Family Exercise

I have noticed that I have gained a bit of weight.  Even though marathon training I was putting on weight, and some might say it was muscle, and it might've been, but I am about 10 pounds heavier than I normally am.  I honestly think that this might be the new norm but at first I wasn't real pleased about it.  Since I didn't have a big race to train for it was up to me to make sure I was motivated to keep going to the gym.  I had been doing a fairly good job but I felt like I needed to do more.  I started doing the NTC workouts more frequently on top of light running days and it seemed to be going well.  Jeffrey is still around but I think he will be unless I have him surgically removed, and well, lets face it, I don't care that much.  There was a particular day that the kids were driving me absolutely crazy so I took them outside and told them that we were going to have family exercise day.  I figured I could get my workout in and hopefully they would burn enough energy to stop being so busy and naughty.  The first day we did quite a bit and Dude loved it!  He kept asking if we could have family exercise day the next day and day after that.  Norah in her typical fashion was out there naked and Lucy was doing her best.  It was pretty stinking cute seeing them do yoga and other exercises.  :)




























JVG

Last 20

Even though the plague had gotten me for most of my long week training I did manage to get one last 20 miler in.  I was still feeling a bit discouraged about it because it wasn't going well, but I felt like I had turned the corner because I had completed it.  My hope for the actual race was that I would run 20 miles before having to stop but my training had been indicating that that wouldn't happen.  I was honestly just happy that it was getting close to race time and that I would be done running soon!




I can't believe that all this time and all the miles that I had put on those treadmills was never spent on the one that never shut off.  It seems all the other treadmills turn off after 60 minutes but this one just kept on going!  So, it was kinda nice to see all your hard work on a treadmill :)

JVG

I broke a treadmill

There are about two different treadmills that I like to run on while I'm at the gym... the others?  They suck.  And one day while I was running I heard this weird clunking noise and then something smelled like it was starting to burn... so I quickly hopped off and there was smoke coming out of it!  Luckily, I was there during the day so there were people there on staff but it was CRAZY!  The next time I came into the gym there was an "Out of Order" sign on it... oopsies!  And then, the other treadmill that I like to run on also started to shred its belt...




Well, because of this I started using one that Gaetan said didn't shut off after 60 minutes and I really started to like that one... :)  And, the gym actually replaced the broken ones in a reasonable amount of time!  Too bad for me I'm already done training haha

JVG

Half Marathon

During marathon training I had to run a half for part of a long day.  This is nothing new but for this one I really wanted to try and push it to see how fast I could run it.  Turns out... pretty fast!  :)  I was pretty proud of myself with my new PR and it was a nice boost in confidence during the long miles on the treadmill.  :)




JVG

Brazilian Cheese Lady!

So I was finally able to make it to a demo for capo and it was for this Brazilian Cheese Lady (or so that's what everybody in the group calls her).  I have no idea how she even heard of us, but she invited us to do a demo outside of Hardings while she did samples of her cheese bread!  It was a lot of fun, and even though it was hotter than hot out I think the games went really well.  :)  There have been a lot of dynamic shifts within the group but I think that they are positive and I'm liking the overall attitude of the group a whole lot better.  I finally got some group whites that don't say Mandinga and I even won something!  And that is super exciting for me because I never win anything.  :)  Overall it was a great little demo and people actually showed up and had some great axe for the entire thing.








JVG

Spring?

It's March.  Almost the middle of March and there are still snow mounds bigger than my vehicle.  But, today, for the first time, it felt like spring.  It was almost 50 degrees and the sun was shining.  It was beautiful.  We took the kids outside for a walk and I even got to go running.  First run of the year outside in shorts!  It was amazing and just what I needed.  Unfortunately, in two days, its supposed to be single digits again, but, for now, we will take it and love it!





JVG

Half goal complete

I have to say that I am pretty proud of myself!  My goal for training this time around was to complete a half under 2 hours.  Last time I ran a half we were pretty close but the course was really hilly and we weren't sure what to expect!  Well, for my training I had to run a half (which I like because then I know I will be able to run the full thing for my race) and I thought that I should try to run it like a race.  Honesty, while driving to the gym I couldn't stop yawning and was just telling myself I'd be pretty pleased if I finished it... and was curious to see how my knees were going to feel.. but once I got there I told myself I would just try it and if it didn't work, then next time.

The bruise from PT.  Worth it though!

I knew that I had to average 9:09/mile to get just under 2 hours.  Since the treadmill only lets you do 60 minutes at a time I figured if I could get 6.5 in then I would be right on pace.  Well, it took me a little longer to warm up then I expected and only got 6.4 in for the first hour... but I was feeling good and I felt like I could make up the difference.  My first half average was 9:22 and I think my last half was 8:40 something... so I had to definitely kick it in for the last half but I made it!  I finished in 1:58.12 which I'm pretty proud of.  My knees felt great and I didn't feel like I was going to die, which means I probably could've gone faster, but I have this innate fear of burning out of gas so I don't push myself to that point haha.

It was also a pleasant surprise when I weighed myself at the gym and I had lost 13 lbs since the last time I weighed in!  :)  I kind of have a sneaking suspicion that all the running and the weight loss may be related... haha

Unfortunately, now that I've completed my goal, I don't have the gusto to train like I had been before!  haha.  I am still very much looking forward to this race in January but the pressure is off to perform.  :)

JVG

Blisters

I have thoroughly enjoyed getting back into running... yes, there are nights where I wish I could just sit and eat with the family but for the most part, I very much look forward to getting on the treadmill.  (I know, what a weird thing to say).  However... I still haven't solved my blister problem!  Argh!  At first I thought it was because my feet had gotten soft and tender and just needed to toughen up, but this is a continual problem that I have yet to solve!  It's only in two places on my right foot and it only seems to be a problem if I run more than 6 or 7 miles, which, lets face it, is becoming every run.  I got some Smart Wool socks which felt fantastic and wonderful, but didn't stop the problem :(  And since I'm running so often, my foot would hurt so badly I wouldn't want to wear my regular shoes because it hurt to badly.  So, I went back to Gazelle and am trying another pair.  This brand is guaranteed to be blister free... so I will be putting them to the test this weekend.  I have to run 9, 6 and 12... so I will definitely be putting them to the test right away!  Let's keep our fingers crossed that it works!  My feet are hoping so!

JVG

In the groove

I have finally hit my stride (that's punny because I'm talking about running).  The most I've run so far is 7 miles (and that was on a treadmill!  Woof!) and I've run a few 6 milers with friends.  I am starting to finally get to the point where I don't feel like I'm going to die every quarter mile and I'm starting to think that I can actually get this half marathon done.  :)  I have lost a few more pounds which is always encouraging and I'm getting into the more running heavy portion of my training.  Before the majority of the workout was the NTC but now we are into running 5 days a week, NTC once and resting one day. Definitely putting in the miles but I'm liking it and it's making me feel more energized.  Unfortunately I was sick yesterday but I think that I am on the mend.  My run today was a lot better than last, but I think it was because I couldn't breath due to my getting sick... ;)  Feeling good!  Here we go!

JVG

PS I know that I said that I would never run another marathon, but the next big goal is Chicago 2014.  Get some.

NTC

As part of my half marathon training that Nike+ produced they incorporate running and this Nike Training Club.  And, I have to say that NTC kicks my butt every time!  I highly recommend this for anybody who can't get out to a gym regularly because you can do the workouts at home.  They have videos that demonstrate what they want you to do for the movement and they have a nice circuit for the workouts.  They're usually 45 minutes but you can start/stop whenever you need.  It's also nice for me because then I'm not just running running running and I can do them at night with Gaetan after the kids go to bed.  BE WARNED:  You will sweat like a prostitute in church.  Not PC?  Sorry... but that's the best way I can describe how much you WILL sweat (and this is coming from a person who doesn't really sweat a lot).

Anyhoo, I really like it because it works different muscles and I can tell that its really helping when I do go on my runs.  So far I'm up to 5 miles already (whoo!) and I'm feeling pretty good.  I'm hoping to get rid of the rest of the baby house with this NTC, so here we go!

JVG

Running.... again

I told myself that October was going to be the month that I started running again, and so here we are 11 days in and I have been trying to run at least every other day!  :)  I am pretty proud of myself haha.  My gym membership kicked in this month too, hence the reason why I chose this month to start but I have only gone there once or twice.  The weather has been so delightful out still, and I would much rather run trails than on a stinky old treadmill...  Also, we lost our keys which had my key card to get into the place and we had been holding off getting another one because we were still hoping to find our other set of keys... but we didn't.  Boo.

The end goal is January 25th... another half marathon!  I'm going to be flying out to Seattle with Norah to run with my good friend Amy, who just completed her first FULL marathon!  Get it girl!  Officially my training doesn't start til Tuesday but I thought that I should try to get a few miles in before that so that I don't injure myself (like I did last time by trying to do to many miles at quickly) and to get over that 'I'm gonna die' feeling.  I'm doing the training schedule that Nike+ put out, the same that I did for my full but this one has a goal instead of just finishing.  I would really like to try and run one under 2 hours... but of course, we will see how the training goes.  In this schedule they include not only running but their other fitness workouts called Nike Training Camp.  Looking at the training schedule wasn't as daunting as I thought because I was still thinking I was going to see 18 miles or 20 milers on there... but not with a half :)  It looks very do-able... So, we shall see how it goes!

Looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.  :)

JVG

Ab/Squat Challenge=DONE

At the beginning of the month a couple of friends decided that we would try the 30 day challenge... abs and squats.  My friend Amy was the one who originally brought it up to me, and we found something on Pinterest and said, 'Let's go!'

Well, I have to say that I benefited the most from the ab one.  The squat one wasn't to taxing but I can definitely tell that it helped toning :)  The ab one though... oof.  The first time I tried to do a sit-up I didn't make it all the way up... it was pretty shocking!  Dude was sitting next to me and laughed and said, "what are you doing Momma?"  I had to honestly tell him I didn't know haha.  At the beginning I had to do them in sets of 5... pretty lame.  But towards the end I was getting to were I could do 40 at a time.  The end was the hardest for me.  I was getting sick again and I was just not motivated to do it.  However, I would've felt really lame not finishing the last three days... And about half way through Gaetan and I started doing them together and he pushed me sit-up wise and I pushed him with the squats... It was nice to do them together and I was feeling pretty good about my progress.  :)

I will post before and after pictures... I'm not sure if there is a noticeable difference but during this time I was able fit back into my pre-pregnancy shorts!  I'm sure the ab thing helped.  I still have some to go as they are a little bit more snug than I had them before but I will get there eventually.  I have to find a scale... haha.

After and before.  The flash was on for the after... don't worry, I don't go out in two pieces anymore!

After is on top.  Before is on bottom.

I'm thinking that I may just try to do this ab maintenance thing.  Once school starts I won't be able to do capo as much as I am now so I will have to try and keep up on my own.  Here's what I'm thinking next for the abs!

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/abs/exercises/power-abs-workout/

JVG

30 Day Challenge

It's AUGUST people!  Can you believe it?!  This marks the beginning of a 30 day challenge my friend Amy and I said we were going to start together... the squat challenge.  I think that it will be something good for me to do, and since I have a friend doing it to keep me accountable I probably will end up doing it!  :)  This is also coming off the heels of it being colder out so I had to put on some jeans and I fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans!  Whoo!  They are a bit snug still but I couldn't wear them without feeling like I couldn't breath.. small steps :)

Since today was day 1 we only had to do 50 squats.  I was about 25 in and thought, "this isn't so bad"  And then about 35 in I was thinking, "thank goodness it's only 50!"  haha.  I was starting to feel the burn.  The nice thing about these challenges are they shouldn't take that much time, so I can't use that as an excuse.  Looking forward to sleek sexy legs/butt at the end of the month!  :)  I encourage all of you to try and do it too... here is the schedule we are following.

I also decided that I should get rid of the last of the baby house.  I took some pictures today of my belly (it was not pretty) to see if I can really see a difference at the end of the month.  I'm not gonna lie... the sit-ups where the hardest part.  Gaetan was doing it with me (bless his heart) and the first sit-up I tried to do I couldn't make it to the top... I fell back down.... oops.  I did finish my sit-ups (eventually) and the rest of it wasn't bad.  Crunches, planks and leg raises.  I had been doing leg raises because I heard that is what helps get the abdominis rectus (the ab muscles going up and down in the front) back to normal after baby... those are the ones that get stretched out to accommodate the baby inside.

Looking forward to seeing the progress and getting these challenges done!  HUH!  (Arm flex!)

JVG

First 5K postpartum

Yesterday I was all geared up and excited to go to capo class.  The weather hasn't been particularly good the past couple of weeks so that means that class is in his basement... which, I have decided is something I am not going to do again.  It's quite the drive out there for a small cramped space... and the weather was finally going to be nice!  It wasn't going to be scorching hot so I had planned dinner and all the things that I would have to get done done so I could go.  I luckily texted a friend to make sure that it was at the track and the time and she said that he had cancelled it.  I wasn't sure why it pissed me off so much but it did.  I was set on going and was thinking about it all day and then it didn't happen.  ROAR.  I guess it was one of those things that just disappoints you and you can't get over it.  So I was grumpy for the rest of the night.

So, my brilliant husband suggested that I take the time that I would've gone to class to go running... he said he thought I needed it. haha.  I had already stuffed myself full of dinner because I hadn't planned on doing anything physical for the evening and wasn't sure if that was what I wanted.  I could foresee myself getting all geared up to run and have it be a terrible run and me be discouraged about where I am... but I knew he was right, and if anything, I was getting out of the house kid free.  So, I took him up on his offer.  All the kids were down so it was the perfect time to go!

The weather was great.  Not humid at all, just a little chilly (long sleeves weather) and the mosquitos were at a minimum.  I went to my favorite trails and started off.  Mentally I just wanted to do 2.  That would've been the most I had done so far... in the back of my head I would really like to do a 5K but I didn't want to get my hopes up and not finish it... that would've just put me back in grumpy land.  So, I set off.  Slow and steady finishes the race (or gets you back to the car).  As I was approaching the 2 mile mark I was feeling really good.  I was in a groove and I figured I might as well keep going.  And when I got to the end of my driveway I thought I'll just run into town (wait.... that was Forrest Gump...) Anyhoo I did the whole thing!  No walking and I felt good at the end!  :)

There was this little girl on the trails that I saw twice and she raced me one of the times and she destroyed me.  Yes, she was only 4... no, I'm not ashamed haha.  She was really cute.  At the end I was doing my cool down and I saw her again so we chatted.  I found out that she was going to be 5 soon, she had a 2 year old sister and a little sister to be born in Aug.  She was a chatty little miss, but very cute.  :)  It was a nice little cool down talking with her.  And I guess that's another thing I love about Portage.  The families are so nice.  I had a nice little talk with the Mom too :)

It was a perfect way to end the night.  I got home just in time for Norah to eat... she had apparently gotten up and had shown that she was hungry so Gaetan was just heating up a bottle for her, but we didn't have to use it.  It was just what I needed.  I did my ab work out as well, and am just a little sore today... the good kind of sore where you know you did something.  Hoping that I can keep on going with the running and get ready for the half in Oct!

JVG

First Capo/Being Away

Yesterday was my first time I was able to attend capo since Norah's hatching.  I had been trying to go a few different times but the there was always something that kept me back.. not this time!  I pumped a bunch of milk because I know that Norah cluster feeds at night time and I would've hated to left him with a fussy child when all she would really want was food!

My husband is such a saint.  Taking on all 3 kids, while having to put the crazies down for bed too.  He did it though... he is amazing.  I had a really good time.  I did start to miss them though, which is crazy because I wasn't gone that long... but I missed their bedtime and he sent a sweet picture of Dude feeding Norah a bottle I had pumped... melted my heart.  Anyhoo, since the weather was stormy it was at Show's house, which I had never trained at before... it was a very small space and HOT.  I mean, the weather was hot, so it was bound to be hot inside, but man oh man... sticky!

Norah's first time with a bottle

I knew it was going to be rough.  Any time you start training up again it's rough... you forget you have muscle groups that haven't been used in such a long time and your body lets you know it right away.  I knew it was going to hurt so good when my calves were sore already before I even left his house... I was just waiting for the awesome to hit 2 days... and it did.  The going down the stairs was the hardest but it was that sore where you know you got a good workout in.

I'm going to try and go more regularly because I know that its going to be help me lose the baby house faster... Also, there was slight differences between the schools of CDO and Mandinga which I am slowly learning but it is a mind trip sometime!  I'm sure it will get easier when I get back into the swing of things and have to stop thinking about the fundamental things, like breathing, during class :)

Looking forward to getting back in shape and being a fierce Momma again.

JVG