Interesting sites for your reading pleasure

Biking in the winter... why not??

Yes, it is crazy... but I used to do it way back when I was young, skinny... and probably dumber ;)

Make your own snow chains for the tires on your bike.. Hmmmmm

All I need is the clothes to keep me warm... and the lack of sense to enable me to do this! :P

Not fitness related

This made me laugh... out loud.... a lot... Watch the bystanders. :)

Lost my mo-jo

I have officially lost my exercise mojo.
I need to get re-inspired.
Maybe I will sign up for the WAM-300 again next weekend.. THAT will maybe light a fire under my lazy a$$ and get me exercising again. ??? I hope so!

WAM 300, or really 67 + 115

Well, the ride is over! I was waiting to get some pictures from FM.. but I will post the pictures when I get them! :) I do have 1 of the 2 of us on day 1 at the first break stop.

So here is the abridged recap. I will leave the medical issues for each of us out of this telling. I hope FM does the same! :P

Day 1: woke up at 4:something am.. that is early! We ate breakfast, got ready and packed up our gear. We thought there would be some sort of a starting line or something... but people were just going.. so we got going at about 6:15ish on the ride. Right out of the parking lot, a hill that while not steep, went on for a long while. Someone was already walking up that first hill. I suspect she didn't do a lot of miles that day. The hills were HORRID... I walked up 1 because my hips were grinding... (ouch!).. but with those bike shoes.. I didn't walk any more. A couple of the hills made me want to cry when I would see them looming ahead - but I conquered them.... Slow and steady! You know it is bad when you have bottomed out your gears and are only going like 2 mph and still struggling. We did 67 miles on day 1. I think with those hills it should have counted for 167! The pavement was something else on a lot of the ride too! It had this gravel that had been put in for the last course and rolled in or something. I am not kidding you, I slowed down when going down hill on this stuff! I kept checking to be sure I didn't have a flat tire or sticking brakes. It was nuts! SOme of the pavement was really nice, I hit 39.4 mph on one downhill - THAT rocked. :) was trying to hit 40.. maybe next year. We sagged from the break stop at the 67 mile point to the end. Would have been 98 miles had we biked it all.

Day 2:
115 miles. We both did our first century ever on day 2. Somehow we hooked up with this group for 16 miles towards the end (up to the last 10 miles) that was going 19-21 mph and we kept up with them. Not at ALL sure how in the heck we did that! It was awesome though. This day was a LOT better because the hills were smaller. They were hard in the morning but seemed to get easier as the day progressed. We didn't sag.... well FM had to for a couple miles due to technical problems, but that wasnt her choice or her fault!

Day 3:
for reasons out of our control we couldn't/didn't ride. But that was okay. we were both REALLY REALLY tired..... Unfortunately FM left before meeting our wish hero Abby. She's a great girl that had a wish granted which was a week at Disney world, a princess experience! I am so glad that we were able to raise money for this amazing organization!!! I am going to do this again... FM - ummm probably not so much. Her husband is a farmer and this is not the best time of the year for her to be away.....

anywa I promise more pictures when I Get them!!

taper time

Well, bike ride is in....5 days.. EEK!!! I think I am ready... I have lots of GU (I like it better than the other gels.. when DID I become such a snob anyway???), chamois butter, etc etc etc...

My hip has been bothering me a lot lately. So I really do need to adhere to the taper I suppose! I was told about 5 years ago that I have Degenerative Joint Disease starting in my hips (Osteoarthritis if you are nerdy like me) and that was before pregnancies, weight gain, etc. etc... I suppose after this ride I should take my lazy behind to the Dr. and get it checked out. Actualy I should have done this BEFORE - but it really didn't start until a few days ago. I have always had some pain in there, as long as I can remember so I don't pay attention. Dumb huh?

Anyway.....

time to relax because, it is too late to do anything else! wish us luck, though I have my suspicion that FM will do better than I will. :) Yes, I do think so. :)

Thank you to everyone that donated, cheered on, or in anywa provided support. Without you all there is NO WAY that this could have happened. I would have given up ages and ages ago when the rides started getting hard, the weather getting hot, my body hurting.... but I didn't and I have you all to thank! THANK YOU!

25 pound mark!! :)

So.. a few weeks ago I quit weighing myself out of sheer frustration. The dang scale wasn't gonna budge then I wasn't gonna visit it!! Well.. today I got on and I am down 8 more pounds and I have lost 25 pounds since Jan 1. :) :)

WOO HOO!! I am at the weight I was when I got pregnant, and in the same size... though oddly it doesn't fit the same since having kids. I have more to go - but I am excited and re-invigorated. Lately I have been feeling like I am not accomplishing anything - but I am!! :) yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

map my ride

Mapmyride. Go there, check it out!
I am using it to tell me approximate calorie burn and to track my walk/runs and my bike rides. You can also map on there (obviously) as well as find other maps made by other people. This site rocks!!

much better this time

So I took 5 days off from working out last week. After Sunday's fiasco and feeling incredibly horrid both Sat & Sun of last weekend.... And taking bike into REI for a minor tune up in anticipation of the big ride, rain !!!.... Well I just ended up with 5 days off.

Here is the funny thing, yesterday I did the 1.2 mile run/walk loop in my sub (the somewhat shorter loop I sometimes take - felt awesome... Today did the 40 miles without a rest break, again felt a TON better. I guess it was a combination of the high mold (allergen BIG time for me)and pushing myself too hard, and too little sleep.

I didn't fall off the bike, I didn't need to get off bike and rest, I could have gone longer without dying! yay!!! :) :)

too much rain

So.... I figured out why workouts were so bad last weekend, the outdoor mold levels were high, and that is my biggest allergy trigger. All this rain - well have you seen some mushrooms growing in lawns?? I have!

Anyway... REI has my bike until tomorrow, getting a minor tune-up before the big ride, just to be sure nothing is about to fall off or anything strange like that. Have been taking some days off from exercise since it has been so hard to do - but I will try to either swim or run today, depending on time today! (and weather)

That's gonna leave a mark

Okay. I am embarassed to type this, but I will anyway. Yesterday I fell off my bike, twice. Rookie mistake that I haven't made in ages.. but I did... So go ahead and laugh at the clumsy cyclist! I was distracted and just off. I was doing a 2nd 40 mile bike ride... (the last one being a week ago). So I was coming up to a red light.. thinking, "please turn green, please turn green" and completely not getting my foot unclipped... bike stops.. wait a second... as the bike starts tipping - my foot isn't out!! OUCH! That time kinda hurt - seat hit me rather hard and left a nasty bruise - never mind how great that concrete felt. This is why I wear the gloves - when you land on your hands it feels a lot less bad than it could.. The 2nd time I was stopping for a break - my foot was out and I was leaning towards it and somehow I fell in the other direction - that foot was still in. WTF????!!!!????!!!!

This was just a bad workout weekend! I ran on Saturday - worst run EVER! It was was worse than when I first started. Lungs were burning, legs were burning.. I just felt lousy. Sunday really wasn't better for the bike ride. I completed the 40 miles.. somehow.. It was slow, I almost ran into stuff left and right, I was a wreck! But... I did it.. I am taking 2 days off.. I need a rest apparently!

UGH!!!!!!!!!!

update for today's ride

40 miles. I did 40 miles today on the bike. woo hoo! According to my cyclometer I was cycling for approximately 2:40 that's a lot of cycling!
Now I had all my stuff, even remembered my cell phone this time which I often forget. The one thing I forgot... okay I have NATURAL RED Hair... no dye here... so I burn... easily.... DOH! THe sun was out and I got burned. Luckily a lot of the ride is in the shade and it was a cloudy day today. The burn could have been a LOT worse... I won't forget again.... until next year....

So other lessons from the ride today:
- don't wait over an hour to use the GU. I waited too long, I felt like I was NOT going to make it until it kicked in.
- check the radar YOURSELF. A nasty little cell moved through when i was only 7 miles from home. Luckily I could find an overpass to sit it out. I tried to get DH to come get me, but he pointed out that the cell was a small one, and by the time he would get himself and the kids loaded up and get to me, the storm would have passed. And it did. However, I think he forgot, or perhaps did not know, it is actually very unsafe to ride right after a rainstorm.

So anyway... The ride went well! My quads HURT when I first got home.. but some stretching, a shower, and a couple Motrin later.. no pain! :)

it was a good ride. and I think that was the longest ride I have ever taken in my entire life. :)

Father's Day

Hey, so is it bad to leave daddy with his kids for a couple hours to fit in a 30+ mile ride?? I did swim 500M on Friday while I was waiting for my client... but I didn't exercise yesterday since DH was helping his brother move.

So today I am aiming for 35-40 miles on the bike. I haven't done a LONG distance in a few weeks, the most I have done is 22 miles... I am packing my GU gels, loading up the camelbak... and planning on getting off the bike in the middle for a rest.... wish me luck!!!

And for those of you that don't look at other blogs.. read this! Frightening stuff! This kind of thing always worries me when I go out for a bike ride. But honestly - can't let fear run our lives! And this is why I wear my LOVELY high vis Jersey on the bike.

back in the saddle

Well, after that triathlon I was sick for a week with a lovely cold or whatever. So I wasn't exercising much. But I am happy to report I am back at it. Yesterday I did a quick 500M in the pool. I stopped only so that I could get home to tuck in kids. Yesterday was a LONG work day! But I had the suit in the van and I was at the YMCA with a client and his family. What the heck - why not?

Day before that I did 22 miles on my bike - a nice short ride. ;) and the day before that I ran/walked my usual 1.4 miles. Yay.. I do want to increase that distance.. I will get there.

6 weeks to the ride. How crazy is that?

Triathlon results....

Okay, so these posts are backwards... But that's okay!
So this Triathlon yesterday was the shortest, to my knowledge, that you can do:
400 Meter swim (that's about 16 times the length of your average YMCA pool)
16 K bike (about 10 miles)
5 K run (about 3 miles)

My times:
Swim: 11:24 (yes, even when I couldn't breathe, I still didn't do toooo bad)
1st transition/changing into bike stuff: 3:46
Bike: 41:12 (i was holding myself way back to save for run. Now I wish I hadn't been soo conservative)
2nd transition/ out of bike into run: 1:54
Run: 42:22 (mostly was a walk, but I would say i ran about a 3rd of it. I didn't think I would be able to run ANY of it)


Total time: 1:40:35
I was 450th over all out of approximately 500.
I was 3rd from last out of my age group, 4th out of 8 in my class (the last 2 didn't finish though) I entered as an Athena which is for women over a certain weight amount.

For my very first triathlon, and with that damn asthma attack in the water... I am pretty happy with my results. :)

more Tri pics

Here I am biking in!! Woo hoo! I actually kept backing off on the bike as I was going 20+ MPH and I wanted to save it for the run.
Walking into the transition area from the bike.
Finishing the run. I actually ran about 1 mile of it, if you add it all up. A LOT More than I thought I would be able to do for sure!

About to cross the finish line! WOO HOO!!

Friends rule!!! WE all finished.. woo hoo

today I can call myself a triathlete....

I finished! I don't have my times yet.. But I did it!
It was fun, once the swim was over. I actually had an asthma attack as soon as my face hit the water and did pretty much the whole thing side stroke and having a hard time breathing.. At least it was a mild attack.
Here are some pictures, THANK YOU MATT for taking pictures!!!!!

The put your age on one leg, and rookies got a B (for beginner) number on the arms. They numbered alphabetically, so I was 497.

Jeanne and I before the race... What am I thinking??? OMFG, WHAT have I signed up for!?!?! There is NO way I can finish this!!!!
Here I am entering the water, about 30 seconds before my lungs went on strike!!!
Gasping for air... walking to the inhaler, not running..
transition area.. cool

2 days from now.....

I am finally past utter panic and have moved into resignation. The triathlon is 2 days from now. I hope to finish it. Period. :) I am taking today and tomorrow as rest days. Then Sunday it is T-Day! Wish me luck!

Funny but I can do a 35+ mile bike ride NO problem... I can do the swim in a pool - didn't get a chance to try it in a lake... but I can do that no problem. The 5K run... Hmmmmm how about a 5K walk? My friend Ralph, who has done Ironmans (is that the proper pluralization of Ironman?)told me that he walked all but .2 miles of the run in his first Ironman. It is more about the fact that you are out there doing it!

I am excited! I am just bummed that I didn't get more time to train. But if I were to look at it on the other side, I was training. All this time I have made myself work out 4-6 days per week for months. I am down about 20 pounds since Jan 1, I have a lot better muscle tone, I am stronger, I have better endurance, I started running!! I have never in my life been a runner. I can NOT say that I love running, but dammit I am actually doing it!

So, while I don't feel 'ready' for this tri - to steal a cigarette slogan, I've come a long way baby!

With excitement and anticipation I look forward to my very first triathlon. I never thought I would get to this point. If it isn't pure hell, I suspect there will be more of them. But after this I have that bike ride at the end of July.... And I set a new goal. I want to be able to run 1 mile without a walking break by the end of the summer.... :)

YAY ME!!!

my garden :)

Well, not fitness related.... But here are a couple pictures of the garden I just planted stuff today in. :) arent the little plants cute?? awwww... hope they survive!!! I even planted a strawberry plant for something new.. :)

re: not prepared

Hello blog reader!

So here I am 6 days out from my 1st tri ever.. I am not prepapred. I am not ready. I am having dreams about how not ready I am. But I will go and do my best. Hopefully I can finish it!

So I had this dream last night. It was Jeanne and I at the tri, with lots and lots of other people. She is all prepared in her wetsuit with a yellow swim cap on, all ready to start her tri. Her transition area is immaculately set up... Then in this dream there is me - I am not even sure I have a swimsuit, let alone bike/run stuff - including my bike. It was a weird dream. Everyone else is starting the swim and I am still milling about looking for my stuff.

Much like in the dream, I do not feel at all prepared. I guess my goal at this time is just to finish! I do not care if I am in last place at this point. I just want to finish.

I haven't had as much time to focus on training as I would like to have. I could complete any 1 leg of this thing... but all 3?? time will tell.. wish me luck and say a prayer for me... cause I am gonna NEED IT! :)

Jeanne assures me that I will have adrenaline on my side... I sure hope so because not much else is gonna be on my side!

new picture / crazy hair

Okay.. So this is me a little over an hour ago fresh from walking/jogging/running whatever you would call what I do! It is hard to take a picture of yourself with small kids in the house! I can't get a good snap! Anyway I think that even though the scale isn't moving really right now I am still losing fat! I will admit that what I have on today makes me look slimmer than I really am.... But I think that every once in a while, even before you reach your goal, it is important to reflect on the progress you have made so far!

So, while I don't want to break my arm patting myself on the back, darn it I have come a long way and am starting to get a shape again! (Woo freaking HOO!) YAY ME!

Now for that tri in 2 weeks - I am very concerned that I am going to die of hypothermia in the water - BRRRRRR!! My friend Ralph offered that I could use his wet suit that he has used for Iron Man triathlons... I decided not to opt for that since it might be returned to him with some new bumps in it or something!

So anyway, I am starting to feel like all this exercise - painful and grueling at times, is paying off. Thank you for your support and encouragement! I wouldn't be this successful if it weren't for you. I still have a long way to go, but darn I am getting there! :)

Update

I am fresh off the bike from a 30 mile non-stop ride at Hines Park. I did it in 2 hours, 4 minutes. Max speed reached was 30.1 MPH. Funny thing about that max speed. So about 1/2 mile into the ride there is this long windy hill and when I go downhill I am a nut.... I put the front chain ring on the BIG one, and the back one on the small one (highest gear) and pedal as hard as I can down the hill. So on the way back at like 26 miles, it hit me that in a couple more miles was gonna be a kinda wicked hill. It isn't steep, but it is almost like a switch back and it goes on for awhile (hence the 30 MPH going DOWN said hill). I did it, I honestly thought at one point I was not going to make it.....But I did.

A couple thoughts for people at Hines Park:
- If you are on roller blades, or on foot, or under 5 MPH on your bike, please go to the trail off the road, not on the shoulder of the road! (people on bikes up to 20-something miles per hour will be in this lane)
- if you are slow on your bike, or hell anyone on bike, please don't ride all over the shoulder, keep a straight line - and stay to the right so I, and others even faster than I, can pass you without having to go into the car lane.
- The scenery is always good there, not talking about the trees or the lake. ;)
- Yo! PERSON IN THE SUV... do NOT park on the shoulder of the damn road!! There are signs all over telling you not to park there. THAT IS THE BIKE LANE.... and FFS - Do NOT have the hutzpah to give ME - the person on a bike, in the FRIGGIN BIKE LANE - a dirty look for riding my bike where I am supposed to be. Thank you. :)

So anyway, going to ATTEMPT my first brick tomorrow.. wish me luck!

re: NOT a big shocker here

New study shows, get this.... women... are you ready to be totally NOT surprised?????

Apparently - Men lose weight and get in shape faster than women... who knew??

Hey, new size peeps... NEW SIZE!!!

So yeah... bought a running skort thingy and running shorts when I was in Muskegon hanging with FM.... just assumed XL.... so they were both too big... did you see that people, they were both too freaking big! WOOT! I am wearing larges again.....

I am hoping within 1 year to be back into mediums.... But I don't think my hips will agree with that plan.

I am personally not seeing a HUGE difference in my appearance, but in clothes! :)

yay!!!!!!!!!! Currently I am wven wearing a T-shirt that used to be snug, now it is comfortable. How is THAT for cool?? :)

re: swimming saga

So, friends... I used to be a decent swimmer. In high school our student PE teacher tried to get me to join the swim team, but I was a music geek and didn't have the free time. I am not saying I was a terrific swimmer, can't time a flip-turn to save my life, and I am sure my strokes aren't a thing of beauty. but.....today while swimming I noticed some things that bummed me out:
- I really get tired a lot quicker with swimming than I used to... I think some of this is form, some is the Asthma, some is extra weight, and some is just general de-conditioning.
- I can not time my breathing for the front crawl anymore.. see above
- My kicking for front crawl is all wrong now. I don't activate my thighs for it hardly at all... I really need to work on that too.....

Too bad I can't afford some swimming lessons! The sad thing is that I can teach others to swim... I just need to figure out how to re-teach myself!

Anyway.. HOPEFULLY I will be able to complete the swim and not be exhausted at the tri in.... a little over 4 weeks (YIKERS!!!)

YANKZ!

Okay. So in my entire life I have never run unless I had to. You know - running to catch up with the ice cream truck, running away from my brother after shooting him the eye with a suction-cup dart, things like that. This being said, the whole training to run thing is a bit of a weird thing for me. I have been a swimmer (was invited to join high school swim team but was too into music to find the time), and cyclist (never have raced, but love to ride my bicycle!). Running is new to me. So my pal Ralph had suggested these shoe laces called yankz for a tri. Now I realize that I am not any thing close to a professional athlete in any way, shape or form. But these things rock!

I don't know if anyone else out there is lazy about tieing/untieing shoes... but dang! They come in lots of colors, but I was boring and got white on white. So my point being, I got some new fancy running shoes from Running Fit and decided since these were so cheap I would try a pair. Last night I put them on the shoes, today I ran with them. They rocked! They have enough give to let your foot slide very easily into the shoe and easily get them out when you want them off - but they also are snug enough that you feel comfortable and they don't come off while you are running.

So, on race day at the tri, I won't lose those precious seconds tieing my shoes.. LOL really I am just worried I will be 1/2 dead with fatigue and be physically UNABLE to tie my shoes... but that is another post for another day!

1st REAL ride of the season

Well, I am fresh off my bike from a 20 mile ride at Hines Park. It was kind of slow, it took me a little under 90 minutes to complete. It wasn't a HUGE ride, but I am proud of myself. I know that pales in comparison to the 100 miles per day/3 day ride at the end of July.... But this is a start!

Some thoughts for the day...
I could have kept going!! I did NOT feel trashed at all. I only stopped because I was back to the car, and we have plenty to get done at home today. That, and I am not sure how I will feel tomorrow since this was my first real ride outside - not on a spinning bike.

I hear complaints all the time about how rude cyclists are.... I don't think that is true! Every single cyclist I passed waved,nodded, or said good morning. (they were going in the opposite direction from me. I got passed by people going the same way as me). I think I actually have become a cyclist. Hmmmm... How did THAT happen?

I REALLY need an mp3 player.

DAMN the person that was baking chocolate cookies that lives in the house bordering Hines Park. I COULD SMELL THEM.

re: Bike ready to go.. weather?? not so much

So... I got the bike all ready to go. As I mentioned in a previous post, I went for a very quick 1 mile loop just to test the brakes, shifting, and to be sure the new inner tubes wouldn't pop immediately. I did learn from this that, yes, I need to wear cycling shoes that attach to the pedals now as well as the cycling shorts/pants.

The last several days have been amazing weather wise, I haven't had the time to go for a ride. Today I was going to try for a ride... no dice... gonna rain and it is wet outside. :(

re: weighed in this AM

down almost 13 pounds!!!
WOO HOO!!!! I actually said that on the scale this morning!

I am excited! Though this week I haven't been able to work out like I want to. Work has been busy busy busy busy. But I have snuck in a few laps with a kick board, my planks and crunches when I can.

My bike is road ready. I did ride it for a quick 1 mile loop around the sub to test the shifting ans brakes. I discovered a couple things:
- I DO need my shoes attached now. My tennies kept coming off the pedals.
- sweat pants will TRY to mix with a bike chain, but really shouldn't. I had to finish the ride with my pant leg rolled up to my knee.

I am sure I looked cool with my feet coming off the pedals and my 1 pant leg rolled up.

And right now I have a 2 year old upset because he can't find his Woody. He is really upset and crying, should go help him look some more. That is the Woody TOY - from Toy Story.

Pictures from the Ceili

Here are some pics from the Ceili Flabulous - they got a few of you in there too! :)

it was over all a fun night! Heck - I probably won't do this bike ride again, but I think we will do this fundraiser again! There are some videos as well. It really was a GREAT night, and for the first time ever doing this, it was a great success!!!

Thank you again to everyone that helped out!!!

Ceili 4 Wishes

Well, even though the weather was beautiful - this was the 1st nice weekend of the year, the Ceili was a success!
We had a head count until 6:30, we don't really have an accurate count unfortunately of how many people came, but we raised $900! (well, it was $897.. we'll call it $900) My best guess is that we had around 65-70 people. Thank you to everyone that helped with this event! Everyone had a GREAT time! Might do this again, well not necessarily the bike riding part, but the fund raiser for Make-A-Wish!!

Get on your bikes and ride!!

Well, I ordered new tires to replace my bald/squared tires & new cleats.
so, when they come I can get the bike all ready to ride - outside!
here is hoping for spring to finally settle in on us!!!!
(fingers crossed, toes too)

ha ha, Mother Nature.....NOT!!!

Okay... yesterday I had hope & optimism for spring weather soon... today we have a Winter Storm Warning, predicted snow fall of 6-10 inches... it is snowing RIGHT NOW as I type this. Heavy Snow is on it's way... COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I WANT TO RIDE MY BICYCLE, ...ya know... outside, without the snow/ice/sleet/general wintery-ness... PLEASE????

Happy Spring!

Okay, it is the first day of spring.....right????
So why is it 33 degrees outside? Well, here is a funny Open letter to mother nature. The first paragraph, mirrors how I feel. While I obviously do not live in Canada, this is one of the snowiest winters on record. You know it is bad when someone who grew up on the West side of Michigan in the SNOW BELT is complaining about the snow..!!! Will winter NEVER end?? ACK!
So... with hopeful optimism I plan on getting new tires and inner tubes on my bike in the next 2 weeks. Darn-it - I am biking OUTSIDE! Sick of spinning and riding bike in the basement. I don't feel like I am actually getting anything accomplished this way. Who is with me!?!?!?
:)

(plus I can get the kids in the trailer - take them to a park, let them play for awhile and return home with the trailer). You see - now that my little one is 2 years old (today is his birthday), I think that it will be easier to fit this in this summer. I guess time will tell though.

Another pound

So, the strangest thing happened. I weighed myself earlier and I was down another pound. 9 pounds since Jan 1. this is going slow as heck, but at least it is going in the right direction!!!

But here is the crazy thing... I haven't really exercised in a week! I can't even laugh or talk much without coughing. I should go to Dr. but my point is - I lost a pound in the last week and I didn't even exercise. How crazy is that? I think getting hubby to stop with the snacks around the house is the real reason that this happened. Although I did read that your body burns a lot of calories maintaing a fever.

Woot!:) (unless that was a pound of muscle lost because I wasn't working out.. then in that case SHOOT!)

Now really I need to do a 1st thing in the morning weigh in because then it will be more accurate - may be more than I think!

Anyway, I am hoping to feel up to dreadmill tomorrow evening. Keep fingers crossed for me! This is frustrating as heck - but at least I haven't given up... right??

Flu....again!!??

OKay... this isn't funny anymore... I am not sure that it ever was really! I am taking better care of myself now than I have in years. Exercising, eating better, sleep is way better than it was now that kids are older.

I currently have my 3rd bout of flu since the beginning of the year. I am talking the fever/chills type with the body aches and fatigue and all the lovely coughing and congestion that comes with it. Why do I keep getting so sick? I am starting to wonder if the allergy/asthma meds are making more susceptible, or if the Asthma itself is. This is nuts!

Anyway, that is my rant for today! I didn't spin - obviously. 102.7 temp, (after tylenol) don't think the others in the class would have appreciated that. At least I did the treadmill yesterday. I am trying to bump up my time running without getting sore Hammys again... here is the plan... tell me what you think:

5 minute warm up (at like 3.0 mph)

jog 1 minute 4.5 mph
walk 2mins 3.3 mph
(repeat until have done this about 15 minutes, or 5 times)

5-6 minute cool down, starting at 3.0, last minute at 2.8 mph

I was not sore after I did this, yet it felt really like I was getting a good workout. I know that my jogs are incredibly slow... but it is a start! Never in my life was I a runner, nor did I ever think I would be. I plan to increase jogs to 1.5 mins, decrease walks to 1.5 mins next, then I will increase the amount of time I am in that walk/jog mode..... when I am healthy enough to exercise.

Ugh

Okay, so I tried to do the dreadmill. I made it almost 12 minutes - not even 1/2 what I usually do. And no jogging. :( I just couldn't do it.... at least I tried??

Of course if my daughter wasn't sick and would let me sleep I think that would help!

Nutrition

Hey, just revisiting this topic for a few moments. Does anyone have a recommendation of a website or book that provides good/reliable training nutrition information??

Also, to the person that said "why did you post that picture, you weren't fat... you were having a frickin baby" (or however you worded it).... Well.. I wasn't saying I was fat.. In deed I was more puffy with fluid... just saying... I have come a long way baby! :)

Got plenty to go.. but I have a total of 8 lbs off since Jan 1, If that keeps up I will be happy. :)

why I like classes...

So today was one of those days. When I started spinning, after the 1st 5 minutes I wanted to quit. If I had been on my own & not in a class, I would have quit. But... I was in a class so I kept going. I finished the workout! It wasn't the best I've ever done, but the point is that i finished it! :)

Some random thoughts from me today... Why can't I sweat buckets like normal people?I think I would feel more like I accomplished something if I left class soaked in sweat like everyone else! Never have been like that - don't know why... isn't that weird? Even when I am overheating and well hydrated - barely sweat.... ugh....

Also, I think that DH is trying to sabotage my weight loss here. He comes home from the grocery store with things like cookies, chips, etc. etc... I have been asking him not to for almost a year. When I go I don't buy these and he just goes out in a day or 2 and gets them himself. :( I suggested to him that if he just HAS to have it that he keeps it in a bin somewhere in the basement or something... no dice... any advice?? When I am home with the kids - tired because someone didn't sleep, stressed because someone (or both of them) are whining, crying, fighitng, etc.... and hungry. I am not going to make a salad, cook some veggies, wash and do whatever with fruit.. I go for that stuff.. :/

TMI......

Okay... Probably Too Much Information. So don't read on if you don't want TMI. No complaints otherwise, you have been warned. :)

So, having had 2 c-sections, I feel like I will never be the same.... probably won't. The kids were only 19 months apart. I had several months of bedrest with each of them. Because my kidneys (among other things) had started to shut down I had tons of fluid, and the kids both had too much amniotic fluid - so that made for a HUGE belly. See the picture here the day before my 2nd was born, see how puffy I was, AND how big belly got:


Now that was nearly 2 years ago. I don't have a comparison picture up for you now... But I have a muffin top from that - dang-nabbit! BUT....BUT!!!! THis morning I decided to suck it up and actually look in the mirror (something I rarely ever do) and, my goodness that darn muffin top is actually shrinking. Not fast enough for my liking - but hey, at least it IS shrinking. There is non-surgical hope afterall. :)

I actually did that spinnervals video that was hard to do a while ago, it was too easy! I actually had to increase the gear thereby increasing the tension. WOO HOO. Progress! Nice to see some progress. Sometimes when we are doing these weightloss & training things it seems like you don't see a lot of progress.. yay for progress. :)

Sanding.. exercise??

So, for 2 weekends in a row I ran a floor sander - that MUST count as exercise?
Hope So!

NAA - thank you for spinning with me last week! I actually was able to nurse the pulled hammy through the class, and didn't at all feel like I was struggling. Guess I am in better shape than I think I am. :)

I hope we can keep going! I think that it is fun to have someone I know in class for the company.

Sore muscles, cough gone

Well, I am going to attempt to resume spinning class later today! I am sore everywhere from sanding mom's floor yesterday. It was an exciting venture, we had a rodeo and a bonfire with those floor sanders. Yes, one of the floor sanders was smoldering. We had fire! Because of issues with the sanders, we didn't finish - so I get to go next Saturday too. Woo freaking hoo...

Anyway... today I am sore as heck! BUT... with the help of some medicine and some stretching I am hopeful that I will be able to tolerate the 90 minute spinning class! At least the coughing has stopped! I think between the lack of sleep due to my kids and general stress - I just seem to not be able to fight off anything lately!

I am doing some research on training for centuries. I think I will post some links as I find them, in case any one else wants to read them.

NAA & FM - can we schedule some longer rides this spring over on the West side of the state?? :) Saturday rides perhaps?

re: getting better

This has been a rough week, and it is only Tuesday!
I am trying to get back into work out. I still have a cough from that dang flu. It's nature's cruel joke! But I am slogging through it. I went 1.20 miles in 22 minutes on the dreadmill AND got crunches and planks in.....
Now I have to go to bed....

Any words of wisdom to get this cough gone??
I think a couple of pounds snuck back on while I was recuperating!
Time to get back in the saddle.

Of course this weather isn't helping either. I would ride my bike outside if it would just dry up and get even into the upper 30's.

I am also trying to get in shape for that tri I signed up for (WTF was I thinking??)
I am going to try to follow this plan to get up to running a 5K. Also the minimum of 1 swim a week and that spinning class. At least it is a start, for now! My goal is just to finish the race, not concerned right now about times etc.

The Flu

OKay, why does this always seem to happen? I finally settle into a regular work-out routine. It isn't a struggle to make myself do it. Them.. WHAM... I get sick.. to sick to exercise. :/ Yesterday my temp got up to 103.1 Thank heavens for tylenol to bring it back down... grrr... I never used to get sick. UGH!

Oh well - guess I thank the asthma for that lovely little trick. Oh well!

re: music!

On April 6th we will be having a Ceili (party!) at the 1 trick Pony in Grand Rapids. This will be a fund raiser for this ride! It will be from 4 - 9 pm. We, I should say Fred is working on getting musicians lined up. There will be a seisun at the end for anyone to join in and play. We are looking forward to this event!

I will jump in with Archive for this performance. I am excited! BUT... now not only do I have to get in shape for the Triathlon and the WAM, I also have to get my chops for fiddling back in shape!

My first Tri!

So I just registered for my first Triathlon. I have wanted to do one for about 4 or 5 years, I am excited to finally be signed up for one! Anyone out there that has done one, I will be asking lots of questions. I have no aspirations of winning anything or placing in any category. I just want to finish the thing. I have never done anything athletic before in my life, this is exciting.

My first tri, my first century on a bike (actually, 1 a day for 3 days). This will be an eventful year! It is important to me to not only get in shape and live a healthy lifestyle for myself - but I want to set a good example for my children as well.

We live in the Metro area of one of the 'fattest cities in America' . I really hope to give my children the tools that they will need to not join this statistic. Now if I could only get my husband off the couch and away from the tv.........

6 lbs lighter

Well, hey.. since Jan 1st I am down 6 lbs. :)
Hope to keep it up! How I have lost weight and still eat some junk every once in a while is beyond me.. must be the spinning class!

Kashi rocks

First and foremost, thank you NAA for your Kashi tip! Before spinning yesterday I had 2 packets of the Kashi Oatmeal and a banana. (okay, AND a diet coke to wake me up). The strangest thing happened...

I went to this spinning class and was able to pretty much keep up! I didn't keep adding tension everytime Dany told us to, and I did sit down for about 3 minutes of the standing - but I actually was able to survive the class! AND... this is just weird... I got home and was very energized. (!!!) I cleaned for an hour and a half when I got home while dinner was cooking in the oven, and then for almost another hour after dinner. (along with trying to entertain the kids). It was strange. I will definately try that again next week before spinning. I think I might start having that for breakfast EVERY day. sheesh.

So that tells me that I REALLY do need to research some nutrition for training. Does anyone have a good tri-training book they would recommend? Does it include nutrition? I am thinking the tri book since the tri is before the 3-century in 3-day ride. I would consider a good cycle training book too. Or even better, a website with good information.

THANKS!

Oh, note to self: maybe 2 pair of cycling shorts for spinning class? nah - that'd just be silly.... suck it up!

Spinning

...holy......jeez.........

OKay, it wasn't as bad as that, but it is 90 minutes. I only did about 30% of the standing, but I kept moving! note to self, baggy bike shorts not have enough padding for spinning, don't wear them again!

New Years Revolution

So, I don't believe in resolutions. They never last. I don't know anyone that set a new years resolution and was able to stick with it and make a life change... I am having a new years revolution instead!

I am now a member of the Spare Tire Racing team. I have re-started logging my exercise, did a weigh-in, measure-in and I am ready to go.

Thank you all that are great supporters! I really would not be able to do this without you!!!!!