Weekend Plans and Goals

It is shaping up to be a fabulous weekend!  Tonight, I am excited to head over to Atlantic City for the race expo and packet pick up!  That's right!  Its race weekend!!  Then probably dinner out with Rob (since I'm sure we'll be short on time and famished).  Then hopefully home for some quiet time.

Tomorrow is a full day of Rugby in Lancaster, one of our favorite places.  We are going up early to stop at a little tiny Amish pie shop for some ShooFly Pie.  Yum!  Then its off to the Bards after the game as usual!

Sunday is the big race day!  My plan is to walk/run it and just finish.  Don't care about the time at all.  I haven't run since my last race, the Philly Rock and Roll Half!  The first weekend, I just skipped my run due to rain (I know, bad excuse!) and then I got sick and couldn't run!  What can I do?  Well, I can complete this weekend without getting hurt!  And then start up my running seriously again immediately.  A light run on Monday, even if I'm sore!  No excuses!!!

It is looking like it will be a great day for a run too!

Perfect running weather!!!!  I am pretty excited about this race.  I wasn't really a week or two ago but now I am.  I really like running the AC events, even if it nothing but boardwalk (but its ALL flat!).  Its funny because this weather calls for a light long sleeve shirt and I'm debating on wearing the same shirt I wore for the past 2 years for it!  HA!  I guess its that time of year for a light long sleeve?  LoL.  What do you think?  Or should I change it up?

Oh, and I will not be ordering the same thing I got at the Bards last time...  (Remember my boating experience?)  I'll get a pumpkin ale maybe but not the stew or the gelato...  We don't want any issues on race day!  It is always so tricky figuring out what to eat the day before a run.  You would think I would start tracking such things, especially me with all my graphs and charts and data!  This has always been one thing that's slipped by, the correlation between a good/bad workout and what I ate that day/day before.  Maybe a goal for next month?

(Old graphs and charts from old blogs - see I love data!!!)

Oh what's that?  I'm planning on making goals for next month?  That's right!  Angela is BACK!  And I'm going to be setting up a personal challenge for myself that anyone can participate in at any fitness level.  I will let you all know about it when it gets closer to November!  I hope some of you will join me!

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First Marathon, Help!

It's that time!  Once this cold is gone, I have to get serious about my marathon training.  As of today, I have 23 weeks until my first marathon.  I have a couple resources to pool from but it is really hard to pick "the right" training plan.  I have some guidelines that I want to follow.

• I want to be able to strength train (ST) 2 days per week (or cross train).
• My goal is "to finish" but I also want to finish in a reasonable time (under 6 hours but would really like under 5!)
• I don't want my runs during the week to take any longer than 2 hours max.  I'd prefer under 1.5 hours
• I'd like to have some sort of interval training during the week, not just always "run # miles".

But I also have some confusion about my training plans.

• Should I try the run/walk method (i.e. Jeff Galloway method)?
• I have a few plans printed out.  Some of them max out at 20 miles while others have 2-3 runs longer than 20 miles.  Which is "better"?
• Is it ok to have long runs only on the weekends?  (one plan has only 30 minute runs during the week)

I'm really thinking about combining a few of the plans into my own customized plan but then again, they are the pros and know what they are doing, right?  But they are all so different!  Its so hard to choose.  And I'm totally not sure about the run/walk thing.  I have such a hard time running again when I walk!  Anyway, this is the schedule I'm leaning toward if I make my own plan:

• Monday:  ST
• Tuesday:  Medium Length Tempo Run
• Wednesday:  ST
• Thursday:  30 minutes of Intervals
• Friday:  Rest day
• Saturday:  Long Run
• Sunday:  2-3 miles

 Tuesday and/or Wednesday could be option rest days also.  I'm also leaning toward the schedule that has a 23 and 26 mile practice run but only 30 minute runs during the week (from Jeff Galloway's website).  But then again, I've always trusted Hal Higdon to get me through races and his Marathon 3 training plan has 3 20-mile runs before the big day (but a lot more longer runs during the week).  Oh the decisions.  I'm just looking for experience and advice from anyone who has trained for a marathon.  Thanks in advance!  I'm super excited to go through this journey and become a marathoner!!!

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When Plans Aren't Working

Things aren't working right in the weight loss department lately.  Yes, weight loss and not "health".  I feel frumpy and blah, like I'ved gained weight.  My scale even played a mean trick on me this morning.  In my frumpy-ness, I decided to weigh myself just to make sure and it displayed a 147.6!  ACK!  That would have meant a gain of almost 4 lbs!  I got off and got back on again (because sometimes it need to calibrate) and it said 144.2 the next 2 weigh-ins.

Anyway, this was maybe just the little shock I needed.  Thinking I was up 4lbs.  For the last few months, I've been hovering around 143 which has been fine with all the craziness that has been going in my life but now I feel like I've had enough.  Mostly because the last week or so has been nothing but junk eating and minimal exercise.  It's time to do something about that and that means going back to Spark.

Tracking my food, tracking my workouts.  I  haven't used it nearly enough lately.  But I also have another issue.  I'm tired of training and yet I have 2 half marathons and a full marathon that I need to train for!  I have my calendar all filled out but it makes me moan just looking at it.

I have a half this weekend and nothing I will do this week will help me get any better for it (I could get worse by going too hard) so this week is going to be all about doing whatever I feel like.  Nothing but cardio though, I don't want super sore legs for the race on Sunday.  But Monday through Friday is all fair game (tapering in intensity toward the end of the week).

After that, I am going to sort of train for my races.  I mean, I will definitely be doing a lot to prepare but I'm not going to stress over getting it exactly right.  I plan on having 2 days a week of strength training and 3-4 days a week of cardio, one of which will be a long run day.  I think I will mostly due speed work like sprints, intervals, hills, and tempo runs.

As for nutrition and diet, the plan is to eat as clean as possible and try to keep it under 2000 calories.  That might not help me to lose anything (inches or weight) but it will keep me from gaining too!

Hopefully as my training increases, I will see some more definition and feel a little less frumpy.  I am a little worried about fitting this all in with all the school and work I have but its gotta happen so that I can run that marathon.  I don't want to be disappointed for my first one (like my first half and this half).

And most of all, I miss being a good example of health and fitness.  That might be a little vain but its true.  I like being a good example to follow.  No one wants to be the bad example, right?  So I feel like I'm failing other people when I'm not doing well.  Remember my blog about being a Healthy Living Blogger?  I need to remember all that I said in that again!

I feel like lately, I just keep making plans and plans and more plans on how to get back on track.  But all those plans were very open with lots of loop holes.  This plan still isn't exactly rigid but its more strict than I've been so I'm going to do it.

Track Food.

Track Fitness.

Long Runs once a week.

Strength Train twice a week.

Cardio 2-3 times per week.

Eat under 2000 calories.

That's the new plan.  Be a healthy living blogger and role model!  Here we go!

Busy Bee, Goal Progress

Wow things are crazy right now.  I never got around to working out yesterday.  I was just so completely exhausted from work and school.  Work is always a little stressful.  I try not to talk about it here but there is always a certain atmosphere there.  We'll leave it at that!  School is never *truly* bad, but I did get homework today!  LoL, no one likes homework :)

I'm here for met today to think back to my "goals" for September and see how I'm doing!


Goal 1:  Eat healthy 85% of the day.

Overall, I think I am doing ok with this one!  I did have some ice cream over the weekend and I should be banned from Godiva, but other than that, its really not that bad.  I do think there is a little too much snacking when I'm at home.  We bought goldfish and ginger snaps for the storm but I keep wandering to the cabinet where they are kept!  Ack!

Goal 2:  Workout every other day. 

Uh oh...  I worked out on the 1st, the 3rd, and... yep, not again.  Monday (Labor Day), I planned on working out but that all went up in smoke.  I had these lofty plans for yesterday for working out when I got home and came home utterly exhausted.  The type of tired where you could fall asleep standing.  Today, I snoozed my alarm for about 45 minutes!  Maybe tonight?  It's not an option, right???

Goal 3:  Keep in touch on FabFit and South Jersey Sparkers

I've been doing well on this one!  I posted on a few threads in SJS and have been keeping up with FabFit on facebook.  But as FabFit's fearless leader Carolyn pointed out, your fitness minutes should be greater than your computer minutes... Oops, definitely not here.  In my defense, I work on a computer and am stuck here on campus now.  That student gym membership is sounding pretty good...

Goal 4:  Continue blogging.

This one is obviously going well!  It has definitely been hard but I am trying not to stop because I'm worried I might slip back into other old habits too (and gain weight, eek!) if I'm not accountable to anyone.  Must keep doing this!!

Ok, so the most important two (1&2) are the ones I'm doing the worst on!  LoL, actually #1 really isn't that bad.  I just need to forget about the snacks in the cabinet.  My plan for tomorrow is to just get up early.  If I feel like working out right away, then ok, but I really need to get into the routine of getting up at 5, no matter if I have a workout or not!  (I may use yoga to stay in the habit of morning exercise).  And I need to really think about the gym membership here.  I would be nice if I could throw on my running gear right now and do a few laps around campus!  Just need a place to shower!

Happy Hump Day!!

Oh, September. Here Already?

To make goals or not?  I thought about not but I think I changed my mind (in a matter of 15 minutes or so).  I really enjoy making them, tracking them, etc.  But I don't want them to be overwhelming this month.  So instead of making concrete goals, I'm going to make things I should track and see how I do.  Sound good??

• Eat healthy 85% of the day.
• Workout every other day.
• Keep in touch on FabFit and South Jersey Sparkers.
• Continue blogging.

So that's the general plan.  Eat well, workout, blog, stay active on Facebook and SparkPeople.  Easy, right?  Haha, not with my schedule!  One thing I might do is bring back my food blogs.  I haven't been tracking my food on SparkPeople just because it takes too much time that I would rather put into other things.   I have actually been doing really well with this because I've been cooking a lot.  So to document that, I'm going to attempt food blogs again (I say "attempt" because I already missed 75% of what I ate today so far, lol).  I will also report on my workouts in my blogs.

Anyway, time for class (using school wifi!).  I will hopefully blog tonight with a report of my day!

?What are your goals for September?

Non Weight Goals

About a year ago, I wrote a blog entry that I think is kind of fun and still holds true today about what my non-weight goals were.  Some of those still apply but I will come up with some new ones now too!


Run a marathon


Cook more creative healthy means (more often)


Get better/more sleep


Really kick butt at school this year!


To feel calm and stress free, even when life is stressful


Maintain a fresh, clean, welcoming home


To be able to work out in those teeny weeny spandex shorts and a little matching sports bra


To dress with some style, even if I'm just going to class/the grocery store/etc.

What are your long term goals?
That chaturanga pose is still illuding me from last year...

Picture sources:
Marathon. Food. Sleeping. School.Yoga. Home. Exercise. Style. 

August: Eating Healthy and Running

Every few months or so, I make goals for the month when I need to work on something.  I skip a month here or there but I'm usually pretty consisten about making them.  Last month's goals?  Out the window.  With some rough times at the beginning of the month, I wasn't really in them mindset to be worrying about being so detail orientented.  I didn't completely give up on myself though.  That is the point of the goals in the first place!  To try to do better!

So here are my goals for this month!

Goal 1:  Stay within my calorie ranges 15 days this month

All of my goals are multi-purposed.  This one particularly will make me track my food and it will make me conscious of what I am eating.  If I want to stay in my ranges, I can't go pigging out on burgers and ice cream all day! 

Goal 2:  Work out 4 times per week.

I think that is a pretty reasonable workout schedule.  I can do 4 days a week without feeling overwhelmed and while making time for random things that pop up.  I can do this one!

Goal 3:  Run 40 Miles

If I'm working out 4 times per week, I should be running at least twice per week, one of which is my long run.  With an 11 miler and a 10 miler this month, This should be cake.

Goal 4:  Have 15 spend free days

This always helps the budget.  My pie chart was insane last month:

Look at that eating out!  Of course, that had something to do with the beginning of the month when I had a lot of time off.  No excuse but still.  Its been hard to getting around to cooking lately.  I must get back into the kitchen.  Oh, and notice that coffee has a pretty big slice there?  By having "spend free" days, I won't want to waste it by buying a $1 cup of coffee.  Of course, paying for things like groceries and fuel don't count.  No spending on unneccesary items!

Additionally, can you see how these goals will work together?  Since I want to have spend free days, I won't be eating out as much meaning I will probably have an easier time stay in my calorie ranges.  Also, if I'm not spending money, that means I'm not going out, being "busy" and not hitting the gym.  Originally, my first goal was a calorie differential goal which again worked with the working out but I didn't want too much thinking on my goals this month so it changed to calories.  Anyway, this month is about eating healthy foods (stay in range, cook more often) and getting back on the running track!

PS.  I said I did terrible on July's goals which I sort of did but I stuck to one goal 100%.  I track every penny I spent this month (and got that cool chart above).  I downloaded an app to my phone that is exactly like how I track on a spreadsheet on my computer.  I am able to export the data too.  It is called Money Wise and I would not have been able to do this goal without it!  Love having it!

July Goal Update

Ok, so I haven't even thought about my goals all month! It really has been a rough time. So let's take a look...

Track food every day
This means of course everything I've eaten that day. I've gotten 8/12 days. Not bad considering I went off tracking for so long and found it difficult to get back into it! I'm happy with that so far!

Drink 8 glasses of water every day
This one I'm honestly not sure how I'm doing. I forget to track it but I know that I've been pretty good at it for the last week. We'll give myself credit for 6/12 days.

1000 Fitness Minutes
So far, I'm at 479. Not bad!
Run 30 Miles
Um, yeah... 2. Not so good!

Do 1 project per week
I did 1 project at the beginning of the month. Haven't had time yet for another. I want to finish 4 by the end of the month.

Track Spending
This one I have been rocking! I downloaded an app on my smart phone that is just like the excel spreadsheet I made! It is called MoneyWise if anyone is interested. It lets you filter spending to make different charts, decide what you want on the chart, set budgets, etc. Love it!!! But now next month, we'll need to make some new spending goals. Gotta get some of these catagories reduced!

That's it! No cute chart today because its on my other computer. Next time! Now, off to make today a successful Spark Day!!!

How are your July goals going? Do you have a goal you want to make for the rest of the month?
I want to cut down on my spending in one of my catagories. Going to work on that with Rob!

July Goals

I realized today that it was the beginning July. I figured I should make some goals this month to help get me focused. I also needed a good way to keep reminding myself of my goals. I used to keep them in my cubicle but I don't use one at work anymore so I needed a new place. Here is our new organization center at home:

The big white board Rob uses. I used the little ones but I added a calendar to Rob's so I could keep a schedule for my workouts:

And to keep me super organized (cause color coded is awesome) and motivated (because who doesn't like coloring?) I got these:

I'm all set! I made my goals and put the chart up on my peg board. Here is what it looks like before printing:

Goals for this month:
Track food every day
That means everything! Even if its annoying or difficult to track. This is basically just to get me back into the habit.
Drink 8 glasses of water every day
This is always a goal really
Reach 1000 fitness minutes.
I slacked this month, 1000 is totally doable.
Run 30 Miles
I have my half marathon in September. Time to hit the pavement!
Do 1 project per week
I have so many things I want to do! I still have to make my wedding scrapbook (2.5 years married now). I also have lots of sewing I want to do. 1 project per week doesn't sound crazy, but its gonna be hard!
Track spending
This is usually a goal too but I need to be more strict about it. Gotta know where that money is going!

So that's really it. Nothing too crazy. Just a way to get me going again! I love making charts and graphs so this really helps me! And its nice to start each month off with a clean slate :)

May Goals & Surprise Trip

I've finally decided to do May Goals. I hadn't really thought about it but then saw that Lauren posted some (http://lfdimples.blogspot.com) and I figured it would be good to get me focused again. Here we go!

Drink 8 glasses of water every day.
I have been good at this one but I like tracking it anyway :)

Have 20 days of natural eating.
I figure that 20/31 days isn't so bad. This one might be hard though because we have to go away this weekend for rugby and possibly more weekends after that! Also, 20% of the time works for me too.

Strength Train 8 times.
That boils down to about 2 times per week. I can do this!!!

1200 Fitness Minutes
This one is obvious! It will help me really push this month. I'm a little scared of the 1200 considering that I'm not longer distance running. Also, once I start my new weight lifting plan, I shouldn't be taking that long at the gym for that either. At least I will start biking more for my upcoming race in July!

Track Spending every day and have 20 Spend Free Days
Remember spend free days?! Well, these are "spend free" as in free of frivolous spending. Today I bought groceries so that doesn't count so it makes today spend free. Works for me! And I love seeing charts of my spending. Also... I haven't told you guys yet...


The rugby team is planning a trip to Ireland in February!!! Its going to be so much fun. So I have to start saving for Rob and I to go cause he's not going without me!!! I've never been to Europe so this is going to be awesome. I'm afraid I'll be hooked and never come back. LoL. So this is MAJOR motivation to save money :)

What are your goals for May?