Body For Life Update

I have lost a total of 7 lbs. My body fat went down and my muscle thingy went up. Very slightly, but still in the right direction. And that is without running for 6 weeks! I've been doing a ton of crunches and I see the results of that too. My waist is getting a little curvier and I can get into some jeans Kerri gave me. Kerri is my TWENTY-ONE year old daughter. Yeah, how COOL is THAT? So it's paying off. I'm curious to see how getting back into running will effect this. I have been doing plenty of cardio at the gym while my flexor heals, so I'm sure that helped. It's not the same as running though. That's all for the update for now.....

Body For Life Update (kinda)

As you can see, I've been working really hard to look like this. At the gym everyday, major cardio workouts and free weights. Yoga and core exercises have paid off. I can't give you the secret of how I got my dark brown eyes to turn green for that picture. Or why I look 20 years younger. And those boobs look fake, I know.

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Ok, ok. That's not me. OOHHH big surprise! My husband thinks I look like this though. I guess the brain washing does work! Or proof that love is blind, either way works for me. Maybe that's why we've been married 12 years yesterday! Yes!! Congratulations to us! I told someone it was my 12th anniversary and they said these days 12 years is like 32 years. Well it feels like 32 years. KIDDING!!!!! It actually still feels like the honeymoon phase. Except for the 4 kids. These days we fall asleep on the couch waiting for the kids to fall asleep so we can have our alone time. We wake up at 2am, go brush our teeth, hug and go to sleep. We had to hang curtains on the OUTSIDE of my son's window so when we kiss in the jaccuzzi he won't bang on the window and laugh at us. On Saturday mornings we are sometimes awakened to one or more of the kidlings jumping into the middle of our bed. We look over their heads and just smile. When the kids see us cuddle they tell us to get a room. We tell them we would if we had a sitter....

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Body For Life has taken a backseat to my misery over the hip flexor pain in the...well, hip. I've been off it all week. I haven't reverted back to my potato chip behavior but I haven't been eating right. I start over today. I am going to dive right back into it and not think about running this week. Until Friday. I know it's not really a week PER SAY, but I will go easy on Friday.

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I got my spikes in. Cute. Purple. Pink was unavailable in my size but the purple is really pretty. I'm so dying to try them out. I walked around the house with them on (spikes not attatched). They feel like slippers. Absolutely no support. I can see why they're just for laps. I'm looking forward to getting some speed work in, but I have to be able to run first I guess.

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I will admit to being very down these last few days but today is a new day. I'm taking my son to get some new pool toys and I'm going to lay in the sun while they play. I'm going to reflect on all the good things in my life, of which there are MANY, I'm a very, very lucky woman. Jeez, I'm so mushy today!

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Okay, off to get some pool stuff!

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Still No Running =(

I don't know how much longer I can stand this. Someone mentioned a cortizone shot and I thought that might be the ticket, but I asked Jim this morning about them. He said it just takes away the pain. That's no good, because I'm planning on some serious speed/hill training. I'll wind up hurting it worse. It would be like bashing your numb hand with a hammer. Would it hurt? No. Would that stop the damage? No again.

So I guess I need to learn a little patience. That's something I have never had. I open presents on Christmas Eve and rewrap them before anyone finds out. I search for birthday gifts like a 9 year old child. I don't play any games I have to wait my turn for. I can honestly tell you, patience is NOT my best quality. It's not one of my qualities at all. Yeah....whatever.

I do have a slight problem. I can't think of a single hill here in Florida. Can you?? Maybe the bridge in Sarasota, but I don't see me heading out that way 4 times a week. Maybe I could run the beaches. That's supposed to be a workout and a half. But I'd just lay in the sand, I know me. I love the beach. Maybe the stairmaster??? GOD, I will hate that thing. Safe to say I most likely will avoid that particular machine. If the pool were not so flipping freezing I could do some stuff in there. Like float around on the raft with a beer and a book....HA!! Too bad I'm serious.

Well ya know what? My kids and husband are home this week. I will plan on going to the gym early and doing my regular stuff this week. Like a little break I guess. I'll pretend I WANT a break from running. I'll trick my mind a little.

So did I mention I ordered up some spikes???? I went left-wing and got a pretty bluish-purple color. Okay, so I couldn't get the pink in my size, but these have pretty flowers on them. And I can always spray paint them pink, right? No? We'll see. So much for tricking my mind, huh.

I'll just admit it, I want to run.
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Surprise Update on Body For Life

I LOST 5 LBS!!!!!!!! I can't even believe it! Finding that out got me in my closet trying on old jeans. I can add a few more to my wardrobe. Yay!!!!!! Let's hope I don't wreck it tonight when I take the kids to Olive Garden. I'm just having the salad!!!!! And a bite or two of Kerri's dinner.....lol....my weakness there is the breadsticks dipped in alfredo. Ooooohhhhhhhhh, yummyness. I did think my stomach had gotten a little flatter, but I didn't expect the scale to show anything THAT good!!! And in just 10 days.

I'll be back later to tell on myself if I misbehave.

Oh, one more thing......Bobby got me the new Asics Gel Frantic 2 sneakers for my b-day!!! They came in today....yahoooo....just in time for my very first run tomorrow since the marathon. They're white with....guess what color....yep....PINK! Hot pink actually! Can't wait to break those babies in.....
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Body For Life Day 8

I am adjusting pretty well to the menu choices for this program. It's becoming easier to refuse scrumptious foods, which isn't always easy working in a restaraunt.

Last night Bobby and I took the kids to the St Pat's party at Beef O'Brady's. What a great surprise to see a band that used to play at another restaraunt I worked at 4 years ago. Jimmy and Dave were the highlight of my weekend work shift there! The music was fantastic and they brought their groupies who were also a delight. I also made a ton of money when they played!

Jimmy wore his green kilt last night, but he just smiled when I asked him what he had on under there....maybe because I asked him if it was a ribbon....heehee!! They played all the Irish faves and the crowd really enjoyed them. They also know my coach, Jim Chaps. Small world! Here are the links to these great singer/songwriters.....

http://www.jimchaps.com/
http://www.ourstage.com/fanclub/jimmymccarthy

I know you'll enjoy them!!!

My friend Sherry made a new PR last weekend in a 5K....http://awomaninmotion.blogspot.com/...28:19!!!!!!! YAHOOOO Sherry!!!!! Sherry was running a 5K for breast cancer. I am so proud of her!!!!!

I did my workout today at the gym, I stretched my flexor with some resistance exercises. I also used the abductor (?) and that seems to really strengthen the muscle. Jim says I may be good for an easy run on Friday. (fingers crossed) I did the stationary bike for 30 minutes, keeping the RPM above 90 the whole time. It was a great workout and my hip handled it well.

I'm off to go lay in the sun.
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Body For Life...Day 5

Doing surprisingly well! I am anyway. My husband fell off the wagon last night. I came home from work last night (after midnight BTW) and there was CONTRABAND in the kitchen! YES...an empty pizza box. I couldn't believe my eyes!! So I woke him up to find out what happened. I know, nice wife, huh?? He admitted to eating 2 slices. My son Robby shares Bobby's love for the fatty triangles too. Supposedly, my husband got it for Robby....LOL...like I'd fall for that.

I guess I should confess one thing. Someone brought potato chips into my home. I think it was Kerri or Kirstin. I walked away 3 times. Then I opened the bag and just smelled them. They called my name, I swear. I went back thinking I'd just lick one. And I did. It was a very enjoyable experience, actually. But ALAS!!! It was not enough. I ate it. Just one though. What???? It's not like I ate PIZZA! And I just talked to Bobby....he slipped and admitted he really had 3 slices....LMAO!!! If I knew that, I'd have eaten 2 chips. I drank a bottle of water to dilute the bad effects of the chip, which was a Lay's Kettle Honey BBQ. Yeah, see??? They're irrisistable!

I did my "on the ball" exercises at the gym this morning. Jim killed us with ab work, which I loved. I did leg work too, trying to help my hip flexor. Did some resistance exercises too. Mike was there for running club, and I REALLY wanted to run. I tried a little but the push off from that leg still hurts too much. I'm very frustrated but I can tell it's getting better. I won't try to run for a couple more days. I can't wait to get back to it!!!!!

I'm going to wear my Injinjys to work tonight for "old time's sake".
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Body For Life, Week One Begins

My husband and I began our 12 week program yesterday. Let's just say, I'm ready to lick a stick of butter. Bobby assures me that soon I'll find joy in finding out that food has a naturally delicious flavor. No. I want my butter!!! I want some chips! I want beer!

I'm kind of exaggerating, it's not all that bad. I'll pretty much eat anything, don't let me fool you for a minute. It just seemed last night at around 8:30, a bowl of popcorn with a half a stick of melted butter all over it would be a perfect little snack. So I can't get that out of my head. My "funny" husband says "Why don't you have a nice cold glass of water?" Then I said "Why don't you give me the tv remote." He said sorry, but I heard him laughing. He also kept the remote.

I went to my yoga class, which I enjoy almost as much as running. Then went and did some resistance exercises for that flip hexor, ahhh....hip flexor. Geez, this stick of butter is making my fingers slip on my keyboard!!! Anyway, I wish it would just go away. I'm icing it right now. I tried to do 30 minutes on the stationary bike. I was 15 minutes into the cross training mode when I got bumped off. A woman told me I could only be on it for 15 minutes. I tried to explain it was a 30 minute limit but she wasn't going for it. I hopped off. My hip was bothering me by then anyway. On my way out though, I showed her the GREAT BIG HUGE sign that said 30 minute limit....heeheehee...I feel bad now though because she was a bit older. I should have taken the high road. But I bet she won't be kicking people off anymore. Hahaha! If that's the worst thing to happen to me today, I'll be golden!

Gotta go....my fridge is calling my name. Wish me luck and resistance to temptaion.
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Day Four Post Marathon

Well, it's been 4 days since the marathon. I am walking but still pretty sore thanks to that muscle I pulled. I went to my yoga class yesterday (Wed) and was able to do all the stretches. I actually saw a lot of improvement on my walking abilities after the class. Unfortunately, I had to work last night 5-midnight so I'm sore all over again this morning. I may skip the gym and just do some yoga on my own. I have an exercise class tomorrow anyway.

Jim says not to run for a couple weeks. The muscles need to repair. I'm in no position to even run down the street yet, but when I am, I'll be at the track doing some speed work. I'd love to finish a 5K in under 30 minutes for once! I'm aiming for a 27 minute 5K. That should also help my endurance and help me beat my 5:33:38 marathon time.

My next marathon is Oct 26, 2008. It's in Falmouth, Ma....I lived there before moving to Florida so I'm looking forward to that! It's the closest I'll probably get to the Boston marathon.....LOL... My sis-in-law, Michelle lives in Mass and is a runner also. I left her a message about the Cape Cod marathon hoping to get her to run with me but haven't heard back yet. Michelle, if you're reading this...c'mon sista....let's do it!!!!! It's 5 months away!!!

My next goal is the "Body For Life" challenge. You sign up, send in a photo of yourself in a bikini (UGH) and follow the program. It's a 12 week, no fat diet with a high cardio workout. This will tie in beautifully with my running. I'm looking forward to having a hot body at 42 years old! I will absolutely NOT be posting my "before" photo until I can post my "after" for obvious reasons. Number one being there MAY be 1 or 2 of you out there who think I'm already "hot" now. I'd hate to prove you wrong by posting THAT.....LOL
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