That's right. On a Friday...

...I got up early...and went to the gym!! yaiiiieeeee me!! (shhhh....don't tell anyone I was supposed to go yesterday...)

I wish I could convince my body to do this all the time. Morning workouts are the best!! Now that I'm not regularly driving DBF to work in the mornings, I can't seem to convince myself to get out of bed. I thought it would pass, but it was getting worse. Let's hope today is the start of good things to come.

Treadmill:
- 5 min warmup
- (discovered the random hills setting thanks to my trainer) - so 5 min speed walking, then 5 mins running, then 5 more mins speed walking
- 5 min fast paced walking cooldown

Cross-Trainer:
- 10 minutes random, moderate speed
- threw in a few 30 seconds sprints just to keep the heart rate up (and I'm working on rebuilding lung capacity AGAIN)

New Strength Training Routine
(I'll write this out later)

Stationary Bike:
- 10 minutes random, moderate speed

Stretching!

(This adds a ladybug sticker to my calendar for the Summer Challenge, plus 8.8km to my personal activity challenge.)


Yesterday's menu started out good....healthy sandwich, yummy cucumber & sour cream salad, turkey burgers and spinach salad for dinner. Then we decided to celebrate DBF getting his promotion yesterday...with freaking Blizzards! Argh. What was that? 5 days into my no-Blizzard plan. Booooooooo. (Maybe that's what motivated me to get my ass out of bed this morning?)

Today's menu (and I'm determined to stick to it!):

- pre-gym: 1/2 Larabar
- post-gym: 1/2 Larabar
- coffee
- Liberte Svelte no fat Moka yogurt w/ raspberries & sprinkle of All-Bran
- chopped tomatoes & cukes, marinated in Newman's Own Italian dressing (1 tbsp), mixed with spinach & 1/4 cup part skim mozza
- baby carrots, 1/2 toasted ww pita, 2 tbsp hummus
- potentially a tall no-fat vanilla latte while out this afternoon (going for a mani/pedi with a friend)
- Kashi granola bar in my purse in case I get snacky
- dinner out: Hamachi House: sushi!!
- then out to see Sex and the City!!! (maybe share some popcorn, but I AM NOT GETTING MY OWN!)

Challenge Around a Challenge

Here we are, already into June! Where did May go? Oh right, for me it went on vacation and sick days.

I had already re-planned out my new goals for the Summer Challenge, and although I missed a gym day this weekend I am pretty much on track. I still have to get in 15 more gym days before Jun-22, and still need to travel more than 25.6km in that same time. Totally doable!

But since we have started another month, I've started my June goals as well. Since May didn't work out so well for number of gym days, I've bumped it up for this month. I want to see 22 little lady bug stickers on my calendar. And in tandem with that, I'm aiming for 75km travelled (in gym or not) by month's end. (I achieved over 50km last month, even with being away and being sick...so it was time to up the ante.) My bike should finally be on the trail this week, so that will make the km challenge a lot easier.

As an added challenge, I'm putting the smackdown on ice cream. The blizzards were starting to become a weekly treat, so I'm cutting that down to one for the month. DBF is going to laugh in my face, but I'm going to be strong. If DQ calls to me, I'll either tell it to bugger off, or get a small dipped cone. And I'm not buying ice cream for the house. If it's not here I don't even care about it...but if it's here I can always hear it taunting me.

Anyone else have June goals or challenges?

Gym Recap

OK, I'm a bad doggie Mommy...I didn't walk him. I started to get ready and somehow I ended up with my gym pants on, and that led to filling my water bottle and the next thing I knew I had my trusty new Lulu bag on my shoulder and getting into my car to head for the gym. Poor puppy. Good for Mommy, not so much for doggie.

But I had a GRRRREAT workout!

I decided to start out on the Eliptical and man did that make a difference. I went a full mile further than I did on Tuesday, doing basically the same thing...but for 5 minutes longer.

Eliptical:
- 5 min warm up, ramp at level 10
- 15 mins incline intervals - 2 mins at each level 10 & level 15, back and forth
- 5 min fast paced cool down, level 7

Treadmill:
- 5 min fast paced walk, incline of 5
- 15 mins incline intervals - 2 mins at each level 5 & level 10, back and forth @ 3.5mph
- 5 min cooldown walk

Erg:
- 10 minutes rowing (went 200m further than Tuesday)

Total travelled: 7.8km (that's a crazy 3.8km more than Tuesday for almost the same workout...I'm pretty sure I must have buggered up my counting then because today I know I'm accurate.)


As a side note: I was doing calf raises, standing on the big stretching apparatus...and some chick decided that she wanted to stretch her back using the same bar I was holding onto. She didn't say excuse me or anything, just looked at me like I was in her way. Holy freaking rude Batman. I didn't say anything, just kept doing my thing, but then she actually almost hit me in the face with the bar, so I lightly put my hand on it so she would realize that she's an idiot. She scowled at me and walked away. Um, hello...first come, first served. Duh.

It's all about the action...

I just updated my Summer Challenge goals. As I've mentioned, my plan to stick to the Eight Healthy Guidelines didn't work out. Funny, because I originally chose that because I thought it would be the easiest thing to do while I was home visiting family and friends. Not. So. Much. Unfortunately, my water intake and healthy oils suffered (oh who am I kidding, there were days where I was lucky to get one fruit serving!).

Honestly, it's just not my thing to force special items into my diet each day. Overall I get enough vitamins, water, healthy grains, and lean proteins. It's all good. Healthy eating isn't my issue at this point. Toning, firming, building cardio, and overall physical fitness are really my focus.

So, back to the activity challenges for me. See the sidebar --->. I plan to cram 20 workouts into the next 28 days. I will continue with my Mon/Wed/Sat schedule for cardio and strength training, plus will get in as many extra cardio days as I can. I will practice sprinting, intervals, inclines, whatever I can do for my poor little lungs and jiggling tushy.

My personal distance challenge for May is struggling, but still alive (I planned to walk/run/ride at least 50km during the month, and if I push it I'll still make it) so I am continuing on with it for the next 28 days...another 50km (it's a week of overlap, but two different challenges).

I also have the Relay for Life coming up so that will add miles and miles for me, but I'm not counting that. Charity is above and beyond my personal goal. :)

When I complete the gym goal, I'll reward myself with a fun new bikini or sundress or something. When I complete the distance goal, it might just be time for the Nike iPod thingy. (I usually don't reward myself, because inevitably if I want something I just buy it regardless of whether I "earned" it or not...but in these cases I'll try to be tough on myself!)

Bump in the Challenge

I really want to count yesterday as good challenge-wise, but I just can't. Boooo. But I had a fabulous time, so I am not upset. I didn't manage to get all of my water in and my added sugar intake for the day was more than planned/necessary. So close, yet so far! Oh well. After the great dinner, we went to the movies. Did you know that the Oxford has a deal for $9.99 that includes your admission/regular popcorn/regular drink? How can you turn that down? Except my friend ordered my drink and I didn't say "diet" so wound up with a real Coke. It was great (I love Coke!) but it killed my challenge for the day (I'd already allowed myself the cake for dessert).

So today.....

- 1/2 serving Arthur's Very Berry Smoothie (full fruit serving!)
- coffeeeeeeeee
- Special K Satisfaction w/ chopped 1/2 banana & vanilla Almond Breeze
- watermelon
- hummus, crackers, carrots, mushrooms
- grapes
- 1/2 banana & ff vanilla yogurt
- pita pizza!!: ww pita, Classico sauce, salami, red onions, mushrooms, spinach, part skim mozza, fresh grated parm, drizzle olive oil
- mixed green salad w/ tomatoes & grilled asparagus, olive oil & balsamic drizzle
- Creamsicle (did you know only 2 points!?)
- maybe SmartPop while I watch a movie

24+popcorn/22+3AP

Activity: I am really planning for a 3-4km walk with the dog on the trail after work, but the weather is pretty gloomy so maybe I'll end up on the treadmill instead. Either way, power walk (3).

Guidelines: ALL GOOD!

Summer Challenge - Let's Get Started!

First things first...weigh in this morning...down exactly 1 pound to 153.4. Don't know how I did it, but I'll take it. Anything under 155 and I breathe a sigh of relief. :)

I've got that Monday feeling that I can take the world by storm. I'm already mentally planning my menu for the week and really concentrating on those Eight Healthy Guidelines. I hope I can maintain this excitement and get my mojo back today. It sort of went for a hiatus last week. This challenge is just what I need. A major focus on health...and not so strenous on counting points and beating myself up for cheating. I've added my challenge notes over on the sidebar --->.

I'm due for a kickass workout today. I am re-doing week six of the C25K program because I am unhappy with last week's results. Gotta build that cardio stamina! The sun is shining today too, so a walk with the dog will help keep me on track.

The fruit situation in the house is dire. I'm down to just blackberries. Don't know when this happened, but if I'm going to keep up my F&V servings I'd better hit up the grocery store tonight. I think it's time for melon! Should probably hit up the meat & seafood counters for some yummy protein too.

The toughest guideline for me is going to be the water I think. My plan is to drink as much water as I can in the morning and earlier part of my day, because I tend to forget later in the day...and then I'm always trying to cram it in too close to bedtime. Of course, if I keep up the activity like I want to...it will be a lot easier.

DBF is home next weekend (my God the time is dragging!) so I'm thinking up a yummy Welcome Home dinner. It will definitely involve the BBQ. Maybe some sort of scallop appie, marinated steaks and grilled veggies. I saw some ideas on a blog somewhere...I'll have to track those down again.

OK, enough babbling....on with today's plan:

- coffee
- Fruit Solutions juice
- WW bagel with egg salad & spinach
- ff vanilla yogurt & blackberries
- small Greek salad, 1 oz light feta, 1 tbsp tzatziki as dressing
- Kashi bar (pre-gym)
- pita pizza: ww pita, Classico sauce, salami slices, mushrooms, spinach, red onion, 2 oz part skim mozza, fresh parmesan, olive oil drizzle
- ff vanilla yogurt & melon
- tea & Lifestyle cookies

24/22+7AP

Activity: high cardio + strength training (5), dog walk (2)

Guidelines:
F&V: 6/5
Whole Grains: yes
Dairy: 3/2
Oil: yes
Protein: 3/2
Sugar/Booze: all good
Vitamins: multi, C, calcium
Water: 3 litres

Sunday Damage Control

So last night's plan for salad and chicken didn't work out. You all knew it wouldn't. I never order salad in a restaurant...well, hardly ever anyway. We went to The Fife & Drum and their menu was so damn boring. They did offer some sort of lame mixed greens with chicken, but I think I yawned when I read it so I ordered the fish & chips. Not bad, but let's just say I won't eat there again. On the upside, they did have Strongbow cider! Not good on the calorie front, but it's hard to find here for some reason so I had two! I got home and wasn't tired, so those damn Cheetos called my name. Gah.

Anyway, today is the day for re-grouping and getting ready to start our Eight Week Summer Challenge tomorrow. I'm so excited!!! Eight Healthy Guidelines, here I come!

Here's the big plan for today:

- Fruit Solutions Juice
- coffee
- egg salad on WW bagel
- grapes & light cheddar
- Spring Veggie Soup
- mixed green salad w/ lotsa veggies & grilled salmon, olive oil for dressing
- garlic toasted bun
- blackberries & ff Vanilla yogurt

22/22+3AP

Guidelines:

F&V: 7/5
Whole Grains: bagel yes, bun no
Dairy: 2/2
Oil: yes
Protein: 2/2
Sugar/Booze: all good
Vitamins: multi, C, calcium
Water: 3 litres

Activity: Longest walk on the BLT Trail I can manage with the doggie. (3)