Marathons, Drugs That Are Good For You

In January of 2008, when I decided out of the blue, that I wanted to run a marathon, My family didn't know what to think.  I wasn't even a runner.  I had just seen the movie The Bucket List and for some reason thought that this would be cool to add to my list.

I decided that I should run a half marathon first and then go full out.  I looked for a schedule online and found

3 Little Words

3 little words can be such a difference maker. . .

PREPARATION PREPARATION PREPARATION

 

Schedules, lists, planning, calendars; these are not about being Type A (although those who don't do them find amusement through that accusation).  They are about reducing stress and being happier.  Really, schedules make you happier?  Lists reduce stress?  Yes,  absolutely!!!

 

Here's the morning self talk without planning

Fall Marathon Training Kick Off Month

This month kicks off fall marathon training.  I am going full out with a month of total fitness before tapering off cardio and adding miles.  I am following my own advice for achieving goals by posting my June calendar.

Step 1 to achieving your goal - put it in writing.
Step 2 to achieving your goal - share it with people who will support you

Link to calendar

Are you running a marathon or a 1/2 marathon this fall?  Let me know if your interested in sharing training tips.

Overcoming Excuses: I Don't Have Time To ...

This is what I hear all of the time "How do you do it?  I just don't have the time to workout like you do."  Like I do? Time?  Are you kidding me?

I wish I had a magic wand that would allow me to create an extra hour or two whenever I need them.   I need an extra hour to workout - wave my magic wand - ta da.  I need an extra hour to read a personal development book

Stop Watching Start Living

I hear a lot of crazy remarks about my lifestyle.  People love to MSU – Make Stuff Up. These same people who make up stuff about how I get things done also make up stuff about why they can’t get more done.  What kind of stuff am I talking about?  Reading, writing, working out, volunteering, you know the kind of stuff that has the potential to make you more successful and more fulfilled.

I have been subject to lots of imaginary made up stuff about how I can possibly do everything I do in a day: work, kids, life, running…  I was talking to someone this week who told me that they shared with other people (really?) that my mom lived with me and took care of the kids, errands, etc.  Crazy!!! 

There is one very easy secret to how I get it done.  Once revealed you will see how very easy it is for you to get more done. 

The Path That Lead Me To Insanity

The path that lead me to Insanity . . . On October 21, 2012 I completed my 5th marathon.  I blew away my goal time and shocked myself finishing in 4:03; 19 minutes faster than my previous PB.  The self gratification of that feat is indescribable.

Friends had asked me to join them in P90X and held off their start date so that I could join them on November 1st.  Over the next 90 days I watched

Fave Breakfast - Sausage Sandwich

My job, heck my life, takes a lot of energy.  It is super important to start out with a good breakfast.  Here's one of my favorites to get me going in the morning.  I was super surprised the first time I tried the Morning Star sausage patties.  Except that they are greaseless, I would have never known that they are meatless.  So delicious!!!

From the P90X Nutrition Guide - Breakfast Sandwich

1 lite whole grain English muffin
2 Morning Star sausage patties
1 oz mozzarella
(I find all of these ingredients at Costco)

Prepare the sausage patties
Lightly toast the English muffin
Assemble the sandwich open faced and place under broiler to melt cheese

350 calories
12 g fat
32 g carbs
33 g protein
8 g fiber

Don't worry about those carbs.  You get to subtract the fiber count from the carb count for a new carb total.

What's your favorite meal of the day?

Cheers to the Fricken' Cupcake

Did a double workout yesterday; P90X then 30 minutes on the elliptical all because my kids wanted me to bake cupcakes.  I know me, and when it comes to sweets - no discipline.  So rather than worry about it I just put my tunes on and got in an extra  30 minutes of cardio. Every song that came up on my favorite play list I inserted the word cupcakes.

Here's Rihanna.  Cheers to the Fricken' Cupcake 

Cheers to the fricken' cupcake
I eat to that, yeah-e-yeah
Oh, let the frosting sink in
I eat to that, yeah-e-yeah
Don't let the haters get you down
Turn it around and don't gain a pound

There's a cupcake o'er here yo
Everybody pull 'ya paper off
And I eat to that
Yeah-e-yeah, yeah-e-yeah, yeah-e-yeahYeah-e-yeah, yeah-e-yeah, yeah-e-yeah(And I eat to that)Yeah-e-yeah, yeah-e-yeah, yeah-e-yeahYeah-e-yeah, yeah-e-yeah, yeah-e-yeah

P90X Graduate

We did it!  We finished 90 days of P90X!  In spite of turkey temptations at Thanksgiving and tantalizing tiramisu at Christmas (not very traditional, but we love it) and bountiful bubbles at New Years we stuck to it and finished the entire 90 days of extreme workouts. 

Wow!  Looking back I remember the first week and not being able to do even one wide arm pull up.  I can still only do 3 or 4, but each one is a self gratifying moment of glory.  There is an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment going through this program. 

Here's what I found to be ultra rewarding:

P90X 60 Day Results

60 days down; only 30 to go.

I've talked to a lot of people who have tried P90X, but didn't make it the entire 90 days.  I don't want to bust on my friends, but

Today - YogaX

Today's workout is yoga.  A lot of people avoid programs with yoga in them thinking that it is just a bunch of stretching and it isn't in alignment with their goals of slimming down or bulking up.  They envision something like this

or this

2012 Learnings

As the year comes to an end it's important to take time and reflect on the past.  What went well last year?  What could have gone better?  What did I learn?  Take a look back and write it down.  "The palest ink is better than the best memory." - Chinese proverb  Which habits got you great results and which ones got in your way? 
Replace those bad ones with a new habit.  Instead of watching the evening news (bad in so many ways) go for a walk. Instead of fast food for lunch brown bag it.

The Biggest Loser

Give yourself a gift this year.  Start the year fast and focused by joining our biggest loser contest.  The contest will start the second Monday of January which will be the 14th. This will give you a little time to work out your plan. It will be a 90 day challenge

Loving KenpoX

Today's workout - KenpoX.  I love this cardio routine.  With each punch I make up an evil villian who I am attacking.  Today it was the bad man who brought the worlds largest tray of baklava to my house Saturday night.  Pure evil.



How I think I look doing KenpoX

How I really look doing KenpoX



It's so much fun my cat even gets into it.

 

 



What are your fitness goals for 2013?

 

Beachbody Coach

I just want to let you know that I am so in love with Beachbody (P90X, Insanity, Shakeology, TurboFire, etc.) that I have become a Team Beachbody Independent Coach. If you want to know more about their products message me.

P90X 30 Day Results!

When a friend asked if I wanted to join him and a friend in P90X I didn't really know what it was except an intense workout system.  It was about 1 week before the Grand Rapids Marathon and I was feeling like although I was running 50 miles a week to get ready for the race I didn't look as fit as I should.  When I would put on my running shorts there would be this bulge over the elastic waistline. Hate it! Hate it! Hate it!

Today was day 30.  I am the exact same weight as the day I started and I am totally celebrating that fact. In that time I have had 2 fancy schmancy work party dinners and then, of course, there was Thanksgiving and all of the yummy delights that go with that feast.  Being at  the exact same weight after all of that I feel that I am ahead.

The weight's the same, but my body's not.  I am already starting to see abs (yay!) and when I make a muscle I make a muscle!  These positive signs are so worth getting up in the morning and pushing play!

Lessons from the first 90 days of P90X

1. You can do anything for 30 seconds.
2. You can't do everything, but if you keep trying eventually you can do one, then two, then . . .
3. Red wine the night before plyometrics is not a good idea.
4. Chocolate Shakeology is best with cherries, almond milk, and vanilla.
5. You can get the best body you've ever had over 40.

Are you thinking about your New Year's Resolutions?