I totally forgot about my fitness blog the past few days. Shame on me.

Let's do a quick update on fitness and maybe some meals if I can remember this week...

Saturday: Ran a 5k in 70 degree weather with 90 percent humidity in 28:07.

Sunday Workout: Leg workout and hill intervals on the treadmill for 1 hr. Also threw in some abs for good measure.

Monday: DOR (Day of Rest!)

I ate an English muffin w/ PB and honey, calliflower and broccoli and assorted mixed veggies for lunch, multigrain spaghetti with basil/garlic pasta sauce and a cup of cottage cheese (on the side!) for dinner.

Today: Woke up bright and early, ran 3.5 miles, did arm work (bicep curls, triceps, shoulder press)

Eating wise... had a Daily Juice Berrylicious smoothie that had strawberries, razzberries, watermelon and other delicious berrries.

Lunch was a tuna salad salad.

Dinner...not sure yet. Possibily fish and veggies of some sort.

I officially signed up for the Long Beach Marathon today. Scary, yet thrilling at the same time.

Cinco De Drinko!

Again, weekends seem to not be very conducive to me trying to develop a healthy eating habit. I don't even want to talk about what I ate last weekend because it makes me feel guilty, and I for one do not enjoy feeling guilty. I am human though. I also really love food. A lot.

Anyways, yesterday, did a walk with Meghan and Dasiy Dog around Town Lake. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon with lots of people out and about. I also researched some more bootcamps... still haven't found anything.

This morning, I woke up at 5:45 to go run. Did I mention that I am registering for the Long Beach Marathon in October and training begins now? Oof. 4.5 miles at a fast pace (I'm guessing 8 minute miles maybe?) I felt great during the run. I had a serious crash around 11 this morning though and had to compensate by chugging a Coke. Coke=the devil. Tonight is Cinco De Mayo celebration, so I can't guarantee that I won't have some delicious Tex Mex and margaritas to celebrate. I swear, I was an overweight Hispanic woman in another life.

FOOD!

Yesterday

Breakfast:
- 1 whole grain english muffin
- 1 tbsp reduced fat PB
- 1/2 tsp honey
- handful blackberries
- 1 glass OJ

Lunch: TQHA decided to business lunch me! Love it. We went to Houston's where I tried to be wise with my food choices....
- veggie burger made out of brown rice, rolled oats served with cheese, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce
- side of 3 bean salad w/ green beans, black beans and corn tossed with vinnagrette

Snack: piece of pizza (FAIL)

Dinner:
- 3 oz marinated chicken breasts
- cooked carrots

Today

Breakfast: Smoothie
-1/2 cup strawberries
-1/2 cup mangoes
-1/2 cup blackberries
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup OJ
- 1 tsp plain yogurt
-1 tsp honey

Lunch:
- 1 can tuna mixed w/ lowfat mayo
- 1 string cheese
- 1 apple (pink lady!)

Dinner:
Most likely will be copious amounts of queso, enchiladas and other terrible foods, topped of with a Mexican Martini (or two)

I think if I stopped drinking cold turkey, I would probably lose 5 lbs right there. I should try that....ha!

Oh hello there!

I made it back from the clutches of fried foods, overconsumption of coffee, pounding too much beer and back to the good old healthy town of Austin, Texas. May is a new beginning for me, always keeping in the back of my mind that I will be frollicking around in a bathing suit on the beaches of Mexico (pending swine flu doesn't shut down the country) in less than 6 weeks.

This morning I woke up bright and early (circa 5:45 AM) for my standard 4.5 mile run at Town Lake. I wasn't sure how the run would go since I had just spent the last week or so totally abusing my body. However, it went really well! The day was already warm and muggy, but I kept a nice pace up and even sprinted across the MoPac and South 1st street bridges. I only walked for about a minute over the foot bridge. I saw all the bootcampers while I was out. I really wanna do one!! I've been googling like a mad woman,but I haven't found anything that fits my schedule, and if it fits my schedule, it doesn't fit my budget. Boo.

As for food... I'm back on the wagon

Yesterday I had:
Breakfast - English muffin with honey and reduced fat PB, handful of blackberries
Snack- granola bar
Lunch- Lean Cuisine Garlic Chicken Pizza
Snack- More blackberries, a banana and coke (oops)
Dinner- 1 Garlic butter tilapia fillet (made with low fat margarine instead) and brown rice w/ veggies

Today I've had:
Breakfast- Fruit smoothie w/ mangoes, strawberries, 1 banana, 1 cup oj, 1 tbsp plain low fat yogurt, 1 tsp honey

Lunch- Lean Cuisine Chicken Flatbread Melt

Dinner could be a tossup as it is Friday and I have friends coming into town...we shall see!

Dear Blog

Dear Fitness Blog,

I realize that this is going to be hard, but I must bid you aideu for a few days as I am traveling abroad to England to have an affair with beer in pints and fish and chips. Do not fear, I will return with many exciting workouts and eating plans in May, as I have a hot rendevous with the beaches of Mexico in June. Until then, take care.

Yours Truly,
Caroline

Uh oh!

So, I definitely let you down Mr. Fitness Blog. This weekend has been a bit rough on the old workout routine. Friday I punked out of my workout in favor of queso covered enchiladas and a Mexican Martini. I also managed to drink an excessive amount of alcohol, like enough to satiate the entire crew of a submarine, but that's cool.

Today, due to hangover induced by the excessive drinking, I managed to move from my bed to the couch without barfing, but I would say that is about the extent of my physical activity. My food for the last two days looks something like this...

Friday
Breakfast- Multigrain waffle
Lunch- chicken salad salad
Dinner- queso smothered enchiladas and Mexican Martini
Dessert- way too many brightly colored shots with a couple Dos Equis thrown in for good measure

Today
Breakfast- one ginormous glass of H2O
Lunch- Chick-Fil-a nuggets, a coke and waffle fries
Dinner- IHOP cheeseburger and fries

So, if anyone doubts my eating abilities, trust me... I can eat and I eat like a truckdriver when the weekends hit because those are my "cheat" days if you will. Ick. Tommorow... HIKE and YOGA!

Motivation

I always think that it's cool to find out what drives and motivates people. Some people like competition, some people like a challenge, some people workout because it makes them feel good and some people do it to look good. I say for me, it's that feeling of accomplishment. The feeling of knowing that you overcame a physical hurdle that seemed so huge and so ominous and you kicked it square in the ass. Knowing that your mind and your thoughts can overcome physical barriers. Pretty cool.

When I was at the health and fitness expo before the Austin Half Marathon, I picked up a flyer for the Long Beach Marathon. My parents really want to do it and I think I want to do it too. Not only is it in lovely Southern CA, but it's also at sea level, on the beach and in my place of birth. The only thing keeping me from signing up for it right now is not knowing where the heck I'm going to be next Oct. I'm not even sure if I will be in this country. However, if I do sign up... training starts in June. I think I will probably join a running group, just so I can recieve coaching and be around other runners for motiviation. I think that would help me a lot.

Speaking of running, i ran 4.5 at TL today. It looked like it was going to pour down rain the whole time. I started out really strong, stopped for water at the Mopac bridge, then sprinted across the bridge. I'm trying the whole Fartlek running thing because I get bored just running paced distances. I think I may try the Greenbelt trail this weekend, possibly tommorow. The knee issue seems to have dissipated (knocks on wood).

As for eating habits today... they are getting weirder due to my lack of groceries!!

Breakfast: Egg Sandwich
2 pieces whole grain oat toast
1 egg (fried)
1 piece Kraft cheese

Lunch: Turkey Sandwich
2 pieces whole grain oat bread
2 slices deli oven roasted turkey breast
1 piece Kraft cheese
Mustard and mayo (lite)
1 orange (cutie)
1 low fat vanilla yogurt

Dinner: Tuna
1 can tuna
1 piece string cheese

Dessert: A Dos Equis! Mmm mmm.

FAIL BLOG

- FAIL BLOG- So, scratch the yoga yesterday and the chicken breast for dinner. I was being optimistic. My roommate coerced me into skipping yoga (and all forms of working out) and talked me into going to sit on the patio of the lovely Shady Grove and partaking in Mexican Martinis and burgers. Oops. Consider it my rest day.

Back on the yoga wagon tonight, with a different instructor. It should be interesting. I've been looking at bootcamps for the summer. I found a couple of interesting leads. My issue is that I'm going to be gone in Ft. Worth for an entire week at the end of May for work. I would hate to waste the money. I have also been looking into Cross Fit. I'm totally intrigued by the program and it seems like an excellent way to get in shape, but I just cannot afford to do it right now. I will figure something out.

Anyways, my eating habits for today consist of:

Breakfast: Smoothie
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup frozen mangoes
1/2 cup 1% milk
1 tbsp plain yogurt
1 tsp honey
1 orange (cutie!)

Snack: Sunflower and cheddar crackers

Lunch:
Mixed veggies
String cheese
Orange
Granola Bar

Dinner:
Whatever I was supposed to have last night!!

Yoga, yogi bear, yogurt

Yoga yesterday was spiritually and physically uplifting as always. Our instructor ribbed Meghan and I a little for missing a whole week in between sessions (we were busy!), but just to prove our dedication, we are going back tonight.

I felt better about the class this time. More limber and it didn't feel like I was going to die the ENTIRE class this time, only for like an hour. I've decided that the pose that I posted the picture of in my previous entry is most definitely my favorite pose in the class. That's a picture of the Standing Bow Pulling Pose, known more formally in Bikram Yoga as:

"Dandayamana-Dhanurasana"

It's kind of amazing how much sweat one human being can produce. I accidentally inhaled some sweat during one of the poses and it left me with an unpleasant urge to sneeze and cough for the next 20 minutes.

Anyways, as for my eating habits yesterday and today, they look something like this:

Yesterday

Breakfast: Smoothie

Lunch: Chicken breast, large apple

Dinner: Multi-grain spaghetti with sauteed mushrooms and garlic-herb sauce

Today

Breakfast: Multigrain waffle with syrup

Lunch: Mixed veggies, orange, string cheese (yum!)

Dinner: Chicken breast, diced potatoes and broccoli

Running tomorrow!

Good morning, good morning the little birds say...

Bikram Yoga tonight. I need to mentally prepare myself for the abnormal amount of sweating that I will be doing in a few hours. I'm already two glasses of water into my day. This actually is one of the poses that we do in class (or that I try to do and everyone else actually does!)

I would like to throw an inspirational quote out there for those that are trying to become motivated this week:

It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself. -Muhammad Ali

So very true. Now I need to learn how to apply that to my life in general.

I had a small blender malfunction this morning, but I managed to make a delicious smoothie for breakfast.

Breakfast Smoothie Ingredients:

- 1 cup frozen strawberries

-1 cup frozen mangos

- 1 banana

-1/2 cup of plain yogurt (Greek style... it's more of the consistency of sour cream, making a thicker smoothie)

-1 tbsp honey

It turned out pretty fabulously if I do say so myself. Perhaps I have a future career at Jamba Juice.

Namaste!

Easter Sunday

Today started out a bit cloudy, and in fact, there was a thunderstorm that rolled through at about 9AM. By 11, it was absolutely beautiful outside. Big blue sky, 80 degrees...the perfect day for a hike. I decided to explore a bit more of the Greenbelt.





There are some really great trails that go all over the place back there. I wish I would have had a camera with me so I could have captured all of the beautiful colors that the month of April has brought to Austin.



It's very pretty back in there and I was by myself, just reflecting and enjoying the day (while at the same time getting exercise!). I ended up hiking about 6 miles total (up and back). I think I would like to go back and try running parts of the trail next time.

As for the rest of my workout, came home and did the following:
3x15 Triceps
3x15 Donkey Kicks
3x15 Glute bridges (off the floor)
65 Russian Twists (w/ 10 lb weight)
100 crunches on the fitness ball

Breakfast: Breakfast Taco
1 egg scrambled with 1% milk
2 tsp monterey jack cheese
1 flour tortilla
2 tsp salsa

Lunch: Oops :/
1 container yogurt
1 grande Starbucks Lemonade Ice Tea
Handful of blackberries

Dinner: Avocado chicken
1 chicken breast with sliced avocado and monterey jack cheese
2 cups green peas
1 glass Crystal Light Lemonade

48 oz water

The beginning of it all...

I was in the dressing room of an Austin boutique the other day, and I looked at myself in the mirror and realized, I am just not happy with my body. Sure, any female that you talk to between the ages of 12-85 could say the same thing, but I've always felt okay with how I look.

I've been giving into the temptations of fast food and unhealthy eating for the past few weeks. I've also been seriously lagging in my workout routine. I've accomplished some athletic goals that I am very proud of and I would like to continue to build my fitness and reach a point where I am really happy with myself. I think that by making this blog, I can give myself a little motivation and a place to record and track my workouts, eating habits and feelings during those workouts. Anyways, it's time for change and I'm going to kick it up into gear within the next few months.

My current fitness goals:
1. Tone up. Especially my legs and glutes.
2. Lose 5 lbs by June
3. Get stronger
4. Decrease my mile time

My current workout methods:
1. Bikram Yoga (90 minutes of yoga in a 105 degree room)
2. Running ( on a good week, I average between 20-28 miles)
3. Weight and resistance training ( I don't really follow a certain type of weight training, i kinda wing it, but I love free weights)


Today I woke up early and went to Town Lake. I ran the South Congress loop (approx. 4.85 miles) I didn't time myself, just ran. I ran most of the loop, but my left knee really hurt for some reason, so i walked some. Hopefully this goes away. The run took me about 40 minutes.

Food wise:
Breakfast - 18 oz acai berry, banana, apple and agave nectar smoothie
Lunch- V-8 Broccoli Soup
Dinner- Chicken caesar wrap on spinach tortilla, iced tea w/ Splenda