Category Archives: Feeling Good

Rainy Monday

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Oh rain, please help my allergies by having a hurricane grade downpour (sans wind and destruction) this week so that I might be able to breathe through both nostrils at the same time, whenever I feel the need.

Ugh.  I hate that I can’t fully enjoy the outdoors, when the weather is so nice and inviting, and I must be stuck on this guy for my runs.

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I love you, but I am not IN LOVE with you

I think aside from NROLFW stg 2 A2 tonight, I will do a 5k on the treadmill.  I took yesterday off because the fronts of my thighs (Hamstrings? Thighosides? What?) were SO TIGHT yesterday.  The act of walking was hurting, and on the way home from lunch I fell asleep in the car (don’t worry, this is when the Husband took the wheel. Right as I dozed off.)

 

(Kidding.)

 

So I decided it would be best to sit on me bum all day and watch TV and pretend to study for my Praxis II Exam, which is like two weeks away now.  Oh Lordy, Time Flies.

Sleep last night either evaded me, or was just too short.  Next week when the Husband has a trip, I think I’ll take advantage of that time and go to bed at like 9:00pm every night, so I can practice getting up at 5:00am for workouts.  I would love to have my workouts done in the morning so that the afternoon can be free for whatever, and then when school starts in the summer, I won’t have my training suffer.

What I look like today

What I look like today

Not too shabby for a Monday, huh?  Like my dirty hair fix?  Dry shampoo that bad boy and up in a ponytail you go.  Wahoo.

Menu:

  • Breakfast: 2 eggs, 1/2 sweet potato, smoothie, coffee
  • Snack: Water
  • Lunch: Quinoa & Taboule Salad, Apple, Carrots, Seltzer
  • Snack: LaraBar
  • Dinner: Stuffed bell peppers with ground turkey and mexican seasonings
  • Activity: 3.1 mile run & NROLFW stg 2 A2

 

I just finished reading Looking For Alaska by John Green, and wow.  I didn’t like it as much as The Fault In Our Stars but it’s okay.  It was still amazing.  I’ve already ordered An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns, so that once my classes are over for the summer I’ll have beach reads for Chincoteague.

Food For Thought Monday:

 

 

 

Saturday WOD

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WOD : 4 miles in 40’43″

We headed out for lunch and then a beer fest which was more if a crowded bad music festival than anything else. But still enjoyable to hang out with friends.

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And this guy :-)

Then we came home and I changed to get my run in. Because of allergies I’m confined to the treadmill but its okay, it was still a great run because I could do it!

I’m seeing happy changes everyday in my endurance, strength, and mind. For that I am thankful.

What did you do on this glorious Saturday?

Friday WOD

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Lordy Lou.

Stage 2 workout B of NROLFW is no joke. I was thankful when I got to the cardio.

Lifting is hard but it will be worth it.

When I was doing some of the exercises I noticed muscle definition in my arms. Where the hell did that come from?

It’s not much but it’s there.

I’m here world. I’m finally arriving.

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Face It Friday – Paleo Week 4

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Well I am not weighing in until Stage 2 is over – I will also update my measurements then as well, so Face It Friday will be more of “How did this week go?” type post with a recap of workouts, foods I tried, things that I think worked, and things that I know didn’t.

Workout Recap

  • Friday April 19 – 3.2 Mile Run & NROLFW (Stg 1 Workout A – AMRAP)
  • Saturday April 20 – 4 Mile Run
  • Sunday April 21 – 1.5 Mile Run & NROLFW (Stg 2 Workout B – AMRAP)
  • Monday April 22 – 3.6 Mile Run
  • Tuesday April 23 – 3.0 Mile Run & NROLFW (Stage 2 – Workout A)
  • Wednesday April 24 – 3.0 Mile Run
  • Thursday April 25 – Rest Day

Total Mileage – 17.9 Miles

Things That Worked

I can usually make healthy choices throughout the day with no problem, it’s night time that for some reason all I want is sugar, bread, grease, more sugar, alcohol, etc.  So being at home most nights after dinner, it’s a real struggle.  It helps that I don’t keep that crap in my house to begin with, and that my husband doesn’t bend to my every whim of saying “I want Pinkberry” otherwise I would still be 221 pounds, and fighting for my pants to not rip. One of the key ways of keeping my in check most nights is having a reallllly filling dinner.

My Go To Filling Dinners:

  • Chicken Stir Fry with Peppers, onions, Broccoli, and Asian Slaw over a 1/4 cup of Quinoa
  • Grass Fed Beef Meatloaf with a side of roasted brussel sprouts
  • Grass Fed Steak with Roasted bacon wrapped asparagus and 1/4 avocado
  • Spaghetti Squash with Ground Turkey and homemade tomato based pasta sauce
  • Garbage Salad – take all veggies in the house and chop them up with spinach, mix in nuts, meat, or another form of protein (4-5 oz per person) and add healthy fat in the form of EVOO or avocado – MIX AND ENJOY

If I have something that at the end of the meal I am stuffed, I know the only thing I will be getting up for is refilling my water bottle.  Which is the way it should be.  I am still learning what works with Paleo and what doesn’t.  I know I have to bulk up my veggies at every meal, and sometimes it’s hard to do that, but no one said this would be easy.

I refuse to believe that you HAVE to slash calories incredibly and workout like a maniac to lose weight.  I know that you can do this, but it’s not the only way.  After my incredibly “woe is me” post yesterday I took it to the people who have lived it.

The New Rules of Lifting: Lift Like a Man Look Like a Goddess facebook group opened themselves to me with much enthusiasm.  They worked through my issues (and by they I mean like 20 women on one thread that reached over 150 posts in one day) and we came to the conclusion that A.) If I was following Paleo I shouldn’t be counting calories, and B.) since I was counting calories it was evident I wasn’t eating enough.  Me?  Not eating enough?

After much research and other blog posts, I found that I was essentially fueling my body to maintain.  I was eating enough to get me through the day and if I exercised I was eating just enough to not feel hungry.  So I was burning everything I ate which should equate to weight loss right?  Apparently not – EM2WL explains:

If you have been a low calorie dieter for an extended period of time, you may want to consider doing a full metabolism reset.  This will allow the body to reset back to its normal metabolic set point, so a small deficit will once again start the weight loss process once the reset is complete.

So while I am not doing the full metabolism reset, I am simply upping my calories, continuing to eat cleanly, and lifting/running.  I am actually so tired of being a slave to the scale that I am not going to weigh myself.  I am putting the scale away until the end of stage 2, when I will also chart my measurements.

I am more than that number.

Things That Didn’t Work

Cashews.  My mouth swells and I get all itchy.  Luckily I am not deathly allergic, because that would have been horrible to find out, you know at work, where I would have to rely on my officemate to figure out what was happening, but still annoying nonetheless. 

Coconut water.  This stuff is vile to me.  I bought two containers (small one serving) that were mixed with other fruit juices, and I swear it tasted like vomit.

Two Workouts In One Day.  Yeah I felt bad ass, but I obviously was not prepared for the extreme exhaustion I felt about two hours after the second workout.  If I am going to do this again, it will have to be after I’ve figured out my eating style and how to go about not falling asleep at work.

So, How Did This Week Go?

This week was about learning again for me.  I need to trust the process, remain in the present, not focus on months down the road, stop nit picking whatever flaws I see, THROW MY SCALE OUT THE WINDOW, and look at the strength gains I’ve made.  40 Pound Shoulder Press?  I can lift 40 pounds over my head?  Seriously?

UntitledThis is the girl who had trouble with 5 pound weights, walking up stairs, and fitting into her wedding dress on her big day…

WAHOOO

This is the girl who just did a 40# Shoulder Press, has 3 half marathons under her belt, is keeping herself in the present, and isn’t going to stop this time.

 

Wednesday Cookies

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Me, Day 1, on Paleo

I’m not nearly as sore as I thought I would be after my epic two workouts in one day!  I actually like that!  I think that when possible, I may do cardio at work midday – to give me that energy boost – and then lift either before or after work.  Obviously when I am in summer session two a days aren’t going to be possible most of the time, but hey, a girl can dream right?

My food intake has leveled out I think.  While I am hungry at times, and sometimes ravenous, I simply just eat something small, chug some water, and I am good.  I am still hitting my calories and other macros on Myfitnesspal with no problem, and since I am eating things that are denser than say an English Muffin or Candy, I am not hungry the majority of the time.  I know what meals, don’t fill me up currently, so I am looking at ways to add tons of veggies to them for bulk.

I’m also realizing the big difference between mental and physical hunger.  I mentally think, I should still be hungry, and should still be eating, but physically, I am not really feeling it.  So it’s becoming a mental game now.  Once I figure out how to channel my mind into other activities (should be easy with my crazy summer schedule) I should be fine.  Right now it’s water, and thinking about bathing suits.

Today’s Plan:

  • Breakfast: Sausage & 1/2 sweet potato, coffee, smoothie
  • Snack: more coffee
  • Lunch” Quinoa, peppers, onions, kielbasa, apple, almonds
  • Snack: banana & LaraBar
  • Dinner: Grilled Chicken Breast with Roasted Brussel Sprouts
  • Dessert: banana w/ Almond Butter

Activity: 3.5 miles running

I’m debating whether or not tomorrow will be a rest day or if I will charge through my NROLFW at home between work and school.  It really depends, I think on how my legs feel.  This particular stage in NROLFW is pretty Leg heavy (at least Workout A was, Squats, Lunges, Step ups) so I am trying not to overwork if I don’t have to.

I know I am thinking really far in the future, but what does one do once they are done with NROLFW?  Is that when I must join a Box and become a crossfitter?  Or do I simply just repeat moves from the plan over and over again?

Well that’s all I’ve got, I’ll update later on how my run outside goes this afternoon :-)

Food For Thought Wednesday:

Tuesday WOD

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100 Percent Paleo 80 Percent of the Time Funny Tee Shirt T Shirt

via Etsy.com

So instead of NROLFW Stage 2 Workout A being done in the work gym, I wanted to test out the facility and see whats up before I tackle the strength training.  So far I think at least for stage 2 I should be okay doing it at home, so I think at least for now, I’ll go to the work gym when others are going, or if i suddenly wake up being able to get to work at a decent hour to workout before work.  We shall see.  Regardless it was nice to break up the day by getting a nice 3 mile run in.

My view from the treadmill

My view from the treadmill

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Post Run

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Workout Summary

If nothing else the days I have class the rest of this semester and in the fall I can use it in between work and school :-)

I’ll be heading home later to get my NROLFW Stage 2 Workout  on, because I am a badass who does two workouts in one day!

Tuesday Things

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  • I’m working out at lunch today with some coworkers.  I brought my NROLFW book so I can start stage 2 so I think my WOD will look something like this:
    • Cash In – 1 Mile on Elliptical or treadmill (running or ellipticalling)
    • WORKOUT A
      • Front Squat/Push Press – 10 reps
      • Step up – 10 reps
      • Dumbbell one-point row – 10 reps
      • Step up – 10 reps
      • Dumbbell one-point row – 10 reps
      • Static Lunge, rear foot elevated – 10 reps (left leg)
      • Push up – 10 reps
      • Static Lunge, rear foot elevated – 10 reps (right leg)
      • Push up – 10 reps
      • Front Squat/Push Press – 10 reps
      • Plank – 60 Seconds
      • Cable Horizontal Wood Chop – 10 reps
      • Plank – 60 seconds
      • Cable Horizontal Wood Chop – 10 reps
    • Cash Out - 1 Mile on Elliptical or treadmill (running or ellipticalling)
  • I will say I am nervous about doing any of these things in front of my coworkers, and I can’t come up with another reason except for I am clumsy and I don’t want to have them point out my imperfections.  But with that said, I am positive they aren’t evil people so, why would they point out my flaws?  I am weird.
  • Yesterday’s run was awesome.  I wish I could have runs like that everyday.  It would be great to just lead with that comfort and that awesomeness, but with that said, I am realizing that I need to have two rest days in my week.  I can’t keep pushing through 6 days straight.  I am not sure how that will go this week, but this summer session will definitely force that with my crazy class schedule.
  • I have my massive cup of Iced Coffee today – This is what it looks like next to normal iced cup tumbler most people might have from starbucks:

  • Yeah it’s huge.  But it’s needed.  I am not sure what is causing this sudden issue with sleep, may be it’s my allergies, but man, it’s kicking my butt.  I am just happy that what is due this week in my class is already done and submitted. It’s nice knowing you are walking into a major presentation for class as prepared as you can be.  I’ve already put a huge dent in my last two papers (i.e. they are roughly written and will be completed this weekend).
  • I am loving the eggs with my baked sweet potato for breakfast.  It is seriously delish.  Plus filling.  Plus paleo.  Plus I love it.  It’s easy to prep – bake the sweet potatoes before hand and then either pan fry or microwave eggs in the morning.  Perfect.
  • I am truly having a hard time figuring out if this whole grad school summer session will work.  I am sure that once I start it I’ll be fine, but the lead up and the preliminary anxiety is killing me.  My main fear is that I won’t have time with work and school to workout.  I know I’ll have to scale back and utilize weekends more for running, and possibly scale back to *gulp* only 4 days a week, but all the while I am worried – and scared – that I will just gain ALL THE WEIGHT BACK.  Some people have said “well you might be too busy to eat.” Which could also be the case.  That happened in my undergrad my first semester.  I literally lost 24 pounds without trying.  Then I discovered the smoothie place on campus, and just ate junk food from the Quickie Mart on campus.  Then bam, it all came back.  While I realize my mindset and relationship with food is different now, I am still fearful.  It’s a fat kid paranoia.  Whenever there is a buffet  a self serve ice cream shop, or a pot luck at work, my body will simply go into fear mode.

 

Food for Thought Tuesday:

Monday WOD

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Run 3-4 miles

Actual: 3.6 miles / 36’10″ – 10’03″ pace

It was a nice run outside, I varied my route slightly just enough to add a bit more hills.

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My legs and feet are tired so I think tomorrow’s workout will not include running, but elliptical, no impact and its still mileage.

That and NROLFW stage 2 workout 1!

Xoxoxo

Luxe Monday

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Oh I did not sleep well last night.  Not one bit.  My allergies were like “i don’t care if you took your medicine and you need sleep because tomorrow is Monday.”  So that was my night.  My eye (left one) is swollen, and it looks like I punched myself.

I got to a pretty compelling part of Looking for Alaska by John Green last night, which made things worse.  All I wanted to do was sit up and read till the end, but with work looming, and the end of the semester beckoning my every bit of free time, I decided whatever sleep I could garnish was worth it.

Too bad that would be next to none.

Today’s Plan:

  • Breakfast: 1/2 sweet potato, sausage, coffee, protein shake
  • Lunch: Peppers and Onions w/ Kielbasa and Quinoa, apple, Almonds
  • Dinner: Chicken Stir Fry with Peppers and Onions

Activity: 3-4 mile run

Hopefully I will look this happy today after my run

Looks like tomorrow my coworker and I are going to take advantage of the gym at work during lunch!  Should be interesting!  I’ll at least take advantage of it for the purposes of NROLFW because they have all those machines!  All those weights!  YAY.  Plus with summer session looming… I’ll need to fit workouts into my schedule as best as I can, and lunch time is so much better than 5:00am.

I’ll figure out my groove I’m sure.

Food For Thought Monday:

 

Sunday WOD

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1 mile run to cash in

AMRAP in 2 min for each exercise ( 70 seconds rest between)

Dead lifts
Shoulder presses
Wide grip rows
Lunges
Swiss ball crunches

1 mile run to cash out

Walk at moderate pace and stretch to cool down
:-) happy Sunday!