Week 5 Challenge: Comfort Zone, Shmumfort Zone

Week 5 Challenge: Comfort Zone, Shmumfort Zone

This week, the challenge is to do something outside of your comfort zone.  Push past your boundaries and do something that makes you feel a little uncomfortable.

I know exactly what I will be doing, but I'm not talking about it now.  If I get the chance to do what I'm hoping to do, I will report back.  If not, I'll report back, as well.  Maybe I can do two things since I bombed last weeks challenge.

And...I'll make up for last week this week by actually doing something different at some point this week, as well.

What makes you uncomfortable?

XOXO

Week 4 Challenge: Update

Week 4 Challenge: Something Old? Something New!

Challenge Reminder: This week, the challenge is to try a new form of exercise/movement at least one time this week.  Normally, swim?  Try dancing!  Like to walk?  Try biking!  Like to dance?  Try running!

I had planned to do something other than running.  I had full intentions of doing a few other things...just to spice things up.  Reality?  I just had a hard time finding time to add another workout to my regimen since I'm running four times a week.  I failed my own challenge this week...big time...  I do, however, have a plan coming up for the month of February, so we will see how it goes!

What new thing did you plan to try?  Did you actually do it?

XOXO

Victory: Little? Big?

Size 9 jeans.

I didn't even need help zipping them.

And I can breathe/sit comfortably.

Boom!

XOXO

Weigh-In Wednesday 1.25.12

*woot*woot*

I am up from yesterday, despite eating pretty well (aside from that cookie Lee brought me...)

Can I lose the last two in the next week to hit 50 lbs lost?

We shall see...

XOXO

Tomorrow

I am (dare I say it) excited (?) for tomorrow's weigh in...

The scale was really kind to me this morning after a REALLY rough day yesterday.

• 2 hour commute (and an hour late to work) thanks to crummy weather, the lack of snowplowing (seriously, MNDOT?!?) and people not knowing how to drive in MN winter weather
• Getting to work to find out I probably could have worked-at-home
• My work computer getting a virus (I know...I know...note to self: don't look at porn at work anymore)
• Computer having to completely wiped and reimaged (losing everything I've stored on my computer for the 3.5 years I've worked for CA)
• Having to cancel my lunch with Lee because I was dealing with said virus on my computer
• Realizing that it really was my fault that I didn't save said "everything" to the stupid place I was supposed to (it just takes forever to store and retrieve it!!!)
• Cranky calls from parents
• Cranky calls from other schools
• Finding out students have extensions that shouldn't have extensions!
• Having to stop during my run at the 2 mile mark to use el baño

It was just one of those days where it just kept piling, so every tiny issue seemed like another H-Bomb.

Regardless, I am optimistic about the scale tomorrow.  Here is hoping I can keep on track today to keep that number low.



XOXO

Week 4 Challenge: Something Old? Something New!

Week 4 Challenge: Something Old? Something New!

This week, the challenge is to try a new form of exercise/movement at least one time this week.  Normally, swim?  Try dancing!  Like to walk?  Try biking!  Like to dance?  Try running!

Since I'm training for all my races, I'm running a lot.  I don't do much else.  I used to do 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels, but I don't do anything aside from running right now.  Therefore, this should be easy for me, as just about anything is something other than running.  Softball doesn't start until ??? sometime this Spring, so that is out.  I could do Ripped in 30 with Jillian Michaels.  I tried it once, but never did it again.  It will do me good to switch things up a bit, eh?  Here we go!

Any ideas of what your new type of movement will be?

XOXO

Week 3 Challenge: Update

Week 3 Challenge: Bad Habit Be Gone!

Challenge Reminder: This week, the challenge is to get rid of a bad habit for a week (or, at least, try).

My challenge goal was to use a "swear jar" to tame my potty mouth.

How did it go?  Not great, but not terrible.  The frog ended up with $8.65 (I think I missed a dime somewhere...), so not too terrible.

The thing is, after a while, I just started putting in money when I'd remember.  Like, I would call someone an A-hole while driving and tell myself "remember to put in your quarter" and by the time I got around to it, I had multiple words to pay for, so I would just estimate and round up, so I don't think I swore that much, but I could be wrong.

I don't think the swear jar was as effective as I had hoped.  I did cut back on yelling the F-word at crummy drivers and I pretty much stopped saying "what the S?", so I guess that did help.  I guess when I said Ass or Hell, all I thought was, "At least I'm not using the big naughty words."

Fail.

So, did you rid yourself of your bad habit?

XOXO

Weigh-In Wednesday 1.18.12

Not happy about it, but it is what it is.

*brushes it off*

This means 3.9 lbs to lose in two weeks.

I can do it...I can do it...

XOXO

Week 3 Challenge: Bad Habit Be Gone!

Week 3 Challenge: Bad Habit Be Gone!

This week, the challenge is to get rid of a bad habit for a week (or, at least, try).

If you know me personally, you know I can have a bit of a...potty mouth...  Since Lilly picks up and repeats everything, I have been trying really hard not to say naughty words around her.  Well, I know that if I use them when she isn't around, they slip out when she is around, so I just need to rid myself of them once and for all.  Besides, cussing is really unattractive... :(  How am I going to do this?  I know it is lame, but some quarters in the "swear jar" might break me of this habit!  I'm hoping that if I see how many coins I have in there, I will realize just how much I say it and maybe I will make myself more aware.

Mr. Frog is Ready to Shut His Mouth and Take My Money

What words qualify?  Obviously, the big three: F*#@, S*!%, B*$^&.  In fact, if I use the effenheimer, that is an automatic four quarters in the jar.  The s-word will cost me three quarters.  If I call anyone a beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-otch...well, that will make me owe two quarters.  A$$ and H€££ will each set me back 25¢.  Am I missing any big ones?

Also, I’m hoping that word-replacement will help.  Perhaps, Fricklefrack, Sugar, and Beach will help me through…

So, what is your bad habit?  And how are you going to get rid of it?

XOXO

Week 2 Challenge: Update

Week 2 Challenge: Get Moving!

Challenge Reminder: This week, the challenge is to get moving again.  Challenge yourself to get moving at least three days this week. If you currently do nothing, do a little bit three times this week.  If you currently do a lot, keep it moving at least three days, but move a little bit longer than usual.

My challenge goal was to get up and get moving at least three days this past week, shooting for at least 25 minutes each time.

I did move three days this week!  Movement came in the form of a 1.5 mile run (14:18) on Monday, a 2 mile run (19:11) on Thursday, and a 2.5 mile run (24:30) on Sunday.  As this only added up to about 58 of the planned 75 minutes, I decided to do some strength and stretching after my run yesterday for 20 minutes.  While it didn't happen in chunks of 25 minutes, the 75 minutes and the 3 days did happen.  I would say this week was a success!

How about you?  Were you a mover and/or a shaker?

XOXO

I Ate Everything Today

Good thing PMS means that your calories don't count that day...

I like to call days like this Free Calorie Days

Seriously, if you look at my LoseIt! log for the day, there are no food items there which means no calories.

I like Free Calorie Days...like potluck days...and baking days...and bar nights...and MN State Fair days...

I just had a nice 2 mile on the stinky treadmill and my knee feels fine!  I really like the new brace I got...it helps a lot!

I think I'm back in the game!

PS scratch my last post about my husband taking a class.  He is taking just an online course instead.  He totally cancelled the class so I can run (okay...that is SO not the reason, but it makes it sound like he adores me even more that way, eh?).

XOXO

Single Mom Running Schedule

I'm having some trouble reworking my running schedule.  My schedule has me running on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday...with Saturday being my "long" run day.  Lee now has class on Tuesday and Thursday nights leaving me as a single mama with a dilemma...

This means no running on Thursday evenings.

I could run in the morning, but it is hard enough getting up at 5 a.m. and getting us all out the door on time.  Let's be honest, I don't sleep, so getting up earlier isn't much of an issue.  However, I have to eat and digest a bit before I run on the treadmill in the morning or I get dizzy and nearly pass out.  I could run on the treadmill after Lilly goes to bed at 7:30, but then I can't get to sleep until 11 o'clock or so.

I don't want to fudge to much with my schedule because I don't want many runs on days next to my long runs.  What to do...what to do...

Ugh...ideas?

Weigh-In Wednesday 1.11.12

*WOOOOOOT*WOOOOOOT*

Today, I reached a new low...a new low weight, that is!  148.0 pounds, baby!

New goal: 2 more pounds in January.

If I lose 2 more pounds, that means I've lost 50 pounds...that number just seems amazing...

I have nearly 3 weeks to do it.  I can do it.

146.0...here I come!!!

XOXO

Training Day 1

With the gorgeous weather, I have been yearning to get outside and go.  My knee, however, has had a different idea.  Just when I thought it was getting better, it got worse.  Just when I thought it was getting worse, it felt better.  It doesn't seem to know what it wants...kinda like a woman...  :)

Unfortunately for my knee, I have a training schedule to get to...

This evening, I ran again.  It was the first time in a week.  I planned to do 1 mile.  Just 1 mile.  Enough to calibrate my Nike +.

It started out really poorly.  My knee hurt.  Bad.  Really bad until about .25 miles.  Then, it just didn't hurt anymore.  I don't really know if it went numb or if it just finally loosened up, but it just didn't hurt anymore.

So, I kept running.  I ran 1.5 miles, just slightly further than I had planned.  I had told my dad that I was going for a really short run to test my knee and that if I wasn't back in less than an hour, I'm probably lying on the side of the highway with my leg in my hand.  I figured that meant I should get home before he sent out a search party.

My pace was decent (9:32/mile) and I felt okay afterward, so I'm marking it as a 'GO' on the training!  As long as I'm careful...

I soaked my knee in a warm bath after dinner to ease some of the ache.  I followed it with some ice.  Here's hoping tomorrow doesn't leave me limping!

XOXO

Week 2 Challenge: Get Moving

Week 2 Challenge: Get Moving!

This week, the challenge is to get moving again.  Challenge yourself to get moving at least three days this week. If you currently do nothing, do a little bit three times this week.  If you currently do a lot, keep it moving at least three days, but move a little bit longer than usual.

For me, I have taken a week off to let my knee heal (which hasn't exactly been successful...).  I am challenging myself to get up and do something three days this week.  I'm going to shoot for at least 25 minutes each time, but we will see how it goes.  I am hoping my movement will be in the form of running...but we will see how that goes tomorrow (the plan is to start out with a mile).

How about you?  Are you shooting for three days or something or three days of a little bit more than what you are already doing?


XOXO

Week 1 Challenge: Update

Week 1 Challenge: Get Back on the Horse

Challenge Reminder: This week, the challenge is to forget about any screw ups in the holidays there may have been and realize that this is a new year.  Get back on track with whatever you may have fallen away from.

My challenge goal was to forget about the holiday goodies, eat within my calories and drink more water.

I would say I did pretty well!  I brought my weight down a bit and ate within (or within 20 calories of) my caloric budget just about every day.  The weekend was tough as we ate out a few times for Lee's birthday, but I'm not letting the small stuff get me down.  I drank more water this week...quite a bit more...but I'm still not back to drinking the amount that I was drinking before.  I will get there.  I would say that I succeeded at this weeks challenge!

How did you do?  Did you get back "on" your "horse"?

XOXO

Weigh-In Wednesday 1.4.12

BAM!

I knew I had to flush out some junk in my body to drop some water weight.

Not bad for being side-lined in the running department :)

XOXO

Polar Dash Training Schedule - Completed

Did I hit the number of miles I wanted to?  No, but I'm not going to beat myself up about it.  I didn't do too terrible...*shrug*  Now, on to Get Lucky 7k training!

Week 1 Challenge: Get Back on the Horse

Every week (shooting for Sundays), I'm going to post a challenge for that week.  At the end of that week, I'll post how I did and welcome anyone involved in that weeks challenge to comment how there week went.  This challenge is for myself and anybody else who would like to do it.  They may be something health related, fitness related, life related...who knows...  Let's start it off with this one.

Week 1 Challenge: Get Back on the Horse

This week, the challenge is to forget about any screw ups in the holidays there may have been and realize that this is a new year.  Get back on track with whatever you may have fallen away from.

For me, I have eaten lots of treats and goodies for the past two weeks.  I have also consumed very little water (and I can totally tell!).  It is now forgotten and I am challenging myself to eat within my calories this week and DRINK MORE WATER!

How about you?  What "horse" do you need to get back "on"?

XOXO

2012 Polar Dash 5k

It was cold...really cold.  It snowed last night...make that snowed and iced.  I woke up and went, "Whose dumb idea was this anyway?!?"  Oh, yeah...mine...

The roads were crummy on the way there, so I was worried what the course would be like.  After much debate on what to wear, I elected to wear both my pink zip-up (for insulation) and my Monster Series windbreaker (to keep the wind off).  In addition to my ear muffs, I wore a headband over them and then a thing to keep my neck warm.

Before Heading to the Start, Sans Bright Pink Neck Warmer

We headed to pee and the line was long, as per usual.  I thought I was going to pee my pants, but I made it in the port-o-potty in time.  I did my thang, adjusted my knee strap, and we headed to the parking ramp to try to keep as warm as possible for the next 35 minutes.

Once it was our turn to line up (after the 10k and Half had taken off), we waddled over to the start.  I asked Jason what the course was like because I hadn't looked.  He said it climbed a bit to the turn around, but then it was mostly downhill on the way back.

An Icy Cold Run Along the Mississippi

FYI...he was wrong!  Okay, he was partially right, as the elevation did climb, but it was probably the most hilly course I have run and the one with the largest change of elevation.

I knew before I hit .5 miles that it was going to be an awful race.  I had tears in my eyes the entire time, as pain surged through my knee with just about every step.  My feet were so numb that I couldn't feel if my toe was hurting, but my knee was surely doing enough for my whole body.  At the turnaround, I wasn't too far behind Jen and Jason.  Jason saw me and asked if I was okay.  All I could do was mouth, "It's really bad," but I kept running.

I told myself going into this race that I would do whatever I had to do to run the entire thing, even if it meant blowing out my knee and gimp-hop-running across the finish.  I forced myself to focus on my music, the course, the other runners...anything, but my knee.  Eventually, I saw the finish approaching.  I wanted to sprint the last portion, but I knew that if I did, I may not even get to the finish, so I kept my pace up as best I could.  When I was able to see the timing clock, I had to look twice.  I crossed the finish line, stopped my own timer and gimped forward to go get my medal.  I then realized...

I BROKE THE 30 MINUTE MARK AND GOT A NEW PERSONAL RECORD!!!

My timer said 29:04 and knowing I did it while injured just reaffirmed in my mind that what I am doing...the running...it is changing me and my body.  I can do this.

I met up with Jason, got finisher medal (which is awesome) and then we went to find Jen.

Who Got A Medal and A New PR??? This Girl!

We got our food bags and hot chocolate and we tottled back to the car.  I was happy with my performance.  Period.  No...not despite my injury.  I think a new PR, no matter when you do it, is something to be proud of.

1 Monster Dash Series race done for 2012.  4 to go.

1 race out of at least 12 done for 2012.  11 to go.

I can do this.

XOXO

Weigh Day 1.1.12

Being at home over the holidays ruined me.  I gained 5.2 pounds in a little over weeks.  Here is hoping that flushing out all that sodium in the next few days (thank you, upping the water!) will bring it down a bit.  Anyway, here it is...

Nothing to say...just that it is 2012 now and this is my starting point.

PS did anyone notice that I gained 2.6 pounds in the last four days...???

XOXO

Well, Hello, 2012...How About Some...

1. Run 500 Miles in 2012
• I have a lot of races planned this year.  I am already registered for a 5k, a 7k, two Half Marathons and a Duatholon (a total of 42 miles of registered races)...plus I have quite a few more I plan on doing...some planned 5k races, a 10k race, etc...  With the races AND the training they require...I can totally do it!
2. Run a 10k
• Get in Gear 10k on April 28th.  I haven't registered yet, but it is mine!
3. Run a Half Marathon
• I'm already registered for two, one in June (Minneapolis Half Marathon...a few days after I return from a trip to Europe with my mom...whoops) and one in October (Monster Dash Half Marathon... on a course where PRs are made).  I CAN DO IT!
4. Complete a Duathlon
• Minneapolis Duathalon...I registered for it, so a goal it must be!
5. Complete (at least) 12 Races
• This puts me at 1 race per month.  I am registered for 5 already...and 1 more that I know, for sure, I will be running.  I can do this thang!
6. Hit my Goal Weight of 130
• 130 is my goal.  I have become content with around 150, but I want to give myself a challenge and to see what 130 feels like.  I will have mini goals along the way, as that seems to work best for me to keep hitting my marks, but that is where I start!  I may feel like that is too small for me or not small enough when I get there.  I will adjust this accordingly.
7. Be a Better Mom
8. Be a Better Wife
9. Be a Better Friend
10. Be a Great Bridesmaid
11. Get Into Nursing School
• THIS BETTER BE MY YEAR!!!
12.  Get a House
• Again...THIS BETTER BE OUR YEAR!!
13. Pay Off a Student Loan
14. Dress Better to Feel Better
• There is a rumor that if you don't dress like a bum, you don't feel like a bum...
15. Floss More
• I am one of those people who, when I go to the dentist and they ask if I floss (right after telling me I have great gums), I say "Probably not as much as I should..."

XOXO