A Year? Really

I was just looking at my blog, I tend to do that every so often just to remember the things that happened or the thoughts I was having at a particular point in my life, anyway, I just realized that the last time I made a post was in November of 2008. It seems that a lot of things have happened since then.

I switched jobs last September and I may be laid off soon. And it seems that this job completely turned my world upside down.

I am going to blame it on my schedule. I work 9 hours a day and 4 hours on Friday. Although it's only an extra hour a day I am whipped out by the time I get home and I don't really want to do anything. Right now I get to work at 6:30 and work until 4 and I have been talking about changing my work hours but I still haven't done it.

When I was at my old job I use to go to the gym during lunch and I was doing pretty good. I was going about 4 or 5 times a week and I had lost about 12 lbs. Then I changed jobs and I was just to tired and unmotivated to go to the gym. I stopped running when I tore my calf muscle and fractured my leg. I could still work out but I just got lazy. I lost most of my weight by running and I was running about 10 miles on Saturdays and about 15 miles during the week but once I got injured I just sat on the couch and ate my feelings. I was really depressed about not being able to run. I was training for a half marathon and I was a few weeks away from my race so I got moody and depressed especially since my running friends were still talking about the race. I am back in the gym and I have lost a few lbs. I just need to loose 8 more lbs and I will be back to my ideal weight.

I am taking a boot camp and I am really enjoying it. It's on Wednesday's and Saturdays and the trainer kicks my butt every week.

So since I wasn't working out I was doing a lot of watching t.v. and a lot of reading. Are you a member of www.goodreads.com? It's the best website ever. I just read The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown but I didn't really like it. It was the same as his last two books and I was pretty bored with it after a while. I am about to read A cup of Green Tea.

That is all for now or this post will be several pages long.

It's good to be back blogging.

Ouch! My back!

I threw out my back working out at the gym today. It hurts and I am loaded on pain killers, muscle relaxers, and wine and it still hurts.

Oh, and aren't dogs suppose to sense when you are hurt or sick? Not my dog, I was laying on the couch after I applied biofreeze and she jumps on my back and then settles in between my legs. She doesn't care. She is more concerned about being comfortable. Bitch!

Over Achievers!

We had our running group this morning, as I mentioned in my previous post, and I was a little concerned since we have not been keeping up with the running. Today's run was an whopping 8 miles.

We normally run around a lake and when we got to our turn around point my over achieving running group decided to run the whole distance around the lake. I wasn't very happy about it and neither was B since he was sick yesterday and throwing up...but what a trooper he was still up this morning and ready to run.

Anyway, by the time we finished we had run 9.5 miles. That is the most I have ever run in a single day and surprisingly I felt like I could have run for a bit longer once I got to the finish point. I am convinced that if I can do 9.5 miles I can totally do the half marathon I have signed up for in December.

And yea, I am bragging a little. :)

Freakishly Big

My sister mentioned that my right leg looked swollen after I came back with bloody and bruised legs from the tubing trip. I didn't think anything about it, I was putting ice on it, neosporin, and I was taking really good care of it because I HATE scars. I guess this is also a confession. I hate scars on my body but I think scars on other people can be sexy. Anyway, back to the original post.

So yesterday I was at the gym and I was working out my calf's when I noticed that my right calf is freakishly big when you compare it to my left one. It bothered me so much that I went directly to the mirror and started to compare my legs, I am sure everyone at the gym thought I was a freak but I had a problem on my hands (or legs). Later that night, after a few cocktails and a bottle of wine B and I were sitting on the couch and I bolt up and stand directly in front of the t.v. to have B inspect my legs. After he confirmed that my right one is abnormally big we break out the measuring tape and start taking measurements.

After many attempts the measuring tape confirmed what our eyes saw, my calf is huge! So from now on I will only be working out my left calf.

Make me feel better and tell me about your body parts that are abnormally big.

Never judge a book by it's cover

I was at the gym during lunch today and while working out a guy that is always there with who I thought was his lover comes over and asks about the big band-aid on my leg. The band-aid is covering up the big gash that I picked up while tubing. We make small talk and I learn that the guy who he works out with is straight and married with kids (no one would have ever guessed that), we went to the same school for our MBA, and he is a pharmacist.

Later he comes back as I am doing hammer curls and says:

Him: I forgot to tell you something really funny.
Me: (concerned about what it could be) Oh yea, what's that?
Him: I always see you coming in with your work clothes and I pegged you as a pharmacist. I thought 'he must work over at CVS'.
Me: (Laugh) No, I sure don't.

As he walks away I make a mental note: Start Dressing Better!

I started working out with B yesterday. He is trying out my gym for a week so that we can work out together and it's the best workout I have done in a long time. He pushed me and made me do a lot heavier weights that I would have done on my own. As a result, I am sore but it feels good. We are going to continue working out all week and when it's time to change the workout I will go to his gym for a week.

It's nice to have someone to talk to while we work out but the workout took twice as long as normal. I don't like that. I like to get in and get out. I am not one who goes to the gym to socialize, if you want to talk to me give me a call or send me an email. When I go tot he gym I wear my ipod and ignore everyone around me. I am sure people thing I am rude...but I don't enjoy being there so I just want to get it over with. It's like torture...but hopefully you get good results.

We are doing a whole body workout but I want to concentrate on my arms and chest. I want to have a nice chest so that I can wear v-neck shirts. Don't judge me...you know you are vain too!

I should do the before and after pictures to get the full effect of the changes.

5K

I ran another 5K yesterday. I ran my first 5K in March as part of my
running class. After my first 5K I said I wanted to improve my time to run an 8 minute mile and I did it but I didn't meat the goal I had set up for myself. I wanted to run the whole thing in 25 minutes and I ended up running it in 25 minutes and 18 seconds. Had I pushed myself a little harder I could have done it in under 25 minutes.

My goal for next time is to run it in under 23 minutes.


I am not sure if I have mentioned this or not but I am training for a half-marathon. My first one is going to be in November and the second one is going to be in December.

I will definitely need cheerleaders for that one!

Indulge my while I brag a little.

We ran for 45 minutes yesterday! That is the most we have ever run since we started our running program. I was ready to give up after 30 minutes because I wore the wrong pair of shoes but if I had two options 1. Stop running and walk back to the car which would take me about 30 minutes or 2. Keep running and make it back to the car in 15. I choose to run. At the end of the run I could have kept going for another 15 minutes but we were trying not to over do it since we have to run hills tomorrow and I will need all my strength for that.

If you ever think about picking up running make sure you visit a running store that sells running shoes. I am not talking about your local Foot Locker or shoe store inside a mall; I am talking about a running store where you can pick up everything from your shoes to your clothes. When we first started running I was wearing my old pair of Nike’s, they were cute and stylish but definitely not made for running. After a couple of weeks I kept getting chin splits and a pain on the right side of my knee. After visiting the running store where we do our running program they fitted me (by fitting I mean they made me run, with shoes, barefoot, walk and measured my foot) for shoes and determined that I needed different shoes. I know what you are thinking…SUCKER they are going to sell you the most expensive shoes they’ve got! And I thought that too but I paid about $100 for my first pair of shoes.

I took them home and I ran in them for about 2 weeks but I was still having problems. So I returned the shoes and I was fitted again. This time I paid $69 for a new pair of shoes and my pain went away. I got a pair of Asics and I love these shoes. If they are a good shoe store and not out to make a quick buck, they won’t try to up sell you and will get you the right pair of shoes, no matter how much they cost.

I later went back and got a pair of Nike Zoom Elite because of a sale they were having. I paid about $48 for the shoe. Great price but not a great shoe for my foot. This is the shoe I wore on my run yesterdays and if your foot goes numb…It’s not a good thing. The right socks also make a big difference. I like these Nike Elite Structure socks. They hold your foot together and have the dri-fit technology that takes the moisture away from your skin which keeps your feet from getting all sweaty as you run.

This post was not meant to be advertising for Nike. But I do like most of their products, especially Nike+. This product works with your iPod and it keeps track of how far you run, your pace, speed, etc. You insert one piece of the gadget in your shoes and the other one gets attached to your iPod. It also communicates with you and tells you how you are doing. Which is great for a little added motivation. I don’t have one of these so I can’t say how well it works but I would love to have one and try it out. They are not that expensive, I believe they are about $30 but you need an iPod nano which is where I run into a problem. I have an iPod video and I am not willing to buy another one just for a gadget.

So the moral of this story is to get fitted for shoes and go out for a run or a walk. It will make you feel so much better.

First 5K

Today I ran my first 5K! It was great and I am so proud I finished.

Sure I have done other 5K's before but this is the first time I have ran the whole thing. And I wasn't even tired at the end, I could have gone on a few more miles.

We have another 5K in a few weeks so I hope to improve my time in that race. I ran a 9 minute mile and I would like to improve that to an 8 minute mile for the next run.

Eventually, I would like to run a 6 minute mile.

Running Class

We had our running class on Saturday morning.

It was very cold, probably in the 50's so that did not add to the fun. We got there and there were about 60 people in our class.

It was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. Our session consisted of a 10 minute walk, a 10 minute run, and a 10 minute walk. So it was relatively easy.

They also gave us our assignment for the week which is also fairly easy. I just hope these training sessions prepare us for our first 5K on February 16th.

Let me know if anyone wants to come out and be a cheerleader :)

I am a runner Ya'll

B and I start our running class on Saturday morning...at 6 a.m. It's going to be painful but it will be worth it at the end when I loose the 10 lbs and I am back to a flat stomach! Eat your heart out Bitches!

No but seriously. It should be fun. I went to orientation class last night, which was basically a sells pitch about why you should sign up. Since B and I had already signed up I just went for the information. Like what to wear, what to bring, where to go, etc.

There is going to be about 200 people at the park on Saturday and we will be divided into 3 groups. Walkers, beginning runners, and runners. Each of those groups will be further subdivided into 3 or 4 categories. B and I are doing the beginning runners course.

Saturday will be our evaluation. They will make us run and determine which of the sub groups we belong in. I have a feeling B and I won't end up in the same group.

We then have to practice on our own 4 or 5 times a week and meet with the rest of the group every Saturday.

I am looking forward to it...but I am not looking forward to the cold weather.

Good News!

I finally found a new gym. After almost 2 years of over paying at my current gym I decided to leave. Over the last few weeks I have been going to new gyms in my area and checking them. After visiting and working out in 5 other gyms I decided to go with one close to work. It's a small boutique gym but it has everything I need and everyone is really friendly.

I also have a new trainer. He use to be a profesional football player. I am excited. :)

Random

I have so much to share.

Did I mention I met the boyfriends family? Yeap. It's pretty serious.

I have been out of town for the last 4 weeks in a row.

I am going to NYC in July.

I gained 7 lbs.

My boyfriends dog hates me and peed in my bed (okay, she doesn't hate me, it was an accident but it makes it sound more exciting) (P.S. She has only done it once in 7 months).

I am starting an LLC.

My patio looks great, I now have lots of plants, furniture, a chandelier, bug repellant, and a fountain. I need to work on the back patio.

I have made two good friends in the last couple of months.

I have been out of the office more than I have been in the office this month and I love it. Makes me wish I was a house husband.

I have a great tan. I have been using the pool a lot and we went to Austin and went to Barton Springs.

I don't know how to swim but my boyfriend use to be a swimming coach. Guess who is learning how to swim? He is also giving one of my friends daughters lessons at the same time I get my lessons. She is 2 years old.

He also use to be a tennis coach. We have only played tennis once. I suck!

I eventually want to write about all of this but I haven't had time. Normally I get up and go to work. It's hard to leave my bed because my boyfriend gets to sleep in. He doesn't go in until much later…but he gets out of work at the same time. (lucky). After work I go to the gym (but I have gained weight). Then we meet up at my place and cook dinner. Normally we are in the kitchen together but one of us cooks and the other one helps. Then we watch t.v. or read and go to bed. It's not very exciting is it? But I like it. We made a decision that we were not going to be going out so much anymore. So now instead of going out 7 days a week we go out like once or twice a week.

That is it. I am still reading everyone's blogs.

New Habits

It's early in the morning and I just got back from a jog. One of my neighbors and I decided to start jogging today, not because we want to be healthy or because it's the new year but as a way of spending time together with the added bonus of being healthy.

My neighbor (and I say neighbor he actually just lives in my neighborhood about a block away) and I went out on our first date on the 1st of January and we have a second date tonight. He seems like a really nice guy and he keeps me laughing for hours so we will see if it works out. If nothing, I am sure we will be good friends.

Good News, Bad News

I went to get another fitness evaluation this week and there has been some improvement from when I first started working out. Here are the highlights:

I have lost 18 lbs in 8 months.

I have lost 5.1% body fat.

The bad news, I didn't meet my goal of how much body fat I wanted to loose.

The good news, I am only 4% away.

The bad news, my trainer canceled on me for tomorrow morning. It looks like i am on my own.

My new goal is to loose 6% body fat by June/July, just in time for my summer vacation. :)