Ironman March with @caitlinhtp

I signed up for my first Triathlon of the season waaaaaaaaay back in early December. I find the earlier that I sign up for a big race, the more I tend to slack in beginning my "official" training. Mix in the fact I was sick for the first 6-7 weeks of 2013 and had a sprained ankle I was recovering from, it's been hard getting back on the horse.

I even wrote out a training calendar for the month of February. It's now the last day of the month and I didn't even attempt to follow it.

I'm getting better about getting into a real schedule again. I've made it to yoga this week and out running twice. I have another yoga session and another run planned already for the week.

But, if I want to be confident at my May 18th mini tri AND be ready in late summer for an intermediate distance (1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run), then I need to GET ON IT.

Enter fate.

Yesterday Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point posted her challenge to herself to complete an Ironman OVER THE COURSE of the month of March. Yep, 31 days to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles.

It's just the right level of a challenge to get me back in the saddle. I'll be going back to the Y for access to the pool and spin classes (oh how I miss thee).

If you want to join in, visit Caitlin's blog and print the handy PDF tracking sheet. She's even already done the math for you to break the mileage out week by week.

If you're going to do this, let me know here or on Twitter @emtucky.

Weigh in & Weekly Goals

Weight Last Week: 255.2

Weight this week: 258.0

2.8 pounds GAINED this week

Lowest Weight Recorded: 232.2 on 4/22/12

71.4 pounds lost since June 2010

Not the best week I've ever had food choices wise. I only made it to the gym twice - once for yoga and once for 30 mins of treadmill work. I did get another run in yesterday, I guess if you want to count that as last week...

The weekend was full of too much beer and food. But I'm not mad, it was a fun weekend with a friend in town.

Back on the horse this week with my goals:

- 75 ounces of water AT LEAST (goal is to drink three bottles (25 oz each) at work)
- Stick to the meal plan I wrote out
- Gym/workout 4X this week, get back on schedule!

These are all simple things. I have to stop letting life get in the way of my own needs and goals.

Happy Monday!

Starting over - my run last night

Last year, I completed FOUR half marathons....four. This tripled the number of completed half marathons for myself and was 4X the number I had ever done in a year before....it was intense.

And it burned me out from running long distances.

After my half marathon on December 1st, I "took a break" from running long distances, logging only a few miles as a time. Then, I sprained my ankle on Jan. 2nd. Here we are over 2.5 months after my last half marathon and I've barely ran two steps.

Until last night.

I started over. From what felt like the beginning.

I downloaded the Zen Labs "10K for Pink" Couch to 10K program a couple months ago.

Last night I completed Day 1, Week 1.

I took it slow as it was the first time I really "ran" since spraining my ankle. I am happy to report it felt great!

A few thoughts:
 
- I was surprised I could still run a minute straight.

- I forgot how much I don't like the treadmill anymore. It's so boring. But I'm also in pansy mode when it comes to the cold so unless it's above 45, I probably won't run outside during the week.

- I forgot how much regular exercise improves my mood.

My goal is to run a 10K on April 13th, with my first mini-sprint Triathlon of the season being May 18th, and the ultimate goal for the season to complete an intermediate distance Triathlon.

Let's do it!

Weigh in & Weekly Goals

Weight Last Week: 256.4

Weight this week: 255.2

1.2 pounds LOST this week

Lowest Weight Recorded: 232.2 on 4/22/12

74.2 pounds lost since June 2010

Just a quick post to log my weigh in. It's been busy in this parts, so busy in fact my eating has been horrible and workouts non-existent. Trying to change both accounts.

I failed on all my "goals" last week. Life was just too crazy to keep up.

Not sure this week will be any less hectic, but I do have one goal... get my ASS to the gym.

Happy Monday!

Fun Friday: What's in my purse?

I decided to do this post on a whim after seeing Caitlin's post today. I actually need a new purse because the vinyl is coming off this one. But funny story is I went through some stuff from high school in my mom's basement over the holidays and found this purse. I decided it was still cool enough to wear, but as soon as I did it started falling apart. Must've been all those years in a musty basement in the Midwest!

This purse actually has 3 compartments...so there's a lot in it! I don't always have such a large bag. I think I moved into this one before I went on my trip to New Orleans and never downsized.

The main part of the purse

From Top-Clockwise - my wallet, headache medicine,
my Harajuku Lovers bag (from Foody McBody) with contact supplies in it, papers, pennies, and trash.

Back outer compartment.

From Top-Clockwise - Skittles, Hotel Monteleone (in NOLA) pen,
more papers, more trash, hair tie, gum, multi-vitamins

Front compartment

From left-Clockwise - more papers, eye drops, post-its, anti-itch cream, chapstick, USB

 

So, what's in YOUR purse?

Happy Love Your Body Day!

A Birmingham blogger I follow, Jennifer at Stellar Fashion and Fitness, used this week leading up to Valentine's Day to celebrate why she loves her body. Each day she posted one thing about her body that she loved - and it converged into today's post on her blog.

Inspired by her project, and celebrating the fact of this point in my life where I am trying to live my dating life as a strong single woman and not dwell on the fact I won't have flowers delivered to me or a significant other waiting at home for me today, I would love to share a list of things I love about my body.

• I love how healthy and shiny my hair is...I constantly get compliments
• My usually-green-but-sometimes-hazel eyes...also a source of compliments and self-esteem boosting.
• Newly peaking through collarbone...tells me I am working hard and becoming leaner than my former self.
• My broad shoulders that make me an awesome swimmer.
• My shrinking tummy, that is smaller than it once was.
• My hips and waist that give me a shape.
• My lower back that doesn't spasm since I've lost 100+ pounds. 
• My strong hamstrings that allow me to bike up hills and run triathlons and half marathons.
• My defined calf muscles that support my ankles the best they can to help me stay active.
• My ankles, as delicate as they are, who will heal quickly when I abuse their weakness. 
• My feet that provide the canvas for two of my four tattoos....including my new favorite one.

I don't celebrate my progress from these last 4 years enough. Honestly, as I have lost weight my body image has gone down, dwelling on what's not "perfect" and I'm in progress of how to deal with that. One thing that has helped is my bi-weekly gathering with Body Baggage for Misfits. It's wonderful to have an outlet to speak freely and openly about what is stirring in your head. For this outlet I am most grateful!

I hope you will join me in celebrating where you are at, where you have come from, and limit dwelling on the negative today, and every day!

New Tattoo

I got my first tattoo 3 months after I turned 18. It was a shamrock on the inside of my left ankle with purple (my favorite color) shading behind it. I choose this particular piece of art because my family is devoutly Irish, so I thought by paying homage to my mom's side of the family and my grandfather (Papa Joe), who had passed away when I was in grad school, it was the perfect first tattoo choice.

It was still one of my favorite tattoos, until a week ago Monday when I went in to get this:

The lettering is in my brother's own handwriting (taken from a card he sent me in Summer of 2005) and the scroll and years were the tattoo artist's handiwork. It turned out better than I ever expected and it is my favorite piece on my body.

Being able to look at this every day and remember my brother is the greatest gift I have ever been able to afford myself.

It was done by Jordan Pundik at Safe House Tattoo Studio. Check them/him out if you're looking for some ink done in Nashville.

Weigh-in & Weekly Goals

Weight Last Week: 256.2

Weight this week: 256.4

0.2 pounds GAINED this week

Lowest Weight Recorded: 232.2 on 4/22/12

73 pounds lost since June 2010

A little bit of a gain, but I'm actually not worrying about it. Not the best week food choices or exercise commitment wise. My appetite is coming back from being sick the last 3 weeks, so I need to start being more diligent in my choices. Still on the "no crackers or chips" plan, except I mindlessly ate some tortilla chips at a Mexican lunch with co-workers. I didn't even think about it while I was doing it - totally forgot!!!

For exercise, only made it to yoga this week. It was kind of a "blah" week, but yesterday was a nice Saturday afternoon so I got a 4 mile walk in - the longest I've walked for exercise since spraining my ankle on Jan. 2nd.

My one focus last week was to GET BETTER. After being sick for most of the beginning of 2013, first with a cold and then with tonsillitis (on top of the sprained ankle), I was feeling kind of down about my body's health. I am HAPPY to report I am MUCH better, and finishing my last dose of antibiotics today. WOOOOO!!!

This week I want to continue to see a downward movement on the scale since I am working towards my March 31st goal of losing 20 pounds. Here are my actual goals:

- Limit eating out to my already scheduled engagements (2x)
- Drink at least 64 oz of water every day
- Begin Triathlon training (sans swimming since I haven't joined the Y yet and I got a tattoo a week ago and can't get in the pool for another week.)

That's all I've got - enjoy your Sunday!

Weigh in & Weekly Goals

Weight Last Week: 258.4

Weight this week: 256.2

2.2 pounds LOST this week

Lowest Weight Recorded: 232.2 on 4/22/12

73.2 pounds lost since June 2010

Slowly chipping away at this 20 lb gain and on track to meet my first goal of 2013 of losing 20 lbs by March 31st. Okay, time to complain a little bit. I've been sick for all of 2013. It started out as a cold on New Years Eve, which lasted about 10 days and then it moved into what was now diagnosed as tonsillitis. Tomorrow will be the two week mark of dealing with immense throat and ear pain. Now, I'm having some sort of reaction to the antibiotics. I'm feeling really discouraged about my health from all these different illnesses over the last 5 weeks - frustrated that my body seems to be failing me.

All that to say, my exercise has been semi non-existent this last week because I just haven't felt well enough to sweat it out. Given the immense throat pain I'm experiencing while I have been eating, I certainly haven't been overeating. I've mostly been living on soup, bread, and Popsicles. Certainly not the most nutritious, so I'm trying to throw vegetables in there where I can.

My main goal this week is to kick whatever is knocking me down. Of course tactically this will be done by drinking enough water, and eating nutritiously, but I'm not making any further goals to focus on other than my one goal this week to be to GET BETTER!!!

For purposes of staying on task I'll still check in with my goals from last week.

- drink 64 oz of water (got this down, I think) - barely obtained this one
- limit sugar as much as possible - Nope, I've been living on Popsicles and ice cream. Plus there were some cookies and a brownie consumed 3 out of 7 days. Yikes!
- Gym 4 x this week - only twice (yoga Mon and 30 minute walk Weds)
- PT exercises EVERY DAY (just do it every night before bed, Emily!) - Ugh, I did maybe 2-3 days out of the last 7.