Fitness

Ahhh, That Run Felt Good!

11/19/2009

I did it! This morning, I dragged my butt out of my warm, cozy bed, put on my running gear before opening my eyes, stumbled to the bathroom, grabbed my keys, a water and my gym card and jumped in the car before I could rethink my decision and crawl back into bed. It was dark, I was sleepy but I was also determined. I was getting back into my morning workout routine. With the change in the light outside in the morning and evening, outdoor runs are out of the question except on days off and weekends. Not to mention it’s getting colder. I’ve been meaning to get back to the gym for a couple of weeks now, but it means getting up even earlier, and I’ve been slow to make the shift. But this morning I went. And I got in a good 3.2-mile run on the...

Starting Over

11/16/2009

With the end of race season came a backlash of sorts that I didn’t anticipate. Since I’d set such high goals for next season, I figured I’d stay on track with my diet and exercise plan, no problem. It went well for a couple of weeks and then, problem. Little by little I let old eating behaviors back in and that, in turn, slowed up my exercise some. No excuses, it just happened. I keep trying to get back on track in fits and starts. My last post was titled “I need to run” and I had hoped by posting it, I would have actually gotten out there to do it. That morning however was cold and windy and rainy. I could have gone to the gym. I opted to roll over and go back to sleep. I actually haven’t been running in 8 days. Saturday, the day started...

Trainer Tuesday: I’m All Twitchy

11/10/2009

Even though today is Trainer Tuesday, I have to go back to Sunday for the start of this post. Sunday, I ran 4.5 miles. That’s the farthest I’ve gone to date and I’m closing in on my 5-mile by Thanksgiving target. Sunday was too beautiful a day to not run. I set out to do a 4-mile run but felt strong when I got home so I kept going, just another half mile. I stayed at a manageable pace (about 11.30 minute miles) and never got winded or felt the need to walk. When I stopped, however, my legs felt like jello for a while. And then my right quad started to twitch. Nothing too obnoxious but it lasted most of the day. Yesterday the twitch was gone, until… Monday night’s session with the AB KILLER, as trainer Jen is referred to on this blog. Trust me, she never...

Things Are Going Swimmingly

11/06/2009

Well not really. I’m still under the microscope with the IRS, but to counteract the stress of this whole audit process, I chose swimming as my exercise of choice last night. And I got a pleasant surprise! My gym has switched the indoor pool over to a salt water filtering system! Yay! Because I didn’t know this at first, when I swallowed water on my first lap, I thought “Hmmm. That’s odd. The water tastes salty.” I crossed my fingers for the next 49 laps (figuratively of course because actually crossing my fingers would have made swimming difficult) that they had switched to a salt water system rather than something being horribly wrong in what was previously a heavily chlorinated pool. There were little kids getting swimming lessons and a lifeguard on duty, so I figured it was unlikely something was horribly wrong with the system. Besides, the water...

Christmas Wish List, Triathlon Style

11/05/2009

I walked into Walmart the other night to get a winter coat. My coat from last year does not fit anymore…in a good way. It’s going to Good Will, along with other wintery clothes that don’t fit me anymore either. I was surprised that already, Walmart is all set up for Christmas. That was fast. It was just Halloween. What happened to Thanksgiving? I know it’s been like this for the past few years, but it always surprises me the first time I walk into a Christmas-ready store. I love Christmas. And I love buying presents for other people…when I know what they want…and I have money…. However, I’m not the easiest person to buy for, and I am a real source of frustration for my hubby and family. I never know what to ask for. I don’t wear jewelry, I don’t like other people buying me clothes, and...

The Stress Effect

11/04/2009

These last couple of months I’ve been under what seems like a never-ending cloud of stress. I’m not complaining. It just is what it is. The stress has emanated from events that I have not had a whole lot of control over but have required hours of my undivided attention. Of course, in the end, I do know that much of this stress could have been avoided if I’d had the forethought to be organized two years ago or to have paid closer attention to things that were happening around me. Unfortunately, that’s not the way these things generally work, and 20/20 hindsight? Well, that’s not much help now. This year, my focus was on my health. And going forward, while that will still be my main focus, maybe I’ll keep one eye glancing to the left and right on the other household/work stuff that crept up this year....

Trainer Tuesday: The Ab Killer

11/03/2009

I’ve started working out with a friend/trainer on Monday nights, and I thought having a Trainer Tuesday post to talk about those workouts might be a good feature. While these workouts aren’t directly related to triathlon training, we are doing a lot of core, balance and strength training, which can only help my performance in future races, right? Besides I feel less jiggly after Monday’s training night. Jen, my friend and now personal trainer, will be referred to in the rest of this post and going forward as The Ab Killer. ‘Cause that’s what she does best. She kills my abs. And secretly works in all kinds of other toning exercises in the process. And when we’re concentrating on other toning exercises, like arms, she’s sneaking in ab work. The Ab Killer’s primary tool of torture is that benign-looking medicine ball on the left there. Pretty colors… round and...

Thinking About Triathlon? Start Training Now

11/02/2009

This week will mark my year anniversary with the gym I go to. I never thought I would join a gym, much less actually use it for a full year. Throw my money at it, sure. Go? This is something new for me. It is also a year since I set my sights on becoming a triathlete. I joined the gym to begin winter training. Considering the physical condition I was in when I made this decision, I really surprised myself when I completed my first race in April. It was a small duathlon (1 mile run, 6 mile bike, 1 mile run), but as I’d never run a mile in my entire life, it was a feat. Starting training 6 months prior was a good idea. It was still a really tough race for me. And the one in August was tough too. It wasn’t until my third...

A Skinny Day

10/30/2009

I find that on my blog and in my everyday life too, I focus a lot on the challenges of losing weight and staying fit. Struggling to get to the next level, finding time to work out, avoiding the evil foods that are everywhere….especially right now with Halloween tomorrow. I’ve yet to let Halloween candy in my house. One day of that is enough. But today is one of those rare good days. I’ve had a good food week (after a couple of slip-slidy weeks) and while I’m still resetting my workout schedule (looking forward to the clocks changing so I get back to my morning routine), I’ve had a decent workout week too, with a 4-mile after-work run, well walk/run, on the treadmill at the gym last night. And this morning? This morning I woke up feeling skinny. My jeans are a little loose, the sweater I’m wearing...

Setting Weight Loss and Fitness Goals

10/26/2009

These last couple of weeks on my fitness journey have been a slippery slope. The change in weather/daylight has thrown off my exercise routine. And after 15 months of being in control of my food intake, recently, that’s been slipping too. Not measuring here, a little extra there, and really, how bad can that fun-size candy bar or handful of candy corn be in the overall grand scheme of things? Apparently pretty bad if I’m not accouting for it because inevitably one turns into two turns into too many to count. Not that I haven’t allowed myself candy or other goodies before. And not that I haven’t had days where I’ve eaten whatever I wanted. I do. It’s the way I’ve been able to stay in control this time. But, I was in control. Those days where I’d allow myself whatever I felt like eating were planned. And the...

Page 5 of 13«1...3 456 7...13 »

Get Fat Girl To Fit Girl Right In Your Inbox

Visit My Inner Chick

Triathletes - Triathlon Training

Weight Loss

Archives