Running in Circles

Bring In The Reinforcements!

As you can see, I haven't written in here in quite some time.  That is because I have given in to my long time friend "Laze E. But" and have not gotten myself moving.

So....

Last night, I signed up for thebiggestloserclub.com and have committed myself to 10 weeks of eating better/smarter, working out on a regular basis and being in shape for BF J's wedding in May.  I need a regime that I can stick to so that means a plan that someone else comes up with.  I can read books till I go blind and nothing will happen.  Having my meals planned out and workouts scheduled for me seem to work. 

After 10 weeks I should have enough good food combos and leg lunges to go it on my own.  I love that thebiggestloserclub.com planned my meals today that just happened to coincide with what I have in my fridge and that the 15-20 pounds I want to lose will come off safely and slowly. 

I've managed to get myself into this rut of eating emotionally and laziness.  I have an elliptical trainer in my living room that I recently purchased.  It stares at me all the time.  And it's not so much that I'm eating in front of it but that I'm doing a lot of tv watching and knitting instead of using the elliptical trainer.

So things are changing.  That marathon is still within my reach. 

Sheer Willpower!

I walked away from Aunt T's famous carrot cake.  And I bought my friend's elliptical trainer (that she didn't want to move) and put it smack in the middle of the living room.

Progress, no?

Not much progress on the actual marathon training.  I'm doing a search for running clubs in my area for motivation and accountability.

And if my mother buying me a scale isn't motivation enough, then the numbers that popped up sure are.

Guess What Didn't Happen??

Training over the holidays, that's what didn't happen.

Christmas and New Year's just took the wind right out of my marathon sails.  Now I'm right back to where I started.  Slow.  Winded.  Out of shape.

But

B and I walked briskly on Wednesday night for 30 minutes. 

Yuck

B and I walked Christmas Tree Lane last night.  All I can say is "Yuck."  Too many people (reportedly 20,000), too much horse sh** and too many people.

And it wasn't even that cold.  But we walked all 4 miles and then some because we had to park in timbuktu and hike in.

Day 3

B and I have now done 3 days of the gym in a row.  Yay us!

We did a 30 minute resistence ball class with weights.  It was a good workout and a nice change from the running schedule.  Not that it's boring to train for the marathon, it's just nice to mix it up.

Tonight is our "break night."  We are going to go walk down Christmas Tree Lane.  I don't know how long it is but I'll find out before we go so I can at least write down how far we walked.  We won't be walking at race pace, it'll definitely be more of a leisurely stroll, with hot chocolate in the low-40 degree weather.

Thursday we'll pick it up again with another session of resistence ball with weights.  Friday we'll probably take off and we'll meet up again over the weekend.

So far so good.  I feel better in the mornings now.  I'm definitely eating better and I'm sleeping harder.  I went to bed at 9:15 last night (so early for me!) and didn't want to get out of bed at 5:15.  I'm sure even after walking tonight I'll crash again.

I keep looking in the mirror, checking everything out.  No changes.  I have to keep reminding myself that I've only been working out for 3 days.  I think I'll see and feel bigger changes in a couple weeks, after we've been at this for a while.

Day 2

B and I did Day 2 of our running training schedule.  Not bad.  I was a little sluggish last night.  Cranked up the speed a little (not much - 0.1mph faster - baby steps).  I think it's because I forgot to bring a bottle of water with me. 

I have been eating better tho I'm not going to be keeping up the Food Journal.  Too involved.  I know that exercising helps me to make better food choices (like a smoothie for breakfast today, celery & peanut butter for a snack, no eating after 8pm, etc.) 

I feel better already.  I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.  I suppose it's good but it might also be a sign of how out of shape I was/am.  Which I already knew. 

California International Marathon!  Here I come.  :)

Day 1

My friend B and I started our running training today.  We didn't push ourselves or do too much.  We did Day 1 in the Couch Potato to 5K training schedule from www.coolrunning.com.  (Thanks J for the link!)

It wasn't bad.  We didn't die.  It's the most running I've done in years tho, all 7 minutes of it or something.

Once our friend J is up and moving again, she'll be joining us as a workout partner.  J has been much more diligent at working out at home than I ever have been, despite the exercise DVDs in my media drawer.  I know she'll be up to speed in no time flat.

Move along, nothing to see here...

Just so you know, it's my birthday week therefore nothing productive will be happening until Monday.  (Saturday if I'm lucky).

:)

Accountability

After my announcement at Thanksgiving that I want to run in a marathon in December 2006, I decided to create this blog for accountability purposes.  It's more for my purposes than yours but keep reading if it interests you.

I was so inspired by the show "The Biggest Loser."  So inspired.  Even though I am not yet "overweight" by doctor's standards, I am at my highest ever.  I have had the worst year of my life thus far (but with very good highlights!) and have slunk out of my workout routine (which of course contributes to my slunking out of working out).

Now my workout routine usually consisted of going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week, using the eliptical machine for 30-45 minutes and making a weight machine round 2-3 times per week.  Blah.

My mom and I competed in two powerwalks at the Big Sur Marathon.  That's 22.6 miles of walking.  It took about 5.5 hours.  And it was great.  But... there aren't a lot of powerwalks around. 

In my time of change and turmoil, I decided I needed a goal.  An acheivable goal.  Never mind that I HATE running and don't even think I can run a mile without stopping anymore, I am determined to run the marathon in Honolulu or Sacramento next December.  Whoever wants to join me, may.  I welcome the comraderie, commiseration and accountability. 

I also welcome race, shoe and training recommendations.  :)