Triathlon Training

The Triathlon Training Center Swim Better at MensHealth.com

A great guide for Triathlon Training! I am really really hoping to be able to do the SLO Triathlon this year. I have been "training" for about a month now, not hardcore or anything, but enough to build my endurance. I'm able to do interval runs of 5 miles in 55 mins and swim 32 laps in a 25 yard pool within 11 mins. Not too bad. I am having problems with my right knee still but it has gotten a lot better since I've lost 10 lbs and been working out more. I was able to run 25 mins straight the other day w/ no pain! I was so ecstatic. I tried to push it but I could feel my knee start giving out so I started doing interval runs after. I ran 35 mins total so enough to do a 5K. I figure if I can push both kids in the BOB stroller and run a 5K in 30 mins or a 10K in 1.5 hrs then sheez, I can run a 5K now in less than 30 mins! It's just so frustrating when I know I CAN do all of this and in good time, but my body is failing me. Sucks getting old. Well, I can't really blame age entirely. It's my fault for always going into hibernation (eating all I want and barely working out) during the winter months. I can't expect that my metabolism and endurance will always snap back like usual. Now that I am getting older, I am finding that it's not as easy as it used to be. I used to be able to pick up right where I left off from 3 months prior but no such luck these days. Well, I just realized I have to swim 36 lengths at the Sinsheimer Pool (where the triathlon is held in July) so I need to start doing that. Off to go for a run then swim in the cold! Brrrrr!

Season Premiere of "MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY" Chapter 6.5

MARCH 1, 2011 = 165 lbs


APRIL 1, 2011 = 155 lbs


GOAL = 135 lbs


WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY...AGAIN
I am finding that it's getting tougher and tougher to lose weight each year. I've never really had any problems with my metabolism and I certainly have never really had to watch what I ate. Yes, I was one of the lucky ones. WAS, keyword.

But after having children, my oh my, how things have changed. It's definitely a different world I live in now. Always paying attention to nutritional guides (caring about them is a whole 'nother issue though), getting my ass moving, drinking more water and making sure I don't binge too much on cookies and cake. This is what my thoughts consist of now..."must eat...good food", "must work out...sweat it out", "must make time for playtime with kids...chores...running errands...cooking...eat...drink water...exercise". My thoughts are running all day long about being healthier. It's a constant battle, every single day.

As of March 1st, I devoted myself back to being healthy. It's never easy giving up the sugar, the carbs, the good stuff. But the South Beach Diet has proven to be successful for me and it's the best way for me to jumpstart my journey back into the healthy bandwagon. 2 weeks of eating only protein, dairy and some vegetables (no peas, carrots, corn...you know the yummy ones). The best way to detox and honestly, not so bad after the 1st day. I actually don't have a hard time giving up the bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, all that stuff. It's the sugar. Damn that sugar. But honestly, I must admit I still have a little sugar here and there. That must be the culprit as to why the fat has decided to stick so darnly well to my body.

As of March 1st, I also started doing the Chalean Extreme workout program. It's a really bad ass kick your butt type of program but totally doable! All you have to have is a towel, water, weights or bands and a big smile. :) So far so good. I love the workouts. They make me feel good and I sure do sweat a lot. Every single workout, I SWEAT profusely. That must a be a good sign right? Lol.

Well, I've tracked my progress and I have to be honest with myself. As frustrated as I am with my weight loss journey so far (it's just such a sloooowwwww process and all who know me know I have no patience whatsoever), I have to be accepting of the fact that it's only going to get harder as we get older. I have lost 10 lbs so far (even with cheat days in between). 10 lbs is a lot to be proud of, but I still have a long road ahead. After gaining 25 lbs in a course of 4 months, 10 lbs is a very small number. :(

August 2009 = 135 lbs
August 2010 = 140 lbs
January 2011 = 165 lbs
March 2011 = 155 lbs
Short-term goal = 145 lbs
Long-term goal = 135 lbs

This is my way to keep mysef accountable. More progress to come!

Weight loss journal...

First off, I'm not really one to "diet" or eat healthy. I just love food TOO much to give (the good stuff) it up. I've been trying to maintain my weight by moderation, portion control and exercise. Having 2 kids breeds activity, so that's a plus. Exercising has always been a huge part of my life. I was also blessed with a great metabolism (and luck) and ate whatever I want whenever and never really gained. Then when I got pregnant with Connor, I got into a real funk. I had the mentality of "I'm pregnant...I'm eating for two...I can eat whatever I want!" 65 lbs later, my battle with weight began. I didn't have a hard time losing the first 50 lbs but the last 15 was a toughie. I even joined Weight Watchers...only to get pregnant again a few weeks into it!

I gained another 50 lbs with Isabella and to think, I didn't nearly eat as bad as I did when I was pregnant with Connor. Surprisingly enough, I ended up at the same exact weight right before giving birth! What a coincidence!

I never thought that weight would ever again be an issue in my life but it is. I was anorexic once upon a time and luckily I got help before it got too bad. Due to my many episodes of passing out after practice, my swim coach in HS finally said something and then it hit me "Wow, I'm anorexic?" I guess in my mind I rationalized it as being something else. When in reality, I wasn't eating much and exercising a ton (I worked out 4 hrs a day!). For a long time I struggled with being called "anorexic" because I just didn't think I was...(denial is such a curse!) So it wasn't really hard to get back into becoming "healthy" again since I loved food so much. Just that one year was particularly scary because I truly honestly didn't even know I was being unhealthy at the time. But looking back...I'm like DUH!

Then several years later, I got into a pretty wild lifestyle...trying anything and everything for fun. I admit, those 2 years were definitely fun and there are some days when I think, "Gosh, it was so easy to lose a ton of weight using drugs. This trying to eat healthy & exercising is CRAP" But that moment passes and I just keep trying harder to continue doing it the right way. It just sucks to not have the same metabolism anymore!

I've been doing it the "right" way for the most part (except I can't just give up sweets, fat, junk, you know the GOOD stuff) but I will never forget the times I took the easy route. It makes me realize that I'm a much stronger person now because of it. So as I take each day one at a time, I try to make it a point to at least be active for the day so that I can shove whatever I want into my mouth! HA! I still struggle with it every day. But I am soooooooooo fricken proud of myself. It's taking me much longer than anticipated to lose the baby weight, but I'm happy to finally have some curves!!! LOL!

I'm attempting to run my 2nd 5K this coming Sunday. I am so nervous! I just feel like I'm gonna die...running is so not my forte. Swimming is definitely my thing...I even swam a 1/2 mile nonstop the other day. Woo Hoo! I'm also thinking of doing a mini-triathlon in May. Am I crazy or what?!