A lot has gone on since I last posted...
1) I started Lose Big again and the pain I was in from the endometriosis practically disappeared.
2) I completed training and ran (for the most part) my first half marathon!
3) I signed up for my second half marathon, April 2013, Blue Ridge Half.
4) I'm currently battling a back injury.
Now... to figure out what to do next....
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Not a hairdresser
Feeling grossly inadequate today.
Picture day at Olivia's school... "Daddy wants me to wear a dress and my hair curled."
Not a hair dresser... it's all I can do to do my own hair.
Feel like if I'd have tried out for the role of "wife"... I would've failed miserably.
Tried to get her to let me french braid her hair... which I also don't know how to do.
But at least it would've been out of her face and maybe not as "good grief what did you're mother do to your hair!"
Spent so much of the morning on Olivia's hair that I didn't get my hair or makeup done. Had to put on my makeup at work. Didn't "do" my hair, so it's stick straight... which I've been told by nearly everyone that it's not becoming and I should always curl my hair.
So, now I'm at work feeling undone. Thought about taking an hour of PTO so I could've calmed down and gotten my hair done.
I want to cry. I don't belong... anywhere.
Not good at anything... just muddling through life trying to keep everyone else happy...
failing miserably.
Picture day at Olivia's school... "Daddy wants me to wear a dress and my hair curled."
Not a hair dresser... it's all I can do to do my own hair.
Feel like if I'd have tried out for the role of "wife"... I would've failed miserably.
Tried to get her to let me french braid her hair... which I also don't know how to do.
But at least it would've been out of her face and maybe not as "good grief what did you're mother do to your hair!"
Spent so much of the morning on Olivia's hair that I didn't get my hair or makeup done. Had to put on my makeup at work. Didn't "do" my hair, so it's stick straight... which I've been told by nearly everyone that it's not becoming and I should always curl my hair.
So, now I'm at work feeling undone. Thought about taking an hour of PTO so I could've calmed down and gotten my hair done.
I want to cry. I don't belong... anywhere.
Not good at anything... just muddling through life trying to keep everyone else happy...
failing miserably.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Endometriosis
Warning - Dates are approximates.
I was diagnosed with Endometriosis after my son, Marcus stopped nursing. He was born in August of 1996. Five and a half weeks premature, spent 13 days in the NICU, (his right lung collapsed while there - Miracle people those doctors and nurses) [one day I plan on being a kangaroo for them, just a warm body that goes and sits and rocks and loves those darling little angels, too many of them there without family] I nursed/pumped until October; when I went back to work my supervisors told me they wouldn't allow extra breaks in my schedule for me to pump. Approximately one month later, the pain began. Period type pain. Every.single.day. Making it hard for me to concentrate and hard for me to handle additional stress. I went to the a doctor. Pretty sure that since I didn't know what type of pain it was I started going to a Family Physician rather than a OB. Well, that and I blamed my OB for my son being premature.
A year later and after researching on my own, I offered the endometriosis diagnosis to my doctor. He decided I was right and scheduled an exploratory laporoscopy. Which turned into an operative laporoscopy while I was under. After the laporoscopy I still had pain and then the doctor offered Lupron. I'm not sure how long I was on Lupron at that point but he'd said "you can only have two doses of this in your lifetime."
Skip ahead to 2003, I moved got a skilled doctor, divorced Marcus's dad and married my darling Wayne. All the while the pain is still going on and I'd been put on birth control to "control the pain".
In 2004 Wayne and I decide to have a baby, I go off the birth control.. we wait 3 months before we "try" to get pregnant. We tried ONCE and were pregnant with Olivia. Olivia was born in June 2005. I nursed until Olivia was 10 months old. She began to bite me and refused to nurse. One month later, approximately, the pain was back and was more serious. The pain extended at time into my back and down into my legs.
So, back on the birth control I go to "control the pain." It worked for sometime then I asked if I could try a different kind of birth control. In my thinking if birth control was working why do I have to stick to remembering a pill. I asked to try an IUD. It was administered in December of 2008. By February of 2009 I'd been in so much pain daily, including a migraine that last for 18 months that I was begging for a hysterectomy. My doctor agreed and scheduled the surgery. During the appointment one week before surgery I asked for the IUD to be removed... my thoughts were "if my 'junk' is coming out, why do I need the IUD in". So, he removed it. And with it removed all the pain I'd been in for the last 2 months. I cancelled the surgery on Wednesday. Decided to give my body a rest from birth control for a month or so...
In June 2009, Olivia made a birthday wish for a baby sister. Amelia was born in April of 2010. (Birthday wishes have been over-ruled in my home!) I had gestational diabetes with Amelia, and other than a different diet we had a wonderful pregnancy. I gained only 18# which was completely different because with the other two it'd been 50# or 60#. I nursed Amelia for 9 months, she started refusing my milk and started getting tummy aches.
I joined Lose Big (my gym's version of Biggest Loser) the last week of September 2010. I worked out with my team and our trainer twice a week, religiously. I followed a better diet. I lost 20# the first month. I began to enjoy and even crave the workout. I felt lost if I missed a workout. I felt great! The sessions were 16 week sessions, two workouts a week with a team of 4 to 6 people. It was wonderful! In between sessions there was a week or two sometimes four that we didn't have any workouts... so we'd buy extra sessions. I did a total of 5 back to back sessions. I never stopped going... until... May 2012 my Wayne had noticed his weight creeping up. Wayne's father died in January 2012 and "normal" changed. So, I suggested that he start the next session of Lose Big in June. I was sure that with the half marathon training that I was about to begin and my teammates keeping each other accountable that I would be able to maintain my 46# weight loss.
Little did I know that June brought my Endometriosis pain back full on. My left side was blazing in pain! I went to the doctor the following week. We know you have Endo, but you're also experiencing "pelvic floor spasms". He prescribed a PT, said that she would likely give me exercises to do and I could do them on my own at home after the first visit. I thought that "pelvic floor spasms" sounded like a crap diagnosis and decided to hold off on the PT.
The pain continued until July when my right side began to blaze. That side hurt so badly that I was scared I might be pregnant in my tubes. I called my OB. I left a message reporting the pain to the nurse. She called me back and referred me to my Family Physician saying that it sounded like my appendix. CT scan revealed nothing.
August, brought left side pain. Same location as June. I went back to the OB. He referred me to the PT and I began seeing her.
September brought right side pain... so painful that I couldn't walk. I felt like a head was hanging out of me.
She referred me back to my OB saying that she couldn't help me until I get the pain managed. My OB wants to put me on Lupron.
Lupron will medically induce menopause. And could give us an idea of whether or not a hysterectomy is in my future.
That was two weeks ago. I've come to a conclusion since then. It seems coincidental that my pain began every time I stopped nursing... until I was exercising vigorously.
So, I've decided to rejoin Lose Big and see if I can "medicate" myself with exercise.
I hope this blog will be the story of how an active life is the best way to fight this disease. I hope to give others with this disease hope!!
I was diagnosed with Endometriosis after my son, Marcus stopped nursing. He was born in August of 1996. Five and a half weeks premature, spent 13 days in the NICU, (his right lung collapsed while there - Miracle people those doctors and nurses) [one day I plan on being a kangaroo for them, just a warm body that goes and sits and rocks and loves those darling little angels, too many of them there without family] I nursed/pumped until October; when I went back to work my supervisors told me they wouldn't allow extra breaks in my schedule for me to pump. Approximately one month later, the pain began. Period type pain. Every.single.day. Making it hard for me to concentrate and hard for me to handle additional stress. I went to the a doctor. Pretty sure that since I didn't know what type of pain it was I started going to a Family Physician rather than a OB. Well, that and I blamed my OB for my son being premature.
A year later and after researching on my own, I offered the endometriosis diagnosis to my doctor. He decided I was right and scheduled an exploratory laporoscopy. Which turned into an operative laporoscopy while I was under. After the laporoscopy I still had pain and then the doctor offered Lupron. I'm not sure how long I was on Lupron at that point but he'd said "you can only have two doses of this in your lifetime."
Skip ahead to 2003, I moved got a skilled doctor, divorced Marcus's dad and married my darling Wayne. All the while the pain is still going on and I'd been put on birth control to "control the pain".
In 2004 Wayne and I decide to have a baby, I go off the birth control.. we wait 3 months before we "try" to get pregnant. We tried ONCE and were pregnant with Olivia. Olivia was born in June 2005. I nursed until Olivia was 10 months old. She began to bite me and refused to nurse. One month later, approximately, the pain was back and was more serious. The pain extended at time into my back and down into my legs.
So, back on the birth control I go to "control the pain." It worked for sometime then I asked if I could try a different kind of birth control. In my thinking if birth control was working why do I have to stick to remembering a pill. I asked to try an IUD. It was administered in December of 2008. By February of 2009 I'd been in so much pain daily, including a migraine that last for 18 months that I was begging for a hysterectomy. My doctor agreed and scheduled the surgery. During the appointment one week before surgery I asked for the IUD to be removed... my thoughts were "if my 'junk' is coming out, why do I need the IUD in". So, he removed it. And with it removed all the pain I'd been in for the last 2 months. I cancelled the surgery on Wednesday. Decided to give my body a rest from birth control for a month or so...
In June 2009, Olivia made a birthday wish for a baby sister. Amelia was born in April of 2010. (Birthday wishes have been over-ruled in my home!) I had gestational diabetes with Amelia, and other than a different diet we had a wonderful pregnancy. I gained only 18# which was completely different because with the other two it'd been 50# or 60#. I nursed Amelia for 9 months, she started refusing my milk and started getting tummy aches.
I joined Lose Big (my gym's version of Biggest Loser) the last week of September 2010. I worked out with my team and our trainer twice a week, religiously. I followed a better diet. I lost 20# the first month. I began to enjoy and even crave the workout. I felt lost if I missed a workout. I felt great! The sessions were 16 week sessions, two workouts a week with a team of 4 to 6 people. It was wonderful! In between sessions there was a week or two sometimes four that we didn't have any workouts... so we'd buy extra sessions. I did a total of 5 back to back sessions. I never stopped going... until... May 2012 my Wayne had noticed his weight creeping up. Wayne's father died in January 2012 and "normal" changed. So, I suggested that he start the next session of Lose Big in June. I was sure that with the half marathon training that I was about to begin and my teammates keeping each other accountable that I would be able to maintain my 46# weight loss.
Little did I know that June brought my Endometriosis pain back full on. My left side was blazing in pain! I went to the doctor the following week. We know you have Endo, but you're also experiencing "pelvic floor spasms". He prescribed a PT, said that she would likely give me exercises to do and I could do them on my own at home after the first visit. I thought that "pelvic floor spasms" sounded like a crap diagnosis and decided to hold off on the PT.
The pain continued until July when my right side began to blaze. That side hurt so badly that I was scared I might be pregnant in my tubes. I called my OB. I left a message reporting the pain to the nurse. She called me back and referred me to my Family Physician saying that it sounded like my appendix. CT scan revealed nothing.
August, brought left side pain. Same location as June. I went back to the OB. He referred me to the PT and I began seeing her.
September brought right side pain... so painful that I couldn't walk. I felt like a head was hanging out of me.
She referred me back to my OB saying that she couldn't help me until I get the pain managed. My OB wants to put me on Lupron.
Lupron will medically induce menopause. And could give us an idea of whether or not a hysterectomy is in my future.
That was two weeks ago. I've come to a conclusion since then. It seems coincidental that my pain began every time I stopped nursing... until I was exercising vigorously.
So, I've decided to rejoin Lose Big and see if I can "medicate" myself with exercise.
I hope this blog will be the story of how an active life is the best way to fight this disease. I hope to give others with this disease hope!!
Amelia has a cold and I didn't want to take a chance on there being something underlying there so we went home instead of the gym. Needless to say my miles didn't get done.
Lose Big is normally Mondays and Wednesdays. Yesterday Chelsea, my trainer, called. She'd been to the doctor and was told she's contagious. She asked to move last night's session to tonight. I assumed she texted all 7 of the team members. (Seven is big for a team) I had 3 miles scheduled for yesterday. And since I didn't go to bed at a decent hour I didn't get up at 5AM and run. I really need to get that under control. But then I feel that I need to get alot of things under control...
Tonight I am scheduled to do 4 miles. But I'm also scheduled to do the Lose Big class from last night. I may not go to the class tonight and instead knock out my mileage. I don't want to do back to back Lose Big classes and knock myself out of my November half marathon.
Today there's been very little pain. Mostly on the left side and in my back. I was having chest pains earlier, (as if crossing my heart but with my left hand instead) but not now.
The Prescription place called yesterday. Just as the nurse said they wanted permission to order the script for Lupron that my doc wanted. They also wanted a credit card number for the $45 copay. Since I'm not completely convinced that I want to go on Lupron... I didn't give them the number. Hope my doc doesn't get pissy. I really want to give my alternative med a shot first.
Lose Big is normally Mondays and Wednesdays. Yesterday Chelsea, my trainer, called. She'd been to the doctor and was told she's contagious. She asked to move last night's session to tonight. I assumed she texted all 7 of the team members. (Seven is big for a team) I had 3 miles scheduled for yesterday. And since I didn't go to bed at a decent hour I didn't get up at 5AM and run. I really need to get that under control. But then I feel that I need to get alot of things under control...
Tonight I am scheduled to do 4 miles. But I'm also scheduled to do the Lose Big class from last night. I may not go to the class tonight and instead knock out my mileage. I don't want to do back to back Lose Big classes and knock myself out of my November half marathon.
Today there's been very little pain. Mostly on the left side and in my back. I was having chest pains earlier, (as if crossing my heart but with my left hand instead) but not now.
The Prescription place called yesterday. Just as the nurse said they wanted permission to order the script for Lupron that my doc wanted. They also wanted a credit card number for the $45 copay. Since I'm not completely convinced that I want to go on Lupron... I didn't give them the number. Hope my doc doesn't get pissy. I really want to give my alternative med a shot first.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Titles suck...
Pain this morning when I woke. Light to noticeable pelvic pain - almost period type pain. Even though last night I took the 4th pill in my Sprintec birth control pack.
I feel that I slept well, though we went to bed late. I really would like to go to bed at 9PM each night. It's difficult to do on the weekends since that is the only time I have with Wayne.
Today is cool... 55* right now... at 10AM. I didn't do anything physical this morning; my workout is planned for this evening afterwork.
Yesterday Bill, Tom and I walked 2.94 miles on the Greenway - chilly then too but enjoyed the walk.
Cleaned the house yesterday. Olivia's room was most of the focus. I changed her closet into how I organize mine. Yes, I OCD'd her! So, now her closet is ROYGBIV - or a variation. Shirts, then skirts, then dresses. We have planned to put together several outfits ( maybe 8 or 10) each Sunday so that when she wakes during the week it should be easier for her to dress. She seemed very excited yesterday when she realized what I'd done. She said "Oh, Mommy! Now I know where everything goes!" Cute!
Wayne went to work this morning at 9:45AM, so we'll have to shoot dinner from the hip tonight. I really need more structure... if I could get in the bed earlier, get up earlier... I could put dinner in the crock and not have to wait for him or hope that he'll have time. With his schedule (being "on-call") it's unfair for me to ask him to participate as fully as he did with a set schedule.
I feel that I slept well, though we went to bed late. I really would like to go to bed at 9PM each night. It's difficult to do on the weekends since that is the only time I have with Wayne.
Today is cool... 55* right now... at 10AM. I didn't do anything physical this morning; my workout is planned for this evening afterwork.
Yesterday Bill, Tom and I walked 2.94 miles on the Greenway - chilly then too but enjoyed the walk.
Cleaned the house yesterday. Olivia's room was most of the focus. I changed her closet into how I organize mine. Yes, I OCD'd her! So, now her closet is ROYGBIV - or a variation. Shirts, then skirts, then dresses. We have planned to put together several outfits ( maybe 8 or 10) each Sunday so that when she wakes during the week it should be easier for her to dress. She seemed very excited yesterday when she realized what I'd done. She said "Oh, Mommy! Now I know where everything goes!" Cute!
Wayne went to work this morning at 9:45AM, so we'll have to shoot dinner from the hip tonight. I really need more structure... if I could get in the bed earlier, get up earlier... I could put dinner in the crock and not have to wait for him or hope that he'll have time. With his schedule (being "on-call") it's unfair for me to ask him to participate as fully as he did with a set schedule.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Playing Catch up!
I've been ill. I left work on Wednesday the 29th at lunch... went home to find the loveseat welcoming me. I snoozed til 4:20PM and woke to go to the doctor at 5PM. Got back home around 6:30PM and slept until the next morning at 11AM.
Doc said I had a sinus infection and bronchitis. He gave me something called Biaxin XL for it. Prescribed that I take one twice a day for 10 days. Also, gave me cough medicine so I could sleep.
I didn't need the cough medicine.. I took it each night but looking back I was allergic to the meds that were prescribed and passed out for nearly the entire weekend.
Saturday, I was at home alone with our kids... (not knowing the meds were effecting me the way that they were) I honestly thought I was weak from not having eaten for the last 3 days. So, I ate grabbed up the kids and took them to a huge children's consignment sale that was going on maybe 10 miles from my house.
When we started shopping I wondered how we'd gotten to the store... I didn't remember getting there! I didn't remember eating! I decided we needed to go home. So, I grabbed up my kids and headed back home.
Sunday, I stopped taking the medicine - was still having weird side effects and realized I must be allergic to it.
Monday, I went to work... still feeling side effects - I barely remember Monday. Didn't go to the gym Monday... passed out on the couch at home with a blistering headache while the kids were eating their supper.
Tuesday... still feeling the meds... had to take LuLu to Cheerleading - didn't feel like it but wore my big girl panties and took her anyway.
Wednesday - Finally the meds were out of my system. I felt much better aside from the headache that lingers. Went to the gym - had an awesome workout. Weighed in - I'd lost 2.8# since my last weigh in.
I feel like it will come back but I'm eating right and hoping for the best.
I ran last night - a mile - longest since my 5k. shins feel much better.
Thinking of talking with a running coach but there are none in town, so it would have to be someone online.
Today... still have a headache... hoping to run when I get off work.
Doc said I had a sinus infection and bronchitis. He gave me something called Biaxin XL for it. Prescribed that I take one twice a day for 10 days. Also, gave me cough medicine so I could sleep.
I didn't need the cough medicine.. I took it each night but looking back I was allergic to the meds that were prescribed and passed out for nearly the entire weekend.
Saturday, I was at home alone with our kids... (not knowing the meds were effecting me the way that they were) I honestly thought I was weak from not having eaten for the last 3 days. So, I ate grabbed up the kids and took them to a huge children's consignment sale that was going on maybe 10 miles from my house.
When we started shopping I wondered how we'd gotten to the store... I didn't remember getting there! I didn't remember eating! I decided we needed to go home. So, I grabbed up my kids and headed back home.
Sunday, I stopped taking the medicine - was still having weird side effects and realized I must be allergic to it.
Monday, I went to work... still feeling side effects - I barely remember Monday. Didn't go to the gym Monday... passed out on the couch at home with a blistering headache while the kids were eating their supper.
Tuesday... still feeling the meds... had to take LuLu to Cheerleading - didn't feel like it but wore my big girl panties and took her anyway.
Wednesday - Finally the meds were out of my system. I felt much better aside from the headache that lingers. Went to the gym - had an awesome workout. Weighed in - I'd lost 2.8# since my last weigh in.
I feel like it will come back but I'm eating right and hoping for the best.
I ran last night - a mile - longest since my 5k. shins feel much better.
Thinking of talking with a running coach but there are none in town, so it would have to be someone online.
Today... still have a headache... hoping to run when I get off work.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
OW!
It's starting to look like I have a shin splint affecting my left leg. I'm always concerned about my left leg because that's the leg I stress fractured last year. That stress fracture taught me to take it slow. Set goals but take your time getting there.
Apparently I didn't learn that lesson well enough. Because, now I'm Tiger Balm(ing) and wrapping my leg... and laying off running for two weeks. I'm so not happy about it. But I don't want to create another injury or injure myself worse.
So, back to the drawing board I go.. with another 5k quickly approaching on April 7th. I'll start running again in two weeks. I'm gonna start with 1 mile and add a few 10ths to it as I go. This time I'm going to do surface running only... that means more pavement and much, much less treadmill. And even though I just got a brand new pair of shoes, I may consider going to be fitted again. It's possible I need a new type of insert or different type of shoe.
Apparently I didn't learn that lesson well enough. Because, now I'm Tiger Balm(ing) and wrapping my leg... and laying off running for two weeks. I'm so not happy about it. But I don't want to create another injury or injure myself worse.
So, back to the drawing board I go.. with another 5k quickly approaching on April 7th. I'll start running again in two weeks. I'm gonna start with 1 mile and add a few 10ths to it as I go. This time I'm going to do surface running only... that means more pavement and much, much less treadmill. And even though I just got a brand new pair of shoes, I may consider going to be fitted again. It's possible I need a new type of insert or different type of shoe.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Lose Big 5.3.2
Last night was weigh in night... (every Wednesday). Our trainer was out sick. She'd sent an email to the teams to let them know that she would be out.. but because the email goes to my home email address I didn't get it til late last night. So, after work I went to the gym, put my kids in "Kidzone", and went upstairs to workout.
Tom met me as I was entering the track. He explained that Sara was out but that he'd been there since 3pm (it was almost 6pm). He asked if I was going to stay or go and come again when Sara rescheduled our workout. I decided I would stay if other members of our team showed up. Turned out both Bliss and Stacey came.
The four of us made up our own workout for the night. We started with two weighted laps around the track. The ladies used an 8# medicine ball (Tom used 12#) we walked the track at a quick pace while holding the ball up over our heads and extending it behind our heads (Tricep Extensions). Then we hit the small stairwell (two flights) for intervals. Since there were four of us - we could do four exercises. So we did "wall taps", mountain climbers, wall squats and one person ran to the bottom floor and back up to the ones doing the other exercises then we rotated. Then I got the idea... Let's all pick something we hate and do intervals of those... So we used a 10# weight and did lunges across the middle of the track, "Spiderman Pushups", "Ski Abs" and "Burpees." After all that... we'd only used 20 minutes of our hour workout!!
We decided to use some of the machines... so we chose the row machine, the arm cycle, the ARC trainer and the stair climber doing each for 10 minutes. We ran out of time before I could get the last machine completed. Then we stretched and weighed. They call me "Bendie"... I'm a little flexible.
At the scale... I'd lost a little over 1#!
So all in all a good day at the gym!
Tom met me as I was entering the track. He explained that Sara was out but that he'd been there since 3pm (it was almost 6pm). He asked if I was going to stay or go and come again when Sara rescheduled our workout. I decided I would stay if other members of our team showed up. Turned out both Bliss and Stacey came.
The four of us made up our own workout for the night. We started with two weighted laps around the track. The ladies used an 8# medicine ball (Tom used 12#) we walked the track at a quick pace while holding the ball up over our heads and extending it behind our heads (Tricep Extensions). Then we hit the small stairwell (two flights) for intervals. Since there were four of us - we could do four exercises. So we did "wall taps", mountain climbers, wall squats and one person ran to the bottom floor and back up to the ones doing the other exercises then we rotated. Then I got the idea... Let's all pick something we hate and do intervals of those... So we used a 10# weight and did lunges across the middle of the track, "Spiderman Pushups", "Ski Abs" and "Burpees." After all that... we'd only used 20 minutes of our hour workout!!
We decided to use some of the machines... so we chose the row machine, the arm cycle, the ARC trainer and the stair climber doing each for 10 minutes. We ran out of time before I could get the last machine completed. Then we stretched and weighed. They call me "Bendie"... I'm a little flexible.
At the scale... I'd lost a little over 1#!
So all in all a good day at the gym!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Dynamic Warm up Before Running
I found this today and wanted to share it with you and save it for me... =)
Dynamic Warm Up for Running
Dynamic Warm Up for Running
Monday, February 20, 2012
Blacksburg Classic 5k
That's me on the left and my friend Bliss Runner on the right. This submission will be my first ever race recap. I started out my 2012 deciding that I had participated in a few 5k(s) and would train for a 10k. There is a local one in May so I decided I would train for that one. Since it was so early in the year I also decided that I would take the first weeks of the year and train, on my own, and do a 5k as well. I wanted to increase my mileage and speed.
I had been training mostly on the treadmill up until this tour of Lose Big started. Then Bliss Runner suggested that I take my treadmill training to the track. She said it would be more like the surface I would be running on and it would be better for me to get used to it. While I agreed I think I should have given my legs more than two weeks on the track surface.
Wednesday before race day my legs were tight... Sara, my Lose Big coach, suggested Tiger Balm and Ace Bandages. So for the next three days I did just that. Not to mention a few times a day I also added ice as well.
Saturday morning, my legs weren't that tight. Hubby drove me and our daughters to the race 40 minutes from our home. I played my iPod through the truck stereo. Jamming the entire drive.
All the runners met at an elementary school. The race was set to begin at 1PM. They stopped traffic for us. We all lined up in the street.. all 680+ of us.. Then we set out... we crossed a school crossing sign and it had begun. Bliss stayed with me for the first mile. Checking in on me. She knew that my legs were bothering me.. but I knew that I would hold her back if she stayed with me. I knew right away that I hadn't dressed properly... too many clothes. I shed my hat before I'd reached a mile and lost Bliss just after. I ran what I could.. a slow run. I promised myself that I would just go to finish. But I wanted a better time than last time.
The problem is there hasn't been a last time. This was a new track and a new run. It's difficult to convince myself of that.
The race was on the neighborhood streets and a large two lane paved trail that surrounds the grounds of the college. It was very nice. A good place to run.
As I came to the end of the race I found myself facing a strategically placed hill and then rounding the corner to see Bliss waiting. She'd finished and circled around to cheer me on. I kicked it into a higher gear and sprinted to the finish. I absolutely love to sprint to the finish!!
I had been training mostly on the treadmill up until this tour of Lose Big started. Then Bliss Runner suggested that I take my treadmill training to the track. She said it would be more like the surface I would be running on and it would be better for me to get used to it. While I agreed I think I should have given my legs more than two weeks on the track surface.
Wednesday before race day my legs were tight... Sara, my Lose Big coach, suggested Tiger Balm and Ace Bandages. So for the next three days I did just that. Not to mention a few times a day I also added ice as well.
Saturday morning, my legs weren't that tight. Hubby drove me and our daughters to the race 40 minutes from our home. I played my iPod through the truck stereo. Jamming the entire drive.
All the runners met at an elementary school. The race was set to begin at 1PM. They stopped traffic for us. We all lined up in the street.. all 680+ of us.. Then we set out... we crossed a school crossing sign and it had begun. Bliss stayed with me for the first mile. Checking in on me. She knew that my legs were bothering me.. but I knew that I would hold her back if she stayed with me. I knew right away that I hadn't dressed properly... too many clothes. I shed my hat before I'd reached a mile and lost Bliss just after. I ran what I could.. a slow run. I promised myself that I would just go to finish. But I wanted a better time than last time.
The problem is there hasn't been a last time. This was a new track and a new run. It's difficult to convince myself of that.
The race was on the neighborhood streets and a large two lane paved trail that surrounds the grounds of the college. It was very nice. A good place to run.
As I came to the end of the race I found myself facing a strategically placed hill and then rounding the corner to see Bliss waiting. She'd finished and circled around to cheer me on. I kicked it into a higher gear and sprinted to the finish. I absolutely love to sprint to the finish!!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Lose Big 5.2
Wednesday night's Lose Big was a good workout. I had two miles scheduled for that night and usually count the mile or so that we run during the workout if there is any running. Just so happened that there wasn't any running scheduled for that night.
We started out with "Suicides in the Stairwells." Now before you go getting pictures in your head let me explain what this was. We are on the second floor of the gym during our workout. Consider this, We enter the stairwell, go down one flight to the "bottom floor." For each exercise we run to that flight of stairs, do the exercise and come back to bottom. For example... to begin the suicides we ran up one flight and do an excercise (jump-squats) then ran back to the bottom. Then we ran to the second flight and do an exercise (Burpees) then back to the bottom .. and so on.
After suicides we went back to our normal area for interval stations using "toys". Our "toys" consisted of a stretchy band (tension is awesome), a stability ball, a heavy bag, a kettle bell, BOSU ball, an aerobic step (on FOUR risers). We had an additional station using no "toy" just our own body for things like "Spiderman pushups" or "Dancing Crab" (spiderman pushups are "boy pushups" but when you lower your upperbody to the floor you also raise one knee toward the same elbow each time alternating legs... looks like Spidey climbing a wall)
Needless to say after an hour my tail was kicked. My shins were tight and achy.. so I asked my coach about my two miles. (My thing is... if she says I can do it... I CAN do it and I will do it. It might take all day, but it'll get done.) She told me to do what I could, not to push myself, and if I needed to walk - walk. Don't go for time - Go for Distance.
I don't know about anyone else... but those tiny little people that sit on your shoulders and give you "advice".... Well one of mine has become a jock... Always screaming "GO!!!" "You need to be FASTER!!!"
She starts sounding like a drill sargent after a while.
We started out with "Suicides in the Stairwells." Now before you go getting pictures in your head let me explain what this was. We are on the second floor of the gym during our workout. Consider this, We enter the stairwell, go down one flight to the "bottom floor." For each exercise we run to that flight of stairs, do the exercise and come back to bottom. For example... to begin the suicides we ran up one flight and do an excercise (jump-squats) then ran back to the bottom. Then we ran to the second flight and do an exercise (Burpees) then back to the bottom .. and so on.
After suicides we went back to our normal area for interval stations using "toys". Our "toys" consisted of a stretchy band (tension is awesome), a stability ball, a heavy bag, a kettle bell, BOSU ball, an aerobic step (on FOUR risers). We had an additional station using no "toy" just our own body for things like "Spiderman pushups" or "Dancing Crab" (spiderman pushups are "boy pushups" but when you lower your upperbody to the floor you also raise one knee toward the same elbow each time alternating legs... looks like Spidey climbing a wall)
Needless to say after an hour my tail was kicked. My shins were tight and achy.. so I asked my coach about my two miles. (My thing is... if she says I can do it... I CAN do it and I will do it. It might take all day, but it'll get done.) She told me to do what I could, not to push myself, and if I needed to walk - walk. Don't go for time - Go for Distance.
I don't know about anyone else... but those tiny little people that sit on your shoulders and give you "advice".... Well one of mine has become a jock... Always screaming "GO!!!" "You need to be FASTER!!!"
She starts sounding like a drill sargent after a while.
....just leave earlier...
We woke to a rainy morning... 11 minutes after my alarm went off I decided to roll over and snuggle with hubby. Six minutes after that I decided I needed to get out of bed at least 15 minutes ago... I had a late night last night... Mia didn't want to go to bed by herself, which meant that she was going to bed at the same time I did.
It's difficult to do what I've planned to get done before bed when my girls want to sit on my head or my lap and not let me move. But I press on. Time flew by... before I knew it, it was midnight. Six o'clock comes early when you're not in the bed until after 12AM. I really need to get a better handle on managing my time at home. Easy to say...
I've been spending time with LuLu in the mornings before school... driving her to school because it's on the way to my work. But sadly, she's been tardy several times and her teacher has told her to get to school earlier. We did well with it until this morning... time got away from me again... and we left late.
I came to a stop sign just before the school. I made sure to stop because my dad had gotten a ticket at that very stop sign a few years ago. When I pulled out there was a White Suburban coming, but I thought he was far enough away and was going slow. Well about a mile later... the white Suburban pulls me over - it was a cop. Cop says he pulled me over because I pulled out in front of him, then sped up to catch up with the traffic in front of me and it was reckless for me to do that. I apologized and told him that I'd thought I had plenty of room and the only reason I'd sped up was because I was trying to get my daughter to school. (literally 200 feet away). He did the license and registration bit... and let me just tell you I was scared silly! I don't need or want a ticket and I truly don't want to tell my husband that I got a ticket trying to get our daughter to school on time. (he wouldn't be mean... it was just be embarrassing)
The officer let me go... saying "Make sure to leave earlier." I was so relieved !!!
It's difficult to do what I've planned to get done before bed when my girls want to sit on my head or my lap and not let me move. But I press on. Time flew by... before I knew it, it was midnight. Six o'clock comes early when you're not in the bed until after 12AM. I really need to get a better handle on managing my time at home. Easy to say...
I've been spending time with LuLu in the mornings before school... driving her to school because it's on the way to my work. But sadly, she's been tardy several times and her teacher has told her to get to school earlier. We did well with it until this morning... time got away from me again... and we left late.
I came to a stop sign just before the school. I made sure to stop because my dad had gotten a ticket at that very stop sign a few years ago. When I pulled out there was a White Suburban coming, but I thought he was far enough away and was going slow. Well about a mile later... the white Suburban pulls me over - it was a cop. Cop says he pulled me over because I pulled out in front of him, then sped up to catch up with the traffic in front of me and it was reckless for me to do that. I apologized and told him that I'd thought I had plenty of room and the only reason I'd sped up was because I was trying to get my daughter to school. (literally 200 feet away). He did the license and registration bit... and let me just tell you I was scared silly! I don't need or want a ticket and I truly don't want to tell my husband that I got a ticket trying to get our daughter to school on time. (he wouldn't be mean... it was just be embarrassing)
The officer let me go... saying "Make sure to leave earlier." I was so relieved !!!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Dear Son,
I called you yesterday. Because I love you. Because it was Valentine's Day... because I'm your mother and I haven't seen you since Christmas.
When you decided to move to your dad's house.. well, to be honest I'd expected it for much longer than anyone will ever know. I never expected to actually have you as long as we did. I expected your dad to get really mean.. and for his lawyer (the mayor of the town we lived in at the time) to pull out all the stops.. simply because that's how our relationship was at the time.
We talked for a while, you laughed at the things that were going on at my house... with your two sisters (yes, they are your sisters - even if only half-sisters) and the new puppy. I was preparing supper, making sure the puppy wasn't running into the dining room to poop, feeding Mia snacks while she waits on supper, all the little things that go on in the evening. It's quiet at your house. No siblings.. no puppies. Only your dad, stepmom, you and various cats. Cats may be cats... but they will never be puppies. =)
The comment that you made... the one you pretended that you didn't say... About me being lazy, or 'not busy' was wrong and hurtful.
I'm not sure what you're being told, if anything, or if you're dreaming up reasons that I don't call every.single.day. But, You used to LIVE HERE. You should know, or at least remember, how quickly our evenings went by.
I love you, I miss you, I promised myself that I wouldn't be the mother who demanded your time, who fought with your dad to get you... You don't want to be here.. So, you don't have to be. Judge said you were old enough to make that decision on your own... so, you did.
I call, if it's before what I think your bedtime should be... but, dear son, dear sweet first born of mine... The phone works both ways.
Please don't let your judgement of my household be clouded by your feelings of your own.
When you decided to move to your dad's house.. well, to be honest I'd expected it for much longer than anyone will ever know. I never expected to actually have you as long as we did. I expected your dad to get really mean.. and for his lawyer (the mayor of the town we lived in at the time) to pull out all the stops.. simply because that's how our relationship was at the time.
We talked for a while, you laughed at the things that were going on at my house... with your two sisters (yes, they are your sisters - even if only half-sisters) and the new puppy. I was preparing supper, making sure the puppy wasn't running into the dining room to poop, feeding Mia snacks while she waits on supper, all the little things that go on in the evening. It's quiet at your house. No siblings.. no puppies. Only your dad, stepmom, you and various cats. Cats may be cats... but they will never be puppies. =)
The comment that you made... the one you pretended that you didn't say... About me being lazy, or 'not busy' was wrong and hurtful.
I'm not sure what you're being told, if anything, or if you're dreaming up reasons that I don't call every.single.day. But, You used to LIVE HERE. You should know, or at least remember, how quickly our evenings went by.
I love you, I miss you, I promised myself that I wouldn't be the mother who demanded your time, who fought with your dad to get you... You don't want to be here.. So, you don't have to be. Judge said you were old enough to make that decision on your own... so, you did.
I call, if it's before what I think your bedtime should be... but, dear son, dear sweet first born of mine... The phone works both ways.
Please don't let your judgement of my household be clouded by your feelings of your own.
Avocado Pasta
I found this recipe today.. I'm saving it here to remember it... and at the same time sharing it with you ~_~
Creamy Avocado Pasta
Creamy Avocado Pasta
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Lose Big 5.2.1
My workout last night wasn't as "killer" as last Wednesday. (Read - by the end of it I wasn't trying not to puke)
We did a "buddy workout". Our buddy... was a 10# medicine ball (12# for the guys). Warm up was one set of 3 laps. First lap, we held the medicine ball in front of us and jogged. Second lap, we tossed the medicine ball in the air as we jogged a lap. Third lap, we held the medicine ball over our heads as we "sprinted." Then we repeated the set.
After we warmed up we did intervals with the ball. I don't remember alot of them... The first was windmills... hold the ball extended from your body while making giant slow circles (right, floor, left, above) 20 circles, then 20 squats with the ball extended in front of you, then 20 squats while you raise the ball above your head on the up and touch the ball to the floor each time you squat..
I had three miles to run and counted the 11 laps we did during the workout as part of them. Mostly because I only have 2 hours worth of childcare at the gym and my class always takes at least an hour and 15 minutes (somehow, but it's an hour class - not complaining, I love it!) So I ran 11 more laps - then it was time to get the kids from childcare. I took them straight home, fixed them supper and while they were eating I busted out one last mile on Mille (the treadmill I bought me two months before my stress fracture).
All in all it was a great workout and an excellent sweat...
Weigh in is every Wednesday - I'd like to see a pound loss at least but will be happy with no gains!
****NO WHAMMYS!!!*** NO WHAMMYS!!!***
We did a "buddy workout". Our buddy... was a 10# medicine ball (12# for the guys). Warm up was one set of 3 laps. First lap, we held the medicine ball in front of us and jogged. Second lap, we tossed the medicine ball in the air as we jogged a lap. Third lap, we held the medicine ball over our heads as we "sprinted." Then we repeated the set.
After we warmed up we did intervals with the ball. I don't remember alot of them... The first was windmills... hold the ball extended from your body while making giant slow circles (right, floor, left, above) 20 circles, then 20 squats with the ball extended in front of you, then 20 squats while you raise the ball above your head on the up and touch the ball to the floor each time you squat..
I had three miles to run and counted the 11 laps we did during the workout as part of them. Mostly because I only have 2 hours worth of childcare at the gym and my class always takes at least an hour and 15 minutes (somehow, but it's an hour class - not complaining, I love it!) So I ran 11 more laps - then it was time to get the kids from childcare. I took them straight home, fixed them supper and while they were eating I busted out one last mile on Mille (the treadmill I bought me two months before my stress fracture).
All in all it was a great workout and an excellent sweat...
Weigh in is every Wednesday - I'd like to see a pound loss at least but will be happy with no gains!
****NO WHAMMYS!!!*** NO WHAMMYS!!!***
Monday, February 13, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Fit Mommy Friday
I had a jam packed week... Feel free to read (and comment if you'd like). I was able to keep my goals and will keep the same goals at least until 02/18/12, my next 5k.
1. Follow my training plan working toward my 3rd official 5k.
I had 3 miles scheduled for Monday. We ran one mile during Lose Big then I ran the remainder after the session. Then on Wednesday I had 2 miles scheduled - Coach had us run 8 laps which is one lap short of a mile. So after the workout... I ran 10 laps to finish out my 2 miles for the day. I have 3 miles scheduled for today and will run those as soon as I leave work.
2. Continue to post my daily food log at www.myfitnesspal.com eating no more than the allotted calories per day - check. Although my coach has me down for 1400 calories and I don't really lose weight at that calorie level.. So I've been eating at the 1200 level and doing well with it. Some days I'm really hungry and I allow myself the extra room for those days.. I won't starve!
3. Get as much as 6 hours of sleep. Toddlers don't completely understand when a mommy is tired.. or at least my toddler doesn't. Mia knows when she is tired and fights it to the bitter end. I have been getting in the bedroom right around 11PM every night this week, except for one... I think that was Wednesday. That night it was every bit of midnight or worse before I finally got me in the bed. Sometimes Mommy fights sleep to the bitter end too. =)
I only have three runs scheduled for next week - Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Saturday is the 5k. Not looking for a PR (personal record) cause I've never been in this race. Just looking to participate happily and injury free. Wish me luck!
I'll see you back here next Friday!!
1. Follow my training plan working toward my 3rd official 5k.
I had 3 miles scheduled for Monday. We ran one mile during Lose Big then I ran the remainder after the session. Then on Wednesday I had 2 miles scheduled - Coach had us run 8 laps which is one lap short of a mile. So after the workout... I ran 10 laps to finish out my 2 miles for the day. I have 3 miles scheduled for today and will run those as soon as I leave work.
2. Continue to post my daily food log at www.myfitnesspal.com eating no more than the allotted calories per day - check. Although my coach has me down for 1400 calories and I don't really lose weight at that calorie level.. So I've been eating at the 1200 level and doing well with it. Some days I'm really hungry and I allow myself the extra room for those days.. I won't starve!
3. Get as much as 6 hours of sleep. Toddlers don't completely understand when a mommy is tired.. or at least my toddler doesn't. Mia knows when she is tired and fights it to the bitter end. I have been getting in the bedroom right around 11PM every night this week, except for one... I think that was Wednesday. That night it was every bit of midnight or worse before I finally got me in the bed. Sometimes Mommy fights sleep to the bitter end too. =)
I only have three runs scheduled for next week - Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Saturday is the 5k. Not looking for a PR (personal record) cause I've never been in this race. Just looking to participate happily and injury free. Wish me luck!
I'll see you back here next Friday!!
Did I say OW!!
So, this morning I could barely squat to sit on the toliet... Ouch!! As the day has gone on I can squat more but not without groaning like a much older person. And all this is after Wednesday's workout...
plus.. did I mention that I have 3 miles on schedule for today.. Yep. Sure do! And I'm gonna get'em done too! They may be slow.. but they'll get done!
plus.. did I mention that I have 3 miles on schedule for today.. Yep. Sure do! And I'm gonna get'em done too! They may be slow.. but they'll get done!
OW... ow.. ow...
So Thursday I was a little sore from all the squats and running that we did on Wednesday. Thankfully it was a rest day and I didn't have to log any miles!!
I did laundry and played with all my babies... two and four legged!
I did laundry and played with all my babies... two and four legged!
Forgetful when Sweatful
Wednesday was the Lose Big workout. This time there wasn't anything done for a record. We usually do the fitness evaluations 3 times (beginning, middle, and end) a season.
I discussed with Tom, a member of my group, that I would like to make an online calendar to share my training schedule. If he'd like to do the same I could set him up then... if we happen to be training on the same day.. we could bust out a few miles together. I'll just go ahead and say his miles will be faster than mine - the man is.a.giant. so when he stretches out and gets on a solid pace... he's just flat gone!
He agreed so I set him up! (I just pulled up the calendar, he's already entered stuff into it! That's pretty cool!)
We started our workout with 4 laps. Then intervals.. up until the last few seasons I've been able to remember what we did long enough to get home and log it on dailymile. But the last few seasons I haven't, she's kicked it up and I have been able to remember some things but not all.
Our intervals (what I can remember) were with 8# hand weights. First 20 Squat Presses, 20 push-ups, 10 Burpees from Hell, and 20 of something I don't remember. Then run a lap when we got back to where we started there is a stairwell, we run down the stairwell and back up (two flights) then start the interval again.
After the second time on the same set of intervals including the lap and stairs - we did another set of intervals. Four completely different intervals, 20 squat lunges (with the weights 1 squat plus a backward lunge on each leg - do this 20 times, 20 skiers (legs like skier, weights in hands going back like your shooshing down the slope, squat as you shoosh) 20 of something I can't remember, then 20 woodchops each side (hold both weights together in your hands like holding an ax, then from your right side stand tall with legs spread shoulder width and chop toward your left ankle bending as you chop) plus the lap and the stairs and then do the same set including the lap and the stairs.
Then it was time to do Abs... for this month Sara has us doing Fab-AB-February. But since we're on the "Advanced Team" we are to do double of what each day says. So instead of doing it at home on our own, on the days we're at the gym we do F.A.F with our team mates.
Then time to stretch... I probably haven't mentioned it... but I LOVE to STRETCH... feels great after a workout or run or even after getting out of bed.
If I ever post a workout but don't describe what it was and you want to know - feel free to ask for a description.. if I can remember it.. I'll be glad to tell you what it was =)
I discussed with Tom, a member of my group, that I would like to make an online calendar to share my training schedule. If he'd like to do the same I could set him up then... if we happen to be training on the same day.. we could bust out a few miles together. I'll just go ahead and say his miles will be faster than mine - the man is.a.giant. so when he stretches out and gets on a solid pace... he's just flat gone!
He agreed so I set him up! (I just pulled up the calendar, he's already entered stuff into it! That's pretty cool!)
We started our workout with 4 laps. Then intervals.. up until the last few seasons I've been able to remember what we did long enough to get home and log it on dailymile. But the last few seasons I haven't, she's kicked it up and I have been able to remember some things but not all.
Our intervals (what I can remember) were with 8# hand weights. First 20 Squat Presses, 20 push-ups, 10 Burpees from Hell, and 20 of something I don't remember. Then run a lap when we got back to where we started there is a stairwell, we run down the stairwell and back up (two flights) then start the interval again.
After the second time on the same set of intervals including the lap and stairs - we did another set of intervals. Four completely different intervals, 20 squat lunges (with the weights 1 squat plus a backward lunge on each leg - do this 20 times, 20 skiers (legs like skier, weights in hands going back like your shooshing down the slope, squat as you shoosh) 20 of something I can't remember, then 20 woodchops each side (hold both weights together in your hands like holding an ax, then from your right side stand tall with legs spread shoulder width and chop toward your left ankle bending as you chop) plus the lap and the stairs and then do the same set including the lap and the stairs.
Then it was time to do Abs... for this month Sara has us doing Fab-AB-February. But since we're on the "Advanced Team" we are to do double of what each day says. So instead of doing it at home on our own, on the days we're at the gym we do F.A.F with our team mates.
Then time to stretch... I probably haven't mentioned it... but I LOVE to STRETCH... feels great after a workout or run or even after getting out of bed.
If I ever post a workout but don't describe what it was and you want to know - feel free to ask for a description.. if I can remember it.. I'll be glad to tell you what it was =)
Puppy
I love dogs... I haven't admitted that to you, or at least not lately. I'm allergic to cats. Specifically cats plural... I don't have a problem with one cat. I can handle one cat fairly well. But put me in a room with more than one.. and I become a sneezing, sniffling, drippy mess.
Anyway. We have had our boxer, Maddie for over 7 years. We picked her up on Tuesday and on Thursday of the same week we found out we were pregnant with Lulu. (she'll be 7 in June) Angel, our retired greyhound, we adopted five years ago. She's the same age as Maddie. The short story with Angel is the people who have the greyhound rescue were at a pet store and I was shopping at a neighboring store for a wedding gift. Just HAD to go by and see them.. and adopted her.
We also adopted Abby, another greyhound from the same people, three years ago. She was 13 weeks old, we were told her mother died during birth. We just HAD to rescue her. Sadly she passed away last summer. We were told by the vet, that a gas bubble had gotten trapped in her chest and killed her. We were told, sort of shruggingly, that it happens to "barrel chested" dogs. RIP Abby.
I tell you allllll that to tell you this. On Facebook I'm "friends" with several areas shelters... so I get daily "come rescue me" emails from the pups (and cats) that are there for any number of reasons. So, naturally I look. I've been telling my husband for months that I want a dog to run with. (He wants a Bulldog.) I would like a little protection too. I'd started looking at shepherds. Long story short, Saturday I found 4 German Shepherd mix puppies at a rescue. Sunday I applied for adoption. Tuesday we picked her up.
Her name is Sasha. My littlest daughter "Mia" calls her "She-Sha" or "puppy"...
She loves her belly rubbed.. and is currently doing all the puppy things she should be doing... you know learning what not to chew... where to poop... etc. But she's a good girl...
My hubby will have to start working less nights before we get a bulldog... I love him - He's sooooo good to me!!!
Anyway. We have had our boxer, Maddie for over 7 years. We picked her up on Tuesday and on Thursday of the same week we found out we were pregnant with Lulu. (she'll be 7 in June) Angel, our retired greyhound, we adopted five years ago. She's the same age as Maddie. The short story with Angel is the people who have the greyhound rescue were at a pet store and I was shopping at a neighboring store for a wedding gift. Just HAD to go by and see them.. and adopted her.
We also adopted Abby, another greyhound from the same people, three years ago. She was 13 weeks old, we were told her mother died during birth. We just HAD to rescue her. Sadly she passed away last summer. We were told by the vet, that a gas bubble had gotten trapped in her chest and killed her. We were told, sort of shruggingly, that it happens to "barrel chested" dogs. RIP Abby.
I tell you allllll that to tell you this. On Facebook I'm "friends" with several areas shelters... so I get daily "come rescue me" emails from the pups (and cats) that are there for any number of reasons. So, naturally I look. I've been telling my husband for months that I want a dog to run with. (He wants a Bulldog.) I would like a little protection too. I'd started looking at shepherds. Long story short, Saturday I found 4 German Shepherd mix puppies at a rescue. Sunday I applied for adoption. Tuesday we picked her up.
Her name is Sasha. My littlest daughter "Mia" calls her "She-Sha" or "puppy"...
She loves her belly rubbed.. and is currently doing all the puppy things she should be doing... you know learning what not to chew... where to poop... etc. But she's a good girl...
My hubby will have to start working less nights before we get a bulldog... I love him - He's sooooo good to me!!!
This week has been KAH-RAY-ZY!!! I'm probably gonna post several times today to fill you in on the craziness.
Monday , I started Lose Big again (5th time). Hello! (stands up) My name is Tessa. I'm addicted to my coach Sara. She says hop, I hop. She says run, I run. She says "Now for a warm up, we're going to do intervals in the stairwell. Grab your 8# weights and follow me." I quiver with delight because I know that I will be dripping wet with sweat by the time I'm half way finished with the warm up!! Don't bother trying to "fix" me or "cure" my addicition. It's fine. I would much rather be addicted to this than half a dozen other things (foods, mainly) that I've been "addicted" to in the past.
So, We were told that we would keep our measurements and times from two weeks prior and just start working out on Monday. Well, that isn't how it went. We did all the "tests" over again. Pushups, Crunches, Plank, and the timed mile.. "The lady" is on my team again... but my friend Bliss Runner is back too. I'd told her about The Lady cutting her mile one lap short last time and I was waiting to see if she would try it again or if she could meet her 9:11 mile time. I, of course, wanted to meet or beat my 10:02 time. Now I don't claim to be fast, but I do my best and that's all that I can ask of myself.
When we started the mile this time, like always, I started in the back of the pack. I run at my own pace and I try to stay at that pace. I may occasionally stretch my legs out a bit and "run longer". By the 3rd lap, I passed "the lady" and kept going. I didn't look back.. okay, I'll admit that in the windows that surround half the track, I would look for her reflection. "She's right behind me, I know it" "She's gonna pass me any second" Um, no neither of those was happening... I actually couldn't see her in the windows.. and by the 8th lap I found out why... she'd walked and I'd nearly lapped her. I saw her ahead of me as I was taking the 3rd turn in my final lap. She was walking. "I'm gonna pass her, Kick it up a bit!" I told myself. It would give me a tiny thrill to pass her twice in a mile! But she turned and saw me coming, just as I lengthened my stride and started to sprint... she broke into a run. She wasn't gonna have any of it.
As I crossed the line, Sara called out my time 9:45. WHAT?! 9:45!!! I beat my own time!! HELL YEA!!
I hugged Sara!! High Five'd my girls!! I can't breathe right now but HELL YEA!
Closer and closer to the 8 min mile I want so badly!!
Monday , I started Lose Big again (5th time). Hello! (stands up) My name is Tessa. I'm addicted to my coach Sara. She says hop, I hop. She says run, I run. She says "Now for a warm up, we're going to do intervals in the stairwell. Grab your 8# weights and follow me." I quiver with delight because I know that I will be dripping wet with sweat by the time I'm half way finished with the warm up!! Don't bother trying to "fix" me or "cure" my addicition. It's fine. I would much rather be addicted to this than half a dozen other things (foods, mainly) that I've been "addicted" to in the past.
So, We were told that we would keep our measurements and times from two weeks prior and just start working out on Monday. Well, that isn't how it went. We did all the "tests" over again. Pushups, Crunches, Plank, and the timed mile.. "The lady" is on my team again... but my friend Bliss Runner is back too. I'd told her about The Lady cutting her mile one lap short last time and I was waiting to see if she would try it again or if she could meet her 9:11 mile time. I, of course, wanted to meet or beat my 10:02 time. Now I don't claim to be fast, but I do my best and that's all that I can ask of myself.
When we started the mile this time, like always, I started in the back of the pack. I run at my own pace and I try to stay at that pace. I may occasionally stretch my legs out a bit and "run longer". By the 3rd lap, I passed "the lady" and kept going. I didn't look back.. okay, I'll admit that in the windows that surround half the track, I would look for her reflection. "She's right behind me, I know it" "She's gonna pass me any second" Um, no neither of those was happening... I actually couldn't see her in the windows.. and by the 8th lap I found out why... she'd walked and I'd nearly lapped her. I saw her ahead of me as I was taking the 3rd turn in my final lap. She was walking. "I'm gonna pass her, Kick it up a bit!" I told myself. It would give me a tiny thrill to pass her twice in a mile! But she turned and saw me coming, just as I lengthened my stride and started to sprint... she broke into a run. She wasn't gonna have any of it.
As I crossed the line, Sara called out my time 9:45. WHAT?! 9:45!!! I beat my own time!! HELL YEA!!
I hugged Sara!! High Five'd my girls!! I can't breathe right now but HELL YEA!
Closer and closer to the 8 min mile I want so badly!!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Fit Mommy Friday
It's been a while since I participated in Fit Mommy Friday.. and there's a different mediator now too. I'm just gonna jump in with both feet.. so here goes!!
Set my own goals...
1. Follow my training plan working toward my 3rd official 5k on February 18th. It'll be a race I haven't ran before on a course I haven't seen... not sure what my time will be like. My time goal is less than 36:46. My stretch goal is 30:00
1a) my training plan currently - today; run 2.75 miles, tomorrow, run 60 minutes. Monday is a 3 mile run and an hour w/my coach, Wednesday is a 2 mile run and an hour with my coach, then next Friday a 3 mile run.
2. Continue to post my daily food intake to http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ and to eat equal to or slightly less than my allotted calories daily. My stretch goal will be not to consume any of my exercise calories on workout days.
3.Get as much as 6 hours of sleep. My stretch goal is seven hours of sleep. (dear sweet toddler... PLEASE!!)
I'll start with those and see how I do for this week.
Set my own goals...
1. Follow my training plan working toward my 3rd official 5k on February 18th. It'll be a race I haven't ran before on a course I haven't seen... not sure what my time will be like. My time goal is less than 36:46. My stretch goal is 30:00
1a) my training plan currently - today; run 2.75 miles, tomorrow, run 60 minutes. Monday is a 3 mile run and an hour w/my coach, Wednesday is a 2 mile run and an hour with my coach, then next Friday a 3 mile run.
2. Continue to post my daily food intake to http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ and to eat equal to or slightly less than my allotted calories daily. My stretch goal will be not to consume any of my exercise calories on workout days.
3.Get as much as 6 hours of sleep. My stretch goal is seven hours of sleep. (dear sweet toddler... PLEASE!!)
I'll start with those and see how I do for this week.
PawPaw
I usually don't post to my blog often. This time, during the stretch of months since I posted last, my Father-in-Law discovered he had esophegial cancer.
He had never had a colonoscopy.. and decided that he would but the condition was that they would also do an endoscopy. That's when they found the tumor. The tumor was at the entrance of his stomach between the esophgus and the stomach.
The operation was scheduled for April 2011. He spent the entire month of April in the hospital under a drug induced coma. When he was released he began chemo and radiation treatments.
He stayed very weak, basically lost any volume in his voice, and so much weight that it actually aged him by several years.
We didn't see him much because of the traveling they had to do for the treatments. But we saw him when he felt up to it.
We spent the day with him on Thanksgiving and not long after that he was back in his local "small town" hospital. He was having problems breathing. A week later they brought him to our "small city" hospital. He spent the next few months in the hospital, his wife by his side nearly every moment. Slowly slipping away. Everyone hoping he was getting better...
He left our world on January 20th. He was was strong, kind, and a wonderful father.
He is missed badly.
I confessed to my husband that during PawPaw's illness I'd wanted to get a trace of his hand to embroider on a running jersey.. for strength on the run. It never really felt like a good time to ask for it. I kept telling myself that it wasn't the right time to ask and I'd ask when he felt better or was back home.
After the funeral my husband brought me a tracing of his father's hand. He'd asked the funeral home director to trace it for us. They traced his hand and laminated the page. I didn't expect it... didn't expect him to ask for it or to have the chance to have it done. A chance lost... a moment stolen...
But like he always does, my husband turned my request into reality....
And I will be running each race with his dad there... pushing me along.
He had never had a colonoscopy.. and decided that he would but the condition was that they would also do an endoscopy. That's when they found the tumor. The tumor was at the entrance of his stomach between the esophgus and the stomach.
The operation was scheduled for April 2011. He spent the entire month of April in the hospital under a drug induced coma. When he was released he began chemo and radiation treatments.
He stayed very weak, basically lost any volume in his voice, and so much weight that it actually aged him by several years.
We didn't see him much because of the traveling they had to do for the treatments. But we saw him when he felt up to it.
We spent the day with him on Thanksgiving and not long after that he was back in his local "small town" hospital. He was having problems breathing. A week later they brought him to our "small city" hospital. He spent the next few months in the hospital, his wife by his side nearly every moment. Slowly slipping away. Everyone hoping he was getting better...
He left our world on January 20th. He was was strong, kind, and a wonderful father.
He is missed badly.
I confessed to my husband that during PawPaw's illness I'd wanted to get a trace of his hand to embroider on a running jersey.. for strength on the run. It never really felt like a good time to ask for it. I kept telling myself that it wasn't the right time to ask and I'd ask when he felt better or was back home.
After the funeral my husband brought me a tracing of his father's hand. He'd asked the funeral home director to trace it for us. They traced his hand and laminated the page. I didn't expect it... didn't expect him to ask for it or to have the chance to have it done. A chance lost... a moment stolen...
But like he always does, my husband turned my request into reality....
And I will be running each race with his dad there... pushing me along.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
What to do...
I want to keep my first blog... but the content has changed soooo much... I think just maybe I'll treat my blog the exact same way my stress fracture treated my leg...
Break it down... Start it over...
NEXT!!!
Break it down... Start it over...
NEXT!!!
Lose BIG
I've signed up and participated in a total of four "Biggest Loser" programs held at my gym. My first program began September 2010.
Last week was the final week of the current round of Lose Big. We were scheduled to do our fitness evaluations on Monday but coach was out sick. So two four person teams combined and we did what we could of the test; running the mile, crunches, pushups and plank. Then we agreed to come back and do the remaining 3 minute step test for heart rate and recovery rate and our measurements.
We did our mile first... 9 laps around the indoor track (coach usually tallies each lap as we run) a different coach kept time but didn't keep tally while we ran our laps.
I am a mid to back of the pack runner. So, when I confess to you that I began the mile in fourth out of eight please understand I felt good about it. As we began to run we all sort of know that one guy is going to be leaps ahead of us... his stride is enormous! He was followed by another guy (I called him Dozer because of his build) a lady, and then myself. Skip to the 4th lap, the lady slows to a walk and then Dozer does as well. I passed them both and then by the beginning of the 5th lap Dozer caught up with me and passed but the lady didn't. She's on my tail but I don't look back. Dozer got a half lap ahead of me... then he'd slow to a walk.... occasionally he'd catch my reflection in the windows or turn to find me and start running again. I just tried to keep up with or catch him.
When we got to the end of the 9th lap the tall guy had already finished of course... Dozer took off and so did I... but what's this... the lady was already there?! But she didn't pass me back... how'd she finish before me? I was furious!! Truth be told, I'm still furious almost a week later!! If you're gonna DNF... that's fine.. do what your body can, what your body will allow you to do - but don't claim a finish that you didn't earn!
I finished my mile and shaved off 20 seconds from the same mile in December. I ran a 10:02 - I would really like to become an 8 minute miler or at least in the single digits... but I'm super close so I'm proud.
I also did 47 pushups in a minute, 67 crunches in a minute and held a plank for 2:25.
Signed up for my 5th tour of the Lose Big program. Starts up on Monday!! In the meantime I'm following a Hal Higdon 5k training plan and preparing for a 5k on 2/18.
How is your training coming?
Last week was the final week of the current round of Lose Big. We were scheduled to do our fitness evaluations on Monday but coach was out sick. So two four person teams combined and we did what we could of the test; running the mile, crunches, pushups and plank. Then we agreed to come back and do the remaining 3 minute step test for heart rate and recovery rate and our measurements.
We did our mile first... 9 laps around the indoor track (coach usually tallies each lap as we run) a different coach kept time but didn't keep tally while we ran our laps.
I am a mid to back of the pack runner. So, when I confess to you that I began the mile in fourth out of eight please understand I felt good about it. As we began to run we all sort of know that one guy is going to be leaps ahead of us... his stride is enormous! He was followed by another guy (I called him Dozer because of his build) a lady, and then myself. Skip to the 4th lap, the lady slows to a walk and then Dozer does as well. I passed them both and then by the beginning of the 5th lap Dozer caught up with me and passed but the lady didn't. She's on my tail but I don't look back. Dozer got a half lap ahead of me... then he'd slow to a walk.... occasionally he'd catch my reflection in the windows or turn to find me and start running again. I just tried to keep up with or catch him.
When we got to the end of the 9th lap the tall guy had already finished of course... Dozer took off and so did I... but what's this... the lady was already there?! But she didn't pass me back... how'd she finish before me? I was furious!! Truth be told, I'm still furious almost a week later!! If you're gonna DNF... that's fine.. do what your body can, what your body will allow you to do - but don't claim a finish that you didn't earn!
I finished my mile and shaved off 20 seconds from the same mile in December. I ran a 10:02 - I would really like to become an 8 minute miler or at least in the single digits... but I'm super close so I'm proud.
I also did 47 pushups in a minute, 67 crunches in a minute and held a plank for 2:25.
Signed up for my 5th tour of the Lose Big program. Starts up on Monday!! In the meantime I'm following a Hal Higdon 5k training plan and preparing for a 5k on 2/18.
How is your training coming?
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