This makes the second week of hittin up the gym. Now if I could only do more than walk that would be great...But I can't.... pfftt
So what I really wanted to talk to ya'll about was those fancy, dancy machines at the gym. You know the ones I'm talking about. Some of them have a screen so you can watch TV (really who doesn't love to sweat to a good episode of The Walking Dead no spoilers I'm still trying to catch up.) Most if not all have the heart rate monitor and it tells you how many calories you burn.
Don't believe it!! They are big fat liars.
I used to get so excited when I would finish up on the elliptical and see I had burned over 500 calories. That is until I got a heart rate monitor, then I found out the truth I was burning any where from 50-100 calories less that what I thought.
So now I always, ok almost always, wear my heart rate monitor when I'm working out even at the machines. It's the best way (I think) to get an accurate number on how many calories you burn.
The difference between the elliptical and my HRM for a 30 min. workout
Finally worked up a sweat... Probably for the first time in 6weeks! #roadtorecovery
*in case you want to know I just have the basic Polar FT4 HRM in (pink of course) that I got on Amazon.
So to keep up with my running cause I've been doing a pretty shitty job as of late and spend time with my family so they actually remember I do live here I decided that I am going to wake my sorry butt up and run in the mornings on Thursdays so I have the evenings to nag spend quality time with them.
This may not seem very daunting to most but for me this means waking up at 3:30AM to be on the road for work by 5:15AM. So today was my first Thursday and of course DQ was up all night with a cough. At 3:30 I called off work and seriously debated going back to bed (I have to stay home all day with a sick kiddo I need my strength...right??) I even got as far as climbing back into bed...and stayed there for a whole 5 minutes before good choices or guilt but what ev kicked in. I got dressed grabbed a banana and off I went.
Yes folks that's AM
That gym was a ghost town, only a few hard core peeps were there (look at me I'm hard core!) and I totally kicked some treadmill butt HELL YA! Though it was hard to get up I love morning runs and always do better than in the afternoon or evening.
Look at all that liquid awesome!!
and that weird face, what was I doing?
A little full body shot for ya.
I'm so glad I didn't flake this morning I felt great afterwards. Then I remembered I have a session with my trainer this afternoon at 5PM doh... Oh well looks like a double hitter today, but at least I will be home sooner that if I stayed a ran afterward. Also since I was home with DQ I was able to get a crapton of stuff done today (which means I spent the day cleaning the house).
Do you like to workout in the mornings or in the evenings?
I had a great weekend full of bonding time with my girls (the Hubs is still not a 100% so he rested up some more, I can't wait till he kicks this thing, at least he's finally on meds).
On Friday TaTa and I had a date night. I was majorly craving a burger and had a free burger waiting for me a Red Robin cause of my birthday... And who am I to turn down a free burger! But that meant some planning as Red Robin is not the most diet friendly. So we headed to the gym first to get our sweat on, and did an hour of intense elliptical work. Yea baby I burned over 800 cals. there was my burger!
I kicked some 19 year old butt on the elliptical!!
My Blue burger, I did lighten it up a bit my subbing a Boca Patty and Whole Grain bun, and it was so worth the sweat!
Then after my run on Sunday morning DQ asked what we were doing, she said she wanted to "go some where?" Well I though about hitting up Disneyland but I think we are planning a mid week trip so... I figured we could go up and visit my mom. It's only about a 40 min. drive so off we went. It was nice, but cold . We went to lunch then walked over to my brothers. DQ's "other" favorite place, seeing as he has a few of her favorite animals,horses. Oh my goodness she was in heaven.
DQ giving Kyra some love.
And she even found the last little bit of snow from Friday.
I was so not ready for this weekend I was so freaking tired all week, and Drama Queen had not one, but two birthday parties to go to and I had my longest run EVER......
but it was AWESOME!!!
We started off running late as usual Saturday morning and had to go pick up DQ at Grammie C's then head off to party #1 it was for a family friend her little guy was turning 5. It was a typical BDay party, bounce house, pizza, and cake. I felt bad that we got there a bit late and could only stay a little over an hour but that meant I was not tempted by the food too much and we left before cake (bad for DQ but good for me :) Then we headed for to party #2 it was for her "boyfriend" G3 (the one we always go to Disneyland with) so she was super excited about that! I was dreading and looking forward to this one. Looking forward because I LOVE G3's mom & dad and, his Aunt Barbie is one of my coworkers and running buddies. Dreading because that also meant a lot of parents from my job would be there so I couldn't totally let loose lol cause you know I can be a bit CRAYZEE ya right.
But is was a blast yes also typical party fare bounce house, face painting, pinata and pizza (one piece) and cupcakes (only one and it was so flipping good) and I was running 9 miles he next day so that so counts as carb loading right?
A mash up of birthday party fun!
Oh and one other thing at G3's party this little baby was quite a hit! The adult stuff on the sides came out later when most of the "work" parents went home (except for a few who are cool like us) lol! and I only had one promise!
Then this morning came I made sure to go to bed early because to be honest I was scared. I had nine miles on the schedule today. My longest run ever!!! So I got up early to give myself time to fuel properly and let things happen *wink* and to catch up on a show or two who am I kidding.
So this was breakfast a coffee protein drink, whole wheat English muffin with PB and a banana.
Then off I went 9 freaking miles....9!!! Holy crap!
It was one of the best runs I think I've ever had. I started off running the block around my house then about mile 2 I ate shit! I slipped on a piece of ice and hit the ground HARD. I landed on my left knee. OUCH!! i couldn't believe it. I live in Southern California I was not aware of this phenomena ice on the ground?? I know, I know, spoiled we are but I never even thought to look for it. Anyway after I went down I got my self up and limped a bit off the ice and walked a few minutes with tears in my eyes trying to shake it off. I was determined not to let it ruin this run, so off I went to finish 7 more miles. It was great at one point a great P!nk song came on Try, and I know it's about love but something about that line "Where there is desire, there's gonna be a flame, where there is a flame someones bound to get burned, but just because it burns doesn't mean your gonna die. You gotta get up and try, try, try..." just get's me. I love it to me it kind represents my relationship with running. I have the desire and the flame is there, but damnn it BURNS, but I WILL NOT DIE and I will TRY, TRY, TRY....so when it came on I just started crying.... I musta' looked a hot mess, tears, snot, and sweat, but I felt AMAZING like I could do anything and hell I was.....
My run in a nutshell! including that damn piece of ice I slipped on.
Hi all! Hope your day is going well. Here not to bad I'm down some more YAY!!!
2.8 lbs to be exact like I said YAY!!! I think getting back into a routine has helped a lot. Now my challenge is to stay away from the snacks we give the kids. Ugg they are
just so good. So I went to the market and stocked up on some healthy eats that I can take and have at the the same time, like hummus and pita chips, string cheese, and grapes.
Yesterday was a good day I stayed at work (as per my new routine) and talked one of my besties CareBear into running with me after work, then DQ and I planned on spending the night at her place. Seeing as she lives very close to work and spending the night means "girl time" and saving on gas, not to mention sleeping in a whole extra hour WHOO-WHOO. So I get off earlier that her and decided to run the first 2 miles solo then met back at work and together we ran another 3miles. Normally I run alone I just prefer it that way. Running is my ME TIME. I put on my earbuds and block out the world, just my tunes the pavement and some sweat. But I actually really enjoyed running with her, we did chat a bit but then we would just stop and run in silence just enjoying each other being there with out having to interact. lol sounds funny but it worked. So we have a date to do the same next Tuesday.
So my first "official" training week is done and it went really good (I'm following Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Novice 1) . I was a little nervous at first though the running days are the same, but the mileage is a little longer. Normally my shorter runs are from 2-2.5miles and the longer Sunday runs are 3-4 miles but now the short runs are minimum 3 miles so the mileage has definitely increased. Also it is taking me a little getting used to the "have to run this distance" instead of "I'll see how many miles I can bust out before I go make dinner".
Overall though it's been a great week and I found a great little running/biking trail near the house. I live in a very suburban area and it's not very interesting to look at while run (think miles of cement and houses and not much else), so this little trail is a nice change of pace. Also it's mostly asphalt so my knees are thanking me today.
So next up is venturing into the world of Gu and Shot Blocks...
This is what 4 miles looks like, a hot sweaty feel good mess.
I have fallen in love... Channing Tatum professed his undying love for me I found aqua aerobics (about the same thing right??) My gym has soooo many classes I though I would start giving them a try to find out what I like and what won't totally kill embarrass me. So of course I start with something that puts me in a bathing suit around all these hot sweaty buff men (the pool is near the "beef cake room" or the weight area as others call it lol) ya that's not embarrassing in the least!
I went in Saturday for the morning Aqua class and though I wasn't the youngest one there in all my 37 year old glory it was close lol... So I totally though it was going to be some easy peasy class but let me tell you those oldies but goodies could kick some aqua butt!!! At points I even had to stop to take a breath who knew you could sweat in a pool? or do a push-up yea go figure, and my abs and legs were screaming by the end. But I loved it not quite as much as Tatum and they offer it 4 days a week so I think I'm going to stick with Saturdays and also do the Wednesday class that way I'll have some free days to do my own thing and try out a few other classes.
Oh on a different note Drama Queen is back safe and sound from Texas and is already bugging about the gym good thing I'm not bored yet :) She has also informed my that we will be going everyday so I can lose more pounds...that's my girl!
So I looked into a few gyms, some were cheaper and smaller but that's what I had before. It was a basic gym with just equipment and I think I just lost motivation. I've always liked the idea of classes but have never actually tried one when I did have a gym membership with a bigger gym that offered them. Then there was a gym in between that had equipment and class yay!...Oh wait, what was that ?NO KIDS CLUB! ARE YOU SERIOUS!! You must not have met my charming, adorable, 5 year old who thinks the gym is better than Disneyland thank god I have that little voice yelling at me to go to the gym. So that was a big N-O. After looking and Internet stalking I decided to check out 24 Hour Fitness, yes I know a big chain but it is actually the closest one to me so I might actually go and this is no ordinary gym...it's like a gym on steroids. I walked in and instantly fell in L-O-V-E! The place is huge has a ton of equipment, a pool, spa, sauna, steam room, classes upon classes, and they are actually open 24 hours so I can go in the morning before work I know 3:45am should be illegal you can kill me now. And the best part that totally sold me on it was this....
The Kids Club.... Drama Queen is gonna flip when she she's this (she is still at Papa's and won't be home till Sunday) and as a bonus I will always be at the gym because she will keep asking until I give in just like her dad lol and go. Yes it's a little more than I as wanting to pay and, I did pay the extra $20 a month for unlimited Kids Club visits, but it's doable and there is just so much it has to offer that it will take a long time before I get bored I will actually go.
