Category: Uncategorized

Public Service Announcement

Went for my annual GYN exam this morning. Went to a new doc because my old one is too hard to get an appt with so they recommended this guy. 

It’s important to stay on top of your whole health. 

Stair Master

Thanks to my new fitbit, cold weather, and slow days at work before the semester starts – I decided to climb 3 split flights of stairs in a barely used stairwell in my building. 

Yesterday I did 5 rounds of down and up the stairs and today I did 6 rounds. I’d like to see if I can keep this up all semester and continue to increase the amount of rounds. 

WIW

  • Last week: 195.4
  • This week: 195.8/197.4

I need a new scale. It’s 4-5 years old and despite replacing the battery in November I just don’t trust it anymore. It was 195.8 when I first got on, then I doubled checked (as per usual) and it came up 197.4. They next few attempts it flashed between the two. So who knows. Any digital scale recs? Please message me! 

As we all know weight is only part of the story. I decide to get back on the measurements train. I will do measurements on the first Wednesday of the month.

January 2016

  • Chest (under breasts): 36
  • Smallest Waist 38.5
  • Belly Button: 43.5
  • Hips (under belly): 44
  • Neck: 13 
  • Mid Upper Arm: 11.5
  • Upper Arm: 13.5
  • Upper Thigh: 28.5
  • Mid Upper Thigh: 23
  • Above Knee: 18
  • Mid Calf: 15.75

Week 1: Back at the gym & ½ training

Week 1

  • Last Monday: Joined Golds (for the 3rd time in my life), briskly walked 2 miles on the treadmill, went to Body Pump
  • Last Tuesday: 4 miles outside 
  • Last Wednesday: Went Body Pump Express 30 then CRX class, 1 mile treadmill cool down
  • Last Thursday: 5K solo trail run
  • Sunday:  6 miles outside

Week 2 Preview

  • Yesterday: Went to Body Pump then CRX class, ½ mi treadmill cool down
  • Today: Plan to check out Body Attack to see how it compares to Pump and run 4 miles (hopefully outside before class,but my face my freeze off) 

My goal is to go to classes 2x a week. I want to check out as many class/instructor options before I get into a “routine.” 

I also really like that a number of the classes are back to back taught by the same instructor so you can go from Pump to CRX seamlessly or Pump to Body Flow/Yoga. 

My half marathon training this cycle is an intermediate plan that has me running 3x a week, but generally at a higher mileage – need to figure out my optimal weekday run days. I’m thinking Mon or Tues afterwork and Thurs before work in addition to a weekend run on Sat or Sun. The plan is to run the Shamrock ½ in VA Beach 3/20 with T, however we haven’t registered yet.

2015 Reflection Survey

A friend of mine posted this last week on her blog (and she’s been religious about doing it annually for yeeeeears). So I thought I’d take a stab: 

1. What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before? Used my passport! 

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Losing weight and new race distances/events didn’t happen, but I was active and had ups and downs with my nutrition. However I am in a MUCH MUCH better place financially – every year over the past few I’ve continued to get a better handle on my finances. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Babies were born, some I care more about than others, but no babies were born to anyone that would change my relationship with them. 

4. Did anyone close to you die? No thankfully.

5. What places did you visit? North to South & East to West: York Beach ME, Nashua NH, Boston, Charlemont MA, Hamden CT, NYC, Coney Island, Long Island, Fenwick Island DE, Dewey Beach DE, Pittsburgh, Frederick MD, Baltimore, Annapolis, Harpers Ferry WV, Leesburg VA, Harrisonburg VA, Charlottesville VA, Roanoke VA, Blacksburg VA, Raleigh, Charlotte, Ireland, Kansas City, Los Angeles(x2).

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015? A new more fulfilling and challenging job.

7. What days from 2015 will you always remember? First time T told me he loved me, Dublin Marathon, Bestie’s Wedding.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Successfully training for the Dublin Marathon. The race is only 26.2 miles, but I’m most proud of the hundreds of miles I put in training. 

9. What was your biggest failure? Hibernating most of the winter and early spring. More of a regret than a failure. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Heel spur and plantar fasciitis on my right foot. 

11. What was the best thing you bought? New running shoes and my first television (they happened in the same week)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? T – he took on the challenge to train for a 12K very seriously and rocked it! 

13. Where did most of your money go? Paying down my car (it will be all mine in March), Rent/Bills, Traveling

14. What did you get really excited about? 1 year Anniversary with T, Trip to Ireland, Bestie’s Wedding, Dewey Trip Round 3

15. What song will always remind you of 2015? Uptown Funk and the Taylor Swift Starbucks lover song ha! 

16. Compared to this time last year, are you:

  • a) happier or sadder? Happier! 
  • b) thinner or fatter? literally the same level of fatness 
  • c) richer or poorer? Richer!

17. What do you wish you’d done more of? Attended Church – I was doing so well for a while, but January is always a good time to get back to it! 

18. What do you wish you’d done less of? Screwing around on my phone in bed (both before going to sleep and before getting out of bed). 

19. How did you spend Christmas? On Long Island at my mom’s house. 

20. What was your favorite TV program? The Soup, Nashville, Making a Murderer, Younger, The Office 

21. What was the best book you read? Sadly I didn’t do a lot of reading this year – I have a stack of books, but haven’t read them.  

22. What music did you get excited about? New David Cook record!

23. What did you want and get? A new and upgraded Fitbit

24. What did you want and not get? A new job

25. What was your favorite film of this year? In theaters – American Sniper

26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 32 –  boozy brunch and Escape Room Live

27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015? Boldly patterned shorts and lots of running clothes! 

28. What kept you sane? T, my besties, running, writing/blogging

29. Who was the best new person you met? My grad student –  I needed the help at work and he’s been great! Honorable mention goes to my fellow runner/blogger/colleague Anne.

30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014. Find your north and trust it completely. I need to be me 100% – love me or hate me. 

Kudos to you if you took the time to read all this – thank you! 

Miles in Review

2015 stats aren’t too shabby. I did the 2,015 miles in 2015 with 2 other friends, we missed the goal by ~250 miles. One team member was injured among some other less valid excuses. I met my goal of ~672 miles so I feel good. Looking to do 2,016 in 2016 with one of team members and a new one. Maybe one day I’ll hit 1,000 miles in a year. 

  • 2015 Total: 693
  • 2014 Total: 429
  • 2013 Total: 343
  • 2012 Total: 750
  • 2011 Total: 651
  • 2010 Total: 791

Weigh In

Today: 195.4

Previous Weigh In (12/16): 198.8

First 2015 Weigh In (1/5): 195.4

Highest 2015 Weigh In (6/24):204.6

Lowest 2015 Weigh In (11/11): 193.4

I’m happy to be ending 2015 at least where I started. In part to my 3 day Dr Oz Cleanse and in part to using my time off work to kick things up in the fitness dept. I had some ups and downs, especially my lack of exercise prior to marathon training since I knew what an undertaking it would be. In 2016 I plan to cross train a lot more, run short racers, and I always have my eye on an oly sprint triathlon! Happy New Year to all!

Not bad 2015, not bad at all. I have a 5k tomorrow to close out December fully. (Thanks @veggielife for the template).

I worked out 182 days in 2015 aka 50% of the days in a year!

Now that I rejoined the gym this will help track my classes. I think I’m going to color code for 2016!

Also I just showered with my new Fitbit ChargeHR on. It only took 3 days for me to forget. Damn Flex life I had for 2 years. I now need to put a post it note on my shower door.