LiveFit Trainer Week 1

Today marks the end of my first week of the LiveFit trainer. Obviously there aren't any huge changes to report but I thought a little update might help with motivation (mine and yours!) as we make our way further into the new year.

I made it through all of the workouts for week 1 with a few modifications. The gym was closed New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (isn't that when they get all their new memberships?!) so I made due with home workouts using bands and body weight exercises for chest and triceps day. I was at Paul's house on back and bicep day so we used his gym, which is fairly limited, and did our best. Leg day and shoulder/ab day both happened at my YMCA and the only thing I had to substitute for was seated calf raises because the Y doesn't have the equipment. And yes, I have been sore from head to toe all week. I love it!

Using my toddler for squats

 

As for the nutrition, I have been doing really well in my own opinion. I cheated with some wine and champagne on New Year's Eve but I saved the calories in my plan so the only damage was the shift in my macros. I had some popcorn and fruit snacks with the kids one day. And I have had Starbucks coffee twice this week but I stuck to a tall and made it a 'skinny' version of my usual order.

A 'skinny' treat

My typical day consists of lots of eggs, chicken, and fish. I get unlimited veggies so Birds Eye Steamfresh bags are my best friend right now. I only get a single serving of starch with each meal so rice cakes and sweet potatoes make up most of my carbs.

As Honest Toddler calls these, Sadness Patties!

I figured I'd be getting bored or sick of this by now but I really don't mind it. I feel more alert and I'm sleeping better (my Fitbit says my sleep efficiency is at 99%). The only thing I really miss is cardio and that will be coming back soon. I may begin to add a few miles warm up pre-lifting in week two. I know I won't get optimal muscle gain but I also have a 5k and 50k that I'm registered for!

I've also improved my overall habits. I upgraded to a 40 oz water bottle to aid with hydration. My Fitbit is motivating me to move more. (I still can't get 5 full lights without cardio!) My grocery bill has actually gone down now that I buy produce, meat, and a small amount of other things and then do an entire week of food prep in a day. Eating out has also become a thing of the past for the most part. The one time I was out for a meal I had a salad with oil and vinegar and then ate my protein and starch when I got home.

40 ounces of awesome!

 

There's really no physical changes to report yet other than being sore. I was up 0.5 pounds when I weighed in today which I expected. Inflammation, better hydration, and being stuffed full of fish and veggies will all add some weight. All in all, I'm excited to keep trying to improve as I go and see what happens over the next few weeks.

 

 

 

How are your goals coming so far this year? Do you have any tips for avoiding temptations?

Hey You!

Hey you! Yes, you. I'm judging you.

The 'fat' chick on the treadmill. The big guy on the elliptical. The skinny kid lifting an empty bar. The old guy running with the funny gait. The clumsy girl on the secondhand bike.

 Who lifts two pound dumbbells?

 

You wear baggy clothes covered in sweat. Your footsteps are loud and uneven. And your breathing... oh my god, your breathing. Everyone around you is worried that a coronary is just around the corner. You stare straight ahead. I know you're not really oblivious to the looks from the regulars. You know they think you're just another resolutioner. They feel smug knowing that you'll disappear from their realm in a month, maybe less. You keep your head down and plod on. Why? Why do you bother?

Eat another slice of cake why dontcha?

 

I know why. I understand. If you would just look up, you would see that I'm not looking at you with disgust. I'm looking at you with hope and awe. I have been fat. I have been skinny. What I had never been, before those first steps, was strong. I look at you and see potential. Unlimited, bottomless potential. You can become a runner. Or a cyclist. Or a body builder. You can be healthy, fit, or strong. Or maybe even all three. Whatever you want to attain is just a few months of hard work away.

 

If you would just look in my eyes you would see that I want to help you. I want to offer you hope and encouragement and maybe even some advice. I want you to stand tall because you won't give up in a month no matter what those stuck up meat heads think. You will soon be a regular and no one will look twice when you walk into the gym or step onto the road. And then it will be your turn to open your arms to the new guy or girl.

 

You're not even wearing 'real' running clothes!

 

So whether you're old or new or haven't even started yet.... Welcome. Welcome to my gym. Welcome to my roads. Welcome to the world of fitness. Don't give up. And for goodness sake don't let anyone make you feel like you aren't worthy. We all started somewhere and not very many of us have reached our goals. So lift your head, look around. I bet you'll find those looks are a lot friendlier than you imagined!

 

Disclaimer: I wrote this post because I am sick of the jokes and snide remarks about the New Year resolutioners. And once upon a time I was one. The pictures included here are of ME! I can say these things about myself because I thought them at one time!

 

 

Moving Forward

After barely missing my goal at the Marshall University Marathon but still setting a new PR I knew it was time to rest and reevaluate where my training and racing stand. A review of my log reveals a 10 week average of 16.7 miles per week and a year-to-date average of 19.6 miles per week. This is nowhere near the base I need to reach my goals and I'm really amazed that I've done what I have this year. In order to keep my eyes on the prize I've enlisted the help of one of my ultra running idols and laid out the foundation for my 2013 race calendar.

Right now, I'm looking at the following:

March 17, 2013 - Shamrock Marathon in Virginia
April 20, 2013 - North Coast 24 Hour in Ohio
July 27, 2013 - Burning River 100 Mile in Ohio
August 24, 2013 - Baker Trail Ultra Challenge 50 Mile in Pennsylvania
October 5, 2013 - Oil Creek 100 Mile in Pennsylvania

I would eliminate the Baker as it's really too close to Burning River but 2013 will be the year I earn my final piece of the medal. And I'm not ready to wait three more years for it. So as long as I'm not injured or completely wrecked after BR100, I will toe the line at Baker. And I feel hopeful that with a little help from a stellar runner that I'll be in great shape and ready to tackle such a tough calendar. It's obviously not the 30 races I've done thus far in 2012 but it's tougher races that I want to do better, stronger, faster. In 2013 I'm going for quality over quantity. I want to find out what I'm really capable of.

I've been really enjoying my week of rest after Marshall. I had about 3 days of feeling totally burned out. I had a plan of exactly what recovery exercises I was going to do each day but for the first few days it was all I could do to get dressed and take care of the kids and the house. I wasn't sore (not like after the last 4 marathons) and I wasn't sick or injured but I was mentally done. By Thursday I was ready to refocus and get back to preparing myself for the toughest challenges of my life.

I'm also ready to inject a little fun into my training. I was given the opportunity to review the Jabbawockeez School of Dance videos. We don't have cable and we really don't watch a ton of television so I didn't know who these winners of America's Best Dance Crew (2008) were. I was a little weirded out when the DVD's showed up with white-masked faces staring at me from the covers. Thankfully, they don't wear them in the actual instruction videos.

The instructions are easy to follow and the moves are relatively simple. Gemma, Ash, and I had a great time following along with the first video and dancing around the living room. I am probably a little too self-conscious to break out these moves unless I'm goofing off with my girls but this was a great way for us to be active together and for me to get a workout in outside of running and lifting. It was challenging in a different way for me. I had to use balance and coordination skills I rarely need in my daily life. I got to jump and kick and twist in ways that my chosen sports rarely incorporate and I had a blast with my kids while I was doing it! Overall, I'd say these videos are a win.

If you're looking for something that breaks free of the typical squat, crunch, run in place videos then definitely check out the JABBAWOCKEEZ videos series!


Disclaimer: I was given this product in order to review it for promotional purposes. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.