Day 49 - Yes I'm still alive...

It's been a really rough couple of weeks. I know that is no excuse, but it has been. I was dreadfully sick for 10 days, we've been traveling around, I've been prepping for tests and interviews...oh my crazy!!!!

So, I am starting again...unfortunately, I have let myself vacation too much and been too lackadaisical about my diet and exercise routine.

However, my lovely friend Sera is going to be running her first 1/2 marathon since she's been training again in Sept. And I am considering running it with her in support and to raise money for her cause.

Andrea, my coach, has agreed to disagree about training for this run since really it is kind of stupid to run 13 miles. I mean, really, who wants to do that? And now I will have done it twice??? I'm really nuts.

To that point, if I'm going to be ready to run 13 miles in two months, this is the week I need to start training....so tomorrow will be d-day for my first run. I need to put together a training schedule but instead of running every other day like I did for my first half, I plan to do a mix of strength training, metabolic conditioning, and endurance training to keep my injuries at a minimum and maximize my ability to run a good race. We shall see how this plays out or if I decide to commit to the race.

Good to be back in the saddle!

Day 36 - Workout Pics

Picture #1 - My press (I'm terrified of hitting myself in the face with the bar) - this is 45 lbs.

Picture #2: Me pressing (is that a six-pack or ribs I see?? Either way, I'm totally into it)

Picture #3: Good press position....yay, I'm so proud!!!

Day 36 - Oops.

Weight: -5.5 lbs (how, I don't know)

Ladies and gentlemen, I must confess. I have been on a binge and therefore too embarrassed to blog. Yet, I have to relay my sins in order to move forward.

I have been on a no-cooking, eating crap food out place...and the worst thing is that I've actually lost weight so I feel like it's not a problem.....no, it's clearly a problem.

Here goes (don't judge me):
1. Indian food (including the (gasp) rice)
2. Taco Bell (rough day)
3. Chinese food - not the grilled no-cornstarch side of it, but scallion pancakes, crab wontons side...oops.

Tomorrow, I regain control and start planning my meals again, but I let the utter and complete chaos of my life allow me to escape my Zone-ness.

In better news, I'll post some pics from a previous workout next....pretty funny stuff.

Day 30 - I am a golden GOD (dess)

Weight: -3.5 lbs
Workout: Monster awesome workout with Andrea....

2 warmup sets of 45 lbs back squat x 5 reps

3 work sets of 60 lbs back squat x 5 reps

1 set of 102 lb deadlifts x 5 reps

1 deadlift pull at 142 lbs!!!!!! - Yes, i felt like a stud.

At this point, Qamara interjected and said that I wasn't allowed to get in any bar fights since I'm getting so buff. I'll have to stop, apparently. (the bar fights...not the lifting)

2 negative pull-ups
3 negative pull-ups
5 body rows

Then the workout.....

Initially, I was to throw a 25 lb sandbag over my head, sprint to it, and do one burpee. Unfortunately, I split the sandbag open with my hefty throws after the first minute of workout, so we had to change it.

Adam and I were a team and were given a 45 lb bar and 35 lb set of dumbbells. One of us had to lift the 45 bar overhead and walk as quickly as we could about 150 m as one set. The other person had to carry the 2 35 lb dumbbells for a total of 70 lbs the same distance. We couldn't walk when the other person set down their bar/bells and had to go as many rounds as we could in 7 min. Adam and I did awesome!!!! He was a great partner and really kept me motivated. I was psyched because I was able to complete the workout and the other girls were using a 32 lb bar instead of the 45 lb bar and 25 lb dumbbells instead of 35's. After the first 4 rounds, we got to switch out one of the 35's for a 25 because our arms were starting to become numb, but I was psyched I could walk with a 45 lb bar overhead and 70 lbs as a carry. We went for 7 rounds in 7 minutes which was really good for how much weight we carried.

I'm feeling good now, but I can tell you I am going to be feeling this all week!!!!!

Let's see what the workout is tomorrow...

Day 29 - Can I make it to 30???

Weight: -2.5 lbs
Workout: Skipped it because I'm lazy and exhausted
Mood: craving Indian food like there is no tomorrow

At this point in the journey, I find that I've completely forgotten about the health benefits of eating well and working out and instead have absolutely no time to cook or do anything.

Oh how happy I will be after my big exam on the 15th so that I can get back on track...but until then, I am going to do my best to progress or at least keep the status quo.

We're going to Andrea's tomorrow so at least I will be doing one hard core workout this week.

My self-motivation has somewhat slipped, to say the least.

Also, I lied yesterday...I ended up eating some french fries with my chicken fingers...i'm so bad.

Day 28 - Can't I be fat and happy?

At this point in the journey, I've started to rationalize how perhaps only I think I'm fat and everyone else doesn't really notice....well, newsflash - they DO notice, they're just too polite to say anything. I will keep on target even though I almost caved today.

Weight: -2 lbs (wedding damage)
Workout: none - too hungover
Mood: Why does everything that is bad for you taste so good?

Bonnie's wedding was yesterday and the day started off so well....I had a Zone bar and a glass of water....but then nothing else until I put my dress on. This lovely bridesmaid dress was unfortunately a bit snug....seeing as how I was measured for it at my skinniest point and let's just say I didn't quite stay there. And by snug I mean digging into my ribs, hoping it won't rip, and oh my, I cannot breathe snug.

After I put it on, I almost fainted so I figured eating would be a good thing just to make sure my blood sugar was ok...sadly I ingested a glass of OJ and an eighth of a bagel. Awful carbs.

I managed to make it through the ceremony ok and even kept the sugary drinks at bar for the evening, sticking to wine, vodka, and one ceremonious glass of champagne. Ok, the toast was ceremonious, but then Candy gave me a glass, so what was I supposed to do? Was a bit of a bad girl having a bit of pasta during the cocktail hour...but lucky I did because I didn't eat my entree at all.

Then, the dessert room opened and all hell broke loose. I was trying to be good - limiting myself to a small square of cheesecake. Until Qamara and I spotted the chocolate cordial bar. Oh yes, baby shot glasses made of pure chocolate. And it was such a social activity to do cordial shots with everyone....six blissful shots later, I knew I would emerge this AM a disaster....especially when Kyle and I stopped to get a panini on the way home....terrible....

After waking up this AM with a bit of a monster headache...let's just say I drank less than Kyle & Qamara and more than Jen's husband Jim.....getting on the scale was not so exciting.

Today's food:
Breakfast: String cheese
Lunch: Salad
Snack: Pear & havarti cheese
Dinner: Salad & chicken fingers

Somebody give me the metabolism of an Ethiopian please.

Day 26 - I'm an old lady

Weight: -4 lbs
Workout: None - I was thinking about going for a run (sorry Andrea), but my lower back has never hurt so much. Ever.
Mood: Laid-back

Yesterday's food:
Breakfast: Zone bar
Lunch: Turkey/Roast Beef wrap in low carb wrap
Dinner: Peanut butter and 5 pieces of sesame chicken
Snack: Glass of white wine and aged parmesan cheese

Today's food:
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs & bacon (Kyle cooked for me...cute!)
Lunch: Slice of bruschetta pizza
Dinner: Piece of chicken parmesan, one large meatball, and 2 bites of tiramisu, 1.5 glasses of white wine
Snack: Decaf coffee with cinnamon & splenda

Ow, ow, OW said my back.

Day 25 - Ouch

Weight: -3 lbs
Measurements: wow, I have a big butt
Mood: Blah - it's cold and rainy out

Workout this AM was BRUTAL.

For max sets per round:

1 min dumbbell cleans (30 lbs)
1 min squats
1 min swings (25 lbs)
Rest 1 min

Repeat 3 times

Round 1:
14 cleans
26 squats
17 swings

Round 2:
17 cleans
20 squats
13 swings

Round 3:
15 cleans
22 squats
10 swings

Grand Totals:

46 cleans at 30 lbs
68 squats
40 swings

Ouch. Every muscle in my body just aches.

Yesterday's food intake:
Breakfast: Lemon Yogurt Zone bar
Lunch: Egg Drop Soup (no cornstarch)
Snack: 3 oz colby jack cheese & sugar free jello
Dinner: Remainder of chicken & broccoli (no cornstarch or sugar)
Snack: Peanut butter and sugar-free fudgsicles

Day 24 - Feeling Strong

Weight: -3.5 lbs
Workout: we overslept so either later today or tomorrow morning
Mood: Inspired

Yesterday's food journal:
Breakfast: Zone bar (Chocolate Fudge)...yummy! (can be ordered from www.zonediet.com)
Lunch: The last serving of Chicken Gorgonzola from Trader Joe's
Snack: 1 oz colby jack cheese (I gave Adam this snack too as he was sizing up a zone diet nightmare...an oversized sugar cookie....he made the right choice and took the cheese)
Dinner: Egg drop soup (no cornstarch), chicken w/ broccoli w/ garlic & no cornstarch or sugar in sauce (I did have 2 bites of Kyle's sesame chicken and 1/4 of a piece of scallion pancake)
Snack: PB out of the jar and 4 oz of milk

I'm totally in love with this Chinese restaurant who will make all my food from scratch and will change their recipes to make them Zone appropriate and still taste great. Fantastic! If you're a Philadelphia person, check out JoJo's Chinese at 20th and Chestnut. Delicious!

I woke up feeling strong today. I actually have a battle wound - a small circle of broken blood vessels from carrying the sandbag. I'm into it.

Kyle woke up feeling sore and hurting. He can barely walk. I think (but he doesn't believe me) that it is because he is eating all these refined carbs and they make you more tired and don't help your muscles to recover as much as eating a healthy dose of protein and vitamins from vegetables. And of course, because he is not used to the workouts, but neither am I but I feel better....I think it's the diet.

We shall see.....

Day 23 - Post Training Session #2

Tonight, Andrea taught us the push press. I've only done push press with 15 lb dumbbells before....little did I know what work weight she had in store for me.

45 lbs above my head later, I was shaking and sweating like a monster. Adam rocked out with a work weight of 100 lbs and Kyle held his own with 75 lbs (approximate..I don't know exactly what his was).

I also learned that this has become the family blog so apparently Kyle will be posting or I will be posting for both of us.

Then, I did 3 sets of body rows (previously described) - then we did pull-ups. I can't do one on my own, so Andrea helped me do a bunch.

Then it was WORKOUT time. I don't think Andrea has ever laughed so hard in her entire life...let me try to paint the scene for you...

Adam was given a 50 lb sandbag and I was given a 25 lb sandbag. We had to run up the hill next to Andrea's house and down her driveway, then back again, running as fast as we could carrying the weight. 10 times with a minute to run and then rest....so therefore the faster you run the longer you get to rest. Hypothetically.

Kyle, because he's so skinny, isn't allowed to do metabolic conditioning; he can only do strength training. So, he was given a 25 lb sandbag to use for the workout, but instead of running, he had to do walking lunges down the driveway.

So, Andrea counted us down and Adam and I take off running. I beat him on the first one and we're laughing because we think it's easy and fun. He beats me on the second one. Kyle hasn't even finished one rep....he's starting to turn a little green. I beat him on the 3rd one. Andrea is still laughing hysterically at how competitive we are getting against each other. On the 4th one, Andrea switches the 50 lb bag from Adam and gives it to Kyle. So Adam and I have equal weights and he beats me. Then she tells me to drop my weight, so I beat the pants off him. Then we do it again and I forget who wins because we are both dying by this point. On the 8th one, she gives me the 50 lb bag and I can barely carry it. I can only walk. Adam runs by me laughing and pointing. I beat him on the 9th one and I think 10th although I was slightly hallucinating by that point because our hearts are racing so fast we can't even think.

Kyle manages to make it through only 4 sets and he is hurting bad. No one is laughing with or at Kyle. Andrea (being the great coach that she is) decides to make Kyle feel better and lines everyone up for a 100 m dash. Of course Kyle wins and Andrea has a pretty funny video of me whining about how I can't beat boys in a run.

Then Kyle throws up for awhile. I take pictures. We decide we are going to have a BBQ after our workout next week. Everyone learns how to do dumbbell cleans for the workout tomorrow. We all get into the car and go home. Everyone hurts.

Tomorrow's workout for Kyle is 12 pushups x 6 rounds for quickest time.

My workout is:
1 minute of cleans (30 lb dumbbells)
1 minute of squats
1 minute of swings (25 lb dumbbell)
rest 1 minute

Max number in each round is best.

Pictures of today will be posted tomorrow or later this week. I'm sure there are some classic ones.

Day 23 - Short & Sweet

Weight: -3 lbs
Measurements: will be taken tonight for the first time!
Workout: Soon to come as we are training with Andrea tonight
Mood: Busy, busy, busy!!!

More to come later....we're doing dumbbell presses tonight and Andrea has a really fun workout for us, apparently....her idea of fun and my idea of fun may be different...but we'll see.

Day 22 - Good things! Quick & Easy Greek Salad

Weight: -2.5 lbs
Workout: none today, had a great one yesterday
Mood: happy!

Yesterday, I did a workout that I've done before - Colleen & Jerk. Last time I did it three weeks ago, I did 19 sets in 5 min. Yesterday, I did 23 sets in 5 min. Improvement!!!!! And, last time, I woke up the next day feeling AWFUL. This morning, I feel a little stiff in the neck, but nothing like last time.

The Zone is definitely a help with feeling hungry or not hungry. I think one of the major issues I face is that I feel hungry all the time when I am actually not.

By the way, go to Trader Joe's and pick up the following items immediately - they are AWESOME!!!

1. Chicken Gorgonzola (frozen foods section) - this is very zone friendly (except for higher fat content) and very low carbs for a prepared entree
2. Salsa Verde - the best salsa I have ever had. Ever.
3. If you can take the carbs, get the flaxseed tortilla chips - they pair perfectly with the salsa.

New easy and great lunch recipe -

Quick & Easy Greek Salad

Take a large ziploc container and fill with lettuce or mixed greens. Add 3-4 small spoonfuls of Wegman's bruschetta (from their olive bar). Add 5-6 pitted kalamata olives from Trader Joe's. Add a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese if desired. Kraft now makes this Greek Vinaigrette with extra virgin olive oil and flavored with feta and oregano. Use a little of that. Put together in the AM and by lunchtime, you have a perfect meal. Pair with protein for Zone friendly meal.

Finally, on the good news front, my bridesmaid dress for this weekend fits perfectly!