Okay, so here we are - first full week of my new job complete and week before the Foxborough 10 Miler starting.
The first week at work went well - it is liberating to go to work stress free and to leave work the same. I knew I was under some serious emotional and mental strain at my previous job but I couldn't quite appreciate it until it was gone. My mind is calmer than it has been in years. YEARS. Leaving my profession was a seriously difficult decision - it scared the crap out of me. But you know as well as I do that you do not grow unless you challenge yourself ... and that includes challenging your fears. No growth comes from staying stagnant.
Okay, enough of that. My new office is only 7 minutes from my gym near work. Which means that I made it there everyday this week except Monday. I felt that bringing my gym bag to work on day one was a little obnoxious, even for me. But by day two, I was heading out to the gym - sticking to habits is half the battle. I did, however, keep my workouts brief for the first week. Plus I am in 'taper' for the BIG RACE this coming Sunday.
Saturday - Weights at the gym
Sunday - 10 mile run all by myself...good race prep!
Monday - lifted weights at the gym AFTER work. Yup. Because as I mentioned above, sticking to a habit is important. Breaking good habits is very easy - breaking bad habits is not.
Tuesday - 3 Mile run at lunch, Gentle Yoga at night.
Wednesday - Pilates in the morning, Weights at lunch (upper body).
Thursday - 15 minute speed workout, Weights (lower body).
Friday - 3 Mile run at lunch.
Saturday - 6 Mile Run with Meri
Sunday - Serious Weight Workout.
End of update!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
New Start
Again with the lack of posting!! And again with the apologies!! I will not give you guys a million excuses because you know how I feel about those. I have simply been overwhelmed.
Here is the thing - I am about to make a major career change and I am scared out of my mind. It is this kind of fear of the unknown that is a little paralysing. Not in a physical way - I am still running 15-20 miles a week and I am in decent 10 Miler shape, I have been religious about weightlifting 3 times a week, I have been getting to yoga about twice a week and I am contemplating adding pilates into the mix. And my diet has been great - the weight loss has subdued slightly as is the nature of things, but I am overall down 15 pounds from Thanksgiving, so a little stall is in order. I have to just keep plugging away at that.
So, the fear then. It is a mental panic. I have no idea what I am about to embark on and that scares the life out of me. I like to have each minute of my day planned down to the millisecond - and right now I do not even know what my new work hours are! So here is how I am trying to get excited instead of panicked:
1) New Job - WooHoo! This means new faces, new friends, new clothes (a necessity not really a luxury) and a new professional beginning. All very exciting.
2) Accepting the past and leaving it behind - Okay, so its no secret around here that I am a lawyer. What probably is the least best-kept secret in the world is that I consider going to law school to be my biggest mistake ever. But I can't really change that. The only thing I could change was my career, so I had to suck it up, take that huge, honking expensive degree and essentially chuck it out the window to start over. Becoming a lawyer may have been my biggest mistake but finding the courage to give it up and try something new is an exceptionally big feat.
3) New Schedule - Right. So I do not know what this new schedule is. I am led to believe that the hours are 7:30am to 7:00pm. If anyone is counting, that is actually a 1.5 hour longer workday than I currently have...and will require me to leave my hour by 6:45am every morning and get home by 7:45pm. Anyone other than me want to cry? So, the bright side here...I will finally have to learn to drag my but out of bed before 6:30am and from what I understand, that is a very adult thing. I am also pretty sure that the 'stay till 7:00pm' is a suggestion not a requirment (i.e. totally a requirement most days of the week) so I can probably sneek to yoga at least 1 night a week. The other perk - DAYS OFF!! I have lost at least a week of vacation each year (for which I do not get compensated and which does not roll over) from the inability to get it approved or make room in my work schedule. At my new position people actually get to take time off when they want it, without asking. A big WooHoo for that one.
So thats it, thats all I know about my new job and my new schedule. When will I go to the gym? Most likely at lunch or at night, just like now...only I can't be totally sure. Will I be able to still make my own lunches and follow a healthy lifestyle? Absolutley.
Here is the thing - I am about to make a major career change and I am scared out of my mind. It is this kind of fear of the unknown that is a little paralysing. Not in a physical way - I am still running 15-20 miles a week and I am in decent 10 Miler shape, I have been religious about weightlifting 3 times a week, I have been getting to yoga about twice a week and I am contemplating adding pilates into the mix. And my diet has been great - the weight loss has subdued slightly as is the nature of things, but I am overall down 15 pounds from Thanksgiving, so a little stall is in order. I have to just keep plugging away at that.
So, the fear then. It is a mental panic. I have no idea what I am about to embark on and that scares the life out of me. I like to have each minute of my day planned down to the millisecond - and right now I do not even know what my new work hours are! So here is how I am trying to get excited instead of panicked:
1) New Job - WooHoo! This means new faces, new friends, new clothes (a necessity not really a luxury) and a new professional beginning. All very exciting.
2) Accepting the past and leaving it behind - Okay, so its no secret around here that I am a lawyer. What probably is the least best-kept secret in the world is that I consider going to law school to be my biggest mistake ever. But I can't really change that. The only thing I could change was my career, so I had to suck it up, take that huge, honking expensive degree and essentially chuck it out the window to start over. Becoming a lawyer may have been my biggest mistake but finding the courage to give it up and try something new is an exceptionally big feat.
3) New Schedule - Right. So I do not know what this new schedule is. I am led to believe that the hours are 7:30am to 7:00pm. If anyone is counting, that is actually a 1.5 hour longer workday than I currently have...and will require me to leave my hour by 6:45am every morning and get home by 7:45pm. Anyone other than me want to cry? So, the bright side here...I will finally have to learn to drag my but out of bed before 6:30am and from what I understand, that is a very adult thing. I am also pretty sure that the 'stay till 7:00pm' is a suggestion not a requirment (i.e. totally a requirement most days of the week) so I can probably sneek to yoga at least 1 night a week. The other perk - DAYS OFF!! I have lost at least a week of vacation each year (for which I do not get compensated and which does not roll over) from the inability to get it approved or make room in my work schedule. At my new position people actually get to take time off when they want it, without asking. A big WooHoo for that one.
So thats it, thats all I know about my new job and my new schedule. When will I go to the gym? Most likely at lunch or at night, just like now...only I can't be totally sure. Will I be able to still make my own lunches and follow a healthy lifestyle? Absolutley.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Big Things
I know you all are probably wondering why this blog was so inactive at the end of 2010 and I am now able to share it with you:
In approximately three weeks, I will be starting a new career! This was a tough decision to make and, like with all change, it was a scary, exciting decision. The thing about this new position - which will eventually be that of a financial advisor once I am licensed - is that it comes with a fair amount of risk.
I am not a person who likes risk. But at this point in my life, I have decided to take it on, to see what I am made of, so to speak.
I have no idea what kind of hours I am looking at and I think it will be interesting for you all to see me find a new fitness routine to work its way around my new job...or maybe more amusing than interesting.
Until all that amusement begins, here what you have missed (and its not much!):
Monday: 30 minutes on the elliptical
Tuesday: 40 minutes weight training
Wednesday: 3 miles (including 15 minutes of speed work) on the treadmill
Today's plan is 10 minutes warm up on the treadmill, followed by 45 minutes of weight lifting.
Friday: Victoria's power yoga class
Saturday: 8 mile run (some of them with Meri and maybe Chrissy)
Sunday: Weight lifting
In approximately three weeks, I will be starting a new career! This was a tough decision to make and, like with all change, it was a scary, exciting decision. The thing about this new position - which will eventually be that of a financial advisor once I am licensed - is that it comes with a fair amount of risk.
I am not a person who likes risk. But at this point in my life, I have decided to take it on, to see what I am made of, so to speak.
I have no idea what kind of hours I am looking at and I think it will be interesting for you all to see me find a new fitness routine to work its way around my new job...or maybe more amusing than interesting.
Until all that amusement begins, here what you have missed (and its not much!):
Monday: 30 minutes on the elliptical
Tuesday: 40 minutes weight training
Wednesday: 3 miles (including 15 minutes of speed work) on the treadmill
Today's plan is 10 minutes warm up on the treadmill, followed by 45 minutes of weight lifting.
Friday: Victoria's power yoga class
Saturday: 8 mile run (some of them with Meri and maybe Chrissy)
Sunday: Weight lifting
Monday, January 10, 2011
Bring It On
I would like to thank "Bring It On: In It To Win It" for getting me through an 8 Mile treadmill run that went well enough to finally get me to register for the Old Fashioned 10 Miler. Without you, mildly entertaining afternoon movie, I may not have sucked it up through almost ONE HOUR AND 28 MINUTES of treadmill time on a Sunday afternoon.
Here is how it went down.
It snowed this weekend and it took Meri and I at least a half hour Saturday morning to decide if we were actually going to wriggle into winter running clothes and hit the snowy, icy deathtrap that was our running route. Here is the deal - If you are talking about going for a run for over 10 minutes, you are already awake...you might as well go. So we did. And it was tough.
I had forgotten how hard it is to run in the snow. We stuck to the sidewalks and did two back and forths totalling 5 miles. This meant slogging through fresh snow then slipping and turning ankles on packed down icy snow. The plan was, at the end of the 5 Miles, I was supposed to do another 3 to complete an 8 Mile long run.
No way Jose. My hips were screaming and I had turned my ankle more than once. I was done.
And so the Sunday conundrum set in. I had to get in a long run this weekend...but I also had to lift weights. And it was supposed to snow again. By Saturday night I had resigned myself to 6 miles on the treadmill and 45 minutes of weight lifting for the next morning.
Sunday morning I slept in, had a great oatmeal breakfast, hung out with Bill, then headed to the gym. I got on the treadmill dreading my 6 miles and starting jogging. Then I looked up - Cheerleaders! Some cute guy with no shirt on! Wait...they are dancing! TBS, here I come!!!
Miles 1-5 flew. At the start of mile 6, I started making big running plans. I would finish up mile 6, then put in a serious speed effort and make it through the last 2 miles. Yup, I was going to conquer 8 miles of treadmill hell! I pumped up the speed by .3 for mile 7 then attacked mile 8 with 5 minutes of sprinting followed by an easy run effort to finish it off.
Barely believing I had pulled off the run, I refilled my water bottle and hit the weights. Upper body only - I was not looking for punishment.
And I sincerely have to thank Bring It On and TBS for that run. Treadmill running is mentally tough. Breaking through that run reminded me that yes, I am a runner.
Bring It On Ten Miler!
Here is how it went down.
It snowed this weekend and it took Meri and I at least a half hour Saturday morning to decide if we were actually going to wriggle into winter running clothes and hit the snowy, icy deathtrap that was our running route. Here is the deal - If you are talking about going for a run for over 10 minutes, you are already awake...you might as well go. So we did. And it was tough.
I had forgotten how hard it is to run in the snow. We stuck to the sidewalks and did two back and forths totalling 5 miles. This meant slogging through fresh snow then slipping and turning ankles on packed down icy snow. The plan was, at the end of the 5 Miles, I was supposed to do another 3 to complete an 8 Mile long run.
No way Jose. My hips were screaming and I had turned my ankle more than once. I was done.
And so the Sunday conundrum set in. I had to get in a long run this weekend...but I also had to lift weights. And it was supposed to snow again. By Saturday night I had resigned myself to 6 miles on the treadmill and 45 minutes of weight lifting for the next morning.
Sunday morning I slept in, had a great oatmeal breakfast, hung out with Bill, then headed to the gym. I got on the treadmill dreading my 6 miles and starting jogging. Then I looked up - Cheerleaders! Some cute guy with no shirt on! Wait...they are dancing! TBS, here I come!!!
Miles 1-5 flew. At the start of mile 6, I started making big running plans. I would finish up mile 6, then put in a serious speed effort and make it through the last 2 miles. Yup, I was going to conquer 8 miles of treadmill hell! I pumped up the speed by .3 for mile 7 then attacked mile 8 with 5 minutes of sprinting followed by an easy run effort to finish it off.
Barely believing I had pulled off the run, I refilled my water bottle and hit the weights. Upper body only - I was not looking for punishment.
And I sincerely have to thank Bring It On and TBS for that run. Treadmill running is mentally tough. Breaking through that run reminded me that yes, I am a runner.
Bring It On Ten Miler!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Update and a New Website
First things first - here is a new website that I am addicted to: http://www.fooducate.com/blog/
Basically Fooducate is a blog dedicated to finding out what is actually in the food products you eat. I have to say that I recently ate a few bags of 'baked chips' and drank my first diet soda (or any soda for that matter) in at least a year and I felt really weird about it. Not bad necessarily, just odd. And I can say that after reading this blog, I can assure you that I will not be getting near those products again.
As for an update on this week, its going okay but not stellar. Until I see how finances play out on payday, I have been unable to make it over to Revelation...and I really miss it. I am psyched to make it to Victoria's class Friday afternoon!
Here's how it went down:
Monday: Nightmare day/night. No gym time.
Tuesday: Elliptical for 15 minutes, 45 minutes weights
Wednesday: Ran 4 miles
Thursday: The plan today in 2 mile speed workout, 45 minutes weights
Friday: Victoria's Power Yoga class
Saturday: Long Run (weather permitting), Weights
Sunday: Power Yoga or Rest Day
Lunches:
So its winter. And I am freezing. Here have been my two go to lunches since winter hit:
Hummus Day:
Wrap with Hummus, Hot Sauce, Chia Seeds, Broccoli Slaw, heated.
With
Spinach and Mushrooms, heated till wilted then tossed with red wine vinegar and pepper
Soup Day:
1 Can Health Valley Organic Low Calorie Soup...here's the deal - this soup is expensive ($3.69 a can or so). But after spending an insane amount of time in the soup aisle this was the only one I could fathom ingesting. Yes, I can make my own soup for less money and I plan on doing so this weekend.
1 Salad with mixed baby green, snap peas, carrots, vinegar and pepper...there should be an oil or fat source here to help absorb nutrients but I need to hit up the grocery store.
Snack:
These lunches are really light on calories...I know. Non-veggie calories are only stacking in at 200-250 calories. I have been supplementing with 1-2 hard boiled eggs either as a snack or on my salad, a pear and a banana.
Basically Fooducate is a blog dedicated to finding out what is actually in the food products you eat. I have to say that I recently ate a few bags of 'baked chips' and drank my first diet soda (or any soda for that matter) in at least a year and I felt really weird about it. Not bad necessarily, just odd. And I can say that after reading this blog, I can assure you that I will not be getting near those products again.
As for an update on this week, its going okay but not stellar. Until I see how finances play out on payday, I have been unable to make it over to Revelation...and I really miss it. I am psyched to make it to Victoria's class Friday afternoon!
Here's how it went down:
Monday: Nightmare day/night. No gym time.
Tuesday: Elliptical for 15 minutes, 45 minutes weights
Wednesday: Ran 4 miles
Thursday: The plan today in 2 mile speed workout, 45 minutes weights
Friday: Victoria's Power Yoga class
Saturday: Long Run (weather permitting), Weights
Sunday: Power Yoga or Rest Day
Lunches:
So its winter. And I am freezing. Here have been my two go to lunches since winter hit:
Hummus Day:
Wrap with Hummus, Hot Sauce, Chia Seeds, Broccoli Slaw, heated.
With
Spinach and Mushrooms, heated till wilted then tossed with red wine vinegar and pepper
Soup Day:
1 Can Health Valley Organic Low Calorie Soup...here's the deal - this soup is expensive ($3.69 a can or so). But after spending an insane amount of time in the soup aisle this was the only one I could fathom ingesting. Yes, I can make my own soup for less money and I plan on doing so this weekend.
1 Salad with mixed baby green, snap peas, carrots, vinegar and pepper...there should be an oil or fat source here to help absorb nutrients but I need to hit up the grocery store.
Snack:
These lunches are really light on calories...I know. Non-veggie calories are only stacking in at 200-250 calories. I have been supplementing with 1-2 hard boiled eggs either as a snack or on my salad, a pear and a banana.
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