I am a mean boss!

So, I convinced one of my interns to do a 5K with me in November. That makes her sound young and impressionable though, right? Actually, she's 30 and is going back to school to change careers and working as a member of my team for this school year...so I'm not really coercing her, right? She's a big girl and can make her own decisions! She's so out of shape (by her own comments) and needs to gain some control in her life (and running is a perfect means to this, right?)....the girl is typically a small size 4, but this last year has really made her body unrecognizable to herself, so this is really good for her! I know, I know...it sounds as if I'm trying to convince her, but really she is all game for it!

So, I've told her about the C25k program, and she's tried it off and on for several weeks now but still can't get past week 1. She just bought a running skirt and is determined to get through the first week this week! And, because I'm just that kinda gal, I told her every Wednesday we could run during lunch and do the C25k program on that run. So, next week, I'm going to be in deja vu land and start at week 2 of the C25K :)

Actually, it will be nice....an easy workout mid-week, even though the weather will be awful. But, hey, its only partial running for 30 minutes, right? And besides, by the time it starts to cool down here in mid October, thats when we will start doing more true running and more true sweating, so maybe it will all work out?

Works out for me anyways. I want to do a short 20-30 minute cardio workout wednesdays (I plan on running Tuesday and Thursday nights anyway, but wanted to interperse some light cardio between the two....and this seems perfect). Besides, my kids will have soccer practice Wednesday nights, and Joe will start baseball soon enough Wednesday nights so I have few opportunities once that ramps up. This just seems perfect to fill the need to exercise, fit it into the schedule AND make it a social thing :)

Motivation Hint

Put your running clothes on the moment you feel the motivation lacking....just sitting around in your running attire will make you feel silly, so you just HAVE TO go for a run!

Canes Classic 5k Race Recap

My first race was this morning....what a great experience running with so many other people! And, I now have a personal record to speak of. Granted, there is nothing to compare it against...but at least I have something!

The Canes Classic 5K started at 8am this morning. I got up right before 6am, as I thought it would be best to finish eating at least two hours prior to the race. So, 6am, I had my shakeology shake with some PB2 and bananas. We roused the kids and had them finish breakfast and get dressed, and we were out the door prior to 7am. We arrived at the site and parked, picked up my registration info/shirt/pamphlets and were ready to go! Since we had the kids with us, we hung out at the playground. I walked a bit and ran a bit before hand, so I was loose.

I already knew that my time wouldn't be stellar...this is, after all, a morning race. I ALWAYS run slower in the morning....how does one change that? But, thats ok.

I ran up in the middle of the pack, and it was a shotgun start. Everyone ran out and I had a nice pace for the first mile. The second mile was a tad slower, but I was happy to get the chance to pour some water over my chest/shoulders at the 1.5 mile mark, and then again at the 2 mile mark. Now, from that point on, it was tough. We were running in the bright sun, and it was hot! I had to walk a bit at the 2 mile mark, and then again at the 2.5 mile mark....so a full 1.2 minutes of walking the course. The last 1/3 mile was under cover (like most of the first half) so I finished that part without pause, but I know it wasn't very strong.

Looking back, I know the morning affected me the most...energy was just lacking, regardless of what I tried to do. The heat didn't play as much of a part of the energy issue as I would have presumed, simply because I know I have run in this heat before! I even had some sport beans right before the race, but that obviously didn't help.

My cadence was especially slow...81spm average (max of 85spm). I typically run 83-85spm, so definitely slower than average. I wonder why though....sure, I had to run around people, but did that really account for such a slower pace...or was it because of this and the morning run?

I didnt' have nearly as many nerve issues as I presumed that I would. So, I definitely think the morning hour made it for me. End result? Unofficial 33:45 time.

Ok, for a first race, I'm pleased I suppose, even though I know I can do better than this. What should I do next time? If its a morning race, which most are, I suppose I just need to run more in the morning to acclimate properly. Nothing else I can do, right? Since I think that was my #1 issue, I simply have to become a morning-acclimated runner.

Next race is a 4-miler through a country club....2 weeks until that. I'll try to do at least 2 runs a week in the morning from now until then and see if that plays into my energy level. Will update beforehand with my predictions!

Sennheiser Adidas PMX 680i Sports Headset

I purchased these earlier this year at a decent deal price on amazon. Now, this was done in the baby days of my running career (I think I'm in the toddler years now). I needed tunes and prompts and everything else just to finish the C25k program. And these fit the bill absolutely perfectly!

Lets look at the pros:

• The headset fit nicely...snug but never hurt my ears (note that my husband's head is much larger than mine....physically...and he loves them as well)
• The sounds was stellar, both on low volume and when I pumped it up
• While the sound was clear, I was still aware of a lot of ambient noise
• The can be rinsed off...so any sweat (yeah, I sweat....I don't "glow") can easily be removed
• They never fall out!

Cons:

• None...except if you want to count the price. Although you probably can find a deal if you google it a bit.

While I don't use music nearly as much as I did before (I like hearing the sound of my breathing and my footfalls), my husband is using these at least three times a week and would scream if I told him he couldn't! They are made very well and have the added benefit of fitting my kids ears when they are watching something on the iPad....see...I even trust my kids with these things!

Shakeology 14-Day Challenge - Day 14 Final Update

So, week 2 consisted of the following (and in paranthesis is what I did):

Monday: Upper/Core + optional 15-20 minutes speedwork session (Upper/Core)
Tuesday: 30 minutes Cardio (1 hour running)
Wednesday: Upper/Core + optional 15-20 minutes speedwork session (Upper/Core)
Thursday: 30 minutes Cardio (40 minutes running)
Friday: Upper/Core + optional 15-20 minutes speedwork session (Upper/Core)
Saturday: 60 minutes Cardio (20 minutes running)
Sunday: Rest + optional upper/core (nothing but rest, as I have my first race tomorrow!)

I was also pretty consistent with logging my food intake. I averaged 1600-1700 calories/day. Most days seem to average 55% carbs, 35% protein (100 grams/day was my goal) and 10% fat. Just with the calorie reduction alone, I should have lost 1 pound (250 calorie deficit estimate X 14 days), but I also gained some muscle throughout this time. Sure, not much...but some. So, I started at 156....and where am I now, you ask? Drumroll please.......154.

As for my stats, this is what I logged into the beachbody website on Day 1 and Day 14:

Weight 156 - 154
Waist 30.5 - 30.0
Buttocks 39 - 38
Chest 38 - 38
Right Upper Arm 12 - 11.67
Left Upper Arm 11.7 - 11.67
Right Upper Thigh 23 - 22.5
Left Upper Thigh 23 - 22.5
Body Fat 26.36% - 26.14%
BMI 26.8% - 26.4%

Overall, for two weeks, I felt the results were pretty decent. Sure, not much...but it was ONLY two weeks, right? But...I do feel a bit leaner. When I wake up in the morning, my body just feels more slim, even when lying down (and seriously, thats when you really do feel fat because the fat rolls to one side of your body rather than sits uniformly around your abdomen!). My transformation is a work in progress....I don't expect overnight results, and it would be naive of me to assume that 2 weeks can transform me! I just need to continue to focus on the overall goal. A healthy body fat percentage, a healthy BMI, and the endurance to handle several half marathons next year, and the strength to start the P90X program!

As for the shakeology, I am committed to it for the next few months. It sure does help to fill in those missing nutrients when you don't get in enough calories. I probably have consumed about 200 calories/day on somewhat empty calories...which I'm ok with, as I am making good choices 90% of the time. Some days, I've been eating a ton of fruit, and other days none. Some days I eat a ton of veggies, and other days none...so on a weekly basis, my micronutrients seem appropriate, it just helps to ensure that it truly is optimal! And besides, its an easy thing I can do every day (honestly, much more pleasant than taking supplements!)

The Princess Started it all.....

I remember way back in early April someone mentioning the C25k program....that got me to research a few things online. And anyone who knows me knows that I am an excellent googler....someone needs to now something, and I will find it! So, I research away....after all, who wouldn't want to get a better understanding of what they are committing to?

What garnered the most attention was the Princess Half Marathon, that I stumbled across. I kept on going back to this one race, and thinking that, just maybe, I could partake in that. This was before I even finished week 1 of the program....insane when I think about it, isn't it? And yet, that propelled me to where I am right now....my goal to be able to run a half. The idea of relying on walking the Princess was just not going to cut it.

It took me a good 2-4 weeks to mention this idea to my husband, and I swear while he was supportive, I'm sure inside he was thinking "yeah right...she'll go all gung ho for a few weeks and then stop dead in her trails" ....while, I'm not dead and still running the trails now. So, I suppose it was a good thing that this was his inner voice saying this and not his outer voice :)

So, I had that injury and it set me back...but I still kept checking out the facebook page dedicated to the Princess Half....and how everyone was getting so excited for it, even though it was 8+ months away! I remember thinking...there simply must be something to this run! That facebook page ad my continued kindle-purchasing obsession on all books related to running kept me interested throughout that 4-5 week break. Seriously, when I look back on it, I'm surprised I had to drop running after only a few weeks and then equally surprised that I started all over again once the injury looked like it had healed! Well, the fact that I was reading magazines and purchasing running accessories and cute running clothes throughout this time also instilled that determination....hard to justify NOT running again when I am buying all of this stuff!

But, more so than anything else, I am proud of myself. I've never been an athlete. I've never understood the need. But, I do now. I love the sense of pride that I get when I do something that I didn't expect to be able to do. After all, just last night, I ran a quick 2-miler in 19 minutes....thats the fastest run ever for me! I was ecstatic! Sure, someone else may say that I'm slow, and thats ok....I'm not racing against them....this one is all for me.

Its been years since I can honestly say that I am proud of something that I'm doing...sure, I think I am a good mother and I'm constantly proud of the children that I am raising, but this is simply different....and its not something I ever thought I was missing, until I tried it.

Slim in 6

Ok, so this is a Beachbody program...same people that developed P90X...and if you have never heard of P90X, you are living in a cave! :)

I'm going to give it a go. Now that the Beachbody 14-day Challenge is almost behind me, I thought this would be a good way to step back on the intensity a bit, but still continue to move forward. I plan to continue the running schedule, of course, but work this in as well. And, I know personally that I can focus on something for 4-6 weeks really well, but any program longer than that just seems to drag on for me. If I mix it up, I know I will stay on my current wellness path for quite some time! Remember that goal of mine? Drop to less than 140 pounds by Christmas and be ready for the 10K and various half marathons next Spring...can we do this? Yes, we can! (I know, too much Bob the Builder in my house these days)

So, what is Slim in 6? Check out the program details here (click on the link, then "shop", then "fitness program"). Its designed for those that do not currently do much in the way of fitness...so its great to get someone off of the couch! It includes fat-burning cardio with light resistence training to help you tone without bulk. Its supposedly great for the mid-section, as well as thighs, hips and arms.

And of course, I will update everyone how its going and if its working for me...and how intense it really is. I know some people that have no fitness finesse want to get off the couch, so this may be suitable for them...but I am also curious if its enough work to feel like a real workout for those that do something on a regular basis. I've heard it fits both groups of people (just not die hard people...but thats where P90X and Insanity come into play).

Beachbody Coach...Me?

So, I did the math and if Joe and I continue to just drink Shakeology every morning, its cheaper for me to be a Beachbody Coach and pay their minimal maintenance fee to get the bigger product discounts....so I was contemplating it. I'm not one to go out and push any products on someone, but people have asked how I have lost this weight...and while its not all related to Beachbody products, the same thing that makes Beachbody successful is what has done it for me....to get moving, be selective on my food choices and just overall try to be more healthy!

I know that I've seen people mention that whenever they have researched Shakeology, for example, they always come to websites that are owned by coaches, so it appears to be a sales pitch. Honestly, it just makes sense to be a coach if you are using Shakeology. Even if this is the only thing that you purchase, the discount on the monthly product offsets the price to be a Beachbody coach, and you get all the other benefits thrown in!

So, I did it, I'm a coach...even if I only use Shakeology for a few months, it breaks even in no time. So, whats to lose? And besides, I know how to lose weight...I have lost of ton of weight in a very healthy manner throughout this year, so if people ask me, I'll have an answer for them and maybe can guide them to doing the same thing!

Where am I...Where do I want to be?

I cannot believe that just last Christmas I weighed 190 pounds. Isn't that simply astounding? I'm not sure how it happened....well, I do know...and I do blame it all on the kids!

I gained weight just trying to conceive my daughter. I actually had two back-to-back miscarriages, so I was extra diligent to try to get every morsel of nutrition into my body. I selected foods that were very nutritious, abiding by the "blue ribbon" diet for pregnancy, and ignored the calorie content of everything. I would have done this again....I simply wanted to make sure that I kept the next child I conceived! I was getting pregnant very easily, but simply couldn't keep the pregnancy. Countless tests and genetics were reviewed, and the only thing that seemed to hinder me was my diet...so that was my focus. I was 150 pounds when these events began...that was a comfortable size 8 for me.

And after I had my daughter and nursed her for 6 months (you really can't diet when you are nursing), I found myself pregnant with my son. So, basically, I was pregnant/nursing for 36 month straight! That screws up your body totally!

Once I finished nursing my son, I was so focused on getting them to eat properly, sleep properly and active, I always was putting myself last. Doesn't that sound familiar? So, I eventually ballooned to 190 pounds. I saw the family pictures from Christmas last year, and I simply couldn't comprehend that I was larger than my mom....I have always had it in my head that she was a larger woman. This simply cannot be. I need to do something about it!

That was my impetus to get healthy. It took me a bit of time to ramp up after seeing those Christmas pictures....about 4 months. My husband was scheduled to have rotator cuff/labram surgery, so he would be available to do everything at home (within reason) and not be participating in his weekly basketball/baseball excursions...so I knew that if I want to make any change, and had to devote a lot of time to it, this was the best time! This is the only time where the kids' schedules/needs would not be altered if I do this, as Joe would be there a home to take care of them.

So, the week after his surgery, I began to run. I started with running, and then altered my diet slowly. I staved off the sugar, and slowly weaned off of the caffeine. I have tried countless things, and when i got bored of one thing, I switched it to another. What surprises me is that the running (while extremely difficult at first, because I was so out of shape and carrying so much weight) has not bored me at all. While it has become the cornerstone of my exercise routine, I have been able to complement it with different activities as well.

I've also transformed my diet. Sure, I imbibe in treats and other items routinely, but its all in moderation. For years I have focused on buying healthy foods for the house, but then that only helped one meal/day! Now, I am eating well throughout the day. I think Shakeology has really instilled this discipline in me already. Its the start of my day...it sets my "food" mood throughout the day, which just keeps me focused on making good choices. I don't beat myself up when I take a break and indulge, but rather when I drink the shake the next morning, I am starting again on this mission to be healthy.

My current goal is to get to 140-145 before Christmas, which will put me squarely in the "healthy" BMI category. I am now carrying more muscle than ever before, so I'm pleased with this range, and I do believe I will be a perfect size 6 as a result.

My kids deserve a mom that will be around, free from illnesses. They need me, and I want to be there for them. Is there any better reason to focus on my health? I think not.

Garmin Forerunner 610...Part 2

Last month (Part 1), I told you about my little gadget, but I didn't explain the other pretty data charts it provides... From the same short run as the other chart, here is one that shows additional detail.

In a snapshot, it shows it all...you see that I stopped a total of 4 minutes (I actually stopped the timer on the watch three times, which you can also see in the charts on the previous review post). First time, was a result of seeing my kids in a car driving by and chatting...they were soooo excited to see mommy running so how could I not stop to talk! Second time was the kids again...they dropped off their big sister and wanted to try to find me again, so they drove down the street again and of course I had to pause and wave and tell them to be good listeners for daddy, or I couldn't read them a book before bed. See...they were out for ice cream. I should get extra credit, right? I ran instead of going with my kids to Cold Stone. Seriously, there should be a running medal just for this alone!

Now, the third pause was simply due to me being tired. No excuses, but I gave myself a 60 second walking break and then got it into my head that I had 8 more minutes of running and I was going to focus and not stop again. I did just that.

What I find also surprising about this little watch is that I find myself constantly looking at my pace. I suppose as a beginner runner, I know when I'm really really slow and I know when I'm speedy, but I don't have a sense of the nuances between running at an 10:45 pace versus a 10:30 pace. That is slowly changing. I now know that I can confidently run a 5k at an 10:25 pace, on average....so I find myself watching my watch every minute throughout my run to see where I am and to gadge my energy level. If I run at a 10:10 pace, I know thats too fast so I do see how long I can maintain that, but eventually I slow down. Likewise, if I see 10:45 on my watch, I force myself to speed up simply because I know I can do better!

See...its that constant display which tells me my performance. I don't want to have a slow overall pace, and I know its better to have a negative split or even pace throughout...so its in my face constantly, and I can't avoid it. Its like my own little personal trainer in there telling me to get off my butt and stop smelling the flowers because I already know what those smell like!

So, yes, its not just a stop watch with charts to review after the run...its real time performance measurement, and real time reminders of what I should do. And before I know it, I bet I can feel if I'm running at a 10:30 pace versus a 10:15 pace!