Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 3 - Tuesday

I had some yogurt & a banana after I blogged last night.

Another hectic day of pumpkin fair preparations. That wasn't so bad. GO FAR went well today. We actually had enough adults around to actually get the kids organized for a run right out of the gate. It was awesome.

Food:
banana, coffee w/ skim milk
roasted pork w/ beans & coleslaw
baked potato, meatballs & salad w/ light dressing
apple & cottage cheese

Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 3 - Monday

Ok, this Primal challenge isn't working out for me and my Meatless Mondays. I'm trying to do to many things (Primal, Weight Watchers Simply Filling Technique, and Meatless Mondays), so I'm just going back to WW SFT and MM. But I'm going to try not to eat bread & pasta, even whole grain stuff because I have no portion control with those at all.

I got called into work early again and was non-stop go, with last minute preparations for the pumpkin fair and for GO FAR, which starts tomorrow. We have just over 40 kids, which is down a bit from the spring, and we have more coaches, so it should be much more manageable this year.

And for crying out loud, I am so sick of this damn rain!!! I can't get outside to do anything!

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk
apple
navy bean soup
salad w/ light ranch dressing, light cream of broccoli soup
apple & cottage cheese

Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 2 - Friday & Weekend

What a long, exhausting weekend! I worked late Friday then had a bunch of running around to do. Saturday, I needed get my house clean enough that I could concentrate. A dirty house is distracting. It's been raining cats and dogs here for days and our roof started leaking again. Before that, I asked my husband to clean the refrigerator. While he was doing that, the tempered glass shelf he was cleaning shattered, so we had to run around and get that cleaned up, get the roof to stop leaking in the bedroom, all the while it's still pouring out. We came in from the rain, messed up my mostly clean house, so I had to do a lot of re-cleaning.

Food sucked but I really don't care. I just want to get through the next week without losing my mind. My give-a-crap will kick in after the pumpkin fair, but for now, the only thing that matters is surviving the week.

Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 2 - Thursday

I didn't get much sleep last night and I think that's going to be the case for the next week. I woke up not feeling well. I was hungry, but the thought of eating made me gag.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk
apple & cottage cheese
salad w/ roasted chicken breast & fat free dressing
green beans w/ olive oil & Sweet Heat Addiction
omelet w/ turkey sausage

I'm exhausted from trying to get our fundraiser stuff organized. 10 more days to get through.

Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 2 - Wednesday

I had an apple and some almonds after I blogged last night. Probably ate too much. The good (?) news is, I'm out of almonds.

I managed to squeeze in a short workout today - HIIT 15 from Turbo Fire. It's probably the last formal exercise I will get until Monday. And really, depending on when all the pumpkins and straw is scheduled to be delivered, I may not get any formal exercise until after the Pumpkin Fair. I know it's important to try to get it in, but really, my priority is our fundraiser. I was an exercise machine for 4 years. Being active but not "working out" for a while isn't going to kill me. Plus, GO FAR starts Tuesday, so I will be getting out and running a bit with the kids. We only have 7 weeks to train for our 5K and Fun Run. Well, I'm doing the 8K, I hope. I don't plan to run the whole thing - a very brisk walk is my goal.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk
apple & cottage cheese
turkey burger (no bun)
cheese omelet w/ onions & peppers

It was a pretty low carb day. I have to make sure I get some vegetables tomorrow.

Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 2 - Tuesday

For a minute, I forgot what day it was. I can't wait until our big fall fundraiser is over and I can have my life back. Until the cookie dough fundraiser 2 weeks later. But then that's it. My main responsibilities will be over. Yay!

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk
apple & cottage cheese
turkey burger w/ cheese (no bun), watermelon
banana
stir fry chicken w/ avocado

I am no longer counting Weight Watchers weekly points. I am trying to stick to Power Foods as much as possible. I guess I'm doing a quasi-Primal/WW Simply Filling. I feel great, starting my second week. I'm energized, I don't feel bloated or sick, and I'm not as cranky as usual.

Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 2 - Monday

I'm so proud of myself - I did not eat the mozzarella sticks at work today. I didn't get to make myself a salad and I was really hungry. I put some mozzarella sticks & broccoli on my tray. I ate the broccoli and tossed the sticks. I really wanted them though!

Today's workout was HIIT 20 from Turbo Fire. I am so out of shape. I need to get back into the exercise routine.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk
apple & cottage cheese
broccoli & skim milk
hard boiled eggs w/ carrot sticks & pepper slices
cheese omelet w/ onion & red pepper

Another Meatless Monday in the books, and I didn't give into the Starch Monster.

Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 1 - Weekend

I didn't even attempt today's Saturday Fitness Beatdown challenge:

- 20 Dive-bomber push-ups
- 20 Swing kicks (Each rep is when both legs have been kicked over the chair / stool)
- 20 Prison Cell Push-ups
- 20 Chair Dips
- 20 Diamond Grip Push-ups

Hell no. I can't even do 2 dive-bombers. I cleaned my house instead. Well, half of it. I did a lot of decluttering (preparing way, way, way in advance for our move out west) and got rid of half my kitchen cabinet contents. Who needs 60 drinking glasses and 30 coffee mugs.

Food was good this weekend - I stayed Primal. I wanted junk food in the worst way. Nuts saved me.

Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 1 - Friday

Food:
apple, coffee w/ skim milk
green beans, turkey salad w/ fat free dressing
nuts & cheese
turkey omelet

I have 15 weekly points remaining. Let me just say that it was really freaking hard not to have any of the stuffing or chicken tenders or cookies or rolls or macaroni & cheese we served for lunch today!

Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 1 - Thursday

I did really well with food today. I even managed to get through our PTO event without trying the brownies or cookies.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk
apple & cottage cheese
roasted turkey breast & salad w/ fat free dressing
tilapia & broccoli w/ olive oil
mixed nuts & cheese

I have 25 weekly points, and I'm going to try to get a workout in tomorrow.

Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 1 - Wednesday

No workout today, unless you count the lifting of 19 cases of water. I had to put them in my cart, put them in my car, put them on another cart, then put them away. I figured it would be easier to do that this afternoon while I had time, rather than rush in the morning before work and do it. Our elementary school's Back to School Night is tomorrow and the PTO (of which I am VP) is providing refreshments. So I took care of the water and made 108 brownies. And I didn't even lick the spoon, the bowl, or my fingers. I also did not sample the treats.

And I am very happy to report that I did not even nibble on the chicken tenders or curly fries at work today. I made myself a salad and choked on a damn piece of celery.

I desperately need time to get to the grocery store for a decent, portable breakfast because I don't know when I'm going to have to go to work early. I need some cottage cheese. I don't care for hard boiled eggs and I don't have time to cook them in the morning. This Primal Challenge is, well, challenging while trying to stick to Weight Watchers Power Foods. Not having grains and beans and starches and carbier fruits kind of bugs me but it's not really that bad. I just need to find my rhythm and get it all down. I need more protein and that's a matter of preparation. Once the Pumpkin Fair is over (October 1), I will be in a much better position to plan and prepare. Right now I'm just running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk
apple & skim milk
salad w/ fat free dressing
turkey burger w/ cheese, green beans w/ olive oil & Sweet Heat Addiction

I used 3 weekly points on non-Power Foods, leaving me 39.

Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 1 - Tuesday

I wasn't going to do a workout today (I was going to lift tomorrow) but then the CrossFit WOD came in my email and I figured it would be nice and "easy" (in the uncomplicated sense) to do:

Overhead squat 1-1-1-1-1 reps
Front squat 1-1-1-1-1 reps
Back squat 1-1-1-1-1 reps

Trying to increase the weight with each rep. So it was my understanding that I do one rep as heavy as I can, rest, try to lift more on the next, rest, and so on. Or just lift as heavy as I can each time and if I can add weight, great, if not, fine.

Ultimately, I was only able to do 35 pounds for the overhead squats. I cannot do these at all. I am so unbalanced, and I had trouble with them when I was doing New Rules of Lifting for Abs. For the front squat, I did 45-50-55-60-65, and I could get down pretty far, almost ass-to-grass. For back squat, I did 125 and 130 for the rest. I could barely hit parallel. But I'm out of practice.

I've been making myself salads at work, just vegetables and sometimes fruit with it. Well, for the last two days, if that counts for anything. I have not had any BLTs (bites, licks, tastes) of anything. It killed me today to cut off some kid's pizza crust (stuffed!!) and not eat it. I also wanted some corn, which is a Power Food, but then I remembered that I'm doing the Primal Challenge and am grain-free for the month. So I stuck with my salad.

Food:
banana, coffee w/ skim milk
veggie salad w/ slivered almonds & fat free dressing
turkey burger w/ cheese & raw vegetables

I used 5 weekly points today on non-Power Foods, leaving me 42.

Spartan Sprint Countdown - Week 1 - Monday

180 days until the Spartan Sprint in Georgia!

On a whim, I agreed to do the 30 Day Primal Challenge with a few board friends of mine. That's friends from one of my message boards. They are not bored. It will be interesting to try this while still doing Weight Watchers (Simply Filling Technique) and Meatless Mondays.

Today's exercise was the Bodyrock TV Haters Workout. In the 10 minutes, I did 25 rounds. Sucky.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk
apple & cottage cheese
salad w/ onion & green peppers, olive oil & mustard
scrambled eggs w/ cheese
skim milk, banana

I used 2 of my 49 weekly points on cheese, leaving 47 remaining.

Countdown to Spartan Race Countdown - Week 2 - Thursday & Weekend

Just a place holder. What a horrible, stressful, busy week.

On Saturday, I did my Saturday Fitness Beatdown challenge - this time it was 50 plyo burpees (almost with a push up at the bottom) for time. I made two attempts. The first try, I couldn't get a good form and rhythm down and only made it to 22 or 23 burpees. I was going to bag it, because it was really late at night by the time I started, but figured I'd better get my ass in gear, so I tried again and I completed the 50 that time.

Tomorrow kicks of my Countdown to Spartan Sprint - 180 Days!

Countdown to Spartan Race Countdown - Week 2 - Wednesday

I was just a hot mess today. My CrossFit email said the WOD was a rest day, so that's what I took! I was upset that I couldn't donate blood today (because of my tattoo - it turns out that New York is no longer a regulated state so I have to wait until June 2012 to donate again :( ) and I got Taco Bell for dinner. Then it was so hot, I needed ice cream.

Countdown to Spartan Race Countdown - Week 2 - Tuesday

Only 186 days until my Spartan Sprint! Woot!

Today I was going to do Turbo Jam Cardio Party 2 but I was running short on time, so I did HIIT 15 from Turbo Fire, followed by the Turbo Fire Stretch 10. Boy, you can tell it's been a while since I've exercised. I did talk my step-daughter into doing it with me. She's not really an exerciser but she gave a great effort. She's supposed to be doing the Spartan with us, so she has to start training, too.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk
apple & cottage cheese
baked potato & coleslaw
carrot sticks
three bean salad w/ lettuce, tomato, carrots & cheese

I have 38 weekly points remaining. The coleslaw took 5 points and the cheese for my salad took 3. I also managed to get 60 ounces of water today. It was really hot at work.

Countdown to Spartan Race Countdown - Week 2 - Monday

Back on plan with food today, doing Weight Watchers Simply Filling Technique - Power Foods eaten to satisfaction, anything not on the list, draw from weekly points.

I'll be honest. I didn't want to eat healthy stuff today. I wanted junk food in the worst way. I also wanted meat, but it's Meatless Monday. I think I will keep doing Meatless Monday through the end of this year. Two years is enough of a challenge.

I wish I just automatically craved healthy foods. I remember, when I had my 2 month+ binge-free streak, I actually wanted fruit & cottage cheese instead of chocolate. I looked forward to salads & proteins. There was none of that today. Of course, I didn't expect it but it would have been nice. It was so difficult to get through the day.

Food:
coffee w/ skim milk
apple, scrambled eggs w/ cheese
carrot sticks & pepper slices
apple & cottage cheese
three-bean salad w/ olive oil & spices - This was so, so good - just pinto, black & garbanzo beans with salt, pepper, crushed red pepper and oil. De.Li.Cious! I wanted more, but only had one cup.
three-bean salad w/ cheese & spices - Okay, so I ended up having another cup a few hours later, with cheese instead of oil, because I needed half a dairy serving.

I have 46 weekly points remaining. The only thing that wasn't a power food was the cheese on my eggs & in my salad.

No formal exercise today. I took my son to the park.

Countdown to Spartan Race Countdown - Week 1 - Sunday

8 more days until the Spartan Race Countdown begins!

My upper body is a little sore from yesterday's Saturday Fitness Beatdown push ups. I can't wait to see the leaderboard - I hope I didn't come in last, as usual!

Tomorrow I begin Weight Watchers Simpy Filling Technique. If you're not familiar, you eat from the Power Foods list (to satisfaction, not fullness) and don't count daily points from those foods. If you eat anything that is not on the list, you can use your activity points and 49 weekly points. It's very simple, in theory. In application, it's difficult because you have to know your hunger cues and know when you're satisfied.

I've done SFT in the past, before Points+ came out. I can maintain well on it but I have a harder time losing. However, I am determined to make it work this time. I need to make it work.

Countdown to Spartan Race Countdown - Week 1 - Saturday

Just 9 more days until the Spartan Race Countdown begins!

I actually did today's Saturday Fitness Beatdown [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saturday-Fitness-Beatdown/308885420625] - max frog push ups in 2 minutes. It's the first SFB I've done in quite a while, and definitely the most exercise I've done in a couple of weeks. You can definitely see where I've gained weight. Screw it - I'll get it off.

Countdown to Spartan Race Countdown - Week 1 - Friday

I think I'm going to get back on the wagon Monday. I am so swollen from the carbs and I have terrible heartburn and my skin has broken out. I can feel the water retention in my toes, my clothes are tight, and it's going to take me forever to shed this 50 pounds I gained. Okay, it was 22 or some shit like that, but it's bad, bad, bad. Today I almost went out and bought some fat clothes. Screw that.

Countdown to Spartan Race Countdown - Week 1 - Thursday

11 more days until I start my Spartan Race countdown. Woohoo!

Being back to work is exhausting. Being around cafeteria food sucks.

I think, when Labor Day is over and I return to Weight Watchers, I'm going to try the Simply Filling Technique again. I don't want to count points. I want to eat Power Foods to satisfaction. That's always been my goal. I want to lay off the processed stuff as much as possible.

I need to work on ways to not want the processed stuff, to resist the cravings. Moderation is so incredibly difficult for me. Restriction/abstinence is difficult for me.

I don't know. I just don't know.