Playing Catch-Up

The half marathon is on Sunday!  I'm nervous and excited and I'm just hoping to finish at this point!  I have been struggling with my runs lately.  Running has become somewhat of a chore and with the chilly weather in New England it's been tough to get going.  Saturday I ran 8.5 miles and ended up in lots of pain and a WICKED tight IT band.  The massage therapist at work helped me out for a little while on Tuesday and squeezed the crap out of my leg and it seems to have done the trick.  I'm still foam rolling and using the stick on my leg and doing lots of stretching.  I'm just going to try and stay postive and hope to make it to the end!

After the half I am planning on buying a bike.  I'm not sure that my body is built for running long distances.  I feel injured or just super tight really often, so I think something a little more low impact is the way to go.  The weather here should be warming up at some point (fingers crossed!) so it will be fun to get outside on a bike.

The Health Coach program at IIN is so fun!  The online classes are really interesting and I'm learning a lot!  Some of the info is review, but I also haven't been using my nutrition degree for the past year or so which makes the review really nice.  I can't believe that in just 6 months I'll be qualified to take on clients...that's not too far away :o)  I'm starting to think about what kind of people I want to work with...general, children, moms-to-be, who knows!  I'm going to figure it out along the way.

My new job has been so much fun.  I'm about a month in and I'm so so happy.  I look forward to working with my clients and teaching my classes everyday and love how laid back my boss is.  I was done at 12:00 today!  It was great :o)

That's it for now!  Off to watch Idol!

A New Yoga Experience

I tried a new yoga studio yesterday which is in the same building where I work.  I was really tempted to go to my usual place, but I thought I should change it up a little and try something new. 

Let's just say the greeting at the studio wasn't very warm.  The instructor didn't have me sign any waivers, which I thought was really weird, and she didn't tell me her name.  There are 2 studios and people were filing into both and I was given no direction of where to go or what props to grab when I got in there.  Already I was skeptical and class hadn't even started yet.

The instructor came in to the room and said that we would be holding poses for a long time and that yesterday she did only 6 poses in 3 hours.  I was in for the longest class in history. 
About 30 minutes into class we had done about 3 or 4 poses.  I hated it.  It was completely different from any kind of yoga I had done before, the people in the class were all chatting, the room was bright and it was kind of chilly in there.

Then, I realized how ridiculous I was being.  Everything I thought was negative and I was stopping myself from enjoying the class!!  The instructor started walking around and adjusting us in poses and I started to really get into class. 

I know I can get that way.  When I'm out of my comfort zone or dealing with any change, I start thinking really negatively.  Once I changed my thinking, I started to really like the class, and I'm planning on going back tomorrow!  I'm making it a goal to think more positively about myself and things in my life everyday :o)

Side Note:  The instructor asked during relaxation if anyones back or hips hurt.  I raised my hand because sometimes in Savasana my lower back really hurts.  She came over and asked me to pull my knees into my chest...ok, normal.  THEN...she straddled my legs and sat on them.  It was really difficult to keep a straight face but she was serious about it and she did it two more times!! Really my back felt much better after.  Although it was still prrrretty strange!

Source

It's a sunny day in Boston!!!

I started my courses at IIN yesterday and I love it!  Ok, I know it's only the first day, but I really think this is going to work for me...I can listen to the classes whenever I want, however many times I want, and I have free range to use any materials on their website to help me build a business!  After 6 months I can begin taking on clients and could potentially pay off my tuition (which is a steal!) before I graduate in April 2012.  I'm really excited, if you can't tell :o)

Yesterday was also my first day working full-time at the Personal Training/Spinning studio!  I have worked there part-time since June, but decided--for many reasons--that I would move on from my corporate fitness job, and go full-time at the studio.  I have a great schedule, get to go home for lunch (YAY not eating out of Tupperware!), and can workout between clients.  This is really key because now I don't have to do my workouts at 5am or 8pm...I ran 5 miles on the treadmill yesterday and did lots of stretching and abs all at 4pm!  Woo Hoo!

Here's my abs workout:

Ball Crunches- 3x20

Ball Crunch with Rotation- 3x20

Ball Plank- 3x20 sec

Captain's Chair Crunch- 3x20

Side Bends- 3x15 with 20lb dbs  

Very simple, but this says a lot!  I really don't like working my abs AT ALL.  I've tried all the tricks, putting them at the beginning of my workout, doing exercises during commercials, forcing myself to do them...everything.  I have found that my abs gets a pretty good workout through yoga and my weight training routine, so I'm just going to do them when I feel like it.  I'm not too worried...not looking for a 6 pack here :o)

Now I'm off to yoga (LOVE this schedule) then doing some reading, weight training (2nd time this week!!!!) and off to work!

A Good Week is Ahead!

Today's run was not so great.  It started with 5 on the treadmill which were fine and then I went outside to finish the last 5.  I only made it about 3 more miles and everything started to hurt.  My calves, quads, hip flexors, IT band..everything.  I should have just stayed inside!  I haven't been doing the shorter runs throughout the week, so it's my own fault.   

I'm starting my job full-time this coming Monday!  I'm really excited, but I'm even more excited to be able to add some fun workouts into the mix!  Here's my plan:

Sunday:  Weights- total body; Yoga

Monday:  Run (4-5 miles); LOTS of stretching

Tuesday:  Yoga; Weights- total body

Wednesday:  Run (6 miles); Boot Camp; Yoga

Thursday:  Weights- total body

Friday:  Spinning

Saturday:  Run (10 miles)

My schedule this week is a little off because I wasn't supposed to officially start until the 14th, but I'll get lots of hours and still have lots of time for me! 

I'm so excited to see 3 total body workouts on this schedule!  I haven't been able to do that in such a long time!  Lately, I've been having a tough time doing the cardio.  I go through stages where I love it, then hate it and right now I'm not loving the elliptical and treadmill.  But, I'll be getting my cardio through the weight training workouts, that's for sure!

I'm also starting the Health Coach program at IIN this week :o)  It's a big week! 

It feels like SPRING TIME here in the Boston area!  Highs in the upper 40s and 50s all week :o))))))

I've quit on the "no sugar/no candy" ban.  I made it 2 days and caved.  Whatever.  Sometimes you just need chocolate.  Like really, how can you pass up Mini-Eggs on sale?  If I want it, I'll eat it and just try to not go overboard--like not eating the entire bag--failed and it was the big bag.  Last night, I bought a cake and had 1.5 slices.  I didn't eat the whole thing.  Progress. And this morning I only had a bite of the frosting. Which is a lie. I had a whole slice.  I threw the rest away.

I'm not doing so hot on the veggies.  I eat at least one vegetable every day, but I know that's not enough.  I need to add at least one snack that's a vegetable.  Instead of an apple, some carrots will do.  This morning I had a nice handful of spinach in my omelet,  so that's good.  It cancels out that honking slice of cake I ate.

I'm off to the Celitcs game tonight with my sister and Dad, so there's really no hope for me today.  Oh well, tomorrow is a new day...

Best Playlist Everrrrrr!

My Spinning class was so much fun today!  There are always classes that are better than others, but today's was awesome! 

Here's the magical playlist:

The first song was a warm up, then we went right to work.  Song 2 was fast with light/medium resistance (120-130 RPMs), song 3 was a heavy hill (60-80 RPMs), then we just alternated fast and flat with heavy hills.  It's simple, but it worked really well.  I love when the fit people in my class are breathless...it means I'm doing something right!!  And let's be honest, Let's Go Crazy  is the best way to end any class :)

Also, I want to be here:



I <3 hiking in Texas



This was from a cross country road trip last year.  If spring is on its way to Boston that means summer isn't too far behind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Bring on the heat and the sun!