Friday, January 30, 2009
Hooray California
We did not have much luck traveling yesterday. Our flight was delayed three hours due to mechanical problems, and they ended up finding us a different plane. Then we had some crazy turbulence the whole way. I still managed to sleep off-and-on for three hours, but I think the turbulence woke me up about every 5-10 minutes. Fortunately I didn't get sick :) We flew into LAX (we had a frequent flyer ticket), and my parents picked us up. There was a big accident on the freeway on the way home, so we had to take surface streets back home (and Cliff got the scenic tour of the bad parts of LA). We slept in this morning, and the weather is absolutely gorgeous outside. You can see every detail on the mountains, and it's about 80 degrees. My mom and I went for a long walk (we walked by our old house in San Marino - the people there must think we are creepers). So now we're just hanging out, and I think it's about time to watch last night's Hell's Kitchen premier.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Breaking the Streak
Today was my first rest day in 2009. I am frustrated that the stupid weather (ice) caused me to break my streak. However, I guess my body probably appreciated it. HUD had a noon late start, and GSA had a 10:00 late start (at 9:30, they changed it to 12:00... short notice!). So Cliff and I each took off in our cars at about 9:15 this morning (my plan was to workout at the federal gym prior to my noon start time). We live by the lake, so we had to drive up a 2-mile hill to get to the main road, which was just as icy. Apparently they don't salt or sand the roads over here. So we drove a few miles and then Cliff yelled at me to go home. So I turned around, drove back, and messaged my supervisor and asked to work from home. I was stuck at home until I coached at 5:00. Unless beating Jordan's top score on "advanced" head butting counted as a workout, I was a lazy bum today. But on a positive, happy note, I weighed in at 157... bringing my total pounds lost to 8.5!
We're leaving for California tomorrow night. I have to go in to the office tomorrow (since I worked from home today), so I'll work from 6-2:30, squeeze in a workout during my lunch hour, drive home, pick up GusGus and all of his necessary doggie products, drive to Kristin's, drive home and pick up Cliff, and then drive to the airport. I'm stressed out just thinking about it, and I haven't packed yet. I need to fit everything in a carry-on to avoid the crappy $30 round-trip checked baggage fee. Fortunately the weather in CA is supposed to be GORGEOUS (highs in the upper 70's).
We're leaving for California tomorrow night. I have to go in to the office tomorrow (since I worked from home today), so I'll work from 6-2:30, squeeze in a workout during my lunch hour, drive home, pick up GusGus and all of his necessary doggie products, drive to Kristin's, drive home and pick up Cliff, and then drive to the airport. I'm stressed out just thinking about it, and I haven't packed yet. I need to fit everything in a carry-on to avoid the crappy $30 round-trip checked baggage fee. Fortunately the weather in CA is supposed to be GORGEOUS (highs in the upper 70's).
Monday, January 26, 2009
Three Days Until California
So far I am down 6.5 pounds on Operation Wedding Dress. I kicked some bootie in the gym these past 3 days. Today I got up early and went to 24 Hour Fitness and did 90 minutes of cardio (half on the Stairclimber and half on the elliptical). I also did 50 minutes of weights and abs during my lunch break. On Saturday and Sunday I did 90 minutes of cardio and a 45-minute swim workout each day. I had to cram in some workout time this weekend to hit my magic number of 10 hours for the week. I am still logging my food on Fitday, and even though I’m occasionally endulging, I think the logging has made me more accountable and has helped me make better choices. Since I’m working out a good amount, the alcohol, occasional desserts, etc. haven’t been hindering my progress too much since I’m keeping it under control.
My knees have been bothering me, but I think they are starting to get a bit better. Hopefully I can go for some short runs with Cliff in California because the weather should be GORGEOUS. I really want to take him on the Rose Bowl run. We leave for California on Thursday night. I am signed up for the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach, but since I stopped training in late November due to injuries, I am trying to make the right decision by bowing out. A few very positive things came out of this experience though. #1 - I did my first 20-mile training run (18 miles was my longest before that) and it went very well. #2 - I found a group of people that I love to run with. #3 - I did some awesome tempo and speed workouts that showed me what I’m capable of and how those types of workouts can positively impact my long distance. This is the first time that I haven’t followed through on a marathon, but I don’t want to run one just for the sake of finishing (which is similar to my Ironman philosophy now). I want to go into my next marathon excited and ready to break 4 hours. If Operation Wedding Dress goes according to plan and I slim down more, I could definitely see signing up for a late 2009/early 2010 marathon.
That being said, I’m looking forward to a nice long weekend in California. We might go on a double date with my cousin Dana and her boyfriend on Friday night. We’re celebrating my brother’s birthday on Saturday night and then Cliff and I are going out afterwards. We’re going to my Aunt Sally and Uncle Bob’s house on Super Bowl Sunday, and then we return on Monday. My friend Kristin is taking care of GusGus for us. It will be weird being without our baby! I’m sure he’ll freak out when he has to poop inside someone else’s house :)
The weekend was busy, and I definitely could have used a day off to relax today. On Saturday I ran a whole bunch of errands (including picking up my wedding dress – finally!) so I was gone for the majority of the afternoon. We tried a new restaurant, El Paseo on Jacksboro Highway, for dinner. It always looks really busy, but it was a little disappointing. It reminded me of Mexican Inn, meaning that the food was pretty bland and boring. But I like seafood, vegetables, etc. in my Mexican food, so don’t listen to me if you like the classic cheese, chicken, etc. After my workout on Sunday morning, I was busy cleaning the house while Cliff grocery shopped and cooked. His parents and his sister and her family came over and we grilled chicken and veggies. Once they left, I spent the rest of my time getting all of my stuff ready for today (it takes me forever to prepare meals, pack my 50 bags, etc.).
I am trying to get some of the wedding stuff done… slowly but surely! I found a DFW photographer on Google today, and his prices are VERY reasonable. He is coming by next week to show us his portfolio and go over everything with us. The bridal portrait photo shoot is only $150, so I might end up doing that (I was undecided). I am hoping to work on the invitations this week before we leave for California since I wanted to get those done last weekend.
My knees have been bothering me, but I think they are starting to get a bit better. Hopefully I can go for some short runs with Cliff in California because the weather should be GORGEOUS. I really want to take him on the Rose Bowl run. We leave for California on Thursday night. I am signed up for the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach, but since I stopped training in late November due to injuries, I am trying to make the right decision by bowing out. A few very positive things came out of this experience though. #1 - I did my first 20-mile training run (18 miles was my longest before that) and it went very well. #2 - I found a group of people that I love to run with. #3 - I did some awesome tempo and speed workouts that showed me what I’m capable of and how those types of workouts can positively impact my long distance. This is the first time that I haven’t followed through on a marathon, but I don’t want to run one just for the sake of finishing (which is similar to my Ironman philosophy now). I want to go into my next marathon excited and ready to break 4 hours. If Operation Wedding Dress goes according to plan and I slim down more, I could definitely see signing up for a late 2009/early 2010 marathon.
That being said, I’m looking forward to a nice long weekend in California. We might go on a double date with my cousin Dana and her boyfriend on Friday night. We’re celebrating my brother’s birthday on Saturday night and then Cliff and I are going out afterwards. We’re going to my Aunt Sally and Uncle Bob’s house on Super Bowl Sunday, and then we return on Monday. My friend Kristin is taking care of GusGus for us. It will be weird being without our baby! I’m sure he’ll freak out when he has to poop inside someone else’s house :)
The weekend was busy, and I definitely could have used a day off to relax today. On Saturday I ran a whole bunch of errands (including picking up my wedding dress – finally!) so I was gone for the majority of the afternoon. We tried a new restaurant, El Paseo on Jacksboro Highway, for dinner. It always looks really busy, but it was a little disappointing. It reminded me of Mexican Inn, meaning that the food was pretty bland and boring. But I like seafood, vegetables, etc. in my Mexican food, so don’t listen to me if you like the classic cheese, chicken, etc. After my workout on Sunday morning, I was busy cleaning the house while Cliff grocery shopped and cooked. His parents and his sister and her family came over and we grilled chicken and veggies. Once they left, I spent the rest of my time getting all of my stuff ready for today (it takes me forever to prepare meals, pack my 50 bags, etc.).
I am trying to get some of the wedding stuff done… slowly but surely! I found a DFW photographer on Google today, and his prices are VERY reasonable. He is coming by next week to show us his portfolio and go over everything with us. The bridal portrait photo shoot is only $150, so I might end up doing that (I was undecided). I am hoping to work on the invitations this week before we leave for California since I wanted to get those done last weekend.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Hooooooootie Whoooooooo (Cheer it ouloud like it's spelled and then jump up in the air once)
159.5 this morning... HECK YEAH. So now I'm at my low end of what I reach on Weight Watchers, the 3-day fruit flush, etc. It's only JANUARY, and I have plenty of time to reach 145. SWEETNESS.
After falling asleep with the ice bag on my knee, I slept in until 9 this morning. Ten hours of sleep was totally what I needed. I feel much better. Cliff is going to make some pancakes here in a minute, and then I'm off to the gym and then to Alfred Angelo to pick up my wedding dress.
Last night we went to my favorite sushi restaurant (on Jacksboro Highway) and tried the hibachi. It was really good! I was logging my food on Fit Day and I realized how bad fried rice really is (I was in denial), but it was worth it. I got the chicken and it was yummmmmm.
Happy weekend.
After falling asleep with the ice bag on my knee, I slept in until 9 this morning. Ten hours of sleep was totally what I needed. I feel much better. Cliff is going to make some pancakes here in a minute, and then I'm off to the gym and then to Alfred Angelo to pick up my wedding dress.
Last night we went to my favorite sushi restaurant (on Jacksboro Highway) and tried the hibachi. It was really good! I was logging my food on Fit Day and I realized how bad fried rice really is (I was in denial), but it was worth it. I got the chicken and it was yummmmmm.
Happy weekend.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Give Me Your Left Knee
Seriously, this knee thing is annoying and I really think I did it playing the Wii Fit (perhaps squatting and then abruptly standing while kicking my fiance's butt on ski jumping?). I just went to the gym, and I made it through 40 minutes on the elliptical, 30 minutes on the bike, and 15 minutes of weights and abs. Even cardio machines bug my knee though... grrrr. I do love my flex schedule... I started work at 6:00 this morning, so I took a super long lunch since I can work until 4:00 (when I go coach).
My massage last night was really good, although I was so tired that I think I drove in my sleep to the 8:00 appointment. Pretty much everything hurt... my back, my legs, my arms (especially my forearms?). Since Cynthia couldn't really work on my knee directly, she worked on the connecting muscles. I definitely feel more pliable today, which is nice.
No big plans this weekend, which is nice. I think we might try the hibachi tonight at my favorite sushi restaurant. I have to pick up my wedding dress on Saturday, and Cliff's parents are coming over on Sunday. I can't believe we leave for California in less than a week! Yikes!
And after my weight post yesterday, I weighed in at 160.0 this morning... so close!
My massage last night was really good, although I was so tired that I think I drove in my sleep to the 8:00 appointment. Pretty much everything hurt... my back, my legs, my arms (especially my forearms?). Since Cynthia couldn't really work on my knee directly, she worked on the connecting muscles. I definitely feel more pliable today, which is nice.
No big plans this weekend, which is nice. I think we might try the hibachi tonight at my favorite sushi restaurant. I have to pick up my wedding dress on Saturday, and Cliff's parents are coming over on Sunday. I can't believe we leave for California in less than a week! Yikes!
And after my weight post yesterday, I weighed in at 160.0 this morning... so close!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
160, Please Let Me Break You.
I'm fluctuating between 160.5-161 right now and I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want to break through that 160 mark and give myself a pat on the back. I'm still a long way away from my Operating Wedding Dress goal of 145... but please, scale gods, be nice to me tomorrow morning. And if you're wondering how I picked 145... I'm 5'9", so that is my "ideal body weight." I was 130-135 during the beginning of college, so I am definitely cutting myself a break.
I had a really good swim workout this morning at 24 Hour Fitness. I met up with Stacy and Sara and the main set was 4 x 500's at half Ironman pace with a minute rest between each. I swam two and pulled two, and it might have been a near death experience. The pool is short course meters and Stacy was aiming for 1:20-1:25, so we battled it out together and really pushed each other. My times were 7:06, 7:00, 6:52, 6:52. That shouldn't have been challenging, but we are not swimming much these days.
I've cut back on the working out this week, and I'm doing an hour a day instead of 1.5-2 hours a day. I have a massage tonight, so I am looking forward to that. My left knee has started to bother me... I'm not sure if it's from all of the cardio I've been doing or the Wii Fit (sad, I know) or maybe a combo. Either way it's being pretty pesky, and I want to be able to run on Saturday morning.
We leave for California in a week. I won't be running the Surf City Marathon, but I'm glad we have an excuse to go visit my family! Kristin is dogsitting GusGus so please say a prayer for her tonight :)
I had a really good swim workout this morning at 24 Hour Fitness. I met up with Stacy and Sara and the main set was 4 x 500's at half Ironman pace with a minute rest between each. I swam two and pulled two, and it might have been a near death experience. The pool is short course meters and Stacy was aiming for 1:20-1:25, so we battled it out together and really pushed each other. My times were 7:06, 7:00, 6:52, 6:52. That shouldn't have been challenging, but we are not swimming much these days.
I've cut back on the working out this week, and I'm doing an hour a day instead of 1.5-2 hours a day. I have a massage tonight, so I am looking forward to that. My left knee has started to bother me... I'm not sure if it's from all of the cardio I've been doing or the Wii Fit (sad, I know) or maybe a combo. Either way it's being pretty pesky, and I want to be able to run on Saturday morning.
We leave for California in a week. I won't be running the Surf City Marathon, but I'm glad we have an excuse to go visit my family! Kristin is dogsitting GusGus so please say a prayer for her tonight :)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Tired, Sore, and a Wee Bit Cranky
I thought today would be a pretty easy day. I slept in (until 5:50, if that counts as "sleeping in") and carpooled with Cliff, so I got to end my work day at 3:30. The innauguration was on TV, so I figured that would take up a good portion of my day. However, I stayed pretty busy at work and I think my lunchtime workout pushed me over the edge. I did 35 minutes on the stationary bike and 25 minutes of weights (lower body) and abs. That shouldn't have done much damage, but I think the fact that I haven't taken a day off from working out this month is starting to catch up with me. I've lost 5 pounds so far, so at least that motivates me to keep pushing myself. But I think I might have to let up on the workouts a bit this week... maybe workout every day but just make my workouts a bit shorter.
Yesterday was my first day playing the Wii Fit, and I banked 2 hours and 5 minutes. My BMI and weight were in the healthy range (woohoo I was worried I would have a fluffy Mii), but my balance was pretty bad and my Wii age was 40. I did better today though and I got my Wii age down to 28. My favorite games are the soccer head butting (I scored 151 on beginner today), ski jump, step aerobics, and hula hoop (left side only!). Cliff and I are pretty competitive about it, especially since each game maintains a top 10 score list.
Tomorrow is another busy day. I am going into the office (we have training in the afternoon) and then I'm teaching a private lesson before I coach swim practice in the evening. I'm looking forward to Thursday already... working from home and getting a much needed massage in the evening!
Workout Plan for the Rest of the Week:
Tomorrow - Workout at the federal gym during lunch
Thursday - Swim at 24 Hour Fitness in the morning with Stacy, Heidi, and Sara
Friday - Cardio at 24 Hour Fitness in the morning or during lunch
Saturday - Run 8ish miles and swim at 24 Hour Fitness
Sunday - Cardio and some weights at 24 Hour Fitness in the afternoon
My wedding dress arrived at the Alfred Angelo at the Northeast Mall, and I still need to pick it up. We have also been working on the registry (Bed Bath and Beyond - so far), and I hope to get the invitations ordered this week. We have a DJ for the Fort Worth reception... Dan, a triathlon friend of mine. I'm still looking for a photographer for the Fort Worth reception and maybe the California reception. Also, I need to decide on bridal portraits (if I want them... and if so, if I want them to be co-ed). Attempting to stick to the budget has been pretty stressful.
Yesterday was my first day playing the Wii Fit, and I banked 2 hours and 5 minutes. My BMI and weight were in the healthy range (woohoo I was worried I would have a fluffy Mii), but my balance was pretty bad and my Wii age was 40. I did better today though and I got my Wii age down to 28. My favorite games are the soccer head butting (I scored 151 on beginner today), ski jump, step aerobics, and hula hoop (left side only!). Cliff and I are pretty competitive about it, especially since each game maintains a top 10 score list.
Tomorrow is another busy day. I am going into the office (we have training in the afternoon) and then I'm teaching a private lesson before I coach swim practice in the evening. I'm looking forward to Thursday already... working from home and getting a much needed massage in the evening!
Workout Plan for the Rest of the Week:
Tomorrow - Workout at the federal gym during lunch
Thursday - Swim at 24 Hour Fitness in the morning with Stacy, Heidi, and Sara
Friday - Cardio at 24 Hour Fitness in the morning or during lunch
Saturday - Run 8ish miles and swim at 24 Hour Fitness
Sunday - Cardio and some weights at 24 Hour Fitness in the afternoon
My wedding dress arrived at the Alfred Angelo at the Northeast Mall, and I still need to pick it up. We have also been working on the registry (Bed Bath and Beyond - so far), and I hope to get the invitations ordered this week. We have a DJ for the Fort Worth reception... Dan, a triathlon friend of mine. I'm still looking for a photographer for the Fort Worth reception and maybe the California reception. Also, I need to decide on bridal portraits (if I want them... and if so, if I want them to be co-ed). Attempting to stick to the budget has been pretty stressful.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Hooray 3-Day Weekend!
I have been so crazy busy these past few days that I'm looking forward to a day and a half of relaxation with Cliff and GusGus. I worked from home on Friday, and I was able to do my grocery shopping for Diane's wedding shower during my lunch break. After work, I made sandwich roll-ups and then headed to the BB swim meet in Keller. Fortunately the meet was only a few miles away from Leah's (Cliff's sister) house, so I met up with Cliff over there. It was Jeff's (Leah's husband) birthday, but I was pretty tired and lame by the time the festivities started. So I hungout over there for awhile, tried a 64-calorie MGD (pretty good, by the way!) and all it a night so I could get to bed by 11:00.
Saturday was crazy busy. I met the boot camp girls and Dan for a run. I did 8 miles, my longest run (by far) since my injury about a month ago. It felt so great to be outside running again with friends, but my shin was a little sore after about mile 6. So at least I know what my limits are right now... I can still run, but I need to be careful. After the run, I picked up a few more groceries and then got to work on cutting the sandwich wraps (which turned out good - go me!!!) and veggies and making the spinach artichoke dip. By the time I did all that and got ready, it was time to head over to Jamie's to get ready for the shower. We had a great time, and it was a lot of fun to see Diane and celebrate Baby Boy Barghi in her belly :) I sucked at the baby games, but that was not really a surprise. It was also fun to see Kristin and Beth since we don't swim together anymore. In the evening we went over to Sara and Josh's and Cliff met up with me there. We hungout for a few hours, and then we left in time for me to get to bed before 11:00 since I had to get up early again to coach this morning.
Today I got up at 6:30 to be at the Keller pool at 8:00 for warm-up, but my swimmers didn't show. I went straight to the gym and did an hour and 50 minutes of cardio (a new episode of Rock of Love was on during the last hour, so it gave me that little extra push!). I worked out for a total of 12 hours and 37 minutes this week - woohoo! Operation Wedding Dress is going fairly well. I was down a total of 4.5 pounds as of yesterday (before I ate 5 pounds of dip).
I am working on some wedding stuff now (I just booked our flights for the California reception, and I want to look at BB&B today to start our registry and then do some internet research and try to figure out the invitations), but I am definitely ready to do a whole lot of nothing.
Saturday was crazy busy. I met the boot camp girls and Dan for a run. I did 8 miles, my longest run (by far) since my injury about a month ago. It felt so great to be outside running again with friends, but my shin was a little sore after about mile 6. So at least I know what my limits are right now... I can still run, but I need to be careful. After the run, I picked up a few more groceries and then got to work on cutting the sandwich wraps (which turned out good - go me!!!) and veggies and making the spinach artichoke dip. By the time I did all that and got ready, it was time to head over to Jamie's to get ready for the shower. We had a great time, and it was a lot of fun to see Diane and celebrate Baby Boy Barghi in her belly :) I sucked at the baby games, but that was not really a surprise. It was also fun to see Kristin and Beth since we don't swim together anymore. In the evening we went over to Sara and Josh's and Cliff met up with me there. We hungout for a few hours, and then we left in time for me to get to bed before 11:00 since I had to get up early again to coach this morning.
Today I got up at 6:30 to be at the Keller pool at 8:00 for warm-up, but my swimmers didn't show. I went straight to the gym and did an hour and 50 minutes of cardio (a new episode of Rock of Love was on during the last hour, so it gave me that little extra push!). I worked out for a total of 12 hours and 37 minutes this week - woohoo! Operation Wedding Dress is going fairly well. I was down a total of 4.5 pounds as of yesterday (before I ate 5 pounds of dip).
I am working on some wedding stuff now (I just booked our flights for the California reception, and I want to look at BB&B today to start our registry and then do some internet research and try to figure out the invitations), but I am definitely ready to do a whole lot of nothing.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Some Pictures of the Pooper
This week has been busy, but pretty boring. My workouts have been going well. On Monday I swam with Heidi and Sara at 24 Hour Fitness (4500 meters), and then I hit the federal gym at lunch. On Tuesday I managed to last 2 hours on the elliptical (thanks to the super trashy new season of Rock of Love). Yesterday I did another swim at 24 Hour Fitness with Heidi and had another great workout (4600 meters) where I really pushed myself. Today I did a lunch workout at the gym (30 minutes on the treadmill and 30 minutes on the Stairmaster), and I am about to do another workout after work with Cliff since he didn't get to workout at lunch today.
Some other news bits from the week: I took Gus to his first vet appointment on Tuesday. He got a check-up and his second round of shots. Everything looks good, and he was definitely a big hit at the office! I really like the vet (Dr. Dedwylder) too. Yesterday Cliff and I signed our oil and gas lease, so I am crossing my fingers that we actually get the signing bonus. That would really help out with the finances. I am looking forward to the three-day weekend coming up (hooray MLK!), but I have a lot going on so I am a little stressed. I am very excited to see Diane though... her baby shower is on Saturday!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Second Half of the Weekend
After my swim on Saturday morning, I went to 24 Hour Fitness and did an hour and 45 minutes on the elliptical and about 10 minutes of arm weights (toning the drumsticks for the wedding dress). Adding in the swim, it amounted to 3 hours of working out for the day… which was great. I treated myself to a pedicure in the afternoon, picked up a Subway sandwich for dinner, and snuggled with GusGus and lounged around watching TV.
I got to bed at a decent time on Saturday night and woke up at 7:30ish on Sunday without an alarm (always nice). It was great to feel rested after the weekend. I drank some coffee and played on the computer a bit. Then I decided to run another 1.75-mile loop around my neighborhood. That went well (even better than Friday), and I’m thinking my injuries are FINALLY healing. After the run, I took Gus out for a little walk (such a gorgeous day) and then ran some errands and went to 24 Hour Fitness. I did 45 minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes on the Stair Climber, so I got in an hour and a half for the day (including the short run).
Cliff got home from Oklahoma in the afternoon, and we messed with our washer (I think we have to buy a new one today) and then I cooked dinner (salmon, sautéed green beans, and baked potato) and we watched “Righteous Kill” with Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro.
This morning I met Sara and Heidi for a swim at the 24 Hour Fitness by my old apartment (Overton Ridge). Heidi got in a little late and stayed later, and Sara got there on time with me and got out early, so I had someone to swim with the whole time. I ended up swimming 4,500 meters, and we had a great workout. We did the main set from Heidi’s workout – 4 x 50’s (20 sec rest), 4 x 100’s (20 sec rest), 4 x 200’s (20 sec rest), and 1 x 400 - all at 400 pace. I pulled the 200’s and 400’s. I gave a really good effort on the 50’s and 100’s and tried to maintain it for the rest of the set, so I was hurting. There’s no way I would have gotten that much done on my own. I’m working out at the federal gym during lunch, so I should get over 2.5 hours of exercise today.
Operation Wedding Dress is going stellar. I have lost 4 pounds so far in 2009, so now I have 16.5 more pounds to go to hit my goal weight! I have been logging all of my food and activities in Fit Day. I am sticking to my calories (except when I drink and/or go out to eat, but even then, I’m not falling off the wagon too hard), limiting my drinking, and working out like mad.
Now that my left shin and right foot are feeling better, I am hoping to do a couple short (3-4 mile) runs and one long run (maybe 9 miles) this week. I’m still undecided about running the Surf City Marathon, but I am leaning towards opting out. My priority right now is losing weight for the wedding, and I’m doing such a great job that I don’t want to ruin my workouts by getting injured. I do want that surfboard medal though!
I got to bed at a decent time on Saturday night and woke up at 7:30ish on Sunday without an alarm (always nice). It was great to feel rested after the weekend. I drank some coffee and played on the computer a bit. Then I decided to run another 1.75-mile loop around my neighborhood. That went well (even better than Friday), and I’m thinking my injuries are FINALLY healing. After the run, I took Gus out for a little walk (such a gorgeous day) and then ran some errands and went to 24 Hour Fitness. I did 45 minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes on the Stair Climber, so I got in an hour and a half for the day (including the short run).
Cliff got home from Oklahoma in the afternoon, and we messed with our washer (I think we have to buy a new one today) and then I cooked dinner (salmon, sautéed green beans, and baked potato) and we watched “Righteous Kill” with Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro.
This morning I met Sara and Heidi for a swim at the 24 Hour Fitness by my old apartment (Overton Ridge). Heidi got in a little late and stayed later, and Sara got there on time with me and got out early, so I had someone to swim with the whole time. I ended up swimming 4,500 meters, and we had a great workout. We did the main set from Heidi’s workout – 4 x 50’s (20 sec rest), 4 x 100’s (20 sec rest), 4 x 200’s (20 sec rest), and 1 x 400 - all at 400 pace. I pulled the 200’s and 400’s. I gave a really good effort on the 50’s and 100’s and tried to maintain it for the rest of the set, so I was hurting. There’s no way I would have gotten that much done on my own. I’m working out at the federal gym during lunch, so I should get over 2.5 hours of exercise today.
Operation Wedding Dress is going stellar. I have lost 4 pounds so far in 2009, so now I have 16.5 more pounds to go to hit my goal weight! I have been logging all of my food and activities in Fit Day. I am sticking to my calories (except when I drink and/or go out to eat, but even then, I’m not falling off the wagon too hard), limiting my drinking, and working out like mad.
Now that my left shin and right foot are feeling better, I am hoping to do a couple short (3-4 mile) runs and one long run (maybe 9 miles) this week. I’m still undecided about running the Surf City Marathon, but I am leaning towards opting out. My priority right now is losing weight for the wedding, and I’m doing such a great job that I don’t want to ruin my workouts by getting injured. I do want that surfboard medal though!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
First Half of the Weekend
After I finished working on Friday, I went for a short little run. I did a 1.75-mile loop in my neighborhood at 9:30 pace to test out my shin. It didn't hurt too much, just a little soreness. I think the massage on Thursday night really helped, but I have to be careful not to overdo it.
On Friday night we had a team gathering at Main Event for the Water Works 2 swim team kids. We did a round of bowling and then laser tag. I worked in a few games of ski ball, but I think I only scored 25,000 - nothing impressive. I bowled a whopping 62. I should stick to Wii Bowling where I can score over 200. It is funny how I start my ball towards the right side and it curves left the same way in Wii Bowling as it does in real bowling. Laser tag was fun. I thought I would suck, but I did a good job shooting people. I was first place on my team for player tags and second place overall for player tags, but apparently you score more points hitting the other team's base. My score (29,900) was nothing compared to Chandler's (he won the game with 136,850, and he's one of my 12 & under swimmers).
This morning I woke up pretty early and went to swim practice at Benbrook. I managed to get a speeding ticket (52 in a 40 on Highway 377) on my way there. Practice was 1 hour/2 miles, and it felt good to be back in the pool after 2 weeks. We had a Water Works 2 coaches meeting after practice, and then I was supposed to meet some Tricowtown folks at Texas Motor Speedway to ride. I was running late, and it's hard to get motivated when it's 40 degrees and windy outside. So I ended up going home, and I am going to hit the gym in the afternoon. Gus and I just went for a walk (where he pooped - woohoo), and he did a much better job compared to yesterday (when he wouldn't budge). He has a ton of energy this morning. Hopefully that means he'll calm down this afternoon/evening.
On Friday night we had a team gathering at Main Event for the Water Works 2 swim team kids. We did a round of bowling and then laser tag. I worked in a few games of ski ball, but I think I only scored 25,000 - nothing impressive. I bowled a whopping 62. I should stick to Wii Bowling where I can score over 200. It is funny how I start my ball towards the right side and it curves left the same way in Wii Bowling as it does in real bowling. Laser tag was fun. I thought I would suck, but I did a good job shooting people. I was first place on my team for player tags and second place overall for player tags, but apparently you score more points hitting the other team's base. My score (29,900) was nothing compared to Chandler's (he won the game with 136,850, and he's one of my 12 & under swimmers).
This morning I woke up pretty early and went to swim practice at Benbrook. I managed to get a speeding ticket (52 in a 40 on Highway 377) on my way there. Practice was 1 hour/2 miles, and it felt good to be back in the pool after 2 weeks. We had a Water Works 2 coaches meeting after practice, and then I was supposed to meet some Tricowtown folks at Texas Motor Speedway to ride. I was running late, and it's hard to get motivated when it's 40 degrees and windy outside. So I ended up going home, and I am going to hit the gym in the afternoon. Gus and I just went for a walk (where he pooped - woohoo), and he did a much better job compared to yesterday (when he wouldn't budge). He has a ton of energy this morning. Hopefully that means he'll calm down this afternoon/evening.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Poop
I just wanted to be able to title my blog poooooooooooop.
Potty training GusGus has been a lot harder than we thought. He's better about peeing outdoors, but I don't think he understands the concept of pooping outside versus inside. He does go outside occasionally (and I throw him a big party afterwards and give him a treat), but I think it is purely coincidental.
This week was pretty busy. Cliff is going to Oklahoma this weekend, and I am staying here in the Fort. I thought it would be pretty relaxing, but stuff keeps piling up. I've been very diligent about getting my workouts done at 24 Hour Fitness, and the diet has been going well. I plan on posting my weight loss results (pounds lost) each week leading up to the wedding, and hopefully I get to the magic #. Fingers crossed.
My shin is finally starting to feel a bit better. It was pretty sore yesterday morning after my workout, but it got better as the day went along. I had a massage last night, and I could tell it was much better than last week (I wasn't squirming nearly as much on the table). I am hoping to start some short (2-3 mile) runs in the next few days. In the meantime, I am enjoying doing some different stuff (mostly the elliptical machine, stair climber, and light weights), and I tried my first 24 Hour Fitness spin class this morning and it was a great workout. I haven't swum since I was in California, and I plan on going to the pool tomorrow morning since we have a coach's meeting at Benbrook. I am falling out of swim shape very quickly, but I'm hoping that leads to smaller shoulders in my wedding dress :)
Speaking of swimming, this is a really good article about Jason Lezak (I lifted it from Rose Bowl's web site):
http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/9007646/Overlooked-Olympic-hero
And a sweet little work-related quote:
"If Barack Obama really wants to 'make government cool again,' as he said during the campaign, he might want to check out the Department of Housing and Urban Development." - The Washington Post
Potty training GusGus has been a lot harder than we thought. He's better about peeing outdoors, but I don't think he understands the concept of pooping outside versus inside. He does go outside occasionally (and I throw him a big party afterwards and give him a treat), but I think it is purely coincidental.
This week was pretty busy. Cliff is going to Oklahoma this weekend, and I am staying here in the Fort. I thought it would be pretty relaxing, but stuff keeps piling up. I've been very diligent about getting my workouts done at 24 Hour Fitness, and the diet has been going well. I plan on posting my weight loss results (pounds lost) each week leading up to the wedding, and hopefully I get to the magic #. Fingers crossed.
My shin is finally starting to feel a bit better. It was pretty sore yesterday morning after my workout, but it got better as the day went along. I had a massage last night, and I could tell it was much better than last week (I wasn't squirming nearly as much on the table). I am hoping to start some short (2-3 mile) runs in the next few days. In the meantime, I am enjoying doing some different stuff (mostly the elliptical machine, stair climber, and light weights), and I tried my first 24 Hour Fitness spin class this morning and it was a great workout. I haven't swum since I was in California, and I plan on going to the pool tomorrow morning since we have a coach's meeting at Benbrook. I am falling out of swim shape very quickly, but I'm hoping that leads to smaller shoulders in my wedding dress :)
Speaking of swimming, this is a really good article about Jason Lezak (I lifted it from Rose Bowl's web site):
http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/9007646/Overlooked-Olympic-hero
And a sweet little work-related quote:
"If Barack Obama really wants to 'make government cool again,' as he said during the campaign, he might want to check out the Department of Housing and Urban Development." - The Washington Post
Monday, January 5, 2009
I Could Eat Anything if it Meant Dipping it in a Fondue Pot
OWD (Operation Wedding Dress) – The 2009 diet has been going great (minus the derailing at Simply Fondue on Saturday night, but it was worth it). I worked out over 10 hours last week, which I was very happy with considering I am not swimming and I can’t run. I really like 24 Hour Fitness. I can do the elliptical machine while watching Real Housewives marathons on Bravo all day long. It is greatness. I’ve been trying to do at least 90 minutes a day at the gym… either all cardio, or about an hour of cardio and 30 minutes of weights. I’ve been logging my food on Fit Day, and I’m trying to follow the guidelines that Eve gave me last year.
Weekend – Goodness the weekend flew by. Friday night was low key since I had an exam on Saturday. Cliff made some pasta, and we watched Horton Hears a Who and played some Wii bowling. I studied a bit and went to bed early. I got up pretty early on Saturday and did my last-minute cramming (which totally works for me) and took my CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) exam at 11:30. It was 150 multiple choice questions, and I got my score right away (pretty cool). I passed, so I was very excited (especially since I paid $300 to take the exam). After the test, I went straight to 24 Hour Fitness for a good workout.
On Saturday night Cliff and I met our friends, Jeanne and Dan, at Simply Fondue in Downtown Fort Worth. As soon as we walked in, I saw Donovan, a friend of mine from Silver Fox. He is the General Manager, and his friend is the owner. The food was awesome, and we added lobster tail (mmmmm). We got there at 7:00 and left at 11:20… good dining experience! Their bar is open until 2, and it sounds like they have a good happy hour.
Sunday was pretty busy. We slept in until 10:30 (glorious), and I went to the gym and then to Walmart. Grocery shopping there gives me more anxiety than anything else I can think of. I really hate it. Sunday afternoon is probably the worst time though. After that, I did some cleaning around the house and then we went to Pet Smart. We are weaning GusGus off the Puppy Chow and starting him on something healthier (Ultra or something like that?).
Today was my first early morning in quite awhile. I set the alarm for 4:30 and actually got up at 4:25. I got a 90-minute workout in at 24 Hour Fitness before work. I had an optometrist appointment today at lunch. I needed new contacts, so I also did a Lasik consultation. I’m not a good candidate with my horrible near-sidedness, astigmatism, and thin corneas. But if I had $15,000, I could get lens implants to correct the near-sidedness and then Lasik to correct the astigmatism. Hopefully the technology will get better and less expensive over the years and I can have the surgeries once I’m a bit older.
Weekend – Goodness the weekend flew by. Friday night was low key since I had an exam on Saturday. Cliff made some pasta, and we watched Horton Hears a Who and played some Wii bowling. I studied a bit and went to bed early. I got up pretty early on Saturday and did my last-minute cramming (which totally works for me) and took my CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) exam at 11:30. It was 150 multiple choice questions, and I got my score right away (pretty cool). I passed, so I was very excited (especially since I paid $300 to take the exam). After the test, I went straight to 24 Hour Fitness for a good workout.
On Saturday night Cliff and I met our friends, Jeanne and Dan, at Simply Fondue in Downtown Fort Worth. As soon as we walked in, I saw Donovan, a friend of mine from Silver Fox. He is the General Manager, and his friend is the owner. The food was awesome, and we added lobster tail (mmmmm). We got there at 7:00 and left at 11:20… good dining experience! Their bar is open until 2, and it sounds like they have a good happy hour.
Sunday was pretty busy. We slept in until 10:30 (glorious), and I went to the gym and then to Walmart. Grocery shopping there gives me more anxiety than anything else I can think of. I really hate it. Sunday afternoon is probably the worst time though. After that, I did some cleaning around the house and then we went to Pet Smart. We are weaning GusGus off the Puppy Chow and starting him on something healthier (Ultra or something like that?).
Today was my first early morning in quite awhile. I set the alarm for 4:30 and actually got up at 4:25. I got a 90-minute workout in at 24 Hour Fitness before work. I had an optometrist appointment today at lunch. I needed new contacts, so I also did a Lasik consultation. I’m not a good candidate with my horrible near-sidedness, astigmatism, and thin corneas. But if I had $15,000, I could get lens implants to correct the near-sidedness and then Lasik to correct the astigmatism. Hopefully the technology will get better and less expensive over the years and I can have the surgeries once I’m a bit older.
Friday, January 2, 2009
OWD, My Love for 24-Hour Fitness, and Other Ramblings
So now that I'm back logging my food on Fit Day, I've become rather obsessive about it (surprise). At least all of my custom foods from before the Las Vegas marathon last year are still saved on there, so that makes life a lot easier. Yesterday I ate 1,573 calories (51% CHO, 33% pro, 16% fat) and I did 90 minutes on the elliptical machine at the gym. So the calorie count was a little low, but I was repenting for 2008's gluttony. Operation Wedding Dress (OWD) is in full swing!
Yesterday flew by after sleeping in until 10 am, grabbing some Subways for lunch, hitting the gym, and watching the Rose Bowl game (woohoo Trojans!). We took GusGus out for a walk, and we also played three games of Wii bowling (195 was my highest score... not too shabby for my first time!). I have been studying too because I have that project management exam tomorrow (cross your fingers for me).
This morning I made a 24-Hour Fitness field trip and did 35 minutes on the elliptical, 30 minutes on the stationary bike, and 25 minutes of weights. I am trying to get in 90 minutes at the gym since I'm replacing my swim workouts with other cardio (and I swam about 60-80 minutes each practice). I CAN'T WAIT until the new 24-Hour opens on April 10. It's closer to my house and I'm sure it will be plush if it's new.
I'm working at home today, and I squeezed in a trip to see Dr. Brian at lunch. My left shin and right foot tendons are still bothering me... so no running in my near future :( He did some ART on both spots and then stem and ice on my shin. I haven't run in over two weeks and I'm getting really frustrated about it, especially with this nice weather.
Yesterday flew by after sleeping in until 10 am, grabbing some Subways for lunch, hitting the gym, and watching the Rose Bowl game (woohoo Trojans!). We took GusGus out for a walk, and we also played three games of Wii bowling (195 was my highest score... not too shabby for my first time!). I have been studying too because I have that project management exam tomorrow (cross your fingers for me).
This morning I made a 24-Hour Fitness field trip and did 35 minutes on the elliptical, 30 minutes on the stationary bike, and 25 minutes of weights. I am trying to get in 90 minutes at the gym since I'm replacing my swim workouts with other cardio (and I swam about 60-80 minutes each practice). I CAN'T WAIT until the new 24-Hour opens on April 10. It's closer to my house and I'm sure it will be plush if it's new.
I'm working at home today, and I squeezed in a trip to see Dr. Brian at lunch. My left shin and right foot tendons are still bothering me... so no running in my near future :( He did some ART on both spots and then stem and ice on my shin. I haven't run in over two weeks and I'm getting really frustrated about it, especially with this nice weather.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
Well yesterday was a great day. I got to work from home and spend some time with Angus, and then I headed to the gym. It was my first time to visit a 24 Hour Fitness in Fort Worth (I went to the one off Western Center), and it was so nice. They have "Cardio Theater" there where you plug your headphones into the cardio machine and listen to the volume of whichever TV program you want to watch (the TV's are overhead). So I watched that elf movie with Will Farrell and an hour on the elliptical flew by. Plus the machine was so fluid (didn't hurt my shin or foot) AND it had the arm things - loved it. I finished my workout with 15 minutes of weights and abs.
Cliff bought a bottle of wine at Walmart for $2.97 and it had a pretty high rating, so we tried that last night and it was really good. It was called Oak Leaf Cabernet if you want to give it a try. We headed over to Jamie and Dana's house and we tried out Mario Kart for the Wii. I haven't even had a chance to play ours yet (Cliff bought it while I was in California), but I anticipate some serious Wii gaming today. We still need to buy Wii Fit and Mario Kart.
Cliff, Jamie, Dana, Sara and I went to JR's Steakhouse (off 121 in Colleyville) for dinner and it was great. We ordered the house Cabernet (Avalon) which was significantly cheaper than the wine list. We all got the same thing for dinner - Caesar and avocado salad, 8 oz filet, mashed potatoes, veggie (your choice of mushrooms, creamed corn, or asparagus), and dessert (cheesecake or chocolate cake). I got my filet charred rare and it came out medium rare plus, but it was still really good (and I'm thinking I might ask for charred medium rare next time). I picked the asparagus and chocolate cake. Cliff had the cheesecake and I tried a bite of that, but the chocolate cake rocked (it was kind of like a dark chocolate). We ended up calling it a night at 11:00 after dinner because we're all old and tired :) So Cliff and I drove home in time to say Happy New Year at midnight with GusGus.
2009...
Well I was preparing this list of what I wanted to accomplish in 2009... lose 20 pounds for the wedding, break 4:00 in the marathon, run an ultra marathon (30 miles), etc. However, with these nagging injuries, I have to take a little break. So for now I'll say my resolution is still to lose 20 pounds, but I want to do a great job working out, mix in some new things (like classes at 24 Hour Fitness, other cardio machines to kind of shock my body, etc.), etc. I'll be veering away from swimming (at least for the first half of 2009) and focusing on other things to try to lose weight. As far as nutrition goes, I think I am going to follow the Eve plan and track my food on FitDay with my calories and carb/protein/fat ratio in mind. I am also going to limit the drinking.
As far as the rest of my life goes, I think I'll be pretty busy with the wedding ceremony in Cancun, receptions in Fort Worth and California, and honeymoon. I'll still be coaching, but once the wedding stuff is over (second half of 2009), I want to start looking into teaching an evening accounting class at TWU or TCC. I think I'll need to take 2 more graduate accounting classes to be eligible to teach at TCC, so I might need to take care of that first.
2008...
Well I have a ton to be grateful for. 2008 brought a FIANCE, a new house, a new job (which rocks my socks), and a new baby GusGus. I have a wonderful family and great friends. I remained relatively healthy (minus the occasional running injury), and I have lots to look forward to in 2009!
Happy New Year!
Cliff bought a bottle of wine at Walmart for $2.97 and it had a pretty high rating, so we tried that last night and it was really good. It was called Oak Leaf Cabernet if you want to give it a try. We headed over to Jamie and Dana's house and we tried out Mario Kart for the Wii. I haven't even had a chance to play ours yet (Cliff bought it while I was in California), but I anticipate some serious Wii gaming today. We still need to buy Wii Fit and Mario Kart.
Cliff, Jamie, Dana, Sara and I went to JR's Steakhouse (off 121 in Colleyville) for dinner and it was great. We ordered the house Cabernet (Avalon) which was significantly cheaper than the wine list. We all got the same thing for dinner - Caesar and avocado salad, 8 oz filet, mashed potatoes, veggie (your choice of mushrooms, creamed corn, or asparagus), and dessert (cheesecake or chocolate cake). I got my filet charred rare and it came out medium rare plus, but it was still really good (and I'm thinking I might ask for charred medium rare next time). I picked the asparagus and chocolate cake. Cliff had the cheesecake and I tried a bite of that, but the chocolate cake rocked (it was kind of like a dark chocolate). We ended up calling it a night at 11:00 after dinner because we're all old and tired :) So Cliff and I drove home in time to say Happy New Year at midnight with GusGus.
2009...
Well I was preparing this list of what I wanted to accomplish in 2009... lose 20 pounds for the wedding, break 4:00 in the marathon, run an ultra marathon (30 miles), etc. However, with these nagging injuries, I have to take a little break. So for now I'll say my resolution is still to lose 20 pounds, but I want to do a great job working out, mix in some new things (like classes at 24 Hour Fitness, other cardio machines to kind of shock my body, etc.), etc. I'll be veering away from swimming (at least for the first half of 2009) and focusing on other things to try to lose weight. As far as nutrition goes, I think I am going to follow the Eve plan and track my food on FitDay with my calories and carb/protein/fat ratio in mind. I am also going to limit the drinking.
As far as the rest of my life goes, I think I'll be pretty busy with the wedding ceremony in Cancun, receptions in Fort Worth and California, and honeymoon. I'll still be coaching, but once the wedding stuff is over (second half of 2009), I want to start looking into teaching an evening accounting class at TWU or TCC. I think I'll need to take 2 more graduate accounting classes to be eligible to teach at TCC, so I might need to take care of that first.
2008...
Well I have a ton to be grateful for. 2008 brought a FIANCE, a new house, a new job (which rocks my socks), and a new baby GusGus. I have a wonderful family and great friends. I remained relatively healthy (minus the occasional running injury), and I have lots to look forward to in 2009!
Happy New Year!
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