Surviving to Striving {Part 1: Setting up for Success}

I feel like I've reached a point in my fit-journey where I'm in basic stay-fit survival mode.  I'm not failing.  But I'm not moving forward either.  I eat fairly healthy, I go to the gym fairly regularly, but it has kind of taken a backseat to other things at the moment.  (Doesn't help that I was sick for a couple weeks too).  So I'm starting this little series to get my self back.

Survivng to Striving for success! 

Eventually I hope to be THRIVING! 

Survivng to Striving to Thriving. 

(Ok, I couldn't help the word combo, hehe)

Part 1: Setting myself up for Success in the food category.

I can be lazy when it comes to food.  I love cooking good meals, but I often only have time to do that a couple times a week.  For the most part I know that I'm grabbing the first thing I see in the fridge.  So when I had the time the other day I set myself up for success.

This is now the first thing in my fridge:

Boom.  Veggies.  And I've got a little container of hummus available too!

And for breakfast you ask?

Frozen Fruit ready to throw in the blender with some Kefir and/or Greek Yogurt.

Smoothies!  Done.

(Although... those frozen mangos were pretty darn tasty all by themselves, almost like eating sorbet...

they might get pulled out for a little sweet treat at night!)

Oh yeah... and of course my little sidekick wanted in on the fruit action too!

He waited so patiently for his frozen strawberry half!  :)

Got an extra half our this week?  Go pull out all the veggies in your fridge and wash and cut them how you like to eat them!  It will make it way easier to pull it out and eat immediately when you are wanting a snack!

<3 Sam

Inspiration = (Renewed) Motivation

Inspiration equals Motivation.  I think that is the key for me, the more I am inspired to be healthy and fit, the more I am motivated to stay on track!  Makes sense right?!

Short post today, but I thought I would share some new inspiration: STYLE!

And not just any style, but the kind of style I would LOVE to have someday.  Like an - easy, simple but layered, casual but chic, with some awesome shoes – kind of style. 

Check out the SidewalkReady Blog!  I love it.  I want to be her.  ;)

I mean, she is pretty awesome.  Besides some stylin’ outfits, she can:

Do her own hair -- I’m inept in this front and she is a cosmetologist.

And she is a photographer.  And I’m a photographer.  So yeah, this equals love.  :D 

This post of hers in particular kind of sums it up!

I can kind of verge on this style… occasionally, but for the most part I feel like these kinds of clothes don’t look right on me… yet.  SO… renewed inspiration for motivation to eat right and get my butt to the gym!

Happy and Healthy Friday!

<3 Sam

The Dreaded "D" Word

Diet.  I know when I hear that word in relation to the food I’m eating I tend to get a little scared.  A diet, to me, means restrictions.  It means I’m going to be craving foods I can’t have.  And it means I’m not going to see long term results because they are generally short term plans.  Bleh.  With those connotations, who would ever want to diet?  Certainly not me. 

And yet, here I am about to start a… dare I say it… Diet.  BUT, not a diet in the terms I described above.  One to form new habits.  One that is long term.  One that means I will eventually be able to have the foods I crave.  One that means, in the end, I may not be craving those original foods.  One that promotes a healthy lifestyle change, not a quick fix.  One that, I am hoping, will work for me and my family.

While I’m still a little reluctant to call it a diet, I kind of have to since the word is in its title: The 17 Day Diet. I’ve read reviews, I’ve heard friends who are benefitting from it, I can see that its structure is different than most.  So, what the heck. I know my aim is to get healthy, mind and body, and losing weight is not my overall goal.  But this plan seems healthy, and if it does what it says, and helps me lose weight, then even better.

The book arrived at my house yesterday, and although I obviously have not had time to read it yet, I am feeling more reassured by just reading through the index.  There are phases that change fairly frequently and there are actually meal plans to help you through them.  There are special considerations for cultural differences and PMS-ing!  And my favorite, there are 7, count them… 7 chapters on how to ‘Make it Stick’.  For example how to deal with eating out, family gatherings, holidays, road trips, and work.  There just seems to be a lot of info to set it up for success rather than failure.  And long term too, even though yes… it does promise some rapid results as well.  SO.  I’m going to read this book in the next few days, and start probably sometime next week.  In hopes, that I can be a testament to the fact that this ‘diet’ will help me with my goal of being healthy.

In other Samantha news, I’m still completely in love with yoga.  So much so that it was making me frustrated in my plans to go to the gym.  You see, there are no cardio and yoga classes back to back, and I don’t have time to spend 3 hours at the gym when I go.  And I need my cardio as much as I need my yoga.  While yoga can be a good workout, it doesn’t make my body sweat the way that zumba does.  So to fix this problem, I hopped on Youtube.com and found this awesome yoga channel that has full length yoga classes for free!  Problem solved.  Plan is to start from the beginning of their classes (they have around 90 at this point) and do them at home when I want some yoga and then I can use my gym time for cardio and strength equipment.  I’m thinking I’ll usually do some yoga right after hubby leaves for work to wake up my mind and body before I sit down at the computer for the day.  Then the gym can be my mid-day break or my evening activity.  Time to change it up so I can do even better than what I’ve been doing. 

I saw a quote that said ‘If you change nothing, nothing will change.’  I have no idea who said it, but it is becoming truer to me every day.  The more days I don’t change how I eat, the more days I’m still unhappy with my body.  The more days I choose to not workout, the more days I feel lazy.  The more days I am unhealthy in mind, body and/or spirit, the more days I will be unhealthy.  Time for a change.  And if it doesn’t work, I’ll change again, because as I’ve said this year… It’s my year.  I’m still happy and motivated and optimistic, and it’s time to implement more of the change I want to see happen.

Change is good.  J

Sam

Broiled Grapefruit Goodness

Short and SWEET and Soon I'll post something other than food.  :)

Try this.  No, I'm serious.  Try it now!  So freakin delicious: That warm dessert-y satisfaction without all the guilt!

Go To Recipe. IMMEDIATELY!

Chickpea, Chic me?!

This week I’ve been on a quest to find a snack that fulfills my munching needs as I sit on the computer all afternoon without being terribly unhealthy.  AND… I think I found it! 

Roasted Spiced Chickpeas

They are delicious!  They are chalk full of fiber!  They are small so I can eat them one at a time making them last longer!  They are not messy so I’m not worried about my keyboard getting too many crumbs or the mouse getting greasy.  They are super easy to make (mix in a bowl, spread on a pan, bake).  They are inexpensive (one can of chickpeas plus spices on hand).  And they are easy changeable, so they won’t get boring!  *I am imagining spice combinations as I type*

The only change to the recipe I would make is to up the temp to 450 and bake a little longer so they are a little crispier!  I did this on the suggestions of the reviews and am happy with the mix of crispier and slightly softer chickpeas in my bowl!  Watch them so they don’t burn though!

Along with the chickpea revelation, I’ve been doing really well on eating this week.  Breakfast has been made every morning for me and hubby.  Fruit has been eaten with breakfast and lunch.  Dinners have been fairly healthy, and more importantly, correctly proportioned.  And water… water, water, and more water has been consumed on a daily basis!

I also have managed to make it to the gym 4 of the last 5 days with a mix of cardio toning, zumba, kickboxing, and yoga!  I have yet to step on a scale, but I am definitely feeling better.  Between food, workouts and full nights of sleep I am feeling much more energized and organized.  Yay!!

January is coming to a close (already?!) and I am still psyched to be Tri-Fit this year!  Bring it 2012!  ;)

Sam

The Power of a Breath

Breathe in: Focus on the air coming in

Breathe out: Focus on pushing the air out

Breathe in: Slow the breath, make it smooth

Breathe out: Let go of distractions

Breathe in: Draw your focus inward

Breathe out: Find stillness.    Quiet.     Peace.

In theory that is how it should go.  Or what Yoga is hoping to attain anyway.  There are many types of Yoga, but they ultimately are aiming for enlightenment.  To me this means inner peace.  I’m not trying to be all lofty and superior, I’m just trying to be me, to find MY peace.  On the Yoga Basics website it says that yoga’s “essence is practical… as it emphasizes direct experience and observable results.  It is not a religion, but a practice of personal inquiry and exploration.”  Isn’t that what I said I was all about this year?  Being myself!  And in order to be myself, I kind of have to focus on me and finding myself. 

SO, I’ve started taking yoga classes at the gym, and…

I.    LOVE.  THEM.

Why, you ask? Because I leave feeling happy, and refreshed, and ready to conquer the day (I was going to say world, but that seems a little ambitious J).  And did I mention sweaty?!  I leave the gym feeling all of these things and I still get a killer workout!!

The other reason I love the classes is that they are all about modifying for your body on that day.  Some days my knees feel fine and I can do everything, some days they don’t and I can’t.  The focus is me and listening to what my body is telling me right then.  I am amazed at how fast an hour can fly by when I let go of the distractions and just focus on my movement, my body… my breath.

So breathe, focus, and be me.  Simple, right?!  ;)

Sam

This Beautiful Feeling I’ve Got…

I can’t quite put my finger on it exactly, but I can tell you this.  I am just plain happy.  Happy and motivated and optimistic.  I’m letting myself be me and it just doesn’t get better than that!  It just doesn’t.  This year has started off on a great foot, and almost ten days in I can’t see it changing anytime soon.  In fact, I think it can only get better.  There were so many things I let pass by the wayside last year because I was either scared or unsure of what people would think.  And I felt guilty.  A lot.  Guilty for letting myself watch too much tv, guilty for sleeping too long, guilty for not keeping up on housework.  And then beyond the guilt was the stuff I wanted to do that I just didn’t feel I had the energy or time for.  Like scrapbooking, and reading, and cooking good meals (can we say downward spiral?).  Let alone the fact that I had started my own business and was scraping every ounce of energy I could spare into getting it going.  Don’t get me wrong, the business was, IS making me happy, but I couldn’t put all of myself into it for a variety of reasons.  Reasons, maybe more excuses than reasons, but that goes back to that guilt thing…

You would think by now that it would have dawned on me that I am an adult.  LOL.  I’ve been married for two years, I’ve graduated college, I own a house and a dog!  But for some reason I still felt like I wasn’t part of that grown-up world.  I couldn’t find a professional job, no offense to those who choose to work retail for life… but that is just not for me, and I guess part of me was just waiting for things to fall into place.  Waiting, where was that going to get me?  HELLO?  Samantha?  Wake up and smell the freakin roses (or coffee, maybe)!  Things aren’t going to magically happen, I have to make them happen.  And I have to take responsibility for them.  And all of these things that dawned on me this year, in the last couple months, that I am finally putting into action, led to this….

            This Beautiful Feeling I’ve Got.

I was dancing in the shower this morning.  Yes, literally dancing, and singing.  Singing loudly.  The chorus to Kelly Clarkson’s “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes you Stronger.”  There is a line in there that says “what doesn’t kill you makes a fighter,” and that is totally what I feel like.  I’m a fighter.  Fighting for me this year.  It is the end of the guilt, because I’m not going to do things that make me feel guilty.  Doesn’t mean I’m not going to watch tv, or occasionally sleep too long, but I’m putting things into place that allow me some flexibility.  And I am taking the time to do things for me. 

Cooking at least one good meal a week! 

Going to bed early enough that I can at least read one chapter in my book! 

Taking the classes at the gym that don’t only give me a good workout, but make me happy inside, like Zumba and Yoga! 

Taking time to just enjoy my husband, and enjoy that he has been my biggest supporter of me being ME, and doing what I really want to do.

So, this week I leave you with me… BEING.  Being happy!  And motivated and optimistic. 

I’ve cooked.  http://2createsg.blogspot.com/2012/01/homemade-tomato-soup-sam.html

I’ve read. http://www.amazon.com/Water-for-Elephants-ebook/dp/B003I1WY2A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326151504&sr=8-1

I’ve taken pictures just to enjoy my camera.  http://sams365photos.blogspot.com/

I’ve taken Zumba.  And Yoga.  And Cardio Toning (ouch but great instructor and music)!

I’ve kept the kitchen clean (with a little help from Aaron’s cousin Meagan who is staying with me while Aaron is in China) for over a week.

I’ve organized.

And I’m done with Michaels on Friday, meaning my sleep schedule can go back to something fairly normal.

I’ve become responsible.  I’ve become an adult.  Scary, but oh so satisfying.

Updates soon.  J

xo – Sam

PS.

Planner+Kindle+Teal everything = A Happy Bonus.

Tri-Fit Revised

Ok, so last year the goal was to get fit and be healthy.  While I’ve made progress, I’ve come to realize that it is going to be a never ending process.  I’ve also realized that there is more to being healthy than going to the gym and eating better!  SO… this year blog will be a little more than just a workout journal.  I mean, how many posts can I write about running down the street anyway?!  There will be some about workouts and being physically fit, but it will also include more on healthy eating, and the things that make my mind happy.  Maybe the new ‘Tri’ can be body, mind, spirit, Instead of the literal triathlon.  J

Instead of rambling on about goals (which I do have), I’m just going to show you them in action over the next month by posting way more frequently!  I’m tired of being all talk and no action!  J

See you SOON!

Sam

My ‘Here’s Your Sign’ Moment

Yes, I’m referencing Bill Engvall.  Saw him live on a college Mom’s Weekend once, super funny, but I’ve always particularly loved the ‘Here’s Your Sign’ section of his standup!  Well, a couple weeks ago, I had mine.  I’ve been talking and talking and talking about change, and yet not always following through… and then BAM, Consequences!  I spent the night in the ER with some serious stomach pain.  It literally felt like someone was stabbing me right in between the ribs.  And without going into too much detail… turns out it is most likely all diet related.  Really?!  Worst pain of my life and it was because I drank too much coffee and ate a fatty dinner right before going to bed!  Yikes.  Total wake up call.  “Hello, Samantha.  This is your body speaking.  FEED ME RIGHT.”  Between that and the fact that I have been sick for basically the last month, proves to me that there is just no option anymore.  I have to treat my body well so that I can function and, oh yeah… not end up in the ER again.  J 

Oh and amidst this chaos… I had a side-note epiphany.  I want to have kids in a couple years… if I can’t take care of myself, how in the world am I going to take care of another little human whose life totally depends on me?!

In all honesty, since my trip to the ER, I have found it much easier to eat right.  I’m not on any sort of diet, but the fact that there are real, painful consequences if I don’t feed myself the right food keeps me in check.  Hopefully between that and some meds and some probiotics, my stomach can stay pain free for a very long time!  And benefit, without working out because I was sick… I’ve lost 2 pounds just from eating better!!  J

I did hit the gym today and am excited that I now have a workout buddy close to home as well, as a friend from work joined the Y too!!  Can’t wait to rock some Zumba tomorrow and try to get in a little better shape before Hawaii in less than two weeks!!!!!

I will be back soon, promise! 

Sam

A Peppy Post!

A quick little Wednesday update.  I’m super pumped right now after an awesome Zumba class at the gym!  I also did a good 20 min speed walking warm up, and my Jillian Michaels mini ab and arm workouts.  Tomorrow will be a week into Jamie’s and my workout plan.  We aren’t retaking stats until week the end of week 2, but I have a pretty good idea that I need to work harder to attain some progress by then.  I’ve done pretty good on everyday I’ve gone to work and been able to go to the gym.  And I’ve fit in a couple home workouts on days I couldn’t, but the long weekend kind of killed me. 

We went up to the family cabin on Saturday evening, ate decently and then I went for a brisk walk with my mother-in-law and puppy on his new ‘gentle leader’ collar.  I did my Jillian Michaels workouts earlier in the day.  Then Sunday came around… let’s just say snacks abounded, Dad’s smoked cheese called my name, and cards and wine completed the day.  I did get a short run in… as in chasing my dog down the road in bare feet and pajamas.  Adrenaline helps boost metabolism right?!  ;)  We stayed up late and I had to turn around at work early AM Monday morning.  After work I Just felt sick most of the day, so I was pretty lazy and did a lot of sleeping.  Tuesday and today I have felt much more energized and have done the workouts with gusto trying to make up for my lazy weekend. 

Note to self:  maybe snacking at canal is ok… just don’t sit next to the snack table while playing cards, you eat way too much!

As for the rest of life, things are starting to get a bit more organized, which just makes me feel good overall! 

See you soon!

Sam

Operation: Long Distance Workout Buddy!

Introducing my dear dear friend Jamie!

This is me and Jamie on a trip to the zoo with her kiddos last year!

Jamie and I are both in the ‘getting back into shape’ mindset and we have been chatting back and forth about our ideas and goals for doing this.  Recently she suggested we do this Jillian Michaels routine and compare/keep track of our stats.  And also make each other accountable for actually completing the workouts each day.  I have almost exactly 8 weeks to kick my butt into shape before going to Hawaii to visit family so this is long overdue!  I’m really super excited to have a workout buddy even though she lives an hour away.  In a sense it should be easier because we can each fit the workout into whatever time frame works for us and then compare notes later.  For our kickoff day today I texted her that our side goal should be to make sure we are drinking that 8 cups of water! 

The part we are doing the same of are the Jillian Michaels’s mini workout for abs, and mini ‘armed and dangerous’ workout.  Both of which can be found on youtube!  As for cardio we are each going to do what works for us.  She is going to be working on her treadmill and home machines, and I am going to continue taking my YMCA classes and swimming.  As for a day like today when I am not going to going to drive to the gym, I’m going to do a Kinect workout at home!  Or I’ve thought about looking up the P90x workouts too on youtube, but I’m not sure I’m quite ready for those yet! 

On the food note.  Busy is no longer an excuse for eating like crap!  I’m thinking I need to go grocery shopping more often and buy more fresh stuff to eat instead of falling back on the out of the freezer meals.  Also, hubby is having a weight competition with his Dad on who can lose the most weight before Hawaii.  But it is before they leave for Hawaii which is in one month, and it is by percentage.  Last night, Aaron decided he would track what he was eating with me so we downloaded the ‘myfitnesspal’ app on his phone and I think it will be quite the eye opener for him.  And here is to hoping we can spur each other on for eating better at home! 

Now that our re-siding project is almost done at home (all we have to do is finish caulking and paint!!!), getting reorganized in general is going to help a ton.  Managing time and making time to eat right and workout will help us get in the groove.  I bought a new planner with a great layout for a daily time schedule and I’m really excited to get my life more on a schedule so I can fit in more time for me! 

My personal challenge this weekend is going to be the fact that we are going to spend some time at the family cabin, and eating right and working out always seems to fly out the window.  But I’m not going to let that happen this time.  The weather is supposed to be nice so I am planning on swimming in Hood Canal for a workout, and I could also take the dog for a walk/run.  Cutting back on the alcohol intake wouldn’t hurt either, and paying attention to portion control and the snacks laying around will help as well!  I’m planning on posting a progress update after the long weekend so…

Happy Healthy Labor Day Weekend!!!

Sam

A Day of Rest

So I am still totally diggin on my YMCA membership.  I am also still totally in love with Zumba, and am trying to learn enough so I can groove on my own time as well!  I’ve been a member now for almost 3 weeks, and am completely comfortable with the facility and what they have to offer.  I also am continuing to try new classes.  On Thursday I tried a class called Define.  It was a fantastic mix of cardio and strength training, using a step, two sets of handweights, a bar weight, a mat…. and other days, other things are included.  I definitely have to get there early so I can grab my spot and all that equipment! 

Last week I went to the Y every single day, even on my day off (which was Wed, and the best zumba class… so of course, I HAD to go).  Then this weekend my husband and I worked on our house, which was definitely also a workout.  Lifting ladders, carrying huge sheets of OSB, climbing ladders and scaffolding, holding things in place while hubby loads nails into nail gun, awkwardly cutting back roofing in an 18 inch overhang (yes, I was squeezed into that area in the picture below.  Myself and a multi tool in very small slanted area makes for a very sweaty little workout.)

Anyway, after 7+ days of physical activity, today definitely called for, actually screamed for a rest day.  My body has never protested so loudly when getting out of bed at 4am for work.  Everything ached, and my arms and shins were very very sore!  So after work I came home, took some Aleve, and took a nap.  I’m feeling much better now as I write this in early evening, and am looking forward to another Define class tomorrow after work!

On another note, even though I have been doing so great in the exercise category, my eating has gone downhill.  So in order to force myself to pay more attention and not take the easy fast food option, I downloaded ‘myfitnesspal’ app today, and it seems like it is going to be a great little tool if I keep up on it.  Once I set my goals, it gave me a calorie goal, but also specific goals in terms of different kinds of fat, fiber, carbs, protein and the like.  And so far everything I have put in today food wise has been in their amazing vault of nutritional information, even down to my obscure costco brand pesto.  Neat feature too… I can scan barcodes and it will come up with the nutritional info.  Worked on my Fred Meyer brand shredded Parmesan.  Can you tell I had some pesto pasta for lunch?  It will also track my exercise, water consumption, and any notes I add.  And being that my phone is never more than an arms length away, I think I can enter food instead of check facebook a few times a day! 

Anyway, looks like I’m off to have cereal and fruit for dinner since I ate well the rest of the day!  J  See you soon!

Sam

can I get a “Y…M…C...A…”

I’m going to make this quick because in fact I am leaving in a half hour to go to the Y, and I am still in my PJ’s… but…  I LOVE THE YMCA!  Seriously.  I’ve only been a member for a week and a day, but I am in love with this facility.  I joined the Haselwood YMCA in Silverdale (http://www.ymcapkc.org/page.php?id=948)  and it is freakin amazing.  For one it is brand spankin new, so all the machines are top of the line, new and amazing.  They all have screens that you can either see your progress or watch cable of course!  Not to mention, every machine has an Ipod hookup so if you had videos on there you could watch those too!  But beyond the fact that it is a beautiful facility, what makes my membership worth it is the pool and the classes!! 

I get off work at around 10 every morning, and head straight over to the Y.  (It’s basically across the street from Michaels, so very convenient).  Go in, get changed and head upstairs to check the class schedule.  The classes that work for me best because of when I get off work start at 10:45 or 11, so I check to see what time and decide which class (because usually there are a couple to choose from) and then I head either to the elliptical for a warm up, or back downstairs to pump some iron.  Then at 11 I go take a class.  So far I have taken “have a cardio ball”(twice), zumba, and kickboxing.  And today, even though I don’t work I am going to take zumba again.  And all of the instructors I have had so far are AWESOME!!  I’ve taken workout classes before, but none like these ladies teach!

Sidenote…. If you like good music, high energy, and even remotely like dance I highly recommend zumba if you ever get the chance!  The hour long class flies by because it is so much fun!  And don’t get me wrong it is way fun, but you will definitely be sweating like a pig and sore the next day, or at least I was! 

On Fridays I tend to get off work later so it is perfect for the adult lap swim hours.  Last Friday I went and spent about 45 minutes in the pool doing various strokes just to start logging some swim time!  I’m very excited for this to become a weekly habit!

Anyway, so far my membership has been completely worth it, and I am so excited to keep it up!  Off I go…

Sam

'Samantha Plans'

Not sure if I have talked about ‘Samantha Plans’ before, but my Mom deemed my plan making by that name years ago.  The thing about a ‘Samantha Plan’ is that they never quite end up the way they were planned in the beginning, or they just fail miserably and I end up creating a new one.  They are good because I am always looking to the future and trying to better myself.  They are bad because they never seem to be quite attainable, hence them failing over and over again.

In that respect, this Triathlon goal turned out to be a ‘Samantha Plan.’  Don’t get me wrong, I still want to do a triathlon, I really really do.  But realistically it just isn’t going to happen in the 5 weeks I have until the Danskin Tri I was aiming at.  Even though I was never going to race for time, I still wanted to be prepared and race to the best of my abilities.  The best of my abilities at the moment might be able to finish the race, but it would take hours and I fear injury from not cross training enough to this point.  So instead of spending the money on the race, I joined the new YMCA in Silverdale.  It not only has an awesome workout facility, but has a pool too!  That way it will be much easier to cross train.

I haven’t picked a date for my next triathlon goal, but the furthest it will be is next year’s Danskin in Seattle.  I think the main issue in this ‘Samantha Plan’ was not breaking the goals down far enough.  I got so caught up in running that I completely ignored swimming and biking, and I think it hurt my running as well.  I was getting burned out, and my cardio was not improving the way I wanted it too. 

I work 3-4 days in Silverdale every week, and with the RARE exception, I will be going to work out at the Y every day right after I get off work.  Because of when the lap swim hours are as well, at least one if not two of those days I will have a longer workout consisting of weight training and then swimming.  There are also some great looking classes that are included in the membership that I really want to take advantage of.

Some miniature goals for now are:

-          Just get healthy.  Workout in multiple areas to increase fun and fitness.

-          Take some time to break down smaller goals for triathlon and figure out a good timeline to be fully prepared next time around.

-          Going to Hawaii at the end of October to visit BIL/SIL and niece!  …Hawaii=bathing suit.  Deal with hubby is if I get fit and nice tummy like I want by then I get to buy a new swimsuit!!  YAY! 

I’ll let you know more about the Y after I workout there for the first time TOMORROW!!

Sam

Back in the Groove

I promised it wouldn’t be a month between posts… it’s been a month and a half instead!  LOL.  Oh well, life has been so darn busy, when I got a free moment this blog honestly didn’t even cross my mind.  In fact, working out and eating super well hasn’t really crossed my mind either.  There are some good and bad things from that.  The good is that although I wasn’t really ‘dieting’ anymore I didn’t gain any weight.  I’ve become better at just thinking about what I’m putting in my mouth, and more importantly how much of it.  So I’m hoping when I get down to where I want to be weight wise, I will be able to maintain it without too much of a struggle.

The bad is that the Danskin triathlon is in 7 weeks!  7 weeks?!  Yikes.  Have I run in the last month?  Not really.  I have even really worked out in the last month, hmmm… well if you count the amount of exercise at work and now at the house since we are redoing our siding... then yes.  And I have gone on a couple of mountain bike rides, but it’s been a while since those too.  So running, biking, and swimming haven’t really been in the picture as much as they need to be.

Now I’m on a mission to get back in the groove.  My schedule is fairly regular.  I have the time.  And even though there is still a ton going on (residing the house, my new photography business, BIL/SIL/niece moving to Hawaii)… NO EXCUSES.  So today was the day, Mondays are always good to start things on.  I went running!!  Yay!  It was short, but I did an ab and arm workout when I got home too.  Back in the groove means that you will see me back on here weekly I believe as well.  J  but no promises, see how well that worked out last time.  :P

Sam

Please Excuse the Absence

It has been just about a month since I wrote last.  My computer went haywire and I FINALLY have a new working computer!  Yay for extended warranties that actually pay off!

To catch up, here are a few little anecdotes about my fitness journey in the last month:

-          My back pain has finally completely gone away so I have been working on building up my runs again.  The most recently completed full-run-with-no-walking was 28 minutes, and it was seven days ago.

-          I started trying to take Maverick with me on my runs… it became a back and arm workout instead of just a run. It also gave me something else to think about besides running.

-          I stopped trying to take Maverick with me on my runs… not only did it aggravate back problems but it caused both he and I to almost injure ourselves many times due to the fact that Maverick is a bird dog… and he wants to chase the birds anytime he sees/hears/thinks of one.

-          I was trying to mix up the runs so I went for one in Banner Forest which is close to our house.  I got lost.  My 25 minute run turned into 25 minutes running PLUS a two hour hike.  I swore I would never go running in Banner again.

-          Went running in Banner again.  Looked at map before going and did not stray from the main trail.  Much more successful. 

-          Because runs have increased in time and I’m getting a little faster, my typical running path dead ended, and I literally ran out of room to run.  Yay for a little accomplishment.  I have found a new route from home, much more scenic, but a few more hills… not sure how I feel about that yet.

-          I moved to replenishment shifts at work.  This means getting up at four AM most days of the week and WORKING for a solid 5 hours.  And by working I mean getting paid to work out… hauling freight, unloading semis, lifting heavy boxes, squatting to lift boxes, squatting to set planograms, climbing ladders… and the list goes on.  This is great in terms that I am getting paid to workout and I can feel some muscle building starting to occur… HOWEVER, this is not great in the fact that it is really hard to go for a run after having a five hour workout at work.  Cool little side note -- I received these samples of Playtex new Sport Body Wipes, and i've been using them after work so I can go run errands on my way home and not feel completely gross.  They are actually really great, makes me feel refreshed and not like I need a shower immediately.  Should be available in stores soon, watch for them!

This brings us up to this last week.  On one of my off days I did that 28 minute run with no walking.  I have since not been able to complete a whole run and it is really starting to frustrate me.  I’ve been running three times since that, and each time I have stopped and walked during the run.  On Friday, the most strenuous day at work… I came home and tried to run but my lower back hurt so bad that about 17 minutes in I just could not run anymore, and walked the rest of the way home. 

Today I tried again.  I think I ran about 25 minutes total, but it was really broken up.  I ran the first 15 minutes straight, and from then on I ran in spurts with a little walking.  I cant explain it really, I mean, yes… my back hurt, my shoulder was cramped, my hips hurt (which is new), and my left foot fell asleep… but I didn’t make a conscious decision to stop running, my jog would just slowly turn into a walk.  And try as I might to keep starting to jog again, it wouldn’t last very long.  So I don’t know what is up with that… but I’ve decided it really is time to start cross training some more and maybe my body will stop throwing a fit.

I’ve got a little over three months until the Danskin Triathlon, and I’ve done very little biking or swimming.  I’m not as worried about the events, but I still need to work up the distances a little.  So goal for this week: besides running a couple times, bike and swim at least once each!

I promise there won’t be a month lapse this time… see you soon!

Sam

PAIN!

The last couple weeks has been a whirlwind of activity!  A week leading up to the 5K, and a week being sidelined by Pain.  We will get to that in a minute, first a little back story…

Last time I wrote I still had a week until the “Run Like a Fool 5k.”  I had planned on running a couple times that week and then resting thurs/fri before the race Sat morning.  For whatever reason (I honestly can’t remember the excuses I probably made up), I didn’t end up running at all that week.  So come Saturday morning, I was supposed to run 3.1 miles having only run a max of 25 minutes straight equaling a little over 2 miles (and I had only done that once).  Ugh… but I was well rested! ;) 

It was a beautiful morning, sunny and a little windy… so glad the rain didn’t show up!

It was definitely motivating to run with a group, and my mother-in-law!  I knew she would be faster, since she had already worked up to the distance, and had run this exact run a couple of times… but it was nice to see her blue sweatshirt bobbing way out in front of me!  J

I finished.  Without stopping!  It was long… but not quite as hard as I thought it would be.  Definitely wore me out though!  I finished (not even close to last) with a time of 37minutes and 42 seconds.  Nowhere close to what I used to run in high school, but hey… I finished!  And now I have a time to improve upon!

We celebrated afterwards with a soak in the hot tub, and some mimosas!  So relaxing…

After that we enjoyed a lovely baby shower, and I got to get new running shoes!!  Check these puppies out…

I got them at South Sound Running in Olympia… and if you ever want to find the perfect running shoes… go there.  They check out your old running shoes and look at the wear pattern, they make you run in each set of shoes you try on, and they find the best fit for you.  And if for some reason they get it wrong, there is a 30-60 day (depending on the shoe) return policy… bring back the shoes, even if you have run in them, and they will find another one for you.  They are awesome!

Now to the pain… I was fine all day Saturday, felt like I might be a little sore from the run, but I felt pretty good.  Sunday morning at 4:30am I woke up in extreme pain across my back.  Now I have had some pretty awful back cramps in the past, so bad that I couldn’t really walk… but this was so much different.  Just pure pain and in a very specific band across my back, a 3-4 inch section right below my shoulder blades.  When I got hungry too, the pain radiated to that same area through my abdomen.  And it was so weird because I could differentiate between my sore muscles, and this area of pain. 

To make a long painful story shorter… it was awful all day Sunday.  Tried painkillers, ice, heat, mom’s muscle relaxers, and Aaron tried to massage it… but nothing helped.  I laid in bed all day Monday, and it felt a Little better, so Aaron drove me to work for my four hour shift… and I about died by the time I got home.  Tuesday, feeling worse than Monday, I went to the doctor.  He poked around, decided I had probably just had a pretty severe muscle spasm in one of my muscles directly connected to that area of my spine (at least that is what I understood from what he said, lol).  He prescribed me some different muscle relaxers, and put me on a regimen of those and some different painkillers, and said if it didn’t ease up in a week or two, to come back for xrays.  The rest of Tuesday and Wednesday I took it pretty easy, went to work… but Aaron drove me so I could stay on the muscle relaxers which made my reactions pretty slow.  And it finally started to feel better. 

Thursday it was more of just an ache, so I took the day and went to see my niece.  Saturday and Sunday were a little more active with my Father-in-law’s bday party and a full shift on Sunday.  Today, Monday, I’m feeling much much better.  It is no longer a band of pain, but I can still tell exactly what muscle is in the spasm, and can pinpoint that tightness in my back.  Hopefully one of these days, it will let go completely so I can sleep better (I’m typically a side-sleeper, but that makes it worse, so I have had to sleep on my back which makes me not sleep as well) and feel like I’m not limited.

Needless to say, I did not go running all last week.  Today, feeling the best I have, I went for a run.  I went back to week 7 of the Cto5K, and did the first workout: Walk 5, run 25, cool down walk for 5.  In the middle of the workout I did stop a few times when I felt my back tighten up.  But after a good little stretch I would get going again.  I think I probably ran a total of 20 of the 25 minutes.  Hopefully, I can run the full thing next time!  And hopefully the next time I write, the aches and pains will have subsided completely!

Knock on wood!

Sam  J

The Birds and the Bees and the Smell of Fallen Trees

Oh Spring, how I LOVE you.  My run today was absolutely beautiful!  A perfect 56 degrees and the sun on my face!  <3

If I haven’t mentioned it before, I am training with no music.  I found out that I cannot wear my ipod or anything like it during the triathlon (makes sense… don’t want to get my ipod drowned in the first leg, lol).  And when I found that out I decided I needed to get used to running without good tunes to help me through.  It has been interesting, trying to come up with things to occupy my mind, especially as the runs have gotten longer.  Today the sounds of spring really did me good.  The birds were chirping, all the dogs were out barking (which I find adorable, as long as it’s not Maverick barking at the neighbors for the thousandth time), and the chainsaws were going.  Time for yardwork!  There was a huge fir being felled, and boy did it smell like spring to me!

All these things made my 25 minute run feel not as long as I thought it would feel.  Today finished off week 6 of Cto5K!  And I officially have no more runs that include any sort or recovery walk in the middle.  :/  Because my runs are now longer, I am going further and this is what I had to encounter halfway through my run today…

A hill!  And not a little one either.  And yes, I took this picture on my phone while I was running up it!  I definitely ran slower the second half because of this hill, but since my runs will go this long in the future, I am hesitantly looking forward to better results!

On another hesitant note… I’m going to do a 5K… in a week!!  So I might be jumping ahead a little bit, but my Mother-in-law found a 5K for us in Olympia that is perfect for beginners.  It is next Saturday at 8am, two loops around Capitol Lake.  I’m going to love the fact that there are no hills!!  It is all flat, and fairly scenic too!  Let’s hope it is a beautiful day like today!  I am really excited to see what kind of time I get from this first 5K.  And it is going to be really awesome to have a running partner for this race!  I’m a tiny bit worried about the fact that I won’t have run the distance before the race, but when I ran the half marathon I only ran 10 of the 13 miles before the race, so if I accommodate for the smaller race it might be ok.  Hopefully the adrenaline and excitement of Race Day will help… it better, ‘cause I’m running it either way!

Not sure if I will have time for another post before then, so wish me luck!  ;)

Sam

A Niece, a Nose, and a No-walk Run

This was an absolute whirlwind week!  Monday morning I started getting text messages from my SIL at about 4:30am… she was in labor!!  Yahoo!  I spent all day at the hospital waiting with family, and my new niece, Scarlette, was born at 11:31pm Monday night!  She is the most precious little girl!  Aaron and I didn’t get home that night until around 1am, and I was still pretty wired from the excitement so sleep was not easily come by.  But she is so worth it…

Tuesday morning, I had to go to work, and even though I was super tired, I went back to the hospital afterward so I could cuddle that little darling for a few hours!!

Needless to say, by the time I got home Tuesday night, I was so exhausted… there was no way I was going running!  Wednesday I was supposed to work, but that morning between the exhaustion, some dehydration, and a small head cold (can we say congestion and runny NOSE)… I could hardly stand up.  So I spent Wed and Thur recovering! 

Finally, Friday… today!  I worked this morning and then went for my final Cto5K Week 5 workout.  And I did it… 20 minutes straight of jogging!!  It was so not as bad as I thought it was going to be, especially after a few days off!  Don’t get me wrong, I can already tell my hamstrings are going to feel it, but I finished!  This may sound weird, but to keep myself in motion today I concentrated completely on my breathing.  In fact, I counted… all 685 breaths of my 20 minute run.  And knowing that I take 4-5 steps per breath (in and out as one) I ran around 3000 steps!  And estimating from that I think I ran a little under 2 miles… kind of fun, huh?  I am probably going to take the car one of these days and find out how far I really am running.  See if I really might hit 3 miles in 30 minutes when I get there.

Now I am going to go watch some Cake Boss, and dream about eating cake ;)

Sam