Running Report

Oh, holy crap.  I haven't told you people.

I got a treadmill and I'm running again.  Can I tell you how much EASIER it is now that:

1.  I don't weigh 225 pounds... the extra weight off has made it so much easier at the start.
2.  I have a treadmill in my freaking basement, where it's cool, where it's right down the stairs and I don't have to get up and drive anywhere.

((You can see my entries from before, back in May 2009, when I started running but was heavier.  The numbers are pretty darn different.))


Yeah.  So, I'm on day two of running (day off for a much needed massage yesterday!) - and I am really excited to keep up on it.  Here is my report! :)

(PS, this "run" is much more a "jog," but I'm basically brand new to running / walking / exercise at this point.  I haven't been active in a long time, so I'm building up my strength slowly.)  :)


Day 2:  2.11 miles in 45m.
5m - walk - 2.8
9m - run - 3.4
5m - walk - 3.0
6m - run - 3.4
5m - walk - 3.0
4m - run - 3.6
5m - walk - 2.8
5m - walk - 3.0 (incline of 3)
1m - walk - 2.6 (incline of .5)
TOTAL = 45m
(ran 19m, walked 26m)
Estimated calories burned:  370


Day 1:  unknown miles in 35m.
2m - walk - 2.8
8m - run - 3.6
4m - walk - 3.0
4m - run - 3.6
5m - walk - 2.8
3m - run - 3.4
5m - walk - 2.6
TOTAL = 31m
(ran 15m, walked 16m)
Estimated calories burned:  224


On another note, I'm using the Lose it! app.  If anyone wants to be buddies on there, let me know.  I might not be perfect at tracking my food every day, but I will be weighing in at the very least. :)


Also, I should probably attempt to find my Polar watch / heart rate monitor.  It'll give me far better calculations on burned calories.  Or, I could wear my bodybugg... Decisions, decisions.

~J

Zumbariffic and Subway...

I went to the gym today and did Zumba... seriously, I LOVE it. Here are the stats for the day:

703 calories, 45% fat - Max HR = 179 (92%), Avg HR = 158 (81%)


One hour, 703 calories! I LOVE IT!

SO, I weighed in this morning at 207.4. I am on my way back down to the 205 mark (My initial weigh-in at the start of all this was 220, so I'm still not even 15 lbs down.) It gets SO frustrating! I just need to stay committed to the gym at LEAST three times a week, keep running and eat well. I'll get there, I swear. I just dreaaaam of the day I get down to 175. For some reason I keep envisioning 175 as the magic number of happiness even though a healthy BMI for me would be 155 at the very top of that range.

I'm gonna throw a party with watermelon and spring water when I hit 199. Anyone with me? HA!


Okay, also I wanted to blog about Subway. Everyone knows it's the Eat Fresh option, and it gives you the opportunity to eat out in a healthy way. SO... I want to post an "Eat This, Not That" comparison of what I could order.

12" veggie on wheat with provolone, oil/vinegar and honey mustard = 635 calories
1 bag Baked Lays = 130 calories
2 White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut cookies = 440 calories
TOTAL = 1205 calories!

OR

12" veggie on wheat with oil/vinegar and honey mustard = 535 calories
1 bag Baked Lays = 130 calories
TOTAL = 665 calories!

:)~

So, here's what I actually DID eat today:

12" veggie on wheat with provolone, oil/vinegar and honey mustard = 635 calories
1 White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut cookie = 220 calories
TOTAL = 855 calories

I got the chips too, but I'm not eating them with dinner. :) I don't know why I got the cookies (I'm gonna give two to Dan) - I need to STOP with the sugar!!! But ... considering I got 700 calories out of the way with exercising, I'm doing okay! :)

And post-workout, sorry, I just CAN'T do a 6" sub. :)
~J

Running Report

40 minutes
2.68 miles
490 calories
40% fat
Max heart rate = 174 90%
Avg heart rate = 151 78%

6 mins walking @L3.6
5 mins running @L5
6 mins walking @L3.4
3 mins running @L5
6 mins walking @L3.4
3 mins running @L5
6 mins walking @L3.2
2 mins running @L5
3 mins walking @L3.2

13 minutes running
27 minutes walking

Hellz yeah!

I can't believe I ran for 5 minutes straight right off the bat today. Makes me feel darn good. ;)~

~J

1112 Calories... BURNED!

So, I've been to the gym 4 days in a row this week. That's, like, a record.

In taking a day off from the running/walking thing, I did Zumba at 6, then Gravity at 7. If anyone doesn't remember what Gravity is, I posted about it here.

So, I was wearing my nifty Polar F6 watch to keep track of my calories and all... it's awesome.

60 minutes of Zumba + 45 minutes of Gravity = 1112 calories burned!!!!!!!!!!!

Hellz yeah.



Also, thanks everyone for the tips on my running calves/shins problem. I just bought some great running shoes (Asics 2140's.), so I know that it's not the shoes. I definitely wanted to make sure I approached it right. I think I was just too zealous about it.

I really think I've had a problem with running and walking too many days in a row. So, I think the break will be great! We'll see how I'm doing tomorrow! :)

Also, a lot of you have lovingly recommended running outside. The tough thing about that... is that I don't live in the best neighborhood to do that. I would get a running partner, but I think it'd be hard to find someone who is at my level and committed enough to do it three times a week. Plus, I don't really know people here.

I'm gonna stick to the treadmill and just be sure to stretch before and after the workout, and only do it every other day until my legs get stronger. :)~

~J

Running Report

Woo-hoo!

Sorry I haven't had one for a few days... I suck and I'm lazy.

So, here is the haps for tonight! I get to the gym and choose a treadmill next to this guy who is running at quite a fast pace... he'd been on the treadmill for about 12 minutes and was running at level 9.5, which is really fast. Yes, I look at other people's numbers.

I'll get back to him in a minute.

My breakdown looked like this tonight:

6 mins walking @ L3.6
2 mins running @ L5
6 mins walking @ L3.6
3 mins running @ L5
6 mins walking @ L3.6
2 mins running @ L5
6 mins walking @ L3.5
2 mins running @ L5
6 mins walking @ L3.5
1 min running @ L5
20 mins walking from L3.7-L2.8 (last 5 for cooldown)

Running time = 10 mins
Walking time = 50 mins
Distance = 3.56 miles
Time = 1 hour
Calories burned = 653* (40% fat)
Max heart rate = 180 (93%)
Average heart rate = 151 (78%)

*Calories burned are measured by a heart rate monitor I wear. (Polar F6). The treadmill said I burned 400 calories, so it's good for me to see I'm actually working harder than the machine thinks.


Okay, so the guy next to me ran for 30 minutes total. He did 3.4 miles in 21 minutes. Oh, and he was like, 60 years old. And he got his heart rate down to 90 in about 1-2 minutes while he was stretching on the treadmill when he was done. Dude, my heart rate is 90 when I walk leisurely from the car to the door of the gym. By the time I hit the locker room my heart rate is around 112. He's in fantastic shape. Or I'm just in really, really pathetic shape.

He is my inspiration. This guy kicked my ass and totally ran a 5K (just over 3.1 miles) in 20 minutes.

Sheesh!

Running Report

So... I love my new watch.

I did 35 minutes on the treadmill and burned 341 calories.

6 min walking L36
2 min running L52
6 min walking L38
2 min running L50
6 min walking L36
2 min running L50
6 min walking L35
5 min slow walk cooldown

I then did Zumba for an hour and burned 607 calories.

I worked out for a total of 1 hour 40 minutes and burned 948 calories today! WOO HOO!

My motivation was that I usually go in, work out for a little bit, then go home. Why? Because I'm tired? No. Because I "did what I came to do." I remembered that Tara did 6... SIX hours in the gym. Surely I can do 1.5 hours.

<3 Jenn

New Duds for a New Day

So... my running crazy has inspired me to get new stuff!

And let me tell you, I feel better about myself in some new clothes than I have in a long time. Brand new running shoes (these are a MUST), new pants, and a new watch with a heart monitor!





Ready to get TOUGH!




LOVE the pants and the shoes... The shoes are Asics 2140's.










The watch is a Polar F6. It rocks:





The new tattoo:



And now I'm a runnin' fool!




Oh, by the way, as I'm SO excited to run tonight... I couldn't get my car out of PARK. Dan got it to go once, and we parked it at his Mom's house (no rules there on which side of the street to park on...) -- I swear, Milwaukee is bad for my car.

I'm gonna SHRED tonight. I haven't for awhile, so I'm sure I'll be dying later. I'll let you know how it goes. :) <3

Jenn

Running Report

Okay, so I just got back from the gym and I would like to give y'all a little report on the running stuffs.


So, as a brief reminder, this is what I'm supposed to be doing for the first week:

Week one: Walk for 6 minutes, then jog at an easy pace for 1 minute. Repeat 3 times. Aim for three sessions with that same sequence for week one.

That equals 21 minutes. (7 minutes x 3 repetitions.)


Well, this is what I did: (L== level, and I was at an incline of .5 just to get started. I started not knowing what level felt fast or slow... 27 is pretty slow... I wanted to walk at a fast pace when walking, instead of reverting to a stroll feeling walk. The beat I walked to was the beat of "If U Seek Amy.")

1 min walking @ L27, 2 min walking @ L30, 3 min walking @ L32

2 min running @ L45

5 min walking @ L37

4 min running @ L47

6 min walking @ L37

3 min running @ L47

5 min walking @ L35

1.5 min running @ L47

5.5 min walking @ L37, 1 min walking @ L35, 1 min walking @ L32

So... that's 40 minutes on the treadmill, 2.2 miles, and a HELL of a lot more running than I thought I'd be doing! I was supposed to do 21 minutes on the treadmill with only 3 of them being running minutes. Today, instead, I did 40 minutes on the treadmill, with 10.5 of them being running minutes.

Holy crap. I think I can do this.


Now, for you treadmill runners... does the world look like you're on one of those airport moving walkways when you get off? 'Cause I felt WEIRD when I stopped. I can totally see how someone could fall on their face after doing a workout now.

Speaking of which, I've been dying to share this clip with you guys! Has anyone seen "The Mirror Has Two Faces"??? It's one of my FAVORITE movies. This is the only clip I can find of the scene I want. You don't need to watch the whole thing. Just watch it from 5:00 - it's one of my favorite workout montages. HA!

(Now, I swear to Google there is a part in this montage where she's really cycling on the bike HARD and then she gets off, and her legs are so wobbly that she falls down. But it's not in this clip! Anyone? Tell me I'm not crazy. Or is it a different movie?)

I just realized that it's Bridget Jones' Diary - and I can't find the clip online. :)



**grin**

Also, someone asked what gym I go to. I'm in Milwaukee, and I go to Elite Fitness. They have a few locations - I go to Highlander Elite, which is off of Lilly Road and Burliegh. It's kind of pricey (around $80/month) but they have EVERYTHING, and they're very, very clean, super friendly, have tons of classes, every piece of equipment you could ask for, televisions on every treadmill, bike and elliptical, and two pools, not to mention a crapload of tennis and racquetball courts, spin classes, Gravity, Zumba, Pilates, Pump, Yoga and a slew of social events, live music, childcare, karate classes and way more. :) If anyone wants to come JOIN... I would love to have a running partner. :)

~J

I Want to Be a Runner.

Have I ever mentioned this? It's true. And recently I just can't stop thinking about it. I used to go for little runs a long time ago when I lived at my parents house. I took women's athletic weight training in high school and they forced us to do a mile run every Friday. I HATED that run, and felt like I was gonna puke at the end of each one.

I just wish I could be a smooth, fabulous runner like all the smooth, fabulous runners out there.

I don't know if any of you saw The Biggest Loser, Train the Trainer episode 17? But... there was a clip of Tara running on the treadmill at the beginning, with Jillian behind her, holding a band around her waist for resistance. (Note: that would kill me.) -- But then they showed Tara after, and she was FLYING on that treadmill. I want to be that.


Okay, in case anyone doesn't know, as of Tuesday, this girl has lost 121 pounds in 17 weeks. I haven't even lost TWENTY pounds in that much time. She's literally lost 106 more pounds than me. And that in LESS time! If anything is a sign that I'm a big, fat, lazy, ridiculous girl, THAT is. Even though I "know" the Biggest Loser method is extreme... why can't I just GO TO THE GYM and work out for long periods of time every day? I have the schedule to accommodate it. I pay for the membership. WHAT is my freaking PROBLEM??

I SUCK.

I read this on OK Magazine's website:

Integral to Tara's dramatic weight loss is her "6-Mile Workout," which consists of: Jogging 3 miles, doing 20 push-ups, jogging another mile, then another set of push-ups, another mile, more push-ups, one last mile and then one final round of push-ups. We're losing weight just thinking about it!

I'm even inspired by how she looks in a t-shirt and spandex workout pants!




So, how to BEGIN running? I sure as heck can't go to the gym today and run five miles. I'd collapse or puke, or have a fit of diarrhea on the treadmilll.

So, I found a website with a good "beginner's guide to running."

Anyone else want to start running with me? Here's the plan:

1. Get clearance from your doctor. (Does anyone actually do this? I've NEVER done this before starting to work out or change my diet. But you're apparently supposed to, so I'll copy and paste it here.)

2. Getting the right running shoes for your foot type is crucial for comfort and injury prevention. Visit a running store to get expert advice on buying the right running shoes. (I need to do this. Right now I just have my regular workout shoes but I WILL be getting real, picked for me, running shoes.)

3. Before you start your workouts, make sure you warm up properly by walking for 5-10 minutes. You should always end your workout with a cooldown.

4. Week one: Walk for 6 minutes, then jog at an easy pace for 1 minute. Repeat 3 times. Aim for three sessions with that same sequence for week one.

5. Week two: Walk for 5 minutes, then jog for 2 minutes. Repeat 3 times. Aim to do three sessions in week two.

6. Week three: Walk for 3 minutes, then jog for 4 minutes. Repeat 4 times. Aim for four sessions in week three.

7. Week four: Walk for 2 minutes, then jog for 5 minutes. Repeat 4 times. Shoot for four of those sessions in week four.

8. Week five: Walk for 2 minutes, then jog for 8 minutes. Repeat 3 times. Do four of those sessions in week five.

9. Week six: Walk for 2 minutes, then jog for 9 minutes. Repeat 3 times. Try to do four sessions for week six.

10. Week seven: Walk for 1 minute, then jog for 11 minutes. Repeat 3 times. Do four sessions this week.

11. Week eight: Congratulations on making it to week eight! For your first run this week, try walking for 5 minutes to begin and end the workout, and run for 20 minutes in between. By the end of the week, try to run for 30 minutes without stopping.

Aim to run for 30 minutes four times a week, and you'll notice that your stamina and fitness will continue to improve. Soon you'll be ready to run your first 5K!



So... who's with me for the next 8 weeks?

A torture machine.

But it was a good one. Anybody done "Gravity" Classes yet?

They really are great. 45 minutes to work every major muscle group, and it's NOT boring like lifting weights. It uses all of your own body resistance and... gravity... to work you out. I was on level 2 and 3 for most of my upper body stuff, and then for squats I was on level 6. It's tough, fun, and my arms are still shakey. I'm gonna be SORE tomorrow!!! If your gym has it, I would definitely recommend going to a class or a dozen. I really liked it!

I don't know how many calories I burned... I was all sweaty like a Josie Grossie, but I plan on getting a heart monitor watch thing so I know how I'm doing from now on. I would like the Bugg, but I'm WAY too cheap. ;)

Use The Force, Luke!...... to lose weight!

Super thanks to my friend John McIntire for sending this article my way.


SO... if you're a fan of light sabers, Luke Skywalker, or how hot Princess Leia looked in that one outfit...



...you might want to give this a shot.

The newest trend in weightloss is lightsabering to the oldies. Well, okay, not to the oldies. But you do get to wear costumes and stuff.



Don't laugh though. People have come in looking like butter balls and wind up looking like sexy, ripped slabs of hotness.

It's also been an intro for a lot of people to start in martial arts. And a majority of the participants are female. I know a martial arts workout is a killer one... I used to do Krav Maga (Thanks, Andrew!) and that workout nearly left me passing out after each class.

I might need to get me one of these light saber things. Maybe Dan would participate in my workouts then. :)

~J

I almost just died.

Yeah. I bought Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred - that one is in the mail. That's the one I have heard hell stories about. So, I figured that I should warm up and do some of her earlier workouts to prepare myself.

Netflix has this awesome streaming video thing, where you can watch certain DVD's immediately instead of waiting for them in the mail. (My arms hurt so much right now, it's actually difficult to type.) So anyway, with Dan's xBox 360 I can watch them on our big TV. So, I added a few of her various workouts and decided to start with Shape Up - Front. This is what it looks like:




This workout is NOT for the faint of heart. She has professional dancers as her crew in the video, and they were all dying. It's up and down, up and down (as in doing shoulder press jumping jacks, then down for crunches, then up for alternating lunges with arm raises, then down for mountain climbers, then up for reverse lunges with weights and front kicks, then down for push ups and planks, then up for lunges, etc). There are no wimpy warm ups. It was hand touch high kicks, side skaters and plyometrics for WARM UPS. This was insane.

I got 1/2 way through the video and I was sweating more than I knew I could sweat. I've done lots of different types of workouts, and I can hang for an hour on an elliptical, but this was the worst ass kicking I've gotten in a long time. I think I'll have to have lost 20 lbs before I can get through this whole video. I'm doing it at least twice a week. And this is one of three or four other videos like it - she targets other areas of the body, but to be honest I don't know if I'll wake up tomorrow with anything NOT sore, so unless she has a brain bruiser and tongue push-up exercise video, I don't know what else is left to work out.

It makes sense to me that Jillian says that you should lose 20 lbs in 30 days doing the 30 Day Shred DVD. I'm terrified to get it, because that means I'll have to try it.

I have a new found respect for the contestants on The Biggest Loser, and honestly, I don't know if I could have done better than Joelle, even though I think she sucks. Jillian is freakin' tough.

So anyway. I just thought I'd share my terrible pain with you all, and encourage you to stream it or buy it if you want a really tough work out and want to whine about it with me after you try it.

~Jenn