How'd I do/ :January edition

I thought since a new month has begun I'd see how I'm doing on my goals for this year thus far. I feel like you have to keep checking back on goals you actually care about because otherwise its easy to get lazy and have long periods of time go by with nothing productive happen.

So blogging - definitely haven't kept to the once a week but did manage 5 posts last month...so that's something in it self. I'll take it....change is all about the baby steps

Cooking - OK....so dinner construction wise.. yeah that hasn't been happening. There has been next to no pan usage for dinner menus. Damn. Its a hard one to fit in. Most nights I am just too tired and busy, and the nights that I would have time...I'm out or don't get home in time to cook for everyone..then motivation goes out the window.
In other news...I'm becoming the pro with the cold food prep. I've been really good with rocking hand made lunch's and breakfasts, pretty consistently for the month (helps that I'm trying to be a frugal fanny in addition)

Running - the 1/2 marathon training is underway. I have 2 long runs under my belt. On the docket for this week is 5 miler. Yikes!!!!! the worst part is its gonna be on a treadmill.. Running outside in this weather is a bit too hard core for me at the moment. I keep hoping it will but even as we speak its snowing....what the crap.!
I'm not worried about it yet until i have to be going for well over an hr. then my head might explode with boredom. We'll see.

Yoga - also hasn't been great...not helped by major cough for two weeks. Finally feeling normalish so plan to go to Friday fun bunch yoga at prana....we'll see.

Spinning - on hold till summer

Lets see what the next month holds.

First "long" run in the bag :)

Hey
So I officially commenced with the half marathon training yesterday, and boy did it feel good. I haven't figured out an exact schedule yet, but the plan is to do 2 days of running at least, 1 day of step aerobics and 1 day of yoga...time permitting I'm planning on throwing in a day of intervals and weights...I really have to see how the work load is for anatomy and physiology first.

But yesterday I began.
I decided I wanted to do at least 3miles to start off....since I've done that distance a bunch of times its not a huge stretch to start there. The idea of adding 10miles to my stamina is a little scary but I'll get there.

So I did a treadmill workout yesterday
Ran 3miles (speed between 5.6 and 6.0)
after the three miles continued with walking 1 min, run 1min (6.5 i think...or 6.0 don't remember ) (oops) and did that for the equivalent of .5miles about. Then i power walked up hill for the rest...to round out to 4miles. (5 incline, 4.5 speed ...i think) Typical me didn't write down so i don't fully remember...but that's close.

Did all of that in about 50 min...which isn't bad especially since i always seem to go slower on the treadmill. And I'm having a much more slow and steady mentality then a speed mentality for this training. I'll save the speed for the 5Ks :)

Holy Crap

Ok, I've offically locked myself in. Just registered for the boston run to remember, so on may 29th I will be toeing the line to run a half marathon regardless of if i'm ready or not. Here's hopeing i can stick to my training plan...ekk!
Cause i didn't pay a fairly large sum of money not to at least try

Travel day, and Happy Birthday to me :)

Good morning,
Today was not the best start to my 28th year, but I made it. Basically I over slept. Which the OCD person in me hates to do but my phone decided it wanted to search for voice dialing instead of let the alarm go off, so i got two hours more of sleep. there are worse things in life.
Fortunately I woke up in time to get a ride in with my dad, otherwise i would have been very tempted to not go at all. I am actually leaving work in half an hour for the airport. WOOHOO! Because this weekend S and P are getting married. So I'm spending the weekend in new Orleans. Can you tell I'm pretty excited. If you're lucky i might post a picture of me in a Saree. Looking fabulous.
In other news. I actually had a slightly dumb moment when i realized i cook a lot more then I give myself credit for. Since i make my lunch almost every day. I guess I don't consider it cooking to make a salad cause its not hot. But if I made a salad for dinner with the fam, I think i would count it. So I'm re-vamping the goal a little and into trying to cook something hot once a week. Be it breakfast (mmmmm, steel cut oats....lunch, grilled cheese or dinner) but it is still nice to whip out a pan once and awhile. This week I actually make dinner for the oldie and myself. We had these turkey meatballs from trader joes and I made my version of meat ball subs. We didn't exactly have the right ingredients so it wasn't perfect. But still warm and tasty. No pans used....microwave and toaster over friendly. (and still hot...so totally counts)

anyways. going to wrap up at work and head out (might stop for fro-yo before i get on the train...that's sounding quite tasty at the moment.)

:) t

Kick ass yoga

Today was a good day. I went to a killer yoga class at power yoga studio in waltham. I have been once before and it was about the same....oh my goodness hard. I like the class but there are so many cresent lungs and push up sequences. And a few things that were a joke for me. I was like..."you've got to be kidding me"

example
wide leg forward fold (not that bad)
to grasshopper
to crow
shoot back to low pushup.....

that one made me think "ehem...NO!" advanced beginning i still am. But thats why its called yoga practice. I'll get there eventually :)

Yesterday I did the gym. 1 mile run. 1 mile sprints and few weights

It was good. Otherwise not much happening. I enjoyed the offical beginning to the new year :)

Happy New Year!!!!
I everyone so I hope that the new year (all 12 hrs of it has started off to a good start) I know that 2010 brought lots of self realizations and discoveries. So I am hoping that 2011 keeps the trend upward to a happy healthier me.

I went back and forth about weather to post actual resolutions....cause saying them out loud makes its a little scary cause then people know if you don't do them. But after some thought i decided that if i don't put them in writing I really won't do them, and i admit them and don't accomplish them I won't be the first person. So here goes.

since I'm new to this i kept it to 5
1) Blog at least once a week. (since i have trouble blogging once a month I figure if i up the anti a little at a time)
2) Go to yoga 3 times a month. (since I'm trying to blog once a week this should be easy to keep track of)
3) Run a half marathon ( specifically the Boston run to remember in may)
4) Cook at least once a week. ( I have gotten sooooo lazy about taking out the pans and actually cooking, so i really want to get back to it...cause i like it.....but knowing i have a +p this semester..don't want to push it too much)
5) become a spinning certified instructor

so hear goes, I've said them out loud now its time to hold myself to it.
This should be an interesting year :)

I'm alive....I swear

Hi All,
so i'm finally back from the living dead. And biology didn't kill me...thank goodness.

I had to let pretty much everything "fun" take a back seat while i learned all there is to know about the cell....ok not quite but i did have to learn a bit.

So now that i'm back I figured i'd post todays work out
Warm up 1.5 miles on treadmill. I varied speed and hill a bit.....finished in around 15 min. (not sure cause didn't look.

Next was ads.
set of 20 pilates style inclined sit ups (used 10lb weight instead of pilates ring)
10 each side...ad twists
10 straight leged hanging leg lifts
20 back extensions.....
did 2 rounds total

Next did arms
10 tricept dips with feet on ball
15 bench presses *45lb bar*
10 shoulder presses...used both 15 and 10 lb weights
15 bent over standing rows (40lb bar)
did three rounds all together

lastly was legs....oh yeh...those.
30 over the tops on a bosu
15 squats (20kg)
15/leg lungs (10kg plate held in front)
15 dead lifts *20kg*

i did two rounds of that...
then i was about ready to die so i went home...
all in all a very sucessful work out.


gonna try a new yoga class tomorrow since in theory i'll be too sore to do much else

later peps

Power perfect

I thought now would be a perfect time to update since I'm waiting for something to dissolve. If you think your life is interesting try waiting for something to dissolve for 2hrs....and it hasn't even happened yet.

So I'm officially in the second week of classes for my pre-recs for PT school. And I'm already feeling it. The biggest concern is finding enough time to work out, and focusing on nutrition enough to counter act any....need to sit on my ass all day and study biology so i can get an A days.

So far its been OK. I managed 1 trip to the gym on Saturday (because we got out early from bio lab) my mom and i did a circuit of my own making.
3 sets
Assisted pull ups
bicep curls
bench press
straight leg dead lifts
standing rows with triceps kick back
1 legged super man extensions - (side note: haven't done those in awhile and they killed...its funny cause you think something like taking your arms above our head and 1 leg out wouldn't be that hard...think of forming a T with your body...but holy moly....its not a position my body likes)

And Yesterday I went to group power with Laura. Awesome as usual and since it was an old release i was able to challenge myself a bit because the routine was not quite as familiar.

The hard part has been with the nutrition. I will admit to anyone that I am an emotion eater. I eat when I'm stress, and we aren't talking carrot sticks people. Though i feel that for everyday life i have managed to work through my cravings and problems with food and managed to reach a happy medium. I haven't been under this homework doing / have to work stress in awhile so its not something I've practiced. I've decided I'm just going to take it a day at a time and try to make the best choices for that day..stressed or not. but if i slip...which has happened (I'm thinking of the large dent in the cookies from this weekend) I'm not going to freak out about it and just try to do better next time.

I will say...the one great thing about having GI issues is when i do have a slip I end up paying for it for a few days. This one involved 2 full days...now 3 days later and finally feeling relatively normal...and not completely disgusting and in pain...and i way less motivated to turn to large quantities of sweets. Because i don't want two more days of hell. Hey, whatever works....

tactics for this week...
don't be near the kitchen while studying.
Don't let yourself get too hungry....this doesn't help even under good circumstances.

that's all for now.

And so it begins

I had a wonderful labor day weekend. Spent most of it trying to downsize a bit from the recent move and figure out where everything needs to go. I am feeling good about the downsizing and definitely need to continue to work on that. No one needs 20 tee-shirts....even if i want them. I'm actually excited that the weather is turning cold cause then i can get rid of the summer shirts that i like but are technically really worn out or sort of out of style. Makes it easier when i know i won't want to wear them for 6months. As apposed to if next week.

In addition to resetting my life i cooked (see previous post) and did two work outs.
I did a small one on saturday -- only 1 circuit (i know, i'm slipping)

10 min warm up jog
3 rounds of 10 reps
- abs twist
- shoulder pull downs
- push ups --- with some variations
- weighted squats
- bosu squats

It was good but some days I just am not feeling it and i figured it was better to just stop then try and hurt myself out of a funk.

Then on monday i took group kick at forever fit with renee. Can i just say i love renee....there are few people that can pull off overly caffenated at 9:30am but she can and makes it fun.

Tonight my plan is to take Group Power (for the first time in 2months almost...i think i might cry) Because tomorrow school starts at mass bay...YIKES!!! I start with 3 hrs of statistics....woooo and then on saturday i have 8hrs of bio double woooooo. It should be interesting to see what sort of things i have to do, and kind of nervous about fitting it all in....

stay tuned... if i have any amazing time saving insights i'll let you know....

same goes for you people out there....suggestions welcome :0)

Dinner try

The final product

I tried something new tonight in the dinner department.

I got the idea off of this blog

http://www.thefrontburnerblog.com/

She has some really interesting food ideas and highly recommend checking it out. For tonight i tried my version of the zuchinni pasta.

Mine contained

Zuchinni

Lean Ground turkey

Onion

pepper

a can of diced tomatos

oregeno, garlic, basil, thyme, red pepper flakes, paprika, black pepper, and a little salt.

To make the sauce you combine everything is a pan and cook it down. I added the seedy part of the zuchinni to the sauce too.....why not add some extra.

Everything cooking away

To make the "pasta" i used a veggie peeler to make strips of zuchinni, then cooked them on low for about 5 min in a wok.

Came out really good, though the next time i would make it a bit more saucey...to coat the pasta bettter so it would feel more pasta like :)

Wicked Wednesdays

I had an awesome night last night with friend C. We met at BSC central square after work. And did a work out.



Details :

Started with trying to do 30 second sprints. I ended up going about 10min (around 1mile). Might I add I haven't actually run in awhile (2+months )so it wasn't pretty. At one point I actually managed to flick my ipod about a yard off the treadmill. It fell out of the case which went flying in opposite directions, and made a lovely noise.



It wasn't long after the ipod incident that i decided weights was a better idea.



I went for a couple short circuits cause i didn't really plan anything and its too hard to think up more then 2 or 3 exercises in a row.



#1 (10 reps of each X 3 rounds)

Kettle bell swings

bosu push ups


V - crunches on bosu --- side note : if you try these be prepared to tip over at least once. I did a couple times. You end up feeling foolish, but isn't engaging the core worth it. I think so.

leg on bosu round part squats with weights


#2 ( 10 reps of each X 3 rounds)
weighted Abs twist with cable machine
thrusters

#3 ( 10 reps of each X 3 rounds)
box jumps (mid size )
standing rows

I was ready for some eats afterward.
So me and C headed to berryline in Harvard sq to get some "dinner". Yes i had frozen yogurt for dinner and not ashamed to admit it :0)
And let me tell you. It was totally perfect and hit the spot. Its been so hot here that I can't believe it. Its SEPTEMBER for christ sake!!!!

Anyways.. back to the yogurt. The thing i love about berryline is the fact that the yogurt tastes like Greek yogurt (tangy) and they have the best toppings. Yesterday was a strawberry kiwi gummy bear day. A perfect combo after a work out.

The only problem is now of course i want it again....shoot that wasn't supposed to happen.
i'll live :0)
bye for now

I might be crazy but don't really care

Hi all
So i thought i'd do a quick post about my new obsesssion in the food world. And i have to say it might be the closest thing to a full post workout meal (if only it wasn't so small)

its actually babyfood (sort of ) I am minorly obsessed with stonyfield farms yo baby 3 in 1

http://www.stonyfield.com/yobaby/whole_milk_yogurt/3_in_1_meals/apple_&_sweet_potato/index.jsp


It does have an odd consistency at first but it actually tastes pretty good, and get multiple food groups in a small amount of food. Probably tastes good too because its a bit less paired down (aka...artifically sweetened ) then most adult yogurts since its not like we should be giving that shit to our kids (not that i have any)

Have only tried the apple and sweet potato one thus far. Want to try the green bean pear... won't probably ever try the peach one cause i don't like peachs but you should go for it

Back from vacation

Hi everyone
so its been another long hiatous in the blog front. I was on vacation in aruba. It was fabulous though not much actual working out occured. Surprisingly enough actually just playing in the water (ocean) was a pretty good workout. It was very salty (or so it seemed) and as easy to tread water. Which of course works the arms and legs a bit. And just with the movement of the water you have to work to stay in one place. But it was fabulous.

Unfortunatly i can report much about the food. It was overall ok, but nothing to write home about.

Anyways. I've been back for a few days and getting back into the gym hitting.

Yesterday I did a crossfit style workout of the day (aka WOD) and i can feel it today

Format was
10 rounds of
10 thrusters and 10 pushups (for time...which i didn't do)
which i did (with some modifications when it became clear i wasn't gonna make it)
I probably did about 40 real push ups and then did modications in various forms (both on a incline and on knees)
For the thrusters I did 1 round with 55lbs bar (that i knew wasn't gonna happen again)
3 rounds with 45 lbs bar
6 rounds with 35 lbs bar

- i wanted to the 40 lb bar but i couldn't find it...damn disorganized bsc davis.

Its was good though. Then i cooled down with ~10 min walk/ jog on the treadmill. And today. Shoulders and back surprisingly not back...quads on FIRE
but good on fire.

Tonight i'm planning to go to spinning, so the quad problem could be interesting. But i love beths class so i'm going. Tough shit quads.

Hope you enjoy your tuesday

Ok, so i lazed out for awhile

Hello world,
So i admit it. I got lazy with the posting. I didn't all of sudden die or anything but trying to get back on the horse (so to speak) so here we go.

In an attempt to cut back on my finances I had to pretty much give up trainer C, but he might be making some guest apperances now and again because i'll full admit to having alittle personal training addiction :0)

Anyways, yesterdays work out.

Warm up - 5 min jog on treadmill

First Circuit (abs of death) (3 rounds)
"pilates" crunchs set of 10 w/ 10lb med ball instead of ring (also done on inclined bench )
side to side twists set of 20 total (10 per side) w/ 10lb med ball (also on incline)
8 piked leg lifts from hanging position
10 (not sure what to call them but the thing for your back that makes you look like an upsidedown V)

Second Circuit (3 rounds)
1 leg bosu push ups ( 5 per leg)
kettle bell sq (aka prisoner squats) 40lb kettle bell (15 reps)
bicep curl to shoulder press while standing on bosu round side (12.5lbs, set of 10)

third circuit (3 rounds)
Chest flies on stability ball (12.5lbs , set of 10)
kettle bell swings ( ~20lbs...don't remember...set of 10)

cool down...hill walk on treadmill

It was a good one...and feeling it today. Word to the wise the whole thing especially the abs is very back heavy...so just be careful and listen to your body. But the end my back was telling me to stop so i did... and definitely feeling it today.

anyhoo

thats it for now...promise it won't be a month before my next one

Hot yoga on a hot day

Howdy,
so its been awhile since posted.
Had a lovely day yesterday at hot yoga. I tried a new yoga class. It was at Baron baptiste yoga institute. The teachers name was troy or something. It was really good and i liked the vibe of the place. Its funny some classes i've been too are alittle too serious and "hard core". Which i find a bit ridiculous. Its yoga not nuclear physics. And its hard when they are serious about the poses and stuff. I like to have a little giggle when in down dog. I mean yoga flow is hard enough don't need the extra baggage. Might have to go back and try a different teacher. Heard from one of the people that gregoire was good too.

will report back later

Jumped the gun

Hey
So in the previous post i was a bit high strung about not getting my paycheck direct deposit. Turns out did get paid...just the old fashioned way. The check was at the parental house....oops. Maybe need to chill out, maybe (just a little)

But anyways in other news had another workout with trainer C yesterday and my butt is still talking today.
Circuit 1 (3 times)
Squats ~ 100lbs
Walking Lungs
Stiff legged dead lifts
Crunchs on ball
arm and leg ball cruntchs on weight bench

Circuit 2 (2 times ....i think)
initally he wanted renagade rows (i was too tired)
so standing rows
push ups
biscep curls
tricep dips

I was dead..and then i met with the groove girls to practice (or run through the new release) so lets just say i was ready to pass out by the end. but always feels good to be pushed to the brink like that on occation.

I'm definitely going to enjoy the night off with the roomie and our "favorite" show...Bachelorette baby :0)

Sooooo pissed

So i just figured out i didn't get paid this week cause my boss was slow. Little does he know i'm gonna get really annouying about the pay check approval from now on. Arg!!!!

Had some interesting work outs since I last wrote.

Yesterday with trainer C did some killer stuff.
Started with abs circuit
then did 10,9,8,7,6,5 of dead lifts and burpee box jumps

then did a variation of a filty fifty
50 air squats
25 push ups
25 jump pull ups
50 second row
25 wall balls w/ 8lbs ball

(the theoretical point was to go through it mare then once but didn't have time in the session)
i was dead at the end. Went to boston burger co on the way home...delish :0)

Today did something different (it was a light day but liked the circuit i did)
Sqauts with kettle bell
Kettle bell swing and toss with one hand
bicycle crunchs

did it three times....it was good


and haven't done this one yet but i thought of a really good circuit to try
1 min sprint row
abs exercise of choice
30 air squats
bicept curls

and repeat - could be good

anyways...off to cambridge commons for dinner with some girls

Mod murph

So i'm a few days late, and i need to make this quick.
This past sunday trainer C challenged me to do a modified murph challenge for our session.

Lets start with the regular murph......its a crossfit thing if you're out there thinking who the heck is murph
1 mile run
10 rounds of
10 pull ups
20 push ups
30 airsquats
1 mile run

my head started to hurt even thinking about it
my murph challenge ended up being
30 burpees
9 rounds of
10 jumping pull ups
20 push ups (in a variety of forms...started on ground then worked up to off raised bar)
30 airsquats
1 mile run

lets just say its tuesday and my shoulders are still feeling it.

but man...makes you feel bad ass

Exhausted

For some reason yesterday I was so sleepy, so going to the gym was interesting.

First I had physical therapy and the weirdest thing happened. The PT put the stem (i think that's what its called) machine on. Granted this is something I've had done a bunch and it doesn't exactly feel good but it feels amazing after. Its like an ultra deep tissue massage with electricity. Your feet twitch uncontrollably and things tingle a lot. Fortunately its not as bad as the first time which actually kind of hurt. But anyways, I digress. So she put it on and somehow i managed to get a knot from it. Its like the machine started to work a knot out and didn't finish so it just became more pronounced. How annoying is that? I guess I'll just occupy myself at C's graduation by stretching :0) Not too bad.

After PT i had a workout with trainer C. It was good, really good. Especially since i was still kind of sore from Sunday. I'm honestly surprised i can move today.

2 rounds (legs)
- moving lungs with bicep curl and press above head
- squat thrusters
-squat jumps
-back presses
- reach across crunches on medicine ball

1 set - 1 legged dead lift squats (cause my calf's were still in knots at this point as didn't want to push it)

2 rounds
- renegade rows
- bur pee dead lifts (essentially bur pees with weights)

2 - 1 min sprints (250 meters +) on the row machine (I've definitely decided i like the row machine better then the treadmill for sprints in general. Obviously a completely differently target but not nearly as painful and really works the buns)

1 round
extended leg lifts off end of weight bench
extended ball crunches (did these Sunday too) off end of weight bench
sideways abs rotation using cable weights
ax choppers with cable weights

I was completely exhausted after that, so i went home and had some chicken burgers....yum. Wish i hadn't thrown away the packaging...bought them at BJs. No clue what they are called brand wise but tasty

Killer Circuit

OMG! I had a killer training session with trainer C. Still feeling it this morning while sitting at work. Which I always like but makes you not want to move AT ALL.

Went something like this.
Warm up -
cow pose ab crunches
and some other stuff which my brain is not wanting to remember...but if you wanted to repeat it just do a small warm up of sorts....maybe 10min. This is case in point why I should always blog the day of doing something.

Circuit
Walking two handed kettle bell swings
Jump pull ups (jump up on bar and let self down as slow as you can)
Squat presses (Rest weighted bar in hands on chest, squat down, on up motion press bar over head, repeat)
Leg lifts on back (legs fully extended
Ab full crunches (extend both arms and legs flat, crunch into little ball, release and repeat)
Side crunches while doing opposite leg lifts (leg extended)
(2) 1min sprints on rowing machine. Target at least 250 meters, resistance between 8 and 10.

Did that twice and almost had to do it a third time, but got tricked and stopped after the jump pull ups

instead did.....
single leg squats w/ weights
knee tuck curl crunches with stability ball
stability ball V passes (for abs)
plank.

and then i went home to pass out. But it was fabulous. I like doing new circuit combos cause it gives me ideas for when I'm on my own. I do wish that the gym had kettle bells to use on your own since a lot of my favorite exercises use them...but c'est la vie.

not sure what I'm going to do today but we'll see. Might have a dinner post tonight...since its the bachelorette tonight :0) later