45 Day Healthy Living Challenge

So I need some motivation to get myself back on track so what better to do that than a challenge! So I'm announcing 

It's simple...6 weeks of making better choices! Here is what the challenge entails:

• Get moving! Get at least 30 minutes of exercise 5-7 days a week. 
• You can walk, run, swim, bike, walk your dog slowly, etc.
• Get out there and try something new!
• Get your friends and family involved!

• Make better food choices
• Cook at home more!
• Reduce intake of processed foods and fast food
• Try to choose brown over white
• Watch your salt and sugar intake (and fake sugar intake!)
• Limit alcohol
• Try to remove trigger foods
• Drink more water

• Don't be extreme!
• These 45 days are meant to start and reinforce good habits!
• On a day that you don't make excellent choices (and there will probably be at least one of these) move on and forget it!
• Make every effort to get more sleep!

• No negative self talk!
• Seriously...I will come to your house and make you apologize to yourself.

• (optional) Keep a log 
• A food log, an activity log, or both
• Here is a great link for a free blank printable CALENDAR to log your exercise
• My fitness pal is a great electronic food log
• (optional) Track your progress in some way
• Weigh in (not too often...maybe on the first and last day or once a week)
• Take measurements
• Do a before/after photo 

That's it! Just make good choices for 45 days...that's just a little over 6 weeks! You can do this!

Register below to participate and maybe win a prize!

Until later, healthy living!
Jamie

Marvelous Arms May Challenge

Here's our challenge for May:

Click HERE for a PDF printable version of the calendar.

All the exercises should be self explanatory but just in case, let me know if you have any questions. I will post all the exercises daily on Running Toward Heatlhy's Facebook page.

My friend Fitness Diva is also doing a May Abs/Glutes challenge. Go check it out HERE!

Until later, happy living!

Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - Weeks #13-17 of 52

Sorry I haven't been keeping up with this! The past 2 months have been kind of crazy.

Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #17 (4/26) - 235.4
Week #16 (4/19) - 236.0
Week #15 (4/12) - out of town
Week #14 (4/5) - 236.8
Week #13 (3/29) - out of town
Week #12 (3/22) - 234.0
Week #11 (3/15) - 237.2
Week #10 (3/8) - 237.2
Week #9 (3/1) - 238.6
Week #8 (2/22) - 238.6
Week #7 (2/15) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Total loss = 29.6 pounds

I hit my lowest point on 3/22 and feel like I have been bobbling around the same few pounds, mainly due to water retention. I actually hit 234.2 on Wednesday but was up again for my Friday weigh day. I started a diet bet this past Monday (4/22) and am really working on weight loss for the first time in a couple months. I can always improve my eating but I definitely am doing at least OK and I am back on the workout bandwagon, so that's good. Hopefully I will see a nice number next Friday! 

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Awesome Abs April Challenge

Since a bunch of people asked for another abs challenge...here it is:

I put small pictures on the bottom to help but you can also Google these for more explanation. The superman bridge moves should be held for 2 seconds. Let me know if you guys have any questions!

If you are a newbie with abs and have a weak core, start with only a few of each move...definitely modify or adjust as needed! Feel free to repeat week #1 if you are not ready to move on to more reps. Remember to listen to your body!

If you don't already follow Running Toward Healthy on Facebook, come stop by! I post a lot more stuff on there everyday.

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - Week 12 of 52

Finally the first scale victory I've had in a while! Last week I was retaining some water so I didn't see the pound lost that I should have. This week I really have done well just listening to my body and eating when it is really hungry. I want to work more on not picking up meals that are convenient and definitely do more planning!

Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #11 (3/2) - 234
Week #11 (3/15) - 237.2
Week #10 (3/8) - 237.2
Week #9 (3/1) - 238.6
Week #8 (2/22) - 238.6
Week #7 (2/15) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Loss this week = 3.2
Total loss = 31 pounds

I'm finally up to 31 pounds and 11.7% lost to date! Whoot! Now I'm shooting for that 230! I'm hoping the scale will keep going down and that I'm finally out of this plateau!

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - Week 11 of 52

This is super late too, sorry!

Well this week I actually saw 235 on the scale for the first time but I ate a bunch of salty stuff and was a little up on the scale so it looked like I maintained. This week I kind of ate a lot of junk (I ate smaller portions though so I didn't go nuts with the calories...I probably ate at the maintenance point) and I had horrible heartburn because of so much processed and greasy food! I will definitely stick to my cleaner eating because it makes me feel better.
Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #11 (3/15) - 237.2
Week #10 (3/8) - 237.2
Week #9 (3/1) - 238.6
Week #8 (2/22) - 238.6
Week #7 (2/15) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Loss this week = 0
Total loss = 27.8 pounds

Still inching toward that 30 pound loss! Definitely should see a loss next week!

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Training Report - Weeks 10 and 11 of 52

I am crazy late posting this, sorry!

Week #10

3/4 Monday - OFF

3/5 Tuesday - Treadmill 5K - 38:45 (12:28 pace!) - ran 3.35 miles at 5.0mph! - 425 calories burned!

3/6 Wednesday - OFF

3/7 Thursday - OFF

3/8 Friday - OFF

3/9 Saturday - Texas Independence 5K - 41:38 (13:26 pace) - 545 calories burned!

3/10 Sunday - OFF

Week #11

Monday 1/11 to Sunday 3/ 17

No working out at all! We had Spring Break and I was working on my huge garden project (I'll try to post some pics soon) so I didn't run or go to the gym. But I did for from 9-8 from Monday to Sunday and went to bed tired and sore everyday so I must have burned some calories there!

Until later, happy working out!

Jamie

Race Report - Texas Independence 5K

Yesterday was the Texas Independence 5K at the San Jacinto Battlefield in LaPorte. I was really excited about it when I signed up for it because I've never been out there even though it is only 15 minutes from my house. For all those non-Texans, the Battle at San Jacinto was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Two of the biggest features at the site are the monument (571 feet tall) and the Battleship Texas that last fought in WWII.

The weather was cloudy and grey, chilly (around 64), and windy. Not optimal! My goal was to get a sub-40 minute time but unfortunately I didn't make it. Last 5K I ran with Rachel I did it in 39:45 with an average pace of 12:49. BUT that average pace is a little deceptive. When we started that race we were running really fast for the first 3/4 mile...like 11:30 pace. That was way too fast so I had to slow down after that. I was exhausted at the end of the race and all day. I didn't want to do that again for this race and I have really been working hard on keeping a constant pace outside.

To help me, I set my run keeper to only tell me my average pace every 2 minutes. Normally it tells me time, distance, and pace every 5 minutes but I knew 5 minutes was too long to correct the pace. It is strapped to my arm so I can't really look at it while running plus every time I try to play with my phone while I am running it makes me kinda dizzy.

I ran the first mile straight with a little over a 13 minute mile pace. I'm pretty happy with that. I was getting a little fatigued as I went and my pace kept getting a little slower and slower as I went. For the last part of the race we had to lap around this circle once and then part of it again before hitting the finish line. So when I was doing my lap around and passed the finish line it was at 36 minutes so I had a feeling that when I actually crossed it I wouldn't make my 40 minute goal.

Honestly I was kind of disappointed with myself that I didn't get a sub-40 time but this engine just didn't have any more steam. I could always say that I could have done this better or done that better but it doesn't really matter now. All I can do is just keep working harder and eventually I know I will get it.

So I learned a few things here:
1) I am getting better at keeping a constant pace! Yay!
2) I can run a whole mile outside so I need to make myself start doing that.
3) You can't PR every race it is an accomplishment just getting out there.

Here are a few pics I took...you can see how gloomy it was out there.

As you probably know I am not from Texas but I love their spirit and humor. :)

I have a 10K coming up in 3 weeks back home in New Orleans and my next 5K is April 20th. I will be working hard to get my sub-40 then!

Until later, happy running!
Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - Week 10 of 52

Finally the scale was down a bit of a Friday! Yay! Actually it dipped to 236 on Monday morning but them it fluttered around again all week. This week I didn't track my food at all and I'm OK with that. I didn't go crazy in any way, just kind of kept eating what I was before. I'm trying to pay more attention to my body and eat when I am hungry. I definitely think my appetite has decreased a bit.

Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #10 (3/8) - 237.2
Week #9 (3/1) - 238.6
Week #8 (2/22) - 238.6
Week #7 (2/15) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Loss this week = 1.4
Total loss = 27.8 pounds

Looks like I'm inching toward that 30 pound loss! I would love to be 236-ish next week. 

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Training Report - Week 9 of 52

2/25 Monday - OFF

2/26 Tuesday - 1 loop of the Kemah bridge..really tired - 240 calories burned!

2/27 Wednesday - 10 minutes (2 miles) on the bike and weights -  248 calories burned!

2/28 Thursday - 30 minutes on the treadmill - 2.31 miles (12:59 pace) -  305 calories burned!

3/1 Friday - OFF

3/2 Saturday - 1 hour of Yoga - 260 calories burned!

3/3 Sunday - 3.93 miles run/mostly walk outside - 1:02:25 total (15:53 pace) - 553calories burned!

Set out for 6 miles but I wasn't feeling it and then just before mile 2 I slipped and fell on a section of muddy sidewalk. I was covered with mud and definitely not in the mood to run after that! So I was glad that I just made it as far as I did.

Meh, it was an OK week given my not so awesome workouts on Tuesday and Sunday.

Calories burned this week with exercise - 1606! 

Until later, happy working out!

Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - Week 9 of 52

Happy March! I think from these numbers it is easy to see I'm kind of stuck in plateausville! This week I didn't consistently keep track of my calories but I didn't go nuts or anything and I know I was well within my range. I am hoping that some weight training will help get me out of this slump so I started Tank Top Arms March today. 


Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #9 (3/1) - 238.6
Week #8 (2/22) - 238.6
Week #7 (2/15) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Loss this week = 0
Total loss = 26.4 pounds


I REALLY REALLY want to get out of the 230s! I definitely wouldn't have thought it would have only lost 2.4 pounds in 9 weeks! Not sure what else to do that I am not. Eventually I guess it will catch up with me! 


Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Tank Top Arms March Challenge

Sorry it took me so long to post! Here is the challenge for this month: Tank Top Arms! Here's what the calendar looks like:

DOWNLOAD A PDF VERSION OF THE CALENDAR AND WORKOUTS HERE

This month I tried to combine exercises so you are doing multiple movements at the same time and I tried to make sure we were working different muscles on different days.

Here are the exercises:

I also have all 8 exercises on one image as a cheat sheet:

DOWNLOAD A PDF VERSION OF THE CALENDAR AND WORKOUTS HERE

Good luck! Let me know if you guys have any questions!

Until later, happy working out!

Jamie

Training Report - Week 8 of 52

This week was a pretty good week because I had a few milestones!

2/18 Monday - Exercise bike for 30 minutes - 8 miles - 194 calories burned!

2/19 Tuesday - 4 mile run/walk on treadmill - 59:13 total (14:48 pace) 569 calories burned!

**Ran for 20 minutes straight!** <-- Longest straight time so far! WOOT! 

2/20 Wednesday - OFF

2/21 Thursday - OFF

2/22 Friday - 4 mile run/walk on treadmill - 57:57 total (14:29 pace) 554 calories burned!
**Ran for 2 miles (26 minutes) straight!** <-- Totally smashed Tuesday's record! WOOT! WOOT!

2/23 Saturday - 1 hour of Yoga - around 250 calories burned!

2/24 Sunday - 5 mile run/walk around the lakes - 1:07:12 total (13.26 pace) - 685 calories burned!

The weather was awesome and the run felt good. The last time that I ran that loop around the lakes (3 months ago) I was exhausted halfway through and did it in around a 16:30 pace. Now my legs got a little tired around mile 4 but I didn't feel so wiped out overall. I think this has to be one of the best runs I've had so far because there wasn't any race adrenaline involved and I actually kind of enjoyed it. I felt like a real runner! Plus look how consistent my splits were...crazy! Usually I slow down over time but I was able to be pretty consistent. My heart rate monitor definitely helps! I also tried to slow down a little and try to get closer to my treadmill running pace which was 4.5 this week...so with the walking that was about what I averaged.

So I'm 2 weeks into my 10K training and doing great so far. My goal is to run the 10K in the 13 minute range and I'm already at 13:26 for 5 miles. It would be amazing to get under 13 minutes. I'm super excited...going to keep working hard!


Calories burned this week with exercise - around 2252! WOW! That is the most I've burned in a week since I started keeping track.

Until later, happy working out!

Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - Week 8 of 52

The scale finally went back down and I'm down to my Feb. 1st weight...I've officially lost zero pounds!

Just kidding. Again, it is annoying that I haven't seen more scale progress but I'm not letting it bother me. I'm doing OK on my new Metformin..I've had some occasional mild nausea and I've been really thirsty lately but that is about it. I'm curious to see if it is going to help get my hormone thing under control and/or aid in weight loss.


Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #8 (2/22) - 238.6
Week #7 (2/15) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Loss this week = 2.2
Total loss = 26.4 pounds


Rachel still thinks I'm not eating enough with 1900-2000 calories so I'm going to try to bump it up to 2000-2100. I also am going to incorporate some more strength training to see if that helps.


Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Training Report - Week 7 of 52

I'm such a slacker...I just realized I didn't post this on Sunday. Whoops!


2/11 Monday - 10 minutes elliptical, 20 minutes bike, and weight training - 1 hour total - 340 calories burned!

2/12 Tuesday - Run/walk 3 miles on treadmill (14:37 pace) - 43:51 total - 421 calories burned!

2/13 Wednesday - OFF

2/14 Thursday - Run/walk 2.93 miles outside (13:28 pace) - 39:27 total - 383 calories burned!

2/15 Friday - OFF (sick)

2/16 Saturday - Yardwork

2/17 Sunday - Run/walk 2.02 miles outside (15:52 pace) 32:08 total - 260 calories burned!

Calories burned this week with exercise - around 1404

Until later, happy working out!
Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - Week 7 of 52

Well, this week I found out that I had a hormonal imbalance from the blood tests I took for my annual physical. My doctor decided that she wanted me to take 500 mg of Metformin. I started taking it on Wednesday. Tuesday though I jumped up 2 pounds for some reason. Really, I don't care. I was awesome this week with eating and I'm not going to focus on the scale. I hope this hormone thing works itself out soon...I really think this might be a reason that the weight has been coming off so slowly.


Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #7 (2/8) - 240.8
Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Gain this week = 2
Total loss = 24.2 pounds


I know I should be measuring and going by inches because I have definitely lost some but I'm lazy and I haven't yet. I signed up for a diet bet in January and it's almost over. Despite my best intentions (really, I have been amazing!) I am not going to win my $25 back because I didn't lose 9 pounds...actually I think I have only lostt one pound officially if you look at the numbers. Oh well. 

There is literally NOTHING that I personally could have done to change this outcome. I have a clean conscious. My body is going through some sort of adjustment but I'm not going to let it stop me from continuing to be healthy. If anything, I think it is going to make me healthier because although I eat fairly clean, it has inspired me to do some research and see if further changing my diet could help sort out my hormones.


Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Training Report - Week 6 of 52 and Crazy Krew 7K

I didn't go to roller derby again and I think I am calling it quits on that. I had another groupon for 4 more weeks but it is from 8-9 and takes me 45 minutes to get there. I just don't like having to work out that late and drive...so I'll be back to the gym on Mondays. Next week I am shooting for 5 days of activity!


2/4 Monday - OFF

2/5 Tuesday - 30 minutes on the elliptical - 233 calories burned!

2/6 Wednesday - 30 minutes on the treadmill - 2.13 miles (14:05) - 299 calories burned!

2/7 Thursday - OFF

2/8 Friday - OFF

2/9 Saturday - Crazy Krew 7K - 4.16 miles in 55:02 (13:13) - 634 calories burned!

My friend Ashley did the race with me and the weather was pretty nice...not too cold or not too hot. But it was windy! The race was over part of a freeway bypass so we had a big hill. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be and I was pretty happy with that pace given that it is a mile longer than I usually run and it was windy. Ashley runs around a 10 min/mile so she was done way before I was but she stuck around to cheer me on at the finish line...that was awesome! I set a goal to finish the race in less than an hour so I was super excited to get in around 55 minutes!

2/10 Sunday - OFF

Calories burned this week with exercise - around 1166

It was kind of fun doing 3 races in 3 weekends but now I'm working on training for my 1st 10K since November. It's on March 30th in New Orleans. And I'm super excited that my mom is going to be there too!

Until later, happy

Jamie

Weigh Day Friday - week 6 of 52

I got on the scale this morning and it was virtually the same. And I'm OK with that! I haven't been as strict with eating and journaling this week. I went out to eat several times because of my birthday and I can proudly say that I enjoyed myself but didn't go nuts! Really, that is the best I can do!

Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #6 (2/8) - 238.8
Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 <-- my birthday :)
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Gain this week = 0.2
Total loss = 26.2 pounds

I feel like I am still trying to find my proper calorie goal. I have been doing about 1800 calories a day this week but I used a few online calculators and I think I am going to bump it up to 1900-2000 and see how I do this week.

Until later, happy living!
Jamie

Birthday Weekend and Color in Motion 5K

This week was a busy week! My birthday was Friday so my friends took me out to dinner. Yum, Mexican! Jen B. and I got a cute picture together!

Saturday night I threw myself a birthday party at my house. It was super fun! :)

On Thursday my coworker Megan mentioned that her friend had to drop out of the Color in Motion 5K race on Saturday and asked if I wanted to take her spot. Uh, yes! So Saturday we went to the Reliant Center and did the 5K in around 45 minutes. We ran some but walked a lot of it. This is what we looked like after:

I'm not sure how I didn't have as much color as Megan did on the front and face but I did have a bunch on the back! I've not jumped at the chance to do one of these color runs but it didn't cost me anything so I didn't mind. It was super fun and a good experience. With that said, I don't think I would do one again though if I had to pay for it. I had 2 big complaints with this race - 1) the scenery was lacking because it just ran through the parking lots of the edge of the stadium, and 2) there was only ONE water station (at 1.66 miles) and no food! Since they were throwing powder at us you and there were so many non-runners, you would think they would have one at mile 1 and 2. I was really thirsty! And for some reason I don't mind getting muddy but I didn't love having powder all over me. I'm glad Megan asked me though!

My next race is a 7K this Saturday!

Until later, happy running!
Jamie

Training Report: Week 5 of 52

I took it kind of easy this week. My birthday was Friday so it was kind of a crazy week, plus I was EXHAUSTED after the 5K last Sunday!


1/28 Monday - Exhausted so I took the day off! No roller derby.

1/29 Tuesday - OFF

1/30 Wednesday - 30 minutes on the treadmill - 2.27 miles (13:13) [forgot my HRM but burned around 350 calories]

1/31 Thursday - OFF

2/1 Friday - OFF

2/2 Saturday - Color in Motion 5K - around 45 minutes - 489 calories burned!

2/3 Sunday - 3.86 miles - 4 passes over the Kemah bridge - 545 calories burned!

Calories burned this week with exercise - around 1064

Next Saturday I have my 3rd race in 3 weeks! It is a 7K but I'm not going to kill myself to set any PRs. I definitely want to get a little more active this week.

Until later, happy

Jamie

Weigh Day Friday: Week 5 of 52

All month the scale was bobbling between the same two pounds and it was kind of annoying. Yesterday it was down a pound (finally below 240!) so I was excited this morning when I woke up to find it was down some more!

Highest weight: 265
Goal weight: 150-160

Week #5 (2/1) - 238.6 <-- my birthday :)
Week #4 (1/25) - 242.0
Week #3 (1/18) - 241.8
Week #2 (1/11) - 242.2
Week #1 (1/4) - 241

Loss this week = 3.4
Total loss = 26.4 pounds

My weight on January 1st was 242.6 so that means that my total January weight loss was 4 pounds! Yay! For a while I thought it would be zero! I was on WW most of the month but then I switched to counting calories. I actually bumped up my calories to 1800-2000 this week and it seems to have made a difference. I think I will stick with that again this week and see how I do. It is definitely a balancing act! I want to make sure that I am getting enough fuel for my body.

Until later, happy living!
Jamie