Thirteen Days Stronger

Today was Day 13 of my 100 Day Challenge and I'm still going strong. This past week was a busy one as it was the first full week of trying to fit in my workout every day. Here is the breakdown...

Day 9 (Wednesday) - I completed one of my favorite workouts, TurboFire Fire 45. This is a great cardio workout that burns a decent amount of calories while still being fun. I also did 107 squats! I was pretty sweaty and the end of this one, but it felt wonderful. 

Day 10 (Thursday) - I had a terrible headache at the start of this workout, and I was disappointed that I didn't make it home in time to go running (as I have mentioned earlier, running in the dark is just not for me), so I decided to put on TurboFire Fire 30 (another great workout). I totally dug this workout! After finishing, I did one of the ten minute stretch workouts which felt so good. And at the end, my headache was all but gone! Just proves that fitness really is the best medicine!

Day 11 (Friday) - This was my first 4:45 a.m. workout. I was asked to work in the GSB tasting room on Friday night so I knew that the early morning was the only time that I would be able to squeeze it in (I would have to be at work right after my regular job and I wouldn't be home until around 9:00 at the earliest). So I set my clothes out the night before, set my alarm, and went to bed on Thursday night in hopes that it would all work out. I guess when you have enough determination anything is possible, because I did it. I got up at 4:45 and did some yoga and then 123 squats. The early morning workout gave me a ridiculous amount of energy and I felt great. The only downside was that by the time my shift was over at the tasting room, I was totally exhausted. I guess that's the price you pay to get fit!

Day 12 (Saturday) - I was working the tasting room again on Saturday (12-5 p.m.) so I got up extra early to get my run on. Despite the fact that it was "supposed" to be sunny and somewhat warm, it was foggy, misty, and chilly. But I got in 4.5 miles before heading home to get ready for work. As always, exercising to start the day is wonderful...it really energizes me and makes me feel like anything is possible. 

Day 13 (today, Sunday) - After a long week of work, I decided to sleep a little later than usual today. I went out for my run around 9:30 and did about 3.5 miles. I had a "date" with my nephew, so I didn't have too much time to spare, but my run was important. 

So that brings us up to date. I can't believe it has been 13 days already! It feels great to have set this goal and to still be going strong...the following pretty much sums up how I feel about this challenge and where I am going...

Every day of this challenge brings me one step closer to my ultimate goal, to be the best version of myself that I can be. 

I was recently asked how much weight I have lost (which of course, is a compliment), but the truth is, this challenge isn't just about losing the weight. It's about losing the weight and KEEPING it off, it's about toning and trimming, it's about being healthy, and most importantly it is about being strong. Strong in keeping my motivation up so I can achieve my goals, and strong physically. Also, I have vowed to only weigh myself once a week (it happens to be Wednesdays). I cannot let the number on the scale determine how I feel about myself. Would I like the number on the scale to go down? Of course! Who wouldn't?!? But I can't let it be my only drive or focus. So thank you for the compliment, and no, this blog is not about how much weight I have lost (although it may be mentioned at some point). 

In order for me to reach my ultimate goals, I made the decision to invest in a FitBit. I am so excited to start using this device! I had a whole bunch of gift certificates plus the extra dough I made from my tasting room hours this weekend, so today was a perfect day to run the errand. It is all set up and charged and ready to go for tomorrow. A fitness friend of mine shared some great tips on where to wear it throughout the day and the pros/cons of the FitBit vs. other popular calorie/fitness monitors. I decided to go with the FitBit because it is small, has great reviews, and has all of the features that I am looking for right now. I already have a Garmin GPS device for my running, so I didn't want something else to wear on my wrist. Also, I had looked into the Nike+ Fuel Band, but I have not had the best of luck with Nike devices so I opted to go the FitBit route. Tomorrow is day one of FitBit use and I can't wait to see what it tracks! 

How did your weekend workouts go? 

Magic Number Eight

It's hard to believe that I have been going strong for a week! I am just as dedicated to my goal as I was when I decided to start it. Every day I think about the above quote. It's a reminder to myself that no workout is going to do itself...if I want it, I need to go out and DO IT! I can talk about working out all I want, but unless I actually do it, it doesn't count. So make it count!

Today was workout number eight, another gym day. Tuesdays are a long day for me as I get to work at 7:30 (I am up at 5:00) then I go to job #2 (tutoring). I didn't even get to the gym until 6:00 today. As much as I wanted to go home and slip into some comfortable pants, I still went. I spent a good forty-five minutes on the arc trainer and once again, I was the sweaty girl. I originally intended to come home and do my Turbo Fire 20 minute abs workout, but I had some other things I had to get done tonight, and they took precedent. But I'm okay with that! As I said yesterday, sometimes you have to give a little...and that's what needed to happen tonight. 

So now it is almost 11:00, and I'm just sitting down to right this. After getting home from the gym I made myself a nice little dinner (turkey sandwich and avocado/tomato salad). I proceeded to make my lunch for tomorrow (I'm pretty excited for it - small green salad with tuna and citrus vinaigrette), take a quick shower, and then tackle the PILE of laundry that has been growing by the day. All clean mind you, I just needed to take some time to sort it and put it away. Taking care of the laundry pile made me feel much better (and gives me a lot more room for planking, squatting, push-ups, and crunches). This challenge has made me much more conscious of how I spend my time and it has had a positive impact on both my fitness (obviously) and other areas of my life. As I write this I am feeling pretty accomplished. I managed to everything I wanted to done today and then some! Could I still use a few more hours in the day...sure! But I'll take what I can get!

Finally, it's pretty amazing that after only eight days I am already feeling stronger. While visible differences take time, I can't even begin to describe how much better I feel about myself already. I always say that running is my favorite drug, but it's also my therapy. Making sure to include some type of physical activity, which has always been a part of my life, EVERY DAY, has helped make me feel better all around. Fitness really makes a difference! Did you get your workout in today? 

Seventh Heaven

Today I completed day seven of my 100 Day Challenge. Today included 45 minutes on the treadmill (with which I have a love-hate relationship) and 94 squats as part of my 200 Squat Challenge. The treadmill was only okay, as I still wasn't feeling up to par...but I told myself that there is always tomorrow. Sometimes you have to give a little to avoid discouragement or injury, something I have learned in the past. The squats, however, were awesome. When I did my squat test on Saturday, I was able to do 31 squats right off the bat. This landed me in the "good" zone, and I was pleased with that. However, the gleam of 31 squats was nothing compared to the smile on my face when I did 94! Holy squat-a-mole! I'm actually looking forward to the 107 I need to do on Wednesday! Go get squatting!

Today I also received a special package in the mail (pictures to come). One of my running inspirations encouraged me to read Running for Mortals and Marathoning for Mortals when I first started out. John Bingham and his wife (Coach Jenny) are co-authors of these two great reads. And while Coach Jenny's training advice is wonderful, I really enjoyed the stories of John "The Penguin" and his journey to become a runner. (In case you were wondering, it is his 100 Day Challenge that I am working on.) His most recent book, An Accidental Athlete, is what I received in the mail today...but the best part about it is the fact that it is personalized and autographed! I can't wait to dive into it! I'm sure it will be good for some laughs, inspiration, and motivation. 

I've always struggled with the idea of considering myself an athlete, even when I was playing sports. I've never felt that I fit into the mold of an athlete or the "athletic crowd." Reading these books, however, has really opened my eyes, and has helped me to identify as a runner. I may not be the fastest, the fittest, or the most accomplished, but what counts is that I still get out there and do it. So on Motivational Monday, I leave you with this, one of my most favorite John Bingham quotes...happy running!

I've decided that Mondays should be motivational days, hence, Motivational Monday. What inspires you? What quote or mantra do you relate to? Please share your thoughts! Knowing that I have readers out there is motivating me! Cheers! 

Two Runs and a TurboFire

When I saw this, I knew I had to post it. It is the truth! You have to do what you need to do for yourself...everything else will wait. The people closest to you will understand, at least they should. And yes, sometimes it is hard to say "I can't right now, I need to get in my workout/run" but it has to be done. It may mean having to meet up with friends later than they would like, having to get up early on days you would love to sleep in, or squeezing your workout in at the oddest of times. But if you really want it...you will do whatever it takes to get it. 

I started my weekend off with a great run on Friday night. I ended up getting home later than I would have liked, but I was determined to squeeze my run in. Unfortunately I had to be out running in the dark. This is hard to me for two reasons, the first being I don't like the thought of distracted/inexperienced drivers not paying attention to who they are sharing the road with, and two, my eyes have a VERY hard time adjusting to the change in the light. This makes it hard for me to see dips in the road, low hanging branches, etc. But I sucked it up, wore my brightly colored clothes, and ran as hard as I could. The new sneakers were WONDERFUL. I had the usually knee pain in my right knee, but the pain in my left knee was nonexistent. I'm almost positive that my left knee was only bothering me because of my need for new sneakers. I guess only time will tell. I have a ten-miler coming up in two weeks, so that will be a good test. On top of all these wonderful things, I truly felt that this was one of my best runs in a very long time. It may not have been my longest or fastest, but it just felt better than any run has felt in a long time. 

Saturday was another run and I did my squat test. My squats were much better than I expected...I think I need to start giving myself more credit. According to my test results I should start in the third week of the 200 squat challenge program. That starts on Monday. My goal with the squats is to strengthen both my legs and my core. I'm also going to be starting a fabulous abs program, but I'll get to that in a minute. After my run on Saturday I had a wonderful day. My guy and I took a ride out to Barrier Brewing Co. in Oceanside (if you know me, then you understand how great this was, perhaps one day I will dedicate an entry to craft beer), followed by dinner and games with great friends. What an awesome night!

Sunday I set my alarm to get up early for a run, but when I woke up I just wasn't feeling my best (sometimes being a girl stinks), so I slept a little longer and did a TurboFire workout instead. I did Fire 30 followed by some squats. Although I was disappointed I didn't go running, I have become much better at accepting that NOT everything can go as planned, and that is okay. I still got my workout in and that's what really matters. After the workout I took a trip to Trader Joe's to get some groceries. I was excited to get some of my favorite Luna Bars, some great veggies, hummus...and this delicious cookie spread (like peanut butter and nutella....thank you K&N for introducing me to this). The cookie spread is my new weekend treat. I have a terrible sweet tooth and I love to snack. Two habits that are hard to break, so I have to find ways to get around them. I will now use the cookie spread as my sweet treat as long as I get my weekend workouts in. It's nice to have a little extra motivation!

Finally, as I mentioned before, I am thinking of adding a little abs challenge to my usual regimen (yes, on top of my squats). I'm considering something similar to this...

Like any workout program, I would modify this to meet my needs as well as fit my current abilities. I would also (obviously) not be starting on January 1st. I feel that by adding simple things to my workouts, like this schedule, I will be working towards my goal of strengthening my core. But most importantly, it will make me feel good about myself and my body. Setting goals can be a positive practice - as long as you realize that you need to start where you are NOW and work from there. Not everyone can do the same workouts to start, not every diet is perfect for every person. You need to find what works for you. 

My Body IS a Temple

Today's workout was wonderful. I started with some weight training (upper body and back). It was the first time in a very long time that I did this, and man did it feel good to be back at it. I finished my workout with a great forty-five minute go on the arc trainer (intervals) - and I was totally that sweaty person! HA! As I write this I'm sure my arms will be sore for the next day or so, but they can deal with it! I'm working towards a goal...that being to treat my body like the temple that it is. 

Respecting myself in this way is hard to do (and I don't want this to be confused with self respect). It's more to do with the fact that I tend to be a workaholic. In the past year or so  I have come to the realization that I need to spend just as much time taking care of myself (mentally and physically) as I do caring about my job. Today that meant actually leaving my classroom in a prompt fashion. This is hard for me because there is ALWAYS something else that needs to be done...but I need to also take care of myself. This 100 Day Challenge is helping me do just that!

The best part of today, however, was not my workout or my success in my new goals. It was the arrival of these puppies...

...my NEW running sneakers! I'm a Brooks girl, so these are Adrenaline GTS 12's. I'm in love with them! And they came with hot pink laces. Woohoo! Can't wait to start breaking them in for tomorrow! But the best part of the whole new shoe thing was realizing how desperately I needed new running sneakers. When I slipped them on I almost gasped at how wonderful they felt. I will be taking them for their first spin tomorrow afternoon.

Finally, I'd like to leave you with a challenge. I've decided in my push to better my body that I'm going to participate in a 200 Squat Challenge (this is an addition to my usual regimen). I will be taking the initial test this weekend and beginning this challenge next week. If you are interested you can read about it here. I also downloaded the companion app for my iphone. It's pretty great as it will keep track of which workout I am on and my progress. Who wants to squat with me?

So cheers to wonderful workouts, new running sneakers, and squats! Three workouts down, ninety-seven more to go! 

Return of the Gym Rat

Today was a gym day. I didn't get home from work until after 6pm, and by then, it's just too darn dark and cold for me. I'm not a big fan of running in the dark, especially since the roads by me aren't the most brightly lit, so on days like today I need to hit the gym. But first, let me tell you about why I am super proud of the fact that I actually WENT to the gym today...

I will not go into great detail about why today's work day was incredibly difficult. If any of my work friends read this, then they will understand. Let's just say today involved an immense amount of boxes, bare walls, 23 little ones who needed my undivided attention, all on top of the usual work nonsense (mind you, I teach kindergarten). That being said, I was determined from the time I woke up today to go to the gym, so I left work at 4:00 (later than I intended) and embarked on what became a two hour journey home. I enjoy the scenic route home (mostly to avoid traffic), but today this was not the case. There seemed to have been a fairly large accident on one of the first roads that I hit (so this was around 4:15), and unfortunately this road has no other outlets. When the police finally began directing traffic, they detoured all of the traffic down the residential streets (which just happen to all be dead ends). It simply became a giant loop of traffic nonsense. The traffic was unbudging, so much so that I was able to peel and eat a clementine (I was hungry by this point). About an hour later, traffic began moving again...but I was still forty-five minutes away from the gym. Long story short, I decided to head home (running my errand along the way), eat some food, and then go to the gym. 

Normally this would have deterred me from heading back out, but I am so determined to complete my 100 Day Challenge that I avoided eye contact with my comfy pants when I got home, threw on the clothes I had stuffed into my gym bag last night, and headed back out the door. The crowd at the gym was horrendous (this will all die down in about two weeks) and I ended up only doing a forty-five minute workout on the arc trainer, but I still did it. And for that I am tremendously proud!

On a side note, tonight I realized why I had avoided my "gym" for so long. I just don't like it. I really need to find a reasonably priced gym that offers both enough cardio equipment, free weights, weight machines, and classes. I really love classes, especially spin. If you have any recommendations, please let me know! 

Thought I would share this pretty great elliptical workout that I found. This will be part of my routine tomorrow, along with some weight training. Enjoy! 

First Run of the New Year

So I'm not going to lie. After I posted yesterday that I would be starting my challenge today, I grew apprehensive about whether this was a good idea or not. I mean, come on, last night was New Year's Eve and we all know what goes on on NYE...except this year, it didn't. This challenge is something that I feel so strongly about that I didn't indulge last night, and I woke up before my alarm this morning (I was THAT excited). Granted, I set my alarm for 8:00 (because last night WAS NYE), but I still got up before it. I casually got out of bed, did my usual pre-run routine, laughed when my guy rolled over and said "why are you being so noisy?!?!" (apparently compression tights make a lot of noise when you slide them on), slid on my ipod, located satellites for my watch...and I was out the door!

Let me tell you, it may not have been my best run ever, but it sure was glorious! I'm by nature a happy runner. Ask my sister about my first half marathon and she'll tell you I had a ridiculously goofy smile on my face the entire race! But today, I think my smile was even bigger. I couldn't have been more excited to be out on the road. I was especially excited to perhaps pass some morning runners. I was all prepared to share with my fellow runners the usual running wave (even perhaps with a little extra flare for the new year)...but to my great disappointment, I didn't pass ANYONE! Not a single other runner was out there. My running inspiration Tracy analyzed this as I left the house too early (and when I reflect on this, she is probably right...we already established the fact that last night was NYE, silly me). All well...I guess I will just have to save some of that "first run of 2013" energy for the next runner I pass. 

I really enjoyed my run today, however. I kept a nice easy pace, enjoyed the brisk weather, and was very pleased with the mix that Eleanor spit out (my ipod). I was even happy with my total mileage (4.25). But most importantly, it just felt good. And that's what is important. 

So my first day of the 100 Day Challenge is complete. Only 99 more to go! Happy running! 

Excited for my first run of 2013! Totally love the awesome pink hoodie! Thumbholes and everything!