A little time off

One thing I have learned over the last two years and especially during last year's training is that a little time off every now and then isn't always a bad thing. Right after Mac deployed last year I had a really hard time finding the motivation to run. It ended up meaning that I skipped a chunk of my training. No short runs, no long runs, nothing for a little over two weeks. By the time I got to my parent's house, I was facing a 7 mile run and I was terrified. I had not done the 6 miles before and 5 miles was the longest(and last run) that I had done. I decided to take it easy and walk as much as I needed too but I knew I had to try or I was never going to start running again. The craziest thing happened. The run went GREAT. I felt good, had a good pace and even felt like I could have continued. It was crazy. It didn't take me long to recover and I was very encouraged by the run. A similar thing happened later in my training just before my 11 mile run and it went great as well.

Sometimes your body just needs some time off and giving it a little rest will make a world of difference. I've been in a slump lately, mainly due to the time of year but I haven't let it get to me the way it has in the past. On the 15th, I "ran" the Trail of Lights 5K and it was the first time I had run in a while. It felt great and I had a really great pace until a little after the 1 mile mark where I hit the crazy traffic during the Christmas lights portion of the race. It made it nearly impossible to run so Mac and I ended up giving up and just walking most of that mile and then took it easy for the last. We decided to come home and run again since I was technically supposed to do 6 miles that day and I had only done three. We ran 3 more once we were home but thanks to eating supper and having a headache, it wasn't as great as the first attempt that night. We haven't really done much this week either. We had plans to start Insanity and sort of did but with the holidays and other craziness going on(I had another allergic reaction) we didn't get in all of our workouts. At first it bugged me but then I sat down with our training calendar, made a few adjustments and now we have a plan again. Now instead of finishing the weekend before the race we will finish the week of but that is fine with me. If it improves my running as much as it did in July/August than I am all for it.

For now the hardest part is going to be dealing with workouts and travel this weekend as we go home to do Christmas with the families. Getting in the long run won't be too hard, it will just take a chunk of time out of our time with family. I find it a little funny that I will once again be doing my 7 mile run in GA instead of TX but I like doing long runs there so I am looking forward to it in a way.

I'm trying to make a few small changes to help me focus more now that things are calming down and we are getting closer to the race. Also we are only 5 months away from my 30th birthday and for me to reach some of the goals I have set for myself I need to "buckle down." We are finally getting through the "honeymoon" period after Mac's return from the deployment and settling back into a semi normal daily life. That will be even more true once we get back from visiting family and he is back to a normal schedule at work. Once things start falling back into a regular groove and we see what the schedule is really going to be, I think it will be easier to make sure we are getting our workouts in each day and eating better.

The holidays always make sticking to your routine hard and falling off the wagon can make you feel discouraged about your journey. Just know it's never to late to get back at it and that if you stay focused and determined and don't get too down on your self, anything is possible.

Slip Up

So if I am going to be perfectly honest, I must admit I have slipped up the past few days when it comes to food. I've been keeping up with my running but I have been eating a few extra things that I shouldn't. Dealing with monthly issues and the stress of the upcoming holiday, I have indulged in a few "treats" that I didn't really need to eat. I am 100% for having a treat now and then or even a cheat day once a week for sanity's sake but I need to cut this out now. It is a slippery slope that if I keep letting myself have a little something extra every day, then I will start over eating again soon.

One of the issues is that I haven't had a proper grocer trip since Mac came home. I keep wanting to go to Austin to hit Central Market for some really awesome fruit instead of the mediocre stuff in the stores here but we just haven't found the time to do it. So that means I don't have good things in the house to snack on. I didn't really have anything in the house to snack on so I would go buy stuff that I really didn't need.

The good thing is that I recognize the issue and I am working to get things back in check before it gets out of hand. Another plus is that I'm not a big fan of Thanksgiving dinner anyway so I won't really be tempted to over indulge on Thursday.

First long run

So Saturday was my first long run of the Princess training. It was 4 miles which isn't too long but it is definitely the longest run I have done since the 8K in September. I was nervous about it but I had plans to take it slow. Mac and I spent the afternoon hanging out around the house and watched a movie. Once it was done we suited up and decided to go out for a run before it got dark. Fortunately, right next to our neighborhood there is a post gate that is closed on the weekends and the road that it is on is  about 3/4 of a mile long so we headed over there to run down and back until we hit 4 miles. It's nice because you don't have to worry about traffic and it is nice and wide so we can run together without feeling crowded. As we were coming up on the 1 mile mark I knew we were going a little faster than I had planned. Mac and I were talking and it kept me distracted enough to run a little faster. I told him we might need to slow down, and I thought we did, but I was wrong. I felt good through the run. My legs did get tired near the end and my knees definitely weren't used to it but I still felt great when we were done. We ended up keeping a very consistent pace the entire run which was very encouraging since we are just getting back into this.

It was really great having Mac with me on the long run. We had a lot of time to really talk about everything that has been going on and where I have found myself recently on this journey. It was nice having that time with him. It's also been good just getting back into the running mind set. We are doing a night time 5K next month that runs through a Christmas lights display and then in January we are doing the Biggest Loser 10K in Austin. I'm considering signing up for another race but we'll see after I get a chance to discuss it with Mac.

Other than that, I have been trying to plan our trip for the Princess and that has been a little more stressful than I would like. We already had a reservation but we decided to change what day we were arriving so I called to change the reservation but they didn't have anything available at the same resort for the day we wanted to get there so we had to change resorts. It's fine with me but was a little annoying.  Now we just have to wait and see if things look like it will work out so that we can book our airfare. It's a lot more stressful trying to plan all of this around the Army. I'm so excited that he is going with me but I wish it was easier for us to make plans in advance.

Anyway, things are going well for now. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. I'll be happy when it is over because I am not a turkey person at all(or dressing, or cranberry sauce, or sweet potato stuff or really any traditional thanksgiving dishes). We're having lunch with some of Mac's soldiers and their families to satisfy his traditional dish needs and then coming home to a nice pot roast for my kind of Thanksgiving dinner. Have a great week!

10 Day Challenge Results

Sorry I'm a little late but I just never found the time yesterday. I emailed in my results to Lindsey yesterday morning and I was happy but a little frustrated. I lost a little over 4 lbs during the 10 days and  1 inch from my waist. All things considered, those were pretty good results. What made me frustrated was the second of the two milestones I was telling you about. I didn't pass the second one even though I think I would have if it hadn't been for the lovely monthly water weight gain we ladies have to deal with.

The first of the two milestones I did surpass and it is a pretty big one. I have now lost over 30 lbs since this whole journey began and I was at my heaviest. I have actually lost 32 to be exact but passing the 30 mark was a big deal. The second of the two milestones was going to be being back in the 220s for the first time in a LONG time. Well, that one didn't happen. The night I spoke about it, I had weighed in at 230.0 that morning and since I was still in the last two days of the challenge, I just KNEW it was going to keep going down. Then the curse struck and I went up just a little, not too much but just enough to keep me from seeing what I wanted to on results day. Now I have to wait a few days to find out exactly how much I lost during the challenge but either way, I'm happy.

I decided to go back and compare these results to the original info I sent Lindsey before the October challenge and I was very happy with what I saw. Between Oct 9th and Nov 15th, I lost 10 lbs, 3 inches from my waist and 1.5 inches from my hips. That is the fastest I have seen a change like that in a long time. I had a serious plateau issue there for a while and it seems that I may have overcome that for now. I still haven't been as consistent with my workouts as I would like but I am working on it. I'm making better choices but I am not completely depriving myself. If I want a little indulgence, I do it I just don't go overboard. If I don't allow myself a treat or a cheat day now and then, I feel too deprived and I end up blowing it on a binge day and then I feel like crap and quit trying. By allowing myself to have little things every now and then, I keep those craving under control and it is easier to stay on track.

I'm very excited about the possibilities and what I see happening. I can't wait to see where I am in a few months.(I have 6 months until my 30th birthday, I'm going to make the most of it.)

If you are interested in joining one of Lindsey's challenges, she will be doing a 12 day challenge in December. Please check out the flyer below for info on the challenge and how you can join. Lindsey will work with you on creating a meal plan for the challenge with great recipes you can keep and continue using. She sends out daily emails with motivations and personal stories to help you along. If you feel stuck, she is there to help you push through. You don't have to do it alone.

Confidence and Style

I've been thinking a lot lately about how your self confidence effects how much you truly express your personal style. For years, I have been so ashamed with my outward appearance that I have hidden in t-shirts and jeans or very dark lifeless clothes. What is really sad about that is the fact that it does not represent my personal style in any way. There are so many things that I love and would love to wear but I have simply lacked the confidence to do it.

One aspect of this came up this weekend when my husband and I attended the Texas Renaissance Festival. If you know anything about ren fest then you know there are always tons of people in costume, some period correct, some just use it as an excuse to wear as few clothes as possible.  As we walked around and looked at shops, I kept hearing myself say over and over, "One day." I would love nothing more than to have a full, awesome, period relative costume.(I say period relative because I want something that looks close to period correct without some of the less comfortable aspects and layers.) I have always loved the idea of having a renaissance costume and I have dreamed of what it would be like. I have searched online, priced out options and designed in my head. But the truth is, I have never spent the money on one because I know at this point, I still don't have the confidence to wear it. I told my husband that if I ever get all of this figured out and really lose the weight that I will finally be able to let my full freak flag fly. Ha, ha. I don't mean chain mail bra and panties with nothing else under (or over) them, I mean just the freedom to allow myself to be myself with my wardrobe choices. And one of the first purchases will be a costume.

As we walked around Sunday, I saw something that I would LOVE to have, but probably never will because of the cost. As soon as I saw the girl I knew I had to find where she bought it just to see how much it was. It was this full length, hand-made leather dress.

 

It was GORGEOUS. Once we found the shop and I saw the price tag my heart sank a little because I can't justify that amount of money for a dress that I would only be able to wear every now and then but it did not change the fact that I LOVED it.  (They make some really awesome stuff so click on the pic to go to the website and look around.)

It's things like this that most people in my life would be surprised to find out I like. I love dresses. I actually own too many of them because I find an awesome dress on sale and buy it. Then my lack of self confidence gets in the way and I tend to not actually wear them very often. Very few people actually know that because I am always just wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

I love fun edgy styles and I want to wear some of them so badly but I just can't bring myself to do it. You could see a little of that in my choice for a costume at Halloween. My friend Rachel and I wanted to dress up in something fun for the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party. We wanted it to be Disney related but not something everyone else would wear. We decided to go as a punkish version of Cinderella(Rachel) and Snow White(me). We had a blast finding the stuff to wear and playing around with the ideas. I found an awesome tutu online and Torrid or Hot Topic provide most of the rest. I was so excited about it but I must admit, once I put it all on, I became very self conscious and wished I had waited until I was smaller to try a costume like that.

Rachel and I right before we left. I had ditched my wig by this point. (And my purse is an apple)

I can't wait for the day that I feel confident enough to truly be myself and let my personal style shine. I love retro and edgy and glamorous and so much more than what people see me in day to day. I am becoming more comfortable in my own skin. I do own a few pairs of fun colored skinny jeans now and I have had a lot of fun wearing them. I still have a lot of insecurities but I am working on them and I know as I see more success I will see many of them fade away. I don't think many people realize how much of yourself is hidden when you are struggling with your weight. I can't wait to fully reveal myself as this journey continues.

Feeling Good

Tonight Mac and I went out for our first Princess training run. It was just 30 minutes but it felt good to get back out there. We were supposed to go for a 3 mile run this weekend as the first run but after walking a ton at the Tex Ren Fest and dealing with being out of town, we didn't do it.

It felt good to get a run in again. It has been a while since I have been out there. I didn't feel great during the run but by the end I was better. My biggest issue was the drastic temperature drop we have had the last few days. This weekend it was still in the 80s and muggy then the cold front came through and today when we went out it was just a little above 50. My lungs hate running in the cold. I read an article recently about how you should breathe while running, especially in colder temps. It said that you should only breathe through your nose because it warms up the air and adds moisture to it. Well, I couldn't handle that. My nose was running like crazy and I swear the cold air gave me brain freeze, haha. So I opted for the second method they recommended, breathing through a scarf or shirt over your mouth to capture heat and moisture. As we ran by the house I asked Mac to run in and grab the neck gator I purchased from Bondi Band last year. (I'm a little jealous looking at the website now because when I bought it last year, they only sold them in black and now they have tons of colors.) I slipped it over my face and instantly it was so much easier to breathe. I have to get used to having it on my face but it definitely made running in the cooler air much easier.

Once we were done I was a little disappointed in my pace as I saved my workout on runkeeper but I was happy I had at least gotten it done. When I got inside to check the map and chart on the computer I realized the map was a little off and once I fixed the few points that were wrong my distance and pace improved and I felt much better about the workout. I still have a long road ahead but taking those first steps really feel good.

Since this time around I am trying to focus on more than just running, I decided to get in my TurboFire workout before I took a shower. I think I am really going to like the program once I get the hang of it. It was easier for me to pick up on the combos today during the Low HIIT workout. Low HIIT stands for low impact High Intensity Interval Training and it will kick your butt. I am glad that it doesn't have all of the jumping that the high HIIT workouts will because after a run, I needed low impact. It was still brutal though. my legs were screaming at me half way through. There were still a few moves that I just couldn't figure out but over all I was able to pick it up pretty quickly and get in a great workout. For those tougher moves, in the future I think I am just going to have to pause the DVD so I can repeatedly do the moves at a slower pace until they make sense to me. I love that the stretching portion of the workouts is a separate thing.(You have to go back to the title screen and select the stretching.) It is the same stretch sequence most days so it is easy to remember how it progresses.

I still need a little while to get used to the program but I really think I am going to enjoy it. I've seen a little success with the 10 Day Challenge this time and I am sure that it will continue as I am running and working out more. Mac has made eating better easier because I'm not just cooking for me. We've tried some fun new things lately and that has been very nice. Some have been a hit and others haven't(for me, Mac loved it) but it is nice having someone who eats almost anything around for those meals that I'm not crazy about. It's also nice being able to actually use an entire loaf of healthy bread without having to throw it away half way through because of mold. When I was alone, even if I had a sandwich for lunch everyday, the bread I buy would go bad too quickly because I only buy stuff that is preservative free. It's the little things like that that are making things easier now that he is home.


Tomorrow is the last day of the challenge so I will be writing a recap on Thursday and letting you know how you can participate in a future challenge if you would like. I have hit one new milestone and I am VERY close to another so I will tell you about both hopefully on Thursday. Things have been going well. Much better than I expected and if I can keep this up, it will be awesome. Now I must go and eat my lemon pepper chicken and couscous, my favorite post workout meal and a great fall back dinner when we can't figure out anything else to eat.

(I'm also working on a post about some of the emotional and mental parts of this kind of journey that came up while we were at Ren Fest. Hopefully I will have it done for you soon.)

Feeling the Burn

TurboFire is no joke. It is a very different workout than Insanity but it is by no means easy. It is much more cardio based while Insanity is more cardio and strength combined. That's ok though because I have some strength circuits that I have done before and really like so I will add them in as well. It is going to take me a little while before I feel completely comfortable with the workouts though due to the sometimes complex combos she uses. It is very fast paced and can take a little while to figure it out and be able to do it to tempo. I also need to sit down and figure out how I am going to modify the schedule as well. I will only do it 5 days a week instead of 6 because our long runs will replace it on Saturdays. What is throwing me off is that the rest day on the schedule is Wednesdays instead of the usual Sundays. I know it's not really too big of a deal but I want to look at the pattern to see if there is a reason or if it will be fine if I just shift things a little.

Man, I'm going to be feeling it in my shoulders tomorrow thanks to all of the punches in the routine. I'm excited about it and I am glad that it is different but I must admit, I miss Insanity a little. I will definitely revisited that program in the future since I know I never got everything out of it that I could. But for now, TurboFire will be a good change of pace and the intense cardio will only help as we start really training for the Princess.