Running Thoughts

We have a sick little boy, but I did manage Tea's turbulence training today.  It felt good to do something!  Tomorrow, I plan to jump rope.  Kaegan is not feeling well, but I'm hoping he is better tomorrow.  He's already smiling again, so that's a good sign. It's fun to see how many people are taking the push up challenge.  I'm not sure how everyone is choosing a goal, but I am trying to do 30 push ups by March 24th.  Right now, that seems impossible! "There is no use trying," said Alice, "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen.  "... Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." ~Lewis Carroll That seems like a fun way to begin every day!  At breakfast tomorrow, I'll remind myself that I can do 30 push-ups.

I'm at my parents' house now, and will resume workouts tomorrow.  :) I will be eating on target, but allowing myself some space for special treats, starbucks, for example!  So, I will be here until Friday or so, we think.  That's longer than we had planned.... We will be doing some shopping, and I may get to see my old highschool buddy!  Cool to be thin again before seeing her!! Hope everyone is happy! 

Well, could be better, could be worse.  I'm at my In-laws' house right now and workouts have been pretty impossible, and timing on eats is hit or miss.  Not the worst as far as content or amounts of food, but not perfect!  I will have an easier time at my family's house beginning Sunday.  I'll just do the best I can.  I think I will be able to sneak a short workout in later today with resistance bands...I'm hoping.  I really miss it...just doesn't feel right not to be moving more!

tomorrow, we leave.  So, my Blitz is on semi-hold.  But here is the report after 2 weeks worth of the Blitz... down from 140 to 134.5 pounds. waist is down 2 inches. thigh is down .5 inch. All other measurements are the same which means that I'm losing fat and maintaining/gaining muscle!  Yippeeee!   We'll see where I am when I get back.  Jumprope and resistance bands are packed!  I'll be checking in because I have my new laptop!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Time has just flown by!  I can't believe I've already "blitz-ed" to Christmas Eve!  Free Day for half of tomorrow and then Christmas.  Then, I leave to go visit in-laws and my folks.   Eats are on, but slightly torturous...we have iced sugar cookies in the house!  My favorite.  I'm staying away from them so far!  No carbs after 4...and I went to the gym to work out with DH.  I worked back (upper...my lower back just recovered), biceps, abs.  Tomorrow is legs.  I did not do hiits today.  I'm down to 136 pounds.  I don't want to lose ground during our trip, but I know I won't be able to keep things up the way I want to.  I'm taking my jumprope, and my SIL and I will get out and walk, jump.  I want to take my dumbbells, too.  They are compact, so maybe I can.  I will ride the stationary bike at my parents' house too.  I'll take snacks....  It all sounds good until we get on the road... Anyway, I'll do the best I can and then be right back ...

After 4:00, I try to steer away from all carbs that aren't fiber-full veggies.  Ruth asked for some after 4 ideas...Here they are: boiled egg sliced onto salad with some kind of nuts sprinkled on top canadian bacon slices wrapped in lettuce whatever meat that is left over from dinner and cucumber slices hormel carved chicken slices dipped in salsa Any meat with salad spread salsa on slices of lunchmeat, add shredded lettuce and roll up cottage cheese is perfect, so I'm trying to teach myself to eat it...ick, but maybe you like it scramble 1 egg or 3 egg whites with frozen mixed veggies fry an egg hard  and roll a slice of ham lunchmeat and lettuce and salsa up in it left over meat from dinner and tomato slices These are some of my usuals.  I hope you get some ideas.  I also like to add a small handful of nuts and a flaxoil capsule to hold me overnight.

Today, I decided to take a break from working out.  I was supposed to do back, biceps, and abs, but my back and abs are still very, uncomfortably sore.  So, since tomorrow is supposed to be a day off from working out, I decided to switch and rest today.  I will hopefully feel better for back and abs tomorrow, so I'll do today's workout tomorrow.  I'll also run hiits on the elliptical if I can manage my time wisely enough because I'm really just resting today.  Still on track with eats, though.  I did allow myself a marathon bar as one of my snacks today.  I haven't been eating bars, so that was a chocolaty treat. It's very snowy and Christmasy here, and we are all excited about the fun times!  

yuck.  I'm a baby when it comes to headaches these days.  I used to get them a lot, but I don't any more, so when I do have one, I whine a lot.  Flowerpot is basically living with a constant and severe headache...so I have no place to complain.  I've thought of you a lot today, FP. On to non-headache topics... Psalm 42 was really interesting.  Let me share its premise...pretty much the author (David) was saying, "Things are especially going badly right now, Lord, so I will praise you even more than usual."  WOW!  And you know how things turned out for him...pretty great, a man after God's own heart.  Hmmm.  I will take a lesson from birthday number 42 to carry through another 42 years...praise God, especially in adversity because He is the one who can make it right whether He does or not.  He is the one who can. So, now for my workout...My back is sooooo sore from those silly deadlifts I did the other day that I can hardly move.  But, today's workout was c...

Well, I decided to eat forty-two candy bars. Just kidding.  I had my yummy latte and bagel, though.  Then, I felt too lazy to run, but it was beautiful outside...so, I ran outside today for the first time in a while.  It feels different with an inch of snow on the road, though.  I didn't manage 42 second intervals, I don't think...I need a new stop watch...but I ran had for as long as I could on some intervals and not as hard for longer on other intervals.  I was so tired from yesterday's workout...legs and back are sore and tired feeling.   In honor of becoming an almost-adult, I will list 42 things I'd like to be known for (this doesn't mean that I AM known for these...but I'd like to be, so I'm working on it: Being a Jesus-girl honesty strength of character humility reliable quick-witted hard-worker patience compassionate passionate loving happy forward-thinking intelligent creative trustworthy loyal hopeful persevering talented homemaker/mommy friendly g...

thanks for all the birthday ideas!   I have lots of good ones to consider now...tomorrow will be fun! I went to the gym with my spotter (he's really hot!)  I did squats, leg extensions, straight leg lifts, and calf raises.  I'm soooo exhausted!   Highlights:  90 pounds for squats and 60 pounds for leg extensions

Tomorrow's my birthday.  I'll be 42. So far, I have these special things planned:  latte and bagel in the morning, the rest of the day on target but will not try to avoid carbs after 4 tomorrow; Hiits: each interval no less than 42 seconds long; rests, no longer than 42 seconds between hiits; 42 minute bath while reading; paint for 42 minutes; knit for 42 minutes; have a 42 item pick-up session where everyone has to put away or throw away or collect to give away 42 items. Any more clever "42" ideas?

Do you like my water ticker?  I can think.... 688 glasses to my goal...(YIKES!) or I can think, I'm 12 glasses toward my goal!   You can see on Tea's blog where the idea came from, but basically, the idea is to add one thing.  This water goal was the thing that two friends added.  So, Tea and I joined in and added one thing too.  In my son's program, this is one of the premises for being creative with him...I just have to think to add one thing.  He has autism, ya know, and that means (a lot of things, but) that he is pretty inflexible.  So, by going with his game exactly how he has to have it done, and then adding one thing, he becomes more and more flexible.  It has taken many many "one more things" to get him to become more flexible.  And, it will take many many "one more things" for me to become more and more healthy.  It makes ya wonder, doesn't it, how many parts of your life you might be able to add "one more thing" to so that you ca...

A New Day Every day is new, and with it comes a beginning For you to draw upon For courage, strength of character, and joy. Today has never been before; It is for you to make your mark By attitude and choice. Tomorrow will be influenced by What you choose today. And by today Is yesterday redeemed. So, breathe in the day as it comes. **** I hopped onto the elliptical and ran Hiits today.  I don't know how many, but it felt good and wobbly when I was done.   Last night, while at the gym, a very fit friend was there on the elliptical.  (Sara, it was Amy Jo)  She told me a trick to getting through a tough or long workout...she listens to books on tape as she runs or whatever.  I might have to try that!

An intense workout was the goal, and that goal was met.  I went to the community gym and worked back, biceps, and abs. completely fatigued all muscles.... too tired to type....................................... adding water ticker tomorrow........

I went out and did my workout just a little while ago.  These workouts just feel like they take so long...really only about 45 minutes, but I think the rests between sets, sometimes up to 2 minutes, make it seem like I'm wasting time.  I really need a stop watch, too, because I'm sure I'm not even waiting as long as I'm supposed to.   I did Chest, shoulders, and triceps today.  I haven't been as sore as usual with this rep schedule.  I was fatiguing my muscles before and I still am, so I don't really understand why unless it is because I never knew I was supposed to eat within a "workout window."  My BFL book is an older version....I wonder if that's why??  

Well, this morning, I had my free latte and a not-such-a-good-choice breakfast... half a bagel with just a thin shmear of cream cheese and lean ham. So, that's out of the way for the day!  I think I might try to clear off a spot on the back deck to jump rope today.  I'll be eating on target the rest of the day, jumping or running an extra HIIT or two on Ruth's behalf, and trying to locate the Christmas orders that haven't arrived yet and should have.... Have a great day!!  I know that Tea already has...she is ahead of the game! Hiits...done!  I did my OKgo workout on the elliptical.  We were all planning to go play basketball in the community gym and I was going to jump rope while there too, but the gym was locked.  That was ok for me because I like my okgo thing.  I decided that I would do it all the way through the 2 minute interval, (that's 21 min), and then stop after a rest IF I could pull off a good, strong 2 minutes.  I thought of my poor sick friend, Ruthie,...

Well, welcome to Friday!  OK, Saturday if you are Tea who has already informed me that Friday's workout is a good one.  This being the case,I will take 2 little boys and their sister (and her book which has become a part of her, it seems) and my camera over to the community gym this afternoon for a foto friday frenzy.  This will happen later today...like 4:30 or so.  So, check back!!!  We might get to it earlier, but I don't know.... Happy cake-eating to certain of you who I KNOW will be having cake today...I hope it is chocolate or chocolate containing. Ruthie, get well. Janelle, drink that water, girl!  :) Sara, get a foot massage after all that dancing! Flowerpot, where oh where are you? And Everybody, have a great day! Photos and Phood kaegan and Braeden helped me with my workout.  Gracyn was still at school. Here I am doing my barbell squats.  I managed all of these, all of the leg extensions (fatigue on both), but was running out of the time I had, so I only had time for...

Today was considered an "off" day from lifting.  I ran Hiits on the elliptical.  Our warm pellet stove hasn't been so warm...it stopped working just after hubby left town.  So all of our house is freezing except the back room that has a gas heater and fireplace.  So, after getting all hot and sweaty, I just went into the living room to cool off.  Ha!  I normally go walk around in the snow, but today, I didn't even have to don my boots!  Hubby comes home tomorrow night, so he will save us from the cold!  Super-Dad!  (super hero music can be heard in the background) Tomorrow is legs day and I will need to go to the community gym for that because all I have are dumbbells and bench for lifting at home.  It's less than a block away, so why does it seem so inconvenient?  Could it be that I am too lazy to walk from here to there? **Update** I thought I'd post today's food because when you guys do that, I get new ideas: Breakfast:  (I'm not big on breakfast fo...

Here is our dog, Banjo, enjoying the snow!  He just sort of goes crazy out there!  This is the snow I have to tromp through to get out to my workout room.  So, I pulled on my boots, drug on my gloves and hat and trudged out there for back, biceps, and abs.  I didn't feel like the abwork was enough, but usually when I think that, I wake up sore the next day.  Tomorrow is cardio only, so that will feel like a break.  This challenge is...challenging.  For one thing, as Ruth and I have marveled, stepping out of a comfy routine is a challenge in itself.  This Blitz isn't really that different, but just slightly enough to make me have to actually THINK.  And sometimes just changing the rep schedule from the "known" to something new, sends the message of change to the muscles and they respond and a plateau can be broken.  That is the hope.   I posted about my strength test and a little about some general goals in taking on this mini challenge.  Some specific, personal goals ...

Hiits this morning on the elliptical.  pre and post snackies.  On track for the day with plans for chest, shoulders, triceps this afternoon!  This will be my first day with the new rep schedule.  Does shoveling snow count as a workout?  We have nearly 3 feet out there and it's still coming down!  It's a good thing I've decided to enjoy shoveling snow! ****Update**** Well, I will be sore.  My lifting workout looked very much like Ruth's except that she is stronger than I am!  hehe!  I didn't like that it took so long, and I have trouble with the long rests between sets.  Music helped with that.  I like the change for the most part, and breaking my little routine, is a good thing for my muscles.  You should have seen me plowing through the snow to get to my little workout space out back...we have sooooo much snow!  LOOK!

Eleven and a half years ago, a sweet baby boy was born to me and placed in my arms on the delivery table.  His eyes were already turning brown and he accidentally smiled, showing off the dimple in his right cheek.  2 years later, he was diagnosed with autism, and I was informed that he'd probably never talk and would certainly never have a relationship with anyone. There is no way to explain autism.  The experience itself is the only explanation.  I will say that I felt a huge loss of the brown eyed, dimpled baby who had developed normally up to that point. His look became vacant and in the private world he had created for himself, I no longer occupied a position.  It was as though I had vanished from his conscious reality.   I grieved.  I fought against it.  I was unhappy, and I couldn't see any way to become happy without a miracle.  I existed this way for 2 more years as I fought to teach him to "be normal."  I gained weight and got even less happy.  I slept very l...

Today was strength test day as part of the evaluation system for this mini-challenge.  The test was to find out at what maximum weight can I manage 5 consecutive reps in each exercise?  The exercises I chose are below and the weight at which 5 reps maxed me out.  At the end, I will perform the exact same exercises again and hopefully be able to lift more weight at that point. This way, I will be developing more muscle to burn the fat I still need to lose!   Bench Press:  30# dumbbells in each hand @ 5 reps  Squats:  80# @ 5 reps Bicep Curls:  20# dumbbells @ 5 reps Shoulder Press:  20# dumbbells @ 5 reps I took measurements today too, including body fat percentage.  I forgot to weigh myself, so I will do that tomorrow morning. I also drank my pre-workout shake and post workout shake with an orange.  This is to feed the muscles in a window of time when they are fatigued and needing the energy. More later!!  Oh, I added an inspiration link to my links list in the side bar.  Have you ever...

Ruth is right!!   It's time for a temporary change to shake things up. Beginning tomorrow, we will begin our Blitz challenge, and I'm very excited about it!  The challenge is pretty well outlined on Ruth's blog, but I will add that one change is to consume carbs (fruit) at workout time to feed the muscles during the optimal time that they are needing energy.  The other really big change is the rep schedule as it targets fast and slow twitch muscles still, but in a different schedule.  Our muscles get used to the same ol' routine, and a change sometimes can really shake them up a bit!  Another part of the challenge is to do 2 more.  When you reach your last rep, do 2 more!  The goals of this challenge are to reach a new level mentally and to build muscle to burn the fat and break this routine!   If you'd like to download the ebook that includes the 4 week blitz by Shawn Philips, go to www.realsolutionsmag.com.  The workout comes from a group of fitness fanatics that...

I published my slideshow of progress on my .mac gallery .

I made a cool slide show of progress for this foto friday.  I can't get it to upload to blogger.  :(  sad Oh well... all done for today.  tomorrow is free!

I'm hoping dh will get snowed in!  It is really coming down, and they've upped the snow predictions to about anywhere from 8-12 inches!  :)  C'mon Christmas!! Ran on the elliptical.  Ran hard.  I did my OKGO workout again.  This time, I was able to keep my fast pace for the full 2 minutes in the longest interval of the workout.  Very cool.  Definitely hit 10+!!  I didn't think I could do it, but I decided, "Yes, I CAN!" and I did!! Abwork later today.  I like to save that for later because it's relaxing to have a workout in the evening to me.  Then, I read in an ebook I downloaded something I had been thinking.  Now, this is just another person saying the same thing I felt, so it doesn't necessarily have scientific backing... "Performing your cardio exercise before you workout will only deplete your body of the essential glycogen (energy) reserves it needs to train intensely.  Basically, you'll be exhausted before you train, and you don't ...

Done with my workout today.  I lowered the weight on triceps and chest press, so that I could concentrate on using the entire range of muscle movement.  I will be sore.   Do you know about "hormel naturals?"  lunch meats and carved chicken pieces without the additives and preservatives?  I forgot to mention in my "tricks" list that those have been a life saver for me.  I was reminded today when I wrapped some chicken and salsa in a corn tortilla for lunch.  Yummy!  

Here is a link to an article that I enjoyed and thought you might as well.

whew!  Late is better than never... 7 or 8 hard hiits (lost count) on the elliptical.  Seems we bought that thing just in time.  There is no way I'd be able to get a good cardio workout with my hip messed up like it is if I could only run or jump rope.  It continues to improve, but by bed time, I'm moving very slowly and need advil and a heating pad to sleep.  As it is, I can get a great workout without too much stress on the injury.  I wish I had some great story about how I hurt my hiney...like wrestling a stolen purse from a 6 foot thief...or riding my dirt bike (I don't have one..yet) over rough terrain in hot pursuit of the abominable snowman...anything besides that I was clumsy and slipped on the ice and fell on my tush.  I know!  You can help me come up with a good tale about my tail!  Please submit your stories.  Ha!Ha! Hey!  I subscribed to the absolution (shawn philips) message board today.  It looks well moderated and I'm hoping it will be a good place to ask...

seems to be a trend today... I got up late today, too.  I normally get up and do cardio first thing; not today.  I'll have to do it later even though it's less effective that way.  I'll try to do it just before snack time...not always easy since homeschooling, etc. all has to be done when it can be done too.  I like to save lifting until later in the day and usually do, but I know that cardio is best done in the morning.  My hip is really hurting today too after belly dancing and lower body yesterday.  Good news is that it had been a while since I'd done lunges, so I'm pleasantly sore from those.   I will post declarations later after I've had more time to think it through...I was just complaining to dh about my looooooooooooong plateau when I logged on and read Ruth's post.  Very good for me.  I also got on the bestabs blog and read some about losing the last 10 pounds.  That was good too.

first, thanks to Sara for the okgo video ...I knew there was a video, but hadn't seen it.  It was great!  Still, crazy frog is my favorite, also sent to me by sara... second, today is lower body day and I will get that done and report back later... third, Ruth tagged her blog readers for Body for Life "tricks" to help keep us going.  So, here are the ones I thought of. mind over matter-giving myself a true choice of not HAVING to do any of this puts my desire to do this into perspective and also, deciding that setting goals doesn't mean that I have to be unhappy with what I have right now. water, water, water--it will keep you energized and strong dropping the "all or nothing" mentality--deciding up front that if I mess up, I'm not a failure and to keep going with all the bobbles, this is a long haul making every workout "count"--pushing myself accepting my personal best without comparing with others putting the scales away!  I chose to go b...

I just finished "running" my new OKGO  MASTER THE TREADMILL workout on my elliptical .  It was a really good workout. It is set up in 7 or 8 intervals...I forget..., and they vary in length/intensity.  I'm wiped out for the moment, but my hip isn't upset like it would be if I'd run outside or on a treadmill.  This workout is designed for the treadmill, but I got it with the plan of using it also on my elliptical and running outside.  It's a nice change of pace, too, which I am enjoying.   abwork later...I'm too exhausted right now!

I'm sitting here enjoying my free day hazelnut latte in the warmth of my home while it snows piles outside.  I thought of my cyberfriends and hope that you are all having a nice warm day too!  I wanted to encourage you to look on itunes for health and fitness podcasts...(free)...and check them out.  I found one about a 43 year old man who decided to get back into running on his birthday.  The podcasts are his actual "couch to 5K" (coolrunning.com) workouts to guide you along so you don't need to check your watch, etc.  Anyway, encouraging stuff.  Check it out!  I'm about to go to coolrunning to find out more about the couch to 5K in 9 weeks thing.... I'm also getting so excited about my workout buddy, sara, coming to stay for a (long...i hope) while.  I have a fun collection of Birthday/Christmas goodies for her!  AND we are about to embark upon fixing up the dungeon for her!!!  See, Ruth, you should come for vacation...we'd put you up in the dungeon!