Tracey: Mixing It Up

As I’ve been on a plateau for ever and a day, and as I believe in trying new things and making fitness fun, I’ve spent the last few weeks working out a new plan for moving forward.

Diet wise, I’ve started (just this week) eating every 2-3 hours. I have a protein at every meal/snack, and I’ve increased my calories. I’m running much longer distances now in preparation for my first half marathon (GULP!) and I’ve started doing some strength workouts as well.  I’m thinking part of my plateau could be that I’m not eating ENOUGH, and I also have been slacking a little lately in the healthy choices as well.  Hopefully, this fires up the ‘ol metabolism and gets it burning!

I’ve started incorporating some Pilates into my week and um….Why did no one warn me that Pilates is hella hard? My core needs serious work (pregnancy+c-sections+genetics are not a good mix!) and I think Pilates may be the beast to get me stronger through my center! 

I also tried Pole Dancing on the weekend! I went into the class with a bunch of friends, thinking “ha ha, this will be a laugh!” and laugh we did. However, take out the hair flipping and sexy pose stuff and WOAH! Pole dancing is no joke, friends. You need a lot of core and upper body strength to hold yourself up and to swing yourself around! As I mentioned, not my forte! I absolutely loved it though! (again, minus the “trying to be sexy” stuff) I would definitely do it again. I have this odd thought that I can just get a pole and Google or ehow and teach myself.  I know that’s crazy, but the fitness aspect of it really appeals to me, while learning a routine to a song, not so much. As it was a “beginner” demo class, the hardest thing we did was a Fireman spin. I picked that up easily and had a great time swinging myself around the pole! It was actually very freeing. Of course, doing it with my friends and cracking jokes while making fools of ourselves always works for me as well.

In the spirit of trying new things and continuing to mix it up, I’m trying Shabam this week at Goodlife, with a friend. I’ll let you know how shakin’ it goes!

I’m hoping this blending of new, fun, change and training does the trick to keep me on track and to get things moving once again! I know I’m enjoying every minute of it all, and how many people can say that?

Samantha – In Like A Lion

February is finally over, can I get a HELL YES?!….Man that month is just gross. Technically the big snow storm was in February but what a way to bring in March. Either way that snow storm put me in a funk of a mood. I know that there is nothing that you can do about the weather and its pointless to get in a snit about it, but I was just so frigging tired of snow and cold and wind. To get that dumping when things were starting to melt down literally crushed me.

February was also when I got my first running injury. Not during the snow storm, lets be serious, I wasn’t out in that, it was the Monday before the snow flew. It was the last Monday of the month, a warm-ish out on a running clinic night, there were a lot of puddles but nothing that wasn’t manageable. I ran through what I thought was just a puddle only to find uneven ground and trying to save face and not fall on my face I rolled over my left ankle. Goooood times. I should say that I have fractured both ankles (not at the same time) a couple of times each. Young dumb and recklessness to thank for those injuries. So since I have started running outside, I have been very aware of my footing and have tried to be careful even in the slickest, wettest conditions. I recovered some and the tears of pain turned to crazy nervous embarrassed laughter, (I am pretty sure that my chum who was running with me thought that I was a little imbalanced) while my ankle was killing me and the pain was up my foot. I managed a quick pace walk back. I wasn’t able to run back.

I iced it, massaged it, elevated it when I got home. It was tender the next day but I was able to put my weight on it and move around. I still iced it at night because I’m paranoid like that. And I thought that it wouldn’t hurt it since it was still a little tender. On Thursday I hit the gym up for a class and some treadmill time afterwards. My ankle felt fine but the pain and tightness was now up the back of my calf, and it was sharp. I finished off my cardio with a fast pace walk with a 4% incline.
I felt very down after that workout, discouraged and down right pissed off that I did something so silly that might set me back in my training.

Sunday the sun was out and it was looking like it was going to be one of the warmer runs I have at practice run in a while. I was excited to get out but I wasn’t sure how my leg would feel. The plan was a 5k, out and back along the canal, the first half of the run was garbage. I was taking longer walk breaks, jogging very slow and cramping up everywhere, not just in my left leg. I was getting pissed off at myself. A run like this, shouldn’t be THIS hard for me anymore. We had the option to turn around 3/4′s of the way home, and I had it in my mind that once I got to the half way point I was going to duck out early. Chalk this up to a garbage run and move on.

As I was about to reach the half way point I started relaxing a little more, telling myself that I would break there, for as long as I needed, stretch and jog the whole way back. I took a longer break, stretched out my legs, changed up my music to kick ass power songs and started back towards the Running Room. I listened to my music, turned off my interval counter and just moved. I got to the street that I could have cut out early on but continued past it. My left leg was a little sore but I wasn’t focusing on that. I was rejoicing in the fact that I made the choice to move past the cut out point. To keep going, even if it was slower that my normal turtle pace…and just keep jogging.

I jogged all the way back non stop. 2.5k. The longest consistent distance so far. I did this on a day when I have never been more sore, discouraged and just in a weird head space. I cried when I finished because I am a mush ball like that. To me, that run signified that I have courage and more strength than I usually give myself credit for. Mother nature isnt the only chick who can bring March in like a Lion (teehee, couldn’t resist!!)

Tracey: Weather…..Or Not?

Ah, February. The most depressing month of the whole annual calendar, highlighted with the delightful statistic of “most suicides.”  That’s in a shorter time span as well, with only 28 days!

Can you tell February is my least favourite?

I don’t mind snow, but I hate the cold. I know some people hate hearing complaints about freezing temperatures, but I can bet you dollars to donuts those are people who go from heated cars to heated buildings. When you spend every single day walking to and from places, trust me, the cold starts to overwhelm you when it’s -40C for days and weeks on end.  I won’t even sugarcoat it, I cried a few weeks ago walking my daughter home from school. I was at my breaking point, people!

Luckily, my in-laws spend six months of the year down in Florida! We weren’t planning on going this year, but we decided spur of the moment to get out of dodge and into some warmer temperatures!

Can I just say, AHHHHH! What a difference nicer weather makes to revive a sagging soul!

I was sincerely struggling as the winter months started to drag on. I hate the treadmill, so I was just not running at all. I was only half heartedly doing anything else either because I just wasn’t into it anymore. Stick a fork in me, I was done!

My in-laws are in an awesome environment with a community center with a huge pool, daily aquafit classes, a full gym, tennis courts and pretty much any other recreational activity one could want to enjoy. The week we were there, the sun decided to literally bless us with above 80F temperatures every day.

I spent the week busier and more active than I had been in months! I got up each morning and ran, went to the gym and did aquafit. I spent the afternoons swimming, biking, and playing games like petanque. The evening found more bike rides, and a nightly flashlight lit walk around the park.  I was so busy from sun up to sun down, physically, that I was asleep each night by around 1030pm and didn’t get up again til around 7am. If you do the math, that’s a lot of sleep, especially for someone like me that usually gets around five hours a night.

Now that I’m back and it’s been cold and snowy, it’s been even harder to find my mojo. I’m restless and frustrated and ready for Spring already!

When the days seem dark and dreary, I let my mind wander back to Florida and the days I spent running, face upturned and eyes closed, letting the sunshine seep into my every pore. It sustains me for a moment, but my fingers are double and triple crossed for Mother Nature to lay down the gauntlet and let some of that warmth start to trickle in to these frosted northern bones!

Samantha – 30 minutes or less

That is what I am all about it when it comes to meals. In the kitchen I like to keep it simple and quick, because that’s where my skills are at. I have become hooked on Epicurious. I can search by ingredients, cook time or cuisine.

I have been making a better effort to meal plan for the week to ensure that I have healthy options. Doing my grocery shopping based on recipes that I want to try making is much easier than wandering around the grocery store aimlessly picking up random things and then trying to make meals from it later on. I am finding it more time consuming of course but more rewarding to know that I have taken the time to do this for myself and family.

I really like soups and have been on a bit of a soup kick lately. I can make a double batch and have some for lunches or snacks. Its always really filling and I know its healthier than anything coming from a can. One of my new found faves is Broccoli Soup with Leeks and Thyme, I topped mine with medium shredded cheddar.

Searching new recipes has also made me try new things, stuff that I wouldn’t have thought to put together. Most of the meals before were super simple: protein and salad/veggies. Very boring, very routine. Looking forward to stepping out of the box a little more (as long as it can be done in 30 minutes, lol) and trying some more new dishes and finding new faves!

Yesterday I ran the Winterman 5k…and while I didn’t finish in under 30 minutes, I did finish in my best time of 44:53:8, my pace was 8:59!! It was freezing out, the wind was awful and the course was hilly, but I rocked it! I was super proud and train wreck emotional afterwards. Nothing like the high of participating in an event and finishing it! Can’t wait for the next one….still need to find one

Lastly, Happy Family Day! We plan on getting out and enjoying the Canal tomorrow with a hot tea and maybe, just maybe a BeaverTail….a guilty pleasure that we only really enjoy in the winter. First one of the season! Woot!

Protein Pancakes

Here is a great way to start your day!
Keep the temperature on your stove to medium an be patient to keep this pancake from sticking to the pan.

Ingredients:

1/2 a banana
1/4 cup egg whites
1 scoop Vanilla protein powder
1/2-1 tsp cinnamon
2 tablespoons of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl
Add to pan on medium heat.
Wait until bubbles start forming around the edge and then flip.

You can top this with nut butter, syrup or even eat it plain!

Enjoy!!!

Tracey: Plateau=Reset

When you embark on a journey to get to your optimal “you” (as much as that is ever conceivably possible, anyways) there is almost always a goal set of a weight number or size. I don’t tend to like to focus on numbers, like EVER (ew, Math!) but I did set a reasonable re-evaluation point for this leg of what I’m attempting to accomplish.

If you read ANY blog or anecdotal about weight loss,  it’s evident that the closer you get to your goal, the longer and harder it seems to take to lose.  Folks, that’s where I’m at. I’d like to lose another 10-12 lbs and for the life of me, my body is holding on tight!

I’ll admit here, out loud, that I’ve been working on these same pounds for months now! You heard me, months! I think because of that frustration-where I was working out hard and trying to eat clean and nothing was happening-I sort of threw in the towel for a bit. I’ve kind of let go of the reins and I’ve been slacking.  I have valid health reasons for being a bit tired and down and out, but the truth also is that I just haven’t been “feeling it” for over a month now.  If you add in the crap weather and the fact that I positively LOATHE the treadmill since I started running outside, it all adds up to…..well….nothing. Absolutely nothing is happening.

I’ve convinced myself now that this self-imposed sloth of late will actually be a kickstart on the old metabolism once I start firing the engines again.  I’ve been supplementing to bring my levels up, I’ve got some other health issues starting on a program to get them under control, and Spring is around the corner. (please, please let Spring be around the corner!)

I have a plan, because I’m a girl who is never without a plan.

I’m going to focus on my diet and cleaning it up again. I need to be more vigilant with the logging and with some of my choices. (dang chocolatey chippy tastiness!) I need to switch up some workouts. I know I love to run, which is awesome, but I need to throw in something new and scary. I’m thinking it’s time to get on the bike and try some spin. I’ll cajole my friends into going to that with me because it won’t happen if I don’t! I’m doing more plyometric work and more weights.  I shouldn’t be forgetting that soon I’ll be doing some sword fighting and grappling as well.  I’ll even be wielding a rapier. Whatever that means.

So, plateau. I knew you were coming and I knew you’d be über annoying.  I don’t know how long you’re sticking around, but I DO know I’ll be fighting you tooth and nail until I get where I want to be going.

En garde! (them’s sword fighting words. I think. Guess we’ll see!)

Samantha – Not hibernating this year!

I am not the biggest fan of winter. I don’t like the freezing cold, snow storming, freezing rain, above zero roller coaster from mid December to March/mid April, depending on Mother Nature’s plans for that particular year. While I am not winter’s number one fan I have to say that I have never been more active during the Brrr months as I have been this winter. I am outside running (thanks to my clinics and new run buddies that harass me to show up) at least three times a a week, and with the Canal open I hope to lace up my skates and get out a few times with the husband. I have to admit that I often gripe about going out in the cold, wet, slippery, overall gross conditions but I am always happy I went out and know that I would be disappointed in myself if I wussed out because of the weather. That being said a few weeks back when it was -35 at night…I did NOT run outside. I hit the gym up. Lets be serious, that kinda extreme cold is just ridiculous.

I am hitting up the gym for cross training and yoga on my non running days but I really feel that its the getting outside, in the fresh air that is really helping me stay the course. I’m not hibernating this year, I’m not gearing up for my “summer body” I am working to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle all year round. In the past there have always been lulls in my fitness routine. It was hard for me to stay motivated during the winter and I had no good reason for it.

Being prepared for the weather is another thing that has made a big difference, I have the proper gear to stay warm but not sweat to death from being over bundled. When the weather warms up a little after a cold snap it’s a little wonky to adjust and I often end up peeling off a layer, but at least I’m properly prepared.

While I am looking forward the the warmer spring weather and the heat of summer, I am glad to be getting out this year and maintaining an active lifestyle!

…But I would really be ok if it didnt dip down below -30 again this winter. That super sucked!