Week 38

Weight: 122.4
After my half-marathon: 119.8 (after burning 1300 calories and sweating buckets!)

My training this week:

Monday-8 mile run (8.10 pace)
Tuesday-5 mile run (8.25 pace)
Wednesday-Spartacus (3 circuits)
Thursday-3 mile run (7.55 pace)
Friday-rest
Saturday-HALLOWEEN HALF-MARATHON!!!
Finishing time: 1 hour 43 minutes (8 min/mile) Out of 2879 people, I finished 343rd overall and 123rd for females. Yay me! I am so sore from the 5-mile downhill part of it. I was a little under the weather, or maybe that's just a cop out, because I hit a wall at about mile 10 and thanks to my dear friend and running buddy, we finished together-darn you for waiting that 20 seconds for me Natalie!!! Maybe some rest the next few days and maybe a continuation of training for my first marathon?? Stay tuned:)

Week 38

Weight: 122.8

Workout for the week:
Monday-12.5 mile run (8.30 pace)
Tuesday-Spartacus (3 circuits)
Wednesday-5 mile run (8.15 pace, ab ripper
Thursday-7 mile run (8.15 pace)
Friday-45 minutes power yoga
Saturday-5 mile run (treadmill) 2.5 miles at 7.5 (8.0 pace) and 2.5 miles at 8.0 (7.30 pace); ab ripper

So many of you (okay 2)have asked me what kinds of things I eat day to day; here ya go:)

A few typical days of eating look something like this-

Breakfast: Protein shake made with 1 scoop protein, water and berries; oatmeal with 1 tbs peanut butter, raisins and honey
Lunch: Turkey sandwich or turkey bacon sandwich on sandwich thins; veggies and dip or an apple/pear
Dinner: Big chicken or taco spinach salad with tons of veggies, dressing made with 2 tbs sour cream & either enchilada sauce or red taco sauce; piece of bread or a few whole-wheat crackers.
Bedtime Snack: Plain Greek Yogurt with pumpkin, cinnamon & honey mixed in.

Breakfast: 1 whole-wheat pumpkin pancake with sugar-free syrup and 1 tbs pb; 1 protein shake
Lunch: 1 egg & 2 whites cooked with tons of sauteed veggies on whole-wheat tortilla and sour cream/salsa; piece of fruit
Dinner: Salmon burger on sandwich thin, steamed veggies & a few almonds
Snack: bag of popcorn

Breakfast: oatmeal parfait-1 serving of cold, already made irish oats layered with vanilla greek yogurt mixed with pumpkin, cinnamon and splenda and a few almonds
Lunch: Big spinach salad with 1 can tuna, tons of veggies and light asian dressing; piece of fruit
Dinner: BBQ chicken, shredded; huge mound of butternut squash and steamed veggies
Snack: Cottage cheese and berries; 1/2 cup fiber one

Breakfast: 1 egg & 2 whites cooked with tons of sauteed veggies; 2 slices turkey bacon; 1 slice toast with honey
Lunch: 1 baked sweet potato stuffed with sauteed spinach, garlic and 1/2 cup cottage cheese
Dinner: 4-6 oz turkey meatballs made with ww bread crumbs; tomato sauce and a bit of ww pasta and spaghetti/zucchini squash mixed in; steamed veggies
Snack: sugar-free hot cocoa and a pumpkin buffin

My eating may be boring to some, but I thoroughly enjoy what I eat, feel like I get a good mix of foods and feel completely satisfied. I know what healthy foods my body craves and this is what works for me.

Week 37

Weight:127
I should not have weighed myself; I have been eating a little terrible and have had huge amounts of sugar 4 out of 7 days. This is a reminder to me how much sugar is not worth it's effects. I thought about the cons of eating sugar-I feel bloated, unmotivated to work-out, tired when I work-out, my running pace is slower, I'm grumpy with my kids and in general, my clothes don't fit as good, my body looks soft and I feel a bit out of control, thinking about my next sugar fix and I crave it more and more as the days roll on. I thought about the pros of eating sugar-it tastes delicious and can be very relaxing for a short while. In conclusion, I hate that sweet stuff!! I hate that I can be addicted to it and it controls me at times. It is far easier for me to avoid it all together and slightly long for it than to eat it, love it and want more and more and feel yuckier and yuckier. Good-bye sweet poison-for a little while anyway:)

My workout:
Monday-11 mile run ALL ALONE (8.15 pace)
Tuesday-Summer fit workout with Brady (1 hour)
Wednesday-5.5 mile run (8.30 pace)
Thursday-7 mile run (8.25 pace)
Friday-nada
Saturday-5 mile run (7.55 pace)((incredibly hard because I had tons of pizza, candy corn and chocolate swimming around in my belly))

week 36

Weight: 122

Still eating clean and looking forward to a "cheat meal" this weekend. My workout this week:

Monday-10.5 mile run (outside, 8.30 pace)
Tuesday-90 minutes power yoga
Wednesday-5.5 mile run (outside, 8.10 pace) ab ripper
Thursday-3 circuits of Spartacus
Friday-50 minutes kenpo karate, ab ripper
Saturday-5 mile speed run (7.25 pace) plus 1 mile at 8.0 (outside)

In terms of fitness, what is your goal?? I have found when I focus on 4 key elements of fitness, I have achieved a higher level of athleticism and a leaner body than I have in years. The 4 main components are strength, flexibility, endurance and speed. You can't just do cardio or weights or yoga alone (in my opinion). Focusing on workouts that cater to these 4 fitness components will give you the results you want and an overall healthier, leaner, stronger body.

Week 35

Weight: 124.4

Another week of pretty clean eating. A burger on Monday and a cookie on Sunday; not too bad. My workout was as follows:

Monday-10 mile run (outside 8.40 pace)
Tuesday-Spartacus (3 circuits)
Wednesday-5 mile run (outside-8.25 pace)
Thursday-45 min stretching (P90X stretch)
Friday- 6 mile run(outside-8.25 pace)
Saturday-1.5 mile run (12 minutes) 2 circuits of Spartacus

PUMP UP THE PUMPKIN!! One of my favorite things about fall is pumpkin. I add it to everything; oatmeal, greek yogurt, pancakes, sugar-free cheesecake pudding and this new recipe I stumbled on called "Buffins". They are only about 100 calories, 11 grams of protein and loaded with fiber. With all the fiber, vitamins and so low in calories, pumpkin (canned or baked fresh and smashed) is the perfect addition to many things. Do I sound like a national pumpkin spokesperson??