I completed one trip down the pool!

I started to say that I completed one lap. However, I believe that consistutes one trip down AND back. I most definitely did not do that!

I really wanted to be able to complete one trip down the pool without stopping and gasping for breath or choking on water. So, I made that my goal for today. I thought that if I could do it once I could do it from that point forward. Wrong. I did it once and I almost did it a second time, but then I got tired. Seriously, who would have thought that swimming is so hard! And exhausting! I spent almost an hour in the pool this morning. My arms are already tired, so we will see whether I can life my arms tomorrow or not.

It was one of those mornings that I reset my alarm and had every intention of sleeping in until 5:30 and skipping my workout. I'm so glad I didn't! I accomplished a goal that I had set for myself and made quite a bit of progress in learning how to swim. I still have a long way to go, but I don't feel like I inhaled as much water as usual.



Oh! I almost forgot. I tend to like healthier foods, but I also really, really, like dessert/sweets. I've been trying to eat better and decided to take a picture of my lunch yesterday.

It was tasty! I did pretty well yesterday. I had a candy bar as an afternoon snack, but I ordered a healthier dinner. Well, Jay talked me into the artichoke dip, but my sandwich was a Lo-Cal Cluck Lite from Scotty's with only 230 calories. And, I only had a handfull of the wedge fries. Hmmmm, maybe yesterday wasn't such a good eating day. I need to work on that.

I'm looking for quick and easy breakfast foods. I generally eat once I get to work, so I need something that I can make on Sunday and heat up each day of the week, or something I can make at work with only a microwave, toaster oven, and toaster. I hate fungus (mushrooms) and can do eggs, if I have something with them, but I'm not a huge fan. Any suggestions?

I'm getting there.

Well, I managed to get up on Monday and workout with Dale's group. We did legs. Dale showed me how to use a couple of machines that I hadn't used in the past, so that was good. I also informed Dale that he came in 1st in his group at the Warrior Dash, which he didn't know! They were all teasing him that he was probably the only one in his age group, but he was excited anyway. I also found out that he is only 69. Whoopsy. Have I mentioned that I'm really bad at guessing ages? So, technically he is the same age as my dad. Which is a weird comparison for me. My dad looks younger than he does, but I can promise you that my dad could not have completed the Warrior Dash. It's very interesting how people age. If I had to guess right now, I would say that I will definitely NOT be competing in a Warrior Dash when I am 69! So, way to go Dale!

Oh yeah, and Dale didn't complete the monkey bars either. He has made it his mission to make sure that both he and I make it across the monkey bars next year. We start training this week. That's probably about how long I'm going to need to train in order to cross those things. Why were the monkey bars to easy as a kid and so difficult now?!

Monday evening Jay and I met at the Y and we started the couch to 5k training program. I am signed up for three 5ks between now and mid-October. I'm not even going to try to run Hoosiers Outrun Cancer (I'm just going to outwalk cancer) or Wine at the Line. Both of those are fairly hilly. I can't run a 5k on a treadmill, I'm not delusional to think I can run on those hills! But, the final 5k is Get Your Rear in Gear and it is located in Noblesville (I think). I'm hoping the course is a little flatter than Bloomington terrain. I also have plenty of time between now and then to complete the 5k program.

Yesterday I swam with Dale's group. I did much better than the first time. I still felt like I swallowed a ton of water, but I was much better prepared. I had goggles and a swim cap this time. We were in the outside pool which is olympic length. I could make it about half way down the pool before I would need a break, but I'm getting there. I'm also getting more comfortable in the water and not freaking out at much about water in my ears. The girls really encouraged me and said I was doing well, and Dale gave me some pointers. Then he made me swim all the way down only using one arm, then all the way back only using the other arm. It was rough, but I did it.

Today, I. am. sore. I was supposed to get up and lift upper body, but I could hardly raise my arms, let alone try to lift weight. Aiden got up at three something and only wanted me. I reset my alarm and, of course, got very little sleep until I got up at 5:30. Since I was home this morning Aiden was all out of whack and wouldn't let go of me. It was nice to get the love and hugs and kisses, but it was sad to hear him crying as I left for work. Note to self, get your butt out of bed and go work out, no matter what!

We are going out to dinner tonight with Jay's sister, so we won't get our cardio in tonight, but I hope to get back in the pool tomorrow morning.

So, my goal for today is to stay within my calorie limit and be as active as possible (considering I sit at a desk all day for work). What are your goals for the day?

Colts Preseason 5k

I'm still trying to get into my groove of blogging. I'm trying to figure out what computer to use, whether to post in the morning or at the end of the day, how to post pictures so that people actually want to look at my blog, etc. Thanks for sticking around as I try to feel my way through this new world.

This past weekend I participated in the Colts Preseason 5k with a co-worker/friend of mine. It was early. The race started at 7:30 and I had to be downtown, parked, and ready to go around 6:30. Why on earth I felt that was so early is beyond me because every week day I get up at 4:30, workout, and get to work by 7am. I actually got to sleep in to participate in the 5k. But, as we lined up for the start of the race, I took this picture of the sun rising.

It wasn't until we were lining up that I really realized that the sun hadn't risen.

As we were waiting for our heat to start I took a picture of Lucas Oil Stadium and a selfie of Jamie (my co-worker/friend) and I.

We were both nursing minor injuries and hadn't trained appropriately, so we probably only ran half a mile or so and walked the rest. But, we still managed to finish in 42 minutes. Not the greatest, but we had a good time. I took a couple of pictures along the way.

The Monument on the circle.

Lucas Oil from West Street.

Lucas Oil as we were approaching to make our final 40 yard dash.

The final 40 yards was timed for a 40 yeard dash. Jamie finished about a second before me and I completed my dash in 9.47 seconds. I was by no means near the fastest dasher (is that a word?) but I was please. Plus, it was so much fun to dash across the football field! The ground was cushioned and it was neat to see the stadium from the point of view of a player. Below is a picture of the tunnel we ran through and the finish line.

Me with my finishers medal.

Jamie and I post race.

We had a great time and I can't wait to do it again next year!

It's been a bad week full of excuses

So, I was going to post my reasons for not working out much this week, but then I realized that they are just excuses. Then I remembered that this blog is to help me stay accountable to myself, so I am going to list them anyway.

Monday:
I was supposed to get up early and lift at the Y at 5:00am (legs day) then do cardio after work with Jay.

My knee was still hurting from the Warrior Dash and I was concerned I had actually hurt myself. So I didn't go in the morning. At this point I can't remember all the way back to Monday, but I'm 99% sure I cycled with Jay on Monday.

Tuesday:
I was supposed to get up early to swim.

Aiden was up from about 11:45pm until 4:10am. The last thing I wanted to do after 20 minutes of sleep was go swimming. I took clothes to work to get a workout in during lunch, but forgot that I was giving blood that morning. I skipped the lunchtime workout and hoped to get a workout in that evening. Of course I didn't workout that night. My evenings are full, that's why I work out while the rest of the world was awake. Who was I kidding? Oh, me, that's right. ::eyeroll::

Wednesday:
I was supposed to get up early and lift at the Y at 5:00 am (chest, shoulders, and back day) then do cardio after work with Jay.

At 3:30am someone turn on the faucet inside my nose. My shoulder had also started hurting pretty bad during the day on Tuesday. Holding Aiding Tuesday night was extremely painful. So, I decided that sleeping in until 5:30 (or trying to sleep with a runny nose) and not hurting my shoulder more was a better idea. After work I grabbed a handfull of tissues and still did cardio with Jay. It wasn't pretty, and I stuggled through, but I did it.

Thursday:
I was supposed to get up early to swim.

I decided that trying to blow air out of my nose and mouth while swimming would result in snot all over the pool thanks to this nasty cold I have. I figured that my fellow swimmers would appreciate it if I didn't share my cold and if they didn't have to swim in nastiness. I also really wanted some more sleep. I considered calling in sick to work, but sick days are reserved for the little guy these days. I did nothing last night but make dinner and go to the grocery store. I even went to bed early.

Friday:
I was supposed to get up early to lift at the Y at 5:00am (arms day) and then do cardio after work with Jay.

I didn't get up. I really, really, really wanted to sleep. It's dumb though. I set my alarm for 4:30, I reset it for 5:30. I never get good rest from 4:30 to 5:30. I don't know why I even try. Regardless, I still didn't get up and lift this morning. Aaaand, I have no intention of doing cardio after work today. I feel like crap. I was really hoping that going to bed early would help me feel better this morning, but I don't. This cold needs to go away!

The other reason I don't want to do cardio after work is that I am supposed to run a 5k tomorrow morning at 7:30. The likelihood of me running the entire thing is slim to none, but I will be completing the 5k regardless. So, I don't think it is a good idea to do cardio and then 12 hours later attempt to run a 5k, especially with as miserable as I feel.

I will be participating the the Colt's Preseason 5k tomorrow morning.
It should be a really good time. I'm actually looking forward to it and hope that I miraculously feel better tomorrow. :)

I know it isn't a workout, but I will be walking to Lucas Oil stadium during my lunch today to pick up my race packet. Since the first water stop is less than a block away from my office (the one mile mark), I'm going to guestimate that I will walk 2 miles during lunch todya. At least it is something. Plus, tomorrow I will run, and next week is a new week. No excuses!

Have a great weekend everyone! Will anyone else be at the Colts Preseason 5K?

Starvation mode

Sorry for the lack of posting; I've been feeling like crap and had virtually no access to a computer outside of work this week. Thanks for sticking around. :)

One of my recent frustrations is the fact that I haven't been losing weight recently and I'm starving all the time. I mentioned that I use to track my caloric intake on a daily basis. I used to be really bad about it and only track until I knew that I would be over my calorie allotment for the day and then stop. Obviously that is not a good game plan. So I started forcing myself to track all calories, no. matter. what. Well, there were days that were shockingly high, and others that were only over by a few calories. What I found was that the program said I should still be losing weight, but I wasn't. I mentioned this to my sister and some co-workers who suggested that maybe I wasn't eating enough. Not enough, that's silly! If you want to lose weight you make healthier choices and eat less. Duh!

So, after I finally went public with my blog earlier this week, a girl I did gymnastics with in High School contacted me. She had the best name, Kim, and trains people both regarding workouts and eating. Unfortunately, she is in Pennsylvania, so I won't be spending time with her, but she suggested that maybe my body was in starvation mode. So, clearly I listened to her. She suggested that I find my basal metabolic rate and use that number to determine the number of calories that I need to consume in a day. To my utter surprise, I found out that I need approximately 1,000 more calories a day. You read that right, 1,000! No wonder I was starving all the time. So, I have manually reset my fitness pal to my new calorie goal. I am already seeing results (very minor weight loss) but most importantly I am not hungry all day long. :D

So, I still love my fitness pal, but be sure to check out your own basal metabolic rate and determine the appropriate caloric intake for your body. I just googled basal metabolic rate and clicked on the first link. And a big THANK YOU to my sister, my co-workers, and to Kim for helping me help myself. Now I need to focus on making the right food choices on a more regular basis. Oh! If you are on my fitness pal, look for me, Ladybug7121.

Warrior Dash

Oh. My. Goodness! I survived. I didn't break anything, I think. Something in my knee popped at one point and it has hurt and been wobbly since, but I'm sure I'm fine, right? Pamala and Sarah kept promising that as soon as it was all over we would want to know when the next race is. They were wrong. We had to wait just a little bit longer, but by Saturday evening Jay and I were both ready to sign up again for next year with this fun group of people. Here is a picture of the ladies before the race started. Here is the first obstacle. Holy cow was that water frigid!!! When I first came upon this obstacle I thought, no big deal, it's like the beam. Wrong! Add mud and water and it becomes a little bit more challenging! A view from the top of a very tall wall that was straight up and down. No angle like many of the others. As we stood in line for 30 minutes to climb this wall we kept saying that it must be harder than it looks. For the record, it was. The sign after the wall. The final wall of the race. Again, looked less challenging that it actually was, but not horrible. The final challenge was gross, but not terribly difficult. Swimming through gross muddy water, under barbed wire. No big deal! Post race, pre-wash. Jay and I washed off before this picture was taken. I was ready for a shower! Enjoying our complimentary beer. Those who survive receive a medal. Be jealous! Oh, it's a beer bottle opener too, in case you couldn't tell. This is what our shoes looked like after cleaning them off! Finally, a really bad selfie of Jay and I. We aren't very good at these. I promise, we will try to improve. Man are we sore today! I didn't get up and meet the group for weight lifting this morning because my knee hurt too bad. However, I did go to the Y after work and rode the stationary bike. Tomorrow morning I try swimming again. Hopefully this time I'll leave some water in the pool for everyone else! I almost forgot! A huge thank you to Pamala Dunscombe for the pictures from the Warrior Dash! Have you ever done an adventure race like this before?

Rest Day

I'm really, really, really, bad about taking rest days. Especially since I have been working so hard to lose weight and eat healthy and the scale just does not want to budge. Very annoying! But yesterday I was exhausted from my first attempt at swimming, worked all day, then went to the fair until 9pm (my usual bedtime). I didn't get to bed until after 10pm. I made the decision last night that I was not going to get up this morning and workout. Jay and I also decided that we are not going to do a cardio workout at the Y tonight. Of course, on my way to work this morning I was thinking about how nice it would be to take a bike ride as a family. While I won't entirely take that off the table, I really should rest today. Tomorrow Jay and I, along with several friends, are running the Warrior Dash. I'm excited and nervous, but mostly nervous. I'm really not all that strong so I'm afraid I won't be able to complete the obstacles. On the other hand, I don't have anything to prove to anyone and when we signed up it was in the spirit of having a good time. The group of people that we are dashing with come from all age ranges and fitness levels, so hopefully I'll fit in nicely. Then, once we complete the race, we get a free beer. I don't really like beer, but if you are going to give it to me for free, I'm not going to turn it down. :) Then Sunday I will be back in the pool trying to figure out this whole breathing while swimming thing. Wish me luck!