Best Body Bootcamp 4 - Week 1

Two posts in a row... cray-cray!

So I've made it 5 days of Best Body Bootcamp, and I live to tell the tale.

This week has been really good - after oh... 2 months of not caring at all about what I ate, and exercising sporadically, it feels so good to be back in a routine of healthy living. After being on a candy bender over Christmas, I had to detox myself. My sweets of choice this week have been: berries, sugar free pudding, and a few bowls of peanut butter Cheerios (love). No chocolate or candy - it's helped cut down on the sugar cravings dramatically, or maybe it's all in my head. Who knows, either way, I'm gonna go with it.

For Best Body Bootcamp, we have to set two healthy goals each week. They could be anything related to healthy living. I chose: walk Jerry around the block and floss every night. Things I should be doing every day right? Right, but I wasn't. I had a dog that also needed to be on a post-holiday diet, and my teeth just felt gross. Everyday (except today) has been decent weather-wise, and I've managed to get Jerry around the block (or longer) every day! We did make it on a walk today, even though it was a little dreary. He loves it, and I am enjoying it too. Most days I take him for a quick walk at lunchtime, which works perfectly. A nice break in the day for both of us!

As far as workouts go, it feels really good to be back at the gym. This is what I have done so far this week, and what I have planned for the weekend.

Monday: Core class + 30 minutes of elliptical intervals
Tuesday: Boot Camp Fitness Test + circuit intervals on the stability ball and treadmill (bootcamp workout)
Wednesday: 75 minute walk with Jerry, still didn't tire him out
Thursday: 45 minute Centergy class (5:45 AM - a FIRST in my life, a morning workout. Can't say I loved it, but I didn't hate it)
Friday: 40 minute walk with Jerry
Saturday: Core circuit (bootcamp workout)
Sunday: Maybe Centergy class, maybe more circuit intervals, maybe nothing??

I'm more motivated than I have ever been to get fit. I have a lot of reasons why, but the most important reason is that I want to do it for me!

I'm off to enjoy my evening - the family is coming to town tomorrow because my parents are adopting a new puppy! More to come... :) 

My running legs...

I feel like they are back! I have had some serious doubts recently on whether or not I want to keep running.  Last week's cold set me back once again, and not to continue making excuses... but I am not a natural runner, so pretty much any semi-lengthy break feels like I am just starting over again. I have come to terms with the fact that running will probably never be easy for me, but I will have good days and bad days, and it is totally OK to walk whenever I feel like it! I am trying to take the pressure off myself, but I am a perfectionist in a lot of areas in my life, and that is starting to rub off on my exercise habits. I don't think that is the best feature, so I am working on it... one day at a time, right?

This week has been kind of rough at work, and instead of coming home to pout on the couch and emotionally eat like 'old Katie' would do, I got my running shoes on and worked it out!

This is my excited face. 

I just have to share my success story from today. I wasn't sure what I was going to do workout-wise, but I got my shoes on and headed out the door anyway. It was too gorgeous to just stay inside. I figured my legs would take me somewhere, at some pace, and I'd eventually end up back at my apartment. Well, my legs started running, and (for me) my legs started running fast! I decided to do a 2-mile, mostly flat loop, because I am still warming back up to running since my few days off due to my cold. I finished the first mile at a 10 minute per mile pace, and then I had to slow myself down for the second mile. I wanted to bring my heart rate down a bit, so I slowed it down to a sub-12 minute per mile pace. I finished the 2 miles in 22 minutes flat (with one 20 - 30 second delay waiting at an intersection). I think that is the fastest that I have ever completed a run!

Today's run was a great one. I felt powerful and strong! It definitely gave me some inspiration to 'just keep running...'

Working out while sick?

I am looking for a little advice here. How do people handle working out while sick? Do you do it? Do you skip it? Do you scale back? I ordinarily would skip it all-together, but it's week 1 Best Body Bootcamp, and I really wanted to start out on the right path. I am trying to turn over a new leaf  and not make excuses to not work out. But I do get it, you have to rest your body when you are sick.

I woke up yesterday morning with a sore throat, congestion, and feeling weak. Throughout the course of the day, I just progressively got worse weakness-wise. It felt almost flu-like. Luckily at work, I didn't have to move around a whole lot, but as soon as I got home, I collapsed on the couch. Working out was just not going to happen last night, and I didn't think I would be making it to work today. I probably sound dramatic... but I haven't been actually sick in a long time so I am a bit frustrated, to say the least.

I didn't go to work today, and I am glad I didn't. I still feel congested and my throat still hurts, but the feeling of weakness isn't nearly as bad today. Slightly achy, but not sure if it is residual workout achy-ness or illness related. I slept for almost 11 hours last night, and took two one-hour naps today.

After nap number 2, I decided to TRY and go for an easy walk. Emphasis on the word easy... I took a 30 minute stroll around my neighborhood, and went at a pretty easy pace. That really took it out of me. I am glad I got out and got some fresh air, and was even sweating a bit (the humidity is rolling in!) But now I am pooped. I hope I made the right choice and don't feel worse tomorrow. It seems like working out at an easy pace while would be better for you in the long run. I will see how I feel tomorrow and hopefully have the energy to do an easy walk again after work... running is totally out of the question since I can't really breathe!

Thoughts? Comments? How do you handle working out while sick?

The treadmill.

I really hate working out on the treadmill. If I am entertained (with a TV), I can walk on it... but it just gets so boring. I am pretty much maxed out after an hour.

Today at the gym, all of the ellipticals (with TV's) were taken... so I resorted to the treadmill. And of course I ran right into a dilemma. Do I walk, or do I run. The longest I have EVER run on the treadmill is appx. 5 minutes. It is just so. boring.

I wanted to make the most out of my workout, so I decided to try this thing called 'speedwork' that all the blog people talk about. Maybe, maybe this would entertain me?

This is how my workout went:
0 - .25: warmup at 4.5 MPH (walking)
.25 - .45: 5.5 - 6 MPH (running)
.45 - .5: recovery at 4 - 4.5 MPH (walking)
Repeat run/walk intervals until you reach desired mileage (or time)
Half-mile cool down walk (3.5 - 4 MPH)

I repeated the run/walk intervals until I reached 2 miles, and then I walked .5 miles at an average pace of 3.5 to 4 MPH for a cool down. All in all, I finished 2.5 miles in about 32 minutes.

Granted, my speeds are a lot slower than the typical runner, so feel free to adjust to your desired pace. How often should one do 'speedwork' each week? Should I incorporate this at least once a week? While the treadmill is (I repeat) so. boring... I have no interest in doing speedwork intervals outside. I like to jog along at my merry little pace! Perhaps I will get faster in time!

Now that I have discovered that the treadmill is sort of bearable... I think I want to replace one of my elliptical workouts with speedwork. I need to work this in after-work though... I got ridiculously sweaty and it took me like 30 minutes to cool off, and it's cold outside!

In other news, I am too cheap to buy a foam roller. I know these are great tools to stretch out the muscles... BUT, Target has a sale - $17 for a foam roller. And, online they have a coupon for $5 off! So I got a $25 foam roller for $12! Boy did I feel like a bargain hunter. Now I need to learn how to use it! Any tips?

Friday Cooking Adventures

I have been a busy bee today. Aside from having a very long and somewhat challenging day at work... I got to leave at my regularly scheduled time of 4 PM and was so thankful that it is the weekend.

I have decided that Friday's are my favorite day of the week. Usually, the work day goes by quickly and I feel semi-fulfilled because of what I accomplish there. And now that Fall TV is back on, me and my TiVo have a lot of catching up to do by the time Friday rolls around.

This afternoon, I was inspired to do a longer workout than normal. I coincidentally wanted to go to the grocery store to pick up a few things for this weekend's cooking adventures. So, I decided to combine the two! Working out seems to go by much faster when I have a purpose. I jogged the 1.5 miles to Harris Teeter, loaded up (well, bought what I could stow away in a canvas shopping bag) and walked on my merry way back to my apartment - I decided to take the long(er) way around. There was a cool, crispness in the air and I really enjoyed my walkjog today. It also might have to do with my new (amazing) shoes. They deserve a dedicated post. Stay tuned.

I had an unfortunate hair tie emergency mid-jog. Note to self: always store a backup on your wrist. Whoops. My hair was too much for this hair tie. I did the best I could, but this was the result...

Oh well! At least I didn't trip and fall...

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I mentioned I was a busy little bee - In the kitchen! I sliced, diced, boiled, baked, and slow cooked. All in all, it was a successful evening in the kitchen.

In the mini-Crock Pot: Crock Pot Applesauce courtesy of SkinnyTaste

I will let everyone know how this turns out tomorrow! It will be a nice accompaniment to my Pumpkin Oatmeal Pancakes in the AM. 1 point plus per serving!

In the Rubbermaid Glass: Tortellini and Tofu Soup recipe a la Katie!

This turned out delicious. This was my first time cooking with tofu, legit tofu, on my own. I bought super firm, already cubed. I am proud of my first adventure with tofu and can't wait to try cooking it again soon! 6 points plus per serving.

On the cooling rack: While the tortellini and tofu soup was on the stove, I whipped up some Pumpkin Softies. Hungry Girl sent out this recipe in her e-mail yesterday, and I knew immediately that I had to try making these (and I don't really bake...) They. Are. Heaven. I substituted chocolate chips instead of raisins (ew.) for no change in points plus values.

Check it out! The perfect nighttime snack. 3 points plus for the softie, two for the glass of skim milk.

How do you relax on a Friday night? Working out? Cooking? Eating? Watching TV? All of the above for me!!! I am ready to get in my freshly made bed, with clean sheets and watch Chopped or a bad Lifetime movie on demand. I hope everyone enjoys their evening as well!