Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Going Swimming

Yesterday I had a really great workout. I also finished up physical therapy. I started my internship with Cliche Magazine. And I signed up for my English class over the summer. Overall, it was a good day. Tonight I am going to Callen's house since he is having his wisdom teeth out tomorrow morning. But soon I am going over to the gym to get in my first swim since November. I am so excited. It feels great to be back in a bathing suit and I imagine it will feel even better once I am in the pool.

As for last night's workout, here is what I did:
bike for 50 min- level 7 ride in the park
30 kettle bell swings
2 x 25 squat jumps
10 dips
2 x 15 single arm fly-aways
2 x 15 frontal dumbbell pull ups
2 x 15 lateral dumbbell pull ups
2 x 30 arm raises
2 x 4 min boxing

Monday, March 28, 2011

Triathlon

I am so happy to be starting a new week. Not that last week was particularly bad, but I just have a lot of things that I am looking forward to this week and in the near future.

First off, I just landed an internship with Cliche Magazine as a PR/Marketing intern! I am so excited. I have been applying for a bunch of internships and think this one is the perfect fit for me. The magazine is really cool and fresh, and my position sounds awesome. I will be using social networking sites to promote the magazine and find people that are interested in the magazine. When I applied for this internship I applied for a writing position in the fashion section but since they do not need any more writers at the moment I am going to be working in the PR/Marketing department. I am seriously so very excited for this. I am committed to 15-20 hours a week, which is a lot for me so hopefully everything will go smoothly for me. I will be starting ASAP :)


Second, I have decided that in addition to running I want to do a few triathlons. I have a wicked swimming background and with all the training for running that I am doing I am sure to kick some booty in a triathlon. I found a triathlon June 5 in Assateague Island Maryland that I really want to do. My family always vacations on the Virginia side of Assateague and the running course goes right through a bunch of wild ponies. When I heard about the ponies I was sold. The race is 1/4 mile swimming, 10 miles biking, and 3 miles running. I think I can handle this, and so I am going to start training for my first triathlon as a college student.


Finally, Callen mentioned that he may be going to Australia for the summer and I would be able to come with him if he goes. Now I know it isn't likely that we will go this summer, but I have always wanted to travel and this would be the perfect opportunity. We would be going for almost the whole month of July and staying in an apartment together. If the Australia trip doesn't work out we are discussion going to the Caribbean for a couple of weeks. I am hoping that if we do go to the Caribbean we can go to Costa Rica or the Galapagos Islands. I want to see nature and go on adventures.


Tomorrow I have an early morning. I have to get an allergy shot, then Tuna and I are going to Towson to shop for dresses for my cousin's wedding, and then I am going to see my surgeon at Hopkins. Hopefully I will get the okay to start swimming from the doctor. I have been dying to get back in a pool and just swim. Callen is coming up again tomorrow night so I think I am going to convince him to go to Rita's with me. I have been really craving some fruit punch Italian ice with vanilla custard.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

More Physical Therapy

Yesterday was a wonderful day spent with Callen. We took Gracie to the dog park in the rain (it wasn't raining too much), had a wonderful dinner with amazing lemon bars, and watched a lot of Bones. We recently have discovered the show Bones and it is fantastic. I love how smart the show makes me feel. Callen was going to workout but we got so caught up in watching Bones that he never got around to exercising.


I had physical therapy this morning and I am just about ready to be discharged. My strength and mobility and good, plus I feel really good. I have to see the surgeon on Monday to make sure that she thinks that everything is okay but hopefully I will be cleared to swim again. I haven't been able to get in the pool since November and I am just dying to get a nice workout in. It will be weird swimming but not training for anything but I think it will be very enjoyable to be able to get back in the water.


Tonight I am looking forward to getting a really hard workout in. I have planned out what I want to do, and hopefully I will stick with my plan. I need to figure out what I am going to do tomorrow too, but I will probably do that later tonight.


I am going to take Gracie to the dog park again tonight, but I am going to walk there with my dad. I always complain about walking to and from the park because it is such a hilly walk, but it really is a nice walk. Plus it is some extra exercise.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Work It

Last night was my crazy insane biggest loser workout. I sweated a lot and pushed myself to go way more than I thought I could. But I wish I would have done more. I know it sounds crazy but I wanted to be really sore today and I am not sore at all. My legs, however, are pretty dang tired. They weren't too bad when I woke up but now they are really feeling it. I was planning on doing my 1.5 mile run today plus some boxing and ab work, but my Tv and ipod are not working right now, and I really don't have the ability to exercise without distraction. Instead I came up with a workout plan for the rest of the week. Yay!

Since I didn't get any exercising in today I probably shouldn't have had so much too eat, but I am working on that. So far I have had some cooked spinach with Mexican cheese, two pieces of toast with bananas, honey, and cinnamon, carrots with hummus, a three cheese ziti lean cuisine, and an orange. I really need to cut back on how much I am eating if I am going to lose any weight. I weighed in this morning at 138.5, which is nothing special. I am hoping that once I really kick up my workouts that some of this weight will start to come off.

I have decided to skip the first 5K that I was going to run because it is in a few weeks and I really do not have enough training under my belt yet. I want to just focus on training for the 5K in May. I am also trying to find a 10K to run somewhere local. I want to train for something longer than a 5K but shorter than a half marathon. But so far I haven't had any luck. As of right now I am going to run the Baltimore half marathon in October. I also plan on running a 5K Labor Day Weekend and one on Thanksgiving.

All of these races mean that my training is crucial right now. I wanted to come up a plan that lays out what I need to do each day in order to achieve my goals. Although I love biking, I really need to spend more time building my cardio stamina by running either on the treadmill or outside, preferably outside. I was supposed to run 1.5 miles today but that is not going to happen so I am just adding to tomorrow's training. Here is what my training for the tomorrow of the week looks like:

Thursday:
Walk 3 min @ 3.7
Run 1.5 miles @ 5.0
4 x 25 alternating abs
4 x 25 stability ball hand offs
5 x 1 min forward plank
5 x 1 min side plank
16 min elliptical
5 x 10 power jumps
4 x 25 squat jumps
4 x 25 kettle bell swings
4 x 15 kettle bell rows
30 min bike

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

One Hundred Pushups

I love challenges. I recently found one called One Hundred Push Ups. This goal of this challenge is to be able to complete 100 consecutive push ups in six weeks. Due to my surgery this past January, I am not sure how well this will work for me. I used to be able to complete almost fifty push ups without stopping but now I can barely get to ten. I love that this challenge comes with a personalized plan to help you achieve one hundred push ups in six weeks.


I am definitely going to be taking this challenge. I will be reporting back on my training days on how I am doing with the program.

:)

I Did It

I finished my first run somewhat successfully. I ended up walking some because I really hate running on the treadmill but I actually ran 1.75 miles instead of the 1.5 I was supposed to run. I did a little bit of boxing too, which felt really great. I just love working hard and getting my heart rate pumping. My goal tonight is to do the elliptical for thirty minutes, bike for 45 minutes, and do weight training for 30 minutes. I love working out while watching Biggest Loser. I find it to motivate me and keep me wanting to work harder.


For breakfast today I had a bowl of cinnamon cheerios with almond milk. I think this is a perfect breakfast for me because I have been having some trouble eating dairy, and I am trying to eat mostly vegan foods.


When I got home from physical therapy I made some spinach, and munched on some baby carrots with hummus. Spinach is one of my favorite foods and there are so many different ways to cook it. Plus it is extremely nutritious.

Monday, March 21, 2011

No Sleep

Last night I got absolutely no sleep. I tried to go to sleep around 12:30 but ended up falling asleep close to 4, and then I had to get up at 9 for physical therapy. Due to my lack of sleep I decided to skip running before PT. I am going to just run tonight on the treadmill while I watch Pretty Little Liars. I have an international business exam that I have to take today but I think I am going to take a nap before I take the test. I am also looking forward to taking a nice hot bath later to relax. I firmly believe that a hot bath can solve just about anything. So now I am going to take my nap. I'll report later tonight on how my first run goes.

 I really want to get this hydration pack


I ate waaaay too much today and it isn't even 5. For breakfast I had some cinnamon cheerios with almond milk, which was a great way to start the day. But when I got home I started binge eating again. I had a 3 cheese baked ziti lean cuisine, a banana, a cheese biscuit, a fiber one bar, 2 weight watchers desserts, a ravioli lean cuisine, and a hummus wrap. All of this food is definitely not going to help me lose any weight. I am going to need all the motivation I can get to cut back on my eating and get my butt to the gym. I have no idea what I am going to have for dinner but I need to keep it light. Heck, I shouldn't even have anything for dinner since I ate so much throughout the rest of the day.

So I figured it out that based on what the nutritional fact panels say, I ate at least 1,170 calories today so far. And that is not even counting the cereal, banana, biscuit, and hummus wrap. I seriously ate way too much food, which means that I have burn that much more tonight when I workout. Fun, fun.

Week 1

Today begins my 8 week training program for the 5K I am going to run in May. Now I know a 5K is nothing special but I wanted to start off my picking the shortest distance and one that I know I am capable of running. From what I am seeing, tomorrow is supposed to be pretty rainy, as well as the rest of the week, so it will be a huge challenge for me to get my booty outside and actually get my running in. But I am determined to stick to my plan, because I am also using this time to lose some extra pounds that I have gained this past fall in Pittsburgh. I would love to go to my cousin's wedding and look fit and fabulous.


So tomorrow I have to run a short 1.75 miles. Since this is my first time training I have absolutely no idea what my pace should be so I am just going to start running and see what happens. I am planning on doing my run before physical therapy tomorrow since I have an International Business test to take tomorrow too. And since I am not running too far I am going to get a solid boxing workout in as well. I find that boxing is a great way to relieve some stress as well as a great way to get some cardio in and tone my arms.

Gracie butting in line at the dog park
 
If it isn't raining tomorrow I am going to walk Gracie to the dog park, which she absolutely loves. I hope tomorrow isn't a complete washout, but if it is is will be a perfect day to watch a Pretty Little Liars marathon :)

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Saturday March 19

I woke up around 8:30 and couldn't fall back asleep so I ended up getting up and knocking some school work out. I was going to go for a run this morning but my stomach was really bothering me so I decided it was for the best if I just rested today. I was planning on going down to Maryland to see Callen today but he just decided he was going to come up here since I wasn't feeling well. I previewed the book RealAge on the kindle app on my phone and the book is super interesting. I am not sure if everything in it is accurate but it definitely is intriguing. I want to do everything possible to keep my body as young as possible, which apparently I am doing a pretty good job of.


Breakfast:  two bowls of cinnamon spice oatmeal made with milk and a glass of ice water
Lunch: Lean Cuisine 3 Cheese Baked Ziti

Other: cup of ginger peach tea

Ways to Be Healthier

1. Keep allergies under control
2. Keep watching your waist
3. Get your cholesterol checked
4. Sit in the nonsmoking section
5. Sleep better
6. Appreciate your mate
7. Have more satisfying sex
8. Stay in touch with friends
9. Keep on top of stress
10. Keep your finances in order
11. Find positive coping strategies
12. Check up on feeling down
13. Maintain your sense of purpose
14. Hug your dog
15. Pet your cat
16. Keep having a healthy morning breakfast
17. Eat more grains
18. Keep reaching for fruits
19. Vary your veggies
20. Eat more nuts
21. Go easy on the junk food
22. Love life without meat
23. Get hooked on fish
24. Start taking D
25. Keep up the diversity in your diet
26. Keep up the cardio
27. Keep on stepping
28. Keep building strength
29. Keep up your flexibility exercises
30. Create a workout that works for you

Friday, March 18, 2011

Race Schedule

With three 5K races in the next few months I decided it was really crucial that I come up with a training plan ASAP. Since I haven't done training for running before I decided to try Hal Hidgon's training plan. The plan is 8 weeks but since my first 5K is in 4 weeks I just added the 5K into my training plan. If all goes well I hope to use Hal Hidgon's training plan again when I attempt my first half marathon this fall. Here is a general idea of what my 5K training plan looks like:

Sunday: Cross Training
Monday: 1.5-3 miles gradually
Tuesday: Cross Training
Wednesday: 1.5-2 miles
Thursday: Cross training
Friday: 1.5-3 miles gradually
Saturday: Rest

For my cross training I am going to incorporate biking (inside & outside), swimming, boxing, and yoga. It is so important to be flexible and well stretched for running, which is where yoga comes in. Swimming is my absolute favorite form of cardio as I used to be a competitive swimmer for the past 11 years. And biking is a great way to get outside and really enjoy nature.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Because I spent so much time planning out my training yesterday, I got to bed much later than intended and ended up sleeping in until 11:30. So I missed out on my morning run and boxing session. My first 5K is a little more than four weeks away so I am just going to start my training next week. I have been biking pretty steadily so I am confident that I won't completely die during the race. And I found 2 more races that I want to run: the Memorial Hospital Ladies 5K and the Dillsburg Pickle Chase 5K. If I run these 2 races plus the other womens 5K I will be doing one race each month.

I can't wait to start my training and begin my running journey :)

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Run Shannon, Run!

In the fall I was inspired to run a marathon.. except I never actually ran it. I wish I had the motivation and endurance to run a marathon but I really do not right now. However, on my quest to run a marathon, I have decided to start running again. I found a 5K race in my hometown that I want to run simply to see where I am at. I have been biking a few times a week and doing some light weight work but I really need to kick my training into high gear. I decided to subscribe to Runner's World Magazine, and I bought the book Run Less, Run Faster for some quality inspiration. I recently got a stability ball and a punching bag so I really plan on upping my workouts. Tomorrow I am going to go for a morning run, followed by some boxing and weight training. Hopefully my body can handle this.