Yada Yada Yada

Last week I worked out 5 days like normal and ate great. This week I lifted on Monday and took Tuesday off to hang out with Ashley.  We had the most amazing time- shopping and dinner at Garbanzo. I actually found the perfect going out Denver/Las Vegas dress at I.Got.It.At.Ross.  


I had my cheat meal on Friday at none other than Old Chicago's. Saturday I started the day out strong eating healthy and then yada yada yada and now it's Wednesday.  


Trying to get back on track!!!






Starting Weight (2/28/11): 134.6lbs
Current Weight: 130.6lbs
Total Weight Loss: -4lbs
Goal Weight: 120lbs
Note: Yada Yada Yada

Weight Lifting- A Man's World?

I am intimidated by big muscley men in the gym. As a result I don't go near the weight machines and I most definitely stay away from the free weights.  In fact I wouldn't know what to do in that part of the gym.

I'm not a total newb (name that TV show) when it comes to weight lifting. I did finish P90X, but I had Tony guiding me through every workout. My results with P90X were great (they would have been better if I would have focused on my diet). But I want to be more toned and in order to get toned I have to either do P90X again or start lifting more at the gym.

Right now I am loving the atmosphere of the gym. I also like the idea of getting out of the house. So for now I am abandoning P90X and Insanity. But I have made a promise with myself that I will finish the entire Insanity program sometime in the new future! 

Ashley and I now have our own personal trainer! Well actually he is Ashley's co-worker. But he is so knowledgeable and loves to teach that it feels like we have a trainer.  We lift with him, his fiance and his brother.

I am starting to understand the addiction side of lifting and the benefits of lifting with at lease one other person. I love the fact that you feed off of each others energy. If you go harder, they go harder. It's all about competition, but with yourself. 

Today we lifted back and biceps. My favorite part of the workout was the rope excercise (I felt like a biggest loser contestant) : 

And hitting this (I forgot how much I enjoy boxing) : 

 
The goal is to lift with the group 2-3 times a week and do cardio (run or swim) the other 2-3 days. My "trainer" says I should be toned by Vegas! And by toned I don't mean this...

Or this...

 
All I have to do is make sure I stick to my diet. 

Bring it people... summer is almost here!!! 

Starting Weight (2/28/11): 134.6lbs

Current Weight: 129.4lbs

Total Weight Loss: -5.2lbs

Goal Weight: 120lbs

Note: Won the Work Weight-Loss Challenge! 

   

Tuesday Treadmill Hell

Today's treadmill boot camp workout was H.A.R.D.

Here is what we did.

8 minute run, 2 minute recovery, 4 rounds total

- Start at a fast pace, run at this pace for 2 minutes (2 minutes)
- Increase pace, run at this new pace or 2 minutes (4 minutes)
- Increase pace, run at this new pace for 2 minutes (6 minutes)
- Increase pace, run at this new pace for 2 minutes (8 minutes)


- Recover at your base pace (or lower) for 2 mintues


- Repeat for a total of 4 rounds 

I admit, on paper it looks easy. But on the treadmill it's hard!!!!

Starting Weight (2/28/11): 134.6lbs

Current Weight: 130.2lbs

Total Weight Loss: -4.4lbs

Goal Weight: 120lbs

Note: Sore. Headache.

 

100% Clean Eating- How Long Can I Last?

Because I 1) get board easily 2) love the thrill of trying something new 3) fell off the band wagon over the weekend 4) cannot come up with new meals I have decided to see how long I can go eating 100% clean as defined by Tosca Reno. 

Clean eating is about eating non-processed foods to include lean protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats. Eating 5 times per day, while paying attention to portion sizes. 


Because I want to challenge myself and see major results before Vegas, I chose the strict meal plan. The downside with this plan is that it is so restrictive I might burn out quickly. So the question is, how long can I last before I break? 

Here is what I ate today. I will be eating the same thing tomorrow.


Breakfast

• Oatmeal
• Ground Flax Seed  (tip: make sure to grind the flax seed. Otherwise the seed just passes through you whole.) 
• Bee Pollen (common benefits: weight loss, increased energy, digestive benefits, slows the aging process, prevents cancer, and helps with infertility. For more information click here.)
• Green Tea
• Reno recommends eggs, but I just can't make myself eat them. 

Snack

• Shakeology with 1/2 banana
• Lemon Water

Lunch

• Sweet Potato
• Chicken
• Green Beans
• Green Tea

Snack

• Shakeology with 1/2 Banana
• Lemon Water
• Recovery Drink post Workout

Dinner

• Salad with Romain Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Onion
• Black Beans
• Avocado
• Fresh Salsa

Today is the first day. I am exciting to see how I feel tomorrow. 

Starting Weight (2/28/11): 134.6lbs

Current Weight: 132.6lbs

Total Weight Loss: -2lbs

Goal Weight: 120lbs

Note: Great workout! A little hungry at 9:30PM.

Uglies

I finally finished a book! Don't judge- it's a tween book. I have had a hard time finding a book that is as captivating and exciting to read as The Hunger Games. I think I have read a total of 2 books since THG, listened to half a book on tape and only got through 2 chapters in a classic.  Finishing this book is a huge accomplishment! 

For a full plot review from Wikipedia click here.  

Swim Lesson

I thought today's workout was going to be easy. A nice break from two days of hard running. Ashley had something else in mind. 

Ashley found time to research swim technique drills. And so instead of swimming our usual .5 mile at our usual pace, we tried something new. 

I won't bore you with what our workout consisted of, but we worked on kicking and stroke. We were surprised at how much stronger our legs were from last time we did used the kick board. We actually kicked for 200 yards straight. A huge accomplishment for us both! The lady in the next lane however, wasn't as enthusiastic about our kicking as we were. She might have gotten splashed a couple times.

Ashley and I also taught ourselves how to do a flip-turn! We have been trying to learn how to do a flip-turn forever. Today it all just clicked.   

Starting Weight (2/28/11): 134.6lbs

Current Weight: 130.6lbs

Total Weight Loss: -4lbs

Goal Weight: 120lbs

Note: So, so tired. 

Words of Truth

As seen on Fountly and Chookooloonks.

How the Dalai Lama responded when asked what most surprised him about humanity: 

"Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."

Treadmill Torture

Because I love torture and grueling pain, I did the Treadmill Boot Camp class this evening. 

Wow. Wow. Wow. 

The class really puts it to you. The best part is, how hard you work is completely up to you. It's just you against the stop watch. If you ask me the stop watch was extremely slow today. 4 minutes felt like an eternity!  

This is what my workout looked like today.

- Run 4 minutes at a fast pace on an incline of 1.0, to simulate the outdoors. I chose 6.7 for rounds 1-3 and 6.9 for round 4. I almost died on round 4!

-  Take it back down to your base. My base is 6.0. Run for 1 minute. This is your recover time.

- Take the incline to 3.0 and run for 2 minutes at your base pace. Round two take the incline to 4.0, round three 5.0 and round four 6.0. 

- Take the incline to 0 and run for 1 minute at your base. This is your recover time. 

Do this 4 times... if you like to be tortured!

The reason why I put myself through this torture is to hopefully improve my speed and endurance. I have three major fitness goals (not including weight loss) this year that are going to take some torture and suffering in the gym to achieve.

They are:

1. Break my 5K PR time of 24:59.

2. I want the last leg of the Triathlon, running, to not be as hard as last year. I do not want my legs to feel like concrete! 

3. Beat my Incline PR time of 37:19.     

Starting Weight (2/28/11): 134.6lbs

Current Weight: 130.2lbs

Total Weight Loss: -4.4lbs

Goal Weight: 120lbs

Note: Great workout!

Preston's First 5K

This is so amazing, I have to share.

Preston's BFF got him to run in the St. Patrick's 5K on Saturday. If you know Preston or his BFF for that matter, you know there must be a bet involved.  These two bet on anything and everything. 


The Bet: Preston must finish the 5K within 2 minutes of BFF's time to win $100. Otherwise he owes BFF $50. 2-1 odds. 

How BFF stacks up:

- He is a runner, a fast runner
- He just finished up The Pikes Peak Road Runners Winter Series- meaning he has been running outside since January
- He is training for some crazy race to Crested Butte or something insane like that

How Preston stacks up:

- He plays racquetball... with BFF about once a week or so
- The last time he ran was playing full court basketball back in January or so
- He has long legs   

 Ashley and I didn't start with Preston. We wanted to go our pace and run our race and not worry about Preston dying on the side of the road. 
 
Our paths did cross around mile 2.5. We were still heading North and Preston was heading South towards the finish line. When I saw him I got choked up. Unexpected! It hit me that he is really doing this. No training, no fancy pace calculating watch or spiffy running shoes. And it appears he is still alive going strong and beating me!!! 

Sure enough Preston finished his first 5K in 25:02!!!!!! 

 















So who won the bet? 

BFF did! Preston missed the 2 minute slot by 10 seconds!!!!

5K Results!

Yesterday was the St. Patrick's Day 5K. Ashley and I set a goal to run it faster than last year. Under 28 minutes. 

Our main focus for the race was pace. I usually let my adrenaline get the best of me and because of it we tend to go way to fast in the first mile and die in the last two miles. This time around we were determined to start out at a reasonable pace.  

Luckly, my Garmin Forerunner watch is bomb.com!! I have no idea how I ran all last year without it! Among many things, it calculates real time pace. Amazing!!! Ashley and I came up with a signal so I could let her know if we were going too fast or too slow. Ashley is great at keeping a steady pace. I tend to slow down, speed up, slow down. With the help of Hank and Ashley's amazing steady pace skills, we were able to maintain a nice pace. 


According to Hank The-Garmin-Forerunner, my average pace was 8:45. Perfect. Hank also calculates distance. Next race I am going to try and pay attention to this reading a little more, especially towards the end of the race. 

Yesterday I couldn't tell where the race ended. Once I saw the finish line I picked it up, but I should have picked it up a little sooner. It never occurred to me, until just now, that I could have looked at my watch to see how much further I had to go. This is going to be a great tool for the next race. 

So how did we do?

Ashley and I met our goal! I ran the race in 27:05 and Ashley ran it in 26:59!!    

Just Say No

Eating my cheat meal on Wednesday was a mistake. I instantly gained 2lbs, which I must admit shook my focus.  It's also that time of the month when I want to eat everything in site.

Thursday during the day I did fine. But when I got home I was too lazy to make anything so Preston and I got Chipotle for dinner. I did my research on what I could have, but I knew the sodium was going to be a problem. I ignored it. 

This morning I weighted the same. Throughout the day I drank my water and ate perfect. When I got home Preston called to say he was getting Chick-Fil-A. But he didn't call to see if I wanted some, he called to see if he should eat it there so I wouldn't be tempted. Very kind of him. I, on the other hand, was contiplating if I wanted him to bring me home some. I was soo soo close to throwing in the towel. To think more clearly I told him I had to hang up and call him back. It only took me about 3 seconds to come to my answer. I called him back immediately and without hesitation said you can bring your dinner home. Oh and by the way I don't need anything.

I then proceeded to make a chicken whole grain pasta dish for my dinner. Not only was this the right decision to make in terms of my weight loss goal, but it is also the right decision especially with the 5K tomorrow. The last thing I want is Chick sloshing around in my stomach! I would rather not know where the Port-A-Potties are located thank you.  

When you step back and really think about the choice in front of you, the correct answer is usually pretty clear and easy to make. It's when you make a hasty decision usually based on emotion or impulse that gets you into trouble. Next time you want fast food, stop and make yourself really think about it. You will be surprised how much easier it is to say no to yourself when you are fully engaged in the decision making process.   

Starting Weight (2/28/11): 134.6lbs

Current Weight: 130.6lbs

Total Weight Loss: -4lbs

Goal Weight: 120lbs

Note: That time of the month.  

 

In No Particular Order

1. Bring back Grey's Anatomy! I miss Avery! {I just spent way too long looking at Google images of Avery}

2. Preston and I looked at couches last weekend. Someday these will be our new leather couches. Still trying to decide on the color. The light brown looks better in person and the white stitching really pops. The dark brown looks amazing online, however I have not seen it in person.

3. Preston is running in his first ever 5K this weekend!

 













4. I had my cheat meal last night from... 

5. If you have a dog or cat this is a must for your carpets.

6. I am thinking about getting a digital hair perm. Here is a before and after pic. What do you think?

{St. Patrick's 5K} Goal

My goal for the St. Patrick's 5K on Saturday is under 28:21 (my time from last year). I believe this is a challenging enough goal. Hopefully Preston approved. I haven't ran it by him yet and he gets the final say. Preston is my goal setter. He doesn't let me cop out and set a ridiculously easy goal like I tried to do in the Take 5 it the Garden last year.

I do have some general concerns about Saturday.  Let me share them with you.

1. Ashley and I haven't ran at all, not even once, outside this year. What can I say, we love our treadmills! 

2. I am very bad at keeping a pace. I will rely on Ashley for this. I usually start too strong which leads to a painful ending.  See number 3.

3. I am making sure I stay hydrated this week so I don't puke at the end of the race. Water is my best friend. See number 2.

4. I am excited to try out my new Garmin Forerunner watch! Because I don't have the foot pod I have not been using it at the gym. I am excited to see what it all does, but I hope I can read what it's saying while running. Also I am a tad bit concerned that I don't know how to work it properly.  

5. For now, I will have my ginormous iPhone straped to my arm for music. I really wish I had an iPod Nano or something smaller in size. 

6. I am not going to use my iPhone Runner App. I am going to solely rely on my watch. See number 4.

7. I hope the weather is nice. Nothing worse than running in cold weather and having your lungs freeze off.

8. I am already anxious about the warm-up. I do not know if I run better on fresh-out-of-the-gate legs or warn in legs? Yikes I better do some research aka googling.

9.  The fear of all runners- I hope I don't have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the race! 

I hope everyone has a good race! See you Saturday! 

Exercise Your Lungs?

Ever since my terrible run yesterday, I have been researching why I felt like I needed more air. 

I ran across this great article from Runner's World that explained I was breathing from my chest, instead of my belly, and that I need to train my lungs to breath correctly. It even gave me pilate exercises to do to open my lungs and breath evenly. Who knew you needed to exercise your lungs- I sure didn't! 

Click here to see if you are a Chest or Belly breather when you run.

Treadmill Boot Camp

Every Tuesday, Ashley and I try to steal one of the treadmill's that the boot camp uses. Today we decided to be apart of the treadmill boot camp class and challenge ourselves.

The instructor came over and asked us a couple questions to get an idea of what our base speed should be and how hard she could push us. She asked, "if you could run forever, what pace would that be." I enthusiastically say, "6.5." Ashley's eyes widen and say, "Um I think it's more like a 6.0." She later tells me she was going to say 5.0 until I said 6.5. After the workout we agreed from now on she speaks for us. I set the bar pretty high and we paid for it!

This class is really going to help us run faster and be more prepared for hills in a race. I can't believe we just now discovered it!

The treadmill workout is easy to incorporate in any workout. Try it sometime!

Find your base. Today ours was 6.0. The incline should always be at least a 1.0 to simulate outdoor running. 

5 rounds of speed and hills

• Run 1 minute at .5 or 1.0 over your base at an incline of 1.0. Each round push yourself to run a little faster.
• Kick the incline to 2.0 and run at your base speed for 2 minutes. Round 2 incline goes to 3.0, round 3 incline goes to 4.0, round 4 incline goes to 5.0, round 5 incline comes back down to 3.0.
• Take the incline back down to 1.0 and pick up your pace to .5 or 1.0 over your base for 1 minute pushing yourself to run faster each round.
• Recover for 2 minutes and repeat for a total of 5 times.

30 second Drills

• Run at your very, very fastest speed for 30 seconds.
• Recover for 30 seconds.
• Repeat for a total of 5 times.

Starting Weight (2/28/11): 134.6lbs

Current Weight: 128.8lbs

Total Weighl Loss: -5.8lbs

Goal Weight: 120lbs
Note: Pooped

  

Suffocating, Jello, Queasy = Bad Day on the Treadmill

Yesterday I had the worst workout ever. I stepped onto the treadmill thinking I would run a 5k in 28 minutes. I didn't expect the whole world to come crashing down on me. 

From the very start my breathing was heavy. I really struggled to get a good breath in. I kept trying to turn my lungs over (did I just make this up?), but it never happened. The air that I was frantically trying to gasp in felt sweaty and suffocating instead of pure and intoxicating. 

My legs were pure jello from the start. Actually the last 1.2 miles i think they turned into mush.

My mind wasn't in it. If my mind's not on board, it can talk myself out of anything. It begged me to stop at 3 miles instead of running a true 5K (3.2 miles).

My stomach started to feel queasy towards the end. It tried to get back at me for for putting it through hell. I barely escaped the humiliation. This was a nice reminder that I need to drink plenty of water before the race on Saturday.

Yesterday the Treadmill and I did not get along. But today is a new day. I will have redemption on the Treadmill!


Distance: 3.2 miles
Average Pace: 6.7
Time: 28:37
Emotion: Defeated 

i heart you

Most times the scale is my sworn enemy. But this morning I wanted to jump up and down, scream with joy and hug my scale!

Finally, Frank-O-Meter flashed the number I have been waiting to see all week!

{129.4lbs} 

That's right, I am officially out of the 130's for good! I vow to never go back. The 130's will NOT be missed- here's why.

1. I had a muffin top when I was in the 130's.

2. I couldn't order cloths from a magazine or internet, because I had to try everything on first. 

3. I couldn't just walk into my closet and throw on the first shirt I saw. 

4. My body shape did not do well in the 130's.

5. And most importantly I didn't feel comfortable in the 130's.    

 I am truly so excited! I am even more motivated and determined to lose the last 10 or so pounds!

Starting Weight (2/28/11): 134.6lbs

Total Weight Loss: -5.2lbs

Current Weight: 129.4lbs

Goal: 120lbs
Emotion: Ecstatic! 

  

Are You Typical?

Great video. Must watch. Enough said.

THE Cheat Meal...

is my saving grace. For me it makes eating clean less painful throughout the week and something to look forward to. 

I usually like to save my cheat meal for the weekend, when temptation is at its height. This weekend I enjoyed my cheat meal at my all time if-you-leave-it-up-to-me I-will-pick-it-every-time favorite restaurant Old Chicago's.  

But what does the fitness/nutrition world think about the cheat meal?  And do they love the cheat meal as much as I do?


The following an a excerpt from a personal trainer.

When you are dieting and in a submaintenance level for a prolonged time your metabolism, thyroid production, and leptin levels down regulate and this is usually when weight stalls or there is performance issues during training. The first thing people do on plateaus is reduce calories which actually makes things worse and causes your body to start storing fat to survive and you damage your metabolic rate as well. So when you cheat (calorie spike) it up-regulates your leptin hormone , which controls thyroid, test levels and GH. This basically jacks everything up and your body starts burning fuel more efficiently again. The thing is you shouldn't do this more than once every 7 days to make sure you need it and it works. (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/general-diet-plans-questions/219490-cheat-meal-great-way-break-plateau.html )

This scientific sounding theory makes me feel almost entitled to eat my cheat meal every week.

But don't go eating that cheat meal just yet. The following is a slightly different take that is a little more level headed.

If you want to raise your metabolism, you don't do it by eating one splurge meal or even spending a day eating junk. You do it by raising calories for a week and still eating clean.

For example, when my clients find their metabolism is so slow they can barely eat anything or would have to do hours of cardio, we simply set them with a goal to *maintain* for a week. If they are on, say, 1500 calories, this may bump their calories to 2000 or 2500 etc. They don't gain fat, but they maintain and are eating much more. They find that their metabolism may go up a few hundred points during that week and that they can then ramp down again.

For a mental reason, I support cheat meals and cheat days as some people need this crutch to hang onto as they adjust their thinking to embrace healthier foods. What's dangerous is when people start to justify it to themselves because they know they are overdoing it but it's so good to have an excuse to make it sound practical (i.e. the metabolism raising idea).

A free meal where you don't overeat and don't miss your next scheduled meal is optimal - allows you to consume foods you crave without throwing everything out of whack. (http://www.naturalphysiques.com/faq/272.html)

The important fact to remember is a cheat meal is one meal not an entire day or weekend. As long as I continue to remember this, I am keeping my cheat meal!

Potentially the Best Salad Ever!

Tonight I was going to share my awesome Chili and Smoothie recipes with you, but I made this great salad tonight that I can't wait to share. I know what you're thinking, really a salad is worth my time!? I am telling you, this salad is!!

Chicken and Pear Salad by Beachbody. 
Recipe makes 6 servings so adjust accordingly

Servings Size: 1 cup
Calories: 280
Fat Total: 21g
Saturated Fat: 2.5g
Carbs: 15g
fiber: 2g
Protein: 7g

2 grilled chicken breast (sliced)
3 cups fresh spinich
1 pealed and sliced fresh pear
A handful of walnuts
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese


Dressing:
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp. honey


You can adjust the oil or vinegar amounts to your liking. The honey really balances out the bite of the balsamic vinegar and the light bitterness.


Enjoy!

And The Fat Is Coming Off FOR GOOD!

Something changed. I knew this time would be different. The timing felt right and on my terms.

I decided to seriously go on a diet start eating healthier. In my mind it's not a diet. I'm not following a strict plan or rigidly counting calories. 

I am planning my meals, taking the time to make an enjoyable meal, stocking my fridge with healthy choices and working out. 

Since I have started (Monday) I have lost 3.8lbs. By tomorrow I should be in the 120's! What have I done differently this billionth time around? 

1. I am working out 5 times a week. This alone makes me want to eat healthier. Who wants to put in all the time and effort to waist the workout on some Chick-fil-A?  Not me this time around! I want to see results!

2. This time I am doing it for me on my terms (not to win a contest at work- although this is an added bonus- or because I feel guilty). Oh and we also have a 10 day trip to Las Vegas booked for May! This is motivation in itself. 

3. I planned. This time around I researched healthy recipes from magazines and books I have had lying around the house. I made a very detailed grocery list. In the past I would shy away from a recipe if it called for too many unknown-never-heard-of ingredients. This time I went all out. Let me tell you, those unknown-never-heard-of ingredients turn a bland boring healthy don't-really-want-to-eat meal into a flavorful packed gourmet let-me-eat -it-every-day meal. 

4. I don't have unhealthy foods in the house. Preston cut way back on his pop consumption so we never have any in the house. I got rid of cookies, graham crackers and frosting, chips, and puppy chow. The only temptation in the house is Preston's ice cream. And if you know me you know I don't like ice cream or to touch P's ice cream. 

5. I am allowing myself one cheat meal each week. I really believe this helps. I know that I can have whatever I want, steak, hamburger, Monica's burrito, that one day of the week. It makes food less tempting during the rest of the week. 

And of course as I start to see results and the number on the scale going down, I am more likely to stick to it. 

Here is an idea of what I have been eating. I have a couple of great recipes for you to try that I will share with you tomorrow.

Breakfast
My usual- Chocolate Shakeology with a half of Banana (225 calories)
Black Coffee (0 calories)

Snack
Koshi Mocha Chocolate Granola Bar (130 calories)

Lunch
Homemade Chili with 1 tablespoon Reduced Fat Sour Cream with Cilantro on top (220 calories)
Unsweetened Applesauce with Cinnamon sprinkled on top (50 calories)

Snack
Either Reduced Fat Wheat Thins (130 calories) 
or Fruit


Dinner
Homemade Chili with 1 tablespoon Reduced Fat Sour Cream with Cilantro on top (220 calories)

Snack
Smoothie with 3/4 Cups Frozen Fruit, Banana, 2-3 tablespoon Reduced Fat Yogurt, Water, Ice (240 calories)

I am averaging around 1200-1500 calories per day. It all depends on how hungry I am. 

Thanks for reading. Let me know if you have any good recipes out there!
 

It Can Be Done!

I.did.it. 

exhale 

Wait... I freakin did it!

I told myself that I was going to workout 5 times this past week. Well the beginning of the week was easy. Monday I lifted weights and strengthened my core in the F.I.T. class. Tuesday I took the night off and had dinner with a friend from work. Wednesday I ran for an eternity of 7 miles. Thursday was a busy day in Pueblo with family. This left Friday, Saturday and Sunday to workout- the 3 most hardest trying days of the week to find motivation to go to the gym.

Friday night I found I had just enough time to go for a quick swim, shower and make it to BUNCO. Three workouts completed. 

Saturday at the very last minute, before we were expected at a friend's house, I dashed off to the gym and ran 3.2 miles at my fastest time this year! 29 minutes and 23 seconds. 

Sunday Preston played in a pool tournament most of the day. I almost had my mind made up that I was going to skip the last workout and be satisfied with 4. At the last hour, before our dinner plans with Josh and Ashley, I ran to the gym for a nice swim. 

It wasn't until I was in my car on my way back home that I realized I DID IT. I fit in my regular activities, social life and 5 workouts all into one week. It can be done. I can have a life and workout like a maniac!

So far this week I am on track to workout 5 times. Monday I did the F.I.T. class. Holy macro am I sore!  We did this ball exercises that works the core, back of the thigh, butt and calves. WOW!!! Have you tried this exercise? Let me just say it works! 

I am really enjoying the F.I.T. class; it is a great addition to my workout schedule. It adds a little variety to the week and gives me another option besides running or swimming. 

F.I.T. stands for Functional Integrated Training. We use balls, bands, gliding discs and weights to improve balance, strength and endurance. There is no cardio activity at all in this class. It's all about lifting and strengthening the core. 


I have found that I have lost most of my muscle that I built doing P90X. In P90X I was lifting 8-15 pounds. Currently I am lifting 6 measly pounds. It's a little sad to see all of my hard work from P90X disappear. But I am working hard to get the muscle back!

Tonight Ashley and I ran. Let me just say the run didn't go as well as I hoped. The Saint Patrick 5K is less than 2 weeks away so I better get in gear. 

Tomorrow I plan on doing the F.I.T. class again and then Thursday is another run day. I will end the week with a nice swim. 

Hope everyone else is finding success in their workouts. Keep pushing play or going to the gym!