Week Six & a Scale Check

Week Six of Podrunner Intervals looked like this:

Saturday: Oops!

Monday: 5.11km, 30:21 minutes, pace average 5:57 minutes per km.

Wednesday: 6km, 32:18 minutes, pace average 5:23 minutes per km.

Tuesday Morning Scale Check was like this: -5 pounds from last week: 270 pounds.

Yoga: Monday morning, Tuesday morning, Tuesday afternoon

This morning was the very last "interval" session of my Podrunner workouts. From here on out, it's warm up, running, cool down. As you can see, I'm already clearing 5K in distance, but that's with the warm up & cool down. Only 9 more Podrunner workouts until my very first 5K!

In other news, last week I was on my period, and it was a lazy week. I even skipped yoga most of the week. But I did my best to eat as clean as possible, and, hey, I seemed to have survived the scale check with good results.

This week my goal is to hit every planned yoga class. Three down with two to go, and my body feels just so much better when it's in "yoga pain". I even got compliments on my progress from the Monday night instructor, who seems genuinely excited about it. The afternoon & evening classes seem to be more significant butt-kickings than the morning classes. Which is a nice combo.

I also want to add something to my otherwise "rest day" Sunday. I'd prefer my rest day to be Friday, even though that seems counter intuitive. Most races will be on the weekend, though, so I think a Friday rest day makes the most sense. I'm thinking about hitting the gym for swimming Sunday mornings. Would it be weird to add a weights routine to one day a week and not any others?

Anywho! I just wanted to take a moment to catch up with y'all. Work has still be slamming, so I haven't had much time to write. It's a good time, don't get me wrong, but I've spent a lot of time recently asking "What day is it?" I swear the only reason I've known the answer to that is if I can figure out what workout I'm supposed to be doing that day. Even last night, on the way to yoga, I was all "What? It's only Tuesday?"

Yup.

The Week, The Scale Check, The Running

Week Five of Podrunner Intervals looked like this:

Saturday: 3.74km, 29:46 minutes, pace average 7:58 minutes per km.

Monday: 3.93km, 29:45 minutes, pace average 7.35 minutes per km.

Wednesday: 5.12km, 28:42 minutes, pace average 5.12 minutes per km.

Tuesday Morning Scale Check was like this: -3 pounds from last week: 275 pounds.

Yoga: Tuesday morning.

I'm on my period this week so I have just felt like I'm dragging. Add to that how hungry I've felt, starting towards the end of last week, and how tired my legs felt and I've just felt... Blah! My daughter is in Horse Camp this week and is wiped out by the end of the day. Heck, so am I! It's been easy to decide to skip afternoon & evening yoga, but I'm hoping to stick to it for Thursday night and get back on track. Skipping yoga sucks when I go back!

But! I am so thrilled about doing day three of week five today, which meant I actually ran for 20 minutes in a row! It was so hard, and I was sure I wasn't going to make it the whole time, and I had to cheer myself on, like, the whole time but I totally did it and it was so awesome!

Next week is more intervals and then finally moving into running 20 minutes or more each time.

I think life might smooth out a little bit for me by next week, so I hope to get back to more regular posting. And hopefully even add something besides yoga and podrunner. We'll see!

Week in Review

Week Four of Podrunner Intervals looked like this:

Sunday: 3.71km, 28:41 minutes, pace average 7:43 minutes per km.

Tuesday: 3.89km, 31:21 minutes, pace average 8:03 minutes per km.

Thursday: 4.05km, 30:53 minutes, pace average 7:37 minutes per km.

Yoga this week: Monday night, Tuesday morning, Thursday morning, Thursday night.

Sorry for the sparse posting. Things have been crazy at work and I just haven't had the time to even strangle together some thoughts.

I start Week Five of Podrunner Intervals on Saturday and will be running a full 20 minutes in a row on Wednesday. Excited! Nervous!

I also actually have a product review coming up for you soon. Nothing sponsored. I just got tired of seeing the ads and wanted to try it out for myself. What could it be? Coming soon!

The Weekend Report & Weigh In

This weekend was bad, bad, bad really awful for eating. So bad. I'm trying not to beat myself up too much because what's done is done and I can't take it back (or give it back) now. But I so knew better and I really should have listened to myself. And SweetPea and I need to really learn how to not "celebrate" with food.

Tuesday Weigh In: 278, up 2 pounds from last week. YUCK.

Today SweetPea gets her first weigh in in a month. I can't wait to see how much she's lost. You can really see the difference in her, so I expect it will be a significant loss.

I did not make it to Friday night yoga. I started Week Four of Podrunner Intervals on Sunday and did Day Two this morning. I did Monday night yoga last night and Tuesday morning yoga today. I plan to do at least one more yoga session today.

Hopefully I can keep everything in line this week and have a better weigh in next week.

Holy Trimester, Batman!

Podrunner Intervals, Week Three, Day Three looks like this: 3.56km, 27:29 minutes, pace average 7:44 minutes per km.

Last night's 7pm yoga kicked my ass with style. The 7pm classes seem a little more advanced than the classes I usually take. Or maybe it's just that I'm not used to the routines. Whatever. I liked it. I'll be back.

Tonight I've got 5:30pm yoga on the schedule with a new-to-me instructor. Can't wait to see what she'll have in store for me.

I checked the Podrunner website this morning and founds the Intervals sessions BPM charts. I discovered that I've only got 5 more sessions before I hit the 20 minute continous run. I'm excited and nervous!

I've got a whole list of fitness classes on my calendar for my days off. I'm not sure how many of them I'll hit, but I'll keep you posted. Also Week Four starts Sunday! Excited!

Through July 1, 2010

Tuesday afternoon I did finally make it to the Tuesday 5:30pm yoga. It's the same instructor as Tuesday & Thursday mornings, so she was happy to see me back for another session. We did a routine with Pigeon Pose and with a pose she referred to as a three legged male dog at a fire hydrant. A variation of down dog, I imagine you can figure the rest out.

The heat early this week affected our sleep, and by Tuesday night I was Wiped Out. It also cooled down Tuesday night, so I was able to get some really good sleep.

A lot of really good sleep, actually. I ended up missing my morning time slot for intervals. I had a half day at work, so I had lunch with SweetPea followed by a nice, long nap. I did my intervals about 8:30 that night to avoid the worst of the day's heat. It was pretty nice, actually.

Except for the part with the dogs. But they were ok. Funny how so many dogs are sure loud and showy until they get right up on you and they don't really know what to do after that. Dogs aren't a problem at 4:30 in the morning.

Podrunner Intervals, Week Three, Day Two looks like this: 3.84km, 25:59 minutes, pace average 6:46 minutes per km.

Today is bracketed with yoga. I did the 5:30am yoga this morning and I plan to hit the 7pm yoga tonight. As much as I love my am instructor, I enjoy the variety of different instructors. I like the Thursday night instructor's routine, and she seems to be pretty regular with what she does.

Tomorrow I get to put Week Three of Intervals to bed and I am so excited.

I'm off a few days next week and I've already spent some time finding various fitness classes I can fit in during times I'm usually at work. I'm excited! I think this means I've finally & officially turned to The Dark Side because I'm loading my Staycation with workouts. Ha.

Which brings me to a pertinent question:

How much yoga in one day is too much? Is there such a thing?

Really.

PS: I'll have a June Challenge Wrap Up post in the next few days.

Good morning, Tuesday!

Yesterday: Podrunner Intervals, Week Three, Day One looks like this: 3.30km, 26:12 minutes, pace average 7:57 minutes per km.

Today: Tuesday Morning Yoga, (hopefully) Tuesday Afternoon Yoga

Weigh in: 276, down two pounds since last week.

Which is not surprising, because I did slack off. I only got to yoga once and I wasn't as strict on the eating as I should have been. I can think of a couple of glaring examples.

I'm grateful there was still a loss, even if I'd rather it was four pounds and not just two. Two is better than none and far superior to a gain.

I've had tons of things working in my mind to write about, but little time to get down to writing. Hopefully I'll have a couple of meaty posts for you soon.

This week is for week three of intervals & back to yoga, hopefully four times.

Next week I'm off a couple of days, and I'm already imagining the fun workout classes I can take with my free time.

Does this mean I've finally turned to The Dark Side?

Heh.

June 25, 2010

Just a quickie because I only have a few minutes to spare.

I've only gone to one yoga class this week because I've had ISSUES. Hopefully this will be resolved in time to hit my Monday night yoga class because I miss it.

I did close out Week Two of the Podrunner Intervals program like this:

Distance: 3.09km, 29:24 minutes, pace average 9:30 minutes per km.

My pace-o-meter. Funny stuff.

My preferred days for intervals are Saturday, Monday, Wednesday. This week I ended up having to do them Monday, Wednesday, Friday, which means I can't start next week on Saturday. Right? So I'm going to work the next two weeks at getting it back on my preferred schedule. It should be Monday/Wednesday/Friday next week, Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday the week after. I'm doing that because Tuesday & Thursday mornings are yoga, and it's hard to work in intervals and yoga while still having enough time to shower & get to work. The week after next that will be significantly less of a problem, so it's an opportune to start transitioning.

I know. You so care, right?

In other news, I'm over on Jack Sh*t's blog today. Check it out! If you're here from there.. Hi! Welcome! Say hi!

Intervals, Week Two

Monday Intervals: 3.68km, 26:03 minutes, pace average 7:04 minutes per km.

Wednesday Intervals: 3.42km, 28:32 minutes, pace average 8:20 minutes per km.

I woke up this morning raring to head out for Week Two, Day Two of intervals only to discover... Um... My iPod is at work.

*grumble*

So I dutifully packed my stuff into my duffle and even more dutifully (because I really didn't wanna) did the intervals on my lunch break.

You can tell by my pace average that I got my ass handed to me. I didn't even run the last interval because, at that point, it was "can I make it all the way back without puking and/or passing out?" Trying to stay in parking lots to avoid "embarrassment" of running along the sidewalk on the not-very-busy road was a bad fucking move. Of course, I don't know how much I'd have been spared from sticking to the sidewalk. Out here it's just a sea of hot ass concrete with very little shade.

My plan?

Never, ever, ever another lunchtime intervals.

For.

Reals.

June 22, 2010

Tuesday Scale Check: 278 - down another four pounds since last Tuesday for a total of 10 pounds! Exciting! Yeah, ok, I'm a little disappointed it didn't go down more since Saturday morning. I think that might be the real reason why I shouldn't do midweek scale checks. But I do feel like I'm on the right track and all that's left is to just keep moving forward. Yay for that!

I ended up skipping Monday night yoga in favor of having dinner with SweetPea instead of a split dinner. Since the Monkeys are at their dad's house, I would have had to make us dinner and then left mine to go to yoga. It just sounds less appealing when it's just the two of us, and the Ahi was already defrosted, so it really needed to be cooked that night.

I did go to Tuesday morning yoga, and I am leaving work early with the intention of going to Tuesday night yoga.

When we went to Pride on Saturday, I picked these up:

Loads of fitness activities. Hiking, a running club, a new 5K to add to my calendar and discounted passes for fitness downtown. I'm excited! I'll probably be using these in the coming months, and I'll let you know how it goes.

Here was my shopping cart Sunday:

We mostly had stuff for dinners & lunches, but I wanted to make sure I had plenty of fresh fruit for snackings. They had cantaloupe for $0.79 each! The whole melon for less than a buck! I bought two! Now I just need to get it cut up. Yum, yum!

Here's my snack bowl today:

Does one's tummy ever get used to smaller portions & lots of produce? My stomach in the afternoon just growls & growls and it doesn't matter how much fruit I throw at it. I'm trying to think of it as more whining/craving than actual hunger, but man is it annoying!

June 16, 2010

I did not end up going to yoga last night. I got rear ended, instead.

Thankfully, I am totally fine, with not so much as risidual stiffness to show for it. My van could stand a butt-lift, but I was very, very fortunate at how well it turned out.

This morning I finished Week One of the "First Day to 5K" interval program and my stats look like this:

3.50km, 26:51 minutes, pace average 7:40 minutes per km.

I am so excited to be done with that first week! I feel like that was a Big Ass Hurdle and now that I'm over it AND found it so much easier than the last time I'd tried it, going forward should be less of a challenge for me. Mentally.

I'm waiting for clarification, but I could have a challenge in the works regarding the Diablo Trail Run. I feel like 8k by October is no big thing, though. Especially since I want to do the Down & Dirty Mud Run, which is 10k with an obstacle course on Halloween.

I'll keep you updated.

Up for tonight: a quite evening at home with the Missus and the Monkeys followed by a twofer of yoga tomorrow.

June 15, 2010

Tuesday Morning Scale Check: 282 pounds, -2 pounds from last week

Last week was a total diet FAIL, which I blame entirely on starting my period. Heh. I've also come to the realization that I have to start tracking my periods for no reason other than being prepared to the zOMGMUNCHIES! that seem to strike the first couple of days. And the tired.

Last night was yoga and back to the regular Monday night instructor. Which is fine, I like her classes. She complimented me on how well I did. Twice. Yes, the fat girl can do yoga, too. Really.

This morning, yoga again.

I'm taking a shortened lunch so that I can leave early and hit evening yoga. Not that I'm obsessed or anything. I've also received an invitation to try the "xbike" half hour class tomorrow at the gym by work. I'm not sure if I'll be able to go, but I'm definitely considering!

Weekly Planning & Wrapup

I had to blog before I forget everything I've done.

I updated my plan post along the way, so you can kind of see how last week went.

Thursday I did do morning yoga but did not do evening yoga, even though I'm sure I should have. I also had a totally lazy Friday.

Saturday morning, however, I got up early and did the "First Day to 5k, Week One" podcast. It kicked my ass. Really? In less than a week?

Distance: 3.40k. Time: 27:43. Pace: 8:10 per km.

OK, so my pace was a lot faster than the last time. I'm guessing this has a lot to do with the asskickingness. Also, I did not have "quick burning calories" on board before this session. I keep reading about how that's a good thing, about 100 calories, some quick fuel to get your muscles started. I drink a cup of chocolate almond milk, typically half hour to an hour before I work out. I've noticed that I tend to feel a lot better when I do that.

This morning I got up and did the podcast again.

Distance: 3.85k. Time: 29:27. Pace: 7:39 per km.

The pace is faster for this one because I actually ran all of the "running" intervals. Saturday morning I really did not.

This week's plan:

Monday: 5k Intervals - Week One, Day Two; Yoga
Tuesday: Yoga; Possibly Lunchtime 5k
Wednesday: 5k Intervals - Week One, Day Three
Thursday: Yoga x2; Possibly Lunchtime 5k
Friday: rest
Saturday: 5k Intervals - Week Two, Day One

Tomorrow I'll have the Tuesday Morning Scale Check. I wonder what kind of damage Period Eating did to my numbers. Eek! Nothing to do but buckle down moving forward and plan, plan, plan!

June 8, 2010

Today's workout: mixed levels yoga (55 minutes)

Weight: 284 pounds.

That's it. Four pounds down over a whole week. I'm trying really hard not to be discouraged, because it IS progress, but I still feel like it could have been more.

In other news, the Tuesday & Thursday morning yoga instructor that I like so much is subbing for the Monday night instructor this week & next. Score!

June 7, 2010

"First Day to 5k" Podcast Intervals, Week One, Day One

Distance: 3.21k. Time: 33:06. Pace: 10:18 per km.

I have to say I was SO EXCITED to finish this and do ALL of the intervals. I had SUCH a hard time the last time I tried this. I feel SO encouraged. Yay!

Mixed levels yoga, 55 minutes.

Plan for June 6 through June 12

Sunday: yoga

Monday: Couch to 5k (week one, day one); yoga

Tuesday: yoga

Wednesday: Couch to 5k (week one, day two); possibly Lunchtime 5k

Thursday: yoga x 2; possibly Lunchtime 5k

Friday: Couch to 5k; yoga

Saturday: Rest, plan next week. (HA! I didn't even rest when I planned to!)

I should have a scale update for you Tuesday. I'll be at the gym for morning yoga, so I'll weigh myself before class. This is the last week I'm be driving my son to school before going to work, which should free up some time in the mornings next week. I'm thinking I might add a weight routine before morning yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Well, and I guess then Saturdays, too. Buh-bye rest day! Ha ha...

Yes, I'm nervous about the scale check. I feel like I've been doing pretty good, so I know I'll be disappointed if the scale hasn't moved. I know that's not all this is about, though, so I'm trying to maintain perspective. Ha. I'll let you know how that goes!

June 3, 2010

I didn't report in yesterday because I didn't have anything to report.

I was tired and achey and just couldn't bully myself into doing any type of workout to speak of.

Sure, I know there's nothing wrong about taking a rest day and I should listen to my body and blah blah blah. But I think I've clearly established that it's not like I've exactly been working hard enough to "deserve" a rest day at this point and there was nothing out of the ordinary or particularly concerning about my aches & pains. Just typical getting-back-to-working-out related soreness.

But I suck and I'm lazy and I just couldn't do it.

I did this morning get up and go to morning yoga, even though it was physically painful to be awake.

Um.

It still kind of is.

This was the same instructor as Tuesday morning and I do really enjoy her. Also, one of the regulars, apparently, in the class is one of the gym regulars I recognize from before I fell off the wagon, and it's kind of nice to be back with the regulars. Even if only kind of.

I'm hoping to make it to the 7pm class tonight.

I might be becoming obsessed with yoga. Also? I might be looking into the 30 day yoga challenge (linkie loo in the sidebar) for summer.

I mean. A fat girl starting a hot ass day doing hot yoga can't possibly be a bad idea. Right?

Heh.

Oh, check out my after lunch treat:

Totally June Challenge Acceptable

June 1, 2010 - Part Two

Today's walk: 5.37km, 58:22 minutes, pace average 10:52 minutes per km.

No, I really didn't want to go. It would have been so easy to just count yoga as today's work out and call it. But I strapped in and went, anyway.

The key is forward motion.

Also? I think the "corner cutting" I do actually adds distance. Ha ha!

I ended up burning almost twice the calories of the lunch I brought. Which is good, sure, but I'm a little afraid of running out of "go" before I run out of day.

In other news, I wanted to tell y'all about the giveaway going on over at Girl Running.

She's giving away a total of 3 Bondi Band headbands. After reading her review & checking out their website, I think I may have to put these on the wishlist. I can't imagine anyone who would want sweat in their eyes, but it's even worse when that sweat is probably carrying pollen and you're already an Allergy Queen. I think these headbands would just work awesomely to keep that drippy drip under control.

Oh and not just for running. You should see me drip drip drip in yoga class. It'd be lovely to slow that down, even just a bit.

Mmmm!

June 1, 2010

This morning I did the 5:30am yoga class. I liked it a lot. A lot. It had the vibe of those first classes I took with Eli, almost like it was closer to a more holistic, meditative yoga rather than a stretchy, strengtheny class at a gym. Of course, it was stretchy and strengtheny, too, and the moves were harder than the ones used in the gentle yoga class.

An excellent start to the morning, I think.

Yesterday, SweetPea and I discussed, er, and discussed some more and have come up with a challenge of sorts. We went back & forth about whether this would be a "goal" or a "competition". Personally, I really don't want to compete with her on this, but I would enjoy being able to support each other and be on the same "team". Most of the time we only eat one meal a day together, so there are a whole lot of choices being made independent of each other's influence.

Anyway, here are the goals for June:

1. No Dairy
A. Milk
B. Cheese
C. Cottage cheese
D. Yogurt
E. Sour cream
F. Ice cream

2. No Soda
A. High Fructose Corn Syrup
B. Aspartame

3. No Junk Food
A. Cake/Cupcake/etc
B. Chips
C. Candy
D. French Fries

We broke the list down into subcategories to clarify and specify. The dairy section was easy, but I think sometimes we forget. Plus I didn't want to get too nit picky like "caramel contains dairy!" because the goal is not to become completely abstinently non-dairy. Soda because SweetPea suggested we just drop everything carbonated, which would eliminate my Go Girls (which contain neither offending ingredient) and beer for gods' sakes! So I specified my reason behind eliminating "soda" and we clarified. This also leaves open sodas without the HFCS or aspartame in case either of us has a complete neurotic breakdown and has to have something sweet & bubbly. As for "No Junk Food". Well, that had to be specified lest chips & french fries turn into "veggies" and, clearly, acceptable under the ban.

Heh.

I plan on adding this challenge to the side bar so we can keep track. I also plan on adding a "wish list" of programs I'd like to sample. I may also start a product wish list. Not because I expect anyone to start buying me things, but more as a way of keeping track and prioritizing what I'd like to spend my money on.

I also plan on doing my lunchtime 5k, and I'll be updating this post with that information afterwards.

May 31, 2010

This morning I got up early and hit the gym for my first morning workout in, literally, months. I did the "Get Your Body Back", phase one, routine. I'll post details of the routine tomorrow, if I remember. Last time I got halfway through phase two before having my crisis of faith and ditching all manner of exercise for weeks. Which may not speak well to this strength training routine. *ahem*

I'm not feeling it nearly as much as I feel like I should. If tomorrow is the same, then next time I'll be going from two sets to three. Although I'm not entirely sure how much that will help.

Anywho!

My plan for the week is to do the weight routine Monday, Wednesday and Friday; morning yoga Tuesday and Thursday; lunchtime 5k Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Sounds like a great plan! Hope I'll keep it up.

I got on the gym scale while I was there and confirmed that SweetPea's mom's scale is smoking crack. It was down, but only about two pounds.

We'll see how that looks next Monday.