Double Workout Run Down

Started out with a three mile run.

Followed by these cardio and ab exercises at the gym a few hours later:

20 minutes on the treadmill, 15 incline (maximum incline possible), 3.0 mph
100 ball crunches
100 opposite raises (on the ground, laying flat.  Raise opposite hand and arm to meet in the middle)
100 russian twists
100 leg raises (lower ab work)

I split the task into two parts (thus, 10 min. uphill tread followed by 50 each exercise - then repeated the set once).


Coming up: end of the month wrap up, future goals

Photo Food Journal

For some reason, not all my pictures made it from the camera onto here.  Thus, I'll have to write about a few things.

Breakfast: black coffee, superfood.  Not shown, Wheat Squares (like Chex, but Nature Valley brand) with rice milk.



Post workout smoothie: banana, peanut butter, rice milk, rice protein (chocolate - but still vegan) flavor.

Lunch: tofu with spinach, mushrooms, nutritional yeast.  Corn on the cob.

Afternoon snack (not shown): spoonful of peanut butter, and sweet tea from local coffee shop.

Dinner: Mixed greens, carrots, dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, white balsamic viniagrette salad.  Corn on the cob.

A little bit of a random day, but that's to be expected considering I was experimenting with moving my meals around.  Lately, I've been having salad for lunch, and my bigger meal at dinner time.  I don't know how successful this was, I'll have to try it again and make some decisions!


Coming up: Double workout run down

Run. Vlogs. Goals.

SHUT. UP.  Last week's fastest one mile was 12:14.

From top to bottom:  1.0 miles, 11:52 total time, 11:54 finishing pace.
Ah-maze-ing.  I was pretty sure the whole time that I'd end up slower than last week.  Yes of course I'm terrified, because next week will have to be faster!  Wish me luck!

Vlogs - I have learned so much from the last six days.  Putting what you eat, and how you work out on camera is really eye opening.  Really, it's a fantastic tool.  I'm actually super glad that I did it this past week, because July is looking pretty chaotic.  Taking time to edit and upload is very time consuming, and I think the people who do it full time, should be getting paid! 

Goals - this week I'm going to keep the five gym workouts, and the ten miles.  If there are more miles, that would be great.  I'm going to also add three sessions on the elliptical - just to push the cardio up a little more. 


Coming up: Photo Food Journal

Practice What You Preach - Food Edition

As I contemplate my twenty plus year struggle with emotional eating, I realize that I have all the answers right in front of me.  I've had two years of bi-weekly therapy appointments directly dealing with this.  I know that I eat when I'm feeling lonely, bored, or depressed.  I know I don't eat when I'm angry or anxious.  I know that eating when I'm struggling with life doesn't make the problem easier or go away.  In fact, it makes it worse - I end up feeling physically in pain, as well as emotionally. 

When I hear people talk about their struggles with food: "why do I eat this way?", "why is food a reward for me?", "how can I stop overeating?" - I have the answers. 1) Most likely in your childhood, food was presented in a certain way, and you eat that way out of habit (for me, my mother loved with food.  So when she remarried a man who was indifferent and cold towards me, changed my last name, thus my identity at age 8 - I loved myself with food.)  2) In our society, food is in abundance - and it's the cheapest way to pat yourself on the back.  (So for me, I have to save up to reward myself materially.)  3)  To make sure you are not overeating, keep the lines of communication open between your head and your stomach.  (I'm about 50% successful with this one).  Thus, if I have all the answers - why I am still struggling?

Because I am a professional at numbing.  Not feeling anything.  I'd rather not have loved at all, than lose someone.  I'd rather hurt myself than hurt someone else. I'd rather keep the peace than speak up.  A week ago, my trainer told me we were doing 10 minutes on the stairmaster - my biggest fear.  I'd only ever done 3 minutes, and barely survived that.  It was the hardest thing I'd ever done, I had tears in my eyes the whole time - "I hate myself" running through my head.  When I finished, she asked me how it went.  I had no idea.  I had left my body for the entire journey, and was miserable in my head.  Comfortably numb? Not quite.

It's time for me to look at all the answers in front of me, within me, instead of looking for more answers elsewhere.  Someone else's journey cannot be copied.  It is inspirational, no doubt.  But I have the knowledge to change my life - and it's time to put it to practice.


Coming up: weekly timed one miler, daily vlog experience, goals

Let's Make It Three

This morning I ran three miles.  That's a first in a while.  It was definitely difficult, and considering that I'm carrying around 30 extra pounds (the last time I ran three miles on a regular basis, I was lighter), I am happy that I accomplished it!

From top to bottom: 3.0 miles, 43:12 total time, 386 calories, 14:25 average pace.


Coming up: all about food

Run and Thoughts on Weight

Run - Last time, my fastest one mile was 12:30.  Today's time. . .

From top to bottom:  1.00 miles, 12:14 total time, 12:16 average pace.  I'm pleased with this week's result, and really can't believe how quickly I'm pushing through the 12 minute time range!  I do think it helps my longer runs, but as previously mentioned, I'm less concerned with speed and more concerned with making it to the end!

Thoughts on weight - usually I can account for any shift in my weight.  It goes up because I ate the wrong foods.  It goes down because I worked out and ate right.  This week, I am unable to account for my near three pound weight gain.  This is up from two weeks ago.  Now, the first week was rough - I worked out with H twice, and then made a lot of really bad food decisions.  Week two (this week), I did three trainer workouts (two with H, one on my own), and ran four days:  Tuesday - 2.57 mi, Wednesday - 2.43 mi, Friday - 2.0 mi, today - 1.0 mi.  A total of 8 miles.  My food intake has been great, no real big concerns.  Most importantly, I've done really well not eating emotionally.  Could I really be paying for my poor eating decisions more than a week later?


Coming up: Milestone - three mile run

Workout Run Down (Gym)

This morning I ran two miles, and I don't think I can swing a gym workout additionally.  That said, I'll talk about my workout from yesterday with H (my trainer).  Most of these exercises I would need to show you, as I don't know their official names.  That said, I'll do my best to explain!

One leg box step ups with a dumbbell single shoulder press (30 or so each leg, she counted - I didn't!)
Half mile on the treadmill (12:00 minute mile pace)
Squats while holding a bar, followed by a thruster when standing (again, maybe 30 - might have been more)
10 minutes on the stairmaster
2 rounds of different ab exercises (50 count each)

I feel like there might have been something else, but I'm not remembering!  This was completed in a little under an hour.  My legs and butt are still quite sore!


Coming up: weekly timed one miler, thoughts on weight

Photo Food Journal

This is from yesterday, 6/14
Post morning run, unsweetened iced coffee

Craving fruit for breakfast. . .

For lunch, salad made at home: greens, shredded carrots, dried cranberries, walnut pieces, and apple cider dijon viniagrette.

 With some Tomato Basil Wheat Thins

Which I actually had a second helping of later in the afternoon. . .
Followed by dinner, yes - I made sushi rolls!  I took a class last week, and went out immediately the next day to purchase all the supplies.  Still need to work on my presentation, and I need a sushi knife!  Cucumber roll (rice inside), and Avocado Cucumber roll (rice on the outside with sesame seeds).  Served with wasabi and organic shoyu.

Not shown: a glass of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc.  I visited a good friend, and we sat on the front porch for a few hours. Ah, summer!


Coming up: Workout Run Down (gym)

Building Distance

This run almost didn't happen.  I woke up later than I wanted, got to the park later than anticipated, and the moment I turned on my ipod, the battery died.  I thought to myself, "I'll just go as far as I can, and run again this afternoon to make up the miles."  And then, I ran the entire outer loop (2.57 mi) in silence.  My time wasn't great, but again considering this run was "au natural", I'm thrilled I even did it!  This puts me halfway through my homework assignment via my trainer - after yesterday's session, H gave me 5 miles to put away between today and tomorrow.

Top to bottom: 2.57 miles, 39:19:55 total time, 336 calories burned, average mile time 15:17.

Coming up: Photo Food Journal

The Hard Road

It's been a little hectic around here, and I meant to post my long run last Friday - but I didn't get around to it.  Rather than back track, and fill in the missing post - we're just going to move forward.  That's kind of my motto for right now - move forward.  Let me explain it this way - I was with a lot of really amazing friends over the weekend.  Per usual, I spent half the time thinking - next time we're hiking, next time we're picnicking, next time we're listening to live music. . .I'll be thinner.  I'll be able to wear cute outfits.  I'll be able to relax, and not feel so self conscious.  And it makes me miserable, because I've thought this way at every event, for most of my life.

So, my decision in moving forward includes this:  two choices, two paths.  The first:  accept that you are this overweight person, you cannot move faster, you cannot wear cute clothes, you will always be painfully self conscious.  Accept that, and start living your life right now.  The second:  accept that change is hard, is a lot of work, and will require you to be uncomfortable regularly.  Do this, and change will happen.  Change to your body, your spirit, your emotions, your mentality.  The second choice will take more work, and the first will take acceptance.  I need to choose, and be willing to deal with the consequences of either one.

I've really thought a lot about this the last few hours, and I will not be controlled by my fear of difficult tasks, of failing, or of living.  Moving forward, choosing the hard road of change.

Workout Run Down (Gym)

Repeated each round three times:

30 seconds of Jumping Jacks
15 goblet squats
15 pushups
15 walking lunges carrying 8 lb dumbbell in each hand
15 mountain climbers
15 deadlifts with same dumbbells from above
15 ball crunches
30 second sprint on treadmill

Side note: hard to stay positive and motivated.  Found out that I didn't get the job I'd hoped for, and while not surprised - no one likes to be disappointed.  I've received some encouragement from friends, family, and my therapist - so now it's up to me to make myself happy, and move forward.


Coming up: Running for Distance

Food Journal Entry

This is from today, and the picture needed to be split.  Here is this morning -

 Normally, I wouldn't have the almond milk in my coffee, but I felt like I made it a little strong!  For lunch I had a cup of the Sicilian Collard Greens, along with three HUGE strawberries (another reason to love summer!).

What you can't see at the 4:00pm is the quantity of popcorn - it was 5 cups, or an entire bag.  Yes, too much!  The cut off part at 6:30pm is basmati brown rice. 

In general, an okay day.  I need to increase the vegetables tomorrow!


Coming up:  Work Out Run Down (gym)

Run. Personal Trainer. Food

Run - This is pretty exciting.  Two weeks ago my best was 12:54 for one mile.  This morning -

From top to bottom:  1.00 miles, 12:31 total time, 12:32 pace.  Wow!  20 seconds faster!  I think this may be in part to my reunion with my personal trainer, who had me run on a treadmill at this pace on Thursday.

Personal Trainer - after a six week hiatus, H and I are reunited!  I was able to use a stipend from a research project to buy another package, and will be putting it to good use.  I'll be going in every Monday and Thursday for an hour each until the 12 sessions are used up.  I can't do much else this summer, so I might as well put myself at the forefront.

Food - At the end of the week, I did start to lean on the packaged stuff again.  What is my deal?  The stress is lessened, I have more time - why do I still do this?  The other thing I'll mention is that I've been exhausted.  I bet the two go hand in hand.  Since obviously eliminating it altogether is proving pretty difficult, I'm going to take it day by day, and ask myself "would you be okay right now, not eating this?". 


Coming up:  Food journal entry

Workout Run Down (Outdoors)

Lesson learned. 

1.  Get up early and do your distance run before it's 85 degrees outside.
2.  Time to trade in the sweat pants for athletic capris.

I won't whine about how hard this was, I'll just say that I went 2.43 miles and I'm glad.  When I do another distance push on Tuesday, I'll be following my advice from above.  :)


Coming up: Weely timed one miler, personal trainer, food

Vegan Recipe Review

So far everything I've tried from this cookbook has been phenomenal!  I wanted to try this recipe because cauliflower is in abundance right now. . .

Garlic cloves chopped, curry powder, chili powder, red pepper flakes, fine sea salt, freshly ground pepper, olive oil (I used a blend).

Chopped one head of fresh cauliflower, and mixed it in a bowl with all the above.

Transferred to 9 x 13 pan, cooked in the oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Into the serving bowl, and. . .

YUM!!  It is slightly spicy, and has a great texture - still a little crunch, and not soggy.  Also, it didn't make tons - which I appreciate.  (I get bored easily, and don't want to eat the same thing forever.)  The only change I might make is to decrease the amount of oil.  It would be just as great with less! 


Coming up:  Workout Run Down (Outdoors)