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Monday, February 20, 2012

Am I A Runner?

I must admit that I have never thought of myself as a "true" runner.  That is until Friday.  I had a scheduled 4 mile training run for my 10k.  I did it and the miles just ticked off one after the other.  It was the most amazing feeling ever!  I couldn't believe that when I completed it that I could have probably gone further as well.

My goal for this week is to do my regularly scheduled runs which are:
Monday - 30 mins
Wednesday - 35 mins
Friday - 4 miles
But instead of doing 1:1 for every interval I plan on increasing my running time to 90s and keep my walking at 60s.  If I can't quite do the 90 I may try for 75s and alternate between that and 90s.  My goal is to get farther faster without actually increasing my speed yet.  I have been increasing speed, but I have noticed my knees bother me more when I do that.  If those get hurt well then I can't run and so I need to find another way to get to my destination faster!  I will see how this week goes and see about increasing slowly over the next couple of months.


Friday I completed my first ever 4 mile run in 52:40.  My goal was 52m to stay within the goal of 13m miles.  I had to run for longer distances at the end to make sure this would happen, but I did it.  I ran most of the time at 5.3 mph but did increase the last 1/3 of my time to 5.4mph.  I got up to 5.5 mph for one interval and it was definitely too much at that time if I wanted to complete the 4 miles strong.  WHICH I DID!  


I have been sticking to my Fab Abs Challenge every day it is scheduled, which is every day except Sunday.  I am now up to 60 crunches, 15 push-ups and 50s planks for each set.  I am still doing 3 sets as well.  By the end of last week though my back was pretty sore from everything.  It was great to have Sunday off from it all.  I woke up this morning feeling pretty good though and look forward to everything today!  I can't believe there are only 9 days left in this challenge!  And I have ROCKED every day so far!  Now the true test comes though.  It took my 18 days to get to 50s planks and now I have half the time to get to 2m planks!  OMG I can't believe I will be doing this!  EEK!  I will though.  I am so determined to finish this challenge strong and move on to the next one :)


I can't believe that the wedding is only 60 days from today!  It really will be here before I know it!  I have my invitations about 2/3 done and just need to add stamps.  I hope to get those on Friday and have them in the mail on the first still!  That is the goal we'll see if that happens :)  I am still trying to decide for sure exactly what I am doing for table decorations and buffet set-up.  I need to make this my focus and just decide.  It is so hard not having my computer running at home because I can't compare prices at home :(  But it just has to be done and so I will figure it out!  I have a couple of ideas and just need to see what will be best for the budget.  I would like to save in these areas so I can apply more to the bar fund.  I hate not being able to just have an open bar, but it will be good still!


Well that is all for now.  I can't wait to share my progress at the end of the month for sure.  I know I am losing inches, just not pounds right now.  My focus this week needs to be food!  I will get this figured out and do better this week.  At this point I am already doing better because I had oatmeal for breakfast.  Now to figure out lunch and dinner and I will be all set!


~Chat Soon~
 

Monday, February 13, 2012

Mid month...Already?!?!

Hard to believe that is basically the middle of February already!  Time flies faster and faster each year.  

I have been doing well on my exercising.  I am sure I could be more dedicated and do even more, but I am pleased and not overwhelmed with what I am doing.  I have completed every day of Fab Abs so far doing each day three times.  Last night was the hardest day of all, but I had just ate dinner and that was probably a big mistake and I was also just plain physically tired after spending the entire weekend at the trade show.  I didn't use it as an excuse though and still muscled through!  Today I have a 30 min run/walk scheduled along with kettle balls and fab abs.  

I had actually paused while writing this and had gone to the Rec Center and did my 30 min run/walk!  It took 41 mins and we went about 2.9 miles.  I also got kettleballs done and will do Fab Abs later tonight.  

I am noticing the differences with the stuff I am doing.  I tried on my dress yesterday and without even sucking in my gut it is starting to look better!  YAY two weeks and already seeing the difference.  I can't wait until the end of the month when I can compare measurements.  So far I haven't lost any weight, but I haven't gained either!  It will come off in time and I am OK with that.  

Right now I am just so impressed with how far I have come in a year.  Friday I had a 3 mile training run and I did it with no problem.  I thought for sure I would be really sore and I wasn't.  I even increased the speed every 10 mins or 5 intervals.  I started at 5.3 mph run and finished the last two intervals at 6.0 mph!  I couldn't believe I could run at 6.0 mph and I did the last interval for 90 secs because I wanted to finish the mile I was on!  I probably could have even gone for another 30 secs!  It was such an amazing feeling!  It took me 39:20 to do the full 3 miles, which was 3:40 faster than I had planned!  This Friday I have a 4 mile run scheduled.  I am nervous yet I know I will rock it!  This will be my farthest distance yet.  This past week the total I went was 3.7 miles with my warm-up/cool down. 

A year ago I couldn't even imagine running 3 miles really and this year I am pushing for 6.2 currently.  I can run 3 for the most part without any problems.  Sure I still do intervals but that's OK.  I will get better in time and increase my running times and shorten my walks, but it's better for my joints to do the intervals and if I want to keep doing this I better keep them happy!  I also couldn't have even thought about running at any speed greater than 5.0 mph last year...EVER!  and this year I start at 5.3 and can actually increase speed too!  I know I am not fast and will never be fast, however, I am moving and that is better than some can say! 


Tonight my fab abs will consist of 45 crunches, 10 push ups and 35 sec planks...all done 3 times!  I think tonight will be better than last night!  And...now that I know how food affects me also I will be more aware!

I almost forgot...it's ONLY 67 days until the wedding!!!!  


~Chat Soon~

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Who knew?

If someone would have told me a week ago to do a 25 second plank I could have barely done one and only two if I absolutely had to.  Well yesterday I did three of them.  One in each set of my Fab Abs workout and they weren't even hard!  I am only mentioning this for anyone still not convinced to try to Fab Abs Challenge.  It really isn't too late to start...it is NEVER TOO LATE TO START!  Always remember that! 

Today I hit the gym and rocked the treadmill.  My running partner played a little bball so I chose the treadmill to see if it would help me focus and not come up with excuses as to why I wouldn't have to do all 30 mins of the run today.  It worked.  I did 31 minutes actually and felt like I could have easily done a few more minutes.  I even started increasing the speed on the run intervals for the last third of the run sets.  My heart rate was quite steady before increasing so I thought I needed a little more challenge!  The only issue I was really having was my breathing but that is because of my sinus infection that refuses to go away!  I also think it caused me a little dizziness afterwards, but that finally went away also.  All in all I got to 2.8 miles including my warm-up and cool down in 41 mins.  Friday I am supposed to do 3 miles plus warm-up and cool down!  So basically a total of a half a mile farther!  I can do that I think.

After running we did the kettleball exercises I have been doing and the tonight I will do Fab Abs again!  I feel as though I am making progress and it's only been a week!  I am trying to watch my eating and it's not been terrible!  Almost actually good :)  I can do this if I just stay focused on the goal!  I need to post a picture of me in my dress so you can see the before.  I will work on that soon.  I do have it taken though :)

That is all for now, so until then...

~Chat Soon~

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Right Choice?

Yesterday I chose to cancel my Weight Watchers membership.  I felt like such a failure as I did it, but WHY?  I wasn't using it as I should and I was more of a financial failure for continuing to pay for something I just MAY use.  Today I still feel like I may have made the wrong the choice, but I think I am starting to feel as though I didn't also.  I have been maintaining for months now while I half-ass my WW lifestyle.  If I want to do it at anytime I know I have all the resources to do it and I can join again as well.  But until then I think I will just choose to make better food choices and exercise more and see where that gets me.

I adjusted my running schedule this week so it doesn't fall on the weekends.  I have found that for the past two weeks that as much as I want to go out and get it in, I probably won't because there is always some excuse as to why I shouldn't.  So now I have it set for me to run on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for sure.  With walking or cross-training on Tuesday and Thursday. 

I am still following the Fab Abs February challenge everyday but Sunday, that is a rest day.  I can tell that it is helping and I am getting better with all the moves.  I think tonight I have to up the time on the planks for the first time since Friday or Saturday.  I did notice that last night that I could probably do the 25 second planks, they would just be a little tougher!

Last night I bought some chicken breasts and they didn't have any added water and they had all the fat trimmed off.  It was the best chicken breast I have had in a long time!  I used my Mojito Lime seasoning from Costco and baked them with a little olive oil.  I then sliced it up thinly and put it over a bed of salad with a little cheese and a small baked potato on the side.  It was so delicious.  I was really proud of all my food choices yesterday.  For lunch I chose Subway and even though I ate the whole Footlong sub I didn't have anything else all day besides my coffee.  Now I just need to work on my water intake.
Overall I would say I feel like I am doing well.  I feel a little stressed about the wedding, but I know that will come together in time.  I got the entertainment officially this weekend.  Almost lost the date to another bride, but he called me and just said I had to send him some sort of a deposit, which I had and did!  I was happy to know that I will have my casino games for sure.  We found out some family from Ohio will for sure be coming and still hoping my mom can make it as well.  I also set up the hotel for the night of the wedding.  All of these kind of big events have made me really realize how close we really are!  At the same time it really makes me nervous that there won't be enough time.  I just figure at this point it will be whatever it is and I can only do so much this way!  I still have a few projects to get stuff for and I may have to push back craft day because of it.  It will happen and still in plenty of time!

~Chat Soon~

Friday, February 3, 2012

Fabulous February

I had some anger and frustration that pushed me into Fabulous February and as much as I would change the events that happened I am glad it has helped get me on track!  I am using my exercise time this week and going to kick some ass! 

I started a challenge that has been going around on FB called Fab Abs February and basically every day you do each exercise (there are 3 of them) a little more.  By the end of the month you should be able to do 100 sit-ups (I do crunches), 25 push-ups (I do the modified version, but hoping to work up to the real thing) and 2 minute planks.  Right now I am doing each day with 3 reps.  By the middle to end of the month I may not be able to do that as easily, or may just need to do it 3 separate times a day.  Which is a possibility!  I feel that I can do this challenge and do it well!  It is exactly what I needed for "Operation Wedding Day"!

I am still going on my 10k training as well.  I can do the two miles in 26 mins using 1:1 intervals.  Lately I have been having sinus issues though and it makes it hard to breath.  Not sure what's up with that, but hope I can get better soon so I can be at my best running game when the 10k comes around!  I need to run this weekend.  Last weekend we went shopping in Rapid City and we got a lot of walking in, but on Sunday I didn't feel like doing ANYTHING so I sat around mostly or worked on my crafting projects for the wedding.  I hate that it is cold when I get up in the morning and then by the afternoon when it's pleasant I don't have the ambition to go and do it.  I know I should, but I just don't want to!  lol  I do plan on going this weekend though and I think it is supposed to be beautiful out again!  The outside air is a good workout for my lungs too.  Not sure if it's because it's cold or what, but it makes a difference!  This weekend I am scheduled for a 2 mile run.  Keep in mind that is intervals for me.  As much as I would love to do it straight, I know I am not really there yet, but kind of hoping that I can start to increase my time/distances!

I have lots of crafts I need to be working on this weekend also.  I am working on these every night after work as well.  I just realized yesterday that there are only 11 more weekends between now and the wedding!!!  EEKS!!!!  Got lots to get done!  Still need to solve a couple of issues, but overall I think all of my projects are coming along well :)  I will have to start getting some pictures together!  I got one of my chandeliers completed last weekend and I am so in love with it!  The hardest part is putting it the frame together and the most tedious part is getting the lights inside it all attached to the hoops!  Just lots of little stuff before you can glue the fringe one, by far the easiest part of the entire project!!!!

I don't plan on running or walking today because of my sinuses, but hoping they feel better tomorrow.  I will still get in my Fab Abs Day 3 and hoping to do my other routine of ab exercises I have!  Until then...

~Chat Soon~

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