier for me to hit each workout and bring my best. I was even feeling good enough this week to add in an extra ab session on Friday.

My workouts were great, and I started feeling much more confident in the free-weights room! I actually looked forward to my strength training and felt pretty strong.

Relaxing after a HOT run!
I got all of my runs in, including a 8.5 mile run on Saturday! It was so humid out, I had trouble breathing, but I finished, and felt good enough to go for a 3.5 mile walk that evening! I was pretty proud of myself! Even completed that run in 1.5 hours!! Go me!!



Loving my Fitbit Flex!
My eating was a whole other issue. While I was finding success in the gym, my eating was out of control!! On Monday, my department held a party for a teacher who is retiring, and I just HAD to try all of the yummy treats! I went out to eat way too many times this week. The BF and I helped his parents celebrate their anniversary this week with a huge meal (and dessert!) and then we went away this weekend, and indulged in all of our favorite restaurants.

One of the many restaurants I visited this week!
I was afraid to step on the scale this morning! That is how awful my eating has been! The scale was nice to me, and I am thinking that all of my workouts helped, but I did not gain anything.... but I did not lose anything either!!! While I am not happy about this, I completely know what I did wrong this week, and how I need to change it for this upcoming week! I think that now that my workouts are feeling good, and I am in a routine, that I can really focus on my eating!

I did treat myself to some new clothes this weekend.... a size smaller!! Woot! So, something good is happening in my body!!

What is really motivating me to get out there each day are my three 1/2 marathon registrations! The first of which is coming up in October, followed by the Tinkerbell 1/2 in Disneyland in January.

This week could be a BIG week for us RunDisney fans....!!


With registration opening for the Tinkerbell 1/2 the first week of July, everyone is waiting to for an announcement from Disney about the fabled 10k and/or challenge associated with this race!

Whether you are hoping for the announcement, and the challenge, or if you are hoping that Disney stops introducing new races, you cannot deny that this will be an exciting week! I love the anticipation!

While I am already registered for the 1/2, I am very much looking forward to Disney announcing a 10k and a challenge! MORE BLING!!! While my bank account is not looking forward to paying for more Disney races, I really want more medals (don't judge!!).

Are you hoping for a Tinkerbell Challenge?? Will you be running it if they have one?

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Day One!

Last night as I was trying to fall asleep, all I could think about was my post from yesterday, and how nervous I was to start this journey. It was just like trying to fall asleep the night before a big race, all sorts of fears racing through my mind: what if I fail, what if it hurts, what if I am biting off more than I can chew, what if I just give up?!

After about an hour of restlessness, a calm washed over me, because I allowed myself to remember that I am human, I will make mistakes, I will hurt, I will want to quit, but it is the way that I come back from those set backs that make the entire journey so worth it. I was able to finally fall asleep and I slept so well! It was like a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders, this is going to be tough, but I am going to be gentle with myself.

Waking up this morning, I was very excited to get going!

My dogs have always been early risers, there is nothing I can do about this. They are up and ready to go between 5am and 5:30am everyday, without fail! Today was the same, and while I usually just let them outside, feed them and then return to bed, today I got my first meal of the day in. This early meal is fuel for my morning run, and because of my very sensitive stomach, I need to eat at the very latest an hour before running. This morning I had a whole wheat English muffin, 2 teaspoons of peanut butter, and a banana along with a generous glass of water. With a full tummy, I laid back down in bed for the hour and was ready to run at 6:30am.

The path was lined with these today!
Today was a longer running day: 1 hour. I am switching back and forth from 1 hour runs to 30 minute runs during the week and then running the long run of my 1/2 marathon training program on Saturday, resting on Sunday. The weather was cool and foggy, and humid! I was happy to be running early before it warmed up too much. I took my favorite hilly route, and completed just over 5 miles in the hour. It was a great run, and I felt energized at the end, wishing I had more time! But, I had to get meal #2 in and off to yoga.


I was super sweaty when I got home and so I took a quick shower, which ate up the time I had planned on using to cook some eggs. Instead, I drank a protein shake and biked to yoga, the eggs would have to wait.

The bike ride to Yoga only took about 10 minutes and it was lovely to stretch my legs after my run. On today's Yoga schedule was Power Yoga! It was killer!! I was again a sweaty mess by the end of the class, and was very happy for the few minutes of relaxation our shavasana allowed! After class it was back on the bike and back home for my eggs!! Yum!

At noon, I headed to the pool. This was the part of the day I was most worried about, having not been in the pool for many years. It was better than I hoped it to be. I swam a quick 500, with the only issue being my breathing pattern. I probably could have swam much more, but I don't want to start too quickly...

After the pool, I came home and had an apple and some carrot sticks. Then I took off on my bike again and went to the YMCA. This was the second part of my day that I was worried about. I have not lifted for many years.

This part was pretty hard. The lifting program I am using is tailored by Jami Eason and can be found on Boudybuilding.com. It is all laid out for you and even includes videos of the lifts for those of us who have no clue what we are doing!!! I got to the Y thinking that I would workout in the free weights room, as my programs tells you to, but I was too intimidated by all the guys in there (I was the only girl), so I ended up using the the machines instead. It was tough, and I could really tell that I am lacking muscle, but I got the workout done and I was proud of myself for not giving up!!

Rode my bike back home, cooked some dinner and then headed out for my 10 mile bike ride. The first mile is straight up hill... it was tough! I was sweating and my legs were giving out, but I made it, and being able to climb that hill after all I have done, was such a confidence booster!! I managed 10 miles in 45 minutes and was home to shower and head to bed!

Over all I am very happy with how the first day went! I felt good all day long, aside from a headache at around 3pm, which I cured by eating a few more carbs.

I think the exercise portion of my program is going to go really well, I need to figure out my eating though, and work on eating enough calories to sustain this type of activity, while still losing some weight!

Looking forward to tomorrow's work-out!

30 minute Run
1 1/2 hours of Yoga
500m Swim
Lift back and bi
20 mile bike

Wish me luck!! :)




Monday, June 10, 2013

Starting over...

Today is the day that I start my 12-week body transformation! I have 12 weeks of vacation and I am going to use them to get back in shape and marathon ready!

I have fallen off the wagon, and fallen hard. In the last year, I have gained over 50 pounds. This weight gain is partly due to being injured and unable to run (which was my main source of exercise) and partly due to my very poor eating habits and extremely high stress!  I am very embarrassed to post the pictures you are about to see. It takes everything in me not to just hide them away and never show them to anyone. But I am posting them to the world, because I am hoping that will give me the motivation to make some major changes.

My plan is very simple:

1. Don't eat out -- I got into a very bad habit of eating most of my meals out, and drinking Grande Lattes just about everyday. This has to stop! I need to cut out the sugar and eat clean! Watch my portions and stop snacking!!

2. Run more! I have been running 3-4 times a week for the last 6 months. I have felt like this is enough, because I do not want to re-injure myself. But now is the time to start bumping it up! I have three 1/2 marathons coming up in the next 9 months, and I have to be ready! I am starting now!!!

3. Yoga everyday! I have been going to yoga 3-4 times a week for the last 12 weeks, now that I have the time, I am going to go everyday, this will hopefully help me stretch and take care of my muscles. Yoga has been my way to prevent injury, and I love the time to just focus on myself.

4. Get back into biking! I used to bike 20 miles a day or more, but haven't really been consistent for the past 3 years. I need to get back to this routine. I think it is a good balance for the running I will be doing, and I would like to do the Iron Girl Duathalon this fall. So, I better get moving!

5. Get into the pool! During college I was a swimming instructor and lifeguard, I was in the pool everyday. I really want to get back into the pool and get into swimming shape! This is going to be the most difficult past for me, as I haven't swam laps in a lot of years. I am hoping that I can get fast enough by the end of the summer to do a sprint triathlon! Cross your fingers for me.

6. Start a weight training program. I found a great lifting program on Bodybuilding.com. It is geared towards women and gives you a daily schedule, including videos to help you know what to do! I am excited to get into the gym and start lifting. I lifted in college, and getting back at it gets me pretty excited!!

So! How am I going get this all done? I am going to go about it as if it were my job. I have a schedule of the times I need to accomplish each activity, and when I need to rest. I am hoping to drop 20 or 30 pounds in the next three months. Which I know for some of you that sounds crazy, but guys.... I have a lot to lose!!! Here is June 10th:


5:30am Peanut Butter and English Muffin

6:30am 1 hour run 

7:30am Quick Shower

7:40am 3 egg whites/2 whole eggs w/veggies and yogurt

8:00am Ride bike to yoga

8:30am Power Yoga

10:00am Ride bike home

10:15am Protein shake

10:30am Rest 

11:30am lunch and ride bike to pool 

12:00 Swim 500 (free style and breast)

12:45 Ride bike  to YMCA

1:15pm Lift: chest and tris

2:00 Protein shake and apple

2:30pm 10 mile bike ride

3:30pm rest & ab work

5:30pm  Dinner: broccoli, Chicken and green beans

I would love your support during these next months, I will be updating my blog frequently to let you know my training schedules, and my progress. Please feel free to cheer me on and follow my blog as I make my fitness dreams come true!!

And now...... here are the dreaded "before" pictures..... I really didn't think I looked this bad.....!!!