Back to the beginning

My very first post was about running. Two years ago I started running regularly outside. I was amazed that after about 2 weeks of pain and frustration, I was able to run without stopping and even wanted to push myself faster. Faster than I expected, I went from the slow 9-10 minutepace and was running in the 7:30-9 minute pace.

Since then, I have run off and on, but I have never had to go through that stage again.

The last time I ran was on Thanksgiving Day - 2 weeks after completing P90x. Three point one miles was comfortable and fun. Since that day, workouts have been sporadic and little to no effort has been put into them.

So today, when I saw the temperature was 47 degrees and I saw that my abs are hidden beneath a thick layer of pudge, my thought process went something like this:

1 hour before: I am going to take advantage of this weather and run. I'd really like to enjoy going out for a run again. Maybe I could even run a half marathon...that would be cool. Sorry Ransom, you are not coming.

30 minutes before: I think I will go 2 miles. Who knows maybe even further. I'm so excited that this may just turn out to be a long run.

5 minutes before: The sun is out. I am just going to put on some gloves so my fingers don't get cold. Ransom, don't look at me like that - you aren't going.

30 seconds before: Oh fine. You can come.

1 minute in: Lungs. Hurt. Air. Cold. Mucus. Gross.

3 minutes in: Ransom, GET OVER HERE. My lungs are starting to feel better. Oh, I forgot to turn on my ipod.

5 minutes in: Ransom poops. Great. I'm not carrying that (I proceed to tie it around his collar).

6 minutes in: Oh this feels okay. I wish I wouldn't have brought the dog along. My arm holding the leash is sore.

10 minutes in: Prairie dogs everywhere. Stop running so I can control the regular dog. Wow, I haven't run in a while. Maybe I won't do a half marathon.

20 minutes in: Ransom is never coming with me again. On the plus side, he is panting pretty hard - something he hasn't done since September. Feeling weak. Should have ate before running. Oh I should just walk the rest of the way. No, keep going. No walk. No go.

Home: That felt good. I think I may be able to get back into this.

It wasn't as bad as starting over again; but neither was it easy. Afterwards it just feels so good. And although Ransom is snoring right now; it isn't worth the extra expenditure of energy to take him along everytime. I think I said, "NO" approximately every 10 seconds the entire run.

Turkey Trot

Our family has made it a tradition to participate in a local 5k race on Thanksgiving Day - The Turkey Trot. We all planned to do more trotting than running or racing on this day since non of us had done much running in preparation.

Nonetheless we bundled up for the 34 degree weather and headed out to join 5,500 other people who are as crazy as we! The sun was bright and the wind was relatively calm.

To my delight, Hubs and my brother decided to run together. Hubs and I have different expectations for race day and it is usually better if we run separately. Mom and Dad ran together and I ran with my ipod. It was wonderful.

I had no expectations for myself, but I had not run 3 miles since before June. I was hoping to mix a little jogging with a little walking.

I completed the 1st mile with ease and felt good enough to continue running the 2nd. If you have ever been to the Sprint Campus in KC, or in KC at all, you will know that there are quite the hills. I met up with those hills during the 2nd mile. Although the slowed my pace, I kept on. I was very happy to make it all the way through the finish line without having stopped at all. All the while, singing along with my ipod and enjoying every minute of it.

I can't recommend this tradition enough. We went home and ate a great dinner 3 hours later and felt great having exercised. Plus, we had a lot of fun with each other and the thousands of others out that morning.

Results

Hubs and I recently completed the P90X workout. We did a full 90 days of excercising 6 days each week. Phew.

We now have memorized most of all the work-outs. We now find ourselves quoting Tony Horton in conversation. We now can say that we completed it. And we now we are taking a week off to figure out what is next.

But they have you take a fit test before and after to see if you improved and it was interesting to see our results.

Pull-ups: Hubs increased by 64%. My results don't really mean anything; I started at doing 1/4 of a pull-up and ended doing 3/4 of one.

Vertical leap: Hubs increased by 47%; I increased by 56%

Push-ups: Hubs increased by 47%. I increased by 104%. (Since I could not even do a regular push-up prior to this program, I recorded my results on my knees to be consistent.)

Toe touch: Hubs increased his flexibility by 6.5 inches! I increased by 3.5 inches, but we ended at about the same flexibility.

Wall Squat: Hubs increased by 69-seconds; I increased by 90-seconds.

Bicep Curls: Hubs increased by 50%; I increased by 60%.

In & Outs (ab exercise): Hubs increased by 50%; I increased by 248%.

You may notice that my numbers increased more drastically than Hubs's. One reason could be because Hubs was more in-shape when we began that I was. He definitely worked harder during the past 90 days, but I had more areas in which to improve.

Another reason could be that I wimped-out on the first fit test. I was not someone who pushed myself when working out. During P90X, however, I learned to push myself and work harder - another benefit of the program and that was seen in the final test. If I would have pushed myself at the beginning, I probably would have gotten higher scores, making the end scores not so drastic. I think Hubs' scores of about a 50% increase, are what people should expect.

Basically, P90X gave us a steady workout for 90-days. No matter what, if you work out consistently for 90 days, there will be results. I can obviously see results in my fit test and am happy that I did it. And especially excited that I can do over 20 regular push-ups today!

Notice I did not post final pictures or weights. I think the fit test says more than those ever would - believe me.

Getting in shape

Ten weeks ago, Hubs and I started a journey. A journey to get back into shape.

We thought about joining the YMCA. Hubs could swim laps. We could use the cardio machines, the weight room, and even participate in the classes. We could continue running when the weather was nice, but there are no hills and hardly any sidewalks here. Neither of us were motivated to run. We really needed something planned; something or someone who told us what to do each day so that we could really get back into shape. We didn't just want to workout when we felt like it or, for me, when the stomach flab started showing over my jeans. We wanted consistency and results.

So, we bought P90X. There are 12 workout DVDs; it lasts for 13 weeks. It combines weight training with some cardio and some yoga. We work out 6 days a week; 60-90 minutes a day. It comes with a nutrition plan which we stuck to for the first 8 weeks; since then, we have used it as a guide, but have also used our own judgement.

The pros: The workouts are outlined for us each day - no thinking about what you should do. The workouts push you to do more, give you modifications when you need them, and explain each move. We workout at home so I don't have to motivate myself to leave home when it is yucky outside.

The cons: It is a huge time commitment. An hour and a half of yoga really stinks.

So, 10 weeks into the program and I feel like I am fit - like I am in shape. I don't know that I have ever felt like this, even when I was running regularly. I have seen results in how I workout; but also in my body. For instance, I went from hanging on the pull-up bar to pulling myself up to 2 inches from the bar. Also, muscles in my back are appearing that I never had before.

As we end the program, I now have to face the decision of what to do next. Join the Y? Do P90X again? I'm not sure yet; but I do know that I am really enjoying the feel of being in shape!

Bring it.

It is just like us to have 2 months of calmness and then cram everything we can think of into 1 week. The theme of last week: Bring It!

It had been 2 months since Hubs or I actually and truly worked out. We were feeling pretty blobby, so last Monday we started our new, intense workout regime. It's very structured - 6 days a week. It's planned - we do they workout that is planned for us. It's intense - the hardest workout I've done in a long time ever. We are sore. We are tired. We are worked. But, we do feel better working out again.

Don't laugh. I took "before" pictures. No, I won't be posting them. End of discussion. But, I did want to see if there will be any noticeable changes in a few months.

Along with the workout, came a new diet. We are eating healthier, fresher foods which means there is lots of prep-work. Chicken to cook the night before, veggies to chop and store in the fridge, and thinking when it comes to deciding what to eat. But, we feel better, we enjoy the food, and it compliments the workout.

It had been 3 months since I had any sort of schedule, routine, and job. Monday was my first day working again. And even though it was for a few short hours a day, it was a change from being a bump on a log. It was good to talk to people and interact again.

Weeks ago, I committed to baking cookies for a conference at church. The conference was this week - the week we started our 1 hr workouts, the week we started eating food that needs considerably more work than popping it in the micro, and the week that I started leaving the house for 6 hours a day. SEVEN HUNDRED cookies later - bagged and tied with raffia - the conference is over and everyone got their cookies.

Once the cookies were bagged, Hubs and I set off cleaning the house for our guests! We love having people stay in our guest room and Hubs's parents made their first stay this weekend. I am happy to say we got the house cleaned and odor-free by they time they arrived.

Add in there hanging out with friends, coffee with family, a trip to the dog park everyday, dog play-date at our house, and getting caught in the hail and it was an eventful, busy, exhausting week.

So, I have no clue what this week will bring our way, but all I have to say is, "BRING IT!"