Wow! I just realized it has been almost an entire year since I blogged. I guess once I reached my goal weight, I just sort of fell off the face of the earth! LOL Not really. I just fell off extrapounds. I thought I'd check in just to show I still haven't gained any. I guess I have gained a bit of muscle, but I've lost about 6-7% body fat in a year. My current body fat % according to my Tanita scale is around 19%. That is actually below normal, but because I'm an athlete now, that's o.k. My weight is still not below normal because I have muscle. :) I have dropped at least another size since I was last here as well. Losing all that body fat really helped me lose the inches. Unfortunately, I also lost inches in my bustline. I'll take it, though! I'm consistently wearing a size 4 now, which I NEVER thought I'd EVER be again. That's what I wore when I got married, even though I was about 8 pounds lighter. It is all about body composition. I weigh more now, but I also have a lot less fat and a lot more muscle. I feel better, and my metabolism has sped up. I feel hungry all the time!
So, what have I been up to? Well, I'm still running and doing triathlons. I have done 3 triathlons this season (one each in June, August, and Sept), and I'm currently training for my last of the season -- a Half-Ironman!! That is a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run. I feel ready except my knee has started to act up lately when I ride my bike. Hopefully, it has healed over the weekend since I took it off from riding. My typical training week is at least 10 hours of training. Here's my schedule:
Monday -- rest day (Bible Study) Tuesday -- Bike morning (1 hour, hills), swim evening (30-40 mins.) Wednesday -- Run intervals (3-5 miles) Thursday -- Bike morning (1-1.5 hour), swim evening (40-60 mins.) Friday -- Run medium (40-60 mins) Saturday -- Long bike (3+ hours, 50-60 miles) Sunday -- Long run (2+ hours lately, 10-12 miles)
This week is my last high volume week before I start to taper off for my race on Oct. 5. I'm ready for a break from training, but I won't stop. I'll just shift to more running to train for my half marathons and 10Ks coming up.
I did realize that swimming REALLY burns fat! I took a Masters swim class for 3 months. I only went once a week because that's all I had time for, but the practice was 1.25 hours, and it was hard. That's when I saw a significant drop in my body fat. I didn't lose a pound (I don't need to), but that body fat and those inches came off. I've got to get back to swimming more.
It has been a LONG time since I checked in. I did my last triathlon on Labor Day, which was an Olympic distance tri. It was great. I beat my goal time by 8:00, and I had so much fun!! I hadn't weighed myself in at least a month because DH borrowed the scale for something in the garage, and I just never went back out to get it. I finally brought it in today because I was 127 on the doctor's scale the other day with clothes and shoes on! So, I weighed myself this afternoon (I usually weigh in the morning) with clothes on, and I was 124. Wow! I guess the weight is still coming off slowly!
I was in a car accident a week ago, though, so I haven't exercised in 10 days. My 22 month old son was with me. We are both o.k., but my van was totaled. We picked up our new (to us) van yesterday, and it is SO nice. I didn't hit the other guy (I hit a concrete pillar), but he was at fault, so his insurance company should be paying us soon.
Anyway, I'm hoping to run again on Thursday, but we'll see. My knees were badly bruised, so we'll see how they feel.
I just wanted to report more weight loss, which makes me super happy. When I get back to the gym, I'm getting my body fat tested, then I'm getting a Tanita scale that measures body fat. I'm starting my half marathon training in about a month.
That's really all that's going on with me these days. I've been super busy, but the kids all love school, and I'm loving having a little time to myself.
Well, I haven't blogged in 2 months. I've been quite busy this summer with the kids and my triathlons. I just finished my 3rd sprint triathlon, and I'm training now for an Olympic distance triathlon on Labor Day. That will end my triathlon season and begin my half marathon training season.
I got a "new" road bike on Memorial Day off craigslist, so I did all 3 tris with it, and it is awesome. I like cycling so much more now. I'm doing quite well at the triathlons and I'm REALLY enjoying it. It is so fun, and the whole triathlon community is so friendly.
I haven't lost any more weight, but I'm maintaining just fine. Training 6 days a week makes it pretty easy, though! I go up and down about 2-3 pounds, but that is fine with me. That's just where my weight is going to stay until I get a tummy tuck (maybe next year). ;)
The kids are all doing well. We are all ready for school to start, though. Normally, we'd be getting ready right now, but this year we still have 2 1/2 more weeks!
Wow! I can't believe it has been almost a month since I blogged! Life does get busy. I weighed in this morning at an all time low of 124.5! I don't really see myself losing any more because I'm maintaining this weight even with all the exercise I'm doing. That's o.k. I'm happy with where I am right now (though my hips could shrink some!!)
My triathlon training is going well. I only have 6 more days until my first triathlon. I got a "new" bike off craigslist a week ago, and I've ridden it twice. I love it! It is so comfortable to ride, and it is pretty! I already signed up for 2 more triathlons. I'm going to sign up for one more, but it is twice the distance (an Olympic distance), so I want to wait until after my first triathlon to make sure I'm not in over my head. My BIL will be doing it, and he's in medical school, so I should have time to train for it. It isn't until Labor Day, but the training takes a lot of time (like riding my bike for 2-2 1/2 hours).
I know a triathlon sounds intimidating to lots of people, but I highly recommend signing up for one and training for it if you want to really get in shape. I'm doing the Danskin triathlon, and I hear it is the most inspiring and the best one to do for your first one. It is all women (sorry, guys!), and no one finishes last! There are training programs you can pay for and do or you can just find one online to follow.
Here are the distances: 800m swim, 12 mile bike, 3.1 mile run. The swim is the hardest for most people, but the bike has been my weakness. We have lots of hills here. My new bike has really helped, though. Everyone can ride a bike, and most people can at least walk 3 miles. The swim takes some practice if you aren't a strong swimmer, but at the Danskin there is lots of support.
I jammed my toe last Thursday, so I haven't been able to run, but I think I'll be able to run on it today. This is my taper week, so I'll be taking it easy. This week's plan is:
Monday: Run (3-5 miles) Tuesday: Swim (20-30 mins.) Wednesday: Bike (30 mins.) Thursday: Rest Day Friday: Bike/Run brick (bike 45 mins., run 20 mins. back to back) Saturday: Rest Day Sunday: RACE!!!
AND -- drink LOTS of water! I've been dehydrated lately because it has become hot, so I need to drink more. I went on an hour long bike ride yesterday, and it was 93 degrees. I drank 3 water bottles! I finally felt hydrated after all that.
I haven't had any time to blog lately. DDs' birthday was yesterday, so we had the fiesta party on Saturday. It went well and was lots of fun. We have a birthday party this weekend and the following weekend. The next 2 weeks at school are crazy too! I can't believe they only have 13 days left of school! Wow!
I have been keeping up relatively well with my triathlon training. I didn't swim any last week, but I'm really going to try to swim twice this week to make up for it. Here are my workouts for the past 2 weeks:
Sunday 4/22: 13.5 mile bike (60:00) Monday 4/23: Rest day Tuesday 4/24: 3 mile run on TM (32:00) Wednesday 4/25: 8 mile bike on stationary, hills (30:00) Thursday 4/26: 1600m (1 mile) swim (32:00) Friday 4/27: 3 mile run on TM (33:00), 1 mile elliptical (10:00) Saturday 4/28: 20.7 mile bike (1:40:00) Sunday 4/29: 4.4 mile trail run (52:00) Monday 4/30: Rest Day Tuesday 5/1: Bike/Run Brick -- 11 mile/42:00 bike followed by 2 mile/21:00 run Wednesday 5/2: none -- too busy! Thursday 5/3: Busy again! Friday 5/4: 7.75 mile bike on stationary (30:00) Saturday 5/5: 4.1 mile run (46:00) Sunday 5/6: 10 mile bike (46:00) Monday 5/7: Rest day (DDs' birthday!) Today: 3.6 mile run on TM (40:00)
Wow! In 2 weeks, I exercised for about 9 hours total. I did not include all the walking I do to and from school (that's 2 miles day, which is about 50 mins. a day) because I don't walk all that fast.
I have eaten horribly, so I haven't weighed. I know I have gained some, though. With the birthday party, I ate too many sweets (cake, ice cream, candy, etc...) I'm going to get back into my no bad snacking routine.
It's been a while since I blogged. Life is just so busy these days. I never reported on my 5K. I did awesome. My time was 26:35, which is my fastest pace ever at 8:31/mile. Now, I'm taking it easy on the running. I'm trying to bike more.
Let's see, exercise for this week: Sunday - ran 5K Monday- rest day Tuesday- stationary bike, 35 mins., 10 miles on level 6 hills Wednesday- ran 4 miles at easy pace, 44 mins. Thursday- swam 1000m, 22 mins. Friday- rest day because DS was sick, so I had to take him to the doctor, but I did do a few core exercises at home Saturday- I'm going for a 5-6 mile run in the morning
Sunday will be a long bike of at least 12 miles, but I hope I get farther than that in an hour.
I just bought a heart rate monitor a week ago and have been using it. I'm trying to stay in my target zone as much as possible. My problem is I tend to go too hard and too fast, so I'm way above my target, working my anaerobic system instead of my aerobic system. I need to take it easy and increase my aerobic fitness by exercising less intensely for longer. Now that I have a HRM, I can find my zones more accurately. The formulas aren't even close for me! I need to stay around 160 for running and biking and closer to 150 while swimming. I'm doing well. I'm starting to recognize when I cross over into my anaerobic zone. I've read a lot about this, and now it is making more sense. DH still doesn't buy it.
I also got all my swim gear today, including my tri suit. I'm so excited. My swim gear (kickboard, fins, paddles, and pull buoy) is really going to help me get stronger on the swim and just stronger in general. I'm excited to start doing some drills so the laps are not so boring. My tri top looks awesome too! My shorts were missing, so they are shipping them today.
Well, I gotta get to bed now. It is almost midnight!
Well, my tri training is going pretty well. I kind of had to take a break over the past week because I've been busy. I ran on Saturday, but that's it. Last week I missed my swim and bike because of the weather. I missed my run yesterday because I was working at the gym. Today I'm back on track. It's a 35 min. bike on the stationary and a 1000m swim. I did do some weights and core last night, so all was not lost. I'm hanging in there. I just really need to get on that bike outside. That's my weakness.
I do have a 5K race this weekend, and I have hardly run this week. I need to run at least twice before the race. Hopefully, I can fit that in. I ordered a heart rate monitor so I can start some HR training. It will be here Friday! I'm so excited!
I can't believe it! I had almost given up on getting down to 125. I stepped on the scale this morning and saw 125. I had to get off and back on a couple times to believe it. Finally all my running, biking, swimming, and weight lifting paid off!
It's funny because the lowest I got before this was 126, and that was on Christmas. I guess holidays are good days for me.
I had set my goal at 120 when I reached 126. I think I jinxed myself. I put it back at 125 last week. So, I'm not changing my goal now. I'll just keep trying to lose and see what happens. I'm happy with 125. If I can maintain that for life I'll be happy! :)
I haven't taken measurements in 2 months because they just weren't changing. I've felt a little thinner lately, so I decided to take my measurements this morning. Since Feb., I lost an inch in my waist, 1.5 inches in my chest, and 1/2 inch in my hips.
I wish I'd taken measurements when my before picture was taken, but I didn't get serious about losing weight until July. Since I started running in August, I have lost the following:
neck -1 inch (12") chest -4 inches (partly due to stopping nursing!) (34") waist -3 inches (27") hips -1.5 inches (37.5")
I haven't lost any inches in my arms or my thighs or calves. My arms and calves aren't a problem because they are lean and muscular (I'd actually like my arms to get bigger), but my thighs could stand to be a little smaller. With all my running, you'd think my thighs would get smaller. They are 22", which seems really big to me! My daughters' waists are 22"!! I've always had large thighs and hips (it's hereditary). My hips haven't gotten much smaller either, which is frustrating.
Oh!! One more measurement that is a biggie for me, but extrapounds doesn't include it. My measurement around my belly button area (this is where I have extra skin from my twin pregnancy and where most pants hit me these days) is 30 inches!! I think the last time I measured, it was 31, so I lost an inch there too! Yea! In August, it was 34 inches, so I've lost 4 inches there.
I'm easily a size 6, which I'm happy with. I have a few pair of pants in size 4, but I think they just ran big. I tried to get my daughter to take a picture of me yesterday, but she couldn't quite get all of me in the frame! There was one that may work. I'll try to put it up on here.
I've decided my body just wasn't meant to weigh 120, so I think I'll go for 125 and be happy with that. I've been 128 for about 8 years, which is what I am now, so I should be happy with that. I'm just not going to be as small as I was 10 years ago (when I got married) I want to just keep building muscle and see what happens.
I went for a swim yesterday for the first time as part of my triathlon training. I have been a swimmer all my life, but I haven't swam seriously for 10 years. I had no clue how I would do. Well, I easily swam 800m, which is how far I have to swim for the tri. I did it in about 16-17 minutes (I lost count, on my laps so I'm not exactly sure), which isn't too shabby! I felt great after my swim. I know the swimming is going to really help me get to my goal.
I did better on my water yesterday, but I need to do even better. It was cooler weather, so it was hard for me to drink cold water. I know, excuses, excuses!! LOL
Thanks for all the comments! I have been doing a little research for this triathlon training I'm doing. I need to slow down because my heart rate is too high for training. I'm training at a race pace and HR. I can get hurt doing that.
My max HR is 188. My aerobic zone (my training zone) is 135-150. I've been running at my max and biking at about 165. So, I need to take it easier for my training. That is a relief for me actually. I'm one to push push push. After my 5K next week, I'll really slow down my pace and just run longer. I need a HR monitor too I guess. I also need a watch with a stop watch that I can swim in! All this gear! I think I can get it all in one.
All you runners or wannabe runners out there -- you CAN do it!! Just keep running! I never thought I'd be running like this in this short of time. The couch-to-5K program is so awesome, so check it out if you haven't already!
Well, I gotta go drink some water now! I've had more to drink today than usual, but I still need to drink more.
