Thursday, December 15, 2011

Follow Me...

I can now be found at www.startingwiththebar.com

I hope you'll come visit me.  I've actually been updating over there.  Be sure to follow me.  :)

It's much more geared at where I'm at -- lifting weights - CrossFit - and trying to qualify for Boston, with CrossFit Endurance. It's about me starting everything with "the bar" (no weight on the bar, just the bare basics of form, with lots of progress, etc.)

I've migrated all the posts from here and actually gone back to the original blog and migrated most of those.  There's a lot of content - and most of it is redundant, but I'm trying to consolidate and really get an idea of where I came from - so I know exactly where I'm going. :)

This link will only be good through January-ish.  I am not renewing this domain. :)

Happy 2012.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Hugs from My Running Shoes

My running shoes hugged my feet last night.

Not because my feet were swollen or anything like that.  I think they were just happy to see me.  It'd been a while since we'd hung out.  I was worried they'd be mad at me.  They weren't.  They're pretty forgiving like that. 

I opted to run some intervals on the treadmill.  I pulled the SI workout from CrossFit Endurance for this week.  It was 3-7 x 400 w/ 1:00 rest between sets.  Keep intervals within 2-3 seconds of each other.  On the treadmill, that's easy.  Just go the same speed.  With CFE, you pick the # of intervals based on the distance you're currently training for.  I wanted to get between 5-7.  I opted to run a 10:00/mile

1 was good.
2 was great
3 was great
4 was good
5 was eh
6 was OMG I'm going to die.
7 was, well, I stopped at 6.

I was insanely hot - and short of breath - and decided cooling off in the pool sounded much more fun than another 2:30 on the treadmill.  Looking back, I should have pushed the SI speed.  I knew this by Interval 2, but that whole "keep the intervals within 2-3 seconds" was jumping out at me.  Next time, for sure. 

I was amazed at how good my legs felt.  Those felt like I could have kept going for a while, which is good I guess.  The cardio was a bit off, but I'm guessing that will return pretty quickly. 

This morning was lifting (Squat - Press - Deadlift.)   I'm struggling with the Press.  I'm going to hit deload/reload soon.  I'm okay with that.  I make no qualms that my shoulders are my weakest major muscle group. 

Bench % - 46.4%
Weight Loss: -2.4 pounds  (This has been up and down all week.)

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The Market

It's (obviously) been a somewhat stressful week at work.  With the downgrade of the USA credit rating and the response by the markets, it's been one of those weeks.

I have decided to run Savannah Rock 'N Roll Half Marathon.  Not even going to set myself up for not succeeding at another full.  Maybe the Spring

Which means, I need to come up with twelve-ish week training plan, like, NOW.   If anyone has suggestions, I'm open.  I thought about getting a coach, but that's not in the budget right now.

More of an update tomorrow.  I promise. :)


Thursday, August 4, 2011

A Slow Wednesday

I don't have a lot to say today.  Yesterday was ok.  I got my Bench Press % up to 43.48%.  I lost a couple of pounds.  Bought more school supplies.  Spent some money at Ulta.   Had sushi for dinner.  Walked 3+ miles.  Boys got home from Wednesday Night Service.  Got a list for even more school supplies(!).   Watched SYTYCD.  Talked to my mom on the phone.  Went to bed.  See...just a slow day.


 
However, I came across this on YouTube yesterday.  It's about 6 minutes, but I came away from it going "Wow, I wish I could have been a little more like here (attitude-wise, at least) in school." 

Just wanted to share.
 
 
 
Weight Loss Goal:  -20
Current Weight Loss:  -3.4

Bench Press Goal:  100% of Body Weight 
Current Bench Press:  43.48% 


Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Rejecting Mediocrity

 Over the past few months, I've determined my life has just become "mediocre."  It's not bad.  There are still quite a few outstanding parts, but the sum of the whole - the moving average... that's just meh.

Shouldn't I be striving to reject mediocrity?

Sometimes, that is just hard.  It requires us being honest with ourselves.  Accepting the choices we have made.  Changing the things that need to change.  Moving forward in the direction we want to go.  Cherishing the people and things we love. 

Nothing worthwhile is easy, right?

James joined me on my walk last night.  I like these walks (save the 100 degree weather) because they're usually just us and about an hour to talk, discuss, dream without kid-interruption.  We don't make time for them often enough.  

During our walk, I admitted that I'm not happy with who I am.  I feel like I've just, well, let myself go.  I don't put much effort into appearance.  My clothes are ill-fitting and worn.  (Yes, I keep putting off buying new clothes because "I'm really going to lose the weight this time, and then they won't fit so I'll just wait.")   My face, well, broken out and splotchy most of the time.  I stopped wearing any eye makeup about 5 months ago, including mascara.  I haven't had a haircut in 8 months.  I haven't had my hair color addressed in 10 months, other than the 3+ weeks of pink from Vegas.   I neglect manicures, pedicures, brows, and everything. else.  I've allowed myself to gain and gain and gain more weight.  I'm delusional about how "in shape" I am.  I'm delusional about how healthy I eat.  I question whether or not I'm on the verge of depression. 

But, I continue to fail at making any real changes.  I continue to do the same thing, day after day.  I've become complacent in who I am.  Sure, I come here and spout off all the things I'm "going" to change, but then fail to execute. 

What the heck is wrong with me?

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Two Days - Two Posts

The mind reels, I know.

Another thing going on in my life is that I'm participating in a Pedometer Challenge at work.  It started yesterday.  I signed up as a runner (hoping it will help motivate me to run a bit.)   The winner of the each group (runners & walkers) gets Free Jeans Fridays (otherwise $5/Friday) for a year! Yesterday, I hit 8,525 steps.  I have a new pedometer, but I'm not thrilled with it yet.  It missed a lot of steps, I think.  For example, it currently counts only 90 for the day.  It's 213 from my car to my desk.  I counted.  :|


I managed to get myself back on paleo yesterday.  First full paleo day in months.   Still drank an insane amount of diet coke yesterday and am already having one today.  I'm being better about cutting back some of the fruit that I was inhaling when I paleo-ing before.  Lean meats, veggies, some fruit, some good fat.  It can't be that hard, until someone leaves Corner Bakery muffins on the break room counter for "everyone." 


On another note, I'm having some complexion issues lately.  Serious complexion issues - a lot more breakouts, painful breakouts.  I've always struggled to have clear skin - and truthfully, I know that's partially related to weight.  When my weight is 'closer to normal,' my skin is a lot clearer.  But, I've been around this weight for a while, and this is excessive.  I bought the Philosophy line last night (the trial versions, I had a gift certificate.)
I'm hoping that a regular regiment, improved diet, drinking more water will clear this problem up in no time.

Weight Loss Goal:  -20
Current Weight Loss:  -2.2

Bench Press Goal:  100% of Body Weight
Current Bench Press:  40.12%   

Monday, August 1, 2011

Half Year Resolutions

The amazing thing about a blog is that if you're not committed to post regularly, you don't.  Then you look up and it's been almost 2 months since you've posted anything.  And, you realize how little progress you've made in those two months.

So, let's catch-up first.

1.  Done with Weight Watchers (again).   At least I've identified what makes Weight Watchers not work for me.  I can't get past the "the week is blown (i.e., I've used up my reserve points) so I might as well start over on (next meeting.)"    And, let's not even start on how that spirals out of control if I have to miss (next meeting) for something or another.

2.  My new goal is that it is never more than a 5 pound problem.  That means, I'm reeling it back in before the "up swing" is more than 5 pounds from my most recent lowest weight.  It helps.  It gives me some fluctuation.  It allows me to refocus more quickly.  It's working so far.

3.   Running.  Triathlon.   Uhm, I'm not even sure what that is right now.  I haven't run at all since the Peachtree Road Race.  I don't have any interest.   Not sure what that means on the Savannah Rock 'n Roll front, but for now.  I'm just not interested (BUT!  I want to be interested and I think that's a step in the right direction.)

4.  I've stopped CrossFit, for now.  I was having some nagging discomfort in my lower back.  I think it was from the 3x week met-con without really implementing a true strength training system.  Doing 5 rounds of 8 clean and jerks as fast as possible isn't always the best for your form, and I wasn't adding strength.

5.  I am currently lifting heavy (well, working toward heavy) 3 times per week using the StrongLifts.com 5x5 program.  I've done more squats in the last month than I have in the last 5 years.  And, I really, really forgot how much I love the deadlift.

So, that's where we are fitness/diet/exercise wise.  Personally, I'm struggling to get through my certification class (time management issues), the boys are back in school today, and we bought a condo in Myrtle Beach.  Plus we went on a kick arse family vacation!

Being that today is August 1, I'm going to set two mid- year fitness/diet/health resolutions.

1.  Lose 20 pounds from today's weight by December 31, 2011.   That's <1 pound per week, if you're counting.  Reasonable.  Attainable.

2.  Bench press my new body weight for a minimum of 3x5 by December 31, 2011.  I'm currently about 40% of my current body weight through the program, so a lot of hard work ahead.

Weight Loss Goal:  -20
Current Weight Loss:  0

Bench Press Goal:  100% of Body Weight
Current Bench Press:  39.59%