transformation v2 - 168.1

Me and Charley P, July 4, 2023

Well I'm about two weeks out from racing my first IronMan 70.3. Training has been so much fun - I'm not working, so I've had lots of time to train, and if you do the workouts it turns out the race is even more fun! I ended up getting 2nd on the podium for my age group in the Olympic race I did about a month ago. I'm excited to go for the longer half IM distance. This was my last week of hard work, and I feel ready for the race.

At the end of last year, I did hire a coach because I didn't know what I was doing or should do for training, I didn't want to get injured, and I DID (and still do) want to have a good time at the race. The funny thing is the coach I thought I wanted to work with turned out to be all wrong for me (apparent after one conversation with them) and the coach I never thought I'd like turned out to be exactly the perfect coach for me (also apparent after one conversation with them!) I am very happy that I've been able to devote time to following the training plan, learning everything I could, stretching and RESTING to avoid injury, and getting exposure to new bike routes, friend groups, training partners and trails to run. I have no doubt I could have followed a training plan and gotten enough interaction, social time and workout variation from my tri club to train on my own, but having a great coach that I really enjoy working with opened up so many other doors and made the experience, well, in the words of Caroline Girvan, a journey I never want to end! And, let me tell you what, hiring a coach who happens to be a Hall of Famer in your weakest discipline is an excellent method for you to drastically improve that discipline! 

Outside of my coach, I'm really lucky to have so much support. Especially Mr. Scandinavian Mullet, he is a super supportive spouse. Some days I swear HE is happier than I am with what I'm doing. For us, training for a 70.3 really is a team effort, even though I'm the only one racing! I have not returned to working in Corporate America, it's now been a year and a half. I'm a lot happier. I still work part time for Weight Watchers, as a Coach. I love the job. It is a corporate machine, though, so there are always tradeoffs. But it's been super inspiring to be on the other side as a workshop leader. I love doing it, though it's not sustainable (I've called it my "charity work" due to the low pay and infrequent hours). It has been very rewarding and I'm very, very happy I've done it. I really love supporting my members, and they support me, too. Same for RMTC and my training buddies through my coach. We're all a support system for each other, showing up to workouts, cheering each other on at races, having fun on epic bike rides like the one in this picture on the 4th of July - which, Charley P, the head coach for RMTC, is 76 years old this month, and this last mile was the ONLY time he was behind me on the ride! LIFE GOALS!

Charley had commented to my coach that I've really transformed myself into a good athlete over the past year. Mr. Scandinavian Mullet said the same thing. I told my coach that I *used* to know what it was like to race and train, 25 years ago on the crew team! And her response was perfect... "I could tell you were a college athlete from the way your body responds to training. Once an athlete, always an athlete." 

Managing my weight through training has been a challenge, even with all the extra activity. But I'm currently happy with how I feel and how I look. I'd like to be carrying a few less pounds in two weeks when I race, but I'm totally fine with where I am. My grandma died recently, at almost 99 years old, and she took really great care of her body. We're dealing with hubs' mom in and out of hospitals, rehab facilities, etc. because she has not taken such good care of herself. Watching the aging process and results for both situations has been the most excellent learning experience for me. I will choose to do whatever I can to keep myself in the best possible shape, for as long as I live. 

And that's where I am today. Happy. I love being in shape and being able to trail run, swim outside, go on long epic bike rides, do big races. I don't take my health for granted. It's a gift, and I am truly grateful for it. The friend who got me into signing up for the race ended up bailing on it for a different race (a full IM she's wanted to do for a long time) but I'm so glad she got me to sign up. I've loved the training, I've done the work, I'm ready and excited to GO!

Oregon, here I come!

level up - 173.9

I signed up to do Oregon IronMan 70.3 next July. Half IM, WHOLE CRAZY. Honestly I love the training, and I haven't really even started! I signed up because I've always wanted to do one, I feel really strong right now, and it just sounded fun. Let's see what I think next April when I'm in the middle of all the training! DH is super supportive, so I definitely have that going for me. Again, we'll see how that is going come April ;)

My goal is to finish top 50% of my age group. Stretch goal is to do it top 30%. I am already doing the work. 

- Goal #1 is to get to the race healthy. That is my priority, to stay as injury and illness free as possible for the next 11 months. 

- Goal #2 is to lose ~15 pounds before the end of this year, so I don't have to carry extra pounds on the course! This is happening, slowly. My eating changed dramatically for the better after I signed up for the race. (Excluding last week when we were on vacation.) I will definitely be faster if I am lighter; apparently you can cut up to 30 seconds per mile off your run time with each pound lost. Losing 15 pounds could cut ~7.5 minutes off my run time, 

 - Goal #3, get my head right - I am reading a lot of sports psychology and triathlon mental training books. I am so glad I started reading them immediately, mental preparation is incredibly important and a great advantage, I'm already seeing the benefits. 

- Goal #4, build my aerobic base this year so that come January, I can really delve into training to get to that top 30% finish! 

- Goal #5, preserve the muscle which will be helpful - basically, keep up the Caroline Girvin strength training.

Regarding goal 1 to get there healthy, I saw a PT about my latent knee/hip issues and the fact that my right quad is not developing like my left - this is a very noticeable difference. I'll work with them the next month or two to correct it. Knee already feels better after my first ever dry needling session!

Goal #2, weight loss, these days I just eat like a triathlete. Lots of protein, good carbs, less alcohol (will likely go dry next year), less sugar, good fats, and track it all for a calorie deficit. What this really means is I've cut back on the number of days I drink each week, cut back on cheese, increased avocado and nuts consumption, forgo the bread, and try to only eat junk food that I cook or bake myself. This is not hard at all to stick to, except for vacation, but again I deliberately took a break from EVERYTHING for this vacation so no regrets, there.

Goal #3, I'm reading the books and applying the philosophies to my workouts. For example, one point was to figure out what makes you derail (mentally) in a race. I hate when I have the wrong information, such as the finish is marked to be a mile away but on my watch I can see I have 1.4 to go. This mentally shifts my focus and energy to "Which one is right? Why are they different?" and not on the task at hand, which is getting to the finish line as quickly as possible. So knowing that irks me, and wastes my energy, when a "wrong info" scenario came up, I was able to SHIFT the negative energy quickly back to the task at hand. The scene: last night at a group track workout, on the third set of 3x300s, I thought I was off because I finished in the wrong spot on the track. Someone said, no, you have one more 300. Apparently I had missed in the first 2 sets, that the workout was 4x300. I had done them, but it hadn't registered. So when I was started the third set, I told myself I only had to do 3x300 and then it will all be OVER for the night. Well, come that third 300, I was PISSED that I had to do not only what I thought was my last 300, but one MORE after that. But then I realized this is an opportunity to let that $hit go, the workout is what it is (the finish line is where it is!) so just suck it up and do the fourth 300. Guess what, those two 300s were my fastest one of the night. SHIFT. Mental prep starts as soon as possible! 

Goals #4 and 5, I'm increasing cardio workout frequency (swims, bikes, runs) and will decrease weight frequency, but definitely continue to lift. Keep working out, but now build the aerobics a little more than the muscle. 

I suppose I have a goal #6, to get a coach. I don't need a super hand-holding type of relationship there, but I want someone to give me a solid training program, help me tweak it as I go through it (if needed), and who can just be an experienced resource to help me get to the start and have a great finish. And of course, it will help to have them be able to answer my silly questions! 

So this is my new adventure. I need to go get ready for swim practice, which will be, like, the 2nd time I have been in a pool in 2 years. HERE WE GO. :)

tracking success - 175.8

One of the things in the Matthew McConaghy Greenlights book is to take note of what is going on when things are going WELL. Track your successes, as well as your failures. Since the beginning of this year, I am down almost ten pounds. I feel great. I am so happy I have been able to stick with the Caroline Girvin workouts. I am halfway through the Epic 1 program, and this is easily the longest I have stuck with a fitness program that didn't involve a team, or a trainer, in real-life. We returned to RMTC track workouts this week, on the windiest day EVER, and while I could not do the entire workout, I was shocked I did 3/4 of it and at a pace over three minutes faster than my typical run time. Caroline's workouts are helping me more than I think they are!

I have also been religiously tracking and planning my meals in MyFitnessPal, following the macro recommendations a nutritionist gave me, years ago. I aim to get 20% of my calories from protein, 30% from carbs and 50% from fat (health fats, as much as possible). This style of eating, and tracking what I eat, is not hard for me to do overall, because I am used to it. I decided I was going to do it, and I picked it right back up. Most days, the macros just line up based on my food choices, I don't have to think about getting the ratios too much because I know how to do it. It's a habit, as long as I want it to be. 

So that's how I got the scale to move in the right direction. The weight didn't really want to come off at first, but lately it is picking up. Probably because I am building muscle (which burns more calories than fat does) and because I'm being picky about what I'm eating. I want the healthy stuff. Snacks are nuts, olives, veggies. I am cooking my own food more. Less processed things in general. I still love my full fat cheese of course, and my glass of wine. But in moderation, those things have a place in my life. And they likely will, forever. I don't know if this has any impact on scale movement, but I'm seeing friends more and doing nice things for other people as much as I can. My sister just got a new puppy, I sent them a box of fun puppy things, and a few fun things for them, too. Mentally, I feel better when I can contribute positively to others' lives. 

Lately I have been thinking about my genes. Three out of my four grandparents lived into their 90s. I still have one living grandma, my mom's mom, who will be 97 in June, and almost every day she walks laps around the pool deck with her walker. She keeps her weight down, and still enjoys a small glass of wine each day. She once told me "Don't sit down, you'll get old!" Wise words. My dad's parents both lived into their 90s. Grandpa ran a tree nursery and even though Grandma was in a wheelchair, she did a lot of work and movement every day to keep the house going. And then their son, my dad, died just shy of the average life expectancy. Dad was very active as he aged - but he also drank multiple cocktails per day the last twenty years of his life, and he became more sedentary after 70. He was still active enough to go skiing up until three weeks before he died, but he let his activity level really taper off. He also generally had a lot of stress and angst throughout his life, which he never seemed to deal with other than by drinking more. I think the stress and drinking contributed to his early death. I mean, both his parents lived into their 90s. They were not stressed. They moved a lot. They drank minimally. The lesson here is not lost on me. I have GREAT GENES, and so did my dad, but in a sense, he squandered them. I will not make the same mistake. 

It is a beautiful spring day in Colorado. St. James has their last fish fry for Lent tonight, so we'll walk down there for dinner. I am so happy that I'm healthy enough to do that, I do not take it for granted. And my meal is already planned out and in my tracker, huzzah! Already took the dogs for a walk, going to shower and do my nails before we head out for the evening. This is the kind of lifestyle I'd like to keep forever. Part of that journey I never want to end... ;) 

a journey I don't want to end - 179.9

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here it is after mid-March, already. Things health wise are going well. I am following the CG workouts. For Lent I gave up most sugar and alcohol (though I still have wine and the occasional baby Manhattan). We're eating at home more, and I make healthy meals and track my food. We had a super awesome ski weekend in Snowmass, I didn't track a thing but also didn't overeat or drink and I came back exactly the same weight. I am not sure I could do that for a full week, but this is definite progress. Something seems to be clicking with me, this time. Like, I want it [optimum health and fitness] innately and I'm just choosing the healthy behaviors because I know it's the best thing for me. I'm not super focused on the results, I'm more focused on "committing to the chase" of doing the day-to-day work and, well, the results seem to be taking care of themselves. 

So I just listened to a Q&A session on fitness/exercise with Caroline Girvin, during which, she said fitness 'should be a journey you never want to end.' VERY well put. When I start changing a habit, I typically ask myself 'Can I do this for the rest of my life?' and that is a similar concept, but for some reason I really prefer the thought of just making this journey to health be something that I never want to end. I never want to eat fat-free cheese. I cannot do fat free cheese for even a day, let alone the rest of my life. Therefore, fat-free cheese has no part in my journey. 

And further, I want to ski every winter for the rest of my life. Even if I'm 96, I honestly don't want skiing to be outside the realm of possibility. My grandma is 97. She can't move the way she used to, but she still loves a trip to the grocery store or to Bealls to look for new pants or tops. Therefore, she does laps with her walker around the pool deck at my mom's every day (weather cooperating). She does this so that she can still go walk around the store - for her, shopping is the thing she will always do for as long as possible on her journey. I really think that if my grandma were a skier, she could ski the bunny hill today, if that's what she wanted to do. But she doesn't ski, and that's what I want, for me - my journey will ideally include skiing into my 90s, followed by a slopeside adult beverage, of course. 

I also want to be able to walk my dogs every day. I want to eat all the tasty in-season vegetables. I want to COOK the tasty in-season vegetables. I want to eat full-fat cheese, have a cocktail, enjoy a slice of cake (in moderation, of course) - there will be zero forbidden foods or drinks on this journey. I want to be well rested. I want to be there for my DH, my family and my friends, wherever "there" is, even if it's just on Zoom. I want an annual trip with DH and friends to a fun destination, and I want to physically enjoy whatever we decide to do - a ski, a hike, sledding, bike rides, whatever. I want to ride my bike and rollerblade throughout the warm seasons for the rest of my life. I realize I *may* have to give up my rollerblades (pavement is a lot less forgiving than snow) but I will ride a trike if it ever has to come down to that! These are the parts of my journey that I never, ever want to end, these are the reasons why optimum health and fitness are important to me. 

I really do want to have as much fun outside as possible, for as long as possible. Do I want to do the daily workout? Some days, maybe not, but because there's a bigger goal I can tie that workout to, I JUST DO IT. That's where my head is at, these days. I am currently listening to Matthew McConaghy's Greenlights audio book. It's amazing, and probably the fuel for my current mindset. All I know is I have felt great about life in general at times when I was in great physical shape - tennis, rowing, triathlons. If you have your health, you have everything, there is nothing more important. I am happy I am making my mental and physical health a priority right now. That is definitely a journey I do not want to end, so I will just keep my commitment to me. 

Consistency - 181.2

Quitting my job back in December so that I could take back my health and sanity may seem extreme, but really it was just what had to happen. I recognized that I could not adjust how I wanted my life to look, while remaining in the situation I was in. I was unable to incorporate consistent healthy habits in the midst of that environment, so at the end of the day, I chose me over the money. 

January and February were for decompressing and getting back to a healthy routine. Things I am now doing consistently for my health, both physical and mental:

• Tracking calories with the aim to hit my 50%-30%-20% fat-carb-protein ratio
• Following Caroline Girvin's workouts - Epic Beginner complete, Epic 1 started yesterday
• WW job
• House chores
• Calling my mom just to chat at least twice a week
• Seeing friends at least once a week
• Skiing at least once a week

March is for assessing my view of a good life, beyond just good health, and taking steps that are actually in line with that. Plus, I want to continue and BUILD ON the healthy things I've been doing. 

Things I want to be more consistent about:

• Daily dog walks
• Daily declutter (add something small, like a drawer or a cabinet each day)
• Daily stretch or yoga routine

Lent starts tomorrow. I think I can just incorporate those three bullets above into my days for Lent. In addition, I'd like to cut sugar and alcohol on weekdays. So, how will I do all this? 

• Daily dog walks - these can happen at lunch
• Daily declutter - this can happen in the space between breakfast and lunch. Literally this doesn't have to be more than 15 minutes. I can do a single drawer or a single shelf, or if I'm feeling ambitious, a cabinet or closet (more time, but fine!)
• Daily stretch/yoga - ideally this will follow a workout. But I can also carve out some time every day before breakfast. I need to be waking up a bit earlier anyhow, I can start that tomorrow. Wake up and stretch/sun salutations. 

As for cutting the sugar and alcohol, I'll have substitutes on hand (like fruit and dates for the sugar, and diet ginger ale or kombucha as alcohol subs). That is really just a mindfulness thing. I'll probably keep the Friday night bourbon, and some weekend wine or cocktails, but I can be mindful there, too. Realistically I don't want to eliminate sugar and alcohol completely from my life, (hello, maple syrup on weekend waffles!) but I definitely see the benefits of - and have the desire to practice - moderation around them. 

Getting my head straight about consistency for my health really is key for me. I am on my way, there. None of this is extreme. It's really just what I want to become. So now I go DO.

Happy first day of March. :)

 

real change - 183.6

I quit my 9 to 5. Or my 7 to 9, as the case ended up being. The bottom line is I didn't like what I was doing, and more importantly who I was becoming, and while I did my best to change the situation and set my boundaries, in the end, there was no solution other than to leave. That was a month ago.

So what's next? More focus on my health and wellness. Me. Being a better wife, friend, daughter, mentor, human. Getting at what makes me happy, so I can be filled with joy and gratitude, rather than irritation and despair. This is not an overnight process.

Steps I'm taking, in no particular order: 

• New part time job as a WW Coach. 
• Regular workouts. 
• Decluttering and organizing my house.
• More contact with people I love. 
• Provide support for people I love, who need it.
• Spend more time doing things I love.
• Trusting God to provide what I need, and what my family needs, as he always has.

The last step is clearly the most important.

I have made a promise to myself to be at a healthy weight (*actually* healthy) by my birthday this year. I'm 30 pounds from that mark, today. I am happy that with Covid, I have managed to stay relatively even, my gain is really only 5% of my body weight. But to lose 30 pounds, that is roughly 20% of my body weight. This is a big change, which is also not an overnight process, but is absolutely doable. I did this before, I can do it again. I know what to do, I know I have had success in the past and I know I will do it this time. I don't know how I know, but I know. Ha, maybe see the last bullet point above!!

 So how will I do this? It starts with little healthy changes I can live with. I already track. Now to get serious and weigh/measure again. Also, incorporate reduced snacking (or at least IMPROVED snacking!) and regular workouts. These things are happening. Focus on my behaviors and their impacts. This time, the mentality - this WILL happen, because I CAN do this!

With that, I'm off to declutter, workout, and train for my new job. Little steps toward becoming the HEALTHIEST ME I can be! :)

Between two dobes - 179.x

Like many people a year into Covid, I'm fatigued. I feel like I'm in a brain fog. But this is one of the best Friday nights I have ever had, between two snuggly dobermans. The end.