Apptastic

Let's be honest.

I would be lost, LOST I tell you, without my iPhone. The dang thing is practically another appendage, but as much as I wish I didn't depend on it quite so much, it has become irreplaceable when it comes to keeping me on track and motivated to workout.

I thought I'd share some of my favorite apps that I've been using to keep track of everything and to keep me moving!

Zombie's Run!

I started using the app earlier this fall when I started running outside and was having a heck of a time "getting in the zone". This app has been a fun way to get in the groove while running outside (especially when running hills). Because I also only use it when running outside, "wanting to know what happens next!" helps to push me out the front door. You can listen to your own tunes while saving the world and the GPS is pretty accurate so it tracks my time, miles and pace which is handy.

Rock My Run

I've seen lots of folks post links to their running playlists using services like Spotify and even Pandora has some pretty great cardio playlists for running. I've used them both in the past and Pandora is a staple at the office, but let's be honest--I'm lazy and don't want to labor over putting together a playlist for the gym. Enter, Rock My Run. I've used this app for the the last week or so and it is fantastic. I love that I can sort and pick out mixes based on bmp. It has definitely helped to keep me going on the treadmill.

Daily Mile & Nike +

I may be a wee bit of an over achiever but I actually log my miles in two places. Weird. I know. Previous to using the Zombies, Run app, I used the Nike+ app for all my runs (inside and out) and bought the Nike Fuel Band to keep me motivated and moving (and it makes for a cool watch). I LOVE the Nike+ app and fuel band, but I also needed a place to log other workouts (yoga, strength training, etc.) which is why I started using Daily Mile as well. I can import my runs/walks from Nike+ and it keeps everything nice and tidy.

Lose It!

I started using this app seriously when I started training with Drew. Everything gets logged here (food and activities), but the only thing I actually pay attention to is how much protein I eat a day. The rest of the numbers, while interesting, aren't really of much concern to me.

31 Day Yoga Project: Week 1

Oiy vey.

This week. I just. Real life gets in the way of fun some times.

Things have been progressing very slowly with this project. Which I guess in a way is o.k.

At one point, I had thought about trying to tackle baby grasshopper instead of Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana for this project, but managed to tweak something in my wrist. Sadly this made any attempt at any pose requires my hands/wrists was impossible. But that's o.k. I need to remind myself that building a good base is better than mastering some of these harder poses.

Having said that though, trying to find time for yoga has been difficult. I managed practice 4 days this week, which was a total win. After a 4 day weekend, getting back in the swing of things with work and hitting the gym were a tad difficult so I didn't spend as much time doing yoga or working on my core strength as much as I wanted to.

But, it's a new week and another chance to focus on working on the pose and working on building some strength and flexibility. 

New Goals & Monday Mileage

Two for one deal on this post only! More bang for your buck, I say!

Part 1:
As a writer, I have no shortage of journals and notebooks laying about the place, so I decided to turn one into my training log for 2015. When I sat down to write out my original goals for the year, seeing them in the place I'd be "tracking them" didn't really cause a moment of inspiration or even an inkling of "I've got this". So, I re-evaluated and came up with a revised set of goals for 2015!

--Log between 500-750 miles for the year: Originally, it was 500 miles for the year but considering Bandit and I head out for at least a mile every day, 500 wasn't much of a "go get 'em tiger!" kind of number. Plus, I know there will be some days at a time where I don't log anything and some of these miles will be walking rather than running so that number needed to increase to encompass all mileage. So, 500-750 it is!
--Yoga 4 to 6 times a week: Daily was a little over zealous. But that's o.k. This is feasible.
--Learn and hold baby grasshopper and crow: Bring on a strong core and upper body!
--Strength Train 3 to 5 times a week: Riiiiight. I am claiming the 5th on why this wasn't included before.
--Run my first races!: This is the only that didn't change. At all.
--Complete a fitness challenge each month: What can I say? I get bored. I need a good challenge. In January I'm doing a 30 day plank challenge, which by the way sucks! I am happy to getting it out of the way first thing! I'll definitely do a squat challenge again, pushups for sure another but beyond that I'm not sure. Anyone else have a 30 day challenge they did and somewhat enjoyed?

They aren't too different than before, but enough that I feel like I have given myself a little more direction.

Part 2:
I've never really been great at having a "series" on my blog, but we're going to give it a try! Each Monday, in an attempt to hold myself accountable, I'll check in with my weekly mileage/workouts and all that good stuff. I'm hoping it helps to keep my on track. I have some things planned for this fall that count on it!

So without further adieu, here is my first week:
Monday: 2.06 miles
Tuesday: 1.55 miles
Wednesday: off
Thursday (Happy 2015!!): 6 miles, 25 minutes of yoga
Friday: 2 miles, 20 minutes of yoga
Saturday: 3 miles, 25 minutes of yoga/strength training
Sunday: 2.75 miles

Mileage for the Week: 17.35 miles

Lots of miles which is great. I'm looking forward to getting back in the gym to get some good long runs in without the fear of falling on my butt.

You eat what?!

You know those annoying people who proudly proclaim, "Well, I can't eat anything I want!" when they see you eating your "rabbit food"?

I am one of those people.

I LOVE food. I love cooking it, baking it but above all else eating it.

Give me all the pasta in the world and I am one happy gal.

That is until 30 minutes after the meal and then I feel like I've ingested a boulder.

Needless to say, pasta and I have a rocky relationship and are currently not friends.

When I first started working with Drew, the first thing we tackled was the nutrition side of things. I kept a food journal, turned it in, he reviewed and then we talked about it. I remember him asking me if I knew what changes I needed to make and me immediately snapping back "If I knew that already, I wouldn't be here".

Food has a weird pull over people. We, not everyone but some of us, eat when we are happy, sad, bored, worried, anxious, celebrating something, mourning something or just because it is there, staring at you from the counter in the breakroom at work begging to be eaten.

So, to answer his question, no I didn't know what changes needed to be made.

The answer was pretty simple:

• All the fresh fruits & vegetables I wanted (awesome and being a vegetarian totally easy), but dried fruit was out (total bummer) as were bananas (double bummer)
• Beans & lentils (o.k., I could manage that)
• Almonds, Pecans & Brazil Nuts (done!)
• Peanut butter could stay in limited qualities & it had to be the good stuff (whoop! whoop!)
• Another source of protein such as quinoa, TVP or tofu (and eggs if I could stomach it)
• Greek yogurt because it is delicious
• Potatoes could stay as well, but had to be small & only for first or second meal

And that was it. THAT was the list of what I could eat.

No bread, pasta or cereal. No cheese. No chocolate (he did eventually o.k. dark chocolate once in a blue moon but even that came with rules and regulations).  Gone was my delicious trail mix (we all know it's just chocolate with obstacles) and granola. No more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a quick dinner. And it was farewell to my pasta. 

We can't forget the rest of the "rules" that came with the diminutive list: all meals were to be consumed between 11am-7pm (hello there, intermittent fasting, not terribly nice to meet you),  meals were no longer to be referred to as breakfast, lunch or dinner (simply meal 1, meal 2 and meal 3) and I needed to start drinking water like it was my job. 

I hated every minute of it. I was never a big breakfast eater but the more I started working out, the more I seemed to crave it in the morning. Having to wait until 11am to eat was brutal. I would literally sit at my desk, will the clock to hit 11am so I could eat something. And that ridiculously small list of "Drew Approved Foods"? Seriously?! How could a person live? I fought him every flippin' step of the way. 

Fast forward six months later.

I still only eat what is on the above list (with an occasional cheat day of course). I still only eat my meals between 11am-7pm (unless I have a work thing, then I adjust according to fit an 8 hour span). And I actually love it and in fact eat, anything I want.

Which is weird, right?

Following that list above took the guess work out of my meals and whether or not I am eating the right stuff, eating enough, eating too much. I no longer worry about carbs or fat or calories, because who has time for that? Who has time to worry about whether or not they "ate all their calories" at breakfast or have tiny little nibbles of food all day because of girls night after work and you don't want to blow it?!

I certainly don't. And it's no fun. But in theory, neither should having to follow that list!

But that was the biggest lesson I learned of all. It did work because I DECIDED to follow it. I didn't have to. I could have done what I've always done which is freak out about fat grams and staying under so many grams of carbs and never once going over a certain amount of calories because if I did, then I failed.

Changing my mindset from "I can only eat" to "I have decided to eat" was incredible. It was one of those stupid "lightbulb moments" where I literally woke up one morning and told myself "The only reason this is happening (i.e. my new outlook on eating) is because you decided that it is happening. No one else is forcing you to do it".

The 'ole "mind over matter" had struck again!

Acknowledging that I had decided to follow these ridiculous (but annoyingly effective) suggestions/rules took away the longing for the foods I "couldn't have". It took away the frustration of feeling limited and gave me back the feeling of having a certain sense of power over my decisions. But more importantly, it was liberating and I'm not sure I could ever go back. 

Being My Own Rock

Yesterday in the shower I penned an email in my head to D. The post holiday sugar high finally wore off (my aunt makes THE best sugar cookies, of which I ate many) and it had me feeling less than stellar.

It had me feeling a bit lost.

So I started the email, knowing I would never send it. But sometimes getting it out, no matter the format does the trick. And it did.

There are still days when I still feel lost and floundering, trying to figure out my next step. Trying to decide what the hell I am supposed to be doing, if I am doing any of this stuff correctly, am I eating the right foods, workout out enough, workout hard enough, all the same questions I had back in July.

As I stood there, I finally asked myself "how can I still NOT know that answers to these questions?!"

And I had the answer.

I do know what to do, what to eat, how much to workout, and if I am working out hard enough.

So the real question all along should have been and continues to be, "Why don't I believe in myself?"

I know the answer is there. Buried somewhere inside under years of not believing I was capable of doing so many thing. Because for whatever reason, I allowed myself to listen to those who told me "You can't."

But really I can.

No one can, should be or will be a bigger cheerleader for me than I am.

No one else can stand in my corner and shout "You've got this!" louder than I can.

Because it is time to start believing in myself.

Wanna Be Yogi

I have been practicing yoga on and off since my early 20s.

Previously, my "sessions" had been done solo using a dvd, YouTube or most recently Hulu. It was o.k. but I never really felt like I was getting much out of it.

But a few months ago, following a suggestion by Drew, I started attending a yoga class at my gym to supplement my training sessions.

Taking a class made a HUGE difference in how I approached my yoga practice and how I felt afterwards.

I quickly found that even though I was only going once a week, my whole body felt "off" if I missed a class.  Those extra stretches and holding poses were doing wonders for my flexibility (I've always has ridiculously tight hamstrings) and  taking that time to focus inward and being present in the moment was helping my overall mood.

Recently, I have started doing yoga at home again. For 30 to 45 minutes in the evening, I have been working through sessions to help keep my legs loose and fresh after a run. Thanks to my very helpful yoga instructor, I have also started working on putting my own sessions/sequences together to focus on the areas I need to work on the most.

It has been an amazing experience learning the benefits of each pose, how the poses fit together and how to move from pose to pose. It has definitely made me look at my practice in a whole new way and where I want to go with is in the future.

And yes, drawing out each sequence using stick figures is a pretty fun bonus to this project!