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