Wednesday, July 31, 2013

My Current Top Ten Future Running Goals

1. Finish 12 or more half or full marathons in 2014.

2. Complete the Dopey Challenge in 2015.

3. Complete the Coast to Coast Challenge in 2015 (Dopey and Dumbo).

4. Volunteer at nearby races.

5. Run consistent sub 9 minute miles.

6. Run a 5K straight through.

7. PR my 10K time (currently 1:15:00)

8. Run a marathon in another state.

9. Run at least 1 mile (intervals) every day for a year.

10. Complete a 50K.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

My Current Top Ten Future Fitness Goals

Fitness Goals, aka not all running related

1. Complete Jillian Michael's Body Revolution.

2. Hold a one minute plank.

3. Hold a one minute wall sit.

4. Complete all twelve 30 day challenges.

5. Complete a sprint triathalon.

6. Make a weekly workout schedule and stick to every single workout planned.

7. Go to a yoga class.

8. Run and/or walk 1250 miles in a year.

9. Bike 1800 miles in a year.

10. Elliptical 600 miles in a year.

I will start to track fitness goals 8, 9 and 10 starting August 1st. I will keep track of the mileage for a year (August 1, 2013-July 31, 2014). If I do not reach my goal then I will recalculate and calculate my mileage from September 1, 2013-August 31, 2014 and so on until I hit my goal.

Training- Day 1

Yesterday was day one of training. Training will be ongoing for the next 18 months. I will more than likely take a small break after Dopey in January 2015 before starting to train again for Dumbo Double Dare.

That's a lot of training, a lot of running, a lot of gym time.

And it does concern me that I will end up feeling burnt out. There are going to be days, weeks, possibly months where I don't want to run and regret this decision. But my hope is that I get into the habit of going to the gym, of running three times a week, of doing my workout DVD twice a week and it will become second nature.

The important thing for me to remember is that I need to listen to my body. I can't push it too far, but at the same time I have to push it enough so that I can see results.

I know that life events are going to happen and interrupt my weekly schedule. Since I make the schedule ahead of time I don't always know what the plans are going to be.

This has already happened. On day one of week one.. 

Yesterday I was supposed to run for 30-45 minutes and today I was supposed to do a workout DVD (Ripped in 30, week 1). But my mother in law invited me to something for tonight and I decided to go, which threw off my schedule.

With Isabel's swim lesson and the party it pushed my workout back to after 8:30 pm. I just don't like being that upstairs neighbor who's jumping around late at night. I know it's not that late, but I'd just rather not.

So, I made it work. I switched days and ended up cursing Jillian Michaels and in tears by my complete lack of strength and endurance. It was frustrating, especially because I had to stop a few times, but I took those quick breaks and got back to it and I know that eventually I will be able to get through it without stopping.

I wore my heart rate monitor for each workout and ended up burning 1,902 calories for the day. That's insane! All those calories burned just from walking twice at work, going to the gym for an hour and 15 minutes and doing a workout DVD.

What's better is that I got to bed at a decent hour, and woke up this morning before my alarm ready to hit the gym again.

So that's exactly what I did. I went this morning and got in my 30 minutes on the stationary bike and 30 minutes on the elliptical. I showered there and got to work a half hour early. Now all I have left are my two walks at work and I'm going to run tonight after work. The plan is to go to my parents and park my car. Then I'll run around their neighborhood and down to the pool that Isabel has lessons at. I'll probably end up getting there about 5-10 minutes after her lesson starts, but it should end up being over 2 miles.

I'm sure my eating could improve, but I find myself choosing better foods to bring to work and actually eating breakfast at a decent hour. I can tell that this time is different and I know some days will be better than others, but for now I'm going to ride this endorphin high.

Confessions of a Running Mom

Everything in my life changed the day I found out that I was going to be a mom. Everything.

My life as a twenty-one year old went from going out almost every night with friends to figuring out how I was going to be able to afford a child. From bottles of alcohol to bottles of milk. From being selfish and spoiled to caring about nothing else but this small human being that I helped create.

Nothing else mattered. Especially not my needs. And since I had very little help from Isabel's father I didn't really have a choice.

I don't say that for pity, I say it because I chose for it to be that way. I didn't ask for help because I could handle it all. It was just the way it was. I accepted it.

So it took me a while to understand that I need to take care of me too. To do things that I enjoy too. To take a break every once in a while.

Losing weight and getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight was important to me, but not as important as other things. Like Isabel. And sleep. I didn't workout like crazy. I didn't focus on eating well. I lost some weight, but not much. It wasn't until I became a single mom that I put more of an effort towards my body. I mean, that was an obvious reason as to why he left, especially because he told me as much. If I couldn't keep the father of my child who saw me at my very worst, how could I attract anyone with the body I had.

So I became obsessed and lost the weight and then some. I still wasn't happy with my body because pregnancy and c-sections do crazy things, but I was at least at an "ideal" weight and an "ideal" size.

Running came into my life on my 25th birthday. Well, it was a small part of my life before then, but I crossed my first finish line on that day and I have not looked back since. But it hasn't always been easy.

Confessions of a Running Mom is going to be my place to write down some of the things I think about while I'm out on a run. A place to talk about the guilt I feel when I choose to go for a run or to the gym instead of going straight home after work. The feeling I get when I leave for a workout and she has to say goodbye three times before I leave and run into my arms when I get home after an hour like I've been gone for a year.

I have been very lucky with the support I've received from family members, especially my parents and my husband. But emotionally it hasn't always been easy and I have fallen victim to the guilt more than a few times and have skipped a run in order to stay home with her.

I'm sure there are plenty of people who have more responsibilities than I do who are able to do a lot more than I am, but I know that having a place to write down these thoughts and feelings will be beneficial for me. I am only human and can only do so much in a day, but I have to make myself a priority as well as my children and family. There is no argument that when I am working out and eating healthy then I am a happier person all around. And what husband and child doesn't want a happy wife and mom?

Monday, July 29, 2013

My Current Top Ten Future Health Goals

1. Get down to a weight that is within my healthy weight range.

2. Maintain a healthy weight.

3. Get down to a healthy BMI.

4. Get down to a healthy body fat percentage.

5. Limit sweets to once a week to make them a treat.

6. Limit alcohol to once a week to make it a treat.

7. Consistently drink 6 or more glasses of water a day.

8. Track. Everything. Everyday.

9. Stay off of the scale except for on weigh in day.

10. Take pride in my body the way it is and for the things it has allowed me to do.

Dress For Success

In an attempt to be more organized, and to stay more on topic with weight loss, fitness and running, I have decided to post one weekly fashion post with my outfits from the previous week.

I am still highly focused on fashion right now and improving my self esteem by dressing my best. It's such a simple thing I can do and it's such a simple thing that I enjoy doing that it's not a chore. It's enjoyable for me to pick out my outfits at night, to pair a shirt, pair of pants and shoes. To add an accessory or two (if I remember). To feel put together.

Monday:
 
Sweater: Kohls
Shirt: Marshalls
Pants: Marshalls
Shoes: Target
Scarf: Handmade by me

Tuesday:
 
Shirt: Kohls
Pants: Kohls
Shoes: Target
Scarf: Walmart

Wednesday:
 
Shirt: Kohls
Pants: Kohls
Shoes: Kohls
Scarf: Handmade by me

Thursday:
 
Shirt: Kohls
Pants: Kohls
Shoes: Target

Friday:


Shirt: Old Navy
Sweater: Marshall's
Skirt: Target
Shoes: Target

Saturday:

Shirt: Marshall's
Sweater: Kohl's
Pants: Kohl's
Shoes: Target
Necklace: Avon

Sunday:

Shirt: ??
Pants: Marshall's
Shoes: Target

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Ariel's Beach Bash

About a month and a half ago I received an email for our nearby pottery painting place inviting us to Ariel's Beach Bash. I immediately signed Isabel up and the day is finally here to go. She got to listen to stories, paint pottery and dance with Ariel. She is beyond excited! In the email it suggests you dress up like Ariel, or in your best beach attire. We don't have an Ariel costume, so instead we both found whatever we could to dress like her and came up with green bottoms (for her fin) and a purple top (for her shells). Isabel also picked out her pink sandals that "look like scales".

 
 


 


 
This was something that I would definitely do again and was 100% worth the money spent on it. It would be a nice monthly mother/daughter date.

My Current Top Ten Future Personal Goals

1. Save up enough money to send my children to college

2. Save up enough money for a down payment on a house

3. Have more pictures taken of myself instead of always being behind the camera.

4. Make a chore chart and stick with it to keep a clean and organized home.

5. Read more.

6. Keep a written journal and stop tearing pages out of it.

7. Stick to planned budget and track spending.

8. Limit personal shopping trips.

9. Limit eating out to 2 times a week.

10. Continue to dress for success.

Making a Weekly Workout Schedule

I don't know what makes me think that I will stick with a week long training workout schedule when I can't even stick to one that I've ever made in the past. I wanted to make a monthly schedule but the fact is, I don't know if it will work due to Patrick's ever changing work schedule, but I need something printed out that I see all day every day (meaning there will be a copy on the refrigerator, bathroom mirror, in my car, in my purse, on my desk at work and given to the following people: Patrick, my mom and my best friend).

So I found a template in Microsoft Word and I'm going to try it for a week. I'm going to see if having others hold me accountable will help. I don't need people who will belittle me if I miss a workout or guilt trip me into going when I'm just not feeling it. I know that I will need extra rest days every once in awhile, and if I'm on track for my main workout goals then I don't see the harm. (These goals will be rementioned soon, but starting August 1st I want to run and/or walk 1250 miles in a year, bike 1800 miles and elliptical 600 miles).

This week was an off week for me both with tracking and working out. But, I filled in the workout schedule and I followed it as best as I can. I marked a smiley face by the workouts I completed and an X next to the ones that I wasn't able to do for whatever reason.

Week of 7/20/13 to 7/27/13

Monday


Tuesday

Time or Distance

Workout


Workout

Time or Distance

1.37 miles
Walk at work    

Walk at work      X
1.37 miles
2.10 miles
Walk at work     X

Walk at work    
2.10 miles









































Wednesday


Thursday

Time or Distance

Workout


Workout

Time or Distance

1.37 miles
Walk at work    

Walk at work    
1.37 miles
2.10 miles
Walk at work    

Walk at work    
2.10 miles









































Friday


Saturday

Time or Distance

Workout


Workout

Time or Distance

1.37 miles
Walk at work     X



2.10 miles
Walk at work     X








































So this is what I came up with for next week. I am hoping to make it to the gym to use the bike and elliptical in the mornings before work, but that's not always the best case scenario for me due to schedules. So for now it's just generic and when I get Patrick's schedule for next week I can be more specific in regards to morning or evening workouts.

Week of 7/29/13 to 8/3/13

Monday


Tuesday

Time or Distance

Workout


Workout

Time or Distance

30 min
Stationary Bike

Stationary Bike
30 min
30 min
Elliptical

Elliptical
30 min
1.37 mile
Walk at work

Walk at work
1.37 mile
2.10 mile
Walk at work

Walk at work
2.10 mile
30-45 min
Interval run

Ripped in 30
DVD






Run/Walk                               /1250 miles

Run/Walk                               /1250 miles


Bike                                         /1800 miles

Bike                                         /1800 miles


Elliptical                                 /600 miles

Elliptical                                /600 miles








Wednesday


Thursday

Time or Distance

Workout


Workout

Time or Distance

30 min
Stationary Bike

Stationary Bike
30 min
30 min
Elliptical

Elliptical
30 min
1.37 mile
Walk at work

Walk at work
1.37 mile
2.10 mile
Walk at work

Walk at work
2.10 mile
30-45 min
Interval run

Ripped in 30
DVD






Run/Walk                               /1250 miles

Run/Walk                               /1250 miles


Bike                                         /1800 miles

Bike                                         /1800 miles


Elliptical                                 /600 miles

Elliptical                                 /600 miles








Friday


Saturday

Time or Distance

Workout


Workout

Time or Distance

20 min
Stationary Bike

Long Training Run
3 miles
20 min
Elliptical



1.37 mile
Walk at work



2.10 mile
Walk at work









Run/Walk                               /1250 miles

Run/Walk                               /1250 miles


Bike                                         /1800 miles

Bike                                         /1800 miles


Elliptical                                 /600 miles

Elliptical                                 /600 miles