Showing posts with label Insanity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Insanity. Show all posts

Monday, February 3, 2014

2014 Resolutions

I know I’m about a month late but better late than never, right?

I’ve been publicly announcing my resolutions since 2011 so while it may be an eye roll for you, it’s been a nice way for me to look back over the years to see what I’ve done or haven’t done and where I’ve been at emotionally.

For example, in 2011 one of my resolutions was to not get pregnant. While I didn’t talk about it at the time, I was going through some serious shit adjusting to being a mom for the first time and I can clearly remember how adamant I was about not getting pregnant. But now? I’m in a much better place emotionally & physically to handle that. (For the record, we are not trying. No, seriously, I know people will assume we are because I typed that but we really aren’t.) Anyway, like I said – resolution posts are a gentle reminder for me of how far I’ve come.

So, let’s get to what I hope 2014 will bring me. Or maybe it’s what I’ll bring to 2014. Either way something is being brought-en.

Resolution #1: Time Management

  • One of the things I’ve realized as I’ve been training for my first marathon is I am completely disorganized when it comes to managing my time. It’s easy to procrastinate and say I’ll do it later but when later consists of dinner, laundry, dishes, kid time, prepping for the next days workout, husband time, etc – it doesn’t always happen. I think if I get a (flexible) schedule on the books that is fairly routine for our family, I’ll be less stressed and more present for my family, friends and myself.
  • The plan: Get an organizer. One I physically write down things in. I can’t seem to bring myself to do it electronically and stick with it no matter how many times I’ve tried. Does anyone have any tips on a good one? Currently, I’ve just been writing things down on a notepad I got as a stocking stuffer for Christmas 3 years ago.

Resolution #2: Meal Prep

  • I’m sure y’all have heard of this phenomenon. You know, where you sit down for 6 hours on one day of the week and plan out your entire freaking meal schedule for the rest of the week? I’ve tried this in the past but can’t get ever ‘find the time’ do this. Which is one of the main reasons I want to handle up on resolution #1. I have no intention on making this meal prep one of epic healthy proportions but rather one to make life easier for me on the weekdays. Don’t get me wrong though, I want to eat healthier but this is more for me to focus on how to do it. I’ll focus on healthier alternatives once I’m more comfortable with the change.
  • The plan: Focus on lunch, then dinner, then breakfast. I want to make this a lifestyle change rather than something that feels completely unattainable, so I’m breaking it up. I’m going to focus on my lunches throughout the week first, then Lillie’s (hers are usually pretty easy since it’s mostly leftovers or PB&Js & applesauce) and then Alfred’s. I’ve gotten into a bad habit of just ordering food in the cafe in my building, which is pricey and not always that healthy for me – this should help keep that in check. Then, I’ll move on to prepping for dinners throughout the week and then see how breakfast goes. Anyone have any meal prepping tips?

Resolution #3: Get Stronger

  • I really enjoy running and what it gives me – time alone to reflect or that great feeling of accomplishment – but I’m also finding that getting stronger physically by weight training with Moj is one of my most fulfilling workouts in the week. I like that I have (a small amount of) definition (in the right lighting – ha!) in my arms and back now and would like to push myself harder by cutting back on my mileage for a while.
  • The plan: Increase strength training. Once my marathon is over (in less than a month!) I’m going to go on a running hiatus. I’ll keep up mileage so if I want to run a random 5k I can (I do have a weak spot for them!) I may try to keep it up a little more for a 10k but we’ll see. I want to start by doing another round of Insanity (where I actually complete the full 60 days!) and during my lunch workouts really push it with Moj (my workout partner who introduced me to weights). After that, I’ll reevaluate and see where I want to go next. I’m really excited about this one.

Here’s to trying new things in 2014!

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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Training Tuesday 5.28.13


This link-up is just a way to talk about training [in any way, for anything] to help hold ourselves accountable and possibly brag a bit. I mean, you ran 1 mile without stopping – you totally deserve a chance to brag about it! That shit is hard. You did 10 push-ups in a row, HOLLLEERRR.

And even if you’re not training for anything, you’re just putting yourself out there to be healthier, to get slimmer, to whatever you can share it on Training Tuesday. Let’s say you were sitting at home and instead of eating a carton of Oreos you instead ate 20 baby carrots and just imagined they were chocolate-y crèmey goodness [hypothetical situation, of course] – share it here!

Abbey & I don’t discriminate – we congratulate.
 
Grab the button above & link-up below to let us know what’s going on for your Training Tuesday (or any day really, linking up throughout the week is good too!)

Abbey wasn’t here last week, but thank the sweet baby Jesus she is back! I’ve missed her. But a huge shout-out to all of you who linked up last week with me. (Jaime, Kate, Meg, & Amanda : You guys make me a better blogger. You really do.) I was seriously worried it would just be me by my lonesome.

My Training:

I started Insanity (I’ve done it 3 times this past week – which I’m considering fantastic since it was a 3 day weekend). I had hoped the husband would join me but instead he just comments on how much more sweaty I get with this than I ever did with Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred.

Thanks Captain Obvious.

I took measurements to start out with Insanity and compared those with what I took when I started the 30 Day Shred. It looks like I’ve lost 1.5 inches from my hips and 1 inch from my waist. That was only doing 20 out of the 30 days. I’ll take it!

So, if you’re in the market for a workout DVD – I would totally recommend it (it’s also much, much cheaper than purchasing Insanity). If I would have done those days consecutively and then, you know, actually make it to the 30 I have no doubt that I would have seen even better results. Maybe I’ll try again in a few months. We shall see.

Lately I’ve felt kind of burnt out with exercise but then I did something awesome this weekend and now I know what the real issue is. For the past couple months I’ve tried branching out to other forms of exercise and in the process I’ve stopped running (with the exception of a couple races). I wanted a break from the constant training I had been doing since August of last year and I was excited about it. It’s been a nice change but I’m over it.

I miss running. Something about it soothes me.

Anyway, this weekend I participated in a mud run (race recap soon!) and it was hard. Not only did we have mud holes, belly crawls, and obstacles of all sorts to go through – we chose to run the entire time (when possible. I mean, running on mud isn’t the easiest thing to do my friends). It wasn’t a timed event and a lot of people were walking from one point to the next, but we didn’t, and I’m glad. My legs felt happy. It’s weird to explain but I’m sure there’s someone out there that understands.

2013-05-25 11.34.26 Why yes, that IS Sar from Life of Love on the left, me in the middle (duh) and my friend Christine on the right (who also did this with me last year!)

So what does this mean?

It means I need to start running again. I don’t want to wait for August (my initial plan was to start up again for the fall running schedule I have planned). I’m not giving up Insanity – I just think I’ll cut back to 3-4 days a week for that (the program calls for 6 days a week) and add 1-2 days of running – a happy medium.

A happy medium indeed.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Training Tuesday 5.21.13


This link-up is just a way to talk about training [in any way, for anything] to help hold ourselves accountable and possibly brag a bit. I mean, you ran 1 mile without stopping – you totally deserve a chance to brag about it! That shit is hard. You did 10 push-ups in a row, HOLLLEERRR.

And even if you’re not training for anything, you’re just putting yourself out there to be healthier, to get slimmer, to whatever you can share it on Training Tuesday. Let’s say you were sitting at home and instead of eating a carton of Oreos you instead ate 20 baby carrots and just imagined they were chocolate-y crèmey goodness [hypothetical situation, of course] – share it here!

Abbey & I don’t discriminate – we congratulate.
 
Grab the button above & link-up below to let us know what’s going on for your Training Tuesday (or any day really, linking up throughout the week is good too!)

Abbey’s out for this week, so it’s just little ol’ me today. She’s much better about getting this up sooner than me. She is my better Training Tuesday half and I am not ashamed to say it.

Last week, I talked about how how the scale is the devil and I’ve avoided it since then. Except for this morning. I stepped on it, held my breath (and then quickly let it out for fear it was going to add an extra ounce or two) and well, same as last week. I had every intention of avoiding it like the plague for the remainder of the year but then I decided to start doing Insanity. Like, tonight.

For those that aren’t familiar, Insanity is a 60 day workout program that is, well, nicely put intense.

Last year I made it through a month then stopped to start training for all my fall races. I lost 7 inches in like 2 weeks and finally managed to make into some pre-Lillie jeans. It really is a wonderful workout (although it is expensive). There are a few days that you are required to do a ‘fit test’ where you weigh and measure, those will be the only days that I step on the scale – roughly every two weeks. There are 10 (I think) different DVDs that you work through based on a schedule you’re given. It’s 6 days a week. I highly, highly doubt I’ll do it every day but I’ll give it a try. Insanity

But Tamara, weren’t you doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred?

Why yes. Yes I was. I made it 20/30 days and have lost some inches but I forgot those measurements at home – oops. I’ll update next Training Tuesday on that success. I know it could have been better if I would have stuck with it every day instead of bailing out on it during the weekends. I let a friend borrow it, and I imagine I’ll end up doing it again. My plan had always been do the 30 Day Shred as prep for Insanity, so I feel prepped and I’m ready for it.

Once Insanity is over, fall will be here and that means – more running & more races. Yippee!

I’ve already registered for a 5k/Half Marathon in January 2014 already and am seriously considering another half in November. Also, there’s that time I talked about a full-marathon in April. So yeah. In the meantime, Insanity and smaller races.

One of those smaller races is a mud run this Saturday with Sar from Life of Love and I can’t wait. If you’re in the Waco area and need something to do at 9am this Saturday, join us!

www.mudquestrun.com

We aren’t running to compete, we’re just going for the fun of it. I imagine it will be similar to the way I ran last year – we run for a bit, we stop & talk while waiting to cross an obstacle, we wade through mud, we laugh a lot, then maybe we run some more. Good strategy, no?

Alright, don’t let me be the lone ranger for this week since Abbey’s out – link up & tell me about your training!