Progress?

With the end of phase one complete I weighed myself and took measurements to compare with my measurements 4 weeks ago. My weight loss is a measly half pound but it appears I've lost an inch all the way around. The inches lost are more important than the weight since it clearly shows I'm building muscle (muscle weighs more than fat but takes up less space). So while this is all a positive outcome I just don't see it. My pants are still tight and every pair seems to give me a muffin top. This is so frustrating for me since I've never gained weight in my middle area. I've always been a person who gains weight in the butt and thighs and maintains a flat stomach. It's strange that I'm now packing it on in the midsection. Maybe this is what 40 does to you?

I am no expert by any means but I'm convinced that p90x just does not include enough cardio. At least it doesn't seem to be enough cardio for me. Don't get me wrong, what cardio it does have is killer but it's just not enough for this cardio junkie. With an hour and a half invested in p90 each day it's hard to fit much else in but this week I managed to squeeze in two runs. Next week my goal is three. The runs weren't easy but felt great! If anything, running works wonders for my mental health and that's enough reason to add it back in. Truth be told I'm hoping that it rids me of this muffin top as well. I'm thinking that maybe my body is just as addicted to the running as my mind is and it's rebelling by making me suffer with a muffin top. "Hey Body...You Win..I will run and I will love it..you don't have to tell me twice!"

Speaking of progress, after a potty train fail over a month ago Logan is trained. She is such a strong willed little thing. This time it was her idea to try again and wouldn't you know it...success. I'm convinced that because it was our idea the first time she just wasn't interested. Can I tell you just how happy this Mommy is to be done with diapers for good? I'm so proud of my youngest little gal. How do they grow up so fast?

Pushing Through It

Just entered the "recovery week" at the end of the first phase of p90x. If this is what Tony Horton considers recovery I think he needs his head checked! At the end of this week (Saturday) it will be 4 weeks...it feels like 4 years! I miss running!!

 I'd like to try to work some running back in but with most workouts being 90 minutes and the workouts being 6 days a week, I'm finding it hard to find time for much else. I intend on running The Broad Street run in May so I will have to start fitting in some runs soon. So far there is not much cardio at all in p90x and I feel like that's why I'm not really noticing any results. I suppose I feel a little stronger and some parts of me look a little more muscular but my middle is suffering. Lately every pair of pants I put on give me a total muffin top. I am not used to this. I've never been the muffin top type...my middle is just not usually where I put on weight. At the end of this 1st phase (Saturday) I intend on taking measurements to compare with my before measurements so I suppose I will see then if there is any difference. I have dropped a couple pounds but nothing to speak of.

My eating has mostly gone back to normal with my 80/20 mentality of eating really well 80% of the time and indulging 20%. This instead of my 80% indulgence and 20% healthy eating that I had fallen into over the recent holidays and birthdays. Sometimes I think not eating meat can be worse for my waistline because often when you eat out either because you want to or have to, there just aren't very many vegetarian choices. The lack of appealing veg options usually leads to eating a big plate of fries or cheese quesidillas. Don't worry, I still heart you PJ's and your famous fries and Guiness specials!

The other thing I'm finding very hard about sticking with this is the fact that I have to work out at home. I am a social butterfly and not seeing my "gym buddies" is getting to me. Also, I have to set Logan up with a show and a snack while I'm working out and that never lasts. I'm constantly having to hit the pause button to deal with her latest need. I miss dropping her off at kids club and having that hour to hour and a half to focus on myself.

My positive attitude is dwindling but worry not, I'm not giving up....yet.

p90x and a sore bum!!

Today I just completed my first week of p90x and let me tell you what....it's killer. I'm not following the recommended eating plan as I know how to eat right and I can't stand to follow someone else's menu. My body is sore in spots that I never knew existed! It's a good soreness but I'm suffering a little. My hate for laundry is at an all time high (my laundry room is downstairs)!

Although I'm not following the suggested meal plan I ate really well all week. I am up 7lbs from my usual weight, the weight where I feel my best. I'm sure this is due to the holidays, the Disney trip and all three of my girls' Birthday. I hate the feeling of my clothes being tight! It makes me want to wear sweatpants every day. This is why I decided to go to extremes and devote the next 90 days to p90x.

I'd like to say that I'm enjoying the p90x workouts but I really am not. I miss running! I'm hoping that once the workouts become a little easier for me (they will, won't they?) I can add in some runs because nothing beats the high that I get from a run. The Broad Street Run is right around the corner so I can't slack too much on the running.

Wish me luck for the next 83 days! I hope my bum can survive!

2012 Is Here!

I'm not going to ramble on about how I haven't written in a while or why I haven't. Who cares, honestly?

2012 is here and a lot of bloggers are throwing out a word that they are going to live/breathe by in 2012. I'm not going to do that, not because I don't think it's a worthy exercise in resolving to be a better person than who you were in 2011, but because I think I'd do better to throw out a theme word from 2011 and resolve to be a little less of it. In 2011, I was ungrateful. In fact, I'm pretty sure I could say I've been ungrateful for about 40 years to be exact. I am a blessed and lucky girl...I'm not going to bore you with all the reasons I am because, honestly, most of us are and my reasons are no different. I'm just going to say that I want to turn things around and work on learning to be, and being grateful. Not just in 2012 either, but for the rest of my years. Do I have a plan for how I'm going to do this? No, not really. I am just going to take it one day at a time. Will I update you on how my 2012 project grateful is going? Ahhh..I'm not sure because I'm not even sure I can call it a project and we all know my track record on posting updates to this blog anyway. I just had some thoughts I wanted to get down on "paper" today. Who knows how long it will be before that desire pops up again ;)

~Bobbie

Bruised

The most embarrassing thing happened to me the other day!
I flew off the back of the treadmill Biggest Loser style, in the middle of the gym!
I wish I had a picture or video clip to show but I was too busy falling and flying ;)

How did it happen?
After finishing my treadmill run I stepped off to get a paper towel to clean it. Yes, I actually wipe it down when I'm done, as everyone should. I thought I had turned it off but apparently I hadn't. I stepped up on the treadmill and 1st I went down and then right off the back! Fortunately, I only suffered a couple of bruises, the biggest of which was my ego.
In all my years of running on the treadmill at home and at the gym this is the 1st time this has happened to me and hopefully the last.

Speaking of running, I am in the process of building up my mileage right now to prepare to start my training schedule at the end of the month. Unfortunately, my right leg is still bothering me and it seems to have moved into the left a little. I think I am at the point where I'm going to need to visit the doctor. My self diagnosis of sciatica might be right but everything I've read says that the pain should have gone by now with proper care. Though I've been doing tons of stretching some icing and some rest the pain is still going strong.

Why God Makes 2 year-olds Cute

Why is it that God makes two year-olds so stinking cute? I'll tell you why:

~They wake you up at 5am asking to sleep in your bed and you let them because you just want 5 more minutes.

~They run away from you in public places and you have to run after them looking like a fool.When you finally catch them they fight with you and you have to carry them screaming and kicking out of the place...and again you look like a fool.

~At bedtime and nap time you have to put them back in bed 25 times and then you're so tired you have to take a nap instead of throwing in a load of laundry.

~When you take them to the store you have to buy them a lollipop just so they won't embarrass you.

~When you try to put them in their car seat they scream, kick and throw their body forward so that you have to be an expert wrestler just to get them buckled in. When you look up you see people staring at you and you can see on their faces that they are considering a phone call to child protective services.

~They eat crayons and you let them because you just can't fight anymore.

~You show up late everywhere because they can't find their favorite stuffed animal or you can't find their left shoe.

~They don't want you hugging or kissing their sisters because it's all about them.

~They don't eat, you don't want them to starve, so you let them drink 10 glasses of milk each day and when you tell the pediatrician this, you get in trouble.

Thank God her kisses taste like bubblegum!

A Reason To Run

The other day the husband registered us for The Broad Street run. This is a 10 miler that we've run in the past. It is a fun, fast, flat race. This year they are capping the run at 30,000. Registration opened on Saturday and it's already been closed...unbelievable!! Last year the husband and I missed out because we waited too long to register. Since I had already started training for the run I was pretty disappointed. That was last year, this year we are IN!

Now let the training begin (at the end of February actually)! I haven't been running too much recently because I have something going on with my right leg and lower back on the right side. My guess is that it's my sciatic nerve. It has acted up on me in the past. I've still been hitting the gym and doing a lot of other things like Zumba, Spinning and Body Works and throwing in a short 3 or 4 miler once a week. Over the next few weeks I will be easing back into my running and my training schedule will start about 10 weeks out.  It will look something like this:

This schedule is loosely based on Hal Higdon's intermediate 15k training schedule. This is not carved in stone because there will be times when a workout will be missed and sometimes the days will be flipped. Some weekends my long run may happen on a Saturday and REST will be Sunday. I also intend on incorporating my Zumba classes into this schedule as cross training since I enjoy them so much, and maybe even a spinning class or two. In other words, I reserve the right to flip and maneuver this schedule however I see fit. :)

Wish me luck!