Training, and BL thoughts

Training is going well. My half-marathon will be here this coming Sunday. Yikes! This is my very first race, and I'm crazy enough to be doing a Half-Marathon! LOL! (But at least I'll be doing it with my Aunt, and her daughter and step-daughter.) I'm excited but nervous all at the same time. Any tips or tricks from you seasoned racers, would be greatly appreciated.

I ran 10 miles again on Monday (I was supposed to do it Sunday, but we were out all day). So after my run, I had another raw spot on my lower back, from the tag on my panties. Gah! Is something like this going to happen every time I run over 10 miles? I was shocked; I had no pain to indicate that this was happening. I only noticed because when I went to get in the shower, I saw a new red spot on my lower back, a little lower than where the other one was (that just recently healed up). Figures. After this long run, I made dinner, and once Stephen got home he said he needed to lift weights. So we both lifted weights, and then I stretched and did some ab work.

Last night (Tuesday) I missed the first 30 minutes of Biggest Loser, but thankfully I had gone in the other room to watch Biggest Loser while on the elliptical and figured out the recorder wasn't working. So I fixed it, then jumped on the Elliptical to workout while watching the rest of it. I did a full hour on the Elliptical, then finished watching the show while stretching and doing abs.

So, what did y'all think of Biggest Loser last night?! It was Good! I started watching it right as Allison was telling them about their challenge. (carrying all that weight over the 16 sand hills). That was a good Challenge. Tara is so driven, and motivated. I love her "I can do it" attitude. I was shocked that Filipe and Ron were below the yellow line. Since they both weighed in first, and dropped such huge numbers, I was afraid they were going to send someone else below the line. But everyone had stepped it up, and they all lost really big numbers. I was so proud of Tara and Helen. I was hoping to see Ron go home, but if I was Tara and Helen, I would have voted Filipe off to. You know Ron isn't a threat to them. I'll be surprised if he loses much of anything after going home to the real world. Did you notice when everyone threw their bags of weight over that ledge, they all said things like "good riddance" "I'll never see that person again!" etc. Well, I couldn't help but notice when Ron threw his over, he said "see ya later!". I immediately thought "yep, you probably will!".
I am proud of Tara and Helen. I secretly hope Tara wins, but it would be awesome to see Helen win too. Either one of them, and I'd be happy.

Biggest Loser thoughts

Stephen and I finally watched Biggest Loser last night. It was a good one. I was shocked that Kristen went home. Ron is so conniving. He kept his promise that he wouldn't write her name down, but he helped his son find the loop-hole to get rid of her. I was just sitting there with my mouth hanging open thinking "wow! how can he say everything just so correctly, so that he isn't technically fibbing about any of it?! he is so conniving!"
I personally hope Tara wins. I think she has the drive and the determination to win this, and her head seems to be in the right place. Mikey is getting arrogant and cocky, and I'm really beginning to dislike him almost as much as I dislike his Dad. So Tara is my choice. Helen is ok, but she is much to whiny for me. Her and Kristen both are such Drama Queens. I couldn't handle listening to them all day. Of course I can't stand Filipe. Ever since him and his cousin Sione acted so childish and refused to train with Jillian, blew up with her, and then went whining to Bob...I've been out on them both.
Anyway, it was a good show, as always. :)

Training Schedule

Well, my training schedule is a week short. It has it laid out, as if my half-marathon was this coming Sunday, so I'm currently repeating last week's training.
I missed Tuesday's workout. Stephen came home from work with a high fever on Monday, and even with Advil I couldn't get it to come down. So I re-scheduled some of my work appointments and I took him to the Doctor on Tuesday morning. We found out he has Strep Throat. Yikes! Luckily I have avoided catching it so far.
But with him being sick on Tuesday I didn't run..he was in bed and our treadmill is in there, so I didn't want to bother keeping him awake, etc.
Yesterday I did finally run again though. I ran 5 miles. It felt great! :) (Except for my poor feet. They are peeling like crazy all along the bottom and even on my toes. it is so gross and uncomfortable! So I keep lathering them up with cooling foot lotion each morning, in hopes of helping the uncomfortable thick dry skin feeling).
Gotta get to work.
Later!

Nutrition...

Jen, this is in answer to your comment, wondering if I am still following the clean eating plan.

For the most part, yes I'm still following the "clean eating" lifestyle...just not that exact nutrition plan. I change it up a little bit from day to day, depending on what I'm doing that day. But I feel great, and am trying to stick with fresh foods, and trying to avoid processed foods. It seems to be working. I'm at 123.2, as of this morning. I was at 120.2 last week, but it's almost "that time of the month" (explains the weight gain...water/bloating....blah!)

Note to self....

On race day, do not wear shorts that you have to fold the top band down on (to make them fit better).....
I had a pair of short on like this yesterday, while running my 10 miles. I guess because I was so sweaty, they were rubbing on my back, where the folded down band was making the seam rub on me. When I jumped in the shower last night, I felt this horrible burning pain on my lower back, so I asked Stephen about it after I got out. He said it was a short line, that was rubbed raw. So he put some "Neosporine Triple Antibiotic Ointment plus pain reliever" on it for me. It still hurts this morning.
Good lesson learned before race day....only 2 weeks away! Yikes!

Sunday, Long Run...

Today was a 10 mile run. I was kind of apprehensive about it. I've never ran that far in my life! It was super windy outside, so I opted for the trusty treadmill instead. I actually watched an entire movie while running. Wow!
I ran the full 10 miles, without stopping, in 1 hour and 46 minutes. (I also didn't know that once my treadmill gets to 99+ minutes, it starts over at 0! LOL!) I was proud of myself for doing it, and not giving up. At about mile 5 I was tired and ready to stop, but I kept giving myself a pep talk and made it through! :) Yea!!! I'm so glad I didn't give up.

Biggest Loser Talk.....

While we were at Mom and Dad's for Easter weekend, Stephen and I watched the Biggest Loser Episode that we missed (mom DVR'd it).

I must admit that I think this is the first season where they have gone "crazy" at the food challenges. What is up with that? In past episodes they would have said "it's not worth it". But not this season. It seems like they pig out every time they get a chance at fatty foods, in order to win something. It really makes me fearful for them, once they return to the real world, and are tempted every day by foods that aren't kept in the Biggest Loser house. How will they fair then?

This weeks episode was good. I just love Tim Gunn and makeovers!!!! Yea!!! They all looked really good, and I loved their "movie premier". That was a nice change. I loved the hair styles, and WOW Tim Gunn really knows how to dress them! I loved the clothes he put them in. Very nice! I just love fashion/hair/makeup...what can I say, I'm a girly girl and I love that stuff. :) (Yet not to girly; I still love camping, fishing, hiking, water sking, building things with my husband, mowing, lifting weights, running, and getting a good sweat in. :) just had to clarify that! LOL!)

I was really heartbroken for Laura. It seemed that she was just coming into her own, and discovering who she is, and that she is strong and CAN do this. Then this injury happens and sets her back. I felt so bad for her. My heart also broke for Jillian. You know she must have been thinking that this was her fault, but you can't predict these things.

So I was sad to see Laura go home (there were others who I'd rather see leave, like Filipe or Ron), but I guess someone had to go. I am glad that Kristen was able to stay. She still has so far to go. Did anyone else even know she was married???!! I was shocked. I was like "she has a husband? she's never mentioned him has she?". Hopefully she will continue to get stronger and lose even more.

Can't wait for next week!!!! :)

busy week....

sorry I haven't updated in over a week. life just happens to be busy, and other things tend to be higher on the priority list.
Last weekend was great. We were visiting my parents for Easter, and on Saturday evening Stephen and I took the boys for a 1/2 mile walk. They were there worn out, so we left them with Nana and Papa and I went for a run, while Stephen walked and did push ups (he even used me as his weights, and literally curled my entire body weight! wow!)
I love running the hills in their neighborhood. It was so refreshing and a nice change in scenery. (Plus it's beautiful where they live!) While I was running down a hill, toward then end of my 4 mile run, I swallowed a bug! YUK! I had my mouth open, and it flew right down my throat. Gross. I kept running while gagging! LOL! That must have been a sight.
On Easter I did really well on my eating. I didn't even give in and have any sweets, candies, or pies. I was very proud of myself.
This week has been super busy, and Stephen and Seth have been sick on top of everything. It's been hard to get my running in. I did 7 miles on Monday (since I didn't get to do 9miles on Sunday..plus I had done 4 on Saturday, knowing I wouldn't run on Sunday because of the storms that were coming). Tuesday and Wednesday I was busy with work, T-ball practice, and sick hubby and son, so no workouts on those days. Yesterday I ran another 7 miles; was supposed to do 5 yesterday, then threw in a few extra to make up some of what I missed. I also did my weight training after dinner. It felt Great!
I need to run another 6 today, to finish making up for Tuesday and Wednesday....Whew...what a week.
Only 2 weeks until Half-Marathon! (My run is on May 3rd!)

resist temptation:

Matthew 26:41 (New International Version)
41"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Seth and I made chocolate chip cookies yesterday, so they would be ready for Levi when he got home from school. I love chocolate chip cookie dough, and fresh from the oven cookies....yummmm.
As I was fighting the temptation to give in and "taste" it, this verse popped into my head. It was like a wave washed over me, and I was no longer tempted. I've been working so hard at eating clean, and after quoting this verse, I realized that I could resist the temptation. I didn't NEED that "taste", and after all of my hard work I honestly didn't WANT that taste. So I resisted the temptation.
Then after dinner I was cleaning up before t-ball, and low and behold there was a small bite of cookie left on Levi's plate. I picked it up, looked at it, and was tempted yet again to just pop it into my mouth...but I remembered this verse, and thought "it's not worth it.." so I threw it into the trash. Woo-Hoo!!!! This is the first time I have ever made cookies and not ate them fresh out of the oven (or ate the cookie dough before it made it to the oven). I was very Thankful that God reminded me that I am strong, and I CAN resist the temptation to put junk food into his temple. :)


BTW: I forgot to hit the record button on my way out the door for t-ball practice last night. Do they put The Biggest Loser online, for us to watch if we miss it? I've looked once before but couldn't find it.....HELP!!!!!

Tuesday

Today's scheduled run was 5 miles. Just finished it. Dripping with sweat, and need to stretch out now. Whew, it felt GREAT!
After I stretch I need to shower, get dinner on the table, then rush the boys to T-ball practice.
Later!

Monday..

I guess last week wasn't a total lose (or not a lose, in weight). I was back in my normal routine yesterday, and wouldn't you know it, I was in the bathroom half of the day! LOL!
I made up my run from Sunday. Ran 6.25 miles. It felt GREAT!

So, this morning I got up and jumped on the scale, and it said 121.6! Woo-Hoo!!!!! I lost 1.2 lbs yesterday! LOL! Wow!

Last week and Weekend...

Last week was great. I did every scheduled run and workout. Plus I ate GREAT! You'd think I would have lost some more weight, but no such luck. I was under a lot of stress last week with learning new forms/market research that we now have to do on appraisals. It just added an extra degree of stress to the week, and so I guess that was what kept me from losing anything this week. I actually gained 0.6 lb. I was at 123.8 this morning. (Of course not using the bathroom all weekend probably contributed to this also).

This weekend was busy (luckily Friday and Saturday were rest days). Sunday was supposed to be a 10K. However, I hadn't signed up for one (don't even know if there was one anywhere around here). But then it turned into a busy and crazy day, and I never did my run. So I have to make up that 6.21 mile run today. (read about the trauma from yesterday, on my other blog).

I'm praying for a much better week this week. Emotionally, and physically. :)

Thursday

Today has been a good day. Got some work done this morning, then packed my lunch and went to measure another house (this way I could eat in the car, and not miss my scheduled meal/time). I got back home in time to pick Levi up from school. We came home and I did a little research for the house I'm measuring tomorrow. Then I jumped on the treadmill for today's 5 mile run. Yea! It felt GREAT! I love the stress relief it offers, and how great I feel afterwards.
I still have to get in there and do some weight training though. Then I will have completed today's scheduled workout.
I'm taking Seth to the school in the morning to get him all signed up for Kindergarten. Yea! He is super excited.

Wednesday

Wednesday was a good, busy day. I had two houses to measure, and it was over 200+ miles that I drove (there and back) yesterday. So I was ready to get some exercise after being strapped in the car for so long. I got Levi from school, then I did some research and made some phone calls to schedule more appointments for today and tomorrow. Then I jumped on the treadmill for my 3 mile run. It felt great! I was dripping with sweat and feeling wonderful by the time I got off (what a wonderful stress reliever!). Then I started cooking dinner. After dinner and giving the boys a bath, Stephen and I sat down together and watched "The Biggest Loser". It was a good one (yet again).
Ok, gotta get to work. Later!