Ellie's fitness diary (start 10.11.2008) Marathon training...

nexangelus

Carpe diem, baby!
Monday
As I don't have one (a diary), but have lots of pieces of loose paper with recipes, menus and weight training plans all over the place (sometimes I lose them!), I think I will stop here for a bit to muse, think, ramble, plan food, training, etc and maybe moan from time to time.

Feeling rather blah today. Had a weird tummy yesterday (gaseous and painful) and feel tired today. Didn't sleep well and feel a little worse for wear. Stomach still feels odd. Think my IBS is playing up again (perhaps my cheat day is going to have to be changed to a more tummy friendly one rather than just junk food, sensible stuff?) and it's painful. Had to take 2 painkillers last night before bed. Have managed brekkie and a snack so far, have to head out to the gym soon and it is pouring with rain! Got soaked and freezing on the way home from walking the kinders to school.

Am going to do 3 circuits and spin class today and then hopefully the endorphin levels will up and I will feel alot better.

Feel bloated too which is uncomfortable and just plain blah. Gee, this is getting really moany...heh!

Mondays always seem so stressed. Must think about trying to meditate in the evenings again to try and balance out the argh of it all. Weather seemed to stress us all out, constant rain meant we didn't get out (don't drive so bike or walk in the rain is yucky if it is cold like it is now)

Not looking forward to the exercise like I usually am. Am on liquids this week (protein shakes until Saturday) as my teeth cannot take the ouch anymore (lost two fillings and no emergency appointments available as usual so have to wait wait wait like last time I hate the dentist!!!) oh also trying to seriously shift the 7 pounds by Xmas. Here we go...tiredness and all...
 
Dentists aren't my favourite people, but it's nigh on impossible to get in with the NHS dentists sadly :(

Did you go to the gym in the end? The weather is unbelievably meh today... feel kind of sorry for all the chronic joggers.

Anyway, i'll keep an eye on your diary, and good luck with the weight loss :)
 
Ha! That's how poo I was feeling this morning, I even spelt d-i-a-r-y wrong...pfffffft!

Yeah, made it to the gym, was raining...got a wet bum as I haven't yet gotten meself a mudguard for the rear wheel, bit silly considering the British weather really...

Felt blah, worked hard in spin after an hour of pootling through the weights section (only managed one circuit today). Got home, felt blah, felt blah all day until I ate a snack this evening and hey presto, I think my carb/sugar or whatever levels (glycogen I presume) were low...feel okay now after a hot bath and a scrub...

Thanks for the reply Mr_Wombat (I wondered if the d-a-i-r-y bit had people guffawing or thinking what the...?), funny how a few hours can make a difference. Thought I might be sinking into some sort of depression or other.

I did have a huge but short lived endorphin rush during spin, but that didn't even help with the blahness of it all. Maybe it was the bath after all and not even the snack? Hmmm...not yet really smiley, but I'm getting there...suppose we all have mysterious slumps every now and again...it's frustrating not knowing the cause though, I am far too analytical...
 
I never noticed it said dairy... how blind am I? lol

Maybe you're just having one of those days, you might feel better tomorrow. I know what you mean about getting over-analytical though (or paranoid lol) as I do the same on days like that.
 
Tuesday
Whee! Much better today, one of those weird days where I just felt poo. Could've been hormones, the weather, the rain, my body telling me something, anything, who knows? Not important now as it's a new day and I feel 100% improved. Yey!

Worked ultra hard at the gym today. Did two all-body circuits and an ab workout. Then did an hour with my personal trainer. We forgot about the two minute silence. Shoot! So there was the gym all calm and serene and rather eerily quiet whilst I had my boxing gloves on and was pounding the mits...oops! Was a hard session as usual...none are the same, he always changes it up and keeps it interesting. Boxercise and then circuits (pull ups, press ups, upright rows 10kg, sumo squats 15kg, squat to shoulder press 10kg and then climbers three times). I am knackered and a bit dizzy as well as slightly nauseous which means I think I may have been pushing too hard again. I did that with the fitness test. Oh well, I didn't actually puke, so it's all good!

Also put my name forward today for a PT challenge (the personal trainers at the gym have organised a new challenge for the end of November for their clients). Damn, its tough, but I have wanted to complete a triathlon for ages, so here it is: 3000m row, 10km bike, 1.5km run or something like that) This is a mini one of course and I'm worried about the rowing as my technique sucks...could've shaved more than 3 minutes off my last fitness test time had I known what I was doing wrong with the rowing...heh!

Well, that's it for today, am pooped, but happy...need a cup of coffee and a bath. Before I go and pick the kinders up from school...

Hey, this is supposed to be a weight loss diary, oh well, it can be a combo...a rant, a yey and a fitness dooda all in one. Am wondering how much weight I will lose though, if any, this week, must remember to weigh-in on Monday and write it down...
 
You see, told you you'd probably feel better today :p

I'm getting tired just reading about your exercise routine. I can handle the coffee part though :D
 
Wednesday
Need new leggings...have the cheap cotton ones to wear beneath my gym shorts and they are holey in two places. Had a tiring session today. Spin class was ultra hard as the instructor changed her usual workout. Looked like I had been swimming again as usual.

Did three circuits afterwards, did a short tummy workout at the tail end of the 9 o'clock workshop before spin. Ended with a rigorous tummy blast. Those floor wipers are killers! As are the weighted cable crunches. I do so want the abs to peep through by April. A whole year of hard work WILL pay off. I do want to wear that bikini next year...without having to suck in the last dregs of my flabby gut...heh!

Chatted to another personal trainer about training for the mini triathlon and also about my goals, my bench press progression (he saw me bench pressing the other day and smiled and put two thumbs up after I finished and sat up. Was rather surprised but encouraged.) personal training and gymnastics, core strength and even steroid use in bodybuilding. Amazing what a 5-10 minute chat can involve! He's ace...lean and certainly doesn't look like he is over 35...

Yay for personal trainers, gyms and bodies...they are such amazing 'machines'...funny how going to the gym can also teach you a lot about yourself...not just fitness wise...hmmm...it also has gained me some new friendships, is a major stress buster and also is great fun...I've learnt that I do enjoy a challenge and for years I never challenged myself...this year has been non-stop challenges...long may they continue...have even been considering becoming a personal trainer instead of a teacher...well, that is a major change of career choice and what the heck have I been studying my degree for for all this time? Well that too has taught me loads, so it's not wasted if I do decide to change direction.

Wheeeeee!
 
Ellie's diary (is this how one changes the title I wonder?)

Thursday
Feel fine, fit and know I have lost weight this week for sure (fingers crossed, toes crossed...), only time will tell come Monday. Looking in the mirror though I felt a bit blah. Still wider than most peeps around the waist. Never had a small one except when really skinny and I don't want to go back there again...hmph! Is it true that we're never happy with stuff? I seem to waver between feeling great and then feeling pooh about the way I look...oh I wish I had bigger boobs and smaller waist...and then bam I am alright about it all again. Sure this is pretty normal though.

Had great workout, began the old triathlon training and it was a slog but interesting. Did some sprints on the rower just to get a feel for technique...maybe doing some sessions of high intensity with build up my endurance for the 3000m distance. Might just build up speed...we'll see. Did 15 minutes on the bike at intensity level 8 and was sweating so much I was slipping off the seat ha! Had no trousers or leggings to wear so braved the gym in my shorts...ugh! Cellulite legs at the back still, it's going but taking a while...then did a 15 minute HIIT run...hopefully my shins will be okay, fingers crossed.

Chatted to the three of the PTs in the gym for a bit while I ate my energy bar, as it was pouring with rain again and wanted it to calm down before I headed home....wet, muddy and cold...

Time for a coffee and a nice HOT bath full of bubbles...
 
Sounds good :)

Wouldn't pay any attention to the mirror though, I don't really notice my loss via my reflection. Taking before/during photos seems to be the best thing as you can get a better look at the changes.

Well done so far though, wish I had your energy :)
 
I was just thinking if I had before and now photos it would probably help the bonce not be so analytical about it and I wouldn't be so negative...

Not sure where it comes from, but I do know the more you exercise the more energy you seem to have over time that is...think it is the endorphin/adrenaline thing...I do feel tired by today usually, but just keep on keeping on as I know it all helps. Saw lots of exhausted peeps in the gym today and spoke to some about how they've changed, their weight loss and fitness goals, etc...one dude is training to do a proper triathlon next year, he trains like a beast!

You'll discover more energy the more weight you lose (as the confidence builds more and more too).
 
That's cool :)

Back before I started losing, I had practically no energy. As a result, I had no motivation, and therefore didn't do activity as a result... was indeed a vicious circle.

Now I have to say I feel rather great. My little hour-long wifting session each day makes all the difference. Some days I do it in the afternoon, but it makes it harder as by lunchtime I feel almost like I can't be arsed... I always overcome that though.

I have days now and again when I stop thinking about the 'cosmetic' side of weight loss, and remind myself that the health benefits aren't so bad either :D

Anyway, you should definitely do before/during/after shots... it'll give you even more motivation :)
 
Friday
No gym today as helping out at the school until it closes. Oh well, there is tonight and tomorrow I guess.

Have packed up food (snacks and such) to take with me as am not keen on the school lunches that I saw and experienced last time. Two big bottles of water to remind me to drink and a protein shake for lunch.

Am going to miss the gym today, but am a bit achey from the row yesterday. Back seems to be quite sore as well as my middle abs (I kept hitting my tummy with the handle when I was rowing OUCH! so my technique still needs mucho work!)

Will be an okay day here's hoping. Will report back later.
 
Still don't know how to change the title like everyone else seems to be able to do, nevermind...

Managed to get to the gym this avo. Thought I would be all day at the school helping with the photograph day (what a nightmare I thought it was going to be!)...was okay and so was the training session, well it turned out to be spin class only plus ab workout, as I was knackered from yesterday...felt well and truly drained and am going to have to rethink my food intake and ratios (carbs to protein, etc)...felt really nauseous (exhaustion level I suspect) after spin and drank my protein shake so fast it was like I was drinking water! I was thirsty, so maybe the water intake needs to be even higher (man I am going to be drowning soon!) and my carb levels need to rise dramatically to meet the demands of the extra high intensity cardio, I know that for sure, after the yucky slump I felt in the gym...argh!

But one good thing, is being able to play around with food ratios rather than being afraid to or stuck to a fixed diet or even just stuck to/in old unhealthy patterns of eating...feels great to be able to experiment with my body and my food now...feels weird as well, liberating almost...well yeah I do feel free...I've always had this choice but it really hits home when you realise you really do have the choice, it isn't as bad as it once was and it possibly won't be ever again.

Whoop!

Showed my personal trainer my rowing technique and we tightened up one small inconsistency again today (need to come up on my toes more instead of bending forward and using my arms so much)...all is well...and what a difference! He said I need to get in three rows a week now (so spin class might be limited to once a week from next week on for a couple of weeks) and practise the transitions between the rower, the bike and then running...man it all seems so big right now! Also watched a UWE team rower (he had his team shirt on in the gym when he was rowing) as he rowed to pick up some rowing tips...man he could go and it looked soooooo smooth...
 
Saturday
So need the rest of this rest day. Man last week was tough!

Even if I haven't lost any poundage this week I have just measured myself and noticed last week my bras were a lot ill fitting all of a sudden...am an inch less under my bust and an inch less round my waist...so there is trim rather than slim at any rate...

Chuffed.

Did warn the beau that I might lose quite a bit of fat training the way I am in the next three weeks. He said it is up to me. So be it. I just worry that he might not like (or find me attractive anymore?!) an athletic body, no matter what he says about me and how I was, etc and that he'd love me no matter what.

So it seems that being chubby and being slim have their down falls...it doesn't matter which way you swing there will be issues and it seems that insecurity is one of mine. Big time!

Oooooooh well...
 
Sunday
Rest day, thank heavens for that! Junk food day (Fried chicken or duck, burger or something else, maybe a sarnie of some sort?!) woo hoo! And where the hell are the kids?! Both off and away...littlest with beau and eldest with her dad...so I'm twiddling my thumbs and wondering what to do...

Callanetics tonight to stretch out ready for Monday and beeeeeeep Monday is going to be a tough one. Have decided to run through the whole triathlon non-stop just to guage time and transition and to see if I can actually do it all in one hit so to speak...bah! Hey man, I can do this and have to do it to see how hard I have to train to improve, etc...

Kinda wish I had more time to prepare, but then on the other hand...I'm doing it, so that is woo hoo enough for me at this point. Some say the courage to actually do stuff like this is part of the journey....most don't want to try or maybe fear they will fail or not do as well as they think, etc. Stuff all that, I'm doing this regardless of the finish time. Just completing it will be enough for me...it has been an aim for a while now and here it is on a plate...

Whoop! Excited, stoked, revved...ready to begin this week with a bingo bango. Will this enthusiasm last.........?
 
That's me now a reader of your dairy. Look forward to updates :D


And does Sunday night enthusiasm ever last? ;)
 
puggso_32, the enthusiasm didn't last, but the drive to get going and something else took over come Monday. I was bushed, but just did what I had to do...I surprised myself!

Monday & Tuesday
Oh man! It is that time of year and it has been manic. If my head wasn't attached to my body, I seriously would be in big trouble these days! I find myself talking to myself an awful lot lately and geeing myself on and reminding myself out loud what I have to do next. It is like I have no brain, it's being sucked out at might by those zombies, I tell you...

Anyway. Monday was a big day. I decided during the restful weekend to do a complete run through of the sprint triathlon. I was going to take it easy. Heh! I pushed at about 80% of my all and finished it. I kind of panicked and thought I would be totally useless come next Wednesday (it's been moved forward by a few days boo!) BUT I did it and in a reasonable time too...I was expecting around 45 minutes in total, but pushed and completed it in 40 minutes and 25 seconds minutes including transitions. I was incredibly tired, sweating like I'd never done before and very hungry afterwards as well as thirsty. Proud though as I accomplished what I wanted and more. Did that and some abs work before I began the tri.

Had a major energy slump around 6 p.m. last night. Must remember to eat more carbs...eek! I didn't feel ravenous enough to stuff some more in my mouth, yet the slump was pretty slumpy and I had to lie down and snore for at least half and hour. It was crazy!

Tuesday, today...er...my personal trainer made me run through the tri again but we halved the row and the cycle, kept the run 1500m though...Man! After yesterday I was expecting a semi-break...but that is why he is so ace, he pushes me and I go...and my time showed I didn't push as hard as yesterday (well I didn't feel the exhaustion nausea I did yesterday during the run) but I completed it despite wanting to stop a couple of times. Bah! Tired again as we also completed the hour with some two handed 8kg kettle bell swinging (normal swing and high elbow raise from squat position) combined with other circuits (10kg squat to shoulder press, press ups) for cardio and strength.

Feel okay so far (a little chilly, though, think the temperature has dropped again today despite the sun shining nicely)...want to try to avoid slumping, so am swapping protein shakes with my beau tonight...his has more carbs in it. Mine is more protein rich...fair swap I say...yey! Oh and his is choccie flavour mine is boring old strawberry...It's amazing what a little bit of an extra push can do to your body and food intake...was reading about the ultra marathon runner in America (Dean Karnazes) and he consumed 28000 calories over 48 hours of continuous running...he still lost 5 pound of body weight as he used more than he took in by far...but he does it, he pushes his body to incredible limits and he overcomes it and moves onto the next challenge. He is my new inspiration (I tend to find extreme sports people very inspiring)

Bring on Wednesday....early spin tomorrow, do I or don't I?!
 
Wednesday
Gee, where did last wek go?! Time is flying by...must be the time of year or something...did early spin, rode to school with the kids, then dashed to gym on bike, class, some ab work and then home again...didn't do much today as felt particularly knackered again. No slump today YEY! Must've eaten more or just eaten enough to avoid the horrid lack of energy that hits about 6 or 7 in the evening...

Tomorrow tri run through and some weights and ab work before if I feel up to the extra...I am sooooo looking forward to the rest that I'll be having Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday...WHOOP!

Today was cool, although some young dude managed to confuse me with a male of the species...WTF?! I was wearing black tights beneath my shorts (have bad bruising on my left leg, dunno how the heck it got there and it's cold outside so wear thick tights to ward off the chill as I cycle in my shorts, well I don't have any trousers clean to wear to the gym or leggins, so that is my excuse!) Maybe my flat chestedness really is...ha I am so not going to overanalyse one mistake...I am a tomboy after all...
 
Thursday
I know it's Thursday by how tired I feel. Very! I was planning to do weights, abs and then run through the tri fully again. Hahahahaha! Poohsticks and boosticks. Fantastic lack of willpower and energy had me changing the routine. I warmed up, did my ab workout (need to get some more ideas for ab work as I am getting bored and not knowing where to go next with it all) and then ploughed into the row full speed ahead. Mistake! Broke the row into sprints for 1500m then did 1500m level 8 on the bike then ran 1500m. Came back to finish the rowing distance with 500m sprints this time and then 4500m at level 8 on the bike and another 1500m run HIIT style (run, walk, run, walk, etc)...

Am pooped, smiling, a bit sore in the shin region but happy that I completed it all. Tomorrow is a new day and I am not planning anything before tonight or the morning. Anyway it is spin day tomorrow, so who knows?

Food is fabby, seem to be keeping energy up and eating the right things in the right ratios to sustain everything. Whoop!
 
Friday and Saturday
Am so glad it is rest time for me until Wednesday...race day...WHOOP! Not sure I should be taking all four days off to rest, but when I did last time I could sprint all through the fitness test...won't be able to sprint through all of it this time, but should be able to knock some time off my precious try last Monday here's hoping...times look good against others, so fingers crossed I have the energy to stay the 40 or so minutes...whee!

Feel okay foodwise, evergy wise and everything wise...

Roll on Xmas, BRING IT ON!!! Cannot wait until the New Year to do new challenges...it's all so exciting...

Oh a bit about Friday, spin class was tough and my personal trainer who takes spin on Monday and Friday told me to take it easy Tuesday. This was supposed to be our session but cannot do a session before a race...so we moved it and discussed the race layout...might so some running on Monday and then rest Tuesday...so three rest days should be adequate...

Bah all this race preparation is rather boring talk! Looking forward to it, but will be glad when it's over too...
 
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