Weekend In Review

Let me introduce you to my youngest niece, P:


We had the opportunity to spend Saturday with two of my favorite nieces (and their parents and my parents) at the Minnesota Zoo. P enjoyed the rest of her sister's bomb pop after eating a healthy sized portion of cotton candy. She just melts my heart. Such a sweetie. Her big sister, M, is also a little dear, but she's a little camera shy.

After the zoo, my dad spent some time tilling our vegetable garden and I finished clearing out the dead stuff from the flower garden. It feels so good to have finished that project! They stuck around for dinner and then G and I hit the local nursery to find some seeds for the vegetable garden.

G's parents took us out to brunch on Sunday morning. Our big brunch left us feeling pretty lethargic, so we spent the first part of the afternoon just sitting around and being lazy. Eventually, I ran some errands and then we spent a few hours outside taking care of more yard work. G mowed the lawn, and I did some more weeding in the flower beds and planted our first vegetable garden. We ended the day hitting some tennis balls at the courts near our house.

Healthy Nest: Keeping Accountable Week 4

I hit the 60 mile mark last night! No big goals this week. I'd like to squeeze in two spin classes and another four days of running.

Monday, March 29: 4.1 miles, upper body strength training.
Tuesday, March 30: Day off.
Wednesday, March 31: 3.1 miles, lower body strength training.
Thursday, April 1: Spin class
Friday, April 2: Day off.
Saturday, April 3: Run 5 miles, sit ups. (I missed spin class.)
Sunday, April 4: Run 4.1 miles outside.

The case of runner's toe I mentioned last Monday continues to cause me some pain. Unfortunately, I developed a second case of runner's toe on Wednesday. Same foot. Two little piggies right next to each other. (I'll spare you pictures of my own toes, but if you want to see what runner's toe looks like, click here. Thank god for nail polish!) I really don't think there's much I can do about it, so I'll just have to tough it out until the pain starts to subside. I had a case of this last June and although my toenail stayed black for a long time, the pain eventually went away. No pain, no gain, right? ;)

By the way, my 6:00 AM phone call was positive! I go in for the week and then the company I work for will check in to see if I want to continue for the remaining nine weeks. Yeah! I'll try to keep this updated, but it might not be everyday. You'll just have to check back and see... And leave comments, people. They're my candy!

Spinning = Sweatfest

In college one of my friends found a lump in her breast. Scary, huh? Going through that experience with her and knowing that my friend, who happens to be a crazy smart physician, now only wears natural deodorant means that I follow suit. On rare occasions, like our wedding or fancy events, I'll break out the Dove, but on a day-to-day basis I use Tom's of Maine. To be completely honest, if I'm at home all day and I don't have anything going on, I skip it altogether. TMI? Maybe, but I know I'm not the only one.

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On Thursday night, Tom met his real match: the spin bike. After a four month hiatus from attempting a spin class (I tried it for the first time in November and walked out after twenty minutes - spinning is an insane class), I decided to give it a second chance. I've been running pretty regularly and doing some strength training, so I thought I could probably handle an hour of intense cycling. I was also motivated by the fact that my 70+ year-old aunt and uncle go to spinning class THREE TIMES A WEEK.



I survived the class, and I also learned that it's a total sweatfest. I am so glad I chose the bike in the back corner, away from the other people in the class. I was literally dripping sweat off of my arms and face. By the end of the 60 minute work out, I was pretty stinky. And by pretty stinky, I mean really stinky. Despite the stink factor, I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning's class!

Healthy Nest: Keeping Accountable Week 3

I missed my mark, but I was much closer to reaching it than I was the previous week! I'm not going to set a goal for next week so I don't feel quite so guilty. Despite not meeting my goals, I think I've been making good progress...

Monday, March 22: Run 3 miles/arms, back and core strength building.
Tuesday, March 23: Run 2.5 miles/legs and core.
Wednesday, March 24: Day off.
Thursday, March 25: 3.5 miles/back and upper arms.
Friday, March 26: I corralled children at a bowling alley all afternoon - that must count for something, right?
Saturday, March 27: Day off.
Sunday, March 28: 3.1 miles/legs.

Weekend recap later today!

Healthy Nest: Keeping Accountable Week 2

Well, I didn't meet my goal for the week. I failed. Miserably. I was feeling icky last Monday, I subbed on Wednesday and had a band concert that evening, and I spent Friday and Saturday trying to nurse my most recent case of runner's toe. Someday I should go to Running Room and find out what kind of shoes I should really be wearing.

Here's the breakdown for last week:

Monday, March 15: Day off (sick).
Tuesday, March 16: Run 3 miles, strength training for arms and core.
Wednesday, March 17: Off.
Thursday, March 18: Run 2.5 miles, upper back and leg strength training.
Friday, March 19: Off.
Saturday, March 20: Off.
Sunday, March 21: Off.

That is embarrassing. This week I'm going to try and recover the 4.5 miles I missed the previous week and finish the 10 I originally hoped to add to my total mileage. We'll see how my toe holds up!

Healthy Nest: Keeping Accountable Week 1

I woke up early, made an egg, cheese and sausage omelet for G., and started to get to work on CHAPTER TWO of my dissertation when I was overcome with a very sudden urge to purge. Not to be too gross, but I haven't vomited since I was 15, so I was probably a little overdue for a date with the garbage can. What a way to start the week!

Every Monday morning, I'm going to update my blog with the previous week's exercise stats. I call my dad almost daily to keep him informed about my progress with my running goal, but I figured it would be good to document it elsewhere - why not here? I didn't give too much thought to exactly how I would record the information, but here goes:

Monday, March 8: Run 3 miles of intervals*, followed by brisk walk; core strength training.
Tuesday, March 9: Bike 20 minutes; 20 minutes strength training for arms and legs
Wednesday, March 10: Run 2.5 miles, brisk walk for 20 minutes.
Thursday, March 11: Day of rest.
Friday, March 12: Run 4 miles; 20 minutes strength training (legs and arms)
Saturday, March 13: Run 4.5 miles (4 straight, .5 at pace of 8 mph following brief brisk walk); strength training for 20 minutes (legs and core)
Sunday, March 14: Day of rest (unintentional, daylight savings must have hit me hard because I was exhausted)

* I run my intervals based on distance, not time, so I can keep track of how many miles I'm actually running. For example, I might run .50 miles at a pace of 7 mph and then walk .20 miles at a pace of 4.0 mph before running .25 miles. I always run quarter-mile increments as it's easier to keep track of in my head.

I'm up to 25 miles for the first 2 weeks of tracking, which I think is reasonable. Given the events of this morning, I'm not sure I'll be adding on to that mileage today but I think 10 miles is a reasonable goal for this week.

dailyrun

Until July of 2009, I did a decent job maintaining a running schedule. Then I got caught up in a mess of schoolwork and we bought our house and I just never got back into a running routine. A week and a half ago, I started again. I'd really like to stick with it this time, although I'll be the first to admit that it probably won't happen.

Just bein' honest.

In an attempt to log some serious miles (for me) this year, I set a goal of running a minimum of 250 miles before December 31. I signed up with dailymile, a website that allows you to keep track of your runs and post information in the public sphere.


So far I've been fairly good about keeping my log up-to-date, but to help keep me accountable I opted to link my blog to the website. Every time I update my account, it automatically updates the counter on my blog. You'll find it at the bottom of the column on the right of this page. Not that I expect anyone to keep tabs on my mileage - other than my papa, because he is definitely keeping an eye on the number - but if you ever see the number stay steady for more than a few days feel free to get on my case.

17 down, 233 to go.

Yikes.

Jillian Strikes AGAIN

I've read about the importance of varying your workout routine, but never paid it much mind. Since May, I ran almost daily and managed to work in some light weight lifting every few days. I liked my routine. I figured it worked. I felt healthy.

It turns out that repetition is the devil.

Yesterday, I decided to spend twenty minutes exercising with Jillian. The gym was overly deodorized (I don't know how anyone can tolerate the scent of the stuff they use to clean that room) and cold, so I opted to workout in our living room. Nearly three months after last working out with Jillian, I found myself talking back to the TV screen, sweating uncontrollably, and repeatedly telling G that Jillian was horribly brutal after a prolonged break even if I had been running and lifting some light weights. Maybe you're not surprised, though, based on my previous workouts with Jillian.

It was a mildly torturous twenty minutes, but I felt great by the cool down. In fact, I felt awesome the rest of the day. I decided I should do the workout first thing in the morning several days a week to make sure more muscle groups are exercised.

I felt that way until 6:45 this morning, when I stumbled out of bed to turn off my alarm clock (a good eight feet away). And I really did stumble. I wasn't prepared for the intensity of the pain that continues to radiate through my butt, upper thighs and armpits. Even now, at 9:30 PM, my husband, whose right calf and foot is confined to a plastic boot, moves with more grace and agility.

Needless to say, I did not do the 30 Day Shred this morning. I'll do my best to fight through the pain tomorrow morning, though...

Menu Monday

Our new diet and exercise plan is working! Losing weight wasn't the main objective of our quest for a healthier lifestyle, but we both admit it's a nice perk. By making simple adjustments to our diet and dedicating at least 30 minutes to exercise 5 days a week, G has managed to drop almost two notches in his belt and I've shed nearly 5 pounds.

What's on the menu this week?

Monday
Breakfast: G = one slice Canadian bacon, one slice cheddar cheese, one scrambled egg sandwiched between a toasted wholewheat English muffin; A = whole grain rice, eggs and onion sauteed in olive oil & a banana
Lunch: G = Chicken sandwich, juice box, baked potato chips, pear, cookie; A = salad w/ feta, yogurt w/ flax, pear
Dinner: Leftover baked chicken, carrots and potatoes from Sunday night.

Tuesday
Breakfast: Same as Monday
Lunch: Same as Monday
Dinner: TVP tacos, apples

Wednesday
Breakfast: Same as Monday
Lunch: Same as Monday
Dinner: Leftover TVP tacos

Thursday
Breakfast: Same as Monday
Lunch: G = tuna fish sandwich, yogurt, chips, banana, cookie; A = leftovers
Dinner: G = turkey burger, A = veggie burger, mac and cheese, broccoli

Friday
Breakfast: Same as Monday
Lunch: Same as Thursday
Dinner: We'll eat en route to our concert that night.

Saturday
* We're staying with my parents on Friday night after our concert and spending Saturday at an event taking place at my research site.

Saddlebags

Any advice for how to get rid of saddlebags? All of that extra body weight located around the lower waist, butt, hips and upper thighs? All of my extra calories end up in that area I don't like it. I want my saddlebags gone. Soon.

I've done a decent job of reducing fat intake (I've already admitted the grilled cheese sandwich I ate on Sunday was a mistake...but it tasted really good), and I think I've been pretty good about exercising. During the weeks I was sick with that pesky cold I fell out of my routine, but I'm getting back into it ... slowly, but surely.

I'm going to start adding this exercise to my routine, but I'd happily accept any advice that anyone has to offer.

Jillian the Enforcer

I spent some time with Jillian last night. Although I've spent time at the gym over the past few weeks, I've put off her intense training sessions due to the nagging symptoms of my cold (my wheezy cough can go away any day now...). It was rough. Punishing, in fact. Her workout was a reminder that even though these cookies were easy to bake, eating them was a really bad idea. The pain that radiated in my thigh muscles in combination with her reminders of the importance of a healthy diet made me feel really guilty about the five cookies I consumed that day (they are really, really good). I suppose having someone make you feel guilty is okay - especially if you stray from a diet and exercise routine you've committed yourself to...

Jillian's No More Trouble Zones is great for mixing up your regular routine. It's a lengthy dvd, but is divided into five minute segments that focus on particular areas of your body. While the entire dvd is great, I really like the last three or four routines.

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Jillian, Jillian, Jillian...

On Monday, I reverted to Level 1 of The 30-Day Shred. My energy level was pretty low over the weekend and I was worried that the combination of three days of not working out and my cold would make Level 2 unbearable.

How naïve of me to assume I could handle Level 1.

I’ll admit that Level 1 is easier than Level 2, but it was still torture. Starting with the first set of strength moves I knew it was going to be tough. It was at that point I realized that Level 2 exercises some different muscle groups…and that during the three weeks I’d spent on Level 2, the muscle groups I gave so much attention to in Level 1 had lost some of their strength. To save myself future pain and suffering I am going to switch up my routine so that the muscular strength gained during Level 1 isn’t lost when I’m working on Level 2 or 3. I think an every-other-day plan will do the trick.

I like Jillian because her workouts are short and super intense, but I’m open to suggestions for other workout dvds. Any recommendations? I already own a complete collection of Judi Sheppard Misset’s jazzercise videos, so I’m looking for other options…

Building a Healthy Nest, Part II

As promised, here's a brief introduction to our exercise routine.

In early January, one of my dear friends introduced me to Jillian Michael's The 30 Day Shred. The DVD is comprised of three different workouts (levels 1, 2 & 3) that are each twenty minutes long. They're killer. The first time I spent time with Jillian I thought I was going to collapse after just 10 minutes. I was dripping sweat, my arms functioned like wet noodles, and it was all I could do to keep from swearing at Jillian. By the end of the 20 minutes, I realized that despite my daily trips to our little gym, I was terribly out of shape and had almost zero strength.

We bought our own copy the next day.

G and I "spend time with Jillian" (as we call it) about five times a week. We've progressed to Level 2, but don't think we'll face the challenges of Level 3 anytime too soon.

After a few weeks of spending time with Jillian, G played tennis and reported that for the first time in a long time he maintained a high level of energy throughout the match and wasn't winded. I also went for a two mile jog a few weeks after we bought the dvd and never broke pace or felt like I needed to quit. It must be doing something!

Now we mix it up with one of her new DVDs (click here). We like this one, too, but find The 30 Day Shred to give us the most intense, productive workout.

Building a Healthy Nest, Part I

One of our New Year's resolutions* was to improve our diets and increase our level of physical activity. As March approaches, I'm pleased to announce to the world that we've done a decent job of sticking to our new commitments. G has moved down one notch on his belt buckle and my jeans are a little easier to put on the first time after they've been washed.

How have we done it? Today, I'll tell you about our new approach to eating. Tomorrow, I'll fill you in on our new exercise routines.

Every Thursday, I map out a menu for the following week. I plan all of the meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner - for both of us. Our mornings start with a good, fiber-filled breakfast. We're big fans of Fiber One cereals and granola bars. We usually have a glass of orange juice and split a banana, too. If we don't have Fiber One, we'll have oatmeal or multi-grain waffles and fruit. We pack G's lunch (which has saved us a ton of money!), which is almost always comprised of a sandwich (tuna, egg salad, turkey, ham or peanut butter), yogurt, carrots and cookies. He gets free milk at work. My lunch is usually similar to his, but often I finish our leftovers during my lunch break. Our evening meals are almost always cooked from scratch - we've done a good job of avoiding processed foods (and after watching this film, corn-based products). We eat chicken two to three times a week and have all but eliminated the amount of red meat we eat (I acknowledge this is a sacrifice for my husband, but he's also been good about acknowledging that less red meat isn't necessarily a bad thing). We also eat a rather impressive amount of vegetables. I should note I plan six evening meals. Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, I cook. Monday, Wednesday and Friday/Saturday, we eat leftovers. We leave one evening meal "open" in case something comes up. If nothing does, I can usually find enough ingredients to put something together.

In addition to reducing our calorie intake and upping the healthiness of our diets, there are two awesome perks to our new approach to meals:

1. We've drastically reduced our grocery bill. I only buy the ingredients necessary to make the meals I planned for the week and because all of our meals are planned in advance, I don't have to spend time standing in each aisle hemming and hawing over what we need. I'm now a grocery power shopper. Give me my list and I'm in and out in 20 minutes. We've knocked our weekly bill down as low as $42. It hasn't been higher than $55 for the past 5 weeks - and yes, our groceries are mostly organic and non-processed foods and cover approximately 18 -21 meals (and snacks). I'm proud.

2. I'm fairly confident we'll be able to continue mapping our meals. I spend minimal time in the kitchen on weeknights and we eat well. When I was employed full-time, we cut corners when we ate (lots of pre-packaged meals, processed foods, trips to restaurants). I'm hopeful we won't have to go back to our old ways . . . especially since I gained 22 pounds the year I wasn't working at home.

*It's really best to share resolutions, isn't it? It gives us a little more motivation to stick to them. We're really good about holding each other accountable.