An Excuse is the Skin of the Truth (Donna's Challenge Log)
"An excuse is the skin of the truth packed with lies." So said my 7th grade English teacher Mrs. Leslie and no truer words have been spoken in my case. I have joined and quit so many of the challenges but I have something to prove to myself - that I can follow-through and finish what I start. (Well, technically, I did earn 4 degrees by the time I was 34 so I can finish something. But you get my point ).
I actually was consistently working out since April 20th of this year and then summer vacation happened 2 weeks ago and everything has gone to hell in a hand-basket. I've been playing on my sorority softball team so I haven't been a total slouch but I haven't been doing much else. I'm joining the fall challenge because I need to stay accountable esp. through the holidays. I am also dealing with workplace craziness with faculty furloughs (10% paycut) so I'm stressed and it doesn't help that I eat in response to stress.
My goals are to complete a 5K and fit into a NYandCo. size 14 blouse/size 12 pants (currently wearing size 18 top/16 bottom).
The Plan
Cardio - Continue the Couch to 5K running program that I started (I will redo week 4 starting 9/2/09) - 3 times per week and then do 30-45 minutes of cardio of choice (I love kickboxing and step aerobics) on two other days.
Weight Training - Tom Venuto's Intermediate Program from Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle which is basically a 2 day split routine done three times per week (Day One - Legs, Back, Biceps and Abs; Day Two - Chest, Shoulders and Triceps).
Nutrition - 1600-1800 calories divided into 5 mini meals. No eating after 8pm because I'm a night-time snacker/binger)
You may find the book: 'Heart Rate Monitor Training for the Compleat Idiot' by John L Parker Jr useful.
And I wouldn't worry about taking two weeks off lifting during the summer and playing other sports. Everyone needs a break from time to time to recharge their batteries. You know, I think the mental strain of a long-term lifting programme is much higher than the physical strain. Better to take a break and come back refreshed and raring to go.
Thanks Angie. I did need a break but I was in the midst of training for a 5K so my running routine was a bit interrupted. So I'm ready to get back to it.
I did a walk/jog today (about 2 miles). It kicked my butt but I'm glad I did it.
I think your hurricane looks delightful! My friend and I walked around Austin with margaritas in huge glasses like that at a festival a while back, and everyone was asking us where to get them. I think we should have gotten a finder's fee from the vendor! But I also think I probably shouldn't have had the second one...
I've used c25k before and love it. Nothing makes me feel like I've "worked out" quite like running (or running and walking). Good luck with the 5k...are you signed up for an event right now?
Hi Donna! Start x-ing off the days on your calendar that you stick to your plan. Or try this: http://smarterfitter.com/chain . Every day you accomplish a goal, it is more likely that you will do the same tomorrow. If you can keep it up for six weeks, you have a good chance of establishing a new behavior. You can do it!
Hey Donna! Great to see you back! Obviously I haven't been around much either, but thanks for checking in with me. I know you're going to rock the challenge! All settled into the house and ready for the new semester?? I start school tomorrow..... oh joy. Mold and asbestos issues in 3 out of the 4 6th grade classrooms (not in mine, thankfully), so the whole wing is sealed off and we can't get in there at all. OMG. The students arrive tomorrow..... and I haven't been able to do a thing. GREAT way to start the year off, huh?
"As far as (healthy) eating, either do it, or don't. Same issues repeated over and over is just insanity. We either commit to the endeavor or pay lip-service to it. This is the hardest part of the whole process, and it needs to be practiced more than the actual physical training. It's mind training." ~ Matt Thorne
"The reason that most people fail instead of succeed is that they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment."
Mandy - I was considering a 5K in October but because I went on vacation in August, I lost about 2 weeks of training so I've decided to look for a later run. I want to raise money for autism research and support in honor of my autistic nephew.
Sally - Thanks for the link to the calendar. Checking off days on program is a great motivator.
Lori - With furloughs and budget cuts, I wasn't exactly prepared for the new semester. Things are crazy to say the least but at least I've got a job, a home and a gainfully employed spouse. Make sure they double-check for mold in your classroom. The last thing you need is an upper respiratory infection. Hope they can get those issues taken care of before classes begin.
Today I went to softball practice for 3-hours. I am beat. My low back is tight and my big left toe is throbbing. Our coach worked us too death on drills and I was dripping sweat. Combined with SoCal heat and I had to take water breaks every so often to prevent dehydration. I'm off to bed and will probably sleep like a baby.
. I have joined and quit so many of the challenges but I have something to prove to myself - that I can follow-through and finish what I start.
Hi there, welcome to the challenge. Your reason to join is the same as mine, I start challenges and then flunk out when the going gets tough, and I dont see the results, so looking forward to finishing this once and for all!
Hi dixiechick - Good luck to you with finishing as well. I'm tired of starting and stopping when it comes to fitness.
Hey Tracey and Fang - How the heck are you doing? I've been lurking since April but I knew I couldn't keep up a log back then so I became a peeping Tommette. Now I really want to lose 20lbs and make sure I weigh less than I did at the start of the year.
Tuesday - Rest day after a long hard practice and a bout with hives. My damned arm turned red right in front of the clerk at the drug-store so I turned around and got some Benadryl. This weather and work BS is the perfect 'storm' to kick up my allergies.
Wednesday - Completed Week 5, Workout 1 of the Couch to 5K. It was also my 12 hour teaching day so I never got an opportunity to ice down my shins afterwards but it will happen this evening in preparation for tomorrow's run.
Eating is getting better though my portable snacks that I take to work could use a bit more protein. I'll post back later with my workout.
Good luck to you and your goals. I'll be rootin for ya. I am new to the challenges as I have never done one before. So stopping in to say hey and good luck
Hi Donna, how's the 5k training going? I'm with you on the procrastination boat, I've been putting off any form of diet for the last year. I did train for a 21k last summer and was amazed at how achievable it was if you put in the time to do the practices, I suppose thats like any goal though, you just need to put in the time.
Allergies are brutal around here with the smoke and whatnot. I just realized we are neighbors! I had to get an inhaler for the first time in years last week--I'm in Altadena.
I wanted to make sure you are foam rolling and stretching--I read about your back and wanted to tell you that the work I did with the foam roller was crucial to my recent success. Can't live without it.
Annette and Nikki - Thanks for stopping by and cheering me on.
Angie - I live in Southern California (about 5 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean) in the South Bay area of Los Angeles.
Alison - I'm on week 5 of the 5K training. It's been tough with my shin-splints but it gets better with each run completed. I finally decided I had to work on my diet as well because I was exercising my ass off since April and only lost about 6-8lbs.
Elisabeth - I live in RPV but work in OC so the smoke has been wrecking havoc on my sinuses. The heat was doing a job as well.
I didn't do any formal exercise apart from my softball practice on Saturday and some swimming and then dancing on Friday. I decided to ease up a bit this weekend since I had family visiting and get back into the groove tomorrow.
Just popping in to say hi and good luck! I did the Couch 2 5k last year to get back into running and I enjoyed it, podcasts and all. Took a break from running my last Stages of NROL4W and can't wait to get back to running again( starting next Tuesday) I love weights and what they do for my body, but running is my first love for what it does for my mind.
This is the challenge you've been waiting to rock, just do it like you know you can!
__________________ Sade-
If you're not living life on the edge, you're taking up too much space! Move it, move it.
I used to have issues with the shin splints too - are you stretching your calf muscles REALLY WELL after you run?? If not, I highly recommend doing so!
Sade - Thanks for stopping by. Weights are my first love, kickboxing next and running is well....maybe one day I'll come to love it.
Tracey - Thanks. The pic was taken before I got drunk on my ass after we took my sister out to a club. Yes, I do stretch alot after my runs and I also ice my shins as well. My calves are huge and tight which is why I keep having issues. It's actually getting better but if I miss the stretching and ice, the pain will come back with a vengence.
I did my Week 5, Day 2 run today. It was intervals of 8 minute runs and 5 minute walks. It kicked my butt. Usually I do fine on the weeks when the runs are the same but this week, each day was different and I went from 5 minute to 8 minute runs. Thursday's run is a 20-minute run with no breaks. Pray for me!!!
I decided to switch to Turbulence Training instead of Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle because the workouts are more efficient and I feel like supersets and interval training is just what I need to get the scale to move.
Today was Day One
Warm-up Bodyweight Circuit (Prisoner Squats, Push-Ups, Stability Ball Leg Curl)
Tracey - I didn't get to that run until today actually and it kicked my ass (being off for nearly a week will do that to ya). I have a 16 hour day (12 hours on campus) on Wednesday and I only workout in the AM. I couldn't get up on Thursday from sheer exhaustion (legs and feet hurt, eyes were bloodshot on the drive home). When I finally got up on Thursday (after 10 hours of sleep), I was too hungry and irritable to think about a run. I never really got my mojo back although I did play in our last softball game yesterday. (My team won and I hit a triple ). My quads and knees were wonky which made my run tough.
I definitely need to figure something out with my insane teaching schedule because I wore my HRM and found that I burn over 2000 calories in the course of a day (I walk around in all 4 classes including the 3-hour one), not to mention my Wednesday morning workout. I'm over-compensating for burning so many calories on Wednesday that I virtually nothing on Thursday.
An Excuse is the Skin of the Truth (Donna's Challenge Log)
).
All settled into the house and ready for the new semester?? I start school tomorrow..... oh joy. Mold and asbestos issues in 3 out of the 4 6th grade classrooms (not in mine, thankfully), so the whole wing is sealed off and we can't get in there at all. OMG. The students arrive tomorrow..... and I haven't been able to do a thing. GREAT way to start the year off, huh?
I never really got my mojo back although I did play in our last softball game yesterday. (My team won and I hit a triple 
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