Minor Setback to Training

I know, I know, so early into the training plan and ALREADY a set back!! But that is OK I will not let this deter me I also take FULL responsibility so in this explanation make no mistake when it sounds like I'm providing excuses I know I am the one that allowed the circumstances to overtake my will!  So we had to make a quick and unexpected trip to AZ (8 hour drive each way) due to a family emergency.  We were supposed to leave around 5 or 6pm on Fri. night but they didn't let my bf out from drill until about 8pm so he decided he'd rather take a 4 hour nap and drive the 8 hours at 2am.  So that's what we did we arrived in our PJs to see his family.  I went because it was really important to him for me to meet his grandparents, especially with the new developments on the health front.  I understood this and went along.  I decided I was way too tired to run the 8 miles that Sat. that we arrived and made the decision we should run it on Sun. before we would drive back.

Well, Sat. 3pm rolls around and "grandmother" decides it's time for some wine.  No one had eaten lunch yet other than some cheese and crackers and before we knew it everyone was a little bit tipsy.  Every time I turned my back my wine glass was being refilled by her.  I know I choose to keep drinking it.  Around dinner time I ate way more than I should have because the food was so good and I finally decided no more wine I was going to hide the wine glass.  But everyone else kept going and the tears were flowing freely due to the highly emotional state of everyone with the recent news.  Luckily we went to bed early but in new surroundings on a sofa bed I usually don't get much sleep.  I did see a wonderful sunrise!  I also got up enough times to chug water that I actually did not feel dehydrated the next morning but I was still very tired.  We arrived back home at 9pm Sunday and had to be up at 5am the next morning because the bf had to work out of town this week.

All that being said I have now gone 4 days without a workout!!!!!!!!!  Tonight is kickboxing and Wed. is sprints and so on and so forth.  I will get back on track starting tonight.  Now this coming weekend I am determined to run the 8 mile run on Sat. (instead of the planned 5 mile easy week)  as well as not participate in certain "liquid" celebrations during the bf's birthday party!  I will behave.  Totally did not take into consideration how hard it would be to train for an endurance event during the holiday season.  With another possible trip out to AZ for Thanksgiving my resolve has to be strong if I'm not gonna fall flat on my face for this race in Feb.  I have to know that I am my own person and if my bf decides not to commit that doesn't mean I can't.  It just means I might have the option of kicking his butt come Feb. if I remain more committed.

So here we go again!  Bring on the workouts and healthy eating.  Never stop, when the road ahead is steep and difficult just focus on the step you are about to take directly in front of you not the one half way up the hill that seems unattainable.  Step by step I will get there.  I will post again after this weekend hopefully with a story of a baby step success.  I will make it through the celebrations without another set back!

Marathon to success

For about the last 2-3 weeks I've been going back and forth with my significant other and my own subconscience on whether I should be allowed to do the half marathon or suck it up and train for the full.  Here's the thing the first time I did a full marathon was about 6 years ago and I had horrible knee problems.  I was running with braces on both knees and taking advil before, during, and after each training run.  I still did it and I can say been there done that!  Then I started getting back into triathlons because (after the fact) I found out all that horrible knee pain went away when I included cross training.  It appears the cycling and swimming helped strengthen the muscles that held my knee cap in it's proper place or something like that.  Since then I've done a handful of half marathons and the only other marathon I've done was part of my Ironman. 

One thing that helps keep this relationship together has been how active we both are, we have many differences, but one thing we have in common is the need for adrenaline and/or endorphine producing sports.  He has been a little jealous however that I have certain things marked off my list.  So it was his idea to train for a marathon together and that it wouldn't be the same if I just did the half.  I tried to convince him that way I could be at the finish to cheer for him but he wasn't buying it.  So I've given in and I'm training for the full but am going to try and include plenty of cross training, ab work and weight lifting.  So far we are only on week 2 of training and I've kicked butt the last few runs.  Which is odd, I know it's just a matter of time before he's passing me, he's usually way faster. 

The good news is it appears my ankle has 100% recovered from the sprain (about 2-3 months later!) because there has been no more swelling after workouts.  Also it has made it easier to stick to the other healthy habbits I was trying to get back on track with.  Here's to hoping this is what will allow that extra weight to fall off.  Now the trick is to incorporate the ski season into my training.  I might have to do some long runs on a week night in order to do some skiing on the weekends.....  So far I like the idea of winter marathon training because my body does not like the heat so it seems I'm able to run faster with the cooler temps.

The marathon is in Sedona in February on Valentine's weekend so that will be our present to eachother.  And this should put me in good enough shape to start next summer's triathlon season in best form.  Yay I'm back on the scene!

Kickboxing revisited

As the view out the back door of the room bobbed in and out of my line of sight I thought to myself what awesome golden light, I wish I had my camera with me.  Then the pang of pain in my ankle reminded me where I was, kickboxing class, and that I had forgotten to wear my ankle brace.  I’m trying this out again through continuing education because it’s one of the perks of my job I get to take classes for free.  I remember the first time I went to this class I thought I was in the wrong place as I walked up the dark stairs in the metallic tunnel.  But when I got to the top there was a mix of young children, older men and women and people who you could tell were obviously fighters by the drastically louder sounds that came when they hit the bag.  The person running this place was a fighter himself and now runs this in order to allow some of the less fortunate people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford classes to participate. 

He keeps the gym hot to make you sweat more and yells at you if you aren’t doing your push-ups in between rounds but will take the time to stop and show you correct form or tell you good job!  The hour long workouts consist of changing stations at each round 1:30 minutes of normal work on the station :30 secs of extra fast then :30 secs for sit ups or pushups.  The stations consist of different style bags for kicking and punching and weights and a tire you jump on or you might be in the ring hitting someone wearing protective gear while they tap you in the stomach to remind you to hold your abs tight.  What an awesome workout!  Muscles are sore that I never remember even having.  I’m considering once this class is over joining for a few months and going more than just the 1x per week.  That would get me back into shape for sure.

Saw the nutritionist yesterday and got some good pointers and was surprised by the amount of calories she said I could consume and still lose weight.  I will lose it slower but by not starving myself the weight I do lose won’t come back on as easily.  So she took my height, age, weight and set the activity level to almost completely sedentary then once you have those calories (basically just what you need to survive) and add on any calories you burn during a workout.  So if I need 1650 calories a day and my heart rate monitor tells me I burned 450 calories during my workout that day then I can consume 2,100 calories that day and still be on track to lose ½ pound per week.  Once I reach my goal weight I can consume 1840 calories plus the amount I’ve burned in my workout.  So this calmed me down a little and I am completely confident I can fit into my full wardrobe again in a couple of months.  Yay! 

Weeds & Such

Which do you prescribe to?  Do you tackle the small weeds as soon as you see one pop up, better get ‘em now before it gets out of control, or do you wait until it becomes noticeable and get them all at once?  Is there a time benefit to this?  I’ve attempted both and am not sure which is best.  Same goes for house chores or paperwork.  I want to enjoy life so I usually let it go so I can have some fun and be active but then the day comes where I can’t ignore it anymore and it takes me an entire weekend to catch up.  You may think well this would be easier if I had someone to share in the work, no, then you just have someone else to share the blame with when it doesn’t get done and to enjoy in the guilty pleasure of ignoring it.  It makes me wonder what happens once people have kids, how do you fit in the fun stuff plus chores plus raising a child?  Ahhhhhhh!!   I’m not going to think about that one until I’m forced to.

This last weekend I spent the whole time making sure I got my workouts in, finishing the preparation for my best friends bachelorette party and wedding trip (last one I am participating in only my best friend is worth that kind of dedication to construction paper and painting mini buckets) and my laundry didn’t get done or the kitchen cleaned or the carpets vacuumed.  I just can’t decide if it’s worth the worry I’m still going to call it a productive and well spent weekend.  It would be so exhausting to try and be Molly homemaker while trying to stay in shape, be social and nice, adventurous, educated, well read, up to date on movies and anyone who does must not get any sleep or get to let their hair down.  So if anyone wants to ask what’s for dinner or that it should be easy to keep the house perfect they can officially kiss my @!#$%*!  Or at least not expect me to have a smile on my face by the end of the day.

So far I’ve managed to keep upping my workouts for 2 weeks!  This last week went as follows:

M – 5 mile hill run

T – 1 hour kickboxing class (the real deal)

W – day off

Th – 1 hr Spin Class

Fri – Weights and running

Sat – 4 mile run

Sun – 27 mile bike ride

I was very proud of myself until stepping on the scale this morning and seeing that I gained 2 pounds instead of losing or maintaining!  I have an appointment with a dietician next week and have kept a food diary.  We’ll see what she says and I’ve made it very clear this session is not to discuss my vegetarian ways but my theories on calories in vs. calories out and why it’s not working… I’ll keep you posted…

Couscous Tacos

Quick and easy for those days you need something without much prep.  Again, one of those recipes that everyone enjoys, the meat eaters don't ask where's the beef they say this is good and forget it's vegetarian.

Sautee 1/2 chopped onion and 2 cloves garlic with olive oil to taste
Add 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes with green chile (or fresh if you have the time)
1 cup vegetable broth
1 cup couscous (whole wheat is healthier)
If you feel the need you can add 1/2 package tofu cubed (I actually prefer this recipe without it)
Spices: cumin, chile pepper, chipotle, salt, pepper to taste
Bring to a boil then let sit after you turn it off for about 5 - 10 minutes

Remember the left over corn tortillas that you probably have if you made the enchiladas you can just fry those and use them as taco shells.

Garnish with chopped lettuce, tomatoe, fresh cilantro, cheese (vegan or not).  And the big hit is usually home made guacamole.  Add lime to taste...