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?

Week 1 Overview

Proud of hitting my workouts!

Well, I have found it very hard to keep up with my blog and my workouts on a daily basis. I am thinking that every other day may be what I am going to shoot for. I have to admit that my goals last week were quite lofty, and I did not reach all of them. But here is an overview of the week, the good, the bad and the ugly!!

Monday started out great! I felt awesome and hit every workout that I had scheduled. I felt awesome!! I ate all the meals I had planned to, and was very proud of myself! At the end of the day, I was exhausted and slept really well!

Resting after a swim

Tuesday was again an awesome day! I got in a 3 mile run, a 20 mile bike, lifted biceps and back, swam and got an hour of yoga in! I could tell that I was tired, and when I went to swim, I just felt like every muscle in my body was screaming. I have never felt like I was going to drown before, but Tuesday I really did! It was crazy how tired my body was. I took a good nap in the afternoon, and again hit all of my workouts and my meals.

On Wednesday the weather was crazy! We had quite the thunderstorm! So, I took my hour long run to the treadmill at the YMCA (yuck!). I put in a good leg session, and after that I was beat. I went home, ate and went back to bed for awhile. I was able to get my 10 mile bike ride in, once the storms passed, but it was a struggle. My legs were shot! I did not bike, nor did I go to yoga. I felt a little bad not getting in all of my workouts, but I was tired, and needed the rest. I had to remind myself today that what I have planned is actually really crazy, and I have to give myself some slack, and some rest. 

It's hot and humid!

Thursday was another day that I woke up feeling tired! My legs were screaming at me, and I just couldn't pull myself out of bed to run. I got a short bike ride in, and later in the afternoon I went on a walk. I put off lifting, just to give myself a good day of rest. Today, I really started re-thinking my workout schedule!

Me and my true love!! Vanilla latte!

Friday was a pretty good day, I allowed myself to have a latte as a treat! It was what I had been missing all week long! This entire school year, I had been drinking grande lattes from Starbucks, everyday! I decided that this summer was a perfect time to give this addiction up. It is expensive and fattening (I do not like skinny lattes!!). I don't drink any other form of caffeine, so I didn't really think about going through withdrawal.... but oh man!! I had headaches all week and just felt "off". Today, I allowed myself that coffee, and I felt like a whole different person! So, I think I need to start ingesting some form of caffeine, it really helped!!

I got in a short bike ride, yoga and a long walk on Friday. It was another relaxing day, and I was grateful that I was being so gentle with myself. But I worried that I was being too gentle!! I am my own worst enemy sometimes and just don't push myself hard enough.

Yesterday, Saturday, my sister was in town and we started out the day with a 7.5 mile run. I felt great after taking some time off of running!! It was a great run, and I was very thankful to have her to share it with me. It was so humid out and we were both dripping wet when we returned home. After taking a shopping break (where I got some awesome new yoga pants!!), I went to the Y to finish my lifting program this week. I did 45 minutes of shoulders and abs. Finished up the day with dinner with Ryan, and a nice walk.

Recovery w/ KT Tape and Pro Compression

Today, was my planned rest day. It feels weird to not have anything planned, but also good in a way. I have spent the morning re-vamping my workout plans. I am hoping to continue to push hard, but not run and bike everyday. That was really killing my legs!! I want to continue to swim, because I feel like this is the strangest workout for my body, as I have not swam in years and years! My lifting program feels awesome! I am happy to be back in the gym in this way!

Feeling kinda crabby!!

The good: I lost 4lbs  and regain my confidence in the gym
The bad: I went out to eat, and did not hit all of my cardio workouts
The ugly: I was pretty crabby this week, lack of caffeine??


Here is my plan for next week:

Monday: yoga, swim, bike, lift, walk
Tuesday: yoga, run, swim, lift
Wednesday: bike, swim, lift, yoga
Thursday: run, swim, lift
Friday: bike, swim, yoga, walk
Saturday: long run, yoga
Sunday: rest

Goals for next week: Blog more frequently & no meals out!!

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.....!!!