Weekly Goals

My training week starts on Monday, so time to make those goals again!!

GOAL #1: DO all three runs on my training plan this week.
I have two 40 minute runs on the plan during the week. One at a 3 minute walk, 1 minute run ratio (3:1) and the second at a 3minute walk, 2 minute run ratio (3:2).  I haven't done anything longer than a 1 minute run up to this point so it will be interesting.  I should also mention that the weekday runs are exclusively Gremlin runs pushing the Bob jogging stroller. I like to think that this will make me even stronger for having the extra resistance!

My long workout is 6 miles at a 3:1 walk/run ratio. This is gonna be tough! So far my longest run was a 4 miler at a (4:1) so I'm not only going farther, but have less rest time on my walks. I'm trying not to psyche myself out - I know I can do it.

GOAL #2: Ride my bike TWICE.
Even though my butt is sore, I did enjoy getting out on the bike. This week I want to try to ride twice. I'll definitely do at least one outdoors, and for my second maybe I'll get my fluid trainer set up again?


GOAL #3: Do my bootcamp DVD once
I have a bootcamp DVD that I got a few weeks back that is specifically designed for post-partum fitness (with a baby almost 11 months old, can I still call myself "post-partum"???). The chic's voice on it is a little irritating - she's one of those very enthusiastic trainers-  but it has a lot of the components of the boot camp that I flunked out of.


I'm not going to set a goal with this one, but I am planning on doing the Clear Mountain 5K this weekend. I haven't raced since March, mainly because we've been trying to conserve funds as it does get pricey doing lots of local races.  This is a part of the Arkansas RRCA Grand Prix which Bryan and I both registered for earlier in the year and the race is only $15 each which is pretty cheap. I'll be slow because, well I'm pretty slow these days, but I'll also be pushing the Gremlin.  Jogging strollers technically aren't allowed at any road races, but these smaller ones always have a few folks pushing and no one makes a stink about it as long as you line up at the back and don't get in anyone's way. I'm telling myself that despite how slow I'll be, it will still be a PR - a stroller PR :)

Snaps for the Family that trains together

Woo Hoo!! I made my goals this week!

It was by the skin of my teeth, but I did it!! I left it all til the end of the week which isn't ideal for training, but Hey!! I did it!!! I walk/ran on Thursday and Friday, then today I did my 3 mile "long" run. (Which is almost embarrassing to say since 3 hardly qualifies as long in any sense of the word.)

Bryan and I both wanted to ride, so we tried the family workout. We've done it once before and it was quite successful. We take both bikes, the jogging stroller and Gremlin to the River Trail and then take turns - while one person rides, the other runs with the Gremlin. We meet back at the car at a predetermined time and switch. Today I did a 30 minute bike ride first, then pushed the Gremlin for my 3 miles. He was a little fussy when he and I first started, but it was nap time so he eventually gave it up and fell asleep.  It was a beautiful, uncharacteristic August day for Arkansas, temps in the 70s, sunny and not too humid.  I felt pretty good on my run, but I need to get my butt used to being on a bike again. I kept shifting my weight and getting out of the saddle while trying to find a comfy spot to put my butt bones.  One would think that biking would be more comfy with the extra natural padding my pregnancy added .... ummm not so much.  I also totally wimped out on the one hill I encountered and had to get off half-way up and push. I had the bike in the lowest gear and thought I could manage, but when I realized I was practically motionless, I decided to clip out before I fell over.

In any case, I'm glad that I made my goals for the week. I'm thankful for a nice brick workout and say the whole family deserves snaps for working out together!!!

Free Panties!!

With a title like that, I'm sure to get some unsavory hits on my blog!

I truly have an issue with free panties and it drives my husband crazy. My problem is that I get these coupons in the mail from Victoria's Secret for a free panty and don't use them.

What?
You don't get these coupons?

Well if you want free panties, just get a Victoria's Secret credit card and I guarantee you'll get a coupon about every three months. It's basically a "come-hither! No purchase required but you KNOW you'll want all kinds of things once you start digging for free $6 underwear." 

I've had at least four in the past year that have remained unused until they are finally thrown in the trash. My most recent one expired last Monday.  I even had Bryan set an alarm on my Blackberry reminding me to go and get that damn panty, and still I failed.

I just can't bring myself to go to the Mall and subject myself to the experience of Victoria's Secret.  First of all, I'm pretty sure that my free panty is going to be a size (or more) bigger than I used to wear. No one tells you that having a baby not only destroys your stomach, but you gain some pounds in the hips and butt too. Then there's the torture of looking at all the cute matching bra and panty sets, you know the kind that would look adorable under a nicely fitted pair of jeans with heels. All remnants of the way I might have dressed pre-Gremlin.

I keep telling myself, "once I lose weight" or "when I get back down to my old size," I'll get my free panties.  I currently have a coupon that expires the first week of September AND I just got a $10 off any purchase coupon to use as well (that's an annual one that comes around your birthday).  The reality is that I won't lose 20 pounds or a clothing size in the next week.

Do I give in? Should I just suck it up and admit to my current size??

Damn You Victoria's Secret!!!

Weekly Goals

I can't measure my success (or lack thereof) for the week without setting some goals. In the past, I think I made too many goals, or maybe not too many, but too lofty?? In any case, since we're starting at nearly the beginning, I don't think there's anything wrong with keeping my expectations low.

Besides, if I make my goals I'll feel good about myself, and if I feel good about myself then I'll be likely to make even more goals. So if I keep my goals easy to start with, I'm more likely to be a happy Jenn. Sure it's slightly circuitous logic, but it's my logic and it works for me.

Hmmm, let's see. My half-marathon training plan calls for three runs a week.  So far I've not made more than two....

GOAL #1: DO all three runs on my training plan this week.

I have a shiny red bike that Bryan took earlier this summer for a fancy tune-up.  It cost a LOT to get all of the work done and I've only ridden it once. I also have a fluid trainer and my darling husband even bought a portable fan so that I could use the trainer and not get too hot (how sweet!).

GOAL #2: Ride my bike ONCE.
Indoors, outdoors, upside down - just ride it.

I'm not gonna make a Goal #3 because then we start getting into the realm of having too many goals and I really want to have one week where I can look back and say that I accomplished all that I planned to accomplish.

Achievement through setting the bar low, it's the new American way.

Snaps

I've never hidden the fact that I was .... correction, am a sorority girl and am proud of it. Despite some of the over-the-top antics of Elle Woods and her Delta Nu sisters, I must admit that we did give "snaps" in my chapter. I like to think of it as the sorority form of applause. Not to mention, it's much easier on the hands than clapping incessantly.

In endeavoring to be more positive as opposed to the constant bitching and making excuses, I thought I would start to give myself snaps. I'm hoping that every week I can find at least one thing to congratulate myself for, even if I REALLY have to dig.

For this week, I'm going to give myself snaps for taking the Gremlin out in the jogging stroller on Wednesday. As usual, I had suboptimal sleep the night before, and it took several doses of caffeinated java goodness to feel alive. I knew I needed to get a workout in, but I kept putting it off all morning. FINALLY, after Gremlin woke from his morning nap, I made it out of the house and did the recommended 32 minute walk/run. Luckily there was a slight breeze and it was mostly cloudy so it wasn't too hot for the baby to be out (nearing noon in Arkansas in August is generally a steamy prospect). I felt so good when I finished and I was so proud of getting my arse off the couch.

Snaps for Jenn!!!

Time For a New Start!

I know there are a few of you out there who followed my blog back when I was more active on posting. I appreciate you for sticking around through the dryspell and keeping me on your RSS readers or bookmarks.

I've been having a hard time figuring out what to do with this blog and determining what my point of view is these days. It seems that so much of my life is now filled with figuring out how to be a Mom and trying to balance the competing demands of family, work and sleep. I originally used this blog as a way to chronicle my journey from overweight, out-of-shape, bitcher and moaner to newbie triathlete. Along the way, I sprinkled bits of my personal life and observations of the world. The athletic endeavours were still important, but took a backseat to all of the massive changes that happened from the time I first left my comfortable life in Fall 2006 to become a travel nurse.

Recently, I realized that I'm having such a hard time finding my voice again, because I really don't know who Jenn is these days. I'm worlds apart from the person who started this blog and I think therein lies the problem.

Along the way, I've lost part of me.

I'm sure it's buried in there somewhere ... locked beneath hours of lost sleep, layers of pregnancy induced fat, and a generous helping of negativity.

When I was struggling for a name for the blog (obviously The Verbose and Curious Travels of Nurse Jenn are no longer relevant) I started looking to music. Suddenly a U2 song, "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of," came to me that really seemed to sum up how I felt about myself. I don't think it's so much that I've truly lost myself, it's more that I'm just stuck in a rut. I keep putting off doing the things that will make me feel better like working out, losing some weight and getting out of the house when in the end, nothing is stopping me but myself. The more I thought about the lyrics, the more relevant they became.

So now, from this day forward, I will endeavour to reclaim the old Jenn! I'm pretty sure that I can be a wife and Mom while still being the sassy, spunky, in-shape, opinionated chic that I used to be.

"It's just a moment. This time will pass."

Name that blog!

I'm still stuck on what to name my blog and in what direction to take it. My darling husband suggested something to the effect of "Operation Make Jenn No Longer a Fat Slob" or whatever similar wording I used a few posts ago.

Somehow that just doesn't have a nice ring to it.

I guess I could call it "Bitch and Moan" since that seems to be about all I do these days. Or better yet, "Lots of Worthless Excuses" since I seem to have a lot of those.

Hmmm, something to muse upon as I ponder my excessively flabby belly ....

HELP!!!!

People I'm dying here! It's Thursday night and I haven't worked out once this week.

Seriously. What's wrong with me?????

Do I think my fat ass and flabby stomach is going to simply disappear if I close my eyes and wish for it real, real hard???

Freaking pitiful, that's all I've got to say.

I get off work at 7:15 a.m. and when I get home ... by god I'm going to go for a walk/run.
And then I'm going to sleep.
But then I'll wake up and do one of my boot camp DVD workouts.

So it was written, so let it be done.

Status Update

Hmmm .... let's check in and see how Jenn has done the past two weeks.

I have to say that I'm actually pretty proud of myself! Now I haven't been perfect, but based on what I was doing before (i.e. nothing) I think I've made some real progress!

1. Boot Camp: I made boot camp twice the first week and twice this week. My goal was to go three times each week, but I had some sleep issues - more specifically NO sleep due to teething Gremlin. As much as I want to work out, when I've been up since midnight with a screaming baby, it's hard to be motivated to go work out at 5:30 a.m. I have a boot camp DVD now, so this week when I missed on Wednesday, I did 40 minutes of my DVD instead. I've really been enjoying the class and have definitely felt the soreness in my abs, legs and arms. Hopefully this next week I'll make all three days!

2. Half-Marathon training: So far I've only missed one scheduled day of training which is a miracle for me. Even when I was training hard-core in the past, I always missed a session here or there. I've been mainly training with the Gremlin in the jogging stroller out of necessity but I'm hoping that the extra work of pushing him will make me even stronger. This week I had rain two days and I even went out in the rain, thank goodness for the weather shield for my BOB! Gremlin really enjoys riding and it's definitely been good for my sanity to get out of the house and breathe the fresh air. I haven't started wearing my heart rate monitor yet because I know my HR is still going to be ridiculously high. Hopefully after a few weeks of routine cardio, I'll be better conditioned.

3. Nutrition: This has actually been one of the best areas for me. I have been very mindful about what I'm eating and avoiding the fried food and junk food that I have come to love over the past few months. I'm definitely making better choices, drinking more water, and watching my portions. I think that if I can keep this up while continuing to exercise, I'll be fitting back into my skinnier jeans soon. :)

It's definitely a work in progress but if I can keep it up, I'll be back into the habit of a healthy lifestyle. Woo Hoo for me!!