December to Remember: FITspiration

Let's make this a December to Remember!    Remember being FIT that is!  I figured everyone was doing a thankful post each day in November why not do something for December.  I remember I use to always hear people talk about the "holiday" weight gain but I had never experienced it until last year.  I gained about 4 lbs last holiday season.  See where I work starting the first of December they assign 2 people for each day to bring in snacks.  There are 2 separate holiday parties where we eat and they still have 2 people bring snacks on those days too!  So I thought I'd be careful not to partake everyday but obviously I wasn't careful enough. 

It's also the beginning of "off" season for most of the endurance community and it is normal to gain a few pounds for that but if you add holiday weight + off season weight = slow runner!

So who's in?  Let's post something every day on our FB or other media pages that will help us remember to stay fit this off/holiday season.  If you want like my FB page and tell me you are going to participate then I'll make sure and link back to your page each time you post a December to Remember FITspiration or just come on over and share mine that I'll be posting each day!

Today is the 3rd so I already posted one the 1st & 2nd

December 1st was:   December to Remember FITspiration #1: It may be too warm for snow but don't fret "Frosty the snowman knew the snow was hot that day So he said lets run and have some fun before I melt away" Did you go for a run today?

I see this guy everyday now driving to work!

December 2nd was:  December to Remember FITspiration #2: with the long winter months ahead usually off season you forget what you look like under all those comfy layers. SO go try on a cute bathing suit at your local fitness store (they are really cheap right now) since you are in awesome shape from a whole season of training, and stay ready to fit into it as soon as spring is here!

... today's will be:

December to Remember FITspiration #3: December to Remember FITspiration #3: Find inspiration in unexpected places and act on it. Every time I'm going to get a new pair of tennis shoes I remember this book and my first run in my new shoes is always exciting and I may even try to jump over a few things! :-)



































My new tennis shoes, and yes, yesterdays run was a fun one!

Fresh Start?

It's a new year and the decorations have been packed, my husband is gone again, and I'm back at work!  For some reason I've never made a huge deal out of New Year's as it seems so many others like to.  It doesn't seem like a fresh start just because the number at the end of the year changes.  But maybe I'm just being miss frumpy pants because I actually can't wait for the majority of this year to be over or because I know the gym will be packed!!  I am actually a huge planner and set goals for myself throughout the year but hate new year's resolutions this means you are making them because of the time of year not because you feel you are ready.  I actually set monthly, 6 month and yearly goals but it is more on a rolling calendar year depending on when I feel ready.  I found this article about New Year's resolutions and it said:

The following shows how many of these resolutions are maintained as time goes on:
- past the first week: 75%
- past 2 weeks: 71%
- after one month: 64%
- after 6 months: 46%

I think it's important to set goals, I would feel lost without something to work towards but the timing sometimes is the most important.

How do you feel about New Year's resolutions?  What is your greatest success story with one?

I have signed up for my first race of the year and apparently just in time because it is already full, I'm doing the 1/2 marathon with a couple of friends to get my training started off right...

Anyone else going to be there?

Catching up

Still on my awesome week off and non-stop activities!  I have a minute before we start a record session of Wii!  I wanted to catch up on a couple of things, I've been such a bad blogger this week, but I have a good excuse right :-)   First of all I had a blast with the Christamas Card exchange with five wonderful fellow bloggers whom I now am keeping up with at:

Michelle Does Germany
Little Fancy Nancy
Travel Spot
Run Chunky Run
Go Girl Go

There some very creative and festive cards I loved it!!

Then with Jill's gift exchange I got this awesome gift from Caratunkgirl, it has a flash mode and a glow mode and you can wrap it around your arm or leg, thanks!!

Last but not least my hubby took me to Wolf Creek for 2 awesome days of skiing as my gift!!!

Now I've gotta try to catch up with everyone and the fun still isn't over!  I hope I'm able to get a New Year's post in... 

What exciting news do you have?  Let me know I want to go read about it!

So many activities...

So I have been super busy and loving every minute of it.  I managed to sneak this post in because I couldn't sleep so I came out here to do this while the house is still quiet.  So much fun in so little time!  I'll mainly do this one as a wordless post since the pics speak for themselves.

1st Running Club's Holiday Party

Goodies, I took a pair of running socks!

Eating yummy Italian food, the baked polenta was awesome!



It's not a running club without skinny Santa!

2nd we got another round of snow just before Christmas and had to take advantage of it!

We all love the snow!

Sledding was not the best idea here...

We love hiking and snow makes it even funner!

3rd My friends decided to do a Christmas Eve beer run where you ran a 1 mile loop then stoppped to drink a beer between each lap, the person to complete the most laps in 90 minutes wins.  I wasn't going to participate the plan was just to say Hi to my friends but with a little peer pressure before I new it I was on my 9th lap! My friend Gwen is a way faster runner but apparantly college paid off for me becuase I was a way faster chugger!  This also counted as my Virtual 5k with Daily Vitamin F~

Before we started waiting for everyone in the COLD, brrr!

Gwen realizing I was actually participating :-)

She fell because she was laughing so hard..

My wonderful hubby who was my DD and cheered me on when I wanted to quit, at lap 8 I said I was done and still had 10 minutes left ont he clock, he yelled, You've never DNF'd right?!?!  So of course I kept going!

Now on to more adventures!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year?  What was your favorite part of Christmas?  What was your favorite gift?  I got photoshop software and a ski trip to Wolf Crekk!!

Food in miles...

So I am in the process of making my Christmas Menu for the family since my house tends to be the central location for all our family shin - digs.  First I'm am starting the countdown because I get to see hubs during this holiday yay!!! But then I won't get to see him again until Sept. booo that means my dad has offered to make the two of them meat (I guess he's going with beer can chicken I don't really get it but ok)  Now for the rest of us I decided after I had to eat leftover green bean casserole and stuffing and mashed potatoes all by myself for an ENTIRE week I am going the non-traditional route this time.  I'm going to look for some yummy vegan Latin fusion dishes we'll see what happens.  I'm not a baker at all so that has been defaulted to my brother's girlfriend.  But then I started thinking about all the calories that would be consumed.  I found this gem of an article:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/dec/19/christmas-foodanddrink


Christmas pudding    Does anyone actuallly eat this?  Ok well that's 6 miles I won't have to run...
(100g) with custard and brandy butter
6.28 miles
That's 33,158ft
Turkey  The vegetarians in the family won't have to run this..
(90g serving)
1.6 miles
That's about as far as you'd get in half an hour (average speed 3.2 mph)

Panettone  No thank you...
(1 slice, 68.6g)
2.1 miles
That's about 4,235 steps

Christmas dinner plus 2 glasses of wine       Ok so I think I'll just run this distance to play it safe?
12.8 miles

Brussels sprouts   I love brussel sprouts and usually roast them in the oven but we did that for TG so not this time
(80g serving)
1,108 feet
That's one-and-a-third times around a running track
Carrots  
(80g serving)
296 yards

Roast potatoes    Yum I love potatoes mashed, baked fries (especially sweet potatoes), roast so I'll probably have 2 servings of whatever potato dish we have.
(85g serving)
1.4 miles

What the average Briton eats on Christmas Day
75 miles
That's the range of a fully charged Fiat 500 electric car
Mulled wine   I've been skipping wine/beer for the last month or so, whew
(glass)
2.6 miles
After Eight mints
(100g)
4.5 miles


 What are some of your favorite Christmas dishes?  Are any of you running over the holiday?  Are any of you going to do a non- traditional meal, if so what?

 

Happy Friday!

December is here, there is a nip in the air and gale storm winds all around us!  Seriously if I can't sleep with this wind how am I supposed to run in it?  I know, stop making excuses!  My dog was going crazy she wanted to go outside and chase the leaves around but I was afraid she'd get carried away like Toto or even worse impaled by a flying object so I had to be the mean mom and keep her indoors.  Now let's see if this storm actually brings us some snow!!!

So I guess we should start getting in the Christmas Spirit. 







I'm excited to participating in Just Trying is for Little Girls Holiday Card Exchange and Run With Jill's gift exchange!  I'm also planning on doing a lot of fun runs like this Saturday's running club handicap which is relay style, then a brewery run with them and it's looking like there's a Rudolph Run and I hope to have people over next weekend to watch the NBC Ironman Special!!!

Here at my office instead of the 12 days of Christmas we have the 12 days of gluttony! :-)

In the 2 days that it has already started this is what has been waiting for us:

Sweet Empandas

Chocolate Cake

Puppy Chow

Do you think they will hate me if I bring hummus?  What are your running plans over the holidays?

Sampling the Stay at Home Life and Hello 2011!

Finally a calm and routine is returning to the household.  After a busy Holiday with family visiting it took me a little while to regroup.  The houses is always a mess after visitors and add Christmas food and gifts makes for an even bigger mess.  What I found out about 1 week and 1 day of stay at home life is that there is such a thing as to much of a good thing….  I relished the alone time at first just because having sensory overload from a full household for 5 days requires that.  Workouts doubled in time which was nice I got to try some new classes I don’t normally get to try: salsa aerobics, muscle hour, abs plus, spin classes etc.  But along with extra time to do that there is also extra time to watch TV and eat out of boredom so I had to make sure I kept myself busy so not to overindulge.  That led to more shopping though so I had to stop that and find something else, which meant cleaning the entire house.  I have come to the conclusion that I will always have a structured job and I am ok with that.

For my new goals I have gotten as far as a name and business card design (I always tackle the fun stuff first) and just received my NASM recertification in the mail which is always exciting to get that little piece of paper after the time and money spent into getting it ;-)  (no sarcasm here at all).  Now I need to register the business, liability insurance, etc….    I have had several requests for my hummus recipe after the holiday people wanting something healthy to start their resolutions with. 

Now the bad news, the bf and I did not get our 18 mile run in this weekend!!!  I know, I know, really I KNOW!!  I am ridden with guilt and anxiety.  The big race isn’t that far away.  I could give you tons of excuses but the truth comes down to us being WEENIES! We didn’t want to run in weather we thought was too cold so instead we went to the gym and did a mini triathlon indoors.  I know cross training can’t substitute long runs.  Isn’t it funny how we don’t follow our own advice?  I had put in so much hard work that week leading up to it with double workouts just to flail.  We are going to stick to our program of course to finish out the training (it doesn’t necessarily help to double the mileage on another week you have to be very careful with that) but I can just see the minutes being added to my time.  I’m already slow enough as it is but we will proceed and will finish just probably no PRs.  That is what happens though when I let myself be convinced to enter a race my heart wasn’t fully in to begin with.  I wanted to do the half from the beginning but I will make the best of this and learn from it what I can so that I can be prepared for the new Triathlon season to come…  Speaking of which I wish they would put up next season’s race schedule so I could map out my course.

Keep on Keeping on...

To Lunch or not to lunch?

As I made my morning walk from the parking lot and up the stairs I looked around the hall way and thought “It’s a Christmas miracle!” Someone came over night and decorated the entire floor so much work just for one day who is crazy enough to do that?  As I walked further I saw stickers on the window I thought Purchasing Dept stickers does that mean they’re the ones who did all this decorating for us?  Then as I was about to put the key in the door to the office I noticed someone I didn’t recognize go in the other door…. Hmmmm  I had exited the stairwell on the second floor not the third floor!!!!!  I snuck out before anyone could see me but was laughing hysterically as at myself and the person passing me in the stairwell looked at me funny so I just said “Merry Christmas!”  It’s a ghost town here and most are already on vacation and those who aren’t physically are mentally, hence the above story.  As the brave few still left sit around discussing whether we’ll get that delightful e-mail from the prez telling us we can leave early and to have a happy holiday!  So I ask myself do I lunch or not?  Will they let us leave or not? 

Fa la la la laaa la la la laaaa!!   That’s all that’s going through my head.

Ok so Monday was a weird workout, I was scheduled to do 50 minutes of cardio.  I started on the treadmill, 10 mins. Felt funny so took a bathroom break, step machine 12 minutes still felt dizzy and lightheaded so went to the mats to do some crunches then pushed through another mile on the treadmill.  All in all only managed to get about 35-40 total minutes at the gym (including the crunches) and went home.  I don’t get why this randomly happens to me I ate well that day I’m gonna have to start taking gel packs to the gym even for short workouts, ridiculous!!  It happens to me about 2-6 times a month for no apparent reason…  Tuesday on the other hand had an awesome plyometrics and weight workout that totally made up for Monday.  Burned over 400 calories and felt awesome.  Wed. had an indoor soccer game that we brutally lost but we were short subs so I did A LOT of running!  Today if we get out early I will go for a hike with my wonderful doggie and my bf, yes he’s wonderful too we just have a difference of opinions from time to time ;-)  Then to go grocery shopping to prepare for a fun filled Christmas weekend.  Extra bonus my good friend since 7^th grade will be in town with her new hubby and we will be seeing the Luminarias together!!!  I’m so lucky to have the friends and family that I have surrounding me!!

Menu:

Friday -  BF = Eggs or Tofu with grits (tortilla for D), "soy bacon"
             Lunch = Steak or Vegetarian Meatloaf, mashed potatoes
             Dinner = Salad and/or leftovers
 Daytime hike or sledding and snowplay with Lexi
 Friday night we will go to Old Town to see the Luminarias then drive around to see Christmas lights (S & Fam joining us)
 Saturday - MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 BF = Berry Tasty Breakfast Cups
Lunch = Sweet Potato Casserole (w/some set aside for D to be made with marshmallows), Rice and artichoke salad, crescent rolls, Couscous loaf, corn on the cob (or some type of grilled vegetables), Mom's choice of dessert
Dinner = Leftovers or Salad
 D & N 12 mile run, someone else could walk Lexi
S and Fam to stop by in the afternoon for hot chocolate distribute neighbors gifts....

Sunday - 
BF = Hot Cereal (or left over crescent rolls for egg sandwiches w/soy sausage
Lunch = Spaghetti w/Marinara Sauce (Mom's Style Sauce) and Garlic Bread
Dinner = Salad, Leftovers or sandwiches
 9am spin class or other activity

Monday -  2 hour Volunteer w/Road Runner Food Bank first thing in the morning.....

Yes this is an actual email I sent out to my family, I know I have a problem with planning ;-)  See prior post…

Lil bit of training & lots of planning

Anyone else feel like they spend most of their time planning and planning to plan?  I am constantly making lists, lists of goals for each year both work and personal, lists for groceries and shopping, lists of things I need to do each week then broken down to each day, lists of what trips I need to plan and what I'm going to do while I'm there and what I need to do before I get there, training schedules, race schedules, holiday lists and schedules, daily work tasks lists etc, etc.... No?  Just me?  Come on I know all you triathletes and runners out there must have some Type A tendencies!  I've been made fun of more times than I can count for being such a planner.  Then on the flip side I've been thanked for being a planner cuz if not half the stuff wouldn't have been possible (especially on vacations).

Not to say that I don't leave room for some spontaneity but it has to fit into the empty slots ;-)  I guess it's just about staying in motion....  Right now my latest lists involve Christmas Gifts and Volunteer Events.  I've started my own little tradition in that the only gift I really want from my friends and family is their time.  I usually have to find the events for them to volunteer at and and book it but it's worth it in today's world of commercialism and corporate holidays I wanted to bring a little taste of reality back to it.  On the block so far this year for different events is a food bank, toys for tots, and homeless veterans.  I've decided to take a short break from volunteering year round with a local hospice and possibly pick up some extra volunteering with an outdoor group, I spend enough time in the outdoors that maybe just 2 x a year for a trail clean up isn't enough!

Training: Yesterday I played another soccer game.  We won which has been a nice change compared to our previous season.  I was told to not be afraid to kick the ball hard at the goal that I was tapping.  1st I've never played forward so I don't know how to take goal shots I welcome any help in that area, 2 my ankle is still tender so I was a little gun shy.  But with time comes experience.  Today I'm going to do 20 mins plyometrics, 30 minutes weight lifting and 1-2 miles on the treadmill.  Tomorrow is sprints.  I'm arguing back and forth with my other half whether to do the 16 mile run this Sat. or next either way 10 miles will be the longest we've ran so far so I don't see the difference and that would mean I could participate in an event I look forward to every month with my local running group... But we'll see who wins the logic behind this one!

Keep moving!