My immune system is letting me down this year so far. I've barely got back into my training rhythm because of all these wretched colds I keep getting. I used to think I had a good immune system but I'm not sure anymore. I used to be able to train through any colds I did get, but these days if I train when I'm full of snot, I end up feeling 10 times worse the following day and not being able to train at all. Hence, I try and ride it out. I've not trained since Tuesday. Tuesday! It's now Monday! I may as well go get my name on the gastric band waiting list now, might save me the walk for when my legs start rubbing together.
Yes it's dramatic but dammit I'm so frustrated! I just want to get back to being fighting fit, but I'm spending most of my time fighting fat - whenever I make any progress on my weight, something stops me training.
Bring on Spring and some healthier times ahead.
Monday, 21 January 2013
Monday, 7 January 2013
'New Year's Resolutioners'
I took my foot off the pedal since the wedding and quite intentionally gained 5 lbs. I thought I'd give myself a real break, then kick start the regime in 2013. I was in the gym New Year's Day, and most days since. The boxing bootcamp isn't starting for another four weeks so I'm giving myself a bit of a headstart. I'm feeling every ounce of those 5 lbs, and I want them gone. So I did a spin class today, I don't tend to bother with them but this was nice and hard. Then I did some boxing and skipping intervals, Sam (leader of the bootcamp) told me I was dropping my guard too much which is something I need to knock off - quickly.
I arrived in the gym with high hopes of doing some interval sprints but I've done something to my ankle and it's crunching a little too much for my liking. Not that I could've got on the treadmills. The place is riddled with newbies and I'm sorry, I find myself wanting to throw things at most of them. If they're still about in mid February then maybe I'll give them a bit of credit. But for now, they're just getting in the way of people who take their fitness seriously by walking on the treadmills (without even an incline - give me strength) on their iPhones, and standing on the power plate giggling like idiots. I know, I know. I was new to the gym once. But I made a point of blending in and not making a nuisance of myself. AND, I stuck with it. The thing that irritates me about the New Year's Resolutioners is that they just quit, for no good reason, and without achieving anything. If they did something functional whilst in the gym and stuck to it then maybe I wouldn't be so bitter. But I am bitter. And they're turning my swede!
I arrived in the gym with high hopes of doing some interval sprints but I've done something to my ankle and it's crunching a little too much for my liking. Not that I could've got on the treadmills. The place is riddled with newbies and I'm sorry, I find myself wanting to throw things at most of them. If they're still about in mid February then maybe I'll give them a bit of credit. But for now, they're just getting in the way of people who take their fitness seriously by walking on the treadmills (without even an incline - give me strength) on their iPhones, and standing on the power plate giggling like idiots. I know, I know. I was new to the gym once. But I made a point of blending in and not making a nuisance of myself. AND, I stuck with it. The thing that irritates me about the New Year's Resolutioners is that they just quit, for no good reason, and without achieving anything. If they did something functional whilst in the gym and stuck to it then maybe I wouldn't be so bitter. But I am bitter. And they're turning my swede!
Monday, 19 November 2012
awkward.
So it finally happened. I knew it would, eventually.
I stacked it on the treadmill. Not totally, but enough to completely ruin any street-cred I may have had. I was sprinting at 10mph, dutifully doing my intervals, when my discarded ear phones slipped off the ledge and threatened to pull my MP3 player off with them. With lightning fast reflexes (sure, now I learn speed and bloody agility...) I went to save them, and tried to jump to the side of the treadmill simultaneously. My right foot successfully made the leap, my left foot didn't. You can guess the rest.
Just to make myself feel better, I watched these 'treadmill fails'.
Treadmill fails
It happened to me many years ago and I literally flew into a wall. Instead of checking I wasn't hurt, some smarmy old loaf snorted and said 'it served me right for being nosey' (I was looking behind me at the time). I knew it would happen again as, to be fair, I've had fair too few embarrassing moments in the gym. This would be perhaps only my second, in fact. The first was when I was laying into a bag pretty hard, thinking how technical I was starting to become with my fighting. Until I hopped a little too enthusiastically on one foot to land a kick, lost my footing and fell. Fortunately, I was tucked away in the old Fitness First studio, so only two people saw me. This time I was not so fortunate. The entire gym saw it happen. By the time I'd finished cursing and looked around (which was probably around 5 minutes after the fact...), people's giggles were just starting to subside. I have a grazed foot and knee for my troubles, and, predictably, a very bruised ego. I'm sure these things are strategically planned to happen just when you're starting to feel good about yourself.
I suppose I'd better get used to feeling stupid - I've signed up for a white collar boxing event in the new year. I think we already know which way it's going to go, but maybe after receiving a good hiding I might be able to concentrate on being a good wife.
*ahem*
I stacked it on the treadmill. Not totally, but enough to completely ruin any street-cred I may have had. I was sprinting at 10mph, dutifully doing my intervals, when my discarded ear phones slipped off the ledge and threatened to pull my MP3 player off with them. With lightning fast reflexes (sure, now I learn speed and bloody agility...) I went to save them, and tried to jump to the side of the treadmill simultaneously. My right foot successfully made the leap, my left foot didn't. You can guess the rest.
Just to make myself feel better, I watched these 'treadmill fails'.
Treadmill fails
It happened to me many years ago and I literally flew into a wall. Instead of checking I wasn't hurt, some smarmy old loaf snorted and said 'it served me right for being nosey' (I was looking behind me at the time). I knew it would happen again as, to be fair, I've had fair too few embarrassing moments in the gym. This would be perhaps only my second, in fact. The first was when I was laying into a bag pretty hard, thinking how technical I was starting to become with my fighting. Until I hopped a little too enthusiastically on one foot to land a kick, lost my footing and fell. Fortunately, I was tucked away in the old Fitness First studio, so only two people saw me. This time I was not so fortunate. The entire gym saw it happen. By the time I'd finished cursing and looked around (which was probably around 5 minutes after the fact...), people's giggles were just starting to subside. I have a grazed foot and knee for my troubles, and, predictably, a very bruised ego. I'm sure these things are strategically planned to happen just when you're starting to feel good about yourself.
I suppose I'd better get used to feeling stupid - I've signed up for a white collar boxing event in the new year. I think we already know which way it's going to go, but maybe after receiving a good hiding I might be able to concentrate on being a good wife.
*ahem*
Saturday, 17 November 2012
'Gateway Grizzlies Baseball's Best Burger!'
...egads I had no idea it had been so long since my last blog! I'm horrified!
But not to worry, blogging shall recommence now! As you may know, I got married on Saturday and have since mainly done three things in rotation with my new husband: eat, sleep and watch movies. I have eaten all the things I have denied myself for years - not because of the wedding, but because of my fear of getting fat. So this week I have had a full Chinese banquet, chips, KFC, pizza (with low fat cheese though), puddings, wedding cake, and now tonight, the final night of my 'week off', Rich and I are embarking on a feast we saw on Man VS Food. Krispy Kreme burger. Oh yeah.
All I can say is thank God for Omeprazole and Gaviscon.
And tomorrow, let the Christmas detox begin!
But not to worry, blogging shall recommence now! As you may know, I got married on Saturday and have since mainly done three things in rotation with my new husband: eat, sleep and watch movies. I have eaten all the things I have denied myself for years - not because of the wedding, but because of my fear of getting fat. So this week I have had a full Chinese banquet, chips, KFC, pizza (with low fat cheese though), puddings, wedding cake, and now tonight, the final night of my 'week off', Rich and I are embarking on a feast we saw on Man VS Food. Krispy Kreme burger. Oh yeah.
All I can say is thank God for Omeprazole and Gaviscon.
And tomorrow, let the Christmas detox begin!
Friday, 24 August 2012
sweaty person at the gym...
That's me. The sweaty thing dripping all over the treadmill.
I normally wear my sweat with pride. I earn my sweat and weirdly, I feel at my most confident when I'm soaked. I think it's probably the endorphins making me delusional, but I love that feeling, it's sort of raw and primal. Yesterday, however, and the day before, took it to a whole new level after a rather vigorous interval training session. My vest was literally fit to be wrung out - suddenly it occurred to me, I'm that grim overly sweaty person who sweats all over the machines so no one else wants to use them. For shame. I had a crop top underneath, but to be honest it would probably cause more offence to mince around exposing my pale tum than just keep the vest on.
Note to self, take a spare BLACK top for next interval training session.
Anyway, had a grand session this morning before work. Very much enjoying training before work, it feels as though getting out of bed has a purpose beyond getting up for work. Vinnie is trying to teach me to clean. It's not working out well. I think he may turn blue in the face before I get it right, I've got about as much explosive power as a duff party popper. I have strength and agility but speed and explosiveness I just can't get the hang of. Apparently I'm not bringing my elbows up high enough, which means I'm not generating enough power from my legs in the first part of the lift. I think I might be starting to understand where I'm going wrong, at least with 30kg - I started to sort of push up from my heels instead of my thighs where I had been starting. Then Vinnie bumped the weight to 35kg and my technique went to pot in the effort to even lift the weight in that way. The jerk was out of the question. I get so mad at myself when I can't do something properly, especially when I know that I'll probably never get it right. But. No wallowing, let's move on.
After work today I went home in the rain and thought I'd go for a run. I am delighted that summer is nearly becoming autumn. I know that sounds miserable, but my cardio just deteriorates in summer because I can't stand the humidity. Now the air feels fresher, which my lungs appreciate. It was really nice, apart from the inevitable nipple prominence - which never fails to attract the wrong sort of attention, especially when running. My MP3 player also crashed halfway round the route, and I don't run without music, ever. Normally I use my earring to reset it, but didn't have any in so I got really inventive and used a thorn. An actual thorn. I love nature.
I'm beginning to question the purpose of this post. Other than trying to learn to clean properly, I guess nothing has changed. I am going to try an MMA class in Moreton in the forthcoming weeks - I need some more controlled violence in my life, so I guess the blog might take a turn into an itinerary of my injuries, which are bound to be plentiful. Still, nothing ventured and all that.
I normally wear my sweat with pride. I earn my sweat and weirdly, I feel at my most confident when I'm soaked. I think it's probably the endorphins making me delusional, but I love that feeling, it's sort of raw and primal. Yesterday, however, and the day before, took it to a whole new level after a rather vigorous interval training session. My vest was literally fit to be wrung out - suddenly it occurred to me, I'm that grim overly sweaty person who sweats all over the machines so no one else wants to use them. For shame. I had a crop top underneath, but to be honest it would probably cause more offence to mince around exposing my pale tum than just keep the vest on.
Note to self, take a spare BLACK top for next interval training session.
Anyway, had a grand session this morning before work. Very much enjoying training before work, it feels as though getting out of bed has a purpose beyond getting up for work. Vinnie is trying to teach me to clean. It's not working out well. I think he may turn blue in the face before I get it right, I've got about as much explosive power as a duff party popper. I have strength and agility but speed and explosiveness I just can't get the hang of. Apparently I'm not bringing my elbows up high enough, which means I'm not generating enough power from my legs in the first part of the lift. I think I might be starting to understand where I'm going wrong, at least with 30kg - I started to sort of push up from my heels instead of my thighs where I had been starting. Then Vinnie bumped the weight to 35kg and my technique went to pot in the effort to even lift the weight in that way. The jerk was out of the question. I get so mad at myself when I can't do something properly, especially when I know that I'll probably never get it right. But. No wallowing, let's move on.
After work today I went home in the rain and thought I'd go for a run. I am delighted that summer is nearly becoming autumn. I know that sounds miserable, but my cardio just deteriorates in summer because I can't stand the humidity. Now the air feels fresher, which my lungs appreciate. It was really nice, apart from the inevitable nipple prominence - which never fails to attract the wrong sort of attention, especially when running. My MP3 player also crashed halfway round the route, and I don't run without music, ever. Normally I use my earring to reset it, but didn't have any in so I got really inventive and used a thorn. An actual thorn. I love nature.
I'm beginning to question the purpose of this post. Other than trying to learn to clean properly, I guess nothing has changed. I am going to try an MMA class in Moreton in the forthcoming weeks - I need some more controlled violence in my life, so I guess the blog might take a turn into an itinerary of my injuries, which are bound to be plentiful. Still, nothing ventured and all that.
Friday, 27 July 2012
Total Warrior training...
Tonight I have done a nice little upper body session. I was quietly pleased because I've been able to do isolated but unassisted wide grip pull ups. I only did 3, then into 20 push ups, 10 suspension pull ups, and then 10 suspension tuck-push ups. I switched to 10 bungee assisted wide grip pull ups for the next two sets. I went onto bench presses with 14kg dumbbells, 10 reps then straight on to 8kg dumbbells for 20 reps. I did that twice. I then did a little ab work out, 3 sets of 50 sit ups supersetted with 30 6kg dumbbell raises with my legs half raised, kind of like a reverse plank but without having your arms and legs to fall back on when your abs get tired. Then I half heartedly did 3 sets of 10 reps converging shoulder presses with 14kg. And finally, I finished it off with 15 minutes on the cross trainer.
Yesterday I ran around Delamere Forest for 60 minutes. Last week I did hill sprints in Delamere in just one spot, so it was quite nice to run around the forest. I did two rounds of the route, I've no idea how long it was but it was hard running and that's enough for me. Except that if it wasn't at least 4 miles I'm in big trouble for Total Warrior. Shameless plugging, but if you're reading this, maybe you might consider sponsoring me for this little slice of Hell I'm putting myself through....http://www.justgiving.com/Tilly-Mint
Anyway.
I have been monitoring my carbs a lot over the last few weeks. Vinnie wanted me to keep below 50g, but that wasn't ever going to happen - my All Bran is 25g! I've cut down my fruit though, and sweets are pretty much a no-go. So I've been consuming around 150g carbs, which includes rather a lot of veggies, salad and the best thing is, I've been able to eat nuts! I love nuts but I've deprived myself for years because I've always focussed on calorie counting and nuts are through the roof in terms of calories. I've been measuring my portions though, so I don't get carried away. Got a smart new digital scale - everyone who watches their weight should own one...for their food, not for them. Mine has a 5kg limit so that might not work. I have noticed a distinct difference, my weight has stabilised - I'm still around 11 stone, but I really don't think that's likely to change unless I took my diet to the next level, that is, down to sub 50g carbs, less calories, blah blah blah. But I have a day job which involves talking to the public so I can't afford to be like a bear with a sore arse. So an extreme diet is out of the question. I'm starting to feel more defined and feel more secure though, and my training is right on track.
Perhaps a happy medium has been achieved?
Yesterday I ran around Delamere Forest for 60 minutes. Last week I did hill sprints in Delamere in just one spot, so it was quite nice to run around the forest. I did two rounds of the route, I've no idea how long it was but it was hard running and that's enough for me. Except that if it wasn't at least 4 miles I'm in big trouble for Total Warrior. Shameless plugging, but if you're reading this, maybe you might consider sponsoring me for this little slice of Hell I'm putting myself through....http://www.justgiving.com/Tilly-Mint
Anyway.
I have been monitoring my carbs a lot over the last few weeks. Vinnie wanted me to keep below 50g, but that wasn't ever going to happen - my All Bran is 25g! I've cut down my fruit though, and sweets are pretty much a no-go. So I've been consuming around 150g carbs, which includes rather a lot of veggies, salad and the best thing is, I've been able to eat nuts! I love nuts but I've deprived myself for years because I've always focussed on calorie counting and nuts are through the roof in terms of calories. I've been measuring my portions though, so I don't get carried away. Got a smart new digital scale - everyone who watches their weight should own one...for their food, not for them. Mine has a 5kg limit so that might not work. I have noticed a distinct difference, my weight has stabilised - I'm still around 11 stone, but I really don't think that's likely to change unless I took my diet to the next level, that is, down to sub 50g carbs, less calories, blah blah blah. But I have a day job which involves talking to the public so I can't afford to be like a bear with a sore arse. So an extreme diet is out of the question. I'm starting to feel more defined and feel more secure though, and my training is right on track.
Perhaps a happy medium has been achieved?
Saturday, 7 July 2012
Protein for summer! And a bit of a rant.
I did a nice run in Royden Park today, felt proper good to just splash through the mud after yesterday's (and the day before, and the day before that...) rain. I did some hill sprints as well, found a nice incline in the woods. I'm desperately trying to add loads of inclines and intervals into my training for this Total Warrior 10k. I might not even be doing it because no one else is actually running it with me, and it has to be a team event. But, I'm looking into alternatives and am going to train as if I am actually going to do it.
I'm not losing weight yet, which is still driving me to distraction, in fact I'm still gaining, then losing, gaining, then losing. I can't figure out what more to do. I keep looking at old photos of myself, on holiday in the States last year and mourning the body I used to have. But when I was in the States last year, guess what I thought? 'FAT FAT FAT'. The mind is a hideous beast, it really is. So here I go, headlong into egg white omelettes and greens, cutting out all the crap. If I can do that and the scales still read that I've gained weight, I won't beat myself up too much because it must be muscle mass, as I mentioned in my previous post. There are some interesting thoughts on fitness sites (http://blog.shareitfitness.com/2012/why-scale-doesnt-matter/), whereby the reading on the scales doesn't actually matter at all. There are some good case studies of women who, according to the scales haven't lost any weight at all, but look three hundred times better than they did before they started. I'll be completely honest with you. Before I started training at all, I was over 13 stone. I can't remember the exact figure, but it wasn't 13 stone 1lb, for example. It was a definite 'over' 13 stone. Then I started to diet and train, but not very hard, so my weight went down and plateaued at between 11 stone and 11 stone 4. Then I hit the cardio hard and went down to 10 stone 10 (fully clothed - I'm not one to mince around the gym changing rooms wearing nothing but a smile). That weight didn't last long because then I started doing some pretty hardcore strength training for a powerlifting competition that I never actually entered. My weight went up to over 11 stone again, but then I stopped strength training (to a degree - I still lift weights, but not as heavy), and started looking slimmer because my muscles had chilled out a bit. However, now I'm in a weird phase where I've got some muscle tone, some curves, a fairly low fat percentage but a fluctuating weight on the scales, between 11 stone and 11.5! I'm just a bit lost. I don't want to be in denial about weight gain, because that's how I ended up being 13 stone. So where to go from there?
Measurements are:
waist - 30.5ins (and I do mean around my belly button, not further up where most people measure their waists)
hips - 37ins
thighs (thickest part) - 22ins
upper arms - 11.5ins
bust - 39ins
Anyway, I came on here to document a wonderful little concoction I just made and enjoyed. It's hardly anything Heston Blumenthal would do...but I thought I'd tell you anyway. I always get really jealous of people who can enjoy ice cream and frappucinos without guilt or weight gain, so I'm always looking for an alternative that I can have. I used a scoop of strawberry cream 90% protein powder, 200-300ml almond milk, 4 big spoons of natural yogurt, lots of ice cubes, whizzed up in a blender. Serious yum. That actually made 2 and a half large glasses worth, which is just under 300 calories for the whole lot, and 36g protein. Winning!
I'm not losing weight yet, which is still driving me to distraction, in fact I'm still gaining, then losing, gaining, then losing. I can't figure out what more to do. I keep looking at old photos of myself, on holiday in the States last year and mourning the body I used to have. But when I was in the States last year, guess what I thought? 'FAT FAT FAT'. The mind is a hideous beast, it really is. So here I go, headlong into egg white omelettes and greens, cutting out all the crap. If I can do that and the scales still read that I've gained weight, I won't beat myself up too much because it must be muscle mass, as I mentioned in my previous post. There are some interesting thoughts on fitness sites (http://blog.shareitfitness.com/2012/why-scale-doesnt-matter/), whereby the reading on the scales doesn't actually matter at all. There are some good case studies of women who, according to the scales haven't lost any weight at all, but look three hundred times better than they did before they started. I'll be completely honest with you. Before I started training at all, I was over 13 stone. I can't remember the exact figure, but it wasn't 13 stone 1lb, for example. It was a definite 'over' 13 stone. Then I started to diet and train, but not very hard, so my weight went down and plateaued at between 11 stone and 11 stone 4. Then I hit the cardio hard and went down to 10 stone 10 (fully clothed - I'm not one to mince around the gym changing rooms wearing nothing but a smile). That weight didn't last long because then I started doing some pretty hardcore strength training for a powerlifting competition that I never actually entered. My weight went up to over 11 stone again, but then I stopped strength training (to a degree - I still lift weights, but not as heavy), and started looking slimmer because my muscles had chilled out a bit. However, now I'm in a weird phase where I've got some muscle tone, some curves, a fairly low fat percentage but a fluctuating weight on the scales, between 11 stone and 11.5! I'm just a bit lost. I don't want to be in denial about weight gain, because that's how I ended up being 13 stone. So where to go from there?
Measurements are:
waist - 30.5ins (and I do mean around my belly button, not further up where most people measure their waists)
hips - 37ins
thighs (thickest part) - 22ins
upper arms - 11.5ins
bust - 39ins
Anyway, I came on here to document a wonderful little concoction I just made and enjoyed. It's hardly anything Heston Blumenthal would do...but I thought I'd tell you anyway. I always get really jealous of people who can enjoy ice cream and frappucinos without guilt or weight gain, so I'm always looking for an alternative that I can have. I used a scoop of strawberry cream 90% protein powder, 200-300ml almond milk, 4 big spoons of natural yogurt, lots of ice cubes, whizzed up in a blender. Serious yum. That actually made 2 and a half large glasses worth, which is just under 300 calories for the whole lot, and 36g protein. Winning!
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