Non Scale Victories Link Up

 

My initial reaction this morning: frustration. Why? I stepped on the scale and my weight was the same as it was Monday morning- my highest post wedding weight. Why would that be upsetting? Because I have eaten clean all week, and gotten in great workouts. I wasn't expecting to drop 10lbs overnight, but even an ounce would be nice, BUT luckily for me, today is non scale victory link up day - its meant to be.

 

My non scale- aka despite the scale- victory is that I haven't given up - I know its just a week, but its one day/ one meal/ one choice at a time for me and this week has been amazing!

 

Eating healthy, doing a great job of keep my carb levels low, no sweets despite seeing them every day at work, no fried food despite people bringing my favorite breakfast of Chickfila chicken biscuits to work, and hitting my workouts every day, even though I am sore as a mother.

 

Monday I did 30 mins of heavy weights, Tuesday I ran 3 miles with a tempo run, Wednesday I went to sports conditioning class - which I haven't been to in MONTHS and I kept up, it was killer weights and cardio but I burned 600 cals in an hour! Todays plan is to get in a run after work, we have an interview candidate coming in and my boss wants us to take him to lunch - I can eat clean out, as long as I can ignore the rolls I will be good.

 

Even though the scale isn't showing it yet, I am improving my health, one decision/ meal/ workout at a time this week!

The Sunshine Award

About the award:

The award is circulated to those bloggers to let them know that their posts brighten your day.

***

The Rules:

1.  Include award logo in a post or on your blog (above).
2.  Link to the person who nominated you - Heather at Run Like a G
3.  Answer 10 questions about yourself.
4.  Nominate 10 bloggers to receive the award. Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs letting them know they’ve been nominated.

***

My Questions
1. What is your favorite thing about running? The stress relief it provides! My job is very stressful and I like to escape in my runs and have some quiet me time. I also like the sense of accomplishment after a long run, a new PR or PB, or just getting out and feeling good about sweating!

 2. What FRIENDS character are you more like? (Fe/male) Even though he is a guy, probably Ross, I am a big science nerd (engineer) so I am probably most like him because  I do love my job and what I do.

 3. If money wasn't an option, what country/island/place would you explore for a week? (ONLY ONE!) Australia/New Zealand - always wanted to go there but flights are crazy pricey!

 4. Bodybuilding - yay or nay? nay for me

 5. What do you LOVE about your body? (Only sunny answers!) My legs- calves especially... I have GREAT calf muscles... must be all the running! :)

 6. Tell me your favorite season and give two reasons why it is your favorite season. Fall: football season and its cooling off from the hot, hot summers we get here in Texas

7. Do you believe in love at first sight? no, lust yes, but not true love - I think you have to get to know the person first

8. If you could have an exotic animal as pet, which would you choose? a giraffe, I have always loved them- they are so peaceful and beautiful... when the hubs went hunting in Africa it was the only animal I told him was off limits

9. Have you read Harry Potter? no, but the hubs did get me to watch the movies with him

10. What is your favorite cereal? Fiber One Chocolate - 80 cals a serving and it hits your chocolate fix!



Questions for my nominees:
1. What is your favorite "skinny" recipe?
2. What is your favorite exercise?
3. Where did you meet your spouse/significant other?
4. Do you have pets? If so what kinds?
5. What advice would you give to someone running their first half marathon?
6. Weight lifting or cardio?
7. Whats your favorite cardio?
8. Whats your favorite TV show right now?
9. How many times a week do you workout?
10. Do you have cheat meals? If so, whats your favorite?



I nominate:
1. Leigh Ann at Elle Noel
2. Melanie at 4KOTTEZ
3. Megan at Skinny Meg
4. Katie at KTJ Weighin In
5. Melissa at My Journey to Lose Weight and Become a Runner
6. Brandi at Mama Laughlin
7. Karri at Babe Before Baby
8. Jen at Fitness Unscripted
9. Meg at Nerky Meg
10.Holly at Where We Can Live Like Jack and Sally

Workout Wednesday

 Monday I did the following 30 minute workout from EFITMAMA (she now has a blog too!) - I have done this circuit 4 times before, but it takes an hour and I was crunched for time.

**Do each workout in the circuit back to back with no stopping and then take a 1-2 minute rest in between each circuit. Repeat 2 times**

 

Circuit A

15 Push Ups

20 Mountain Climbers

20 Triceps Dips on bench with a weighted plate or dumbbell - 12lbs on each leg

 

Circuit B (12lb dumbells)

10 Squats

15 curtsy lunges with upright row

12 sumo squats on toes

 

Circuit C

15 Supermans

30 Second side Planks (each side)

1 minute plank

 

Circuit D

15 clean and press (12lb dumbells)

15 dead lift to a rear delt row (12lb dumbells)

10 lunges each leg with lateral raise (5lb dumbells)

Yesterday I was SUPER sore.... so I walked before I ran... and I tried the tempo run workout of the great Elle Noel but I took off one mph because I am a lot slower than she is... but it was still a great workout!

 

 

Today I am still sore and keep debating between my planned weight workout and running again because I am hurting so much, or maybe I should go to spin?!? Any thoughts/suggestions??

Goals and Commitments

Ever since I got sick two weeks ago my eating has been mostly off, I was sick and then I was in the field last week eating out... so when I stepped on the scale Monday morning I was not shocked that I was up, a new post wedding high.

I am tired of starting over. So yesterday I decided to start eating clean again, this time for good.

No fried food
No candy/added sugar
No white starches
No chips
No junk food

Low carb works for me, I know it does because its what got me to my wedding weight. We all know you cant out-train a bad diet.

Also for the month of September I am going to do the plank challenge:

My abs are weak - I hate working abs because they are weak, but if I don't work them they will never get strong. I did a full body weights circuit yesterday and part of it was ab work, planks and side planks... it was horrible. I couldn't hold a plank for a minute, 20 seconds was a struggle. I want to do this so my core will be stronger. I know it will help my running and my other strength work as well.

My goals for September and the rest of this week are to eat healthy - I will give myself one cheat meal a week for sanity sake and to complete the plank challenge! Anyone want to do it with me???

Weekend Update and Half Training

Last week I was in East Texas for field work- one of my days looked like this:

 

 

 I was able to get in one 3 mile run during the week, and one BBM workout and that's it. Friday was my 9/80 off so when I made it back home I got to relax and watch tv and read my US Weekly.

 

 

Saturday morning I got up at 7 so I could get in my 7.5 mile training run... I didn't eat breakfast or anything for that matter because my stomach was feeling off so the run was tough, and I quit at 7 miles.

 

the fact that the humidity was at 82% didn't help... it wasn't 100 degrees but it felt like it!!

 

A friend sent me the link to this pin, and I loved it... and she said I motivated her to run a mile.... I was amazed... I have been motivated by a lot of fellow women especially in this blog world of mine.. but I never imagined I would one day be a motivator myself! I was very happy about that!

 

 

 

Saturday after the run I went to a friends house for an afternoon at the pool with mimosas... it was a blast, then Sunday I made it to the Texans/Saints game with some friends...

 

 

 

We had a blast and my home team won for me! I am a Texans fan as long as they aren't playing the Saints, but being born in Nola, I will always be a Saints fan - no matter where I live at the time! WHO DAT!?!?!

 

 

 

 

Last week:

 

Monday- 3.5 mile run

Tuesday- weights 3 mile run

Wednesday- 4 mile run BBM workout - fit test

Thursday- 4 mile run

Friday- weights

Saturday- 7.5 mile run 7 mile run

Sunday- rest

total miles: 19 10

 

 

Goals for this week:

 

Monday- weights

Tuesday-  4 mile run 

Wednesday- weights

Thursday- 3.5 mile run

Friday- weights

Saturday- 8.5 mile run

Sunday- rest

 

total miles: 16

 

Half Training Update and Weekly Goals

I am not even posting last weeks goals because I was sick all week and only worked out once last week... Saturday - no I didn't do the mud challenger, I didn't sleep well and was EXHAUSTED, but I did wake up and see that Mama L and Preg Meg ran 12 miles and I was like - I may be sick AND tired, but I surely can crank out 3 miles... I did 6 miles of hills last Saturday!!!

Doing 3 miles at 11:30 in Texas in August is a DUMB idea... especially when you decide to take your dogs... woke up and relaxed with my babies

 

post run, even the dogs were beat, and I took each one for 1.5 miles because if I try to take both at once, they run me, I don't run them!

 

 

 

then we cleaned up and I took my pistol to the range, FINALLY!!! I was VERY happy with my target and the gun, its the same bullet as the hubs glock (9mm), but it fits so much better in my hand that it doesn't kick back as much and feels so much easier to use. I may put this target up in my window as part of my security system when the hubs is gone. I also got a cool new leather holster for my gun! LOVE IT!

 

 

then we went looking at travel trailers, no intention of buying, but found a deal we couldn't pass up on a 2014 Summerland 2600TB, we filled out the paperwork but wont be taking it home til the hubs gets back from work in two weeks... I AM EXCITED, we are taking it to BR for the first LSU home game as long as I can find out how to get a parking pass for it! This is the outside:

 

Layout:

 

for dinner last night the hubs made steaks and we grilled beans and purple potatoes! so excited about football season! 

 

 

I am headed to the field for work this week, but still want to get in my runs:

 

Goals for the week:

 

Monday- 3.5 mile run

Tuesday- weights

Wednesday- 4 mile run

Thursday- 4 mile run

Friday- weights

Saturday- 7.5 mile run

Sunday- rest

total miles: 19

 

 

Half Marathon Training Update and Goals for the Week

Last week:
Today- 3 mile run at lunch
Tuesday- hubs gets home, so no workout we meet up for lunch together
Wednesday- 3 mile run moved my 4 mile run (fartleks)
Thursday- weights
Friday- 4 mile run worked on ranch - no run, and the reason I bumped my 4 miler to earlier!
Saturday- 6 mile run
Sunday- weights worked on ranch
Total miles: 13!


Goals for this week:

Today- 3.5 mile run
Tues- weights
Wed- 4 mile run
Thurs- weights
Fri- 3 mile run
Sat- mud challenger run (4-6 miles)
Sun-REST


Weekend at a glance, Thursday after work we drove up to the ranch. Friday morning we got to work on building the first deer stand and refilling all the feeders, protein and corn. Those 50lb bags of food are no joke, I got in a nice workout just doing work around the place.

Saturday morning was my long run, I had planned on Friday too, but didn't want to mess up my long run by running the day before, will not set that up that way again.

When my alarm went off I DID NOT want to get up... but I LOVE running and once I got out the door and my feet hit the pavement I was in my stride and happy I did get up!

 

 

A summary of my run, I did an out and back through downtown Brady... I wasn't thinking when I planned my long runs for weekends about how half my weekends I will be in the hill country, but hill training is good, just probably not good to couple it with long runs, so I took it slow.... 



 

I started slow and after mile 3 I hit my stride and sped up... I have NEVER had a run like this,

1. this was my first hills run

2. this is my first run where I speed up as I go... mile 3 was my slowest but then I got faster!

3. at the end I felt like I had more to give, if we didn't have a lot planned for the day Saturday, I would have kept running!

Saturday we continued building the stand... the top two pics are the bottom of it and the bottom two are side pics, of the frame work we did, we also nailed the OSB to the frames, but then Brady lost power on Sat night and we didn't get it back Sunday, so no more work was done, we will have to finish it the next trip!

 

It was hot, the hottest it got while we were working was 113F.... way to hot! Even my Iphone was like aww hell no:

 

 

 

I really want to go back for goat cookoff, going to try to rally some ladies to come with me... the hubs will be on the rig :(



 

 

how was your weekend? get in any good runs?

 



Non Scale Victories Link Up

 

 

Today I am linking up with one of my favorite bloggers Katie of KTJ Weighing In She has been doing this link up for a while now and I have finally decided to join in! Its so fun to read everyones posts and its great to talk about what we are doing right, because its easy to get bogged down by the scale.

 

The other day my husband inadvertently gave me one of the biggest compliments he ever has "... well you are in the best shape of your life right now" - no I am not at my smallest pant/dress size, no I am not at my smallest adult weight size, but you know what? He is RIGHT!

 

I just finished my first full triathlon in under an hour and a half, I am training for a half marathon (Oct 12th) and full marathon (Feb 2)... and I am working really hard at it!

 

We really need to stop beating ourselves up - MYSELF especially for not being 100% killing it in all areas of our lives. I am killing it at work and at the gym, my diet has been not on point, but I know that and I can work on fixing that, but it may never be 100% on point, and that's ok, I don't need to stress out about that and worry about that, its nice to take a minute and sit back and realize how far we have excelled in the areas of our lives that we are doing well in.

 

I ran my first 5k about 1 1/2 years ago and never would have imagined even thinking about a triathlon or marathon, but here I am, making it happen. Pretty amazing what your body can do!

Half Marathon Training: Fartleks

Today I am going to try something different, I am planning to get in 4 miles, but want to try fartlek training. Anyone else done this??

I have done intervals before, but always for set times... this will be different. I will have to let you all know how it goes. BUT I decided to move my 4 miler from this weekend to today so that this weekend I don't have 4 miles one day and 6 the next, I can do my 3 mile day this weekend and 4 today. I have been so stressed at work that 4 miles will feel good.

It feels GOOD to sweat!
According to triathlon.com there are 9 ways to fartlek:


Stoplights: Think of this workout in three speeds—hard (red), moderate (yellow), easy (green). Run 30 sec hard, 90 easy, 60 moderate, 60 easy, 90 hard, 3 min easy. Repeat three or four times.

Give me five: From zero to five minutes, run at a comfortable, normal pace. At the five-minute mark, increase your speed for one minute. Drop back to normal speed until the 10-minute mark. Do this on the 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, etc.

For the dogs: Coach Kristen Hislop has her Albany, N.Y., athletes do a fartlek in a local park with plenty of dogs. “They use passing the dogs as a flag to speed up or recover,” she says. “The smaller the dog, the faster they have to go!”

From the heart: If you train with a heart rate monitor, you can bounce between your various zones, including Zone 2/easy, Zone 3/tempo and Zone 4/hard. Do 20 minutes as: 3 easy, 5 tempo, 2 hard, 5 tempo, 2 hard, 3 easy. Follow that with 15 minutes as: 5 easy, 2 tempo, 1 hard, 2 tempo, 5 easy.

Mailboxes: Base your harder intervals on mailboxes. Make it random: Run hard for two mailboxes, recover for three, run hard for three, recover for two. Can also be done with streetlamps.

Treadmill hills: Walk “uphill” at a 6 percent incline for three minutes. Run at a 4 percent incline/6 mph for two minutes, then a 2 percent incline/6.5 mph for one minute, then a 1 percent incline/7 mph for 30 seconds. Recover with three minutes’ walking at zero percent. Every round, increase speed by 0.2 mph for every interval. (Adjust for ability level.)

Tour guide: Do a fartlek guided by a coach: Download a “runcast” from Energyfitnesscoaching.com. Coaches Rob and Kelly Wissolik lead you through either a 40- or 45-minute workout via your iPod.

Pushup break: When preparing for sprint triathlons, coach Tim Edwards does fartleks on a fitness course with steep hills. Replicate with or without a course: Stop every two to five minutes and do a round of pushups, situps, squats or short hill repeats throughout your run.

Pyramid: 1 min hard, 1 min easy, 2 hard, 2 easy, 3 hard, 3 easy, 2 hard, 2 easy, 1 hard, 1 easy (18 minutes total). The shorter the interval, the faster the pace.



I am going to try using the heart rate monitor method. I LOVE my polar and would love to use it to train with intervals!

Saying No

Yesterday I got in a GREAT run on the treadmill in the gym, 32:30 for 3 miles... but its because I am stressed and had a lot to give... work is killing me lately.

I had to fire a company I have been using and run them off of my job last week, at least I did it in person, but I don't like doing that- I don't think I could ever be a manager because I wouldn't want to have to fire people. THEN this morning I had to fire someone else for not wearing the right safety equipment around location. This was one of my favorite guys to work with and it was hard on me... really hard on me. Don't get me wrong, there are days when I LOVE my job, but recently there are more days were I hate it than love it.

I don't like being stressed, overworked, and feeling underappreciated either. I do also realize I have issues with over committing myself and have been working on saying no when asked to take on new projects - I have said it twice this month! My last job was the same problem - after I quit they hired 3 people to replace me. I am going to try to nip this in the bud without having to change companies, but that is an easy out and a way to start fresh.

I can say no, and I need to realize that wont mean that people will be unhappy with me or think I am lazy. I just need to work on actually saying no so its easier to do!

It does wonders for my training though, it did help that I was inside in AC but 32:30 for 3 miles is leaps and bounds better than Saturdays 4 miles in 50 minutes! I cant lie that I am nervous about 6 miles this weekend... its been a while since I have run that far, since March actually! I know I can do it because I have done it before, but its scary anyway!

Why did I sign up for a full marathon in February? I MUST be crazy.

Weekend Update and Goals for the Week

I am going back to posting my weekly workout goals because that keeps me more accountable. Last week I was out of town for work and working long hours so I didn't get in any workouts, but Saturday I busted out 4 miles, it was early, and still hot, but I got them in. Slower than I would like, but after being off a while and the humidity (83, but feels like 91), I will take it... I did get to try out my new shoes and I LOVE them!!! Love the color and the shoe!

My mom came in to visit this weekend, which ended up being an ok weekend. She sprung it on me last minute Friday because there was a job fair here and she and I don't really get along, but I know she needs a job so I told her she could come stay if she wanted to go to the job fair. The weekend wasn't bad though, we didn't do much which helped. A lot of movie and tv watching with minimal arguments. I did have some work to do too.


Goals for the week:

Today- 3 mile run at lunch
Tuesday- hubs gets home, so no workout we meet up for lunch together
Wednesday- 3 mile run
Thursday- weights
Friday- 4 mile run
Saturday- 6 mile run
Sunday- weights



This weekend is going to be tough, we will be at the property and staying at a hotel so getting in those runs wont be easy, but I have to start working up my mileage or the half is going to suck in October!

Favorite Bloggers Post

I am actually stealing this idea from Heather @ Run Like a G she had an idea to do a favorite bloggers post and I loved that idea.

Heather @ Run Like a G is also one of my favorite bloggers, she is training for her second half marathon and has been writing a series on positive body image - which I think we all as women need to hear from time to time, I know I do! She is always positive and super sweet so go visit her and send  her some love and encouragement like she does everyone else all the time! Heather doesn't have a button, but she has an adorable blog layout and you should check her out!




Skinny Meg (now Preg Meg) hosts WOW (workout Wednesdays) and always has great workout inspirations up. I got to meet her in Dallas in June a couple of weekends ago and she is just as sweet and adorable in person as she seems in her blog. She is expecting her second child and I am so excited for her! She has THE coolest looking house that she has done a lot of work on and is an inspiration to any in their weight loss journey- she lost over 100lbs the RIGHT way!







KJT Weighing In hosts a weekly link up on non scale victories and I need to participate sometime, I have just been sitting in the dark reading about hers and others who post, but I really think its a great idea, sometimes we focus too much on that number on the scale. She is in the middle of her weight loss journey and kicking butt! She is also working on renovating her new house and just got the cutest dog!







Mel @ 4kottez Runs It Mel is always full of encouragement and will be the first to compliment or send you a pick me up. She is also training for a half marathon right now, but I know she could go run one tomorrow if she needed to, she is no joke! I am inspired by her pictures plugging away at her home gym or on the pavement, and also appreciate her kids dance videos and other entertainment that they provide, they are adorable just like their mom!

Elle Noel is one bad ass chick. She is tall and a Louisiana girl like me. I am hoping we can meet up at my first half marathon this October because I heard she is running in it to. She is one of those who leads by example, constantly evolving and changing her eating habits and exercise routine to keep her body guessing and you cant argue with her results, she looks like a swimsuit model at the end of her operation red bikini challenge this summer! If you aren't already following her, you need to be!


Hubby Jack and Holly are the King and Queen of blog land. These two are hilarious and have two adorable children, they also just bought a sweet new house and I want to move in with them because it looks amazing! HJ does blog designs and tutorials as well as making you laugh uncontrollably while reading his blog. Little Holly is just as funny, and has done a great job losing weight after her babies, and they always entertain with their posts.






Last but not least, the reason why I started running and blogging, Mama Laughlin I got to meet this chick in Dallas this summer and she is the real deal, just as funny and personable in person as she seems on her blog. She is so sweet and really does care about helping others, not to mention she has lost a lot of weight after having her two boys and looks amazeballs. She even models now, cause shes that hott!