Lemme tell ya...
9/30 - I had a great interview for an Executive Assistant position with a company in Menlo Park.
10/3 - My recruiter called to let me know the company was considering an offer.
10/4 - I received an offer letter.
10/5 - I gave my two weeks notice. No one was surprised, including my boss who said, "Everyone is leaving, I hope people don't think that I'm a bad boss. . . *nudge* *nudge*"
10/21 - I found a remarkably good temporary replacement for my position, I trained her, and I left my job.
10/23 - I ran the Morgan Hill Half Marathon, and completed it in just one minute under my personal record. I am stoked because the course is more difficult than my current PR course! Yay for tri training!
10/24 - I started the new job. They are currently honeymooning me, but I don't mind the slower pace (for now). People are generally cool, and they are very open about how to/not to do things. The company has direction, and focus, and everyone works hard.
10/30 - Halloween.
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Monday, November 07, 2011
I finished.
In case I kept all two of my readers waiting on the results of my triathlon. (Is anybody out there? Seriously.)
Swim 41:52
The fear that I would not be able to complete the swim was resolved by many swims in the Foster City lagoon, and two trial ocean swims at Aquatic Park and Lover's Cove. By the time the day arrived, I knew I would make it. Mind over matter. I read the book, "Born to Run" while training - "You don't have to be fast, you have to be fearless."
Bike 1:24:04
A week before race day, I acquired a bike from my boyfriend's co-worker. This bike is a rad racer, used by a professional triathlete maybe 10 years ago. It is super small and speedy, comes with tri handlebars, gears that make slight adjustments automatically, and just looks cool. I took it to my local bike shop for new tires and pedals and they thought it might be worth a couple thousand dollars. My boyfriend is a good negotiator, and I got it for $350. Long story short, I decided to use the new bike for the tri, although I'd only ridden it on one training ride. It was super fast, but I also got some super rash in unmentionable areas. Lesson: always check the height of the seat with the shorts you will be wearing that day, and use Glide - lots of it.
Run 53:50
As I came out of the transition area for the run, my boyfriend comes running towards me, "If you run 8 minute miles, you can finish in under 3 hours!" He is so sweet for thinking I can still run an 8 minute mile after swimming a mile and biking 24. My miles were more like 8:40, and I was pretty happy with that.
So, to recap.
#1) I finished.
#2) I could take 6 minutes off of the swim next year, and possibly finish in under 3 hours.
#3) Lubricant.
#4) I would not have survived this summer without going into therapy without this triathlon and everyone who supported me through it.
Swim 41:52
The fear that I would not be able to complete the swim was resolved by many swims in the Foster City lagoon, and two trial ocean swims at Aquatic Park and Lover's Cove. By the time the day arrived, I knew I would make it. Mind over matter. I read the book, "Born to Run" while training - "You don't have to be fast, you have to be fearless."
Bike 1:24:04
A week before race day, I acquired a bike from my boyfriend's co-worker. This bike is a rad racer, used by a professional triathlete maybe 10 years ago. It is super small and speedy, comes with tri handlebars, gears that make slight adjustments automatically, and just looks cool. I took it to my local bike shop for new tires and pedals and they thought it might be worth a couple thousand dollars. My boyfriend is a good negotiator, and I got it for $350. Long story short, I decided to use the new bike for the tri, although I'd only ridden it on one training ride. It was super fast, but I also got some super rash in unmentionable areas. Lesson: always check the height of the seat with the shorts you will be wearing that day, and use Glide - lots of it.
Run 53:50
As I came out of the transition area for the run, my boyfriend comes running towards me, "If you run 8 minute miles, you can finish in under 3 hours!" He is so sweet for thinking I can still run an 8 minute mile after swimming a mile and biking 24. My miles were more like 8:40, and I was pretty happy with that.
So, to recap.
#1) I finished.
#2) I could take 6 minutes off of the swim next year, and possibly finish in under 3 hours.
#3) Lubricant.
#4) I would not have survived this summer without going into therapy without this triathlon and everyone who supported me through it.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Water +1, Suzanne +2 (Aquatic Park)
Saturday was the last opportunity I had to swim in a bay before the Pac Grove Triathlon on September 10. When I arrived in front of the Dolphin Swim Club in San Francisco, it was a drizzly 60-something degree summer weather, typical of San Francisco. The Aquatic Park swimming area, between the swim club and the Maritime Museum, has a series of buoys which mark a 1/3 mile course from the first to last buoy, and back again. For those of you who are bad at math, you have to swim three circles around all of the buoys to complete a mile.
Over at the Aquatic Park benches, the stands and beach were full of happy Team In Training (TNT, but I like to call them TIT) groups getting ready to take the plunge in 50 degree water. My wetsuit, fortunately or unfortunately, is borrowed from someone who did Team in Training, and it has the TNT logo on the front. Everywhere I go, people yell "Go TEAM!" at me. I usually just play along.
Although the Team in Training folks had yet to approach the water, I was ready to hop in and get used to the cold. They all looked at me, confused to why I was going ahead, then wondering who I was. The water wasn't bad at all. In fact, it seemed much warmer than the water the last time I swam in Monterrey. After 5 minutes, I could still feel my feet. When my swim friends showed up, I was used to the cold and ready to swim!
The first half of the first lap was the most difficult. I had other swimmers kicking and swimming around and over me, much like a race-day situation. Over and over I had to convince myself that I was doing fine, that I was well trained for swimming, and that it would only be 45 minutes of exercise. A few times I was tempted to go back to shore, and believed that swimming open water was too much for me. Then, I thought about how hard I've trained and how disappointed I would be not to finish this triathlon. I literally had to take in some soothing breaths, and calm myself down. Mental games. Total mental games.
After the first lap, I was definitely ready to do another. After the second lap, I almost convinced myself that I'd done enough for the day. I had to tell my inner mental (psycho-ward) patient that I needed to complete the last lap, and that I needed to prove it to myself. At the beginning of that final lap, my neck started burning from the salt water - my neoprene cap was rubbing against my neck and I would most certainly have battle scars. I'd forgotten to put lubricant on my neck before the swim, and now the cap was digging into my body. This idea kind of excited me - YEAH! BATTLE SCARS!
Yet again, I swam one mile in open water. This time in the choppier, colder, San Francisco Bay with about 200 other people kicking around me. I don't know why it is taking me so long to realize that I'm awesome. And yes, I have the battle scars to prove it.
One more week to Pac Grove!
Over at the Aquatic Park benches, the stands and beach were full of happy Team In Training (TNT, but I like to call them TIT) groups getting ready to take the plunge in 50 degree water. My wetsuit, fortunately or unfortunately, is borrowed from someone who did Team in Training, and it has the TNT logo on the front. Everywhere I go, people yell "Go TEAM!" at me. I usually just play along.
Although the Team in Training folks had yet to approach the water, I was ready to hop in and get used to the cold. They all looked at me, confused to why I was going ahead, then wondering who I was. The water wasn't bad at all. In fact, it seemed much warmer than the water the last time I swam in Monterrey. After 5 minutes, I could still feel my feet. When my swim friends showed up, I was used to the cold and ready to swim!
The first half of the first lap was the most difficult. I had other swimmers kicking and swimming around and over me, much like a race-day situation. Over and over I had to convince myself that I was doing fine, that I was well trained for swimming, and that it would only be 45 minutes of exercise. A few times I was tempted to go back to shore, and believed that swimming open water was too much for me. Then, I thought about how hard I've trained and how disappointed I would be not to finish this triathlon. I literally had to take in some soothing breaths, and calm myself down. Mental games. Total mental games.
After the first lap, I was definitely ready to do another. After the second lap, I almost convinced myself that I'd done enough for the day. I had to tell my inner mental (psycho-ward) patient that I needed to complete the last lap, and that I needed to prove it to myself. At the beginning of that final lap, my neck started burning from the salt water - my neoprene cap was rubbing against my neck and I would most certainly have battle scars. I'd forgotten to put lubricant on my neck before the swim, and now the cap was digging into my body. This idea kind of excited me - YEAH! BATTLE SCARS!
Yet again, I swam one mile in open water. This time in the choppier, colder, San Francisco Bay with about 200 other people kicking around me. I don't know why it is taking me so long to realize that I'm awesome. And yes, I have the battle scars to prove it.One more week to Pac Grove!
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Professional Help
Not only has it taken a lot of personal support from friends and family to make me a better person, but I no longer believe that professional support is some kind of cop-out for dealing with problems.
8 months ago I felt pretty horrible about myself. In order to turn it around, I started to make changes where is was the most comfortable, and enlisted professionals from my gym to work on my fitness level. (Which is connected to your heart, mind, body, soul . . . the hip bone's connected to the leg bone, the leg bones connected to the foot bone, etc) I met with Kolleen, the exercise physiologist, who suggested Dan, a personal trainer, who inspired me to sign up for TRX training with Garrett, which inspired me to get a swim instructor, Jessica.
3 months ago I decided to enlist a professional staff for my career endeavors as well. Actually, it wasn't by choice - while stumbling through job postings on Craigslist (see the desperation here), I found one for an Executive Assistant in Palo Alto. Although I knew it was coming from a staffing agency, and not directly from an employer, I shot over my cover letter and resume. Within one hour, I received a phone call from a bubbly recruiter named Amanda, who wanted me to come to San Francisco to interview with her at the agency. I really didn't want to hike up to San Francisco AGAIN (At this point, I've realized that taking a job in San Francisco would completely uproot my life.), but her agency also does staffing on the Peninsula and the South Bay - it was worth a shot. What could this "professional" do for me?
During the interview I told Amanda what I was looking for, and what I was not looking for. When I left I felt like I'd give her too much information, and sounded depressed, and I never thought I would hear from her again. I'd all but forgotten about bubbly Amanda and the Agency, until she called me within 24 hours to let me know she was updating my resume slightly to send it to a client. She had me in two interviews the very next week.
Not only am I working with Amanda, but it seems like my resume is being passed around to many staffing professionals in her office. Now, I'm getting job information from Molly and Kelli who have put me in touch with a few more employers.
I have not yet found a new job / career yet, but things are going pretty well right now. I had two interviews for VC firms, which seem a little stodgy to me (glad it didn't work out), have had a second interview with a really cool medical device company (fingers crossed), and took a preliminary English comprehension /copyright / attention to detail test for an internationally-known marketing firm (apparently most people fail!).
It has definitely perked me up to know that there are some new career paths where my current skills are relevant, that I'm not so desperate to take anything, and that I am a master of the English language. Thank ya veerra much *Elvis*.
Professional help = get some. It's ok.
8 months ago I felt pretty horrible about myself. In order to turn it around, I started to make changes where is was the most comfortable, and enlisted professionals from my gym to work on my fitness level. (Which is connected to your heart, mind, body, soul . . . the hip bone's connected to the leg bone, the leg bones connected to the foot bone, etc) I met with Kolleen, the exercise physiologist, who suggested Dan, a personal trainer, who inspired me to sign up for TRX training with Garrett, which inspired me to get a swim instructor, Jessica.
3 months ago I decided to enlist a professional staff for my career endeavors as well. Actually, it wasn't by choice - while stumbling through job postings on Craigslist (see the desperation here), I found one for an Executive Assistant in Palo Alto. Although I knew it was coming from a staffing agency, and not directly from an employer, I shot over my cover letter and resume. Within one hour, I received a phone call from a bubbly recruiter named Amanda, who wanted me to come to San Francisco to interview with her at the agency. I really didn't want to hike up to San Francisco AGAIN (At this point, I've realized that taking a job in San Francisco would completely uproot my life.), but her agency also does staffing on the Peninsula and the South Bay - it was worth a shot. What could this "professional" do for me?
During the interview I told Amanda what I was looking for, and what I was not looking for. When I left I felt like I'd give her too much information, and sounded depressed, and I never thought I would hear from her again. I'd all but forgotten about bubbly Amanda and the Agency, until she called me within 24 hours to let me know she was updating my resume slightly to send it to a client. She had me in two interviews the very next week.
Not only am I working with Amanda, but it seems like my resume is being passed around to many staffing professionals in her office. Now, I'm getting job information from Molly and Kelli who have put me in touch with a few more employers.
I have not yet found a new job / career yet, but things are going pretty well right now. I had two interviews for VC firms, which seem a little stodgy to me (glad it didn't work out), have had a second interview with a really cool medical device company (fingers crossed), and took a preliminary English comprehension /copyright / attention to detail test for an internationally-known marketing firm (apparently most people fail!).
It has definitely perked me up to know that there are some new career paths where my current skills are relevant, that I'm not so desperate to take anything, and that I am a master of the English language. Thank ya veerra much *Elvis*.
Professional help = get some. It's ok.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Water +1, Suzanne +1
Following the aforementioned race, (race name AKA "Dashin' but not a lot of splashin') I was pretty bummed out.
I went to Palm Desert for my birthday weekend, which was an excellent, relaxing distraction. While on vacation I worked out every day. No time wasted here. Luckily I went with my two mommy friends who dragged my ass out of bed between 6am and 7am each morning (because mother's never sleep), and we made it to the gym each day. I also swam a little bit in the pool each day, and even practiced a couple of flip-turns just for fun.
I needed to get serious about this swimming thing, so I emailed my friends, Kem and Bryan, who lives in Foster City to see if they would be open to doing some open water swimming with me. Low and behold, they have the Foster City Lagoon (literally) in their front yard. We all checked it out, and it received online reviews indicating that it is both safe and swimable, so as soon as I got home we set a swimming date and I took Mr. Wetsuit up the peninsula.
Now, the Foster City lagoon is water from the San Francisco Bay, so it is salty like ocean water. There are also a few waves associated with boats, currents, wind, etc so it's not choppy like the bay or ocean, but it's not as calm as a pool. Visibility is low, but it is only up to 9 feet deep, so there isn't much going on down there to surprise you. I'm not even sure if there is fish. I don't think so.
K & B had mapped out a route from the park to the boat dock that was about 500 meters. I would have been pretty happy with two passes (1,000 meters) although I would need another 500 meters to complete a mile swim. The first thing I thought when I saw the route was, "This is a lot more than 500 meters, right?" Like the swim race, I tried to put it into perspective of time. "I am going to be in the water for 45 minutes. That's all." We three swimmers walked down to the park to start our swim; Bry and I wore our wetsuits and Kem was much more brave. The water was a nice 70-something degrees, it was a lovely day, and there were no boats out on the water.
"Ok, here we go," says Bryan.
I realized a lot about how far I'd come in those first 500 meters. First, I realized how far I'd come since not being able to complete a lap 4 months before. Secondly, I realized how comfortable I was becoming with my stroke and kick. Finally, I knew it was more about controlling the situation more than about my personal fitness ability. After 200 meters or so, I knew I was in control. As I breathed side to side, I was able to mark my place along the shore. It was also very nice not to have to stop and turn around like in a pool situation; I could just keep going long until I got tired or was finished. I wasn't tired. Instead, everything felt like it was coming together and I imagined myself like a little fish - like I belonged in that water. It wasn't more than 10 minutes that I'd reached the end of the first 500 meters, and I wanted to turn around and go back right away.
We swam 3 lengths, or 1,500 meters that day. The next week we did it again and went 4 lengths, and even rode 30 minutes down the Bay Trail.
I kicked the water's butt.
I went to Palm Desert for my birthday weekend, which was an excellent, relaxing distraction. While on vacation I worked out every day. No time wasted here. Luckily I went with my two mommy friends who dragged my ass out of bed between 6am and 7am each morning (because mother's never sleep), and we made it to the gym each day. I also swam a little bit in the pool each day, and even practiced a couple of flip-turns just for fun.
I needed to get serious about this swimming thing, so I emailed my friends, Kem and Bryan, who lives in Foster City to see if they would be open to doing some open water swimming with me. Low and behold, they have the Foster City Lagoon (literally) in their front yard. We all checked it out, and it received online reviews indicating that it is both safe and swimable, so as soon as I got home we set a swimming date and I took Mr. Wetsuit up the peninsula.
Now, the Foster City lagoon is water from the San Francisco Bay, so it is salty like ocean water. There are also a few waves associated with boats, currents, wind, etc so it's not choppy like the bay or ocean, but it's not as calm as a pool. Visibility is low, but it is only up to 9 feet deep, so there isn't much going on down there to surprise you. I'm not even sure if there is fish. I don't think so.
K & B had mapped out a route from the park to the boat dock that was about 500 meters. I would have been pretty happy with two passes (1,000 meters) although I would need another 500 meters to complete a mile swim. The first thing I thought when I saw the route was, "This is a lot more than 500 meters, right?" Like the swim race, I tried to put it into perspective of time. "I am going to be in the water for 45 minutes. That's all." We three swimmers walked down to the park to start our swim; Bry and I wore our wetsuits and Kem was much more brave. The water was a nice 70-something degrees, it was a lovely day, and there were no boats out on the water.
"Ok, here we go," says Bryan.
I realized a lot about how far I'd come in those first 500 meters. First, I realized how far I'd come since not being able to complete a lap 4 months before. Secondly, I realized how comfortable I was becoming with my stroke and kick. Finally, I knew it was more about controlling the situation more than about my personal fitness ability. After 200 meters or so, I knew I was in control. As I breathed side to side, I was able to mark my place along the shore. It was also very nice not to have to stop and turn around like in a pool situation; I could just keep going long until I got tired or was finished. I wasn't tired. Instead, everything felt like it was coming together and I imagined myself like a little fish - like I belonged in that water. It wasn't more than 10 minutes that I'd reached the end of the first 500 meters, and I wanted to turn around and go back right away.
We swam 3 lengths, or 1,500 meters that day. The next week we did it again and went 4 lengths, and even rode 30 minutes down the Bay Trail.
I kicked the water's butt.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Water +1, Suzanne 0
I successfully completed my first 1,650 meters in the pool (the distance needed for my olympic triathlon), so I decided to test it in open water. The "Splash and Dash" event was a .93 mile swim in a nice, 78 degree, fresh water reservoir, followed by a hard terrain, 5K run that ends up a very steep hill.
Upon arrival at the Steven's Creek Reservoir on a lovely summer evening, I remember looking at the giant orange, Doritos buoys in the water and thinking, "Damn, is that a mile? That seems really far." But, I knew I had already swum a mile in the pool! Instead of dwelling on the seemingly long distance, I decided to put it into time. It's 45 minutes or less of exercise, something I have done 1-7 days a week for most of my life. It's only 45 minutes. No big deal.
I wondered if swimming was like running where you get excited when the race starts and end up going a lot faster than you would on your own. The thought of doing better in a race than on my own totally pumped me up!! Then, I started to see people changing into wetsuits. I thought the wetsuit was only needed in cold water. . . so I didn't bring one.
First of all, a mile is a long way to swim. Mostly because you don't know where the hell you are going. Sure, there are these huge buoys in the water and they are bright orange, but your head is UNDER the water most of the time. Furthermore there are a hundred people around you, kicking and swimming OVER you, that there isn't a lot of time to look around. You know?
I've taken for granted how easy running is for me. I know how fast I need to start, when I can give it more, and when I need to slow it down a bit. I don't know how to do this when swimming. I only know how to kick one way, stroke one way, and breath after every three strokes. I don't think about what my feet are doing when I'm running. I just . . . go!
Lastly, the wetsuit gives you buoyancy. This helps when your swimming form is completely thrown out the window due to the above mentioned distractions: no visibility, people swimming over you, and forgetting to breath.
The outcome of my first Splash and Dash was panic. I was the last person in the water. I started to swim, keeping an eye out for the woman's feet in front of me. Then I couldn't breath. I turned my head to take a breath but it wasn't enough, so I turned my head again. Then the hyperventilating began. Yes, I was breathing IN, but had completely forgotten to breath OUT.
"I can not do this." It was a thought that occurred to me only a couple of other times in my life. It was so far from my typically fearless attitude, that the clarity of hearing it in my own head made me know it was very real. "I can not do this."
I swam back to shore after swimming maybe 50 meters. Someone called out, "Wow! You're done already." Oh, that's right. I was so done.
Upon arrival at the Steven's Creek Reservoir on a lovely summer evening, I remember looking at the giant orange, Doritos buoys in the water and thinking, "Damn, is that a mile? That seems really far." But, I knew I had already swum a mile in the pool! Instead of dwelling on the seemingly long distance, I decided to put it into time. It's 45 minutes or less of exercise, something I have done 1-7 days a week for most of my life. It's only 45 minutes. No big deal.
I wondered if swimming was like running where you get excited when the race starts and end up going a lot faster than you would on your own. The thought of doing better in a race than on my own totally pumped me up!! Then, I started to see people changing into wetsuits. I thought the wetsuit was only needed in cold water. . . so I didn't bring one.
First of all, a mile is a long way to swim. Mostly because you don't know where the hell you are going. Sure, there are these huge buoys in the water and they are bright orange, but your head is UNDER the water most of the time. Furthermore there are a hundred people around you, kicking and swimming OVER you, that there isn't a lot of time to look around. You know?
I've taken for granted how easy running is for me. I know how fast I need to start, when I can give it more, and when I need to slow it down a bit. I don't know how to do this when swimming. I only know how to kick one way, stroke one way, and breath after every three strokes. I don't think about what my feet are doing when I'm running. I just . . . go!
Lastly, the wetsuit gives you buoyancy. This helps when your swimming form is completely thrown out the window due to the above mentioned distractions: no visibility, people swimming over you, and forgetting to breath.
The outcome of my first Splash and Dash was panic. I was the last person in the water. I started to swim, keeping an eye out for the woman's feet in front of me. Then I couldn't breath. I turned my head to take a breath but it wasn't enough, so I turned my head again. Then the hyperventilating began. Yes, I was breathing IN, but had completely forgotten to breath OUT.
"I can not do this." It was a thought that occurred to me only a couple of other times in my life. It was so far from my typically fearless attitude, that the clarity of hearing it in my own head made me know it was very real. "I can not do this."
I swam back to shore after swimming maybe 50 meters. Someone called out, "Wow! You're done already." Oh, that's right. I was so done.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Summer lovin'
Typically I love summer by slacking off a little bit in July. Well, not so much this year. For quite a few years I've logged my workouts in a hand-written calendar so I can look back on months gone by, count miles, know when my shoes need to be replaced, and for motivational purposes as well. If I see a couple of blank squares on the calendar, it makes me sad.
Here is July 2010 compared to July 2011. (The last week of July 2011 is in pencil to represent what I kind of workout I *should* do that day.)
Here is July 2010 compared to July 2011. (The last week of July 2011 is in pencil to represent what I kind of workout I *should* do that day.)
Monday, July 18, 2011
The Kelp Crawl
The swim is definitely the interview of the triathlon for me. If I can just get through the swim, the rest of the race will be absolutely exhilarating and wonderful. The problem I'm finding is that no matter how hard I try (the swim lessons, the practice sessions), swimming presents an very interesting mind-boggling challenging. I need to get over this in the next two months, so I will continue to tighten my goggles, and kick those legs. (Now if I could just feel comfortable with the stroke!)
My fitness level is very good, but I'm not very efficient in the water, which is making me crazy. I feel that I want to put my best foot (or arm) forward, but everyone else's best foot and arm are more efficient than mine. Then I get flustered, which makes the stroke and breathing more difficult, thus rendering me inefficient. Unfortunately the swim is first, and my beloved running is last, so I'm going to use the run as my carrot to just get through, but I won't be able to bike or run if I can't get out of the water.
I joined a training team at work, The Mighty Broncos, who meets a few times a week for swimming, running, and cycling. This weekend, I joined TMB for an open water swim clinic in Monterrey at the exact location we'll be doing the Pacific Grove Triathlon. Miss Midwest over here (that's me), has never swum in the ocean. Oh sure! I've put my face under and taken a few strokes, but nothing like what I experienced over the weekend...
The Equipment: I had to rent a wetsuit, which was a new experience, and also kind of a fun one. The wetsuit was marvelous in the ocean! Not only did I get some insulation from cold water, but it also created buoyancy, so I won't drown! Pretty awesome. I want to swim in a wetsuit all the time, but I'm sure they would kick me out of the gym pool. HA! As a contact lens wearer, I worried about goggles falling off, or not protecting my eyes, but so far so good.
The View: I thought I would be more scared to look down in the water and see murky shadows beneath, but I wasn't. The view was actually quite pretty below.
The Fauna: There are no sharks in this water, and I have no fear that sharks will come an attack over a thousand people splashing around in the water. I'm also not scared that a fish will come by, or a seal with bark at me. I'm a friend of the animals.
The Flora: Lover's Point in Monterrey is not just a swim, but the "kelp crawl"! Do I think kelp is disgusting - no. Do I care that it is slimy - no. Do I care that it tastes gross - not really. What did bother me about the kelp is that is basically takes my inefficient swimming, and makes it even more inefficient. In fact, for about 50% of the "swim" I was kicking and army crawling through kelp. Boo for the kelp.
The Salt: Ugh, I hate the taste of salty water. I'm not worried that the water is in any way dirty, but just the taste alone made me want to vomit.
I need to be successful in an interview/swim process so I can do what I'm good at - the biking, and swimming! I want to kick butt, but I need to get out of the water first. Unfortunately there are others who can interview and swim better than I can. In the case of the triathlon, I may catch up with some of them. In the case of an interview, I'll never get the chance to prove myself and do what I'm really good at.
I guess it was good to experience the open water swim before the tri, instead of just assuming pool practice would get me though. This will be quite a mental challenge. Not as challenging as the job search, but maybe if I get through, it will make me feel all-around stronger in other aspects of my life. Right now, I'd rather swim than be rejected by another job interview.
My fitness level is very good, but I'm not very efficient in the water, which is making me crazy. I feel that I want to put my best foot (or arm) forward, but everyone else's best foot and arm are more efficient than mine. Then I get flustered, which makes the stroke and breathing more difficult, thus rendering me inefficient. Unfortunately the swim is first, and my beloved running is last, so I'm going to use the run as my carrot to just get through, but I won't be able to bike or run if I can't get out of the water.
I joined a training team at work, The Mighty Broncos, who meets a few times a week for swimming, running, and cycling. This weekend, I joined TMB for an open water swim clinic in Monterrey at the exact location we'll be doing the Pacific Grove Triathlon. Miss Midwest over here (that's me), has never swum in the ocean. Oh sure! I've put my face under and taken a few strokes, but nothing like what I experienced over the weekend...
The Equipment: I had to rent a wetsuit, which was a new experience, and also kind of a fun one. The wetsuit was marvelous in the ocean! Not only did I get some insulation from cold water, but it also created buoyancy, so I won't drown! Pretty awesome. I want to swim in a wetsuit all the time, but I'm sure they would kick me out of the gym pool. HA! As a contact lens wearer, I worried about goggles falling off, or not protecting my eyes, but so far so good.
The View: I thought I would be more scared to look down in the water and see murky shadows beneath, but I wasn't. The view was actually quite pretty below.
The Fauna: There are no sharks in this water, and I have no fear that sharks will come an attack over a thousand people splashing around in the water. I'm also not scared that a fish will come by, or a seal with bark at me. I'm a friend of the animals.
The Flora: Lover's Point in Monterrey is not just a swim, but the "kelp crawl"! Do I think kelp is disgusting - no. Do I care that it is slimy - no. Do I care that it tastes gross - not really. What did bother me about the kelp is that is basically takes my inefficient swimming, and makes it even more inefficient. In fact, for about 50% of the "swim" I was kicking and army crawling through kelp. Boo for the kelp.
The Salt: Ugh, I hate the taste of salty water. I'm not worried that the water is in any way dirty, but just the taste alone made me want to vomit.
I need to be successful in an interview/swim process so I can do what I'm good at - the biking, and swimming! I want to kick butt, but I need to get out of the water first. Unfortunately there are others who can interview and swim better than I can. In the case of the triathlon, I may catch up with some of them. In the case of an interview, I'll never get the chance to prove myself and do what I'm really good at.
I guess it was good to experience the open water swim before the tri, instead of just assuming pool practice would get me though. This will be quite a mental challenge. Not as challenging as the job search, but maybe if I get through, it will make me feel all-around stronger in other aspects of my life. Right now, I'd rather swim than be rejected by another job interview.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Ma belly
I've been working on that body fat percentage since February, so I thought I would share a few pictures. 2% loss is pretty good, but I'd like to get down 2% more.
Pic #1: February 1, 2011
Pic #1: February 1, 2011Pic #2: July 1, 2011
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Icannothascheezburger
(If you haven't seen the site Icanhascheezburger.com, it's worth a looksie. Especially the LOL Cats section. You'll like it, even if you don't think you like kitties, you will! Or you will continue to think they are evil, but also funny.)
It's been over a month, so let me update you. I've been swimming, biking, running, and TRXing. I signed up for swim lessons at my gym, joined a group that swims and runs at work, and lubed up the Fuji.
It's triathlon time! The date is September 10, 2011. The event is the Pacific Grove Sprint Triathlon. The sprint includes a .25 mile swim, a 12 mile bike ride, and a 2 mile run. I wish there was a triathlon distance that was .05 mile swim, a 20 mile bike ride, and a 6 mile run, but there is not, and they don't allow you to make up your own competitive sport. Although I think my sport would be awesome, and the sprint is not enough running for my taste, the olympic distance triathlon is too much swimming for my little beginner fins right now.
This might be just the distraction I need this summer. Maybe I should blog about it too. Here are my website name ideas:
Icannothascheezeburger.com
tridistraction.com
needanewgoal.com
trynottodrown.org
focusonworkoutnotwork.com
cannotcometoworktodaymustswim.com
What do you think?
It's been over a month, so let me update you. I've been swimming, biking, running, and TRXing. I signed up for swim lessons at my gym, joined a group that swims and runs at work, and lubed up the Fuji.
It's triathlon time! The date is September 10, 2011. The event is the Pacific Grove Sprint Triathlon. The sprint includes a .25 mile swim, a 12 mile bike ride, and a 2 mile run. I wish there was a triathlon distance that was .05 mile swim, a 20 mile bike ride, and a 6 mile run, but there is not, and they don't allow you to make up your own competitive sport. Although I think my sport would be awesome, and the sprint is not enough running for my taste, the olympic distance triathlon is too much swimming for my little beginner fins right now.
This might be just the distraction I need this summer. Maybe I should blog about it too. Here are my website name ideas:
Icannothascheezeburger.com
tridistraction.com
needanewgoal.com
trynottodrown.org
focusonworkoutnotwork.com
cannotcometoworktodaymustswim.com
What do you think?
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Maxed out
After a victorious week in the exercise kingdom, I felt awesome for about a week and pushed myself to new limits. After a week of pushing my limits, I felt tired, drained, and on the verge of maxing out my capacity, so I took it easy for a week. That week was full of lighter running, lighter on the weights and TRX exercises, and I felt good to go again this week.
In work related news: We have a PC in my office that has been maxed out for at least a year. We let assistants use this computer for small tasks because that's all it's able to do anymore. It should have been replaced, but we don't have any money to replace it, and there are bigger issues and budgetary issues to contend with. So, we keep working that poor PC. I know one day, it's just going to quit working. The PC is slow, frustrated; sometimes it doesn't save files or allow us to log in. It's sad. There is no way to give that computer a rest. It just needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
Unfortunately I think I'm at capacity at my job as well, but I can't really stop and I can't really afford a nice, relaxing vacation. I'm starting to make mistakes. A woman came into my office a few weeks ago saying she had contacted me about an event she wanted to hold, and I didn't remember seeing her before. This was a small mistake. Today, I realized a serious double-booking - one I don't know if I'll be able to fix. I know it's not the end of the world, but I really want to be able to start fresh and don't know how. At this point, I just want to quit. But, I can't and won't because they repercussions of that would be far worse than the time off to reevaluate, refresh, renew and start again.
I'm searching postings like a mad woman again and submitting my resume, but nothing is popping yet. I haven't had a job interview in two months. I'm not sure how long I can keep working like this before my dissatisfaction starts maxing out other areas of my life as well.
How do I start new and fresh? How can I rejuvenate?
Frustrated.
In work related news: We have a PC in my office that has been maxed out for at least a year. We let assistants use this computer for small tasks because that's all it's able to do anymore. It should have been replaced, but we don't have any money to replace it, and there are bigger issues and budgetary issues to contend with. So, we keep working that poor PC. I know one day, it's just going to quit working. The PC is slow, frustrated; sometimes it doesn't save files or allow us to log in. It's sad. There is no way to give that computer a rest. It just needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
Unfortunately I think I'm at capacity at my job as well, but I can't really stop and I can't really afford a nice, relaxing vacation. I'm starting to make mistakes. A woman came into my office a few weeks ago saying she had contacted me about an event she wanted to hold, and I didn't remember seeing her before. This was a small mistake. Today, I realized a serious double-booking - one I don't know if I'll be able to fix. I know it's not the end of the world, but I really want to be able to start fresh and don't know how. At this point, I just want to quit. But, I can't and won't because they repercussions of that would be far worse than the time off to reevaluate, refresh, renew and start again.
I'm searching postings like a mad woman again and submitting my resume, but nothing is popping yet. I haven't had a job interview in two months. I'm not sure how long I can keep working like this before my dissatisfaction starts maxing out other areas of my life as well.
How do I start new and fresh? How can I rejuvenate?
Frustrated.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Working my ass on
I'm not sure whose butt actually gets smaller as they get fit. Mine does not. My backside only gets larger and more muscly. (Is that even a word?) I'm not complaining, although I wish my belly would get smaller. Yep, it's the same size. My belly is affectionately called "the bagel" at my house. Roll me in sesame seeds and it looks like a sesame seed bagel. Sorry for the visual. :)
The good news is, I've been mixing up the routine big time over the past couple of months. A typical schedule is:
Mondays: 1 mile, 3 sets of TRX, 1 mile, 3 sets TRX, 1 mile, 3 sets TRX, (maybe another mile), stretch
Tuesday: 3-4 miles and weights
Wednesday: spinning
Thursday: off or TRX and running
Friday: off or TRX and running
Saturday: yoga and or a boot camp class
Sunday: long run
Now my goal is to up the miles (longer cardio), and/or include more biking or swimming while keeping on the TRX and weight routine. I figure this will add 20 minutes to each work out. I'm already signed up for swim lessons starting at the end of June.
I met with Kolleen again yesterday for another health assessment. My blood pressure is the same, I've lost one whole pound, BUT . . . I've lost 2% body fat since March. Woo hoo! 2%, 2%, 2%, YAY! It would be great to get down to 19%. I'd be stoked with 18%, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here.
The good news is, I've been mixing up the routine big time over the past couple of months. A typical schedule is:
Mondays: 1 mile, 3 sets of TRX, 1 mile, 3 sets TRX, 1 mile, 3 sets TRX, (maybe another mile), stretch
Tuesday: 3-4 miles and weights
Wednesday: spinning
Thursday: off or TRX and running
Friday: off or TRX and running
Saturday: yoga and or a boot camp class
Sunday: long run
Now my goal is to up the miles (longer cardio), and/or include more biking or swimming while keeping on the TRX and weight routine. I figure this will add 20 minutes to each work out. I'm already signed up for swim lessons starting at the end of June.
I met with Kolleen again yesterday for another health assessment. My blood pressure is the same, I've lost one whole pound, BUT . . . I've lost 2% body fat since March. Woo hoo! 2%, 2%, 2%, YAY! It would be great to get down to 19%. I'd be stoked with 18%, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Weighing in
1 lb lost
1 job interview
My trainer and exercise physiologist suggested that I "play" with my food to try and find something that will work for my lifestyle. That brought me to trying the low/no cheese diet, and the EVUIP diet. The scale confirmed last week that I have lost one whole pound. I'm not going to continue to weigh myself, as this has proven futile. From now on, I will only weigh myself based on how good (or not good) I feel. Right now I feel pretty great, so let's just go with it.
Low/No Cheese is going well. It's actually not as difficult as I thought. I'm allowing for a pizza or lasagna once a week, and I'm not going to die without the entire baby loaf and crackers. The "Eat Veggies Until I Puke" diet is not working. Eating more veggies at the beginning of a meal does not mean I will eat less of the delicious stuff. It has caused me to think about how many veggies I've consumed on a daily basis, though.
I'm still intending to "play" which includes trying different eating and exercise tactics. Let's make a list of these tactics, shall we?
1.) Low/No Cheese will continue.
2.) Be a little more hungry at work, and drink more water.
3.) No wine consumption until Thursday.
4.) Add mileage to workouts.
5.) Add yoga to weekly exercise plan.
6.) "Earn" food. For example, have a big breakfast *after* working out. Use food as a reward. (Exactly what they told our mothers NOT to do! Awesome!)
7.) Take swim lessons. Add swimming once a week.
8.) Bike don't drive to work this summer.
As for the job search. I had a phone interview last week, and I have no idea how it went. I was asked skill related questions, I answered them and gave examples. Seemed pretty straight forward. If they never speak to me again, I won't cry my eyes out like I would have two months ago. Just like trying to change my body, trying to change my job doesn't help if I'm weighing myself all the time. It just makes me feel like crap.
Now, I'm going to spin class. Bye.
1 job interview
My trainer and exercise physiologist suggested that I "play" with my food to try and find something that will work for my lifestyle. That brought me to trying the low/no cheese diet, and the EVUIP diet. The scale confirmed last week that I have lost one whole pound. I'm not going to continue to weigh myself, as this has proven futile. From now on, I will only weigh myself based on how good (or not good) I feel. Right now I feel pretty great, so let's just go with it.
Low/No Cheese is going well. It's actually not as difficult as I thought. I'm allowing for a pizza or lasagna once a week, and I'm not going to die without the entire baby loaf and crackers. The "Eat Veggies Until I Puke" diet is not working. Eating more veggies at the beginning of a meal does not mean I will eat less of the delicious stuff. It has caused me to think about how many veggies I've consumed on a daily basis, though.
I'm still intending to "play" which includes trying different eating and exercise tactics. Let's make a list of these tactics, shall we?
1.) Low/No Cheese will continue.
2.) Be a little more hungry at work, and drink more water.
3.) No wine consumption until Thursday.
4.) Add mileage to workouts.
5.) Add yoga to weekly exercise plan.
6.) "Earn" food. For example, have a big breakfast *after* working out. Use food as a reward. (Exactly what they told our mothers NOT to do! Awesome!)
7.) Take swim lessons. Add swimming once a week.
8.) Bike don't drive to work this summer.
As for the job search. I had a phone interview last week, and I have no idea how it went. I was asked skill related questions, I answered them and gave examples. Seemed pretty straight forward. If they never speak to me again, I won't cry my eyes out like I would have two months ago. Just like trying to change my body, trying to change my job doesn't help if I'm weighing myself all the time. It just makes me feel like crap.
Now, I'm going to spin class. Bye.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
I am now the proud owner of. . .
TWO gym memberships! That's right. No excuse not to work out like a mad-woman!
I know I gave Golds Gym quite a crappy review a few years ago. I still think it's a smelly gym compared to my beloved Club One. Sometimes, it's not the place, but the person that makes all the difference. There are two very important people in my life affiliated with Gold's. The first is my boyfriend, who needs to exercise his body as well as his brain while in graduate school. The second is a friend who teaches a fantastic power yoga class, and has talked me into getting certified to teach a few group classes myself.
Don't get too excited about yours truly becoming the next Jackie Warner (my female crush). I got the reading materials and DVDs from my friend last weekend, and I intend to read through, and just go from there. Because I don't have a degree in physiology or fitness, and I don't have any world records or big athletic achievements to speak of, my friend advised against personal training certification. She said that teaching classes is much more structured, guaranteed pay, and a good way to get my feet wet. This is opposed to having clients that drop like flies because 80% of them don't want to work out anyway. (I agree this would frustrate me.)
I don't know if fitness can be a career, but studying will give me some knowledge about my own fitness, and maybe certification could lead to a few more dollars in my pocket. Baby steps.
Because I know you miss my week in reviews:
3 weeks LOW/NO cheese
0 change in my weight (I'm still holding at 134)
6 training sessions completed with Dan
0 training sessions left with Dan :(
I know I gave Golds Gym quite a crappy review a few years ago. I still think it's a smelly gym compared to my beloved Club One. Sometimes, it's not the place, but the person that makes all the difference. There are two very important people in my life affiliated with Gold's. The first is my boyfriend, who needs to exercise his body as well as his brain while in graduate school. The second is a friend who teaches a fantastic power yoga class, and has talked me into getting certified to teach a few group classes myself.
Don't get too excited about yours truly becoming the next Jackie Warner (my female crush). I got the reading materials and DVDs from my friend last weekend, and I intend to read through, and just go from there. Because I don't have a degree in physiology or fitness, and I don't have any world records or big athletic achievements to speak of, my friend advised against personal training certification. She said that teaching classes is much more structured, guaranteed pay, and a good way to get my feet wet. This is opposed to having clients that drop like flies because 80% of them don't want to work out anyway. (I agree this would frustrate me.)
I don't know if fitness can be a career, but studying will give me some knowledge about my own fitness, and maybe certification could lead to a few more dollars in my pocket. Baby steps.
Because I know you miss my week in reviews:
3 weeks LOW/NO cheese
0 change in my weight (I'm still holding at 134)
6 training sessions completed with Dan
0 training sessions left with Dan :(
Thursday, March 24, 2011
No complaints
My Gram passed away last week, so I took the first flight I could afford out of San Francisco on Saturday night to spend time with family at her funeral. Gram was 92, was in constant pain and depression, and prayed daily that God would take her home. The last 10 years of Gram's life were not the memories I would like to hold onto; instead it was the first 20 that were wonderful and happy.
Before my grandpa passed in 1988, my family and I would travel to Burlington, Iowa from Illinois in one of those classic family driving memories with my parents, older sister and brother:
"Mom! Scott took my bear and won't give it back."
"Dad, are we THERE yet?"
The beginning of the movie musical, The Music Man, the train passes from Illinois into Iowa, and they never go over a bridge - this part has always bothered me.
The last part of our journey was the "big" bridge (I had not yet see the Bay or Golden Gate Bridge) over the Mississippi into Burlington which was a beautiful river city with large red brick warehouses, the prominent Burlington Hotel, and the former hospital which overlooks the roadway from a tall bluff. We'd drive a few streets into the residential neighborhoods and on to Bertsch Street to a small, neat, white house with a front porch. Before we even pulled in we could smell Grams roast beef simmering in the oven, and wonder if Grandpa would take us to the park to fly a kite or play a tune on his organ.
My grandparents acted to be tremendously in love, and their silly little arguments would often turn into flirting. Gram was a homemaker, and Grandpa was a retired clerk for the railroad. They were surrounded by other family members in town, mostly Grams 10 brothers and sisters, their children, and grandchildren. Every year I learned names at our summer family reunions, only to forget their names again the next year. My grandparents kind of seemed like the matriarchs of the family - perhaps to me, at least.
My Grandpa's funeral was the first I'd ever attended - I was almost 9 years old. He was my favorite guy. He had the most beautiful dark hair that I liked to comb, he always had a bowl of peanuts on the front porch and would feed the chipmunks living under the porch. (The chipmunks loved him too. After he was gone, they also went away.) Most of all, Grandpa was a musician. He played an organ, and composed songs, mostly religious, but he also had fun songs about Santa Claus and funny things that kids do. Gram was never quite the same after Grandpa was gone. Her house was still impeccable, and she still made her roast beef, but there was always this odd chair missing at the dinner table. Luckily she had sisters, brothers, and University of Iowa football.
During the last 10 years, her health started failing, as well as her ambition to live. She sold the little white house, and moved in with her brother who wanted to take care of her. She and her brother lived in The Burlington Hotel, which had been converted from a hotel into apartments and overlooked the river, big bridge, and railroads that slowly began to gray a little every year before our eyes. About this time, I moved to California so my visits became less, but going back was no longer the whimsical trip to Grandma's house that I remember as a child. Instead of the silly arguments and kites, turned into conversations about the horrors of the world, natural disasters, people dying, and sins.
It was said at my Grandma's funeral that she couldn't watch the news because it would worry her too much. She was luckily on her death bed during the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. It was also said at her funeral that she was accepting of other people, which is difficult to remember from the last 10 years. I remember only she and her brother not understanding those with a different lifestyle: those who are divorced, homosexual, in jail (like those are all the same "sin"). Living in California, I found those conversations difficult because I was learning to accept those who lived differently than I do, and also to embrace differences. I usually kept/keep my mouth shut. (Imagine that!)
While traveling to the funeral from Des Moines to Burlington this weekend, we stopped for a bite of breakfast at McDonalds in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. (Of course! So much for "no cheese.") As we ate, we couldn't help but overhear conversations of the little old people that sat in the restaurant at different tables with their watered-down coffee, looking out the window onto the brown fields, and complaining about traffic in the major cities. "I would never want to live in a place like Chicago, or Kansas City . . . and in California, they have those lanes that you can't drive in!"
My sister and I laughed a little, but it was also pretty depressing. I almost wanted to yell back like, "Oh you wouldn't want to live in those horrible places where people actually have things to DO besides sit around a McDonalds all morning!"
Driving into Burlington was equally as distressing, including those gray buildings, boarded up shops, half-fallen homes, and people without smiles on their faces. It was so good to see family again, and relearn those names, and hear wonderful things about my Gram again. It made me feel like I wasn't dreaming those first 20 years, but it also made me wonder where it all went. While I was busy building my happy life in California, my Gram was just letting hers go in a dilapidated town in Iowa.
I told my parents they should continue to find something new in their lives. They are looking at property in Arizona, which would be exciting for them and bring them a little closer to me! The experience back in Iowa definitely reminded me that life is too short for complaints. Life is really what you make of it - if you are unhappy and try to find faults in others, then you only confirm unhappiness and faults within yourself. It's time to find something new in my life and stay excited about the process. No complaints!
Before my grandpa passed in 1988, my family and I would travel to Burlington, Iowa from Illinois in one of those classic family driving memories with my parents, older sister and brother:
"Mom! Scott took my bear and won't give it back."
"Dad, are we THERE yet?"
The beginning of the movie musical, The Music Man, the train passes from Illinois into Iowa, and they never go over a bridge - this part has always bothered me.
The last part of our journey was the "big" bridge (I had not yet see the Bay or Golden Gate Bridge) over the Mississippi into Burlington which was a beautiful river city with large red brick warehouses, the prominent Burlington Hotel, and the former hospital which overlooks the roadway from a tall bluff. We'd drive a few streets into the residential neighborhoods and on to Bertsch Street to a small, neat, white house with a front porch. Before we even pulled in we could smell Grams roast beef simmering in the oven, and wonder if Grandpa would take us to the park to fly a kite or play a tune on his organ.
My grandparents acted to be tremendously in love, and their silly little arguments would often turn into flirting. Gram was a homemaker, and Grandpa was a retired clerk for the railroad. They were surrounded by other family members in town, mostly Grams 10 brothers and sisters, their children, and grandchildren. Every year I learned names at our summer family reunions, only to forget their names again the next year. My grandparents kind of seemed like the matriarchs of the family - perhaps to me, at least.
My Grandpa's funeral was the first I'd ever attended - I was almost 9 years old. He was my favorite guy. He had the most beautiful dark hair that I liked to comb, he always had a bowl of peanuts on the front porch and would feed the chipmunks living under the porch. (The chipmunks loved him too. After he was gone, they also went away.) Most of all, Grandpa was a musician. He played an organ, and composed songs, mostly religious, but he also had fun songs about Santa Claus and funny things that kids do. Gram was never quite the same after Grandpa was gone. Her house was still impeccable, and she still made her roast beef, but there was always this odd chair missing at the dinner table. Luckily she had sisters, brothers, and University of Iowa football.
During the last 10 years, her health started failing, as well as her ambition to live. She sold the little white house, and moved in with her brother who wanted to take care of her. She and her brother lived in The Burlington Hotel, which had been converted from a hotel into apartments and overlooked the river, big bridge, and railroads that slowly began to gray a little every year before our eyes. About this time, I moved to California so my visits became less, but going back was no longer the whimsical trip to Grandma's house that I remember as a child. Instead of the silly arguments and kites, turned into conversations about the horrors of the world, natural disasters, people dying, and sins.
It was said at my Grandma's funeral that she couldn't watch the news because it would worry her too much. She was luckily on her death bed during the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. It was also said at her funeral that she was accepting of other people, which is difficult to remember from the last 10 years. I remember only she and her brother not understanding those with a different lifestyle: those who are divorced, homosexual, in jail (like those are all the same "sin"). Living in California, I found those conversations difficult because I was learning to accept those who lived differently than I do, and also to embrace differences. I usually kept/keep my mouth shut. (Imagine that!)
While traveling to the funeral from Des Moines to Burlington this weekend, we stopped for a bite of breakfast at McDonalds in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. (Of course! So much for "no cheese.") As we ate, we couldn't help but overhear conversations of the little old people that sat in the restaurant at different tables with their watered-down coffee, looking out the window onto the brown fields, and complaining about traffic in the major cities. "I would never want to live in a place like Chicago, or Kansas City . . . and in California, they have those lanes that you can't drive in!"
My sister and I laughed a little, but it was also pretty depressing. I almost wanted to yell back like, "Oh you wouldn't want to live in those horrible places where people actually have things to DO besides sit around a McDonalds all morning!"
Driving into Burlington was equally as distressing, including those gray buildings, boarded up shops, half-fallen homes, and people without smiles on their faces. It was so good to see family again, and relearn those names, and hear wonderful things about my Gram again. It made me feel like I wasn't dreaming those first 20 years, but it also made me wonder where it all went. While I was busy building my happy life in California, my Gram was just letting hers go in a dilapidated town in Iowa.
I told my parents they should continue to find something new in their lives. They are looking at property in Arizona, which would be exciting for them and bring them a little closer to me! The experience back in Iowa definitely reminded me that life is too short for complaints. Life is really what you make of it - if you are unhappy and try to find faults in others, then you only confirm unhappiness and faults within yourself. It's time to find something new in my life and stay excited about the process. No complaints!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Pssssst. . . I cut the cheese!
Pun intended.
Day 1: I had to leave my microwavable, ricotta and spinach-stuffed tortellini in the fridge and find another option.
Day 2: I didn't have time to go out for lunch, so I ate the tortellini anyway.
Day 3: No cheese. Pretty easy.
Day 4: Went on a double date at our favorite Italian restaurant in Los Gatos. Although I ordered the fettuccine with marinara and two meat balls -my dinner came with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on the top. I decided to just go with it because the cheese was clearly a "garnish" and not a substantial part of the meal. Right? I passed on the baked brie appetizer, and I also had a side of spinach to start the meal.)
Day 5: After a 4-miler in Sausalito, I went to my boyfriend's family's house for a St. Patrick's Day dinner. I passed up the cheese tray, again. Yay!
Day 6: I had the "Fitness Breakfast" at Bill's Cafe, and asked for egg yolks because I'm not giving up eggs too!
Day 7: No problem.
Today: I had a salad for lunch, and asked for feta on the side. I used half of it. Not bad.
The important part of no-cheese is really just to keep it "low"-cheese. It is nearly impossible to never eat cheese, ever. It comes on EVERYTHING, and it is already assumed by the dining establishment that you want it. Because really. . . who doesn't want some delicious saturated fat on their cheeseburger, or a grilled cheese...maybe some Parmesan on your pasta, or Gouda on your sandwich, or cream cheese on your bagel, or American on a Saltine, or some cheddar on your burrito! What a life that must be for those who are lactose intolerant! The horror! The horror!
By the way, if I don't see visual body improvements in the next two weeks, I'm going to go back to eating an entire Tillamook baby loaf in one sitting.
Day 1: I had to leave my microwavable, ricotta and spinach-stuffed tortellini in the fridge and find another option.
Day 2: I didn't have time to go out for lunch, so I ate the tortellini anyway.
Day 3: No cheese. Pretty easy.
Day 4: Went on a double date at our favorite Italian restaurant in Los Gatos. Although I ordered the fettuccine with marinara and two meat balls -my dinner came with Parmesan cheese sprinkled on the top. I decided to just go with it because the cheese was clearly a "garnish" and not a substantial part of the meal. Right? I passed on the baked brie appetizer, and I also had a side of spinach to start the meal.)
Day 5: After a 4-miler in Sausalito, I went to my boyfriend's family's house for a St. Patrick's Day dinner. I passed up the cheese tray, again. Yay!
Day 6: I had the "Fitness Breakfast" at Bill's Cafe, and asked for egg yolks because I'm not giving up eggs too!
Day 7: No problem.
Today: I had a salad for lunch, and asked for feta on the side. I used half of it. Not bad.
The important part of no-cheese is really just to keep it "low"-cheese. It is nearly impossible to never eat cheese, ever. It comes on EVERYTHING, and it is already assumed by the dining establishment that you want it. Because really. . . who doesn't want some delicious saturated fat on their cheeseburger, or a grilled cheese...maybe some Parmesan on your pasta, or Gouda on your sandwich, or cream cheese on your bagel, or American on a Saltine, or some cheddar on your burrito! What a life that must be for those who are lactose intolerant! The horror! The horror!
By the way, if I don't see visual body improvements in the next two weeks, I'm going to go back to eating an entire Tillamook baby loaf in one sitting.
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
...whereby our heronie gives up cheese. . .
If A = B. (Saturated fat makes you fat)
And C = A. (Cheese is made up of saturated fat.)
Does A = B? (Cheese makes you fat.)
We are going to use the transitive property, and find out.
Today I had to give away my teeny-tiny lunch portion of tortellini because it had ricotta cheese in it. I suppose it would have helped if I packed my lunch AFTER I decided to try a no-cheese diet for a few weeks. Experimenting with vegetables isn't going to be enough - adding good stuff to bad stuff does not delete the bad stuff. It's time to get rid of something bad. I mean good....oh, so good and tasty.
Mmmmmm. . . cheese.
And C = A. (Cheese is made up of saturated fat.)
Does A = B? (Cheese makes you fat.)
We are going to use the transitive property, and find out.
Today I had to give away my teeny-tiny lunch portion of tortellini because it had ricotta cheese in it. I suppose it would have helped if I packed my lunch AFTER I decided to try a no-cheese diet for a few weeks. Experimenting with vegetables isn't going to be enough - adding good stuff to bad stuff does not delete the bad stuff. It's time to get rid of something bad. I mean good....oh, so good and tasty.
Mmmmmm. . . cheese.
Monday, March 07, 2011
EVUIP
3 weeks of personal training
134 pounds
22.2% body fat
increased overall health
I've gained weight, and body fat. Not so awesome.
After meeting with Kolleen again today, it occurred to me that the only way to lose weight an body fat is to do something about my diet. Everyone told me. I listened, but I didn't do it. Although my overall health is better, my goal was also to lose a little weight and body fat. Good isn't my best, and I need to do more.
The suggestion for better eating: "Start meals with vegetables, and fill up on them before eating what you like to eat." I'm going to try this. I don't know if it's going to work because I feel like I'll eat the veggies, then eat the entire portion anyway.
For the next couple of weeks it's: Eat Veggies Until I Puke. EVUIP.... er, not such a good acronym.
134 pounds
22.2% body fat
increased overall health
I've gained weight, and body fat. Not so awesome.
After meeting with Kolleen again today, it occurred to me that the only way to lose weight an body fat is to do something about my diet. Everyone told me. I listened, but I didn't do it. Although my overall health is better, my goal was also to lose a little weight and body fat. Good isn't my best, and I need to do more.
The suggestion for better eating: "Start meals with vegetables, and fill up on them before eating what you like to eat." I'm going to try this. I don't know if it's going to work because I feel like I'll eat the veggies, then eat the entire portion anyway.
For the next couple of weeks it's: Eat Veggies Until I Puke. EVUIP.... er, not such a good acronym.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Dreams when you're 30
We've all had dreams about being back in college. . .
*****Entering Dream Sequence*******
Everyone around me is so excited about next year! The summer has been great, but we are all doing something new this year. Some of us are studying abroad, some are applying to graduate school, some are getting their first jobs, and others are just trying to figure out their class scheduled.
Fraught with possibilities, I start brain storming! Instead of going to Germany, I could study in Italy. I could learn Italian and make new friends, and come back singing opera! Or I could apply for law school. I could really challenge myself to hit the LSAT books and sign up for the test... Or gee, I should take that math class finally and graduate and get out of here.
*****Exiting Dream Sequence*******
OMG. Wait. Didn't I already graduate from college? I passed that math class and I can prove it! I studied in Germany, and I even moved back to Germany for awhile after college. I traveled to Italy. I don't need to find a place to live because I already have one. Also, I already went to graduate school. Shit! I wrote a thesis and everything!
******Totally Awake*******
I have a job. I have responsibilities. I want to go to Europe, but I can't afford it. I should have been lawyer. Damn. Being 21 was awesome.
*****Entering Dream Sequence*******
Everyone around me is so excited about next year! The summer has been great, but we are all doing something new this year. Some of us are studying abroad, some are applying to graduate school, some are getting their first jobs, and others are just trying to figure out their class scheduled.
Fraught with possibilities, I start brain storming! Instead of going to Germany, I could study in Italy. I could learn Italian and make new friends, and come back singing opera! Or I could apply for law school. I could really challenge myself to hit the LSAT books and sign up for the test... Or gee, I should take that math class finally and graduate and get out of here.
*****Exiting Dream Sequence*******
OMG. Wait. Didn't I already graduate from college? I passed that math class and I can prove it! I studied in Germany, and I even moved back to Germany for awhile after college. I traveled to Italy. I don't need to find a place to live because I already have one. Also, I already went to graduate school. Shit! I wrote a thesis and everything!
******Totally Awake*******
I have a job. I have responsibilities. I want to go to Europe, but I can't afford it. I should have been lawyer. Damn. Being 21 was awesome.
Finding purpose
My buddy KG suggested I meet a friend of hers, HL, who has quite a lot of experience in resume writing, and networking. Unfortunately we were only able to "meet" through email, but I did receive a lot of professional networking tips, and resume help which I greatly appreciate. HL suggested I do a personality test, maybe the Meyers Briggs, which I did about 4 years ago in a leadership class for my Master's degree. (That degree is TOTALLY paying for itself right now. *sarcasm*)
ENFP/ENFJ - Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving/Judging (I'm about 50/50 on the P/J)
HL wrote me back saying, "I'm an INFJ - borderline introvert/extrovert, so we are pretty close! We both need some serious 'purpose' when it comes to our career pursuits!"
Purpose. Yeah that's exactly what I need. I'm not one of those people who can just take any job. I need to care about work; I need to know the company's purpose, my boss' purpose, my co-workers' purpose, and my own purpose. It's actually purpose that I've been struggling with all along in my current position, and the fact that I feel like I have none.
Overall, my company is educational, so we have a great purpose! My department is struggling to figure out its place in the company, and is made up of individuals who don't have a clear idea of the company's mission, or they are out for their own purpose. When I started here, I thought my purpose was to keep people together, and create new and innovative programs. I really felt for a long time that we could do some strategic planning, and give the department some vision to move forward. Recently I feel like this purpose has been diminished to cleaning up messes, and just keeping the peace (barely) between people who are content with mediocrity. Furthermore, I realized this is not going away any time soon.
On a positive note -- I'm a stellar problem solver! But, I don't want problem solving and fixing other people's messes to be the purpose for my life. There is this whole creative side of me that needs to be realized, and I'm driving myself crazy trying to figure out what it is. If I'm going to clean up a mess, I'd rather it be my own.
ENFP/ENFJ - Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving/Judging (I'm about 50/50 on the P/J)
HL wrote me back saying, "I'm an INFJ - borderline introvert/extrovert, so we are pretty close! We both need some serious 'purpose' when it comes to our career pursuits!"
Purpose. Yeah that's exactly what I need. I'm not one of those people who can just take any job. I need to care about work; I need to know the company's purpose, my boss' purpose, my co-workers' purpose, and my own purpose. It's actually purpose that I've been struggling with all along in my current position, and the fact that I feel like I have none.
Overall, my company is educational, so we have a great purpose! My department is struggling to figure out its place in the company, and is made up of individuals who don't have a clear idea of the company's mission, or they are out for their own purpose. When I started here, I thought my purpose was to keep people together, and create new and innovative programs. I really felt for a long time that we could do some strategic planning, and give the department some vision to move forward. Recently I feel like this purpose has been diminished to cleaning up messes, and just keeping the peace (barely) between people who are content with mediocrity. Furthermore, I realized this is not going away any time soon.
On a positive note -- I'm a stellar problem solver! But, I don't want problem solving and fixing other people's messes to be the purpose for my life. There is this whole creative side of me that needs to be realized, and I'm driving myself crazy trying to figure out what it is. If I'm going to clean up a mess, I'd rather it be my own.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Here's a workout
1 mile
12 sit ups on incline bench
12 RDLs
12 sit ups on incline bench
12 RDLs
12 sit ups on incline bench
12 RDLs
1 mile
12 over head weights (15 lb each arm)
12 side sit ups on incline (25 lb weight)
12 over head weights (15 lb each arm)
12 side sit ups on incline (25 lb weight)
12 over head weights (15 lb each arm)
12 side sit ups on incline (25 lb weight)
1 mile
12 TRX pushups
12 TRX hip extensions
12 TRX pushups
12 TRX hip extensions
12 TRX pushups
12 TRX pushups
12 TRX pullups
12 leg up/arm up sit ups
12 TRX pullups
12 leg up/ arm up sit ups
12 TRX pullups
12 leg up/arm up sit ups
stretch
I really need to figure out what these exercises are really called. I'm sorry if no one understands what the hell I'm talking about. Anyway, I'm enjoying my new workouts so far. :)
12 sit ups on incline bench
12 RDLs
12 sit ups on incline bench
12 RDLs
12 sit ups on incline bench
12 RDLs
1 mile
12 over head weights (15 lb each arm)
12 side sit ups on incline (25 lb weight)
12 over head weights (15 lb each arm)
12 side sit ups on incline (25 lb weight)
12 over head weights (15 lb each arm)
12 side sit ups on incline (25 lb weight)
1 mile
12 TRX pushups
12 TRX hip extensions
12 TRX pushups
12 TRX hip extensions
12 TRX pushups
12 TRX pushups
12 TRX pullups
12 leg up/arm up sit ups
12 TRX pullups
12 leg up/ arm up sit ups
12 TRX pullups
12 leg up/arm up sit ups
stretch
I really need to figure out what these exercises are really called. I'm sorry if no one understands what the hell I'm talking about. Anyway, I'm enjoying my new workouts so far. :)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Lifestyle Coaching Today
The lifestyle coach told me almost exactly what I thought. There is no amount of exercise that will take the place of food, and it needs to be a balance of both exercise and eating. She did make me feel better about my weight, saying that I don't really need to lose weight. But, if I chose to lose weight, I need to experiment with my metabolism. Of course, she suggested a food journal. Ugh.
Experimenting with my metabolism is something that I've tried to do. I've logged my food into websites like www.sparkpeople.com, and I always come up over the limit. WAY over calories, or WAY over fat, or WAY over protein. By dinner I'm frustrated, and hungry. I've also tried small meals. Eating smaller meals, and more per day does not make me less hungry; it also doesn't allow me to go out to eat. As soon as I go out to a restaurant, my brain is screaming, "FEED ME SEYMOUR!" Also, as soon as alcohol consumption comes into play, it's all over. You might as well have skipped breakfast.
Side note: Maybe I should have a couple glasses of wine for breakfast. I could get the early morning breakfast calories, and have a nice rush to start my day . . . or fall asleep. . . ok, bad idea.
The good news is the lifestyle coach told me I shouldn't worry about my weight (although I'd still like to lose 5 pounds). She also told me that my body is craving protein and fat because I need protein and fat. I also drink PLENTY of water on a daily basis, so I'm good there. The other good news is now I've made myself accountable to 3 full-time employees at the gym. It will be difficult to avoid them, and they will ask me questions like, "How's it going?" I don't want to have to tell them that I made it to the gym, even after eating a burrito and drinking a bottle of wine.
I guess I'll keep exercising harder to earn that burrito. Oh yeah, and the wine. Oh and try not to over eat. Lots of exercise in my future.
Experimenting with my metabolism is something that I've tried to do. I've logged my food into websites like www.sparkpeople.com, and I always come up over the limit. WAY over calories, or WAY over fat, or WAY over protein. By dinner I'm frustrated, and hungry. I've also tried small meals. Eating smaller meals, and more per day does not make me less hungry; it also doesn't allow me to go out to eat. As soon as I go out to a restaurant, my brain is screaming, "FEED ME SEYMOUR!" Also, as soon as alcohol consumption comes into play, it's all over. You might as well have skipped breakfast.
Side note: Maybe I should have a couple glasses of wine for breakfast. I could get the early morning breakfast calories, and have a nice rush to start my day . . . or fall asleep. . . ok, bad idea.
The good news is the lifestyle coach told me I shouldn't worry about my weight (although I'd still like to lose 5 pounds). She also told me that my body is craving protein and fat because I need protein and fat. I also drink PLENTY of water on a daily basis, so I'm good there. The other good news is now I've made myself accountable to 3 full-time employees at the gym. It will be difficult to avoid them, and they will ask me questions like, "How's it going?" I don't want to have to tell them that I made it to the gym, even after eating a burrito and drinking a bottle of wine.
I guess I'll keep exercising harder to earn that burrito. Oh yeah, and the wine. Oh and try not to over eat. Lots of exercise in my future.
Monday, February 21, 2011
How I ruined my day off
1 day off
1 resume
1 talk with a friend (about above resume)
1 nervous breakdown
-1 workout
1 ruined day
1 resume
1 talk with a friend (about above resume)
1 nervous breakdown
-1 workout
1 ruined day
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Worth It
Legs. Butt. Hurt. So. Bad.
Instead of jumping up and down on my own two feet, I feel like someone twice my size jumped up and down on my legs. I got up again at 5:50am this morning to hit the gym, and I could barely get out of bed. After swallowing two ibuprofen and convincing myself that it's not that bad, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, and another 30 minutes running (slow) on the treadmill, followed by stretching. Now it is almost 5:00pm and I can barely move. Geez.
I fell asleep last night watching The Biggest Loser and wondered how those people feel after their first day with Bob and Jillian - especially since many of them have never worked out at all. It can't be comfortable. They must be thinking the same thing I am:
"Is the pain really worth it?"
Luckily, with exercise, I've been through this kind of soreness enough times to know that it will eventually go away and I will be a stronger person because I will have worked through it. Many others may chose to give up not knowing that they could have been stronger, or they will just start over and feel the pain again.
Unfortunately, I ask myself if the pain is really worth it in my current job - and I don't have such a well-defined answer. It's difficult to get out of bed, I feel stuck, unable to move, and don't see how this experience is making me any stronger. I also feel like I'm not growing and it's completely debilitating. Ibuprofen (or wine) doesn't help. It just hurts. The only reason I don't give up completely is that it's probably better than having no job at all. But, damn. That's depressing.
Next to my desk at work, I have a copy of the serenity prayer:
"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference; living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace..."
Instead of dwelling on things out of my control, I'm really trying to focus on those things that know I can endure, and continue to work through them so that it makes me stronger.
Instead of jumping up and down on my own two feet, I feel like someone twice my size jumped up and down on my legs. I got up again at 5:50am this morning to hit the gym, and I could barely get out of bed. After swallowing two ibuprofen and convincing myself that it's not that bad, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, and another 30 minutes running (slow) on the treadmill, followed by stretching. Now it is almost 5:00pm and I can barely move. Geez.
I fell asleep last night watching The Biggest Loser and wondered how those people feel after their first day with Bob and Jillian - especially since many of them have never worked out at all. It can't be comfortable. They must be thinking the same thing I am:
"Is the pain really worth it?"
Luckily, with exercise, I've been through this kind of soreness enough times to know that it will eventually go away and I will be a stronger person because I will have worked through it. Many others may chose to give up not knowing that they could have been stronger, or they will just start over and feel the pain again.
Unfortunately, I ask myself if the pain is really worth it in my current job - and I don't have such a well-defined answer. It's difficult to get out of bed, I feel stuck, unable to move, and don't see how this experience is making me any stronger. I also feel like I'm not growing and it's completely debilitating. Ibuprofen (or wine) doesn't help. It just hurts. The only reason I don't give up completely is that it's probably better than having no job at all. But, damn. That's depressing.
Next to my desk at work, I have a copy of the serenity prayer:
"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference; living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace..."
Instead of dwelling on things out of my control, I'm really trying to focus on those things that know I can endure, and continue to work through them so that it makes me stronger.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Plyometrics
1 early morning (5:50 am)
1 personal training session
1 million lunges
1 million core exercises
2 exaggerations
133 pounds
Plyometrics (also known as "plyos") is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving performance in sports. Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity and innervation of muscle and surrounding tissues to jump higher, run faster, throw farther, or hit harder, depending on the desired training goal. (Wikipedia)
1 personal training session
1 million lunges
1 million core exercises
2 exaggerations
133 pounds
Plyometrics (also known as "plyos") is a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements, and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving performance in sports. Plyometric movements, in which a muscle is loaded and then contracted in rapid sequence, use the strength, elasticity and innervation of muscle and surrounding tissues to jump higher, run faster, throw farther, or hit harder, depending on the desired training goal. (Wikipedia)
Today I met Dan, my personal trainer for the next 5 weeks. Dan introduced me to plyometrics. I finally understand what those adjustable cords tied to the wall of the gym were for! There are other methods of plyos, like jumping up on boxes and using resistance bands which we may get into. Stay tuned.
Basically, anything new will kick your ass. In a good way. It hasn't been 24 hours, and I'm already sore. Tomorrow will be interesting.
I learned a few new things about exercise and about my own abilities. First, my legs are pretty strong but I need to work on my hamstrings, which are one of the most under worked area of the legs for most people. Dan showed me the correct form for lifting weights to target hamstrings. I'd done these similar weights for years, but incorrectly. To to them correctly, you actually get to stick your butt out. I've always had this idea in my head that you shouldn't stick your booty out, but I was wrong. There is some booty-sticking-outing that supports your back and legs. Second, I learned that after years of doing core exercises at least once a week, that I still have some work to do. Again, form is very important. Lastly, unless you are body building, there is no reason to spend a day on legs, a day on arms, a day on shoulders, etc. I'm going to learn some new full-body moves that can work my entire body.
Today, I also realized my worst fear. I need some nutrition help. Although Koleen said I didn't have a weight problem, I would like to lose a couple of pounds or at least a couple pounds of fat. Dan suggested I meet with the club lifestyle coach, so I made an appointment with her next week. Argh. My worst fear is that she's going to tell me exactly what I don't want to hear: I need to count calories, I eat too much cheese, I drink too much wine.
Changing habits is not just losing weight or getting into better shape. This is the #1 mistake of those I'm-going-to-lose-weight-for-my-wedding diets. Sure, you might look fantastic in wedding photos, but it will come back unless you are willing to change FOREVER. That's the part about nutrition that I'm not sure about. I'm going to have to give up massive cheese consumption - FOREVER? OMG.
This next week, I will incorporate as much plyos into my routine as possible and practice what I learned today. I will also eat massive amounts of cheese until someone tells me not to. :)
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
My Exercise Physiologist says I'm just fine.
You may remember a few years ago when I had my BMI measured and I was considered "fair." Well I had a licensed, degreed professional tell me that those doctors/trainers/people are idiots. Her exact words. *Holding up arms in a victory sign*
My EP, Kolleen, told me that between 19 and 25 percent is a healthy amount of body fat for women. Women working on strength training or muscle slenderizing can go all the way down to 12%, but not lower than 12% - those are the scary muscle women with veins popping about. I have 20.7% body fat, which is in the recommended range. Thank you very much. I'd like to see if I can lose 1% body fat.
I asked my EP about calorie counting. Recently I've been tracking my calories online and I'm over the allotted 1,200-1,500 calories like, everyday. She told me I don't have a weight problem, and I don't need to count calories. (See why I like this woman?) I'm not going to count calories, but work for every single one. I'm also going to try and not over-eat.
I've signed up for 5 sessions with a personal trainer. I will learn something new - my sessions start next Tuesday.
My EP, Kolleen, told me that between 19 and 25 percent is a healthy amount of body fat for women. Women working on strength training or muscle slenderizing can go all the way down to 12%, but not lower than 12% - those are the scary muscle women with veins popping about. I have 20.7% body fat, which is in the recommended range. Thank you very much. I'd like to see if I can lose 1% body fat.
I asked my EP about calorie counting. Recently I've been tracking my calories online and I'm over the allotted 1,200-1,500 calories like, everyday. She told me I don't have a weight problem, and I don't need to count calories. (See why I like this woman?) I'm not going to count calories, but work for every single one. I'm also going to try and not over-eat.
I've signed up for 5 sessions with a personal trainer. I will learn something new - my sessions start next Tuesday.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Vacation Recommendation
0 snow (Sorry everyone else. It's warm here.)
1 lazy day
1 day of grazing instead of eating
6 miles run
It was suggested by my uberboss (the boss of my boss) that I might need a vacation. I agree.
Boyfriend is feeling better, which is a great thing because we are leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow. I am not really a Vegas person. I lived there for 9 months. It sucked. During my online dating days, I would purposely go through profiles of men who posted pictures of themselves in Vegas - striped shirt, holding a cocktail, standing with blacked out buddies or smudged out women in party dresses. I think this helped me avoid some serious douchebags.
Anyhoo. . . I digress. . .
I will admit Las Vegas is a pretty fun place to go as a tourist though. This trip will also be the first time boyfriend and I have flown anywhere in an airplane together. I'm hoping for 4 fun days of eating, drinking (responsibly of course), and probably not exercising (unless strutting around in heals counts). Good thing I got that 6-miler out of the way today. Looking forward to starting over the exercise regimen next week.
See you in a week!
1 lazy day
1 day of grazing instead of eating
6 miles run
It was suggested by my uberboss (the boss of my boss) that I might need a vacation. I agree.
Boyfriend is feeling better, which is a great thing because we are leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow. I am not really a Vegas person. I lived there for 9 months. It sucked. During my online dating days, I would purposely go through profiles of men who posted pictures of themselves in Vegas - striped shirt, holding a cocktail, standing with blacked out buddies or smudged out women in party dresses. I think this helped me avoid some serious douchebags.
Anyhoo. . . I digress. . .
I will admit Las Vegas is a pretty fun place to go as a tourist though. This trip will also be the first time boyfriend and I have flown anywhere in an airplane together. I'm hoping for 4 fun days of eating, drinking (responsibly of course), and probably not exercising (unless strutting around in heals counts). Good thing I got that 6-miler out of the way today. Looking forward to starting over the exercise regimen next week.
See you in a week!
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Maintenance
1 lifestyle coaching scheduled
1 sick boyfriend
1 spin class
1 fond memory
And now I recall getting my butt kicked by people 20 years older than me.
I went back to my favorite spin class for the first time in about 8 months last night. Mark, the instructor, works out harder than anyone else, and leads the class with a series of quarter, half and full turns on the bike. I find this much more effective (and difficult) than "you are going up a hill," or "you are now on a flat road" imho. I've decided most beginners, like me, have no clue what a real hill or flat road feel like, really. It's also better to know what you are *supposed* to be feeling, and adjusting (backing off) as necessary instead of taking it easy.
A year ago, after kicking ass in his spin class for a couple of weeks, Mark asked if I'd like to join a group of classmates on a real bike ride - the "Saturday Casual Coffee Caravan (CCC ride)." I loaded my road bike into the car and headed to south San Jose for what I thought was a 25 mile bike ride to Morgan Hill and back, with a coffee stop between. Sounds good, right? I mean - these people are 15-20 years older than me. I'm super fit and awesome! . . .
My first realization was that pumping your legs at 16 MPH on a bike is anything but "casual" to a non-rider. But, everyone in the group was super supportive, and all told me I was doing great. On the way back to San Jose, they decided I could handle a monstrous hill affectionately called "The Wall" which I totally (but slowly) nailed.
Like a child I asked, "Are we there yet?"
Unfortunately it was the final 14 miles after The Wall that totally kicked my ass. I had been beaten by a group of 45-50 year-olds. These people were lean, mean, bike riding machines and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. What is their secret? I think growing up is the ability to maintain, especially while pedaling slowly up a hill. Then being able to pedal some more after your ass is thoroughly kicked.
I'm not ready to go back on a CCC ride yet. At least spin class was fun.
1 sick boyfriend
1 spin class
1 fond memory
And now I recall getting my butt kicked by people 20 years older than me.
I went back to my favorite spin class for the first time in about 8 months last night. Mark, the instructor, works out harder than anyone else, and leads the class with a series of quarter, half and full turns on the bike. I find this much more effective (and difficult) than "you are going up a hill," or "you are now on a flat road" imho. I've decided most beginners, like me, have no clue what a real hill or flat road feel like, really. It's also better to know what you are *supposed* to be feeling, and adjusting (backing off) as necessary instead of taking it easy.
A year ago, after kicking ass in his spin class for a couple of weeks, Mark asked if I'd like to join a group of classmates on a real bike ride - the "Saturday Casual Coffee Caravan (CCC ride)." I loaded my road bike into the car and headed to south San Jose for what I thought was a 25 mile bike ride to Morgan Hill and back, with a coffee stop between. Sounds good, right? I mean - these people are 15-20 years older than me. I'm super fit and awesome! . . .
My first realization was that pumping your legs at 16 MPH on a bike is anything but "casual" to a non-rider. But, everyone in the group was super supportive, and all told me I was doing great. On the way back to San Jose, they decided I could handle a monstrous hill affectionately called "The Wall" which I totally (but slowly) nailed.
Like a child I asked, "Are we there yet?"
Unfortunately it was the final 14 miles after The Wall that totally kicked my ass. I had been beaten by a group of 45-50 year-olds. These people were lean, mean, bike riding machines and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. What is their secret? I think growing up is the ability to maintain, especially while pedaling slowly up a hill. Then being able to pedal some more after your ass is thoroughly kicked.
I'm not ready to go back on a CCC ride yet. At least spin class was fun.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Day 1
1 Starbucks low-fat Greek yoghurt
1 coffee
1 close-call nervous breakdown
1 burrito
3 miles ran
30 minutes core workout
131.5 pounds
It's been a better week. The close-call nervous breakdown of today was not the total-complete flip out of last week, when I realized that I'm sick of working in ho-hum mediocrity, and I'm better than this. So, there are about 30 resumes and cover letters out there with my name on it, which was accomplished in 2 days. Yes. 30 in 3 days.
Unknowing if I can keep up with the 10-resume-a-day pace for very long, I've decided to focus on personal fitness research because exercise is the only thing that makes me feel accomplished and normal. The interesting thing about research is that the author typically starts out wanting to learn more about one topic - in this case personal fitness - then the research turns out to be about something else completely. The author can not be stuck to a certain topic; the author must be able to go back and re-write, and re-hypothesize. This may begin research on my exercise habits, and end up a story about finding a lost relative, or meeting Kanye West. I'm open to change.
Since I'm a fan of researching theories dealing with life and exercise, I've come up with a few hypothesis:
Hypothesis #1: If I can set a personal half marathon record at my heaviest weight ever, then using exercise to accomplish a better looking body is a better choice. Being good-looking is really all that matters in society anyway. Clearly it didn't work when I tried to break a personal record and look better in the process. If I exercise to look better, maybe I'll set another personal record.
Hypothesis #2: If I can't figure out what the hell I'm doing in many aspects of my life, then it is time to seek professional help. I'm taking advantage of the free lifestyle coaching, fitness consultation, and free personal training session at my gym. Maybe by the end of this adventure I'll be seeing a psychologist too. I'm starting out small.
Hypothesis #3: There is no better time than the present to begin a new adventure. I'm beginning this "new" research on a Tuesday, and only 4 days before I go to Las Vegas. The next 4 days of exercise will be completely ruined by steak dinners, wine drinking, and Superbowl snacks. Then I'll have to start over again. But that's ok. When you're ready - you're ready.
1 coffee
1 close-call nervous breakdown
1 burrito
3 miles ran
30 minutes core workout
131.5 pounds
It's been a better week. The close-call nervous breakdown of today was not the total-complete flip out of last week, when I realized that I'm sick of working in ho-hum mediocrity, and I'm better than this. So, there are about 30 resumes and cover letters out there with my name on it, which was accomplished in 2 days. Yes. 30 in 3 days.
Unknowing if I can keep up with the 10-resume-a-day pace for very long, I've decided to focus on personal fitness research because exercise is the only thing that makes me feel accomplished and normal. The interesting thing about research is that the author typically starts out wanting to learn more about one topic - in this case personal fitness - then the research turns out to be about something else completely. The author can not be stuck to a certain topic; the author must be able to go back and re-write, and re-hypothesize. This may begin research on my exercise habits, and end up a story about finding a lost relative, or meeting Kanye West. I'm open to change.
Since I'm a fan of researching theories dealing with life and exercise, I've come up with a few hypothesis:
Hypothesis #1: If I can set a personal half marathon record at my heaviest weight ever, then using exercise to accomplish a better looking body is a better choice. Being good-looking is really all that matters in society anyway. Clearly it didn't work when I tried to break a personal record and look better in the process. If I exercise to look better, maybe I'll set another personal record.
Hypothesis #2: If I can't figure out what the hell I'm doing in many aspects of my life, then it is time to seek professional help. I'm taking advantage of the free lifestyle coaching, fitness consultation, and free personal training session at my gym. Maybe by the end of this adventure I'll be seeing a psychologist too. I'm starting out small.
Hypothesis #3: There is no better time than the present to begin a new adventure. I'm beginning this "new" research on a Tuesday, and only 4 days before I go to Las Vegas. The next 4 days of exercise will be completely ruined by steak dinners, wine drinking, and Superbowl snacks. Then I'll have to start over again. But that's ok. When you're ready - you're ready.
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