I am looking at 18.5 weeks of training. In 18.5 weeks I will be running 13.1 miles. I can do that and it really does not matter what the scale says.  I have had a few awesome friends give me advice about training for this half. And you know what they all say?!?!

FORGET THE SCALE!!!

YES!! At least three people (and you all know who you are and I LOVE you) have told me their experiences with half training and warned me that the scale may fluctuate and that I should probably ignore it for a while.  Yesterday, I blogged my normal weigh in and talked about this and I had the best conversation in my comments (wow, I was channeling my inner Miz and having commentversations – feeling like a rockstar)!

Today I have decided to take the plunge. I am giving the scale to the husband and I will ask him to get rid of it. Just so I don’t look at it in a moment of weakness.

Today I have decided that I am strong and I can do this. I can train for a half marathon and I can be healthy. The number on the damn scale WILL NOT DEFINE ME!!!

I will continue the healthy habits I have created. I will train for a half marathon. I will kick ass!!

Today I ask you…

What if I lock up the scale?!?!

Have you taken the sledgehammer to the scale (figuratively or literally)??

Oh, and if ya just can’t get enough Jen head over to MizFit’s house….I am guest blogging there.

Prior to LA Boxing, I had not been to a real gym. My main form of exercise was walking outside and walking DVDs. I only sweat a little and I never really pushed myself to the point I was sore the next day.  LA Boxing gives me one hell of a workout. Each and every time I walk through the door to take a class. Within five minutes of class starting, I am dripping with sweat.  I have never sweat so much! and I like it! I am finding that I love working out. Who knew such a thing was possible?!?

Now I just have to get the food stuff figured out. I want to get absolutely everything out of this opportunity. I have two months left and I will see results. On the scale and off.

Last week, I added personal training sessions to my LA Boxing experience.  I didn’t get pictures of my first session but Butch (manager at my local gym) was my personal photographer on Thursday while I had a PT session with Cory. First let me tell you, Cory is a total cutie!! He is also a total goof ball. Of course, I loved training with him. He made me smile and laugh and punch and squat and jump.

I met Cory at the gym and I started wrapping my hands…I am slow as molasses when it comes to wrapping my hands and the wraps are like a hundred miles long. Cory asked me when the last time I ate…he said it was important to eat regularly.  I should have asked him more about this but he had me start jumping jacks and I lost all thoughts from my head.  For the next 30 minutes, I chased Cory around the ring and punched and punched until the bell rang.  Then I jumped jacks or squat-walked across the ring. Then right back to punching ’til the bell.

When the bell stopped ringing, it was time for abs. Cory had me start in the ring doing these funny alternating leg-arm things. My balance sucks! Then it was bicycles and then I don’t remember the other ab exercises.  After some in-ring ab work we went down to the floor and did “around the clock” abs and finished with crunches using a balance ball. I will say it again, my balance sucks!

Now, look at these smiling faces!! I’d say it was a good workout.

Disclosure: As a participant of #Fitbloggin’ 10, I was offered (by LA Boxing) three months free membership, free personal training, and merchandise – all in exchange for blogging my *honest* opinions once a week.

I have pondered this question but I have not completely figured out where to begin. So here I am to speak from the heart.

What if….

I took a break from all challenges and just focus on me and my thoughts.

gasp….

I know, I am such a challenge junkie but I really think that lately the focus on challenges has been my downfall. I have been stuck lately.  Everything has been stalled and I am not sure why. Another good friend sent me the loveliest email last weeks, and I asked Marsha if it would be ok to post that email here. I am so happy she said yes because these words really got me thinking and I need to share.

Jen,
If I may, I’d encourage you to hold off on all your challenges and give yourself a break.  Instead of taking on new things right now, why not give yourself the time to sort though what you’ve been going through. Won’t necessarily take a lot of time to do that — you could be on your way to other things by tomorrow! — but if you do that, perhaps you’d be in a much better place when you want to re-start all your other efforts.

If we can successfully do that, we often find ourselves much,much better equipped to move forward doing what we think we want to do.  I say “think” because ultimately what most of us really want to do is take care of ourselves so we can live peacefully and happily.  We often think exercise, eating right, etc., is the way to that, and it does play a part.  But the biggest part is finding a peaceful place in our minds, especially when everything seems to be crashing down around us.  A focus on exercise, eating, etc., often serves as a distraction, a way to divert our attention from finding that peaceful place because it may seem overwhelming or scary to go looking for it.

WHAT IF I SAY NO TO ALL CHALLENGES AND GOALS AND OBLIGATIONS FOR A WHILE (not sure how long a while is) AND JUST FOCUS ON ME AND MY THOUGHTS & FEELINGS?!?!

I have discovered KICKBOXING!!

and

I LOVE KICKBOXING!

A few weeks ago, I was scared to try kickboxing. I was only going to take boxing classes at LA Boxing. After a few boxing classes, I actually felt confident enough to try other classes. I gave kettlebells a try and whoa! Kettlebells kicked my ass. I was sore for days but I liked that class and I will go to another class.  [Just a note, I have not gone back yet because my podiatrist has recommended no barefoot workouts right now.]

I was very nervous about kickboxing.  ya see…I am a total klutz! I trip over pieces of nothing on the floor. I trip over my own feet, and I have small feet. I am constantly tripping over teenage feet at school…they do it on purpose. My sophomore class is full of boys, only boys, and they amuse themselves by torturing me and they think it is “cute” that I am klutzy.  All my ramblings lead you to one conclusion – I am pretty damn klutzy and nervous about kickboxing.

I went to a class on Tuesday. I really went because I wanted to get my workout done a little bit earlier. I am super busy at work this week and I have been bringing work home. The 4 o’clock kickboxing class just fit in my schedule better on Tuesday.  I decided to just go for it!! I LOVED IT!

That first kickboxing experience hooked me! I sweat in ways I am only just now learning to love. I was never a big sweater until LA Boxing came into my life. I am getting stronger. I can do pushups easier this week. I still do girl pushups but they are starting to look like real pushups. I even feel less awkward during a lot of the exercises. I really liked the boxing classes but I LOVE kickboxing. I think I like kickboxing more because it is a nice mix-up and the class just flies.

Last night, I went to a 7:45pm class. I was going to run or go to another kickboxing class.  I went on twitter and asked my peeps what I should do. My peeps spoke and they unanimously voted for kickboxing. So I went to a late-for-me class. I am so very glad that I went to this class.

Kevin was the instructor (see picture above), there were only 2 other ladies in class and me. Kevin worked us good!! I moved the entire class and worked up one hell of a sweat. I kicked and punched and kicked some more. The class was small and that was perfect. There was no escaping Kevin’s watchful eye and he made sure I was doing the kicks in good form.  And then, Kevin ended class with the hardest, most intense ab workout of my life.

I am strong and I am getting stronger.

I was shaky, sweaty, and I can’t wait to go back!!

Disclosure: As a participant of #Fitbloggin’, I was offered (by LA Boxing) three months free membership, free personal training, and merchandise – all in exchange for blogging my *honest* opinions once a week.

]]> http://www.jeninreallife.com/2010/05/06/one-hell-of-a-workout/feed/ 19 http://www.jeninreallife.com/2010/04/28/21-days/ http://www.jeninreallife.com/2010/04/28/21-days/#comments Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:13:26 +0000 jen http://www.jeninreallife.com/?p=1024

The Shrinking Jeans Sisterhood is one of my favorite stops in the blog-o-sphere. These hookers know how to throw a great party and host awesome challenges. Today kicks off the latest SJ challenge.

Someone once said “it takes 21 days to make something a habit.”

The SJ Sisters have flown the challenge flag and this flag screams HABIT!!!

I have changed many habits along this journey but there are some that I just never seem to “get” all the time. I go in spurts. A week or two of totally awesome and a week of ummm..yea…let us not think of those weeks.  I am taking the 21 Days Challenge and I swear when I read Lisa’s challenge post today, I felt like she knew all the areas I am a wee-bit slacking in these days. I added a few and stole some of Lisa’s list and here ya go, the habits I will be creating over the next 21 days:

I think I do a good job with staying within a good calorie range. I think I eat all my fruits and veg. I need to know!!If I am going to move past the gains and funk and start losing the rest of this weight I need to focus on good, healthy habits. I am trying to eat more intuitively and natural. But, that does not give me an excuse to not focus!

Here is to 21 days and new habits!!

What habits will you create with 21 days?

I know, you are sitting there wondering what happened to my break up with Weight Watchers.  There were many reasons for leaving WW and I do not regret my choice but when I was offered 3 months of online access to blog and participate in the Walk-it challenge I had to accept. {FTC- do ya’ll see, free} I will not be going to meetings and I am going to work on working the program but not letting it consume me. I love this walking challenge and I am so glad I am blogging about it again this year. This year, however, I am going to complete the running challenge.  I have already started to run and I like it. I have flounced around with a few different training plans and I have been less than consistent since I got sick a few weeks ago. WW’s Walk-It Challenge is just the spark I need to get my ass moving.

I should have started this training last week and I kind of did but not really.  I am a bit more advanced than week 1 and I was in a funk so I am going to start at week 2 this week. That means I will be ready for my first running 5K on June 6th – Weight Watcher’s Official Walk-It Day. I really wanted to run this at an official WW event but there are no official WW events in New Jersey at all and the closest even is easily 2 hours away.

What does a girl do?

Well, she decides that there will be a 5K right in her backyard….ok not literally but close enough.

I’m walkin, yes indeed and I’m talkin bout you and me
I’m hopin that you’ll come back to me, uh uh

I have decided that I will start recruiting people (virtually and in real life) to join me in walking or running training and complete a 5K on June 6th. I live one block from a very nice bike path or we could use one of the boardwalks (Atlantic City or Ocean City more than likely).  I am going to go back to my old WW meeting next Saturday and recruit my friends to walk or run with me for the Walk-It Day.

AND, Big Man has started the walking training program. I am so excited that my husband is taking an active role in fixing his health.  I love when we go out to the bike path together. We only start together but we are together….ya know?!?

Do you want to train with me?!?! Will you walk or run a 5K (either an actual event or your own mapped out course) on June 6th?

How did I work my goals this week?!

1. Lose 5 pounds per month – I lost 14 pounds over the last 10 weeks. Success!! I have changed my whole outlook on the scale. Fuck it!! The scale is just one piece of the puzzle and I am not living my life according to the scale.  I want to be healthy and strong and that is not any particular number on the scale!

2. Walk 15 miles each week - since starting the Couch to 5K my mileage has decreased! At first, this bothered me! I set a goal and I wanted to keep to it!! On non-”running” days I was walking with Leslie Sansone at least 3 miles. I was so exhausted and my legs were not very happy with me. I have since scaled my mileage back and I am letting my body tell me what it can handle. I did walk with my girlfriends last Saturday and we hit almost 4 miles. I am still getting around 10 miles each week. I am calling this a work in progress! and a success!!

3. Strength train 3x each week, every week -I also completed week 3 of the Bob Green 8, week total Body Makeover dvd that I won from Shrinking Jeans. I actually did 5 Bob Greene workouts this week! I feel so weak when I finish these workouts and I have been so sore! But I feel AMAZING!! Who knew sore could feel so great!?!?!

4. find and prepare one new healthy recipe (or food) - I am not sure I really accomplished this task this week! I did change my eating up a bit. I am sort of following the Body for Life way of eating. This week was a transition into the “clean” way of eating. Last weekend I went to the produce store and came home with a buttload of greens! I swear, I ate some many vegetables this week that I feel green!

What you don’t know about Jen…..

I am a picky eater! I have major issues with texture so certain foods I just would not even try because of the way they looked! I only recently started eating peppers & tomatoes! I hate tapioca and rice pudding, oatmeal bothers me and fried onions make me cringe! I love the smell of fried onions but will not put them in my mouth! I now will eat peppers but they must have some crunch left and I haven’t quite figured out roasted red peppers!

A Reflection on the last 10 weeks:

I have learned so much in the last 10 weeks. I always set out to be better in the new year!! 2010 truly is the year of Jen!! I am kicking ass! I am changing and becoming the strong, healthy, fanfuckingtastic woman I have always wanted to be! I am gaining confidence with each new “thing” that comes my way! I am challenging my mind and body!

Stay tuned!! This challenge may be over but I am just getting started!!

Keep on keepin’ on!!

Saturday was also a day of learning (a very hard lesson)!

• I made our menu plan and made lists.
• I went to the produce store and spent $43
• I took Big Man grocery shopping and we stocked up!
• Grocery shopping was later than it should have been.
• we picked up a fried chicken dinner at the grocery store.
• I had a fried chicken breast and some fried potato wedges.
• I should NOT have eaten any!
• My belly revolted!
• I was so sick the rest of Saturday night and most of Sunday!
• I used to LOVE fried chicken.
• Fried chicken used to be a go-to dinner on grocery nights.
• notice my choice in words?!?!
• used to
• I
• WILL
• NEVER
• EAT
• FRIED
• CHICKEN
• AGAIN
• !!!
• Thank you for reading my rant!!

How did I work my goals this week?!

1. Lose 5 pounds per month – we are very early in the month and almost to the end of this challenge and I am totally rethinking this goal. I never do well with setting specific weight # goals for specific time periods.

2. Walk 15 miles each week - Tomorrow morning, I will complete Week 2 of Couch to 5K training! My mileage is down this week and I may only get 9 or 10 total miles. Again, this is a goal I am rethinking. I am now training to run and I don’t want to stress miles for this I just want to finish the Couch to 5K and run my first 5K. I am still walking with Leslie Sansone in my living room a few times each week.

3. Strength train 3x each week, every week -I also completed week 2 of the Bob Green 8, week total Body Makeover dvd that I won from Shrinking Jeans.

4. find and prepare one new healthy recipe (or food) - I did make Bubbles & Squeak….a new recipe with cabbage, potatoes, ham…and a wee-bit of bacon! It was quite yummy!

We had state testing at school this week and state test sucks! There was, however, one or two benefits to testing: I had tons of time for thinking and re-evaluation, I was able to recover my sore leg muscles without teenagers teasing me!  I am at a good place, mentally, and I feel I am ready for some changes. I broke up with WW this week and I feel very good about this choice. I may not have reached every goal all the way but I discovered something this week: I like working out; I like sore muscles; and even though I many workout later than I should, I am getting it done!!

What you don’t know about Jen…..

I love to watch old movies with Big Man. Old Westerns, classics, war movies, etc. I have a wee bit of a crush on William Powell and Myrna Loy in the Thin Man movies!! John Wayne and Clint Eastwood are men’s men and have seen damn near every movie from them. I love John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara is another old movie couple I love to watch! There are so many!! Too many to count! Funny thing, I never saw or heard of any of these movies before I met Big Man!

How did I work my goals this week?

1. Lose 5 pounds per month – I think I am only down .2 for the month of February but we will see what happens on the scale tomorrow. I have decided that I don’t really care what the scales says. Yes, I am curious but I will not let the number on the scale determine the success or failure of my week.  I am really embracing non-scale victories.  While I have finally set an ultimate weight loss goal of 100 pounds, I have decided to not set specific time sensitive weight loss goals. I will get to my goal weight! I am ok if it takes longer than I want it.

2. Walk 15 miles each week - I wound up with 10 of 15 miles this week. But I started and completed Week 1 of Couch to 5K yesterday! Go check it out if you haven’t!! There are pictures!! I am still grinning ear to ear knowing I finished week 1!!

3. Strength train 3x each week, every week -I also completed week 1 of the Bob Green 8 week total Body Makeover dvd that I won from Shrinking Jeans. I threw in 2 walking dvds and a yoga workout courtesy of exerciseTV.

4. find and prepare one new healthy recipe (or food) -Mission accomplished! I actually made 2 new recipes this week. A Pot Roast recipe I found on allrecipe.com and a Roasted Garlic Chicken recipe that was in this month’s Food Network magazine.

What you don’t know about Jen…..

I am camera shy! I prefer to be behind the camera. I love taking pictures and I hate my picture! I have always been like but it goes even deeper. I am a teacher so I should be fine standing in front of a group of people and talk like a normal person. I CAN’T!  I stand in front of rooms full of teenagers and i am not nervous at all. Change it to grown ups and I get all blabbers. I can’t remember what I am talking about or what I already have said. I am ok, if we are all sitting around chatting.  It’s not the talking to people that bothers me, I think it is being the center of attention that makes me nervous.  Those who know me in real life cannot understand this from me! It makes no sense! I am very outgoing and personable!

Random Thoughts

This was an awesome week! Setting my ultimate weight loss goal was actually quite freeing. I started and completed the first week of the Couch to 5K training program. I may not be setting any records but I kind of am!! A record for me!! I swore I wanted nothing to do with running! Now, I am looking forward to next week’s training!

I am feeling stronger (physically and mentally) than I have in a very long time!!