Triathlon

So a month ago I wrote about my training plans. Since then two things have happened. The first is that I got really sick with something. I don't know what. But I had zero energy and resting didn't help and was incapable of doing most things. I did get check out  by my doctor and everything came back good and I am really healthy just in general. So it was probably just stress and a virus. But I lost almost a week on working out. It happened on a Saturday. And by Thursday I thought enough is enough and started feeling better. I did a walk and yoga and was tired after. The next day I did a short 20 minute swim and almost didn't make it through the day. So it was a bit of a climb back to do what I usually do. In the midst of that I was talking to my therapist and he asked if I was looking forward to anything. And I said no. But I had been wondering about doing the sprint in October I've been planning on most of the year. When I was sick, I realized I didn't want to. I am tired. I'd already decided no more long distance races for the next year so I don't have anything planned after the sprint. I was already planning on a more relaxed year after that. So instead I'll start that early. After the super sprint I have on Saturday I am going to take a break. I want to work on continuing all the sports but in a less urgent way. Maybe 3 runs, 1 swim, 1 bike a week. I want to add on more strength training and gain some muscles. Being stronger would help so much with the cardio sports. So weights and strength training is what I'm looking at for the rest of the year. And next year my A race will be the October sprint and I'll plan on less races for the year to avoid burnout. I need to find the fun again in all of this. I am constantly stressed my life and my husband's condition that I need to find more fun and the fun I had with my workouts. This seems like a good place to start.

Never not training

So 2 years ago I took up running with Couch to 5k and I’ve done quite a few races; 5ks, 10ks, half marathons as well as 3 super sprint triathlons. I have 1 more of the latter next month and then a sprint tri in October and then I am done for the year. It’ll be weird to be done with the race season so early but I made the decision in March that I was done with long distance running for a while. My last 2 half marathons were torturous at best and I realized I preferred mid distance so 10ks mainly. So I may try to pick up one of those. Anyway. My training this year has felt fairly relaxed. I went hard for so long but I gave myself a break for the most part this year. I’ll have to pick it back up for the sprint since that is going to be longer and my first open water swim. I will admit that there is also something lacking in my training. It’s like the challenge has gone out. I’m not motivated to push for longer distance though I have resolved to do a full marathon at least once after my 42nd birthday. So I bought myself 2 years on that. So what do I strive for? I wish I knew the answer. I do know that I refuse to give up. I never want the day to come where someone says “Do you remember the time you were a runner?” I want it to be “Do you remember when you started running and never looked back?”

I do work hard at being injury free. I’ve found that not running back to back days helps. That the swimming and cycling help. One of the things that has been good is adding strength training but that is one of the areas that I need the most guidance and help.  So I guess there is a challenge.

All this training is interesting in a way. I leaned into it hard as a coping mechanism for my husband’s illness. And not to say that I don’t anymore but that I don’t need it quite like that anymore. I escaped into it but now it’s less of an escape and more of a routine. And I am very attached to my routines. That has become more coping strategy these days though not necessarily a good one since flexibility is becoming more important as time moves on. But exercise and time to maintain a healthy body is necessary for a healthy mindset.

(And if anyone is interested, my instagram is primarily sports related if you want to follow along.)

A week without running

I got a new tattoo on my ankle on Friday last week. I'm very excited about it. It hurt like hell. You always forget how much is actually hurts but the pain goes away fairly quickly so I can live through 45 minutes. It is beautiful and I'm very happy with it.

Wait let me backtrack since I haven't written here in a while. About a year ago I wrote that I had started working out again. I didn't go into much detail and I haven't because I've been afraid that if I started writing about it then I would stop and I'd be a failure all over again. But for the most part I've stuck with it over this year. The last six months of 2015 I mostly stuck to my same old routine, indoor video workouts and that was fine. I lost a little weight and was feeling healthy and better about my body. But Christmas came and the same thing that always happens happened. I stopped. For about 6 weeks, I didn't do much of anything. I think I had gotten bored with the same old. But about mid-January I thought alright, let's do this again and after much discussion decided to do the Couch to 5K program. There were some logistics to work out but I started with just walking outside. I like to work up to things. I did that for a few weeks until I started to get antsy to start running and then I thought What the hell and started the program. I was trying to wait out until I was back from vacation but when it's time, it's time. Truth is it was brutal at first. But my husband was a cross country track star in high school and he gave me some pointers and I figured out my breathing was all wrong and had a lot to do with why I hated running so much. So I stuck with it and finished it which is really one of the prouder moments of my life. We did a "fun run" around my birthday and that really was fun and we are planning on a few more 5ks. Because, oh yeah, my running inspired my husband to get back to it! The amount of time we spend talking about running in my house is ridiculous. I'm pretty sure most people would be bored by our conversations. I digress. So the point is that I'm a runner now. I'm working my way up to a half marathon but am now running an 8k training program to move onto a 10k program to move on to a 13.1 program.

Back to the tattoo. Super excited, showing it off to family and friends and, as I'm talking to one of them and he mentions going to the gym, it dawns on me. I can't run with this while it's healing. Fuck. Not only that I can't do much of any outdoor activities or things that will make me sweat. Fuck fuck. Why it didn't occur to me before I'll never know. I knew no swimming. It's why I waited until after a trip to the beach to get it. But no bike riding. Part of running training is cross training, swimming/biking/etc. So all my cross training in the outdoors for what a Google search told me was at least 5 to 7 days was a no go. Fuck fuck fuck. I'm not going to mess up something permanently inked into my body in pursuit of something that honestly can hold off for a bit. I thought okay well I'll spend the week hitting my weaker areas like yoga and Pilates and do some exercise videos. But other than Sunday when I actually did Pilates I haven't been doing a good job. Somehow I can get up before dawn to run but can't make myself get up for yoga. Is a week off going to kill me? No. I feel lazy but other than that I'll be fine. Part of me worries that I'll never go back. But that part is stupid and should shut up. I really love running. I'm not the best but I'm getting better. I have a goal and a plan and I don't want to give it up. So I won't. Maybe a week without running will make me stronger. I guess we'll see the next time I get to lace up.

This is not a resolution

I decided not to make any resolutions this year related to health and/or weight loss. I don't need that kind of pressure anymore. But I would like to take up exercising again. It's something that has been in the back of my mind for a while now.

So the university rec center has started a promotion that if you take 20 classes in the next 4 weeks then you get a free t-shirt. This is something I could never hope to accomplish as that is one class everyday for 4 weeks and I don't have that kind of time. However one of my coworkers is highly motivated for this free t-shirt and so she is going for it. I, in turn, have become inspired to at least try the rec center once a week. So yesterday I went to the barre workout with her. I was nervous because while she is 27 and looks like a college student, I'm fairly certain no one is mistaking me for one. She assured me that the students don't care and they aren't going to judge me as the "old lady." And she was right. Mostly they were trying to keep up and figure out the moves same as me.

Mostly when I work out at home I do walking or aerobic workouts and nothing is ever strenuous because I'm a toe in the water kind of person. Not that the barre workout was strenuous. It just worked my muscles groups (my legs mostly) in a way that they are not use to. Which is good but also oww. It was a lot of ballet moves (as expected) with some push-ups throw in at the end. I enjoyed the class and was happy I went even if I'm sore today. I'm definitely going to try to go once a week while she is working on her t-shirt and maybe even after. I'm hoping that it motivates me to do some workouts at home. But mostly it was nice to 1. do something that did not involve my children and 2. do something just for me.

The Walking Club

It's amazing that it's mid-February and I'm still working on this healthy goal. Amazing because there's always a good chance of me just quitting. I ended up joining Weight Watchers after all. I like their program even though I have to get use to this Points Plus thing. So I am once again learning how to eat healthy but, more than that, think about what I am eating and whether an entire chocolate bar is worth the points. Case in point, the other day BT bought mini chocolate donuts for dessert. But I only had a few points left. So I could have one mini donut or I could have some of the Ready to Go Sno-ball I bought the other day for the same amount of points. I went with the thing that gave me more for the same amount of points. I think that is what Weight Watchers teaches (or it should) more than anything. To think about what you are eating and make healthy choices. One day I won't even have to think about brown rice over white and I hope my kids will do the same. I'd like to teach them now about healthy choices so hopefully they won't have this struggle too. Because sure they are small now and a bit underweight (or at least him. She's got a pretty round little belly right now) but that might not always be the case.

And, in the second burst of healthy choices, I joined the university Walking Club. It's part of a study by one of the Allied Health professors but I thought it might be a good motivator. It's a 6 month study so I am obligated to do this walking thing 3 times a week at minimum for 6 months. We have to record our steps and send them in weekly. It hasn't been a full week yet but so far I've done alright. Two of my co-workers signed up and that is going to helpful. It always helps me to have someone telling me that we have to get up and walk around. So now I am a member of a walking club. Look at me, making good choices!

Seven times (The Healthy Goal)

How many times have I written this post? About being healthy, losing weight, doing something to feel better about me. I'm afraid, to be honest, that I will keep writing this post which means I will keep starting over rather than sticking to it. But I said that a goal of mine this year is to get healthy and part of that is losing weight and becoming more active. I was going to join Weight Watchers to start but if I'm being honest right now I don't want to spend that money. Can you put a price on your own health? No, but I can refrain from spending $50 right now that I could use for something else like dinner or gas or dentistry for my child. Instead I downloaded My Fitness Pal, a free app that lets put in your goals and keep track of all that you eat, drink, exercise, etc. You can put in how much weight you want to lose (1 lb a week for me) and it will calculate how many calories to consume in a day. It also factors in any exercise that you do. It reminds me of the Weight Watchers online but there are no points. Frankly I like points. It's easier for me to keep track of points in my head but until I decided to put down the money on that system, this will have to do. I decided to start on my first day back at work because I can only eat what I bring in contrast to being at home where I have all that food (haha like we have food in our house) available. So how's that working out? Not too bad. But it's only day 2 and I'm fighting the urge to be negative about the whole thing and just try.

I did get up yesterday and do a 30 minute walking workout video and I'm proud of that. I was going to get up again this morning for Pilates but last night was the coldest night we are probably going to have all year and I was loathed to drag myself out of my warm bed plus I somehow hurt my foot. But my plan is to definitely do cardio (like a walking video) at least 3 times a week and then intersperse Pilates or yoga in the days in between. If I don't do the Pilates or yoga then it's whatever because right now I'm viewing them as bonus and the cardio is really what I am looking for.

Right now I am cautiously hopeful about this whole thing. I went for a long time with excercising everyday and I know that I can do it again. I just have to believe in myself and get some stick-to-itness in my attitude

The Second Day

I've been trying, mostly in vain, to get back into a workout routine pretty much since Button was born. Well, almost. And then I was going to start in earnest when Bub was out of school this summer and then again when he was back in school. My trouble is the second day. I've gotten up multiple times and done some sort of workout, usually a video, but I can't seem to follow through to a 2nd day. I'm not sure how to motivate myself. I mean, if the fact that my clothes don't fit anymore and I feel gross most of the time doesn't do it, then what will? I've gain some weight ever since Button weaned. I didn't realize what breastfeeding was keeping at bay until we stopped. And part of that is just readjusting my eating to sustain only me and not a baby too. That part I've worked out though I still am not making the best choices sometimes.

I would like to work out again. I always felt better about myself and my day when I did. It's just so freaking early in the morning. The only time I can do this is before everyone wakes up. I don't have the time after work though I suppose I could get my lazy butt up at break times at work and go walk around. I use to do that. The weather is super nice right now so it would be a good time. I just can't seem to get my motivation going these days and I'm not sure what to do about that.

Up and at'em

So I did it. I dragged my lazy butt out of bed and once again started exercising again. I'm going to have to establish a new routine but this morning seemed to run fairly smoothly. I woke up, got dressed, nursed Button, did my workout and then got dressed for the day. I was a little late leaving the house but then when am I not? But I was still at work on time. Bub's new alarm clock helped though he turned it off and went back to bed. He told me that he wasn't ready to get out of bed. Well, buddy, me neither but here I am. Anyway. I really need to get up about 5 or 10 minutes before I did but I did 30 minutes of video and that's more than I've done in a while. So we will see. I really want to stick with it. I was doing so good for so long that I think I can do it again.

Here we go again

So I resolved to exercise more, specifically to do the Couch to 5K program. BT agreed to do it with me and as of today he has completed week 1. Meanwhile, I am, well, still on the couch. I had decided to start on Sunday but it is cold and wet outside and I'm a chicken. It's been a year since I have really worked out and I'm afraid to start with something so strenuous. So this morning when BT came back from his run I mentioned this to him. I think I am going to do the same indoor exercise videos I had been doing to get myself back up to speed and by the time I plateau with those videos it will be light enough outside for me to start running in the morning. Because the other issue I have to resolve is when to do it. Mornings are really the only time for me. Evenings when I get home are taken up with the feedings and homework and bath times and bedtimes. Plus I only have about 4 hours with my kids at night so I want to do things with them. But it's still dark in the mornings and while we live in a safe neighborhood I am still not comfortable running in the dark. It should be getting light out earlier soon so it makes sense for me to wait and in the meantime do something I am comfortable with in the house. I don't know if it will happen today but definitely in the morning. For sure this time.

21 days followup

So I wrote at length about my 21 days to form a healthy habit. I'm happy to say I stuck it out for the most part. And then I decided to take up running. Did that like twice and quit everything all together. It's too hot right now for outdoor activities at least for me. I'm going to try again in September. Anyway, I got sick around mid-July and I realized that I am pushing myself too far. Right now I'm trying to get up at 5 a.m., nurse the baby, pump, work out, and then get myself and Bub ready for the day. I think that is why I got sick and I realized as much as I want to be skinny, I need to stay healthy in order to take care of my kids and in order to work out. A sick mommy is nobody's friend. So I decided to take a couple of weeks off of working out, figure out how to get Button asleep earlier without a lot of drama, and get to a better rested place in my life. It looks like next week I'll be able to start again. Though weirdly enough I have lost a little weight since I started getting more rest.

Day 6-8 in which I embark on utter madness

Day 6 and 7 - Ah, the weekends. My downfall always. I didn't do any exercise unless you count cleaning the house (hint: I do). I did do some shopping and walking around on Saturday and then cleaned on Sunday. Mopping is hard work, okay? I bought an armband so I could embark on my new obession, the Couch to 5K program. I also downloaded a podcast that keeps the time for you, provides the right beats per minutes and also has cues to alert you when it is time to switch from running to walking and vice versa. That lead to ...

Day 8 - I got up at 5:15, nurse the baby girl, pumped and then got dressed. So I made it out of the house at 5:50. I really have got to get up exactly at 5:00 to start this routine. Anyway, I did it. I did the first day of C25K and I am so happy with myself. I mean I sweated forever even after my shower and my legs and butt and arms (for some reason) are hurting. But it felt good to do something beyond my normal. It wasn't too bad in the morning because the sun is not fully up but it still got hot out there. Running is so not my thing but they say you start to like it after a while. I am not convinced of this fact, but everyone has to start somewhere. I'm thinking of taking the big dog out with me. He'd like the running and being outside. Anyway I'm starting at 3 days a week so tomorrow will be an off day. Rather than taking the day completely off I might do some Pilates for stretching and low impact exercise. Regardless I'm chalking today up as a good job done. 

Day 5

So I did a 20 minute WAtP this morning. That was good. Then I stopped at Starbucks and made a great breakfast choice of their spinach feta wrap with egg white. And made a horrible choice in drinks. You know when you do something and then immediately regret it. Yeah that was me. Better choices. That is going to be one of my challenges. I know what I should get but I don't always get it. I need to work on that. Weight Watchers was good at getting me to make the right choices. There is something about the points system that makes me want to do the right thing because I hated wasting points on something stupid. You'd think that would translate the same when counting calories but my mind doesn't think about it in the same way.  Plus I find 5 points for something is easier for me to compute than 300 calories. So next goal is to get onto Weight Watchers. I just need to establish a workout routine before I start that.

This morning a friend posted about the Color Run which looks really interesting to me. Apparently you run or walk this 5k and at intervals you get blasted with color so by the finish line you are rainbow colored and then there is a big party. This actually looks fun to me! And they will be in New Orleans in November. I would love to do this but I don't know if it will work out being so close to Thanksgiving and all. Something to think about. But this lead me down the internet road to the Couch to 5k program. I've heard of it before and know some people who have done it. But I never liked running so I didn't look into it. Now I'm seriously considering trying it. It use to be that I couldn't leave the house in the mornings since I couldn't leave my son alone and I wasn't going to wake him up. That's why my primary exercise routines have been in the house (well, that and it is crazy hot). But BT is home in the mornings now so nothing is stopping me from going outside (except the heat). So I am giving the C25K some thought. Maybe after these 21 days are up. Maybe before. We will see.

Day 2,3,4

Day 2 - I got up and worked out for 25 minutes. I ate fairly well and managed around 4 veggie/fruit servings. Not great but have to start somewhere.

Day 3- Did not get up and exercise. Instead I decided to lay down while I nursed the baby girl (Button). This is a mistake I knew I was making when I did it because I will very often drift off while she is eating and lose 10-15 minutes. But it is just so nice to be with her. I meant to make it up during the day but I didn't. I ate really badly too and had soda. So this day was a wash.

Day 4 - Today. Did one mile of a Walk Away the Pounds video with the cool down so it was about 15-18 minutes. Eating has been pretty healthy and I didn't mark it down but I'm willing to bet that I haven't got my calories in today. Drank all water with the exception of a hot chocolate. So far around 3 servings of fruit/veggies and some good fiber.

I'm noticing that I have a hard time doing a walk during work time. I really need to get up and at least walk around the building or something. More fruits and vegetables always and small snacks rather than large meals would be a good idea. But so far I've made it up 3 out of 4 days and that is something.

Working out

I am not an exercise person.  But for close to 2 years I've been dragging my butt out of bed at 5:30 most mornings and working out.  I can't leave my house since my son is sleeping and I'm not waking him up.  So I mostly do exercise videos.  I've been doing the Walk Away the Pounds DVDs for about 6 months or so and I like them.  At first I scoffed because I'm mean, a video of walking.  I've been walking for over 30 years just fine.  But it turns out there is more than walking with some light aerobics moves thrown in and very some very easy strength training.  Lately I've been tired so this is perfect for me.  I wouldn't say there were for hardcore exercisers.  Not at all.  But they are great for people like me.  I like to alternate WATP with either pilates or yoga for some stretching.  It's working out okay.  Better when my alarm goes off in time unlike this morning.  But I'm doing what I can and I feel better for it and I guess that's all I can ask right now.

Workout routines

We all have routines.  I live almost solely on a routine and most of the time it makes me happy.  Last year, around August, I decided to change my routine and incorporate some exercise.  Back before I was a mom I used to workout when I got home from work, but that fell to the wayside once I had my son.  One day I realized that I hated how much weight I had put on and I needed to do something about it. Put up or shut up.  But given the fact that exercising in the evening was no longer an option, I decided I need to drag my butt out of bed in the morning.  So I started getting up at 5:30 a.m. and working out.  Mostly using videos because I can't really leave the house and my sleeping son.  I have actually stuck with it for the most part except for a few weeks here and there and I am proud of that.

I've finally reached the point where I know what kind of workouts I want to do after much trial and error.  I really like the "Walk Away the Pounds" series and the Self fitness videos with the strength training.  My plan is to alternate a walking video on Mondays and Thursdays with a strength training video on Tuesdays and Fridays and save Wednesdays for Pilates.  However I am having a tough time getting into that routine.  I somehow always manage to skip Wednesdays and then sometimes I get to Thursdays and don't get up.  This morning I didn't wake up in time so I didn't do anything.  I plan on making that up at some point.  Most of the time I am getting in 3-4 days which is good but not quite to the level I want.  Oh well, try and try again, I suppose.

is becoming one of *those* people

Since August I have been doing really well with getting my lazy ass out of bed and working out before starting the rest of my day.  And I am beyond proud of myself because two of my least favorite things are working out and getting out of bed.  But it has to be done and so I am doing it.  Fine. 

But for Christmas we have a two week break at work and I had a plan.  I was going to go outside and walk the big dog every day thus insuring exercise and fresh air and good will for us both.  Alas, it didn't work out (no pun intended, maybe a little).  I only walked that poor dog once.  I feel bad.  I mean I didn't promise him or anything so he didn't know (yes, I know he is a dog).  But I really wanted to do this.  But I had a lot to do the week before Christmas and the week after come to think of it.  So I didn't walk the dog and I didn't exercise either unless you count shopping and cleaning the house (I do).  But I was feeling really sore and achy.  So this morning I did some aerobic Pilates and I feel really good today.  So that was what I was missing.  I think I am becoming one of those work-out people.  That's just great.  I promise I'll try to keep it to myself.

A new workout

I've been doing a lot of cardio lately.  I know to lose weight I need to do more aerobic type exercises so I've been working on that.  And last week I barely made it out of bed, much less to excerise so what I did do was all cardio.  That's fine.  I just wish I would have done it for more than 3 days, but sometimes I just can't.

But this week I'm not letting it go.  Monday I tried to do a video I got from the library and it was terrible so I felt like it didn't do so much.  Today I did, I admit a little embarrassed, Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease.  It was actually fun!  Not really very aerobic because I did the warm-up and then the instruction for routine 1 and then the full run through for that routine.  There was a little more standing around then was really good.  But I imagine once I learn both routines I can do the warm-up and then the 2 routines more.  It really was pretty cool and Carmen Electra seems really nice and she does a good job explaining.  It's not a workout that really gets a good sweat up or anything but something fun for when exercising seems like a huge burden.

Working out

ast year around this time I decided to lose weight and get healthy.  There were a variety of reason, but the actual beginning came from this thought: I will not be able to have another baby, gain the 30 lbs or so that comes with that and not end up with gestational diabetes or something.  For Bub I was borderline diabetic and I just know somehow that I would definitely have it if I didn't do something.  So it was the thought of my unborn, imaginary second child that did it.  I was always able to eat healthy and exercise when I was pregnant.  I didn't want to be responsible for doing something wrong that could negatively effect my baby.  I was really good.  I swam a couple times of week and ate right (most of the time) and did all the right things.  I think the worst thing I did was drink a mini-Coke everyday because I craved the taste.  And then I had Bub and never lost the weight.  I think I gained about 10 lbs more from my pre-pregnancy weight in fact.  But I let all this slide for a long time.

But now Bub weighs about 30 lbs and carrying him is a strain.  So the extra 30 lbs that I would not be able to put down worried me.  I got a pedometer for Christmas last year and walked and tried to attain 10,000 steps a day.  I did alright.  And then it got hot and I stopped.  I wasn't comfortable walking around my library, with all the students around and it was much too hot to go outside and sweat.  So I just let it fade off.

And then around August, I saw that Netflix streamed workout videos and this seemed like a sign.  My sister-in-law had asked me to be in her wedding and I was worrying about being the fat girl in the wedding and I was still worried about the weight gain of the second child that I keep planning.  I had lost about 10 lbs and then stalled because I had changed my eating but wasn't burning anything off.  I can't work out when I get home.  Bub is too whiny and too needy and he won't let me exercise so my only choice was to get up in the morning.  I am not good at mornings.  But I hauled my ass out of bed at the beginning of August at 5:30 and started exercising.  I was very proud of myself.  Look at me!  One of those working out people.  Like all healthy! And surprising I have kept it up and lost another 10 lbs.  I've had some bad weeks where I barely did anything at all, mostly because of sickness.  And I jumped around between videos (I have to do videos because I can't leave the house) a whole lot.  But I've finally figured out a good routine, doing mostly aerobic exercise(to burn fat) with alterations of strength training (to build muscle) and Pilate's (to lengthen and tone) and it's working well for me and I'm feeling pretty good.

Workouts

ast week I got up at 5:30 am to exercise.  Now if you knew me IRL, then you'd know that 1.  I don't like to get up in the morning and 2. I don't like to exercise.  I set a goal though at the beginning of the year and did really well for the first couple of month and then I slacked off.  And then I recommitted and slacked off.  But last week I decided enough was enough and if I couldn't /wouldn't exercise during the day then I was getting my ass up and working out at the crack of dawn.  And I did!  And I am very proud of myself.  I've done a variety of workouts to find what I like the best.  I have some dance workouts streaming from Netflix that I liked, I got a belly dance workout from the library that I didn't like and I got another one that I did like.  I did a Hula workout this morning that was fun and good for a Monday morning.  I must admit that it isn't too bad getting up.  Once it is light outside at 5:30 on the mornings that BT is still home, I think I will go walk outside.  But the videos are fun and at least I'm up and moving and it makes getting ready easier.  This morning I was even ready 30 minutes early!