Weigh In #2

Starting Weight: 189.2
Last Weeks Weight: 189.2
This Weeks Weight: 185.2

+/-: -4
Total +/-: -4

Last Weeks Goals

1. Track. Track. Track. 

This means every bite, every taste and every sip (if the beverage contains calories). 

Total success! It felt so great to get back to basics and do what I know works best. It's pretty simple, however tracking can become tedious and for me is usually the first thing to go, especially if I have a bad day and over eat. I don't want to see that negative number staring at me as proof that I binged, but it is so important for me to get in the habit of tracking so that I can continue to do so even on the "bad" days.

2. Drink water.

I'm not a huge soda fan, but could do better with choosing water more often. I drink a cup of coffee in the morning and a cup or two of hot tea in the afternoon. Doesn't sound awful until the fact that I only tend to drink a cup or two of water throughout the day. It's not enough, plain and simple. 6-8 glasses of water minimum.

I was able to succeed in this because I took the time to realize that getting up and getting water when my cup is empty while at work is so much more important than finishing up one more account. The funny thing is, we have a small office, and getting some water takes no more than 2 minutes. So why was I making so many excuses to not get up and do it when I know how good it is for me? I do my best to have at least four glasses of water and two cups of hot tea every day while at work. If I can, I try to do more during the day, but if I am not able to then I make it up in the afternoon. I have also cut out coffee in the morning (except for one trip to Starbucks on Tuesday) and I am feeling good about that decision.

3. Workout 4 days a week.

This does not include my running streak. My goal is two strength training days using a workout DVD and two cross training days at the gym (30-45 minutes on the stationary bike). 
This one did not happen. Although I did go out and get in a run every day, as well as a few walks during the week, I did not do any workout DVDs and I did not make it to the gym. I did take my niece ice skating on Tuesday, however for the hour that we were there I was only on the ice for about 25 minutes, and only about 15 of those minutes count. I did do an at home workout on Monday, but nothing to brag about.



I am really happy with how this week went. It proves to me that the majority of weight loss happens in the kitchen (or by eating well), while toning up happens at the gym (or with workouts). I am hoping that these goals I make become habits. It will be really nice when one day I don't even have to think about these things and I can just do them. Until then, I will continue to make the goals weekly.

1. Track. Track. Track.
Continue to track everything. This week is a little more difficult due to the holidays (and the three days of celebrating and eating), however my plan is simple. Take a small amount of the things I want to eat, give the plate a realistic calorie total and enjoy myself.

2. Drink water.
Continue to get in 6-8 glasses of water daily.

3. Workout 4 days a week.
I have no plan on what I want to do this coming week. My hope is to make the workouts last a minimum of 20-30 minutes. If I make it to the gym, great! If I decide to do a workout DVD, even better! If I make up a workout myself and follow that, no worries! As long as I am strengthening my body along with my cardio then I am going to count it as a success. Maybe after the new year, when things calm down a little at work, I will sit down and make an actual weekly schedule for my workouts, but until then I have to be happy with what I am able to do.

Training Schedule Update

It has been decided that instead of running the Mountains 2 Beach marathon in May with Rachel, we will be running the half. Basically the decision came down to my OCD.

It probably seems pretty silly to most and yes, I do realize that I sound insane, however I was really getting frustrated saying that I was doing 13 races in 13 months and explaining that I would be doing twelve half marathons and one full marathon. I realize it's not that big of a deal, however it is visually more appealing to see 13 half marathons in 13 months or better yet: 13- 13.1- 13.

It is what it is and it was my decision. I was just grateful that Rachel was willing to change her mind about the full as well and to only do the half with me.

So, our training schedule has changed once again since we will not need to get up to the higher mileage for May's race. Rachel was kind enough to update the schedule:

2014 Training Schedule

(updated 12/9/2013. does not include completed training)

Week 17          12/21/2013          6 miles

Week 18          12/28/2013          8 miles

Week 19          1/4/2014              4 miles          Tracy- Camarillo Half Marathon

Week 20          1/11/2014            10 miles

Week 21          1/18/2014            6 miles

Week 22          1/25/2014            12 miles

Week 23          2/1/2014              5 miles (HILLS)

Week 24          2/8/2014              6 miles

Week 25          2/15/2014            14 miles

Week 26          2/22/2014            6 miles          Tracy- Seaside Half Marathon

Week 27          3/1/2014              5 miles

Week 28          3/9/2014              San Diego Half Marathon

Week 29          3/15/2014            5 miles

Week 30          3/22/2014            8 miles

Week 31          3/29/2014            5 miles

Week 32          4/5/2014              Hollywood Half Marathon

Week 33          4/12/2014            5 miles

Week 34          4/19/2014            8 miles

Week 35          4/26/2014            5 miles

Week 36          5/4/2014              12 miles

Week 37          5/10/2014            6 miles

Week 38          5/17/2014            7 miles

Week 39          5/25/2014            Mountains 2 Beach Half Marathon

Week 40          5/31/2014            6 miles (HILLS)

Week 41          6/7/2014              8 miles

Week 42          6/14/2014            5 miles

Week 43          6/22/2014            Mammoth Half Marathon

Santa to the Sea- Race Recap

It took me a week to find a small amount of spare time to write this post, so I apologize in advance for whatever this turns into.

Sunday morning we arrived at the buses around 630am. The thermometer in the car showed 35 degrees, however our phones showed actual temperature- 35, real feel- 29. For Southern California, that's cold.
 

Looking back, the weather was perfect. Saturday morning brought rain (and a lot of it) and Monday morning brought high winds. A cold start to the day is pretty good conditions considering what it could have been. 

We got to the start line about an hour before the start of the race. We walked around, dropped off our toy for donations  and talked to some members of the running club we used to run with. 

 

 

 

It wasn't long before the race began. We began our intervals and kept a good pace early on. We had agreed to 30:1 intervals and it worked out really well. I always feel weird when we first start out because everyone is so close together and the constant starting and stopping can be frustrating for the people behind you (as well as the spectators telling you to keep going and not to give up before you even reach mile 1). 

It opened up around mile one and we began leap frogging with a few of the other runners using intervals. The constant beeping of the interval timers was both funny and confusing.

Rachel told me early on that she wants to work on speed for our race in March in San Diego. A doable goal and something to work towards. 

It didn't take long for us to realize that we were both running hard and strong. We were consistently running around a 12:30 minute mile. We both knew that if we continued at that pace then Rachel would PR. Once I realized that, it became my goal to cross that finish line under 2:49:57 so that we could celebrate the PR.

 

 

 

 

The rest of the race was pretty uneventful. We maintained our pace, took extra breaks if/when needed and pushed each other to finish.

This race is really meaningful to me. Besides being my first half marathon race from two years ago, it was also one of those races where you realize that you enjoy doing something you thought you hated. Something that used to be a chore is now something you want to do all the time. 

Plus it was the first race of my Santa to Santa goal. The first of 13 races in 13 months. The race that will both start and end my current running goal. 

As soon as we reached the beach I knew that we would be able to finish when we needed to and with time to spare. This gave us a chance to slow down and save our energy for the finish line when we got close enough.

We finished in 2:46:05. Just about four minutes faster than our first time running the race, and fast enough for a PR for Rachel. I think I was more excited to be able to run with her for that reason alone rather than because it was race one of thirteen. 

 

I will always be grateful to my sister for running with me. I don't know what I would do without her. She is the only reason why I found my passion for running and one of my main support systems in regards to my running goals. She pushes me and keeps me going. Without her I don't know where I would be. On top of that, I have an amazing family who is there at the finish line waiting with cameras to catch us finishing and to cheer us on. That support (on top of the support during training) is beyond amazing and I will be forever grateful that I have them so that I can go out and push myself and my goals a little further.

 

 

Race #2 will be here before I know it. January 5th is just around the corner. Those training miles aren't going to run themselves! Rain or shine, wind, heat or cold.. No matter what it brings, I'm ready to run!

Measurements Update/Weigh In #1

I took my measurements this morning. After a good two weeks of no workouts (other than running), not tracking my food and giving into the holiday temptations.

It wasn't awful, but it also wasn't good. I maintained for the most part, but I did gain in some areas. 

Six months ago I would have been devastated and probably would have allowed myself to fall deeper into the trap by eating more. This time I decided to sign back up for My Fitness Pal, meaning I needed to step on the scale...

Original measurements taken October 15th:

Chest: 41

Waist: 37.5

Hips: 45.5

L thigh: 26.5

L arm: 13

L calf: 14.5

Last weeks measurements taken November 30th:

Chest: 39.5 (-1.5)

Waist: 34.5 (-3)

Hips: 44 (-1.5)

L thigh: 25.25 (-1.25)

L arm: 12.5 (-.5)

L calf: 15.5 (+1)

Current measurements taken December 14th:

Chest: 39.5 (-1.5)

Waist: 35.5 (-2)

Hips: 44 (-1.5)

L thigh: 25.5 (-1)

L arm: 12.75 (-.25)

L calf: 15.5 (+1)

I decided a while ago to put the scale away. I was letting it affect me in ways that were mentally unhealthy. I knew (and would tell anyone else who was thinking the same things) that the number on the scale is just a number and does not define who you are as a person. But when I stood on the scale there was a completely different conversation happening. 

I'm mean to myself. I say hurtful things that should not be said. And it's all based on physical appearance and that damn number on the scale. 

So what's different this time? 

Honestly? Not much. Other than the fact that I am mentally ready to do this. I am ready to get this extra weight off and I am ready to love the body I'm in. I want to love myself at this weight and at a lower, healthier weight. 

My goals for this first week are simple.

1. Track. Track. Track. 

This means every bite, every taste and every sip (if the beverage contains calories). 

2. Drink water.

I'm not a huge soda fan, but could do better with choosing water more often. I drink a cup of coffee in the morning and a cup or two of hot tea in the afternoon. Doesn't sound awful until the fact that I only tend to drink a cup or two of water throughout the day. It's not enough, plain and simple. 6-8 glasses of water minimum.

3. Workout 4 days a week.

This does not include my running streak. My goal is two strength training days using a workout DVD and two cross training days at the gym (30-45 minutes on the stationary bike). 

My calorie goal is 1550 calories a day plus any calories I burn with exercising. I have a heart rate monitor which I will use for strength and cross training to track any calories I burn, however I have enough gadgets while I run, so I will simply use 1 mile = 100 calories. 

My starting weight is: 189.2

And I plan on weighing in weekly on Saturday mornings. 

I decided to start today because I am tired of this yo-yoing. I am tired of giving into the holiday treats at work. I am tired of feeling self conscious about something that no one else really cares about but myself. I want to be able to have running be easier and faster. I want to be able to focus on something/anything other than my weight.

I will get there. I can do this. I have the tools I need. I have the support. I just have to use it and I will succeed.

Day 50

I have officially reached my first mini goal on my running streak.

I reached it a few days ago and didn't get around to posting this like I had wanted to, but I'm proud of it and felt like it's better late than never.

I had put a few running goals on my bucket list, five of them being solely focused on a running streak. I had attempted a Runners World streak and made it 31 days in a row before quitting while on vacation. I knew that I wanted to try again, but on my terms. 

So I did. My goals are: 50 days, 100 days, 250 days, 365 days and 500 days in a row. It takes a special kind of crazy/dedication/passion to want to push yourself this way. I have received the same question repeatedly... 

"Why?"

Because I can. And because 10 years from now I don't want to look back and think of all the things I should have attempted when I was younger. So I'm thinking of the crazy things I can do now and I'm doing them. Plus, the 1 mile = $1 sure helps build up the Dopey Challenge funds when you are running daily.

I attempted to run the Runners World streak the way they want you to. 1 mile running. Not walking, not intervals, no elliptical, not biking or swimming or hopping or skipping or crawling. Running. I laughed at the thought and then decided I'd try it. I made it quite a ways before realizing that I wasn't enjoying it. I was proud of myself, but was so ready to give up. So I switched to allowing myself to run intervals.

That didn't really help matters though and at the first opportunity I gave up my streak.

I had it on my list of things I wanted to do however I never started another attempt until one random day in October when I just decided to lace up my shoes and go for a run.

It's that simple for me. I just go out and do it now without thinking about it and without pressuring myself. Yes, there are days when I don't want to go, but I force myself to do the minimum one mile. I have gotten into the bad habit of only doing one mile on most days, but for now that's okay because there are so many reasons as to why that is the way it is right now. Once the new year starts and I start my goal of running and/or walking 1250 miles for the entire year I will be able to focus more on getting in longer runs and going for daily walks on my break at work.

Here's onto the next mini goal! 100 days will be here before I know it.

Workout Schedule

It's been a busy and stressful week. A very busy and very stressful week.

I will spare you the details, but it basically all revolves around work. It is our busiest time of year, and although we have been in our busy period since October, we are officially "in it" and will be until the middle of January (there is an end in sight for these 10+ hour days!)

Working 545am - 430pm and then bringing work home and working for an hour or two there is tiring. Attempting to keep an apartment clean and a husband and child happy is exhausting. Add a training schedule on top of that and I'm falling asleep at my desk daily at around 230pm. 

I know that there are plenty of people who juggle similar daily stressors. And I know that there are even more who handle more (with more grace and style to top it off). However, for me, these stresses cause me to overeat and to make excuses to not workout. 

Which is silly.. I mean, I always feel refreshed and happy after a good workout, but getting myself to do the workout is where the problem starts. 

This week's workout was not out of the ordinary. Daily running, two days cross training at the gym and three days strength training. The only thing extra was the race on Sunday replacing the long distance training run.

I'm not even going to post what I scheduled and what I did because I don't need the reminder that I have no self control and that I am able to make an excuse so easily. It's frustrating to me after the fact and I don't like that about myself. 

In fact, at this time, I'm not really ready to make a schedule for next week. I think for the remainder of December I'm going to not schedule my workouts, but I will continue to workout. I am also not going to track my food, but I will continue to make better choices. That's all I can commit to right now.

In other news, tomorrow is my first race of my Santa to Santa goal. 13 races in 13 months, December 2013 - December 2014. Race #1 is the Santa to the Sea half marathon. My first half marathon ever that I ran two years ago. 

Rachel and I have been training the past few months and are excited and nervous. The weather shows a warning for a frost advisory until 9am and as of right now the temperature is predicted to be 42 degrees at the start of the race. Not that cold compared to a lot of other places, but cold for me and for Southern California. 

I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow! All I know is that I'm really excited to get this goal started.

Random pictures from the week:

Workout Schedule

Scheduled Workout

Monday: 2 mile run, Jackie Warner arm DVD, Jillian Michaels 6 Week 6 Pack DVD

Tuesday: 45 minutes gym, 2 mile run

Wednesday: 2 mile run, Jackie Warner arm DVD, Jillian Michaels Buns & Thighs DVD

Thursday: Turkey Day Dash 5K, Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

Friday: 45 minutes gym, 2 mile run

Saturday: 4 mile long distance training run

Sunday: minimum 1 mile run

Actual Workouts

Monday: 1.33 mile walk, 2.07 mile run, Jackie Warner arm DVD, Jillian Michaels 6 Week 6 Pack

Tuesday: 35 minutes gym, 1.09 mile interval run

Wednesday: 1.03 mile interval run, Jillian Michaels Killer Buns & Thighs DVD, Jackie Warner arm DVD

Thursday: Turkey Day Dash 1K, Turkey Day Dash 5K, Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

Friday: 1.10 mile run

Saturday: 6.20 mile run

Sunday: 1.22 mile run

Today is the first day of December and all I can do is sit here and wonder where the time went. Each year the time seems to pass by faster and faster and if anyone has any idea on how to make it slow down, please share! 

November was a high mileage month and it gives me hope for a couple things. If I am able to keep up the mileage like this then I should be able to have a good amount in savings by the time I sign up for The Dopey Challenge. This month I added $107.78 miles to my savings, bringing me to $514.87 (enough to pay for the race). My goal is a lot more than that as I will also need to pay for a hotel, a flight for Patrick and myself, and of course money for food and souvenirs. To date I am 17% to my goal.

The other thing it gives me hope for is that I can easily reach my goal of 1250 miles for the year if I am able to keep that distance up. I plan on starting that goal in January, so it's important to see what I did right on the high mileage months. 

Yesterday's long distance run was also day 41 of my running streak. As each day passes I reach a new longest distance and it keeps me wanting to go out for my run. Unfortunately this week I did the bare minimum on quite a few days and only completed the one mile. I know that this still counts towards my goal, however I do tend to want to do more and feel better when I am able to do more. That's one thing I'd like to work on this week, actually getting in my scheduled workout.

Next Week's Workout

Monday: 2 mile run, Jackie Warner arm DVD, Jillian Michael's 6 Week 6 Pack

Tuesday: 30-45 minutes gym, 2 mile run

Wednesday: 2 mile run, Jackie Warner arm DVD, Jillian Michaels Killer Buns & Thighs

Thursday: 30-45 minutes gym, 2 mile run

Friday: 2 mile run, Jackie Warner arm DVD

Saturday: minimum 1 mile run

Sunday: Santa to the Sea half marathon

I'm not able to do the Jillian Michaels DVD on Friday because my parents are having their Christmas bunko party. I'm not able to do more on Saturday because I'm going to a fashion show with my mother in law and bonus (step) daughter. I actually think this will be a good week for me to accomplish everything I have scheduled. 

In other news, I took progress pictures tonight. I can definitely tell a difference in the forward facing photo, however I was standing a little different in the side photo and can't really see any difference. I'm still noticing that I am pointing out the negatives about my body, but making progress!

Random pictures from the week: