Motivation Monday

This week I am switching my workouts around because of the visitors and half marathon this coming weekend.

Monday – Gym: Leg Day & Abs

Tuesday – 3 mile run and volleyball

Wednesday – Gym: Lift Circuit & Abs

Thursday – Gym: Arm Day

**Each gym day has a 3 mile run before lifting and some other cardio (stairs/elliptical) at the end

Weekending was a great success this past weekend.  I can tell that I am completely stress free right now.  Went to the St Patty’s Day 5K and didn’t wear a watch or timing chip, just hung out with friends the whole way.  Great weather to be outside all morning.  Sunday I also went for a run without my watch, I’m liking that! 

I got a lot of house stuff done this weekend from cleaning out the entertainment center and toy bucket (gave the boys next door the toys), cleaned out the car, lunches are packed for the entire week, and laundry is done.

Five for Friday –

1.      Passed my first CPCU test yesterday– Woo hoo!  So getting the designation is the primary reason for taking these tests, but that is a long term goal.  The short term benefit is the bonus $$.

-        The other short term benefit is the day off work.  The test took me less than an hour.  Then I went to the gym and got in a good workout, went and picked up my St Patty’s Day 5K stuff, and read a magazine outside.  Perfect day – mid 70s, sun was out.

2.      Workouts – They have been spot on.  Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday were all gym days.  3 miles, lift, and then some other cardio (stairs or elliptical).  Tuesday was a 5 mile run outside and volleyball.  Today is a rest day and I am not sure what the weekend holds!

3.      Food – wishy washy.  Not great, but not bad either.  The only day that was a real problem was last night at volleyball.  You tend to drink a few more beers when you aren’t playing and are just standing around watching….

4.      St Patty’s Day 5K – Tomorrow is the St Patty’s Day parade on Lower Greenville.  I don’t think I am going to run it for time.  I think I am going to just hang back and run with my friends.  I have been utterly exhausted after this week (never made it home before 8 – work, study, gym) and I just wanna have fun!  Don’t even think I am going to wear my timing chip or watch.

5.      Finger crossed I can take my bike out on Sunday!!!  This weather has been amazing and I want to get out on my bike so bad!!!  This is the perfect time of year in Dallas.

Results

It is a lot easier to stay on track when you are seeing results. 

I was up about 7 pounds since October, putting on some extra layers for the winter, I guess… One thing I knew was missing from my routine was lifting.  I didn’t want to start a heavy lifting program while training for the marathons.  Since my muscles weren’t used to it, I didn’t want my body to be sore from lifting and not be able to complete my long runs.  Well, that is excuse is gone now, so the past week I started my lifting routine, and boy could I feel it.  (See previous post for my workouts; and I am proud to say I completed Thursday as planned.)  It was a good sore that I haven’t felt in a LONG time.  By Friday, I was in need of my rest day.  My workouts were pretty much spot on and I couldn’t have been happier, even with skipping my run on Sunday.  Sunday was windy and dreary and my couch was comfy.  Oh well.

The other part of the equation is nutrition, which is the most important part.  During the week my eating was pretty good/consistent.  Of course the weekend is the killer.  Friday was my company’s work bonus party.  I may have over done it on the nachos/queso, but only had one margarita.  The rest of the weekend eating was decent.  The key was moderation.  I ate everything I wanted, I just watched the portions.  The major piece of proof is the half of piece of cheesecake still in the fridge.  Go willpower!!!!!

Got on the scale this morning – down 1.5lbs!  Seeing that made it easier to make choices this morning – no pop for me!!

Goal workouts for this week:

·        Monday: Gym - 3 mile run, lift circuit, elliptical, ab workout

·        Tuesday: Outside – 3 -5 mile run, volleyball

·        Wednesday: Gym – 3 miles (hills), lift legs, stair machine (maybe volleyball)

·        Thursday: Gym – 3 miles (sprints), lift arms, elliptical, ab workout

·        Friday: rest day

·        Saturday: Dash Down Greenville 5K

·        Sunday: ??? Undecided

Rest and reset complete!

Being a lazy bum has officially ended.  As of Tuesday I was back at it.

TUESDAY

Tuesday I went for a run because it was a perfect day and I wanted to, not because I had to for training.  I didn’t wear my watch.  I know the routes good enough to approximate the distance I ran (4.25 miles).  It was fantastic! 

Sand volleyball started Tuesday night, and we were back at good old Yucatan.  I think I went into it with a bad attitude, but I am really not sure how I feel about playing there without Champagne Volleyball.  It’s just different.  It feels wrong.  We had the late games and it got cold, I was not a happy camper until we were done and I was inside relaxing with friends.

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday was dubbed leg day.  I started off at the gym with 3 miles of hill training.  I keep a consistent speed and run 0.25 miles flat, then 0.25 miles at a 4.0 incline.  Repeat until you hit 3 miles.  The last two inclines are generally tough for me.

After that I lifted legs.  Leg curl, leg extension, leg press and calf raises – 3 sets of 10.  After the machine portion I moved on to lunges - 50 on each leg.  Next up was abs.  20 crunches (w/10 lb weight), 20 twists (w/10 lb weight), and 20 seconds plank.  Repeat 3 times.  Last I finished up with 15 minutes on the stair machine.  Went home and had a shamrock shake (it’s all about balance).  Needless to say I slept like a rock last night.

THURSDAY – tonight

Heading back to the gym and we’ll see how the legs feel.  Current plan: 3 miles of sprints.  Again, it is quarter mile repeats.  If the legs are super tired, then it will just be a 3 mile jog to warm up.  After that I will lift arms: chest press, seated row, shoulder press, lat pulldown, biceps, and triceps – 3 sets of 10.  Hopefully I will get on the elliptical or a bike for a bit of a cooldown. 

That’s the plan, we’ll see how it goes…