Wednesdays

For me, Wednesdays are my most challenging days to stay active. I work 9-6 and then turn around and go to choir from 7-8:45. I often will get a Wednesday off every other week, as I work a weekend every other week (that's a whole other issue) and that can help, but otherwise I have to cram a run in and sacrifice dinner or do the opposite.

The logical explanation here is for me to just get up early and run, right? Well I do track workouts late on Tuesdays (sometimes not over until 8 or 8:30) and so I am not ready to get up and do it again at 6AM on Wednesdays. I also really suck at waking myself up, whether it's 6:30 or 8:30... like this morning =).

I've tried running to choir (it's about 2.8 miles, not far), but I got SUPER gross and sweaty and felt bad having to sit so close to other people for 2 hours. It's just impossible in the Georgia weather not to get super sweaty, even nearing sundown.

My traditional rest days are fridays, as I like to feel rested for my long run then run on tired legs on Sundays as recovery.  Since my goal is consistency for this training cycle, I've got to figure out something that works. I guess trial and error can work for the rest of June and July, but after that it's business time!

Any suggestions?

12 Miles and Other Running Things

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." 

-T. S. Eliot

This Saturday I ran 12 miles. It's a good thing I don't have to do those long runs on my own because I really don't know what I would think about for 2 hours while I run, run, run. What do I usually think about? I think about finishing. I have to convince myself to keep going (ok trick myself, is closer to the truth).

"Only one more minute; only to the end of the road; just till you've been running for an hour; think of all the skinny cow ice cream/pancakes/potato chip you can eat after burning 1100 calories...etc."

But luckily I only have to do one long run in the week by myself, so I only have to bribe my brain a few times.

So I'm going press pause and talk about how much Team In Training has changed my running.

• I went from thinking I HAD to just run all the time, and that walking was weak, but now I know walking makes me stronger. 
• Running went from a very independent, solo action for me, to a social, group activity. Don't get me wrong... I still really like running on my own. A lot of the time I prefer it, but I also love having a pace partner. Even if there is no talking, just having someone there makes a big difference when it comes to how far you can push your legs.
• I've gotten a lot faster, even though I run slower on long runs (I credit my determination + having a great training schedule on that).
• I've started to actually enjoy running.

Wait, huh? You mean to say this girl has been running for 9 months and didn't like it? Yes. Yes, that's correct. Running was torturous for the first 3 months. The only reason I've kept up with it (until recently) is because I like the way it makes me feel after and I like the results. Now? I like it a bit more. I like the people. I like the accomplishment. I like seeing my surroundings in ways I never would have before. I like pushing myself. (I like the clothes.)

The lesson here is if you hate running, maybe you should join a running group (in Savannah there are all of the C.R.E.W. groups and the Savannah Striders, but nationally check your local running stores or meetup.com) or you should raise money for cancer and join Team In Training or DetirmiNation. I mean stop being so selfish while you hate running, geez.

p.s. Check out my post over at GeekChic: The Blog! It's the first of many! And look out for more posts every once and a while from my girl, Caity.

I am a Runner.....?

I've struggled with this for a long time. I feel weird calling myself a runner! 

That probably sounds cray-cray to some of y'all. If you don't run, surely you'd look at me, a girl who runs 3-5 days a week, and say "Of course she's a runner!" But I look at all these people I've met through the running community and I just pale in comparison. They run faster, or the run longer, or they are more active in the community. 

On top of that I never in a million years thought I'd come close to calling myself a runner, so I guess it's taking longer than a few months to get used to it.

A week or so ago a customer at work (kind of creepily) said I had muscular legs (haha that's so creepy) and I said "Oh, well I'm a runner." And it felt so weird! 

When does one become a "runner"? 

Did I become a runner the moment I decided to do couch to 5k? Or was it after I ran a 5K? Or maybe it was when I got my first pair of running shoes? Or was it when I joined Team in Training... or when I actually completed C25K and then kept running without the program? 

I don't know! What are your opinions on becoming a "runner"?

A Productive Monday? Weird.

This morning I got up at 7AM and headed to a yoga class... I really didn't think I was gonna make it based off of how much I didn't want to wake up early the night before, but I got there with time to spare! The class went well. I learned a lot today about where everything goes and all that. My first class was taught by someone different and I kinda just flew threw poses, but since then the classes have really taught me a lot.

After yoga I came home and made the "heart healthy" serving of some quick oats. Let me tell you how much oatmeal that is. IT'S A WHOLE LOT! I added a bit of lite maple syrup and my normal olive oil of course. Whew it was a lot, but I ate it all. It was a lot of points too, but I worked so hard today it didn't matter much. After breakfast I started on my room... my room is in real bad shape. It hasn't been cleaned in forever! I did about 4 loads of laundry through out the day and really just picked up in my room. I've still got some work to do.

For lunch I made an over-stuffed with veggies quesodilla. It was delicious! I don't think I mentioned it here but I've been on a no meat diet this past week. I'm just trying it out, but so far it's been really easy! I haven't had meat since Wednesday at lunch! I'm going to try it out till the end of my WW week (Wednesday) and then see what happens from there while I'm on vacation.

For my first dinner I had a protein meal replacement bar right before my workout. Strides and Strength went fabulous then I picked up my second dinner on the way home! I had veggies and rice with some tofu. The tofu was alright, nothing to brag about, but the veggies were delicious!

Tomorrow I have got to finish my TNT letters, finish packing, finish cleaning my room, run a few miles and hopefully have energy to go to yoga too.

How did I forget to tell you guys I surpassed the furthest distance I've ever run this weekend?! I ran 6.8 miles (my nike + app actually said 6.94, but I don't know about that accuracy...) and DANG it was hot. And I really regretted those fried pickles I had a few hours before I ran...but I did it! Now I just got to stay motivated while I'm camping.

Camping, camping, camping. I can't stop thinking about camping.

June Goals

At the beginning of every month I like to take a second and write down my goals for the month. I didn't do this last month so I think it's important to do it this month!

1. Lose 5 pounds (I've already lost 3 this month).
2. Join a fitness class (Yoga, Bootcamp, or Zumba).
3. Work on posture and core strength.
4. Do sprints.
5. Drink my weight in water every day by ounces (literally, 150+ ounces of water a day).

There are my 5 goals for this month! I'm also trying to focus more on my job hunt and waking up earlier in the day, but those are things I'm always working on. I'm just not a morning person... and I hate cover letters!

Today, I woke up to rain for the second day in row, the third rainy day this week! I miss the pool. But I LOVE running in the rain, and to top it off it was only 70 degrees! On Wednesdays I usually eat whatever I feel like eating when I go out for dinner, let's call it my cheat day. Last night I had a heavy duty (aaaamazing) pasta. So when I got outside, anticipating a 2 mile run, I realized I could go a lot further since I had all this energy from those carbs and the extra two hours of sleep I let myself have. I basically kicked my Thursday run in the ass. Averaged a 9:40 min/mile for 4 and a half miles (I wish I had a way of knowing my individual mile times)... woo that's fast for me! I'm so used to heat and humidity slowing me down that the rain really did wonders for me.

New hair!

Yesterday, I got a hair cut. It was an amazing hour of me-time. It was also a celebration of the fact that I haven't dyed my hair in 10 months! No more crazy money and chemicals are going into my hair. 

On a side note. I've been watching Boy Meets World a lot. It comes on MTV2 during the day and I just need to say that I love Mr. Feeny. That's all.

Race for The Cure!

This week I worked my little fingers as quick as I could to pump out some tutus in about a days time. They got finished just in time, but there wasn't enough time to make my own! Mostly because I had to work on Friday night, when I'd anticipated having it off. 

I also played softball twice! I joined a team called the Ballbusters, which has been kind of awesome. I played softball for years and years but I was never really in shape or really put my best efforts into being a full on athlete. I haven't played in a looooong time so I can't say I'm very good anymore but it's definitely nice to get out there on the bases and enjoy the sprinting.

On Wednesday I made the last minute (and I mean last minute, I decided with 3 hours left to register haha) to run the Susan G. Komen race in Savannah on Saturday. I originally decided not to because I was in the middle of training for a 10K and had to work at 10:30 on Saturday. Then I said screw it! I've never participated in this event, even though it's pretty big in Savannah because I didn't just want to walk it, and honestly ... I didn't want to walk that far haha. So since I had such huge success at my first 5k in March (a little over a month before this one),  and I'd been working on running longer distances, I was excited to shave some time off of my 5K time. 

But I wasn't as restful this week as I'd like to be. I was super sore from some squats I did Tuesday, plus I ran 3 miles Wednesday, and of course the two softball games I played. On top of that I had to work Friday night which means a lot of walking and standing. And because I always chose fashion over functionality I wore shoes with no support. Going into the race I was still confident, even with the humidity!

Pre-Race with Mindy and Ann.

That being said, I think I was over confident and let my mind fall by the way side. I started up front mostly because that's where I ended up! So being up at the beginning was a little discouraging since everyone (and I mean everyone) was passing me! I cannot believe I let it bother me, but it definitely did. My mind just wasn't where it should have been. I've run this distance numerous times since my first race and at the end I felt like I could have gone further, but this time either because of my mindset, tired legs or the heat, I was EXHAUSTED afterwards. 

Post-race with Ann, a Breast Cancer Survivor, and my all important post race (free) beer.

But in the end I finished with an unofficial time of 30:21 (no chip!)! Which I think is pretty bad ass. But now I'm going to start back on the 10K program and do week 4 over again. Instead of relying on my GPS app I've mapped out various routes with my car in hopes of getting something a little more accuracy.

Here's to a new week!

Gotta Get Movin'!

This weekend was a pretty big fail on the healthy lifestyle for me. I drank too much and didn't eat enough. Normally I would say that's not a terrible thing but I just felt absolutely terrible all day Sunday and therefore didn't do my long run until Monday. It's just thrown my whole schedule out of wack.

I was scheduled to run 4 miles this weekend, the longest I've ever run (once again) and it went really well! I was 150% sure that my free app on my phone was tracking me wrong and that I wasn't really running as far as I should but I know I'm running further than I was before, which is something. To double check my route I mapped it out and it turned out to be about 3 miles. So it's waaaay off and it's got me thinking I need to invest in a new way of tracking my distance. My heart rate monitor's chest strap recently snapped so I need to replace that, so why not just invest in something nice that has a GPS? The biggest reason not to, obviously, is the cost! I'm trying to make a decision soon because I rely heavily on my HRM to motivate me. Plus it tracks my calories. Calories burned = Weight Watcher Activity Points!

Do any of you out there use a GPS watch or iPhone App that you love? Let me know!

Working Girl

I got a part time job working at an Irish Pub on River Street in Savannah and it has been a huge adjustment to my eating habits. For one I'm obviously working when people are eating, so I'm not eating when I used to. If I work at night I leave for work at 4:30 and don't get home till 12:30, and I'm pretty busy the whole time I'm working. I've started trying to eat as much protein as I can during the day so I'm not hungry at work and then scarf down a meal replacement Special K bar while I'm at work some time around 8. It's definitely going to take some getting used to!

On another note, yesterday I ran farther than I have before! I ran 3.5 miles in about 34 minutes. Since my runs are shorter during the week I figured I focus on getting my time down then and just worry about running without stopping on my long runs and it really paid off this week! I didn't do as much cross training as I'd like (which I should be doing right now...) but I've probably walked a bazillion miles since I started waiting tables 4 days ago so I like to think that evens it out a bit.

This week my 10K training consists of a 2.5 mile run, a 2 mile tempo run, and 4 mile long run, plus strength/cross training. I have my first two days off tomorrow and Wednesday and then who knows when I'll work after that. I might get a second job somewhere too so that's a possibility too! I'm just taking it one day at a time.

Gotta save money for this!

Why have I been successful?

Starting Weight: 189 Current weight: 167

I've used the Weight Watchers program a few times to lose weight, but nothing seemed to stick. To be honest I don't think I ever really tried that hard. This time, for some reason, it's been much different! The past 3 months haven't just been about losing weight, it's been about becoming a part of a community and changing all of my habits. 

So what have I done different this time to make it stick?

I joined this group on the Weight Watchers website for people in their 20s. Seriously, this small act changed everything. It turned the idea of losing 30 pounds from a challenge into a completely possible (easy even) task. The people (mostly girls) on this group were invaluable! For one thing, many of them had already had success on the plan and were sharing their tips and stories, but two they were all so supportive of each other. They know so much, and were sharing all of that information. If it weren't this group I'm sure I would have given up.

Couch to 5k. I can't say that is was all the program that got me into running. It had a lot to do with my determination. C25K really got me moving. I needed some sort of regimen (I still do!) for my week and I got exactly that. It was hard. It was really hard, actually. The fist time I got up on that track I was just running a minute, walk a minute and a half, but I got so out of breathe and pushed so hard that I started getting tunnel vision and almost blacked out! I really took my time with the program. If I didn't feel comfortable moving to the next week, I didn't. Simple as that. In my eyes, I was doing it. I didn't care how fast or slow I completed the program. In the end I didn't really finish it. I got to the point where I was running 27 minutes without stopping and I took it from there on my own. The program I was using there are a bunch out there) focused on running for a certain time, I switched it up and started focusing on distance. I didn't see the shame in walking if I needed to. In the end I ran the 5k I'd signed up for and I did it without walking, and under 35 minutes! Definitely a PR for me ;). 

Another thing that has made or break my success is simply following the plan. I follow it as close as I possibly can. I calculate the points for everything, I hardly ever guess. I bought a heart rate monitor so that I know exactly how much credit I should be getting for the activity I'm doing. I eat all of my points allotted for the day, but I don't just eat anything that has low point values. I eat fruits and veggies (but only in the allotted amounts), I drink LOTS of water, I try (try being the key word) to get my daily oils in, I get my calcium in and then when I have room at the end of the day I have dessert. I'm human! I like sweets. Sometimes that sweet stuff is ice cream, sometimes it's fruit and yogurt, and sometimes I resist the urge. I've tried my hardest to make this a lifestyle change and so I don't limit myself. If I did, I would resent the plan and not follow it. When I do go off plan, I always count and track, even if I go into the negative.

I also did a lot of research. Every body is different and responds differently to weight loss, but in the end it comes down to caloric in take. You eat too many and don't burn any of it off then you'll gain weight, if you work out you might need to eat more so your body doesn't hold on to that fat for dear life, so on and so forth. You've got to find what works best for you! So far I think I've found what works for me and I'm not slowing down any time soon!

Whew!

For such a lazy weekend, I sure feel stressed! I guess unemployment and taxes can do that to you.

Yesterday I got up earlier than I have in a couple weeks and had a nice run around downtown in muggy 70-something degree weather with Victoria. 3 mile run check! Week one of Hal Higdon Novice 10K Training Program, check! 

Once I got home I was amazed to see that mom and dad were still asleep! That NEVER happens. Our dog (Kody) seemed just as confused. So I showered and worked on a flyer for my tutus. After everyone got up and going we finally got to the spring cleaning... and this is where the "Whew!" comes in.

The pantry before:

4 opened bags plus a plastic container of nestle chocolate chips!! Seesh!

 After:

We got rid of a lot off stuff. Seriously, these pictures don't do it justice. There were about 15 boxes of pasta and rice, 7 different types of vinegar, and 4 year old boxes of graham crackers!

We moved onto some serious refrigerator cleaning too but I got so involved I forgot the pictures! It looks much better now, and I'm glad I convinced my parents to do it.

My week ahead consists of lots of job hunting and running/strength/cross training, hope your week goes the way you want to!

Getting Started...

How exactly do you make a good first post? There's obviously no right or wrong answer because it's different for everyone. But for me I think I'll just tell you a little bit about me...

I'm 24 years old and I live with my parents. I thought by the time I was 24 I'd have it all figured out, but let me tell you, I most certainly do not! I went to the Savannah College of Art and Design and graduated with a BFA in Sound Design in August of 2010 but had some quarter life crisis and decided not to really pursue a job in the area I had originally thought I would.

Some how I ended up in Northern Indiana to be a nanny for a family with 2 children and a sick mother. Well the mom recuperated and now I'm back in Savannah where I grew up... unemployed.

So now I'm back where I started! I don't want to be a nanny again but I'm not sure what else to do. I've been applying for all sorts of jobs because I have office assistant, fundraising and a little event planning experience. Hopefully something will come to light soon, but until then I'm focusing on getting healthy!

I joined Weight Watchers in January of 2012 weighing in at 189. It's definitely not the highest I've weighed but that's where it all started this time. I've done this program before but I've never really committed. This time I've made it a life change. I'm not going back to the girl I was!

I kick-started my weight loss with the Couch to 5K program. I reached that HUGE goal of mine on March 9th! I was never a runner, even though I was a pretty active athlete until I graduated high school. In the beginning running a minute was a HUGE challenge. Now I run a mile comfortably under 10 minutes! That's bananas. Next, is training for a 10K and hoping to start training for a half this June and then actually run the Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon in November.

That's my story! Tomorrow I have an early morning 3 mile (my long run for week 1 of training) run with my friend, Victoria from over @ Victoria Runs and some kitchen spring cleaning. I'm forcing my mom to empty out the panty and refrigerator. It's gotten out of hand! I swear there are 3 half full bottles of Worcestershire sauce... that's unnecessary.