3 Day Reset - sort of + 6.5 miles

First of all - Labor Day weekend. We had no plans but a lot of the weekend was spent organizing stuff. The kids had started school the week before, they had a 4 day weekend. My daughter was away in Maine for the weekend. My husband and son had plans on Sunday to go to Connecticut to get this guy. My son has been asking for a hedgehog for 18 months - finally it was time. He is pretty cute. I had said I would have nothing to do with him, but he's pretty quickly engrained himself in my heart.

 

I had decided to go hiking in New Hampshire on Sunday and then go antiquing in Maine after, but 2 different spam calls, one at 12:45 am and one at 3:30 am, one on the home phone and one on the cell, had me up most of the night (while my 13 year old had been away from home plenty, it was her first time out of state for the whole weekend). So I decided not to hike as I was exhausted, but not too exhausted to jump in the car at 8 am and go for a 10 hour road trip.

I stopped at one beach and took a walk and had a late breakfast.

Then after some antiquing I went to a nature preserve for another walk.



It was a very successful day - exploring and antiquing.

I was going to start the Beachbody 3 Day Refresh on Tuesday, but since it is easier to do it at home with a blender, and I work from home on Wednesday and Friday, I decided to start it on Wednesday and also work from home on Thursday.

Knowing that I wouldn't want to run on Wednesday (they suggest you don't do heavy exercise while doing the cleanse) and it was pretty humid, I decided to do an 30 minute Advanced Beginner ride using the Peloton App. I am slowing learning how to translate the videos to my Schwinn even though I don't have a Peloton bike.

Wednesday I woke up to Time of the Month. Originally I thought it was 9 days late (hello perimenopause) but then I realized it was only 2 days late! Needless to say Day 1 of the 3 Day Refresh didn't go quite as planned, but I still did pretty well. The only thing I had that wasn't on plan was a bunch of nuts.

Day 2 and Day 3 were much better.

Each day goes about like this:

• Breakfast of a regular Shakeology smoothie and Fruit
• Mid-morning Fiber Sweep (below) - Personally I drink it fast and holding my nose
• Lunch - Shake provided with the program; fruit; vegetables and good fats
• Afternoon snack - vegetables and good fates
• Dinner - Shake provided with the program; a recipe from the program booklet which is basically vegetables and good fat

There were times that I was definitely hungry. And I didn't work out at all those 3 days - I should have. But I didn't.

And the results are:
Wednesday: 232.0
Saturday: 226.8

Down 5.2
Yes, some of that is period weight
Some of that will come right back (I was 227.0 this morning)

But I used this time to also clean out the pantry, again. And make a list of the foods I will eat. I am going to try to avoid some things, at least for the next 4 weeks - like I had sweet potatoes at dinner, not while potatoes. Avoiding processed foods as much as possible.

Saturday I was able to eat real food again and I had to because I had a run to do on Sunday!

Can I tell you the run sucked?! 6.5 miles (58 degrees to start, 86% humidity) I didn't go to my favorite rail trail - field hockey is starting for my daughter and I can't be 25 minutes away. Plus I have a 10K race in 4 weeks - while it is relatively flat (it is by the ocean) I need practice on real roads and out of the shade of the bike path (again, but the ocean, I will be direct sunlight).

I think the run sucked for a few reasons - one, I pretty much haven't moved much in the last 9 days - Except a couple of walks in Maine and a stationary ride on Tuesday, I have been extremely sedentary. So the Fitbit goes back on tomorrow. I need steps! I need to be active during the day beyond 5:30 am.

The run sucked because perhaps 1 day wasn't enough to eat normal food (even though I also ate something an hour before and took 2 Gu - I before I ran and 1 at 3 miles).

And because I was running in my town I was worried about what people thought of seeing me run and I couldn't get out of my head how far I've dropped in my running ability. But I can't go back!

Finally this afternoon I spent tons of time meal prepping. I had lots of veggies left over from the cleanse - I pretty much ate the same thing for 3 days. So I roasted a lot of it.

Other meal prep I did:

• Yogurt Parfait for 2 days (plain greek yogurt with a touch of vanilla greek yogurt, bluebeeries, granola)
• 5 days of carrots
• Hard boiled eggs
• Quinoa and black beans for lunch
• Pasta and frozen pizza pre-cooked so the kids can grab it

Now I am tired. Football is really starting tonight for us New England fans (yes, I completely understand why people hate us, especially now). But no way I can stay up for the whole game. That is a downside of being a Patriots fan - lots of Sunday night, Monday night and Thursday night football games which practically are just starting by the time this gal goes to bed at 9:30 pm.

Here is a to a full week (well not exactly, my son is getting 8 teeth extracted on Thursday so he'll be home for 2 days and I am taking Thursday off). But my daughter will (hopefully go 5 days - I say hopefully because she got sick at school on Friday and I had to pick her up at 9:30)

 

 

 

Lifting, riding, and running

I woke up at 5:30 and worked out all 4 days I worked this week! And I ate pretty well too!

After my run on Tuesday, I did Upper Fix on Wednesday. Lifting weights makes me so incredibly happy!

Thursday I wasn't sure what I wanted to do since I knew I would be running on Friday. So I decided to do a 30 minute Advanced Beginner ride using the Peloton App. It definitely was a workout! I forgot my towel - I wish I had it since the bike was drenched and my hands were falling off by the end.

My kids didn't have school on Friday and even though I had to work, I knew I had time to fit in a run (even though I didn't actually start working until 9:30 :)) Originally I was going to go 7 miles. My 10K is in 5 weeks but I figured I would run 7 as much as I could since that is my golden amount to feel good about prior to 1/2 Marathon Training starting on November 11. But as I started running, and wasn't loving the run, I asked myself why would I jump from 6 miles to 7 miles and why run 7 miles prior to the 10K? It's not like I run more than 13.1 miles before a 1/2 marathon. Plus I have 3-4 weekends after the 10K to run 7 miles.

So I ran 3.25 miles out, stopped, had a Gu, and ran back. I underestimated what 86% humidity is like (temp was about 58 when I started). I chose to not bring my frozen bandana, which has been great at wiping down my face and arms. I had removed my wedding rings, but my fingers were still sausages by the end.  And at the 1/2 way point I had drunk too much of my water so had to ration it on the way back.

I stretched, drank some water and a chocolate milk, and headed home. Jumped in a quick shower and then had to sit as our kitchen island and work.....And eat like crap. I didn't have time to fix a proper breakfast before having to get on conference calls, so I was grazing and snacking.  I was 229.6 this morning (first time less than 230 in a long, long time) but I won't be tomorrow morning (especially since we don't have plans tomorrow my husband wants to go out for Chinese food, something we haven't done in a long, long time).

Sunday I am hoping to get a hike in and maybe go antiquing, but other than that it should hopefully me a low key, nice long weekend. Sunday is supposedly to only in the high 60s/low 70s, but since I am waiting, and waiting, for TOM to arrive, I may not get to hiking - a too long hike wouldn't be conducive to those things without a bathroom.

6 miles + tennis + 3 miles

Saturday was my long run. 6 miles. I hadn't run that far since early June. It wasn't hot and humid which was wonderful.

I tried a lot of things during this run - Even though I don't usually take nutrition until more than 7 miles, I decided I needed to try it sooner to get my stomach used to it again.
When I woke (45-60 minutes before I started running) I had 1 flaxseed waffle with Peanut Butter and Jelly.
In the car, 10 minutes before I started running, I had a Salted Caramel Gu. This flavor now has caffeine. I don't think it did when I was training for my 1/2 marathon in 2014.
I wore my vest with the 2 water holders, 1 had tailwind - orange flavor -which is electrolytes.

I ran 3 miles on the rail trail. Then stopped (pausing my watch of course!) and had a second Gu and then ran the 2nd 3 miles with just a very quick stop because I ran into my BFF and her husband.

After my run I had my chocolate milk and when I got home and had showered I had oatmeal.

With the cooler temps and low humidity the run felt pretty good. I also tried my visor - since I will be running by the ocean in October and in Florida in January, I figure I better get used to running with a visor.

I didn't do any exercise again until Monday afternoon. My son is starting tennis lessons in a couple of weeks and I wanted him to get some practice, so I figured I would play with him. I haven't played tennis in years! It felt great to get out there. I should have worn my FitBit since there was a lot of chasing after balls!

Today was the first day of school. I love to run on the first day of school. Plus I am doing my long run on Friday, since the kids have no school, to get it out of the way, so I figured I should run today instead of my usual Wednesday. It was 44 degrees when I woke up this morning!

I was not overly impressed with my 3 miles. I had a minor blip yesterday with my eating. I went out to the Cheesecake Factory with my daughter - I avoided the bread, I avoided Cheesecake (even though I bought a piece to bring home to my husband), I had potstickers and a salad which combined was slightly less than 1000 calories. Dinner was a very small portion of leftover pasta and some leftover sauteed vegetables.

But.....In the middle of the afternoon both kids were doing their own thing and I had finished what I needed to do so I chose to sit and watch TV (something I never get to do during the afternoon) and ate a back of garlic croutons (these croutons are so freaking good, and so big it is like eating a pita chip) and a small container of chocolate hummus - I eat this like it is pudding. It is better than Nutella (can I say how proud of myself I am that Nutella hasn't been in our house sine the kids went to camp 2 months ago!)

So needless to say, even though it was nice and cool, I was sluggish. Working out daily should hopefully be a reminder than what I eat and drink the day before can affect my performance the next day.

I wish this "False Fall" would be here to stay because they mornings have been great. Needless to say, it is supposed to be 85 on Friday so even though I will be running early (kids have no school but I have to work!) it could be a very swampy run :(

Weekend run and birthday lifting

Yep, today's my birthday. 49. 366 days to go until the big 5-0. I hope to make it a wonderful year. I think I said that last year, and the year before that, and that this blog was supposed to be all about me getting fit in my 40s. 366 days to do that. Let's make the best of it!

The weekend was pretty relaxing. Friday night we had gone to the Red Sox game - it was a beautiful night, the Red Sox actually won (okay, they were playing Baltimore, so a win wasn't hard!). I had some leftover pasta before I left so I wouldn't arrive at the ballpark hangry. I had a slice of pizza and a hot dog, a little of my kids' popcorn, and a sip of my daughter's lemonade, and a lot of water. Win, win.

Saturday I was up before everyone else and decided to do a little retail therapy. I didn't spend a ton, but just shopping aimlessly, on my own, was such a treat.

Sunday I knew I had to run, no mater what. My four mile run had never happened and I knew I had to do five miles on Sunday. It wasn't any less humid that it had been the last several days (68 degrees, 94% humidity to start). I wore my vest but I also wore my belt so I could put my phone and keys in the belt like I did for short runs. It was my first time using my wireless headphones. The headphones worked fairly well, though I wonder how they will be when I try out my visor (which I will need for running in the sun in Disney so I need to start practicing) and sunglasses.

I got 5.5 miles done. I tacked on the extra .5 to even out my miles for the year to 134 miles. It wasn't a pretty run. I ran 3 miles - stopped for a bit (turned off my watch as well :) ), turned around, ran 2 miles. Stopped and walked a bit (still turned off my watch) and then ran another 1/2 mile. Turned off my watch and walked the last 1/2 mile to my car.

I did run out of water, so for longer mileage I think I need to add a bladder to the back of the vest and put electrolytes in the front flasks. Before my run I had a flaxseed waffle PB&J sandwich, but I was definitely hungry by the end. And I had a small chocolate milk waiting for me in the car. But again, I wish I had some electrolytes, so I have since bought some for next run. 6 miles coming up on Sunday.

I set my alarm for 5:30 on Monday to do yoga, but my body wanted nothing to do with that so I slept another hour. This morning I did get up and did Upper Fix from 21 Day Fix Realtime, Week 3. Lifting weights is my favorite thing, but I am kind of itching to do some cardio so I may do a bike ride tonight before we go out to dinner.

I need to do more full length pictures, so one in gym clothes

And another before work. I hope to use these as progress pictures.

More to come tomorrow on what I want the next 366 days to look like.

Biking Video Friday

Thank goodness it is Friday - School is 10 days away and I am eager to get back into the school routine.

I got 4 workouts in this week!

Tuesday I did 21 Day Fix Realtime Upper Fix (I felt like lifting - I am not doing the videos in order)

Wednesday was 21 Day Fix Realtime Dirty 30 - I had never done a Dirty 30 video before - It was interesting.

Thursday I was supposed to run 4 miles. I had bought myself an early birthday present - wireless headphones. But when I woke up Thursday it was extremely foggy and 93% humidity. Um, no! I had gone to bed late and was tired so I went back to bed.

I knew I didn't want to run Friday because I am now going to do 5 miles on Sunday. Last night I signed up for the Peloton app (not the bike) and decided to do a 20 minute beginner ride. Our bike is pretty simplistic but doing these videos will be a lot better than just trying to do a program through the bike. I have to figure out the resistance and cadence on my own, but it is better than nothing!

 

I am excited because the app has more than just bike workouts - it has everything - strength, yoga, meditation, running inside and outside, bootcamp. I am all about trying to change things up right now, so I am glad to be able to try different things to see what works for me.

We are headed to the Red Sox game tonight - we bought the tickets before the season began, so when they were World Series champions and didn't suck. But it is what it is - I wish we didn't need to go but it should be a nice family night out. Hence why I am not running in the morning. I am going to try to eat not horribly (and drink water, not beer) but I know I will be tired (we need to walk about 2 miles to get to the park so we can pay $15 not $50) and dehydrated.

Happy Weekend!

Hard work needs to start NOW!

Last week (August 2-4) I took a 1/2 day on Friday and we drove up to Maine for the weekend. We walked around a State Park on Friday afternoon and then I got my annual lobster.

Saturday we hung out at my husband's family's lake house and then Sunday we went to the beach for a little while before grabbing lunch and heading home.

 

Monday morning was another beautiful morning so I ran 3 miles - I usually never workout or anything on Mondays.

Tuesday I did Upper Fix from Beach Body. While the schedule called for Cardio, my arms wanted to lift!

And then my exercise was over for the week. Completely unplanned. Tuesday night we celebrated my daughter's 13th birthday at a place called Fire + Ice where you pick your food and then they grill it for you on a giant hibachi. It is all you can eat, so I had 3 helpings - one asian themed, one southwestern themed, and then one just asian noodles. I am so stuffed. And my stomach killed for DAYS.

The next morning I felt hungover (and I hadn't slept well because of my stomach hurting) and Thursday I felt the same way and even into Friday.

The weekend I had planned to run 4 miles but my daughter had friends over both days to celebrate her birthday (the birthday that just kept on going and going and going) and since my I was playing single parent this weekend (It is easier to send my husband and son away instead of having them around with a house full of thirteen year olds) I didn't get my run in.

But I did run this morning. Three miles, not 4. I ran into friends that I used to run with when I'd get up at 5:00 and hadn't seen them in a while so we chatted for 30 minutes. By that time I was running (not literally!) so late, that I only had time for 3 miles. But I plan on getting in 4 miles later this week so I can be back on track for 5 miles on Sunday.

I wasn't going to weigh myself until my birthday (the 20th) but I chose to on Saturday. 233.0 Ugh, major ugh. Sunday I was 232.2. And this is right after TOM so my weight should be at it's lowest.

But it is what it is. I am back at it. I am canceling our dinner at The Melting Pot for my birthday. We don't need an expensive meal anyways. It isn't going to make me feel good, so we aren't doing it. I don't need cake. Just a little ice cream :) I bought new tracking journals. I am going to try, try, try. I need to not look back and don't try to look forward. Just live in the here and now. And make this a priority. I NEED to get back into shape and take this weight OFF!

First run back

It had been 7 weeks since I last summer. The hiatus was no planned, but I was loving my life without the kids at home so I was staying up way too late and sleeping until the last minute, plus the heat was just awful from the moment we got home on July 5. Apparently it was the hottest July on record here. Fun.

But my 10K is in 9 weeks and my 1/2 marathon is in 23 weeks, so I NEED to get running because I do NOT want to miss this 10K (like I am missing tomorrow). The heat and humidity had slightly broken. I didn't lay out clothes last night because I was sick of doing that and then not running. I slept in a little (until 6:00 vs 5:30 since the kids aren't at camp today) and when I looked it was 58 degrees with 86% humidity. I couldn't pass it up. I almost didn't wear a watch or bring my music, but in the end I chose both. I also knew I didn't need water just for 3 not very humid miles.

The 3 miles wasn't too pretty (average of 13:30) but I got it done without stopping (I wasn't very out of breath). But run #1 done!

I am at 122.5 miles for the year. Goal is 200 so I should be able to pass that.

I did get in 3 Beach Body workouts this week. I'll just say that going to the bathroom has been a little painful. #squats. I packed workout clothes for this weekend - I hope I get them done.

So this is happening. The one who will be 13 next week.

Forever I was 5'6 1/2" but at some point I went to the doctor and was 5'5 1/2". But after I had lost the 50 pounds I was taller. I think either the weight is compressing my spine and/or causing my lower back to arch thus causing me to be shorter. I hope losing weight will allow me to get my inch back!

I won't even talk about what this full picture looked like. Ugh, side shot, awful!!! But incentive!

Happy Friday!