Day One

Well I did it - I got off my lazy vacation butt, and went for a run. I used the new Garmin watch, which I love! I used to use Map My Run but was never that confident that I was going as far as they said I was, and honestly - I like just going, and then turning around when I'm halfway through! 

I have not run since the Turkey Trot, so today was a run /walk for me. I did about 2.5 miles. Not stellar timing, but at least I got out there. It wasn't even that bad out -- not as windy as yesterday, and not that cold. 

On my run I passed this cute red house. I love the old flat front colonial (? ) style, and color. 

Tracker

I downloaded this app to my ipod touch last night. Basically - you enter your height/weight and goal - and it tells you how many calories you can have that day. Then, you enter in what you eat, and it tells you what you have left. Such as - my teaspoons of peanut butter were 99 calories last night! I never thought about how many calories one spoonful gave me, and now I will always have it in mind if the pb addiction kicks in. 


I feel like this will be a great educational tool - to understand what I am really eating, and determine where I want to use my calories. Of course when you work out, it factors that in too, so hopefully this simple little tracker will keep me in line a bit more!  I really think I overeat without realizing it, so I'm excited to see if this helps me change! 

So inconsistent in the blogging of this. Guess that is part of retraining myself - workout consistently, track it consistently. 


Anyway. 
09/28 - Spin at 6a
10/01 - 2.5 mile run
10/02 - 2 mile run 
10/03 - 10/05 were rough. I traveled for work, straight from work to the airport, 6a - 11p work day in Chicago, 6a -airport for 8a flight, meeting all day in Boston. 
10/10 - 2 mile run
10/11 - 2 mile run -- looks like I need to step this up a bit, challenge myself to move forward. 


This weekend - nothing. No excuses. No bad weather. Just didn't. :(

back at it

Friday - spin
Saturday - run! 2 miles in 21:07
Half of it was downhill, which was super easy. Coming back was a nice incline that made me slower than molasses. I probably looked like an old lady shuffling along. But at least I did it!

5ks and what not to drink before spinning

So annoying - I pretend I'm going to track workouts and progress and then I sort of forget. I literally did not even think about this blog or blogging in general for weeks, (clearly) even though I have a mild obsession to Google reader and a million other blogs. wth.

Anyway.
Sept 17 - ran the Gulf Beach 5k. This is the first annual 1/2 marathon and 5k at Gulf Beach. MONTHS ago, I thought, I can train and run the half marathon. Then I just - didn't. Maybe my sister is right - that if I haven't done it, and don't train for it, I don't really want to do it. But everytime someone tells me they did one, I am jealous. I guess I want to say I have done it, but don't want to do the work.

So, since this was year one - there were some kinks. The major one - the cop at the turn for the course didn't tell anyone to turn! The road wasn't marked well, so people ran straight. Luckily - one of the front runners had some sort of gps on so they turned around at 2.5 miles or so , and the 5k times were usable. Unfortunately, I wasn't sure where they had turned, and went a little too far. oops. I ran about 3.5 miles in 40 min. Not fabulous, but not the worst.

Results

Back in the work week, I thought - I'll go to the gym everyday! whoo hoo! And I went twice.  Friday AM my friend and I got up early for spin. I made the mistake of drinking some sort of Odwalla smoothie on the way to the gym. I felt SO SICK! I had to leave the spin class with about 15 min left for a quick bathroom break. Bad decision. I finished the class and felt like I hadn't put in a great workout bc I felt sick, but at least I did something!

Sunday

I ended up on the Dunkin Dozen Pan Mass Challenge team this year!  I expressed interest, and when they needed a 12th, I was it! 


I definitely have not trained much, but the ride we are doing is about 50 miles. I'm NERVOUS, but think I will be ok. I did the MS bike the Vineyard 100k ride (which ended up being about 65 miles) and lived to tell about it. 

It starts super early, 7:30 and we ride from Wellesley to Sharon, MA back to Wellesley. 

Wellesley to Wellesley

This route began in 2007 to accommodate riders who could only ride on Sunday or those looking for a less grueling ride. The ride starts with, what seems like a 15 mile descent following the classic Wellesley to Bourne route. Then the route heads east through Walpole and onto the Sharon water stop where riders returning on the two day ride from Bourne are arriving at their second water stop. The ride then heads back to Babson College. Fundraising minimum is $1,000 This ride begins at 7:30 am and depending on pace and rest times, can last from 2.5 hours to 6 hours. Most riders arrive back at Babson College between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm

Ok, back log of info to post here

Whoops. I got busy and didn't post. 


Ok, where was I? I was supposed to go to Power Yoga with my friend Lauren. Well, I got stuck at work and in traffic and showed up way late, so I skipped the class and worked out on the treadmill, elliptical and did some weights & crunches. 


Saturday - Lauren and I went to Cardio strike, which was great! I got so sweaty, and at one point was losing energy, but the instructor was good, keep us moving and before I knew it , we were done. It didn't hurt that I knew brunch was across the street waiting for me! (ps. the huevos rancheros (minus sausage) at Christopher's in Porter Sq is DELICIOUS!) 

Sunday - around 4 or so I hit the gym and did some running since it was pretty hot out side. I was highly motivated to get to the gym, since I felt good after my workout Saturday. 


Monday - Crazy, I know, I went to the gym AGAIN. It's easy when you start making it a part of your schedule. (not rocket science, but clearly when I don't make time for it, I am making excuses) I had a training session, which was good because now I have a list of things to accomplish on my own so I'm not wandering the gym like an idiot. 


Tuesday - Gym. Who is this girl??? I ran, and did some arm weights. I was sore in the legs and abs from the trainer! 


Wednesday - slacker


Thursday - Lauren and I skipped the gym for drinks and nachos at Tommy Doyles.  Oops. It was a long week! ha. 


Friday - no workout


Saturday - no workout


Sunday - no workout. OK I Suck. 


Monday - gym after work. Run, abs, elliptical. I watched the Social Network while I ran, and it made time go by quick but I was sluggish. 


Tuesday - met a friend for dinner - no gym


Wednesday - Urban Rebounding class -i.e. cardio trampoline workout. I struggled with this. My arches BURNED. I had to stop and stretch a few times bc I could barely move, and my ankles and feet felt locked. I am not that coordinated apparently because I almost fell off the trampoline a few times. I need to stretch those arches w/ tennis balls, and perhaps visit Marathon Sports to see if I am in the wrong shoes. 

I definitely haven't weighed myself in a week or two but I feel like I'm making some progress, and definitely feel less lazy!! 

vaca and getting my butt in gear

Vacation is awful for working out. A whole crew of us went to WI to visit some family and hang out for the 4th of July weekend. We spent time on the boats touring the lake, going for some pretty laid back swims, and tubing. There was lots of food, beer, and not a lot of exercise. 


So, when I flew back Tuesday, I thought - I'll go to the gym. Oops. Not quite. 
Wednesday - I went to the gym around 8ish, ran a bit, did some elliptical and crunches.


Thursday - When you join Healthworks you get a few free training sessions. Yesterday I met with Lauren, who is energetic and nice. She asked a lot of questions about what I do now, why I joined, and what my goals are. She did a few basic tests to see how my alignment is. Then, I have an actual training session with her next week when she will tell me certain things to do to work specific areas I am looking to improve. Trainers are COSTLY. Here, they let you do check ins - so you go work out alone, and then check in every month, or every 3 mos so you have a bit more accountability but not someone with you everyday. Also - this gym is all women, so I won't be as self conscious in the weight section! 


Last night, after the consultation, I ran for a mile on the tread mill, did a few arm weight lifts, stretched, did some elliptical, and left. 


Today - My friend Lauren from work (not to be confused w/ Trainer Lauren) are going to a Power Yoga class. Tomorrow, we signed up for Cardio Strike at 10a. I have yet to commit to a Sunday Night spin class!

Spun

Well, I did it. I was nervous about going to spinning with my friend Lauren, since I have only done it once before. It was pretty hard, but felt good. And, I'm not in pain today. It was a ridiculous rush to get there. Even though I packed up my gym clothes in the AM , I left the bag at home. Oops. Guess I need to put it in the car the night before. So, I left work later than planned and JUST MADE IT to meet Lauren at 6:50 for a 7p class. 


After, I spoke to the manager about membership. I cannot believe I haven't gone here before. They are so nice, and have so many fun incentives to work out! there is a workout tracker, and every 5 workouts you get a raffle ticket for a variety of prizes - Sox tickets, your dues paid for a month, your dues paid for a year, free massages, etc. They have running clubs and so many choices for classes. I may even be inspired to work out tomorrow AM since I don't have time after work ! 

Healthworks

I think it was the pictures I saw most recently of myself that disgusted me so much and made me .. embarrassed. I have never felt so badly about myself. I have a fun vacation coming up in a few days and I am sort of panicking about packing, and what we are doing over the next few days because I don't want to put on a bathing suit, and know that my arms look AWFUL in a tank top. 


Anyway  - I dug this hole and now I have to climb out. I am inspired by these girls:

Krista at My Journey to a Healthy Berg
Skinny Runner
Cely at Running off the Reeses
Tara at Dashing in Pearls

And even if no one reads this blog but me, I need to chronicle the time when I decided I would kick myself in the a$$ and do what I should have been doing for the past few years. 


So, Last night, I went to Healthworks in Porter Sq with my friend Lauren. The gym is all women, and SO NICE. It is clean, has lots of classes and lots of cardio equipment, many with personal TV's. I currently belong to the Charlestown YMCA, but don't go a lot. 
1. I signed up so my friend Amy and I could go together, but she travels a lot and is moving so that didn't work out so well. 
2. If you go before 8p you have to feed the meters. The stress of watching the clock and not getting a ticket and having enough quarters turned me off from there. 
3. I don't use the pool that I was excited to use when I joined. I used it twice. I get self conscious cause I can't swim for long. (lazy and out of shape)


Well, Lauren is my friend from work, and lives nearby. She struggles with motivation too and we have decided if we go together we will bail less often on each other! It is a bit more $ per month, but I think it will be worth switching. 
1. I won't feel self conscious using weights bc there won't be any guys around. 
2. There are classes offered after 6p which works with my schedule. 
3. Lauren goes! We hang out anyway - why not at the gym instead of the bar? 


Last night we went  - 10 min running / watching the bachelorette. It's good to go later at night so when your show comes back on you say , Oh I'll run to the next commercial and end up running 15 min instead! We did some weights, then went to the elliptical for 15 or so. (again with the commercials.) Also- why do your feet fall asleep on the elliptical?? then more weights, then we left. Tonight - Spinning !

I am (DEFINITELY) in a bad mood

It is July 24. TWO MONTHS have passed. What did I do?
I went to the gym some. I did some cardio kickboxing on demand.
Did I work out consistently? NO
Did I try to eat out less ? Yes.
Did I resist the bagels and donuts that are at work? Sometimes

I am at my worst weight ever. I have never felt so bad.  I have never been so uncomfortable, and embarrassed when I see pictures of myself. I  weighed myself on one a digital scale today and I need to get one from home so I can track this. I am DISGUSTED.

Today I ran 2 miles. It was slow, but I did it. Tomorrow - 3.

Goals

Heather and I have our own Workout Challenge system to motivate each other and ourselves to work out. Most recently we decided to run 5k's in our respective cities around the same time - so we can run together, even if we aren't in the same place. 

Sunday, I ran the Race Against Extinction at Artesani Park in Allston, MA. The crowd was small and I felt pressure to keep up with them. I didn't want to come in last! I ran it in 38.24, which is about 12.5 minute miles. SLOW. I want to do at least 10 min miles. 

Also - I WANT TO RUN A HALF MARATHON. At first, I wanted to do one because Heather did one, and I thought - if she can do it, I can too, and it was a bit of a competitive thing. Then, I thought, that's not a good reason to want to do one, grow up. Ultimately, I've come back to this spot - wanting to run one - since EVERY TIME someone I know says they are running one or did run one, I get jealous! I want to do it. I want to feel that sense of accomplishment. Mostly - I want to be that in shape and be able to run that far!! 

So, the goals here are: 

- Run a few more 5k's ; try to get to 10min miles

- Run a 10k

- Run a half marathon

- Look and feel better

Intro.

I ran in high school. I was captain of the track team. I played soccer, and was in shape. 


In College, I slacked. I should have tried harder, played more than intramural floor hockey, and done more to stay in shape. 


I'm 29, and unhappy with my current state. I am jealous of people like this. And, of my friends who have run half and full marathons. I want to be a runner. 


Our track coach was tough. He could run circles around us teenagers at 50-something. But he was tough to make us better, and we won a lot. One of his main goals was to get us to run the warm up 800 m in 4 minutes. 2 laps under 4. I never did it. Hopefully, by 30 - I can!