Trim Your Tire Challenge

For the last month, I have been working to accomplish the Trim Your Tire Challenge.  Between being sick, having sick kids and all the holiday hoo-hah it's been pretty challenging to get a bunch of it accomplished.

The challenge is to do a half, whole OR ultra Triathlon in two months time.  From November 1 to December 31.  I put it together to help motivate me and my family and friends to work out this holiday season.  At the very least, stay the same pant size through all of the sweets and treats.  It's been pretty fun.

I have decided that I do not love to ride the bike.  Maybe at another time I will become a triathlete.  But not anytime soon.  I missed swimming.  Such a wonderful feeling of heat and cool at the same time.  Love it.  I do miss running.  I have only got one mile done of my 26.2.  This is because I have been trying to pound out the 112 miles in the bike.  It's taking longer than I thought it would.  But I'm pressing on.

So far, I have done:

1900 meters swimming
57 miles biking
1 mile running

One month to go.  It's going to be a good one.

Shredding Progress: Day 90

My progress pictures:


Front View:

Before

So Far

side view:

Before

So Far

Day 90 Is Just Around The Corner

I am almost at 90 days of working out.  You know 90 days of really going at it hard.  That means more photos are coming.  I hope they show more of an improvement than the last pictures. 

Spicing Up The Treadmill

I realized today that I love to run.  I love to run even more on a track or road, but for now the treadmill will do. 

When on the treadmill, I have a hard time just letting my body do it's job.  I think about my knees, ankles, what part of my foot is hitting the ground first, what hurts, what feels good or anything else like these.  However, I seem to be unable to let my body just enjoy the feeling.  It's sad really.  But probably has a lot to do with the lack scenery. 

So, to try and keep my mind away from mechanics, I decided I would try to up my speed a bit.  I have all winter to do it.  I will do it a little at a time.  Today on my 2 mile run, I ran 1/2 a mile at speed 7.  I have no idea what this means OR if it is universal between treadmills.  In other words, it means I ran a 9 minute mile pace for 1/2 a mile.  It was hard.  But I'm going to do it until it's easy, and then I'm going to run longer at that speed.  I don't really have a goal of running a certain distance within a certain time, but at least this will ad variety to my runs on the treadmill.  And it's fun. 

What fun things do you do to spice up your treadmill runs?

Rebelling Body

Do you ever have those days where you wake up 2 hours after your alarm went off, you didn't realize that you were the one to turn it off, and now your panicking?

Well, I did.  Yesterday.  Apparently Zumba takes a whole lot out of me.  Not to mention a little man that didn't want to sleep through the night.  Maybe it was just my body screaming that I needed to take a day off.  So, instead of being angry with myself for not getting up, instead of trying to squeeze a workout in sometime during the day, and instead of going crazy trying to figure out how I'm going to make it up, I took the whole day to play with my kids and not worry about anything else. 

Sometimes it's a good idea to listen to my body.  Do what it says.  And just have a day of fun and rest.  It was fantastic.  A wonderful day of books, movies, treats and my little ones thought it was fantastic.  I could get used to a fun day off once in a while.

Fat People Anonymous: Pizza Overload

Hi.  My name is Phannie. 

*Hello Phannie*

I am a recovering fat person.  I fell off the wagon.  I ate Pizza.  Cheesebread.  Cinnastix.  Oh the joy I felt while doing it.  And even a while afterwards, but the next day when I had it again for Lunch. . . 

OH the PAIN.  The guilty pain.  The second round didn't even taste that good.  I wanted to hurl.  I didn't.  (Bulimia, to me, is a waste of money.  Anorexia is more financially sound.  If only food didn't taste so good.)  I didn't even workout Saturday.  OR Sunday.  Which made this mornings workout  DEATH to my muscles.  I could barely get through the workout. Not to mention having to watch my fatness squish together during the ab workout first.  BLEH.   I guess that's what I get for filling my tank with crap. 

New Goal:

Fill my body with energizing foods.  Foods that will get me through my workouts.

Thank you for being my support.

Shredding: Strength Class

This mornings Strength Class

10 mins of ab work

5 push ups
15 squats with overhead press (10 lbs)
40 lunges with a bicep curl (10 lbs)
25 tricep kickbacks (5lbs)
25 bench press (12.5lbs)
25 high knees

5 burpees
25 bicep curls & punch (5lbs)
25 side leg lifts (on your hands & knees)
25 flys (12.5lbs)
25 kick backs (on your hands & knees)
50 butt kicks

repeat as many times as you can in 30 mins keeping proper form.

It's been such a great week of working out, but I'm definitely glad that it's Friday. 

Shredding: Doing Doubles

Today:

I got up this morning after a 5 minute debate with myself as to whether or not I really needed to get up and exercise.  The answer is always YES!  But I decided that what I needed was a lighter workout after the last two days of strenuous exercise.  So, I got up.  Took my time to get to the gym.  I didn't even tie my shoes until I got there.  And then slowly worked into my run.  I ran 1.5 miles and cooled down better than I ever do.  (Oh wait, I never do)  I stretched and still got home before I usually do.  It was a fantastic morning.  Now, I'm ready for ZUMBA tonight!!

I'm going to be doing Double workouts a couple of days a week for a couple of weeks.  I need to give my body a little extra push down Fat Loss Lane. I hope it works.


Wednesday:

30 min Strength Class


Tuesday:

30 mins of leg work
(squats, lunges, wall sits, etc.)
30 mins of Pilates

ZUMBA!!  (OH MY GOSH!!  So SO Tired!)

Back In The Saddle Again

Monday morning again.  After a week with my kids sick and then a week of my body purging everything it didn't think it needed to be inside me, I am glad to be back at shredding fat.  This morning I:

Worked on my arms.

15 lateral lifts - 5lbs
15 curls - 12.5lbs
15 mowers(?) - 10lbs
15 flys - 12.5lbs
12 curl up/hammer down - 12.5lbs
15 tricep drops - 7.5lbs (yes, I'm making up my own names because I can't remember what it's called)
15 pushups
12 curls -12.5lbs
12 tricep extensions - 7.5lbs

50 squat run - 5lbs

2 mile interval run (treadmill)

Weights and Running.  What more is there?  Okay.  There is a lot more, but I sure do love Lifting.  It's strengthening not just to the body, but to the mind as well.  It's like giving myself a boost of energy and declaring "I can do ANYTHING."  I think I will keep up the strength training.

So, a while ago I mentioned that I was going to try to Eat Clean.  I bought the Cookbook and the Family and Kids version of the plan.  I have read both books and think they are great.  I haven't been able taken the time to really implement the eating habits into my family life, but soon.  I'm working on baby steps.  My first real change is buying 100% whole wheat tortillas.  They were really good this morning on my breakfast burrito.  This week I have planned a couple of meals out of the cookbook.  Here's hoping it all goes well.

Zumba!!

I have only participated in Zumba a couple of times, but I LOVE IT!!  It's so much fun.  And is definitely a great workout.  This past weekend I did Zumba 2 times.  I went to two different classes.  Each had its own teacher with her own flare.  I really liked the first class I went to.  The second class was okay, but the instructor was really hard to follow.  She didn't ever say what was coming up next, and she was kind of spazmatic.  I will be going to the classes taught by the teacher I really like.  I can't wait to go again.

This morning I ran 1/2 a mile until my bowels started screaming at me.  Then I ran up to a Strength Class.  It was a good one.  I'm not sure that a half hour of Strength is long enough.  It should be an hour class. I really liked the instructor.  She was upbeat and fun. 

I just can't help but feel like I didn't workout hard enough today.  I will have to go earlier next time so that I have time to run farther.  And hopefully my bowels won't attack me again.   

Shredding: Killing My Legs

After lifting (lower body) yesterday, I think Spinning Class today was a bad idea.  I can barely walk up the stairs.  I won't do that again.

Yesterday:

squats: 15 @105 lbs
lunges: 24
heel raises: 15 @105 lbs
leg extensions: 15 @ 20 lbs
leg curls: 15 @ 20 lbs

3 sets

Then 2 mile run.

Tough Week to Fantastic Race.

Last week was a rough one.  I wasn't sure I was going to be able to run in my race Saturday.  Actually, the week started out pretty well.  Monday - running.  Tuesday - sleep in. Wednesday- Abs & Arms PLUS running.  But later in the day, I twisted my knee while helping my little one on the toilet.  I have never had my knee hurt quite like it did Wednesday.  Not even after catching for 9 years.

Because I wanted to run my race I took the next two days off of everything.  No running, no lifting, and being very careful in how I moved in my daily activities.  I iced plenty and was able to run Saturday.  I am so glad I was able to run because I ran with my cousin.  We were running in memory of her brother.  AddictIIAthlete was putting on the race.  This race to replace addiction was their inaugural race. Before the race we had a moment of silence and then everyone who was there running for someone who had fallen to their addiction let a balloon go in their memory.  Many tears were shed.

One man ran the whole 5K while dragging a tire behind him.  It was his addiction.  Very inspiring.  I can't wait for next year's race.

Shredding Progress

It's not a whole lot, but it's a little bit of change.

front view

side view

We'll just have to see how the next 6 months go.

My Shred Day 27

Friday

It was so nice to have a cooler day.  It gives me a chance to go out later and spend longer on my runs. I went 3.84 miles.  (Jen, you did 3.16 miles)  Part of this was walking.  My little Sweet Pea wanted to "run" too.  But no matter what, I was still moving.  Such a great day

Shred Day 26: Fat People Anonymous

Hi. My name is Phannie.  I have been fat food free for 12 hours.  I know.  I fell off the bandwagon.  There are no excuses, but today is a new day and I WILL do better.  To start this "better" phase I began with:

20 squats
30 lunges
40 calf raises
60 second wall squat
100 jumping jacks
60 second wall squat
40 plie squats
30 leg lifts
20 squats

I'm tired.  My stomach is cramping and I just want a chocolate bar.  However, the goal today is to NOT eat one.  I can do it.

Shred Day 25: Bloated

It's just not appealing to get out and exercise when all my body wants to do is watch movies, be ornery, and eat chocolate.  I don't know how women survived 100 years ago.  Being on the rag had such a different meaning back then.  Now, it just means we have another excuse to eat the foods we really love. 

Well, even though I feel yucky and I could eat myself through a candy store, I really did get out and run.  Today was 2.3 miles of my own body wondering, "are we there yet?"  But I survived. 

To another day of running.

Shred Days 22 & 23 & 24

Friday was a little bit of a lazy day for me.  I didn't want to get up early, so I didn't.  I get myself out to go run.  However, the running turned mostly into walking.  But that's okay.  We all need a lighter day and mine was Friday.

Walked 1.5 miles
Run .5 miles

MONDAY

I got up and did the Biggest Loser Cardio Max workout.  Warm up, 20 minute workout, then Cool Down.  It felt so good.  Then a couple of hours later, I went out running.  We ran 2.46 miles.  Also felt great.  I LOVE doing multiple workouts in a day.

TUESDAY

This morning I did this:

30 jumping jacks
20 lunges (each leg)
10 squats
10 plie squats
20 side lunges (each side)
20 glute kickbacks (each leg)
15 bridges
10 side leg circles forward (each leg)
10 side leg circles backwards (each leg)
20 glute kickbacks (each leg)
15 squats
10 plie squats
20 jumping jacks

Then I did it all AGAIN.

I was supposed to do it 3x through, but my BUTT HURT.  So I'll attempt a third time through later.

Shred Day 21

2.08 miles FAST and pushing a stroller

20 squats
30 lunges
40 calf raises
60 second wall squat
100 jumping jacks
60 second wall squat
40 plie squats
25 lateral leg lifts (both sides)
20 squats

Good day.

My Shred Day #20: Fall is coming

I love the heat, but the cooler day today has been fantastic.  School has started and I'm ready for the holiday seasons to begin. The cooler weather meant that my kids wouldn't be scorching on a run.  So I took the kids for a run.  It was great.

I ran 3 miles and walked 1.

Then I did:

25 crunches
25 heels to the heavens
25 crunches
10 sit ups
15 crunches
25 lateral leg lifts (R and L leg)
25 inner thigh lifts (R and L legs)
25 crunches
25 hip rock n raise

It was a good day.  How was yours?

My Shred Day 19

Monday:

I think my kids nightmares have an alarm on them.  I swear they are always waking up minutes, if not seconds, before my alarm goes off.  Needless to say, I was up at 4:59 today. At least I was up, right?

Here is what I did this fine Monday morning:

I only did this 2x through.  Then I did. . .

I did this 1x through.  Then I did. . .

25 crunches
25 bicycles
25 reverse bicycles
25 crunches
25 heels to the heavens

My little one woke up so I didn't get to do as many ab exercises as I wanted to.  But 125 is a good number.  Something is always better than nothing.

How did your workouts go this weekend?

Shred Day 18: With the Whole Family

Saturday:

I slept in.  It was wonderful.  (Keep in mind, 6:30 is sleeping in)  The whole family got up, we ate breakfast, and then went for a run.  Pushing a stroller makes me feel like I'm working so much harder during my runs.  And having a buddy was great.

We ran 2.18 miles in 25 minutes.

My kids loved it.  We might just have to make this a weekly occurrence.  

Shred Day 17

This morning I tackled a whole hour of cardio with the Power 90 Cardio Interval workout.  OH MAN.  Sweating Buckets.  Such a great workout this morning.  So glad I got out of bed.

Shred Day 16: Pushing Through Anger

When I'm angry I function best if I'm doing at least 2 workouts a day.  Having kids and trying to put in extra is a challenge.  This morning I:

Ran 2.2 miles in 20 minutes (this was a hill run)

25 squats
25 crunches
15 5lb curls (each arm)
25 toe out heel lifts
25 regular heel lifts
25 toe in heel lifts
25 bridges
25 crunches
25 chair dips
15 step back lunges (each leg)
25 heels to the heavens
15 lateral arm lifts 5lbs (each arm)
25 plie squats
25 in-n-outs
15 squeeze curls 5lbs. (each arm)

I did this circuit 2x through.

I little bit of my excess energy has been expelled, but I could really spend the next week getting rid of the rest of it.  Exercising when the outside world is beating down on me is a necessity.  Maybe I can get another workout in later.

What really gets you out and exercising?

Shred Day 15: Two Weeks Left

I did NOT want to get up this morning.  I even rolled over and slept for another 30 minutes before my panicking "what time is it?" body jumped out of bed. 

I got up and did the Biggest Loser Cardio Max workout.  I never understand why I seem to sweat more than the people who are fatter than me on the video.  I only did the 30 minutes worth.  Since I slept in a bit.  However, I did pound out the p90x Ab Ripper.  I'm going to be sore tomorrow.

My hubby says the workouts are working.  I don't feel like it.  But I guess if the person closest to me can say, "you're not looking so fat", then it must be doing something.  Only pictures will tell. 

I've got another two weeks before my post pregnancy exercising is officially over.  I figure one year after I deliver is "post pregnancy."  But after that, it's just normal shredding the fat.  If it's on there for more than a year, then I have become comfortable in my fatness and it's not "baby fat" anymore.  So, I better put in some extra hard workouts in the next two weeks and hopefully be back to my pre-second baby weight. 

I'll post my picture progress at the end of my post pregnancy time.

How are you doing on your health goals?

My Shred Day 14

Thursday

After not waking up early yesterday, today was not a happy separation from my bed.  I got up and worked on getting My Best Butt.

I could feel this workout getting it done.  I actually went through it 3x through.  The first 2 times I used 5 lb. weights during the lunges, but the last time I used 3 lb.  I know I'm going to be sore tomorrow.

Much Needed Rest Day

I got up this morning at 5am, when I usually do, and decided that I needed to sleep in.  I rolled over and cuddled my little baby and went right back to sleep.  I do not regret taking a little break.  Tomorrow I will be back at it with Day 14.  Ready and willing to push it.  Getting rid of this big butt and flabby stomach, it's all the motivation I need.

My Shred: Day 13

Tuesday

This morning was fantastic.  I got up and did the Sexy Leg Workout:

You are supposed to do this 3 times through.  On day 2 of my shred I went through it one time.  Today 2 times.  OH man.  It's a killer.

Later, I ran another 5K.  The Run the Crooks Out of Town 5K in Orem.  So fun.  SO SO SO HOT!!!  I ran it in 32:26.

Even though it was so hot, I'm glad I did it.  Working on my Fitness Goals for the year.  Only two more races to go; a 10K and another 5K.  Good thing I have 4.5 months to do it.

My Shred: Day #12

Monday

It's day 12 of my Shred and I realized I didn't really have a goal or end to work towards.  Maybe that's because I want to make this working out thing a habit that continues forever, but I like to have something to work towards.  (besides getting into that swim suit)  Because I want this to go on forever, this will be my 1st goal of many.

I want to be down to a size12 by Halloween.  You know, the "I have to buy new clothes because everything falls off" weight.  I decided that I can't focus on the pounds because what if I can drop 4 sizes without losing much weight.  I don't want to detract from what I have done just because of a number.    

I will give a mid-September progress report with pictures.  (just because pictures are fun)  This will be fun.

Here's what I did today to get me on my way:

25 crunches
25 bicycles
25 reverse bicycles
25 crunches
25 "heels to the heavens" (p90x style)
20 twist crunches
25 in 'n outs

2.26 miles

25 crunches
25 scissors
25 crunches
25 scissors

What goals are you working on?

My Shred: Day #11

I DID NOT want to get up this morning.  I felt like I had just laid my head on my pillow when my alarm started to sound.  Ugh.  But I got up anyway.  And I'm glad I did.  I always feel better after I workout, especially if I didn't want to.  Those are the hardest mornings and usually the most needed.

2 miles

And ready to go back to bed.

My Shred: Day 10

Thursday

I think the days are not only getting shorter, but colder too.  It's a little chilly in the wee hours of the morning....until I start running.  This morning I was feeling ambitious.  I ran STAIRS!  I know. Crazy, right?  But I LOVE LoVe LOVE it.  Beautiful pain.

Stadiums (3 full laps)

1 minute wall squat
10 step back lunges (each side)
25 heel raises
25 pidgeon toed heel raises
25 duck foot heel raises
20 single foot heel raises (each side)
50 squats
10 step back lunges (each side)
1 minute wall squat

Happy Exercising!

What did you do today?

My Shred: Day #9

Wednesday

Have I ever mentioned how beautifully peaceful it is in the morning?  If you haven't experienced the serenity, then you need to get up early, get a light blanket, a chair and sit outside to watch the sun rise.  Everything starts to come alive.  It's emotion that plants itself into your bones.

What makes it even more wonderful is to run in the stillness.  I love it!  The crisp morning air does wonders for the soul.  It does for mine anyway.  This morning I had a fantastic time running.  Although I didn't run far (because of the graceful world of being a woman), I did enjoy the beauty around me.

Here's how I did this morning:

1.5 miles

25 crunches
25 bicycles
25 reverse bicyles
20 twist crunches
20 hip rock n' raise (p90x)
25 crunches

What did you do today?

Shred Day 8

It took me at least 10 extra minutes to get out of bed this morning.  Being on the RAG plus starting new just don't mix well.  So, I only did half of what I had planned and I feel great.  Something is always better than nothing.  My real accomplishment today was not the workout, but getting up to do something.  I did.

But here is my workout anyway:

Biggest Loser Power Sculpt
-warm up
-workout #1
-cool down

I was going to do workout 1 & 2, but I remembered I don't like the blonde chick.  So, I skipped it.

Happy Exercising!

My Shred: Day #7

Monday

OH how it feels so good to be working out again.  I was able to run farther than I thought I was going to be able to.  I thought because of my being sick I would have to walk most of my mileage today.  Not so.  WooHoo!!  So here is what I did:

2.81 miles

25 crunches
25 bum lifts
30 twist crunches (15 each side)
25 bicycles
25 reverse bicycles
25 crunches
25 hip rock n' raise (p90x style)
25 crunches
15 bridges

Happy Exercising!

Shredding vs. the Mastitis

Mastitis is trying to get the better of me.  EVERY time I start up an exercise program, a couple weeks in, I seem to get it.  Oh man.  This week was the worst bout of it yet.  It kept me down and out for almost a whole week.  This is the 4th or 5th time I've had it with my Green Bean.  SO,  I'm finished.  NO MORE BREASTFEEDING. And hopefully, NO more Mastitis.

 I'm thinking tomorrow I will get exercising again.

Shred Day #7.  Here I come. . . .

My Shred Day #6

Monday:

After a week of sick babies and less than enough sleep, I was unsure as to whether or not my body was actually going to fall out of bed this morning.  It almost didn't make it, but my bowels made the ultimate get out of bed decision. 

Todays run felt great to be out.

run: 2.36 miles
my own concoction of abs.

My Shred Day #5

FRIDAY:

I didn't get to all the exercises I wanted to this morning, but my run was fantastic.

RUN:  3.02 miles  (including a big hill)

My Shred Day #4

Thursdays are always the worst for me.  I did not want to get up this morning, but it was very important to keep me motivated and going to get up.  I did.

Here is what I did:

Cardio Max (Biggest Loser)
Tight Ass Workout - I only went through this one time, because after Cardio Max it was all I could do.

I have never done Bridges before this workout and I didn't really know how much they really work.  Oh man, the pain.

My Shred: Day #3

Wednesday:

2 mile run
The 99.

I started at 55 because I didn't have the time to do the whole 99.  But the first time I ever did it was AWESOME.  However, I couldn't move for a few days.

My Shred Day 2

Cardio X

- this workout is fantastic.  I just love it.  Not while I'm doing it, but afterwards I feel like I could do almost anything.  Like clean my whole house in 1/2 hour.  That would be a miracle.

I"m supposed to do the

Here's hoping I get to it today.

Shredding the Pregnant Fatness

I am soon coming up on 1 year since my Green Bean was born.  And I just haven't been putting in the time or effort to lose all the weight that I gained while pregnant. (both times)  I am sick of feeling gross.  I'm sick of feeling tired.  I just want to feel good in my own skin.  And I always feel best when I am eating healthy and working out regularly.

So, I put together my own plan for the rest of the year.  That's right.  All the way through December.  I am going to tell you all about what I'm doing and how it feels to do it.  And hopefully I will get to where I want to be.

July 16, 2012:

p90x ab ripper- I only got through v-up roll-ups

2 mile run- it was so humid (I know it's nothing compared to places East of here) I thought my lungs were going to collapse.

Lean Arms Pyramid- this was WAY harder than I thought it was going to be.  I only did it one time through.

Exercise Example

Little ones just want to do what we do. Exercising isn't just to keep me healthy, it's to teach my kids how to keep themselves healthy.

Sweet Pea exercising like Momma.

Running On Vacation: Waterton Lakes National Park

Why I LOVE running on vacation. . . .

Just look at that view of Waterton Lake.

And The Prince of Whales Hotel.  So wonderful.

Utah Valley 1/2 Marathon 2012

I didn't know if I was going to be able to run this race because A) I didn't train well and 4) I got Mastitis and a Sinus Infection the day before.  Oh the pain and fear of not being able to do what I had spent the last 2 weeks convincing myself I would at least attempt.  But I got the go ahead from the Doctor.  If I felt good when I woke up the next morning, then it was okay to run.

So, 3 am came sooner than I wanted it to, but I was feeling well.   A little tender, but well enough to head out to the course.  I got up and got ready.  A friend of mine picked me up and we headed out to catch our bus up the canyon.  We caught the bus and because I hadn't eaten anything before I left home, I felt so sick.  But my wonderful friend gave me half a cookie and I felt WAY better.

When I hopped off the bus all I could smell was SMOKE.  The heaters they had were barrels burning wood.  It was a little much for me that morning.  It was better when we walked past them all.  The 1.5 hour wait at the start line went really quickly.  I was glad.  And I wasn't too cold.

Then it was time to start.  All I could think was, "Just finish. Walk as much as you need to.  Just finish."  I was feeling great and had also decided that I would try to run at least the first 8 miles. 

It was exciting at the beginning of the race. There was music blaring and plenty of people ready to set PR's.  It was beautiful..  The first 8 miles went by super fast because of it.  Not to mention, it was downhill.  It wasn't too hot.  Just a PERFECT day for a race.

Me at mile 11: 

I'm so glad that I was able to run most of the race.  I stopped at mile 8 to call my Hubby and tell him where I was, so that he and the kids could be at the end to cheer me on.  (Yes, I made a phone call in the middle of my race)  Then I walked through all the aid stations after that to drink some water and suck on an orange or stretch a bit.  But besides that I ran the entire race.  I can't believe it.  But I'm super excited for the next one.  I'll actually train for that one.

I ran the 13.1 miles in 2:33:47

That made my split time 11:44/mile.  I'm so glad.  I just wanted to keep my mile time under 13 minutes.

I took 1913th place out of 2510.

186th out of 385 in my age group.

The goal next time:  To finish in less time.

Utah Valley 1/2 Marathon Update

A few months ago I had decided with my entry partners to change to the 10K instead of running the 1/2.  We just don't have the time or haven't taken it to train.  Because we had decided this, I hadn't been running much AT ALL.  However, my brother, who did the actual registering, forgot to go online and change the race.  AND we forgot to remind him to do this.  By the time he got online to do it, the deadline for changes had passed.

So, in a week and a half I will be running in my first 1/2 Marathon. Alone. I have been ditched by my surgery recovering Mother and my Brother is just leaving the state.  (I think he's hiding from the race we didn't train for.) ALONE. For this very long distance I have never attempted.  

My goal:  to finish the race before they start taking the blockades down.  Even if I have to CRAWL across the finish line, I'm going to do it.

Joys Of Running

I ran today. 

I got up off my fat butt, got the kiddies in the stroller, and RAN.

It felt really good to get out and do it.

Good, if bouncing boobs, slapping thighs, and a very jiggly tire around my midsection were what I was going for. 

Although I now have raw skin all over, I will be going out again. 

The more I do it, the less noise and rubbing. Right?

Post Pregnancy Exercise Reality

I realize it now.  This year will not be my pedal to the metal year when it comes to exercise.  We have had a handful of sicknesses this LATE flu season.  I'm getting used to having 2 kids and keeping them on a healthy schedule AND still focusing on the fun stuff every day. 

This, I have felt, has left my health on the back burner.  Something I never wanted to do.  So, I've re-evaluated.  I understand that for my sanity and the survival of my family, I NEED exercise and healthy living in my life.  I also understand that I didn't have as much time to dedicate to these things as I did when I was single or just had my Hubby to worry about.  This year is about Baby Steps.

Baby Steps to Eating Clean
Baby Steps to exercise
Baby Steps to NO more TV
Baby Steps to outdoor fun with little kids
Baby Steps to de-cluttering my house

and there are so many more.

I'm beginning my healthy living with the Eat-Clean lifestyle.  No more processed foods.  Smaller portions.  And more meals a day.  This is not going to be an easy change, but this is going to be a FANTASTIC change.  I guess we'll see together how this first year of Eating Clean goes. 

Wish us luck.

Happy Birthday 5K

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to run in my friends Birthday 5K. She wanted to celebrate her own birthday with friends and by running. Something that she is blessed to be able to do. I thought it was a fantastic idea. So, my Hubby and I bundled up the kiddos on a cold Saturday morning and ran the 3.2 miles around our neighborhood.

It was so much fun. Fun to be with friends. And fun to run a race on a route that I knew well. And who wouldn't want to run a Birthday race when there are cupcakes at the end that look SO FANTASTIC!?


They were fantastically delicious too!

p90x Lean: Weeks 1 & 2

I started again. This time with a bit different expectation. I'm doing p90x 5 days in a week, not 7. I have also succumbed to the fact that because of children waking in the night, there will be days that I don't get to do my workout. This is all okay. (I never thought that I would say that, but it is.)

I took beginning pictures:


This is why fat people should never wear bikinis. We look skinnier with clothes on; OR at least there is a colorful distraction from our fatness.


I'm pretty sure that I'm more out of shape than I have been, EVER. But the workouts don't seem quite as bad/hard as I remember. Don't get me wrong I still want to smack Tony sometimes, but it just takes longer to get to that point than I remember. Maybe it's because I know the videos? I don't know, but it's been fun so far. Can't wait to do the WHOLE 90 days.

I have been trying to get some running in too. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Because of a flat tire, I was unable to go more than once last week. So far this week I have also only gone once. BUT Saturday isn't over yet. Here's hoping for twice!

Running Again

It's been exactly one month since I last ran, but I got out in the cold with the kiddos to do it anyway.

I jogged 2 miles.

I thought I was going to die.

I didn't.

I also thought that I was only going about a mile. It's always nice to come home and track how far I ran to find that I went farther than I thought. I'm excited to get out and run again. Hopefully next time the breathing will be a little easier.

I'm Roped In. . .

And I don't know if I will survive.

My younger brother signed me up for a 1/2 Marathon. I don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to do it. Don't get me wrong, I want to, but I'm afraid that my timing might be a little off. I was running before we moved, but the move threw me off completely. Which means I haven't ran for 7 weeks. I am mentally prepared to start running again, but I'm not sure I'm ready to train for this large of a race.

I want to be able to run/jog the whole thing. I decided a long time ago that when I tackled a new distance, that I would not go for the best time, but to finish while running. I'm just not sure I'll be able to do it.

I have two kids and the rest of my life to schedule around. Not to mention, it's WINTER. The last time I exercised and really dedicated some time to running was when I had NO kids. Finding a groove that works might take me longer than the time that I have to train for this race.

I'm just nervous for this one.