I had not planned to write until after this week's 5k but tonight........ it was a "milestone" night between me and the kid.
He knows how hard I have been working out. He seems to be happy about this. We go to Dicks Sporting Goods to look for a Kettlebell for me to work out at home.
I see a very big one that has an 16 on it... .thinking "BOY, that seems awfully big for a 16?" (Yes, I have since realized most are kg, not pounds).
I try to pick it up... DEFINITELY not 16 pounds. My normal is a 26 pounds (unless AJ lies.... he tried to give me a 35# last week...sneaky bastard.)
Kid grabs it "What, this is super light" and asks what I do w/ it. I grab the one above it and show him a kettlebell swing. He does it NO PROBLEM w the 16. (Which, for those non-metric friends of mine is the 35 pounder AJ gave me and I could not swing last week) He then grabs then next one marked 20. (45 pounds......)Yup, he could swing that too but just needed to put a bit more UMPH into it.
For those thinking 45 pounds is not that much....... I suspect you have not done a Kettlebell swing. Or are not a novice/getting back in shape 40 year old woman watching her 13 year old child do this...........
He now wants to get some stuff here to work out with. He has flat-out does not want to go to the gym with me but is good about the elliptical so........ I guess I now have to build weight into the budget.
(We got an adjustable kettlebell so we can just add or remove weight for me vs him for now. It can go up to 50 pounds and at 13 I do not want him swinging more than that.)
This week has been such a humbling week with this child. He is now taller than me, stronger than me and likely smarter than me.
(OMG, and started shaving this week too............ glimpses of days to come.)
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Fitness, fun and family
PHEW, is it just me or is it HOT outside?
It has been nice having a month between events. Having a blast this summer and trying to make fitness part of it. Two weeks ago, found myself particularly restless and had two choices........ watch something on TV or go MOVE MY a$$. I started the day w/ an 8 mile bike ride and then followed that up w/ a 5 mile walk. In 90+ degree heat. FELT AWESOME THOUGH. Then this past weekend, another 4 mile walk outside. My pace is sucky but know what... I SWEAT MY a$$ off, did it and it felt great!!!! I may not make my goal of a 4mph pace this summer but hey, if I am improving and moving, it is a WIN!!!!
Starting to love my workouts with the trainer too. Not sure I have talked much about that here. I need things to keep me motivated (hence the crazy summer of 5ks......). The other thing is paying someone each week to FORCE me to exercise outside my comfort zone. If you can afford it, it is an amazing thing to do. I only go once per week to the trainer and am on my own the rest of the time. AJ is a great guy. He is VERY into Crossfit (to the point he was competing for a while and training involved 1000 burpees in an hour....told him that was nuts and it ain't happening for this girl.) Well, since I had time between events, he decided it is time to really start to push me outside my comfort zone. If you would have told me when I started this journey in April I could do what I am doing today..... I might have laughed so hard I would pee myself.
Last week, he pushed me. We did work w/ weights on a bar (dead lifts, then clean and jerk, then to an overhead press... 3 sets at each level.) He looks at me "AND NOW, we start the high intensity!".... What? I thought I was going to DIE at what he told me we were going to do. Sequence of Burpees/low jumps/kettlebell swings. Sets are 21 reps, 15, reps, 9 reps. And for those who struggle with math.... YES-- 45 burpees. I did it!!! They were not pretty, my time was not stellar but guess what.... I did what I swore at the beginning I could not do. He is worth every friggin penny.
In addition to the benefit of the workouts I get and the confidence he gives me, there are two other benefits to it that keeps me from cutting it out when I finish this group.
1. To pay for training, I had to cut things from my budget..... what did I cut- the EATING OUT budget. I am cooking more at home, even if it is something "quick and dirty" and trying to make more "clean" choices with our food dollars.
2. I think about what I am putting in my body and what I do to be active..... If I am putting crap in my mouth all day long and don't work out except w/ the trainer, then I might as well be flushing money down the drain. So.... I make better choices and make sure to work out in between so I don't waste the money and physical gains those Thursdays w/ AJ give me.
So....... does that mean I am good all the time... HAHAHAHAHA.... Here is the fun and family part. This past weekend had LOTS of Family. Escaped to The Forss Hilton (actually, my dad and Margi's house but it is like getting away to a hotel for the weekend they take such great care of us!). Got to hang w/ them Friday night and go with my Dad to pick up Uncle Ernie at the Airport. He lives in Colorado and don't get to see him much. He is my dad's oldest brother and it is so fun to listen to them talk about their lives as children and just seeing them together.
Envision a 66 year old man and a 72 year old man racing through Barnes and Noble to see who can get to the check out first and then trying to get the cashier on their side on what pests older/younger brothers can be....all while I shake my head with embarassment ... and laugh!
Or... having discussed earlier in the day that THEY had ice cream but me, my son and Margi didn't and them saying "well we can go again later". I look up and it is 9:30pm and am like "HEY-you never got us ice cream". We literally all JUMPED in the car (5 people, Honda Civic..... 13 year old looking at me like we all lost our mind) in under 2 minutes and raced the clock to get to the ice cream place that is 25 minutes from their house and closed in 30 minutes.... yes, we made it with 3 minutes to spare and then proceeded to eat a sundae made with apple pie ice cream and caramel sauce. Nice thing about their house is they have a pool so I also swam that morning..... (although my swimming looks like someone trying not to drown really.......)
The next day it was off for more family to celebrate my Aunt's birthday and more fun time w/ family. Love being w/ the cousins and my family!
This week at work.... it has been a challenge. Looking forward to the trainer tomorrow -- for 1 hour I cannot think about work, or bills, or pretty much anything as I am trying to remember simply to breath and not fall over. (Hmmmmm, guess that is another benefit of AJ. Good thing he does not read this or he might push me harder when he reads about the ice cream....)
This weekend-- the RockNRoll Marathon (doing the mini which is 3 miles) down on the lakefront which should be a great time but even more fun.... Get to see a old friend who was so dear to me in High School (Dani), one of my far-away friends (Anke) and get to meet a virtual friend face to face (Mary)! So cannot wait. GIRL TIME!!!!!! (And a 3 mile event on the beautiful lakefront......BONUS)
It has been nice having a month between events. Having a blast this summer and trying to make fitness part of it. Two weeks ago, found myself particularly restless and had two choices........ watch something on TV or go MOVE MY a$$. I started the day w/ an 8 mile bike ride and then followed that up w/ a 5 mile walk. In 90+ degree heat. FELT AWESOME THOUGH. Then this past weekend, another 4 mile walk outside. My pace is sucky but know what... I SWEAT MY a$$ off, did it and it felt great!!!! I may not make my goal of a 4mph pace this summer but hey, if I am improving and moving, it is a WIN!!!!
Starting to love my workouts with the trainer too. Not sure I have talked much about that here. I need things to keep me motivated (hence the crazy summer of 5ks......). The other thing is paying someone each week to FORCE me to exercise outside my comfort zone. If you can afford it, it is an amazing thing to do. I only go once per week to the trainer and am on my own the rest of the time. AJ is a great guy. He is VERY into Crossfit (to the point he was competing for a while and training involved 1000 burpees in an hour....told him that was nuts and it ain't happening for this girl.) Well, since I had time between events, he decided it is time to really start to push me outside my comfort zone. If you would have told me when I started this journey in April I could do what I am doing today..... I might have laughed so hard I would pee myself.
Last week, he pushed me. We did work w/ weights on a bar (dead lifts, then clean and jerk, then to an overhead press... 3 sets at each level.) He looks at me "AND NOW, we start the high intensity!".... What? I thought I was going to DIE at what he told me we were going to do. Sequence of Burpees/low jumps/kettlebell swings. Sets are 21 reps, 15, reps, 9 reps. And for those who struggle with math.... YES-- 45 burpees. I did it!!! They were not pretty, my time was not stellar but guess what.... I did what I swore at the beginning I could not do. He is worth every friggin penny.
In addition to the benefit of the workouts I get and the confidence he gives me, there are two other benefits to it that keeps me from cutting it out when I finish this group.
1. To pay for training, I had to cut things from my budget..... what did I cut- the EATING OUT budget. I am cooking more at home, even if it is something "quick and dirty" and trying to make more "clean" choices with our food dollars.
2. I think about what I am putting in my body and what I do to be active..... If I am putting crap in my mouth all day long and don't work out except w/ the trainer, then I might as well be flushing money down the drain. So.... I make better choices and make sure to work out in between so I don't waste the money and physical gains those Thursdays w/ AJ give me.
So....... does that mean I am good all the time... HAHAHAHAHA.... Here is the fun and family part. This past weekend had LOTS of Family. Escaped to The Forss Hilton (actually, my dad and Margi's house but it is like getting away to a hotel for the weekend they take such great care of us!). Got to hang w/ them Friday night and go with my Dad to pick up Uncle Ernie at the Airport. He lives in Colorado and don't get to see him much. He is my dad's oldest brother and it is so fun to listen to them talk about their lives as children and just seeing them together.
Envision a 66 year old man and a 72 year old man racing through Barnes and Noble to see who can get to the check out first and then trying to get the cashier on their side on what pests older/younger brothers can be....all while I shake my head with embarassment ... and laugh!
Or... having discussed earlier in the day that THEY had ice cream but me, my son and Margi didn't and them saying "well we can go again later". I look up and it is 9:30pm and am like "HEY-you never got us ice cream". We literally all JUMPED in the car (5 people, Honda Civic..... 13 year old looking at me like we all lost our mind) in under 2 minutes and raced the clock to get to the ice cream place that is 25 minutes from their house and closed in 30 minutes.... yes, we made it with 3 minutes to spare and then proceeded to eat a sundae made with apple pie ice cream and caramel sauce. Nice thing about their house is they have a pool so I also swam that morning..... (although my swimming looks like someone trying not to drown really.......)
The next day it was off for more family to celebrate my Aunt's birthday and more fun time w/ family. Love being w/ the cousins and my family!
This week at work.... it has been a challenge. Looking forward to the trainer tomorrow -- for 1 hour I cannot think about work, or bills, or pretty much anything as I am trying to remember simply to breath and not fall over. (Hmmmmm, guess that is another benefit of AJ. Good thing he does not read this or he might push me harder when he reads about the ice cream....)
This weekend-- the RockNRoll Marathon (doing the mini which is 3 miles) down on the lakefront which should be a great time but even more fun.... Get to see a old friend who was so dear to me in High School (Dani), one of my far-away friends (Anke) and get to meet a virtual friend face to face (Mary)! So cannot wait. GIRL TIME!!!!!! (And a 3 mile event on the beautiful lakefront......BONUS)
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Dirty Girls and Dirty Dogs...
WOW-this past weekend was super DIRTY!!
Saturday was the long awaited Dirty Girl Run! What a BLAST!!!
I was super worried about my lower body strength when I should have worried about my upper body!!! Lots of pulling myself over walls and crawling!
The temperature was a bit cool too and by the end we were shivering!! (And of course muddy!! Thanks to Michelle and Theresa for hanging in with me!
Then Sunday had to run help the kid wash his dogs at his Dad's due to one getting sick on the others. Love those dogs to pieces! Have the best of having a dog (playing with them and exercising them and RARELY have to deal with the icky part)
We got plenty wet and had a lot of laughs trying to convince them to stand still long enough. (3 dogs-2 are full Rotties who hate bathes and a lab/pit who LOVES to play and shake water everywhere).
This is Gunnar-he was the one who was on the receiving end of most of the mess and who truly hates water made worse by some numbness issues he has. The yard is my son's Dad's.... Such a great place for a boy and his dogs!
Cleaning the crates....not so much but still doable.
Then we went to put them away......
Bad judgement on my part led to me getting caught up in one of the dog tie-outs and a nasty burn/bruise. Seeing my trainer tomorrow for some options until it heals and thankful I have 3 weeks til my next race!
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Summer is here and yard work is great training!
You know that neighbor with the horrid flower beds? Choked with weeds? A complete disaster? Yeah-that WAS my yard. Figured out cleaning my flower beds out used much of the same actions if I paid attention as the things the trainer had me doing in the gym. Squats, lunges, pulling against resistance, deadlifts... Haha and then I do not have the eyesore yard.
So last weekend I spent another 4 hours in the yard. That did not include cutting the grass!
Here are a few before and after pics
Behind the garage-before!
And here is the after! All cutting was done with a bow saw or pruners and all the overgrowth pulled by hand!
This bed was cleaned out the week before so needed plants and mulch--
Before:
And after:
Here is the pile if brush (plus 5 bags of stuff too..
Just one (HUGE) one left
That may take a couple weekends!!
Who needs a gym right?
Trainer again tomorrow but told him we can't up the weights because this weekend I AM GONNA BE A DIRTY GIRL!! Event number 5 of 9 I have signed up for this year. 5k through the mud with some people I have known since high school and hopefully make a few new friends too.
Realizing I am already 1/2 done with my events has me thinking maybe I don't want the Monster Dash on my birthday to be the end of this..... Maybe it is just the beginning?? Could I keep doing it? Suddenly I am googling again and doing the math... Could I do 8 miles in 2.5 hours?? 18.75 min/mile... Maybe- that is fast enough for the Wheaton Hot Cider on 11-3-13.... What about 5 miles in 3 hours--- no sweat!! Schaumburg 5 mile Turkey Trot! I may need a 2nd job to start paying for event fees and shoes.
Hmmmmm- maybe some of you would like to come along!!!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
New Trainer, new outlook
Despite doing a 5k ColorVibe on 6-1-13 and the 20 mile Tour De Cure Bike Ride last weekend, I have been so SUPER lazy and eating like CRAP.
The scale had been down a total of 17 pounds since February on 5-30-13. WELL........ since then I regained 6 pounds. (Yes, in 2 weeks.) Could not get motivated. That is what I need a trainer for- to keep me honest and keep me motivated.
The trainer I had been working with got me at the same time as a different trainer left our gym and he got overloaded and could not commit to a regular schedule. Got the option to change trainers which gives you a freebie w/ the new trainer and I thought I would give it a go.
LOVE the new trainer!!! Feel like I have been worked harder than I have in forever! I finally had to tell him "NO MORE" with the leg work. Arms/back/chest are tired and will likely be sore. BUT I FEEL GREAT!!! Just the kick in the pants I needed.
Oh- and here is the ONE public picture I could find from the Tour De Cure. Of course it is my backside!!!
You can see me on the right side of the picture, grey shirt with small backpack and ponytail! (In case you did not recognize me lol)
The scale had been down a total of 17 pounds since February on 5-30-13. WELL........ since then I regained 6 pounds. (Yes, in 2 weeks.) Could not get motivated. That is what I need a trainer for- to keep me honest and keep me motivated.
The trainer I had been working with got me at the same time as a different trainer left our gym and he got overloaded and could not commit to a regular schedule. Got the option to change trainers which gives you a freebie w/ the new trainer and I thought I would give it a go.
LOVE the new trainer!!! Feel like I have been worked harder than I have in forever! I finally had to tell him "NO MORE" with the leg work. Arms/back/chest are tired and will likely be sore. BUT I FEEL GREAT!!! Just the kick in the pants I needed.
Oh- and here is the ONE public picture I could find from the Tour De Cure. Of course it is my backside!!!
You can see me on the right side of the picture, grey shirt with small backpack and ponytail! (In case you did not recognize me lol)
Sunday, June 9, 2013
The Tour De Cure!
Today was my longest and hardest ride yet! Today I did the ADA Tour De Cure. I signed up on a whim and then started to have second thoughts... WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING??? And then came the weather reports... Rain and thunder and lightening! And then the Blackhawks went into double overtime.
But, I signed up for it and people donated for it. And I woke up this morning and the sun was shining and the weather was PERFECT!
And it is a cause that means a lot to me. A lot of my family has Type 2 diabetes and that is part of what motivated me for this summer craziness of fitness- so I can hopefully avoid that.
Also, my son's father and one of his cousins are Type 1. That puts my son at risk to become Type 1 in addition to risk of Type 2.
They say by 2050 one in three Americans will have Diabetes. It is a health crisis.
So I rode. ALL 20 MILES! I rode up and down all the hills. I got to the last rest stop and skipped it because I feared I wouldn't have the ability to get back on the bike.
I felt GREAT when I got off. And relieved. And strangely, I felt like I wanted to cry. And AWESOME!
Next up- The Dirty Girl on June 29th!
Before the ride-
Half-way point- all the riders in the red jersey's were people riding with diabetes. They are called the Red Riders! A young man about 9 or 10 was in front of me for a good part of the ride- and he was a Red Rider! He did the 20 miles too! (I didn't take his pic as I didn't want his mom to think I was some weirdo.)
Here is me at the finish line. So many people, such a great ride. Thankful to my Dad and Margi for being there for me!
Worried about the next few days as I am already sore. I will keep you posted and if I find any pics from the event from the public site I will share them too!
Oh-here is my times and the elevations!
Sunday, June 2, 2013
A Fun and Colorful weekend
5k #3 for the year is in the books. This was the ColorVibe in Rockford. Part of the proceeds went to the Children's Aid + Home Society. Was able to do it with my AWESOME friend Brenda who is such an inspiration in her weight loss and journey to becoming a runner!!
At the start, everyone took off running and I felt a bit of the "I wanna be a runner too" envy. So I tried...
It did not go well. I had a high impact sports bra on but... Haha!!
Also, if you do one of these- the colored powder does NOT stick to technical tee's so I had very little powder on my clothes at the end compared to my buddies.
My face was obviously another story. (And had a ton in the not-so-high impact sports bra!)
My niece Kelsey (who is also my very beautiful God Daughter) did it with her BFF Josie so I got to see her and snag a pic too!
The other great part of the weekend was Friday... My Aunt Bonnie who I have not seen in way too many years was in town and my Aunts Sally and Rosa. Spent the whole weekend at my Dad's enjoying the time with family. We will see tomorrow morning how much damage my Step-mom's awesome cooking did. (But she had plenty of good choices for me)
My crazy kid could not resist the lure of the pool despite the water temp of 70 and air temp of 68. He told me it would really help my achy body. I thought NOT!!
Ok- off to bed for this chick- crazy work week and a 20 mile ride next weekend means I need my zzzz's.
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