Brekketechie

I wish I was going to camp!!! *whines* Oh well, there's always next year... And having a USA or UK passport makes travels SO much easier. I was in the Abu Dhabi airport in August and one of my travel companions is Indian and was held for AN HOUR while the two of us with US passports went thru immediately. Crazy. Food logs FTW! I found that when I was logging, I would skip a snack simply because i didn't want to log it. Ha.

Wk 3, Day 1: 2.74 miles, 37:30 minutes, 316 calories Happy Tuesday, y'all! Although I had a hard time falling asleep last night (coffee at 5:30pm was a bad idea), I got up and went running this morning with minimal groaning. My muscles are sore and my knees are achy - I think that running shoes with a *little* more cushioning must be purchased before I start seriously training for the Half Marathon. BUT, this was a solid run. I am definitely improving. I'm running for longer (we started the program at just 35 minutes - that included 10 min of warm up/cool down). My combined total pace has gone form 14:51 to 13:41. More than a minute better! And my running split average has gone from 11:42 to 11:15 - still solid improvement. Feeling really jazzed about the improvement. After this week, I am going to start adding in a longer run on the weekends (or a hike for the first part of training). Feeling good! After yesterday, I really needed a boost. Level up!

Y'all, today I had to drop $600 on car repairs. Why is adulting so hard (and expensive)? *weeps*

Wk2, Day 3: 2.32 miles, 31.32 minutes, 278 calories (according to the app, but it's wrong, see below) I worked my backside off yesterday. It was PURGE ALL THE THINGS Bathroom edition, so I spent the afternoon cleaning my bathroom, going through my giant make-up case, and generally getting my life in order because I am a responsible adult (or I play one on tv). I didn't get to my run until the evening and then my app was all funky (again). It skipped back on itself my 5 minute warm up, then when I fixed it, it didn't register that I walked the warm-up. *headdesk* But, it is adding in more :15 intervals of 80%max intensity running, and longer periods of running (2:00 running, 1:00 walking). If I look at my last running split then my totals come out to: 2.61 miles, 36.32 minutes, 303 calories. That seems about right. Aside from some ITB tightness and my knees being a little achy - which might have been from being on my feet all day before working out - I feel good and can really tell that I'm improving. My race is Dec 12! So that's about 17 weeks of training to go! Woohoo. Little by little i'm getting there.

Yeah... that sort of thing is really hard for me too. I don't drink lots, but I like to have a glass (or 2) of wine with friends. I can go months without a glass, then I'll drink 3 nights in 1 weeks. It's weird how that works out. Is there a way to do some kind of trade-off? Like, you're hanging with friends and really want a beer - so you have one! But you trade off for some other indulgence? I dunno. I am in solidarity. Also - I find Week 5 is ALWAYS the hardest. Why is that?

FULL MOON! (I had had a Pagan stint for a while and nature phases still inspire me deeply). Pushing our bodies require recovery. But look how much you're accomplishing! Rest when you need to rest. I also really want your coffee. Yummy.

Could you sew wights into the skirt hem to keep it down? They used to do that in the olden* days. *Like the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Mini update: SO I was suppose to run this morning and since i hot back LATE from a meet (like 10pm) I just draaaaged this morning and ended up skipping the workout. I'm definitely doing it tomorrow, but if I'm going to be serious about my Half-Marathon training, I have got to get my act together. I also have got to eat better. I've been eating about 70% good and 30% TERRIBLE. That really has to change is I want to see any weight loss. I turn 30 in February and I want to reach goal weight by then (135 - 15 lbs to drop). It's doable if I stay focused. BAH snack food and your delicious convenience.

HAPPY NF-VERSARY!!!!! AND HAPPY PRs!!! Wooohoooo! I can't believe it's been like a year that we've been NF buddies. Yay internet.

Wk2 Day 2: 2.57 miles, 36 minutes, 295 calories. My running is definitely getting better! I felt stronger and could run consistently longer. Adding in :15 sprint intervals has really helped! And, I'm running in my cheap shoes again, and had zero problems. Go figure. Doc update: had an ultrasound and no new masses were found so it's probably an adverse reaction to birth control. That's a relief. Now to solidify an off-day strength routine and I am SET! I'll signing up for my half marathon before the weekend. Things are getting REAL.

Oh I can't wear Chucks at all. I wish I could but they destroy my heel and no amount of gel heel grips help

I had every intention of getting up and doing some body weight circuit training today. But the path to hell is strewn with good intentions. But to be fair, I have a medical reason for being extra tired. TMI for lady things, be warned If I feel up for it, I'll do a workout tonight. And if not, I won't and will do some gentle stretching. But I will run tomorrow.

I don't have specifically anti-blister socks. I got some "performance running" socks that are a poly-cotton blend and have never given me a problem in my cheap running shoes. I'm afraid to keep running in the expensive ones, in case the store are jerks and won't let me return them.

Wk 2, Day 1: 2.37 miles, 35 minutes, 280 calories. So my expensive running shoes tore up my heel. If I tie them really tight, my toes get blisters. If I tie them more loosely, my heels rub and get all torn up (like I'm wear backless sandals for the next 2 days at least). This is ultra annoying and I'm definitely taking the shoes back, and sticking with my cheaper Target shoes and maybe buying an insert. Bah. *grumpyface* Back in the office today - glad to be back with my coworkers and getting into a routine. Lots to do, including renew my gym locker (which I only used TWICE last year) and create a workout schedule. Here's to Monday!

PRs!!!!!!!! Today was my first day back at the school (err, University). But our little Jimmys & Beebees don't arrive for another month, because California is weird. KEEP ROCKING IT!

No running today but I did some SERIOUS shopping and walked a bajillion steps. I am exhausted. So that's good, right? Did a major overhaul on my closet yesterday. Everything that's old, doesn't fit, doesn't bring me joy - it's all out. And I replaced a lot of it with new things that fit (I dropped 2 dress sizes over the last 2 years, so I needed new work pants - I debated waiting because I am still planning on dropping 10-15lbs, but that will take me a while and I should have things that fit now, right?), and really tried to think about a coherent wardrobe rather than just haphazardly buying things that strike my fancy & inevitably never wearing them because they don't go with anything I already own. Aside from the shoe conundrum - I need comfortable, cute flats to wear at work where I walk around all day - I have a super classic wardrobe that fits and makes me feel good! Now to practice putting all my new stuff together! Confession: I used to feel (still sometimes feel) really guilty about spending money on myself. Things like clothes and makeup have always seemed really vapid and pointless. But, I can feel a tangible difference in how confident I am based on what I wear. And being in India, where in the poorest of women wear these gorgeous, tightly colored saris and proudly embrace their bodies - I realized that as long as fashion doesn't become an obsession that I endlessly pour money into, then I can like to look good in clothing that fits and flatters my body. It's not a bad thing to want to feel pretty. I struggle with that - partly because I always feel like a fraud when I dress up and I can be really insecure (it's weird how things like "fashion" trigger my insecurity, heh). But I'm worth the investment. Like my aunt told me recently: If I don't believe i'm worth the investment, how am I going to find a partner that will believe it? It's true. I need to love me, so that I'm free to love and be loved. And I am in a really good place where that is finally a priority and I'm feeling good. Well, that got deep. But anyway: I went shopping and walked a lot and now I'm broke and tired. Not a bad day.

Good going on Week 4!! I like this Be Kind to Humankind week idea. I think humans need a special week of practice to that we're better about it all 51 other weeks of the year...

Mall walking, a staple of Southern women's exercise since the 1960s. I was in Abu Dhabi last week! Lay-over from Mumbai to San Francisco, but I was there for a few hours. Good luck on the half-marathon training!

Wk1, Day 3: 1.83 miles, 27:22 min, 213 calories. 10-8-6 @ 20lbs: dumbbell curls, dumbbell rows, dumbbell press-ups. 3x10 body weight squats. Okay this is totally wonky. The app started skipping walks, and then totally lost track of where I was. I definitely did over 2 miles because I did more than my old 2 mile running route. So this isn't accurate, which is annoying but not the end of the world. Bought new running shoes (damn expensive ones) because I thought that my injury might be related to not having enough support. While I could tell a huge difference in support for my foot-fall, I ended up getting blisters from here my sock rubbed. WTF? My cheap-o Target shoes never gave me blisters. Ugh. Had a truly epic salad for lunch (greens, carrots, heirloom cherry tomatoes, green onions, hummus, cucumber, avocado, and home-made lemon & dill dressing - YUM). Now must find gumption to finish the MASSIVE cleaning project I began. Heh.

Hi Friend! Subbing for what's left of the challenge to cheer you on

There is so much here there's no way to catch up, but I'm swinging by to say "HALOOOOO" and also you look fab and it's good be be back

Running log: Wk1 Day 2: 2.42 miles in 35 minutes, 273 calories burned. No weight lifting today - will incorporate light lifts tomorrow (on alternating days). I'm thinking of using the beginning runner setting for the next 6 weeks, then launch into the 12 week half-marathon training plan. We'll see - I might switch to the 5K specific training plan. Sore but not dying from the workout yesterday. Must get my stretching, warm up/cool down routines back in order. Goals before next Challenge: 1) have 3 day-a-week running routine down 2) Lift in the gym 1x a week 3) find yoga studio that I like and try to go to 1 class a week (focused on breathing & being in your body, less on strength) 4) see another stomach doctor

Got a run in! I downloaded the Running for Weight Loss app - which was ranked highly as an interval training app - and went for my first run/walk in about 2+ months. Man I am out of shape! I was 5 min walking warm-up, then alternating running for 1 or 1.5 minutes with walking for 2 minutes. I am totally beat. 2.29 miles in 34 minutes. I've definitely lost endurance and speed. But we start from the beginning right? Came back and did a light upper body workout with squats: 8-6-4 20b dumbbell rows, dumbbell curls, dumbbell press-ups, and then 3x10 body weight squats. Easing back into a routine, trying to prevent injury and get back into fight mode. In other news, might have found a December Half-Marathon to race. Gathering some girlfriends to train with and once I get the yay from 1 or 2 of them, I'm signing up!

Did you get the NF Yoga? Do you like it? I'm debating getting it. I really want to find a local studio and start practicing with a real-life instructor, but it is nice to have access to videos when you can't make it to a class. I got up ad did yoga at 5:30am this morning because jet lag demands that I wake up before the sun. Heh. Yesterday I splurged big money and got my first real full-body massage. It was GLORIOUS. Not only did the masseuse tsk over my poor knotted muscles, she was amazing at helping them to relax. It was brilliant. I feel worlds better, although I am more fully aware of problem areas (like my left hip, omgeezy). She recommended yoga and foam rolling (eep!) to keep my muscles from getting all knotted again. Now i'm downloading an interval running app to hopefully get me back in gear. Slow but steady right? Later I'm hoping to stalk the boards to follow people's challenges and create a mini-challenge of my own. Gosh it's good to be back, y'all.

Thanks! I'm still adjusting to the wonky time change (11.5 hours different!!), but it's been an amazing adventure. I'm now trying to figure out what to do with my off weeks until the next challenge. jet lag means I'm awake at 2am but exhausted by 8am! But, got to get back into a routine. So glad to be back on the boards