Ashamed!

Not gonna lie, I feel pretty guilty right now. Last week I got way way off track with my eating. I ate bad like 2-3 times in addition to my cheat day. I could blame it on anything but the truth is there wasn't really an excuse. Right now I feel fat as hell and like all my progress has gone out the window. I really need to stick to my plan throughout the week. And I realized I'm kind of going overboard on my cheat day so I'm going to tone that down as well.


I did have myself a nice leg day. Split squats are the devil though.


And I had kind of a weird but good encounter at the grocery store. A big bearded guy in his 40's or 50's asked me about my jacket. I was wearing my workout jacket as I had just come from the gym, a black Under Armor jacket that I got at the outlet in Williamsburg. It was on the sale rack for 30 bucks and it's like a 70 dollar jacket, so I picked it up and I have been living in this thing. I couldn't tell him the name of it, just that it has a silver zipper all the way up and it has a logo on the back of the neck. I moved my hair aside to show him - weird moment, he touched my hair.... to get a better look at it ... ehhh. But he was pretty much trying to find a jacket for his older daughter (he had a daughter with him too) who was into all kinds of sports but has a larger upper body build like me. Apparently hers is so bad they actually have to cut her shirts at the armpit. I have never had it that bad, but in the past I usually had to buy XL shirts just to fit my chest only to be swimming in the stomach area. It's better now that I have lost some weight, my jacket is a M and fits like a glove. I told him it's all about finding what types of clothes work for your shape, and that when his daughter is ready UA also makes a really good front zip sports bra - since I can't get the traditional sports bra over my shoulders. The guy said he has talks with her every week about her body image. I said to tell her she's not the only girl out there with broad shoulders and chest, even though sometimes it can feel that way. I know I feel like I'm the only one. I'm glad I could help them out a little, the guy was creeping me out a bit cause he was checking out my figure obviously, but he was really nice and trying to help his kid who is obviously struggling with her body image. I have never looked like any of the other girls out there, and embracing that fact can be tough at times. But that's a big part of why I do what I do, to enhance my strengths (upper body) and improve my weaknesses (lower body)

Speaking of which, my legs and butt are beginning to catch up.... but I'm definitely more top heavy.

Faster and Longer

Today's long run was one of those rare kinds. The kind where you don't feel so good going into it, but in the middle of it you suddenly feel great and have tons of energy. Well, sort of... aside from my lower back hurting it turned out to be a great run

This is my longest AND fastest long distance run since my return to running. I looked at my runs from a year ago when I was training for the Augusta Half. My memory made it seem like I was much faster back then, up until I started running trails. But really I wasn't. Last years runs were about the same, if not slightly slower. Plus they were all at the Canal which was totally flat. There are a few inclines and hills on my current route.

It was butt ass cold outside, I seriously didn't warm up until halfway through this run. Afterwards I braved the cold again to grab some very satisfying lunch at Panera - they have amazing tomato soup, I didn't know that! Then I came home and took a hot bath. Glorious!

I was way off track with my eating habits last week. I can't let it get like that again. Good news is I lost an inch off my waist at it's narrowest point. My measurements are so weird - 41, 30, 37. It seems I am meant to have good upper body strength because that's how my build is. My tummy at its widest point is just under 33. I'd like to see if I can get my waist to 29 or 28. That would be a first for me!

Side note - I don't like that awkwardness when you wave at a passing runner and they don't wave back or even look at you. Don't be dicks, just smile or wave! Being out there is awesome and that's my little way of saying "Good for you for being awesome!" Most of them do at least wave. I guess a few are just grumpy runners.

New Running Experiences

Today my run got interesting.

First off, I hurt my back a little bit this week. It's nothing serious, just very sore so I took rest days on tues/wed. For the past month I have been working out 6 days a week, so to have 2 days of doing absolutely nothing felt like an eternity. And I felt it on today's run. It was one of those runs where my whole body just felt stiff, everything hurt, etc.

But something cool happened. About 10 minutes into my run it started to snow! They weren't calling for any snow and it went away as soon as I finished my run, but I got to run in it for the first time ever. It was very pretty and added something special to my otherwise sucky run. The downside is it made it hard to see, especially when sprinting during my intervals. Also it was very windy which made the run that much harder. Looking back on it though, it was good. Good to get back out there and push myself after a whole TWO days off... lol... swear it felt like 2 months...

Also in the realm of new running experiences, I forgot to mention that last month I ran my first ever virtual 5k. The Battlefrog obstacle race series put one on which included a shirt, medal, and 25% off a Battlefrog race which I am totally doing this summer. This was not my best 5k, I remember having very sore and tired legs that day. My watch also crapped out on me for the first time ever, it got stuck around mile 2. I use my watch as a way to motivate me, like "Crap you're going slow, GO FASTER" but I did not have that so I went off of feel alone. At the end it did tell me I finished in 29:55, definitely not my best time but I can say I gave it a good effort. And I love my swag, especially the shirt!

After today I can truly say this about myself

Tomorrow's gonna have to be an all upper body day at the gym to make up for lost workouts. It is gonna be amazing.

I am finalizing the planning of my 2015 races, which is going to include a race in my hometown of Williamsburg, VA when I go for a family visit in April. I have never run a race in my hometown. Plus I haven't run a non virtual 5k race in over a year and I've been itching to run another to see where I stack up. Beating my PR of 25:41 might be a tall order to fill but that is my goal. My mom will come along and experience a race for the first time too. Going to also convince my husband to run a 5k or an easy OCR with me such as a Warrior Dash. Getting the family involved in 2015.. !

The Big Lifts - Goals and PR's

I have been lifting for a little while now. I am more experienced now and I'm at the point where I know what I want from it. Up until now I've been essentially following a hypertrophy/bodybuilder scheme, meaning 2-3 exercises per muscle and 3 sets of 10-12 reps. It's good for building muscle size, burning fat, and increasing strength. However I have decided I want to get really strong. See how much I'm capable of lifting. Hit some big PR's. So here's what I am doing now. 

Big lift of the day - one of the following

Squat, Deadlift, Bench Press, Barbell Row (maybe also Overhead press)

5 sets of 5

This is all out as much weight as I can lift.

The rest of that day's workout will be accessory work... maybe 2 more exercises for each muscle group following that bodybuilder format of 3x10, core work, etc. Or just whatever the hell else I wanna do.

I haven't trained like this before, and I'm still relatively new to the big compound lifts because I didn't work on them much before now. The squats and deadlifts are leaving my back and traps pretty sore but I think that is just cause I'm still new to them. 

Here are my starting stats for each lift, all 5x5

Squat - 115 

Deadlift - 115 (tried 135 but could only get 2 reps)

Bench - 85

BB Row - 65

My goals for now are to Squat and Deadlift over 200 and Bench 135. 

Monday is my leg day so I'm alternating squats and deadlifts each week. Today was a deadlift day and I found this right here to be 100% truth....

I think the girl next to me was a little disturbed. Sorry I'm not sorry. 

He runs too!

Today has been awesome!

Last night my husband and I were watching a movie and got onto a discussion about all things fitness related. At some point he mentioned he wanted to try and start running again. It's been 2 years and 3 foot surgeries since he last ran. I asked if he would run with me in the morning. My plan was 7 miles so I figured I'd just run with him and then head back out to make it 7. The idea of running with him had me so excited!

Shoes - out of all the shoes out there, hes in Vibram Five Fingers. He had a pair waaay back in the day (back before it was cool!) and has always favored minimalism like me. He needs to mid strike, can't heel strike and needs to try and avoid toe striking. This shoe would promote mid or toe striking. But what it really came down to was all the other shoes he tried on had bulky stitching or straps that ran across the side of his feet and would cut into where his surgery scar is. He liked these because they are comfortable for him and not restrictive.

Honestly I had low expectations for him. Because he can hardly walk or stand for long periods of time without his feet, knees, or back hurting, I figured maybe he'd be able to go half a mile. Whatever he was capable of doing, I supported it. So we took everything at his pace. I checked in with him often to see how everything was feeling, make sure he wasn't in pain and such. After awhile I could see it was becoming challenging for him on a cardiovascular level. This is all too common with people who haven't run in a long time. But he kept going. At the one mile mark he stopped for a moment and then we turned around. Towards the end of the run he was complaining about his hip and knee. I kept asking if we needed to walk. Nope, kept pushing until the very end. He ran 2 miles! Then he promptly collapsed on the side of the trail to catch his breath and rest for a few minutes. I remember that feeling all too well. Not having that high level of cardiovascular fitness makes it really tough.

I'm so proud of him for running 2 miles! It wasn't fast and it wasn't easy, but he never quit. He surpassed all my expectations. Later I found out he chose 2 miles for a reason, it's the distance the Army runs for their PT tests. It means alot to him because running kind of haunted him during most of his time in the military.

I snapped this picture of him. He hates having his picture taken and never smiles, but he's been in a great mood ever since the run. I'm so happy he did this and we hope to make this a Saturday thing. Recovery might be tough with all his various injuries, but I hope he gets stronger so he can keep doing it. It makes me feel awesome inside to be part of it.

Also - OREOS.

These are amazing. You know they're really bad for you when they come in a smaller package. But seriously. Get them.

My husband did what?

Had to share this moment from last night ...

My husband has trouble falling asleep at night. It's nothing new and he has taken sleeping meds for a long time, however with the recent move comes changes in insurance, doctors, etc. So his new doctor gave him some other sleeping medicine for whatever reason. It's not cutting it so they are shipping a stronger medicine to our house. In the meantime he's struggling pretty bad with falling asleep. He's taken up a habit that I do not like at all, which is drinking a couple shots to help him sleep. My father has been a lifelong alcoholic and it's nearly killed him a few times, and now one of my brothers is going down this same path, so this is NOT cool in my book. I realize he needs to sleep and I know it's temporary, but there's always that part of me deep down that worries about it becoming habit. I'm trying to be cool about it and wait until his stronger medicine comes in.

Anyway.

Last night was funny. My husband was searching our kitchen for mixers. He had planned to use 151 rum and didn't relish the idea of shooting it without some kind of mixer. But we have nothing in the house. No soda, juice, or sweetened drink of any kind, short of me making some iced tea (southern girl can't live without it!) and we might've had a couple hot chocolate packets somewhere. So he takes my BCAA and asks me if I think it would make a good mixer. Uh, HELL NAW. My BCAA powder is a sports drink with all the essential amino acids. I sip it before, during, and after my workouts because it preserves muscle/reduces muscle loss, improves recovery post workout, and improves workout performance. This is it right here.

Cellucor Alpha Amino BCAA's, lemon lime flavor. 

He could have probably done better with my preworkout which is strawberry margarita flavor... but that wouldn't exactly help him get to sleep.

It's sugar free, so it has that artificial sugar aftertaste and I knew full well that it would NOT make a good mixer. Nevertheless, he mixed some up and added 2 shots of 151 to make this awful yellowish brown cloudy drink. He knocked it back and instantly started yelling and groaning in disgust. Cupped his hand over the sink I was using and shoveled water into his mouth to get rid of the taste. Wow. Only my husband...

So tired

I'm happy to say I'm back to heavier lifting again. The past 2 weeks were a fun experiment full of box jumps, burpees, snatches, and medicine ball slams. But I missed the big lifts too much. So I'm back to it. It's kind of leaving me feeling wiped out though. On my lifting days I get super tired 2-3 hours after my workout. On Monday I literally spent 5 hours at the VA hospital with my husband and I was falling asleep in my chair which called for emergency Starbucks. I chalked it up to back squatting and the boringness of waiting in the VA, but today I got sleepy again! It sucks! And it is probably because I am keeping my carbs relatively low. Female weight lifters can consume 200-300 grams of carbs per day but I have been trying not to go over 150. Today I did finally cave in to some carbs, I had bought some bagel chips for my husband to snack on and I ate like 10 of them. They are crazy good and I can't have them anywhere near me.

I love the fact that my gym has this

I added this to my back workout today. The second to the last rung got me, it goes from a low bar to the highest bar and I swear it's like a foot in height difference. By the time I get to it I don't have the strength left to reach that high. One day it will be mine.

My gym also has a sauna and today I decided to sit in there for awhile. During which time the power in the entire gym went out. Is it weird that I kind of liked sitting in the sauna in the dark?