Celebrations with my Polar

Football practice (5/4).

WillPower and Grace on Friday (5/13)

Body Pump (5/3)

Up-and-at-em'

My Bondi Band...

I got my bondi band, and I am slightly sad that it isn't as magically wonderful as I wanted it to be.  Maybe I should have just gotten a plain one or one with text, but mine moved.  But it is super pretty!! Maybe it won't be as inclined to move once I wash it?


Either way, this afternoon I made myself workout.  I didn't make it to the gym, but I did do my *free* Nike App for the first time.  It was awesome.  Well, by awesome I mean, hurts really bad, but is motivating and instructional. 

This was a middle portion. 

Not too bad for not working out since Tuesday.  I really like the app, I just wish there were fewer squat/knee pain exercises!!  I like how the app progressed through the workout, how, if I didn't know what a workout was, I could watch a video and then resume the workout, and the app talked to me and gave me reminders (which sometimes I wanted to punch the lady, but it is hard to punch a non-entity and I like my iPhone too much to hurt it.).

My sister arrives tonight! We have our second home game tomorrow, and overall things are looking up.  I'd just like this stupid cold to exit forever and the sun to come out and STAY for longer than a few minutes a day.  

I am in SUPER-LOVE!

I knew it would be cool.  I knew I would probably like it.  But I REALLY like it. 

YAY!

This is awesome. 

I didn't go to Zumba because I was hungry, and L and I watched last week's Survivor instead.  But I did go out for a walk/jog after dinner so I could test it out.  My knee was killing me so I did less jogging and more walking, but either way I learned some things that made me happy!!
1.  Even though I am super slow, I am still burning calories. 
2. Even though I am super slow, I am still in the fat burn heartrate zone. 
3.  It is ok that I am slow! 
4. I am scared that I will hurt my new favorite toy, so I don't think I will wear it during football practice. 
5. I need to hide things better if I don't want L to know about them. 

Did I mention how much I love this thing?  Super easy to setup, super easy to use.  Awesomeness!!!!

WHO'S EXCITED?!?!?!?!?

THIS GIRL IS!!!!!!

Now, I have to figure out how to manage wearing this during football practice!!!

I wasn't going to go to Zumba tonight, but now I HAVE to!!!

Sick and random.

L's been sick since Tuesday--he even stayed at home on Wednesday (a rarity!).
I can tell I am sick/getting sick.  I was going to try my first Green Monster this morning (milk, flax seeds, spinach, banana, frozen blueberries, frozen peaches), but all I wanted was some comfort food.  I ate some Cinnamon toast with butter and am having a diet soda.  The bubbles soothe my throat.  Or my brain.  One of the two.

The O-Line all contributed to get me a plane ticket so I could go to the LA game on Saturday--I am so lucky to have this team in my world right now.  Imagine giving money to fly someone to a game where she won't even play.  I am very lucky.  So I am making cookies to bring to thank them.  Gingersnap dough I made yesterday, so all I had to do was form/sugar them and bake them today.  I want to make snickerdoodles for them too, but all I can think about right now is a nap.

I don't want to miss WillPower and Grace and Yoga tonight.  I am going to try to force myself to go no matter how I feel. 

I have been reading about different cleanse ideas to try.  I even planned out next Monday-Friday to try a healthy cleanse.  My eating habits are horrific as of late, and I need to get back on track.  I do wonder if I can hold myself to a full 5-day cleanse.  But I chose all the different meals/snacks that sounded good, so I should be able to if I just put my mind to it right?  That is my biggest challenge. 

The rain is seriously getting to me.  The first three years I was here I handled the rain much better.  I am just so over it right now.  It is dreary, cold, gross, and I am sick of it.  I'll only be in LA for about 24 hours, and it will be a super change in temperature (we are going to SWEAT in our pads/helmets)--but I am SO looking forward to seeing the sun and feeling warmth.

Eyelids shutting....need nap.

Proud of myself...

Can you tell?

Me after WillPower and Grace (60 minutes) and Yoga (60 minutes)!

I was unbelievably close to NOT going to the gym tonight.   The dreary weather is getting to me, football practice tomorrow is going to be rainy, muddy, cold and gross again, and I haven't really taken a day off from actual physical movement/exertion beyond sitting on my butt on my computer chair/couch since the 6th.  Last Friday I missed my routine double-class at the gym for L's step-brother-in-law's birthday celebration dinner, and it would have been SO easy to "miss" again this week. 

And as I tried to convince myself to get my butt in gear, change out of my pjs, and get my fat butt to the gym, I realized that my downhill slides back into unhealthy began Just. Like. This. 

Terrible eating, not tracking what I eat, and CHOOSING to listen to the lazy part of my brain that just wanted to stay home and watch tv and do nothing healthy.  And that became my routine. 

I don't want that to happen again.  I realized that tonight when for the first time during WillPower and Grace I was able to do 1 FULL heart-to-heart plank--ON. MY. TOES!!!!!!!!!!  And even though I am totally far from being in love with my body, I see that I am toning up in places I had forgotten about.  I am getting stronger--proof was in my performance tonight.  I am also getting more flexible--during yoga I was able to hold poses longer than in the past, and I am more able to focus on what I CAN do rather than what I am unable to do (yet!).  I need to remember this moment, hence the post-workout (UNFLATTERING) picture.  I am proud of myself, and I need to stop sabotaging my efforts in what I eat and how I choose to refuel my body.  Next week begins a re-focus on tracking and a real effort for staying on plan. 
I won't totally go overboard this weekend--it will just be easier for tracking purposes to start on my weigh-in day. 

I feel good.  :) YAY!

I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it NOW.

Being unemployed sucks on all levels.  Especially when I want to get this to help me in my quest.  I've read the reviews, I am fighting my fear of HRM and my larger girth, and I want it!!!  Blargh. 

Polar doesn't offer a variety of colors, but this one totally caught my eye.

The reviews say that this watch is easy to set up, the strap fits around all sizes (big and little), and it is a "life-changer."

I am nervous though because the little pod to connect it to the computer is extra, as well as any GPS functions.  I have my iPhone, so the GPS is a non-point, but since I am at the computer all the time, I'd want to have it be able to easily sync up.  But since I am too poor to even get the watch, the connector pod thingy is out of the question.

I can dream.  And save the non-existent extra money I have.  Maybe Christmas.  Maybe I will combine all of my rewards for my goals and when I hit my target weight, then I can get this.

The only problem being, this watch and its features would actually help me GET TO MY GOAL WEIGHT.

Argh.

And then I read Lori's blog about her new shoes.  And I fell in love.  And thought maybe magic shoes would make running more palatable for me.   And they aren't as expensive as I thought--clearly any purchase at all is expensive for me at this point, but still--these are WAY more reasonable than I originally anticipated!

I've lost my motivation for running--I think the rain is a clear villian in addition to my hatred for it--but I *think* nicer weather will be headed PDX's way soon, which will *hopefully* help in my motivation for running outside (I hope)--I am actually missing it.  I went back to C25K W6D1 with my own modifications the last nice non-raining day here (A WEEK AGO), and it felt good--I really think I am more about alternating walking/running--which I need to just accept and use it to my advantage. 

Either way, if I had a spare $300 in my world, these two items would be on a delivery truck headed for my house in 7-10 days. 

Review #1: Protein Powder of Magic.

Mondays and Wednesdays I have practice from 6-8:30.  I get home after 9, and eating that late is just not good for me.  I thought that for my first review I could try to make myself a shake with the Vanilla Bean Protein Powder that I got from my box of goodies from Swanson Health Products before I went to practice (I could drink it on the 30 minute drive).

I won't lie, I am not a meat-head, but I have been bragging to L about my developing GUN SHOW (which he makes fun of).  But I never thought I would ever drink protein powder. 

I am a convert. 

1 scoop. (I had to dig for the scoop the first time, hence the powdery fingers!

I got the blender out, opened the container of mix (which smells AWESOME--vanilla-y and creamy if creamy could be a smell--by the way), I mixed my full scoop of powder with a full bag of frozen smoothie fruit (strawberries, mango, and pineapple), and about 1/4 C of water and a Trader Joe's 0% Greek Honey yogurt.

It was really thick.  And it made a LARGE amount of shake.  And it was thick.  

Yum. First time trying this too.  YUM.

The combination of vanilla bean, honey yogurt, and fruit was AWESOME.  It also made over 32 ounces.  I drank most of it before practice (from about 5:15-5:50), but had about 8 ounces left in the car for me to drink after practice was over (got in the car at 8:40). 

I wasn't hungry AT ALL during practice, and while I'd like to have a warm meal in my tummy as I type this, I think my need to eat comes mentally (habits/comfort) rather than actual hunger.  

Thick, blender-y goodness.

I can't wait to try making other flavors of shakes with this powder--I am going to do milk, ice, and powder for next week's practice.  I am PUMPED!!!

Maybe my GUN SHOW will develop exponentially now that I am protein-ing it up!!!  :)

A girl can dream right?

One of TWO containers I needed to contain the giant amount I made.

**Note**I got products for free--I am not being paid in any way for what I say about these products. I am being honest, and seriously, have no reason to lie!

• Are you interested in getting some free Swanson Health Products goodies to review on your own blog? Then check out the Swanson Health Blog for all the details.

My day of "rest..."

Blargh...
I am on beer # (you don't need to know....but it is more than 2 and less than 6)...just ate domino's pizza (cheese w/ mush & onions).
My football team is freaking me out.
I had a three hour practice yesterday (Go Shockwave!) and am still sore today (though not as much with the beer).
We did:
about 15 40-yard sprints
drills for D-line (me) and D-backs
ladder/hopping drill (did the jumping SUCK!!)
box drill (x2 second round my team lost, so we had to do 5 updowns which SUCK)

and other defensive stuffs.

Whew. My team just won.  I can relax now. They beat one of my most hated teams, and I can breathe now.

Ok.  I'll pay for all the drinking/eating later.  Like tomorrow for weigh-in.

Breakfast of Yum...

After Body Pump I made this awesomeness:

No, I did not make the yogurt...Duh..

1 slice beer bread: 4pts.
1 pear: 0 pts.
1 yoplait light (very cherry): 3 pts.
1 egg: 2 pts.
2 egg whites: 1 pt.
sauteed mushrooms, shallot, minced garlic, and 2 C spinach : 0 pts.
1 tsp. olive oil: 1 pt.
1/4 C shredded mozzarella/provolone cheese: 2 pts.
Total: 13 points
Worth every single point.  Super filling and check out all the healthy checks I got in:
1 1/2 dairy
1 healthy oil
2 fruits/veggies
Nice!!

Grouchy and HUNGRY

It is 9:15 PM and I am still hungry.
I am 5 points over for the day.
Because I have no job, I have very little else to think about other than food, eating, and not eating but wishing I was eating.
Something has to change.

Breakfast:
2 eggs 4 pts. (I ran out of eggs so I couldn't make my usual 1 egg, 2 egg whites)
Slice mozzarella cheese 2 pts.
1 pear 0 pt.
beer bread 4 pts.
Coke zero 0 pt.
Total: 10 pts.

Lunch:
Same as yesterday.
Total: 7 pts.

Dinner:
1 hummus cup 3 pts.
spread on 1 sand thin 3 pt.
topped with 1 tomato 0 pt.
giant salad baby spinach & romaine 0 pt.
apple 0 pt.
7 homemade croutons 3 pts.
poppy seed vinagrette 3 pts.
Total: 13 pts.

Mid-day snack
1 orange 0 pt.
14 almonds 2 pts.
1 100 calorie pack sweet & Salty mix 3 pts.
1 100 calorie pack oreo cakesters 3 pts.
Total: 8 pts.

Evening snack (right after dinner because I was still hungry):
1 yoplait light cherry yogurt 3 pts.
2 squares from a moonstruck dark chocolate bar 1 pt.
Total: 4 pts.

Healthy Checks:
all 8+ water
2 dairy
7 fruits/veggies
vitamin
3 healthy oil
exercise
This afternoon I jogged for 29 minutes (jogging for about 23 of those 29 minutes for a total of 2.12 miles) and then went to the gym and took the PowerSculpt weightlifting class (50 minutes)
Right now I have 49 of my weekly allowance and 31 of my activity points that I have earned left.  I have earned 40 total activity points for the week, and with this new system, I set it to take points from my activity points first, and then my weekly allowance.
Honestly, I am eating SUPER healthy.  This is the healthiest I've eaten in a LONG time.  Today's chocolate and 2 100 calorie packs were the "worst" things I put in my body this week.  I have been eating a hefty amount of fruits and veggies, and though I really want to go buy like 12 loaves of bread and eat them all (don't even get me started on the pasta/cheese/garlic bread with MOUNDS OF BUTTER AND CHEESE) that L ate tonight), I haven't caved. Yet.  I am worried it will happen though. I am THAT hungry.  Argh.

Day three...

4 pts. over, so it pulled from my weekly allowance. I didn't eat anything unhealthy, so I guess I'll live.
Breakfast:
1 mango 0 pt.
1 pear 0 pt.
Total: 0 pts.

Lunch of amazing awesomeness!!!!

Lunch (BEST.LUNCH.EVER! Thanks Beth for the awesome idea!)
1 yam 5 pts.
1 tsp. olive oil 1 pt.
1/2 C black beans 2 pts.
mushroom and onions sauteed 0 pt.
Total:  8 pts.

Dinner:
2 egg whites 1 pt.
1 egg 2 pts.
1 slice beer bread 4 pts.
1 slice mozzerella cheese 2 pts.
28 almonds (1 serving) 5 pts.

Snack of filling and healthy. Maybe not the crackers though...

Total:  14 pts.

Mid-day Snack:
31 baked gorgonzola Trader Joe's crackers (1 serving) 4 pts.
baby carrots 0 pt.
1 hummus cup 3 pts.
yoplait light blueberry 3 pts.
1 slice mozzerella cheese 2 pts..
Total: 
12 pts.

Evening Snack (I got back late after my first "practice" and I was hungry)
1.5 oz pork cooked in black bean sauce & mushrooms 2 pts.
1 C Trader Joes Rice Krispies 3 pts.
1/2 C skim milk 1 pt.
1 banana 0 pt.
Total: 6 pts.

Total for the day: 40
Still have 45 weekly remaining, but L's aunt is coming to town and we are going out to dinner on Saturday so I am trying to save a good amount for then. 
Healthy checks:
not enough water :(  Only 5 servings
3 dairy
6 fruits/veggies
2 healthy oil
No exercise.  I am worried about burning out, so I took the day off.  I was sore from 24 lift on Tuesday, and still sore from the long run on Monday. 

I need to start sucking it up if I am going to get playing time for the Portland Shockwave like I plan!!! Classroom sessions started last night (and my brain hurts from all the Xs and Os!), and we are outside starting this Saturday.  The beginning of the season will be mainly conditioning (which I HATE), but I am no quitter.  I want to kick ass.  This is their 10th season, and last year they were 1st in the ENTIRE NATION in defense, but missed the playoffs because they didn't score enough points.  I am so excited to be a part of a team again, you have no idea!!!

I'd still rather have a job though!! :)

Conundrum...

I want to increase my speed.
Pretty much everything I've read says that one of the easiest ways to increase speed is:

to lose weight.

Well, that is helpful.

I think I will have to just put some patience pants on (which I DO NOT OWN), and tough it out.

Still depressing. 

I hate running on the treadmill. It sucks.  Today I tried interval training (another way to increase speed), and with the tv on the treadmill not working, and me wanting to die during the "work" intervals, I wanted to poke my eyes out.
Here is what I did:

Interval	How to Run
Warm up	Slowly jog for 5 minutes.
Work Interval	3 minutes at 20 seconds faster than your 5K race pace
Rest Interval	Recover (easy pace) for 3 minutes.
Work Interval	3 minutes at 20 seconds faster than your 5K race pace
Rest Interval	Recover (easy pace) for 3 minutes.
Work Interval	3 minutes at 20 seconds faster than your 5K race pace
Rest Interval	Recover (easy pace) for 3 minutes.
Work Interval	3 minutes at 20 seconds faster than your 5K race pace
Rest Interval	Recover (easy pace) for 3 minutes.
Work Interval	3 minutes at 20 seconds faster than your 5K race pace
Rest Interval	Recover (easy pace) for 3 minutes.
Cool down	Slowly jog for 5 minutes.

Thanks active.com!

*Please note that my "20 seconds faster than...5K race pace" is pretty pathetic.  And it was STILL REALLY HARD FOR ME.

First, and last time...

jogging on the treadmill at the gym.  
YUK.

I even had to walk a couple of times.  First, it is boring.  Even with tvs everywhere, and my podcast playing...I was so BORED.  I couldn't stop looking at the time/distance monitor, and couldn't keep it covered because I was sweating so much I needed my towel. 

I hate it.  I didn't go as far as I'd like, and basically, it sucked. 

Good thing to know. 
This will mean I might have to invest in running rain gear. 

I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me, before the race.

First 5K: 37:24.

My jingle bells!

Yep. Deep.  Deeper than this in some areas!

The snow...this was a cleared section.

Me, after the race.

Mom and I--MOM ROCKED IT!!!

Not going to lie, I am not happy about my time.  Even though it was the fastest I've run since starting the C25K program...my mom WALKED it in 47!!  At least I know that I can do better.  It was super snowy and the path wasn't really cleared, so we were warned that a 5K in the snow was more like a 10K--and my legs agree right now.  Ow.

Counterproductive...

Today I ran for a full 40 minutes. Straight.
It helped that my favorite podcast that I listen to as I jog read an email I wrote on the show today!  Download it here--the show is 12/8 & my email is about 19:16 into the show.  I almost fell over because they actually tease that they are going to read my email at the beginning of the show and they say my full name--I almost fell over when I heard it!!

And then I got back, showered, and started boxing up stuff that I can mail back.  And it hit me that I am leaving soon.  And it sucks.  I will miss living with my sister.  I will miss knowing how close my mom and dad are. I will miss getting to see them or have breakfast or a fish fry with them.  So that sucks.  I miss L like crazy. I miss our nice house and our awesome bed and our amazing kitchen. I miss my car and driving it.  I even miss my gym. But when I get back, I know that I will miss my mom and dad and my sister.  It's never easy is it?

And then, I had 1 point left for the day (which sucks by the way--a large cafe karuba I track as 11 points--which is horrifying, but the cinnamon roll flavor is so beyond delicious, and it is so freeking cold here, it is the perfect drink to start my teaching day).  And my jog was 12 points, but then I ate an egg, 2 egg whites and a bagel thin.  And then I had two bites of my homemade toffee that I made for people at work.  And then I ate two pretzel/Hug wreaths.  And then I ate some puppy chow I made. Keep in mind, these were things I made as gifts.  I wanted to try the puppy chow because I didn't have enough peanut butter so I added a few butterscotch chips. I don't really like the flavor, but what did I do? I gorged myself.  I actually felt myself getting sick, more and more full, and yet I KEPT EATING.  And now I have a stomach ache and I feel yucky and I totally negated my awesome run tonight.  Which is frustrating.  And disheartening.

My first 5K is on Saturday.  Two of my amazing friends are walking it while I run it.  My mom is walking in it (I just found that out via facebook).  I am nervous.

And I REALLY need to get rid of all the homemade baked goodies so I am not even tempted to gorge myself.  BAH.

Early present for myself...

I will not disclose how poorly I did on the initial tests for both pushups and situps. 

BAH. 

I really need these programs.  That much is clearly evident. 

Just Found...

These:
100 Pushups
200 Situps

And will complete the initial tests tomorrow. 
Very cool. 

And I made myself run again tonight. In the cold.  YAY ME!

WARNING--random blathering ahead...

Tonight I went for a run.  3rd run after completing C25K.  I feel like I am de-gressing, and I was freezing and heaving and it was HARD to run tonight.  And I didn't even go a full 3 miles in 40 minutes.  GRRRR...I am going to have to work harder.  Maybe I will start jogging every day?  Blargh.  I'll do some research.  I am really worried because my first 5K is next Saturday and I don't think I am ready.   :(

To celebrate the demise of my self esteem I ate horrifically.  Carmel popcorn, a serving of honey mustard pretzels that I don't know the points for anymore because they were pre-measured a long time ago.  And then, to top it off, I ate some boxed mac-n-cheese.  Like I was in college again.  But, I didn't eat the whole box! YAY!  But now I feel disgusting.  I really need to get back to my own kitchen and comfort zone to get back on track again.  I feel like I am slipping--I know that I haven't been 100% on plan and I need to work harder.

And, I am trying to like nuts. Almonds; to be exact.  I know that they are good for me, so I got some sea-salted roasted ones (28 almonds = 5 points in the new plan), and ate some yesterday.  Eh.  Maybe they will grow on me more, but at least they don't make me gag.  And, I was full at lunch after my entree without eating a yogurt. 

Ok. I think that covers all the random ramblings for now!  Happy 1 of December!

Sick...

Today is supposed to be W2D2 for C25K. I am coughing and my chest hurts.  Tomorrow, I actually get to go to Lambeau to see the Packer game--so working out won't fit into the schedule.  I need to go workout...I can do this.  Maybe after a nap...