A Temporary Escape

Yikes!

I am such an advocate for moderation.  Which is hilarious because I can't seem to moderate my habits long term.  For instance, I can be the apex of health one week and the next give myself a coronary eating burgers and beer.  Right now, I happen to be on the up swing.  Self control is at a maximum, I am killing my work outs, getting sleep and the list goes on...

The thing is, I can't help but wonder how long this will last?  Sad that I know my motivation has an expiration date.  It only takes one night out, or one party or heck one bad hair day to send me off into a tail spin.It just so happens that right now I am so dissatisfied with myself that I am kicking booties and forgetting names.

Because, I am a broke student the current focus is exercise because I don't have the means to buy the optimal foods.  So my diet is kinda whacky right now, as I am literally just eating whatever I can get my hands on.  Going without so you can pay for school is cool guys, you wish you could do it.  Don't worry though, I at least have coffee and colleagues that care enough to feed me when I am look depleted and on the verge of syncope.

Running after you swim with wet hair is, ummm, awesome

You know it's hot outside when your hair is dry in 5 minutes after you start running.

Like I mentioned yesterday, not having a specific training goal is feeling reallll nice for me mentally. 

 It makes my WANT to exercise, and I have lost that feeling of HAVING to do it.

So today, I swam some laps at the pool...ouch...and then ran four miles....ouch...it was hot.  And windy?  How horrible.  It was over 90 degrees with a super heavy head wind, so it kept me cool but it was difficult to run into.

Goliath also got in a swim

Water, is absolutely essential for these hot summer runs.  G and Me both would die without frequently indulging in some agua.

What I ate today: Giant coffee, chicken and broccoli, 2 slices of pizza (I AM SO POOR! I miss vegetables! Waaahhh)

How I worked out today: 20 minute lap swim,  4 mile run

This Post Brought to You By: "Young Blood" The Naked and Famous

Forever and Ever, Forever and Ever. Amen.

The difference positivity makes is remarkable. I have had one of the best fitness weeks of my life, and I believe I owe thanks to an attitude adjustment-and maybe the sun coming out. My calorie burn has been off the charts between speedy runs and work out classes at the gym. My diet has been completely on point and I feel fantastic. Where did this new found motivation come from? I love it, and I have a feeling a certain pup loves it to. As I type, he's crying at the door because we've yet to hit the pavement and knows our usual time has passed.

Yesterday's work out class was incredibly difficult, incredibly. I THOUGHT it was a kickboxing class, but it was really a boot camp. A boot camp full of burpies, frog jumps, wall sits and other completely insane things. There will be a full review once the experiment is complete, but let's just say after an hour of that I was exhausted. BUT the weather was just too gorgeous to not run in, so I mapped an eight miler to work and intentionally didn't give myself enough time to pace less than an 8:30/mile. Fifty degrees means I get to run in a tank and shorts, thank yoooouuuu:

It's kind of a bum out not running with G-Money, it's such a different-less-fun vibe. He makes me laugh when I wanna cry because of lactate pain and his curiosity of what comes next keeps me going. Other than races, and running to work I don't run without him and it's a million times less motivating. So when I completed eight yesterday all on me onsie, in record time I was pretty impressed with myself. I rely so much on the poor dog, that I do kinda forget that I am capable of running on my own. I don't need him, but when I arrived at work and there wasn't anyone there to celebrate with me I realized I want him to be there. I've trained Goliath to give "high fives" and so after a harrowing run, we collapse on the living room floor and I will say "High five buddy" and he'll raise his paw into my hand. When his rough paws tap my palm, I know we've had a good run.

There are few things more rewarding than that high-five, except good food. By no means am I "foodie," but I really love eating, and since my whole weight loss marathon started I've become exponentially smarter about food choices when it comes to fuel, runners gut, caloric intake and nutrition. The only rule I follow: Keep it simple. The foods I eat, and the recipes I come up with are simple in that they contain very few ingredients, are not processed and are relatively easy to make. Some examples:

Raw pepper stuffed with black beans and rosemary rice couscous
.1 bell pepper
.1 c cooked black beans
.1/2 c couscous seasoned with rosemary, and a pinch of salt
Directions: Cut&gut the pepper, stuff with beans and couscous. Eat.
To spice it up top with favorite cheese and bake or five minutes.

Shrimp Arrabiatta and Gluten Free Penne
. 1 box of penne (Mine if GF, your's doesn't have to be
. 1 lb of shrimp
. 4 cups broccoli
. 3 cups diced tomatoes
. 4 tbsp tomato paste
.4 cloves of diced garlic
.4 tsp olive oil
.Red pepper to taste
Directions: Boil pasta until finished, duh. Heat oil in pan on med-high heat, add garlic and then shrimp. Cook shrimp until pink. Add broccoli and cook until bright green. Add diced tomatoes and paste, and turn heat to medium heat. Add red pepper, 1 tsp for less spice 4 tsp for extra spice. Let simmer for three minutes for the pepper to permeate the sauce. Serve sauce on top of pasta, duh.

These are two meals I had this week, super filling and super yummy. Super Food!

Well, Goliath has whimpered throughout this post. Dog park, ho!

Yesterday's Mileage: 8.01 miles
Time: 1:09:13

I Feel on Top of the World with Ya' Baaaaybee

I've been breaking all sorts of cardinal running sins lately. After yesterday's pain, I decided that I probably should take off until I invest in new shoes. This morning, I woke up feeling energized and fresh-which is rare. I usually dread getting up, but the sun has been rising sooner and I've been having more restorative sleep. Goliath sleeps in his bed for most of the night, and like clockwork he gets up at 7am and jumps in with me. I woke him up and said "Wanna run?" and he perked up from a solid slumber:


I laced up my racers and set out for 5.5 miles knowing that I would have to walk seven miles to work. Initially, I was apprehensive not knowing how this would go and if I'd feel that same pains as yesterday. Between mile one and mile two, there's a quarter mile wind tunnel and when I pushed through I knew that it'd be a good run. With a twenty foot highway barrier on the left and condominiums on the right the wind whips through there like bottle rockets. There's no headwinds or tailwinds, it's just wind in all directions.

These five miles completely made up for my miles yesterday. It was one of those runs, where you feel like you could run forever. I pushed a 7:20/mile on mile three. Goliath noticed my pace picking up, and he was pleased. It's cheesier than Gouda, but it was one of those runs where you feel yourself improving and your body changing. There is literally nothing running wise that could make me happier, except maybe new shoes.

Goliath decided to wade the creek today:



All in all, awesome run today. It felt great: snot, boogers and tears from the cold, all of it. I was so focused, that I didn't notice him cockroach in poop. He's such a Beetlejuice, attracted to foul scents and fan of dirt.

I need to start cross training more, so if anyone has any good suggestions-bring them on.

Today's Mileage: 5.5
Time: 45:23