Monday, March 29, 2010

Bring It!

Well, I made it through week 1 of  P90X. I have been told by the Beach Body crew that what I am doing is referred to as "doubles". The proper days to add the cardio are the strength training days. Take a break and refuel between sessions if you want to give this a go.

So mid-week I wasn't sure I was going to be able to keep this up through the whole 90 days. There were some moments that I was so tired that I wanted to cry. Tears of exhaustion are the worst kind. Friday rolled around and I hauled my ass out of bed and to the gym for Zumba. I love Zumba. If there is one work out that ha got me through and increased my cardio levels the most it is Zumba. BUT, yes there is a BUT, I have been attending this class for around a year. The same people come to the class every morning and the class STILL has to be stopped for instruction. I love my Zumba ladies and I love that the instructor was modifying things for me to make them more high impact but lately besides yoga this is the only reason I have been going to the gym. Everything else is done at home or outside. So after a long discussion with my husband I ordered the Zumba Fitness set and am canceling our gym membership. GASP!

In the long run I would like to become a Zumba instructor. There are certification classes in the fall that I hope to attend and there are several buildings in the area that are large enough to house a weekly class. The great part is that I can even get certified in Zumba for children. As you look around the area we have a horrible childhood obesity problem and I would like to do something about it.

So the routine is staying the same but the environment is changing. No more monotonous cardio machines at the gym. Mindless cardio and I don't mix. And now that I have strayed completely off my original topic I am happy to report that I made it through last week. Took my rest day yesterday, ran 2.71 miles this morning with my best pace to date  and then came home and completed Chest/Back & ABX. 82 days left :o)
Today is just one of those days that I am so thankful for the changes I have made in my life I can't quit smiling.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The next 90 days might kill me.

I have taken the challenge. I have done some crazy things in the past 2 years to get fit. I have done things I have said I would never ever do. Running for example. I always wondered why someone would run. Were they being chased? Is something on fire? I never really understood the sense of accomplishment involved. I also used to wonder why anyone would ride a bike completely bent over for 40 or 50 miles. Now I completely understand. So on to another challenge for me.

I have started P90X.

I have attempted to start the program 2 times before. Both times I started I couldn't make it through 15 minutes. And let's discuss Ab Ripper X. This crazy guy wanted me to do "crunchy frogs" just sitting on my tail bone. I thought there was no way I would ever accomplish this.

Monday was day 1 and it was almost irritatingly easy. What I mean is that I was mad that I couldn't do that workout before. When they were out of breath and sweating on the dvd I was excited and ready to go. Day 2 was Plyometrics (jump training). This is high and I mean HIGH impact. It was so challenging I actually wanted more. I was sweaty and breathing hard and felt like I couldn't keep going but I did. I haven't been pushed that hard in months. Today was shoulders and arms. Again I was amazed at how simple the routine seemed but it has to be working because I wake up every morning thinking someone beat the shit out of me. So 87 days left !! We shall see if I have the amazing made for TV results like the infomercial people.

Here is why I may die. I refuse to give up running or cycling or zumba or yogalates so all of those things will be added to the P90X program.  Running or cycling 3 times a week, zumba once a week and yogalates once a week.

I WILL become a P90X graduate on June 19, the first day of summer. Challenge on!

Monday, March 22, 2010

2010 Irish Jig

I loved this race. Michigan weather was bipolar again on Saturday and we woke up to snow. Man it was cold. I was decked out in a green bandanna, Nike knickers and running coat. Good to go. Again it was COLD. I did all of the pre-race rituals. Hydrated, carb loaded, stretched, tapered ect. I will post the delicious alfredo recipe from runners world at the bottom.

We arrived to EGR HS and it was packed. We still had to pick up out packets so we made our way into the gym. Everything was so well organized and they had the cutest irish band playing for everyone. We got our packets and wandered around finding people we knew would be there. Men were running at 9am and Woman at 9:35am so Jeramy headed out to warm up and I stayed inside were it was, well, WARM.

I had found my friend Jessica (check out her blog Real Food for Real Life ) and we headed out together. She is a much stronger runner than me so headed towards the back and she headed towards the front. This was a mistake on my part. I underestimated myself and should of headed towards the middle more but oh well, live and learn. The snow was falling and it was freezing out but I was ready to go. Right on time the race started and I crossed the line about 2 minutes after the start. That's how many people there were. WOW. Right away I found out that I was behind some people that didn't run the same pace as me. We were headed downhill at the start and alot of them were trying to fight gravity and take short choppy steps. Right then and there I knew this would be a learning experience for me. From .5 miles to around mile 2 we were working slightly uphill with a few little downhill rollers in there. I am not a fast runner but I am consistent so when I would come upon a row of 4 women talking and jogging I would have to slow until I figured out how to get around them. Now I know why some races have pace markers in lineup. It didn't bother me that much.. I was there to finish. This happened a few more times especially after mile 2 when we started working downhill. One time it was with a husband, baby and stroller that had decided to join his wife for the last mile. I have never had the ability before to pass people so I really learned some lessons that morning. After the last corner I visualized my line and started to kick coming in at 37:54.  That is 10 minutes faster than my 1st 5k. It is not lightening speed but I have greatly improved.

Crossing that line I ran directly to Jeramy who finished with a strong 20:22. A little slow for him but the silly man was horribly under dressed for our 1st day of spring snow. By  the time we got back into the gym they were serving cake and the band was playing again. They started handing out door prizes, trophies and everyone was swapping stories. My cousins husband slid out in the first corner and had a nasty case of road rash on his leg but still finished 21:24...he is over 50, amazing!!! My friend Jessica, mentioned above, came in at 27:22 and another friend Joelle ran it in 36:xx and it was her first one :o)

Overall it was wonderful. Well organized, great course and FUN. It is definitely a must do if you are in the area.

Rocco's Healthy Alfredo:
8 ounces whole-wheat fettuccine
1 tablespoon butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Pinch of ground nutmeg
3/4 cup low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
3/4 cup 5 percent Greek yogurt
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add fettuccine; cook according to package directions.

While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook two minutes.

Combine cornstarch and nutmeg in a small bowl; whisk in chicken broth until smooth. Pour into saute pan, raise the heat, and bring sauce to a simmer, whisking occasionally.

Whisk in 1/2 cup of the cheese until melted. Remove pan from heat.
Whisk in yogurt until smooth.

Toss fettuccine with Alfredo sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Top pasta with remaining cheese. Serves four.
CALORIES PER SERVING: 336
CARBS: 47 G
PROTEIN: 18 G
FAT: 10 G

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Zoo-De-Mackinac


"The Zoo-de-Mack is a weekend of huge parties with great bands, one of the most scenic bicycle rides in the country, a lot of sunshine, views of the mighty Mackinac Bridge, and one magical island."

 Hotel is reserved. Trip is planned :o)
Originally we planned on riding the Dalmac in August/September. It is a week long cycling trip but my father in law is having his hands operated on and honestly I don't think he is up to the task of a tween girl, an overly intellectual 7 year old and a 40 year old in a 5 year old girls body. So we decided we would wait a few years to do that ride. It is almost 100 miles a day for 4 days. I would like to take the children on this ride in maybe 5 years. It will be the summer before Brianne's senior year of high school and I think it would be good for all of us.

Anyway we got turned on to the Zoo-De-Mackinaw. It is a 2 day bike party. Upon arrival in Boyne Highlands on Friday night you pick up your packet and all access wristband. The website says if you are smart you will then go back to your room and sleep until 7am....LOL. 90% of the riders don't and we probably won't either. There is a pre-party with lots of drinking and a band. The next morning a shuttle takes you to the start of the ride and you begin the 50 mile trip to Mackinaw City. There is a stop for lunch to soak up the rest of the booze in your system and the first 8 miles are constant climbing. Once in Mackinaw City you stop by your hotel, drop off the bike, freshen up and head to the Island for a night of cyclists gone wild.

You see the thing with cyclists is that we all consider beer a form of fuel and really if you have ever ridden any distance you already know how a nice cold refreshing beer makes everything seem a little less painful and a lot more fun. So after a night of debauchery the ferry brings you back at 2am and you stumble to your fancy room and pass out until check out time. YAY!

Some highlights of the ride include:
51 miles along Lake Michigan on a paved road with very little automobile traffic. Riders pedal through rolling countryside and trillium covered forests, along sandy beaches, and are surrounded by breathtaking views of Lake Michigan from 400' high bluffs. We stop approximately half way, at a unique place called the Legs Inn for a leisurely lunch and to swap stories. The ride continues on to Mackinaw City for a finish line party and where Arnold Ferry boats have been chartered for the ride over to Mackinac Island. There is also a downhill section called the "Tunnel of Trees" and some riders have reported speeds up to 40 mph on this section.For more info click here

Monday, March 15, 2010

A pound is a pound

I usually have Friday coffee dates with some good friends. This past week while chatting one of them mentioned Oprah claiming that muscle weighs more than fat. Wow. Oprah? I thought she was a little more aware than that. The truth is as most of us know that a pound is a pound. A pound is a until of measurement. A pound of flour weighs the same as a pound of butter. That is why it is called a POUND. The difference is the "space" that pound takes up. In general a pound of muscle takes up a lot less space than a pound of fat because the muscle is denser. A 1 pound cast iron weight takes up very little space compared to a pound of packing peanuts. This misconception has been around for so long that people really believe it. It is the same as people believing that the number on the scale dictates their level of health fitness and value as a human. I know the number on my scale. I have known it every day, good or bad, for the past 2 years.  Many times the number won't move and I get as discouraged as the next person  but as long as my clothes keep getting looser and my fitness levels keep improving I am a happy girl.

Speaking of fitness levels I ran 3.93 miles yesterday. My Nike+ Sportband only registered 3.7 but it needs to be re-calibrated. That is a common problem with the Nike+ system. As your running ability improves your stride length usually gets longer so you are covering a greater distance but your foot is spending the same amount of time on the ground as when your stride was shorter. The concept itself is slightly flawed but I still love it compared to the bulkiness of a Garmin Forerunner. My goal is 6-7 miles by October and my ULTIMATE goal is the GR Half Marathon in 2011.  I am still not in love with running but I do enjoy setting goals that seem unattainable and meeting them.