I am feeling like a lean, mean, sprint triathlete machine! I feel like if the race was tomorrow I could get through it, although I still have a lot of work to do to learn what it feels like to put all three together simultaneously and swim/bike/run. I am training so well for this tri right now, that I hope I can keep it up for when it really counts, because technically I could have gone from couch to training starting in say March and still be fine. Will I lose my mojo at some point? probably. Consistency has to be the theme of my life this year. Keep getting back on the horse.
I have fallen into a rhythm of 3 runs, 2 bikes, 1 swim a week. And I'm still doing the shred. I no longer hate Jillian. I love her.
When I cold-turkey started biking the 12 miles, it took me 50 min. I have been whittling that down little by little, and yesterday I rode the 12 miles in 45 min!
Swimming will be my ace in the hole, hopefully. I discovered my first session swimming laps that I am a natural in the pool. I love being in the water swimming laps and I can see that Evie's mad skills in the pool are not just a gene-pool anomoly, but actually can be traced back to me. I did try swim team for awhile as a teen, but had such severe sinus issues I had to quit. But I remember loving it then too. I just do not get bored swimming laps in the pool, and I don't really even get all that tired doing it either. I wonder how it will differ in a lake. Well for sure I will not be able to do flip turns, and there will be people pounding around me, I wonder how that will affect my time.
Anyway, my fist 16 laps (equiv of 1/4 mi) I did in the pool after not swimming laps for years and years, I did in 10 min...I did it again and did it in 9 min. Last week when H and I went to swim laps I did it in 7 min, over and over again. We swim laps for 40 min when we go. I also did some kicking laps with the kick board, and that really felt like a workout for my legs more than just the lap swimming did.
So, I am excited for the swimming portion of the race. And hoping that I can whittle another couple mins off my biking. The run, who knows, I think I run 3 in maybe a little less than 30 min, but haven't been on a treadmill to know for sure. I have a new course that I run now...more hills and longer distance, I've been running for about 35 min without stopping and want to get that up to 40 min. In the spring I will start putting the training together and do a bike run, or a swim bike, to see what those transitions feel like.
I am within like a pound of my goal weight and feel really good, and want to just continue to work on strengthening my muscles in my arms and legs and abs and core, along with keeping up the cardio to maintain my massive efforts to pull my body back together!
My pre-cycle week last week was a total disaster with food. Good grief, seriously a wreck! Now suddenly I am not even thinking about food. It truly is the cycle. So annoying. I think I will track this month to see how I feel each week about life and eating and exercising. It will help me not to give up when I have a bad week and eat 4 slices of pizza, or snarf the rest of the bag of potato chips. I will know its because I am a female who does not respond well to horomonal fluctuations and it will pass in a few days. hahaha.
Keep up the good work girls!! I want to FOR SURE have us signed up for something for when we are up in MN this summer. And I really would like to try the TC duathlon this fall if possible.
Goose Ouuuuuuuut.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Normal-weight-obesity
I have always been thin. Yes my weight has fluxuated over the years but to the average person I have always been thin. However, I haven't always been fit. Not always healthy. Before I started running I referred to myself as a "skinny fat person". I was thin, at one time dieting down to my jr high weight, but without exercise. I was winded from walking up a single flight of stairs or strolling around the block. I looked good but I wasn't healthy.
This week in the Wall Street Journal there was an article validating my "skinny fat person" idea referring to it as "normal-weight-obesity". The mayo clinc did a study examinging the idea that you could weight less but have a higher body fat than someone who weighed more but had a higher muscle mass therefore producing a much higher risk for heart attack and other weight related diseases than someone heavier but with a lower body fat. Interesting.
They told a story of a woman who might be me:
"Monika Sumpter, a 34-year-old training manager at Equinox Fitness in New York City, says she once weighed 170 pounds and had a body fat percentage of "a little over 30%," a high reading. She says she lost 45 pounds with diet and some aerobic exercises, but reduced her body fat percentage only to about 25%. So, over the past 18 months, Ms. Sumpter says she added strength training and other exercise to her cardio workout. Although she has put 20 pounds back on, her body fat percentage is down to 14%, she says."
She started 10 pounds heavier than my heaviest but ended at the same weight I ended at. I wonder what my body fat would have been when I was 125 yet never had a consistant exercise routine ever in my life. I too have put on about 15 of those pounds and am now exercising regularly. But I just started doing regular weight training with the body pump class. I have been doing it consistantly twice a week for about 2 months and I really feel so much stronger. In fact one of the instructors called my name out as being one of the "experienced" students that should do the harder moves at a recent class. I feel so much stronger and healthier than I ever felt when I was just running.
Now I sort of wonder what my body fat is. I have always tried to tell myself not to focus only on the number on the scale but this article really brings that home. Some days while working out I think to myself, "do I really have to do this the rest of my life?" I realize the answer is Yes and when I remind myself of all the reasons it is important it keeps me getting up and heading to the gym each day to find those endorphins and give me the strength and energy to get through another day.
Plus as I stare down the barrel of 40 I realize I am entering a stage of my life where I really am at risk for things like stroke, heart disease and various cancers. If getting up and lifting weights a few times a week keeps me healthy and alive for many years to come then it is double worth the effort. After all, I had my first baby young and fully expect to live to see my great grandchildren. And if they get to work maybe even a great-great grandchild???
(I know you are all thinking how intellectual I am to be reading Wall Street Journal but in fact I heard about it from one of my actually intellectual friends.)
This week in the Wall Street Journal there was an article validating my "skinny fat person" idea referring to it as "normal-weight-obesity". The mayo clinc did a study examinging the idea that you could weight less but have a higher body fat than someone who weighed more but had a higher muscle mass therefore producing a much higher risk for heart attack and other weight related diseases than someone heavier but with a lower body fat. Interesting.
They told a story of a woman who might be me:
"Monika Sumpter, a 34-year-old training manager at Equinox Fitness in New York City, says she once weighed 170 pounds and had a body fat percentage of "a little over 30%," a high reading. She says she lost 45 pounds with diet and some aerobic exercises, but reduced her body fat percentage only to about 25%. So, over the past 18 months, Ms. Sumpter says she added strength training and other exercise to her cardio workout. Although she has put 20 pounds back on, her body fat percentage is down to 14%, she says."
She started 10 pounds heavier than my heaviest but ended at the same weight I ended at. I wonder what my body fat would have been when I was 125 yet never had a consistant exercise routine ever in my life. I too have put on about 15 of those pounds and am now exercising regularly. But I just started doing regular weight training with the body pump class. I have been doing it consistantly twice a week for about 2 months and I really feel so much stronger. In fact one of the instructors called my name out as being one of the "experienced" students that should do the harder moves at a recent class. I feel so much stronger and healthier than I ever felt when I was just running.
Now I sort of wonder what my body fat is. I have always tried to tell myself not to focus only on the number on the scale but this article really brings that home. Some days while working out I think to myself, "do I really have to do this the rest of my life?" I realize the answer is Yes and when I remind myself of all the reasons it is important it keeps me getting up and heading to the gym each day to find those endorphins and give me the strength and energy to get through another day.
Plus as I stare down the barrel of 40 I realize I am entering a stage of my life where I really am at risk for things like stroke, heart disease and various cancers. If getting up and lifting weights a few times a week keeps me healthy and alive for many years to come then it is double worth the effort. After all, I had my first baby young and fully expect to live to see my great grandchildren. And if they get to work maybe even a great-great grandchild???
(I know you are all thinking how intellectual I am to be reading Wall Street Journal but in fact I heard about it from one of my actually intellectual friends.)
Swimmingly
Today was a great day. I did a little house cleaning this morning (all three bathrooms are now so clean you can eat off their floors. well until the #1 son goes #1 then all bets are off...) Then we all put on our swimsuits and headed to the local health club. While I got my workout in for the day (yes, I did an afternoon workout, um, hate them!) my husband and the kids swam and swam and swam. We ran into a some friends there and so we swam more. I even put my suit on after my run and lost all track of time until I heard my name being called over the speaker system to return to the childcare center. I guess I was over my time limit and now I have in my permanent membership record a strike against me. Um, O.k.So things are going swimmingly. I'm exercising, staying on task with food (oh, except for the Pizza I just ate...) I'm feeling like I'm finally getting used to treading the weight-loss waters that I have been staying out of so much lately.
I have continued to track my points, I don't even really feel bad about the pizza. My goal this week wasn't to necessarily stay within the points (though I have) just to be tracking the points that I ate.
I also, this week, have put together a summer racing schedule for myself. It's pretty loose right now. But these are the races that I'm thinking about.
1. May - There's a 5K out our local arboretum. It's a race that I've been wanting to do for a couple of years. This is my year! They also have a little race for the kids. I know my littles will love that.
2. July - a July 4th 10k around the lake I live by. Another race I've been wanting to do.
3. August - This one is a track & trail 10k around another local lakes (what can I say, we've got a lotta lakes) doing a trail run has always interested me. I love camping and the woods. We'll see how I feel about running through them.
4. October - The Twin Cities Marathon 10 miler. They also have a kids race that day also.
So I need two more races. One for June and one for September. Then my season will be planned out! Any ideas?
A slightly water logged Iceman - Out
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Dare I?
So Goose and Maverick, is that the Widget kinda thingy that you were thinking about?
Hello World.
Yup, I'm still here.
Nope, I have not ballooned into the Stay-Puff marshmallow man...yet.
What have I been doing? Well, I thought I would use the Q&A format to answer that. I'm assuming (though you know what assuming does) that everyone has approximately the same questions, if you don't see your burning question answered (hardy-har-har) please feel free to ask.
So Iceman, where have you been?
I have been trying to do it all, and not doing any of it particularly well. Let's face it, I'm very busy, I don't get a break when my children leave for school. I don't get some downtime when my children are in quite time. If I'm not teaching, I'm cleaning, or cooking or folding, or.....
How has the exercise and diet been going for you?
Well, do I dare pop my head up, just a little, and say, I've been doing really well for 2 days? Hardly a show stopper but I guess a person has to start somewhere. I'm a Weight Watchers life-er and so, to use my WW jargon, I've been tracking for 2 days and staying within my points. I have decided that is what I'm going to focus on for the next 2 weeks, just tracking, no matter what, no matter what.
Exercise is better. I will repeat my whole life that I am so thankful for my friend Shana and her encouragement and accountability about 5 years ago when we were working-out in the mornings together. It's a habit that I have now and I owe it to her. I've gone a step further in these last couple of weeks and added in a training schedule. For my 36th summer of my life, I want to compete in 6 races. It's a goal I am excited about!
Are you going to do this tri-athalon that your SIL's are doing?
No way man! I can't swim. What? Everyone can swim? Nope, I really can't. I have to be able to touch the bottom at all times or I start to panic and sink. It's all in my head? Well, yes, of course, but, arguably, that's harder to change than the actual skill of learning. Now if they would just allow a boogie board for me to hold on to... Really, it wouldn't give me ANY unfair advantage...
Are you pregnant?
NO! I'm not. Going down that road a 5th time is well, not a down hill road. More like a steep, slippery, rocky, treacherous, mountain pass. Right now I am enjoying my 2 girls and 2 boys. Oh, and the ability to run and exercise and bend at the waist...
So there you have it, that's all I have time for now. The baby is crying, the kids are begging for a snack, the dryer is demandingly beeping...
Iceman Out
Hello World.
Yup, I'm still here.
Nope, I have not ballooned into the Stay-Puff marshmallow man...yet.
What have I been doing? Well, I thought I would use the Q&A format to answer that. I'm assuming (though you know what assuming does) that everyone has approximately the same questions, if you don't see your burning question answered (hardy-har-har) please feel free to ask.
So Iceman, where have you been?
I have been trying to do it all, and not doing any of it particularly well. Let's face it, I'm very busy, I don't get a break when my children leave for school. I don't get some downtime when my children are in quite time. If I'm not teaching, I'm cleaning, or cooking or folding, or.....
How has the exercise and diet been going for you?
Well, do I dare pop my head up, just a little, and say, I've been doing really well for 2 days? Hardly a show stopper but I guess a person has to start somewhere. I'm a Weight Watchers life-er and so, to use my WW jargon, I've been tracking for 2 days and staying within my points. I have decided that is what I'm going to focus on for the next 2 weeks, just tracking, no matter what, no matter what.
Exercise is better. I will repeat my whole life that I am so thankful for my friend Shana and her encouragement and accountability about 5 years ago when we were working-out in the mornings together. It's a habit that I have now and I owe it to her. I've gone a step further in these last couple of weeks and added in a training schedule. For my 36th summer of my life, I want to compete in 6 races. It's a goal I am excited about!
Are you going to do this tri-athalon that your SIL's are doing?
No way man! I can't swim. What? Everyone can swim? Nope, I really can't. I have to be able to touch the bottom at all times or I start to panic and sink. It's all in my head? Well, yes, of course, but, arguably, that's harder to change than the actual skill of learning. Now if they would just allow a boogie board for me to hold on to... Really, it wouldn't give me ANY unfair advantage...
Are you pregnant?
NO! I'm not. Going down that road a 5th time is well, not a down hill road. More like a steep, slippery, rocky, treacherous, mountain pass. Right now I am enjoying my 2 girls and 2 boys. Oh, and the ability to run and exercise and bend at the waist...
So there you have it, that's all I have time for now. The baby is crying, the kids are begging for a snack, the dryer is demandingly beeping...
Iceman Out
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Food. month to month.
Goose in.
Food. Can't live with it. Can't live without it.
I am with Maverick these last about 4 days. Exercise is fine. Food is...eh.
I know its my impending cycle. What happens to us women in the impending "time of month"?? I am serious, I am going to start tracking on my calendar this month what goes on with me. When we are done having babies why can't this issue be eliminated? I am scared that in a few years, not only will I have to live with myself from month to month, but with four others who are less mature and more incapable of handling wild mood fluctuations from month to month haha. help.
Maverick always likes to wrap up her downer posts with some kind of full circle inspiration. But I think I will just wallow for a while longer. I can't wait for next week when this insanity is over, only to return in another month. hahaha. its tough being a woman!
oh, and while i am complaining...it is too cold to run this morning. i am so over this cold southern winter. 28 degrees this morning, ridiculous. will try and get out later today if it warms up to 50 as promised. and someone ate all the banana's so i can't have my cereal.
man someone just smack me. hahaha.
goose out.
Food. Can't live with it. Can't live without it.
I am with Maverick these last about 4 days. Exercise is fine. Food is...eh.
I know its my impending cycle. What happens to us women in the impending "time of month"?? I am serious, I am going to start tracking on my calendar this month what goes on with me. When we are done having babies why can't this issue be eliminated? I am scared that in a few years, not only will I have to live with myself from month to month, but with four others who are less mature and more incapable of handling wild mood fluctuations from month to month haha. help.
Maverick always likes to wrap up her downer posts with some kind of full circle inspiration. But I think I will just wallow for a while longer. I can't wait for next week when this insanity is over, only to return in another month. hahaha. its tough being a woman!
oh, and while i am complaining...it is too cold to run this morning. i am so over this cold southern winter. 28 degrees this morning, ridiculous. will try and get out later today if it warms up to 50 as promised. and someone ate all the banana's so i can't have my cereal.
man someone just smack me. hahaha.
goose out.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Ice cream for dinner?
Apparently I can only accomplish one thing at a time. I am becoming a work out rock star. I was at the gym 4 times last week, 5 times the week before and likely will get in 5 times this week as well since I am now free on Wednesday mornings. And I am excited because I really feel like I am getting stronger. My legs feel firmer and my arms look more defined. However, I am eating like a pig.
Last night I made a smoothie with ice cream in it for dinner. Actually I had already had chips and salsa. We were a divided dinner family so it was easy to just be lazy with my meal. Isabelle was asleep for dinner and woke up late so I just let her eat a bowl of ice cream for dinner. No wonder she is a terrible eater.
Although last night was a low point I actually think the main problem is in snacking. I am eating too many late night snacks and between meal snacks. I know alot of diet plans call for snacking between meals but I really don't think they work for me. I need to simply eat my 3 healthy meals a day. Maybe one snack if I am out running around and going to be eating a late, but nothing after dinner. That is when I go wrong. Even healthy snacks can go wrong after dinner.
So I am abandoning the idea of eating some special way, I really feel like I have good meal habits already, and simply focus on not snacking. With that I feel I can loose the weight I gained over the holidays and be ready to show off my pre-triathlon body when we hit the Florida beach at the end of March.
Maverick flying a little low but still flying.
Last night I made a smoothie with ice cream in it for dinner. Actually I had already had chips and salsa. We were a divided dinner family so it was easy to just be lazy with my meal. Isabelle was asleep for dinner and woke up late so I just let her eat a bowl of ice cream for dinner. No wonder she is a terrible eater.
Although last night was a low point I actually think the main problem is in snacking. I am eating too many late night snacks and between meal snacks. I know alot of diet plans call for snacking between meals but I really don't think they work for me. I need to simply eat my 3 healthy meals a day. Maybe one snack if I am out running around and going to be eating a late, but nothing after dinner. That is when I go wrong. Even healthy snacks can go wrong after dinner.
So I am abandoning the idea of eating some special way, I really feel like I have good meal habits already, and simply focus on not snacking. With that I feel I can loose the weight I gained over the holidays and be ready to show off my pre-triathlon body when we hit the Florida beach at the end of March.
Maverick flying a little low but still flying.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Training a Goose
Feeling very excited about being registered for my first sprint tri, which is aptly named "My First Triathlon". It is at Lake Lanier Islands in Georgia, on June 5th. I am thrilled that Maverick is coming down to join me!
It will involve a 1/4 mile swim along the shoreline of Lake Lanier, which is the equivalent of about 16 laps in a 25 yd pool, a 12 mile bike ride, and a 3 mile run.
Maverick was wondering about goal times. I looked up on the site the 2008 times by age group. I am in the 35-39 and Mav will cross over into the 40-44 even though she won't hit the big 4-0 until Nov, you compete based on your age as of Dec. 31 of THIS year, 2010.
So...
In both age groups in 2008 the fastest time was about 1 hr, 23 min. The slowest time was about 2 hours, 23 min.
Maverick, I agree that your primary goal should be under 2 hours, as is mine. I like to kick it a bit and think I will make my goal 1 hr, 45 min, which would be the middle of the pack.
Breaking it down...
Swimming - I am not worried about the swimming even though I have not swam a lap since last summer. I think I am a natural swimmer and have a strong freestyle stroke. Basically my plan is, starting in March or April, to buy some lap swims at my daughters swim club and go swim laps to build up my endurance to 16 laps. Now my 10 year old swimmer can swim a 500 yd freestyle, which is 100 yds more than we will be swimming, in 6 min. 59 sec. I have no lofty goals such as this. I would like to do the swim in 10 min or less.
Swim Goal: 10 min or less
Biking - This is my weak area, I am not a biker at all, don't even own one. But I have already started training and find that I like to bike for exercise, even though I have only done a stationary bike so far. I am so lucky in that my dear friend H, who is also doing the tri with us-and will be in your age group, Mav-has a husband who is basically Lance Armstrong with a day job. He is a mega serious biker and they have all kinds of fancy biking workout equipment in their home gym. I have been going over there at least 2 times a week to bike on the actual bike I will be doing the tri on. H has been teaching me about cadence and pushing myself. As the weather is already getting nice here, we will start heading outside where H will try to kill me in a nearby n'hood with lots of hills. I know I will be ready for the bike portion by June. I currently ride 12 miles in 50 minutes. By the time of the tri I would like to shave that down to 45 min.
Bike Goal: 45 min.
Running - I am not worried about the running portion other than to hope that my body does not poop out after the swim and bike. When you first get off the bike your legs feel like bricks, so I will have to train by biking and then running to get a feel for how long it takes my legs to recover from the biking as I run. I can already run 3 miles easily, so my training goal will be to bike and transition to running. In my training I would like to start running 4 mi more consistently, so the 3 mi feels like a piece of cake. Like Mav I know I can run 3 mi in 30 min, but after swimming and biking, I am not so sure. I will have a goal of 35-40 min. That seems long for 3 miles but who knows how I'll be feeling by this leg. I will know better as I start training biking and running simultaneously.
Running Goal: 35-40 min
So that adds up to 10+45+40= 1 hr. 35 min, add in a couple minutes each for the transitions. I think a reasonable goal for me to set for myself is 1 hr. 45 min. or less.
Goose Sprint Triathlon Goal: 1 hour and 45 minutes or less for 1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3 mile run.
Goose Out.
It will involve a 1/4 mile swim along the shoreline of Lake Lanier, which is the equivalent of about 16 laps in a 25 yd pool, a 12 mile bike ride, and a 3 mile run.
Maverick was wondering about goal times. I looked up on the site the 2008 times by age group. I am in the 35-39 and Mav will cross over into the 40-44 even though she won't hit the big 4-0 until Nov, you compete based on your age as of Dec. 31 of THIS year, 2010.
So...
In both age groups in 2008 the fastest time was about 1 hr, 23 min. The slowest time was about 2 hours, 23 min.
Maverick, I agree that your primary goal should be under 2 hours, as is mine. I like to kick it a bit and think I will make my goal 1 hr, 45 min, which would be the middle of the pack.
Breaking it down...
Swimming - I am not worried about the swimming even though I have not swam a lap since last summer. I think I am a natural swimmer and have a strong freestyle stroke. Basically my plan is, starting in March or April, to buy some lap swims at my daughters swim club and go swim laps to build up my endurance to 16 laps. Now my 10 year old swimmer can swim a 500 yd freestyle, which is 100 yds more than we will be swimming, in 6 min. 59 sec. I have no lofty goals such as this. I would like to do the swim in 10 min or less.
Swim Goal: 10 min or less
Biking - This is my weak area, I am not a biker at all, don't even own one. But I have already started training and find that I like to bike for exercise, even though I have only done a stationary bike so far. I am so lucky in that my dear friend H, who is also doing the tri with us-and will be in your age group, Mav-has a husband who is basically Lance Armstrong with a day job. He is a mega serious biker and they have all kinds of fancy biking workout equipment in their home gym. I have been going over there at least 2 times a week to bike on the actual bike I will be doing the tri on. H has been teaching me about cadence and pushing myself. As the weather is already getting nice here, we will start heading outside where H will try to kill me in a nearby n'hood with lots of hills. I know I will be ready for the bike portion by June. I currently ride 12 miles in 50 minutes. By the time of the tri I would like to shave that down to 45 min.
Bike Goal: 45 min.
Running - I am not worried about the running portion other than to hope that my body does not poop out after the swim and bike. When you first get off the bike your legs feel like bricks, so I will have to train by biking and then running to get a feel for how long it takes my legs to recover from the biking as I run. I can already run 3 miles easily, so my training goal will be to bike and transition to running. In my training I would like to start running 4 mi more consistently, so the 3 mi feels like a piece of cake. Like Mav I know I can run 3 mi in 30 min, but after swimming and biking, I am not so sure. I will have a goal of 35-40 min. That seems long for 3 miles but who knows how I'll be feeling by this leg. I will know better as I start training biking and running simultaneously.
Running Goal: 35-40 min
So that adds up to 10+45+40= 1 hr. 35 min, add in a couple minutes each for the transitions. I think a reasonable goal for me to set for myself is 1 hr. 45 min. or less.
Goose Sprint Triathlon Goal: 1 hour and 45 minutes or less for 1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3 mile run.
Goose Out.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Training
OK I am signed up for a triathlon. This is serious. I think we need a countdown on the side bar of this blog. Anyone know how to make that happen? Iceman? We have approximately 4-1/2 months to completely heal my knee so I am confident of the run, master faster biking and learn to swim. At least learn to swim more than one lap without having to stop to catch my breath. I am certainly motivated to get in my workout each day. Right now I am doing body pump 2 days a week followed by 30 minutes of elipticle, cycle class once a week and running 2 days a week.
Here is a break down of my thoughts on each area of the tri:
Number one: Running. I am really only running 1-2 times a week at the moment because I am trying to let my knee continue to heal. It is definately improved over last fall when I was in quite a bit of pain after 1 mile but still gets sore. I asked the personal trainer who reminded me that no blood goes to tendons like it does to muscles so while it is healing it will take significantly longer than a muscle. In the mean time I have been rolling out my muscles and tendons every time I go to the Y and before and after my runs. Definately seems to be helping. My friends are laughing at me that I seem obsessed with rolling my muscles. Whenever I have a new pain I tell them I will roll it out. I am trying to figure out how to roll my tricept muscle at the moment. The right one seems to stiffen up more than the left when I work them.
I also am running quite slow right now. I have decided for the rest of the winter to simple focus on maintaining running fitness rather than speed.
Biking: I am taking a spin class which I am loving. As I speed down the flat roads or push up the hills I think about kicking my sisters butt on this triathlon. Ha ha ha. Actually I fully expect her to kick mine because she is far more intense than I am but it does motivate me during class so I will take it. It will be hard for me to get outside on a bike much before the race since the roads will be slushy until about a month before. However, I do have a master biker in my husband who will hopefully push me as we do some biking around town. I will say that I did ride my bike to work a couple times last year with Isabelle in a trailer behind me which included a killer hill near our home and I did great. Riding without that extra weight should seem like a breeze in comparisson.
Swimming: I am currently doing nothing about this. There is a triathlon training group that starts in April at the Y that I plan to join but I am wondering if I should sign up for a swim lesson before then just to get started. I did some lap swimming with Iceman several years ago and we both discovered that fitness in one area of your life does not translate to fitness in swimming. While I do feel like I improved during our weekly meetings I am wondering if I will need more than a few weeks to work up to the 1/4 mile I will have to swim. I do anticipate this being the event that takes me the longest. I can make it up on the bike or run.
The big question...How long will it take me? What should my time goal be? Part of me wants to say 30 minutes per event but reality tells me that isn't likely. Can I say under 2 hours? I think that is where I will start. Once I am outside on the bike I will have a better feel for how long 12 miles will take me. And once I start swimming I will have a better feel for if I will survive 1/4 mile of swimming. I already know how to run and while I know I could do 3 miles in 30 minutes I am thinking of saying I will do that in 40 minutes because it is last and I will be tired.
How about Goose? What are your goals? She has already informed me that she will not be by my side through the race encouraging me and letting me encourage her. She is competitive and will be self motivating to the end. I do have a friend who did a tri with her sister and the two of them stuck together the entire time motivating one another and accomplishing a goal together and even though they weren't in the same age group the younger started back with the older so they could go together. But Goose doesn't have to do that with me because I will just be happy to be there (having driven all the way across country to do this "with" her) and to accomplish this goal I have desired to tackle for a couple years now. (Just a little passive agressive guilt to keep it real. I am in full acceptance of doing it on my own and feel fine about it.)
Here is a break down of my thoughts on each area of the tri:
Number one: Running. I am really only running 1-2 times a week at the moment because I am trying to let my knee continue to heal. It is definately improved over last fall when I was in quite a bit of pain after 1 mile but still gets sore. I asked the personal trainer who reminded me that no blood goes to tendons like it does to muscles so while it is healing it will take significantly longer than a muscle. In the mean time I have been rolling out my muscles and tendons every time I go to the Y and before and after my runs. Definately seems to be helping. My friends are laughing at me that I seem obsessed with rolling my muscles. Whenever I have a new pain I tell them I will roll it out. I am trying to figure out how to roll my tricept muscle at the moment. The right one seems to stiffen up more than the left when I work them.
I also am running quite slow right now. I have decided for the rest of the winter to simple focus on maintaining running fitness rather than speed.
Biking: I am taking a spin class which I am loving. As I speed down the flat roads or push up the hills I think about kicking my sisters butt on this triathlon. Ha ha ha. Actually I fully expect her to kick mine because she is far more intense than I am but it does motivate me during class so I will take it. It will be hard for me to get outside on a bike much before the race since the roads will be slushy until about a month before. However, I do have a master biker in my husband who will hopefully push me as we do some biking around town. I will say that I did ride my bike to work a couple times last year with Isabelle in a trailer behind me which included a killer hill near our home and I did great. Riding without that extra weight should seem like a breeze in comparisson.
Swimming: I am currently doing nothing about this. There is a triathlon training group that starts in April at the Y that I plan to join but I am wondering if I should sign up for a swim lesson before then just to get started. I did some lap swimming with Iceman several years ago and we both discovered that fitness in one area of your life does not translate to fitness in swimming. While I do feel like I improved during our weekly meetings I am wondering if I will need more than a few weeks to work up to the 1/4 mile I will have to swim. I do anticipate this being the event that takes me the longest. I can make it up on the bike or run.
The big question...How long will it take me? What should my time goal be? Part of me wants to say 30 minutes per event but reality tells me that isn't likely. Can I say under 2 hours? I think that is where I will start. Once I am outside on the bike I will have a better feel for how long 12 miles will take me. And once I start swimming I will have a better feel for if I will survive 1/4 mile of swimming. I already know how to run and while I know I could do 3 miles in 30 minutes I am thinking of saying I will do that in 40 minutes because it is last and I will be tired.
How about Goose? What are your goals? She has already informed me that she will not be by my side through the race encouraging me and letting me encourage her. She is competitive and will be self motivating to the end. I do have a friend who did a tri with her sister and the two of them stuck together the entire time motivating one another and accomplishing a goal together and even though they weren't in the same age group the younger started back with the older so they could go together. But Goose doesn't have to do that with me because I will just be happy to be there (having driven all the way across country to do this "with" her) and to accomplish this goal I have desired to tackle for a couple years now. (Just a little passive agressive guilt to keep it real. I am in full acceptance of doing it on my own and feel fine about it.)
Friday, January 15, 2010
Hitting a Wall
OK I wasn't going to weight myself today because I knew I had eaten a little too much sugar on two consecutive days of social outtings. I felt I had really been doing well all of last week so assumed the bad days had balanced it out to nothing. However, I was feeling so good after my hour long body pump class followed by 30 minutes on the eliptical that I decided to see where I was at...UP 2 POUNDS! Now all of this was never really about a specific weight loss goal for me as much as just feeling better but on the other hand the plan certainly wasn't to gain weight and since the start of this project I have now gained 4 pounds! NOW it is about weight loss, I would at least like to be where I started. This is ridiculous. Embarassing even. Normally I like to blame weight gain, especially when I am in a good workout routine, on added muscle. And I do think I have added muscle since starting body pump probably at a faster rate than I am burning off fat so that can be part of the excuse. But now I need to burn off that fat to balance all my new muscle weight gain. My pants have been tighter this past week which I was trying to tell myself was because they were fresh out of the dryer even though they have never been that tight fresh out of the dryer before...So it really isn't fat loss with muscle gain. It is fat with muscle. I am also wondering, and was wondering last week, if my portions are too great. I feel I am eating good stuff but maybe I make too big of salads. Or put too much goodness into them. Or maybe I don't need a cup of yogurt with my sandwich. I think I was feeling like because I was making healthy food I could eat as much as I wanted of it. Maybe not.
And, I should probably acknowledge that I am getting to that age where metabolism slows down. I know it slowed down at 29 and I gained quite a bit of weight over a couple years before I pulled it together. At that time I was totally sedintary and so my body had nothing to do but gain weight. 10 years later I am much more active and the slow down in my metabolism has been much less obvious. None-the-less it does seem to have arrived and I should probably start thinking differently about portions.
Today I am feeling a bit fat and down. To make matters worse I am going to Lion's Tap for dinner. Delicous but likely will not make me feel any thinner. Tomorrow morning though I am going to hit the treadmill early to cap off 5 days of working out this week. Back at it Monday with a new dedication to shaping my body into a lean a healthy machine.
Maverick in the beginner class at the flight school but not giving up.
And, I should probably acknowledge that I am getting to that age where metabolism slows down. I know it slowed down at 29 and I gained quite a bit of weight over a couple years before I pulled it together. At that time I was totally sedintary and so my body had nothing to do but gain weight. 10 years later I am much more active and the slow down in my metabolism has been much less obvious. None-the-less it does seem to have arrived and I should probably start thinking differently about portions.
Today I am feeling a bit fat and down. To make matters worse I am going to Lion's Tap for dinner. Delicous but likely will not make me feel any thinner. Tomorrow morning though I am going to hit the treadmill early to cap off 5 days of working out this week. Back at it Monday with a new dedication to shaping my body into a lean a healthy machine.
Maverick in the beginner class at the flight school but not giving up.
12 pounds!
Yes, I stepped on the scale before my shower the other day and had dropped 2 more lbs, I am dangerously close to my original goal now, like 4 more lbs!
In reflecting on getting back to the body of my 20's, I have really decided to celebrate all this hard work, and own the efforts it took to get me back here.
See, in my 20's I was really thin, even during the baby years, my body just liked pumping out babies, I guess, and was really, really kind to me in the aftermath of the deliveries. I definitely took the body/weight for granted, because in honesty, I don't feel like I did much to get it. Yes I was naturally pretty active, walking everyday with the babies in the stroller, and always naturally ate pretty healthy and really never thought about or obsessed about food...it wasn't a daily choice or struggle, it just happened and so I never had a good answer for when people asked me how I stayed so thin. Good Genes and being young, I suppose! :)
Then...dun, dun, dun duuuuuun....the 30's arrive...I have another baby at 30 which went the same as the first two, but then with the arrival of the 4th at age 32, I think I grew tired...ya think? I guess it was time for my machine-like mentality to cry "Uncle!" Tired, and in my 30's. Overwhelmed. Depressed. Totally inactive. Totally loving chips and cheese and whatever else looked good. Going back for 2nds. Snacking. Wine. Took me 18 months after Grace was born to get back down to my low weight of my 20's. Then, slowly let it creep up again. Then brought it down a bit, then slowly let it creep back up again. Thats where I found myself last fall when I was standing in the dressing room trying on jeans and had my "come to Jesus" moment of clarity and so far have not looked back 12 lbs later! :)
But I will tell you...since that day...I have WORKED MY BUTT OFF! Totally hard. Totally diligently every single day having to choose eating well and exercising consciously. It has not been easy! It is frustrating that it is not easy like it was in my 20's when it was a no brainer. But, somehow it is feeling so much more rewarding right now, because I know I deserve it because i have worked SO HARD for results! And trying to be less critical of the imperfections even when I am thin...yes, my belly button is messed up from my kids, no amount of working out or weight loss is ever gonna put me back in a bikini...yes, I have wolfe thighs that hold on to a layer of blubber for dear life, threatening to mask the build up of muscle underneath...yes, the eyes are wrinkling...the butt is falling...the underarms want to wave at you when my hand does. BUT, I am 37! and I have 4 kids! and I wear a size 4! and I am going to do a sprint triathlon in June! I am doing the best I can. :) I am going to be content with that. :)
The mindset to stay in this game is a daily struggle. Some days are better than others. I totally wish this came without effort, but that is not real life. Not reality. Most all good things come with effort, struggle, sacrifice, especially when we are getting older. :)
I am thinking on touching on depression in a post...anyone interested in my thoughts on that and how these last two months of a much healthier lifestyle have played into my ongoing battles? In a nutshell, it has greatly improved a year long healing process in so many ways. I am so thankful for that, too.
So my "life in flight" girls...one of you is particularly quiet.... :) I want to encourage you to make a decision every day. It is hard. Golly its hard. Some days are failures, for sure. I am slowly learning to not let those failures derail me as I have done in the past. Get back in the game...stay in the game. I think about 2 1/2 months ago and how I looked and felt. Now 2 1/2 months have gone by...some of the days themselves have been hard, but I got through them and kept pursuing the goal and look where I am now! We can do this! In spite of the hard work, it feels so much better than my old mentality of sitting around everyday doing the same thing and expecting a change.
Hang in there my buddies! I love you!
__Goose Out__
In reflecting on getting back to the body of my 20's, I have really decided to celebrate all this hard work, and own the efforts it took to get me back here.
See, in my 20's I was really thin, even during the baby years, my body just liked pumping out babies, I guess, and was really, really kind to me in the aftermath of the deliveries. I definitely took the body/weight for granted, because in honesty, I don't feel like I did much to get it. Yes I was naturally pretty active, walking everyday with the babies in the stroller, and always naturally ate pretty healthy and really never thought about or obsessed about food...it wasn't a daily choice or struggle, it just happened and so I never had a good answer for when people asked me how I stayed so thin. Good Genes and being young, I suppose! :)
Then...dun, dun, dun duuuuuun....the 30's arrive...I have another baby at 30 which went the same as the first two, but then with the arrival of the 4th at age 32, I think I grew tired...ya think? I guess it was time for my machine-like mentality to cry "Uncle!" Tired, and in my 30's. Overwhelmed. Depressed. Totally inactive. Totally loving chips and cheese and whatever else looked good. Going back for 2nds. Snacking. Wine. Took me 18 months after Grace was born to get back down to my low weight of my 20's. Then, slowly let it creep up again. Then brought it down a bit, then slowly let it creep back up again. Thats where I found myself last fall when I was standing in the dressing room trying on jeans and had my "come to Jesus" moment of clarity and so far have not looked back 12 lbs later! :)
But I will tell you...since that day...I have WORKED MY BUTT OFF! Totally hard. Totally diligently every single day having to choose eating well and exercising consciously. It has not been easy! It is frustrating that it is not easy like it was in my 20's when it was a no brainer. But, somehow it is feeling so much more rewarding right now, because I know I deserve it because i have worked SO HARD for results! And trying to be less critical of the imperfections even when I am thin...yes, my belly button is messed up from my kids, no amount of working out or weight loss is ever gonna put me back in a bikini...yes, I have wolfe thighs that hold on to a layer of blubber for dear life, threatening to mask the build up of muscle underneath...yes, the eyes are wrinkling...the butt is falling...the underarms want to wave at you when my hand does. BUT, I am 37! and I have 4 kids! and I wear a size 4! and I am going to do a sprint triathlon in June! I am doing the best I can. :) I am going to be content with that. :)
The mindset to stay in this game is a daily struggle. Some days are better than others. I totally wish this came without effort, but that is not real life. Not reality. Most all good things come with effort, struggle, sacrifice, especially when we are getting older. :)
I am thinking on touching on depression in a post...anyone interested in my thoughts on that and how these last two months of a much healthier lifestyle have played into my ongoing battles? In a nutshell, it has greatly improved a year long healing process in so many ways. I am so thankful for that, too.
So my "life in flight" girls...one of you is particularly quiet.... :) I want to encourage you to make a decision every day. It is hard. Golly its hard. Some days are failures, for sure. I am slowly learning to not let those failures derail me as I have done in the past. Get back in the game...stay in the game. I think about 2 1/2 months ago and how I looked and felt. Now 2 1/2 months have gone by...some of the days themselves have been hard, but I got through them and kept pursuing the goal and look where I am now! We can do this! In spite of the hard work, it feels so much better than my old mentality of sitting around everyday doing the same thing and expecting a change.
Hang in there my buddies! I love you!
__Goose Out__
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
It's still happening for the Goose
I am still kicking!
I got really sick a week and a half ago, on New Years Day, but my stubborn self would not allow me to be down because I felt like I had been a wee bit indulgent on New Years Eve and so I kept pushing myself.
Then suddenly this past Fri/Sat/Sun, even though I was better I totally slugged out. No exercise. By Sunday I was eating oreo's!
I phoned a friend who pulled me together and I got back out there Monday for a 3 mile run and was really suprised to find how easy it was. It was like my body enjoyed that 3 day break or something and it produced extra energy in me. Who knew?
So, with the Shred, I have conquered all levels. So now I am doing one level a day, alternating them...level 1, level 2, level 3, repeat. I still think level 2 is harder for me than level 3. I just don't like it. Did it today. Glad I get to do level 3 tomorrow.
Anywhoooo...eating. I find that I am wanting to cave lately but somehow I have been managing not to cave, but the whole desire to cave in my mind makes me feel like I am caving and failing. I am so hard on myself, I know, it is one of my many weaknesses.
I am at the point where I have very noticable results now and feel really good, but still not quite yet there where I can just maintain. I will get there.
Big news is that I am officially committed to my first sprint triathlon down here in the south on June 5th. I have a couple friends who have also signed up and am thrilled that today Maverick signed up and committed to it! Iceman, cometh!!! It is a 1/4 mile swim (equiv of 20 laps in a 25 yd pool), 12 mi bike, 3 mi run. I am pretty excited about it.
That's about it, just keeping on keeping on, trying to not let myself get discouraged by a bad day or a crappy week in my cycle. :) I am in my happy, energy week, so I have to make the most of it...sad that us women only really get one good week a month! hahaha
carry on!
goose out.
I got really sick a week and a half ago, on New Years Day, but my stubborn self would not allow me to be down because I felt like I had been a wee bit indulgent on New Years Eve and so I kept pushing myself.
Then suddenly this past Fri/Sat/Sun, even though I was better I totally slugged out. No exercise. By Sunday I was eating oreo's!
I phoned a friend who pulled me together and I got back out there Monday for a 3 mile run and was really suprised to find how easy it was. It was like my body enjoyed that 3 day break or something and it produced extra energy in me. Who knew?
So, with the Shred, I have conquered all levels. So now I am doing one level a day, alternating them...level 1, level 2, level 3, repeat. I still think level 2 is harder for me than level 3. I just don't like it. Did it today. Glad I get to do level 3 tomorrow.
Anywhoooo...eating. I find that I am wanting to cave lately but somehow I have been managing not to cave, but the whole desire to cave in my mind makes me feel like I am caving and failing. I am so hard on myself, I know, it is one of my many weaknesses.
I am at the point where I have very noticable results now and feel really good, but still not quite yet there where I can just maintain. I will get there.
Big news is that I am officially committed to my first sprint triathlon down here in the south on June 5th. I have a couple friends who have also signed up and am thrilled that today Maverick signed up and committed to it! Iceman, cometh!!! It is a 1/4 mile swim (equiv of 20 laps in a 25 yd pool), 12 mi bike, 3 mi run. I am pretty excited about it.
That's about it, just keeping on keeping on, trying to not let myself get discouraged by a bad day or a crappy week in my cycle. :) I am in my happy, energy week, so I have to make the most of it...sad that us women only really get one good week a month! hahaha
carry on!
goose out.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Black Beans
Last week was the new year detox. I certainly did better than those initial 2 detox weeks that I inspired in Goose and then never quite pulled together myself. I did cheat a couple times but managed to eat quite well and exercise 4 days last week. I plan to weigh myself tomorrow to determine if it helped with those 2 pounds I discovered last Tuesday that I had gained over the indulgent holidays. One day when I trying to make a healthy lunch but was getting down to the end of the groceries I discovered black beans in my pantry. I had made a small ham sandwich and just wanted a little something more to satisfy myself. I ended up putting a few black beans in a small bowl, added some frozen corn I had left in the freezer, a little salsa (since I didn't have any fresh tomatoes), red onion (which I think goes with pretty much everything) and a squirt of lime juice. A delicious and healthy side to my sandwich. I might have made it a little more ahead since the corn was still a little frozen when I ate it but otherwise it has inspired me to be more bold with my use of beans. I have used the rest of that can of black beans several times this week: I sprinkled them on a salad, added them to an egg salad sandwich and to a cobb salad sandwich. Plus I already love red beans and rice but Goose tells me that black beans and rice with a little southwest flavoring is delicious too. Definately planning to try that soon.
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