Taking another approach

What a week! I was able to consistently follow my workout plan other than for Friday, we were short on time so I went to a Body Pump class with my sister instead of sprints and lifting weights on my own. It was much better to workout with her anyway!
I ran at the hotel on Sat morning. I didn't want to, we got into the hotel so late and had all the kids and us in 1 room. We didn't go to sleep until after midnight so when I woke up at 6 am I was not inthused about running my 30 mins. However, I did do it and felt so much better for having done so. I ran at about an 8:30 mile overall so it was fast.
Monday Jimmy and I got up early to do our workout routines. I didn't do my sprints because my knee was hurting but I did do my weight session. I started a new Strength program;
Squats 6 @ 95 lbs, 1 @ 105lbs, 6 @ 120lbs, 1 @ 130lbs, 10-12 @ 115lbs (I did 11), 15-20 @ 115lbs (I did 16). OMG, that was so tough!
3 sets of 15 each leg
Bulgarian Split Squat; 15lb dumbbells
Step-up; 15lb dumbbells
2 sets of 10 on swiss ball
Back extention
Crunch
Bench Press; 6 @ 70lbs, 1 @ 75lbs, 6 @ 85lbs, 1 @ 90lbs, 10-12 @ 75lbs (I did 11)
Bent-over Rows; 6 @ 50lbs, 1 @ 60lbs, 6 @ 70lbs, 1 @ 80lbs, 10-12 @ 70 lbs (I did 12)
2 sets of 6-8
Close-grip Pulldown; 60lbs
Dumbbell Shoulder Press; 20lbs
2 sets of 10
Lower-body Russian Twist
Leg up Crunch

Tuesday, Pilates. This class was much harder than the one here at the Y. Sweat producing workout!

Wednesday, nothing. We drove up the east coast from new hampshire to maine and had lobster rolls at Warren's Lobster House. OMG, it was so good!

Thursday, was the Turkey Trot. On Wednesday night I told my sister "well, we'll be out there so we might as well do 5 miles instead of the 3 miles" That was stupid. You see it is very hilly out there. There was 1 hill that was a 1/2 mile up, just up. We were expected to run up 1/2 mile hill. I did it but very slowly! I'm posting a few pics of the race.

Friday, Body Pump. It was a different workout, good but different than I'm used to. It's supposed to be synchronized.

Saturday, I ran on the treadmill at the hotel for 20 mins. It felt good to loosen up my legs after a 9 hour ride/drive. I needed to unwind. It worked.

Sunday, I ran 30 mins at a 10 mile pace. My head and legs were not interested. I did the time and felt better for having done it but it wasn't easy.

As I stated earlier, it was such a fun trip. Boston was amazing, I wish we could have seen more but I guess with my sister out there I'll have plenty of opportunity to go back and see new things. But nothing is better than being home and back into regular life. I guess getting away really does make me feel thankful for my day to day.
 
I'm still not in the groove from the trip. Today I finally felt like it's coming back. I didn't realize how much it would take out of me. I'm so not kidding when I say schedules are my salvation!
I've been working out all week so here it is;
Monday; ran at an incline with the girls at the Y; we walked as a warm up gor 5 mins or so, increased the incline to 6.0 with a speed of 6.0 for .2 miles, decreased incline to 0 and speed to 3.5 for 90 sec recovery (repeat X 9), cool down walk for 5 mins or so. Lifted weights with Michelle, she is doing the fat loss program I recently finished. I did the strength program, squats 6 @ 105, 1 @ 130, 6 @ 110, 1 @ 130, 12 @ 115, 19 @ 115; Bulgarian Split Squat 3 sets of 15 each leg @ 15 lb dumbbells; Step-up 30 lb barbell. I did not do abs, I ran out of time and needed to shower and get the kids.
Tues; pilates and SBBC circuit training
Wednesday; ran with Gretchen inside the Y because the sidewalks were way too icy, it is Michigan and winter, we needed to move for 50 mins so we decided to do a walk at a 15 incline and walk flat and jog alternating 4 times for the warmup that equaled 20 mins, then we did a flat jog for the final 30 mins.
Thursday; in the morning I had to drive to Detroit to pick my mom up from the airport. I ran in the Run Through the Lights at night in down town KZoo. There were 5 of us girls in the group who ran it. It was untimed and lots of starts and stops due to the traffic but it was a 5K and it was super fun!!!
Friday; Ran the same incline as Monday but today we ran 10 inclines instead of 9 and on the last 2 I ran much steeper @ a 10 then @ an 8. After Michelle and I lifted weights again. Bench Press; 6 @ 85, 1 @ 95, 6 @ 85, 1 @ 95, 12 @ 75; Bent Over Row 6 @ 50, 1 @ 60, 6 @ 50, 1 @ 60, 12 @ 50 (next week I'll go heavier but when I do that I need to use one of the bench bars and they seem so long. Hopefully it won't make much of a difference); Close Grip Pulldown, 2 sets of 10 @ 60 lbs, Shoulder Raise @ 10 lb dumbbells, Tricepts (skull crushers) 25 lb bar, Bicept Curls @ 25 lb bar, then abs with 10 lb plate crunches.

I also did weight and measurements today, completely disappointing but without regular diet eating and less weight lifting I guess I shouldn't be too suprised.

Weight 151.2
Measurements;
Thigh 23.5
Butt 39.5
Waist 30
Arm 11
Chest 33
Everything was prtty much the same except for the arm, I lost .5 inch. I feel much tighter and look much thinner but I guess the scale and measurements aren't telling that same story. I don't know what my expectations should be for the month of December. Obviously, my cardio through running will be increasing but my weight lifting is going down to Mon and Fri only with a random body pump on Sat. I guess as long as I keep feeling good and not eating total shit I should be fine.

I'm going to try and get back into my morning routine with getting on and keeping a better food journal, that's my goal. As with everything else, I just need to do it!
 
Saturday, today is my last day to do whatever workout I want to do before I start official "marathon" training with the new running group I joined. We will be meeting at 7:30 every Saturday morning starting next week; I don't know if I'm totally looking forward to it or not. I'm an early riser but that's pretty bloody early!

So...because I could do whatever I wanted to as far as my workout goes I decided to go to a spinning followed by body blast classes. Jimmy decided to go with me so that made it more fun, we never workout together.
Spinning is such a sweat producing class, god. I was pouring! I really enjoyed it and I'm actually quite sad that I won't be able to fit any of these classes in. Body blast was a great way to end my week with weights. Light with a lot of reps, it felt very good to not push so hard. Between the 2 my so called last light day was 2 full hours of non stop sweating. I'll be sore tomorrow.
At the end of class the instructor, who I do know and has watched my transformation, asked Jimmy and I to go up in front of the class and tell our weight loss story. I, initially, was embarassed but then I felt really proud of us as a family and almost started crying. After I was suprised by the amount of people who came up to us and asked us more details about how we did it, why we got started and how we are keeping it up. I have been having so many proud moments like these lately. I know I've said it before but it's worth saying again; what we do is seen by so many without our realizing it. We can inspire people to be healthy or not. I cannot be prouder of my entire family that we are being looked at the way we are.

Sunday is my total day off. I'm putting up Christmas decorations and making scones. Great day ahead!
 
I am so suprised at how sore my body is today. I guess it goes to show that there are so many different muscles used during different exercises. Exactly the reason why cross training is so important for overall body health and fitness.

Today is my day to not leave the house. I get to stay in my jammies all day long putzing around the house cooking and cleaning and relaxing with the family. This is one of the best Sunday's I've had in a very long time.

Have a great day everyone!
 
Monday, usually my favorite day of the week but today begins the making a bigger breakfast for the kids so they have fuel and them just having cerael because it's easy isn't cutting it. I have begun, with the assistance of my husband, making their lunch the night before because their lunches suck right along with their breakfasts. So much for getting the whole family healthy. It is so much bloody work, you'd think that they, the teenagers, would be able to make a decent breakfast and lunch for themselves but alas they are too lazy. I guess if I want them to eat better we have to do it for them. Either way, it takes up so much more time in the morning. It's just like making dinner, at least an hour to make then another hour to clean up. I need to stop being pissed about this, I really need to get over it!
Anyway, I was totally late getting out of the house today so I missed my new routine of a morning swim with Dawn. I made it there just in time for the run together then weights.
My run; 6 min warm up walk(we were talking and time slipped away a little faster than anticipated), incline on the treadmill X 12 @ an incline of 7.5 with a speed of 5.8, 90 sec recovery between each uphill, 5 min walk cool down.
Weights; Squats, 6 @ 115, 1 @ 140, 6 @ 115, 1 @ 140, 12 @ 125, 20 @ 125
2 sets of 15 each leg
Bulgarian Split Squat @ 15lb dumbbells
Step-up @ 30lb bar
Back Extention @ 10lb plate
I will go higher in weight for the all next week, although I don't know if I'll be doing this same circuit next week or if it changes. Anyway, it was tough but doable, I would have liked it to be a little tougher.
It was so nice to have so many girls to workout with today. Gretchen, Rebecca, Michelle, Dawn and I (Nicole's daughter was sick). A few of the girls are great about making sure we stretch, which I am not, so hopefully I'll be all ready for my big Tuesday workout.
Have a great night everyone!
Crunch @ 10lb plate
 
It is Wednesday and the 1st day that I've been up and back to my old self. I know to some 5 am is so early, and it is, but when it is the only time of the day to be alone it is worth losing that hour or so of sleep. It is also the 1st night since we've been home that all the children have slept through the night. Granted I didn't get to bed until 11 last night but 6 straight hours of sleep has alluded me for quite some time now. Maybe today I'll get to take a nap. I won't place any money on that one.
I need to vent a little bit about a conversation that occured yesterday. I was in the locker room and a few of us were talking about hair, I got mine totally cut all off, it's now spikey if I want it to be. Each of us were saying what we liked about our own and what we didn't, normal woman crap, when I began stating that I look like a complete idiot in the morning because of the way I sleep and now how my short hair stands up like a fan or a peacock. One of the women, laura li, told me how offended she was at my choice of words about myself and I need to love myself more and how I'm always saying things like that about myself. She is a very nice woman who is very into herself, she is what I would like to call very "hemp" or very "earthy" or very in touch with herself. Now in the past we have talked and as I said, she is very nice just very different from me. I listened to what she had to say and I admit I didn't know I do that about myself as much as she say I do. I didn't say what I wanted to say and for that I am so irritated. Her reasoning is that the more we love on ourselves the more we believe we are worthy of love and all of those types of things. Well, I do think rather high of myself in certain aspects but I am not great in all things. I don't want to go around thinking or telling myself and others how great I am at all things. I have so many flaws and I have certain really good qualities but I think typically I state them as facts not so much as feelings. What happens to me is fact. How I feel about myself is personal. The way I hope to protray myself is assured, driven, maybe a little too much in a sarcastic nature. I don't know why I am so annoyed but I was. I'm tired to people who need constant reassurance by themselves or by their peers. I wish more people had more inner selfconfidence and inner realism. I'm not a person who looks at other's or myself, for that matter, through goggles of love. I see other's for their good qualities but I also see flaws I think that makes us real people. There is nothing wrong with flaws and maybe what I see is a flaw in myself or in other's they see as a strength or a beautiful piece of themselves. I don't know but all this if you think it it will happen to you is such shit. If you work hard enough, if you are disciplined enough, if you set small goals to get to your larger one, those things are what works. Tangible love, I read that somewhere, we don't just get to pray for god to handle things or for us to meditate upon something long enough and it will happen. You need to make, force, coax it or just realize that some things are out of each of our reach. It doesn't make us less or I should say it doesn't make me less to know that my hair, when I wake up, makes me look kinda like an idiot. It's just a piece of me, it's not my whole self that I call that, however, sometimes I do act like one if I get on a roll but that is neither here nor there. I've got to get over this too I guess. I've got a lot to get over lately; probably because I'm totally unorganized and kinda lazy in some aspects of my life and no that isn't a put down to myself it is reality. I wish other people who try living in it every once in a while.
On to my workout yesterday. I have finally given up in pilates. I don't feel she changes it up enough. The workout has become very borning and I had begun not wanting to go but making myself because I hate quitting something. Instead Dawn and I are going to swim on those mornings. So yesterday we swam for 20 mins, which is a very long time for me. You'd think I'd be a much stronger swimmer by now but I'm really not. I totally suck, yes negative but reality based again, at it. I think it's because I don't know how to do it right yet. Anyway, we swam 10 mins freestyle, 2 laps with the kick board and 2 laps with the leg thing, then 5 more mins freestyle. It felts good, Dawn is a pretty strong swimmer so she really pushed me. After that we went to SBBC circuit training. What a workout. A full hour with very little recovery, talk about sweating!
I've been battling a cold now for a few days so I didn't workout last night. I just couldn't get my head back into the pool. I'm done with that class for a while. Wow, yesterday was a quitting kind of day. Anyway, Dawn and I are going go swim a few days a week and maybe by spring I will feel capable of keeping up with the people in that class. I'm always so far behind.
Today I run; 50 mins easy hopefully outside. Yes, it is cold but I think the fresh air will be good for me. Tonight is my first night for the Break the Ice, Borgess Marathon Training Camp. Packet pickup, which I'm not sure what that means. Maybe we get a number like we're in a race. Either way I'm excited. I look forward to meeting other people who are ready to take on this challenge. I was watching the Biggest Loser last night and they said only 1% of the population has done a marathon. What a huge accomplishment if I can finish it. Hopefully, this new body of my holds up for all 26.2 miles.
I'm off to have a great day!
 
I know I've said this before but it is worth repeating; join a group. Any kind of group, the feeling of pleasure abound!
This morning we did all decided to take our run outside even though it was cold and snowing. It was absolutely incredible!!! The temperature was perfect, watching the snow fall made it even more magnificient. When you add that to running with 3 other women, well.....let's just say exercise just can't get any better than that!
We ended up running 4.5 miles in the snow, up and down hills around the Y. Our time was appx. 50 mins. We all, other than Michelle who complains constantly, loved it completely. To be honest I think Michelle loves it too but doesn't want to give in to the pressure of positivity; which it totally fine because her bad ass attitude makes all of us laugh even harder.
A few pics have been posted, I'll post more as I take them. Everyone is a little annoyed with my camera happy attitude but I hope in the end someone will do a scrap book of this journey we are all on together. We are making great memories!
 
Happy Thursday, I got up late again. The difference about today was, I didn't care. I letting the boys get crap from McDonald's for lunch so all I have to make is breakfast.
I am so sore today, I cannot believe how much extra work running outside in the snow is. It feels like my ankle muscles, which I didn't totally know I even had, had the workout of their lives.
Today I swim with Dawn then do SBBC circuit training. Swimming, today, isn't giving me the amount of anxiety as it usually does. I think it's because, well, I don't really know why. This gives me hope for future swims.
Circuit training, I don't ever know what to expect from that class. Work, work, work!
I'm totally looking forward to it.
I'm off to make breakfast. Have a great Thursday!
 
I cannot find my journaling groove. I feel like I'm wanting to sit and write but something comes up or I get up late or I don't know. My life seems to be taking a turn. I was longing for so long to find connections with people who are interested in the same type of things that I was and now, well, I can't keep up. I also think that repeating my workouts is getting old so I need to find another way or something different to focus on. My workouts are pretty much the same. I run, I swim, I...well, if you read this you already know. I'm in a groove that I love so I won't be changing it up in the short term. Maybe now I'll journal about how my marathon training is coming not as many specifics.
Here it goes. I love it. I love it. I love it!!! I feel in the best shape of my life, I look the way I've always wanted to look (I pretend all my stretchmarks aren't there because I can't change them). My biggest struggle is, as it is for all wives and mother's, guilt. Guilt that I'm not doing enough around the house, guilt that I'm not being a good enough mother, guilt that I'm not being a good enough wife or daughter. I feel so selfish for loving my workout time so much. Everytime I say this to my husband he reminds me that he loves me even more being so "on the go" than he did when we were acting like sloths laying around the house. If the laundry isn't caught up he and I know it's ok because dirty laundry won't kill us but an unhealthy body evidentually will.
This new life I have has so many rewards that I didn't realize would be there. It's like the unspoken gift to myself by being so healthy and fit.
So, moving on. Today was the 1st day of my official "Borgess Marathon Training". We met at the fitness center and went into the gym for a clinic. Today's focus was just on introducing ourselves and listening to other's talk about their past marathon experiences. What a great group of people. I usually feel rediculous because I'm the only one smiling on our Wednesday long runs but not here. They all are so into it. They have found their bliss and they are sharing it with all of us newbies. I couldn't stop smiling and thinking how much I love this. We ran an out and back which totaled 6 miles. Our group ran it in just under an hour, somewhere in the 9:30 min mile. It's a hilly part of town but it's good training because the race itself will be in the same area.
After I had even more happy time because Jimmy took the kids on their new Saturday routine of shopping and a doughnut after; I got to go to the Y and steam and shower before meeting up with them for a doughnut. Yes, I actually got to eat part of a doughnut. He buys 1 big bear claw and we all share it, saves calories and $$$. Great idea he had.
Now I need to get my house chores done so that I can start this amazing life I have all over again on Monday. I can now call this my job. I'm so thankful to Jimmy that I have this.
Have a great weekend!
 
It is Monday, my kids all had a snow day so things got moving a little later than usual.
We were short a few girls at the Y for running today but it worked out because most of the treadmills were taken. We were lucky to get 3 together. I feel it is between Dawn and I to be the runners who don't complain or whine or do the minimum. All the other girls don't seem to have the desire or confidence or whatever that is; however, today, I was a complete whiner. We had to run hills again! Today's workout I found on a running website that focuses on hill training. The author of this particular article went to Kenya to see how the Kenyan marathoners trained and hill work is a critical part of why they are as fast as they are, it doesn't help that they are sometimes being chased by large cats. I think that mileage is important but I also think that mixing up the type of running you do is critical to training all the muscles. So I pulled today's workout from one that they do I just decreased the incline to fit our fitness level.
Warm up, 10 mins walk (believe me you need the warm up); Elevation up to 1.0 w/ speed at 7.0 for 1 mile; elevation up to 2.0 w/ speed down to 6.7 for .75 mile; elevation up to 3.0 w/ speed down to 6.4 for .5 mile; elevation up to 4.0 w/ speed down to 6.1 for .5 mile; elevation down to 3.0 w/ speed up to 6.4 for .5 mile; elevation down to 2.0 w/ speed up to 6.7 for .75 mile; elevation down to 1.0 w/ speed up to 7.0 for 1 mile. I ended up totally 6.3 miles.
That was the toughest workout I've done, I think EVER! I was crying during the last mile. When the elevation goes down you think "oh thank god" but as the speed goes back up your legs are like lead. They really don't want to move. It took everything in my to keep moving! It was truly horrible!!! It took 70 minutes to complete with the cool down walk which was really long for me because I couldn't imagine I had to go from there to lifting weights. Of course Monday is leg day. To make it even better I started my new section of the Strength Series of New Rules of Weight Lifting; I had to do deadlifts and good mornings. I'd never ever done a "good morning" before. Let me just say my ass is on FIRE! I can't imagine how I'm going to feel later tonight or over the next few days. My body has become accustomed to my heavy lifts and I haven't had many days with left over pain but I can already feel my lower body tightening up, almost a seizing feeling.
Needless to say, I'm happy I went, I'm happy I finished, I'm happy I don't have to run until Wednesday.
I'm sure now I will not be viewed in quite the same way as I was before this work out in the eyes of my fellow women runners. I'm ok with that!
 
I hurt so badly today. I don't know if I can workout. My back and my buns and my legs are just so sore. I'm supposed to go to SBBC circuit training but I don't know if my lower half could handle jumps and squats and all that crap. I think I might just go and lift my upper body. I cannot tell you how badly I feel. I know the workout was very tough but man...
To add to my discomfort I'm a tinsy bit hung over. I went to a chocolate party last night and ended up drinking too many martinis. The shit of drinking, especially at a chocolate party would be the inability to stop at a treat or two. So not only did I drink calories I ate way too many too. I know this is probably good every now and again, I certainly don't do this often, but it doesn't even feel good the next day. It is the polar opposite of working out. After a hard workout that feels awful I know my body is getting stronger for it. After a great time of fun food and drink the aftermath is disgust and bloat. Obviously, my food issues are still there.
Alright, I guess I've made up my mind. Lifting upper body and sitting in the steam room.
 
Just after I finished posting that I figured out what my workout today was going to be, Dawn, sent me a message that she had a change of plans and was I still able to swim and boot camp. You know I hate being the pussy out girls so I said alright but keep your expectations low as to my ability to keep up.
Again, I say, if you don't have a group of people who are a good exercise influence on you Get One. I felt amazing after the 1st few minutes in the pool, or at least as amazing as I can feel in the pool. My head started to clear, I was drinking tons of water, and my body was completly stretched and relaxed. From there we went to boot camp and I worked my tooshy off. I did treat myself after with a steam so I ended up doing at least one of the things I set out to do today.
I love how working out makes me feel!!!
Tonight, I have 2 kids in christmas concerts. I'm going now to slice myself in 1/2 and make the most of it.
Until tomorrow!
 
I'm looking forward to running today but not so much the OUTSIDE in 10 degree cold ass weather. Running in the snow, I'm good with that. Running when it's below freezing, well...I'm not so OK with that one. 20 degrees, alright, I'll run but 10 not taking the windchill into account....OMG! I'm going to keep reminding myself that "it's not even an hour, it's not even an hour" I hope I can put a big fat happy smile on my face and be encouraging this morning when we all meet because for the last few days I've been the debbie downer. My face is going to be so slathered in vaseline and chapstick I'll be tacky to the touch. Alright, here I go. OMG I don't really wanna, can I cry now?
 
All that whining for nothing! I was about crying all the way to the Y trying to come up with excuses as to why I couldnt run outside but.. It was a beautiful morning. Yes, it was only like 12 degrees but there was no wind. I need to stop worrying before I even get started. It's such a waste of my energy & time. Next time...that's a great thing to know. There will be a next time and next time I'll spend less time worrying about what's to come and spend a little more time getting excited about the adventure of it.
 
I don't know if anyone knows about an issue I'm discovering but if so please let me know...
I had been creating a very firm butt; however, over this past week or so it has started to sag again. My question is...could this be because I'm not paying enough attention to how much protein I'm eating and with all this extra cardio I'm eating it away??? It seems off that a few weeks ago my cellulite was about gone but now it is back and I'm becoming more droopy.
I haven't been counting my calories or my ratios since before Thanksgiving because I know I not eating over what I should but now I'm wondering if I should be counting just so I am eating enough. My diet is very much carb right now. I do eat protein but certainly not over 30% of my diet. Maybe even less than that.
 
That is interesting. I'm not sure but I would suspect it has something to do with not enough protein or maybe not enough strength training? I do notice that after a good strength training session my cellulite isn't as noticeable - something to do with the muscles holding water and being puffy (or something like that I think). Maybe post the question for the experts to answer because Steve might have some real answers for you.
Sorry I couldn't be more help but I am very curious because I run and eat lots of carbs and I'd like to prevent this from happening too.
Good work so far though - I really enjoy reading your journal - very motivating!
 
Thanks for the input, I will post the question on a different board. I have decided to start keeping a food journal again, getting out of the habit of that was probably not the best idea.
I don't think I can have my body both ways. I want to look lean but tough and strong; it's a hard line to walk.
I have let the weight lifting take a back seat to the running because I just can't keep up with doing it all and still function though the rest of my day. My weight lifting sessions used to be 1 - 1/2 hr long now they are after my running for only about 40 mins. The weights are still heavy as hell but probably not enough time put in.
I see you've lost a bit of weight also; I don't know about you but it's hard for me to not want the moon after feeling like I've conquered the earth. I feel so amazing and full of energy and life that it's hard for me to just stick with 1 thing. Maybe I'm a touch ADHD or OCD.
Again, thanks for weighing in.
 
Yesterday was a bitch! I swam 500 meters, SBBC circuit training then at night I went with the family to the Y again. I stairstepped for 20 mins then weight lifting with my husband then plios with the him and the older kids. HOLY SHIT!!! I'm definately not eating enough to maintain this type of exercise. I'm drained!!! I'm going to start weighing and counting my food again. I wish I hadn't gotten out of the habit of that.

Today I'm lifting upper body and running hills. OMG, I've got to go eat!!!
 
I cannot even remember what I ended up doing on Friday but I know on Saturday I went to my running group. It was so cold! My lips burned, my face became chapped; it was 8miles in the freezing cold. This is the 1st run so far this year that I really didn't warm up. It was just above 0 and when we turned a corner and had to run into the wind I thought I was going to cry.
After my run I had to go grocery shopping because my husband was home with 1 kid puking and a different kid pooping. I had never had my legs ache from a run quite like that before. I couldn't figure it out, yes, I ran 8 miles but I had worked my legs up to this so it shouldn't hurt this badly.
By 6 that night I was in bed with my whole body hurting. Of course, by midnight, the realization hit me; I had the flu. For the past 3 days I've been sick. I'm feeling better but not totally like my normal self. I'm planning on only swimming this morning then a short lift tonight with my family. I'm not working too hard at either thing. I'm really just going so I can steam and bake in the sauna this morning. Tonight, it's just to be with the family.
Rest, fluid, rest, fluid.
 
I'm finally starting to feel like the old me. All that is left is some weakness but that may be because I'm still not eating like I should be.
I've got another dilema; the woman who originally wanted me to run the Chicago Marathon can only run on Wed nights but that is becoming too difficult due to my running during the day and because it's dinner time and hard to get away from the kids and my husband. Plus, once the mileage gets long I won't be able to keep up running 2 times in 1 day. I love running from the Y in the morning plus we can get our mid length run in. At night we won't be able to run 10 miles starting at 6 pm. I know, I know, I've just got to tell her this isn't going to work out. I feel really bad because if it weren't for her I probably wouldn't be training for this marathon. She is the one who got me thinking about it in the first place. Guilt, I live and breath guilt! That part of me sucks!
This past few days of having more time in my family life has been so nice. I forgot how much I love cooking and cleaning without being rushed and or exhausted while doing it early in the morning or late after dinner. I decided to rethink my weekly workouts. Here's why that is so hard; I totally love everything I do. The only draw back is the time it takes and the exhaustion that sometimes takes over. I love this body I have now, it is so strong. I'm afraid once I cut way back on the weight lifting I'm going to lose all I have gained. I've read somewhere about endurance athletes during the off gaining muscle and strength by heaving weight training. Then during their "on" season they slowly lose what they gained. I'm a little afraid of that being a reality and losing what I've worked so hard for. I'm afraid of what my body is going to change into with all this running I'm doing. I really want to train well for this marathon so I guess this body I'll just have to accept as part of all my hard work.
All this time on my hands leaves me thinking too much.
Monday, I stayed away from the Y. No workouts unless you count wrapping presents for hours on end.
Tuesday I swam for 20 mins or so. My hips ached.
Today I ran with Dawn and Kate a 4.5 mile loop outside the Y. I so love running outside, it is beautiful if it isn't too cold! I felt a little weak, my hip flexers are tight. Stretching needs a spot in my daily life. I think it's because I don't really know how to stretch properly. I bend over and touch my toes but I don't think that's what one could consider "stretching".
I'm going to have to come up with a new routine for when the new year hits. It's a goal, I like having a goal.
 
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