Stranger things have happened... Just not to me lately.
Running was interesting today.
For starters I had a lot of gas in the tank. Last week, I REALLY struggled on my running days. My feet were like concrete blocks, my joints ached, it was windy as all get out, I struggled to keep my lungs full of air, and I wanted to whine. But, I just plowed on through and decided to see what this week would be like. When I took off today, I felt like I could run forever. I was light of foot. I didn't even really break a sweat until the last 15 minutes. I felt great. I was instantly surprised. The sprints were easier, the longer distances didn't bother me in the least, I didn't run out of air one time. Either there really is something to the interval training or there was something wrong with me last week. Either way, I was kinda bummed out when my run was over today. Weird.
My runs and walks have turned into treasure hunts. So far I have collected a cotter pin that now resides on my key chain, a neon yellow golf ball, and today, a nice rope halter (no lead). All sorts of weird.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Sunday, April 26, 2015
The Beginning
Beginnings are scary. Beginnings are new. Beginnings are a lot of unknowns. Beginnings are good. Today I find myself at a beginning. I am starting P90X3 tomorrow. Today I weighed, measured, took pictures, and performed the Fit Test. I am nervous that this thing is gonna really kick my hiney. I am excited that this thing might really kick my hiney. It has been awhile since T25 has really made me sore. And, like it or not, soreness means progress. I am planning to continue my running program and am going to start looking for a race that I want to do. We'll start with a 5k and go from there. If I can make it to yoga, I'm going to. I truly believe that the benefits of the yoga are endless. I also believe that because it is an hour drive from house, it is logistically hard for me to get to. So, that is my plan for now. I may also go hike today 'casue I love it and the sun is shining.
In keeping with the honest nature of this blog I am going to share my measurements with you. This is a big deal. I can't think of very many women that will willingly tell you what they weigh and how many inches their thighs are. But, I want to understand two things from this, 1)It doesn't matter. What I weigh doesn't matter. I like myself right now. I like how hard I have worked to get to this point. These measurements are starting points. Jumping off places. Some of them will surprise you, some of them surprised me. I don't feel the least bit bad about any of them. I do maybe wish I hadn't pigged-out on take-out Chinese food last night, but hey, I was hungry. 2)Don't be afraid to measure yourself. It is a good thing to know where you are at. It can point out the areas that you want to improve. It can point out the areas that you are perfectly happy with. If you want to feel better about yourself, compare your measurements to mine. I don't mind. The only thing that I ask is that you look at them from a healthy place, as a place to build goals, not even remotely a place to knock yourself down.
Here goes nothin...
Measurements:
Weight 237.6 pounds. Height 5 feet 6 inches.
Waist 44.5 inches. Hips 50.0 inches. Chest 44.0 inches. (These three measurements confirm my theories that A)I am flat chested, and, B)I am shaped like a square.)
Right arm 16.5 inches. Left arm 16.5 inches.
Right thigh 29.5 inches. Left thigh 29.0 inches.
Body fat 30.0%. (Yes, I am a freak and have a body fat caliper. A mean little pinchy thing device.)
Shirt size: XXL or XL depending on the brand. Jeans size:16 or 34 depending on the brand.
Fit Test:
Resting heart rate 70 beats per minute.
Pull-ups 1.
Vertical leap 9 inches. (Measure with my arm extended above me, make a vertical jump and measure the difference between the two.)
Push-ups (on knees) 31. (Max out)
Toe Touch +2 inches. (Finger reach beyond heels when sitting with legs flat on the floor.)
Wall squat 2 minutes. (Max out)
Bicep curls 36 reps at 10 pounds. (Max out)
In and Out abs 14 reps. (Max out)
Heart Rate Maximizer 130 beats per minute. (Jumping jacks at max for 90 seconds)
1 minute post 90 beats per minute.
2 minutes post 80 beats per minute.
3 minutes post 74 beats per minute.
4 minutes post 74 beats per minute
Pictures:
I was kind and spared you the "swimwear attire" that they asked for. I don't swim, thus I don't have swimwear. I also have no intentions of posting half naked pictures of me on the internet. You get the idea of what I currently look like.
90 days from now you will see another post similar to this one. Here's hoping that it looks and reads a little differently. I can already tell you that there is one cool feature to P90X3... It has an app! Who doesn't love an app! I downloaded the fit test on app and it guided me through it. I recorded all my stats in it. I can use it to do my workouts on the road because they are all there on the app and I can use it to buy additional workouts if I want to. All sorts of cool! Getting off on the right foot (or the left, whichever floats your boat)!!! Happy Sunday all, drink your water.
In keeping with the honest nature of this blog I am going to share my measurements with you. This is a big deal. I can't think of very many women that will willingly tell you what they weigh and how many inches their thighs are. But, I want to understand two things from this, 1)It doesn't matter. What I weigh doesn't matter. I like myself right now. I like how hard I have worked to get to this point. These measurements are starting points. Jumping off places. Some of them will surprise you, some of them surprised me. I don't feel the least bit bad about any of them. I do maybe wish I hadn't pigged-out on take-out Chinese food last night, but hey, I was hungry. 2)Don't be afraid to measure yourself. It is a good thing to know where you are at. It can point out the areas that you want to improve. It can point out the areas that you are perfectly happy with. If you want to feel better about yourself, compare your measurements to mine. I don't mind. The only thing that I ask is that you look at them from a healthy place, as a place to build goals, not even remotely a place to knock yourself down.
Here goes nothin...
Measurements:
Weight 237.6 pounds. Height 5 feet 6 inches.
Waist 44.5 inches. Hips 50.0 inches. Chest 44.0 inches. (These three measurements confirm my theories that A)I am flat chested, and, B)I am shaped like a square.)
Right arm 16.5 inches. Left arm 16.5 inches.
Right thigh 29.5 inches. Left thigh 29.0 inches.
Body fat 30.0%. (Yes, I am a freak and have a body fat caliper. A mean little pinchy thing device.)
Shirt size: XXL or XL depending on the brand. Jeans size:16 or 34 depending on the brand.
Fit Test:
Resting heart rate 70 beats per minute.
Pull-ups 1.
Vertical leap 9 inches. (Measure with my arm extended above me, make a vertical jump and measure the difference between the two.)
Push-ups (on knees) 31. (Max out)
Toe Touch +2 inches. (Finger reach beyond heels when sitting with legs flat on the floor.)
Wall squat 2 minutes. (Max out)
Bicep curls 36 reps at 10 pounds. (Max out)
In and Out abs 14 reps. (Max out)
Heart Rate Maximizer 130 beats per minute. (Jumping jacks at max for 90 seconds)
1 minute post 90 beats per minute.
2 minutes post 80 beats per minute.
3 minutes post 74 beats per minute.
4 minutes post 74 beats per minute
Pictures:
I was kind and spared you the "swimwear attire" that they asked for. I don't swim, thus I don't have swimwear. I also have no intentions of posting half naked pictures of me on the internet. You get the idea of what I currently look like.
90 days from now you will see another post similar to this one. Here's hoping that it looks and reads a little differently. I can already tell you that there is one cool feature to P90X3... It has an app! Who doesn't love an app! I downloaded the fit test on app and it guided me through it. I recorded all my stats in it. I can use it to do my workouts on the road because they are all there on the app and I can use it to buy additional workouts if I want to. All sorts of cool! Getting off on the right foot (or the left, whichever floats your boat)!!! Happy Sunday all, drink your water.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Failure
Here's the skinny... Ha! Get it? Skinny... I'm not skinny, but I've got the skinny. Sorry, corny fat kid joke.
I was supposed to start P90X3 this week. Know what? I didn't. I took the week off. I ended up taking the break because there was a lot going on this week. I had my friend's memorial service. I had several big assignments due at school. I have an event that I go to every year, twice a year, where I sell handmade items, thus I had to get some items done to sell. Gram had a doctor's appointment one day and a liver biopsy on another day. Those are all just excuses in reality, but that's the short and the long of why I took the week off. I actually think in the long run it might be better that I did. Weight training can be like that, sometimes you have to let your muscles regroup a little so that they will train better when you get back after it. I did NOT, however, quit running. I still got that done this week, and I made my step goal everyday. I am noticing my ankle these days, it is talking to me (old injury). I warm up out of it so I am not going to worry about it. One of my old bosses (a horse veterinarian) used to ask if you were hurt or injured? You can play hurt, you can't play injured. I just hurt a little. So, long story short, I was not inactive, I just didn't "train" per se.
This upcoming program promises to be intense. Tony's programs usually are. This one is different because it doesn't have all the long breaks within it. It is condensed down into 30 minute workouts. I like that. That's part of why I love T25 so much. It fits my schedule. This program came with a big ole book too. It obviously deals with how to train your muscles and how to eat for training. I am taking this week to get it read so that I get the absolute most that I can out of the program. One of the things that resonated with me last night when I was reading was the subject of failure.
I am not a failure type of person. I HATE to fail. It kills me to do something half-way (wasn't that good of me to not use the colorful word to finish that half-@$$), I hate to not be the best at something. Failure is not really an option once I decide to do something. Unless we are talking about keeping weight off, I have yet to really WIN that battle. But, the P90X3 book took a different approach to failure. They were applying it specifically to weight training, but I am wondering if it could pertain to other areas of a person's life. They want you to fail in P90X3. They want you to barely be able to do the last rep of each set. Or, they want you to fail to do the last rep of each set. They want you to push to the point of failure. That is the only way that you can progress.
I thought about that while I was running today. My running app has added sprints to my running program. I have to max out when I sprint. Two things happen when I sprint. 1) I run out of air by the end of it. I get to thinking I'm not going to make it much farther. 2) When I go back to jogging, the jogging is way easier. I want you to know that I am loving the running, but I am not in love with the running. Does that make sense? I struggle through portions of my run. I think I'm not going to make it. But I keep going anyways. It is interesting that the sprints make me think that I am going to fail and make my life easier all at the same time. I was reading that you can actually get more air in your lungs by doing interval training like that than you can by going long distances at a constant pace. I am starting to think that statement is pretty true.
What if we applied this to other things? What if we just weren't afraid of failing because we knew that if we did it would make us stronger. How far could we go? What could we do? I have limitations set up in my own mind. Points in life that if I reach them I think I might fail, what if I took those points away? My friend that passed away was never afraid of failure. I saw her fail plenty of times, it never one time phased her. Food for thought.
P.S. This program requires before pictures, measurements, and a fit test. Mentally prepare yourselves because I am going to throw some numbers at you next week. If we are gonna be honest we gotta be honest all the way, right? For those of you that know me you won't believe my numbers, I am A LOT heavier than I look, so just be prepared for that. But if I don't measure, we won't know what I can get done in 90 days. Let's do this thing!
I was supposed to start P90X3 this week. Know what? I didn't. I took the week off. I ended up taking the break because there was a lot going on this week. I had my friend's memorial service. I had several big assignments due at school. I have an event that I go to every year, twice a year, where I sell handmade items, thus I had to get some items done to sell. Gram had a doctor's appointment one day and a liver biopsy on another day. Those are all just excuses in reality, but that's the short and the long of why I took the week off. I actually think in the long run it might be better that I did. Weight training can be like that, sometimes you have to let your muscles regroup a little so that they will train better when you get back after it. I did NOT, however, quit running. I still got that done this week, and I made my step goal everyday. I am noticing my ankle these days, it is talking to me (old injury). I warm up out of it so I am not going to worry about it. One of my old bosses (a horse veterinarian) used to ask if you were hurt or injured? You can play hurt, you can't play injured. I just hurt a little. So, long story short, I was not inactive, I just didn't "train" per se.
This upcoming program promises to be intense. Tony's programs usually are. This one is different because it doesn't have all the long breaks within it. It is condensed down into 30 minute workouts. I like that. That's part of why I love T25 so much. It fits my schedule. This program came with a big ole book too. It obviously deals with how to train your muscles and how to eat for training. I am taking this week to get it read so that I get the absolute most that I can out of the program. One of the things that resonated with me last night when I was reading was the subject of failure.
I am not a failure type of person. I HATE to fail. It kills me to do something half-way (wasn't that good of me to not use the colorful word to finish that half-@$$), I hate to not be the best at something. Failure is not really an option once I decide to do something. Unless we are talking about keeping weight off, I have yet to really WIN that battle. But, the P90X3 book took a different approach to failure. They were applying it specifically to weight training, but I am wondering if it could pertain to other areas of a person's life. They want you to fail in P90X3. They want you to barely be able to do the last rep of each set. Or, they want you to fail to do the last rep of each set. They want you to push to the point of failure. That is the only way that you can progress.
I thought about that while I was running today. My running app has added sprints to my running program. I have to max out when I sprint. Two things happen when I sprint. 1) I run out of air by the end of it. I get to thinking I'm not going to make it much farther. 2) When I go back to jogging, the jogging is way easier. I want you to know that I am loving the running, but I am not in love with the running. Does that make sense? I struggle through portions of my run. I think I'm not going to make it. But I keep going anyways. It is interesting that the sprints make me think that I am going to fail and make my life easier all at the same time. I was reading that you can actually get more air in your lungs by doing interval training like that than you can by going long distances at a constant pace. I am starting to think that statement is pretty true.
What if we applied this to other things? What if we just weren't afraid of failing because we knew that if we did it would make us stronger. How far could we go? What could we do? I have limitations set up in my own mind. Points in life that if I reach them I think I might fail, what if I took those points away? My friend that passed away was never afraid of failure. I saw her fail plenty of times, it never one time phased her. Food for thought.
P.S. This program requires before pictures, measurements, and a fit test. Mentally prepare yourselves because I am going to throw some numbers at you next week. If we are gonna be honest we gotta be honest all the way, right? For those of you that know me you won't believe my numbers, I am A LOT heavier than I look, so just be prepared for that. But if I don't measure, we won't know what I can get done in 90 days. Let's do this thing!
Thursday, April 16, 2015
It's been a little quiet around here...
I want to make sure that my posts are not just continual repeats of themselves. I don't want to bore the awesome crew that tunes in to read this blog. I love you guys and the last thing that I want to do is bore you. I also don't want to be preachy, but I know it happens sometimes. Good thing you know that I am human.
I've been a little quiet lately for a couple of reasons.
Two days ago my friend lost her battle with cancer. In all honesty, she lost the battle a couple weeks ago when the cancer started taking her voice and her strength from her. Things that she deserved to have all the way to the end. I am eternally sad for myself and all the others that she has left behind, but I am equally grateful that her suffering is over.
During the time when I wanted to be devoted to my friend the most, some news was delivered to my family that took me in other directions. My grandmother beat breast cancer in 2009. We have recently found out that it has returned. It has also possibly spread to her liver (there are a few more diagnostics to find this out). I have spent my fair share of time in hospital waiting rooms these days. In the next couple weeks she will have surgery to remove her entire right breast.
I have also not had any grand fitness or health revelations either. I am staying my course, results are slowly but surely coming. But I haven't had any grand tales to tell you.
These are the main reasons that I haven't been posting as regularly. I am not telling you these things because I am looking for an outpouring of sympathy. Although I know that all of you are cheering me on all the time, and I love you for it. I am happy, healthy, and thankful for every day that I can hit the pavement. I am telling you this because I want you to know how I am dealing with all of it. It is very important (to me) that I be available and able to help my loved ones. But, if I am not taking care of myself, I will not be of any help to them. While I would like nothing more than to curl up on a couch and feel sorry for myself, I'm not taking that option. Here's how I am dealing with it:
I am compartmentalizing things as well as I can. I am putting everything into its own little box and dealing with things one box at a time.
One of those boxes is labelled EXERCISE. It is more important to me now than it was two months ago. I need it not only for my body, but my mind. I hiked up my mountain on Sunday. It had been a little while since I had been up there. It was glorious. I got close to God and I talked to him about giving strength to the people in my life that need it most right now. I got to see the amazing view from up there and I felt immensely better when I got down.
Another box is labelled NUTRITION. I am not going to binge eat just because there are some emotional things happening in my life right now. What good will a fatter version of me be to the people in my life? No good at all, that's what. I feel great right now, my nutrition is in check and my body is getting leaner and meaner all the time. Emotional eating will only sabotage those two things.
Another box is labelled GRAM. I have every intentions of fighting this battle side-by-side with her. She doesn't always make the healthiest of choices, so maybe I can lead her by example. I know that I am going to have to be a strong rock for her to lean on during the coming months. I don't intend to fail her in that regard.
FAMILY/FRIENDS are another box. Some of them need me more than others, I am doing my best to be there for them when they do need me and am trying to be proactive in thinking of things they might need. Sometimes, they might just need a laugh. There are a lot of hugs going around these days too.
There are boxes for WORK and for SCHOOL and the best part about them is that they are all scheduled. No sucker punches or surprises there. I am done with school at the end of the first week of May... HOOOOORAY for summer!
Finally, there is a box labelled HAPPINESS. I am refusing to let any of the sad stuff that is going on in my life right now steal my happiness. I am working hard towards lots of goals in my life and to stay motivated I am going to have to do better than just treading water (emotionally speaking). I'm going to be the old cliche of a positive attitude = a positive life. If I'm happy, maybe, just maybe, I can rub off a little on those in my life that are having a hard time. Who knows if that will work or not, but I do know this for sure... Being negative isn't gonna get squat done for me or for them.
So, there you have it, please forgive me if I am a little sporadic in posting the next few weeks. I will do my best and by golly when I have something funny to say you are gonna hear about it!!
P.S. As wild (read as SHOCKING) as my new shoes are, they make me happy.
Drink your water.
I've been a little quiet lately for a couple of reasons.
Two days ago my friend lost her battle with cancer. In all honesty, she lost the battle a couple weeks ago when the cancer started taking her voice and her strength from her. Things that she deserved to have all the way to the end. I am eternally sad for myself and all the others that she has left behind, but I am equally grateful that her suffering is over.
During the time when I wanted to be devoted to my friend the most, some news was delivered to my family that took me in other directions. My grandmother beat breast cancer in 2009. We have recently found out that it has returned. It has also possibly spread to her liver (there are a few more diagnostics to find this out). I have spent my fair share of time in hospital waiting rooms these days. In the next couple weeks she will have surgery to remove her entire right breast.
I have also not had any grand fitness or health revelations either. I am staying my course, results are slowly but surely coming. But I haven't had any grand tales to tell you.
These are the main reasons that I haven't been posting as regularly. I am not telling you these things because I am looking for an outpouring of sympathy. Although I know that all of you are cheering me on all the time, and I love you for it. I am happy, healthy, and thankful for every day that I can hit the pavement. I am telling you this because I want you to know how I am dealing with all of it. It is very important (to me) that I be available and able to help my loved ones. But, if I am not taking care of myself, I will not be of any help to them. While I would like nothing more than to curl up on a couch and feel sorry for myself, I'm not taking that option. Here's how I am dealing with it:
I am compartmentalizing things as well as I can. I am putting everything into its own little box and dealing with things one box at a time.
One of those boxes is labelled EXERCISE. It is more important to me now than it was two months ago. I need it not only for my body, but my mind. I hiked up my mountain on Sunday. It had been a little while since I had been up there. It was glorious. I got close to God and I talked to him about giving strength to the people in my life that need it most right now. I got to see the amazing view from up there and I felt immensely better when I got down.
Another box is labelled NUTRITION. I am not going to binge eat just because there are some emotional things happening in my life right now. What good will a fatter version of me be to the people in my life? No good at all, that's what. I feel great right now, my nutrition is in check and my body is getting leaner and meaner all the time. Emotional eating will only sabotage those two things.
Another box is labelled GRAM. I have every intentions of fighting this battle side-by-side with her. She doesn't always make the healthiest of choices, so maybe I can lead her by example. I know that I am going to have to be a strong rock for her to lean on during the coming months. I don't intend to fail her in that regard.
FAMILY/FRIENDS are another box. Some of them need me more than others, I am doing my best to be there for them when they do need me and am trying to be proactive in thinking of things they might need. Sometimes, they might just need a laugh. There are a lot of hugs going around these days too.
There are boxes for WORK and for SCHOOL and the best part about them is that they are all scheduled. No sucker punches or surprises there. I am done with school at the end of the first week of May... HOOOOORAY for summer!
Finally, there is a box labelled HAPPINESS. I am refusing to let any of the sad stuff that is going on in my life right now steal my happiness. I am working hard towards lots of goals in my life and to stay motivated I am going to have to do better than just treading water (emotionally speaking). I'm going to be the old cliche of a positive attitude = a positive life. If I'm happy, maybe, just maybe, I can rub off a little on those in my life that are having a hard time. Who knows if that will work or not, but I do know this for sure... Being negative isn't gonna get squat done for me or for them.
So, there you have it, please forgive me if I am a little sporadic in posting the next few weeks. I will do my best and by golly when I have something funny to say you are gonna hear about it!!
P.S. As wild (read as SHOCKING) as my new shoes are, they make me happy.
Drink your water.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Shoes. I have a problem.
First, let's just get this out of the way. I, Funny Fat Chic, have lost 8 pounds since the weigh-in incident of March 2015. That was 13 days ago. We are going to have a brief celebration about this and then we are going to forget it. Here's why. I haven't measured yet. I decided that since I am so close to starting a new workout regime, that I would measure everything then. Measurements are a much better (and mentally healthy) way to track progress. This morning, I don't know what came over me, but I thought, let's see if this FitBit is helping me drop any weight. And sure enough, it is. So is Shaun T. So is my clean eating. So is MyFitness Pal app. So is my attitude. The point of this is that yes, I dropped some pounds, good deal, but it is not the only goal that I am trying to obtain and the scale is not the only motivator. Not by a long shot. In the past two weeks I have started jogging again. That is crazy. And just as important and a big deal as dropping several pounds. I am starting to see some definition in my legs (only noticeable to me, I'm sure) and my arms. God bless weight training. I have upped my weights from 8 pounders to 10 pounders, cool. Go me! So, yes, I lost some weight, but, no, it is not the only thing that I think is important. And, yes, I still hate the scale. From the bottom of my heart, I hate that scale.
Now, for the meat and potatoes of this post. Whoops, I just got a little hungry.
I have a shoe problem. I thought it was limited to pretty cowboy boots. That was pure denial on my part. I have 3 pairs of Sanuks. If you have never tried on Sanuks, run, don't walk and get yourself a pair (or 3). I have no less than 8 pairs of cowboy boots. I have 2 pairs of converse. I have NO idea how many pairs of flip-flops I have. Now, it is turning into tennis shoes. I just ordered another pair this morning. Since I am jogging, my indoor workout shoes have turned into my outdoor workout shoes and I don't have a pair of go to town tennis shoes. Are you following all that. So, I ordered another pair this morning. I LOVE Asics. I am not dogging any other brand of shoes, Asics are just the ones that suit my feet. I have never had a break-in period with them, my feet don't get sore, and my knees stay pretty good. So, I am always happy with them. They come in crazy colors, like most tennis shoes these days do. This is getting out of hand. One pair for inside, one pair for outside, one pair for going to town. Mix this in with the fact that I have worn nothing but my workout leggings all day everyday this week and we might as well have us an intervention right now!! I guess my change in fashion is the price I am going to have to pay for becoming a healthier, more fit me. I apologize to any of you that run into me and I am donning workout leggings, a hoodie, and sweaty hair. These are my new accessories and I am wearing them shamelessly. I have even contemplated the running shoes that go in-between your toes. This is coming from a person that can't handle anything touching her feet. Or things between her toes. I haven't pulled the trigger on getting a pair of them yet. If I do, you'll know it is time to step in and have a heart-to-heart with me.
Happy Friday! Drink your water!! Move you hiney!!!
Now, for the meat and potatoes of this post. Whoops, I just got a little hungry.
I have a shoe problem. I thought it was limited to pretty cowboy boots. That was pure denial on my part. I have 3 pairs of Sanuks. If you have never tried on Sanuks, run, don't walk and get yourself a pair (or 3). I have no less than 8 pairs of cowboy boots. I have 2 pairs of converse. I have NO idea how many pairs of flip-flops I have. Now, it is turning into tennis shoes. I just ordered another pair this morning. Since I am jogging, my indoor workout shoes have turned into my outdoor workout shoes and I don't have a pair of go to town tennis shoes. Are you following all that. So, I ordered another pair this morning. I LOVE Asics. I am not dogging any other brand of shoes, Asics are just the ones that suit my feet. I have never had a break-in period with them, my feet don't get sore, and my knees stay pretty good. So, I am always happy with them. They come in crazy colors, like most tennis shoes these days do. This is getting out of hand. One pair for inside, one pair for outside, one pair for going to town. Mix this in with the fact that I have worn nothing but my workout leggings all day everyday this week and we might as well have us an intervention right now!! I guess my change in fashion is the price I am going to have to pay for becoming a healthier, more fit me. I apologize to any of you that run into me and I am donning workout leggings, a hoodie, and sweaty hair. These are my new accessories and I am wearing them shamelessly. I have even contemplated the running shoes that go in-between your toes. This is coming from a person that can't handle anything touching her feet. Or things between her toes. I haven't pulled the trigger on getting a pair of them yet. If I do, you'll know it is time to step in and have a heart-to-heart with me.
Happy Friday! Drink your water!! Move you hiney!!!
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Musings of a would be fitness geek...
I'm gonna throw this out there. I am a fitness expert.
Ha! Snort. Pfffffft. Fart noise. Thumbs down. But you think I would be as many fitness programs as I have been through, as many articles as I have read, as many pounds as I have lost and then put out a man hunt for and found again. You would think I know everything there is to know about fitness. NOT! Here's why. Fitness is a continuum, not a destination or a arbitrary point. They find out new things ALL. THE. TIME. about what makes people fit. What helps people lose weight. What type of training you need to do for what type of goal. It changes constantly. For good reason too. Long, long ago, you just had to run to be fit. If you ran a mile in under 8 minutes, you could do anything. Now sports have evolved to the point that they are specialized and require specialized training. This is a good thing. No wasted efforts, you can train to be what you want to be.
I just want to look good in my "Whiskey Makes Me Frisky" tank top and some cut off jean shorts this summer while I am throwing elbows and fighting my way to the stage to try to get my hands on Kid Rock in the flesh. What's the training program for that???
I ran again today. Can you believe it? The weather was the kind of cool outside that only happens after a Spring rain. I ran in a hoodie. I love running in a hoodie. It makes me feel like Rocky Balboa and I have a tiny little Apollo Creed on my shoulder egging me on.
I paid $4.99 for a new app for my iPhone. I realize that a person should never pay more than $0.99 for an app, but this one peaked my interest. I know I talked about apps the other day in the FitBit Phenomenon post, but I found another MUST HAVE one. It is called Running and it by RedRock Apps. It is basically a Siri for running. I put in my headphones, turn on my iTunes, and then click on my Running app. This lovely voice comes on and tells me what to do. She tells me to warm up, she tells me when to run, she tells me when to walk, she tells me when to cool down. She is programmed to increase my intensity with each session. She is an interval trainer, and according to my expert knowledge of late, interval training is supposed to be the most effective way to train for runners and for weight loss. Now, I'm not saying that I am training for anything but that Kid Rock concert just yet, but I could envision me participating in some 5K's down the road if I keep this up. Anyways, back to the app. When it is time for her to talk, she turns down the volume on my music without turning it off and says her peace, then she turns it right back up. I loved not knowing when I was going to start and stop. Before it was me picking a point and deciding that I was running to that point. Like it or not, when I get to the ending of that point I weaken a little. It's human nature to drift just a little when you know you get to stop. Even if my stride doesn't falter, my mind weakens a little, I start thinking about nothing other than that stopping point. With this, I wasn't making any of the decisions. Not a dang one of them. I had no idea when she was gonna start me running or scale me back to a walk. It was perfect! I even beat my time from last week by about 10 minutes. Bonus!! Must have app if you are a runner, just saying.
I have bought some new t-shirts lately. I am trying to reward myself with things other than food. To be honest, I haven't even been all that worried about food lately. I still log my calories daily, but I feel like I have my nutrition decisions in check for the most part. Did I eat wings at Buffalo Wild Wings when I took my Mom out for dinner and a movie the other night? You bet I did. Did I eat too much at Easter dinner on Sunday? Absolutely. But I budgeted my calories for the day and I didn't do that bad. And I have been back to normal since then. I don't feel like those examples are even a cheat, they just happened. They were just apart of life. I didn't eat 25 wings like used to. I didn't eat until I was sick on Easter, just had an extra helping of the things I loved (asparagus fries and broccoli salad if you must know). I feel like I am hitting my stride in the nutrition department and it feels good because I am not constantly worried about it. I actively think about what I am eating, I plan my meals for the day, but then I don't stress about every single thing I put in my mouth. It's a little less stress. Which is nice. My t-shirts are really cute too. I find funky vendors off of Pinterest and Etsy and I pay them $25 for a t-shirt and I don't even feel bad about it. Plus, they fit, which is good for a person's self-confidence. Baggy, boxy clothes don't really make you feel purty.
Avocados are currently hands down my most favorite food. I eat about a half of one a day. They are amazingly tasty. I love them on salad. I love them with eggs, either baked or mashed up with a hard-boiled one. I love them mashed with chickpeas on sprouted bread for an open face sandwich. I love them as guacamole. I REALLY love them as guacamole. I love them straight out of the skin on a spoon. I love them as baked avocado fries (asparagus fries sexy, cool cousin). I would never, I repeat, never, waste one by putting it on my face. That is just wrong. Avocado facials are for people that have never had the pleasure of guacamole.
I am in a quandary as to what work out to buy next. I started following this gal named Natalie Jill on Facebook. She is hot. Holy heck hot. I would love to look like her. She looks like she could whip someone in a UFC fight, jump off the stage, let her hair down, slip on some heels and go make an elegant entrance at a White House dinner. That kind of hot. I would love to look even a little like her. So, she has some work out programs that she sells. Or, I could switch from T25 over to Insanity Max 30. I love Shaun T, I am devoted to him and his work out methodologies (can you believe that is even a real word???). Or, I could switch to something else in the Beach Body family like P90X3 or 21 Day Fix. I have about 2 weeks left on T25 which gives me about a week to decide. Weigh in if you have have a preference of which way you would like me to go. If there is a program that you are dying to try but would like a review or want to know someone that did it, shout it out. I'm game!
That is all from this would be fitness expert for today. Drink your water. Throw a little lemon in it. Move your hiney!
Ha! Snort. Pfffffft. Fart noise. Thumbs down. But you think I would be as many fitness programs as I have been through, as many articles as I have read, as many pounds as I have lost and then put out a man hunt for and found again. You would think I know everything there is to know about fitness. NOT! Here's why. Fitness is a continuum, not a destination or a arbitrary point. They find out new things ALL. THE. TIME. about what makes people fit. What helps people lose weight. What type of training you need to do for what type of goal. It changes constantly. For good reason too. Long, long ago, you just had to run to be fit. If you ran a mile in under 8 minutes, you could do anything. Now sports have evolved to the point that they are specialized and require specialized training. This is a good thing. No wasted efforts, you can train to be what you want to be.
I just want to look good in my "Whiskey Makes Me Frisky" tank top and some cut off jean shorts this summer while I am throwing elbows and fighting my way to the stage to try to get my hands on Kid Rock in the flesh. What's the training program for that???
I ran again today. Can you believe it? The weather was the kind of cool outside that only happens after a Spring rain. I ran in a hoodie. I love running in a hoodie. It makes me feel like Rocky Balboa and I have a tiny little Apollo Creed on my shoulder egging me on.
I paid $4.99 for a new app for my iPhone. I realize that a person should never pay more than $0.99 for an app, but this one peaked my interest. I know I talked about apps the other day in the FitBit Phenomenon post, but I found another MUST HAVE one. It is called Running and it by RedRock Apps. It is basically a Siri for running. I put in my headphones, turn on my iTunes, and then click on my Running app. This lovely voice comes on and tells me what to do. She tells me to warm up, she tells me when to run, she tells me when to walk, she tells me when to cool down. She is programmed to increase my intensity with each session. She is an interval trainer, and according to my expert knowledge of late, interval training is supposed to be the most effective way to train for runners and for weight loss. Now, I'm not saying that I am training for anything but that Kid Rock concert just yet, but I could envision me participating in some 5K's down the road if I keep this up. Anyways, back to the app. When it is time for her to talk, she turns down the volume on my music without turning it off and says her peace, then she turns it right back up. I loved not knowing when I was going to start and stop. Before it was me picking a point and deciding that I was running to that point. Like it or not, when I get to the ending of that point I weaken a little. It's human nature to drift just a little when you know you get to stop. Even if my stride doesn't falter, my mind weakens a little, I start thinking about nothing other than that stopping point. With this, I wasn't making any of the decisions. Not a dang one of them. I had no idea when she was gonna start me running or scale me back to a walk. It was perfect! I even beat my time from last week by about 10 minutes. Bonus!! Must have app if you are a runner, just saying.
I have bought some new t-shirts lately. I am trying to reward myself with things other than food. To be honest, I haven't even been all that worried about food lately. I still log my calories daily, but I feel like I have my nutrition decisions in check for the most part. Did I eat wings at Buffalo Wild Wings when I took my Mom out for dinner and a movie the other night? You bet I did. Did I eat too much at Easter dinner on Sunday? Absolutely. But I budgeted my calories for the day and I didn't do that bad. And I have been back to normal since then. I don't feel like those examples are even a cheat, they just happened. They were just apart of life. I didn't eat 25 wings like used to. I didn't eat until I was sick on Easter, just had an extra helping of the things I loved (asparagus fries and broccoli salad if you must know). I feel like I am hitting my stride in the nutrition department and it feels good because I am not constantly worried about it. I actively think about what I am eating, I plan my meals for the day, but then I don't stress about every single thing I put in my mouth. It's a little less stress. Which is nice. My t-shirts are really cute too. I find funky vendors off of Pinterest and Etsy and I pay them $25 for a t-shirt and I don't even feel bad about it. Plus, they fit, which is good for a person's self-confidence. Baggy, boxy clothes don't really make you feel purty.
Avocados are currently hands down my most favorite food. I eat about a half of one a day. They are amazingly tasty. I love them on salad. I love them with eggs, either baked or mashed up with a hard-boiled one. I love them mashed with chickpeas on sprouted bread for an open face sandwich. I love them as guacamole. I REALLY love them as guacamole. I love them straight out of the skin on a spoon. I love them as baked avocado fries (asparagus fries sexy, cool cousin). I would never, I repeat, never, waste one by putting it on my face. That is just wrong. Avocado facials are for people that have never had the pleasure of guacamole.
I am in a quandary as to what work out to buy next. I started following this gal named Natalie Jill on Facebook. She is hot. Holy heck hot. I would love to look like her. She looks like she could whip someone in a UFC fight, jump off the stage, let her hair down, slip on some heels and go make an elegant entrance at a White House dinner. That kind of hot. I would love to look even a little like her. So, she has some work out programs that she sells. Or, I could switch from T25 over to Insanity Max 30. I love Shaun T, I am devoted to him and his work out methodologies (can you believe that is even a real word???). Or, I could switch to something else in the Beach Body family like P90X3 or 21 Day Fix. I have about 2 weeks left on T25 which gives me about a week to decide. Weigh in if you have have a preference of which way you would like me to go. If there is a program that you are dying to try but would like a review or want to know someone that did it, shout it out. I'm game!
That is all from this would be fitness expert for today. Drink your water. Throw a little lemon in it. Move your hiney!
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
To hold you over...
I missed working out yesterday. I don't feel bad about it. I have some things happening in my personal life and they took precedence in the morning. When I got off of work I had a bride to meet at her venue to consult about her wedding photos in the evening. I didn't realize that the venue was half way to Horseshoe Bend, which for those of you that don't know, it is a long darn ways from Marsing. So, I got home late after a long day. I fell short on my steps, which kinda made me mad. Scratch that, it really did make me mad. It is the first day that I have fallen short since the FitBit Phenomenon began. Anyways, I will get you guys all caught up on the happenings of me one of these days soon, for now, know that I kicked my workouts a$$ today, nailed my steps, and decided Tuesday is the new Monday.
Here is a cool blog post about vegetables that I found colorful and interesting. Take a look, make a salad, drink your water! Funny Fat Chic over and out.
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/what-vegetables-are-in-season-right-now/?utm_source=mfp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly20150406&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRokuKTOZKXonjHpfsX77e0kWaC0i4kz2EFye%2BLIHETpodcMTsBqPa%2BTFAwTG5toziV8R7DBLM153N8QXRTg
Here is a cool blog post about vegetables that I found colorful and interesting. Take a look, make a salad, drink your water! Funny Fat Chic over and out.
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/what-vegetables-are-in-season-right-now/?utm_source=mfp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly20150406&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRokuKTOZKXonjHpfsX77e0kWaC0i4kz2EFye%2BLIHETpodcMTsBqPa%2BTFAwTG5toziV8R7DBLM153N8QXRTg
Friday, April 3, 2015
The FitBit Phenomenon
As promised, I am going to review the illustrious device that the world calls a FitBit.
I will of course do this in list form. I would like to preempt this list by stating that the FitBit has most definitely brought out my obsessive side, as predicted, but it has also surprised me in several ways. For the good. Surprises for the good are always, well, good.
1. 10,000 steps is more than you think. I knew ahead of time that I probably wasn't hitting the mark. Between school, my desk job, and editing for photography, I spend a fair amount of time sitting. I had been halfway tracking my steps on my iPhone, but I don't always carry it, so I didn't think it was very accurate. Last week I got delayed at the Denver airport for 6 1/2 hours so I walked laps, it took me awhile to make 10,000 steps. Longer than I anticipated. The FitBit makes me hit that goal daily. How does this little rubber device accomplish that feat? It somehow knows that I hate to fail. And only making 8,000 steps is a B grade. I don't like B grades. I'm an A girl all the way.
2. I have become less efficient. I am that person that will load 37 grocery bags on one arm so that I don't have to go back to the car for a second load. I am a time efficiency queen. If someone can do something in 10 minutes, I'll find a way to do it in 6. Life is a race to me. Always has been. I am built for speed, not distance. Actually, if you saw me, I'm not built for either, but you get the idea. I like to get things done quickly and efficiently. Now, with this little device strapped to my arm I have to find ways to put extra steps in my day. Twice this week I walked to work instead of driving. It is a 5 minute drive... Or, it is a 35 minute walk. I park as far away as I can from the grocery store, or school, or wherever I am at. Not very efficient, but by-golly I hit my step mark.
3. Speaking of walking to work... I am spending more time out of doors. Which is GREAT for me. I love it. I love where I live. I love the scenery. I love this early Spring. So, the fact that this little device has pushed me back out into that world is a definite perk.
4. My competitive nature is in full swing. You get to have FitBit friends. We should all be encouraging each other to reach our goals, but I just want to beat them all. It's an ugly little side of my personality not many people get to witness, but here it is. You get to look at your dashboard and see where you rank next to everyone else that is a FitBit friend. I'll top that list one of these days. You can bet your sweet patooty I will.
5. I go walk at my lunch. This trend started the week or two before the FitBit arrived, but now it is a must do if I am going to make my steps each day. The craziest thing happened today. I jogged. Not the entire time. I started by running from telephone pole to telephone pole. Once I realized it wasn't killing me I ran two telephone poles. I did one stretch that was 1/2 mile long. I would break for one telephone pole distance and then pick up again. I have been afraid to run. I didn't think my back would take it. But, my back has been pretty good lately. Every so often it talks to me, but the walking seems to be helping. I jogged today. One more time... I jogged today. I didn't think I would ever say those words again. I walked/jogged almost 4 miles worth during my lunch hour. That is awesome. I don't even know why I decided to. I just kinda took off. One of the guys I work with asked me how much weight I have lost this morning. Of course I didn't have an answer, but what it told me is that other people are able to see a difference now. Kinda made me feel good. Especially after the weigh-in downer from last week. They say that it takes 4 weeks for people to start noticing that you are losing weight. I'm only three months in, no need to rush the process. Maybe the FitBit/compliment combination pepped me up, maybe it was just time for me to try and run again. Whatever the reason, I was shocked. You know what happens when I run... I can't think. Or I at least can't think about anything but my breathing and putting one leg in front of the other. To find an activity that shuts down my brain is a big deal. Who knows if I will keep jogging, but it did feel good today.
6. It syncs easily with my phone, computer, and calorie app. I like ease of syncing. Technology is great when it works and when it doesn't I want to set it on fire after throwing out a window and running it over repeatedly. Lucky for FitBit, it works great.
7. I liked this thing so much after a day of wearing it, I bought one for a friend. She is in a similar boat as me. She is drop dead gorgeous (this is where her and I differ, me not so much), born with a terrible metabolism despite her high level of activity, and she is tired of fighting the battle of the bulge. I feel like the FitBit is a way to sneak in more activity without really trying. It is almost like playing a game. It doesn't even count as "working out." I got a message from her 12 hours after I gave it to her about how much she loved it. I totally got it. It is addicting.
8. I earn badges. Kinda like Girl Scouts without the Mormon subtext. They are virtual, so I don't get to sew them on a vest or anything. To me they are a means of recognition, a grade if you will. And you all know how I feel about getting good grades.
9. The battery lasts forever. Call me crazy, but why don't iPhones have FitBit batteries. This thing is GPSing, talking to my phone, and counting all day long. Its not just hanging out in sleep mode. I have been wearing it for a week out of the box and have yet to charge it. If someone made a phone battery that lasted like that they would never have to cook for themselves, do laundry, or drive again. They would be able to afford people to do all those things for them.
10. This is really my only negative line item and neither of these things is the FitBit's fault, just things that have come to light since its advent in my life. My underwear fall down when I walk or jog (that's right, since I have jogged once, I am laying claim to being a jogger). Are they too small? Are they too big? Do I wear the wrong kind of underwear? I seriously have no idea. And to top of that little gem, I am the stinky kid in class. I don't get a full on sweat when I walk, but if I am hustling I get that low-grade sweat that is isolated to my armpits and anything my bra touches. I am a sweater by nature. My deodorant can't keep up with my intervals of low grade sweating. When I do my regular workouts I take a shower after, so it's not an issue. Same with hot yoga. I can't take a shower every time I take a stroll. #fatstinkykidproblems
Sooooooo, all in all, I give this little wrist band two thumbs up. The sleep tracking I could give or take, but I love how this little thing has sneakily motivated me to get moving. I am slowly getting over the wearing something on my wrist all the time. I'm feeling a little less claustrophobic about it since it is performing so well in all other areas. Life is about give and take, man.
On a side note. Is anyone as disturbed as me that rompers are back in style??? I cannot not think of an outfit that I am less likely to wear. That is just begging for me to wet my pants... And since they are one piece, it would mean that I wet my shirt too. No thank you. No rompers for this chic.
I will of course do this in list form. I would like to preempt this list by stating that the FitBit has most definitely brought out my obsessive side, as predicted, but it has also surprised me in several ways. For the good. Surprises for the good are always, well, good.
1. 10,000 steps is more than you think. I knew ahead of time that I probably wasn't hitting the mark. Between school, my desk job, and editing for photography, I spend a fair amount of time sitting. I had been halfway tracking my steps on my iPhone, but I don't always carry it, so I didn't think it was very accurate. Last week I got delayed at the Denver airport for 6 1/2 hours so I walked laps, it took me awhile to make 10,000 steps. Longer than I anticipated. The FitBit makes me hit that goal daily. How does this little rubber device accomplish that feat? It somehow knows that I hate to fail. And only making 8,000 steps is a B grade. I don't like B grades. I'm an A girl all the way.
2. I have become less efficient. I am that person that will load 37 grocery bags on one arm so that I don't have to go back to the car for a second load. I am a time efficiency queen. If someone can do something in 10 minutes, I'll find a way to do it in 6. Life is a race to me. Always has been. I am built for speed, not distance. Actually, if you saw me, I'm not built for either, but you get the idea. I like to get things done quickly and efficiently. Now, with this little device strapped to my arm I have to find ways to put extra steps in my day. Twice this week I walked to work instead of driving. It is a 5 minute drive... Or, it is a 35 minute walk. I park as far away as I can from the grocery store, or school, or wherever I am at. Not very efficient, but by-golly I hit my step mark.
3. Speaking of walking to work... I am spending more time out of doors. Which is GREAT for me. I love it. I love where I live. I love the scenery. I love this early Spring. So, the fact that this little device has pushed me back out into that world is a definite perk.
4. My competitive nature is in full swing. You get to have FitBit friends. We should all be encouraging each other to reach our goals, but I just want to beat them all. It's an ugly little side of my personality not many people get to witness, but here it is. You get to look at your dashboard and see where you rank next to everyone else that is a FitBit friend. I'll top that list one of these days. You can bet your sweet patooty I will.
5. I go walk at my lunch. This trend started the week or two before the FitBit arrived, but now it is a must do if I am going to make my steps each day. The craziest thing happened today. I jogged. Not the entire time. I started by running from telephone pole to telephone pole. Once I realized it wasn't killing me I ran two telephone poles. I did one stretch that was 1/2 mile long. I would break for one telephone pole distance and then pick up again. I have been afraid to run. I didn't think my back would take it. But, my back has been pretty good lately. Every so often it talks to me, but the walking seems to be helping. I jogged today. One more time... I jogged today. I didn't think I would ever say those words again. I walked/jogged almost 4 miles worth during my lunch hour. That is awesome. I don't even know why I decided to. I just kinda took off. One of the guys I work with asked me how much weight I have lost this morning. Of course I didn't have an answer, but what it told me is that other people are able to see a difference now. Kinda made me feel good. Especially after the weigh-in downer from last week. They say that it takes 4 weeks for people to start noticing that you are losing weight. I'm only three months in, no need to rush the process. Maybe the FitBit/compliment combination pepped me up, maybe it was just time for me to try and run again. Whatever the reason, I was shocked. You know what happens when I run... I can't think. Or I at least can't think about anything but my breathing and putting one leg in front of the other. To find an activity that shuts down my brain is a big deal. Who knows if I will keep jogging, but it did feel good today.
6. It syncs easily with my phone, computer, and calorie app. I like ease of syncing. Technology is great when it works and when it doesn't I want to set it on fire after throwing out a window and running it over repeatedly. Lucky for FitBit, it works great.
7. I liked this thing so much after a day of wearing it, I bought one for a friend. She is in a similar boat as me. She is drop dead gorgeous (this is where her and I differ, me not so much), born with a terrible metabolism despite her high level of activity, and she is tired of fighting the battle of the bulge. I feel like the FitBit is a way to sneak in more activity without really trying. It is almost like playing a game. It doesn't even count as "working out." I got a message from her 12 hours after I gave it to her about how much she loved it. I totally got it. It is addicting.
8. I earn badges. Kinda like Girl Scouts without the Mormon subtext. They are virtual, so I don't get to sew them on a vest or anything. To me they are a means of recognition, a grade if you will. And you all know how I feel about getting good grades.
9. The battery lasts forever. Call me crazy, but why don't iPhones have FitBit batteries. This thing is GPSing, talking to my phone, and counting all day long. Its not just hanging out in sleep mode. I have been wearing it for a week out of the box and have yet to charge it. If someone made a phone battery that lasted like that they would never have to cook for themselves, do laundry, or drive again. They would be able to afford people to do all those things for them.
10. This is really my only negative line item and neither of these things is the FitBit's fault, just things that have come to light since its advent in my life. My underwear fall down when I walk or jog (that's right, since I have jogged once, I am laying claim to being a jogger). Are they too small? Are they too big? Do I wear the wrong kind of underwear? I seriously have no idea. And to top of that little gem, I am the stinky kid in class. I don't get a full on sweat when I walk, but if I am hustling I get that low-grade sweat that is isolated to my armpits and anything my bra touches. I am a sweater by nature. My deodorant can't keep up with my intervals of low grade sweating. When I do my regular workouts I take a shower after, so it's not an issue. Same with hot yoga. I can't take a shower every time I take a stroll. #fatstinkykidproblems
Sooooooo, all in all, I give this little wrist band two thumbs up. The sleep tracking I could give or take, but I love how this little thing has sneakily motivated me to get moving. I am slowly getting over the wearing something on my wrist all the time. I'm feeling a little less claustrophobic about it since it is performing so well in all other areas. Life is about give and take, man.
On a side note. Is anyone as disturbed as me that rompers are back in style??? I cannot not think of an outfit that I am less likely to wear. That is just begging for me to wet my pants... And since they are one piece, it would mean that I wet my shirt too. No thank you. No rompers for this chic.
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