Back to Running

After quite the hiatus from running (not exercise in general, just running) I am back at it.  I am contemplating running a 15k trail run in a month that is just up the road from the house on trails I used to frequent.  So Sunday I did a walk/jog 3.1 miles to get back into the swing of things.  Tuesday I set out in the heat of the day with my camel back and did intervals and did 4.7 miles in just over an hour.  Wednesday I still had the running bug and headed out here at the house again and thought I might do 3 miles but I was feeling good and went ahead and did 5 again.  I had forgotten what a great feeling it is to run and what an even better feeling it is after a run!  My hamstrings stay really tight all the time but running definitely makes it worse so I have GOT to make a concerted effort to stretch more and really focus on my hamstrings.  Although this is the first time ever I had some shin-splint type of pain after and I had done some intervals where I was running on my toes/ball of my foot.  Foam rolling might just be in order.

Wednesday I didn't bring my camel back so I took a liter bottle with me and dropped it halfway in.

Killer's new Vader Easter bunny toy.  You can see her leg sticking up in the background between his bunny ears.  She and Chico has been rolling around in the grass while I was reading out in the sun.  Beautiful, but already might hot here in GA.

Spark Challenge 4

I love music so this was a fun challenge for me. The problem was narrowing my favorite exercise songs to just 15. These are listed in no particular order.

1. Bionic - Christina Aguilera
2. Folding Chair - Regina Spektor
3. Run the World - Beyonce
4. 24 - JEM
5. Aha - Imogen Heap
6. Give it up to me - Shakira
7. Dog Days are Over - Florence and the Machine
8. Rolling in the Deep - Adele
9. Black Betty - Spiderbait
10. Raise your Glass - Pink
11. Waka Waka - Shakira
12. Fergalicious - Fergie
13. Hey Ma - Cam'ron
14. Juicy - Better than Ezra
15. Alejandro - Lady Gaga

Who is this Girl??

After my suitcase epiphany that I had a week or 2 ago I went back and was looking at old photos. These photos are not proudly placed around my house and there is a reason why. I was not happy with these photos, I was not happy with myself. These photos represent a time that I often avoided doing things because I was so uncomfortable with myself. I had let myself go, I gave up on the inner adventurer and fun lover and I was so embarrassed that I could let me down like that.

Mortified there was a photo like this, but now glad to have it to remind me how far I have come and that I never want to go back!

Still room for improvement, don't ever believe that you have achieved it all because then the only place to go is down. 1st race ever, climbing over a pile of old cars, covered in mud, and HAPPY!

I look so foreign to myself in this photo, this is when I just finished nursing school and started my job. I would not recognize this girl if I passed her on the street, and she is me.

Please let me be outdoors and moving!

This was about at my heaviest, not sure because I avoided the scale like it was the plague.

Amazing how losing about 25% of your body weight will lighten your load, both in your physique and most of all, in spirit. I love taking goofy photos now and I don't feel like everyone is staring at me.

A great hairdo and a dress can only go so far to make you feel pretty.

I look so tired and worn out at my heaviest, and now I look like I have tons of energy (sometimes that is true, sometimes it is not.)

Promise to self...Never again!!

Tribute to the many more races in the future (next is November), not having to hide photos anymore, and to feeling great and experiencing everything I can that this life has to offer. Bring it on!

Goodbye Strep Throat

Last night was the first night back to work after being off and entire week thanks to strep/tonsillitis/oral abscess. It was a decent night, but I was so weak and drained of energy. I almost passed out a couple of times and had to keep sitting down (I usually am on my feet for the majority of my shift). I had been out of the gym and had not exercised in 2 weeks, YIKES! I had been too sick to do much of anything except for move from the bed to the couch and back.

I was still feeling run down after last night but I didn't want to wait too long to get back in the swing of things so I hit the gym with Joey today. 15 on the elliptical, 30 of abs with Joey, then 25 min walk. I couldn't even muster a little jog. That being said, I did feel better after exercising and certainly was glad I went. I bet I will sleep well tonight!

Poor Assessment

Hello from shameville. 1st assessment where I had not lost any weight or made any significant improvements. I have been working out with Joey for 5 months now and this was the pits because every other month he and I both have been impressed with my assessment results. The good news is: I did not GAIN any weight, I lost about 2 inches total between arms and waist, but all other measurements and weight stayed the same. I LOST strength in arms and legs *I have been doing cardio but slacking on weight training. I also just maintained my HR post 3 minute steps 160 bmp. My resting HR was 96, YOWZA. I am quite sure that this is just nerves because I knew the results were going to be crappy, because I had totally let myself punk out over the last month. So in honor of my new resolve so I can avoid the walk of shame next month I am posting a few workout photos today.

Guess What I Did Today.

I couldn't sleep this morning at 0700 and needed to EXERCISE. I had missed 3 days working out thanks to 14-15 hour nights at work. It was quite chilly but I didn't realize that until I was already out the door so I decided to run "a little bit" to get warmed up. Once I started RUNNING I didn't stop. I told myself that I was going to at least make it to the 5k mark and see what my time looked like on mytracks. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that I had cut 6 minutes off my fastest time so far and made the 5k in 33 minutes. I was so happy that I found some extra energy, and kept running. I made it back to the house after a total of 48 minutes running. I maintained a 5.5 mph overall average which is MUCH better than before!!! I was so happy I couldn't stop smiling. Then I came in and did my BICEP and TRICEP circuit workout.

Clay and I then had a fantastic omlette sandwich and went to see Something Borrowed and Thor. Double feature movie day. I really enjoyed Something Borrowed, and Clay said he liked it too, Thor was good but we saw it in 3D and I think I would have preferred for it not to have been. We also picked up some salvia and artemesia that we will be planting tomorrow.

Back to the Gym for Success

After a much less than stellar workout earlier, I was feeling peppier this evening and headed back to the gym. I cranked out a 5K in 40 minutes which is my best time so far. I even ran sprints of 7mph which is faster than I have been able run. Glad I went back, now I am relaxing post-shower thinking about reading my new book:

Rainy Tuesday

Struggled through my pre-dawn cardio on the elliptical this AM, not sure if I was still wiped out from the session with my trainer last night or I was just being lazy because I know I have to go back to work tonight. But...I made it through thanks to some recently downloaded tunes.

Next the sun had come up but was hiding behind some rain clouds. I love a good RAIN! The birds were chirping and I left the back door open to enjoy the sounds and fresh air while I made some SUN-DRIED tomato hummus and cleaned the kitchen.

Breakfast of champions: Roasted pork loin, garlic, and broccoli in marinara with side of asparagus in BBQ sauce *this was a new and amazing treat. I never thought to put BBQ sauce on veggies until I saw it on Caitlin's blog. I must say this is a repeat for sure!!! Oh and before you judge about me eating this for "breakfast" remember I am a night-shifter ; ) K, Thanks!

Now to relax and let my stomach settle before catching some zzzzzs before work.

Today's Workout

Today was TRICEPS and CHEST day! I just started working out with a trainer one day a week last week and following his recommendations for a total of 4 workouts per week. Followed my strength training routing with 45 minutes of CARDIO - decided on TREADMILL today. Have greatly increased my cardiovascular stamina since starting back at the gym in January. Was able to jog/run 15 of the 45 minutes. Some great music always helps get me through a workout!

Love this dance to Imogen Heap's instrumental version of Aha!



A little throw back...




This gave me a little umph at the end of my workout.