Sparrows Experiment

sparrow said:
LOL.

Workout was great. Better than I thought it would be being that I'm kinda worn down. Its flippin' FREEZING here today so getting IN the pool was the hardest part. We hardly warmed up before we started the timed swim. I got 12:54 for the 900 (36 laps) which isn't too shabby but can be improved. I think thats 1:25ish per 100. kinda average. The next fastest person got 14:50 so I was proud of my time. Right after that everyone voted to run INside so we did 30 min on the tread: 10 min warm up and then alternated 5K/10K pace 2 min each for the remaining time. It was hard to do that after a hard swim. Then we did core work and push ups in a raquetball court.
I do love working out in this class but there are 2 things that irk me so far. One is that whenever I do something "good" like the swim or like they saw I could actually run kinda fast too they go "ah youth", or "oh its because you're young" ok gimme a break, I work my BUTT off to be at the fitness level I'm at. I don't think youth has much to do with it! I work freaking HARD! Plus the next fastest person is 34, 5 years older than me. big whoop. Secondly, these ladies WHINE sooooo much! They are triathletes for goodness sake. Suck it up!

anyway, thats my rant for the post. Thanks for "listening" :)
I kinda didn't care what I ate after I worked out today. My kids are now on vacation and I wanna be too :)
b-1scoop whey, 1 scoop fiber, 1/4 bagel
post workout-protein plus bar
l-burrito with refried beans, spanish rice, ground turkey inside
not sure what snack will be but I'm going out to dinner with a friend. I'll just get chicken salad.
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good job! and dont listen to them. It has nothing to do with youth.
you do work your butt off and thats why you are where you are.
and I'm proud of you:D
 
yeah thanks guys. I wish I were one of those "natural born athletes" who hardly has to do much to maintain what they have (I have friends like that) but I really do have to work very hard to get anywhere but a lot of people don't realize that.
Today I'm sick. My oldest daughter had a 103 temp before bed last night and my son has been coughing a ton so I knew it was a possibility. The littlest one and my husband don't even have a sniffle. Today I'm supposed to do full body weights so thats pending. I will do only that later if I'm feeling better. It doesn't take too long to get through them and I won't do cardio.
I'm sore from yesterday but its a good sore. My abs and obliques are reallly tender. If I don't get to the gym today I won't be working out till next Saturday. :eek: I'll be ok if I can stay away from holiday goodies.
yeah right :D
 
You may find that you're the most dedicated athlete in your new found fitness group. (Least that's what it's sounding like.) Youth has its advantage, but nothing replaces good, honest work. Fortunately you have both, and it may cause some jealousy/envy within the group. They focus on the age though because I think then they don't have to do any work. "She's faster because she's young" is a lot easier to be lazy with than "She's faster because she trains harder". Still, it's interesting how perceptions change, now that you're closer up - before you were intimidated by them, now you're telling 'em to suck it up and deal lol. Keep up the great work - we're all rooting for ya.
 
stingo said:
You may find that you're the most dedicated athlete in your new found fitness group. (Least that's what it's sounding like.) Youth has its advantage, but nothing replaces good, honest work. Fortunately you have both, and it may cause some jealousy/envy within the group. They focus on the age though because I think then they don't have to do any work. "She's faster because she's young" is a lot easier to be lazy with than "She's faster because she trains harder". Still, it's interesting how perceptions change, now that you're closer up - before you were intimidated by them, now you're telling 'em to suck it up and deal lol. Keep up the great work - we're all rooting for ya.
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I think the difference between me and a lot of other people is that I'm like compulsive about working out. I love it. I love the feeling it gives me and I like the challenges. I think a lot of people on this forum are similar, which is why I love this place. Its not often I take any sort of break. Most people have seasons of either hardly working out or of taking time off altogether. They don't necessarily love it, they just know its the only way to stay healthy. I never take time off unless I'm forced. So in this group we have the girls who just came out of a training and racing season and are feeling lazy and entitled to some down time. Which I get, thats NORMAL. I felt a little bit that way after doing all the running. I just don't normally operate that way. I try to go 100% almost all the time, which isn't necessarily a healthy thing, I don't think, but its just how I am. I don't like to have to take the time off, get out of shape and then start all over again. I'd rather just maintain or improve all the time. Its less painful :eek:
 
Reminds me of the movie Patton

Omar Bradley <to George Patton>: "I do this job because I'm paid to do it... You do it because... you love it."
 
keep it up sweetie I can't believe how well you have been doing since we used to talk all the time on here. All this time you have been improving and that is awesome :)

God Bless You girl.

you radiate a feeling that most people would get addicted to ;)
It gives me hope that true joy can be produced without drugs even being involved. To get satisfaction from simple joys of life and to feel so free. You are my inspiration.
 
I'm still down for the count and its driving me crazy to be in bed all day when there is so much to do. I hoped to do my last full body routine of the week but it didn't happen. I have both flu and stomach flu. can you believe that?! At least I'm getting both over at the same time and maybe I'll be good to go for another year of no sickness :eek: I'm just praying its gone by the day after Christmas when we travel our 6 hours.
Merry Christmas to you all! Many of you have become friends to me and I have really enjoyed getting to "know" those who I regularly post with this year. I look foward to more health and wellness this next year and watching each of us achieve fitness and weight goals together!
Katie-
PS don't you dare think just cause I'm gone you should stop posting to me! :D
 
*posts to Katie while she's here*

Hope you feel better hon, and that you have a great time on your vacation. Remember not to sweat the small stuff, and smile :)
 
Sparrow, I think you are 100% right about the feeling you get after you workout. There is no better feeling than knowing you've pushed yourself and have taken your body to a new level. I was pretty much "out" of working out for 5 years or more and about went crazy. I guess I was mildly depressed and didn't want to do anything but sit around, drink beer and be mad at myself for being in such poor shape, putting on weight etc. Once I heard myself playing the victim, I immediately snapped out of it. I was so disgusted with myself that I was actually blaming it on someone else, how WEAK! My wife and I worked out a schedule where I can hit the gym at least 3 days each week while still pulling my weight around the house. Once I made the decision and took back control of my life, everything got back on track. I feel awesome already even though I've got a long way to go. Nothing is really overwhelming anymore. It's just all falling into place. Nothing is the big deal it used to be. I can't believe everyone doesn't share this journey with us. Can you imagine what a better place the world would be? Anyway, enough of my rant. Keep up the good work and stay on track. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe new year. Talk to ya later, Greg
 
I really don't feel like I've injured myself. I was just kind of in a bad state. I would drink 6-8 beers each day on the weekend and maybe one day or possibly two during the week. That's far too much I know but it wasn't so extreme that I was laying around the house drunk all the time and not going to work etc. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I didn't get up, drink all day long until bed and then wake up and do it all over again. I would generally drink 6-8 beers at night while watching TV, surfing the net etc. Then I'd get the munchies and eat everything bad in the house. A very bad habit I know. I didn't have any troubles quitting once I made up my mind. I didn't have any withdrawals etc. I don't have the desire to drink much anymore. I might have a couple of drinks if we go out for dinner but I don't have the desire to drink for no reason like I used to. I also don't have the desire to keep drinking and drinking once I have 1 or 2 drinks. I think mine was more of getting my head straight and getting myself pointed in the right direction. Once I did that, the rest seemed to take care of itself. Thank goodness I snapped out of it when I did. I do see where it could have led to major problems if I would have continued down that road for a whole lot longer. I feel so much better now than I've felt in a long time. Thanks so much for your concern. After being in my situation I don't think its something I'll return to in the future. What a learning situation but what a waste of 5 years. Thanks again, Greg (P.S. - sorry if I hijacked the thread!)

Sparrow, How are you feeling? Hope you are better!
 
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GT2003 said:
(P.S. - sorry if I hijacked the thread!)
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:rolleyes: I'll get over it ;)

I'm feeling better, thanks. We had an amazing Christmas and "Santa" got me way more than I ever asked for....but things I've definitely wanted. I feel very very grateful for sure.

My kids are bubbling over with joy about our Disneyland trip. i'm so glad we were able to say "tomorrow" when they asked "when?". isn't it just the pits when you're a kid and you have to WAIT for what seems like EONS for something really exciting like that. i'm sure we will have a sleepless night as they are so excited for morning. Its quite a drive tho.

I tried to go out and run my old route (I'm in my hometown) and there was some creepy guy on a bike following me so I found a way to ditch him and I did squats, step ups, walking lunges, incline and decline pushups at home, and probably ran about 2.5 miles before I had to ditch it for safety. I was seriously scared, even though I had my pepper spray and have taken self defense classes :eek: I was MAD too. Probably better overall. the run even in and of itself was HARD for me. I'm still feeling a bit sub par and I'm sure it wasn't the greatest of ideas. i've just eaten SOOOOOO bad that I had to do SOMEthing or i'd have gone crazy. I won't be able to workout again until we're in the hotel in 2 days and even then, I dunno.

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas!!!!
Katie
 
Merciless said:
It's ok, if you get one day to take it easy on yourself, it's Christmas. Merry Christmas Katie! :)
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haha thanks Merci, Well I went a whole FOUR days of not working out:eek:

:cool: but its cool, I probably needed the down time.
 
I'm glad Christmas went well. Have a great time at Disneyland and tell us all about it when you get back. Take care, Greg
 
Hey everyone.
What a whirlwind of a holiday. I'm exhausted.
Disneyland was a lot of fun. I hadn't been there for about 13 years and my husband hadn't been since he was 7 so lots had changed for both of us. It rained slightly in the morning of the first day which I think detoured many of the people that would have been there first thing so we had the rides to ourselves till about noon...when the sun came out..and so did the people. GOBS of people, I've never seen so many at one place. Disneyland is a big place but you literally took marching baby steps to get through the neverending crowds. I cannot imagine what kind of numbers they must deal with on a daily basis. Dispite the discouraging masses we still ended up going on all the rides the kids wanted to and some that we did too. Saw the shows we wanted to and we stayed till 10pm after the parades, fantasmic and the fireworks.
The kids were out of their skin excited to be there. Ashlynn saw her princesses which was her ultimate dream, and the other two just "oo'd" and "ahhh'd" at all the "magic". it was a lot of fun.
But yes, totally exhusting. At one point my daughter said "mom you run all the time how come your legs are so tired" :rolleyes: yeah....I dunno either dear...:eek:

We went back the second day but we only stayed till noon because it takes us 7 hours on the road to drive and we wanted to get back without loosing our minds. The crowds were way worse the second day so I'm so glad we had such a great first day.

Anyway, all in all it was a lot of fun. Next time we go will NOT be tied to any holiday. Granted Disneyland IS beautifully decorated at Christmas.

As for working out and eating. Well I'm probably in the same boat as a lot of people. Food hangovers, feeling junky, hard to work out etc. I had a few days before the holidays when I was sick so its been since last Thursday, wow, a whole week since I've done much. The cold still lingers too, can you believe that?! I did go down at 5am to the hotel fitness room yesterday and tried to run about 25 min at 5.5, then did 10 min of interval biking and did a few delt exercises as well as some dips. That alone wiped me out. But I think it was more a combo of the time of morning, the day after walking 14 hours straight and the fact I'd gone to bed at 1am, than actual physical struggles. It did make me feel better though.
I'm not sure I'll get to it today. I have a lot of catch up to play and grocery shopping to do. I may just do what Wendy is doing and take the remaining days of 2006 off...even as crappy as I feel about that. My body feels so junky and I'm really tired. I really feel poisoned from all the bad food! BUT it will make coming back on Monday even more motivating with new goals and determination.
 
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Glad you had a good time. I was there when I was 6 so I can't wait to take my daughter, but now that my parents are in their 60's, it's hard for them to do any theme parks, even little ol , but if you're ever Indiana, look it up. It's a blast and the kids will love it.
 
Broke down enough to work out today. One side of my face is totally on fire from a sinus infection. I hate those. I did some easy eliptical and some weights and figured that was much better than nothing. I'll post my menu from yesterday and today..just cause. My New Years Resoultion is to really buckle down on my diet (yes even more than I have) and keep things in balance so that I can fuel my intense workouts, improve and still have energy :) If I lose some weight in the process...thats a good thing :)

yesterday:
breakfast: 1scoop whey in 8 oz water, 1 scoop fiber, 2 T flax seeds
lunch: 1/2 can albacore tuna, 3 c romaine lettuce, 1T olive oil, 2T balsamic dressing
snack: 15 almonds
dinner: 6oz grilled chicken (this was kinda salty), 2c frozen stir fry veggies
snack: 1/2c veggies, 1oz chicken, tea

Today:
1.5c kashi go lean cereal, 1/4c skim milk
5oz grilled chicken, 2 c romaine lettuce, 1T balsamic dressing, 1/2T ranch
snack: 10 almonds
dinner: HUGE romaine salad w/: 1/2 zuchinni, 1 roma tomato, 5 baby carrots, 1/4 avocado, red onion, 1T olive oil, 3T balsamic vinegar, 1T shreaded parm cheese, 1/2 medium apple
snack: TBA

Felt like crud overall today. The sinus pressure is insane and makes my teeth ache. A crunchy salad probably should have been on the bottom of my list as far as "things I can chew" but it sounded so good and I felt like I NEEDED it. Just healthy greens in general. I'll probably end my evening with some natual pb on celery. I had 4 bottles of water today..thats much more than normal so I'm proud ;)

gym: 1hour level 10 eliptical
full body weights
 
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