Success!

The birthday was a success! We went out to a fancy restaurant and hubby had half a cow (that's the pic with the two round, extremely healthy, butter discs on it). I ordered a filet which for some reason I neglected taking a picture of, but yet I got a picture of all the booze - go figure. We also had caesar salad, which I would have preferred that they cut up for me, and some lobster macaroni and cheese. For dessert, we ordered some handmade truffles which were also just OK.

So, restaurant wise, I thought the food was OK. We definitely thought that it was an "experience" meal, but not a place we plan on going to again because we felt it was too expensive for the quality of what we had. It just didn't live up to my expectations, BUT we had a great time. We had an intimate booth and just enjoyed the time together. It was romantic and just loads of fun. So that made it all worth it.

Last week was definitely a week of food, food, and more food. Between the meetings I had for work which are always foodfests and the birthday celebration, I definitely ate more than a normal week. But when I look back at what I chose to eat, I really didn't do too poorly overall. Unlike the birthday meal where everything was very decadent, I made better choices the rest of time. Overall, I am very happy with how I navigated through it and that I just didn't eat everything in sight (there was plenty of oh so band friendly high calorie slider food!).

Unfortunately bootcamp was cancelled a couple days last week and I had a bad run on Wednesday. My tummy was NOT happy. I had to come home. I know what it was though - just too much food that I am just not used to eating. Not volume per se as I tried to keep to bandster portions, but in richness.

I still have not weighed this year. I thought about it last week and decided that it was crazy. Eating high sodium, etc. - why am I going to weigh in and freak out? Which for me leads to a lot of stress and other crap. I put on my dress slacks and they fit fine - so forget it. Plus I wore a tight skirt with a form fitting sleevelss top on Friday. When my hubby saw me, he looked at me and said, "you look hot". What more does a girl really need than that?!

Last Week's Plan

Monday – BC / 3 miles (3)
Tuesday – BC
Wednesday – BC / 4 miles (2.33 major tummy issues! Had to cut it short)
Thursday – BC was cancelled : (
Friday – BC was cancelled : (
Saturday - 6 miles (6)
Sunday – OFF

Calories: 2762...The () is actual mileage.

Wrong bag

It's my hubby's birthday this weekend. He has been away all week. A week or so ago, I went and bought a bag that I knew he wouldn't like and then asked questions about traveling bags. I knew he'd want one with wheels, which this one didn't have, so I let out a big sigh and said to him that I better show him what I bought so I can go ahead and return it. I showed it to him and no surprise, it wasn't what he wanted. I returned it that same day. He told me not to worry about getting him anything for his birthday, that it was just Christmas, he doesn't need anything, etc.

Well, little did he know, but I was messing with him! I've had his gift for a while. I'm excited to give it to him and since he's been traveling this week he'll be coming home to a few other surprises. He's been mentioning a particular restaurant for a few months and I kept just pushing it off...because that's where we're going to dinner tomorrow night. Tee hee.

Now, if I can just figure out what to wear...

That's it???

I was thinking that some might stumble across detail of my plan and think that I'm not running enough to train for a half. Why? Cause I looked at it initially and I said, "This is all I have to run????" "Am I going to be able to do it with this little (and not die)?" I did get my plan from a runner. She's run over 4 marathons (not sure how many) and too many halfs to even count.

I am by no means qualified to make up a running plan, there are many available on line, but if you look at them they are pretty much all running. I have bootcamp 5 days a week---it's too intense to do it and a running plan like what can be found.

So here's what she told me: A good plan is made up of some speed training, strength training, runs, and long runs. I go to bootcamp 5 days a week. The camp provides the speed and strength training (and explains why my mile, 5K, etc. speed has improved). Then I have two runs a week and a long run on the weekend. She considers me to have a quality base at this point.

My goal is to finish and finish comfortably---no records here. I don't want to hate this half. I just want to do it and check the box as part of my overall banded journey.

All this being said, if I don't get enough quality sleep, the thought of an evening run is torture. My plan is really run Mon, Wed, and Sat. The good news is there's some flexibility in this plan. I need to get the 3 runs in. She doesn't want me doing them in a row, but I can move them around as needed.

Let's take today as an example, I had commitments that meant that I was getting a maximum of 5 hours of sleep Mon and Tues night. This morning it was hard to get up and go to bootcamp. Really hard. I wanted to just stay in bed, but I got up and went. But this afternoon, the 4 mile planned run - it just was not happening. I was exhausted and I was going to hate every minute of it. Thankfully, I'll get a full night's sleep tonight. So I moved this run to tomorrow.

Wanna run a 5K, 10K, 15K, half, or full marathon? With a good plan, you can do it! Scared? Guess what, I personally think that's totally normal! Don't have a runner friend? Concerned about an online plan? Look to see if there's a running store in your area. If so, drop by and see what you can find out. You might find out that there is some free "social" runs to participate in or a training class that you can join and then have a coach to help you get to your goals.

You never know, you might find yourself turning into F0rrest Gump, remember this?

That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County. And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Alabama. And that's what I did. I ran clear across Alabama. For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going.

Wish is a Four Letter Word

I was cooling down from my long training run on Saturday when this lady I had passed previously said to me, "I wish I had your energy." Even after all this time, I get taken off guard and am not quite sure what to say. I ended up saying something like, I've been working at it for some time. She said in return that she'd like to get there. I said to her that you honestly can get there and we chatted about how.

• Showing up is 51% of the battle. I think it's more than half the battle to get to your workout. I think of all the reasons (excuses) why I can't (don't want to workout) and I can come up with plenty! Think about it, who really drags themself to a workout, gets there, and then turns around and goes home????
• Have the right equipment for your activity of choice. For example, walking really isn't "just walking". Longer distances, faster pace, etc. really does require good shoes. Shoes with the right fit and right support for you. Make sure the rest of your clothes are comfortable and you are dressing for the weather in layers.One other thing I didn't share, but I think is important. - protect "the girls"! Get a good sports bra.
• Don't overdo it. No one is going to get out there the first day and run a long distance. If you do, you will hate it and you will feel sore as crap. Consider trying a program such as c to 5K. Personally, I started with time. I said I will walk X amount of time regardless of the distance covered and went from there.
• Consistency is key. All the other pointers contribute to consistency. If you show up, are comfortable, and don't overdo it (so you don't hate it), you will be consistent. Does that mean everyday? Nope. It doesn't even mean 6 days a week or even 5. Figure out what is realistic and do it. (I suggest starting out with 3 days a week increasing to 5 days over time).
• Change "I wish" to "I can". Wish is a four letter word. I believe that unless there is something that physically prevents a person from achieving a weightloss or fitness goal that it's possible. You just have to want it, do the work, and believe (I can do it!) . Hell, I am trying to take my own advice on this one in regard to the half marathon! If I don't think I can do it, I guarantee that I won't be able to!

That made me think of something else, I read frequently on blogs "I hate exercise". Honestly, I don't think people "hate exercise", I think they hate what they are doing or possibly it's one of the other things I've talked about that's contributing to these feelings.

If you find yourself hating the activity, try another one! Keep on trying different ones until you find one you like. Oh, and one other thing, please consider hanging in there for a while on whatever you choose. Anything that is "new" or "hard" is going to take a bit of time (Are you thinking: "I can't do this?" If so, knock it off!!!!). Give whatever you choose a couple weeks and you might surprise yourself and find yourself thinking "I kinda like this!" "I can do this!" or some other thought that may take you off guard....off guard in a good way!

And on a band note, it's a tool, a piece of equipment, but the rest of it is up to you. If you think about it, these items can be skewed a bit and apply. Believing in yourself, consistency, etc.

Thanks for the chat to the lady on the trail and I hope to see you out there again!


Last Week's Plan

• Monday – OFF (Holiday & I enjoyed it!)
• Tuesday – BC / 3 miles (3.4)
• Wednesday – BC
• Thursday – BC / 4 miles (4)
• Friday – BC
• Saturday - 5 miles(5.25)
• Sunday – OFF

Calories: 4110...The () is actual mileage

My Office Mate

For the most part, I am lucky that I work from home - no commute, no makeup, reduces clothing budget, more productive, and many other things! Anyway, sometimes that means I start work at butt-crack-thirty and at times I'll plan in one room before I go to my office. My office mate was very active today and she was very very busy. I had to take some pictures.

Hey, let me help you with that. You aren't doing it right!

Oh, let me get a better look at that. What do you mean you can't type?

BREAK TIME!

Back to work!

BREAK TIME! (Notice now in a different position)

You need a lot of supervision! I have my eye on you!

Safety first! Security patrol.

I'm not sure what my office mate was up to after this point, but I am sure she was very busy the rest of the day!

Yesterday's training run was C-O-L-D! The temperature was 29, which is not bad for most areas in January, but it was the wind that was the killer! It was something ridiculous like 11 with the windchill. But I told myself you HAVE to get this run in. There are only 3 training runs a week and no way to move this run because I also have to have a day of rest. Bright sides: it was dry, I have warm clothes, and I did it. And, as usual, I was glad I did it...after it was over!

I tried to view my training schedule on my last post and realized it's super hard to read. I'm going to have to work on an alternate way of recording it so I can go back and check it out.

My New BFF

I had heard people say how great foam rollers are, including the a$$kicker at bootcamp, but figured my stretches were good enough. Some days I am sore, but not miserable sore, just I've worked out sore. Yesterday I got an instant cash coupon in the mail for 15 bucks to a local athletic store and figured I could make a 10 buck investment to find out what was sooooo great about this foam thing. My hubby went with me and said, "I bet we can get that same thing at H0me Dep0t for 5 bucks" (funny guy, huh?). So, while watching tv last night I just rolled away. I even got hubby to try it out. Well, this morning after 8 billion swings and my training run yesterday, not a lick of soreness. My foam roller is my new bff. Got foam roller?

Sucking it Up!

I honestly have started the year feeling a bit blah. I can't quite put my finger on why. Weather? Job? I have no idea. I've hit the point that I just don't care to try and figure it out anymore and am just moving on to "sucking it up".

I turned down the new job. That position is setup to fail. It was a very difficult decision as passing up on any role can have a negative impact on your career progression. I explained what I thought were the challenges of the role and how I thought they could be addressed and thanked them for the opportunity. Don't you worry though, I still mentioned in all of that I was looking for a promotion! ; ) I won't be holding my breath though, I am honestly very very thankful to have a job I mostly enjoy and work for someone that respects me and my work.

I have not been reading blogs either! Good grief!

So, in the whole sucking it up theme, I am posting my training plan. I might have to modify it now and then because of things going on, but I still need to get the mileage in for the week. I need to see if I can force my own hand and sign up for the race. In the meantime, to help with my accountability, I am going to go ahead and post my plan with strikethroughs/changes as the weeks go on. Wish me luck!...or just kick me in the butt now and then if you don't see anything.

My favorite number: 11

11 has always been my favorite number. It was always the number I had in the sports I played and I HAD to have that number. Today is a really cool day, but not only cause it is 1-1-11 (oh, and yes, 11:11 on the clock is also my favorite)...I had said that I was going to say something about my job, well I started that conversation and it seems that I might have a new job...go figure.

I'm honestly in shock more than anything - and not in a bad way. You know how you have those talks now and then in your head and you plan it all out cause you are sure if you don't you are going to massively screw it up? Yep, I spent an entire day of conversations of how it could go with me raising the concerns that I head. I barely got started and this was never one of the scenarios. Anyway, I'm one of those put it in writing people, so who knows.

I have a training plan. A training plan for a half marathon, SIGH. I AM GOING TO SUCK IT UP AND DO IT! I want to talk to my "coach" before I sign up as I am considering a pace team and want to get her thoughts on it. I plan to knock that out tomorrow. Then I am going to bite the bullet. And ya know what is stupid? I have done one before. It was one of those things - "I am going to do a marathon by the time I'm 30" deals for me. I hated the half and decided I never needed to do a marathon unless I was in a car.

My goal is to finish the half. No time requirements, nothing. My friend is convinced this is where I went wrong. I was set on a time and come hell or high water I was going to do it. As a result, I was gutting it out and I HATED it. So, that's right. No completion TIME, just to finish. Stay tuned and please plan on beating the hell out of me if I do not get a half marathon in, because I will NOT have a valid excuse. (This is another reason I am putting this all out here today. I won't have to think very hard about where this post is when I need to give myself a kick in the ass. So for future reading: QUIT MAKING EXCUSES AND JUST DO IT!)

Crap!

So, I did my 5K on Saturday. My goal was to enjoy the 5K. I just went with the flow and finished in under 28 mins. WOW, was I shocked! Honestly, I wasn't pushing it. When I got close and saw what my finish time could be I was shocked. My fitness has seriously gone through the roof from bootcamp.

The crap? Uh, I "misplaced" (lost!) my transmitter for my Polar. It's the thingy that snaps on to the strap and works with the watch to give the heart rate. OOOOPPPS! I have continued to look high and low for it, but I think it could be gone. That little sucker costs half of what a new Polar costs! I am pissed at myself. I am going to wait a week or so and see if I can find it. I am guessing that my hubby will suggest me wearing my Garmin instead. Which is fine for a run, but not for bootcamp. It's just too dang big. *sigh* (Oh, and if anyone has seen my transmitter - or has a spare that they want to give me (ha) - please email me!)

And as a grand finale...SNOW in Texas. Pictures to prove it!!!

And it continues...

Nope, I did not win MegaMillion$, but two lucky people shared the big prize. I remain behind and have started the new year with a bad attitude about my job. I am going to have to figure out how to navigate through it stat! Otherwise, I am concerned it could get worse and go into other areas (more important areas too!) in my life. I have a meeting on Monday with my boss and plan to have my areas of concern PC'd by then. Ah well, can't think about it too much, cause honestly it's just not worth it. It will work out and I need to remember to focus on the things that I can change.

Anyway, bootcamp was good last week, but my Polar was acting up. It just kept dropping the heart rate. I actually broke down and READ the manual and am trying all the things that it says. I am thinking that my rinsing of the band may not have been enough to clean it after 7-8 months. Not sure.

Embarrassing, but true, the decorations are almost down, but one room remains. It will be finished this weekend, but then the cleaning starts to try and get up all the damn glitter. Hubby was nice about that though and said why don't we just have someone come in and clean the house to take care of it so you don't have to. So, unless I am feeling it, I might just do that.

I am still feeling a bit fluffy in some of my clothes, but figure I'll remain away from the scale. I'm just back in maintenance mode - generally eating well and exercising. Band wise - it's just there. For me, this far out, I will just remain where I am - which was years ago at this point when there was .2 (does that even count?) - that I last knew how much fluid is in there. I will continue what I have been which is I eat band portions, but when I'm hungry, I'll just eat more.

I'm trying to think of things that I'd want to ask/know reading this (please leave things in the comments if you do want to ask something!) and come up with - well, aren't you on a diet then? And, my answer is no. Band or no band, you have to make choices. I think it's one of the things that people learn on this journey. If I had eaten crap the majority of the time, then I know I would not have gotten to where I am now (which even surpassed my original expectations - blew them away really!).

Over the years, the band has helped me develop a different relationship with food. For me, this was the key. I also rediscovered activities that I used to love and new ones that have led to a very active lifestyle. So, while I have a band, bottom line what is also there is generally good food choices and moving. Funny how that sounds exactly like someone without a band, huh? And, I also am a firm believer that this was not an easy way out. It was a ton of work mentally and physically. Ooooo, getting on a soapbox, please if you want to know something though, please ask and don't be shy. I can remember when I started my journey wanting to ask questions, but there wasn't anyone out there that had the band a long time to ask!

I'm off to a 5K! Hopefully my Polar will cooperate!

Day 4 and Behind?

Yep, that's me. Behind. That's how I'm starting 2011, but probably the most important thing is: I don't care. Seriously, I am continuing my work on balance. Not sweating the things that don't really matter - or maybe "matter", but I need to put into a better, more balanced perspective. So a list of random crap...

• I have 1000 unread posts in my Reader. I haven't been on the computer for pleasure in weeks. Weird.
• Work does not own me. I have proven that this holiday season. I worked reasonable hours and took time off. You know why? Because it didn't matter. Spending time with family and friends mattered. I prioritized and focused on the important stuff and got what had to be done, done. Go figure.
• I worked out my 4 times a week goal for the holidays, but I also ate whatever I wanted and enjoyed the season. I do think I gained some weight as my jeans are a bit tight, but I am the only one that notices (self, read and repeat - I am the only one that notices). This doesn't mean that I am not back on track with better choices and working out, it just means that there is a little bit of fluff, but it's temporary. (The scale is NOT the boss of me!)
• My Christmas decorations are only partially down. Yep, I'm behind. Oh well, by the end of the upcoming weekend everything will be put away.
• I am running a 5K this weekend. My goal is a bit different. My goal is to slow down. Strange, huh? Well my buddy has told me that I need to work on slowing down to finish a half marathon more comfortably. So that's what I am going to do. Oh, the half marathon comment? Uh yep, doing one. Don't know when, but this year doing one. (My BC buddy is doing TWELVE this year. Yep, 12, so I figured my lame ass could do one.)
• Wild hogs are a problem in Texas. Seriously. And, I am not just talking about the country or fondly referred to as the sticks. Also, since I am on a "wild" bullet, it's Opossum, not possum. Just sayin'
• I got really cool stuff for Christmas. A kettlebell (YAH!), a Garmin (I'll have to post more on that), a NEW Kindle, boxing mitts (cool ones that are more like gloves that hopefully my partner at BC can't knock them off as easily!), and some other stuff that I'm not remembering at the moment. Yep, me = spoiled.
• Biggest L0ser Couples starts tonight. There is a contestant (dude) that is 650lbs...yikes!

Oooo, Mega Million$ is like 8 bajillion dollars (OK, like $330 million) tonight. I have to go get a ticket! Gotta go!