Stepping up the game

Happy New Year! I hope 2013 started off well for you. For me, it's been kinda hectic, but sometimes I think that is the only way I know how to function. Anyway, just like I said on my other blog, one of my resolutions is to make more me time. In the me time, I have included blogging, so hopefully there will be some more of that.  Another one of my resolutions is to run more half marathons this year, but let's not jump to that one just yet.  The first thing that I knew I wanted to do was tackle Insanity. Yes, I am still doing it, and yes it is still hard. However, I realized quickly that my running shoes weren't going to cut it as cross trainers, and I began to do the workouts barefoot. (A bad idea with DJD and a neuroma) so I looked painstakingly hard, to find the perfect cross trainer. Thanks to a coupon I got from DSW for my birthday, I found these beauties...

All I know about these shoes are that they are New Balance Training, and the tops of the shoes have a lot of give, which is good for my fat feet. They are super comfy and they are so much better than doing Insanity bare foot. I am going to try them out without socks, and I will let you know what the verdict is.  I liked the sticker that was inside the box...

I really have no idea what this is referring too, but I felt like it spoke to me since I try to do most of my Insanity workouts as a wake up. It is also a wake up for me to finally get serious about this whole cross training business.

Also, here are my Insanity results. if anything, I learned how much stronger I am getting even with being inconsistent, but makes me want to see how consistency will pay off.

And finally, one last picture. It is way past my bed time, but I thought I would share this. It is fitness related (kinda). It made me chuckle and I hope it makes you as well.

Good night my pirate mateys! I hope you have had a fantastic week so far! Here's to more pirate adventures!

Insanity

I took an unintended break from Insanity. It turns out that for my sanity, it was probably the best thing to do. See, I wasn't sleeping, so doing insanity before I went to bed helped, but it was really just a band aid on top of other problems.
Anyway, I am starting it again, and committing to myself that I have, no wait, want to do this. I have the awesome privilege of being one of the 15,000 women chosen for the inaugural NWM and I want to be in my prime! I want to be ready. I guess, it also goes to state that I want to run it pain free, which is why over the last week I have had xrays and even an MRI of my right foot to find out why I get pain in my foot at mile 6. As of right now, the xray was negative so there is no stress fracture. I go to the doctor's on Wed to find out the MRI results and then to see what is the next phase. I will keep you posted.
But, I am not going to wait until then. My foot didn't hurt with Insanity, so I am going to start it again. I owe it to myself. I lost 57# in one year, I know I can do it, I just HAVE to do it. So, again, I am taking back my me time. If it means I get up earlier in the morning, that is fine too. My daughter has been sleeping later, so maybe if I go to bed earlier I can get up earlier and work out. That is what I have to do. I can and will do this. For me. For her. I will try to update at least once a week on Insanity. Sundays are my rest days, but I will see how it goes. I will definitely update you on what the foot doctor says, since that is what is keeping me from running longer. That and music. I do need a new play list. Anyone out there offer me a good list of songs to help get me pumped and stay pumped for 2.5 hours of running. And go. Oh, and I am in the market for looking for a better sports bra. And go. I was hoping to go to Lululemon's Princeton location next weekend just to browse, but I am on call both days next weekend. Maybe for my 4 day weekend for year's end I will go. Just to browse and maybe hit the clearance. In the meantime, I am going to focus on what I have that I can do for me...exercise, eat right, spend as much time with Makayla as possible.
I have a feeling 2013 is going to bring me great things, I hope you are there for the ride.
Thanks for hanging on so far!

I am going Insane!!!

No, I haven't lost my mine. Or wait, maybe I have. But, since I feel like my weight loss has hit a plateau, I am trying to kick it up a notch. So, I started Insanity. Today was only the Fitness test, and I have 4 words for you...it kicks your a$$! Sorry for the expletive, but seriously, I thought I was somewhat in shape, then I did this and oye vey! The next 60 days are going to be interesting. Is it bad that I am looking forward to my rest week already?!? No, seriously I am excited to see what Insanity will do for me and my roundness. If you saw me post on facebook about getting beach wedding ready, no, I am not renewing vows, but I have a cousin who is getting married at the beach this summer and I am looking forward to going, just not looking forward to the bathing suit part. So, hopefully after finishing insanity, I will be bathing suit ready. I will finish Insanity the end of Jan. I will try to do it again in June to do last minute tone-ups before the wedding. I know that the wedding is not about me, but I want to be comfortable on vacation, and yes, I am using the wedding as my excuse.
I don't have a lot of running on my plate so far for 2013, I am really going to try to find different races, races that are not only fun, but also longer than 3.1 miles.  So far, I have a 5 mile race this Saturday. I guess people usually get a costumed up, and maybe I still will, but I am more worried about staying warm than dressing up.  Who knows, I still might.We will see how this week goes. My allergies have been a little jacked up. I am on allergy medicine and while I feel like I am going die at times, I also think I am starting to feel a little better. However, while I let it keep me from running the stairs, (I cannot believe I didn't go) I didn't let it keep me from doing Insanity. I may just may need my inhaler to do the workout, and now seeing a Robitussin commerical, I may need that as well, but I will get through Insanity. Some of my friends are a day a head of me, I am looking forward to the jello legs and those fun things that they are telling me. I will bring in the New Year with Insanity. To help celebrate the new me, and leave the old me behind. Who knows what a little Shaun T will do.

So, hopefully I will blog about my Insane adventures every day, but I also hope I don't bore you. Happy Monday! What are you doing to get through the holiday season and bring in the new year?!?!

Sad yet exciting day

Today, is a sad yet exciting day. How is that possible, you may be thinking, well sit right there and I will tell you. Today is the night before Thanksgiving. Ok, still don't get it. Thanksgiving last year was my first 5K race EVER!! And here it is, the eve of that day 1 year later. I am running that race again tomorrow, as I may every year because of it's significance to me, and I cannot believe how far I have come.  Today, I took down my display of my race bibs from Nov 2011-until today. When I started running, I only imagined signing up for that one race, but something clicked. I never felt so alive as I am running. It's my chance to push myself, and it was something I wouldn't have known had I not signed up for that first race. I cannot believe that a year later, I have run a few 5ks, a 10k and 2 half marathons! Not only that, some of my friends are coming to me asking me for assistance to get them into running. Wait?!?! How did that happen? When did people start looking up to me?!?!  So,  I took down my race bibs and put them in a safe place until I figure something else to do with them. Today is the day that I start with a clean slate. I will reflect on what races I want to participate in this year and what races I most likely won't repeat. I will be looking for longer races (Preferably greater than 5K) and will think of other ways to work in cross training. I just cannot believe how fast that year has come and how when I am having a talk with someone over running, when it comes to a 5K I say "It's only a 5K," not intending for it to come out that way. Ahh well. I will work on that.  Later today, I will be running steps with Bob. He got me hooked on running them, I blame him for my steps obsession.

Tonight, I will be beginning our Thanksgiving festivities.  It will start with taking my daughter to my old high school to see the Bonfire. My high school plays a football game every year (I believe this is the 160th meeting) and the night before is a huge bonfire.  The seniors in high school started collecting wood Mon and then slept out last night to protect the pile of wood. Tonight it will get set on fire. My daughter was too young last year to go, but this year we will be taking her. After that, my cousin and his wife will be hosting their annual Thanksgiving Eve party. My cousin's wife's family comes up for Thanksgiving from Tennessee and we celebrate their arrival. I cannot wait. In the meantime, my sister J will be traveling from Chicago to join us tomorrow for food, family, fun.
So while this blog is about my fitness and all that, this blogpost today was a little about everything else. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving eve, but an even better and blessed Thanksgiving. I have a lot to be Thankful this year, and I cannot wait to see where the new year will bring me.

WIAW + Fitness update

Good morning! I know it has been a while since I have blogged. I try to make use of as much free time as I can, but sometimes life just goes by quickly, ya know! Anyway, let's just start with how in the world is it almost time for my half marathon already?!?! I feel like I just started training, and now I am getting more nervous as the time gets closer. But, while I know I haven't been running as much as I used to, I NEVER missed my long runs and made sure that I am doing something in the form, of cross training. I am also trying to eat healthier, which lately, I have been struggling with since quite my running has been cut backed. So, I found a picture of something I JUST HAD TO TRY on instagram from someone I hope to meet in real life @mymissionimpossible. I never thought I would pair eggs, with peanut butter and chocolate chips and walnuts, and it ACTUALLY taste good. Well, let me just tell you...

 

 

 

while this doesn't look appetizing it was absolutely Divine. Since it also had vanilla whey protein and vanilla almond milk in it, it tasted more like vanilla with yumminess that I forgot that there were eggs in it.  I will definitely make this again, maybe not for breakfast (although I wanted something sweet today) but definitely for a late night snack since it is healthy for me.  Since it isn't lunch time yet, this is all I ate so far today. Hopefully, I will be able to continue with the healthy eating, and hydrating since I don't want to dehydrate on Sunday.

 

 

As you know, I have been doing Jillian Michael's 30 day shred. I am on Level 2. Today was my 9th day on level 2. It definitely is a slight bit easier than when I started it, BUT I definitely wouldn't say that I am ready to move to Level 3 yet. It hasn't killed me yet, BUT I do feel like I am dying ever.single workout.  In the 20 minutes of the workout, I am covered head to toe in sweat. After the 20 minutes, you would have thought I ran for like an hour; in the middle of the summer; with 90% humidity. I LOVE IT! I don't know how it will help with my running, Sunday will be a great indicator. I do have some other plans for cross training, but I will not be crossing that bridge until I feel more comfortable with Jillian. The only drawback to Jillian is how repetitious it is. I LOVE change, but I can know tell you what exercise is coming next, and that takes away the excitement for me. But, I will stick with it. I started it, and I have been doing it for 17 days now. I have 13 weeks left of the 30 day Shred plan. I don't know if I will be shredded by then, but if I keep it up, and get back to eating healthier, maybe just maybe I too can be Shredded.

 

But, I better go. I have a very important date with those pictured above. Today though, I will only be doing half of them. Or well, that is what I say. Who knows.

 

Have a great Wednesday!

This time of year

This is a beautiful time of year. The weather is getting cooler, the colors are breath taking, yadda yadda yadda. What I don't like about this time of year, is that it gets so dark so soon.  Way too early if you ask me. In the summer, it is light until about 9 pm. Which works well when you work until 730 at night. You still have time to come home and take your daughter for a 2-3 mile run. Well, not this time of year. It is dark before I even get out of work. Makes it nearly impossible to take M for a run. Maybe I really do need to invest in a headlight, and reflective gear, and all of that jazz. Maybe I should get her a headlight so that she can enjoy the nighttime runs with me.

I am supposed to be training for a half marathon right now. Supposed to be is such a good key phrase. I mean I get my long runs in, but it's the short weekday runs that aren't getting in :( Well, maybe I can now get 1 in a week with M being in daycare, but is it too late? How will my half marathon suffer with only my long runs?!? I know that if I don't get a good time, I will be mad at myself, but who can I blame, only myself. I am trying to get some cross training in, I still try to run steps with Bob at least once a week, on my off day, because who wants to run steps at 8pm? I am currently doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, with the hope that it will help me with maintaining some of my cardiovascular capacity. I know it isn't the same as running, but at least it is something? Trust me, I am not complaining, and I don't regret having M, I just wish that maybe I worked a different shift and then I could still possibly run before I picked up M from daycare. I really need to talk to my uncle about getting my bike back. I could at least add that on Sundays and then I could have that as cross training too.  

Let me not complain, things are looking a little better. I was having pain in my foot, which I went to Aardvark to talk to them about it.  From what the salesperson told me, it is possible that the cut of the shoe was too narrow, so they were willing to exchange it for a wider shoe. It's like I got a new pair of shoes for free! I don't know if they will be broken in in time for the half marathon, but at least I have a new pair of shoes, right. 

I am hoping to next month start Beachbody's Insanity program. A few "friends" of mine are Beachbody coaches, and while I know that I cannot be like them, I look up to them, from both of running awesomeness and nutrition awesomeness. Hopefully the 30 Day Shred will re-ignite my weight loss quest and I will be able to keep it going with Insanity and hopefully add Shakeology as supplements.

I know this sounds like me doing nothing but complaining, but getting it off my chest makes me feel better.  I will hopefully sleep well tonight not having this on my chest anymore. I will get up tomorrow morning and do week1 day7 of the Shred. I will do what I can do keep myself moving forward in preparation for my half marathon. I will continue to be in awe of my friends who are running full marathons this weekend and hope they know how their sacrifices they make for their running definitely does not go unnoticed. My hats are off to you guys! All of you amaze and inspire me!

I don't do well with changes...

Right now, the hardest thing that I am having to deal with is not running. Yes, I love having the 1 day off a week, but it doesn't leave me time to run. I really wish that it was still light out longer. I have  no control over that. My husband works 11p-7a, so I can't really run in the morning. When I get home from work, he lays down to sleep and I put M to bed. Some nights are harder than others. Tonight, for example, it took almost 2 hours to get her to bed. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. On Monday, she starts day care again. While, I don't necessarily want to see her go to daycare, she keeps asking about going to school.  I am hoping that my husband will use the time that she is in daycare and sleep. Before, he watched her while I worked and then my parents watched her in the afternoon so he could rest. Hopefully, now he will be able to sleep for the 8 hours she is in daycare and then be able to watch her once I put her down to bed so I can hit the treadmill. I know, I know, this is my fitness blog. I am getting to that. Starting tomorrow I am going to do what I can at home while the wee one sleeps. Starting tomorrow I am going to do Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I know it isn't much, but it is something. It is more than what I am doing during the week currently (which is nothing). I have noticed how my mood, my energy, my eating has been affected by the fact that I am not active. I didn't realize how much everything revolved around my physical activity. I mean I did, but at first I thought it was just because I was adjusting to 10 hour shifts. Now, I realize that it is because my weekly mileage went from 16 a week to 10, and now I also don't have my gym time. What a huge shock to my body!

I am really hoping that will all change starting Monday. M will still go to school even on my off days, which will open up some needed me time, and it won't compromise the us time. I need to get up earlier to get my fitness in, so starting tomorrow I am going to try do me. I am going to do the 20 minutes of Jillian Michael and follow it with my 20 minutes of Abs. It's the baby steps, but hopefully they will get me on the right track to feeling better, eating healthier and getting back on the right track to how I felt before I went to 10 hour shifts. Before I let my fitness go, without even trying.

The above all sound like excuses. Excuses are like assholes, everyone has one. But, the buck stops here. I am taking back my fitness. Hopefully!

Run-Yoga-Walk

Saturday was supposed to be a 10 mile run. Supposed to be is the key word. I have to stop planning my mornings down to the last second. Take Saturday for example. I had signed up to do free yoga at a local running store. I really enjoy yoga and wish it was more affordable, so when ever there is an opportunity for me to try it for free or reduced price I sign up for it. Anyway, yoga was at 9 so I knew I had to be finished with my run by 830 so that I could leave to get there on time. Of course, my run started late which then meant that my narrow window of opportunity was even narrower. My run felt great, and it was beautiful. It was around mile 2 that I got so stressed over the time constraint that I stopped running to look at my Garmin because I didn't think that it was possible that I was only running 20 minutes! I started to freak myself out that my Garmin stopped working and on and on and on I went. Then, at mile 3.6 the path that I was on ended and I had no idea what or how that happened. I was certain that my running club wouldn't have chosen a path that wasn't long so I got really nervous. I hadn't seen anyone on my run and since I had never been that far on this particular path, I wasn't sure I knew what the heck was going on. So, I just turned around. Then, I started even more to worry about my time limit. And the pain in my foot. And the time, and the pain, and on and on it went for 3.6 more miles. Finally, I got back to my car. Met up with 2 of the guys from the running club who were there, chatted briefly and then headed to yoga.

This yoga was yoga for runners and we did a great deal of time stretching. I LOVE the yoga classes that I have taken at this studio and since that is one of my few experiences of yoga I didn't really know what to expect. Except for the fact that the yogi was doing a lot of plugs for her business, it was an alright class. I did a lot of stretching, but since the yoga classes I have taken before were hands on, I was disappointed with the lack of touching where the yogi assists you in the correct position. That being said, I will be doing the next free yoga session.

Did you notice how I talked about the foot pain with running. I was/am concerned that it is something wrong with my foot, so since the local running store where I purchased all of my running shoes was hosting the yoga I thought I would talk to them about my pain. I wanted to rule out/ rule in a shoe problem before I went to the doctor. Turns out my generation of my running shoe is cut smaller than the previous generation. Which means I have to get a wider shoe. Luckily for me they are doing an even exchange for the new shoe so I get a brand new pair of shoes for free, but with only 3 weeks until my half marathon, that doesn't give me enough time to break in my new shoes. Guess I will be wearing my older generation shoes for the half. Oh well. Hopefully with the new shoes my pain will go away. If not, I guess I will be off to see the doctor.

I woke up Sunday and my IT band was a little sore. Perfect I thought. (Sarcastically of course). But I knew that I would have the opportunity to walk since I was doing the American Heart/Stroke Walk. It was a beautiful day, and I couldn't have asked for a better one. I got to walk 2.2 miles pushing my daughter. It was a lot of fun, and something my IT band needed. A nice slow stretch.

I spent all day today at work walking. I really should use my Garmin at work one day to see how far i really walk in a day. Maybe I will.  Anyway, I am trying to get shorter workouts in this week with my taper starting next week. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to stretch it out really well, and come Wednesday, i will be running steps again. In the meantime, I guess I should work on getting to bed sooner. A lack of sleep really wears you out for the day.

I hope you had a great Monday!

Happy-Healthy-You!

Friday!

Happy Friday!
I have a long 10 Mile run tomorrow, so I saw this on Pinterest and thought I would share it with you. It is appropriately and accurately portrays what I want to do tomorrow...

Have a great Friday! It's the weekend! What are your plans for fitness this weekend?!?
Happy-Healthy-You

This is hard

Not blogging, no I don't find that hard, this making the time for life to happen, yeah, that is hard. See, I work 10 hours a day/4 days a week. When I trained for my last half marathon, I worked 8 hours and worked 3-11. It wasn't ideal, but M had to be in daycare by 9am so it gave me all day to get my runs and cross training in. Now, I work 9-730. Even if I take her to daycare at 7, it leaves me little time to get my runs in nor does it really give me time to get to the gym. Maybe an hour tops. Maybe I could make it work. Maybe, if all the stars and planets aligned.  Before it got so dark so quickly, I started taking M on jogs with me after work. We got in 2 maybe 2.5 miles twice a week. A huge accomplishment for me, since I had never pushed a jogging stroller before. Now, it is too dark to take her out with me, and quite frankly, I don't know how safe I feel running that late by myself. So, last week, I did nothing during the week, but still managed to run 10 miles on Saturday. I honestly cannot expect myself to run well at my half if I don't do stuff during the week. But, it's hard. I am a nurse so I am on my feet all day long. I mean ALL day. Working in the Operating room doesn't really give you many opportunities to sit. And then I worry about what I am missing out with M. What can I do to cross train while she is sleeping? Will she go to bed on time so I can get my workout done before the hubs leave for work? If not, what then? I have a gym membership that isn't getting used right now. Why, because the hours that they have for daycare are no longer useful. If I don't have a place to watch her while I work out, I cannot work out. It's that simple. Right? Right?
Well, this week, I have tried to change this cycle. So far I am 3/3. Every morning I do my ab circuit. Monday I was able to do an arm workout that an awesome girl named Kacie over at Savvy Sassy Me told me I could use. Yesterday, thanks to my parents tiring her out, I was able to get M to bed early and was able to head to the Fitness Center where I live. I got to ride 8.6 miles in 30 minutes. And today, I got to run steps. Well, kinda. Yes, I did run my infamous stadium steps...

Thanks Bob for continually getting me through these things!

 Only this time, this sweet thing joined me...

What do you do with a 21 month old at a stadium while running, well, you carry her of course. Yep, 7 out of 10 times I carried her up and down those steps. I knew that if I didn't complete the task at hand I would be disappointed with myself and then well, why bother right? After all, I did just restart my allergy medicine since I have felt like crap for almost a week now? It was hard to breathe out of my nose, and I couldn't taste anything? (Whine much?) Yes, sometimes I do make mountains out of molehills...

But, I have a half marathon to get ready for.

There is no time for self pity. No time for doubt. No time for excuses.

 

 



Happy Wednesday

 

Happy-Healthy-You

Holy Moly!

Where did the week go?!? Here it is almost a week since I last posted a blog. You would think I didn't do anything, and well you are kinda correct. I have been very diligent with my ab challenge, and I will continue to go strong. I did run 10 miles yesterday, and although right now it feels like a long time ago, my legs on occasion still remind me of the fact.  I  could come up with a lot of reasons why I didn't blog, but to me the only sound like excuses. But, on reflection, I have decided I need to get my me time back! I really enjoyed the runs M and I did after work, but now, it gets dark too early for me to do that with her. Well, I used that as an excuse not to do anything. Not anymore. I am going to get M back on a sleep schedule, and hopefully that means I will have an hour from when she goes to bed to when the hubs leaves for work to use the fitness center where I live. Either to do cardio on the bike, or treadmill or elliptical, or to use some of the weight machines, I need to do something. I have been very moody, and whiny and not caring for myself in ways that I used to, but I relate that all to the lack of endorphins this past week.  So, I am going to take it one day at a time, and do everything in my power to take my me time back. I cannot allow myself to fall off the wagon when I was having fun and loving what I was doing every day.
So, while Wednesday is my day off this week and I will most likely be running steps again, I need to plan ahead as to what I am going to do the other days. I know that taking back my me time will also help me sleep better at night, something we all need anyway.

With that, I bid you farewell.  Here are some motivational phrases that really pertain to my situation. I haven't quit, and I won't I just met a speed bump along my journey.

The last one, I KNOW is true. I need to get my good mood back!

Happy-Healthy-You