Athena Sprints

So many good intentions ago...

2012-01-08T13:22:00.000-06:00

It's been two years since my last post.

In that time, I have:

Lost 30 pounds
Gained 10 pounds
Started three new jobs
Competed in two triathlons
Convinced my 14 year old daughter to do the last one with me- which she hated every minute of
Wound up in the hospital after the last one- heart infection
Sprained my ankle thinking the third last step was the last step...it was not.
Exercised with fear of either re-injuring my heart or my ankle if I work too hard...hence the regain of 10 pounds.

After the heart scare, one brother has insisted that I retire from the triathlon business. Umm...two races does not make a business, but I see his point. I have not signed up for anything this summer...but want to. I am thinking, though, that I will not compete in another tri unless I am down to at least 215. That will make it so much easier on my body/heart.

Unfortunately, my new job is a very sedentary one. Lots of desk sitting vs the standing/walking I enjoyed as a teacher. Also, I am inherently lazy.

Dear.....

2010-01-21T20:50:00.001-06:00

Dear Water Aerobic Ladies- you do not own the lockers. No where are your names engraved on the lockers. Yes, it's frustrating when a someone gets to a favorite spot before you. But, it's not like that someone intended to ruin your day. It's just a locker, and you were late.

Dear Sweaty Guy on the Elliptical- please wipe down all parts of the machine. When you wear multiple layers of clothes to work out, you will sweat profusely. That sweat drips. You miss the drips.

Dear Guy who Likes to Wear Grey Sweatpants- grey is not your color. When you sweat- everyone can see every place you sweat. It's like visual terrorism looking at your butt crack sweat.

Dear Old Man who Works Out Every Day- I am glad you have an active sex life. I don't need to hear you loudly talking about it at 6:00a.m. to the guy next to me on the treadmill.

Dear Me- be realistic. You can't miss 4 days of working out and then get pissed when your stamina and desire to push yourself is not there.

104 fever knocks me out...

2010-01-18T18:36:00.000-06:00

On Friday, I awoke to a 104 fever. I felt so out of it, I couldn't even pull together enough energy to call in sick- the wonderful husband did. I just laid around all day. And slept. And mumbled non-sensical things to my family.

The frustrating thing is we were supposed to spend the 3-day weekend in Duluth. Bill- the wonderful husband- did not trust my healing abilities and cancelled the trip. Of course, I woke up Saturday with only a 100 and could have made it work. But, it was probably best we stayed back. I did lay low all weekend just to be sure I was healed. Therefore, no gym.

I did hit the gym today, but it was packed. And my 4 days off did not make me motivated to work my ass off. So, I just biked for 30. Tomorrow, I'll hit it hard.

Things are starting to get serious on the workout front, I can't keep taking days off or going light.

	Swim	Bike	Run
Monday	• Warm up • Freestyle 300 yards • Cool Down 100 yards	Off	Walk/Jog for 35 minutes • Walk 4:30 minutes • Jog 2:30 minutes
Tuesday	Off	5 miles	Off
Wednesday	• Warm up • Freestyle 300 yards • Cool Down 100 yards	Off	Walk/Jog for 35 minutes • Walk 4:30 minutes • Jog 2:30 minutes
Thursday	Off	Off	Off
Friday	• Warm up • Freestyle 300 yards • Cool Down 100 yards	5 miles	Off
Saturday	Off	Off	Walk/Jog for 45 minutes
Sunday	Off	7 miles	Off

Gotta get a picture

2010-01-12T20:38:00.000-06:00

I need to add a profile picture to this thing, but don't want my picture. I have an idea, but just need some time to put it together.

No 4 miles on the bike today. I didn't fall asleep until 4am, and getting up at 5:15 was not going to happen. I don't know why I couldn't sleep. My husband got me 'The Time Traveler's Wife' for Christmas, and I got into it, but not so into I couldn't put it down. Maybe I was worried about work. I dropped the ball on a project and someone else did more than their fair share of helping to pick up the pieces. Today I had a lot of gluing (of the pieces) and maybe I was just nervous about it. I also had a staff meeting early...who knows.

I am also running out of winter tops that fit. I don't want to buy anything new with the hopes that my gym time will help, but will probably need to. 1,600 calories today. I think I made the mistake of weighing myself this morning- I lost 4 pounds (whoo) which then made me feel like I had some wiggle room. Umm, hello, there is no more wiggle room, dorkus.

I'm proud of my husband. He signed up for a 12-week, Biggest Loser-like program at our gym. I was totally surprised. Since his heart issues in 2002, he has struggled with getting back on track. He has overcome so much, but I also want him to be healthy. I love that guy and want him around forever.

Structure...

2010-01-11T20:00:00.004-06:00

Being a teacher, my Monday-Friday life is organized by bells. On Saturday and Sunday, I don't know how to structure my time. Add PMS and you've got a 2,000+ calorie a day weekend.

Chili's on Friday (chips, margarita, split an entree), random snacking and Culver's kid's meal for dinner on Saturday, I can't even remember Sunday. I think cookies were involved. With milk. Oh, and popcorn to watch TV with. Oh- bean soup, that was good.

And gym? What gym? My daughter had a swim meet about an hour away. Did I spend the four hours walking the halls for exercise? Nah- much easier to just sit in an uncomfortable chair and read between events. And then I was tired. So, no gym. But I did Wii Fit with my son, and did some mom and son wrestling and ab work. So that was something.

But today I was at the gym by 6a.m. and began Week 5 of my training. The running part is still hard. I wish I had someone yelling at me to keep going like those Biggest Loser people. I also need to start running off the treadmill. Maybe when the weather gets nicer.

Training schedule for the week:

	Swim	Bike	Run
Monday	• Warm up • Freestyle 250 yards • Cool Down 100 yards	Off	Walk/Jog for 20 minutes • Walk 5 minutes • Jog 2 minutes
Tuesday	Off	4 miles	Off
Wednesday	• Warm up • Freestyle 250 yards • Cool Down 100 yards	Off	Walk/Jog for 20 minutes • Walk 5 minutes • Jog 2 minutes
Thursday	Off	Off	Off
Friday	• Warm up • Freestyle 250 yards • Cool Down 100 yards	4 miles	Off
Saturday	Off	Off	Walk/Jog for 20 minutes
Sunday	Off	4 miles	Off

I'm not quite sure the plan has me going back to just 20 minutes for the walk/jog after doing a week of 30 minutes. But, to make up for the weekend, I did 35. I think I'll be sore tomorrow. Tuesdays are hard to get motivated to go because why bother for just a 4 mile bike ride? But, I know in a few weeks, I'll be wishing I could only do 4 miles.

I look forward to when I'll be seeing the fruits of my labors.

So far, so good

2010-01-06T12:43:00.005-06:00

So I re-started my official training on Monday. I had started in September, hurt myself, then quit. But since I had been working out in the interim, I just couldn't see myself going back to step one with walking 20 minutes and swimming a 50 as a workout.

So I began with Week 4 from beginnertriathlete.com-

	Swim	Bike	Run
Monday	• Warm up • Freestyle 200 yards • Cool Down 100 yards	Off	Walk/Jog for 30 minutes Walk 5 minutes • Jog 2 minutes
Tuesday	Off	4 miles	Off
Wednesday	• Warm up • Freestyle 200 yards • Cool Down 100 yards	Off	Walk/Jog for 30 minutes • Walk 5 minutes • Jog 2 minutes
Thursday	Off	Off	Off
Friday	• Warm up • Freestyle 200 yards • Cool Down 100 yards	4 miles	Off
Saturday	Off	Off	Walk/Jog for 35 minutes
Sunday	Off	5 miles	Off

Today- it took me 4:19 to swim that 200 yards. It sure would be nice if, as I add more yardage to my workouts, that I could keep it at around 4 minutes and just go faster. Unfortunately, I get really tired both kicking and stroking...and often just let my legs float while I really work my arms (much to the chagrin on my former swim coach husband).

But the way I rationalize it- 2/3 of the race involves a heavy leg workout. Why not give my legs a break during the swim? I'll see how far that takes me.

I feel kinda dumb getting out of the pool after just 10 minutes or so...but I know in the weeks to come, that time will expand and I will be wishing for the days of 200 yard swims.

I came close to eating only 1200 calories yesterday...1400. Today, I had a smoothie for breakfast and 3 small homemade lettuce wraps (chicken, broccoli slaw and a sauce made from soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger and a bit of sesame oil) for lunch with a baby orange. I'll probably do more wraps for dinner.

I keep a candy jar in my office for visitors. I have to keep reminding myself that it is for visitors- not for inhabitants who go in and out periodically throughout the day.

Visitors. Visitors. Visitors, people. Visitors.

Smackdown starts tomorrow

2010-01-03T16:44:00.003-06:00

I went to the gym today and did a pathetic excuse for a workout. I just got so dang tired on the treadmill and when I started to run, I felt like I weighed 500 pounds. So I walked 15 and then lifted weights.

Tomorrow, I will return to the work outs I started in September from the beginnertriathlete website- Couch to Triathlon in 7 months. I need to modify a few things- like it has me swimming on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. But at the gym I go to, the pool is chaos on Monday and Wednesday. So, I will adjust, print, post, and pray that I have the strength and sticktoitiveness to keep it up.

Damn cookies again today.

But, I am hard boiling some eggs as I type for this week's breakfast. And have good food scheduled for the week.

Tomorrow- 5:30 am gym. I am there.

Damn cookies...

2010-01-02T18:49:00.003-06:00

I was at the gym by 7am. I walked 35 minutes. Biked 15 and lifted weights for 15 minutes. I had bean soup for lunch. Then I went to a friend's house to bake and gab. Damn cookies. So good, yet sooooo bad. Where is the willpower? I think I need to finally admit that I can not do moderation when it comes to food. I either eat all I want, or I have nothing.

Last year, I gave up flour for Lent. I was successful 39 of the 40 days (one day cried out for a Patty Melt). But otherwise, no problem. No cravings. I made it work.

It will be easier starting Monday. I'll be back at school. Routine will re-enter my life.

Fingers are crossed.

Off to a _____ start

2010-01-01T16:15:00.000-06:00

It's hard to start a workout plan that involves a gym when the gym is closed. Internal motivation to make up an alternative work-out is not there. Cookies and guests still linger from Christmas. Years of 'clean your plate' and 'there are starving kids in Africa' mantras make it difficult to throw out non-spoiled food.

So, while today is a wash as far as diet and exercise, I am still in the triathlon state of mind. I got the book "Eat this, not that" for Christmas and have been considering the changes I will make in my diet. My husband's daughter told me that losing weight is 60% what you eat and 30% what you do (I guess the other 10 is genetics) and maintain weight is 60% what you do and 30% what you eat. I guess that explains why working out 4 days a week and not changing my eating habits has not helped me drop pounds the last 8 weeks. At least, that's what I'm telling myself.

She was told by her nutritionist that everyone will lose weight with a 1200 calorie a day diet. I was doing 16-1700. I'm pretty confident that I can keep track of my calories. Keeping them around 1200 without being a total bitch will be difficult.

I found this recipe in Prevention magazine for low-fat cookies that turned out really well. I'm posting it here because I am sure to lose it if I don't.

Chocolate Bliss Bites

1/2 C cocoa powder

pinch of salt

1/2 C sugar, divided

3 large egg whites

1/8t cream of tartar

1t vanilla

1T confectioner's sugar

Preheat oven to 300F. Line two baking sheets with foil.
In small bowl, sift together cocoa, salt and 1/4C of the sugar
In large bowl, with electric mixer at medium-low speed, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Beat in remaining 1/4 C sugar, 1/2 T at a time, until meringue is glossy and stiff peaks form. Fold in cocoa mixture and vanilla.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls about 1" apart onto prepared sheets. Bake 25 minutes for soft, chewy cookies or 40 minutes for crisp ones. Dust cooled cookies with confectioner's sugar.

Makes 24 good sized cookies.

25 cal, 1 protein, 6 carb, 0 fat, .5 fiber

With such a low calorie count, eating 5 (or more) is not that destructive.

It Begins Today...

2009-12-31T22:33:00.000-06:00

My January Numbers:

39 1/2 years old

5' 10" when I stand up real straight

264 at my Christmas Eve appointment

1 minute- the longest I can run at one time

1 minute- how long it takes me to swim 50 yards

My August Numbers:

40 years old

5' 10" when I stand up real straight

215 with a hell of a lot of hard work

.5 mile swim + 20K bike + 5K run = my first sprint triathlon in hopefully under two hours

Each August for the last five years, a triathlon has invaded my neighborhood. The competitors swim in the lake I swam in as a child. They bike past my house on route to another lake and back. They run around the lake they swam in. And I sit on my porch and think, "I could do that."

So as I venture into a new decade of my life, I have decided to get it done.

Registering was easy. Name, address, gender, age. Clydesdale or Athena? Huh? Apparently, if you are a male over 200 pounds and a woman over 150, you are labeled a Clydesdale or an Athena. Well, since I haven't been 150 pounds since the 6th grade...Athena it is.