I'm back on track...

Yesterday was another busy day. I took the boys to the book fair at school, then Seth and I came home to get ready to go to work. We got back in time to pick up Levi from school. Then we came home for a few minutes, and drove over to the Ag Building to pick up one of our trees that they had forgotten to give us on Saturday. I came home, unloaded the tree, and carried it out to the shed (to protect it from the 30mph wind). I did laundry, then started cooking dinner. Daddy got home, we had dinner, and then relaxed for a little bit. I told him "I need to workout...." He said he needed to do some weight training....so together we went into the spare room and I started "Biggest Loser" and jumped on the Elliptical to watch the shows we missed. He watched with me, while doing weights. It was fun to workout together. I did 30 minutes of interval training on the elliptical...and only stopped then because it was time to get the boys in bed. After we got them to sleep, I did 100 push ups and 100 crunches. Then I hit the sack.
It felt so good to get a short (yet high intensity) workout in. I always feel so much better after I get back in the groove of working out.
Today I've got to do a minimum of 2 reports. Then I also need to workout again. It's supposed to be rest day, but I think I've had more than enough "rest" this week. LOL! :) Ok, in all actuality, I only missed 3 scheduled workouts...but I hate to even miss 1. It's there in the back of my mind constantly, making me feel guilty.... But I ate clean, and that helped a lot! :)
Now, back to our regularly scheduled workouts. :)

I'm still a slacker....

I had big plans to actually work out last night...if you know me, you know I don't miss workouts.
However, I worked all day yesterday, measuring houses. From the time I took Levi to school, to the time I picked him up. (I even hurt myself while working...on the head...and it was throbbing the rest of the day, so I had a headache and just a constant throbbing pain 'i'll tell you more about this on my other blog)....Then I got home, and sent one report in, then started catching up on my chores around the house. By this time it was dinner, and then I went to tan...which I fell asleep...then I got back home around 8:15. I played with boys for a little bit, then read them stories and got them in bed, and I fell asleep again. Just totally exhausted. I guess my body just needed the rest. Anyway, I didn't get my workout again yesterday, but I ate very clean. So that helps.
Today, I'm determined to get my workout in though. I have two nights of biggest loser to watch (which I'll do while on the elliptical). Woo-Hoo!!! I know I'll feel better after I workout. Exercise helps alleviate PMS symptoms...YEA!!!! I'll definitely be working out today.
I do have to work first...and then I think I'll workout before starting on all of the reports I need to type up. (at least I have a plan...LOL!)

Such a slacker.....

I feel like such a slacker. I haven't worked out since Friday (my 5 mile run). Saturday and Sunday I was out of town, and then Monday Stephen was home sick...so I was cleaning, doing laundry, going grocery shopping, and taking care of him, etc...
Then yesterday I was working all day, and Levi had a basketball tournament last night. Today is supposed to be another busy busy day. Hopefully I can find time to squeeze in a run. I know I'll feel so much better if I do. (It's just almost that dreaded time of the month, and these few days before it arrives are always the worst.....I'm irritable, tired, crampy, bloated...don't feel like doing anything....blah!)

Week 4 starts today

It's a good think I did my long run on Friday. I was super busy all day on Saturday. Then that evening I took the boys to my parents for a visit. We didn't get home until around 7pm last night, and there was no way I could have ran 5 miles. I was exhausted. I'm so glad I planned ahead!
Today is supposed to be "strength training and stretching". Stephen is at home sick today, and Seth is really congested. Now my throat is getting sore, so I'm just praying I don't get whatever they have. I'm pumping myself full of vitamins too.

Oh, and I just saw today that Biggest Loser is a two-part show this week, on Tuesday and Wednesday. It will be on from 7pm-8pm on both nights. So be sure to set your recorders! :)

Week 3, Friday

Today is supposed to be "rest day". However tomorrow is supposed to be 40 minutes of cross training, and Sunday I'm supposed to run 5 miles.
Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day and Sunday I'll be visiting my parents, so I don't know if I'll actually get to do my run....so, just to be safe, I ran my 5 miles today instead of resting. :) Better safe than sorry. Then if I don't get my workout in tomorrow, I can do it Sunday evening...I'm just swapping out my rest day, for my long run day.

Week 3, days 3 & 4

Yesterday was cross training, so I did 30 minutes of interval training on the elliptical while watching Biggest Loser.
Today after I finished my work, I got back on the elliptical for another 30 minutes while watching the rest of Biggest Loser, and then I did weight training. However, today was my day for strength training PLUS run 3.5 miles. So a few hours later, after eating lunch and picking up Levi from school, I ran my 3.5 miles...then showered and rushed him to basketball practice. Thankfully todays run was much easier and much more enjoyable. Yea!!!

Week 3, days 1 & 2

Monday was strength and stretch. No problem!

Yesterday was to run 3.5 miles. Why it seemed so hard, I do not know. I just know I was really struggling and had to push myself to complete it. Maybe it was because it was 7:30PM, and I was tired and what I really wanted to do was lay on the couch and watch Biggest Loser......
But I didn't. I knew if I skipped this workout, then it would just be easier to skip again, and again...etc. (So I made sure my recorder was getting Biggest Loser; so i can watch it today while doing "cross training" on the elliptical).
I jumped on the treadmill, telling myself I would feel so much better after I started. Which I really did, once it was over. The first 2 miles were the hardest, then I kind of 'got in a groove'. Total, I ran 3.5 miles, but with warm up and cool down it was 3.75. I then stretched, and jumped in the shower. After that I did 50 crunches, and 50 reverse crunches. Whew, what a day.

Weekend...

Friday=Rest Day. Yea!!!
Saturday=30 min cross training....hum, does grocery shopping, house cleaning, and laundry count?
Sunday=4 mile run. Actually did 5.02 miles because I knew we were going out to dinner. :)

Another Good Day!

Today has been a great day already. Very relaxed. I've played games with Seth, and then we made valentines to put in the mail. Then while he was eating lunch, I hopped on the treadmill for today's workout.
I just finished 4.17 miles (it was supposed to be 3 miles, but I was in the zone and didn't feel like stopping, so I didn't). I'm also supposed to do strength training today. Which I think I'll do tonight, either before or after Levi's basketball practice.
I've got to go get showered and ready to go. I'm helping with Levi's Valentine's Day Party at school this afternoon.

BTW:
Have yall ever heard of "Powdered Peanut Butter"? You mix it with water and that makes it into the peanut butter texture. A friend of mine gave me a jar, and it's actually really good. It's not quiet as sweet as regular peanut butter, and my husband doesn't care for it (but he doesn't really have to watch his calories....he is in amazing shape, and prefers the real thing....) But it only has 54 calories for 2 Tbls! Compare that to normal peanut butter at 200 calories per 2 Tbls! Woo-Hoo!! Now I can have my apple and peanut butter again!!!!

Week 2, Day 3

Today has been a good day. It was supposed to be a 2 mile run or 30 minutes cross training.
I did my 30 minute Power Sculpt (Biggest Loser) DVD this morning. It was way easy. My heart rate barely got into the fat burning zone. I have no idea how many calories I actually burned...yes, I had my heart rate monitor on, but after I finished the workout, I realized I never pressed "start"! GRR! But I wasn't even sweating after I finished (not a good sign).
But it was time to get a shower and head off to work.
After getting home from picking up Levi from school. I got the boys a snack, and we talked about Levi's day, etc. They were tired and decided to color and watch cartoons, so I jumped on the treadmill. I ran 2.5 miles, and then walked another 1.6 miles. I did a total of 4.1 miles. I'm soaked in sweat, and feeling GREAT! Why I have more energy today? I don't know, except I haven't been as stressed with meeting deadlines, and I've had a few more carbs today. Good carbs though; fruit (banana, blueberries, apple, and a wheat tortilla.
I need to go make dinner now. My boys think they are starving...yea, it's been a whole 2 hours since they ate a snack. LOL! :)
Later!

Nutrition to relieve stress...

I was reading an article and it really hit home to me. It was about how the correct nutrition can help ward off stress. (Don't we all need that?!)
Have you ever gone to long without eating, and then been very irritable and biting everyone's head off? Or am I the only one? Turns out, it's the connection of food and mood. What you eat and when you eat it, has an affect on your mood.
This article says if you eat mostly fresh foods and avoid to many packaged foods, you will increase the anti-inflammatory feel good fats. It also says that Whey protein will enhance mood, especially in people who are prone to stress! This was such an eye opener! WOW! Maybe that's why I've been feeling better lately?! Between the running, and drinking a whey protein shake every morning....hummmmm.....

Week 2, Day 2

Yesterday's workout was to run 3 miles. I figured after Sunday's 4 miles, it would be super easy. WRONG! I was tired, and I don't know if I just hadn't ate enough or what, but I struggled through this run.
I ran the full 3 miles in 30 minutes and 23 seconds. Then I walked to warm up and cool down, so it was a total of 3.25 miles in 34 minutes. It was a better "time", but I really had to push myself through this workout.

Today I'm sore, from the weight training on Monday. I love that feeling!

Today's workout is to run 2 miles, or do 30 minutes of cross training. I'll probably do one of my workout videos....

Half-Marathon Training: Week 2, Day 1

Yesterday was Stretch/Strength Training day. I worked on appraisal reports all day, then after dinner, me and my hubby had a little friendly wii fit competition. :) I love beating him at something! He is always the BEST at everything, and is in Amazing Shape...so it felt good to knock him out of first place. heehee.
I did some yoga, strength, and some of the balance games on the wii fit, and then while my hubby was trying to earn his #1 spots back, I went and grabbed my 15 lbs dumbbells and did heavy upper body weight training.
I could have done more, but it was bedtime for the kiddos and then I was to sleepy so I hit the sack. I still did about 20-30 minutes total though, so that's not to bad.
I did great on my nutrition. Ate clean, no cheat foods. :)
Today is a 3 mile run. Should feel easy, after doing 4 miles on Sunday.

Sunday

Sunday was a much better day on my eating and exercise. I ate clean all day (no cheat foods!), and then around 4:30pm I jumped on the treadmill for my 4 mile run. I was afraid, since I have NEVER ran this far, without stopping to rest. But I was determined, and I DID IT!!!! Woo-Hoo! I did a total of 4.17 miles (included a short warm up and cool down), in 44 minutes. I was dripping with sweat when I finished, but I felt GREAT.

I had my heart rate monitor on, started the watch/counter, but then forgot to hit start again, for it to start timing my workout and counting my calorie burn. Grr....I was upset when I finished and saw that...I was so looking forward to seeing how many calories I had burned. Oh well, next time.

Today is Stretch and Strength Training. I have 3 appraisal reports to type up to. So hopefully I'll be able to take a break somewhere in between, and squeeze in a good workout.
Later!

Friday=Rest Day, Saturday=????

Luckily yesterday was "Rest Day". I was busy working all day. I left the house at 10:30am, and didn't get home until around 7pm.

After I finished working and was on the way home, Stephen said I could go by the new tanning place if I wanted to. So I stopped by there, talked with them, and bought some tanning. They gave me an additional 2 weeks free, because the place that used to be there was never open during their posted hours and I had lost 8 tans because I was never able to use them before they finally shut down....which I addressed my concern with them, about being open during posted hours, and they gave me 2 weeks free! I was impressed that they would do that, even though they weren't affiliated with the company that was there before. So I told my sweet hubby Thank You, and that he had bought me "tanning" for Valentine's Day! LOL! OK, so I bought it for myself, but it was something I wanted, and he would have bought it for me...so this just saves him from having to buy me anything next week. :)

The boys had me pick up Pizza on the way home. I actually ate 4 pieces. I was so hungry. I was gone all day and had only had a banana and protein shake for breakfast, a protein bar around 2pm, and then an apple around 5pm. I know I ate to much pizza, but it sure was GOOD! :)
Then we relaxed and watched a movie while waiting for Stephen's parents to get here. (They came down for the weekend, so they could watch Levi play basketball, and so Stephen's Dad could help him tear apart the tractor).

I haven't slept well, the past two nights in a row. I just can't get my mind to stop thinking about finances, work, my to-do list, etc. Thankfully I'm busy with work, and can help with the finances more now.

Today is supposed to be 30 minutes of Cross Training. I haven't done it yet. Hopefully I'll be able to find the time to squeeze it in though. Especially since we had donuts for breakfast. Yikes! I drank a protein shake before hand, hoping it would fill me up so I wouldn't eat to much. But then I had a jalapeno sausage thing...and I wasn't going to eat any donuts....but Seth got a Apple Fritter (my FAVORITE!) and then decided he didn't like it, and ate glazed donuts instead. Well, I couldn't let it go to waste....(if I was smart, I would have)...but we haven't had donuts in about a year or so, so I gave in. It was good, but I've felt guilty all day. Pizza last night, and donuts today.....yikes. Good thing I've been running a lot. Since last Sunday, I've lost 4 lbs....hopefully I didn't gain them all back between dinner last night, and breakfast this morning.
:o

Week 1, Day 4....

Yesterday was a very busy day. After working on reports, and house chores most of the day, I had to take Levi to basketball practice, and then come home and make dinner, and finish his homework.
I was supposed to Run 3 miles, and do strength training...but by 8:30pm I still hadn't had the chance to workout, and the boys were ready to read and go to bed. So I read to Seth, and once he was asleep, I went to my room to run. Stephen came in there right as I was starting and asked if I'd be very long (because he was ready for bed). I told him I had to run 3 miles. So he went to lay on the couch and read.
I ran my 3 miles in 33 minutes, and with warm up and cool down, I did a total of 3.25 miles.
As soon as I turned the treadmill off Stephen came stumbling in there to bed, and I jumped in the shower. I then laid in bed a read for a little bit, to get my mind and body calmed down enough for sleep. Unfortunately I didn't get to do the strength training, but I did at least get my run in.
My eating was GREAT yesterday, and I'm feeling wonderful! :)

Week 1, Day 3...

Yesterday's training schedule was to run 2 miles, or cross train. Since I had recorded The Biggest Loser, and hadn't watched it yet, I decided to jump on the elliptical for some cross training while I watched it. I did 1 hour and 2 minutes on the elliptical, and burned 485 calories.

My nutrition has been really good to. I've been trying to "eat clean". Which means eating lean proteins, fruits, veggies...basically things that are not processed. It's going well, and I'm feeling great! Who knew eating like this could make you so "regular"...this may be TMI....but I'm usually lucky to go once every 2-4 days...now I'm going daily. Wow! What a difference!

Today's training is to run 3 miles, and then do strength training. Wish me luck! :)

(Hope your doing well with your training Kate. I didn't feel like working out last night, but I thought "I can't let Kate do this without me! I know she is finding the time to train, so I have to also. I felt much better after I got started, and was so glad to have that extra motivation to get in there and get it done.)

3 miles...

Today's training was to run 3 miles.
I just finished. I actually did a total of 3.36 miles (I ran 3.05 miles and the extra was from a short warm up and cool down). I had on my HRM and it said I burned EXACTLY 400 calories! How often does that happen?! LOL!
Yesterday's workout was supposed to be stretching and strength training...however, I was super busy with work and chores and never managed to squeeze it in. But at least I did my run today. Woo-Hoo!!! I feel GREAT! I love the way I feel after a good, steady run.

Training...

I started my half-marathon training yesterday. I found a 12 week preparation chart online, and printed it out, but I couldn't wait to start on Monday, so I added yesterday in there. :) It was a beautiful, sunny, 70 degree weather day. So we took the kids to the track yesterday afternoon and Stephen and the boys played football on the field, while I ran. I ran 2.5 miles and then walked a lap and played a few minutes of football. Not to mention Seth tried to run the first lap with me, and made it about 1/2 way around, before begging me to give him a piggy back ride. LOL! So I got in a good workout. It felt GREAT!
I was going to try for 3 miles, but Stephen said that was probably a little much for my very first training run. Good thing I listened, because my legs are sore and tight today. If I'd done 3 miles, I might not be able to walk today. :)
As it is, I feel GREAT! I love the rush that running gives you. It just evaporates the stress and leaves you feeling amazing.
Ok, I've got to get to work...then I have strength training and stretching on the list today...I'll do that after I finish my appraisal reports.
Later!