Reality Staring Me In The Face

Lets talk about Stress.  Stress is sometimes looked at as a burden to an individual/family and sometimes, I've noticed, that stress is idolized as a state of living that is to be desired.  Although I think the second kind of stress is a scary state for our culture to admire, I would like to talk about the first kind of stress.

The first kind of stress effects me more in my adult life than I ever remember it effecting me when I was a kid.  And we all cope with stress differently.  Some express emotions at extreme levels, some drink alcohol, some obsess about activities or work, and some do what I do.  Eat.

I can't even explain it.  I can be full and know I'm not hungry and might even not want to eat, but I just keep going.  It's like my body thinks food is a medicine that I need right then, and I need as much as I can get.  This past year was very stressful for me for many reasons.  One of those reasons was a foot injury.  And because I wasn't really paying attention or addressing my stresses well, I ate.  And I ate. And I ate.

Between my injury and my inability to exercise (this is usually my 1st line of defense to my yearning to eat) I managed to gain 45 lbs in the last 12 months.  And it's rough.  It's hard to watch 3 years of hard work disappear behind a mask that jiggles.

In the first half of the year, I was super excited to begin my workouts again.  I spent months doing no strenuous activity and was excited to get back to doing what I love.  But I forgot how slow one has to go after an injury.  It's been a while since I had a significant injury and my body is definitely older now.  (I never thought I would say that)  It's true.  Gaining my strength and abilities back seems to be at a snails pace, and thus extremely frustrating.

I didn't really account for this 6 months ago when I registered for the Utah Valley Half Marathon.  So, the race is here.  And I'm not ready to run it.  I was thinking that I would try to find someone else to take my place when I was reminded by my sister-in-law that people walk these races.  Now, I usually run.  I tend to do things quickly.  But by body is screaming at me and I need to slow down; in more ways than just exercise.  I have to respect where I am.  Right here.  Right now.  And enjoy it.

Here's to walking my first race.

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. 

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!)

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.

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.