Today's Kick in the Butt!

It's been a long time. I haven't blogged. I haven't exercised. I haven't even tracked all my food.

Last week, I arrived at work to find we were flooded out. We were going to be out of work for a week or more. My first thoughts - Yippee! I can get my fitness back on track. Really focus on what I need to do for me for a week.

Well, that didn't happen. Instead, I went off. I did transport my motorcycles back to Calgary. I've been wanting to do that for a while now. It's a good thing.

But now I'm stuck in this lethargic pit. I know. An object at rest tends to stay at rest until a force starts it in motion. That's what this kick is hopefully for.

I joined the DIY team. There is a challenge starting on July1. I need to do some stuff to get ready for it.

1. Do the check in list
2. Take before pics.

I also need to:
Weigh in
Take measurements
Post a pic of my current state
Decide what my goals are for this next week.
Maybe even re-define my mountain.

I haven't really lost any weight in the past few months. I need to make some changes.

One thing I've noticed, when I was progressing the momentum was enough to keep me going week after week. Now, nothing. I need to re-gain that momentum.

This time, I've almost given up on seeing weight loss on the scale, since it wasn't happening.. That has to change. I need to DEMAND losses. Really push myself. I think not expecting them lead me to not push that little extra in order to see them.

So, as crappy as I feel today, I'm going to move forward.

Right now, my running schedule is too overwhelming. But I do need to try and get out and move today. Even if it's just a 10minute walk. I need to MOVE!

I am also going to do what I can to get all this "other" stuff taken care of and out of my way.

I remember how great it felt to be loosing weight. I apparently forgot how hard it is, but I do recall how good it felt. I remember how great I felt to be noticed, and not because of my muffin top. I want that again.

I can get back to Onederland. It's only just over25lbs away. And the next lb is the hardest one to loose!

So, today's plan:
Do the check in list
Take before pics.
Weigh in
Take measurements
Post a pic of my current state
Decide what my goals are for this next week.
Maybe even re-define my mountain.

Drink at least 8 glasses of water
Look up my Hammer supplements for running?
Go for at least a 10minute walk.

I can do this.

Why am I not loosing any Weight?

I have been sitting here thinking. When I was on Sparkpeople last time, I was kicking it out of the park. Weight was just dropping off of me. Now.... not so much

What is different? My diet has changed a little, but not much

It's my fitness. I used to have to log minutes ahead or behind. I would get in hours in a day. Now, not so much...

I don't know if I can't fit in all that time, or if I am just not motivated to try. Yes, I've got a full time job now. I can still fit exercise in on the other 16 hours of my day right???

Okay, so I'm not one for early mornings. I might have to try to change that though...

Lunch time. Too short for my running training anymore. It used to work fine. Not so much anymore. I guess I could go for a shorter run at lunch, and knock 50% of that time off of my longer run later - or earlier, which ever.

It's getting too hot to run right after work. So that's not a good time to do that kind of activity. I could go to the leisure center. Lift weights then. It's air conditioned. Swim. Could bike ride, but gotta be careful about that one too...

Speaking of bike riding. I could park the van and bike more. Why not?

I can also go in the evenings. But this is the hard one. Colin gets in the way there. Okay, partly Colin. Partly me. I don't really want a hard workout that late in the day.

Well, I know a few keys. Hydration. Electrolytes. And Fuel. I need to keep them all on hand during my runs now. Otherwise I'm hooped.

I used to dance a lot too. That burned a lot of calories I'm no longer burning.

No wonder I was so over my time almost daily back then. How do I get myself back there again?

My training runs are getting longer and longer. My speed training is taking almost 1 1/2 hours and increasing. My tempo run is now at 100minutes. My easy run is at 2 hours now and climbing.

So any running day, I'm getting in at least 90 min of cardio. Averages close to 2 hours right now.

Gotta tell ya, that's wiping me right out. Hard to want to do anything on my off days. And if I set the bar too high, I'll fail and give up. I didn't start out at working out 14hours a week back then.

I always kind of felt like my dancing was a bit of a cheat. It was more fun than anything. But I did wear a hrm and track calories burned. So I didn't cheat there. But there's no where to dance here. I miss it so much.

I have been conisidering taking kick boxing or something like that. I just don't know. The cost. And not knowing where to work out locally... I'd have to drive an hour each way for lessons, etc.

Right now my biggest priority is my running. I need to train for this marathon. But I also need to add some other things. Strength training for one. But even more important would be stretches.

Okay, I admit it. I don't stretch enough. Almost not at all. I keep figuring I'll stretch when I need to. Why can't I get it through my head I NEED TO NOW!

Sometimes I can be such a bonehead.

Okay, so I've got a master plan. I want to start to max out the fitness. That means average 2hours of cardio a day, and strength training/core. This is my goal to reach the top of this mountain. Now I need to find ways to get there.


The top of my mountain:
60 spark points a week on Strength training - gives me one day off
Stretching after every workout
Running 4times a week or more.
840 fitness minutes a week - 2 hours a day
Burning over 7,000 calories a week.

Last week.
No strength.
No stretching.
Ran 3(?)times.
Got in just under 300 fitness minutes.
Burned 3587 caloires.

My goal for next week:
Stretch after EVERY run, even if it's only for a few minutes to start with.
Run at least 3 times, maybe 4
Get 330 fitness minutes
Burn at least 3500 calories.

It's not a big leap from last week. But stretching is completely new, so I am making that a priority this week. Learn how and stretch after every run. I think I can do this....

My 200 Day Journey - Day 79 Kicking some Butt!!!

Got up this morning. Room mate buggered off again. His issue. Trying not to make it mine.

Decided best thing to do would be to go running. He came back just as I was leaving. Told him I'd be in touch as to when I would be done.

Started off slow and easy. Kept my thoughts positive. Had a bottle of water (1.5litre) and two Gu packets with me, in case...

And off I went.

An hour later, I was swinging back by the house. Texted Colin and told him I'd be at breakfast in an hour, please bring me a clean shirt, a bottle of water, and an ice pack.

So kept plugging away.

I made it. A 110minute run. Okay, so I did stop for water breaks - enough to drink a full 1.5litre bottle while I was out there. And one bathroom break. Just in and out. I did have to stop and walk once in a while. But I kept pushing.

Oh, I did use up one of my Gu packets too. some at 45min, more at abotu 70min because I knew I needed some energy to get back up the hill I was running down.

Covered 8 miles. Burned 1400 calories.

Then I went into the washroom at the restaurant. Actually started gagging. Guess I didn't cool down right. Oops. Gonna have to watch that.

Almost cooled off now. Have a very slight ache in my head - from my blood pressure dropping to fast after my workout. My bad.

Looking forward to a nice shower, clean dry clothes, and some rest.

Water retention and body swelling

My hands and feet are swelling. I wasn't imagening it.

So what's the first thing I do? Well post in my running teams to ask if they know what's going on of course. And call for a doctors appointment.

Well, saw a doctor. Between our discussion there, and the wonderful friends I have who responded to my posts, I'm pretty sure there are a couple of small things causing this issue.

Hot summer weather. Can't do much about that, but acclimate. It will take time. But in the meantime, I did buy some ice packs to help ice after a good run.

Although I am drinking water, I am starting to suspect my coffee/tea through the day is keeping me from getting enough water, especially for my running.
SOLUTION: Cut out the coffee/tea. Or at least cut it down to 1/day.

Not enough beer.
KIDDING!!! Besides, I'm allergic to beer. Good thing I don't really like it anyway.

Not enough electrolyte replacement. I know this one. I black out if I don't watch this one. So what do I do??? Ignore it. DOH!!!!
SOLUTION: Smarten up! Get in more of the electrolytes after a run. But start to look into the pills as well, to take them during runs. Got this tidbit from my wonderful sparkfriends who run. Especially now that I am pushing for longer and longer distances. It will be come major important.

So, today I'm taking a day off to rest my poor swollen feet. But look out tomorrow. Retention or not, we are going out to pound the pavement!

My 200 Day Journey - Day 78

I am just now finishing entering in my foods for yesterday. I am way low on everything. I still have a single GF donut to add, but I need to get the caloric info off of it first. Still below all my ranges probably.

But aside from that, I'm not feeling well today. Not sick. Swollen. My hands are not visibly swollen, but they feel that way. And my feet. My shoes that are often loose are snug today, with a bit of throbbing in them.

I am so frustrated. I noticed the bloating when I ran a couple days ago. It happens sometimes, and usually goes away.

I wonder if this is a self sabotage, mind causing issues, thing. I don't think so. I am frustrated with how poorly my running went, but if something is not working right, that explains why the runs went so poorly. And now I'm seeing the physical manifestation of it???

Anyhow, I'm not over the top concerned. But I will try to see a doctor about it sometime soon. Not sure if that's possible around here or not though...

Plan for today? I really don't know. Definitely less sodium. So onward and forward with no wings, chips, or dip.

hmmm. Just a random thought. I did have a diet dr pepper yesterday. I wonder if I might not be having some kind of reaction to it? But what could I be reacting to? I used to LIVE on aspartame.

Okay, that was my mind wandering, but good thing I made a note of it. I wonder...

Anyhow, back to the plan.

Less Sodium
Listen. I mean really listen. To my body today. It's trying to tell me something.
If I want to, I'll go running later today. If not, I won't. Part of listening to the body for today.
Eat clean and well today.
Look into electrolyte replacement tablets. Already emailed a local running store (2 hours away) to see if they have them.


The weekend is starting. I have no plans for it. I guess I should start to consider what I want to get done. Or I risk loosing another weekend locked up alone in that house....

Clean the kitchen
Maybe bake some cookies? Cake?
Clean out the fridge
Laundry
Re-organize my living space. Get rid of winter stuff and store it.
Clean up the living room. I hate living in such a crowded space.

Maybe I should just focus on cleaning what I can see. It would take me all weekend. But it might piss Colin off again. I just don't know what to do...

For now, I'm going to check my email. See if anyone has gotten back to me.

My 200 Day Journey - Day 77 Time to put on some big girl panties...

I am so not happy right now.

I went for my run yesterday. Made it to about half an hour. Quit. I just couldn't do it. Heart rate was climbing erratically - just stress actually. But it was hot out. I guess I don't do so well in the heat.

Anyhow, I decided this morning to get up early and try again.

What a farce. I got up. I got out. Same thing. Made it just under 25min this time, and quit. Those chicken wings I ate last night. They stole my energy. They made it so hard to run. I'm not talking a little tough. I just couldn't go on.

On my way home, I came to the realization that not only am I going to have to train with fitness for this marathon. It's looking like I need to eat like an athlete in training. No chips and dip. No wings.




Let me ask you. Do I look impressed????

I've had to give up so much of my favorite foods because of these allergies. Now I have to give up the few comfort foods I have been able to eat????




Okay. I know what y'all are going to be saying. It's really a gift. I mean think of it. All I can really eat are lean proteins, and as many freggies as I want. Dairy is okay too, but likely to stick to skim milk and chocolate silk for after my running.

No wheat products. No oats, rye, barley. None. No derrivaties either.



Of course that means no donuts too...



I guess I'll have to work on my mindset towards this whole thing. And I will eventually put on my big girl panties and just do it.

But for right now...

My 200 Day Journey - Day 76

I know I've been off this topic for a while now. Time to get my priorities straight. Get back to what's important.

I went running two days ago. Got in about 5miles. I finished W2D1 of my modified training schedule. - run6min, walk3min, repeat 8 times. Today is supposed to be an 80min tempo run. But I can't do that all at lunch today. Too much stress at work. Long story...

Anyhow, either I go for a shorter run or I can go running after work. Instead, at lunch go to the leisure center. See how busy they are at noon hour. Maybe start to spend my lunch hours there on my "rest" days.

As much as I would love to run every day, I am starting to push my limits. And I'm going to be pushing them really far over the next 18 weeks. I just might be able to make it. But not if I injure myself.

I have heard so much warning about not running every day. Taking a break every second day to let your body recover.

It is hard for me, but I'm trying to make it work. My plan(???) is to try to get my bike out to get my cardio in on my off days. That and start strength training. Ride my bike to and from work. Then to and from the gym. Workout for lunch. Maybe go for a longer ride after work to get the hr up for a while and burn those calories...

Forget try. I just need to decide and do. Period! There's no reason not to. I used to go to the gym on my pedal bike 5 days a week years ago. I loved strength training...

So I guess my lunch plans are made. I'm going to the center to see how busy it will be for the lunch times. I can always adjust my lunch hour to earlier if it's less crowded...

So that's my plan. Guess I'll blog again later with pics.

************UPDATE



Went to the leisure center. Talked to the ladies at the front desk. Found out that the gym area is usually almost empty between 11 and 12. You can see just how busy it is at 11:40. Nice.

There are more strength machines off to the left of this picture. It's not a huge gym, but it's big enough to have the important stuff. And I won't have to worry about cardio, as I'll ride my bike to the gym from work and back. I think this'll work out great.

I am actually excited to get started. I decided no try. Just do.