Nap at 630am, why not?

Beep beep beep...not the most pleasant thing to wake up to, and especially not at 500am. As I got out of bed I was already planning when I would go to sleep tonight. I got myself out the door and down the street to meet with Raquel and begin our Wednesday session of training. Today, I opted to not stay for pedal and pump after our training for two reasons:

1. Interval training is a different kind of sore than regular running and, well...I was sore (okay, I know not a good reason, I should have stayed)
2. I have about one week till I get my tonsils out and didn't feel like paying for a whole month membership only to waste at least two weeks while I'm recovering. I do have one free pass left which I'll use tomorrow since I don't meet with Raquel on Thursdays (sounded better in my head)

Okay, so not very legit reasons but nevertheless, reasons...excuses whatever they may be. Important thing is, I did get out and got my work out in this morning, showered, got some protein in and a little recovery drink Now, off to take a nap, BEFORE work!

Remember, running is a pain in the ass...but it'll give you a nice one!

Making a sincere effort...

Monday - rest day, eat well
Tuesday - gym, eat well
Wednesday - gym, eat well
Thursday - gym, eat well
Friday - gym, eat okay
Saturday - gym(maybe), eat poorly
Sunday - gym(maybe), eat poorly


I'm back to making a sincere effort, instead of working my butt off during the week I'm going to be consistent during the weekend too... For instance I should have hit up the gym on Saturday but, visiting a friend and her baby, cleaning, grocery shopping, making dinner and enjoy a few beers took priority. So, I got up hit up the gym for strength class and spin this morning! Thank you Raquel and janeth at Stay Fit Studio! Just finished egg whites and veggie 'sausage'. But I know in order to keep making progress my consistency needs to carry over to the weekend, and staying out till 4:00am drinking delicious blue moon and cocktails isn't helping. No, you didn't hear me say that I'm not doing that anymore, what you heard, better yet what I'm trying to say is that if I chose to do that the next day I'm at the gym. It's simple what you put in, must go out. Each week I'll have to remember, I didn't put in all the work T-F to break even on the weekend.

Side note: today was one of the best spin classes I've been to in awhile, I don't know if it was the instructor, music, the energy from a full class or my own motivation, but...it felt great!

Running is a pain in the ass...but it'll give you a nice one!

Q: How long is a city block?

A: Long.

Especially this morning at 520! Raquel introduced me to speed training in an effort to mix up our work outs, increase time and build more lower body muscle. Prior to this morning speed training was something I had heard of but never looked into.

Well, folks...today was the day. I was speed training. The first few blocks were good, like keeping up with my trainer good...(if you remember a few blogs ago I posted a photo of a lady running "this is what I feel like when I run, this is what I look like when I run") I'm sure I was a hot mess sprinting but, I felt good. She said, "run like someone is chasing you"!

Then one of two things happened:
1. The adrenalin wore off and I tired (which is normal and what we're working to over come, heart/lung conditioning)
2. The city blocks got longer!!

I'd like to say number two, but let's be honest. I also decided not to wear my Garmin today, in an effort to focus on the health aspect and just praise myself for getting out there instead of how fast I went. When we were done Raquel told me that she tracked that we sprinted two total miles...WOW, that went by fast! So, if you're anything like me and unsure of what speed work is...we ran a block, jogged through the intersection and sprinted a block, repeat. Eventually we'll get to jogging the previous blocks and then sprinting, and hopefully get to timing out a distance, setting an attainable goal and meeting it.

I'm continuing to meet her weekly:
Wednesday - speed work
Friday - personal training and running
Saturday/Sunday - run

and attend strength training, spin, and yoga in between!

So, when Raquel asked me towards the end of the run, how far is a city block...my response was, long.

Running is a pain in the ass...but it'll give you a nice one ;)

5 months, 5th 5k, and 5 sizes...coincidence?

You read it correctly...

I joined stay fit mid-February but began meeting with my trainer about 5 months ago.

I'll be running my fifth 5k tomorrow
January - Fresh Start with a Helping Heart (walk)
April - Earth Day
May - Mary Immaculate Star of the Sea
June - Road to Graduation
July - Crime Stoppers/ Rotary

I've gone down 5 sizes, from a daunting 16 on my 5'4 frame to the most recent pair of capris I bought, a size 10.

Gearing up for a 5k tomorrow morning, can't complain too much when I'll be running along the ocean.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Running is a pain in the ass...but it'll give you a nice one!

(the first photo is from January, the second photo is from this past weekend)

I dropped my banana...

Let me start out by saying, on my bike ride down the street to the gym, I enjoy a banana as well as the balancing act of staying on the bike with my duffle (gym) bag and make sure I don't hit anything as I make it down a dimly lit street. Well today, you guessed it... I dropped my banana, and of course I was already running late.  You may think this is no big deal, and it wasn't until I got in from my run. *not feeling well* Since I started working out I've always ate 1/2 a banana in the morning before hand so I had something in my stomach, well today I was missing my something, because it was three blocks back being pecked away by birds. Moral of the story, eat something before you work out; as for me... keep something extra in my bag.  Today, I found a piece of gum.

Lets do this: 

That's exactly how I feel. I had a good conversation with Raquel today during our run.  We discussed what changes I've gone through lately and how to get back on track.  As I spilled my work out heart and soul, I realized it all made sense... (for those of you who I've talked to, I'm sure you already know what's coming) but, when I work out I feel good about myself, I feel like I want to eat right, and I want to continue, but when I feel bad I make excuses, I allow myself to make silly mistakes and don't hold myself accountable.  Well folks, I'm feeling good! As I was running past the Casa Marina and weaving through the small neighborhoods of Key West, I realized something...I was still running with Raquel. I told her, you may be running slower, but I'm for now I'm going to tell myself that you're not and I've actually kept up with you the whole time.  She laughed and said, this is my pace, maybe slightly faster, but for the most part, this is my pace... WHAT! Could you say that again?? 

I...me...Kristin Kammermeier is going to finish this morning run along side of you rather than blocks behind you? Hold the phone, people... this has not happened in months, like since our first run! 

So, we carried on.  She asked me how I felt about a half marathon...dun dun dun. How do I feel, scared, 13 point what, "too heavy and slow to run that far", intimidated, anxious, wait...maybe excited, a sense of accomplishment, over the moon and back for everyone who does them, and someday myself... does that answer your question? Raquel, I'd love to do it, I would LOVE to do it, and I've talked to Monica and Danielle about them a million times...BUT, I don't think I can. I don't want to fail, and failing to me is not finishing...it's not racing everyone else, or even walking, it's not finishing, and not finishing for a silly reason like not training or preparing myself, I'm not going to set myself up for failure.  

Her matter-a-fact answer; what are you worried about, in late February we left Stay Fit for your first run and by April 14th you had a 5K under your belt.  You can do it, the question is do you want to? 

Yes, yes, yes, of course I want to... still not totally convinced. I want to set goals, but I want them to be attainable. I said to myself, Kristin, is this something you can physically and mentally do? 

Raquel also said, you can't beat yourself up over the fact that you took a break... at least you caught yourself now and not a year from now, and even then, if you would have caught yourself in a year, at least your caught yourself.  

Those who know me best, and especially those who have been on this work out journey with me at some point know that I enjoy not only getting physically healthy, but socially as well, surrounding myself with positive, supportive people.  Raquel said to me today, you enjoy working out with other people, being able to talk about it throughout the day... yes, I do. 

If I'm going to make the life change, it's not only from 5:00am-7:00am... it's 24/7, and knocking down goals along the way.  January 20, 2013, ready or not.  

Running is a pain in the ass...but it'll give you a nice one ;) 

Today: I ran and did pedal and pump, what are you plans to stay active? 

Locked out

After some delish wedding food last night, and I mean d.e.l.i.s.h.! Bacon wrapped dates, margarita pizza, teriyaki ribs, fresh shrimp, tuna ceviche...awe. Anyway, needless to say, the alarm rang at 645am.

Eric went into work for a few hours and I had two choices...

Get up and go to pedal and pump at 800
OR
Stay in bed with the softest, most cuddly, goldendoodle (yes, when Eric leaves Benny jumps onto the bed)

So, as anyone would, I chose to...

Get up and pedal my butt down to the gym. Let me backtrack a little and tell you that due to a little fender bender my keys have not stayed on my key chain and have been strewn about my purse because I've had rental keys, found the spare to our old Yukon and lent some keys to a co-worker for Friday...needless to say, you guessed it.

When I got home at 900am I was locked out.

So naturally, I followed my Nurturing Parenting Curriculum, and ignored the behavior, but not the child- in this case a dog who was whimpering.

I watched from a far to make sure he wouldn't destroy the living room trying to get back at me. For all you wondering, he was a perfect little gent.

So again I was left with two choices:

Continue to watch Benny look for someone to play with
OR
Take a 25 minute run

Again, I chose to run.

Now, here I am...waiting for my knight in shining armor to rescue me.

Beep....just heard the car lock, he's here and my work out for the day is complete.

Start your weekend right, people!!

Running is a pain in the ass...but it'll give you a nice one ;)

If you're tired of starting over...

Where to begin, honestly... 

It's true, at the moment I'm lacking motivation - and even as I type this, I'm thinking about retracting that statement and saying, at the moment I am gaining motivation.

What is it that drives you? 

I've been challenged with discovering what is driving me now.  I haven't necessarly made up excuses, quit going to the gym or changed my eating habits.  But, I'm still finding myself not happy with where I am in the 'fit' world and, yes.... unmotivated.  

So, after a long conversation earlier today with a co-worker, followed by a check in with my bestie and follow up with my husband, I've decided what motivates me, and it's simply the knowledge that I'm getting results.  When I say results, they are not only the scale moving, or fitting into an old pair of jeans, but results in the context of being more energized, and feeling positive about changes, big or small.

Although I go to classes at the gym, and hit the pavement (probably not as often as I should) I'm still feeling as if I'm not putting in 100%.

10 Things I've Realized Since Working Out:  

1. I enjoy the bond and the social aspect of spending time and conversing with others who have the passion to be healthy.  

2. Motivation comes from within, and for me knowing that someone else is waiting on me for a work out appointment, holds me accountable, so accountability is huge. 

3. Monetary commitment. Gyms and trainers are expensive, bottom line. 

4. This is not easy, but it is worth it. 

5. Just because I have one off day/week/month does not mean it is over. 

6. When I do work out, I feel better throughout the day, physically and mentally. 

7. For me, the trainer works, for others, independence is key. 

8. My husband (this will take some explaining, see below) 

9. Build self confidence, and instill a positive self-worth as it relates to working out, if I don't feel good about myself how can I empower others to? 

10. I can do it.

So, let me explain number 8... 

Eric is, has been and always will be (hopefully!) a motivator and supporter to me.  He's my number one fan. (I know, how cliche) He's willing to meet me where I am, every single day and ride this wild roller coaster - I'm excited about working out one day and hitting the snooze the next.  He encourages me to get to the gym but at the same time knows his limits and isn't telling me that "I have to go, or I should go to lose weight" he's on board with getting healthy. He's expressed that for him, I'm perfect, but respects and honors my desire to want to get healthy - Something tells me he'd still love me a few pounds lighter, too ;)  I think it's so very important to have a partner who understands your goals and your dreams throughout life (and vice versa) in order to be a positive, effective support.

Above all, it's not the fancy equipment, new work out clothes, the race numbers, stay fit member of the month, or any rewards I've promised myself, but rather the internal feeling I get after working out, after achieving an accomplishment - if I need/desire someone else, be that a trainer or a work out buddy that's fine... there are many roads to get to the end... as long as I get there. 

Running is a pain in the ass...but it'll give you a nice one ;)