Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Has It Really Been That Long?

Yesterday, TeenSwimSis had her first high school swim meet! 

Geeez, has it really been 14 years since I was a freshman in high school?

Ah, but so, so, so fun to be a part of the swim team.

That year was the hardest we worked during my 4 years of high school swimming.  2 a day practices, "dry land" training in the morning and swimming in the afternoon.  Unless it was a Saturday or the odd practice out, in which we would do dryland followed by a swim.  Running, weights, taebo, aerobics...we sweated it out to all of that!  And it showed...the one and only year we won our sectional!  It makes me tired just thinking about it!  Swimming is a winter sport (LOL!), so we would NEVER see the sunshine during the week.  Go to practice when it was dark, go to school, go to practice and then it would be dark again! 

2002!  I am on the left in the back row.  SwimSis is in the front row w/the dark hair.  Stylin'!


TeenSwimSis was under a year old when I was a freshman in high school.  Don't forget, there is also SwimSis, who is 2 years younger than I am, and my brother is 3.5 years younger.  So when I would get home from high school practice, my parents (swim club president and secretary, respectively) would take the middle two to the pool for their practice and I would be left to take care of TeenSwimSis.

Thinking back on that makes me laugh.  I would feed her her baby food as fast as I could and eat my dinner so I could get on the Web tv (internet on your TV) and look up NSYNC websites.  I spent SO much time with that chick!  Same goes for the weekends.  If I didn't have a meet and they did, they would go to the swim meet and I would stay home with the baby.  It created a wonderful bond between the two of us and I only get crap every so often about putting her on the couch and she subsequently rolled right off (so swears my brother).  :)

Me and TeenSwimSis back in '98 (my 8th grade year!)


It also makes me sad.  When I was in high school, we had a wonderful pool.  6 lanes plus a deep end.  Perfect for the size of team we had!  The pool had a lot of problems, though.  For starters, it was on the second floor of the school!  It was over the auto shop/classroom.  It leaked - a lot!  A few years ago, they decided to fill in the pool and make that area a giant classroom with no plans to build a new pool.  And the team has really suffered. 

They have to travel to pools at other schools that are 15-20 minutes away to practice.  The quantity as well as quality of swimmers has suffered.  Last night at the first meet of the season, They lost to a team that we beat soundly every year.  They did not have enough swimmers to fill out all of their events/relays.  It makes me really sad that the program is not as strong as it once was.  Not that winning is everything, but when the outlook is losing everytime - I think it is just hard for morale. 

Let it be known - if I ever win the lottery (well, I would have to play first!) I will build a new pool in that town!  Don't worry, I have connections...my dad is on the zoning board! ha!




Also, I got a bike trainer and was sooo excited to set it up.  Apparently I'm not as handy, resourceful, or independent because I have tried at least 4 times (working on different problems each time) to set it up.  I have also conferred with youtube and a couple of different websites and the verdict is the same - I need a man to do this for me.  You know I'm desperate when I want to cry and drink over a stupid bike trainer!  Hopefully I can make it to our bike trainer group practice with my tri group on Sunday so that Tri Coach Jeff can help me out.  I just have to make it there in time! 


I started the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge again.  It was so wonderful to drop 8 pounds over the holidays last year!  My mini goal for this week is not to have brownie in a mug all week.  What a weakness! 

Random:  Just b/c I think its hilarious - my fb profile pic!  More forgiving that IRL!


This week's schedule has been a little jacked up, but that is okay.  Monday I found out yoga on Tuesday was cancelled, so I went to hot yoga with SwimSis.  I felt so strong, especially seeing other people struggle with a few things I was decent at (but there's not comparison in yoga, blah, blah, blah well it made me feel good!).  Tuesday, instead of yoga I went to YMCA D right by my work (opened in August!) where I did a 1 mile run and then lifted for about a 1/2 hour (most machines, a little resistance band work).  Then swimming was at its normal time (7).  I got there a little late, but Coach Ellen worked me!  I had one 50 left of my cooldown when i was doing backstroke and saw a kickboard fly my way!  Coach Ellen asked if I wanted to stay and swim with her.  Do I want more oxygen?  More Jesus?  The answer is YES!  :)  I did about 2000 yds with the tri group and 1600 with Coach Ellen.  I got out of the pool at 9:10!  Yikes!   A little over 2 hours in the pool, plus a short run, plus lifting - I felt AWESOME and invincible. 

Then today came.  I decided if I got my bike trainer working,  I would ride it, but if not, no big deal because my body is still tired from yesterday!  My shoulders and back are sore, my  legs a little bit so, and the arches of my feet too!  3600 is quite a few flip turns.  Flip turns are a little like horizontal jumping w/o shoes so my arches take the brunt of the pain sometimes.


What moments of nostalgia have you had lately?  Did you wish things were the same or different?

Monday, November 11, 2013

I Quit Pilates

Oh em gee, has it really been that long since I have blogged?  Well, the first week I didn't blog, we didn't have internet at the house and when I try to blog at work, blogger only lets me use html which is only one notch above nails on a chalk board on the annoyance scale.  Last week I was lazy took some personal time.  It was great to do things like finish a book that I started in 2011 (really!), start a candy crush addiction, and wonder where the I put all my winter clothes.

Every since my half marathon, a month ago, I haven't been working out like I was the 6 months beforehand.  I have been working out probably 3 days a week, 4 if I'm, lucky.  Which is fine, but when you let yourself eat halloween candy and have large portions, it's not so good!

Part of my workout rut is that my YMCA hired a consultant and she suggested we offer more things/shift practices around.  Before, my schedule looked like this:

Monday: Swim w/Tri Group
Tuesday:  Yoga at Work
Wednesday:  Bike w/Tri Group
Thursday: Misc or Run for God
Friday:  Rest
Saturday: Pilates + misc exercise OR Race
Sunday:  Work at the church/Rest

Look at that!  So nice and neat.  One thing a day except on the weekends when I choose to do more.  Well, here lately they've added more running.

Monday:  Running at the local track
Tuesday:  Swim
Wednesday:  Bike
Thursday: Group Run
Friday: Nothing
Saturday: Misc
Sunday: Bike/Misc

So, a lot of those are outside.  And this is the midwest so it's pretty cold!  The last time I biked was definitely a month ago!  I wore a long sleeve shirt and bike shorts and by the end of the night, I had to leave early because I was nearly frozen!  I don't have cold weather gear, and let's be honest, I only have enough $ for either a bike trainer or cold weather clothes.  Having lost 70 pounds, I can definitely say that I have less insulation and am cold a lot more.  I also wanted to start adding some strength training back into my life.  Oh, and Pilates - I hadn't gone in at least 8 weeks. I was either out of town/had races, etc.  I did not like that i was paying and not able to go, so I am quitting for the foreseeable future because I will be out of town for holidays/weddings, etc.  I definitely need to keep doing a lot of the exercises though...I was soooo sore after side planks in yoga the other week!   Here is what I want my schedule to look like, although it is still in a state of limbo:

Monday:  1/2 hr run, lifting @ YMCA
Tuesday:  Yoga at work/Swim w/Tri Group
Wednesday:  Bike - trainer OR Lifting
Thursday:  Run for God small group
Friday:  Rest
Saturday: Hot yoga/trail run/other adventure
Sunday: Bike on trainer w/Tri Group

Ugh, I need another rest day in there! 

Something that has not been fun is gaining about 2-3 pounds!  I was at 218 for a week or two, but I've been at 220-221 for about 2 weeks. I'm cool w/maintaining, but gaining = yuck!

I do have to say, I have been eating out more and when I "cook" it is always large portions
Peas, asparagus, red onion, white onions, mushrooms and scallops over cheese grits + bacon (cuz duhhhh bacon is delish!)  Definitely a new favorite comfort food!
Yogurt + banana + walnuts = dreamy breakfast
One of my staples - hummus, chicken, and cucumbers. 

I was supposed to work out at the ymca today, but I had a tour of the new hospital in town tonight, so I was all "nah, i'll exercise later".  Wow, didn't know I was such an excuse maker but apparently I am. 

This week I'm also trying to work on getting enough sleep + being more productive at work.  Oh, and needing less caffeine!  That being said...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!