Who gets 100% for attendance...
I didn't expect to go to the gymn yesterday and be taken to one side...
Apparently they run a little monthly competition and offer prizes for the highest attendance. And at number 1..... ME! With 33 visits. Now I am under no illusion that this actually means anything- it's since I've split my training into lunch and after work, but it was nice. I texted the lovely BF to explain I had 100% for effort and now just needed to work on the results, and he responded that he thought the results were stunning. Not blowing my own trumpet but I want to record that so I can read back when I can't get my backside off the couch, and use it as motivation (you only get out what you put in...)
45 mins fast on cross trainer yesterday and a short run afterwards, lower body weights at lunch today, body combat and a very short cross train and I'VE BOOKED MY SWIMMING LESSON. 7pm next Tuesday I shall be in the baby pool learning how to crawl. I think it's approximately 28 years since I learnt to swim, and had my last lesson but the teacher seems lovely. Can't wait.
On a less effusive note, I am back up to 166. You could say that it was water weight but I think it is more likely to be the results of the weekend's booze. Ridiculous! So now I need to get tow pounds off to get to my 20lb milestone. It would be so nice to have dropped 3 or 4 pounds by Barcelona (4 weeks) which is achievable but I need to focus more.
The good, the bad and the downright great!
Good- run on Saturday morning.
Bad- realising that just because my day is fairly empty, my body will not suddenly be able to work out for the whole of it. I did 50 mins on Saturday on the cross trainer before a niggle turned into a pain in my left calf. Oh, I am so not a machine!
Good- night out with my fabulous girlfriends- 6 hours dancing (including at one point a pole- thanks Mrs N)
and a little too much to drink. Oh, and the fact the rugby team, of which my little brother is one, were out (dressed as lifeguards)
Bad- the fact that as my lovely BF was away in London with famous people, I sent a photo of my pining soul (with obligatory random lifeguard) at 3am and he thought that he wasn't real!! Yep, he thought that I had mocked up a photo in order to convince him I was hanging out with gorgeous men. He knows I adore him so it's just nice t be able to joke around.
Good- swimming 1000m in 32 minutes on Sunday night.
Bad- coming back to work and being too busy to eat properly today, hence crashing and burning a bit after weights at lunchtime and 30 mins cross trainer tonight.
Good- still at 165. At 164 I will have lost 20lbs, which I'm sure is the size of a small child.
Oh, and
great- people reading my blog (which is more of a stream of consciousness joural for me) and REAL ATHLETES leaving me comments!! Thanks ladies!
Slipped on a slug
Yes quite literally. I only ran 2 miles this morning because of the sudden death of the slippery one- something didn't feel quite right after slipping. I think I'm currently running a whole 6 miles per hour page at the moment, which although isn't great, is 33% faster than I can power walk.
Breakfast, then spinning, then swimming. Then seeing my girlfriends!!!!
Tomorrow will probably be a light exercise day- although there's nothing in the world like blastig out the remnants of the Saturday night wine like a good blast on the cross trainer for me.
Monster day today!
Since I've started trying to eat a bit more, I have really got my groove back and am reaching new levels (for me) on my workouts,
Today was weights at lunchtime, and after work- 5k on the cross trainer, advanced spinning class and 400m swim (and then food shopping afterwards)
Today I rock. Tomorrow I won't as I am planning on running/ walking 4.5 miles (as I can only actually run a mile non stop, this will be interesting. My goal is to time myself and use this as the base line, so as my running increases my time will go down) and then another spinning class. And then dancing with my girlfriends and drinking southern comfort in the evening. Sunday may be a rest day!
Down to 165. It's funny that I'm at a stage where the numbers on the scale don't bother me as it's not about the numbers anymore. It's about what I can do and being better than I was last week, or last try or last whatever.
That feels good and is possibly why today I rock!
Momentous occasion
I ran 1 mile tonight without stopping!! And I managed my asthma breathing throughout. I've decided to take what I've been practising in the gymn out on the road. The course is only short (2.4k/ 1.6 miles) but I've never been able to run this far before without getting out of breath and having to take a walk break.... strange as I can do a full advanced spinning class and 60 minutes on the treadmill.
They say to concentrate on doing the things you're poor on, so my running needs to go further up the agenda. It won't be long before I'm doing 5ks. I don't want to do a couch 2 5k program as I would give myself licence to walk when I could just push through.
1 mile does not an ironman make, but sitting here flushed and sweating it is a little victory for me.
Training is good, blood sugar is bad
I swam at lunchtime- woke up and looked out the window and it was blowing a gale, so didn't run at 6am. Pretty good job as well as afte 35 mins doing a massive hill on the cross trainer straight after work, I pretty much felt like I was going to pass out. I calculated and had eaten 900 cals to that point, so I've hardly been depriving myself. I obviously then over loaded on protein and carbs but feel so much better for it. On track for the week still.
If I'm doing a big exercise session I'm currently eating about 1600 a day (and dropping a good pound a week) which should really be enough for 600- 700 cals of exercise but I'm thinking about trying some power bars or something to eat half an hour before leaving work.
Good news- have a meeting with the swim teacher next Weds. I may learn how to crawl. That is not another reference to drinking, Blogger!
Bad news- as a new blogger, I know why Adsense is Baaad! It is not very motivating to log on and see the adverts of choice Binge Drinking, Calories etc.. Oh Blogger, please advertise ways to self- fulfillment on my site (and not iN a XXX way which is what I'm likely to end up witH!!)
Note to self: Do not drink and train!
Well last night's date with OH ended up with far more wine than I should've drunk, as well as tapenade toasts, moules marinieres and half a chocolate brownie. It's really cool to get out and let my hair down but god, I felt it this morning. 5k and I was dripping with sweat- sweat was pouring from my eyelids! Felt better after though.
Note to self- binge drinking does not support my quest for health and fitness. However, it was great to get out with Paul and have a laugh. The next time we'll probably go for dinner will be in Barcelona in 6 weeks. Shocking!
Calorie count is still on track for the week- even the calorie fest of last night's meal was 'planned for', even though I shocked myself by how many calories was actually in everything- and they were relatively good choices.
Also, down to 165.5.
This week's plan:
Monday: weights and 10k on cross trainer (speed) (while waiting for arrival of specially upholstered sports bra)
Tuesday: Swim at lunchtime and 45 mins hills with high resistance. If said bra has arrived 2k run before work
Weds: weights and body combat
Thurs: Run before work, swim at lunchtime and more hills
Friday: Either spinning class or 10k speed on cross trainer after work
Saturday: Body Combat/ yoga and out dancing with the girls (and drinking!)
Sunday: Rest or easy swim
Oh, and my google ads now are about running, calories and giving up booze! Brilliant- the internet thinks I'm a lush.
Numbers...
Whether it's the minutes, the distance or the calories I seem to have numbers OCD. And it's always the wrong way- how far I havr to go, rather than how far I've come. I found myself counting non stop on the elliptical today.
Maybe it's a metaphor for life, eh! It would be great to change my mindset to stop counting and just concentrate on the here and now.
There's a tri in Blenheim in June as well, which is nearer and doesn't involve swimming in the Thames. But I thik it's a little early- the 10k is only scheduled for April, when the open water swims start too. So I don't know... if the entry was cheaper I could enter for both and give it a go, but I'm going to be spending a whole lot of money next year anyway...but then the devil on my shoulder says that if I'm buying a wetsuit etc.. I may as well use it! More thought.
People at work think I'm a nutter, but don't doubt my determination, which is cool.
Weights at lunch and a 30 minute BIG OLD hill at level 9 for 30 mins.
The harsh reality
2004- and I think I got even fatter
Many many chins! And sitting (probably just having been drinking!)
Less chins, and it doesn't help that I'm sitting between a marathon runner and my sis in law who wears clothes from baby Gap. Still sitting, and definitely drinking!
At least I'm happier smiling at the camera.
Who knows. In 12 months time there may be pictures of me STANDING! or even WALKING!
Funny old day.... pulled up at the gymn at lunchtime for my scheduled weighs workout, and thought- sod it. I even got my bag out of the car, stood there and put it back in. Then I went bought chocolate and a magazine and read through lunch about Cristina's wedding and the way EVERYONE can wear leggings.
I think it was down to the 3 coffees and only 1 litre of water I had this morning because this evening's workout ROCKED (for me, anyway) 10.42k on the cross trainer in 60 mins. I kept my heart rate over 156 for at least 45 minutes.
Blood sugar..need to work out how to eat enought to workout and still lose weight. It doesn't seem an easy balance for me.
Tonight is an early one as may catch the pre work spin class tomorrow. And someone's been looking at the London Triathlon website... Entries close the end of Jan- I'll know by November whether I really can do this. I don't want to enter on a whim, I want to push myself, get my fitness up and my swim lessons in and then prove to myself that I can do it.
Photos...
Just looked for a photo for my profile, and realised that I only have them of me sitting or drinking! Oh, this is going to be a journey. I've looked at the local triathlon club and realised that they are
very hardcore so there will be a good three months of work before I even look at the training sessions...
Weights at lunchtime tomorrow and cross trainer for 45 minutes after work. And the pathetic excuse about the sportsbra has been solved by the purchase of a new one while the 'zip' issues get resolved, along with a nice email to the very nice man explaining that even though his products last for 3 body combat classes I am willing to put my hard earned pounds into a duplicate (oh and could he deliver it very soon!). I woulder whether Paul wants to go for a run on Sunday.... hmm. Might be just me then!
Could do better.....
I've started this blog on on a whim after reading about Iron Wil's fantastic Ironman, which was a DNF, but a feat of accomplishment that I could only dream about. I am not an Ironman. I'm not even a sprinter, runner, biker or even a jogger, but I so will be.
Putting it down in writing- Next year I will run at least 2 10k races, possibly a half marathon and do the London sprint triathlon. Hell! I need to
Just so I have a starting point I want to reflect what I've achieved and can do when I put my mind to it. April 2006 I was stressed out of my brain as a Sales Manager to the degree that I gave my job up without having another to go to, could barely walk the 3 miles into town and was on all kinds of asthma medication- and weighed 184lbs
This year I'm down to 167, have a job I love 15 minutes from my house and 3 inutes from the gymn (that I don't even pay membership for!) and have made exercise part of my life pretty much daily by going to the gymn for cv, weights, swimming, yoga, body combat. Oh and walked a marathon round London at night in my bra. At the moment the food isn't quite there, the weekends are far too much fun but not balanced enough and I'm loving the exercise but it's not structured enough either.
Plan! Plan!Plan!
- Return sports bra so that I can have the zip mended and finally run again.
- Couch to 5 k program
- Swimming lessons- so I no longer swim 'like a lady'
- Get the bike sorted and get out on the road.
That is not the training plan of a triathlete. However, at least I know where I want to go and now I just need to start taking the steps to get there
