Food and Activity Planning Template!

I wanted to share an update from my post on Friday! I am happy to say that over the weekend I DID stick to my plans. I made it out of this week with a 5.2 lb. loss! 

I wanted to post a link to my menu template. I have been really happy and comfortable using it! I fill it out on Sunday, for the entire upcoming week. I use the multivitamin row as a check box for each day, to help me remember!

Personally, I actually deleted the first morning snack, because I eat a very early lunch with my current schedule, though this is how I would normally eat. Feel free to use the chart, and edit it to fit your needs!

Link:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B_VClOAuJplqT2w5UWlabElRd1U

I also started a new workout video this week, so be prepared for the first workout review to be posted in a couple of days for Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30, and the first recipe review will be coming out this week as well, with Lightened up ham and spinach quiche!

A look in the right direction

After my last post, in February, I was feeling quite hopeful. I have gotten in a few runs here and there, but my commitment in general has been wavering.

This week, something clicked. I hate to jinx myself, but I am finally feeling in control. It's a very different feelings after, literally MONTHS, of being off track. This week I hit a wall, really crashed hard into the wall.

Monday morning, after Easter, I stepped on the scale and I hit THAT number. You probably know what I am talking about. THAT number is different for all of us. The number we have in mind that WE will never hit. THAT number that is just unacceptable. The number we never plan to see.

Well folks, I saw it, and it wasn't pretty. The good news is, it was the wake up call I have been waiting for. This being combined with a recent realization of all the big things coming up in my life that I want to be my best self for. In 4 weeks I will graduate with my Master's in Education. In 10 weeks I will join my friends for a big coed group bachelor/bachelorette trip to Vegas. And in 12 short weeks, I will stand next to my best friend on her Wedding Day.

For me is isn't, nor ever has been, about being skinny. But on top of my motivation to be healthy, active and fit, I of course have a desire to look and FEEL my best. I know my confidence will be much higher, and I wanna rock that dress!

Snack Box (lookin a little empty by today)! 

Lots of fresh fruit!

As I mentioned earlier in the post, this week it finally clicked. Scared by THAT number, or motivated by all the good things coming up, who knows. But I put together the kick-ass-ist menu for the week, writing every meal down ahead, and prepping a snack box in the fridge. I also did something I never have before. I created recipes for the dinners on the WW recipe builder, and pre-tracked my dinners. This ended up being the best idea ever, because afternoon snacking become much easier when I saw how many snacking points I had left for the day, and debated how many to use before dinner, and how many to save for after.

Kick-ass-ist Menu Ever

I also did something rather drastic. I completely cleared my WW history, took my measurements, and changed my WI day to Monday. This is a huge first for me. I have always been a Friday weigher. I like the buffer I have to work off the weekend splurges. Not No More. Now I have to own them. I also get to start fresh Monday morning, with a clean slate.
 
Today, I am feeling in control. Today I have 5 days of honest tracking under my belt as I head into the weekend, my worst enemy.

Please be prepared for blogs to come. Help me to stay accountable. I have some ideas for future posts including some new recipes (think ham and spinach quiche with potato crust)  workout video reviews, and a major facelift to my races page! I am also planning for a workout challenge, including prizes, so stay tuned!!

Resurrecting What Was

Hello out there to anyone who stuck around during my much too long, completely unnecessary hiatus.

Here I am 25 lbs. heavier, and back square 1 with my running. It's a bummer to be back here, but the good news it, it can only get better. And apparently, square 1 isn't really a concept for a runner. Since I have learned about running, there is no going back to square 1.

A few weeks ago I opted to get back into the game and headed back to running club with some girlfriends. They wanted to aim for 4 miles, and I thought that was impossible. I hoped I could make it 2 without dying. I am happy to say we pulled out that 4 mile run, slow and steady.

There will never again be a square 1 because I know all too well what my body is capable of now. I KNOW I can complete 4 miles, even if I walk some, or jog slow. I know that I am capable of finishing. I learned this the first time around and will not soon forget.

It was nice to see some familiar faces when I went back out and completed 5 miles this morning. Those people who inspired me to push on week after week. Those that taught me techniques, strategies, nutrition, and brought with them motivation. I felt comfortable back at club, and truly ready to be there again.

You WILL be seeing posts from me more regularly again. I WILL be posting a race schedule soon, with focus on building my running back up. I am not jumping back into a half training right away, but do have goals of running some 5ks and 10ks and improving my speed.

Let me know if you are still out there, and if you are still running!!

In the heat of the night... or morning

After a couple of weeks out of town, chaperoning a high school church trip, I jumped back into routine this morning and went to running club at 7am. Today was an easy reminder of why we start so early. By 7:15 it was already inching toward 80 degrees.

Not one of my fastest runs, that to be expected due to heat, and two weeks of lax workouts (or none really). But someone at the end of the run made a great comment. It doesn't matter how far or fast I ran today, I ran farther than most people. This is true.

Sometimes I think we get down on ourselves for not running our BEST every time, but honestly, that expectation isn't realistic. Everyone has hard days. Weather stinks sometimes, travels and life get in the way of training. All that matters is that we do the best we can at the time.

Today I am posting so you know that I AM still running. Even in the heat. And you can too!

Hydrate properly, as you lose a lot of water in the heat. Aim to run in the early morning or later evening to keep cooler. Wear a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself better. Keep runnin :)

Long Time No Post! Finding motivation!

Okay ladies and gents (well, mostly ladies), it's been a while and I apologize. As you can guess, not posting is related pretty directly related to being off my game in general. My work schedule is all over the place, and I have been struggling to keep a workout/running/planning schedule with my work schedule is inconsistent.

I spent a little time updating my site today, finally adding to the recipe section, as well as updating my race section!! Hopefully having these races to keep me on track will help with motivation!

In the meantime, I also create a new device to help with motivation, planning and staying on track. This new thing is my inspiration binder :) I spent some time looking through all of my health/fitness magazines and cut out any recipes that looked good, success stories, and any useful facts or quotes!

The idea is that I can grab the binder if I need motivation, or a new recipe for my weekly menu. So far it has been fun, and helpful!

Here is the binder:

Expect more posts from me soon! Including a Race Recap from last weeks 10k! As well as more recipes/food highlights and hopefully some scale victories!

Stalling...

So, if you had noticed by the lack of posts lately, I have been pretty stalled in my workouts recently. Since my races, I have liteally stopped running. It is excuse after excuse. Maybe my body is tired, but mostly it is a mindset for me. I was determined, I had a team training with me, depending on me.

I go through days, sometimes moments where I feel so determined, so ready to get back on track. This is true for my diet as well. Two or three days of great workouts, tracking and eating. Then totally off track again.
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Today I had an interesting new experience. I tried Bikram Yoga(aka hot yoga, a heated room) for the first time. I had heard great reviews from some boardies about it, but I had also heard that it isn't for everyone. I went with Shannon and she did GREAT. I struggled, big time. Not so much with the yoga moves (not that they were easy), but the heat really got me. I felt dizzy, nauseous, and at some points blacked out momentarily. Obviously not the most pleasant experience. I sat down outside for a bit to gather myself and rejoined for the last 30 minutes of mat work. This got a little better for me.

Overall I am really glad I tried this. I do plan to give it another couple of tries, as I have heard that your body gets used to the heat. I will update you as to how it goes for me.
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As for being off track, I need to make my readers (and myself especially) some promises. I am starting the book Women. Food and God. I will also be starting Run Less, Run Faster. I am going to let these books help guide me to start making some better choices with food, workouts, and probably even my mental state.

My goals this week are:
-Run at least 2 times
-Workout at least 4 times total
-Track EVERYTHING
-Find time each day to read, for ME

Thanks for reading, and please help to keep me accountable for my goals!

Warrior Dash!

I haven't posted since my race last weekend! I also pretty much took the week off from running ;) I plan to get together a training schedule to I get back on track, but whats one week!

In other news, this Saturday a big group of us drove down to the So Cal Warrior Dash! Reena(REENA711),   Kelly(SILYSTARRFISH), and Melissa(M525964703) from the boards all met there for the run (along with many of my friends)! It was an absolutely amazing event!

Let me step you through it step by step!

We showed up in our costumes, ready to race!

Starting Line!

Obstacle Number 1: Hay Fever !

 Obstacle Number 2: Junkyard Jam

 Obstacle Number 3: Muddy Muck

Obstacle Number  4: Over and Under (Over walls and under barbed wire)

Obstacle Number  5: Swamp Sludge

Obstacle Number 6: Warrior Wall

Visiting with a fellow turtle along the course!

Obstacle Number  7: Warrior Web!

Obstacle Number  8: Walk the Plank

Obstacle Number  9: Deadweight Drifter

Obstacle Number 10: Chaotic Crossover

Obstacle Number  11: Cargo Climb

Obstacle Number  12:Warrior Roast

 Pic to come

Obstacle Number  13: Muddy Mayhem!

Finish Line!!

Warrior Wash!

Shoes people are donating (pile kept getting bigger)

Some pictures will be added later (Finish line and Warrior Roast)... But you can see what a blast it was! It was more challenging than Nor Cal Dash in October, more obstacles and more challenging obstacles. It was also nice to have the lake for washing, we got MUCH cleaner (other than the bacteria in the lake we had to sign a waiver about). The whole weekend was a blast, and I declare a success! 

**Suggestion to future Dashkateers, pack sunscreen and USE it, OUCH!**