Reacquainted myself with the gym tonight. The Precor treadmills (Precor, you suck!!!) don't let you toggle on the interval setting - it's just two minutes of "this" followed by two minutes of "that", and I went for it. Walk-ran in two-minute intervals for over fifteen minutes - got the heart rate up to nearly 170 by the third running interval. And it felt so very good and painful and cathartic.
So good to push my body today - I have so much on my mind - so many thoughts crowding my head right now - it was nice to focus on the physical and just let those thoughts go where they may. And whatever my future holds, I want to go forward as fit, healthy and pulled-together as I can be.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Boot Camp Comes to a Less Than Spectacular Finish
How easily it can all come off the rails - something I've learned the hard way, and KEEP learning the hard way. Always the hard way, over and over again.
Well April Boot Camp wasn't a huge success - despite the big 10K event that I was all ablog about - I really didn't spend much time at the gym, or out walking - and the eating was just a little out of control. Admittedly there was a lot going on at work and home- I didn't even make it to Weight Watchers last week, but seriously that's no excuse. I have to just own this.
Here's the tale of the tape:
Chest 40
Waist 36
Hips 44.5
Thigh 25
Weight 176
If there was any progress, I'd have to describe it as "glacier-like". Note the new "wider" jeans image. Interesting, I pretty much doubled the width of the image and that body is STILL hot in those pants. A lesson to be learned.
But it's May now, a brand new month and time for a brand new challenge. JTM asked me this morning (after informing me that today was NOT the last day of April, but rather the FIRST day of May - I'm posting this a few days late) what my goal for May was. I quickly made some silly story up about eating less and exercising more, whereupon he reminded me that those weren't actually GOALS. I'm doing those things: eating less and exercising more, under the super-contrived theme for the month of "May, More or Less" - but my actual GOAL is to weigh the same as I did at the end of May 2003, when I rocked the scale at 168. That, and wear those white jeans out to the premiere of Sex and the City 2, at the the end of the month - cause I don't think I'll be striding around in them next weekend (Man, Mother's day is damn early this year!)
Well April Boot Camp wasn't a huge success - despite the big 10K event that I was all ablog about - I really didn't spend much time at the gym, or out walking - and the eating was just a little out of control. Admittedly there was a lot going on at work and home- I didn't even make it to Weight Watchers last week, but seriously that's no excuse. I have to just own this.
Chest 40
Waist 36
Hips 44.5
Thigh 25
Weight 176
If there was any progress, I'd have to describe it as "glacier-like". Note the new "wider" jeans image. Interesting, I pretty much doubled the width of the image and that body is STILL hot in those pants. A lesson to be learned.
But it's May now, a brand new month and time for a brand new challenge. JTM asked me this morning (after informing me that today was NOT the last day of April, but rather the FIRST day of May - I'm posting this a few days late) what my goal for May was. I quickly made some silly story up about eating less and exercising more, whereupon he reminded me that those weren't actually GOALS. I'm doing those things: eating less and exercising more, under the super-contrived theme for the month of "May, More or Less" - but my actual GOAL is to weigh the same as I did at the end of May 2003, when I rocked the scale at 168. That, and wear those white jeans out to the premiere of Sex and the City 2, at the the end of the month - cause I don't think I'll be striding around in them next weekend (Man, Mother's day is damn early this year!)
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
(Almost) Rockin' the TC 10K
I'm hurting just a little from Sunday's big race, the TC 10K, one of the biggest runs in the country. this year over 13,000 people registered with over 11,000 finishing. My ranking? 9,080 - I actually made it into the top 10,000! I finished in 1:40:34, beating my previous best finish by nearly 17 minutes, but missing my goal time by a mere 34 seconds. No pee breaks to blame this time - I stuck to one small pre-race coffee, but I think I lost some valuable time manoeuvering my long-sleeved shirt out from under my short-sleeved shirt a la 13-year-old girl, at around the 7 km mark.
And there was the iPod incident. After spending over an hour on Saturday night creating the perfect 2 hour walk-run playlist, I left the pod on overnight and the battery was dead when I went to turn it on at the starting line.
Disaster - I'd told JTM the night before that I could probably crawl across the finish line with a compound fracture, but that I wouldn't make it without tunes. Anyway, a frantic call home had JTM barrelling back downtown with his own iPod, madly making me an "on the go" playlist at stoplights. He met me at the corner of Cook and Dallas Road, at the 3 km mark, with a hug and a kiss and the all important music machine. And that, people is why I am married!
Once I got going again, I made it my mission to not let these two old grannies pass me - one was marching along in full workout gear, complete with fanny pack water bottle holder. And the other one (part of a different group) was wearing an irritating puffy white hat. And they were NOT going to pass me - (okay more than five or six times) - nor was the woman wearing jeans and cheap sandals, her timing chip flapping in very "Eff you, I'm just out for a stroll" way. And there was no way anyone with nordic wallking poles was getting past me, or any very old people, or very small children. Or (and I'm being really honest here) anyone that looked bigger than I used to be.
Now if that were really the case - if I really didn't let those people get by me, I would have placed much higher in the race. But it turns out I'm a really slow walker. Really slow. Because I'm - well- much fitter and healthier than before - but that doesn't mean I'm actually fit and healthy. Not at all.
And there was the iPod incident. After spending over an hour on Saturday night creating the perfect 2 hour walk-run playlist, I left the pod on overnight and the battery was dead when I went to turn it on at the starting line.
Disaster - I'd told JTM the night before that I could probably crawl across the finish line with a compound fracture, but that I wouldn't make it without tunes. Anyway, a frantic call home had JTM barrelling back downtown with his own iPod, madly making me an "on the go" playlist at stoplights. He met me at the corner of Cook and Dallas Road, at the 3 km mark, with a hug and a kiss and the all important music machine. And that, people is why I am married!
Once I got going again, I made it my mission to not let these two old grannies pass me - one was marching along in full workout gear, complete with fanny pack water bottle holder. And the other one (part of a different group) was wearing an irritating puffy white hat. And they were NOT going to pass me - (okay more than five or six times) - nor was the woman wearing jeans and cheap sandals, her timing chip flapping in very "Eff you, I'm just out for a stroll" way. And there was no way anyone with nordic wallking poles was getting past me, or any very old people, or very small children. Or (and I'm being really honest here) anyone that looked bigger than I used to be.
Now if that were really the case - if I really didn't let those people get by me, I would have placed much higher in the race. But it turns out I'm a really slow walker. Really slow. Because I'm - well- much fitter and healthier than before - but that doesn't mean I'm actually fit and healthy. Not at all.
Still I'm proud of my accomplishment, even if I have much, much further to travel. Onward!
Where's Mary?
Where's Mary?Saturday, April 24, 2010
Boot Camp Week 3 Results (or D'oh!)
So I had one of those crazy AHA moments yesterday - I've lost 40 pounds, right? So it would make some sense that I probably don't need to take in as many calories as I did when I weighed 215, especially since I'm TRYING (with apologies to Yoda) to lose more weight. But I haven't been eating less - have been chowing down merrily, and rightously beaking off to anyone within earshot about what an extraordinary Weight Watcher I am.
What a crock! Once again, I'm calling myself out as a fraud. If I were doing the "point counting" thing, instead of the "Simply Filling" thing, sure as God made little green apples, I'd be taking in a helluva a lot less food each day. Next week that's the plan. No more "eating till you're satisfied"...I may NEVER be satisfied - so starting Monday I'm eating just enough, and counting points again. Mother's day is coming and I'm determined to celebrate in those Size 12 white jeans - with NO camel toe. Or sausage thighs. Or muffin top. Man I could go for a sausage mcmuffin right now. Or a Camel!
Anyway, my stats reflect my efforts this week. One lousy trip to the gym - yeah I've been "tapering" for the big race tomorrow - and enough excess food to keep the dial on the scale pinned firmly in the mid-170s.
Chest 40
Waist 35
Hips 45
Thigh 25
Weight (174-176 fluctuating)
What a crock! Once again, I'm calling myself out as a fraud. If I were doing the "point counting" thing, instead of the "Simply Filling" thing, sure as God made little green apples, I'd be taking in a helluva a lot less food each day. Next week that's the plan. No more "eating till you're satisfied"...I may NEVER be satisfied - so starting Monday I'm eating just enough, and counting points again. Mother's day is coming and I'm determined to celebrate in those Size 12 white jeans - with NO camel toe. Or sausage thighs. Or muffin top. Man I could go for a sausage mcmuffin right now. Or a Camel!
Anyway, my stats reflect my efforts this week. One lousy trip to the gym - yeah I've been "tapering" for the big race tomorrow - and enough excess food to keep the dial on the scale pinned firmly in the mid-170s.
Waist 35
Hips 45
Thigh 25
Weight (174-176 fluctuating)
Friday, April 16, 2010
Boot Camp Week 2 Results
I've been workin' it all week long and the results are beginning to show, at least on the scale! And I tried the pants on. I could get them all the way on and zipped, but there was a major camel toe situation. So I'll try again in a week.
Here are my stats today:
Chest: 39"
Waist 36
Hips 45.5
Thigh (left) 25
Weight 173
Just a little over a week till the TC10K - I'm stoked about doing the course again so much lighter and with better shoes!
Here are my stats today:
Waist 36
Hips 45.5
Thigh (left) 25
Weight 173
Just a little over a week till the TC10K - I'm stoked about doing the course again so much lighter and with better shoes!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
I AM the Stairmaster!
But I'm on a mission to get stronger legs now that I've clued into the fact that weak legs are what's holding me back in the running department (Sunday's incredibly painful but mercifully brief bike ride put THAT piece of the puzzle firmly into place - I thought cycling would be a breeze now that I'm nearly 40 pounds lighter and have an awesome new bike. But no. An epic struggle.). So I swallowed my fear, mounted that big beast, gave it a good dusting (did I mention nobody goes on it?) and pounded out 20 stories in 6.5 minutes. Pow!
That's right, I AM the Stairmaster, baby!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Workin' it at Work
Not time for a bootcamp update but Woot! Woot! for me. I was down another 2.5 lbs at Weight Watchers weigh-in last night. The meeting was about tracking our progress in various ways and I had a chance to reflect on the changes in me - the person I am becoming. I've been at this a long while, long enough that I really identify more as someone who makes healthy choices than one who needs to constantly be led. And that feels pretty freaking good.
I had to lay on some food for some work events this week, and I made sure that above and beyond all the sandwiches and muffins and cookies, etc., there was also fruit and vegetables available - I honestly did it for myself, but really it was good for everyone.
We're pretty good here at work most of the time anyway; there is always milk in the fridge and apples and bananas for the taking, and a bike room, and showers, and twice-weekly boot camp, and softball, and yoga, and incentives to choose a "green commute" and nobody bats an eyeleash when you show up for a 1:00 pm meeting all sweaty and wearing spandex...it's pretty cool, actually. Perhaps typical of the West Coast, or of 2010, I don't know. But as a transplanted prairie girl I dig it - it's so much easier to live the green and healthy lifestyle when you have a workplace that nurtures it.
I had to lay on some food for some work events this week, and I made sure that above and beyond all the sandwiches and muffins and cookies, etc., there was also fruit and vegetables available - I honestly did it for myself, but really it was good for everyone.
We're pretty good here at work most of the time anyway; there is always milk in the fridge and apples and bananas for the taking, and a bike room, and showers, and twice-weekly boot camp, and softball, and yoga, and incentives to choose a "green commute" and nobody bats an eyeleash when you show up for a 1:00 pm meeting all sweaty and wearing spandex...it's pretty cool, actually. Perhaps typical of the West Coast, or of 2010, I don't know. But as a transplanted prairie girl I dig it - it's so much easier to live the green and healthy lifestyle when you have a workplace that nurtures it.
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