Deb 2/2 food log

AM:  Coffee                               0
          Cereal with milk            160
10ish   Yogurt                             0 * forgot to bring to work
10ish    banana                        100
12ish      apple                         100
3ish       WW smart ones          270
 3ish       carrots                         35   
PM      Venison stir fry             376
            Rice                             150
                                            -------
Total                                      1191

Yea - I was down 6.4 pounds this week!  Of course that was after gaining on vacation, but I will take it.  This is the lowest I have been since the new year and hope to lose another 3 to 5 by the half!  Go me!

Deb: 2/1 food log

AM:  Coffee                               0
          Cereal with milk            160
10ish   Yogurt                         100
12ish    apple                          100
3ish      baby carrots                  35
PM      sesame pasta               707
           salad                            100
                                             ---------
          Total                            1222

Had a nice 4 mile run.  Much, much better since I didn't take the GU!  What a beautiful winter day in the northeast (running Capri's and short sleeve running shirt!  Love it!!       

Deb: 1/31 food log

AM:  Coffee                               0
          Cereal with milk            160
10ish   Yogurt                           80
12ish    banana                        100
2ish       GU                             100**
PM      meatball sub                 490
            with cheese                    70
            broc w/cheese              114
            salad                             100
TOTAL                                  1214

**  I went on my long run yesterday and wanted to try the GU before trying it in a race.  At mile five (before I turned around) I had it and it was delicious (chocolate).  I was like "this is going to be good - good flavor and it will give me a nice shot of energy"  By mile six my stomach was turning.  I almost didn't think I would make it back.  I went from an average pace of 10:22 to 12:22 by the time I got back.  Was it the GU??  I was sick all afternoon, so much so that I couldn't even eat my carrots or apple.  I did manage to keep dinner down and feel much better today.  If the rain goes away, I will try to do a nice short run.  I may try a different brand, the beans or the cubes.  Or maybe just stick to water and Gatorade during the race....
 
GINNY - try it before your race.  I think the GU effects everyone differently. 

Deb: 1/30 food log

A good day - did an hour on the arc and stayed within my calorie intake!

AM:  Coffee                               0
          Cereal with milk            160
10ish   Yogurt                           80
12ish    banana                        100
3ish      baby carrots                  35
3ish      apple                           100
PM:     pesto chicken                584
           asparagus                        30
            salad                            100
                                             ---------
          Total                            1189          

Deb: February = Food

I feel I have been working hard in both December and January.  I know I am getting stronger and I know the workouts really helped during the holiday season, but I am just not losing those five pounds that I want (need) to.  So I am dedicating February to Food.  I had a great discussion with Laura about how important it is to not only exercise, but to watch what you eat also.  The last two months I have been slacking in really watching my diet, planning my meals and shopping weekly, which really works well for me.  I know Linda turns to her food intake when she want to get back on track and that is exactly what I am going to do this month!!

I will post my food this month, well starting today - why wait until the first -  talk about the ups and downs and hopefully lose the five pounds I need to.  I will also add my guesstamate for calories, which may crack some of you up.  My goal will be to keep it between 1000-1500.     

Deb: So much to do..so little time

Did you ever feel like you will never get everything done?  That is me this weekend.  Coming home from vacation really sets me back - especially in the wash.  All the ski clothing needed to be done, along with the regular wash.  I had to go food shopping since there was nothing in the house to eat.  And on top of that, Gary had to work all weekend, leaving me to fill in for him (dump run, etc).  So now I feel I am catching up and really hoping that I will now be on track for a smooth week ahead. 

The great thing is the forecast of the upcoming weather has me dreaming of a long run outside.  Keep your fingers crossed, I really need an outside run about now.  And hopefully my "ski legs" will cooperate!     

Deb: Vacation pitfalls

Vacations - I LOVE going, but I HATE getting on the scale when I come back.  First off, I just don't exercise as consistently as I do normally.  Second, I eat anything I want.  And thirdly, I drink on vacation, no matter what day it is as everyday is a weekend day.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist (or just a scientist- Gary, Val and Greg) to tell me what those three things will do to that number on the scale!

Gary and I took a nice ski vacation for my birthday.  We skied for three days straight, which ended up really being four days, which was a workout in itself.  But we also snacked on junk food, ate all our meals out and had to sample the local "long trail".  Again this year, even with the lack of snow, it was one of the best vacations we have been on - our new favorite winter location.  But I look forward to hitting the gym on Friday and getting back in to the swing of half marathon training.       

Deb: WHAT!! A couple of days off

After my long run on Tuesday, I ended up taking a couple of days off.  Not because I wanted to or had to.  Not because my body was telling me to.  It just happened that way.  On Wednesday I was going to stop at Adams because we had no fruit or salad stuff in the house (which we eat every day and can NOT live without).  While at Adams I noticed they had boneless chicken breast on sale for $1.79/lb!!  Another item we go through quickly.   I had to stock up, I had to get it home (no stopping at the gym as I was going to with my fruit and veggies) and had to split it up in to freezable portions.  So my planned trip to the gym was derailed by unforeseen circumstances or should I say a roadblock encountered along the way.

On Thursday, I did not plan to go to the gym as I knew ahead of time that I was going to be working all day to cover for a co-worker.  It was what it was.  The only bad thing is that I did not get up to do abs and walk on my treadmill, which really destroyed the whole day for me.  Yes, Gary did abs by himself!

I am ready today.  My bag is packed and it is straight to the gym for me.  The important thing is to realize that sometimes uncontrollable and/or controllable things happen and not to let it totally derail you.  Even though I went out to shovel this morning, I still jumped on the treadmill for 3 miles before work and look forward to getting back to the gym this afternoon.  Everyday is a new day - make it count.   

Deb: Week three

My week three long run is done!  There is 10 more weeks to the half marathon and I feel like I am right on track.  This week was a tough run - on the treadmill, only 6 miles, and didn't feel like a good run, but I did it.  I was ready to quit after one mile but pressed on.  I didn't want to tell Gary I only did 4 or 5.  Might as well do all six and get it over with! 

So three weeks gone and three "long runs" done.  Can't wait for the weather to warm up for a nice long run outside.  I do not know how these people train for a whole marathon on a treadmill.

After much research on the Internet, I have come to the conclusion that an hour on the arc machine is equal to 7 miles on the treadmill - yea.  I am not sure if that is totally true because I feel it is easier on the arc and my body (hips in particular) don't ache as much as after running on the treadmill.  But cardio wise it may be.  So I will keep at both the arc and the long runs - felling better and healthier every day!

Deb: Back to work

I am really glad I took Saturday off.  My body needed the rest and I feel really good - or at least back to normal.  Gary and I hit the gym on Sunday and now a new week begins.  I checked the long term forecast to see if there is a day I can do my long run outside, but am not optimistic about this week.  Rumming in seven degrees is just not appealing!   So I resign myself to pick a day for a long run at the gym on the treadmill.  I will let you know how it goes. 

Ginny, I am so jealous that you are able to do these runs outside.  And rumor has it that you are kicking butt!  You go girl!!  Not only are your post a motivation to me to keep training for my half, but I think of you everyday as I use my 10K Lighthouse beach bag as my gym bag!  Love it!

Deb: After effects

One of my worries about running the half marathon is how I will feel after the race.  Not just right after but the days following.  I can still remember my first 5K...I was sore right after the race and for days later.  Now I can run a 5K and not even feel it.

After my 8.3 mile run Tuesday I felt great.  I wasn't sore at all and was thinking this is easy.  The next day my quads were feeling it.  You know how it is when you walk up or down stairs.  Och! So I rode 10 miles on the bike just to keep my legs going.  On Thursday I ached all over!  My ankles, calfs, quads.  I could hardly get out of bed.  But I still managed to do 2 miles on the treadmill in the morning. 

Today I am just starting to feel better, although I still feel sluggish.  It is weird how some days my body is amazing and other I can hardly lift my arms.  I just hope race day is a good day!  One more day at the gym and then I'll take a break on Saturday. 

So back to AC.  I want to be able to enjoy the rest of the day and part of Monday after the race.  I can't wait to show Val and Greg the differant casinos.  I am hoping that the training, and particularly long runs, will get my body to become comfortable with the after effects of running.  I will also remember to bring the Advil!

So very quiet....

Hey all,

Ok both Ginny and my mom are harassing me on writing more often.  I am self-admittedly very very bad at writing every day or even every week.  That however does not mean that I'm not running.

So here's a recap.  Holidays were as holidays always are, filled with way too much food and drink.  Greg and I have really been working hard since the New Year with our weigh in day on Wednesday.  We both have very different attitudes to the way in day.  He doesn't check at all the whole week and then sees how much he has lost.  I weight myself everyday so I can realize what I did yesterday whether it's work out hard or slip on my diet will effect my weight the next day.  I like the cause and effect aspect to it.

So weigh in day was yesterday and I'm proud to say that I have lost 4.5lbs.  That's great but a long way to go before I am "comfortably" running my 1/2 marathon.  It's been a hard week.  I've been very good on my diet and good with exercising.  It is exhausting though and I'm cranky.  I'm happy b/c I'm seeing results though it's frustrating, especially when watching Biggest Loser to not get the 15lb weight loss in 1 week.  I know that's unrealistic at my size but still....it would be nice :)

I'm going to try to write what I'm proud of each week and what I found was a blocker/demotivater each week.

BLOCKER: So what I was frustrated with this week is going to the gym and looking in the mirror and seeing myself out of shape.  I think that mentally I have to be careful since I'm being very hard on myself right from the beginning.  Greg has been a great help with this and has been very encouraging.  While I want to be more healthy, I don't want to get on the crazy wagon.  It could possibly be too late ;)

PROUD POINT:  And I am very proud that I didn't cheat at all this week and I think that that shows on the scale.  Also Greg and I did not go out to eat once, lunch nor dinner, this week!

So yay for us, we are on our way.

XOXO
Val

Deb: Maintaining

I know this blog is suppose to be about training for a half marathon with my beautiful daughter but is is also a way to motivate me to keep the weight off, stay healthy, get ready for Cancun and be happy. 

I think it is so important to find what works for each and every one of us.  And I know it is all different.  Accountability really, really works for me.  I weigh myself every Friday morning and WRITE IT DOWN.  I can go back and tell you exactly what I weighed in 2006 (and even as far back as 2003).  What was really interesting to me was that I weighed the exact same, EXACT right down to the .2, as I did the first week of 2011.  Pretty good huh?

Yea, I wanted to be about 5 pounds less, which I was during the year, but not that week.  And the good thing is that I wasn't the 25 pounds more like I was in 2006. 

So I won't let the weight sneak up on me.  I will keep an eye on that scale and when I see the numbers start to creep up, I know that I can refocus and get right back on track before it gets out of hand. 

Deb: long runs

I have faithfully been going to the gym all of December and now January, but I really wanted to do some long runs outside before my race.  And by the way, I consider a "long run" anything over six miles.  Last Friday I did 6 miles on the treadmill and it was tough.  Yesterday I did 8.3 miles outside and it was also tough.  What really surprised me was the first two miles.  Very, very hard.  My shins hurt, my pace was terrible and the wind was right in my face crossing the bridge.  But I powered on and it became much easier.  I ended with a 10:30ish pace, which means I really stepped it up the second half.

There weren't many people on the walkway, but I was able to wave to a little girl on her bike, smile at the young man pushing his ?brother? in a wheelchair and tell a little boy riding his bike "nice bike!".  It was great to see people out and really makes me realize how lucky I am to be able to go for my long run.

I did bring GU with me to try, expecting to run 10 miles, so I never did try it.  Maybe next time.

Thanks goes out to Gary for texting me to have a good run right before I left work.  I was debating with myself, especially as the clouds rolled in, but I had to go as he was expecting me to. 

Here's to a warm enough day next week to get outside and do my weekly long run!!  

Deb: Goodbye 2011

and Hello 2012!

The tree is down, the decorations put away, the cookies eaten and Gary and I are heading down to our second Christmas - this time with the newlyweds!  Since we will be gone for a while, I really want to put some thoughts down on what I would like to see for 2012:

Of course the number one is to run a half marathon with Valerie!  I would also like to run a race with Laura in Dutchess County.  There are so many great ones in the spring, so I hope our schedules can manage it.  I would love to do another "girls" run, but know how tough scheduling that is!  I want to take my gym membership seriously and get the most out of what I am paying.  Lift, lift, lift!

Of course there is more (un-running related stuff), but that is for another day...off to PA for now!      

Deb: Know your course

One of my helpful hints for running a race is to know your course.  I like knowing what to expect - hills, turns, and "not much longer - you can do it" mindsets.  My upcoming half marathon route is on the internet:

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/50721810

But, of course I like to see the route in person, so I am dragging Gary to Atlantic City for a short weekend visit.  We will drive the route, check out the area and roadways, get to know the turnaround and then head back home.  It was a tough sell, but I explained to Gary how important this aspect of a race is to me and so he said he would suffer through the weekend in AC!  Thanks Honey!

Deb: The AC tips

I found these on the Atlantic City Marathon website and LOVE #10.  

To register for these races, go to www.acmarathon.org or like the organization on facebook to see contests and event updates.
Are you a first-timer marathoner? No problem. The Atlantic City Marathon Race Series offers these “Top 10 Training Tips in 2012” for first-time runners:

Just getting started?
1. Give yourself 8-9 weeks to train for a half marathon, 12 weeks to train for a marathon.
Training
2. “Start out by running and walking together and not to worry about how far you run,” says Steve Antzczk of NJShoreRun.com. “A lot of new runners are fixated about the distance they are trying to cover and get discouraged. I suggest starting out only running by time (number of minutes) and build up to an hour of running”
3. Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of water and/or sports drink before, during and after your workout.
4. Stride matters. Land mid-foot (as opposed to on your heal or toes). This may require you to slow down and focus on your movement, but in the long run, improves your speed and stamina.
5. Running isn’t everything. Your training should include cross training, such as yoga, weight training or cycling on non-running days. Visit http://www.jccatlantic.org for more information on fitness classes that will help make you a better runner.
6. Challenge yourself! Even beginners should push themselves a little further or faster at least once a week.
7. Run safe. Make sure someone knows where you are running and carry identification.
Training on the Atlantic City Boardwalk?
8. Lucky you! Not only are you getting to know the course, the boardwalk offers give and less stress on the joints and muscles.
9. Take days to rest. And by rest, we mean don’t run at all. Give your muscles and joints a change to recover.
Number 10! “Be proud of your accomplishments” says personal running trainer, Justin founder of personalrunningtrainer.com. “Each workout is an achievement to be celebrated. Each second shaved off your time or pound off your waistline is your victory. Relish being alive and having the ability to run. Take pride in your progress as you complete each step.”

Deb: Curve ball

The oil company has thrown me a curve ball.  But if you are in the big leagues, you have to learn to hit it - no striking out for me!

It has been a great, but tough, week.  Monday I got my returns done and worked out really, really good.  Tuesday I worked all day, but came home to a great home cooked meal of venison tacos (yum).  Today it is back to the gym for another workout, which will also be really, really good.  Three fast balls down the middle and I hit them all out of the park.

Then the curve ball.  The oil company can only deliver on Thursday.  A beautiful, sunny, 56 degree day in the northeast.  My long run day.  Since I am stuck at home from 1:30 to 5, I have decided to do my "long run" on my treadmill at home.  There may be a little sweat on the check I hand the oil guy, but so be it.  And, if he comes right away, I can always head for the hills (Knight Road that is!).  I may only foul off that curve ball, but at least I will still be up to bat!    

Deb: Tough week ahead

As I plan my week, I see that it is going to be tough to do all I want.  I am working full time (oh no!!) for the other girl in the office one day, I have to get oil delivered one day,  I have returns to do (yes, already!!), I have Christmas dinner to make to bring to Val's and some last minute shopping.

Oh and by the way, I have my workouts (legs and arms) to do, my long run and my regular aerobics.  The key is to prioritize and organize.  The only problems I foresee is the weather and the question of my oil delivery.  Will Thursday clear up enough to do my long run?  I am hoping it will work out.  I plan on legs today, work tomorrow,  arms Wed, long run Thursday and maybe a quick workout Friday.  That should put me in a great position for a busy Christmas weekend!

Deb: Long Run - Part two

and a glimpse in to my psycho mind.....

Of course it was raining when I got out of work yesterday.  So I debated in my mind.  What to do, what to do?  It would be so easy to go home and do nothing, but I was ready though.  I have all my stuff with me so I decide to go to the gym and try to do my long run on the treadmill, no problem.

I get to the gym and start to change - no sweat pant to put on after working out.  Uh oh.  It would be so easy to go home and do nothing, but, hey, I can throw my work dress back on after working out, no problem.

Get on the treadmill and start running.  It was tough.  So much harder than running outside, but I will stick with it.  So there was an elliptical next to me, actually two.  Of course, someone gets on the one right next to me.   Don't flip out Debbie.  Just keep going at your pace, doing what you are doing.  AND then someone gets on the treadmill right next to me.  Ahhh, they are boxing me in.  Don't flip out!!!

To understand this fully, realize that there are two rows of treadmills in the back and one row (of about 15 in each row) in the front and I was the only one in that row!  AND, if you know me, I like to be left alone.   I am focused and don't like people being in my space.  I don't want to feel their body heat, worry about my sweat going all over or my heavy breathing (or is it wheezing) bothering them.

It would be so easy to get off and just go home, but I turned up my ipod and kept going.  So the guy got off the treadmill after about 5 minutes (whatever)- Yea!  Go Deb Go,  I was running like crazy and what happens.  Someone jumps on that same treadmill - right next to me again!! But now I am heading back (an out and back run on the treadmill, hehe) and there was no way I was stopping.

After my hour, I got off the treadmill, was wiping it down and of course the guy on the other treadmill had to tell me what a great job I did.  Nice, non-threatening, but sooo not me!

So I go to take a shower, no underwear!  I am not putting those sweaty ones back on.  Leave the gym in my dress and flip flops.  Thank goodness I was just going home!   This was one crazy day at the gym with lots of "psycho mind" road blocks for me.  I  know it is all in my head and I love that I just did it.  I can't worry about the things I can't change - especially in the moment, but I now can be even more prepared, learn from what happened and remember to take that last treadmill in the row!